A secret prince needs: a lost tourist to save.Prince Cassander is on vacation from his overdeveloped sense of duty. While hiding out as simply ‘Cas’ in the Rosavian capital, he rescues a gorgeous, distressed American tourist. Matty has no idea that Cas is second in line to the throne. And with only two weeks together to explore the sparks between them, he doesn’t need to ever find out. New Yorker … find out.
New Yorker Matty Doyle is a fish out of water, taking care of his niece and mending his broken heart. When Cas rescues him, the handsome stranger coaxes Matty out of his shell and he throws caution to the wind. Nobody knows him here. Would it hurt to live a little for once?
But a prince can’t stay secret in his own country for long. Cas would give anything to protect Matty from reality, but how can this fantasy together continue when they belong in different worlds?
Welcome to the tiny European country of Rosavia, where roses ramble over alpine slopes and princes fall for the men of their dreams. Every Rosavia Royals book happens simultaneously, so books can be read on their own, or in any order… but keep an eye out for familiar faces around the palace!
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I hope you’re regularly seeing a dentist, because this book is so darn sweet, it could give you a cavity. This book is the perfect one to follow up Leo’s story, and not just because Cas is second in line to the throne. As I predicted in my review of book one, the storylines overlap to wind up at the ball. So, it was fun getting some glimpses of his brothers’ stories entwined in this book. I cannot wait to read them, either!
Cas has always lived to serve his family, his country, and his duties, but rarely does anything for himself. Until he spots Matty and Finley (Matty’s niece) in the sporting goods store. For once, he decides to take the risk, if even for a moment. Matty has his own inner demons. Together, they have to decide if they can be brave enough to go after what they want.
I really enjoyed this book, and Cas and Matty. They are so adorable and deserving. The side characters added a fun element to the story. I wanted to strangle Ida von Tarr several times throughout the book, though. Ugh!
While this is book two in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading the entire series though. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Alpina and with the Rosavia Royals. Thank goodness there are three more books to read, because I’m not done with the brothers. I want more!
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
5 Stars!
I’m listening to these books out of order, but I truly think that they can be read in any order and you won’t miss out on anything. One suggestion, though? Read or listen to all of them at some point because once you start, you won’t want to leave Rosavia until you meet all the princes and their loves.
I found the concept of five different books about five prince brothers written by five different authors to be quite original. They share some things in common, of course. They’re all set in Rosavia, they are set in a similar timeframe leading to the big ball and they show us a few scenes from different perspectives to give us the bigger picture.
Cas and Matty’s story read almost like a fairytale. A prince trying to hide his real identity and falling for the commoner who he meets by chance and who in turn falls for the prince, who finally knows what it is to have someone love him for himself and not what he represents. They were really cute together and had amazing chemistry.
There was a great cast of secondary characters, including Matty’s adorable niece, and cameos by the other Rosavia princes and their father, that really added to my enjoyment of the story. And an awful reporter that I hated with a passion and hope we’ll get to see get her comeuppance at some point during the series.
This is my first book narrated by Kieran Flitton, but I can assure you it won’t be the last. His voice is very pleasant, and let me tell you when you have to listen to three of his books in as many days, that’s important. LOL His performance was really good and I was impressed by how he went from Cas’s almost British accent to Matty’s American accent whenever they were in the same scene.
Overall, a great introduction (for me) to the series. I was thoroughly entertained and swept away into Cas and Matty’s story and the world of the Rosavia Royals and already intrigued about meeting the rest of the princes.
Reign or Shine is the second book in the Rosavia Royals series. Each book in this series focuses on one of the five brothers of the Rosavian royal family and is written by a different author. The books all happen simultaneously so it doesn’t matter the order you read them in. The events overlap, and it’s great to see the characters from all different angles and perspectives as you read through the series.
Cas is the second eldest brother and the most serious and reliable. Cas is used to taking care of everyone fixes the messes his brothers inevitably get themselves into. But it gets exhausting and even steadfast and reliable Cas needs a break from his life. In order to just getaway from it all, Cas hides his identity and spends some time outside of the palace as an ordinary Rosavian citizen. During one of these excursions he meets Matty, a young man still struggling to stand on his own. Matty is an American who’s escorting his niece on her archery tournament. Life is hard for Matty, but he’s doing his best to be strong for both his niece and himself. When he finds himself in an unexpected bind, the wonderful and mysterious Cas comes out of nowhere to help him out. From there, the romance between the two men continue to grow despite the obstacles thrown in their way.
I had a lot of fun reading this story. I loved the hidden identity and big reveal element of the plot and I really enjoyed how much of a caretaker Cas was yet he found his healthy boundaries. The book’s romance was sweet and the sex scenes were hot and delicious.
The audiobook was narrated by Kieran Flitton who has one of the sexiest voices ever. I love his voice so much and adore how he narrates each character. The characters are all distinct and it’s easy to follow along. The energy of the performance was perfect and each scene felt dynamic and alive. The audiobook production was well done with no errors.
Reign or Shine by HJ Welch is the second book in the Rosavia Roysls series. Although technically written so they can stan alone by each author, I highly recommend reading all books in this series for a full and exciting adventure of a Royal family finding happiness and love.
In this book, we get the sweet lovestory of the second heir to the crown, Cass, and a traveler, Matty, visiting with his niece. The story is sweetness and fun… and a nice amount of heat between the two main characters. The secondary characters also add a nice touch of drama and entertainment. I loved how the story unfolded and can5 wait to read the next book.
Although this story has tropes that I love—fish out of water and secret prince—I didn’t expect to fall for it so quickly and so hard. This is my first read of this author, and I’ll be looking for more.
The characters pulled me into the story from the first page. Matty is out of his comfort zone in so many ways, and his generous, kind nature shines through in the way he puts his sister and niece first. His ex has really done a number on him and I loved the way Cas helps him to realise what a good person he is. Cas is very sweet and giving, and I was happy he finally puts himself and his happiness first. The two men are very sweet together, and I loved the romance. The last couple of chapters made me sniffle as I’d got very invested in their relationship and HEA.
I liked Matty’s reaction when he discovers the truth about Cas. It’s realistic and not overly dramatic, and written just right for his character.
The supporting cast are fabulous and I loved the hints of his brother’s stories as they meet up and rumours fly, but without giving too much away. I need to read the rest of the series now!
I loved how there are so many strong women in this story. Valentina, Cas’ Valet totally rocks, as do Shommie and her sister, and Matty’s sister and her wife. I loved how that all came together at the end of the story. Finley, Matty’s sister, comes across as the age she is, yet already a force to be reckoned with. I love the way she and Cas bond.
The world building is great. The details make Rosavia feel very real. I particularly liked that they have their own language and speak British English with a slight accent. I’ll never look at blueberries the same way again.
Holy sweetness! You absolutely can not read this book and not swoon a bit at the complete sweetness of this romance. It’s fairytale-like in how things happen and how quickly the romance progresses and considering it is a royal romance, that’s just perfect. Anyone who has ever dreamed of a handsome prince sweeping them off their feet will love Cas and the way he pampers Matty. I should mention that it’s not all sweetness. These guys are hot too. Wow, are they hot. The chemistry is off the charts, and sweet, swoony words or steamy goodness, I just couldn’t get enough of Cas and Matty. Even the small bit of drama couldn’t bring them too far down, and other than that, the whole book is lighthearted and engaging. Reign or Shine is my first read by HJ Welch, but it will not be my last. It’s well-written, fast-paced, and loads of fun. I’m thoroughly enjoying this series, and love is definitely in the air for Rosavia.
Another great book in this series! Prince Cas meets tourist Matty and is instantly enamored. Cas desperately wants someone to love him for who he is, not what he is. Their journey is bumpy and messy, but wonderful! Highly Recommend!!
Cassander is second to line of the throne and takes on more responsibilities then his other brothers and needs an escape.
Matty is adorable, he has anxiety over adulting taking care of his niece and regular life. He meets a sexy stranger named Cas. Cas is omitting a big royal secret.
I love stories about the nerd falling for his Prince Charming and you get this in this story. This is a funny and sweet book I definitely recommend.
I loved this series and Ms Welch made an outstanding work with her part in the larger puzzle that is Rosavia Royals series. Her expertise in fairytales is so clear reading Cas and Matty’s book, that the final product left me with a lighter heart because the nice story, sweet and endearing dialogues and interactions and the happy ending. Of course there is a catch: after reading it you’d love it so much that you’ll feel the imperious need to read the rest of the books in the series to find out what is happening in Rosavia. Loved it!!
Prince Cassander (Cas) meets and American tourist Matty. A sweet low angst royal story of a prince pretending to be not royal and the tourist who teaches him to be himself.
Theses two were great together. I enjoyed the way Cass took care of Matty.
4.5 stars
Matty Boyle – first time traveling outside of Queens with his niece in tow for a tournament, is nervous but determined. Already attempting to heal a broken heart, he succumbs to the nightmares of vacations. Things that usually go wrong on a trip did go wrong. Being out of town is one thing, but out of the country? Lost luggage – check, lost the bow and arrows for the competition – check, meeting a handsome man that makes you look twice and second guess – check and check. Can at home Matty become fun loving vacation Matty? Even if for a little while.
Prince Caspian “Cas” Fabian Ivor van Rosavia – sibling heir number two, is hiding out from responsibility for a few weeks. Trying to shift any any focus on what is expected of him as the spare with more than his fair share of responsibilities, he meets Matty and everything changes.
In comes the annoying reporter, Ida von Tarr. Royal family annoyance. There had to be a better way to deal with this menace.
Matty and Cas were a great complement to one another. Breaking down barriers, feeling more confident, feeling needed, and allowing themselves to love fully. Working on your vulnerabilities is never easy but these two pull it off as partners and friends.
While this is book two in the Rosavia Royals series, and could stand alone. It is really to your benefit to read them all and in order. Each story is written by a different author but there are many segments that overlap. Every detail makes more sense and flows seamlessly.
Wonderful intimacy, steamy sex, sweetness between the MCs, an adorable niece, laughter, and the wonder kitty, Bella who commands belly rubs.
**I received this ARC from Gay Romance Reviews for my honest review.**
This one is so good. Prince Sander likes to take a little ‘break’ from his duties and become Cas. It was definitely great to see the difference in ‘Cas’ and ‘Sander’. I fell in love with Matty. I’m still not sure why shy boys do it for me. I’ve been reading M/M for awhile now and they get me every time. My favorite part in books is when the MCs first say “I love you” and this one didn’t disappoint. I’m not sure which brother is next because I wanted to be surprised. Off to Rosavia I go!!!!
I really enjoyed this story…maybe not as much as the first one, but I was still drawn into the world of Rosavia and the romance between Prince Cassander and Matty. Both of them were so sweet and I liked how Prince Cass wanted to protect and spoil Matty. It really was sweet.
I liked the drama not only with Cas hiding who he is, but also with Ida von Tarr. Reporters… the things they do for a story.
Guys, we may have just unearthed a diamond with this one.
Anyone who’s ever had a holiday fling will immediately recognise all the telltale signs in this book. And if you’re like me, you’ll find it answers all your personal “what if”s with utterly delectable feelings… not to mention a cracker story.
You’ll come for the sweet romance and explosive sex scenes and you’ll stay for the reverent, quietly tenacious love that conquers a hurricane of troubles.
Helen Juliet mastered the cadence of great story crafting and for that reason alone it’s worth your reading pleasure. Try as you might to find a poorly crafted sentence or character inconsistency, you can’t question the drama at all. Because it’s so damn relatable.
Ida von Tarr (vile snake, she is!) is still a pleasure to hate in this book, and the genius in packing so much personality into the B-Characters of Finley, Esosa and Shommie and even Valentina – Cas’s valet – rounded out this story into a complete meal.
Mad respect for how the author explored sensitive emotions too. Those fragile inner thoughts and self-doubts you feel – being kicked out by parents for being gay, or thinking you’re broken and unlovable – are gently glued back together into something more meaningful and powerful than you’d expect in this book.
If you’re looking for a highly-relatable, tear-inspiring, sweet-to-the-core book with a prince who embodies EVERYTHING it means to be a prince, and a lucky, innocent tourist who stumbles upon a better thing than he thinks he deserves, you will absolutely love Reign or Shine.
I was gifted an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this charming, sweet, delightful, grab-you-by-the-feels, tug-at-your-heartstrings, lovely, sexy, and totally awesome story. Cas and Matty were so perfect for each other…after the secret was revealed. Get this gem immediately.
American Matty never thought he would meet and fall in love in one short week with a Prince, nonetheless, Prince Cassander swept Matty off his feet and the two fell in love. This fast paced romance included a Prince acting like a commoner, a commoner acting like a fish out of water and an adorable eight year old who had more sense than anyone. This was a really cute story in this series.
Matty and Cas are an absolutely perfect couple. Their give and take is beautiful to see, and everything about the relationship and romance was just what I wanted and needed it to be. Cas’ needs fit perfectly into Matty’s. They make each other better people (they were good before, but much better now).
I fell in love with each guy separately, right off the bat, and I rooted for them, cried for them, and wanted to pop them a few times when their minds got in their own way.
In the beginning, I watched Cas wearing his strengths like a shield and liked him for his loyalty and drive, but when he took the time to discover who he really is, I began to feel a deeper connection with him.
Matty. Oh, sweet Matty. I love this guy so much. Beginning to end, I was cheering him on as he finally accepted himself and his needs.
The sweetness of the romance bled into the passion they shared and made the sexy times passionate and loving, even in the beginning.
I liked everyone in this book; I even liked hating the antagonist because she played the part very well.
I look forward to more from this author.
Hoodies & Roses
Must say the valets in Rosavia have a magic all their own. I think they’re secretly running everything. I’m so glad Matty has family/friends/cheerleaders in his life. They give him the best advice. Blue is already my favorite color but this book made it more so. “You brought me to life.” Together, Matty and Cas found something real and precious. They build each other up and show the other how amazing they really are. In my eyes they’re both priceless treasures to always be cherished. It’s a sure thing you will love this fantastic book, family and Rosavia.
Wow! This series is shaping up to be an amazing collection! The characters in this one were brilliant and the setting totally dreamlike! Diving into it from the first pages is absolutely unavoidable!
Reign or Shine is the second book in the Rosavia Royals series. I loved getting to read Cas and Matty’s story. Fate really wanted these two people to be together. The story has a mild Daddy/boy vibe to it that I wish had been more developed. I could really see Matty as a little with Cas taking care of him. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.