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American Royalty #1
Dinastia Americana
Inspirado na história de amor entre o príncipe Harry e Meghan Markle, Tracey Livesay cria um romance intenso e inesquecível
A determinada rapper norte-americana Danielle “Duquesa” Nelson está prestes a assinar um contrato milionário que vai levar sua marca de cosméticos a outro nível. E, o mais importante, dará a ela o controle que tanto deseja sobre a própria vida.
No entanto, um incidente com uma estrela pop viraliza e acaba prejudicando seu acordo. Preocupada com a carreira e o futuro de sua marca, ela é forçada a arranjar um jeito de melhorar a própria imagem
Um brilhante e recluso professor universitário, o príncipe Jameson sempre preferiu viver longe dos holofotes. Mas, quando sua avó, a rainha da Inglaterra, entra em desespero depois que os filhos se envolvem em uma série de escândalos, Jameson acaba se tornando o rosto do evento em homenagem ao falecido príncipe consorte, em uma tentativa da matriarca de salvar a imagem da realeza.
O príncipe é então obrigado a participar da organização de um show que contará com a presença de vários artistas populares e escolher um ato musical para se apresentar. Mas Jameson não conhece nenhum nome de sucesso e, por acaso, acaba escolhendo Dani ― afinal, o que é mais apropriado para um evento da realeza do que uma “Duquesa”?
O que ele não esperava era que a Duquesa fosse, na verdade, uma rapper que vai virar sua vida de cabeça para baixo. E Dani também não imaginava ter um príncipe forte e bonitão por perto enquanto tenta limpar sua imagem e fechar o contrato de seus sonhos.
A atração entre eles é inegável, e os dois se envolvem em cenas quentes de tirar o fôlego. Por mais que tentem, Jameson e Dani não conseguem ficar longe um do outro, mas, à medida que o brilho dos holofotes se intensifica e forças externas tentam interferir, a relação sexy e ardente entre o príncipe e a Duquesa fica cada vez mais difícil. Será que a paixão deles é forte o suficiente para superar os obstáculos da vida real?
A determinada rapper norte-americana Danielle “Duquesa” Nelson está prestes a assinar um contrato milionário que vai levar sua marca de cosméticos a outro nível. E, o mais importante, dará a ela o controle que tanto deseja sobre a própria vida.
No entanto, um incidente com uma estrela pop viraliza e acaba prejudicando seu acordo. Preocupada com a carreira e o futuro de sua marca, ela é forçada a arranjar um jeito de melhorar a própria imagem
Um brilhante e recluso professor universitário, o príncipe Jameson sempre preferiu viver longe dos holofotes. Mas, quando sua avó, a rainha da Inglaterra, entra em desespero depois que os filhos se envolvem em uma série de escândalos, Jameson acaba se tornando o rosto do evento em homenagem ao falecido príncipe consorte, em uma tentativa da matriarca de salvar a imagem da realeza.
O príncipe é então obrigado a participar da organização de um show que contará com a presença de vários artistas populares e escolher um ato musical para se apresentar. Mas Jameson não conhece nenhum nome de sucesso e, por acaso, acaba escolhendo Dani ― afinal, o que é mais apropriado para um evento da realeza do que uma “Duquesa”?
O que ele não esperava era que a Duquesa fosse, na verdade, uma rapper que vai virar sua vida de cabeça para baixo. E Dani também não imaginava ter um príncipe forte e bonitão por perto enquanto tenta limpar sua imagem e fechar o contrato de seus sonhos.
A atração entre eles é inegável, e os dois se envolvem em cenas quentes de tirar o fôlego. Por mais que tentem, Jameson e Dani não conseguem ficar longe um do outro, mas, à medida que o brilho dos holofotes se intensifica e forças externas tentam interferir, a relação sexy e ardente entre o príncipe e a Duquesa fica cada vez mais difícil. Será que a paixão deles é forte o suficiente para superar os obstáculos da vida real?
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2022
287 people are currently reading
19779 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Livesay
16 books960 followersTracey Livesay writes smart, sexy and emotional contemporary romances where strong, successful heroines find love with powerful, passionate heroes. Her latest release, THE DUCHESS EFFECT, is the sequel to last summer’s American Royalty, which evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, if Meghan was Megan Thee Stallion. She is the 2021 Emma Award winner for Best Interracial Romance for Like Lovers Do, which was also named one of the 100 Best Fiction Books of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. A former criminal defense attorney, she lives in Virginia with her husband—who she met on the very first day of law school—and is counting down the days until they have an empty nest. (Don’t worry, their three kids are well aware.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,328 reviews
July 13, 2022
I never write reviews anymore but I’m doing so and giving this book 5 stars to balance out the ridiculous review that shows up at the top off all the reviews by a person who didn’t even read this book.
Save your Meghan Markle hate for your blog honey 🙄. This is truly why goodreads reviews can be the worst.
Save your Meghan Markle hate for your blog honey 🙄. This is truly why goodreads reviews can be the worst.
August 25, 2022
WHAT AN INNOCENT COVER! Seeing Harry and Meghan on the synopsis had me this close to not reading this because I was just scared of getting something that was a complete copy. Thankfully, we didn’t really get that.
Dani’s character immediately got my attention. She is a woman trying to grow in many aspects of her life while dealing with the downsides that usually come with her career. Jameson equally captured my attention with how much his feelings were very realistic and relatable. I too wouldn’t want my life to be planned for me immediately after I was born.
So individually, yes! I loved their characters and their evolution throughout the story. Together though, their relationship was heavily rushed and most of the time they spent together was physical. I honestly thought this was going to be giving “enemies to lovers,” but they were “enemies” for precisely 0.2 seconds. I enjoyed the few moments where they just conversed and really wanted more of those. The physical aspects woooow. Let’s just say I can not for the life of me imagine someone from the royal family engaging in such descriptive acts. And the dramatic descriptions of each other?! I’m sorry but most of the time they were really cringe. Like they can’t be that attractive right? RIGHT? The ending scenes somewhat made their connection feel a bit real but it still needed some work!
Since romance was most of this plot I can’t really vouch for it as anything other than romance but overall, it did the job.
Dani’s character immediately got my attention. She is a woman trying to grow in many aspects of her life while dealing with the downsides that usually come with her career. Jameson equally captured my attention with how much his feelings were very realistic and relatable. I too wouldn’t want my life to be planned for me immediately after I was born.
So individually, yes! I loved their characters and their evolution throughout the story. Together though, their relationship was heavily rushed and most of the time they spent together was physical. I honestly thought this was going to be giving “enemies to lovers,” but they were “enemies” for precisely 0.2 seconds. I enjoyed the few moments where they just conversed and really wanted more of those. The physical aspects woooow. Let’s just say I can not for the life of me imagine someone from the royal family engaging in such descriptive acts. And the dramatic descriptions of each other?! I’m sorry but most of the time they were really cringe. Like they can’t be that attractive right? RIGHT? The ending scenes somewhat made their connection feel a bit real but it still needed some work!
Since romance was most of this plot I can’t really vouch for it as anything other than romance but overall, it did the job.
July 29, 2022
a Black female main character, who also happens to be a rapper think of a Megan Thee Stallion equivalent, then we have a prince in England who is obsessed with her say the slightest. I absolutely loved this book I had a ton of fun reading it!
June 3, 2024
**'Stop, revise then restart in telling whatever story that you're trying to put in print. Always remember, the human brain dislikes nonsensical writings...'
Okay read!
A very unorganized, slow few chapters then from maybe chapter five and onward, the storyline got much better.
Classic case of having a really good premise or even the right mind/ideas but just not knowing how to thoroughly execute into telling a great story from beginning to end.
Okay read!
A very unorganized, slow few chapters then from maybe chapter five and onward, the storyline got much better.
Classic case of having a really good premise or even the right mind/ideas but just not knowing how to thoroughly execute into telling a great story from beginning to end.
March 5, 2022
More thoughts can be found here.
Some of what didn't work here for me is personal and some of it I think is more objective in terms of things that didn't work.
My biggest objective gripe is that I never believed that the romance was ever going to work outside the scope of the bubble Dani and Jameson found themselves in the two weeks or so before the actual benefit concert. Part of that was definitely seeing Jameson's lust before she was ever there presently and then how quickly their physical relationship developed before we saw them start to have conversations where Jameson wasn't thinking about how hard he was in his internal monologue or Dani thinking about how wet she was in hers. Even once the narrative started to include more date-like features it never came across as their relationship becoming something more and simply a story trying to fit into what romance readers expect from a romance when it didn't really fit either character.
Stories where one character uses another to fix their public image I think are definitely a dime a dozen, but I'm not sure how well that trope works in this specific context; that of a royal romance. Namely because I think the book waited entirely too long to try and touch on how their romance could work in a world where they were together and how them being together would actually play into Dani's ultimate goal of cleaning up her image to transition into a full time running of Mela-Skin and only rapping occasionally on the side.
The third act conflict came into play entirely too late and felt entirely rushed. Again, with little thought into how these characters would actually work together outside the context of the bubble they'd been living in for the past two-ish weeks. The epilogue felt entirely unneeded and completely detached from the rest of the book; feeling like setup for some kind of follow up that I'm not sure anyone would actually want? Especially given how little that character and that particular plot thread had to do with the actual narrative.
Ultimately there were scenes here that I thought were really strong and worked well. For me though none of them felt like they were worth reading through so many more scenes that I didn't think worked or serviced characters or their motivations. Instead it felt more akin to puppets, forced to do things in service of a structure that didn't actually suit them. I'm sure that other readers will actually get more out of this than I did, and I would recommend it to people that had already been looking forward to this title but that's really it.
Some of what didn't work here for me is personal and some of it I think is more objective in terms of things that didn't work.
My biggest objective gripe is that I never believed that the romance was ever going to work outside the scope of the bubble Dani and Jameson found themselves in the two weeks or so before the actual benefit concert. Part of that was definitely seeing Jameson's lust before she was ever there presently and then how quickly their physical relationship developed before we saw them start to have conversations where Jameson wasn't thinking about how hard he was in his internal monologue or Dani thinking about how wet she was in hers. Even once the narrative started to include more date-like features it never came across as their relationship becoming something more and simply a story trying to fit into what romance readers expect from a romance when it didn't really fit either character.
Stories where one character uses another to fix their public image I think are definitely a dime a dozen, but I'm not sure how well that trope works in this specific context; that of a royal romance. Namely because I think the book waited entirely too long to try and touch on how their romance could work in a world where they were together and how them being together would actually play into Dani's ultimate goal of cleaning up her image to transition into a full time running of Mela-Skin and only rapping occasionally on the side.
The third act conflict came into play entirely too late and felt entirely rushed. Again, with little thought into how these characters would actually work together outside the context of the bubble they'd been living in for the past two-ish weeks. The epilogue felt entirely unneeded and completely detached from the rest of the book; feeling like setup for some kind of follow up that I'm not sure anyone would actually want? Especially given how little that character and that particular plot thread had to do with the actual narrative.
Ultimately there were scenes here that I thought were really strong and worked well. For me though none of them felt like they were worth reading through so many more scenes that I didn't think worked or serviced characters or their motivations. Instead it felt more akin to puppets, forced to do things in service of a structure that didn't actually suit them. I'm sure that other readers will actually get more out of this than I did, and I would recommend it to people that had already been looking forward to this title but that's really it.
June 20, 2022
I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
CAN ANOTHER WRITER PLEASE TAKE THIS CONCEPT, REWRITE THE STORY, AND MAKE IT BETTER? 🙊😔😭 A royal prince and a rapper?!?!??!?! This book should have been a masterpiece!! 😭😭😭
In reality, this book reads like a first draft. The main idea is there. There are some really good moments and scenes. The characters have their backstories. But omg the execution is just UGH 😭
First of all, Dani and Jameson don't even meet until the 27% mark. And when they do meet, it's all insta-lust. In fact, Jameson has already had multiple sex dreams about Dani before meeting her in person. The attraction should have been based on more than just lust because men already oversexualize Dani and reduce her to her physicality. In my opinion, it would have been better if Jameson didn't know Dani was a rapper until they meet for the first time in person. The confusion would have been a lot of fun and Jameson's annoyance with Dani would have made more sense. Jameson should have been starchy and uptight instead of a grump who's grumpy for the sake of hiding his attraction to Dani. Jameson's behaviour was supremely annoying and unattractive.
I really wish that Dani and Jameson's relationship was guided by more than just lust. At the 51% mark, Dani admits that she's attracted to Jameson's body only. At this point, the attraction should have been more than just lust-based. But the insta-lust takes so much space that there isn't enough room for emotional intimacy to properly develop between Jameson and Dani. And let me tell ya, Jameson is a closed book. His mother had to open up to Dani on his behalf! What even?! 😵
Additionally, there is no proper transition or build up, which makes everything anticlimactic. There is no anticipation. There is no proper segue between scenes and chapters. There are scenes that randomly pop up with zero build up. And then there are scenes that end abruptly. So when Dani and Jameson finally hook up, it felt like it came out of nowhere.
What did I love about this book? Dani. Her POV is so much more interesting that Jameson's POV. Her career, her business plans, and her personality are all well-written and interesting. As for Jameson, he's basically characterized by his hatred of the royal family and his desire for a private life. Jameson is also really dumb for someone with a PhD. He decides to become Dani's protector and save her from the Queen and bad press (without Dani's knowledge). But instead of being careful, he comes onto Dani and winks at her in public where anyone could have noticed 🤡 He also keeps something major from Dani because he thinks that keeping her in the dark = protecting her 🤡 Please give an award to this smart Philosophy professor 🤡
Last but not least, the HEA is sooooooo unbelieveable. The book literally ends with Dani saying that she and Jameson will need to figure out how they're going to live their lives. I'm not asking for realism, but shouldn't Dani and Jameson have figured this out during the course of their relationship? Not to mention that Dani and Jameson spent most of their time in a safe bubble at his residence, so how do we know for sure that these two will be able to face the scrutiny of the media? How do we know that their relationship will survive the chaos that will surely ensue after their public announcement?
I was hoping that the epilogue would at least wrap up the story properly and convince me that this couple will make it work now that their relationship is public...but nope, the epilogue was useless 🤡
CAN ANOTHER WRITER PLEASE TAKE THIS CONCEPT, REWRITE THE STORY, AND MAKE IT BETTER? 🙊😔😭 A royal prince and a rapper?!?!??!?! This book should have been a masterpiece!! 😭😭😭
In reality, this book reads like a first draft. The main idea is there. There are some really good moments and scenes. The characters have their backstories. But omg the execution is just UGH 😭
First of all, Dani and Jameson don't even meet until the 27% mark. And when they do meet, it's all insta-lust. In fact, Jameson has already had multiple sex dreams about Dani before meeting her in person. The attraction should have been based on more than just lust because men already oversexualize Dani and reduce her to her physicality. In my opinion, it would have been better if Jameson didn't know Dani was a rapper until they meet for the first time in person. The confusion would have been a lot of fun and Jameson's annoyance with Dani would have made more sense. Jameson should have been starchy and uptight instead of a grump who's grumpy for the sake of hiding his attraction to Dani. Jameson's behaviour was supremely annoying and unattractive.
I really wish that Dani and Jameson's relationship was guided by more than just lust. At the 51% mark, Dani admits that she's attracted to Jameson's body only. At this point, the attraction should have been more than just lust-based. But the insta-lust takes so much space that there isn't enough room for emotional intimacy to properly develop between Jameson and Dani. And let me tell ya, Jameson is a closed book. His mother had to open up to Dani on his behalf! What even?! 😵
Additionally, there is no proper transition or build up, which makes everything anticlimactic. There is no anticipation. There is no proper segue between scenes and chapters. There are scenes that randomly pop up with zero build up. And then there are scenes that end abruptly. So when Dani and Jameson finally hook up, it felt like it came out of nowhere.
What did I love about this book? Dani. Her POV is so much more interesting that Jameson's POV. Her career, her business plans, and her personality are all well-written and interesting. As for Jameson, he's basically characterized by his hatred of the royal family and his desire for a private life. Jameson is also really dumb for someone with a PhD. He decides to become Dani's protector and save her from the Queen and bad press (without Dani's knowledge). But instead of being careful, he comes onto Dani and winks at her in public where anyone could have noticed 🤡 He also keeps something major from Dani because he thinks that keeping her in the dark = protecting her 🤡 Please give an award to this smart Philosophy professor 🤡
Last but not least, the HEA is sooooooo unbelieveable. The book literally ends with Dani saying that she and Jameson will need to figure out how they're going to live their lives. I'm not asking for realism, but shouldn't Dani and Jameson have figured this out during the course of their relationship? Not to mention that Dani and Jameson spent most of their time in a safe bubble at his residence, so how do we know for sure that these two will be able to face the scrutiny of the media? How do we know that their relationship will survive the chaos that will surely ensue after their public announcement?
I was hoping that the epilogue would at least wrap up the story properly and convince me that this couple will make it work now that their relationship is public...but nope, the epilogue was useless 🤡
June 20, 2022
4.5 stars
This was such a fun read!
Dani, known as Duchess, is an American rapper known for oozing sexuality and confidence on stage. When a rival musician creates a fake string of very bad press for Dani, Duchess has to find a way to get in the public's good graces again.
A charity concert by the British royal family? With an incredibly sexy, buttoned up, professor by day and a dashing Royal Prince by night? Say less.
I loved the dual points of view and distinct voice for both Jameson and Dani. I felt their chemistry on every page! They were combustible. I loved that the heroine was a sexy, confident rapper who also loved wearing cozy sweats and trying to learn how to bake. She's one of my favorite heroines I've ever read!
Jameson left a bit to be desired at first. He was frosty and a bit of a jerk, all in the name of hiding his attraction. But I did love reading about his realization that he was in love with Dani.
This was a very charming and quite steamy romance between a British Royal prince and an American rapper (with Megan Thee Stallion vibes)and I really had a great time reading this!
I was provided an ARC for review from the publisher.
This was such a fun read!
Dani, known as Duchess, is an American rapper known for oozing sexuality and confidence on stage. When a rival musician creates a fake string of very bad press for Dani, Duchess has to find a way to get in the public's good graces again.
A charity concert by the British royal family? With an incredibly sexy, buttoned up, professor by day and a dashing Royal Prince by night? Say less.
I loved the dual points of view and distinct voice for both Jameson and Dani. I felt their chemistry on every page! They were combustible. I loved that the heroine was a sexy, confident rapper who also loved wearing cozy sweats and trying to learn how to bake. She's one of my favorite heroines I've ever read!
Jameson left a bit to be desired at first. He was frosty and a bit of a jerk, all in the name of hiding his attraction. But I did love reading about his realization that he was in love with Dani.
This was a very charming and quite steamy romance between a British Royal prince and an American rapper (with Megan Thee Stallion vibes)and I really had a great time reading this!
I was provided an ARC for review from the publisher.
December 16, 2022
this is a very strangely written book. the characters don’t even meet until 100 pages into the book, they almost have sex 50% into the book but it feels like things are happening to fast because the book spent so much time trying to develop dani as a character that when they got together it felt too fast. also jameson thirsting after dani before they met went from hot to creepy real fast. he started lusting after her beauty very early on and that already was weird for me because it’s not like he was in love, it was just lust.
then there was a scene where they just met and he was watching her music video and he started jacking off because of how hot she is. it was supposed to be sexy but when dealing with a interracial relationship it became very fetishization because all he could talk about was her face and her body and it made him seem like a weirdo. if this was a black love book it maybe (?) wouldve been less weird. but even after all of that i think this book has a really interesting plot and once again i think the story was very interestingly written. with all that being said… the smut was good IDK what my point is her but that weird ass man is a FREAK and i ate it up. i do feel like this was a bit instalovey.
then there was a scene where they just met and he was watching her music video and he started jacking off because of how hot she is. it was supposed to be sexy but when dealing with a interracial relationship it became very fetishization because all he could talk about was her face and her body and it made him seem like a weirdo. if this was a black love book it maybe (?) wouldve been less weird. but even after all of that i think this book has a really interesting plot and once again i think the story was very interestingly written. with all that being said… the smut was good IDK what my point is her but that weird ass man is a FREAK and i ate it up. i do feel like this was a bit instalovey.
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May 14, 2022
3.5, rounded down.
SUPER strong start, but a weak finish marred by insta-love (well, weird "enemies" to "oops my fingers are inside you") and weird time jumps. There were a lot of things going on, and while I loved Dani's character and the commentary on the racist royal family and about Black women in the music (and business) industry, I felt that there were a lot of plotlines that were either swept under the rug or resolved too quickly.
And the ending was...um, okay. Hopefully things will go well in the end?
But I did like the epilogue. And the sex scenes were hot.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
SUPER strong start, but a weak finish marred by insta-love (well, weird "enemies" to "oops my fingers are inside you") and weird time jumps. There were a lot of things going on, and while I loved Dani's character and the commentary on the racist royal family and about Black women in the music (and business) industry, I felt that there were a lot of plotlines that were either swept under the rug or resolved too quickly.
And the ending was...um, okay. Hopefully things will go well in the end?
But I did like the epilogue. And the sex scenes were hot.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
April 6, 2022
4.5 Stars / 3.5 Steam Fans
American Royalty is everything that Tracey Livesay promised! Dani is an American rapper that needs a little time away when the perfect situation falls in her lap to perform for the Queen of England's celebration. Jameson is the queen's grandson, who tasked him to be the face of the festival for his grandfather. When things are accelerated in Dani's rap life was, she decides to spend the few weeks before the celebration performance on Jameson's estate. At Jameson's estate, a mishap causes him to open up his residence for Dani. The accident starts a forced proximity situation when Dani and Jameson must get to know each other better.
I loved every second of American Royalty. I hope the publishers contract some excellent narrators for the audiobook to bring Duchess' (aka Dani) lyrics to life as Tracey would have wanted us to experience them.
Video review available in Week 10: Mar 6 – Mar 12, 2022, total weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
American Royalty is everything that Tracey Livesay promised! Dani is an American rapper that needs a little time away when the perfect situation falls in her lap to perform for the Queen of England's celebration. Jameson is the queen's grandson, who tasked him to be the face of the festival for his grandfather. When things are accelerated in Dani's rap life was, she decides to spend the few weeks before the celebration performance on Jameson's estate. At Jameson's estate, a mishap causes him to open up his residence for Dani. The accident starts a forced proximity situation when Dani and Jameson must get to know each other better.
I loved every second of American Royalty. I hope the publishers contract some excellent narrators for the audiobook to bring Duchess' (aka Dani) lyrics to life as Tracey would have wanted us to experience them.
Video review available in Week 10: Mar 6 – Mar 12, 2022, total weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.
For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
May 22, 2023
✨𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈.✨
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.
To start with, I enjoyed the second half more than first. It had more plot per say!
We start with Dani’s introduction but the backstory and the scandal part takes too much space. This made me loose interest from the actual plot. I liked how Dani was a strong self-made woman! But her scandal part and how she’s losing everything she has made by working hard took way too long in the plot.
Then comes Jameson’s introduction. He was supposed to be the philosopher and the most sane person in his family but I didn’t find him any different.. The author portrayed him in the most clichéd way that the romance books potray male leads these days – handsome hunk who is super intellectual but there was no charm in him🤷🏻♀️
Once the plot paced up and the protagonists meet, there just insta-lust. They tried to make them go on dates, you know, make it more romantic but all the protagonists ended up doing was .. you know! With no deep connection between the leads, I couldn’t find the love developing. The guy they used to make Jameson jealous (forgot his name) was muchhh better than Jameson.. just saying…
But once the second half started, things started to get better.. and I enjoyed the ending. It was heartwarming and gave me the kind of smile, romance books are supposed to give🥺
There were romantic moments and full dramaa in the book, but everything was overshadowed by the lust part. The lack of plot and the superficial relationship between the leads killed the vibe for me. I would not say that I didn’t enjoy the book in general but it was okay.. just okay.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, this is an okay-ish book with a lack of plot, too much smut and insta-lust making the relationship superficial. This could’ve been amazing if there was more focus on profound growth of the protagonists relationship. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to feel warmth in your heart from the romance. This was all about the smut and nothing else!
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𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.
To start with, I enjoyed the second half more than first. It had more plot per say!
We start with Dani’s introduction but the backstory and the scandal part takes too much space. This made me loose interest from the actual plot. I liked how Dani was a strong self-made woman! But her scandal part and how she’s losing everything she has made by working hard took way too long in the plot.
Then comes Jameson’s introduction. He was supposed to be the philosopher and the most sane person in his family but I didn’t find him any different.. The author portrayed him in the most clichéd way that the romance books potray male leads these days – handsome hunk who is super intellectual but there was no charm in him🤷🏻♀️
Once the plot paced up and the protagonists meet, there just insta-lust. They tried to make them go on dates, you know, make it more romantic but all the protagonists ended up doing was .. you know! With no deep connection between the leads, I couldn’t find the love developing. The guy they used to make Jameson jealous (forgot his name) was muchhh better than Jameson.. just saying…
But once the second half started, things started to get better.. and I enjoyed the ending. It was heartwarming and gave me the kind of smile, romance books are supposed to give🥺
There were romantic moments and full dramaa in the book, but everything was overshadowed by the lust part. The lack of plot and the superficial relationship between the leads killed the vibe for me. I would not say that I didn’t enjoy the book in general but it was okay.. just okay.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, this is an okay-ish book with a lack of plot, too much smut and insta-lust making the relationship superficial. This could’ve been amazing if there was more focus on profound growth of the protagonists relationship. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to feel warmth in your heart from the romance. This was all about the smut and nothing else!
Follow For More: Blog • Bookstagram • Goodreads
July 18, 2022
3.5 the third act breakup really threw me off. It felt super rushed and I hate our enemies lol. They're awful and I don't think they got the payback they deserved. Also, it was hard to like the relationship because it felt very lust driven because a lot of the time they spend together was actually told through time jumps. They're relationship would be like two weeks later they were... Three days later.... So yeah it's a bit off putting. Also some scenes were closed door and some weren't. Kind of threw me off with inconsistency
July 1, 2022
I’m tired of the Black female characters who are either perpetually angry or petulant. Give me a break. Dani is the stereotypical overly sexualized, impetuous Black woman and I just can’t deal. DNf @ 65%
Read
July 1, 2022jfc I will be fanning myself for weeks go get it
August 31, 2023
This is a must read for every romance reader, especially those who love royal stories. Damn Tracey for making me root for a ROYAL 🥲🥲 but I loved everything about Jameson & Duchess.
Do me a favor, read this book!
Do me a favor, read this book!
July 10, 2022
Giveaway win!
Edit: Got the e-mail that I won last Friday and it's already here. 😳
This was such a fun time. I don’t exactly follow the royal family or the Meghan and Harry media frenzy but I can see where the author got the inspiration from. This book didn’t try to paint the monarchy in a positive light but kept it pretty brutal and honest.
Even with my issues with this book (the 3rd act conflict came pretty late and resolved quickly, it took a while for them to meet but this could also be a positive because we learned more about them separate, their relationship went from dislike to fucking pretty early on with no slow build in between lol, and probably more I’m forgetting)I still can’t help but rate it a 5 because I had so much fun and found them super cute together. And the steam was 🔥🔥. I lowkey wouldn’t mind a sequel to see how they deal with their relationship lmao.
I must confess, the face claim I used for Jameson was Luke Thompson…Benedict Bridgerton actor. 😩
Edit: Got the e-mail that I won last Friday and it's already here. 😳
This was such a fun time. I don’t exactly follow the royal family or the Meghan and Harry media frenzy but I can see where the author got the inspiration from. This book didn’t try to paint the monarchy in a positive light but kept it pretty brutal and honest.
Even with my issues with this book (the 3rd act conflict came pretty late and resolved quickly, it took a while for them to meet but this could also be a positive because we learned more about them separate, their relationship went from dislike to fucking pretty early on with no slow build in between lol, and probably more I’m forgetting)I still can’t help but rate it a 5 because I had so much fun and found them super cute together. And the steam was 🔥🔥. I lowkey wouldn’t mind a sequel to see how they deal with their relationship lmao.
I must confess, the face claim I used for Jameson was Luke Thompson…Benedict Bridgerton actor. 😩
January 2, 2023
1/2/23: If, “I’m just thinking with my dick,” was a person it’d be Prince Jameson. I’m not mad at it!
It took me a while to get into, and then there was the drama from the crime that is the audiobook, but I finally managed to get into a rhythm and vibe with it until the end. I felt this was a bit rushed, but these two were so horny for each other and it was kind of fun!
I just might read the next one.
.
.
12/14/22: The white man narrating Duchess’ voice is giving hate crime…is giving caricature…this cannot be serious. So once again, I must put this on pause to give the ebook another try. Get the heck out of here.
It took me a while to get into, and then there was the drama from the crime that is the audiobook, but I finally managed to get into a rhythm and vibe with it until the end. I felt this was a bit rushed, but these two were so horny for each other and it was kind of fun!
I just might read the next one.
.
.
12/14/22: The white man narrating Duchess’ voice is giving hate crime…is giving caricature…this cannot be serious. So once again, I must put this on pause to give the ebook another try. Get the heck out of here.
May 6, 2022
Loosely inspired by Meghan and Harry (with a side of Megan Thee Stallion) American Royalty is a steamy contemporary romance between Jameson- a professorial, introverted prince- and sexy American rapper Duchess (Dani).
Dani is ambitious, hard-working, and has a side project building a brand of skin care products for Black women. Jameson has managed to stay in his ivory tower and out of the spotlight, but now his grandmother the Queen is determined to bring him into official royal duties. Assigned to manage a concert to raise funds for the charities his deceased grandfather supported, he suggests Duchess as an act, not knowing how she would shake up his life.
I'll be honest, Jameson starts off as kind of a prick and throws up walls in response to his attraction to Dani. But I ended up really liking their dynamic and how they got to know each other for more than their public personas. He plans some really cute and thoughtful dates for her. They also have sex. Lots of sex. This is definitely steamier than the other book I've read from Livesay, but I think it fits for the characters. They have a lot of barriers to overcome between jobs, backgrounds, race, etc and we see how toxic much of the royal family is, but perhaps love can conquer all. I was a fan! I received an early copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Dani is ambitious, hard-working, and has a side project building a brand of skin care products for Black women. Jameson has managed to stay in his ivory tower and out of the spotlight, but now his grandmother the Queen is determined to bring him into official royal duties. Assigned to manage a concert to raise funds for the charities his deceased grandfather supported, he suggests Duchess as an act, not knowing how she would shake up his life.
I'll be honest, Jameson starts off as kind of a prick and throws up walls in response to his attraction to Dani. But I ended up really liking their dynamic and how they got to know each other for more than their public personas. He plans some really cute and thoughtful dates for her. They also have sex. Lots of sex. This is definitely steamier than the other book I've read from Livesay, but I think it fits for the characters. They have a lot of barriers to overcome between jobs, backgrounds, race, etc and we see how toxic much of the royal family is, but perhaps love can conquer all. I was a fan! I received an early copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
July 28, 2022
American Royalty is a fun and completely over the top Romance about an Black American rapper Dani who is asked to perform for an event being given by the Royal family. She meets the Queen's grandson Prince Jameson and they quickly start having sex and fall in love.
This book was a quick and fun read. The sex scenes were a little much, I mean one or two scenes is great but six or seven is boring. There's only so many ways to write normal sex...I mean if it got a little kinky that might improve things but it was just the normal stuff we've all done. I will say that I did forget a couple times that the author was a Black woman because of the way Jameson fetishized Dani. It was weird but maybe that's just me and nobody else thought it was weird.
American Royalty is the first book of a series with I was unaware of but the book does have an ending so it could be read as a standalone. I'll probably read book 2 because I liked this book and I do wanna know what happens next...I really wanna know what that bitch Samantha does next.
This book was a quick and fun read. The sex scenes were a little much, I mean one or two scenes is great but six or seven is boring. There's only so many ways to write normal sex...I mean if it got a little kinky that might improve things but it was just the normal stuff we've all done. I will say that I did forget a couple times that the author was a Black woman because of the way Jameson fetishized Dani. It was weird but maybe that's just me and nobody else thought it was weird.
American Royalty is the first book of a series with I was unaware of but the book does have an ending so it could be read as a standalone. I'll probably read book 2 because I liked this book and I do wanna know what happens next...I really wanna know what that bitch Samantha does next.
June 25, 2022
Let me cut to the chase: This is an incredible book. The type of romance book that will make you kick your feet in the air and giggle like a school girl.
When the blurb said it was inspired by Harry and Meghan, I was intrigued and when I read further I knew I had to request an arc. However, as interesting as the blurb sounds- the book is even better. The chemistry between Dani and Jameson (aka Jay), was OUTSTANDING. The intimacy in this book is probably some of the best I've ever read. Although the events of the book are harrowing and keep the reader engaged throughout the novel- it's the two main characters that really stand out in this book. Dani and Jay are such dynamic, layered, and lovable characters. They are a true testament to Livesay's gift for writing. Dani and Jay didn't just feel like two love interests in a contemporary romance- they felt like real people who I couldn't help but love and root for.
Another thing I really loved about this book was how realistic it was. I felt like the portrayal of both the music industry and the machinations of the British monarchy were extremely believable. On the note of the British monarchy, I know what you're thinking. Elise, I'm not a monarchist. I am not reading a novel that romanticizes the Royal Family. I am here to happily inform you that this book does NOT do that. Truly, it is genuinely a rebuke of their lifestyle and the values they stand for. So for all the fellow anti-monarchists (who also love romance books) out there, be at ease. This book is actually very much so for you.
A problem I often have with romance books is that the only character arc or development the love interests have is their coupling. That was another thing I loved about this book- we got to see the main couple fall in love but we also got to see Dani and Jay on their own personal journeys. I loved them at the start but I loved them even more by the end.
Please read this book. I am genuinely head over heels for it. The things I would do to read this again for the first time, ugh. Thank you to the author and netgalley for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tws: referenced inappropriate sexual attention to a child (brief), unwanted sexual attention/comments, misogyny, familial neglect, parental death, death of a loved one (grandparents), racism (specifically in the music industry, in corporate spaces, and in the royal family), stalking, explicit sexual content
When the blurb said it was inspired by Harry and Meghan, I was intrigued and when I read further I knew I had to request an arc. However, as interesting as the blurb sounds- the book is even better. The chemistry between Dani and Jameson (aka Jay), was OUTSTANDING. The intimacy in this book is probably some of the best I've ever read. Although the events of the book are harrowing and keep the reader engaged throughout the novel- it's the two main characters that really stand out in this book. Dani and Jay are such dynamic, layered, and lovable characters. They are a true testament to Livesay's gift for writing. Dani and Jay didn't just feel like two love interests in a contemporary romance- they felt like real people who I couldn't help but love and root for.
Another thing I really loved about this book was how realistic it was. I felt like the portrayal of both the music industry and the machinations of the British monarchy were extremely believable. On the note of the British monarchy, I know what you're thinking. Elise, I'm not a monarchist. I am not reading a novel that romanticizes the Royal Family. I am here to happily inform you that this book does NOT do that. Truly, it is genuinely a rebuke of their lifestyle and the values they stand for. So for all the fellow anti-monarchists (who also love romance books) out there, be at ease. This book is actually very much so for you.
A problem I often have with romance books is that the only character arc or development the love interests have is their coupling. That was another thing I loved about this book- we got to see the main couple fall in love but we also got to see Dani and Jay on their own personal journeys. I loved them at the start but I loved them even more by the end.
Please read this book. I am genuinely head over heels for it. The things I would do to read this again for the first time, ugh. Thank you to the author and netgalley for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tws: referenced inappropriate sexual attention to a child (brief), unwanted sexual attention/comments, misogyny, familial neglect, parental death, death of a loved one (grandparents), racism (specifically in the music industry, in corporate spaces, and in the royal family), stalking, explicit sexual content
February 17, 2022
American Royalty by Tracey Livesay- 2
So, this is going to very short, I simply failed to enjoy this story, there was no chemistry that I felt between the characters, no pining no relationship. At one point, it really was only the attraction that Jameson had towards Dani’s body and no love even. They see each other once and Jameson is ‘oh so horny’ like what the heck?!
I am disappointed to say the least because I honestly wanted more that ‘her sexy curves’ and ‘my hardened dick’ and a silly freaking conflict. Honestly, I did not like this story, and there was no basic conversation before that had almost done the deed, like what in the world? I know New Adult books have a lot of spice and I’m not being prude but I’d like some character bonding before they do the freaking deed.
This story had a lot of potential and I was honestly looking forward to reading this but I’m disappointed because it just failed to deliver what it has promised (at least that’s the case for me) and seeing so many reviews, it almost feels like I’m in the minority here because so many enjoyed this book.
So, this is going to very short, I simply failed to enjoy this story, there was no chemistry that I felt between the characters, no pining no relationship. At one point, it really was only the attraction that Jameson had towards Dani’s body and no love even. They see each other once and Jameson is ‘oh so horny’ like what the heck?!
I am disappointed to say the least because I honestly wanted more that ‘her sexy curves’ and ‘my hardened dick’ and a silly freaking conflict. Honestly, I did not like this story, and there was no basic conversation before that had almost done the deed, like what in the world? I know New Adult books have a lot of spice and I’m not being prude but I’d like some character bonding before they do the freaking deed.
This story had a lot of potential and I was honestly looking forward to reading this but I’m disappointed because it just failed to deliver what it has promised (at least that’s the case for me) and seeing so many reviews, it almost feels like I’m in the minority here because so many enjoyed this book.
Read
June 25, 2022I'm giving this 4.5 Fancy Royal stars 🌟 !!
This was definitely such a fun book to read and I've never really read anything like (in a GREAT way).
First This cover 🔥🔥 Erick Davila ATE THIS UP
Danielle and Jameson. Just 2 hot people from completely different lifestyles having the hots for each other, agreeing to only keep things casual, while simultaneously falling in love. YES I'm obsessed with them a bit.
The chemistry between these two. Thick. Intense. Hot. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Especially "whatever I don't like them thats literally my body reacting to anyone who looks good 😳 um it's not just them".
I will say that when the smut scenes started I was like oh okay....OH we're actually doing this now. Cool. Cool. I'm not sure if it felt a bit rushed in that scene or the pacing was off but I ate it up still.
As for the smut, it was mentioned quite a bit with some of the actions being explicit while others would kind of fade to black to the next chapter. That doesn't mean there's not smut on page, it's just varies back and forth which I was fine with.
I definitely wanted more out of the epilogue but that's just a personal preference.
But overall, super cute and sexy contemporary romance that takes The Crown and makes it romantic, less intense, definitely a little hallmarky (in a good way. I love hallmark movies) and adds spiciness. This book is definitely for the people who made lists of available royalty guys they could possibly date in the future (aka me).
*I received an arc through netgalley for my honest review!
(I keep going between 4-4.5)
This was definitely such a fun book to read and I've never really read anything like (in a GREAT way).
First This cover 🔥🔥 Erick Davila ATE THIS UP
Danielle and Jameson. Just 2 hot people from completely different lifestyles having the hots for each other, agreeing to only keep things casual, while simultaneously falling in love. YES I'm obsessed with them a bit.
The chemistry between these two. Thick. Intense. Hot. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Especially "whatever I don't like them thats literally my body reacting to anyone who looks good 😳 um it's not just them".
I will say that when the smut scenes started I was like oh okay....OH we're actually doing this now. Cool. Cool. I'm not sure if it felt a bit rushed in that scene or the pacing was off but I ate it up still.
As for the smut, it was mentioned quite a bit with some of the actions being explicit while others would kind of fade to black to the next chapter. That doesn't mean there's not smut on page, it's just varies back and forth which I was fine with.
I definitely wanted more out of the epilogue but that's just a personal preference.
But overall, super cute and sexy contemporary romance that takes The Crown and makes it romantic, less intense, definitely a little hallmarky (in a good way. I love hallmark movies) and adds spiciness. This book is definitely for the people who made lists of available royalty guys they could possibly date in the future (aka me).
*I received an arc through netgalley for my honest review!
(I keep going between 4-4.5)
August 4, 2023
2023 Reread:
I adored this just as much on the 2nd read!
On to the sequel!
Original Review:
I truly enjoyed this!
It wasn't what I was expecting at all and other than the fact that the Prince in this story is British, not sure much matches with the Meghan & Harry storyline this was compared to.
I liked both of the main characters, found their back stories and action during the story believable if a bit contrived.
Romance involves tropes and I liked that this book was written for a primarily Black audience and the author made that crystal clear.
Either way I'd give this 4.5 Stars rounded up to 5.
I adored this just as much on the 2nd read!
On to the sequel!
Original Review:
I truly enjoyed this!
It wasn't what I was expecting at all and other than the fact that the Prince in this story is British, not sure much matches with the Meghan & Harry storyline this was compared to.
I liked both of the main characters, found their back stories and action during the story believable if a bit contrived.
Romance involves tropes and I liked that this book was written for a primarily Black audience and the author made that crystal clear.
Either way I'd give this 4.5 Stars rounded up to 5.
July 26, 2022
“You were invited to perform at the Royal Concert honouring Prince John.”
Dani “Duchess” Nelson is a rapper at the top of her game, but she’s on the verge of signing a deal that will give her the autonomy she’s been chasing for years. When a media incident puts her dreams in jeopardy, she eagerly signs on for a Royal concert to generate some positive publicity - even if it means putting up with the reclusive and stony Prince Jameson.
Okay.
The dawn of the book was going so fantastically. I love royal family satire, and it was setting up a casual enemies to lovers (i.e. they don’t like each other, but no one is murdering anyone). Men driven to drink by hot women who hate them??? >>>
There were some really incredible isolated scenes in the first chunk of the book. I’m talking baking AND moisturizing. I also really love Dani as a character.
Unfortunately, the last third of the book didn’t live up to the high expectations set by the first two. Jameson really started to bug me. He kept having the SAME realizations again and again. “It was in that moment I realized Dani wasn’t actually shallow” happens like nine times. At that point, Dani deserves better. Jay’s one redeeming quality is that he says scone like “gone”, which I believe to be correct (feel free to argue with me below)
I also felt that, while there were lots of scenes I loved, the overarching plot was missing something. There was also a borderline alarming number of puns during ~romantic~ scenes which kind of threw me a bit I won’t lie.
I ended up really struggling through the last 150 pages which is sad because I really thought this was gonna be a 5 star from me. I will say, it’s much better than ALOT of royalty based romances I’ve tried and I won’t stop y’all from giving it a go!
American Playlist:
- Black Kate Moss // DonMonique
- Medusa in a Stone Garden // Molly Ofgeography
- Valentine // Luna Delirious
“A sexy prince who’s a prick? Easy to resist. A sexy, considerate one who looked at her as if he wondered what she tasted like? Damn, she was in trouble.”
Dani “Duchess” Nelson is a rapper at the top of her game, but she’s on the verge of signing a deal that will give her the autonomy she’s been chasing for years. When a media incident puts her dreams in jeopardy, she eagerly signs on for a Royal concert to generate some positive publicity - even if it means putting up with the reclusive and stony Prince Jameson.
Okay.
The dawn of the book was going so fantastically. I love royal family satire, and it was setting up a casual enemies to lovers (i.e. they don’t like each other, but no one is murdering anyone). Men driven to drink by hot women who hate them??? >>>
There were some really incredible isolated scenes in the first chunk of the book. I’m talking baking AND moisturizing. I also really love Dani as a character.
Unfortunately, the last third of the book didn’t live up to the high expectations set by the first two. Jameson really started to bug me. He kept having the SAME realizations again and again. “It was in that moment I realized Dani wasn’t actually shallow” happens like nine times. At that point, Dani deserves better. Jay’s one redeeming quality is that he says scone like “gone”, which I believe to be correct (feel free to argue with me below)
I also felt that, while there were lots of scenes I loved, the overarching plot was missing something. There was also a borderline alarming number of puns during ~romantic~ scenes which kind of threw me a bit I won’t lie.
I ended up really struggling through the last 150 pages which is sad because I really thought this was gonna be a 5 star from me. I will say, it’s much better than ALOT of royalty based romances I’ve tried and I won’t stop y’all from giving it a go!
American Playlist:
- Black Kate Moss // DonMonique
- Medusa in a Stone Garden // Molly Ofgeography
- Valentine // Luna Delirious
“A sexy prince who’s a prick? Easy to resist. A sexy, considerate one who looked at her as if he wondered what she tasted like? Damn, she was in trouble.”
January 27, 2023
a fun royals rom com! loosely inspired by prince harry & meghan markle. jameson is a prince, but prefers to stay out of the royal spotlight and spends his days as a professor. dani is a female rapper known as duchess. when the royal family hosts a massive music event, dani is one of the artists invited.
dani and jameson do not get along at all in the beginning, but they can’t deny their chemistry. eventually the tension snaps and they can’t help themselves. soon they’re sneaking around and hiding their relationship from the press and the royal family 👀
i loved the friendship they ended up forming along the way, they’re both able to put aside the facade they keep up for the world and be themselves. the third act conflict is what you’d expect in a royals romance, and it’s resolved veryyyyy fast, but ultimately a really funny and sweet rom com! i did this on audio, loved the female narrator, the male narrator was okay.
dani and jameson do not get along at all in the beginning, but they can’t deny their chemistry. eventually the tension snaps and they can’t help themselves. soon they’re sneaking around and hiding their relationship from the press and the royal family 👀
i loved the friendship they ended up forming along the way, they’re both able to put aside the facade they keep up for the world and be themselves. the third act conflict is what you’d expect in a royals romance, and it’s resolved veryyyyy fast, but ultimately a really funny and sweet rom com! i did this on audio, loved the female narrator, the male narrator was okay.
September 11, 2025
There’s so much I want to say about this book. what a wonderful job Tracey Livesay accomplished here. To pull off this story, the author had to weave in rap rhymes, while also showing an understanding of the music industry performances, photo shoots, makeup, branding, all of it. On top of that, she layered in royal family life with titles, traditions, and duty. That’s why I’m giving this book five stars for world-building. Even though it’s set in the real world, it takes so much effort to build those elements authentically, and she nailed it.
Tropes I loved in the book:
✔️ Forbidden love
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Interracial romance
✔️ American girl stepping into royal life
✔️ A fresh, musical twist
The story shines on so many levels. Dani, aka Duchess the rapper, was such a clever and powerful character. She’s a hardworking Black woman in the rap game, and the author really pushed past stereotypes to show the woman behind the stage persona. Just because someone’s image is bold doesn’t mean it’s their whole truth. That depth of character made Dani so compelling.
Prince Jameson was another highlight. His character development was incredible he’s someone who never truly craved the royal life, and Livesay captured the weight and pressure of monarchy so well. You’re rooting for him, laughing, screaming, and swooning along the way.
You know you’re reading a good romance when your heart swells as the couple falls in love. The chemistry between Dani and Jameson is swoony, the spice is handled beautifully, and the romance feels rich and real.
I know I love a book when I fall in love with the characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. Tracey Livesay did her job and delivered a modern-day fantasy that feels heartfelt, entertaining, and unforgettable.
💌Verdict: I swooned. I fell in love. I was ruined in the best way. Amazing job, Tracey! I highly recommend this book
💗Team Dani and Jameson forever. 😍🥰🎤
Tropes I loved in the book:
✔️ Forbidden love
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Interracial romance
✔️ American girl stepping into royal life
✔️ A fresh, musical twist
The story shines on so many levels. Dani, aka Duchess the rapper, was such a clever and powerful character. She’s a hardworking Black woman in the rap game, and the author really pushed past stereotypes to show the woman behind the stage persona. Just because someone’s image is bold doesn’t mean it’s their whole truth. That depth of character made Dani so compelling.
Prince Jameson was another highlight. His character development was incredible he’s someone who never truly craved the royal life, and Livesay captured the weight and pressure of monarchy so well. You’re rooting for him, laughing, screaming, and swooning along the way.
You know you’re reading a good romance when your heart swells as the couple falls in love. The chemistry between Dani and Jameson is swoony, the spice is handled beautifully, and the romance feels rich and real.
I know I love a book when I fall in love with the characters, and that’s exactly what happened here. Tracey Livesay did her job and delivered a modern-day fantasy that feels heartfelt, entertaining, and unforgettable.
💌Verdict: I swooned. I fell in love. I was ruined in the best way. Amazing job, Tracey! I highly recommend this book
💗Team Dani and Jameson forever. 😍🥰🎤
June 24, 2022
Lately I cannot get enough of celebrity romances and this had a famous rapper AND a prince! Dani and Jameson don’t seem like they have much in common at first glance but there is no denying their chemistry upon meeting. This one was sexy and charming and I am obsessed with Dani. I loved the look inside the music industry and the not so posh side of Royal life, such a great combination that I didn’t know I needed. For tropes you get forced proximity, enemies to lovers and opposites attract which for me is everything. The audio version was great, I loved Wesleigh Siobhan as Dani, she was incredible and while I didn’t love the male narrator as much, he wasn’t anywhere near bad. This one was so so good if you like modern royal romance/celebrity romance with steam, wit and lots of swoony moments.
June 28, 2022
American Royalty is a super sexy forbidden romance. He is a prince. His grandmother is the Queen of England. She is a Black rapper from the US trying to fix her image. They are attracted to each other. But they could never be together...
The book alternates between Duchess/Dani (27) and Jameson's (30+) 3rd person POVs.
This book is mostly set in the UK and it was such a fun and sexy read! If you love all things Royal this book is so much fun!
Thanks to netgalley, HarperCollins Canada and Avon Books for allowing me to read this book.
The book alternates between Duchess/Dani (27) and Jameson's (30+) 3rd person POVs.
This book is mostly set in the UK and it was such a fun and sexy read! If you love all things Royal this book is so much fun!
Thanks to netgalley, HarperCollins Canada and Avon Books for allowing me to read this book.
August 21, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
I was right, there was no time to fully fix the mess towards the end but part two (another book) is releasing sometime in 2023 🥳. I didn’t realize how fun it’d be to read about the secret and public lives of both artists and royals until now. This book surprised me in the b e s t way.
Dani, or Duchess, is a rapper (and entrepreneur) while Jameson is a British prince (and professor) who is forced to throw a charity concert in his grandfather’s honor. He inadvertently hires Duchess to perform at the event and she decides to travel to England early to clear her mind after some bad media attention she received.
I wouldn’t call this a slow burn because they truly don’t even meet until page 100 so there’s nothing to burn lol. That’s right, page ONE HUNDRED. We get a lot of background on them. And naturally, there’s no page-space left to develop a slow connection but what we get is pretty sizzling. Dani and Jameson feel insta attraction and are definitely insta lovey… it’s super fun actually! 🥳 And honestly, this girl’s basically having her summer abroad so who could blame her for it when she SHOULD be enjoying herself!
As for the pacing… it’s there? Lol I mean it makes way more sense now that I know book two is coming. Buuut we do spend a lot of time learning about the Matrix and Jameson being a professor, which wasn’t my favorite but I also wasn’t annoyed at any point by it.
I’m also just really glad to see happy people in love! 💕
I was right, there was no time to fully fix the mess towards the end but part two (another book) is releasing sometime in 2023 🥳. I didn’t realize how fun it’d be to read about the secret and public lives of both artists and royals until now. This book surprised me in the b e s t way.
Dani, or Duchess, is a rapper (and entrepreneur) while Jameson is a British prince (and professor) who is forced to throw a charity concert in his grandfather’s honor. He inadvertently hires Duchess to perform at the event and she decides to travel to England early to clear her mind after some bad media attention she received.
I wouldn’t call this a slow burn because they truly don’t even meet until page 100 so there’s nothing to burn lol. That’s right, page ONE HUNDRED. We get a lot of background on them. And naturally, there’s no page-space left to develop a slow connection but what we get is pretty sizzling. Dani and Jameson feel insta attraction and are definitely insta lovey… it’s super fun actually! 🥳 And honestly, this girl’s basically having her summer abroad so who could blame her for it when she SHOULD be enjoying herself!
As for the pacing… it’s there? Lol I mean it makes way more sense now that I know book two is coming. Buuut we do spend a lot of time learning about the Matrix and Jameson being a professor, which wasn’t my favorite but I also wasn’t annoyed at any point by it.
I’m also just really glad to see happy people in love! 💕
July 17, 2022
I loved this from start to finish. I love anything royal family-related, so I was SO ready to dive into this, and it did not disappoint! This book had me laughing out loud from the first page. The concept of this was hilarious too - a yummy British prince has to find someone to perform at a concert honoring his grandfather, and who better than an artist named Duchess? Their chemistry was off the charts too. All in all I loved this, and I'm patiently waiting for Livesay's next installment (Nyla and Rhys?? 🤔)
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