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Princess for Hire #2
The Royal Treatment
What girl wouldn’t swoon over the outrageous perks in Desi's life as a princess substitute? Desi gets to hang out with crush-worthy Prince Karl, and the Façade agency has taken a special interest in her magical abilities. But between sub training, starting the eighth grade, and dealing with the cute-but-bossy new boy Reed, she’s beginning to feel like she’s in over her head. Even worse, when Desi learns a secret about the magic that keeps Façade running, she realizes that not everything is as perfect as it seems.
Perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries and full of humor and heart, this second installment in the Princess for Hire series shows Desi that the royal treatment may just be masking mysteries, and only she can uncover the truth....one princess at a time!
Perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries and full of humor and heart, this second installment in the Princess for Hire series shows Desi that the royal treatment may just be masking mysteries, and only she can uncover the truth....one princess at a time!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2012
32 people are currently reading
2173 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Leavitt
21 books834 followersLindsey Leavitt is a Leo sun/Sagittarius rising, which makes her skilled at traveling, studying and sleeping in. She grew up in Las Vegas and now lives in the snowy mountains with her big, blended family. She is the author of over fifteen books for kids and teens. Lindsey had an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Visit her online at https://lindseyleavitt.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
March 31, 2016
Basic Info
Format: Hardback
Pages/Length: 288pgs
Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: no
Cliff Hanger: eh
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 7
Characters: 6
World Building: 7
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: 7
Writing: 7
Ending: 7
Total: 6
In Dept
Best Part: eh.
Worst Part: Gross love
Thoughts Had: sheesh; shit hitting fan...
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: eh
Short Review: Okay so this MC has been a crazy "I wanna change the world" person in book 1 so then in book 2 when she is in charge of watching over A GIRL WHO ACTS THE SAME DAMN WAY SHE DOES, SHE TELLS HER TO CALM THE F*CK DOWN!!!! NO THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!!! Also the love story is slowly taking over the story and i am about over that for reals.
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: None.
Best Friend Material: Myself right now for sure.
Review in GIF Form:
June 28, 2011
I loved every page of this book.
Lindsey Leavitt brings Desi Bascomb back as our favorite princess substitute.
She is advancing to Level Two at Facade, working on BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training) in order to complete them to everyone's satisfaction. With this comes more sophisticated jobs. That's not all Desi is doing. She is starring as Titania in the school's production of Midsummer Night's Dream; she is dealing with her crush for Karl; she is dealing with her mother coaching and helping her enemy, Celeste; and then there is Reed to consider.
This novel turns into a mystery when Desi is on the hunt for how magic makes Facade work, and what should she do when the one she is substituting for has no plans to return?
Leavitt really develops the character of Desi in this sequel. Actually, all of her characters take a step up in development, which is sometimes rare in childrens series. Readers learn a bit more about the workings of Facade and of Meredith, who oversees Desi's training and jobs.
With a few surprise twists (okay, I saw one of them coming) sprinkled with allusions to Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe and topped with clever dialogue, The Royal Treatment makes a great sequel.
Lindsey Leavitt brings Desi Bascomb back as our favorite princess substitute.
She is advancing to Level Two at Facade, working on BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training) in order to complete them to everyone's satisfaction. With this comes more sophisticated jobs. That's not all Desi is doing. She is starring as Titania in the school's production of Midsummer Night's Dream; she is dealing with her crush for Karl; she is dealing with her mother coaching and helping her enemy, Celeste; and then there is Reed to consider.
This novel turns into a mystery when Desi is on the hunt for how magic makes Facade work, and what should she do when the one she is substituting for has no plans to return?
Leavitt really develops the character of Desi in this sequel. Actually, all of her characters take a step up in development, which is sometimes rare in childrens series. Readers learn a bit more about the workings of Facade and of Meredith, who oversees Desi's training and jobs.
With a few surprise twists (okay, I saw one of them coming) sprinkled with allusions to Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe and topped with clever dialogue, The Royal Treatment makes a great sequel.
October 12, 2011
The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Levitt is the second book in the Princess For Hire series. Desi Bascomb has been promoted to level 2 at Facade, the princess substitute agency. When she puts on the royal rouge via a magical compact, Desi is transformed into the girl she’s subbing for due to her MP aka magic potential. However, Desi’s side job is a big secret. Her family and friends don’t know and Desi wants to keep it that way.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
August 16, 2011
You know a book is good when 1. You can't put it down. 2. You laugh out loud and squeal with delight throughout and 3. You rush to goodreads so you can write a raving review of this uber-fantastic piece of fiction. The first book was a fun read, but Leavitt outdid herself with this one.
Top 3 things I love: Desi doesn't HAVE to get the guy she crushes on. She crushes and then she realizes that her crushes might not be the best for her. 2. It's totally girly. I'm not really into fashion, make-up and all that jazz, but Leavitt makes it FUN and what girl hasn't ever dreamed of being a princess at least once? 3. The characters: I could go on in detail about all of them; the stereotypical, superficial, kind, sassy etc... You truly believe in Desi's empathy because Leavitt rounds her characters nicely. I think she does this very best with Meredith AKA Desi's agent. She's an extraordinarily complex and completely delicious character. (Yes, I use adverbs when I gush. Sue me.)
This is a fantastic fluff book on the surface with some great moral nuggets hidden between the lines.
Top 3 things I love: Desi doesn't HAVE to get the guy she crushes on. She crushes and then she realizes that her crushes might not be the best for her. 2. It's totally girly. I'm not really into fashion, make-up and all that jazz, but Leavitt makes it FUN and what girl hasn't ever dreamed of being a princess at least once? 3. The characters: I could go on in detail about all of them; the stereotypical, superficial, kind, sassy etc... You truly believe in Desi's empathy because Leavitt rounds her characters nicely. I think she does this very best with Meredith AKA Desi's agent. She's an extraordinarily complex and completely delicious character. (Yes, I use adverbs when I gush. Sue me.)
This is a fantastic fluff book on the surface with some great moral nuggets hidden between the lines.
April 15, 2017
Magical
Normally I don't love the second book in a series, but this one is every bit as good as the first. Team Desi!
Normally I don't love the second book in a series, but this one is every bit as good as the first. Team Desi!
April 15, 2017
Typically, I don't read series because the second book almost never lives up to the first. This book, however, does and makes you want to launch straight into the third. Team Desi Forever!
July 7, 2021
The foreshadowing be so obvious it’s like the literal sky in the heavens and YET I STILL DIDNT SEE IT COMING. How did she do that
December 23, 2013
Lindsey Leavitt has easily become one of my favorite authors. I loved Princess for Hire, the first book of this series and I was excited when I heard that book two was coming out and I really wanted to read it. After receiving an ARC, I read it and loved it. The Royal Treatment left me wanting more of Desi and Reed and Meredith.
The Royal Treatment begins some time later after Princess for Hire. Desi has a lot more on her mind than she did before she got her job. She’s gets a part in Midsummer’s Night Dream and has to get herself ready for Level 2. Overall, the plot was similar to Princess for Hire with the fact that Desi continues her Princess Sub training. There were different princesses (with some old friends) and lots of drama! I think the one thing that stays constant with these books is Desi clear, humorous voice. She’s funny, she’s sad, she’s confused, and she’s everything. This book goes more into Façade and its history and some of the things that go around in the company. Desi (and the reader) learn more about where she’s working and how everything happens.
Lindsey Leavitt’s writing style stays the same in this book as they were in her other two. It’s very clear, humorous, and just cute. Her writing style makes her characters come alive. They seem more real than they are. Another thing I love about her writing is that it doesn’t seem forced. It’s very straight forward, not confusing, and fun to read.
Desi has grown in this book and I loved to see the more mature side of her. Though she’s grown, she still acts like a young teen girl. She’s afraid of falling for her best friend’s crush and she’s afraid of how she’s going to do in the play. Meredith was back in her snarky, ta-ta ways. She did get a more happy ending in this book and she deserves it! Lilith was just as mean in this book as she was in the first one. Kylee and Reed and all the other minor, supporting characters were great to read about. I was happy to see the re-appreance of Prince Karl. I think something is going to happen between Desi and him and I want to know what!
I loved this book as much as I loved Princess for Hire. I can't wait to read more about Desi and Reed and Facade. I want to read more from Lindsey Leavitt!
The Royal Treatment begins some time later after Princess for Hire. Desi has a lot more on her mind than she did before she got her job. She’s gets a part in Midsummer’s Night Dream and has to get herself ready for Level 2. Overall, the plot was similar to Princess for Hire with the fact that Desi continues her Princess Sub training. There were different princesses (with some old friends) and lots of drama! I think the one thing that stays constant with these books is Desi clear, humorous voice. She’s funny, she’s sad, she’s confused, and she’s everything. This book goes more into Façade and its history and some of the things that go around in the company. Desi (and the reader) learn more about where she’s working and how everything happens.
Lindsey Leavitt’s writing style stays the same in this book as they were in her other two. It’s very clear, humorous, and just cute. Her writing style makes her characters come alive. They seem more real than they are. Another thing I love about her writing is that it doesn’t seem forced. It’s very straight forward, not confusing, and fun to read.
Desi has grown in this book and I loved to see the more mature side of her. Though she’s grown, she still acts like a young teen girl. She’s afraid of falling for her best friend’s crush and she’s afraid of how she’s going to do in the play. Meredith was back in her snarky, ta-ta ways. She did get a more happy ending in this book and she deserves it! Lilith was just as mean in this book as she was in the first one. Kylee and Reed and all the other minor, supporting characters were great to read about. I was happy to see the re-appreance of Prince Karl. I think something is going to happen between Desi and him and I want to know what!
I loved this book as much as I loved Princess for Hire. I can't wait to read more about Desi and Reed and Facade. I want to read more from Lindsey Leavitt!
May 6, 2011
The Royal Treatment is a wonderful addition to the Princess for Hire series by Lindsey Leavitt. The sequel is as endearing and engaging as the first and further develops Desi Bascomb's character and employment.
While the first, Princess for Hire, was pure enjoyment due to Desi's adventures as a princess, the second explores Desi's feelings about Facade's control of Magic Potential and shows Desi's maturation as a teenage girl and as a substitute princess. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first, because I was hoping for more princess-of-the-day type mishaps, but after I finished, I think that Ms. Leavitt made the right choice in advancing Desi's character rather than solely providing vignettes of Desi's duties.
Desi is still the same lovable, thoughtful Desi of Princess for Hire. As her experiences increase in number and she finds out Facade's little quirks and mysteries, she begins to wonder about the morality of Facade's actions. She approaches their all-powerful position with the proper respect and a healthy dose of rationality. Genevieve is the perfect ambiguous character and thus the perfect head of Facade. Like Desi, the reader is left wondering whether Facade is right to hold such a tight grip on people with MP, among Facade's other could-be-right, could-be-wrong actions.
I don't want to ruin it so I'll just say that I absolutely loved what happened with Desi and Reed. Desi's best friend also gets a slightly bigger role this time around, and she's just as awesome as Desi.
The Royal Treatment was missing some of the glee that accompanied Princess for Hire, but it's still a great sequel, which is why I rated it so highly even though I was a little disappointed. I'm really excited to see what else Desi will accomplish in her time as a sub.
[An advance copy of this book was received for review.]
While the first, Princess for Hire, was pure enjoyment due to Desi's adventures as a princess, the second explores Desi's feelings about Facade's control of Magic Potential and shows Desi's maturation as a teenage girl and as a substitute princess. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first, because I was hoping for more princess-of-the-day type mishaps, but after I finished, I think that Ms. Leavitt made the right choice in advancing Desi's character rather than solely providing vignettes of Desi's duties.
Desi is still the same lovable, thoughtful Desi of Princess for Hire. As her experiences increase in number and she finds out Facade's little quirks and mysteries, she begins to wonder about the morality of Facade's actions. She approaches their all-powerful position with the proper respect and a healthy dose of rationality. Genevieve is the perfect ambiguous character and thus the perfect head of Facade. Like Desi, the reader is left wondering whether Facade is right to hold such a tight grip on people with MP, among Facade's other could-be-right, could-be-wrong actions.
I don't want to ruin it so I'll just say that I absolutely loved what happened with Desi and Reed. Desi's best friend also gets a slightly bigger role this time around, and she's just as awesome as Desi.
The Royal Treatment was missing some of the glee that accompanied Princess for Hire, but it's still a great sequel, which is why I rated it so highly even though I was a little disappointed. I'm really excited to see what else Desi will accomplish in her time as a sub.
[An advance copy of this book was received for review.]
April 24, 2011
I had very high expectations for this book-and I was NOT disappointed. Starting off with the same girlie approach, Desi is in the high school music room that Kylee snuck her into so she could practice her violin since it's her "musical dream". The truth is nowhere near that. She's actually preparing her BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training- "These people loved their acronyms" ) for another princess as she rises up to level two.
Once I opened this book (or rather, e-book) I just couldn't stop. I thought that the plot was much more thought out and polished than the first book. Normally I can't reread through books because of the sheer boredom unless I'm reading my favorite parts, but this....every single chapter is my favorite part! I did occasionally feel like some of the characters were more in 2d (no emotional depth) than in 3d, but mostly all the main characters were dimensional enough.
I really enjoyed how this book was targeted directly towards girls since that way we could get some type of girlish kick out of it that we don't normally get in others even with ones that have a girl as a main character. The royal treatment is the delightful sequel to Princess for Hire that just makes the series even better.
Rating
A (really liked it!)
May 18, 2012
I sort of figured out that Reed was a Prince Sub when they were at the rollerskating rink and Reed had to suddenly leave because he "had to go to work" even though he was already at work in the skating rink.
I loved it when Desi saw Reed with a manual after the play and they found out that they were both working for Facade. It was also cute when Reed said a line from a movie that Prince Karl had quoted, in the first book, to princess Elsa.
Quote from last page of the book:
"Fine. How about..." He squinted at me. "Here's looking at you, kid."
The smile melted off my face. "What did you say?"
"It's a line. From a movie." He shrugged and burst onto the stage with a hee-haw.
It was a line. From Casablanca. The same line KARL had said to me when I was Elsa. The same line Karl didn't recognize when I said it to him as Floressa.
Which meant...nothing. Right? Lots of people know that line. Just because Reed said it, and Reed was a sub, it didn't mean he was...he was...
I stumbled onto the stage. The lights were so bright. The theater packed. Reed gave me a quick, crooked smile, and I knew
My crush on Karl was less complicated than I thought, because it wasn't Karl I'd been with that day in the garden.
Now, my crush on Reed...?
That was a scandal all its own.
I loved it when Desi saw Reed with a manual after the play and they found out that they were both working for Facade. It was also cute when Reed said a line from a movie that Prince Karl had quoted, in the first book, to princess Elsa.
Quote from last page of the book:
"Fine. How about..." He squinted at me. "Here's looking at you, kid."
The smile melted off my face. "What did you say?"
"It's a line. From a movie." He shrugged and burst onto the stage with a hee-haw.
It was a line. From Casablanca. The same line KARL had said to me when I was Elsa. The same line Karl didn't recognize when I said it to him as Floressa.
Which meant...nothing. Right? Lots of people know that line. Just because Reed said it, and Reed was a sub, it didn't mean he was...he was...
I stumbled onto the stage. The lights were so bright. The theater packed. Reed gave me a quick, crooked smile, and I knew
My crush on Karl was less complicated than I thought, because it wasn't Karl I'd been with that day in the garden.
Now, my crush on Reed...?
That was a scandal all its own.
April 26, 2011
The second book in the Princess for Hire series The Royal Treatment picks up with Desi auditioning for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the high school. In her substitute princess life Desi steps into working for level two princesses and learns more about the politics and inner workings of the agency. Desi has to figure out her conflicting feelings for a certain young prince and a fellow actor.
This book is fun cute and romantic. Like the first in the series it reads like a Disney TV movie. Desi is a strong and spunky heroine and the small bit of romance takes a backseat in the plot to Desi's princess adventures. In this book Desi finds out more of the background of the agency and how the Magic Potential is put to use. This was a fun and sweet book that I couldn't put down and read very quickly.
Appropriateness: There is nothing even slightly objectionable in this book and I would have no problem handing it to a fourth grader who wanted to read a romance and it would be loved by ten to fourteen year old girls. The lexile for the first book was 670 putting it about a fourth grade reading level.
This book is fun cute and romantic. Like the first in the series it reads like a Disney TV movie. Desi is a strong and spunky heroine and the small bit of romance takes a backseat in the plot to Desi's princess adventures. In this book Desi finds out more of the background of the agency and how the Magic Potential is put to use. This was a fun and sweet book that I couldn't put down and read very quickly.
Appropriateness: There is nothing even slightly objectionable in this book and I would have no problem handing it to a fourth grader who wanted to read a romance and it would be loved by ten to fourteen year old girls. The lexile for the first book was 670 putting it about a fourth grade reading level.
November 14, 2011
I love Desi, and this book was even better than the first. Lindsey Leavitt is definitely one of the names on my "If it's got their name on it, buy it" list. I love that the stakes have risen and that Desi is going to have some very hard decisions to be making soon. The last two pages had an awesome twist that changed some of the nuances in the first book. I loved how the two books fit together, and can't wait for the third!
August 19, 2015
<3 i loved this! it was so much better than the first one in my opinion. Reed is amazing and...yeah he's just amazing. I'm not gonna say anything else about him except: Really Lindsey?! Way to leave me hanging! Can't wait for the next book! :)
May 7, 2011
I am loving this series now, especially since my prediction from the first book came true!
April 2, 2015
I just loved this book I'd rate it ten stars if I could
February 12, 2024
Já to věděla. JÁ TO VĚDĚLA!!!
January 3, 2020
I love this series! They're cute, quirky books perfect for tweens. This book was fun, light-hearted and enjoyable and I'd definitely recommend, although they're probably younger than what I normally read nowadays. I picked up the first book and read it when I was about eight or nine, and instantly fell in love with it. I think one of the reasons I rate it so well is that it's one of the series which first got me really into reading. I spent ages looking for the other books in the series, but could never find them, until a few days ago. And of course, I had to read it!
This book takes place quite soon after the first, I'm pretty sure, and this time Desi has been promoted to Level 2, so she has lots of extra benefits. The premise of it is basically that she works for a secret agency that can transform her into the look-alike for any princess and she has to pretend to be them, and we basically follow our main character as she is given jobs and has to pretend to be lots of different princesses and it's just very entertaining. Make sense? Probably not. You'll get it if you read it - it's a lot less ridiculous than it sounds! Ooh, and there's a new boy at her school who she likes, which is also fun.
Our main character, Desi Bascomb is faulted and very, very human. She's relatable, and realistic, and just a fun narrator of the story. I also really like Meredith and the development of her character and we learn more about her, as well as some things we find out about Desi's new crush, Reed... which made me squeal like a crazy person. It's just so perfect, honestly, and it explains a lot. Oh, and I love Kylee, too, Desi's best friend. Their friendship is really great.
All in all, this makes for a entertaining, easy, quick read. Enjoy! (:
This book takes place quite soon after the first, I'm pretty sure, and this time Desi has been promoted to Level 2, so she has lots of extra benefits. The premise of it is basically that she works for a secret agency that can transform her into the look-alike for any princess and she has to pretend to be them, and we basically follow our main character as she is given jobs and has to pretend to be lots of different princesses and it's just very entertaining. Make sense? Probably not. You'll get it if you read it - it's a lot less ridiculous than it sounds! Ooh, and there's a new boy at her school who she likes, which is also fun.
Our main character, Desi Bascomb is faulted and very, very human. She's relatable, and realistic, and just a fun narrator of the story. I also really like Meredith and the development of her character and we learn more about her, as well as some things we find out about Desi's new crush, Reed... which made me squeal like a crazy person. It's just so perfect, honestly, and it explains a lot. Oh, and I love Kylee, too, Desi's best friend. Their friendship is really great.
All in all, this makes for a entertaining, easy, quick read. Enjoy! (:
April 13, 2023
I think I actually liked this one more than the first. I was totally invested in the revelation about Reed being a sub. I figured it out long before Desi, so it was fun to just wait and see how long it took her to figure it out. And I liked that more of this book took place in Desi's home life and school. I felt like the first book was missing that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2021
tohle byla super knížka... koupila jsem ji spíše náhodou a skoro jsem si myslela že ji číst nebudu... opak byl ale pravdou a tahle kniha mě docela překvapila. Z průměrné klišé knihy se z ní nakonci stalo omg jak to dopadne, panebože ... nevim jestli budu číst druhý díl, každopádně ✨muah✨
January 4, 2024
This book was a difficult read for me. I know I’m not the target audience for this, but I just could not get into this book. Even with the magic system and the increasing mystery of the company, I had to force myself to finish it.
December 19, 2017
Cute second in the series and left me wanting more. Can't wait to read the next book.
Want to read
March 26, 2017Well, Ms. Leavitt I LOVE your books and i wish i could read more!!!!!! D you think you could make a 4th book PLEASE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2018
The book was pretty good overall, but It was hard to find which book was first in the series.
May 26, 2018
fun. I just finished a series.
January 21, 2019
That moment when you read the first book in a series and think "that was cute. I'll read the next one." And then the next one knocks your socks off. Yeah, that moment!
February 24, 2021
ah I love re reading the books I loved when I was younger and this series never disappoints.
April 13, 2021
I really love the dynamics of this book, even better than the 1st. This whole trilogy is GREAT!!
June 17, 2021
AHHHHHHH I CANT BELIEVE KARL DOESNT RECOGNIZE CASABLANCA!!! also reed isn’t an good love interest sorry. I can’t believe MER MIGHT GET MARRIEF AJDHSHSHSHEHSHSHSJSHS KARLLLLL AND ELSA?????? HUHSHSHSB
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2021
Not as funny or exciting as the first one, but still enjoyable. Although I thought the "big reveal" part was more boring then shocking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews