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Royally Kissed #2

Royally Matched

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I’ve got 99 problems, and picking the wrong guy might be all of them.

I've always had my royal checklist: Attend the Husband Hunting Ball? Check. Find the perfect match for a princess like me? Check. Feel zero sparks with Mr. Right (aka Enzo Revera)? Sadly, double check.

But then I meet Marco, Enzo's charming and rugged brother. He's everything I shouldn't want, especially since I've planned my life to avoid the messiness of love.

When a twist of fate puts Marco at my side, I can't deny our chemistry, even if he's all wrong for a princess like me. Thrown together by royal duties and an ancient riddle, Marco and I embark on a crazy adventure that leads us to hidden clues.

As we unravel a secret that changes everything, I’m faced with a choice between duty and desire. Can I defy expectations and claim both the throne I’ve always wanted and my true love?


In this dizzyingly romantic modern royal romcom for grown-ups, find out what happens when a cinnamon roll hero meets a princess who follows ALL the rules... Royally Matched is a closed-door romance with all the sizzle but without the spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s Book 2 in the brand new series, Royally Kissed.

If you enjoyed "The Selection" by Kiera Cass, you'll love this modern royal romance.

Audible Audio

Published November 25, 2025

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About the author

Kate O'Keeffe

43 books889 followers
Kate O'Keeffe is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author who writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family and two scruffy but loveable dogs.

When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries around the globe (back when we used to be able to do that), and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

Get a free book when you sign up to Kate's newsletter at kateokeeffe.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
343 reviews10 followers
November 10, 2024
Royally Matched by Kate O'Keeffe is the second book of the Royally Kissed series. I enjoyed this even more than The Backup Princess, the first book. I loved the romance buildup - the author delivered on the spark even with minimal spice. The characters are such fun and likeable and the ending was really good.
Thank you, Netgalley and Wild Lime Books, for giving me the ARC. All opinions expressed are fully mine.
Profile Image for Suzan.
1,206 reviews
September 26, 2024
This was a super sweet and fun royalty romance, and I absolutely adored it! After reading The Backup Princess, I’ve been looking forward to Sofia’s story, and it didn’t disappoint!

Sofia is looking for the perfect match, but after having her heart badly broken in the past, she relies on a spreadsheet to find him. Logic and reason seems like a much safer alternative than feelings and emotions.

Enzo checks all the boxes, but she feels no sparks at all with him. When she meets his brother Marco, there’s an instant magnetic pull between them, but she’s certain he’s all wrong for her and will break her heart.

When they’re thrown together by royal duties and then embark on a quest together, the attraction gets stronger and stronger, and Sofia will need to decide if she’s going to follow her head or her heart.

What I loved:
Dual POV
Cinnamon roll hero
Reverse grumpy sunshine
Opposites attract
Secrets
Forced proximity
Summer festival & lanterns
Treasure hunt
The epilogue

I loved Marco and how mindful he was of Sofia, and how he saw the real person, not the princess. I loved how he helped her be more herself, and to find happiness In living in the moment. It was fun to see Sofia get the kind of love she had always hoped for, but never expected to find.

Royally Matched is wonderfully romantic with some fun twists, lovable characters, and a very happy ending. Loved it!

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy!
Profile Image for Audrey.
314 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2024
Royally Matched by Kate O'Keeffe is the second book in her Royally Kissed Series but can be read as a standalone. This book is told from a dual POV, following Princess Sofia and Marco Revera. Sofia is known as the "Pitiful Princess" and she needs a husband. Her family set up a "Husband Hunting Ball" with all Ledonia's eligible man. She already has one man, Enzo Revera, in mind as he checks off all the boxes on her spreadsheet, especially the one for zero sparks. She does not want her heart broken again. Then she meets Enzo's charming and rugged brother, Marco. He is everything Sofia shouldn't want. This book was so well written & was such a cute story. I absolutely love Kate's writing style. I loved the first book, but this one just hit a little more for me. I absolutely loved this one. It was so good. Marco & Sofia's chemistry was on fire. I can not wait for Ameila and Max's stories to come.

👑 Princess Diaries Vibes
❤️ Royally Quest
👑 Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
❤️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
👑 Forced Proximity
❤️ Sizzling Kisses

I’m far more pragmatic than that. And besides, I have zero interest in trying to find the “great love of my life.” No, thank you. I’ve walked down that path before, wearing my heart on my sleeve, and let me tell you, it only ends in heartbreak. These days, my heart is tucked neatly away in a thick metal box. Locked. Wrapped in chains. With high tech laser beams, warning of intruders. So much safer that way.

“Oh, Sofia doesn’t need the pick of the room. She already knows who she wants,” Amelia says, and I shoot her look. “What? Everyone knows you’ve got a spreadsheet.”

Amelia crosses her arms. “No sizzle whatsoever.” Again, with the sizzle?

The media may have declared her uninteresting because she doesn’t go in for silly antics, but to me Sofia is a stunningly gorgeous and sexy woman with a mind of her own and determination I can’t help but admire. And more than that, she’s kind and sincere and fun. That’s right, Princess Sofia is fun.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
1,967 reviews8 followers
September 23, 2024
I love a good royal romance! What could go wrong when you pick the wrong guy? I especially enjoyed the sibling dynamic in this royal romcom! Marco is especially swoony!!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Julie Carpenter.
2,020 reviews252 followers
September 25, 2024
I always love a good story about a royal! And this one made me so happy! Sofia is the ever dutiful princess who cares deeply about her family, her duties and her country and its people. She would sacrifice everything to make sure that they were all cared for. Even love! She's planned it all out carefully and is ready to show her parents that she knows what she's doing. But when meeting one person throws all of those plans into chaos, she has to decide if she'll hold tightly to them or be willing to listen to her heart.

Marco is such a great MMC! His patient goodness. His kindness and compassion. His desire to serve others and to help them feel noticed and seen. His desire for strong family connections. His desire to find love and lasting happiness. Perfect cinnamon roll character! And the chemistry between Marco and Sofia was off the charts from the get go. Poor Sofia is just a touch too practical to understand exactly what it is that is happening to her. But definitely cue the swoony moments!!!

And the forced proximity throughout the book when they start in on a treasure hunt! Oh! My! Heart!!! I loved it all!!!

And the fun that Sofia's family added to the whole dynamics of the story was perfect. They were delightful and had me smiling over the siblings' interactions, the parents love for their family and all of the craziness in between! Loved them all!!!

I didn't read the first book before reading this one but it is on my list to go back and enjoy! I'm looking forward to more books in this series!!!

Content: Clean, sweet and wholesome. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. The main characters are forced to share a room together but it is kept clean.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Sierra.
1,102 reviews
September 27, 2024
Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Sofia & Marco’s points of view

– it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed away due to a heart attack (past event)

Review:

Looking at the cover, my thought was that Marco would be a ‘bad boy’ kind of character, but I couldn’t be more wrong! He was so adorable and I loved that even from the get-go he wanted to find true love & didn’t understand why someone would willingly enter an arranged marriage/relationship. I loved that despite some preconceptions Marco had of Sofia, he took the time to get to know her and picked up the slack when his brother dropped the ball with her (because that’s just the kind of person Marco was). I loved that Sofia was trying to guard her heart the best she could to save herself from further heartbreak but inevitably fell for the one person she didn’t believe she should. I loved that so many side characters wanted Sofia & Marco together & enjoyed seeing what happened because of it. I also loved the addition of a small adventure/mystery to the story and how it made Sofia & Marco grow closer together!

I can’t wait to find out who’s story will be next!

Summary:

Sofia is determined to have her Husband Hunting Ball to find the perfect match for herself to marry. Enzo is perfect on paper and checks more boxes than anyone else invited, making him the ideal candidate to be in an arranged marriage with. Even if she doesn’t feel any sparks with him. Unfortunately, Sofia meets someone that same night who does elicit sparks. And he’s none other than Enzo’s brother, Marco. Why unfortunately? Well, Sofia is doing everything she can to avoid the love that tends to follow the sparks… and she can’t avoid Marco when he’s following his brother around to all of their gatherings…

Marco wants to find true love and doesn’t entertain the idea of entering Princess Sofia’s Husband Hunting Ball as a prospect because he doesn’t believe her to be his match. But due to social niceties and working for his brother as his secretary, Marco finds himself donning a monkey suit and joining the festivities. When Princess Sofia choses Marco’s brother Enzo to be her match, Marco is incredibly surprised. Even more so when Enzo accepts her arrangement offer. Now that their worlds need to merge so Sofia & Enzo can have time to get to know one another, Marco has to work closely with Sofia and her staff to make things work. And Marco discovers that his initial assessment of Sofia couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, she just might be his true love & not Enzo’s…
Profile Image for Kaci Bonar.
455 reviews9 followers
September 25, 2024
Having read the first book in this series, I knew to expect to be wowed again, and Kate O’Keefe brought it!  So, let’s pack our suitcases and head to the fictional kingdom of Ledonia and get ready to jump feet first into the Husband Hunting Ball, shall we?!

Princess Sofia is the center of the grand affair, opting to have her father help in her quest to find her future spouse!  With her suitor checklist in her room and memorized the princess heads down to the ballroom!  As pleasantries are exchanged and some gentle ribbing from her siblings, Sofia is on her quest to meet Lord Strozzi, however she wasn’t planning on being proposed to by another man first (who, for the record was totally sloshed)!  Being rescued by yet another (this one dubbed “Duck”)!  No matter how charmed she might have been with Duck, he isn’t the man Sofia is actively seeking out!

Marco is forced to attend the ball by his brother, Enzo, and has no interest in the princess!  Despite his disheveled appearance, Marco becomes captivated by Sofia’s beauty as he watches her dance the night away with Lord Strozzi!  In the coming days, he’s put to the test as his brother’s PA and makes no secret that he doesn’t approve of the potential engagement between Enzo and Sofia after the spend time getting to know each other!  It is then that the princess realizes that the enchanting Duck and Enzo’s brother are one and the same!  Marco may not always be the best at making a good impression, but his genuine heart shines through time and time again!

This story had more twists and turns than a royal garden labyrinth, but that made it exciting!  The ease in which you fall in step with these younger generation royals and their daily lives is amazing!  This story also included some adorable dogs with a penchant of mischief and a quest that was anything but boring!  I have already purchased the paperback even before finishing reading the ebook and eagerly await to find out which royal will come next in the series!  Bravo!
9,377 reviews141 followers
September 19, 2024
This is a well written rom com with strong characters and an entertaining storyline. The author does a great job developing the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She brings a laugh out loud story and had me turning the pages with the banter and sizzle. She moves the story fluidly and delivers a terrific read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.
Profile Image for WhatJo13reads.
125 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🚫

After loving the Backup Princess I couldn’t wait to read Sofia’s story.

Princess Sofia needs a husband! Enzo ticks all of the boxes. But what should work on paper doesn’t work in real life. Enter Marco, his younger brother.

This is such a sweet rom-com. If you love reverse grumpy sunshine, cinnamon roll MMC and forced proximity this is for you

If you love The Princess Diaries you will love this series. So pleased Amelia and Max will be getting their stories too.
Profile Image for Cali Jewel.
5,254 reviews41 followers
November 24, 2024
This is a sweetly sexy, heartwarming and emotional journey filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, exciting twists, thrilling passion and lots of laugh out loud goodness. Great reading!
Profile Image for Book Bits With Britt.
232 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2026
Cute book. It took me longer than I expected to get into it but once i did it was good!
Profile Image for lindasbookedup.
176 reviews3 followers
October 24, 2024
This rom com has everything needed for a sweet, fun, HEA story with all of the sizzle but no spice, and it delivers. A royal love story with an arranged marriage, a cinnamon roll MMC, and forced proximity. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Rebecca Hill.
914 reviews10 followers
September 29, 2024
Royally Matched is the second book in O'Keeffe's Royally Kissed series. It can be appreciated as a standalone. This contemporary romance features Princess Sofia, first born child of King Frederic and Queen Astrid of Ledonia, and Marco Revera.

As a member of the royal family, Sofia is expected to find a husband before she turns 28, or have an arranged marriage. Having had her heart broken in the past, Sofia is opting for the latter. She has diligently prepared a spreadsheet of the eligible men, identifying the presence or absence of characteristics she deems important for her future spouse. Her parents have organized a ball tonight to meet these men, but she already knows who she believes to be the best match: Enzo Revera, Lord Strozzi.

Marco is two years younger than Sofia. He has recently returned to Villadorata, the capital city of Ledonia, after extensive travels. His experiences have allowed him to determine that he wants to be a landscape gardening. He is quite passionate about plants.

"To be perfectly honest, I guess I lose myself in the rich soil, coaxing life from tiny seeds. To me, each bloom is nothing short of a triumph, a burst of color that I've nurtured. A garden's rhythms connect us all to nature's cycles. We are of the earth, no matter how sophisticated and complicated our cultures have become. No matter how we've lost sight of that. It's who we are at our deepest core."

While Marco works on bringing his passion to life, he is also working as his older brother's assistant. In that capacity, he joined his brother, Lord Strozzi, at Sofia's "Husband Hunting Ball". He wasn't there to make an impression. The princess was known for being rather serious and dull, and always being prim and proper, wearing matronly attire and her hair tied up. She was not someone who would appeal to him, nor would he be someone who appealed to her. Marco is somewhat unkept, with dirt under his nails. He wears jeans and t-shirts and rubber boots. He doesn't have a steady job or a career and definitely does not meet the criteria Sofia has outlined on her spreadsheet.

When Sofia meets Marco at the ball, something unexpected happens: sparks. She is drawn to him, and he to her. Sparks are not on her spreadsheet though. They have been purposefully excluded because falling in love means risking your heart, and after her last relationship, she's not certain she would survive that pain. She has to repeatedly remind herself of her spreadsheet and her criteria for her future spouse.

"It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep the pretence up of not liking this man. He many have strong opinions, but his easy demeanor and willingness to get along with me is disarming, and I find myself at ease with him."

But Marco believes in love and does not think an arranged marriage is the way to go - neither for his brother or for Sofia. As Marco and Sofia spend more time together, arranging opportunities for Enzo to interact with, and get to know the princess, Marco comes to realize that she isn't the woman the media depicts her to be.

"The media may have declared her uninteresting because she doesn't go in for silly antics, but to me Sofia is a stunningly gorgeous and sexy woman with a mind of her own and determination I can't help but admire. And more that that, she's kind and sincere and fun. That's right, Princess Sofia is fun. I can safely say that's not something I ever expected to think about the uptight prim and proper princess I've seen grow up in the public eye. It just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover."

As Marco's attraction and appreciation for Sofia grows, perhaps there's a way to break through her well constructed walls. Could she be convinced to abandon her spreadsheet and consider Marco, a man who is "unpredictable, spontaneous, his heart filled with passion and excitement"?

I had a lot of fun reading Sofia's story. This was my introduction to Ledonia and my enjoyment makes me want to go back to the first book, The Backup Princess, and read Sofia's brother's story. I appreciated Sofia's spirit. She may portray herself as being the perfect princess in appearance and decorum but she is passionate about her role and her people. While Enzo seemed to be perfect on paper, Marco was perfect in reality. His easygoing nature and lightheartedness are just what the princess needs to remember that being a princess is her job, but not who she is. Marco is a wonderful cinnamon roll character perfectly suited to breaking Sofia out of her shell in a supportive, understanding and caring environment.

As Sofia (and her brother Alex) have two more siblings - Amelia & Max - I suspect we have two more Royally Kissed books to which we can look forward. I'm not sure when they might be coming, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for them.
Profile Image for DayDreamer8912.
438 reviews16 followers
September 27, 2024
5/5
Genre: Clean Romance
🚨TW: mention of loss of a parent, grief

Read it if you like:
👑Dual POV
🩷 Royalty
👑 Opposites attract
🩷 Reverse grumpy-sunshine
👑 Forced proximity
🩷 Royal quest
👑 Adventure
🩷 Secrets/ Hidden truths
👑 Lots of laughs
🩷 Closed door

Favourite Moments
👑When they first met
🩷 Moments of her and her siblings
👑 Incident that her dogs are the main star.
🩷 Solving the riddles together
👑 The road trip
🩷 The Summer Festival (can’t spoil it)
👑 Them opening up to each other.
🩷 Them flirting and teasing each other.
👑 Her amazing parents.
(a lot more)

Swoony Moments
👑He is always there to save her. (knight in shining armour)
🩷 He respected and cares for her
👑 He is a hopeless romantic
🩷 He brings her to have fun
👑 He loves her the way she is.
🩷 He loves designing gardens for people to enjoy.
👑 He made her smile and laugh.

Synopsis:
Sofia
Known as Pitiful Princess of Ledonia by the media because of her heartbreak. She wants to be an heir of her country.

Marco
A landscape gardener/secretary. Used to travel around the world and now he is back in Ledonia doing the thing he passionate about.

Sofia is at the age of marriage but because of her heartbreak she pushes away love so that she won't get hurt again. She decided to go on with arranged marriage and her parents oraginized a ball specially for her to find her future husband that ticks all of her boxes. However, a knight in shinning armour saved her from a drunk proposal at the ball which stir up her heart. And that person happens to be the brother of the person that she had her mind set on to be her partner for life. Will she choose to marry for love or the person that tick all her boxes? Read Royally Matched to find out!!!

Review:
This is the 2nd book of the Royalty Kissed Series. Hehe.. love this two so much. Love that Marco makes Princess Sofia let loose and be herself other than just being prim and proper which is the total opposite of his brother Enzo which had tick to every box of her checklist of the perfect guy for her and she was about to get engaged to Enzo but Marco stir up her heart. Marco loves the side of her and he can see her true personality. Love the adventures that they did together like solving riddles and also had a road trip and went to a small town together to find out what is written in the ancient scroll. And the cutest thing is that the people around them are matchmaking them together and they didn’t realize it. Love that he respected her and also protected her and to her he is her knight of shinning armour. Love the way the flirt and tease each other and they are very comfortable with each other and they also slowly opened up to each other about what they are going through and what they are passionate about. Though Princess Sofia is afraid that she will get hurt again but her siblings especially Amelia and Alex help her to realize that love is a rare and precious thing. And also, Marco not giving up in pursuing her. This book made me smile, laugh, swoon.

P.S I want my Tangled moment too. (seriously the song I See the Light came out to my mind when that scene came out) haha… (read and you will find out I better not spoil too much of the story) hehe… it is for you to find out.

Thanks @kateokeeffewriter for the ARC .

You can purchased this book on Amazon and it is available on KU.




790 reviews14 followers
September 20, 2024
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

I’ve read the first book in the Royally Kissed series, The Backup Princess (reviewed here), and as much as I enjoyed that experience, I really loved Royally Matched! I felt very invested in both main characters. Sofia is known as the “Pitiful Princess” of Ledonia, due to her more rigid and pristine attitude, while Marco is a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy, content to go where the wind takes him. Sofia has fallen for that type of guy before, and it ended in heartbreak for her, so she’s made it her mission to completely eliminate attraction and chemistry from any relationship, preferring to create a list of potential suitors who look good on paper.

The man who looks the best on paper is Enzo, Marco’s brother. Enzo checks all of Sofia's boxes, but none that sets her soul on fire, which Sofia is completely fine with. For her, it’s better to be safe than in love. But she can’t get Marco out of her head. Despite how different they seem to be, he is the one who can get her out of her shell. And for Marco, with his head in the clouds, Sofia is the comfort he needs to find his way back to earth from time to time. I liked the sweet connection they have and the way Marco continually gets past Sofia’s defenses, even when she thinks she needs to put duty first before her own wants and needs.

The crazy adventure they go on was a nice addition to the story, and I did not suspect who was ultimately responsible for it. Marco thinks he knows who is behind everything, but who it really is was a pleasant surprise. Discovering the truth behind Sofia and what her future holds was also nice to see. While I enjoyed seeing the progression of possible romance for Sofia–Enzo or Marco–it was even better to witness the strength and power she has, particularly when she can define her life by her own terms.

Royally Matched reminded me of the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces, with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges. Maybe because like Sofia, Jeff’s character Gregory had been burned one too many times before by overtly sensual, charismatic women, and decides to look for someone he felt he would have no chemistry with–Rose, played by Barbra Streisand…although, let’s be honest here, no one has more charisma than the incomparable Babs. The same goes for the ties between Sofia and Marco. It is a connection that is for the ages, despite how hard Sofia tries to deny it or refuse it. It’s the “sizzle” that really spices up this sweet endearing love story, making it a well-deserved five-star experience!
Profile Image for Shayla Riley.
750 reviews32 followers
September 26, 2024
“Let the adventure continue.”

~Princess Sofia has always had a rigid royal checklist. But, then Sofia meets Marco. He’s everything she shouldn’t want, especially since Sofia has planned her lice to avoid the messiness of love. With a twist of fate and adventure, Sofia can’t deny their chemistry, even if he’s all wrong for a princess like her. She will now have to make a choice between duty and desire…

“Whatever you do, whatever your decision, know that my heart is yours.”

-Royally Matched is a closed-door romance with all the sizzle but without the spice, and with a guaranteed and satisfying happily ever after. It can easily be read as a standalone, but l’d recommend reading the earlier book to meet the dear royal family and small European kingdom of Ledonia. You won’t be disappointed!

-This is such an endearing story and I adored it completely! If you enjoy dual pov, forced proximity, witty banter, the right amount of tension, delightful humor, sparks of chemistry, royal duties, sweet building romance, adventurous treasure hunts, with wonderful refreshing characters, than this book will have your heart with feeling all the emotions, and leaving you with a big smile afterwards!

-I thoroughly enjoyed really appreciated the way that both Sofia and Marco have had to process grief from previous past relationship losses. Seeing how this helped both Sofia and Marco build trust as they lower their guard with each other was lovely. Both surely have their ups and downs, but you will love their journey and adventure to their own happily ever after. I loved how this dear story emphasizes the importance that, life is not always what you expect, and how the heart doesn’t always follow the mind when it comes to love! The attention to these details shines beautifully in this dear story, worth the read! 👑🙌🏻📚

“My dear, don’t rush through life, or you’ll miss the little moments that matter the most.”

#royallymatched
#delightfulstoryandseries
#allaboutthebestreads

“I love you in so many ways, too many to count.”

-I give 4.5!

•I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
1,401 reviews
September 21, 2024
This book is the second in this series and Kate O'Keefe doesn't disappoint.
Sofia, Princess of Ledonia, has reached an age when she should be married but having had her heart broken once she was determined that this wouldn't happen again.
Sofia performed her royal duties perfectly, she dressed in formal suits, she wore pearls, her hair was always taken up into a neat bun, she waved, she smiled but she was dull, she was known as the "pitiful princess".
To the horror of her fun loving younger sister, Sofia decided that she would have an arranged marriage, her father agreed to host a " husband hunting " ball where all the suitable Batchelors would be invited. Sofia's sister was even more horrified when she discovered that Sofia was going to choose her husband from a database that she had devised for prospective husbands with tick boxes for boring attributes but no mention of love.
The man to tick all the boxes was Enzo Revera, boring Enzo was most women's idea of a date from hell but he was happy that Sofia had chosen him, she wasn't his type but he wasn't avers to joining the royal family.
Watching from the sidelines was Enzo's handsome brother Marco, Marco couldn't be more different, fun loving Marco loved adventure, Marco had travelled the world, Marco had done things that most people could only dream about and Marco had an instant attraction to Sofia but what could he do about it, could he break through the ice shield that Sofia had erected, could he get her to delete her database.
This story follows the journey of Sofia and Marco as she tries to fight the attraction and Marco peeling back the layers and uncovering a side of the beautiful princess that no one ever sees, he introduces her to fun and to love but will she ditch her plan in exchange for love ?
This story has a lovely feelgood factor. I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
Profile Image for Melissa’s Bookshelf.
2,706 reviews196 followers
September 26, 2024
Royalty, an ancient riddle, forced proximity, & opposites attract romance! I loved Royally Matched. This was such a fun romcom & I loved the added bonus of a mystery too.

I enjoyed Princess Sophia in The Backup Princess & couldn’t wait to get her story. She’s a very prim & proper princess who cares deeply for her people. When her parents throw her a Husband Hunting Ball, she’s got all the qualifications for a spouse lined up on her spreadsheet. Love isn’t going to be part of the choice especially after having her heart broken. But, when she meets a free spirited, handsome man who doesn’t check any boxes on her list, she’s immediately drawn to him even though she doesn’t want to be. When she finds out he’s the brother of the boring man she’s chosen, things get complicated.

I adored Marco! He’s the sweet, cinnamon roll, easy going, a bit on the wild side guy Sophia needs to help her shine. He sees who she really is & encourages her to be herself. They both get caught up in a treasure hunt that’s so much fun & brings them closer together. But, will Sophia have the courage to follow her heart?

I loved the romance & riddles. It was fun to see what the quest finally leads them too. I especially enjoyed the siblings & how they looked out for each other. Sophia’s parents are delightful too. The conclusion was so swoony & had me grinning from ear to ear. Throw in a couple cute dogs & I’m a goner.

Don’t miss the bonus epilogue! This is one cute royal romance that’s not to miss. Looking forward to the other siblings’ stories. Though part of a series, it can be easily read as a standalone. It’s more fun though if you’ve read the first book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author, but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
Profile Image for Lindsey Adams.
1,506 reviews31 followers
October 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️

If you haven’t read the first book in Kate’s Royally Kissed series, no worries. This can be read as a standalone. However, if you enjoy Kate and her writing, or any author similar to her, I highly, highly recommend you do read it!

Princess Sofia, aka the “Pitiful Princess”, is in need of a husband. Not wanting to get her heart broken again, she has a checklist that her future husband must meet. Most importantly, no chemistry! All the eligible men in Ledonia are invited to the “Husband Hunting Ball” where she meets Enzo Revera. He’ll do. What she forgot to put on her checklist however is not to fall for Enzo’s brother, Marco. He is heartbreak on a stick, but she can’t seem to stay away.

Marco definitely wasn’t planning on being attracted to them woman his brother hopes to marry. How could they have the same taste in anything? He doesn’t realize that Enzo is a means to an end though. As he journeys with Sofia, the attraction becomes more obvious, between the both of them. He sees Sofia for her, not her title. He is able to bring her to life again and actually enjoying it, putting duty aside for once.

Kate always writes sweet, clean romances that make me swoon! Sofia and Marco are no different. The question of Sofia following her heart or head was front and center as the story progressed, even though I knew who I wanted her to end up with immediately. Another great thing about Kate’s stories is the guaranteed HEA. I love the comfort of knowing that no matter what our two MCs go through, they are going to end up happy and together. It brings joy to my heart!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
👑 Princess Diaries Vibes
❤️ Royal Quest
👑 Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
❤️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
👑 Forced Proximity
❤️ Sizzling Kisses
Profile Image for Jennifer Kelley.
146 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2025
I love a good royal romance and I've been anticipating this one since I read The Backup Princess last year. I was so looking forward to Sofia's book and it did not disappoint. Kate did an excellent job with Sofia's arc. It was full of emotion and as a fellow female with a sense of duty and desire for things just so, I absolutely connected with her in a lot of ways. I also just love the world Kate has created with Malveaux and Ledonia. Her world building is top notch. I can't wait to see what she comes up with for Amelia's story!

Sofia...At first glance, the rigidity and duty abounds with this girl. She seems distant at the beginning, but I loved seeing her open up and let down her guard over the course of the story. Sofia truly just needed confidence to show who she really was to the world. Don't we all love when a man gives that kind of courage and support to a FMC? Marco made Sofia feel completely seen early on and that was a huge deal for her and such a sweet thing for the reader to experience.

Marco...Man, I really liked this guy. I don't usually go for the super laid-back and free-spirited MMCs, but Marco was just so loveable. He was Sofia's biggest cheerleader and was just along for the ride, letting her shine. I enjoyed how playful he was and how he really inspired Sofia to get out of her head and take herself a little less seriously. They really were the perfect puzzle pieces to one another!

Things I loved:
❤️Meet cute at the husband hunting ball
❤️More Maddie and Alex
❤️Portrait gallery event (and Marco in his wellies)
❤️Lemon and Pepper
❤️Garden party escapades
❤️The quest
❤️Trip to Monteluce
❤️Summer festival
❤️One bed
❤️Releasing lanterns and that kiss 🥵
❤️Sofia's heart-to-heart with Alex
❤️Hall of mirrors reunion
❤️Reveal of who was behind "the ruse"
❤️Perfect epilogue

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
Profile Image for LRHeydon.
66 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2025
If I hear another word about Marco's 'chiseled jaw, high cheekbones and his mop of dark blonde hair' ever again...I promise you I am going to lose my sanity.

And to you, Marco, if I hear one more word about Sofia's 'sexy curves, her sexiness, her dark hair and her dark eyes' ever again, Ill also be losing my sanity.

How many times does a character's looks need to be described?! Also what the heck is 'chiseled jaw' supposed to be? Last I checked men are flesh and blood and bone, not...marble.

Ugh anyway, now to what gave me reason to give this book 3 stars:

Characters: They werent bad but they werent entirely good either. Im pretty neutral towards them. Marco was definitely more likeable than Sofia imo, though

Sexual Contents: Clean, no spice.

Profanity: None that I can remember.

Writing and Pace: Well done. Kate O'Keeffe's writing style is easy to follow and draws you in.

Worldbuilding: Enjoyable

Themes: Princess, gardening, royal life

Overall this wasnt a bad book but the over done descriptions of the MC and FMC is getting old. Really, freaken, old. Im so over it, y'all. If it was mentioned maybe once or twice, sure, that's fine but last I checked: looks are not personality and sure as heck they arent what love should be about.

Oh and if I hear more nonsense like this coming out of dear Princess Sofia's mouth again, I'll throw this book at a wall (and Im not one to do that to books bc books are my life.) Anyway the nonsense that Im talking about is: He's so wrong for me. I shouldn't be attracted to him. I cant have feelings for him. I cant let him call me Sofia because its too intimate.

Oh boo freaken hoo, Princess. Anyway this was a disappointment after the first book which was fantastically executed.

Anyway 3 stars, a clean read, nice if you dont mind overkill of descriptions and if physical appearance is more important than whats on the inside

🫠
Profile Image for Ashlee.
473 reviews14 followers
September 26, 2024
If you have been following along with my reviews, you probably know by now I have a guilty pleasure for royal romance stories and Royally Matched was right up my alley. I was excited to read this book as a continuation from The Backup Princess, but technically this story can be read as a standalone. However, I would really recommend reading The Backup Princess too if you get a chance because that one was also so good and you get to know some of the characters from this story. There were so many highlights in this book.

First, Royally Matched was so funny. There were several spots where I was just laughing inside while reading. But oh my goodness, the lizard brain part where Sofia is having an internal monologue at the ball had me nearly bursting out in laughter. I don’t know what it was about that moment, but it was funny as heck. There were so many amusing and hilarious moments throughout this book that made it such a joy to read.

The absolutely awful chemistry between Enzo and Sofia (and I say this not as a dig to the author because you can totally tell she was going for this vibe) definitely helped to contrast the impeccable chemistry between Marco and Sofia. Both of them tried to fight it so hard but they just went together so well, even if they kept insisting to themselves they wouldn’t. I loved watching Sofia open up and become more comfortable with herself. I enjoyed the slight mystery they were sent on to solve the mystery of the scroll and the romantic moments it led to. Didn’t fully see the end coming of what the scroll meant and where it came from (no spoilers!) so that was also a great surprise. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I’m leaving an honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,498 reviews84 followers
September 24, 2024
A bit of a royal to do and there’s no mistake. Pitiful Princess is a bit of a joke. But it’s time for Princess Sofia aka pp to put it behind her, her time to shine. Find her Prince , for her to say he’s all mine. But there’s no royal spark , certainly none divine…for prince number one but number two ? Now there’s something she is into….The King and Queen are holding a Husband Hunting Ball . Matchmaking at its best. But what of their behest? She wants to shed the bad press , the old before her time media label if she’s at all able. So on she dons her red gown , the colour of Ledonian Royalty and removes the frown that’s been getting her down. She can’t wait to turn twenty eight but before that time she has a year to find her own Mr. Right before it’s too late as that would leave her parents able to choose the match and dispatch. With her sister Amelia the tomboy to ground her as she enters the ball uttering ‘ Chill out ,Sofe. You look like you’re heading to the wrong side of a firing squad , not about to meet a whole roomful of men , all her for you,” that’s sisters for you , tell it how it is. So begins the business. Well a twist of fate is all it takes to make her dreams come true when Marco is thrust into her path when tasked with royal duties to do . Leap of faith or something else? As long as she doesn’t end up on the shelf…. Brilliant writing as ever by Kate o Keefe . Mighty clever penmanship and the ability to conjure , fun , romance and laughter synonymous with this genre. Expertly crafted with characters who are both unique and interesting and have qualities we all seek.
Profile Image for Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy.
2,311 reviews78 followers
September 24, 2024
A Husband Hunting Ball sounds like a blast, right? Sofia is the dutiful daughter who is willing to do whatever is necessary to fulfill her royal duties, even have a dating game night at the palace. This should be good. Sofia is very detail oriented, and she has found perfect match before the ball. Enzo is perfect on paper. He checks every box that would be needed to be the proper husband. Everything, that is, except love and romance. What she does not count on is meeting Enzo's brother, Marco.

Marco is everything that Enzo is not. He has a wanderlust. He is adventurous, loves life and is more comfortable in work boots than a tuxedo.

Sofia's first meeting with Marco leaves her a little star struck, but her sense of royal duty will not allow her to pursue her feelings. She feels she must focus on a proper partner, and that man is Enzo.

When a twist of fate throws Marco and Sofia together, the sparks really start to fly. But we still have Enzo in the story as well with his buttoned up, opinionated stuffiness and a nose held so high in the air that he would drown if it rained. I did not like Mr. Know It All from the beginning, but when I found out his views on dogs, he really went down the drain.

Kate O'Keefe's brilliant writing and imagination shine through this story with characters full of life and a story as old as time. There is a nip of romance in the air. The scene with the naughty dogs added a particular brand of charm and humor to the story. Lastly, a treasure hunt adds a little mystique to this royal romance. This story had it all.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Randi Sampson.
1,952 reviews109 followers
September 20, 2024
Royally Matched is the second book in the Royally Kisses series. While you might have a better understanding of this royal family dynamic if you've read the previous book in the series, this could absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

As much as I enjoyed the first book in the series, I have to say this one absolutely blew me away! I've stated before that the whole 'wrong brother/sibling' trope is one that absolutely should not work... and yet every time I've read one, I have absolutely LOVED it. This one was no exception. On paper, Sofia knew exactly what she wanted in a husband and armed with a spreadsheet, she had a ball to find the perfect husband for her- Enzo. Unfortunately, sparks instead start flying with someone else at the ball--- Enzo's younger, more carefree brother Marco-- the exact opposite of what she was looking for! This definitely had the potential to come across as the dreaded love triangle, but Kate O'Keeffe pulled it off perfectly with no doubt of who she would find her happily ever after with. Sofia was such a serious and put together character, and I loved how Marco came in and we got to see this softer, more relaxed side of her. They truly balanced each other very well. Throw in a bit of a treasure hunt with some meddling family and twists and turns that took me by surprise (in the best way possible), and I truly could not help but fall in love with this story.

Royally Matched is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sally.
551 reviews
September 29, 2024
I hadn't read the previous book in the series but it didn't matter as this definitely was able to be read as a standalone. The book was another easy read from an author I'd read before but I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed their previous small town romances and part of it might've been the whole royal setting and how that all played out.

For me, there were a few things that grated and really took the suspension of disbelief a little too far. The relationship the press had with Sofia was weird, particularly their chosen nickname for her. It just never seemed like a name they'd latch onto. And while I loved Marco and thought he was a great character, his buy in to the quest was a little odd. But not as odd as Sofia's! It was a fun element but the logic of them taking it so seriously was lost on me. Anyone with half a brain would think that whoever sent the clues to Marco would have left something for them to find so why wouldn't they immediately doubt it's authenticity and age. Rather than just assuming it had been lost for decades (and more).

And then when Sofia is saying how she's worked so hard to change the inheritance laws, what exactly has she done? Other than wishing and hoping? And going on a scavenger hunt for a couple of days... It just seemed so random and like it was trying to make things more serious than they actually were.

The other supporting characters were fun so I might try reading other books in the series when I get a chance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
890 reviews9 followers
September 17, 2024
Male primogeniture

Royally Matched reminded me of the shooting scene in The Crown.  season 1 episode 3.  King George VI tries to explain to Philip that his job as Prince Consort is both a very broad and, at the same time, a very specific thing.  Elizabeth IS his job. He needs to be whatever she needs him to be, so that when she is Queen she can concentrate on the Monarchy.  She won't have time to cater to his foibles.  It might be something built into female DNA; it seems to come more naturally to women, but takes a concentrated effort by most men.

Sofia is the oldest of the Ledonian royal siblings and she is facing a crisis. Unmarried and rapidly approaching her milestone birthday, she decided to opt for an arranged marriage and base her choice on logic, not emotion. Her parents throw her a reverse- Cinderella ball to meet all the single men of an appropriate age. Sophia chooses Enzo, a man who embodies all the traits she thinks a royal husband should have. Too bad that her chosen suitor has all the personality of the spreadsheet his selection was based on. Even worse, his younger brother, Marco, is taller, fitter, more handsome and has better hair. Plus a personality that is a delicious counterpoint to Sofia's regimented public personna.

Now all the mayhem of an arranged courtship starts to break loose, from the first public appearance at the opening of an art gallery and a never to be forgotten garden party with marauding canines, nothing goes as expected. Sofia finds it a strain to talk to Enzo and increasingly comfortable to confide in Marco.

Marco made Sofia his job.  He chose to be mindful of her needs and provided her a safe space to be 'just Sofia'.  She can be happy, sad, fearful, brave, strong, vulnerable and all the other hunan emotions that would otherwise have no outlet.  Marco was the person who could get Sofia out of her own head and just 'be'.  Everyone needs a place to "just be". As Elizabeth II famously said of Prince Philip at their 50th anniversary celebration, "Quite simply, he has been my rock, and my stay."

I received an advance beta copy of this story directly from the author and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Profile Image for Manda| Little Bitty Delights.
209 reviews
September 26, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Five-star read!

"Royally Matched" by Kate O’Keeffe checks all the boxes for me when I’m looking for a sweet escape:
☑️ A fun, whimsical setting
☑️ Laugh-out-loud moments
☑️ A swoon-worthy hero
☑️ A lovable heroine with real growth
☑️ Romance, adventure, and of course, a happy ever after!

Each book I pick up by Kate O’Keeffe keeps getting better, and Royally Matched is no exception. This is the second book in the Royally Kissed series, but it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone without missing a beat.

Princess Sofia knows her duty and has always embraced it. She’s proper, prim, and never lets her heart rule her head—which is why she’s agreed to an arranged marriage. That is, until she unexpectedly meets Marco, who checks none of her boxes but sets her heart aflutter 🫠.

Marco is everything Sofia didn’t know she needed. He becomes her knight in shining armor, always there to save her—not just from the world, but from herself and the walls she’s built around her heart.

I absolutely loved watching Sofia’s journey of opening up and seeing her relax around Marco, whose easygoing, happy personality coaxes her out of her shell. This dual-POV story gives us characters to root for, celebrate their growth, and of course, fall in love with. If you adore cozy, sweet rom-coms with witty banter, royal adventures, and Princess Diaries vibes, this is a must-read!

I received an e-ARC and paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and all thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Angeline.
808 reviews25 followers
September 27, 2024
I was excited to read this book and come back to this series! Royally Matched is the second book in Kate O’Keeffe’s Royally Kissed series. Sofia needed her own story and it was cool to get to know her.
I liked both Sofia and Marco, they were opposites but perfect for each other. They both had to figure out what they wanted in a relationship and how they wanted to work out their differences. It was fun to get to know them both and read about them connecting. I like how they helped settle each other.
The romance was sweet and Sofia and Marco definitely had a connection. However there were some obstacles that stood in the way, as Sofia had thought that Marco’s brother was a better fit for her. But she couldn’t deny the connection that she had with Marco. Marco had to figure out if he wanted to fight for Sofia.
I enjoyed the story and I am excited to read more of this series. I really enjoyed the side characters and the sibling relationships. The plot was interesting with a side of adventure which was really enjoyable.
This was a fun book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy royal romances. Marco and Sofia were a sweet couple together and I liked reading about them falling in love. Royally Matched is a closed door romantic comedy.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
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