- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 338; Kindle Edition - File Size: 647 KB | Expected Release Date: November 1, 2012 | Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark | Obtained: NetGalley
"A Royal Pain" by Megan Mulry
My Book Summary : Bronte has had a difficult relationship with her father a majority of her life, and that has colored all of her relationships with men since she's been old enough to date. Years later she meets a man, aka Mr. Texas, who seems to be everything that she's looking for and who also is someone her father would dread her being with (which is just an added bonus). However, after she moves to Chicago to be closer to him Bronte finds that Mr. Texas changes because of the closeness therefore they brakes things off which leaves her feeling like her life has fallen apart.
Once she gets her life the way she wants it again, and starts making a name for herself in the advertising world in Chicago, she meets Max. He's a smart, hot British man from England who just happens to live in Chicago for only a few more months while he finishes up his PhD in economics at the University of Chicago. In addition, he's the perfect Transitional Man (TM) because of how long he's going to be around. So, they have eight weeks of fun, getting to know each other, and to be together then they plan to just part as friends. However, that's not exactly how it goes...
Max only agreed for Bronte's sake to be a TM but never had a plan to follow it through once the eight weeks were over, he believed that he could convince her to move to England with him or at least be in a relationship with her still. Nevertheless, as the time ticks down for Max to go a tragedy strikes his family a few days before he planned to leave, which leaves Max with no more time to change her mind making it so he has to leave her in Chicago on bad terms.
Then after Max is gone Bronte finds out a big secret, that Max never shared with her .... he's a Royal Duke!! Shocked and saddened by the way they left things Bronte tries to move on with her life but finds it harder than ever. However, Max still plans to keep Bronte and him together, if only he can convince her and relieve all of her worries about the challenges--and opportunities--of becoming a royal, while dealing with the quirkiness of his family and with the wrath of a bitter Duchess.
My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! This novel is about finding the right person and keeping them no matter what cost or challenges! It's what I would call a bumpy novel because of how many good things and bad things happen to Bronte throughout this novel. I enjoyed reading about Max and Bronte's relationship, as they seem to suit each other so well!! Also, one thing I was very thankful for was to see how fast this story flows because every time that Bronte had "a freak out" about something going on it didn't last long and didn't give her time to ruin any part of her life or her relationship with Max. Plus, the witty humor throughout this novel was one of the best things to read!
The only thing I was surprised about was the build up about Max's family--especially his mother--and how much it fell short. I only say this because it really makes you think there is going to be a big argument between some of the characters but it never comes. It kind of made me want a fight in the end, even though I am happy with how things with Max's family turned out. I say that, mostly because, it felt to me that everything with Bronte's family--her dislike for her father and why her relationship with her mother is the way it is--wraps up by the end of the novel, and I just didn't feel like it wrapped up for Max's side.
Anyway ... I just hope there will be more of those to in the upcoming novels to find out what happens from there for them. =0)
With that being said, I was infatuated with this novel and I cannot wait to see where this series will go!! I'm so happy Ms. Mulry has already marked on her website that book 2 in this series, "
Earl Meets Girl," is going to be about Devon (Max's younger brother) and Sarah (a shoe designer and one of Bronte's best friends)!!
I recommend this novel and series to anyone who wants to read a contemporary romance with a historical feel to it!
Author's Novel Extras : On Perseverance |
My Summer Vacation |
The Recent Pleasantness |
Around the Blog-O-Sphere
Book Teaser(s) :
"Hey, Mom, that's my other line. I have to go. I'll see you this weekend."
It wasn't really the other line, but her friend April's desk was close enough that Bronte could give her the now-familiar rotational hand gesture for make-your-phone-ring-really-loud-right-now-so-I-can-get-off-the-damn-phone.
Apparently, that's what mothers were for, right? To make you question (to death) every (goddamned) decision you ever made in an effort to save you from going to all the trouble of making a complete ass of yourself. Or maybe it was just enlightened self-interest on the part of mothers everywhere to save them the hassle of having to pick you up and scrap you off and listen to all the heartache (again) when "the one" turned out to be "that piece of shit" and you were left without that perfectly good job, without that perfectly good, rent-controlled apartment, and (patently) without that boyfriend. ~ within Chapter 2
Much as Ralph Lauren's original ad campaign had offered ready access to the elevated world of polo players and Palm Beach playboys, so Bronte's "Britishness" campaign would do for Mowbray: it would allow the common man to own a tangible piece of the elite.
The irony was not lost on Bronte that the entire campaign served as a microcosm for her relationship with Max. In fact, when she finally pierced the veil that was James Mowbray's outer office and convinced him that it was in his best interest to hear her pitch, she was tempted to ask him if he knew one Maxwell Fitzwilliam-Heyworth. But then she thought she would have sounded like one of those idiotic people who, upon meeting someone from Arkansas, says, "Oh! I know someone from Arkansas!"
Ridiculous.
And what if he did know him? What was the punch line? "Oh, this one time, in Chicago, he and I used a hundred-pack of condoms in record time."
Bronte thought not. ~ within Chapter 8
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Megan, then please check out her
website.
In honor of Small Business Saturday (today--November 24th) I'm doing promotional posts about my favorite local bookstores!!
