Royal Secrets

by Kathleen Irene Paterka

The Royal Wedding Chapel of Las Vegas… Where dreams come true, and are just as easily destroyed… Immersed in the regal world of weddings and romance, Lily Lavender grew up believing in brides, grooms and happily-ever-afters. A direct descendent of the British royals, it seemed her destiny and royal birthright to someday assume a position as wedding coordinator in their family-owned wedding chapel business. But when her mother Mimi’s third marriage eventually fails, Lily’s dreams of her own happily-ever-after quickly fade. She’s no longer interested in a life of assisting brides walk down the aisle into a life of disillusionment and possible divorce. Lily turns her back on The Royal Wedding Chapel and leaves Las Vegas to fashion a life of her own. Years later, Lily—now a single mom—discovers her teenage daughter has run off to Las Vegas, lured by Mimi to help run the chapel. Determined to save her daughter from the broken dreams of Sin City and the nonsensical world of which family fairy tales are made, Lily returns to Las Vegas. But nothing prepares Lily for the royal drama which awaits her… or the sins and secrets she stumbles across that threaten to close the chapel and ruin her family forever.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2013

About the author

Kathleen Irene Paterka is a bestselling author of Women's Fiction. New for 2023 and now available: DON'T OPEN THE DOOR, a psychological domestic suspense novel. Kathleen and her husband live in the beautiful north country of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Las Vegas, a glorious place to visit, all the glitter and glamour and, well you know the saying, “What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas.” Have you ever thought about the people that actually live there? For some it is as natural as breathing, but for Lily, who grew up in the wedding chapel run by her mother, living a happy-ever-after was as false as the life Las Vegas portrayed. She set off to create her own world, that of a successful business woman and single mother. When her teenage daughter runs away, with dreams of helping her grandmother run the Royal Wedding Chapel, Lily heads back to Sin City and the life she left behind.

What started as a simple trip to bring her errant daughter home, becomes a journey back into the world she didn’t believe in anymore. Is it possible that a little fairytale magic is more than a dream? Could there be something to the Royal Wedding Chapel that she never saw? Her mother has held strong to the failing chapel and the secrets surrounding its past. Could it be that Lily will find her own HEA in the world she ran from so long ago?

Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel by Kathleen Irene Paterka is more than a romantic escape. It is finding that home is where the heart is and even though you can’t pick your family, loving and accepting the one you have is truly a gift of joy. Ms. Paterka fills her tale with family issues, personal issues and the beauty found in the young heart and imagination of a teen girl as she unintentionally orchestrates a ballad of love, living in the moment and believing in the magic of love. Although there are dark moments, they provide a wonderful contrast to the heart of this story. Quirky characters, loyal characters and one woman who admits where her heart belongs, makes pure reading entertainment!

Don’t look for everything to fall neatly into sensible little cubbyholes, this is Vegas, enjoy the fantasy!

I received this copy from Kathleen Irene Paterka in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: October 5, 2015
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Genre: Chicklit
Print Length: 219 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Royal Secrets" was my first experience of chick literature and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. I wasn't sure what to expect as I'm so used to reading romance novels but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. The story had me captivated from the word go and the characters definitely kept me wanting to read further.

Having spent her youth working in the family's wedding chapel in Vegas, Lily had seen both the highs and lows of love and marriage. Unfortunately it was the lows that had affected her the most and the first opportunity she got, Lily took her daughter and got the hell out of sin city. Love was definitely for losers and "Happily ever after?" well that definitely didn't exist.

I'm forty years old, and that naive little girl I used to be disappeared long ago. She learned that happily ever after
is merely an illusion.

After being forced to return, Lily was intent on making sure her daughter (Tori) didn't get sucked into the whole hearts, flowers and romance thing that went hand in hand with the chapel. But that was going to prove even harder than she first thought:

I know what Tori wants, I've always known. She fell in love with all things royal- the family tiara and the family business- on her second birthday.

Lily was head strong but she was stubborn. She would fight tooth and nail to ensure that after two months, both herself and Tori would return to California. Well, that was going to prove difficult considering Tori had no intention of going back and other members of the family only sought to encourage this decision.

"She loves her school and her friends. I refuse to pull her out."
"You and I both know she doesn't care squat about that school.
She wants to be here, in Las Vegas, with us. That's all she's ever wanted."

My heart really went out to Lily because it was like everyone was ganging up on her. She had worked her ass off as a single mother to give her daughter the best and it was like they were all throwing it back at her. This only made her dig her heels in deeper.

I really couldn't work Jack out and much like Lily, spent most of the book not trusting him. Was anything he said the truth or did he just hide behind that smug gin of his. He came across as arrogant and cocky, not someone that I would find appealing at all but with their past, Lilly struggled at times with her feelings. Thank god it didn't take her long to get a reality check.

And Mimi (the Queen Mother), holy hell, I could truly see why Lily had gone running. This woman was arrogant, pretentious and a complete control freak:

"No you don't understand. Mimi wanted me to fetch her
some clothes and fix her hair before I called 911."

Even after she suffered a stroke, she wanted her hair done before the paramedics arrived!!! Who the hell does that? The Queen Mother of course. This woman drove me nuts. I think she drove everyone nuts (everyone except Tori who just idolized her). Tori was your typical teenager who threw tantrums when things didn't go her way but was very much like her grandmother in that when she wanted something, no one would stop her getting it. She was very much a hopeless romantic (the polar opposite of her mother).

But this wasn't a straight forward story and the more I read, the more I realised that there were secrets, lots of secrets. But how many people knew what Mimi was hiding and what lengths would Mimi go to, to ensure these secrets remained dead and buried? Unfortunately Lily bore the brunt of these secrets being exposed and that really hurt to read. Her whole life had been one big lie. I felt so sorry for her because it was like everyone had been in on it. Were Lily and Tori the only ones who were left out in the rain?

Two old women, hiding secrets all these years. What do they want from me? Forgiveness? Redemption? If they think I'm going to cover things up like they've been doing, hiding the past and all its dark, dirty secrets, they have another thing coming.

Personally, I found the fact that there were no repercussions for what happened a little unrealistic. I wish the secrets had just stayed within the family because the fall out just didn't ring true for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was well written with a story line (other than the bit I just mentioned) that was realistic and believable. The characters were well developed and I'd definitely love to see what happens next for Lily and Tori.
I rated "Royal Secrets" 4 Hearts

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Secrets by Kathleen Irene Paterka is a 2013 release. A copy of this book was provided to me by Victory Editing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up in Las Vegas, Lily couldn't wait to escape her mother's wedding chapel. But, when she spends a night with her step-father's son, Jack, and winds up pregnant, instead of getting married, Lily leaves for San Diego. Now at forty years old, Lily still clings to her idea of Happily Ever After being a myth and a fairytale.
But, when Lily's daughter, Tori, runs away and heads straight for her grandmother's in Vegas, Lily must go home and get her daughter. But, when she arrives it is only to discover that her mother, Mimi, has had a serious stroke.
Now Lily must try and figure out the shape of the wedding chapel and run a business she loathes with every ounce of her being. She deals with her mother's long time friend and assistant, Francesca who is aging and not able to do as much, and with her former step-father and her daughter's father- Jack.
The Wedding Chapel, with it's history of a royal lineage, is in deep financial straights and Tori wants to restore it to it's former glory. Tori doesn't share in her mother's disdain of all things romantic. Tori, gets her mother and the chapel caught up to the present day by using social media to attract attention to it.
As Mimi begins a long recovery, Lily is anxious to return home and get back to her life. It looks as though that may not happen and she will wind up staying in Vegas to help her mother out of her debt. As a result, Lily is stunned by some shocking revelations. Her entire world shakes on it's axle.
The mother/daughter relationship between Mimi and Lily, and Lily and Tori are examined as each mother did what they felt was right at the time, and each daughter holds resentments toward their mothers. The men in their lives become exasperated with them.
Lily has held on to her cynicism or so long, it's hard for her let go and believe in something she never thought could be true. Will Lily learn to accept her mother and the way she has lived her life, and the secrets she kept? Will she and Tori patch things up ? Will Lily be open to a second chance at love with Jack?
Things don't always turn out like we planned them and sometimes decisions we make in our youth, that we thought were right, turn out later to have some unpleasant consequences. All the characters in this novel have made huge mistakes and errors in judgment in their lives and some hold grudges they have no business holding. But, in the end all the players learn from their mistakes and many wrongs are set right.
This book was hard to categorize for me. It is a romance, but not in the traditional sense. I would have to say it would fall more in the women's fiction genre than any other.
I enjoyed all the dramas and family secrets and I loved the mother/daughter tug of wars on both sides. I give this one a B+

[Jennie Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal Secrets, I’m sad to say, is one of those books where I was hoping to fall in love but it never really happened. A romance set in a Las Vegas wedding chapel styled with the British Monarchy in mind had so much potential that I was chomping at the bit to get approved for a copy on NetGalley. And although the writing was strong, I never ended up really connecting with the MC, Lily.

With a 17-year-old daughter, Lily still harbors deep resentment for her daughter’s father, and it is never really explained in a way that justified her extremely strong feelings after so long of a time. Also, I couldn’t ever quite put my finger on why Lily was so angry with her mother, which made me feel that the conflict was there purely for plot convenience.

That said, Royal Secrets isn’t a bad read, but one that left me longing for a fuller story and more authentic character development. The romance could have been stronger as well, so overall I give this book 3 stars because the writing was solid and it was enjoyable, but I couldn’t get truly lost in the story.

[Anora O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. Found myself unable to put it down.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love reading Chick Lit stories that includes royalty, weddings and intriguing family dynamics? In Royal Secrets, author Kathleen Irene Paterka weaves an entertaining tale set in Las Vegas, and told in the first person narrative that follows the trials and tribulations of Lily Lavender as she unwilling assumes the management of the family business, The Royal Wedding Chapel of Las Vegas, while her mother Mimi "Queen Mum" Alexander recovers from a stroke.

Lily grew up in the shadows of the elegant wedding chapel family business in Las Vegas. But when unhappy family events leads her to becomes disillusioned and cynical with the fairy tale happy-ever-after services that her mother provides, Lily leaves Sin City to lead her own life as a Director of Finance for an international casket company in San Diego, California. Content with her life as a single mother to seventeen year old Tori, Lily's life is turned upside down when Tori runs off to be with her grandmother in Las Vegas. Tori has been bitten with the royal bridal wedding bug since she was two years old, and there is nothing she wants more than to join the family business. Lily isn't going to let her daughter fall into the trap that she had escaped, but when Mimi suffers a stroke, Lily is left to assume the management of the family business that she despises. Lily is determined to only be temporarily involved in the running of the wedding chapel until Mimi recovers, but when she discovers that the family business is in fiscal trouble, she uncovers a hornets nest of long held family sins and secrets. Who says you never can go home again?

I really enjoyed reading Royal Secrets, from the glitter of the royal tiara on the cover, to the promise of intriguing family drama, author Kathleen Irene Paterka weaves an entertaining tale that engages the reader in following the dysfunctional family dynamic and relationship of three generations of women, and the royal bonds that bind them together.

Interwoven within the storyline is the richly descriptive reference to the British Royalty and their traditional royal weddings, for fans of everything British Royalty, this is the book for you! The story is multi-layered with intriguing twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing as the family royal secrets unfold.

I loved that the story is set in Las Vegas with the glitz and glamour of the wedding chapels as the focal point of the story, they are just as famous and prominent a landmark as the casinos are in Sin City. Who hasn't ever fantasized about eloping to Las Vegas and getting married in one of the famous wedding chapels?

With an interesting cast of characters who have multi-layered life stories and long-held secrets, the reader can't help but get drawn into the drama and complexity of their family dynamic. As family secrets unravel, not everything is as it seems, but Lily's journey of self-discovery and the strengthening of family bonds comes full circle with a satisfying royal happily-ever-after ending!

Royal Secrets is an enjoyable story that has everything a Chick Lit fan could ask for: romance, family drama and secrets, and dreams of royal weddings!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Tracie Banister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve long been fascinated by all things royal and Las Vegas is one of my fave cities, so the premise of this book appealed to me right off the bat. Protagonist Lily Lavender (Best character name EVER!) grew up in Sin City, raised by a difficult-to-please, widowed mother who ran a wedding chapel on the Vegas Strip (her father, a British nobleman, was a distant relation of the royal family and died before Lily was born.) Refusing to get sucked into the family business with all of its romantic trappings, Lily bolts to SoCal as soon as she has a college degree and makes a good life for herself. When the story opens, fortysomething Lily is a successful, single mom with a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She still has a combative relationship with her mother and is upset when her rebellious teenage daughter, Tori, runs off to Vegas to be with her overindulgent grandmother aka “Mimi.”

Planning to drag Tori back to Del Mar kicking and screaming if she has to, Lily travels to Vegas to face the demons of her past (Tori’s father is there, too, and Lily has a lot of unresolved issues with him.) But before Lily can get Tori on a plane, an unexpected health crisis puts Mimi in the hospital and Lily is forced to put her life on hold and take over running The Royal Wedding Chapel, which is a position she never wanted to be in. Soon, she learns that the chapel is in dire straits financially and Mimi’s been keeping secrets. Yes, secrets plural, not just about the business, but about their family, which turn Lily’s world upside down and make her question everything she thought she knew about herself and several of the key relationships in her life.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and entertaining, had great characterizations, and some jaw-dropping reveals in the final act that kept me glued to my Kindle. Kudos to the author for putting two characters (Lily and Mimi) who aren’t warm and fuzzy front and center. These were two flawed ladies, with tons of emotional baggage, and from a psychological standpoint, it was interesting to see how they tried, and failed more often that not, to communicate with each other. Familial relationships can be complicated, and that was depicted beautifully here.

This was the first book by Kathleen Irene Paterka that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last! I look forward to checking out her backlist.

I received a copy of Royal Secrets in exchange for an honest review.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy Royal Secrets. It was a quick read that held my interest until the end.

Lily didn’t want any part of her mother’s wedding chapel in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, her daughter did. So, when Tori runs off to Nevada to be with her grandmother, Lily finds herself back where she started and unearthing plenty of secrets.

The secrets were hinted at and alluded to from the beginning. The suspense about what was really going on kept escalating. It made me want to continue reading the story to find out what happened and how everything would work out. Lily was a tough woman who was trying to make a life for herself and her daughter that she felt was best for them. I didn’t love Lily. I didn’t hate her. She was alright but a bit too immature in some ways and too closed off in some ways. I felt bad for her as the story progressed though. Mimi loves her wedding chapel and the history sometimes more than her own daughter, or so it seems to Lily. I know Mimi did what she did for Lily, for the most part. But I don’t agree with all of her decisions. Tori loves the fairytale and is rather naïve about a few things. She was also a bit of a brat. Mimi loves Tori so much and vice versa. Tori wants to someday run the Royal Wedding Chapel. She wants to make other brides’ fairytale dreams come true.

This was a fun read. Did it blow my sock off? No, but that’s okay. Was I expecting something different in the ending, and the story as a whole? Yes, but that’s okay, too. Books are supposed to surprise you and not be predictable. Royal Secrets was not predictable and I thought it was a good escape from every day life.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book. It was a fun read with some mystery involved. A good chick lit, quick read.

Will I read it again: I will not.

(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Secrets is more than a story about a Vegas wedding chapel and the notion of romance. Royal Secrets is about families and the ties that bind. Not everything that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and Lily Lavender soon finds that out. When she was a teenager, there was nothing more she wanted than to get away from the Royal Wedding Chapel. When she ends up pregnant, this only fuels her desire to put as much distance between her and Las Vegas as she can. She works and raises her daughter, Tori, in San Diego.

Shortly before Tori turns 18, she leaves and drives to Las Vegas. Lily has to fly out to Vegas to try to reason with Tori and bring her back to San Diego. As soon as she arrives, she learns the unexpected has happened. Family problems trump Lily’s desire to flee back to San Diego. She soon learns that things aren’t always what they seem. Long-buried family secrets begin to come to light, and Lily’s loyalty is tested more than ever.

This was a really great read. Lily is a strong, stubborn, single mom. Though she may be just a little too protective of her heart for her own good. I felt like this was a nicely developed story and it flowed really well. Lily has to learn to let her walls down…to learn to let people in and accept help. It’s a journey for her, through her past up until the present, and she has to make choices about her future. I enjoyed going on that journey with her.

My review and an excerpt are posted on Brooke Blogs. Stop by and check it out. :)

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel" is the story of Lily, who grew up watching her mom run the Royal Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Lily is a real list and wanted nothing to do with the wedding chapel but gets pulled back into her moms dromo when her daughter decides that she does want a piece of the family business. Willie has to swallow her pride and bite her tongue when her own mother faces health issues. This is a story with engaging characters about family secrets.

I have read several books by the soccer and as with her previous books I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The author does a great job of creating realistic characters that you want to follow. I'm a fairly no-nonsense person so will we felt right in my alley she has a hidden softer side that we get to know throughout the book. I love her character and also some of the secondary characters in the book. Lilly's mother Mimi is such a great character to follow she sort of lives in a fantasy world and his created this façade of the mystique of the royal wedding chapel. I love seeing how everything unfolded around how she created a tall tale.

The writing of this book is great. I hadn't read a lot that was set in Las Vegas so I like getting to see that city through this book. I also like the way that the author moves the story along through the characters. The author does a good job of letting out a little detail about a time that it kept me reading and kept me wanting to put together the mystery of the royal wedding chapel. Overall, this was a great story.

[karmaforlifechick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Royal Secrets by Kathleen Irene Paterka in exchange for an honest review.
Lily Lavender was born and raised in Las Vegas by her mother, Mimi, but while growing up Lily decided she wanted nothing to do with the promise of “Happily Ever After” that her mother’s business “The Royal Wedding Chapel of Las Vegas” has to offer. She’s a single mother herself, and her daughter, Tori shares the passion her grandmother has for the Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas and decides to run away from home and go to Las Vegas to help her grandmother. Obviously Lily has no choice but to go to Las Vegas to get her daughter, and so begins the drama that’s brought to life when Lily returns to her hometown to bring her daughter back.
The characters were well thought out and the hatred Lily felt towards her mother was depressingly real, as was the relationship between Lily and her daughter, Tori. Although Tori was a teenager, she seemed to have the most realistic grasp of everything that was going on around her because her mother’s hatred clouded her judgment in so many ways. Eventually Lily realizes that not everything is what it seems, and for the most part she has seriously misjudged the people around her and their motivations. This book is about the lengths a family will go to protect their own and how forgiveness and having an open heart can change your life.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I threw in the towel on this one at 22%. It was labeled a Romance, but in the first 22%, there was not even a hint of romance. Lily's mom runs a wedding chapel in Vegas. Lily's 17-year-old daughter skipped school and drove form San Diego to Vegas on her own, so Lily flew out the same day to go retrieve her. Since Lily's dad also lives in Vegas, I thought Lily was being ridiculous. But, when Lily arrives, she finds out her mom was rushed to the hospital and she had a stroke. So... Most of the first 22% is technical, medical stroke information that I skimmed before it knocked me out... There was also A LOT of Lily throwing herself a pity party. Lily's baby daddy is her former stepbrother who is at least 10 years older than her and became her stepbrother when she was 10, so the fact that they have a kid together is creepy to me...

Anyway, the story just wasn't my cup o' tea. I need to be intrigued, but I was just bored from the get-go. Based on other reviews I perused, many others liked it, so don't just take my word for it...

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of Kathleen ever since I read “Fatty Patty” (such a great book), so I was eager to start “Royal Secrets”. Being a huge fan of the Royal Family, I really enjoyed this book, and even the references to Kate. There were a lot of twists and turns, which made for a page-turner. While the beginning seemed a little slow and there were parts that seemed to drag on a bit, it definitely picked up in the middle. I was constantly wondering what would happen next.

I thought the characters were written really well, but my favorite was Tori. She was mature and smart, and I liked how she challenged her mother. My main issue with this book was Lilly’s character. From the beginning, she seemed really upset with her mother for having a stroke. It like she was put out for having to take care of her. I also thought Lilly needed to step in take over for Tori, who seemed to take better care of Mimi.

Kathleen’s writing was witty and fun! Like I mentioned above, this wasn’t my first book by her, and I know it won’t be my last!

I give “Royal Secrets” 4 stars!

[Shelly Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lily's teenage daughter leaves San Diego and takes off for Las Vegas, the home of her father and grandmother, Lily chases after her. Unfortunately, once in Vegas, Lily's mother suffers a stroke. She is trapped there during her mother's recovery, taking care of the wedding chapel family business, and Lily hates everything about the business and can't wait to return home.

Although this book is very well written with well-developed characters, I found the first portion a bit repetitive. Lily is so fiery about how much she hates being there and is so uptight and guarded much of the time, that her personality kind of stressed me out.

However, once I reached the middle of the book, it became hard for me to put down. Family secrets started unraveling and I couldn't wait to get to the end to see how it all worked out. I was also happy to see that Lily finally calmed down, breathed a little, and had some self-realizations in the end.

Overall, Royal Secrets was a great read that I'd highly recommend.

[Leta Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm usually not one to go for Chick Lit, but being a bit of a Royal watcher, I couldn't resist a story where the main characters are distantly related to the British monarchy. Overall, the story was wonderful--characters who were rich in personality, whose motivations made sense (even when I didn't agree with them) and whose flaws moved the story forward. Add to that a family business that not everyone in the family was sold on, a headstrong teenager butting heads with her equally-headstrong mother, and a family matriarch who acts like the royalty she was supposedly descended from, and you have the makings of a great story. There were also quite a few plot twists towards the end of the book, some of which threw me for a loop.

My only complaint, and it's not even much of one, was that for me, the first half of the book seemed to drag a bit. When the action picked up at the end, it almost seemed like too much all at once.

Still, a great read overall.

[Claudia Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story from beginning to end. It drew me in with the tie to royalty and kept me reading to the very last word. I know the tiara on the cover got the attention of the "princess" in me. Paterka's characters always speak to me with their realistic reactions to situations, whether the reaction is right or wrong, it is a very human one. I enjoyed reading about her characters being pulled in all the directions that we are all pulled in when dealing with work, family and responsibilities, and also with our own desires of the things we want from life. This is one of those books that I will be reading more than once because I find new things to think about with each reading.

[Samantha March · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Irene Paterka is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Royal Secrets

I have also read and reviewed Fatty Patty by this author, and I was looking forward to reading another book from her. Royal Secrets is a lot of fun and always kept me on my toes! There was a plot twist in there that through me completely off guard and made this really hard to put down. I loved the Las Vegas setting, I though the royal family plot point was great (and the timing works so well with the Royal Baby Countdown), and the characters had depth and were interesting to read about. I highly enjoyed this story, and I hope you will read it!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Paterka offers us a well written generational story about strong women and the lies and secrets that bond them and keep them apart. The setting is a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. The book was paced well, the characters interesting and multi-layered. Ms. Paterka didn't telegraph the ending, which was quite satisfying. The dialogue was well-matched with the characters and the story flowed quite well.
I would read other books by this author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda Keathley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thank you Goodreads for choosing and sending me a free ARC of this book.

Okay so I really enjoyed this book. The characters were amazing and I especially loved Mimi, Jack and Lily's characters. This book was funny, surprising, witty and overall just awesome.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads. I enjoyed this book, it was a easyread that held my interest.

[Mom/Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Syrica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expect the unexpected

With secrets you never know what you're going to get. I couldn't put the book down because of the building anticipation. Job well done.

[Annie McDonnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathleen Irene Paterka delivers another wonderful novel. I have read and reviewed one of her other books; “The Other Wife”, so I was expecting to really enjoy this story. I was not disappointed.

We are introduced to three generations of women that are set on a course to learn more about one another than ever expected. Sometimes lies and betrayals are revealed that cannot be avoided. Sometimes they break you, and sometimes they make you stronger.

Mimi (Elizabeth) Alexander runs the Royal Wedding Chapel with her friends, Francesca and Jaabir. This chapel sits right in the middle of the Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, and has been there for decades. But, its popularity is waning, and they will all be faced with some hard decisions regarding this business. Mimi lives for this Wedding Chapel. It is like a part of her soul. While her daughter wanted to run away as fast as she could, her granddaughter caught the “Wedding Bug”!

Mimi’s daughter; Lily, grew up at the Royal Wedding Chapel, and could not wait to get away. She earned a Degree in Finance and now works for an International Casket Company. She lives in San Diego, so her dream of getting away became a reality. Only her daughter, Tori wants to be with her Grandmother, Mimi, working at the Chapel.

The story begins with Tori running off to Las Vegas just a few months before her 18th birthday, and her mother ran after her. Lily was determined to bring her daughter home to San Diego.

But, life had other plans!!

While some things in this story I could figure out, I have to say that I was shocked quite a bit…Mouth agape shocked!!! There is ONE line in this story that was so shocking, I was rather impressed with Paterka’s delivery! There are a lot of lines like that. Kathleen Irene Paterka sure knows how to deliver an engrossing novel.

This is a great book for anyone that loves a story about female relationships, as she gets to the heart of these relationships.

This was a wonderful story, and I loved how Kathleen Irene Paterka defines family. Above all, that is what this story is about.

[Claire Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel” is a well-crafted story that will pull you in quickly and keep you turning the pages until you have reached the end. I’ve read every one of Kathleen Irene Paterka’s books, and her storytelling skills keep improving every time. As “Secrets” opens, we’re dropped right into the middle of a family crisis. The daughter of the main character, Lily Lavender, is on her way from her California home to Las Vegas, her birthplace, because her seventeen-year-old daughter Tori has abruptly disappeared from school and is headed east to Vegas, where Lily’s mother still operates the Royal Wedding Chapel, which trades on the family’s distant ties to the British Royal Family. Lily has spent her life fleeing her mother, the chapel, and all it represents, but now she’s about to be pulled back in to an extent that she, and the reader, can’t imagine.

No sooner has Lily arrived in the city where she grew up than she discovers a crisis involving her mother that threatens the future of the chapel. Tori’s father, who still lives in Vegas, becomes a major player in the story, which soon takes a series of unexpected turns. Without getting into spoiler territory, it’s safe to say there’s a lot hiding behind the façade of the chapel and as the revelations unfold, Lily and her family are forced to confront some long-buried truths. A gripping read with strong, relatable characters.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book that I have read by Kathleen Irene Paterka and I loved it! The women in the book were all strong and in independent, which is something that I like when reading women's fiction. I also loved the setting of the book, Las Vegas, one of my favorite places!

The story line was very entertaining and I came to love all of the characters, which does not always happen when I read a book. I loved the fact that the plot centered around a Las Vegas wedding chapel and the bond between the women that owned and worked there. The drama and mystery in the story line kept me reading, honestly I was sad to say goodbye to these characters when I finished the book.

I don't know about you but I can always tell a good book right from the beginning by the characters and whether or not I connect with them and would be friends in real life with them and I would be friends with Lily, the main character in the book.

I plan on reading more books by this author.This review was originally posted on

[Carol Cassada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this booked for free from Lifestyle and Literature in exchange for an honest review.

Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel focuses on Lily Lavendar, who never brought into the fairytales and happily ever afters that her mother Mimi instilled.

Coming from Royal heritage and raised in the nightlife of Las Vegas, Lily escaped the city. However, when Mimi suffers a stroke, Lily and her daughter, Tori return to Vegas. As Mimi recovers, Lily takes over the wedding chapel. Soon Lily discovers secrets that change everything she's ever believed in.

The book is romance and a majority of the story revolves around Lily possibly reuniting with her ex, Jack. However, there are some dramatic moments with the family helping Mimi after her stroke. Then there’s the other secrets that come to light throughout the story. At times, the story tended to get a bit too dark, yet there was also some humor scattered throughout the story as the chapel dealt with unruly brides.

I liked how everything wrapped up in the end, yet I felt like more could be added. It has me wondering if there’s a possible sequel coming up.

[Michelle Bolton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Lavender grew up in Las Vegas helping her mom run The Royal Wedding Chapel. Lily's interest in running the family business fades and she leaves Las Vegas to start her own career and life as a single mother away from the wedding chapel. Years later, Lily's teen aged daughter makes a trip to see her grandma and Lily is brought right back to the place she started.

Secrets of the Royal Wedding Chapel kept my interest and was full of twists and turns. This book was not predictable and I enjoyed that! There are secrets, betrayals, forgiveness and understanding, all of which makes for a great read. Mother, daughter, granddaughter and their relationships with one another, my favorite subjects! Sometimes learning family secrets can bring a family closer together and in this case it does just that! I really liked this book and will recommend it to my friends.

[Bharti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story which has secrets, fake or rather conveniently misplaced identities. An uber ambitious mother, a daughter who wants to get as far as possible from the wedding business and a grand daughter who loves all the wedding drama and history their family is associate with.
It's a story which will make you feel like you are watching a soap opera with 3 generations of women, their lovers and Secrets. I had a bit difficulty picturing the characters and bringing them to life in my imagination. That said I admired their making mistakes, falling down and getting back on their feet all amidst drama, the Tax monsters, celebrity sightings and finding lost relationships. There was something missing though and it had so much potential for humour and sharp dialogue.

[S. Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing that attracted me to this novel was the absolute stunning cover, & not only the fact that it's based in Las Vegas, involving weddings but also the royal family. And then there's the great plot. This book was a pleasure to read. I HAD to know what secrets were lurking. This isn't your typical 'predictable' novel, you will not guess the secrets! I was taken aback. The characters were all really likeable, especially Lily who only wants to do the right thing for those she loves. And Jack, well he just sounds delicious! It's my dream to visit Vegas, & this has made me want to go even more. If you're after a feel-good read with twists along the way, then this book is for you!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining and funny book. Lily returns home to Las Vegas to chase her daughter who has run away from home. Lily's mother runs a wedding chapel in Las Vegas, which Lily has chosen to not be involved in. Secrets about both Lily and her mother are gradually revealed - all is not what it seems. I found the narrative in this book very engaging and it kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning as I had to find out how this ended - which was very satisfying!!! Once again Kathleen Paterka has written a lovely novel which again has a realistic storyline and of course had that twist in the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!