Book Review — Royally Matched by Emma Chase

“He’ll show her how to live…
She’ll show him how to love…

Sexy, light-hearted, and royally fun! Emma Chase has delivered a new witty romantic comedy that gives readers a delightful spin on the bad boy falls for good girl romance with a whole lot of swoon and a dash of angst to spice things up!! The hero and heroine were complete opposites — he was a party-loving playboy, while she was a shy, quiet librarian who loved to curl up with a good book — and it was so much fun to watch them falling in love! I always looked forward to reading Emma Chase’s books and, given how much I adored Royally Screwed (review) last year, I was very excited to continue the series with Henry’s story in this book…

Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

He’s not handling it well.

Hoping to help her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora agrees to give him “space”—but while the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world’s most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit… and her naughty sense of humor.

But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

Being suddenly saddled with the future of an entire kingdom is about the last thing Crown Prince Henry desires out of life. Unfortunately for him (and his kingdom), we don’t always get what we want. Not to mention that he’s expected to find himself a wife in the near future — another thing he’s not thrilled about given his party-loving ways.

They’re all counting on me. Depending on me. To lead them into the future. To be good.
To be… King.
Christ, my stomach rolls every time I think the word. When someone says it aloud I gag. I’m I’m supposed to be the Great Royal Hope for my country, we’re all well and truly fucked.

However, everything changes when an unexpected offer to hold a reality TV show (royal edition) snags his interest. He thought it would be a fun escape from the responsibilities and duties weighing him down, but he never thought it would lead him to the one girl who might actually steal his heart…

Now, for any of you who are concerned (as I initially was too) that the whole reality show backdrop would mean the hero was sleeping with a dozen different girls, you can stop worrying. Given that the goal was to find him a queen, and virginity was a legal requirement of his kingdom, there was no sex to be had of any kind on the show.

“Are you a virgin?” I ask.
Well… yes.”
“Then why are you complaining? You qualify.”
Her eyes flash with annoyance and she practically growls at me. “Because I’m more than my hymen, Henry! To base the value of an accomplished, intelligent, passionate woman on a flimsy piece of skin is degrading. How would you feel if your worth rested on your foreskin?”
I think it over. And then I grin. “I’d be all right with that, actually. I’ve heard it was an impressive foreskin — all the nurses were fawning over it. It’s probably being showcased in a museum right now.”
She stares at me for a beat, then she laughs out loud — a rich, throaty, sensual sound.
“You’re a terrible human being.”
“I know.” I shake my head at the calamity of it all.

Which didn’t of course mean that there wasn’t a secret romance brewing… 😉

Henry and Sarah couldn’t have been more opposite.
But you know what they say about opposites — they attract.
And so the playboy fell for the book lover.

“Where are we going, love?”
“We?” Her eyes are darker – dilated, and her chest rises and falls in quick, excited pants. I wonder if she even realizes it. “I have a meeting. Mother’s sent her car to take me. You can’t come, Henry.”
“I can come lots of times. My stamina is legendary. Do you want me to show you?”
Her voice comes out soft, husky. “You can’t come with me.”
“That sounds like a challenge.” I smirk slowly. “I bet I could time it just right.”

As with so many of Emma Chase’s books, this was a genuinely fun read that kept me smiling and swooning! If you’ve been looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy to fall in love with, definitely give this one a try!

“I’m marrying Lady Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum.”
The words come out quiet and true. The earth is round. The sky is blue. I’m marrying Sarah.
She doesn’t know it yet, but… one step at a time.

Rating: 4 stars! Contemporary Adult Romance. Can standalone.

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Series of standalones.