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Royal Vows

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175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2026

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Lucy Darling

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5 stars
144 (39%)
4 stars
115 (31%)
3 stars
76 (20%)
2 stars
26 (7%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,853 reviews1,171 followers
Read
June 28, 2026
Ngl, I thought I stumbled upon a different author because there's too much OWD here, and Caldwell was clueless about her motives since he only sees her as a family friend. Mable even gave her opinion about the OW because, you know, feminine intuition.

At first, I thought he invalidated her, but then later on it was shown that after their conversation, he started being cautious when the OW was around. Thank the universe that he's down bad for the FMC and OTT when it comes to showing how obsessed he is with her.

Anyway, as usual it's safe and dual V, which I loved the most. ♥️
Profile Image for MerReads.
448 reviews46 followers
July 8, 2026
I read this when it came out but I forgot to write a review! Here is what I remember after skimming through the book again!

DUAL VIRGINS and they know that about each other which is the best part! Each others first everything!
Quote,
“I know. God, I know.” I’m close enough to touch her now, but I
don’t. I need to get this all out. “I hate the idea of anything hurting
you. I’ve never done this before. Never been in love, never had
someone who—” The words catch, and I force them out. “I’ve never
loved anyone. Until you.”
She blinks. “You love me?” Mable’s eyes widen, as if that’s a
foreign concept.
“Yes, I fucking love you!” The words explode out of me. “I love
you so much I’ll give up the crown. I’ll walk away from all of it. I’ve
been trying to get you pregnant since our first night together
because I’m a fucking psycho and knew you could never leave me
then. I mean, you’re the only person I’ve ever even slept with, the
only one I’ve ever wanted, the only —”
She’s fighting a smile. I see it—the corner of her mouth
twitching, the tears still wet on her cheeks but for a different reason
now.
end quote.
There are quite a few quotes peppered throughout the book telling us how knew everything is to them both which I enjoyed!

Safe
No cheating
Unwanted OW drama (to much of it)
No OM drama
No OM/OW comparisons (they are each others one and only)
No separation
No gross condom use
No third act break up (there is a third act misunderstanding, but there a lot of miscommunications in the story)
HEA

Mabel is a well off young woman who is controlled by her mother. Her life is planned out so she wants to throw caution to the wind and travels to another country. In the airport she meets a handsome man who offers her a drink and is delighted by the fact that she does not know he is the prince, soon to be king of this foreign country. He wants her, and falls hard for her. She falls for him but doesn't trust him since he did keep his status a secret.
There are quite a few miscommunications and misunderstandings that are resolved because of a woman who has feelings for Caldwell but he is oblivious to her. He is knew to attraction, love, sex, and all the intimate things he experiences with Mabel, so he never paid attention to the opposite sex and was flabbergasted when he finds out that his childhood friend wants to sabotage Mabel and Caldwell to claim him for herself.
Mabel is a sweetheart and wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but lo and behold, she really did want Mabel out of the way. Caldwell makes this unwanted OW get her comeuppance but another misunderstanding sends Mabel running and it is quickly resolved.
This is the gist of the story, and I enjoyed it. I do have a couple complaints. I wish Mabel didn't consider her relationship with Caldwell as just a fling at the beginning. It cheapens it slightly especially knowing how deeply in love he is with her since he laid eyes on her. She seems to try to convince herself that is what it is, but I don't like it. Also, there is too much unwanted OW drama. I am ok with unwanted OW drama to show how devoted our hero is to our heroine, but there was too much of it.
In all I did enjoyed it and I always ALWAYS love DV first timers which I know I will get with Lucy Darling. She is my favorite author for good reason!
Sorry this is not very detailed because it is from memory, but I do recommend it! I look forward to her next book!
Happy reading!
Profile Image for Val.
419 reviews26 followers
July 2, 2026
The OWD was annoying. While MMC didn’t care about her other than a family friend I do think he was a dumbass not to realize her true intentions early on.

Insta Love
Dual Virgins
Dual POV (1st person)
OWD (MMC has never been with her romantically)
No OMD
HEA
No condoms
Profile Image for Babel.
2,396 reviews200 followers
June 30, 2026
These vows are getting me addicted :-D The start of this novella could be utterly romantic or simply terrifying. Luckily, it's the former. Naïve girl meets handsome stranger at the airport who decides she is to be his, no matter what.

Royal secrets, a destination to find yourself, and deliciously hot days in paradise.

Mable and Caldwell are an awesome couple. They are new to this intense kind of feelings and make mistakes, especially him as he has regal roots to consider. However, he always shows her how much he values her as she is.

It's a steamy romance, yet has a lovely story filled with balls, sneaky royals, stunning libraries and a girl who fits beautifully and honestly in her new role with her genuine care and charm. Loved the scenes in Solaria with the people and how Mable is keen on everything.

A little drama and two funny epilogues complete the pack. Loved it!
Profile Image for Zahida Sayed.
191 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2026
Oh. My. God. I went into Royal Vows by Lucy Darling expecting a quick little instalove novella, but I ended up enjoying it so much more than I expected!

It was actually a bit longer than your typical novella, which I loved because it gave the story enough room to feel detailed without dragging. Yes, they fell for each other very quickly but that's exactly what I want from an instalove romance. Who doesn't love a good instalove novella? Because I definitely do!

And can we talk about our man our future king? He was absolutely down bad for his girl from the start, and I ate. That. Up. His devotion had me smiling the entire time.

If you're looking for a sweet, swoony, fast-paced royal romance with an obsessed hero and all the instalove vibes, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Profile Image for Jess.
3,232 reviews28 followers
July 3, 2026
Lust At First Sight

I loved these two very much!
Mabel and Caldwell meet at the airport… he took one look at her and knew she was meant for him. And the shocker of the meeting… she had no clue who he was! Now add a little alcohol at the airport and on the plane and Caldwell is able to convince sweet naive Mabel to spend more time with him so he can get her to fall in love with him.
This one had the right amount of love, action and drama and I seriously enjoyed the entire book enough to read it in one sitting!!
Profile Image for Fran.
2,783 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2026
Wells and Mable

Wells Caldwell is a royal prince meant to be king one day. When he meets Mabel at the airport now he wants to be her king only. A king who wants the only woman he’ll ever love, Mable. There are those who want to stop him tho. Can he protect her and keep her too. Loved this well written fast paced steamy read.
Profile Image for Day.
1,959 reviews11 followers
July 4, 2026
Mable and Caldwell

I liked Mabel and Caldwell's story a lot more than the first one in this series. Their story is quick and steamy but with a bunch of misunderstandings. They couldn't get away from them. However, I liked them together and the way Caldwell would do anything for Mable. So cute!
Profile Image for Imogen Jade.
758 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2026
Mable (21)
Caldwell

Mable was Truly from Book 1 of this series roommate in college (Standalones)

Mable is a naive girl who meets Caldwell, a handsome stranger at the airport who is secretly royalty who wants her to be his as soon as he saw her.

Mable tried telling him about his family friend and he was oblivious to the girls plans, glad she got what she deserved but hate how it was handled

Dual Virgins- Her first kiss also
OWD- Family Friend (Oblivious MMC)

2.5 ⭐️ wasn’t the best of hers
Profile Image for Elizabeth Neal.
1,968 reviews155 followers
Read
July 3, 2026
Thoughts:

1. I called the whole Cordelia thing instantly.
1a. I do not like her nor anything pertaining to her.
1b. Is he really that oblivious? Kind of scary in a person on the verge of being a king that's responsible for a million people.
2. Can't recall ever being this uninterested in a book by this author. The Cordelia thing, and Caldwell's blindness to it, ruined the whole book for me.
3. I get that Mable's mom comes from and has money, meaning Mable is used to a certain level of living. But it's never said if she uses that to help herself. Mable jets off to Solaria with no mention of how it'll impact her job (she confirms to Eleanor that she runs a library/is a librarian) nor paying her bills.
4. Finally! He sees it.
5. I like Jenson. So glad he got a special place in their family.
Profile Image for Paola ☆.
439 reviews
July 5, 2026
2.75💫
Está bien pero se me hizo muy largo.
Es un poco más dramatico que lo que acostumbra Lucy.

Todo el tema de clases sociales diferentes, el drama con la mamá, el convertirse en reina, las inseguridades de ella y todavía el drama de la 3era en discordia se me hizo mucho.

Aplaudo que los protas hayan sabido comunicarse (dos tres en realidad) pero sentí que me fato dramita en eso. Quiero decir, hay mucho drama alrededor pero al final ellos están tan bien que lo resuelven super super rápido. En una conversación todo lo arregla. Literal le dice: es mentira, creeme. Y ella dice: Si? Ok. Besame.
No sé, me falto más resistencia de ella. Una persecución REAL Y LARGA. Tenia mucha tela de donde al ser practicamente dueño de la isla.

Pero entiendo que no lo quisiera la autora porque ya lidiaban con muchos problemas.

No sé, fue bueno pero no para mi.
Profile Image for Ellie.
192 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2026
I was disappointed in this book. I love Lucy Darling but I choose her books when I need low angst, cute, insta love reads. This was the first time in a Lucy Darling I wished the FMC would the leave the MMC.

The entirety of this book is OW drama and poor communication. I’m surprised Cordelia didn’t make it into epilogue because she dominated the whole book. If I could do a word count Cordelia is likely mentioned more times than Mabel was. Just not my thing.

Also, I hate when the FMC tells the MMC about the motives and intentions of the Other Woman but the MMC is like “We’re just friends. She knows that. You’re crazy for thinking otherwise” and blows off her concerns.

I’ll keep reading Lucy Darling. I was just disappointed in this particular book.
Profile Image for Traci.
716 reviews22 followers
July 3, 2026
Notes for me

Caldwell - royalty but like her seeing him as just a regular man

Mabel

They meet while he’s traveling to brother’s wedding. They hit it off right away. She wonders he doesn’t invite her to the wedding. Then sees a text from a Cordelia. She’s his date. He assures her she’s just a family friend.

His mother confronts Mabel. Tells her she’s just a distraction and he and Cordelia always come back to each other.

Cordelia acts nice around Caldwell but she’s a snake. It takes him a while to see it. Mabel overhears a conversation with Caldwell trying to trap Cordelia. But what she hears is him saying they aren’t working out and he should have listened to her.

Mabel leaves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Riley 02.
242 reviews22 followers
July 16, 2026
Caldwell and Mabel

It would be a 2⭐️, but with both being virgins and each other’s first everything I’ll give it 3⭐️.

He is obsessed with her from the start and did everything in his power to guide her to where he wanted. He’s OTT!! Can’t be more than 10 minutes without her in his line of sight. And she is a sweetheart that got to win his country’s people’s hearts including his mother.

But the Cordelia was bothersome. He kept letting her touch his arm and try to get close to him. He didn’t trust Mabel enough to tell her what he was planning to do in order to unmask that OW and Mabel ended getting hurt.

Overall, it’s a good read.
Profile Image for Ꭿຖᥲ·♡ ྀི.
2,393 reviews238 followers
July 3, 2026
4✯

-dual POV
-no om drama
-no cheating
-insta love/lust
-OTT possessive obsessed alpha hero
-ow drama - the hero's childhood friend caused a bit of drama, she wanted in his pants but he was oblivious (at first), he considered her a sister or a cousin, he never had any interest in her (I feel like the odd one out but I actually enjoyed the ow drama)
-both virgins
-no separation
-sweet likeable heroine
-epilogue: few years later -married with 2 kids and another on the way
Profile Image for Baz◇.
67 reviews
July 22, 2026
Cute but not great.

This was very sweet and Wells is a very likeable male lead. However, the female lead didn't grab me, and there was a LOT of back and forth drama that, while relevant, was tiring to read rather than engaging. My favorite part was when Wells' mom broke the "old money mom" mold near the end, and I honestly would have enjoyed more of the FL and the mom building a relationship more than the ongoing frustration with Cordelia. Not a bad read, but also not the author's best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alida Hart.
161 reviews3 followers
July 1, 2026
Very well written

This was a great Insta love story. I give Royal Vows 5 stars but with Mabel had a bit more of a backbone in a few spots in the story, namely the OW drama situations. I did not enjoy the OW drama, I think the story would have been better without it. That being said, it was a well written book so it still gets the full stars and I'm really glad I made the time to read this one.
Profile Image for WhiskeyandReading.
2,800 reviews
July 2, 2026
There is just something about Ms. Darling's books, but they are like my comfort reads. This one hit the spot. Caldwell and Mable's story is adorable and calming. Caldwell is instantly possessive of Mable, and the poor girl is clueless, which is what I loved. Mable is the girl you go to book stores with while drinking tea. Caldwell is the man you want for the perfect book boyfriend. I truly enjoyed this cute little story.
Profile Image for Melanie.
586 reviews
July 4, 2026
The Prince finds a keeper.

A chance encounter at the airport leads to a fairy tale, which includes an evil wife wannabe and a disapproving MIL-to-be. Which one of these will become an ally and which one will be banished from the kingdom? Amongst all of this drama are Caldwell and Mable. Caldwell who was born to lead and Mable who never knew what she was capable of, until Caldwell showed her all she had to do was be herself. This is a sweet love story with all the heat.
Profile Image for Rmqbookqueen.
1,126 reviews10 followers
July 17, 2026
Mable’s story!!!!! Awww these two had such a good meet cute, and I love how Mable was basically the people’s princess. I really enjoyed the story and how sweet Wells was for her from start to finish. It really feels so romantic when you get to read about a man that falls first and stands up to his family for her. The drama was so interesting, and I pretty much ate it up because it just made our main characters that much closer. A great romance and an adorable ending for our sweet happily ever after hearts!
Profile Image for Kalico.
4 reviews
July 15, 2026
I couldn’t focus on the story bc of the terrible editing and inconsistencies. One minute the man’s name is Jenson and not even three sentences later he’s being called James. Also she says her dad’s dead at the beginning of the book (twice I believe) but then later it’s just that he’s not involved in her life?
852 reviews
June 29, 2026
A fun read

Mable and Caldwell’s story is over the top everything! It has all the tropes that are unbelievable and so much fun…a prince meets his one and only at the airport. External angst, much passion and two epilogues
Profile Image for Sil Hines.
368 reviews
June 30, 2026
yaaasss!!!!

Mabel was absolutely fabulous!!! I loved her character! She was a true queen without even needing the crown. Caldwell knew she was it for him and didn’t let shiny people get in the way of his true gem. 10 stars if I could. Such a cute read!
246 reviews
July 23, 2026
More to this One!

Mable and Caldwell gave us heart, spice and drama. I liked that there were more elements to the story than just an obsessive hero. There was a meddling mom, a crazy wannabe ex girlfriend and kingdom drama. Great read!
Profile Image for effin surrey.
1,898 reviews26 followers
June 28, 2026
DV🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

I won’t read this again. I didn’t like ow drama
331 reviews3 followers
July 2, 2026
Sweet

It's was a great read. I love Lucy Darling ❤️. I really enjoyed the royal aspect. Even though it wasn't a Cinderella story. Highly recommend
Profile Image for Rae&#x1f987;.
516 reviews14 followers
July 9, 2026
Dual V 🥰.

Mable: (fmc) | librarian
Caldwell: (mmc) | prince.
Profile Image for Charlene.
5,771 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2026
Caldwell and Mable

This was cute. Could have done without all the family drama, but it worked out. I love how fierce Wells was in his love and how sweet Mabel was in hers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews