I’m thrilled that my first trip back to my homeland, after years in exile, is for an assignment from the prime minister. Even better, the job’s to put Princess Genevieve in her place…by cutting off her cash flow. Spoiled royals–even drop-dead gorgeous ones–don’t do anything to deserve their wealth and status. Hell, they don’t do anything. She’s fighting me tooth and nail, of course. The only … The only way to stop her arguing is, well, to kiss her.
And I can’t seem to stay away from her. Now, I see a whole different side to the princess–and not just because I’ve gotten her clothes off. But I was put on this assignment for a reason… There are those outside the castle who want to see the princess discredited and push their own agenda, and I may have just given them all the ammunition they need.
Each book in the Sexy Misadventures of Royals series is STANDALONE:
* The Princess Problem
* Ruling the Princess
more
I have to say, Genevieve was not my favorite person in book one, and so I wasn’t so sure how I was going to feel about a whole book with her as the heroine. But Christi made me a fan by the time I read the last page and I’m totally in love with this series!
In RULING THE PRINCESS, we get to see the human side of the princess who has always had to be perfect in the public’s eye. She’s had a lot going on lately, and it’s taken its toll on the princess. A sister that was lost is all of a sudden back home and so the dynamic of the family has shifted. And to top it all off, now she’s being audited! With her father disappearing into his chambers, in a deep depression over the attempted assassination of the princess’ sister, more pressure is being put on Genevieve and her brother Christian as they are training their sister in the ways of the royals and pulling up the slack with the king’s duties. It doesn’t help that the auditor they assigned her doesn’t seem to like her very much and is wickedly gorgeous too.
I loved the banter and flirting between Genevieve and Theo. This book left me with a smile on my face and ready for Christian and Mallory’s story! I can’t wait! Christi’s Royal Series has given me a love for reading Royal Romances like I’ve never had before! Check out this series, it’s a ton of fun to read.
I just loved this story, the perfect princess and the guy that isn’t fond of royalty. Genevieve does everything she can to be what everyone expects of royalty and throwing Theo in to the mix is just great. There’s sweet giggles, along with their fire for each other. It’s a great read and I am loving this series.
Christi Barth has penned another charming tale. Princess Genevieve, second in line to the throne of Moncriano has not had the life that most think a princess has. Her baby sister was kidnapped out of her crib and only recently been found, now all grown up. When the infant princess had not been found, their mother had committed suicide. Genevieve and her older brother Christian had been raised that the throne and the people of Moncriano come before any personal desires.
The return of her younger sister, now called Kelsey, has brought joy into the castle, yet now their father is declining. The country is on the cusp of a national referendum on whether to join the EU and the PM has hired an auditor to audit two members of the House of Villani. She chose Lord Theo Holst, who has hated Genny since they were children, holding her responsible for him being exiled from Moncriano and sent to boarding school. He has since built a successful life for himself, in New York, but detests what he believes is the unearned excessiveness and lavishness of royalty. He wants nothing to do with his own position as heir to a duke, hating the traditions and rules, but really disliking his cold family. Genny, sensing his antagonism, readies herself for battle. But as Theo spends more time with the royals, he finds that their “excesses” are part of the role that their people want them to have and they themselves are very generous and real people.
While this book could be read as a stand alone, the reader would miss out on how Kelsy came to be found and how her sunny personality has changed the family, positively. The characters are delightful, the banter fun to read and the way that Genny and Theo move from enemies to lovers is enchanting. I read an ARC from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
I enjoyed this book. The characters were fun, sarcastic and unpredictable at times. Second part of a series. Can’t wait to read the next.
Are you a fan of royal fiction and romcoms?
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RULING THE PRINCESS
by Christi Barth is out now!
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RiC7FL
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Synopsis:
I’m thrilled that my first trip back to my homeland, after years in exile, is for an assignment from the prime minister. Even better, the job’s to put Princess Genevieve in her place…by cutting off her cash flow. Spoiled royals—even drop-dead gorgeous ones—don’t do anything to deserve their wealth and status. Hell, they don’t do anything. She’s fighting me tooth and nail, of course. The only way to stop her arguing is, well, to kiss her.
And I can’t seem to stay away from her. Now I see a whole different side to the princess—and not just because I’ve gotten her clothes off. But I was put on this assignment for a reason… Those outside the castle want to see the Princess discredited and push their own agenda, and I may have just given them all the ammunition they need.
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*REVIEW*
Ruling The Princess reminds me so much of The Royals. This is a story about the consequences of making snap judgments based on outside appearances. Both Theo and Genevieve assume the worst of each other, and both have something to prove. A little time spent together soon turns their heads. Theo and Genevieve begin to see the value and worthiness in each other rather than the faults and baseless assumptions. I love royal romance, and this story was a fun charming read with witty and, eventually, likeable characters. I adored Theo and Genevieve and their journey. I am looking forward to the next book!
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Hilarious, romantic, laugh-out-loud fun, drama filled read! It was so fantastic to the last page! I read it in one sitting, because it was that spectacular, I was just cracking up all the time with this story and get totally lost into the story that I couldn’t put this book down at all. Had the perfect amount of drama, emotions, sexy and sweet moments and romance. Definitely getting added to my favourites list of 2020. You totally have to get a copy of this book, you won’t regret it, I promise. Happy reading everyone!
Full review appeared at Reader’s Edyn on 03/30/20
Genevieve is in a tough spot. Her small country is on the brink of joining another which could be a positive step in the right direction. But before the merger is even brought to the table, an accounting of the expenditures of the royal family must take place. And lucky Genny, she’s been picked to have her accounts gone through at great length. When her accountant sends her a list of places to begin cutting expenses, she balks. He lunges, she parries, and so their relationship goes. But the sizzling attraction they both felt at their first meeting only turns their battle of wills into a form of foreplay. Hooking up is inevitable at some point, but the thrill that Genny feels each time she and Theo are at odds is like nothing she’s ever experienced before. He obviously strongly dislikes the royals and isn’t afraid to push back. Their verbal spars become addicting and soon so does their naughty pleasures. But Theo has old feelings of spite that he’s nursed over the years and Genny doesn’t remember him from their much younger years. She’s unsure why he seems to hate her, but she is determined to bring him around and show him that she’s all about her people. Most unfortunate is that there seems to be a traitor in their midst and when the heat is suddenly thrust upon Theo, Genny breaks everything off with him. She’s been burned so many times before and the very idea that he could have betrayed her is more than she can handle.
Theo is finally right where he’s wanted to be since childhood – back home where he belongs and, in a position to stick it to the Royals. A dang nuisance if there ever was one. They spend frivolously and care for only their selfish little selves. He ought to know, having been on the bad end of one of their debacles, which ultimately cost him everything he loved. To says he’s been harboring a grudge is putting it mildly. But his reputation is a solid one and even if he ends up turning in a glowing report, it will be because that was what the evidence provided; even if it’s the last thing he wants to do when he arrives on assignment. While Theo definitely hates the Royals, he is also internally at war with himself. He desires Genny to the point of distraction and is quickly befriending the other younger members of the family. Never would he have imagined himself in this position; defending and protective of the Royal family. But he’s honorable above all and as tough a pill as it is to swallow, he comes to grips with his mistakes and owns them. When a plot against the family which is tied directly to his position makes itself known, Theo knows it is up to him to keep the threat from harming the unsuspecting family. His role has shifted in what seems like the blink of an eye from punisher to protector. What’s even more astonishing is that he’s perfectly fine with it. But he and Genny have so much working against them that he’s unsure this won’t be anything more than temporary despite how much he wants permanency. When Genny rejects him, he is at a loss of how to fix it. Before he can get back to wooing her, he has to save the family and he’s going to need some help with pulling it off.
I have to preface this review by explaining that I have not read the first book in the series. However, there was enough included within this book that I didn’t feel that I had to, or that the deficit was harmful in any way. Within this book, I was still allowed to get to know Kelsey and Elias a bit and with enough to basically piece together the first book with little effort. However, I did not feel a great connection with either Kelsey or Elias and didn’t come away with a need to go back to the first book to find out what I had missed. I did, however, fall completely in love with Christian! Good grief I cannot wait until I can read his book. And I am proud to say that I successfully guessed who his romantic interest would be. Given a couple of enlightening scenes in which little to nothing was said, but behavior gave me every indication, I am thrilled to place the third book in the series on my TBR list in anticipation of reading Christian and Mallory’s story. And no, I do not consider this a spoiler as it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out – plus the first chapter of the book was included at the end of this story, which is how I knew my powers of deduction were on point. Christian is an absolute joy and had lines that were so perfect, they almost bested Theo’s. Almost. He’s really in a tough place with everything his family has suffered and the weight of the crown resting on his shoulders, even though it is not yet official. He juggles the brotherly, friendly, Kingly duties with flawless ability … at least it appears so to any outsider but takes its toll emotionally. And with that, I will leave Christian until I am able to read his story. Never before have I included a paragraph about a secondary character within a book. To say I was enchanted by him would be an accurate description.
I haven’t read all that many royal romance books, which is surprising given how many royal romance movies I have gotten lost in. My last couple of experiences have been fantastic and I am thrilled to have discovered both this author and series. I was hooked purely on the blurb, which was my only reason for choosing to read this book. Theo may have his biases for good reason but I don’t think they are all that off from what many people think. I, for one, never understood the whole obsession with the royal family and all of the need for such extravagance. Meh. Never did anything for me. But neither am I from a country that places such value on that kind of title. Maybe some do, like Theo’s socially climbing dysfunctional parents. Maybe those who hail from countries with royalty are much like the subjects in this book, who look up to the family to set the standard and justify their extravagance as a necessary consequence to keep up appearances. One example given is that Theo wants Genny to use a cheaper brand of pantyhose and one of the citizens overhears their conversation in a clothing shop. Theo asks her if she finds that her hard-earned tax dollars paying for these ridiculously high priced panty hose is acceptable. The woman replies that she should have them because she is a princess. As if that explained it all. So the views on royals were an interesting approach within this book. Also proven in that scene was the need for the expense of clothes being sent to the palace for Genny to try. However, seeing the ramifications of public appearances, Theo quickly sees the error in that particular way of thinking. He wants to cut costs but doesn’t actually understand the necessity for much of it – until he does. Had Theo not experienced much of the effects of his cost-cutting personally, he would have carried on without a thought to Genny’s lifestyle and unknowingly left her quite vulnerable in several instances. Ultimately, they end up working together in cutting costs rather than Theo dictating to Genny about her budget. In working so closely with Genny, he also sees where her heart lies. Whereas before he was sure that she was nothing more than a selfish being whose world revolved around her alone, up close and personal he sees just how much good she does for her people and how her love for them is what drives her on a daily basis. Even to the point of denying herself love when she slips off of her podium a bit.
Very clearly Theo comes in with his ideas of what he will find, but ends up coming to grips with the grudge he held as not being entirely fair and has to come clean about it so he can let it go. Once he does that, he is able to really see the big picture instead of the blinders he’s been using to propel him through life up until this point. Likewise, Genny has a lot of issues to work through as well. She might have successfully changed Theo’s opinion of her and the rest of her family, but internally she still struggles with the tragedy that has plagued their family and all of the hurt and betrayal that followed it. She’s always been the good girl who behaves as dictated, never veering off course of what is expected. Realizing that she is allowed some bits of happiness for herself, she then has to make a decision about who it is she really wants to be. Until then, she is in no position to ask anything of Theo. As previously mentioned, there are a couple of threats to the family. The first is a leak from somewhere within. I can’t say I was completely taken by surprise by the reveal, but it was still heartbreaking all the same to see someone hurt by the revelation. Also tossed in was an actual plot against the family designed to block the upcoming merger. A plot that involved Theo’s well-known bias against the family and the gamble that he would end up taking them down with so much hatred simmering for many years. The foe becomes a friend and lends aid in thwarting the danger. Both Genny and Theo were a pleasure to experience. Their sexy banter was a highlight for sure. Seeing both of their transformations from the first chapter to the last was exciting to read. Kelsey, being brand new to the whole royal thing was perfect in the battles she chose to take on when it meant standing up for what was right versus going along with behaving properly. And Christian – well, I was pretty clear about how awesome he is.
This family may have gone through quite a bit of negativity ranging from horrific events to bad press. But no matter the subject, they always rally back … for their family and their people. Family remains when nothing else does and together Kelsey, Christian, and Genny are stronger…
Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Entangled in exchange for an honest review.
Ruling the Princess is the second book in the Sexy Misadventures of the Royals. This was the first book I have read by this author. It was good as a stand-alone but, I think that reading the first book would have helped me to understand the history and tension between Princess Genevieve and her sister, Princess Kelsey.
Princess Genevieve “Genny” was second in line to the throne of Monciano. The country was about to vote to join the European Union and an audit of the royal expenses were being conducted. Genny was upset when she received her revised budget from Lord Theo Holst, the Royal Auditor assigned to her. She couldn’t believe that he hadn’t consulted with her before he slashed it. Lord Theo Holst has hated the House of Villani and especially Princess Genevieve for years. Now in the position of Royal Auditor he was able to finally show how extravagant the royal family was. The longer Theo worked with Genny the more he began to see how important the House of Villani was to the people of Monciano. Will his opinion change enough for his report to help the vote of the people?
I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading the other books in the series. I loved how the author showed the royal family’s emotions as a person and a member of the royal family. It made it so easy to connect with the characters and to feel their emotions. This is definitely a must read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A royal enemies-to-lovers romance? Count. Me. In.
And Lordy, was spending the day ignoring the world while reading Ruling the Princess worth every minute!
I loved the spark, the connection between Princess Genevieve and Theo. Both had some seriously preconceived notions regarding each other and their “true” selves… and both were proven fantastically wrong.
I loved seeing the growth and development and enlightenment between Genny and Theo. That they somehow managed to see, truly see, the person behind the public façade. I loved how Genny’s sense of duty to the Crown truly ruled her daily activities. And how she managed to somehow set aside her own feelings to be able to put her country and it’s citizens first.
And that Theo finally put his own anger and hurt aside to truly see the woman Genny has become—that she’s not really the frivolous, pretty princess that’s splashed across the headlines. That she’s much more real and down to earth than portrayed.
I also loved seeing how Genny and her sister, Kelsey, are finally developing a relationship too! And I cannot wait for Tempting the Prince this summer! 4.5 stars
So ecstatic that this series has continued! The second installment in this series focuses on Genevieve and picking up after the first book ended. Having the most difficulty dealing with the return of her sister, she wasn’t the fan favorite from the last book, which is why this book was as great as it was. We get to know who Genevieve is as a person and how her princess duties have shaped her life and compassion. Lord Theo is tasked with auditing Genevieve, and after an interaction with her that changed the course of his life many years ago, he has returned to the country with the sole purpose of getting revenge. As these two get to know each other without the titles and occupations, they realize they have sparks and chemistry, and Genevieve makes the decision to be with him regardless of the rules. But when all the secrets come out and the royal family finds yet another person wanting to break them down, they band together and help Genevieve get her HEA. I have become obsessed with this series and this author! I love the storyline and plot and the ongoing story that started with the first book. I can’t wait for the next installment!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was such a Fantastic read. So entertaining! Christi Barth brought on some awesome hate-flirt in this enemies to lovers romance that had me smiling big time. Loved It!
Swoon worthy hero? Check.
Strong, determined heroine? Check.
Major attitude and animosity? Check.
Being in total denial of your feelings? Oh yeah!
Princess Genevieve and Lord Theo Holst were so entertaining and awesome together. Their animosity and heat towards one another was off the charts and I loved being absorbed into it all. The conflict they were having made for the best one liners, great verbal sparing and sizzling chemistry. There were just so many great moments between them and I couldn’t get enough.
Although I didn’t Love Lord Theo at first, I totally loved his voice and his vibe. He had great internal dialogue and I enjoyed his slightly self deprecating humor and his lonely and tough job hating the royal family which he excelled at.
Princess Genevieve was great as well because while she was all about her people and what they needed, her own desires had always been secondary, but after getting closer to her new sister and auditor, Lord Theo she finally shows a different more relaxed and fun side and I loved seeing the different sides of her. These two clash and it’s ridiculously fantastic! I love the bickering and tension. And when they explode, they explode! Loved all their sexy time scenes.
Get ready for some serious fun, a whole lot of sweetness and off the charts sexy in this incredibly entertaining story. And don’t forget the hate-flirt!
Received a early copy through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
This was a darling little story about royals that I was delighted with. This is actually the very first book that I have picked up with a royal trope despite them being all the rage at the moment.
One of the things that I really liked about this book is how authentic it felt. I suppose that no one really knows what daily life is like for a royal unless you are indeed a royal, but everything felt very realistic. The author really did a nice job of distancing the royal characters from their titles and allowing the reader to see the person underneath the title. I really appreciated that.
The characters in this book are all very likable, but I don’t think that I connected with the main characters as much as I would have liked to. I really loved all the secondary characters and I think that they really made the book stand out. I really loved all the family relationships and friendships displayed in the story. I haven’t read Kelsey’s book yet but I am definitely feeling the need to read it after finishing this book. And I am honestly quite excited about Christian’s book to release.
The romance in the story was satisfactory but it didn’t really push the envelope by any means. While I enjoyed the romance, I wasn’t very invested in it. I can’t put my finger on why but I just felt a little disconnected from the romance in the story.
The plot of the story was very entertaining and I enjoyed it quite a lot. It was very unpredictable and extremely fun. It certainly kept my interest. There were a few plot points that I wish would have been elaborated on but I was generally pleased with the story.
Overall, this was an adorable story with a very likable cast of characters. The story is very fun and will put a smile on your face. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
This is the first time in coming across this author so I thought I would give a this a try. Theo and Genevieve give us this tale which will have us wonder whom will come out on top? You are given a picture of what a princess can be, one that at times puts smiles on our faces. This author does give those whom are looking for a good contemporary read that will lighten the load of the day.
The princess + the numbers guy = love!
Ruling the Princess was just what I needed this weekend. The enemies-to-lovers element (especially in the first half) was just delicious–and when they weren’t enemies anymore? Deliciousness squared! 😉 I loved watching Theo and Genny realize that their previous assumptions were wrong, and loved even more that they did it like grown ups. They both were wrong at times, they both made mistakes, and they both took responsibility and steps to make things better. Who knew responsibility could be so sexy?
Just don’t tell Genny’s grandmother–the throne room may never be the same again 😉
I haven’t read the first book yet ( The Princess Problem –no worries, I picked it up before I was even out of the “enemies” phase of this one!) but I didn’t have any problem following along with what I needed to know–Ms Barth gave us the pertinent details in a way that felt organic rather than overly didactic. Sure, it’s a bit spoiler-y for what happened in that book, but having seen Kelsey and Elias here? I need to read their book anyway, even if I do know some of the major details and drama of their story already.
And as for Christian and Mallory’s? Bring. It. On!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I absolutely love what Christi Barth has done with this series and cannot wait to read Christian’s story. Theo is back in his home country after years of exile. His job is to audit Genevieve who he considers his enemy. She, on the other, doesn’t remember him and is royally pissed that he is auditing her. What starts off as an epic match of wills, eventually becomes steamy. As a royal she has been living a life fit for the public eye but Theo makes her want to seek personal happiness. The story is chock full of witty conversations and funny situations. It has a well defined plot that develops each character into a whole person. It is an absolute delight to read.
Princess Genevieve finds love with Theo!
Princess Genevieve of Moncriano is upset that she has been assigned an auditor to go over her budget (not that she actually has one) before Moncriano receives an invitation to join the European Union. She would prefer that they audit someone else but when Lord Theo Holst tells her to pick less expensive items, she decides to show him why the royal family has certain traditions it needs to keep.
Lord Theo Holst made a promise that he would never set foot back in Moncriano after leaving for boarding school but when he was asked to do the audit he figured out that he could prove that the country didn’t need the royal family.
Ruling the Princess is definitely a story where hate or actually major dislike turns to love when they figure out that the other isn’t who they expected. It’s the second book in the Sexy Misadventures of Royals and I really want to read the next book where get to read Christian and Mallory’s story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Both Genevieve (Genny) and Theo are good main characters. And I have to say that at first I really disliked Theo a lot. That chip on his shoulder was HUGE! His hate for anything royalty and everything Princess Genevieve was front and center. Yes, he has some cause for some of it but you won’t find out the why of it till much later in the story.
Other people in the story were interesting as well. Like Prince Christian (heir to the throne) Simon Brunner who is Theo’s best friend. Simon adds fun, humor and some common sense his friendship with Theo. Simon is also a pretty smart accountant as well. Kelsey is the long-lost sister who has been found now and trying to be herself in her new role as princess.
Genny and Theo going from enemies to more was good to watch as they begin to admit their attraction. So, good romance? Check.
There’s some underhanded stuff going on that adds drama to the story and at least a couple of surprises. But the underhanded stuff isn’t coming from Theo because he’s a straight arrow.
The story comes to a satisfying ending with a quick look into the next story in the series (Book #3 that’s about Christian and Mallory). Looks like it could be interesting .
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
A great addition to the Sexy Misadventures of Royals series.
Lord Theo comes onto the scene, immediately hating Princess Genny and the royal family. He’s got an ax to grind and he has the means to grind it down to a stump!
I must admit that I was a little disappointed at the reason Theo hated Genny since he was a kid. It seemed kind of silly for a grown man to hold that kind of grudge. But watching Genny and Theo circle each other was very entertaining.
I can’t wait for the next installment which slides to Christian and Mallory’s possible romance.
5 stars!!!
Ruling the Princess by Christi Barth a five-star read that deserves its own tiara. This is number two in the Sexy Misadventures of Royals series and I loved it, I enjoyed the first story in the series but I loved this one, which surprised me so much as I hated Princess Genevieve Eleanor Marie, second in line to the throne of Moncriano when I read her in the first story, I did warm towards the end but still not much, but she warmed me so much in this story, we see the real princess the one who may wear a tiara but is still just a woman looking for her place in life. I really enjoyed this story; it was full of spice and drama and has such a great story that you can’t help but he hooked and keep reading from the first page until the last. Do not miss this great story, and all I can say is bring on number three Prince Christian we need you story now!!