Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

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Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

My thoughts 

I absolutely adored this book. It was sweet and cute, but with a touch of something more, deeper. It's very much like The Princess Diaries (or the movies anyway), except that this is in the New Adult genre with a feisty, reluctant duchess-to-be and a very hot and irresistible Prince Yummy. 

Sam is a very down to earth, normal girl in grad school who tries to make ends meet financially to support her fathers hospital bills. That is until she is invited to a meeting with a duchess from a small country, who claims Sam is the last descendant from an important royal and wealthy family from Lilaria. Sam now has to decide if she'll keep her normal life or go to Lilaria and undertake the role as duchess and change her life forever, while she is constantly followed by the media. And as if this isn't enough she is starting to fall for Alex, crown prince of Lilaria, which would mean a whole other kind of responsibility. 

I think Sam was a great character. She was funny and sarcastic, and said some of the most hilarious things. I laughed out loud a lot because of her. Her world was turned upside down, but I think she handled everything very well, both becoming royal and all the things that happened to her and those around her. I liked how Chase portrayed, how everything changed for Sam, the choices she had to make, the responsibility she got, how the media was just everywhere, and of course the life as a royal. Becoming royal also mean that Sam gets to spend time with a certain prince.

I loved, loved Alex. He was sweet and hot, and a genuinely good guy, who supported Sam all the way. He had me swooning so many times. I think Sam had an impressive self-control around him - I don't think I would have been able to hold back. Anyway, he and Sam had great chemistry, and I loved the moments between them. Sam tried hard not to fall for him, because it would mean having to become queen and facing a future in the ultimate spotlight, but who was she kidding - Alex was totally irresistible.   

There was a great cast of secondary characters, and they all brought something to the story. I liked Sam's father who urged her to go, her best friend with all the funny comments, and Alex's sweet sister, whose story I can't wait to read in the companion book. Also, I really liked the imaginary country, Lilaria, and I think Chase did a good job of describing it and making it seem real. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and light read that also had a certain depth to it. If you like the NA genre Suddenly Royal is a book I'll definitely recommend. 

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆