A foreign prince on the run, a local girl in a serious jam, and a ’65 Mustang headed for Georgia. What could go wrong?
How my brother talked me into ditching our security team and embarking on this ridiculous adventure, I haven’t a clue. But it’s my duty to keep the idiot safe - something made even more difficult now that we’re stranded in the middle of nowhere with a local mechanic as our only hope. But this wrench-wielding beauty has problems of her own and a smile that might make me forget my obligations entirely.
With one look at Leo Baxter, I know down to my cherry-painted toenails that he and his pain-in-the ass brother are nothing but trouble. Given my family’s dire circumstances, however, I’ve got little choice but to take these rich country-club rejects up on their offer. A fat stack of cash in exchange for a ride through the mountains. How bad could it be?
Between a Rock and a Royal is book one in a duet and is not a stand-alone title. To complete Leo and Ruby's story, download Blue Bloods and Backroads (book 2).
USA Today bestselling author Sylvie Stewart loves bad jokes, dirty rom-coms, country music, and baby skunks—preferably all at the same time. Most of her steamy contemporary and romantic comedy novels take place across her favorite state of North Carolina, and her characters never run out of snarky banter or snacks. When her laptop closes, Sylvie is a sucker for hugs from her twin boys and a good laugh with her hot-nerd hubby. If you love smart Southern gals, hot blue-collar guys, and snort-laughing with characters who feel like your best friends, Sylvie's your gal.
This was fun, right up until I realized this isn't an actual book. A book has a beginning, plot and conclusion. This book just introduces the characters sets up a plot and ends. No conclusion. Which makes this a money grab. You buy the book and if you want to keep reading, pay more money. I was enjoying this but not enough to play the game and continue.
One of the things that I enjoy most about the author's work, is her ability to moderate her delivery, dependent upon the story being told. This is a perfect example.
Although there are some deeper threads to be pulled with the backstory for each, there is sufficient humour and distraction shot through to lift the book. And as a result, the story has a lighter touch with great pacing and a narrative that effortlessly carries the reader along for the ride.
I look forward to reading the conclusion.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Unrealistic but I loved it. This is one of the things as a little girl you dream of. The characters are really made well, and the story steadily progresses. You better have the second book when you finish, it's a little bit of a clif hanger ending.
Oh my! Ruby and Leo were so much fun! I loved the road trip they all took! It was so great to see the adventure they went on. Can’t forget about Leo’s brother Malcom he definitely made the trip so much better. Can’t wait to what happens to Ruby and Leo next and also see what Malcom is up to. 🥰
(Note: This is a review for a book duet. You’ll need to read both books, since book 1 ends on a cliffie.)
This is one of those stories that could have crossed over into cliche land REAL fast. I mean, the story of a prince from a fictional tiny land who falls for a small town girl? It’s been done a time or two (or ten thousand). But the author deserves MAJOR props because never once did I feel like I’ve read this story before.
First of all, I loved Leo about 99% of the time. (He’s a bit of a jerk at the end of book 1 for a hot minute, but I kind of understand where he’s coming from, so I’ll let it slide) But except for that 1%, he was a total sweetheart—hot without being an alphahole, sweet and gentlemanly without being a wuss, and witty enough to keep up with the fast-talking heroine. I’d gladly add Leo to my all-time favorite nice guy book boyfriends list.
Ruby was all kinds of fun. She’s a successful mechanic who owns her own garage (girlpower!), and never once traipses into TSTL land. (I might’ve questioned her sanity for a second or two in book 1 when she agreed to roadtrip with Leo and his brother, but again, I understood where she was coming from, so I cut her some slack. I also think that if it came down to it, Ruby could take both Leo and Malcolm in a fight, so there’s that…)
There are also some genuinely hilarious moments in this rom com duet, too—and y’all know how much I HATE IT when a book is being marketed as a rom com and there isn’t anything funny about it. Most of the truly great comedy came from Leo’s brother Malcolm, and I loved every minute of it.
(Side note: I will 1-click THE CRAP out of Malcolm’s story when it’s out)
The dialogue is fun and snappy, the sex scenes are hot, and the chemistry between Ruby and Leo is combustible. Additionally, I adore road trip romances, and this one fits the bill nicely.
Anyhoo, long-story-short, this was a fun, light-hearted, low-angst read that I’d recommend to any rom com lover out there in the reading audience. It’s a lot of fun, and you can 1-click with confidence.
And don't forget to check out the Romance Rehab blog for more rants, raves, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
In part one of Between a Rock and a Royal, we meet Ruby who co-owns a car repair shop with her uncle Carl. He's like a father to her and he's run into some trouble on account of his son. They're about to lose the business if they can't come up with the money, and soon.
Visiting America are twin brothers, Malcolm and Leo, and they just happen to be princes. Unfortunately, their father's health is failing and Malcolm needs to take his place as king, though he's not ready yet. Opposing personalities, Malcolm is a free spirit, who isn't quite ready for all of the responsibility. Leo is more down to earth, and he cares for the earth, using his wealth to build wells and other deeds for bettering the future. So when Malcolm decides to ditch their security for one last adventure, Leo isn't totally on board. When their bad luck turns worse, it's Ruby who happens upon them, and that's when the real adventure begins.
I'm glad that Ruby gets along with Malcolm because he's pretty terrific in his own way, there's a lot of layers to him that he hides. But her relationship with Leo is special, they're intimately drawn to each other and when they finally act on it, things get super *hot*. I really loved Ruby, she's funny and honest. Some of her self-dialogue had me laughing out loud. Stewart is brilliant at writing romantic comedies and I think the conclusion is going to rock (pun intended).
This book took me completely by surprise. On the surface, it looked like a sweet story of a girl and a prince that might be charming at best, clichéd at worst. I was completely wrong. The writing here is some of the best quality I’ve seen among top romance authors. It’s clean, crisp, clever, and funny. Stewart has NAILED the mannerisms and speaking of the royal brothers so keenly that they burst through the page. And that spunky heroine was one of the most empowering young women I’ve read. Stewart’s adept use of language, description, and dialogue made her feel REAL to me.
Everything about this book was engaging, exciting, and burst-out-laughing funny. From the unpredictability of their grand adventure to the steaminess of their building relationship, I loved it all. Smart characters who did crazy but believable things with a premise that left me smiling for days.
Do yourself a favor and one-click this book. Then repeat on the rest of Sylvie Stewart’s books. That’s what I just did!
Book Review: Between a Rock and a Royal Author: Sylvie Stewart FIVE STARS Sylvie Stewart takes us for a nice long ride in a 1965 Ford Mustang with a set of HOT identical twins. Ruby really has no idea what she is getting herself into, all she knows is Malcom offered her 10k for a ride through the mountains and a few days of her time and she desperately needs the money. Malcom and his identical twin Leo are actually a lot more than they appear. Yes they are twins, yes they are identical and oh yeah, they are princes. Malcom is on the run from his security detail so that he can have some fun before he heads home to take his place as the King. Leo, being the more level headed of the pair, is trying to keep them all out of trouble and trying to keep Ruby out of his head and heart but is that really possible? This book does end in a major cliff hanger and I almost hate Sylvie Stewart for this but I know that the next book HAS to be just as great as this one once she releases it, which hopefully is soon.
Between a Rock and a Royal is a fantastic read. It was fun, there was plenty of witty banter, and the characters are all quite lovable in their own quirky little ways. Leo and Mal may be twins in looks, but in disposition they couldn't be more different. Leo likes to be calm, controlled, and ever the adult. Mal wants to have fun, break some rules, and fight the chains of responsibility as long as he possibly can. Head butting, bickering, and sheer stubbornness ensue until Ruby. Suddenly straightforward Leo can't remember why he needs to be so responsible and mature all the time. What's wrong with breaking a few rules, or at least bending them, when that's all that's standing between you, a once in a life time road trip, a little red convertible, and the most luscious pair of lips you've ever laid eyes on. I loved every moment of this story and can't wait to see what part two has in store.
Super funny and sweet romance and storyline. This is a duet and ends in a huge cliffhanger. The first book and the first half of the second book were fantastic. Then the style of writing changes. Malcolm and Leo are two princes and identical twins, from an obscure country in Europe. Malcolm is to become King and wants one last harrah before taking over for his ailing father. With John Denver's Country Roads as inspiration, the two ditch their security and sneak off on an adventure. Ruby is a local small town mechanic in North Carolina. Her cousin put her and her uncle in a huge spot of trouble that could cause them to lose their shop. The cousin skipped bail and is reeking havoc, making a bad situation worse. When the two groups collide, fun ensues, romance sparks, and trouble follows.
What do you get with two identical princes [one on the run to have some fun and the younger out to keep him out of trouble] plus a feisty small town girl who wins the heart of Leo, the younger twin. Malcolm desperately wants to just be HIM and have fun but his security detail seem to be determined to stop that. Ruby is having trouble and then she meets THEM. Bestill her beating heart! A great fun romance and caper that kept me on the edge of my seat, laughing and enjoying all the fun and romance. The two princes were especially written so well and I loved Sylvie Stewart's writing style. Sizzling chemistry and a fabulous storyline means that I'm now hooked on this author's books and look forward to reading more of her books. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. MOST DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
3.5 stars Wanna get to know someone? Take a road trip together. In this case, Ruby just might bite off more than she can chew. Between a Rock and a Royal is an amusing, fast-paced read with witty dialogue and a bit of steamy fun. The romance revolves around Leo and Ruby, who are both likable characters, but the driving force of this adventure is Malcolm, the fun-loving, trouble-making future king. The angst level is relatively low through most of the book - at least until the end when we get a pretty big cliffy. That part surprised me with a lighthearted romcom, but it did feel necessary with the way the story unfolds. In any case, I did enjoy the read and will be interested to see where it goes from here.
Between a Rock and a Royal is Book 1 in the Kings of Carolina Duet. It is a contemporary romantic comedy told in duel POV and a cliffhanger of sorts, so have book 2 ready. I can’t praise this story enough. I havnt read anything by the author before and I was so pleasantly surprised with how good this story was. I couldn’t put it down and I wouldn’t change one single thing about it. I loved the main characters Ruby, Leo and Mal and I adored every character after that and the story arc. It was filled with beautiful relationships, hilarious one liners, sweet and sexy times and some great foreign exchange. I am counting down to book 2.
This was a great read, I really loved the brothers....twins guys, they’re twins! But seriously, the characters are fantastic, the story line is great. It’s funny, and witty, entertaining and original. The author drew me in right away, the characters were not just great but they are easy to relate to, and their plight is one I easily got behind. The ending had me biting my lip and getting a bit heated at Leo, but was understandable. I very much look forward to reading what Sylvie Steward has in store for them in book two.
*Received copy via Booksprout in return for honest review, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review*
Ruby and her family are in need of cash...fast. And Leo and Malcom may just be the answer to her problem. Oh how I loved Malcom (I really hope he gets his own book!!) and Leo! Leo has quite the job trying to keep his twin brother in line...but what harm can come in just a little road trip? Meeting Ruby may be the answer to the road trip dilemma...but will she end up helping or harming the two incognito brothers? The chemistry between Leo and Ruby...HOT, HOT, HOT! I can’t wait for the second book to find out what happens next!!!
Oh my, this one was definitely a cut above and over the top. Clever, snappy, witty, sensually arousing, engaging--oh, the list on this book can go on and on. Leo was a prince, both literally and figuratively. Ruby was a jewel, both literally and figuratively. The story and the characters meshed so well together. Simply yummy. Yes, wow, it was that good. I volunteered to review an arc of this book, and I am so glad that I did. Sylvie Stewart has a gift for literary deliciousness. Don't miss it.
Love the adventures of Leo and Malcolm with Ruby along for the ride. Humorous laugh out loud moments. Malcolm the fun loving brother wants a break from his responsibilities when Theo is the serious voice of reason. Ruby needs help and accepts the brothers offer. There’s an attraction between Leo and Ruby but they both have secrets that challenges their new relationship. This is cliffhanger. Engaging from beginning to end. Recommend read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a fun read and I loved every last minute of it. Malcolm and Leo are twins and while they look alike they could not be more different. Malcolm is in the US to have some fun before he takes the throne Leo is with him to make sure he does not get into too much trouble. Ruby owns a garage with her uncle but they are sinking fast so when she is offered ten grand to go on a road trip with the guys she agrees. This was such a funny book it had me laughing out loud and I could not stop reading it.
Cliffhanger – Great Story I loved this book until the last page when I found this was a cliffhanger. Not leaving the door open for the next story, but a bonafide end of the book in the middle of the plot. I hate that. I never read cliffhangers. The story had me completely intrigued. The plot and execution were just wonderful. And then it ended. What a lousy way to sell more books. I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest opinion.
I gotta say, this book was everything I expected and more. I could not put it down once I started it and did not want it to end when I got there. Stand-alone, romance with a HEA. A captivating very well written read! An intense emotionally heartfelt story-line that grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and on edge throughout this beautifully written story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ready for an adventure with two royals buy this and see what happens!!! Love the characters and the story. Timing is everything right well for the three characters that couldn’t be more true. One group to push some limits and a person that needs some financial help. Jump on the hilarious fun train and buy this today! You can never go wrong with Silvie!!!!
My brother is the crown prince and thinks he is the clever one which he lets them think. Now they are in a man and he needs to get them out of it. Her uncle and her owe money and they will pay it for a ride. Easy right. Maybe not so easy? Trouble is coming so see what will happen
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A fun enjoyable story full of loveable characters, witty banter, hot chemistry, and a few sweet and sexy times. I love that is was told in dual point of view and the chemistry between Ruby and Leo is sizzling hot. Can't wait for the rest of the story a entertaining fun road trip.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A road trip for redemption. A win right. The antics that goes on with royal family. How can two royals be so different. Read how a monkey wrench female takes a road trip with two royals and falls in love. But with which one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the characters, they worked so good together. Humor, sadness - but not resignation - caring, love and more. Ruby manage to draw out the best of both Leo and Malcolm, even if their first meeting could have been better.
A great read that will wanting more. This is the first novel I have read from this author and it will keep me coming back for more. I would recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book however all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I loved this! It grabbed me from the first page, kept me til the last and enthralled me in between. Well worth your time to read it.