The Royal Game

by Linda Keir

American pop singer Jennie Jensen is ready to marry the love of her life, England's Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess--any way they can. To give her fairy tale a happy ending, she'll have to play the royal game. Jennie Jensen is touring Europe, already living her dream, when Prince Hugh of Wales--the future King of England--appears at a gig and requests his favorite song. He's already smitten and soon, so is she. After a secretive, whirlwind romance, Hugh proposes, and when Jennie accepts, her world changes overnight. She's still learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol (there are rules about pantyhose), as she learns that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess. When Jennie receives a threatening note, she can't help but see the parallels between herself and another young woman who struggled to adjust to royal Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash. And as the threats to Jennie grow more serious, she digs into Penelope's past, discovering a woman who also suspected someone in the palace was out to get her. Was Penelope murdered? And is Jennie next? With the eyes of a nation on her as the royal wedding approaches, she's in a race against time to save her marriage ... and her own life. Both a charming love story and a thrilling mystery, The Royal Game reveals one woman's determination to find happily ever after--on her own terms.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Royalty, Chick Lit, Adult Fiction

334 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30, 2024

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This novel took a lot of inspiration from Princess Diana and Megan Markle

Imagine being a successful pop star and suddenly getting engaged to a prince! It sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? However, the reality may not be as perfect as it seems. Meet Jennie Jensen, an American pop singer who is engaged to England's Prince Hugh. But not everyone is happy with their engagement. As she prepares to become a royal and the wedding, her happiness is threatened by an anonymous letter. The letter ominously warns her that her life will meet the same fate as Princess Penelope (Prince Hugh's mother), who tragically perished in a mysterious plane crash. Jennie is now on a mission to uncover the truth behind Princess Penelope's death and find out who sent the threatening letter. Will Jennie succeed in finding the truth before it's too late?

This book is more of a mystery than a romance novel but is still an entertaining read. If you enjoy fictional stories inspired by Princess Diana and Meghan Markle, then you should give it a try.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Keir, and Blackstone Publishing for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buckle up for a royal rollercoaster as "The Royal Game" takes you on a thrilling journey through love, mystery, and the glamorous world of American pop sensation Jennie Jensen. This book is an enchanting fusion of fairy-tale romance and nail-biting suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Jennie Jensen, a celebrated American singer living her dream, finds herself on an unexpected course to becoming a princess. England's future king, Prince Hugh of Wales, enters her life at a gig, immediately smitten by her talent and beauty. Their whirlwind romance leads to an enchanting proposal, and just like that, Jennie is thrust into a new realm of royalty, complete with its intricate web of rules and royal protocol.

However, not everyone in England is thrilled about an American joining the royal family. As Jennie encounters hostility and receives ominous threats, she becomes intrigued by the tragic fate of Princess Penelope, Prince Hugh's mother. Penelope's life, shrouded in mystery and cut short by a plane crash, mirrors Jennie's own challenges in adapting to her royal role. Are the threats against Jennie connected to Penelope's past? Was Penelope's death truly an accident?

With the royal wedding on the horizon and the nation's eyes upon her, Jennie embarks on a race against time to secure her marriage and protect her life. The story beautifully oscillates between a charming love affair and a gripping mystery, showcasing one woman's unwavering determination to achieve her happily ever after on her own terms.

If you're captivated by anything royal, especially the modern royal family, "The Royal Game" is tailor-made for you. This novel reads like royal fan fiction, delving into the dynamics of the famous royals of our time. It's a tale that switches between the present, focusing on Jennie's challenges, and the past, through Princess Penelope's diary entries, offering an intriguing juxtaposition of different generations of royal life.

While the book leans more towards mystery than romance, it's a compelling and absorbing read. You'll find yourself engrossed in a world where the "commoner" is destined to become not just any princess but the Queen. The novel touches upon the trials and tribulations faced by those who marry into royalty, drawing inspiration from real-life British monarchy. The alternating chapters provide a glimpse into Princess Penelope's (bearing similarities to Diana) struggles as she was married to King Edmund, filled with conspiracies and challenges.

While the story keeps you engaged, it does speed toward its conclusion during the final chapters, leaving you breathless with rapid-fire events. Ultimately, "The Royal Game" delivers an enjoyable yet somewhat unremarkable experience—a delightful, light-hearted blend of mystery and romance that will keep you entertained, if not entirely spellbound.

Overall, "The Royal Game" certainly had me engrossed in royal tales for a while. This fun, light, popcorn mystery interwoven with romance is a treat for those who relish royal family narratives. While I'm generously giving it three stars, signifying my enjoyment of the read, it lacks that unique element to set it apart from the other delightful novels I've recently devoured. It's a pleasurable experience, albeit a tad easily forgettable. So, if you're in the mood for some royal intrigue, pick it up and let yourself be swept away into the world of love, suspense, and the glittering monarchy.

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[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little romance and a lot of mystery!! It feels very much like a story surrounding Princess Diana, and we're getting an inside scoop from her perspective. The Royal Game feels like one big game of royal intrigue, and I loved it!

- I love anything royal scandal, so I knew I would enjoy this one immensely!! Sometimes I imagine myself a gossipy lady’s maid/or lady in waiting because I want to know all the tea!! I’ve read everything about Princess Diana over the years and I keep close tabs on the royal family at all times — mostly because I feel like they’re just some massive dumpster fire.

BOOK BLURB:
Jennie Jensen is touring Europe, already living her dream, when Prince Hugh of Wales—the future King of England—appears at a gig and requests his favorite song. He’s already smitten and soon, so is she. After a secretive, whirlwind romance, Hugh proposes, and when Jennie accepts, her world changes overnight. She’s still learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol (there are rules about pantyhose), as she learns that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess.

NOTES:
Spice - 1/5
CWs: None

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[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.5 stars ✰

“The people she met carried memories of her inside them, too. Penelope had been a part of the lives of so many people still living: friends, lovers, and enemies.

But who was which?”

Stellar points for its stunning cover that truly captures what a sparkle of a life a celebrity royal would have if they get that Cinderella moment of being whisked away into a starry romance with the dashing Prince of England! It certainly clinched the deal and desire for me to give The Royal Game a chance, aside from the heavy hitting mention of it being a romance-mystery. 💛 😎

And the mystery aspect was there. While struggling to balance her wits and her heart against the rigorous royal demands, Jennie's motivation to uncover the mystery behind the mysterious death of her fiancé, Prince Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, was a compelling lead and I was cautiously curious to see how the truth would come to light. 'And feeling shocked by the revelation that a furious princess could be worth more to the world than one who was happy.' But, certain aspects did not quite sit well with me to make me believe and follow through on it being a redeemable mystery. 😒 It definitely takes away the attraction when the royal family is portrayed in such a negative light while also portraying Penelope's character as such a negative one that you can't help but think, is there really the right way to go? It would have been a more intriguing mystery to me if the authors had not chosen to paint her husband, Edmund, as such a bad guy, or his family, when she, herself, had some questionable actions that didn't quite warrant sympathy either. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I enjoyed the take on how Jennie approached her royal training; while something we're all quite familiar with already in various media instances, it gave her a bit more character and made for some amusing takes. Her mother, Poppy, was a delight, and I enjoyed seeing Jennie's role as a singer and how she learns from her faults that oftentimes land her in hot water, while still staying strong to her own beliefs and principles. 👍🏻👍🏻 'How politeness could be a breach of protocol was completely beyond Jennie, but she was past the point of questioning anything.' The balance between her royal duties and her discovery into secret messages and dangerous attacks and fearful intrusions was well-rounded off with some amusing and heartfelt moments that added a certain levity to her lifestyle. ☺️

“Most of all, I am disappointed in myself for losing control. I will never allow that to happen again. I cannot win the game they play unless I’m clearheaded.

I will play their game. And I will win.”

And that's the thing - it didn't really feel like a game of royalty. It felt more like a family quarrel within a married couple that escalated further because of their increasing frustration and bitter resentment towards one another. It was hard for me to empathize or even sympathize with Penelope because she wasn't exactly helping her case as a hapless victim, either. 🙄 I don't deny that what happened to her was unjust and unfair, but I would have appreciated a bit more of a human touch to her and even Edmund's, to make it a more convincing mystery - a mystery I could root for. 😐 Even the final reveal was also a bit lackluster in execution. It didn't quite live up to the extent of what the culprit was doing, even more so the reasoning behind it. It just rang a bit flat, almost as if the writers were exhausted for having it spread out for as long as they had.

Plus, it didn't help matters either that the format of the story itself made it harder to appreciate. The narrative shifted haphazardly between Jennie's story and Penelope's train of thought and the investigation into her death that made it troublesome for me to engage with the story. 🙅🏻‍♀️ It was disjointed and uneven and made it harder to ease into the heightened escalation of impending trepidation; yet, surprisingly, I never found my interest waning. For with each secret revealed, with each further context clue Jennie stumbled upon or took upon herself to investigate, the pacing was still at a steady pace. Sounds impossible, I know, but I didn't get that impression. So, I suppose, kudos points for that. 👌🏻

“It’s too much,” Jennie whispered. “It belongs in a museum, not on my finger.”

“I can’t think of a more deserving hand in the world,” said Hugh intently. “I can’t offer you the world—the empire’s not what it used to be. But I can offer you my whole heart, forever.”

While I do understand that the focus of the story is mainly on Jennie's uncovering the secrets that lurk in the royal family, but I would have liked a little more than the rushed whirlwind of a romance that she had with Hugh that eventually led them to being this picture perfect couple of an understanding prince and a more than accommodating princess-to-be. It's not that I didn't mind Hugh's understanding nature, but it lacked panache and zest. He felt a bit flat and he could have had a more impressive nature to himself that would have made their chemistry even more palpable. 🙎🏻‍♀️ More time was invested in depicting how Penelope's marriage was - with the sole intention of making it stand as a reason behind her unexpected and untimely death. I just would have liked a bit more sustenance to the characters; a bit more depth and creativity to them, rather than simply sticking to the script of making them completely unredeemable and painting them in a harsh manner. It wasn't quite the ideal route, in my opinion; it would have made for an even more complex mystery if there could have been something more to them than what they were depicted as. 😕

But, when all is said and done, I enjoyed this rather light-hearted read; despite the fear over her life and her growing concern over Penelope's death, the writing carried itself with a refreshing lightness that made me not regret my time with it.

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one will be a short review!

I like to read books about royalty every now and again. This one caught my attention from the cover to the blurb. It sounded really good! Unfortunately, I got off on the wrong foot with this one. The romance starts off rather quickly and there is no build-up to it. They go from one moment of meeting to engaged in a matter of a few amount of pages. It’s hard to care about their life together when I know nothing about what happened before. It’s just a whirlwind.

There are decent moments in the book and how Jennie must maneuver through the royal ways and find her place beside them. She was strong character because of it.

Overall, this was okay but it ended up not being for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very obvious what this one is inspired by, and if you are someone who is curious about what really happened to Princess Diana, and also the Crown’s treatment of Meghan Markle with her marriage to Prince Harry, as an American celebrity, this story is essentially a factionalized version of that. Of course, it takes it’s own, with creating a mystery of sabotage and murder, that really gets you thinking. I will say that while the book had some romance, it was more of a background plot. Hugh and Jennie are very obviously in love, but that’s already a cemented plot point. There’s not too much building or deteriorating on it, aside from the stress that Jennie’s (justified) paranoia causes. This book very much leans more on the mystery category to me, and I enjoyed it, but I will say know that before going in. If you are someone who loves all the genres anyway, then you will love it just fine :)

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the early copy!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This was an entertaining Royal romantic suspense story steeped in the Prince Harry/Meghan Markle experience. Prince Hugh falls for an American singer and while they eventually fall in love, the media and a mysterious force threaten to derail their plans. I really enjoyed that the story was interspersed with letters from Hugh's mother. It lent to the double timeline mystery and kept the reader on their toes. Perfect for fans of authors like Tracey Livesay and anyone who enjoys British Royals drama. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only/closed door

[bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently overly fictionalized versions of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship/time in London are my guilty pleasure because I ate this up. American musician (definitely NOT a famous actress copycat) Jennie Jensen has a meet cute with Prince Hugh (H names huh?), the future King of England, and very quickly they fall in love, have a secret romance, publicly get engaged, and then the horror begins.

We also get flashbacks throughout the book from Princess Penelope"s (cough cough Diana cough cough) diary, where she shares similar horrors she encountered while married to Prince Hugh's dad, prior to her death in a plane crash (NOT a car crash because that would be too obvious, right?). Are these connected? Is someone really out for Jennie? Was Penelope actually murdered? ..... You'll just have to read it to find out.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Game
By Linda Keir

If you can imagine Taylor Swift in a whirlwind romance with the future King of England, and a fan of anything royal, then this is the Royal FanFic of your dreams. All eyes are on American pop sensation, Jenny Jensen and not everyone is thrilled about it. I loved getting lost in this world as Jennie figures out through the tragic fate of princess Penel Penelope’s diary entries before her demise.

I loved the royal mystery take and the edge of my seat thrill on this fun light-hearted romance with a twist. Anyone that loves following the real life royals will find this read exceptionally fun to read.

[Debra]

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced electronic copy. My opinions are my own.

Jennie Jensen never expected to become a princess. She was touring Europe when he just..happened! One minute the Prince of Wales (and future king of the United Kingdom) was watching her at a gig, and six whirlwind months of romance later he's asking her to marry him! She's as down-to-earth and "normal" as they come. So entering this high-stakes world where her every look, every gesture, and every word is turned inside out and broadcast around the globe (WITH barbed commentary) is incredibly overwhelming to say the least. Good thing she loves her prince and he loves her, right? But when terrifying threats start finding their way through all the security surrounding her, she can't help but see the parallels between herself and Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who died in a mysterious plane crash years earlier. Jennie decides to find out once and for all who is out to get her, and if that person had something to do with Princess Penelope's death too. After all, not only her future marriage is at stake, but so is her own life.

I absolutely delighted in the juicy, gossipy mysteriousness of this story. It's not-so-subtly based on a mish-mash of real English royalty (names changed, of course), and equally obvious are the plot parallels to real life. And that makes it all the better! The Jennie/Hugh story arc really focused on what it would be like to live through the flurry of romance rather than on any significant character development or relationship-building (after all, the timeline there is very short so that is to be expected). The mystery that Jennie stumbles on surrounding Hugh's mother's death was where more character development happened, and much of it was heartbreaking. I loved the insight that Jennie's mom was able to provide there as well--she was a devoted follower of the British Royals in the news and gossip rags--which provided another strong thread between the two stories. I really enjoyed this book and was very happy with how it all resolved.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally picked this up as a beach read and it would’ve been a good fit for that. Now I can’t resist a book about royals but the exploitation of Harry and Meghan’s love story for the sake of selling fiction has honestly become too much. At some point we need to let them live and create our own lies and fantasies about how the royals live. Hallmark is creative enough. Why aren’t authors?
Nevertheless I still enjoyed this and I didn’t expect the ending that came. I’d read a sequel. My favorite part was a joke they had about having a pet iguana named Harold. Harold is a good pet name.

[purva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

half of it made no sense and the grand reveal was weird????

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little mystery that felt reminiscent of The Royal We.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine picking up a book where Prince William has married American Meghan Markle and before they're married, Meghan Markle tries to solve the murder of Princess Diana. Leaning really hard on the history already established in pop culture, The Royal Game by Linda Keir reads more as fanfiction then a full fleshed out novel. Because it relies so much on information most people know, even those who loosely follow pop culture, the characters are wildly underdeveloped. Prince Hugh and Jennie are in love; at least, that is what is written but there is virtually no build up that would have made Jennie willing to accept the attacks and threats. Keir struggles to bring together a romance and a thriller and went too far on the thriller side using a set up that wasn't very thrilling.

Blackstone Audio gifted me an ALC and I really enjoyed the narrators so I finished the book, but without the audiobook the novel would have been a DNF.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted finished copy & ALC.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading about the royals? PICK THIS ONE UP!

This is a fictional story which draws similarities from a real life family you may just be familiar with. I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and kept my interest. It is an easy read which will keep you entertained. While I didn’t feel like I really got to know the characters closely, and we were left without a lot of closure on the current timeframe(wedding/Jennies biological mom/epilogue please??) I would recommend this for fans of reading about royals.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

[Hannah McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

High stakes and high royals, a splash of mystery and a dash of romance make The Royal Game a fun, fast, and highly entertaining read!

[Mia Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked The Royal Game because I really enjoy a royal romance book. However, I think this is much more of a mystery than a romance. While I enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a romance.

I liked Jennie and Hugh together but was sad we didn't get to see them falling in love. I could tell they cared about each other, but their relationship wasn't really relevant to the plot except that their relationship was the reason Jennie was involved with the monarchy. For this to be a true mystery romance I would have wanted their relationship to be a large part of the plot.

I was interested in the mystery of who wanted Jennie gone and how they were threatening her without leaving many clues. I did think it was interesting to hear Penelope's story at the same time. I think this story will really appeal to people who always wondered if Princess Diana was murdered and love royal conspiracy theories.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for gifting me an eARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a bubble gum royal romance. But instead got a royal suspenseful mystery. We have a story of an Jennie Jensen an American pop princess falling in love with the Hugh, prince of England. We follow their engagement and follow Jennie getting acclimated to the royal family. Jennie discovers notes written by his mother Princess Penelope who tragically died in a plane crash. Jennie starts asking questions. I really enjoyed this book. The writing kept me intrigued and wanting to know who the snakes were.

[Emma Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 snooooooze alert, I love the monarchy so I thought this would be a fun fictional murder mystery / conspiracy theory on princess Diana.. which is was but it was so anticlimactic & boring

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Royal Game by Linda Keir
Pub date: 1/30/24

Thank you Partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for my gifted copy and the chance to review it honestly.

American singer Jennie Jensen is read to marry England’s Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess. When Jennie receives a threat, she can’t help but compare herself to Princess Penelope who was killed in a mysterious plane crash.

The Royal Game is an entertaining mystery romance that kept my attention throughout. The whole book is entertaining and it really ramps up towards the end! I would say it’s definitely more of a mystery than a romance but it was a pleasant surprise. The royal family aspect of the book was new and different for me and I actually didn’t mind it differing from my usual go to themes. If you enjoy whirlwind romance, mystery, and royal families interest you, you’d enjoy The Royal Game.

Happy reading!

[Roxana · Rating 1 out of 5]

rtc. short version: bad writing, super weird pacing/structure choices, terribly anticlimactic mystery, it isn't romance genre at all and is tragically mismarketed, and the fact that it's barely disguised RPF but they've made the Meghan Markle figure white is kinda weird? but most of all, it's just poorly written.

[Read_with_charl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal enthusiasts this is a book for you. There are many parallels to the British Royal family (an American popstar marries into the royal family) and their history (the death of the Princess of Wales). Although, there is clear influence there is creativity licence throughout.

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy this book; it is more about Jennie’s transition into the Royal family than Jennie and Hugh’s love story- there is their initial meeting and then it does flash ahead to preparing Jennie for life as a Royal and the famous royal wedding. There is suspense and mystery surrounding who is threatening Jennie to keep readers engaged. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks to Princess Penelope’s life, her diary entries and the mystery surrounding her fatal plane crash. Although, it wasn’t what Initially expected I did really enjoy the story.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Rounded

This was a miss for me. The biggest miss is due to the marketing. This was sold as a royal romance, but it isn’t. We get the whole “whirlwind romance” from first meeting to engagement in a few paragraphs in the opening of the story. Due to this glossing over of the building of their relationship I had zero buy in nor did I believe their love story. If this had been marketed more as a mystery (and left the "charming love story" out) then I think I would have better set my expectations.

The second miss for me was the first half of this book didn’t feel original. Everything that happened felt ripped from the headlines. I didn’t feel like the author was adding anything more to the drama until almost the last quarter of the book.

I enjoyed the narrators for the audiobook even if I wished at times their voices were a little bit more distinct.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a chance to review this audiobook.

[Samantha Scheer · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was an okay read.

I love any story that has to do with royals. I’ve always been so intrigued by it so I was instantly draw to this book by the title. While reading it, it is very clear that the story is very much based off of Princess Diana and Megan Markle. At times it was as if I was reading about Princess Diana because of how similar the events of this story were to her life. It doesn’t make for a bad book necessarily, it just makes things a little stale.

Honestly, not much happens until the end of the book. It’s just a lot of mundane activities happening with some mysterious aspect thrown in. I did enjoy the past and present POV as well as the diary entry’s of Princess Penelope. It was made to shown how things were woven together in past and present, and it was done in a way that wasn’t glaringly obvious.

Overall not a bad book. It’s a very tame read and good if you’re looking to zone out in a book and not wanting to really think about anything.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and interesting listen! With obvious nods to the *real* Royals, Keir manages to craft a story that is dishy and intriguing, with definite parallels to actual events but enough novelty to feel original. The characters are easy to fall in love with - even the "villains" - and figuring out the secrets behind Princess Penelope's tragedy and Jenny's dangers leads readers/listeners on a merry chase. I am not always a fan of dual narration, but it really worked here. I will definitely be looking for more audio stories from Keir!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

This book was a journey from start to finish and I really enjoyed it. The story kept me hooked all the way through. If you are a fan of The Crown and conspiracy theories about the monarchy, you will want to pick up this fictional story that feels really real.

The only piece that didn’t feel real was the last chapter—even after everything, I doubt the real crown would let that happen. But it is a romance, after all, and Jennie and Hugh deserved their happy ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

[Megan Hawley Steinfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery that centers around the American fiancé to a British prince, and his mother who died in what some thing was mysterious circumstances years ago. While a romance is at the center of the plot, very little time is spent there, which I appreciated because I think that plot can get too predictable. Instead, there is some of the fun of the "plebian fish in royal waters" trope, but it doesn't get bogged down. The mystery element wraps up just a little too quickly for my taste, but overall I really enjoyed the story.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was entertained by this story but it basically felt like a fan fiction with how closely it referenced Meghan Markle and Princess Diana’s real lives. The royal drama and mystery was captivating even though it wasn’t new or groundbreaking though. It was well paced and really held my attention. However, I wish the story had explored the main character falling in love with the prince more. It skips pretty quickly from them meeting in chapter 1 to already engaged in chapter 2. I feel like I would’ve rooted for their relationship more if we had gotten more back story.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

Soapy, gossipy, and very loosely based on the British Royal family, The Royal Game is even more outlandishly entertaining than the Crown.

Royal watchers will find plenty of real-life inspirations plus some crazy royal rumors. You can't take any of it seriously but it is very amusing.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked: An entertaining blend of mystery and romance, inspired by the lives of Princesses Diana and Megan.
What I disliked: The book ends quickly, without closure on some of the storylines. Could have used an epilogue covering life after the wedding as well as something about Jennie’s biological mother.