There are many stories about regular girls meeting a prince, falling in love, and living happily ever after…blah, blah, blah.This is not that story.As a lowly Baron’s daughter, I sit on the outskirts of the noble circle, watching the royal family from afar. Exactly where I’d rather be. To me that world was anything but magical or fantasy, their lives under a relentless microscope, controlled by … microscope, controlled by traditions and expectations. I was the girl dreaming about becoming a veterinarian and surrounding myself with animals instead of people.
A wallflower who suddenly bloomed, I somehow nabbed the attention of the arrogant, but undeniably handsome, Theodore Alexander Philip Robert David Livingston.
The Prince of Great Victoria.
I never imagined falling in love with a prince, but I did.
When Theo comes back from the Royal Air Force with an extremely sexy, but extremely arrogant new bodyguard, Lennox Easton, everything is flipped upside down. Tattooed, mysterious, and cruel, our mutual hatred for each becomes even more complicated when I move into the palace, becoming the official girlfriend of Prince Theo, and now under Lennox’s watch.
Thrown in a society which controls my every move, social media viciously coming after me, and paparazzi looking for any juicy gossip, my world becomes a cage. Glided or not, my life becomes nothing like I imagined, I find myself turning to the very last person I should.
When family secrets start to surface from the past, old enemies come for revenge, along with black mail, forbidden love, and devastating revelations.
Everything is set to bring me down and even take my life.
I knew loving a prince would come with sacrifices, but when you give up everything …when does the fairytale become a nightmare?
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Wow – what a great read !! Stacey Marie Brown has this way of making you feel the intensity within her books. This one did NOT disappoint. Great characters, action packed, and the ending has you holding on for the next book. A MUST READ !!
I always get super excited when Stacey brings us out a new book and she never disappoints me. Her writing is always gripping and completely holds your attention from beginning to end, with great characters and plotlines. This one is a fantastic start to this new series.
Most girls dream of marrying a prince as they grow up but not Spencer Sutton. She has spent her life sitting on the side-lines watching the royal family. This all changes when she meets Theodore Livingston the Prince of Victoria.
Her life has now changed and is at the hands of the royal family she has avoided as they mould her into the perfect Princess. When she should be getting to know her Prince she sees less and less of him as he is caught up with Royal obligations forcing her to spend more time with the sexy and brooding bodyguard Lennox Easton (where can I get one of him?)
If your expecting a fairytale royal romance then this is not for you as its a brilliant tale of blackmail, family secrets, forbidden love and will take you on quite the roller-coaster of emotions whilst reading this. Once you start you will be completely hooked and wont want to put it down as you will be on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens next.
Holy crap on ash bark! As with all of Stacey’s books, these characters suck you right in. I suddenly find myself wanting a bodyguard! I don’t think I would survive being a royal, hell.. Spencer is barely surviving it, but I absolutely LOVED reading about it. That ending will get ya though… Definitely gonna need the next book!
WOW! What can I say? I absolutely loved reading Royal Watch. This book is a roller coaster of mystery, excitement, twists and turns and oh my goodness the secrets. I love Theo and Spencer but the chemistry between Spencer and Lennox is undeniable. OMG Stacey, you killed me with that ending. I can not wait for book 2. This book is must read and definitely one of my top reads for the year.
I thank the author for providing a copy for review.
Belinda, Book Haven Book Blog
“I’m not gonna lie to you this book was like being trapped on a vortex of emotions! Stacey did it again! She wrote a magnificent story! Royal Watch was absolutely fantastic. Every single moment and word were perfect. Page-turned definitely!!! It was a wonderful story to read full of mystery, secrets, twists and turns! Theo, Spencer and Lennox are gonna left you speechless. OMG the ending!!! I’ so dying to read book 2! I highly recommend you this story! It’s definitely a must read!!!”
***5 Stars***
Seriously?
Seriously?
That’s where things come to a halt for now?!?!
*Takes a deep, cleansing breath*
Alright, I know, I know. This is a duet and a cliffhanger was to be expected…but THAT? Yeah, no. Not even on the radar. Not. Even. Close.
But, I shall deal…
Now for the review of the first 90%+ of the book.
As this is a duet, I’m keeping things vague, but I will say I found this read fascinating overall. The ‘inside’ look at the nobility and royalty and with the hierarchy and how, depending on where you fall in line, how much of your life is not your own definitely kept me turning the pages because you never knew just what you’d get with the various characters you were about to meet.
And the backhanded compliments were AWESOME!
As for Spencer, Theo and Lennox. Well…I will say that I LOVE Spencer, some of her thoughts drove me a little batshit at times, but she comes by them honestly so I tend to forgive them. Theo and Lennox….hhmmmm…I’m going to hold off on these two until the next book.
I have to admit that there were many, many times during this book that I had to remind myself just how old the majority of these characters were and the expectations put upon them didn’t always match their actual age or emotional maturity level, so the frustration with them and for them was a real one. With that said, there were a good handful that I absolutely loved and cannot wait to spend more time with them as well as see how things play out for everyone in Royal Command!
~ Copy provided by GMB & voluntarily reviewed ~
I enjoyed this new release from Stacey Marie Brown. I love her contemporary work as well as her paranormal romance, so for this to be a new contemporary I was excited. The story is, as always, well written and the characters well defined. I am definitely team Lennox without a doubt – I immediately fell in love with him.
A very enjoyable read and I am eager to read part two.
This chick… ahem… author always seems to screw with my head!! And yes this is one of those times!
I love her but come on. Leave us hanging like that? Un-freaking-fair!
Love this new story. Totally different from the other super sexy stuff she’s put out there. It’s not paranormal which ses definitely known for. It’s not New Adult. And it’s not Young Adult. It’s somewhere in between.
So Spencer and Prince Theo. They fall madly in love at school. From the first moment she challenged him he was a goner. She was also smitten with Theo. Not prince Theo just Theo from school. Cutest couple ever until he has to go to the Royal Air Force. Four months later he’s back with a new body guard and he’s got like hell. Broody but gorgeous as sin.
Things get complicated with Theo who has matured into his role a prince. They never see each other anymore… blah blah blah BUT she does get to spend some time with said broody bodyguard who is her bodyguard now btw. So we have a little ménage à trois.
Very well written like I’ve come to expect from Ms Brown. She really had a gift for storytelling. It flows super well. The characters are likeable and unlikeable when needed. She sucks you in usually right from the first page and carries you through Spencer’s tough life.
One think you will really love about this book well besides Lennox the gorgeous bodyguard but Theo’s sister Eloise. So poised yet so bad!! She was one of my faves from this story.
Who will you be rooting for? Prince Theo or Bodyguard Lennox??
Stacey Marie Brown
Thank you Social Butterfly and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Royal Watch
By: Stacey Marie Brown
REVIEW
Do you think being the girlfriend of a prince would be awesome or awful? I honestly see pros and cons about it. In Royal Watch, Stacey Marie Brown takes us inside the life of a royal girlfriend, showing the good and the bad. Spenser, a Baron’s daughter and aspiring veterinarian, is the lucky (or not?) lady who has caught the eye of Prince Theodore of Great Victoria. Spenser has never desired a royal lifestyle, but she loves the prince and so steps, irrevocably, into his orbit. Let’s take a moment to note that Prince Theo sacrifices nothing to have Spenser by his side. Conversely, Spenser sacrifices, well, everything. Fair? I suppose the rationale would be to look at everything she gained. Did Spenser gain a lot, though? She has lost her freedom, friends, lifestyle, privacy, opinions and all decision making. Now, Spenser follows the royal rule book, which, let’s be honest, sucks. She is under constant scrutiny and pressure for every little thing she does or doesn’t do, and any skeletons in her closet will be found. Plus, she now has a bodyguard, Lennox, who irritates her to no end. There could be trouble here if these two are attracted to each other. As the story progresses, Prince Theo becomes less likeable and more like a jerk for the way he treats Spenser. Lennox becomes more likeable because he sees Spenser for who she really is. It’s a conundrum. Spenser is a fabulous heroine for taking on this royal position, but she’s uncertain about this fairytale life because it’s nothing like she imagined. If this has morphed into a nightmare, what should Spenser do-stick it out, run fast and far? What would you do? I love the uncertainty that keeps you guessing. This is a well written and richly drawn royal read with a lot to offer that leaves you thinking. Also, watch out for the cliff at the end.
Don’t all little girls dream of meeting and marrying a prince wen they grow up? Not Spencer Sutton, being a baron’s daughter, low down in the hierarchy of the aristocracy, she sits on the sidelines watching the royal family from afar not wanting to be part of their gilded cage. That is until the day she caught the attention of Theodore Livingston, Prince of Great Victoria.
Her life as she knows it will be irrevocably changed, she will no longer be able to follow her dreams or have any control over her life, she will be molded to become the perfect princess. Desperately needing Theo to be by her side to support her, she sees less and less of him, as he is caught up with his own royal obligations.
Spencer spends more time with her broody, challenging, and sexy bodyguard Lennox Easton. They are passionate in their dislike of each other, yet he is able to understand her struggles and needs.
This is not a fairy tale romance, it is a story of intrigue, blackmail, family secrets, and forbidden love. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions from empathy to frustration, lust to anger, and outrage to fear. It is well written, it will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars.
3.5 stars
Spencer dated Theo in high school, but when he had to leave for months to join the Royal Air Force they took time apart. When he returns they resume their relationship, but everything is different.
Suddenly Spencer is living in the palace with a PR team and bodyguard, the paparazzi are watching her every move, and being with Theo is a lot harder than she thought it would be. Having Lennox as her bodyguard doesn’t help. Their back and forth was the best part of the book. You could feel the tension between them and tell that there was more between them than they expected.
The story is told entirely from Spencer’s perspective so a lot of what is going on in Lennox’s mind is not clear yet. However, he and Spencer did have some moments together that made me think they are better suited than she and Theo.
My only frustration with the story is that I never felt invested in Spencer and Theo’s relationship. We never got to see them together when they first dated and things happened so quickly when he returns. This combined with some of his behavior and lack of communication didn’t make him seem like a very good boyfriend for Spencer.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Spencer wasn’t your typical heroine. She spoke her mind regardless who you were and that attitude is what caught Theo’s eyes and he’s also the Prince of their country. After she set him straight they started dating. But dating Theo wasn’t easy. There was so much that Spencer didn’t know about and apparently was also kept in the dark about her family secrets. Theo loved her but there’s something about him that I can’t put my finger on. He followed his dad’s orders but wanted Spencer at his side. Then there’s Lennox, the smoking hot bodyguard. He protected Spencer something fierce and that ending just left me wondering what in the world will happen next. Great start to a duet!!
SMB is absolutely one of my favorite authors out there and it has been a while since I’ve read a book by her. I absolutely couldn’t wait to read Royal Watch and now that I have, I need to have Royal Command. I didn’t realize that this wasn’t a standalone, but that’s my fault for not paying attention.
OK … so this is a little bit different than what I’m used to when it comes to Stacey’s book. I honestly have not read a series where it wasn’t a standalone in a long time and I’m not sure where the story is going to go in this. I have a lot of questions and assumptions of what’s to come.
Spencer, she’s a unique and feisty character. She doesn’t give into the royal life, she’s her own person and doesn’t let much of anything get to her. And that is definitely clashing with the lifestyle is she’ll remain by Theo’s side.
There is a slight time jump and I wasn’t expecting Spencer to end up with Theo so quickly. I don’t know how I feel about Theo, as charming as he can be, he has horrible communication skills and loves to make up excuses. And there was one too many times where I didn’t think it was fair to Spencer at all. They are cute together, but I don’t see a long lasting relationship between them. Spencer is not one to caged and I honestly don’t think that she is truly in love with Theo and same for him as well.
Onto Spencer and Lennox, there’s no doubt that there’s something between them. The chemistry they have doesn’t even compare to what she has with Theo. Don’t worry, there’s no cheating, but their whatever you want to call is just very interesting and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next book. Spencer can truly be herself around Lennox and yeah he can be an a**, but I can’t wait until his walls come down. I’m Team Lennox, but this is going to be one complicated mess that I’m a little nervous about.
I did enjoy this book and Stacey definitely knows how to pull you in from beginning to end. But the romance lover in me isn’t quite satisfied, we see the beginnings of a few things. But won’t get more until book 2. I know Stacey won’t disappoint us in the end game, but I’m just so impatient and want more.
**AN ARC WAS PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW**
Royal Watch is an engaging read that will leave you wondering if a fairytale romance is indeed possible. I do love a good royal romance and the author does a brilliant job highlighting the trials and tribulations that come with dating a famous prince. It isn’t all glitz and glamor when Spencer, a brilliant young woman, captures the eye of Prince Theodore of Great Victoria. She discovers that loving a royal isn’t easy and she must grapple with how drastically her life has changed. Thrust into an unforgiving spotlight, she is at the risk of losing what she holds dear, but is love worth these sacrifices? Spencer is a likable, well-developed heroine and the author does a stellar job illustrating just how conflicted she is as she attempts to navigate being immersed into the royal life, maintaining a relationship with Theo, and adjusting to having a bodyguard who pushes her buttons. Add in the family secrets, intrigue, and intense sexual tension and you have a book that you will be unable put down! As Royal Watch is book 1 of a duet, there is quite the cliffhanger and I am looking forward to seeing how the story unravels.