A beautiful, defiant princess. A renowned, sinfully gorgeous Hollywood actor.A love affair that is sure to rock the British Monarchy¿and the world. Princess Adeline’s and Josh Jameson’s love affair began intensely and passionately. They knew any future together was impossible-her status as a princess and his standing as a Hollywood heartthrob dictated that. But the heights of pleasure they could … could take each other to were wildly unanticipated by them both. Josh’s absolute disregard for Adeline’s status quickly drew her into his hedonistic world. And her perfectly worn mask and false façade captivated Josh to the point of obsession. The boundaries became blurred. The physical became emotional. Their hearts became entwined. But a cruel turn of events rips their worlds apart and Adeline is more bound than ever by the protocol and expectations her title commands. The army of royal advisors who guard the secrets and scandals of the Monarchy will go to unthinkable lengths to keep the smoke and mirrors in place¿and Josh away from Adeline. She knows the power she possesses comes with agonizing sacrifices. Walking away from Josh devastates her¿but it keeps him safe from the corrupt institution that has ruled her life. Yet Josh refuses to lose the woman who has consumed him so completely, distorted his boundaries, and stripped him of all sensibility. Will the power of the British Monarchy triumph? Or will Adeline and Josh’s fierce love for each other change the course of history?
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I do not want to give any spoilers, so I will say that I absolutely loved the conclusion to this duet. There’s no other way to describe this book other than FANTASTIC!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, this story was a real page turner and it did not disappoint. It is definitely worth reading and stories like this is the reason why I fell in love with this authors writing to begin with. It’s a must read.
My God! This book was intense. So amazingly, fantastically intense. I loved every word of it.
After that epic cliffhanger in book 1, I was dying to get my hands on this book. We pick up pretty much right where we left off and it never slows down. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. So may twists and turns and highs and lows.
Adeline and Josh’s chemistry is off the charts and I was enthralled with wanting, no, needing to find out how their relationship would work out. Because it had to work out. Had. To.
Adeline really stepped up her game in this book. She remained true to herself, but also dig deep to gather that royal heritage and put it to good use.
And Josh… *dreamy sigh* God, he can be such a jerk sometimes, but oh how I love him. LOL!
The storyline was fantastic. And man, the plot twists were plentiful in this book! I never knew what was going and was gobsmacked Everytime something happened!
The secondary characters are fantastic. Either fantastically amazing, or fantastically terrible. LOL!!! Damon wins the award for best secondary character ever.
Honestly, this is one of the best duets I’ve ever read. So do yourself a favor and read it!!!
His True Queen was a highly entertaining and rollercoaster conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors duet by Jodi Ellen Malpas.
Book 1 should be read prior to this book and this story picks up where Book 1 ended. While I had a bit of trouble getting into Book 1 I was definitely interested in reading the conclusion to this story. Especially since the last part of The Controversial Princess had me in a bit of shock with they direction it went.
This book was full of ups and downs and it was just deliciously scandalous. Adeline and Josh are intense whenever they are together and if anything their chemistry just seems to increase.
I’ve always been fascinated by all things Royal and this book definitely has that in spades. Secrets and lies and deception make this storyline completely engaging. If this were to be made into a mini series I would be hooked and watching every episode.
So many shocking revelations had me truly gasping and basically saying holy shit !!!! I loved this second book, it’s engaging, scandalous and riveting. I have no doubt that many others would feel the same way.
Absolute brilliance!!
His True Queen will have your heart thumping, you will laugh, may cry, probably swoon and also get angry. I had so many emotions whilst reading this story.
The book starts where Book 1 ends. You definitely need to have read it before reading this one. There is first sadness, anger, hurt and a whole lot of drama in Adeline’s life, she certainly struggles at times. But she is also determined and strong.
This story will take you on such a ride you won’t want to get off. I was riveted and there are things you will find out that will have you shocked. I know I certainly was.
The author has captured my heart in this duet and it’s a real credit to her.
What I truly loved, was Adeline and Josh’s undeniable love for each other. True love!! It made my heart full.
I particularly like Damon, Adeline’s right hand man, if you will. Some of the things he would say, had me giggling.
An absolutely wonderful story that will cause your heart to explode!! Must read series!
What an amazing conclusion to this Smoke and Mirrors duet, this book is worthy of the fairytale ending that we got and I highly recommend that you get started now!! These characters are intense and full of passion and sass. They make the book intriguing and impossible to stop reading. But this book is not all easy going for these two. They were drug through scandal, treason, secrets, and sabotage but proved that love does conquer all!
This book picks up where Controversial Princesses leaves off and we are left dealing with truths revealed and tough choices to make. But those choices lead to other tough choices and they have to find the truth hidden in a mess of lies and betrayals.
As if Adeline didn’t have enough to worry about, she is now Queen of England and must choose between love and duty, but not is all as it seems and Josh is determined to not let her go. But when trust is tested what choice will be made in the end?
HOLY HECK!!! THE QUEEN HAS SLAYED IT!!!!
With her new novel His True Queen!!
Talk about screaming with excitement to read it! I sure as hell did! Throw in a fist pump or two. I fed my daughters and locked myself away! Let’s face if you read the first book in this duet, you know that cliffhanger was like WTF!!!
This book called to be consumed! It nearly had its own language of neediness for me to devour it! Heck yes, I did!
His True Queen is everything times 100 over!! There is really no words to describe its awesomeness! Well other than It’s has to be my all time favorite Jodi Ellen Malpas book EVER!!!!
PLUS!!!
OMFG!!! SO HOT!!! JAW DROPPING, MIND BLOWING PERFECTION!!
Move over Jesse Ward there is a new Panty Dropping King in my life and that is Josh Jameson! Hands off ladies! He’s mine and I will do anything for my naughty KING, just to get rewarded with his one of a kind spankings!!! Now wipe the drool off your faces!! It’s time to fall in Love with JOSH!!!
This conclusion to the Smoke & Mirrors duology is EPIC!
From the first word to ‘The End’ I couldn’t put it down. I always had to read just one more chapter because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. And I absolutely couldn’t get enough of Josh and Adaline. She is still as rebellious as ever, and her sexy American boy is still the alpha rogue he’s always been.
Chemistry has NEVER been a problem between the two of them and it isn’t going to be now, either. But if you thought their journey to this point was hard, you’ve seen nothing yet. More lies and secrets will be uncovered and twists and turns will be abundant. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going to happen, you realize you aren’t even close to the truth.
This duology is FANTASTIC! It’s a must-read, whether you are intrigued by the Monarchy or not. I absolutely loved every bit of both books. Definitely a five-star duology!
4.5 Stars!
In the midst of tragedy Princess Adeline Lockhart is torn between duty and love. She has fallen hopelessly in love with her American boy Josh Jameson, and now she feels she has to somehow disregard her own feelings, and put the well being of her country first. Her destiny has been written, and sacrifices must be made. As Queen all responsibilities have now fallen on her. She can no longer be rebellious and reckless. She must put her family and the British Monarchy first. This means her love story with Josh must come to an end. In order to be Queen she has to abandon her heart. The world is watching her every move, and as a Hollywood actor, they would rip Josh apart. She can’t live for her own selfish needs, and has to let him go before they ruin him.
Josh has found the woman of his dreams, and won’t so easily be cast aside. He’s determined to be with Adeline, and won’t give up. He refuses to walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He doesn’t care about Adeline’s title or stays. He just loves her and wants her any way he can have her.
This was an amazing conclusion to the Smoke & Mirrors duet. A beautiful, forbidden love story that rocks the British Monarchy. As Adeline tries to figure out who she can trust, advisers continue to try and keep them apart. Boundaries are blurred and their future together seems impossible. Will true love win the the end? I adored this royal romance full of emotion and passion! Just fantastic!
This book is one of the best things your going to read this year!
With such a crazy bad cliffhanger being at the end of The Controversial Princess I didn’t think that Jodi could outshine that book with this His True Queen the concluding part of the (Smoke & Mirrors) duet, but I’m telling you now I just didn’t know how totally wrong I could be, this has left me gobsmacked. This book is one huge pandora’s box packed full to the brim of gasp worthy surprises, it’s so totally epic!!!
I am utterly astounded and filled with so much awe for the writing talent of this author. I have already admired her work for some time from reading her previous books but this duet is in a totally different league from anything she has ever released before. After reading this book it will leave you reeling from having such a massive mess of emotions and thoughts to process.
The secrets, the drama and the sex is enough to blow your mind but it’s the deep emotional push and pull that Adeline and Josh go through that got to me like a stab to the gut and it nearly sent me into a cardiac arrest from feeling all the trauma and turmoil as my connection to their story felt so very real. I actually shed tears for them which doesn’t happen often when reading a book but I just couldn’t stop them from falling.
Be prepared for an addictive read that will leave you utterly spent by the end, it is such an amazing story that is so very full of love and hope. I feel very much privileged to have been given the opportunity to read Josh and Adeline’s story but I also feel so very lost without them now that it’s over.
I’m giving this all the stars but deserves so many more…..
6 “MQ” STARS
Heavy lies the head that wears the Crown
And the embellished gems are all broken hearts and dreams that are on ugly display, for the world to ogle.
The book deserves 6 stars at the very least ( I’d give 10 if permissible) and Queen Jodi has proved yet again, why she’s on top of the author heirchy. You can feel that this book is written from her heart. One can safely assume, the process has been exacting and toilsome for her. We applaud your bravery and courage Queen Jodi. Take a bow!
The richness & opulence of this story had me agog. What a long journey from Jesse to Joshua Jameson. And for her critics, from Ava to Adeline. She’s Onwards & Upwards in her themes, narration and plotting. She’s fast moving to complex storylines, skipping the normal cookie cutter framework, colouring outside the lines and she deserves a special accolade for giving us strong heroine with spine of steel who is not afraid of standing on her own without being propped by a strong alpha, even though the said alpha comes with talented hands, and tongue and a charming smirk. Totally swooning on Josh here !!**wolfwhistle**
My heart has been kick-started, ready to do what I was destined to do.
Fight. Rule. Reign.
Ever since this duet started, Princess Adeline Catherine Luisa Lockheart has simply stolen my heart. She’s the Controversial Princess stuck in her Golden Cage. Her blue blood has been a shackle that has chained her to the throne. Contrary to every girl child’s wish, I wouldn’t wish such a restrained lifestyle on any free spirited girl growing up amidst all the lies and secrecy. All in the name of preservation of Monarchy! Smokes & Mirrors is their Royal Shield
“My entire life is dreadful, Kim. So the dress matches, yes? Suffocating, compliant, covering all my sins. I would say it is perfect.”
Age old traditions and customs, which were put in place for bygone era hold little mettle in the new millennium. Something’s gotta give !!! So it befalls on Adeline slender shoulders the mammoth task of modernising the Royal Kingdom. The cost is ginormous and unacceptable to her so she changes the rules of the Game Of Thrones!
Her American Boy Josh Jameson had only to ask,
“Are you ready to get into trouble with me?”
And Adeline loses her glass slipper!
We are fire and passion and assertive and violent. But we are also love, with its many facets and complexities. And right now, that love is bringing us peace. Rest from the storm. Quiet within the chaos.
But By Golly, did they anticipate the troubles they’ve had to encounter just trying to be together. The entire Royal Kingdom, the servants, the staff is against it. Her hand is being forced to choose an appropriate husband who’d stand next to her as the king and a lowly American commoner is simply out of the question. She’s divided between the two worlds and her sense of duty at full fledged war with her desires
“You can be your country’s Queen, baby,” he whispers, his eyes glassy, “or you can be my queen.”
He steps back. “You can’t be both.”
Major ugly cry happened at this point. I could understand her dilemma and wanted to hug her, but you can’t touch the queen! Oh, what a lonely and cold existence for the Queen!!
Jodi surpasses herself in this part 2 of the Duology in terms of angst factor, heartache, steaming sex, boiling passions and compassion. Compassion for the women who reside in these palaces. Princesses, queens, queens in waiting. The pressures they have to face to smile when their hearts are weeping, to produce heirs, endure unfaithfulness and cheating by their spouses, ignore their hearts’ callings and the ultimate- marry for strength rather than love.
No one in this family has ever operated on other people’s happiness. No one has ever made moves with that at the forefront of their minds. It’s always protocol and tradition first. Happiness is at the bottom of the list of priorities.
All this has been so poignantly penned in detail by Jodi. Whenever I read Adeline speaking I did so in Jodi’s voice. She’s quite proper and posh herself and her graceful personality is what I envisioned Adeline to have . The writing itself is very proper and stylish. The mood is prim and stiff, as is expected. You can feel the suffocating snootiness and stubborn snobbery of the characters. The characters evoke sympathy & pity at times and some just deserve to be quartered and drawn!!
Eddie is one character I would love for to have his own book. His demons are clawing at him. His frustration and abandonment in the face of toxic truths are poisoning hi entire being. I can feel him clawing at his mind till he bleeds
he needs me to hold him up, he clings on, a lost little boy trying to navigate the cruel blows that have been thrown his way.
“I don’t want to feel this way anymore, Addy,” he croaks into my neck, burying himself deeply to hide. “The bitterness, the hurt, I can’t stand it anymore.”
I so wanted to hold him tight and whisper -” everything will be alright, just let it go Edward
As much as I’ve enjoyed reading it, I’m hating the fact that it’s over. I’ll miss the Warped Lockharts. I’ll miss the King of Cocky Joshua Jameson. I’ll miss Adeline in her Spanish Tiara, but most of all I’ll miss Major Davenport. He’s the tragic figure. Man in the wings, bound by his servitude.His heart holds most secrets and sentiments, which I truely wish are unleashed in the next book, if Jodi ever decides to write. That man needs closure and peace with his truths.
You all MUST MUST MUST pick up this Duet and read
This is the second and final book in the Smoke & Mirrors duet and I have loved this entire series from beginning to end.
The book begins from pretty much where book one ended. I won’t say too much for those who haven’t even started this series yet, but I will say this book was just as explosive as the first.
Josh and Adelines chemistry is as electric as ever and despite Adelines status in the British Royal Family, Josh is the only person she will submit to. He saw through Adelines status and saw the woman she was.
I also felt Adelines despair, but it was her strength that really made her stand out for me. There were some pretty nasty characters and despite their best efforts Adeline handled them with grace and it makes me wonder why wonder if we could ever have a member of the Royal Family just like her.
There was the usual humour that I love from Jodi Ellen Malpas. There were twists and turns that had me gobsmacked and there were revelations where I questioned how I didn’t guess beforehand. This is simply all down to the quality of Ms Malpas’s writing. Absolutely world class!
His True Queen
10 crowns of royalty…..
I finished HTQ last night….everything was put on hold (chores, dinner….everything)! Why you ask….because I needed to finish!
Adeline and Josh…….my newest favorite couple. Their triumphs and their defeats, their ups and their downs, their love and their hate…..I was there with them feeling every emotion.
Josh is my book king…..Adeline my book queen.
Ms. Malpas has written a duet that will stay with the reader for days, weeks, months to come. As I was reading, I was able to see myself in each situation. My stomach was in knots, my anxiety was peaked.
His True Queen was brilliantly written and will forever have a spot on my bookshelf right beside The Controversial Princess.
Reviewed by: Dana D.
After the ending of The Controversial Princess I’ve been slobbering over His True Queen cover absolutely beautiful!
This was a fabulous follow up to book 1 and I didn’t think we’d have so much smoke & so many mirrors facing us, but with Jodi she likes to keep us dangling on the end of our toes.
I love Josh his lack of care for anyone other than Adeline but there’s only so much restraint her American boy will have and this time has he been pushed too far.
Adeline I bow to you! This was off the scale woman power.
Taking back what’s rightfully yours and standing up when you were told to sit down.
Your story was amazing and one I will always remember.
Please read book 1 first then immediately click book 2 and find out how this journey continues…..
5
5+ STAR Review by Jodi for Ruby Red Romance Review
I’m trying to find the words to tell you all how much I love this story. I love Jodi Ellen Malpas. I have since I read the This Man series, but I have to admit…Josh Jameson has won my heart. His True Queen picks up where The Controversial Princess left off. I sincerely love everything about this duet.
Adeline is now faced with the one job she never wanted, being queen. It’s her duty to her family and her country. With that responsibility comes losing the one person she is finally ready to give her whole heart to. Adeline is exactly what I’ve come to love about Jodi’s heroines. She’s strong, smart, and not afraid to go after what she wants, no matter the cost. Queen Adeline is ready to give Josh everything, until can’t. My heart broke for Adeline at times. She knows her place, but doesn’t want to give up everything. Adeline loves with her whole heart and on more than one occasion she is put in a situation where she has to choose, loyalty or love. It’s an impossible choice either way.
Josh…where to start with this man. I want to say, he never not once gave up. Even when things looked bleak, he was still there, fighting, loving, and being silent. Josh was everything and more. I would love to see more of this story from his point of view. We American’s have an odd obsession with the Royal family and reading this story just made that grow stronger for me. Josh was an amazing hero. I loved how hard he loved Adeline, even when it seemed impossible.
I’m not giving anything away about this story. I want you to read it. I want you to soak up the genius that is Jodi Ellen Malpas. She truly writes such amazing stories. Her books suck me and don’t let go until long after the end. This book has just the right amount of drama, angst, love, heartbreak, and happiness all rolled into on sweet amazing story. Please, if you don’t read any other book that I recommend, please check out this duet. You will not be disappointed.
5 +++ Thumbs Up Stars
This duet literally sucked me dry! I picked up His True Queen after finishing The Controversial Princess (Smoke & Mirrors Duet #1) with out taking a break. The need to find out how this truly wonderful story would pan out had me unable to process anything going on in the real world!
Two people who were so in tuned with each other and totally in love with each other, surly deserved to live happily ever after, right???
One doesn’t clear smoke and mirrors, darling. One preserves them.
Staying true to herself for being loyal to her family, Adeline longs to have her cake and eat it to. Although her family history is full of lies, hidden by the smoke raising up from them, they are after all, her family.
If. Such a little word with such a big meaning.
I mean if we really look at life, what does the two middle letters spell? IF….
If only she wouldn’t have met Josh at her 30th Birthday Party.
If her life wasn’t full of Lies.
If the Monarchy would understand that times change and so should the rules that were set way back in time.
If she Marries who the family says she should marry.
If, If, If….
Slowly unraveling the story, one photo and one video at a time, its when actually looking at the photos that it becomes apparent that it is time to stand up and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Pieces that become easy to place now that the smoke and mirrors are hidden.
God save the Fuckin Queen.
I absolutely LOVED this duet! Jodi gave us a strong female character that was full of wit, love, and a back bone that would stand up for her country and do what was right! Not her fault that she fell in love with the American Boy!!
#BookBistroBlogApproved
What an incredible story! His True Queen is the conclusion to Princess Adeline and Josh Jameson’s love story and I have to say the HEA was different than what I expected and still just as wonderful as I could have hoped for.
In this book we get just as much heat as before, because when Josh and Adeline are in the same vicinity…they get damn near combustible. But with all that sex and heat the author gives the reader so much more to Adeline’s struggle with the role she never wanted. The pressures she was constantly under and even gave the underlying issue in society that a man is better than a woman (or so the egotistical, patriarchal idiots would think). Honestly, the were patronizing at every turn and I would have done far more than Adeline did.
But with Josh in her life, she had newfound strength that only got stronger the more time she spent with him. He had the ability to make her feel free, powerful and cherished with just a look. Their connection was incredible from their first meeting and the pace of their story gave way to only intensifying that connection so it was felt through the pages. I felt every bit of frustration, heartache and sensual desire in every fiber of my being.
The Smoke & Mirrors Duology is a magnificent modern day fairytale love story. Adeline is the Princess women dream of being and Josh is the man most women hope for and their story was one of struggling through tradition, expectations and idealism in order to have the happily-ever-after they are both willing to fight for.
Holy moly was this good! I hated how Adeline was treated in book one. She wasn’t royal enough, meaning she wasn’t an obedient robot. Because of this she was treated as if she was beneath everyones shoes. Sadly, most of her family were the culprits. To the people, she was the most real and the most loved.
As much as Adeline didn’t want to become Queen, she excelled at it. I loved that she didn’t bow down. She fought for what she believed even if she had to fight over and over. Her relationship with Josh was even more impossible and yet she still fought. I enjoyed how when she put a few of those judgmental people in their places.
I loved Josh. For how much he was restricted, he still came off as the alpha male he was. He fought just enough if not more for him and Adeline. I loved it.
Once again, the ending was not at all what I thought would happen but it was a beautiful ending all the same.
His True Queen is book 2 in the Smoke & Mirrors Duet and it starts right where book 1 finished with Princess Adeline finding out she is next in line for the throne as the new Queen of England which means she must choose between her country and family or the love of her life Josh.
Josh will not walk away from the woman who has stolen his heart and Adeline is finding it hard to put her feelings for him behind her so she starts looking into her family’s history and that’s when secrets start emerging and she starts believing maybe she can really have it all……
This book is full of secrets and intrigue and please make sure you have time to sit down and read this mega book it will keep you guessing right up to the end and you won’t want to put it down. As with all of JEM books there is normally a few lines that will stay with you forever and for me in this book it’s “To the world you are the Queen of England, but to me you are everything “
Another brilliant duet that takes us on yet another amazing journey from the very talented Jodi Ellen Malpas, I wonder what she has in store for us next.
5 “Thumbs up” Stars!
Oh wow what a fantastic conclusion! What a story! It had me feeling all kinds of the feels, especially the ending. Gah that ending! I wanted to stand up and slow clap. Josh and Adeline are made for each other.
“To the world you are the Queen of England.”
“But to me, you are everything.”
I honestly can say I was shocked on how everything finally went down. I thought it was going to go one way but it went another. Adeline was such a badass. Girl power! Josh is still amazing and ilovehimsomuch! This is such a great duet, I enjoyed it so much!
This was a true love story. A story that defies all odds as Adeline must navigate hostile forces to do what she feels is right and protect her family and the man she loves. I was right along beside Adeline for the ride as her closest advisers are also her worst enemies and she just doesn’t know who she can trust. There are so many secrets to keep the monarchy intact and my heart just went out to her and Josh because it seemed like the more Adeline was forced to do her duty, the more it drove them apart. I loved trying to figure out who was behind the manipulations and the constant betrayal. There definitely were a few surprises in there that I didn’t expect and Josh is much more determined than I originally gave him credit for. The man knows what’s at stake and he’s willing to risk it all. I really LOVED LOVED LOVED this duet. It hit me right smack dab in the middle of my heart.