A playboy heir needs: a man to marry, right now.After spending half his life dodging his duty to the crown, the rebel heir to the Rosavian throne has been told in no uncertain terms that it’s time to settle down. Prince Leopold has one month and a vetted list of suitable princesses, and he will announce his engagement during Rosavia’s Royal Ball. But Leo’s got his own ideas about what really … ideas about what really suits him…
Royal Librarian Edvin Blom is good at not attracting attention. Shy and self-conscious of his stutter, he’s used to being overlooked and more than happy to stay in the background. At least, until the Crown Prince with a wild reputation shows up at the library’s new opening and decides to flirt with Edvin’s sister…
Edvin isn’t at all what Leo thought he wanted, but turns out to be everything he can’t stay away from. Edvin’s been burned by falling for someone out of his league before, though. And believing that Leo has really fallen for him? While Edvin’s drowning in his own doubts and insecurities, that might prove impossible… unless love gives them both a reason to come up for air.
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!
more
I admit it. I’m one of ‘those people’ who love a good fairytale. While not quite a Cinderella tale, it did have a couple of moments I was reminded of it. Except, instead of an evil stepmother, there was an asshat of an ex-boyfriend.
This ticked off so many tropes rich/poor, royalty/commoner, bi-awakening, opposites-attract, and checked some personal preference boxes, too. I love awkward characters. They’re so darn adorable. I just wanna pinch their cheeks; except, in this case, I wanted to straighten his glasses. It cracked me up that Leo had the same idea. I really enjoyed the witty dialogue and the humor throughout the book.
Sometimes love sneaks up on you when you least expect it. You never know how the people you meet are going to affect your life. Leo and Edvin were certainly surprised. I found it intriguing that it took Edvin longer to come to terms with Leo’s attraction to, and pursuit of, him, than it did for Leo. Until Eddie, Leo had only been with women and had never felt an attraction for men. As I stated earlier, Eddie’s awkwardness was adorable.
This was a great start to a new series. It appears that the stories are going to overlap each other time-wise, and I can’t wait to see certain scenes from different POVs. This book also gave me the impression that the series would be best appreciated read in order. That’s just my perspective at this point, and future books could prove me wrong. One thing I know I’m right about is that this series has started off on a bang! Bring it, Rosavia!
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Up for Heir by Stella Starling is the first book in the Rosavia Royals series. It is sweet, sexy, and fun. There is that layer of royal meets commoner, self doubt of being good enough, overcoming challenges and fears… it’s a great story and I adored the secondary characters as much as the main characters. Edvin and Leo are great characters and I loved their love story. I am excited for the rest of the series.
I loved this book! Playboy Prince Leo meets a shy, stuttering librarian Eddie. It was love at first sight, but they just didn’t realize it. Eddie was exactly what Leo never knew he needed. Highly Recommend!!
I’m just gonna say it – I’ve never met a Stella Starling book I haven’t loved, so I wasn’t too surprised by that happening with Leo and Eddie. They certainly make for a fabulous introduction to the world of the Rosavia Royals. The story isn’t so much gay for you, which can be a hit or miss, it’s really more of a love for the person instead of the gender, and for these characters, it works very well. I can always count on this author’s characters to be a great mix of tooth-achingly sweet and fan yourself sexy, so again, I wasn’t surprised to find that here. Eddie is absolutely adorable, and I love that even though he’s terribly unsure of himself, he doesn’t come across as desperate. Somehow, even when he feels that way, the author conveys his ability to take care of himself and figure things out. Leo is all alpha male, and he knows what he wants when he sees it. These two may come from different worlds, but they mesh perfectly, and their romance is a low angst, sexy read perfect for whiling away a weekend. Stella Starling has set the bar high for what’s to come in this series, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Prince Leo next in line for the throne meets shy stuttering librarian Eddie at the opening of the new library.
I loved the writing of this story. The way we got to know Edvin through his thoughts really bought him to life for me.
A sweet, romantic story of a commoner who believes he’s not good enough and the crown Prince determined to prove to him that he’s perfect just the way he is. All the happy feels reading this book.
Happily recommend.
Leopold “Leo” Octavius Ambrose van Rosavia – is a prince and heir who must get married and claim his rightful place. He has a month to find a princess from his parent’s approved list of candidates, and make an announcement. No longer can he outrun his responsibilities despite his well earned title of playboy.
The only problem is, Leo prefers a prince instead.
Edvin “Eddie” Blom – an adorable librarian, fresh out a relationship that clearly wasn’t good for him. Stutters when he is stressed, his brother tries to get him to forget all about the ex who did nothing short of belittling him. After overhearing his ex speak ill of him to someone else, Eddie feels like he needs to go out of his way to fix himself to make Hans happy. His issue with self esteem can get in the way of his true happiness.
So what happens when the rebellious prince falls for the much quieter librarian? Can Leo convince his parents Eddie is the one he wants? Can Eddie learn to love himself and accept the love he deserves?
Book one in a series of Rosavia brothers finding love.
**I received this book as an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews for my honest review.**
So, I was lucky enough to be able to review this whole series. I’m not done with it yet but most people say it can be read in any order. My OCD likes to start with #1. I’m so glad I did. The kingdom of Rosavia is somewhere you want to be from the first moment. I love Leo, the heir, but I’m sure that will change as I read about the rest of them!! Of course he’s the playboy so I love that his story was first. Nervous nerds are my absolute fave so my heart was was lost to Eddie as soon as I read his stutter. A Royal librarian with just too much to do, you can’t help but be entranced from their first meeting!!! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!!!!
~4.5 STARS~
Such a cute story. I loved Edvin’s stutter and how he didn’t let it stop him from what he really needed to say. Edvin and Prince Leo couldn’t be more different, but fit so nice together.
I was glad Prince Leo went after what he wanted not questioning if it was right or wrong just because Edvin was male.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the writing style. The author created a world I was easily drawn into and I cant wait to see what happens in the other stories in this series.
I’m normally a HUGE fan of anything Stella Starling so I had high expectations for this one and saved it for last in my reading of the series.
Whilst I very much enjoyed reading this sweet story, I found myself wishing I’d gotten more from it (as you normally do get with every other Stella Starling book.) You have to wade through a lot of internal monologue in this one that could have been replaced with actual dialogue. This would have helped tighten the story and polished a few rough edges in the characters’ somewhat arbitrary behaviours. Parts of the text seemed like stream of consciousness writing that also could have heavily benefitted from a much sterner run through with an editor’s knife. The length of some sentences had my eyes glaze over and lose the train of thought at times, but those generally weren’t crucial to the story.
Despite the erratic feel to some of the characters and storyline (including moments where I had to think to myself, “wait, what’s the justification for saying/doing that?”) there were moments where the characters truly shone. The way Eddie plucks up his courage in the palace and is fiercely protective of his family was a definite take-home message. And Leo’s unintentional bumbling and ignorance of others’ feelings felt familiar enough to give pause for thought.
At its heart though, Up For Heir is a dreamy fairytale of an insecure nerd who captures the heart of a (hitherto straight) prince who despite the pressure of duty and self-doubt muddle their way through to love. You’ll get a couple of truly touching moments towards the end as long as you’re willing to ride through the bumps along the way. Worth buying this one if you’re itching for a new Stella Starling read, even though it’s not IMHO her best.
I was gifted an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Leo, heir to the throne and a playboy prince, has a month to choose a princess bride and he must announce his engagement at the Royal Ball. Edvin is the royal librarian, very shy, utterly sweet, and has many insecurities. Two total opposites who are just perfect for one another. Leo was enthralled from the moment he met Edvin but Edvin is very insecure because of past experience. I really like how Leo constantly reminds Edvin just how special he is. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I think it is a great read. I love the characters. Just well written and wonderful.
I read this series backward, and I’m glad I did. Up For Heir felt like the big finale instead of the first book in the series. It is stated everywhere you look that these books can be read in any order, and I’m sure you can, but this worked for me.
The secondary characters are interesting and play an important role in defining both men. The author gave good descriptors that allowed me to see the characters in the different environments throughout the book.
There was a lot of internal dialogue throughout the book, but with Eddie’s stutter, that dialogue made it easier to read.
I was pleasantly surprised by Leopold. I did not expect to like him, but I did. It took me no time to see that there is more to him than had been portrayed in the other books.
Edvin is a sweetheart, and I liked him right away. I especially enjoyed his humor.
After the initial surprise of Leo’s good character, I was totally invested in the romance of these two. They played to each others’ strengths and weaknesses and fell smoothly into the roles in which they were born to be.
Their passion is strong, and their HEA believable and satisfying.
I look forward to more from this author.
No spoilers of any kind included.
I thought Up For Heir was good, the whole story kept me interested from the first chapter right up until the end of the book.
So it’s going to be a yes I do recommend Up For Heir, to anyone looking for a good story to climb into.
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
I usually love Stella Starling’s books but this one wasn’t my favorite. It was the second book in the series that I read. I read E. Davies’ book first and this one just fell flat in comparison with that one. Leo wasn’t believable as a playboy or as a gay for you character. I did like Edvin. I liked his whiny attitude and my favorite part of the whole book is when he is locked in the restoration room overnight and found the next day by the butler. There was a lot of internal narrative that did become repetitive but that is part of the author’s writing style. I would have liked more action and dialog. I did like how the story ends though. So overall, it was an enjoyable story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Prince Leopold found love with Edvin, the shy and bumbling librarian. Edvin who took on raising his siblings after their parents death, helped shape Leo into the Prince everyone knew he would be simply by example. Leo fell hard and fast for Eddie while Eddie fell even faster for the prince. There was no time for a huge breakup scene so other than Edvin’s own angst in self-doubt, this romance ran smoothly and landed with a happily ever after for both men.
This is a very sweet book and a great start to this series. Leo, who is the eldest and his parents require him to find someone to marry or they will pick from a list they gave him. Edvin, a royal librarian, is raising his four siblings after the death of their parents and he takes his responsibility seriously, and deals with a break up. Edvin is a sweet character and Leo, maybe for the first time in his life, feels deeply for the man and wants to take care of him. This is a very sweet read, of course because it’s Stella Starling, and I couldn’t get enough of these two men together. The secondary characters are wonderful, especially Edvin’s siblings, and the story is perfect. A lovely read!!
This story was a study in sweetness, really. Eddie was the most adorable, quirky librarian ever written and I loved the way he influenced Leo. Responsibilities were ingrained in Eddie’s DNA after the loss of his parents and having the custody of his younger siblings, and he tought Leo a lesson or two on how to take his duties seriously.
Definitely the most improbable of pairings, the prince and the commoner, the playboy and the serious family provider. There was no one more surprised than themselves about just how perfectly they fitted together. But they so gloriously did, and their story was an absolute delight to read.
Sunshine & Blueberries
I’m so excited we get all five brothers and their HEAs. I must begin by sharing I need a Hugo, a Treble and blueberries in my life. Hugo, especially, is magical. Eddie though is adorable. Not only because he’s a librarian and a fan of research but because he’s real, charmingly awkward and fiercely fights for what and who he wants. Leo, well, he’s a dream come true. Caring, sexy, kind, dreamy and a bit in denial about his feelings. All of him combines to be the perfect person for Eddie. “There’s no point in me looking elsewhere, because wearing the crown or not, there’s no one else I’ll ever want by my side.” They have an amazing connection and I love how protective Leo is of Eddie. They are each other’s hearts and now mine lives in Rosavia.
Playboy Prince Leo and commoner Eddie seemingly have nothing in common. Take Eddie’s siblings and his ability to hover, teaches Prince Leo there is more to life than being a playboy.
Oh wow I have been lucky enough to already read all 5 of these and to be honest I do not have a favorite and love them all equally.
Loved the concept, the characters, the settings, the love, the roses, the blueberries and even the cats!
This is Book 1, Leo and Eddie but they can be read in any order as they run concurrently and the authors have done a wonderful job in interconnecting them.