Polly
I’m a modern twenty-three-year-old princess bound by rules more suited to medieval times. My father’s declining health means I will soon be queen, but, as a woman, I will not be allowed to rule alone. I can only claim my birthright by marrying the man chosen for me—a business tycoon useful to our kingdom. He’s twenty years my elder and has promised my parents to take a firm hand with me. … firm hand with me. Big red flag.
My parents are unbending. If I do not comply, my younger cousin will take my place simply because he’s a man.
I’m the one who must bend, or walk away and lose everything—my family, my birthright, my island home.
I never met a man tempting enough to risk a kingdom…and then I meet him.
Oscar
I’m the good looking one. If you need to pick me out of the middle of the Rourke clan that’s how you do it. Does it bother me that nothing is expected of the fourth-born son other than to flash my devastatingly handsome smile for the press? Maybe.
Would I like to be needed even just by one person who sees me as key to something important? Yes.
And then I meet her.
Only lightning struck for the wrong woman. She’s on Villroy for a short time before she must return home and marry the man her parents have chosen. If she doesn’t, she loses her birthright.
If I truly care for Polly, I’ll walk away. But do I have the strength to resist the most perfect woman I’ve ever met?
The Rourkes Series
Royal Catch (Book 1)
Royal Hottie (Book 2)
Royal Darling (Book 3)
Royal Charmer (Book 4)
Royal Player (Book 5)
Royal Shark (Book 6)
more
Another addictive read from Kylie gilmore in her Rourke series. This time we meet Polly , a distant cousin of Anna’s. Her chemistry with Oscar was sizzling. Both characters were likeable and I spent a sleepless night with them , getting caught up with their story.
This is not the first time that we are meeting the two main characters of this story. Polly has come to the Isalnd to support her cousin as she is going through a happy but scary time. Polly is enjoying her time away from her kingdom. She is doing all the wrong things, but being bad has never felt so good. There is family drama awaiting her upon her arrvial backaa to her kingdom.
Oscar a middle of the pack prince is wanting to leave his mark on his family project. But no one is taking him seriously. Oscar and his brother have come up with an idea on how to make the family busniess even better. But after Polly leave he has descions to make that will affect the outcome for his family project but also the outcome of his life. He even has a cahnce to be a knight in shining armour.
These two are a hoot a minute. You never know what Polly is going to do or how Oscar will react!
Adored this reluctant couple and all the awesome charters that I have become very attached to in this heartwarming and laugh out loud fun romantic series. Loved getting to know the real Polly and her charming and irresistible Rourke brother. Love this series and breathlessly looking forward to the next one to fall.
I loved, loved, loved Polly and Oscar! Man, did they ever try to fight it! But in the end, they couldn’t fight forever. Oscar’s sacrifice was amazingly wonderful. And Polly’s fighting spirit was inspiring. These two are going to rule together well.
This was definitely an “If Only” book.
If only I had a man to give me those instant feelings.
If only I had a man to put my needs above his.
If only I had a man to pay attention to my actions and know when things aren’t right.
If only I had someone who would give there all for me to have my freedom.
If only Oscar was not every woman’s wet dream and book boyfriend.
Darn Polly was one intelligent, head strong, lucky Princess….. If only I was Polly.
This was my far my favorite of the series. Oscar was observant, kind, loving, and a true stand up guy. Unselfish but selfish. Giving 100% and not caring of the outcome. Determined to claim HIS place from being in the middle.
I adore the Rourke series by Kylie Gilmore! Royal Player is the story of Oscar Rourke, the 4th in line to the throne of Villroy is looking to be involved in the family spa business and is a player. Princess Polly a distance cousin to Queen Anna comes to Villroy to be with Anna during the delivery of her baby. Polly comes to Villroy from a strict island with old rule for women and cannot be Queen unless she marries and doesn’t want to marry the man her parents have picked out. They are attracted to each other but Oscar knows about her upbringing and is trying to be respectful of Polly. Oscar and Polly’s story is exciting, entertaining and romantic. A throughly enjoyable read that you will have a difficult time putting down. I received this book as an arc for an honest review of it.
I´ve been curious about Polly since the first book in this series (Royal Catch). She seemed adventurous and rebel although very loving to be such great friend with Anna. Also Oscar is the most intriguing of the Rourkes princes, as he seemed too observative and “on his own world” in the few times he appeared on the other books. In this story we finally get to know both of them much better. And Kylie has this incredible talent of describing really veracious characters, with multiple layers and credible inner conflicts. This is another book that we can´t put down and we follow and feel their longings, doubts, passion, and loyalty right with them. If you like romance, love at first sight, family (and kingdom) issues with spices of blackmail and mob, passion versus duty and happily ever after, this is definitely a book for you! Another great story of this amazing author.
Royal Player was another fantastic story by the talented Kylie Gilmore, this was a fun and exciting story. This is a story of family, a bit of blackmail and definitely some love. The characters are just lovable. Polly “Princess Mary Louise Lyon.” Is such a delightful character I absolutely adored her, Prince Oscar is just a great character and I couldn’t help but really love him. When these two first meet you can just feel the chemistry and that is just the start of one enjoyable story. This is book 5 in The Rourkes series and was definitely as exciting and entertaining as the first in this series, but For me Polly and Oscar were probably my favorites. The storyline was really well developed and I was unable to put down. If you love royalty this is the book for you. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. A must read in my opinion. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I have really been enjoying this series, but I wanted to know what happened to Polly. She was instrumental to the plot of the first book, but she didn’t have her own story yet.
Polly has a big personality and can be impulsive, and this has caused her some trouble in the past. She doesn’t fit into the role her country has set for royal women. She has matured in the past year, and she is ready to demonstrate that. She sums up the book’s conflict at the end of chapter one: “I’m still going to attempt the impossible — gaining the throne on my own terms while keeping my family and my kingdom safe. Who better to tackle the impossible than the person who’s been labeled impossible?” Watching her do that was awesome.
Oscar has the opposite problem. He has nothing to do since an injury forced him out of professional soccer. His siblings are finding their roles in life, and he is at loose ends. Polly shows up and bowls him over, and then a new idea comes about that could give Oscar the purpose he is looking for. The problem is that he seems to be in love with the one woman he can’t have. She confides her problems to him, and he is compelled to be her hero. He is very sweet about it, and I loved the way he respected Polly’s wishes for her future.
I thought Polly and Oscar had great chemistry and complemented each other very well. I thought I knew where the plot was going, and that would have been nice but not great. Then stuff got serious, and Polly and Oscar got to show their true colors. The last half of the book was terrific.
I enjoyed seeing the previous characters again, especially Alice because I love her. And we get to meet Anna and Gabriel’s baby in this one, too! On to Adrian!
Incredible addition to this fantastic series! I can’t get enough of the Rourke’s!
Princess ‘POLLY’ MARY LOUISE LYON of Beaumont has been prepared since birth to marry a man, of her parent’s choosing, that would be suitable to lead their small country into the future. But for her parents it doesn’t necessarily mean into the 21st century. Their somewhat primitive standards are held firmly in place and Polly must abide by them if she intends to lead when her father retires. What she needs right now is to get away and visit her best friend and distant cousin Queen Anna of Villroy. What she doesn’t expect is the instant attraction to one of the king’s brothers.
Being the 4th in line to the throne means Prince Oscar doesn’t know what his future holds until one day he and his brother Adrian develop a plan to add a casino to the strategy to improve their country’s economy. When the queen’s cousin arrives for the birth of her baby their is an instant attraction Oscar feels for Polly and it only intensifies when he realizes what she is willing to do for her country.
Oscar must now figure out how to protect her from being forced into a marriage of alliance from a manipulative blackmailer while still helping his family to support his own country’s needs. Strong and independent Polly must prove to her parents she deserves to rule her way or lose her country forever. When a catastrophic storm hits her island everything will change. And someone will have to sacrifice everything for love.
I received an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.
Polly and Oscar’s royal story was a fun and wonderful adventure in Royal Player by Kylie Gilmore, book five in The Rourkes series. Imagine you have been groomed your entire life to be the queen except you must marry a man who would be useful to the kingdom in order for that to happen. That’s the life Polly is bound by. Not only that, but the man her parents chose is twenty years older, cares only about making money for himself and not as loyal as he professes. Given a reprieve to attend the birth of the Villroy royal baby, Polly has a chance to figure out what to do about her future. Then she meets the one man possibly worth walking away and losing her family, her birthright, her island home. Oscar is the fourth-born son and other than being the good looking one has little to offer or expected of him. Then he meets her. Lightning strikes, electricity sizzles, and their magnetic attraction brings them together and they fall in love at first sight or is it first touch; despite being the wrong time and wrong place. Oscar works hard to find a way to usurp the man Polly is supposed to marry and find a way to be the perfect man to be her king. When a hurricane hits her island Oscar finds the opportunity to prove his worth and love for Polly.
Ms. Gilmore wrote a wonderfully very humorous, sexy, and moving tale filled with sexual chemistry, hysterical situations, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I loved how she found a way to provide Polly and Oscar a love and future together that neither ever expected. I highly recommend Royal Player to other readers and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I underestimated my emotional connection to this series. The Rourke men are dropping like flies and taking my heart along for the ride. Kylie Gilmore blends her sense of humor with heartwarming romance and an abundance of charm to keep readers coming back for more. There’s been enough sitting on the sidelines, now it’s Polly’s turn to shine. Forget tradition, Polly has a spirit that needs to be in the spotlight. Weighed down by responsibilities, it will take an overlooked Prince to show her that the road less traveled, could be a perfect fit for love. The Princess that started it all is about to claim heart’s everywhere. Smart, funny, sexy and sweet. Royal Player is a winner in my eyes.
Another wonderful book in The Rourkes series!
Oscar and Polly have so many things working against them. But they both know what they want and will do whatever it takes to get it! Such a fun couple!
Not too sure what to say about this bad boy Oscar, except Wow!!! Oscar and the good Princess Polly are now one of my favorite of Kylie’s couples. When the two first meet, one of the most beautiful romances begins. I can’t begin to describe how much I love it, except to say I will be reading it again soon. A must read!
Wow, Kylie is killing it with this royal series! 5 diamond crowns for this one!
Meet Oscar, 4th brother in the Rourke family. He was a star football player till an injury ended his career early. It was the one thing he and his father who has since passed shared. Now wondering what his role is on Villroy, when he meets Queen Anna’s cousin, Princess Polly, he’s quite taken with her. He has heard her story, and suddenly feels protective of her. He wants her to be happy.
When he joins his brother Adrian, in a quest to add a casino to their island, Polly joins in on the adventure, and they head off to Monte Carlo to visit with an investor, who in turn, knows of Polly’s future husband, and in turn tries to blackmail her. Oscar to the rescue, it seems that’s his new role, always rescuing Polly!
Can these two face their feelings for one another, yet let her keep her birthright of becoming Queen of Beaumont?
This story had me not able to put this book down, if you haven’t started this series by Kylie, you need to catch up! This one will have you swooning even more and searching for your own prince charming, if you haven’t already found him! Grab this asap!
Polly & Oscar were a dream! Polly is the royal that was hiding in America & basically brought Anna & Gabriel together in Book 1. She’s from a restrictive, proper monarchy but it’s just not her. She’s outspoken, colorful & happy go lucky. I fell in love with her character from the beginning. She’s supposed to go home & submit to a six week courtship before marrying a businessman that her parents feel will be a proper alliance. Her time with Anna & Gabriel awaiting The birth of the baby is her last break before settling into her parents plans. Then she met Oscar ……
Oscar is the fourth in line to the crown. The press calls him the good looking one. He’s had several relationships but hasn’t found the one. He knows nothing is expected of him but he wants a way to leave his mark on the island. He was on his way to a European football (soccer) career but tore out his knee & had to retire. He lost his heart to Polly the minute she walked through the door. He tried to stay away, knowing the arrangement she was in but couldn’t. Once he found out the kind of guy her intended was, all bets were off. He was determined to show her they belonged together.
I really enjoyed seeing these two personalities clash & find a way to come together. Oscar is used to being the only royal in a relationship & having others cave into him where Polly is determined to be there for her country. They come together under the idea of the casino but fall apart when disaster befalls Polly’s country. They both need to learn compromise & how to lean on the other. This was truly an enjoyable story to read.
I really enjoyed Polly and Oscar’s love story. Polly is strong, independent and resourceful but she is part of a very restrictive monarchy, she needs to shine and Oscar allows her to do just that. He can’t resist his attraction to her but he lets her soar on her own. There is lots to like in this book and it is always great to see what the other Rourkes are doing on Villroy.