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The Crown Jewels #2
The Spare Affair
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Hating Game in this witty royal romance where two rival princes turn flirting into a competition—and accidentally fall in love.
Gabriel
Winning people over has always been my greatest talent.
One smile, one joke, one perfectly timed wink, and I have them eating out of my hand.
But I don’t think that’s going to work so well on Prince Alejandro of Solterra. The man my twin, King Nicholas Valemont, cast aside for his footman in his pursuit of true love.
Alejandro is infuriatingly handsome, impossibly stubborn, and determined to turn every conversation into a competition. Every move feels suspiciously like a trap designed to make me—the other Valemont brother—suffer.
So naturally, I decide to make a game of it.
No feelings.
No jealousy.
No falling in love.
Simple.
At least…it was supposed to be.
Alejandro
I’ve already been the world’s biggest royal headline because of a Valemont once. I have no interest in becoming one again.
Then Gabriel arrives—charming, relentless, impossible to ignore—and somehow turns every argument into flirtation and every competition into something dangerously fun.
We agree on one rule above all else: no falling in love.
It should’ve been easy.
Instead, every sharp word, every stolen kiss, every moment no one else is watching makes it harder to remember where the game ends…and where real feelings begin.
Because the most dangerous thing about competing with Gabriel isn’t losing.
It’s realizing I’d happily let him win.
This is book two in The Crown Jewels series by USA Today Bestselling Authors Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine.
Gabriel
Winning people over has always been my greatest talent.
One smile, one joke, one perfectly timed wink, and I have them eating out of my hand.
But I don’t think that’s going to work so well on Prince Alejandro of Solterra. The man my twin, King Nicholas Valemont, cast aside for his footman in his pursuit of true love.
Alejandro is infuriatingly handsome, impossibly stubborn, and determined to turn every conversation into a competition. Every move feels suspiciously like a trap designed to make me—the other Valemont brother—suffer.
So naturally, I decide to make a game of it.
No feelings.
No jealousy.
No falling in love.
Simple.
At least…it was supposed to be.
Alejandro
I’ve already been the world’s biggest royal headline because of a Valemont once. I have no interest in becoming one again.
Then Gabriel arrives—charming, relentless, impossible to ignore—and somehow turns every argument into flirtation and every competition into something dangerously fun.
We agree on one rule above all else: no falling in love.
It should’ve been easy.
Instead, every sharp word, every stolen kiss, every moment no one else is watching makes it harder to remember where the game ends…and where real feelings begin.
Because the most dangerous thing about competing with Gabriel isn’t losing.
It’s realizing I’d happily let him win.
This is book two in The Crown Jewels series by USA Today Bestselling Authors Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine.
- GenresM M RomanceRomance
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Ella Frank
98 books8,927 followersElla Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite Preslocke series. Her Prime Time series has been praised as “highly entertaining!” and “sexy as hell!”
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.Ella is represented by:
Kimberly Brower
Brower Literary & Management
kimberly@browerliterary.com
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.Ella is represented by:
Kimberly Brower
Brower Literary & Management
kimberly@browerliterary.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy
Everyone knows the best way to get over your ex lover who's getting married is to end up with his twin brother.
This was a very light, silly palate cleanser. The banter is what carried the plot, because there wasn't much depth beyond that.
The story: two guys who hate each other playing nice at royal events while secretly getting turned on by the other. Then we just move on to the next event, and the next one.
I did enjoy the banter between Gabriel and Alejandro. You can feel the resentment and anger Alejandro holds onto from the start from his failed engagement with Gabriel’s twin, Nicholas. Gabriel was very cocky, and he knew exactly how likable he was, and used that to his advantage to get under Alejandro’s skin.
However, this was pretty predictable from start to finish. It would have been more enjoyable if their conversations had a little more depth, or if there was a twist, or just anything to take this further. If the spice was removed, I would have assumed this was written for preteens. Which isn't a bad thing, but isn't what I was expecting.
This was just okay if you are needing something very light. I've enjoyed books by both of these authors, which is why I signed up for this. This one just didn't quite hit for me like their other work. I'd still read more from them in the future.
This was a very light, silly palate cleanser. The banter is what carried the plot, because there wasn't much depth beyond that.
The story: two guys who hate each other playing nice at royal events while secretly getting turned on by the other. Then we just move on to the next event, and the next one.
I did enjoy the banter between Gabriel and Alejandro. You can feel the resentment and anger Alejandro holds onto from the start from his failed engagement with Gabriel’s twin, Nicholas. Gabriel was very cocky, and he knew exactly how likable he was, and used that to his advantage to get under Alejandro’s skin.
However, this was pretty predictable from start to finish. It would have been more enjoyable if their conversations had a little more depth, or if there was a twist, or just anything to take this further. If the spice was removed, I would have assumed this was written for preteens. Which isn't a bad thing, but isn't what I was expecting.
This was just okay if you are needing something very light. I've enjoyed books by both of these authors, which is why I signed up for this. This one just didn't quite hit for me like their other work. I'd still read more from them in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
Sorry to Nicholas and Noah, but Gabriel and Alejandro are my favourite Royal couple!!
I was absolutely living for the pettiness!!! Alejandro was hilarious with how he was trying to annoy Gabriel into leaving, but he clearly had no idea who he was dealing with because Gabriel is an absolute menace. Honestly Gabriel deserved a medal for putting up with the campaign of petty against him, and Elena absolutely need a raise for dealing with these two.
I loved the dynamic between them though and the way their animosity and lust exploded into a passionate relationship with a ton of pirate roleplay. The rules were funny, but Alejandro literally disregarding his own rules basically immediately was so entertaining. I loved the not-dates he planned for Gabriel, and I loved how they really saw each other but both were too afraid to just come out and state how they felt for each other.
Their miscommunication made me want to shake them for being so bloody stubborn too! How was Gabriel supposed to know what Alejandro wanted him to say when Alejandro had been adamant about what their connection was... Men!! Their jealousy and possessiveness was so good though, even if I did want to throw a drink at Alejandro and his dumbassery during the conference scene.
The ending was really fun though and I loved seeing Alejandro and Gabriel on the ship again...
*****
I received an ARC of this book from The Author Agency, and this is my honest review
Sorry to Nicholas and Noah, but Gabriel and Alejandro are my favourite Royal couple!!
I was absolutely living for the pettiness!!! Alejandro was hilarious with how he was trying to annoy Gabriel into leaving, but he clearly had no idea who he was dealing with because Gabriel is an absolute menace. Honestly Gabriel deserved a medal for putting up with the campaign of petty against him, and Elena absolutely need a raise for dealing with these two.
I loved the dynamic between them though and the way their animosity and lust exploded into a passionate relationship with a ton of pirate roleplay. The rules were funny, but Alejandro literally disregarding his own rules basically immediately was so entertaining. I loved the not-dates he planned for Gabriel, and I loved how they really saw each other but both were too afraid to just come out and state how they felt for each other.
Their miscommunication made me want to shake them for being so bloody stubborn too! How was Gabriel supposed to know what Alejandro wanted him to say when Alejandro had been adamant about what their connection was... Men!! Their jealousy and possessiveness was so good though, even if I did want to throw a drink at Alejandro and his dumbassery during the conference scene.
The ending was really fun though and I loved seeing Alejandro and Gabriel on the ship again...
*****
I received an ARC of this book from The Author Agency, and this is my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Spare Affair is a highly entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance between two princes who must quickly reestablish a relationship between their kingdoms. Alejandro is the jilted fiancé of Gabriel's twin brother and the King. Their romance is a very bumpy one. Alejandro is cold, curt, and completely uninterested in Gabriel's attempts to mend the friction between the two kingdoms. Gabriel takes this as a fun way to hopefully wear down Alejandro's walls and cold heart, which quickly escalates into hilarious hijinks and entertaining mishaps that show these two are extremely competitive and share a mutual attraction that is more than mildly inconvenient.
Overall, this is a great follow-up to the first entry, expanding on the characters already introduced while giving Gabriel and Alejandro space to grow, develop, and slowly fall for one another, even when it is not a great idea at all. Their dynamic is fun, full of push-and-pull, and creates a great foundation for their relationship. I loved being back in this world and loved the relationships and the ability to fall so quickly into the world created.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Overall, this is a great follow-up to the first entry, expanding on the characters already introduced while giving Gabriel and Alejandro space to grow, develop, and slowly fall for one another, even when it is not a great idea at all. Their dynamic is fun, full of push-and-pull, and creates a great foundation for their relationship. I loved being back in this world and loved the relationships and the ability to fall so quickly into the world created.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Review of advance copy received from Author
👑🌶️3½🌟 rounded to 4🤺👑
I like Gabriel and Alejandro much more than I liked Noah and Nicholas. Though, I did like Noah as a character while reading Fit for a King
The fire and chemistry between the two prince's was undeniable throughout the entire book.
Prince Gabriel Valemont of Valoria is sent to Solterra to make amends for the embarrassment his twin brother, the king of Valoria - Nicholas, caused the royal family.
Most especially, Prince Alejandro de la Vega.
We met him in the last book as the intended fiance for Nicholas, bc the match just made sense - one already king (nicholas) and one prince, that will eventually be king (alejandro).
It would have worked out, if not for Noah the footman, whom Nicholas ends up falling in love with and marrying.
Alejandro plays games with Gabriel right from the start, trying to make him uncomfortable.
Little does he know, Gabriel loves games and was raised with Nicholas the rule follower.
He was ready for anything Alejandro threw at him (except maybe the peppers).
Watching everything play out was entertaining, their banter too.
Still, I feel like even more than the first book, this one lacked any depth of character or really anything at all.
It was light, fluffy, pretty par for the course of the tropes it was portraying.
There are cute moments, but nothing that sticks out in my mind enough to mention.
This feels almost like a direct continuation, just with different characters.
So, I would definitely recommend reading Fit for a King first, if you haven't already.
I truly mostly enjoyed it; it's just not one I would recommend you need to rush to read.
Especially if you didn't like the first one.
So:
if you liked the first one - yes definitely follow up with Gabriel and Alejandro's story.
I like them much better.
If you didn't like the first one - read at your own risk.
Aside from possibly liking the characters more, nothing else has changed between the two books.
btw, cause i know some of us were wondering: it's supposed to be a "modern/day fairytale".
world building was still limited in this one, again. just a little bit about Solterra (the country? Alejandro is prince of).
Received ARC for free from TAA (and the author, oops) for a voluntary rating and review - opinions given are always my own.
I like Gabriel and Alejandro much more than I liked Noah and Nicholas. Though, I did like Noah as a character while reading Fit for a King
The fire and chemistry between the two prince's was undeniable throughout the entire book.
Prince Gabriel Valemont of Valoria is sent to Solterra to make amends for the embarrassment his twin brother, the king of Valoria - Nicholas, caused the royal family.
Most especially, Prince Alejandro de la Vega.
We met him in the last book as the intended fiance for Nicholas, bc the match just made sense - one already king (nicholas) and one prince, that will eventually be king (alejandro).
It would have worked out, if not for Noah the footman, whom Nicholas ends up falling in love with and marrying.
Alejandro plays games with Gabriel right from the start, trying to make him uncomfortable.
Little does he know, Gabriel loves games and was raised with Nicholas the rule follower.
He was ready for anything Alejandro threw at him (except maybe the peppers).
Watching everything play out was entertaining, their banter too.
Still, I feel like even more than the first book, this one lacked any depth of character or really anything at all.
It was light, fluffy, pretty par for the course of the tropes it was portraying.
There are cute moments, but nothing that sticks out in my mind enough to mention.
This feels almost like a direct continuation, just with different characters.
So, I would definitely recommend reading Fit for a King first, if you haven't already.
I truly mostly enjoyed it; it's just not one I would recommend you need to rush to read.
Especially if you didn't like the first one.
So:
if you liked the first one - yes definitely follow up with Gabriel and Alejandro's story.
I like them much better.
If you didn't like the first one - read at your own risk.
Aside from possibly liking the characters more, nothing else has changed between the two books.
btw, cause i know some of us were wondering: it's supposed to be a "modern/day fairytale".
world building was still limited in this one, again. just a little bit about Solterra (the country? Alejandro is prince of).
Received ARC for free from TAA (and the author, oops) for a voluntary rating and review - opinions given are always my own.
Review of advance copy
Chances are if you enjoyed book one in this duology, you'll like this one just as much because the basic premise follows a similar pattern, just this time it's two princes.
I liked both Alejandro and Gabriel, their spark was obvious from the off and the hate attraction worked perfectly as the vehicle for all their snarking and game playing.
Once they broke the distance they'd been trying to keep, it became a very spicy story full of secret encounters, pirate sex play and more smart mouthing.
Personally I'd have liked a little bit more conversation that focused on things other than their sexual attraction to each other, the snippets we got, such as when Gabriel found Alejandro at the children's theatre, were among the best scenes in the book.'
Having said the above though, I did think the way they were forced to confront each other, and those pesky feelings, did work well and I loved the final few chapters as they settled down into what their future lives together would be.
There's lots to like about this story and only a couple of niggles, including the Chef's surname changing after the first mention! Other than that though, Brooke and Ella know how to write spice and they've excelled in this one.
I liked catching up with Nicholas and Noah too and there's slightly more time given to building up a picture of Alejandro's kingdom than we got with book one.
#ARC kindly received from the authors via The Author Agency, I am voluntarily leaving a review
I liked both Alejandro and Gabriel, their spark was obvious from the off and the hate attraction worked perfectly as the vehicle for all their snarking and game playing.
Once they broke the distance they'd been trying to keep, it became a very spicy story full of secret encounters, pirate sex play and more smart mouthing.
Personally I'd have liked a little bit more conversation that focused on things other than their sexual attraction to each other, the snippets we got, such as when Gabriel found Alejandro at the children's theatre, were among the best scenes in the book.'
Having said the above though, I did think the way they were forced to confront each other, and those pesky feelings, did work well and I loved the final few chapters as they settled down into what their future lives together would be.
There's lots to like about this story and only a couple of niggles, including the Chef's surname changing after the first mention! Other than that though, Brooke and Ella know how to write spice and they've excelled in this one.
I liked catching up with Nicholas and Noah too and there's slightly more time given to building up a picture of Alejandro's kingdom than we got with book one.
#ARC kindly received from the authors via The Author Agency, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, this was as delicious as i hoped it would be. You must read the first part in of the series in order to fully appreciate this masterpiece!
Alejandro is the scorned ex-fiancé of Nicholas, Gabriels twin brother. In order to repair the damage he caused with leaving Alejandro Nicholas decides to send his brother Gabriel, who is a charmer, to mend the relationship between the kingdoms. Alejandro however doesn’t feel particularly forgiving when Gabriel arrives so he decides to try and punish Nichloas through Gabriel by making him do impossibly boring tasks and pranks on him. Gabriel however manages to keep up with Alejandros shenanigans and on up him at every turn so the tension keeps rising until it finally snaps and they decide to hook up without involving feelings, that fails miserably and they fall in love, but a third act breakup is present which i will not spoil! The book ends with a hard earned HEA!
Alejandro is the scorned ex-fiancé of Nicholas, Gabriels twin brother. In order to repair the damage he caused with leaving Alejandro Nicholas decides to send his brother Gabriel, who is a charmer, to mend the relationship between the kingdoms. Alejandro however doesn’t feel particularly forgiving when Gabriel arrives so he decides to try and punish Nichloas through Gabriel by making him do impossibly boring tasks and pranks on him. Gabriel however manages to keep up with Alejandros shenanigans and on up him at every turn so the tension keeps rising until it finally snaps and they decide to hook up without involving feelings, that fails miserably and they fall in love, but a third act breakup is present which i will not spoil! The book ends with a hard earned HEA!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
After reading the first book I had a feeling that the second one would be better and safe to say I was not wrong.
I loved every second of this book. Each chapter has me giggling and kicking me feet.
Gabriel and Alejandro were a couple of jokers who completed each other so well. Reading about their love story was so funny because they started off disliking one another, then moved to pranking each other and at every corner there was a game which only added fuel to the fire between them :“We were about as compatible as fire and gasoline, .... It was like watching two live wires dancing around each other.”
I'm so grateful that I got to experience this book in advance, I manifested a lot to receive it early.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After reading the first book I had a feeling that the second one would be better and safe to say I was not wrong.
I loved every second of this book. Each chapter has me giggling and kicking me feet.
Gabriel and Alejandro were a couple of jokers who completed each other so well. Reading about their love story was so funny because they started off disliking one another, then moved to pranking each other and at every corner there was a game which only added fuel to the fire between them :“We were about as compatible as fire and gasoline, .... It was like watching two live wires dancing around each other.”
I'm so grateful that I got to experience this book in advance, I manifested a lot to receive it early.
Read
September 20, 2026…rtc. “The spare and the heir. Who would’ve thought?”
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*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
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*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
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Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4.5 stars
This follows the events of the first book, Fit for A King, when Gabriel's twin brother, Nicholas, who is now the King of Valoria, fell in love with his footman and caused a bit of a scandal and ruined an engagement to a Prince that would have brought a union between two countries. Now this jilted Prince is a little bit salty and feels humiliated, and the union of Valoria and Solterra is now in jeopardy.
So Nicholas asks his twin brother, Gabriel, the more charming twin, to spend some time in Solterra and try to officially apologize for any negative feelings and try to bring goodwill to both of their countries again. And Gabriel may be very charming and quite a flirt, but he’s also outspoken, challenging, passionate, and knows what he wants.
And Prince Alejandro is bitter, snarky, intelligent, and feeling a bit vengeful. He’s not going to make anything easy on Gabriel and sets out to break him down. Gabriel is such a go-with-the-flow personality but also a competitive man who is not going back down. And that includes not backing down from the fact that there is a lot of sexual tension and chemistry between these two. There’s a thin line between fire and ice, and they are leaning a lot more on the fiery side. They push and challenge each other. They fuss, fight, and figure a little hate f***ing while he’s visiting can’t cause too many problems. But they are clear on their rules, and they are not supposed to be anything romantic or have feelings involved at all... just a transactional situationship.
But the more time these two spend together, the more time they find they actually WANT to spend together. And maybe there’s actually a thin line between love and hate. But that’s against the rules that they set for themselves. And everything they do is in front of the eyes of both of their countries.
It's got enemies-to-lovers with games, challenges, competition, and one-upmanship, but also serious sexual tension, chemistry, and compatible proclivities. But they are both prideful, stubborn, fearful of vulnerability, and are not the best at communicating. It did frustrate me at times just because of so much of the tension and turmoil, but it also hit me in the feels. And I really loved these two guys together, and their big personalities, banter, and passion, and how they wanted to live a full life.
This brings back Nicholas and Noah, and other characters from the first book, and ties up these two stories rather nicely. I absolutely adored Gabriel all along. He is just such a feisty and fun charmer. I will admit Alejandro took me a little bit to warm up to just because he was so standoffish and inflexible at first, but as his layers of animosity were peeled away, I really came to like his spiciness and sense of humor. They actually both have more common ground than they realize, and they really play off each other nicely and have incredible passion for each other and life in general.
I have enjoyed this royal duet from this author duo and have become attached to these characters and this modern fairytale-ish world of theirs.
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This follows the events of the first book, Fit for A King, when Gabriel's twin brother, Nicholas, who is now the King of Valoria, fell in love with his footman and caused a bit of a scandal and ruined an engagement to a Prince that would have brought a union between two countries. Now this jilted Prince is a little bit salty and feels humiliated, and the union of Valoria and Solterra is now in jeopardy.
So Nicholas asks his twin brother, Gabriel, the more charming twin, to spend some time in Solterra and try to officially apologize for any negative feelings and try to bring goodwill to both of their countries again. And Gabriel may be very charming and quite a flirt, but he’s also outspoken, challenging, passionate, and knows what he wants.
And Prince Alejandro is bitter, snarky, intelligent, and feeling a bit vengeful. He’s not going to make anything easy on Gabriel and sets out to break him down. Gabriel is such a go-with-the-flow personality but also a competitive man who is not going back down. And that includes not backing down from the fact that there is a lot of sexual tension and chemistry between these two. There’s a thin line between fire and ice, and they are leaning a lot more on the fiery side. They push and challenge each other. They fuss, fight, and figure a little hate f***ing while he’s visiting can’t cause too many problems. But they are clear on their rules, and they are not supposed to be anything romantic or have feelings involved at all... just a transactional situationship.
But the more time these two spend together, the more time they find they actually WANT to spend together. And maybe there’s actually a thin line between love and hate. But that’s against the rules that they set for themselves. And everything they do is in front of the eyes of both of their countries.
It's got enemies-to-lovers with games, challenges, competition, and one-upmanship, but also serious sexual tension, chemistry, and compatible proclivities. But they are both prideful, stubborn, fearful of vulnerability, and are not the best at communicating. It did frustrate me at times just because of so much of the tension and turmoil, but it also hit me in the feels. And I really loved these two guys together, and their big personalities, banter, and passion, and how they wanted to live a full life.
This brings back Nicholas and Noah, and other characters from the first book, and ties up these two stories rather nicely. I absolutely adored Gabriel all along. He is just such a feisty and fun charmer. I will admit Alejandro took me a little bit to warm up to just because he was so standoffish and inflexible at first, but as his layers of animosity were peeled away, I really came to like his spiciness and sense of humor. They actually both have more common ground than they realize, and they really play off each other nicely and have incredible passion for each other and life in general.
I have enjoyed this royal duet from this author duo and have become attached to these characters and this modern fairytale-ish world of theirs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Spare Affair is delicious! From the perfect cover to the crazy dynamic between Gabriel and Alejandro, I was hooked on this latest gem from the wonderful writing duo of Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank. They don't hold back as they pair a naughty rake with a sexy pirate who have a push and pull that is all kinds of fantastic. The way Gabriel gets under Alejandro's skin is irresistible. They pretend to hate on the other, especially since the Crown Prince of Solterra was made a laughingstock to the world after the Spare's twin brother found love with another. But like it's been said many times before: 'there is truly a fine line between love and hate'. And as Gabriel is sent to mend fences with the kingdom of Solterra and spend time with the ornery Alejandro, that fine line gets obliterated right from the start.
I ADORE THESE TWO! Sure, they fight and act like kids for a good part of the book but there's this connection I don't even think they understood. One that keeps Gabriel in Solterra much longer than he ever planned to because he is just so intrigued by how attracted he is to Alejandro. And not just his good looks. I could sense a deeper tether between the two as Alejandro was still nursing a wounded ego and Gabriel was always the good time and not much more to those he was intimate with. Their vibrant game of cat and mouse, with each taking turns at who was chasing whom, became more intense than either counted on as their rhythm between the sheets became everything.
Gabriel is like a bad puppy as he taunts his fierce kitten relentlessly. And maybe it was all the incorrigible ways of the Prince of Valemont that the Prince of Solterra could no longer resist but somehow they simply fit. And honestly, they shouldn't have. But if Gabriel's charm could win over the most harsh carmudgeon of dignitaries, then Alejandro never stood a chance. Even with all he puts Gabriel through to keep him far away from him while visiting Solterra (with witty results I might add), I loved that King Nicholas' twin brother never batted an eye with all he had to endure and firmly endeared himself to whoever crossed his path, royal and staff alike.
I knew Gabriel's story would be quite different from his brother's book, but Frank and Blaine went above and beyond with how cheeky they wrote this romance. It has plenty of wicked humor, which had me laughing out loud and often. It also has plenty of heart as two stubborn and wildly sensual men take a chance on the other, break every rule they initially decided upon, and find the love of their lives in the most unconventional of ways. But it works. And both royal families, who are supportive yet aren't afraid to show Gabriel and Alejandro their truths, add the right touch when needed and show our guys that they, too, can have it all.
I'd love more in this world, as I do with each series Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine create. Their men make me smile. Their storylines make me squirm in the very best way and their notion of romance is always right on point. The Spare Affair is yet another winner in their vast trove of co-written books and I very happily give it a huge 5+ stars!
I ADORE THESE TWO! Sure, they fight and act like kids for a good part of the book but there's this connection I don't even think they understood. One that keeps Gabriel in Solterra much longer than he ever planned to because he is just so intrigued by how attracted he is to Alejandro. And not just his good looks. I could sense a deeper tether between the two as Alejandro was still nursing a wounded ego and Gabriel was always the good time and not much more to those he was intimate with. Their vibrant game of cat and mouse, with each taking turns at who was chasing whom, became more intense than either counted on as their rhythm between the sheets became everything.
Gabriel is like a bad puppy as he taunts his fierce kitten relentlessly. And maybe it was all the incorrigible ways of the Prince of Valemont that the Prince of Solterra could no longer resist but somehow they simply fit. And honestly, they shouldn't have. But if Gabriel's charm could win over the most harsh carmudgeon of dignitaries, then Alejandro never stood a chance. Even with all he puts Gabriel through to keep him far away from him while visiting Solterra (with witty results I might add), I loved that King Nicholas' twin brother never batted an eye with all he had to endure and firmly endeared himself to whoever crossed his path, royal and staff alike.
I knew Gabriel's story would be quite different from his brother's book, but Frank and Blaine went above and beyond with how cheeky they wrote this romance. It has plenty of wicked humor, which had me laughing out loud and often. It also has plenty of heart as two stubborn and wildly sensual men take a chance on the other, break every rule they initially decided upon, and find the love of their lives in the most unconventional of ways. But it works. And both royal families, who are supportive yet aren't afraid to show Gabriel and Alejandro their truths, add the right touch when needed and show our guys that they, too, can have it all.
I'd love more in this world, as I do with each series Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine create. Their men make me smile. Their storylines make me squirm in the very best way and their notion of romance is always right on point. The Spare Affair is yet another winner in their vast trove of co-written books and I very happily give it a huge 5+ stars!
September 21, 2026
✨May contain spoilers✨
I honestly didn’t think I could love anyone more than Nicholas and Noah but yep, Alejandro and Gabriel certainly took the cake in this book. I only wanted more with these two because they kept things interesting.
When Gabriel gets an assignment of trying to make amends with Alejandro from what happened on the first book, I just knew I was going to have an amazing time. As much as they tried to not want to spend time together, they really did. They couldn’t stay away from one another.
Alejandro thought he knew what to expect with Gabriel but he was so wrong. Alejandro was about to learn what Gabriel was really about. From what happened with Nicholas, Alejandro has a vendetta against the whole family. I don’t blame him because he’s so hurt but it was so entertaining to see these two at their games.
My heart broke a bit when Gabriel went back home because these two were so afraid to admit how they really felt. I am just there wasn’t too much for them to get there happily ever after. These two are so stubborn and were so afraid to tell the other how they really felt for the other.
I had so many favorite parts but I really loved seeing Alejandro with the kids. It was when Gabriel really got to see a side of him that he had never seen before.
I’m a lover for a good hate to love because it just makes the storyline so much more exciting when they are trying to instigate the other and when there is jealous and possessiveness, I was all in. The push and the pull these two were doing made me want to throttle these two.
I love that we also got Noah and Nicholas from the first book. I also really liked the found family because I had a really good time with this one. This is definitely my favorite by how much I giggled at the shenanigans these two were up to. Up to no good in my opinion. I was so invested in this book and thrilled they got there happily ever after.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I honestly didn’t think I could love anyone more than Nicholas and Noah but yep, Alejandro and Gabriel certainly took the cake in this book. I only wanted more with these two because they kept things interesting.
When Gabriel gets an assignment of trying to make amends with Alejandro from what happened on the first book, I just knew I was going to have an amazing time. As much as they tried to not want to spend time together, they really did. They couldn’t stay away from one another.
Alejandro thought he knew what to expect with Gabriel but he was so wrong. Alejandro was about to learn what Gabriel was really about. From what happened with Nicholas, Alejandro has a vendetta against the whole family. I don’t blame him because he’s so hurt but it was so entertaining to see these two at their games.
My heart broke a bit when Gabriel went back home because these two were so afraid to admit how they really felt. I am just there wasn’t too much for them to get there happily ever after. These two are so stubborn and were so afraid to tell the other how they really felt for the other.
I had so many favorite parts but I really loved seeing Alejandro with the kids. It was when Gabriel really got to see a side of him that he had never seen before.
I’m a lover for a good hate to love because it just makes the storyline so much more exciting when they are trying to instigate the other and when there is jealous and possessiveness, I was all in. The push and the pull these two were doing made me want to throttle these two.
I love that we also got Noah and Nicholas from the first book. I also really liked the found family because I had a really good time with this one. This is definitely my favorite by how much I giggled at the shenanigans these two were up to. Up to no good in my opinion. I was so invested in this book and thrilled they got there happily ever after.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
**5 Stars**
**ADHD Chokehold: 5/6 — In a Chokehold**
**Spice: 4/5**
I didn't know if Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank could top *Fit for a King*.
**BOY WAS I WRONG.**
Apparently all you have to do is give me two rival princes with palpable sexual tension and I become putty.
Alejandro has already suffered the ultimate royal humiliation: his fiancé, King Nicholas, fell in love with his footman and publicly chose him instead.
So naturally Nicholas sends his identical twin brother Gabriel to Solterra to smooth everything over.
Nicholas.
My dude.
**HE HAS YOUR FACE.**
Alejandro does NOT want to look at that face.
So he decides to make Gabriel's diplomatic visit absolutely miserable.
Boring meetings.
Committees.
Tedious obligations.
And as little actual time with Alejandro as possible.
The problem?
Gabriel is the **sassy spare without a care.**
Nothing bothers this man.
Alejandro tries to punish him?
Gabriel smiles.
Alejandro gets irritated?
Gabriel flirts.
Alejandro turns something into a competition?
Gabriel:
**GAME ON.**
And it drives Alejandro absolutely insane.
I LOVED THEM.
The banter.
The rivalry.
The hate-flirting.
The competition.
The tension.
And unlike Nicholas and Noah's quieter, yearning romance, Gabriel and Alejandro are much more combustible.
**These two were MUY CALIENTE.**
And the pirate role-playing?
As Uncle Jesse would say:
**HAVE MERCY.**
The spice jumps to a 4 here, and it fits their relationship perfectly.
I read this one before publication and received an advance copy; all thoughts are my own.
I genuinely have nothing negative to say.
**5 stars.**
**Chokehold: 5/6.**
**Spice: 4/5.**
I absolutely loved my time with Gabriel and Alejandro.
My only complaint?
**I'M OUT OF PRINCES.**
Can Valoria please discover some previously unknown royal brothers?
I am not ready to leave.
**ADHD Chokehold: 5/6 — In a Chokehold**
**Spice: 4/5**
I didn't know if Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank could top *Fit for a King*.
**BOY WAS I WRONG.**
Apparently all you have to do is give me two rival princes with palpable sexual tension and I become putty.
Alejandro has already suffered the ultimate royal humiliation: his fiancé, King Nicholas, fell in love with his footman and publicly chose him instead.
So naturally Nicholas sends his identical twin brother Gabriel to Solterra to smooth everything over.
Nicholas.
My dude.
**HE HAS YOUR FACE.**
Alejandro does NOT want to look at that face.
So he decides to make Gabriel's diplomatic visit absolutely miserable.
Boring meetings.
Committees.
Tedious obligations.
And as little actual time with Alejandro as possible.
The problem?
Gabriel is the **sassy spare without a care.**
Nothing bothers this man.
Alejandro tries to punish him?
Gabriel smiles.
Alejandro gets irritated?
Gabriel flirts.
Alejandro turns something into a competition?
Gabriel:
**GAME ON.**
And it drives Alejandro absolutely insane.
I LOVED THEM.
The banter.
The rivalry.
The hate-flirting.
The competition.
The tension.
And unlike Nicholas and Noah's quieter, yearning romance, Gabriel and Alejandro are much more combustible.
**These two were MUY CALIENTE.**
And the pirate role-playing?
As Uncle Jesse would say:
**HAVE MERCY.**
The spice jumps to a 4 here, and it fits their relationship perfectly.
I read this one before publication and received an advance copy; all thoughts are my own.
I genuinely have nothing negative to say.
**5 stars.**
**Chokehold: 5/6.**
**Spice: 4/5.**
I absolutely loved my time with Gabriel and Alejandro.
My only complaint?
**I'M OUT OF PRINCES.**
Can Valoria please discover some previously unknown royal brothers?
I am not ready to leave.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I saw that book 2 was going to be Gabriel and Alejandro I was so damn excited! Nicholas wants Gabriel to go and smooth things over with Alejandro for him after Alejandro didn’t show up to his wedding to Noah! When Gabriel arrives there’s a big fan fair but no Alejandro he was snubbed! But Gabriel isn’t one to be deterred so he goes and finds Alejandro and of course he’s mad he showed up wearing his brothers face and it’s very frustrating for him! Their chemistry tho was instant! Was it hate at the beginning of course but the sizzling chemistry was evident from the start! Alejandro sends him on so many mundane tasks to make Gabriel leave but he loves everything to do with Sollera and he happily goes everyday! Their first kiss though!! They both agreed to be together but with rules! They both dislike each other or so they say but the rules help protect Alejandro because he doesn’t want to be a fool again! Their physical relationship heats up quickly and we get verse action!! What they both didn’t realize would happen is fall for each other! I love how Alejandro’s Mom knew that Alejandro fell for Gabriel! Finally Nicholas and Noah arrives and Nicholas properly apologized to Alejandro for leaving him like he did! He deserves that apology!
Gabriel and Alejandro properly fell for each other and Alejandro was going to tell Gabriel when he overheard him saying he was just passing time with him which oh my god but Gabriel didn’t know what he was allowed to tell people so we do have some heartbreak until they both are back in the same spot for the charity they were starting! Thank god for Noah because he set them both up to do fencing and when Alejandro kissed Gabriel in front of everyone I screamed! They were such a good couple! But that epilogue his husbannnnnnd!! Ugh so damn cute!
Gabriel and Alejandro properly fell for each other and Alejandro was going to tell Gabriel when he overheard him saying he was just passing time with him which oh my god but Gabriel didn’t know what he was allowed to tell people so we do have some heartbreak until they both are back in the same spot for the charity they were starting! Thank god for Noah because he set them both up to do fencing and when Alejandro kissed Gabriel in front of everyone I screamed! They were such a good couple! But that epilogue his husbannnnnnd!! Ugh so damn cute!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
ARC REVIEW :
I wanna give as many stars as possible since it has only 5 I will give it the fullest of stars cuz this book was chefs kiss !!! Just got the copy this morning and nothing is mean nothing made me stop it which made me sit in one go and finish this masterpiece ... Gabriel and his kitten was everything ..when I say everything I mean everything from the way they argued to the hate lust between them , loved every conversation of those 2 ! Don't really miss out on this one - it was honestly was nice than the first book as it felt rushed but this one made justice to the story and didn't felt rushed (maybe at last on how they got married and I felt they didn't resolve the problem properly in my opinion..) but overall the book was awesome so what are you waiting for ??? Go grab this when it gets released
I wanna give as many stars as possible since it has only 5 I will give it the fullest of stars cuz this book was chefs kiss !!! Just got the copy this morning and nothing is mean nothing made me stop it which made me sit in one go and finish this masterpiece ... Gabriel and his kitten was everything ..when I say everything I mean everything from the way they argued to the hate lust between them , loved every conversation of those 2 ! Don't really miss out on this one - it was honestly was nice than the first book as it felt rushed but this one made justice to the story and didn't felt rushed (maybe at last on how they got married and I felt they didn't resolve the problem properly in my opinion..) but overall the book was awesome so what are you waiting for ??? Go grab this when it gets released
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an ARC copy from Author.
I honestly do not have alot of words for this. It all happens really fast but also kind of slow?? if that makes sense? it was also really sweet these two are so weirdly adorable together. Gabriel had me charmed too ngl i loved his cocky attitude and i loved how Alejandro matched him in every way possible these two were genuinely meant to be. However i do think comparing this to the other book i do prefer it a bit more 😂i think i liked the tropes alot more but obviously this book in and of itself was great and definitely worth checking out after the previous book
I honestly do not have alot of words for this. It all happens really fast but also kind of slow?? if that makes sense? it was also really sweet these two are so weirdly adorable together. Gabriel had me charmed too ngl i loved his cocky attitude and i loved how Alejandro matched him in every way possible these two were genuinely meant to be. However i do think comparing this to the other book i do prefer it a bit more 😂i think i liked the tropes alot more but obviously this book in and of itself was great and definitely worth checking out after the previous book
Review of advance copy
ARC REVIEW: The Spare Affair — Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
4 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️
After reading the first book, I had been anticipating this one and it definitely did not disappoint! Gabriel and Alejandro had such amazing chemistry. Between their banter, the tension, and their energy together, I was hooked.
The way these two were constantly going back and forth with each other, acting like they could resist one another when we all knew they were eventually going to give in 😂 was priceless. Their dynamic was so much fun to read, and I loved seeing everything finally come together between them.
4 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️
After reading the first book, I had been anticipating this one and it definitely did not disappoint! Gabriel and Alejandro had such amazing chemistry. Between their banter, the tension, and their energy together, I was hooked.
The way these two were constantly going back and forth with each other, acting like they could resist one another when we all knew they were eventually going to give in 😂 was priceless. Their dynamic was so much fun to read, and I loved seeing everything finally come together between them.
Review of advance copy
I absolutely loved these two! I knew their story was going to be amazing but this book far exceeded my expectations! I can’t believe how much fun this book was to read! I knew they would both be so much fun but I never imagined exactly how much! Seriously I loved the modern day fairy tale plot from the first one and this one just kept up the momentum! This dynamic duo of authors have done a fantastic job with these books!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review:
The Spare Affair had me anticipating the love story of Gabriel and Alejandro so badly, and boy did the book deliver! From dislike to banter to spicy times to love, the book had everything and more! Highly recommended ❤️
The Spare Affair had me anticipating the love story of Gabriel and Alejandro so badly, and boy did the book deliver! From dislike to banter to spicy times to love, the book had everything and more! Highly recommended ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved this book! I was so excited to read Gabriel and Alejandro's story after reading Fit For a King and I was not at all disappointed! This book was great.
Review of advance copy received from Altro
ARC REVIEW coming soon!
PS: stupendo, Gabriel stupendo, Alejandro stupendo 😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
PS: stupendo, Gabriel stupendo, Alejandro stupendo 😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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