What do you think?
Rate this book
The Young Royals #2
The Queen
There's an empty seat beside her throne …
Queen Alexandra is newly crowned and newly single. But, contrary to popular belief, being a monarch doesn't make the dating game any easier. While foreign royals and millionaires may be of a similar social standing, they are woefully inadequate when it comes to winning her heart. Alix needs someone who understands her world and who also sees that behind the crown is a young woman who just wants to fall in love.
But the situation may not be as hopeless as it seems. Someone Alix has known her whole life is secretly in love with her. And, while he may not have the breeding or bank balance expected of the Queen's consort, nothing will stop him from trying to win Alix's heart …
Queen Alexandra is newly crowned and newly single. But, contrary to popular belief, being a monarch doesn't make the dating game any easier. While foreign royals and millionaires may be of a similar social standing, they are woefully inadequate when it comes to winning her heart. Alix needs someone who understands her world and who also sees that behind the crown is a young woman who just wants to fall in love.
But the situation may not be as hopeless as it seems. Someone Alix has known her whole life is secretly in love with her. And, while he may not have the breeding or bank balance expected of the Queen's consort, nothing will stop him from trying to win Alix's heart …
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2015
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
amazon-kobo-netgalley-freebie
May 7, 2015** Arc provided by Momentum Books through NetGalley for review **
May 28, 2015
While reading about these characters, I was rooting for each of them at various stages. I mean, who doesn't love a love story about overcoming the odds?! But like life, nothing is set in stone and my goodness, my heart broke for Alix!!
I loved reading the background on Stuart and, I have to say, I fell in love with him because of how down to earth he was. Seeing his friendship with Alix was beautiful because they truly got to know each other and shared their secrets, fears and accomplishments with each other.
The Queen moved a little slow at first but when things started to pick up, so did the heat. A beautiful story of allowing yourself to have a second chance at love. ~ Kara, 4 stars
I loved reading the background on Stuart and, I have to say, I fell in love with him because of how down to earth he was. Seeing his friendship with Alix was beautiful because they truly got to know each other and shared their secrets, fears and accomplishments with each other.
The Queen moved a little slow at first but when things started to pick up, so did the heat. A beautiful story of allowing yourself to have a second chance at love. ~ Kara, 4 stars
May 11, 2015
This delightful friends-to-lovers book is the story of young Queen Alexandra and her struggle to find herself, and love, as the young queen of the British Realm. Finding true love is never an easy feat and the pressure of being the ruler of the land can't make that task any easier. "Alix", as she is known to her friends and family, is, by the nature of her position, constantly on guard and naturally suspicious of the true intentions of those that come into her life. Reconnecting with her brother's high school friend, Stuart, at a family wedding, starts Alix's journey towards finding that special person that is prepared to take on all the headache that being the "Queen's Consort" would entail. Stuart has been in love with Alix since he was a teenager and after reconnecting with Alix as an adult, he knows that she'll always be "The One" for him. He just needs to convince her of that.
Ms. Gordon does a fantastic job of giving the reader insight into Alix's thoughts and her fear that she will never "be enough" for a man to a make the sacrifices that being her partner would entail. Stuart, the third son of a Duke, is a modern renaissance man - well read, fluent in multiple languages, a gifted pianist, and a savvy business man. Stuart, in his quietly confident manner, allows Alix to set the pace of their relationship and work out what she needs as both a ruler and a woman. The journey for Alix and Stuart is not strait forward as both deal with past loves and current relationships, but they eventually realize that the love and respect they have for each other is the foundation for their own fairytale HEA.
A thoroughly enjoyable read .... I highly recommend!
*** ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
Ms. Gordon does a fantastic job of giving the reader insight into Alix's thoughts and her fear that she will never "be enough" for a man to a make the sacrifices that being her partner would entail. Stuart, the third son of a Duke, is a modern renaissance man - well read, fluent in multiple languages, a gifted pianist, and a savvy business man. Stuart, in his quietly confident manner, allows Alix to set the pace of their relationship and work out what she needs as both a ruler and a woman. The journey for Alix and Stuart is not strait forward as both deal with past loves and current relationships, but they eventually realize that the love and respect they have for each other is the foundation for their own fairytale HEA.
A thoroughly enjoyable read .... I highly recommend!
*** ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
May 23, 2015
1. Character: "Do we care?". Development. Relationships between characters.
Alix is sweet. But I found myself bored. She's supposed to be this strong silent type of a woman, but she's so weak and inconsistant. Does she want to get married? Let's beg someone to be with us, shall we? Just kidding, let's beg another man. No! Let's push away a good friend because of our weird pride and a relationship we know isn't going to work out. Poor Stuart. He was so hopelessly in love with her. I'm glad she saw the light in the end.
I could appreciate the love that the siblings had for each other. Their support was wonderful. I also found her uncle, Phil to be enjoyable.
2. Plot: "World-building". Story arc. "Did it hold our interest?"
As far as world building, the settings were easy enough to imagine. However, I'm super sad to say, I skimmed. I skimmed the junk out of this book. It is such a dialogue light book that the details get lost in the long paragraphs between lines....even in the middle of a conversation.
3. Plausibility: Can we suspend our sense of reality while we read these and still have it make sense?
Definitely. It was relatively plausible to have Alix have the relationships she had. But Alix's personality was so inconsistent it was hard to keep things... plausible.
4.Pure entertainment value.
I was mildly entertained. I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did.
***Good enough: It was worth reading. Once. We liked it. It was good enough that we don’t regret reading it and would be willing to read others in the series.
*Arc received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion*
Alix is sweet. But I found myself bored. She's supposed to be this strong silent type of a woman, but she's so weak and inconsistant. Does she want to get married? Let's beg someone to be with us, shall we? Just kidding, let's beg another man. No! Let's push away a good friend because of our weird pride and a relationship we know isn't going to work out. Poor Stuart. He was so hopelessly in love with her. I'm glad she saw the light in the end.
I could appreciate the love that the siblings had for each other. Their support was wonderful. I also found her uncle, Phil to be enjoyable.
2. Plot: "World-building". Story arc. "Did it hold our interest?"
As far as world building, the settings were easy enough to imagine. However, I'm super sad to say, I skimmed. I skimmed the junk out of this book. It is such a dialogue light book that the details get lost in the long paragraphs between lines....even in the middle of a conversation.
3. Plausibility: Can we suspend our sense of reality while we read these and still have it make sense?
Definitely. It was relatively plausible to have Alix have the relationships she had. But Alix's personality was so inconsistent it was hard to keep things... plausible.
4.Pure entertainment value.
I was mildly entertained. I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did.
***Good enough: It was worth reading. Once. We liked it. It was good enough that we don’t regret reading it and would be willing to read others in the series.
*Arc received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion*
June 3, 2015
I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a story of Queen Alexander of the British monarchy as she looks for love. Alix as she is known by her close friends and family has been alone in her duties for awhile since her Father passed away. She had to take on her duties at a young age due to the death of her mother and although she always knew her place was to rule she had always hoped that she would have had a few years to herself before that happened. Always in the public eye, this story gives you great insight into her thoughts and fears by the nature of her position. Always on guard and suspicious of everybody and their true intentions.
When her brother David gets married she becomes reacquainted with an old school friend of his, Stuart Higworth Boule. She remembers him being very attentive to her during a lunch in his last year of school. Stuart remembers having a huge crush on her and remembered her as the most vivacious, funny smart and beautiful girl he could ever imagine meeting. Now she appeared impatient, very regal, occasionally frosty and tough on the people who loved her most. As time goes by there are many twists and turns as the Queen tries to find a man who will love her, and be able to sacrifice everything he has, to be her consort and love her forever. I absolutely fell in love with Stuart and his determination, and unyielding love as well as the effort he put in to making Alix his number one priority. The journey to their HEA was sweet, with some heat and above all else heartwarming.
This is a story of Queen Alexander of the British monarchy as she looks for love. Alix as she is known by her close friends and family has been alone in her duties for awhile since her Father passed away. She had to take on her duties at a young age due to the death of her mother and although she always knew her place was to rule she had always hoped that she would have had a few years to herself before that happened. Always in the public eye, this story gives you great insight into her thoughts and fears by the nature of her position. Always on guard and suspicious of everybody and their true intentions.
When her brother David gets married she becomes reacquainted with an old school friend of his, Stuart Higworth Boule. She remembers him being very attentive to her during a lunch in his last year of school. Stuart remembers having a huge crush on her and remembered her as the most vivacious, funny smart and beautiful girl he could ever imagine meeting. Now she appeared impatient, very regal, occasionally frosty and tough on the people who loved her most. As time goes by there are many twists and turns as the Queen tries to find a man who will love her, and be able to sacrifice everything he has, to be her consort and love her forever. I absolutely fell in love with Stuart and his determination, and unyielding love as well as the effort he put in to making Alix his number one priority. The journey to their HEA was sweet, with some heat and above all else heartwarming.
October 1, 2015
The Queen: The Young Royals is the second book in this series and while it's not necessary to read the previous book first, it would help understand some of the backstory with the characters.
I wanted to love this book so much, unfortunately it turned more into a "like/hate" feeling instead. The parts of the first book that I wasn't so thrilled with, were compounded in this book. The love story between the hero and heroine didn't even start until about 80% of the way through the book. While I understand the build up of the story, 80% is extremely excessive and down right annoying if I'm being honest. Not only that but the storyline moved at warp speed, and it made it hard to keep track of the timing of events.
I did really like seeing Alix as not only the strong Queen, but also as a vulnerable woman. At the same time, her vulnerability did have some annoying moments when she'd practically beg people to love her. I loved Stuart but I felt short-changed because I wasn't allowed to watch has his relationship with Alix grew and blossomed.
Overall, I loved the idea behind watching a family of royals meet and fall in love with their perfect match. However, I thought that the execution was all wrong and the love story that I read this book for came along almost as an after thought.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
I wanted to love this book so much, unfortunately it turned more into a "like/hate" feeling instead. The parts of the first book that I wasn't so thrilled with, were compounded in this book. The love story between the hero and heroine didn't even start until about 80% of the way through the book. While I understand the build up of the story, 80% is extremely excessive and down right annoying if I'm being honest. Not only that but the storyline moved at warp speed, and it made it hard to keep track of the timing of events.
I did really like seeing Alix as not only the strong Queen, but also as a vulnerable woman. At the same time, her vulnerability did have some annoying moments when she'd practically beg people to love her. I loved Stuart but I felt short-changed because I wasn't allowed to watch has his relationship with Alix grew and blossomed.
Overall, I loved the idea behind watching a family of royals meet and fall in love with their perfect match. However, I thought that the execution was all wrong and the love story that I read this book for came along almost as an after thought.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
May 11, 2015
I skimmed a lot of this book. It was very repetative and downright boring with the reiterations of just hard it was to be the young queen in the spotlight, how hard it was to have little to no privacy, how hard it was to find a suitable cosort....blah, blah, blah.
It was all I could do to make myself finish it.
I disliked the fact that she did not get together with the man she ended up with until the end of the book. For a conservative upright royal, she sure lusted after a lot of men. I disliked the heroine pretty intesely and felt very little empathy for her.
I pityied Stuart for loving her.
Honestly, it was not a very enjoyable read at all.
The best thing about it were the sex scene, which were very well written and very hot. I enjoyed them despite not liking the heroine. It was pretty much the only part of the book I did not want to skim over...lol.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone other them avid royalists who will read anything with a royal flavour.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided above.
It was all I could do to make myself finish it.
I disliked the fact that she did not get together with the man she ended up with until the end of the book. For a conservative upright royal, she sure lusted after a lot of men. I disliked the heroine pretty intesely and felt very little empathy for her.
I pityied Stuart for loving her.
Honestly, it was not a very enjoyable read at all.
The best thing about it were the sex scene, which were very well written and very hot. I enjoyed them despite not liking the heroine. It was pretty much the only part of the book I did not want to skim over...lol.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone other them avid royalists who will read anything with a royal flavour.
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided above.
May 26, 2015
**ARC was given via NetGalley for an exchange of an honest review.**
Alix is the queen of this story though she is a young queen, she always being watched by everyone. She has to find a Queen consort. Even though she wants what her brother has with his wife. Love, but she knows that is not easy for her, being a queen an all. Yes over the past she has had some Hooks up but, none that led to anything permananet. We meet Stuart, he attended Alix’s brothers wedding. Where he let it slip that Stuart had the biggest crush on her since they were kids.
What girl doesn’t love reading about royals and childhood crushes that lead to love. I loved this book. Kind of reminded me of Meg Cabot the Princess Diaries Series but this is way more mature, New Adult.
Both Stuart and Alix don’t have an easy road ahead of them with each other they will find each other’s happiness and balance each other out.
Alix is the queen of this story though she is a young queen, she always being watched by everyone. She has to find a Queen consort. Even though she wants what her brother has with his wife. Love, but she knows that is not easy for her, being a queen an all. Yes over the past she has had some Hooks up but, none that led to anything permananet. We meet Stuart, he attended Alix’s brothers wedding. Where he let it slip that Stuart had the biggest crush on her since they were kids.
What girl doesn’t love reading about royals and childhood crushes that lead to love. I loved this book. Kind of reminded me of Meg Cabot the Princess Diaries Series but this is way more mature, New Adult.
Both Stuart and Alix don’t have an easy road ahead of them with each other they will find each other’s happiness and balance each other out.
July 22, 2015
2.5 stars
I tried to get into this....
Let me caveat this with that I don't tend to like contemporary romance. I thought maybe this one with the royal twist might be good...all the drama that could add....the life, the reality....the real threats...
I also did NOT read the first book....so this was my first trip into this "world".
It didn't give me the drama or the romance I was craving. Lots of hooking up with "Mr. Wrong" and the loss of "Mr. Right" and the need for "Mr. Right Now". I cried....I mourned....and then I got lost...
I couldn't finish it...a rarity for me....because there was nothing wrong with the writing. It was clean, and edited....but the story....I trudged and I trudged but I never got there....
If you love contemporary romance this might be for you....but it was not for me...
I tried to get into this....
Let me caveat this with that I don't tend to like contemporary romance. I thought maybe this one with the royal twist might be good...all the drama that could add....the life, the reality....the real threats...
I also did NOT read the first book....so this was my first trip into this "world".
It didn't give me the drama or the romance I was craving. Lots of hooking up with "Mr. Wrong" and the loss of "Mr. Right" and the need for "Mr. Right Now". I cried....I mourned....and then I got lost...
I couldn't finish it...a rarity for me....because there was nothing wrong with the writing. It was clean, and edited....but the story....I trudged and I trudged but I never got there....
If you love contemporary romance this might be for you....but it was not for me...
February 15, 2016
Alix is a queen but looking for love and not really having a lot of luck there in finding it . Then her brother david gets married and Alix finds an old friend there Stuart .Stuart has loved Alix since he was a teen . Could he really win her heart and could he take the back seat and she would always come before him .
I like this story to a degree but Alix just wasn’t as strong as I felt she had to be . To me she should have made a decision and stuck with it . It just wasn’t what a pictured a queen to be . I know she was young but she knew from a child she would be queen even if it happened before she liked . However i did like Stuart’s character quite a bit . The story and plot was pretty good
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review..
I like this story to a degree but Alix just wasn’t as strong as I felt she had to be . To me she should have made a decision and stuck with it . It just wasn’t what a pictured a queen to be . I know she was young but she knew from a child she would be queen even if it happened before she liked . However i did like Stuart’s character quite a bit . The story and plot was pretty good
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review..
May 14, 2015
A young woman discovering that she is more than her title. Alexandra has always known she would be Queen. Yet separating the title Queen from the woman Alix has proven hard for her. She knows that there are responsibilities that go along with the title that have to be carried out but, secretly she has always craved more. She wants the average things like happiness, love and the freedom to be Alix the woman-not Alexandra the Queen. The Queen by S.A. Gordon is the story of a woman on a journey of self discovery. Maybe she can have it all, even love. Wonderful story. I received a copy of The Queen for an honest review.
September 26, 2015
I loved The Prince so I had high expectations for this book. Sadly it did not live up to them, I felt like we spent sooooo long just weeding through other men that when we finally get Alix and Stuart together we just don't get to spend enough time with them. From the first time she sees Stuart you can just tell they will be together in the end. There are too many other men that just take away from their story. I wanted a book about Alix and her guy, like how The Prince was solely focused on David and Caitlyn.
**I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publisher in change for a review**
**I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publisher in change for a review**
May 14, 2015
**ARC from Netgalley**
I enjoyed The Queen. Alix came across as genuine. I could imagine feeling the same way under similar circumstances. She was very likeable and self-possessed. Stuart was very understated. A strong man secure enough with himself to willingly take a backseat. I mean how do you date the Queen of England?? Talk about a tough situation. I also loved the little updates on Caitlyn and David. Still my only complaint with Gordon's writing is the long descriptions, although there seemed to be less of that in The Queen. I would definitely read Maggie's story if she writes one.
I enjoyed The Queen. Alix came across as genuine. I could imagine feeling the same way under similar circumstances. She was very likeable and self-possessed. Stuart was very understated. A strong man secure enough with himself to willingly take a backseat. I mean how do you date the Queen of England?? Talk about a tough situation. I also loved the little updates on Caitlyn and David. Still my only complaint with Gordon's writing is the long descriptions, although there seemed to be less of that in The Queen. I would definitely read Maggie's story if she writes one.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews