Book Review: Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Royal Wedding picks up several years after the events of Forever Princess. Mia has graduated from college and is helping run a community center that she started after the untimely death of her step-father, Mr. Gianini. However, due to a threatening stalker and the press hounding her after her father is arrested for drag racing, she is forced to keep a low-profile and live in the Genovian embassy – which also makes it hard for her to see her long-time boyfriend, Michael. But he makes a place to whisk them away to a seclueded tropical island for sometime alone, as well as finally propose to her. Mia accepts and they start making plans, however when they land in New York they discover that everyone in the world knows about their engagement and Grandmere has already started making plans for their wedding.

However, there is more to Grandmere’s scheming that meets the eye, and Mia discovers that she is trying to save her son from further embarrassment (since he is up for re-election as prime minister of Genovia) when she uncovers that he has a secret daughter. Mia tries to confront her dad and get him to take responsibility and to step up and be a parent to his other daughter, however when he shies awat from that for the sake of his pride, Mia decides to take matters into her own hands. However, she causes a media circus when they catch her with her 12 year old sister, Olivia. And her father also wants another shot with Mia’s mom, so he decides to abdicate the throne for her, which means that Mia will be crowned the ruler of Genovia. As if things couldn’t be any more stressful for Mia, she discovers that she is pregnant with twins! Which means her and Michael’s wedding might need to happen sooner rather than later.

I really liked this installment in the Princess Diaries, although I do hope that this means we might get more novels, however this also served as a back door introduction to the author’s middle-grade series featuring Mia’s sister Olivia.

My only complaint is that I didn’t like how the last 10 pages jumped to Mia’s wedding day, it seemed ajrring and I felt like as a reader I wanted more about the wedding than what was given.

I have already started reading the series featuring Olivia, so stay tuned for those reviews soon! 3.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

First Line Friday #18 – Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller 

“I hate having to dress like a man. The cotton shirt is too loose, the breeches too big, the boots too uncomfortable.”

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Forever Princess (The Princess Diaries #10) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Forever Princess by Meg Cabot.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Forever Princess picks up about a year and a half after the events of Princess Mia. Mia is about to graduate from high school, she has a good group f friends, a doting boyfriend. However, she’s struggling to find out what is next, especially since she got into every school she applied to, and she is trying to get a book she wrote published. And prom is just arounf the corner, Mia isn’t sure if she wants to go, but she decides she should. Then she is worried about being the last virgin in her graduating class. And then she discovers that her ex, Michael is back and is very successful! This complicates things, especially when Mia realizes she might still have feelings for him, even though she is now dating J.P. who, on paper, is perfect, but she’s not attracted to him. While all this is going on, Mia’s dad is running for Prime Minister against Prince Rene. However, Lilly steps in and helps Mia’s father by making a campaign video for him. 

Mia then dsicovers that J.P. may not truly care about her, but may in fact be using her celebrity interest for his own gain, especially when she does land a publishing deal and tries to undermines her wish to publish it under a pen name. In the end she will have to choose whether to risk giving her heart to Michael, or to stay with J.P., and she has to decide which school she want to go to…needless to say she’s go a lot on her plate!

This was the original conclusion of The Pricness Diaries and it was a decent conclusion, although I am happy that Meg Cabot also decided to write Royal Wedding in which we see Mia at 25 ( I think, or she is 23). Anyway, this was a reat conclusion, the plot was pretty good, and the characters seemed more fleshed out than in the previous books.

First off, Mia seems more mature, except for the fact that she struggles with lying, and she seems to view sex as some sort of glorious achievement that eneds to be unlocked before she graduates from high school. But it’s not really. Also in some ways she is a bit ditzy because it was very obvious about halway through the book that J.P. was a jerk in some ways pretty toxic. J.P. was aggravating, especially when he expressly went against Mia’s wishes and publicly asked her to prom by “proposing” to her at her 18th birthday party. It also comes out that he used Lilly to get to her, which is why Lilly was so mad at her. J.P. deos get what he deserves in the end, which satsifying.

Then there is Michael who definitely cares about Mia and can see right through J.P. Even though I don’t agree with everything that he does, he definitely proves himself to be worthy of Mia. I’m honestly glad that he came bac and that they were not only able to talk through some of their previous misunderstandings, but also get back together again! Again, this was a great original conclusion to the this fun and fluffy series. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

 

Book Review: Princess Mia (The Princess Diaries #9) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Princess Mia by Meg Cabot.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Princess Mia starts almost exactly a few hours after the end of Princess on the Brink. Mia is freaking out as she waits for Michael’s plane to land in Japan and for him to call her and take her back. However, when he does call her, it’s to break up with her with the hopes of still being friends.

Mia is heartbroken and sprials into depression. She spends all day in bed and starts binge eating. Her friends and family are worried about her and force her to see a psychologist – which at first she doesn’t want to do. She also reluctantly goes back to school, where she is already failing. It also doesn’t help that she’s gained wait and none of her clothes fit. Enter Lana Weinberger, who offers to go shopping with her. They soon become friends and decide to let bygones and bygones.

Also, Mia has been asked to give a speech at the Domina Rei society gala, which she reluctantly accepts. Grandmere tries to help prepare her for her speech by going through some of Mia’s grandfather’s works. However, she becomes intrigued with a portrait of Princess Amelie who ruled Genovia for 12 days during the Plague over 400 years before, especially when she discovers that she also kept a diary.

Mia also discovers a document drafter and signed by Amelie declaring that Genovia should be a consitutional monarchy. When Grandmere and Mia’s dad hear about it, they are not impressed and are extremely dismissive of it. However, with the encouragement of her psychologist, she reveals this news to the world during her speech.

And while all this is going on, J.P. has declared his love for MIa and vows to wait for her until she is over Michael and ready to move on.

Overal, this was a better installment in the series, probably because something else happened that didn’t revolve around Michael. I also like how Mia starts to mature a ittle bit and even takes a bold stance against Grandmere and her dad’s wishes. Honestly, this was a delight compared to the previous three books in the series. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

 

First Line Friday #17 – Dear Reader by Mary O’Connell

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books.

Dear Reader by Mary O’Connell

“Miss Sweeney disappeared on the first day of March, and icy Thursday morning of gloves and boots and veneers of diamondy frost on the windows of Sacred Heart High School. Her classroom was not bathed in the stark yellow glow of school-issued lightbulbs; the only light came from the windows, and it was morning-soft gray and gave the classroom a surprising bedroom coziness.” 

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Princess on the Brink (The Princess Diaries #8) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Princess on the Brink.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Princess on the Brink starts at the beginning of Mia’s junior year of high school. Things seem to be going well, although Mia has been placed in Introduction to Creative Writing, but she thinks she should ne enrolled in the Intermediate class since writing is her talent. J.P. and Lilly are dating, and he seems to be a really cool friend.

Mia’s relationship with Michael is going well, until he drops a bomb on her. He’s moving to Tokyo to work on a piece of medical technology that could revolutionize the world – he also happened to create the prototype over the summer. Even though he knows it means that he and Mia will have to be long distance, he sees it as an opportunity to make his mark on the world and prove to the public – and Grandmere – that he is a worthy match for Mia. He also admits that in some ways it will also make not having sex with Mia easier. And Mia, being selfish and self-centered decides that she is going to finally have sex with him in the hopes that ti will make Michael stay in New York.

However, during their date, he reveals that even if they sleep together, he still plans to go to Japan. He also reveals to Mia that he already lost his virginity to someone else before they started dating and Mi freaks out and breaks up with him because she feels bretrayed and that he lied to her…basically she majorly overreacts in true Mia fashion.

The next day she is in the depths of despair…to the point that she starts eating meat again. Also J.P. breaks up with Lilly, and kisses Mia outside their Chemistry class, and of course Michael sees it because he came to Mia’s school to make up before he leaves. Mia has a break down and tries to go after him to catch him before his flight leaves, but she doesn’t make it. And, as expected, Lilly is mad at Mia and ends their friendship.

Overall, another okay read. Mia’s self-centeredness is even more apparrent, in fact I think that she gets more self-centered in each installement. However it is worth enduring, and it’s still a fun read, to get to the last three books in the series. There was one quote in the book that I really liked, “The world is an unfair place. Sometimes you’re the windshield. Sometimes you’re the bug.” 3/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Dual Power of Convenience

About the Book

Book: Dual Power of Convenience

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 28, 2020

When Richard Danforth inherits the family estate on Merriweather Island, he doesn’t have time to deal with it—especially not from halfway across the globe. He’s too busy working to become the world’s newest billionaire and avoiding the women who would detract him from his goals.

Enter Lyla Santana. Fresh out of Oxford University with a degree in antiques and a relationship that nearly killed her to leave, she’s eager for the isolation and treasure trove that is Danforth Hall. Lyla also is determined to avoid men at all costs. Forever.

It was supposed to be a match made on paper. With him halfway across the globe, they’d never have to see each other again.

So, what’s Richard doing on Merriweather just weeks after the wedding? And how will his arrival test Lyla’s faith, not to mention stretch their so-called relationship?

In a twist on billionaire romance and marriage of convenience, this “Merriweather book” kicks off a new series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Island Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

Dual Power of Convenience was an interestign read. It is slightly different from some of Chautona Havig’s other works, but you know what, I liked that this was a book that you could take to the beach and read (which is kind of the point of this series).

I enjoyed getting to read more about Mallory – who was introduced in Christmas on Breakers Point – and seeing how she is getting along with her mobile book store. I loved how she befriended Lyla and was willing to give her advice when she needed it, even if she didn’t necessarily ask for it.

I also liked getting to know Lyla over the course of the novel, however even though we get brief details about what happened in her past, I really wish we had been given more details…but that’s just me, I like knowing all the details of a character’s past especially if it affects how they treat others. But again, I did enjoy getting to know her and even watch her grow throughout the novel, even with her troubled past.

Richard was also a great character, but there were times he could have had more gumption and ask some of the hard questions he should have asked especially when it comes to whether or not she is a Christian…that’s an important question that shouldn’t really be avoided…but again, that’s probably just me. But he was great and I loved how sympathetic he was of Lyla, even when she seemed to want nothing to do with him. I also loved watching their friendship blossom.

Overall, Chautona Havig once again provides an interesting concept and makes it work. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fun beach read with a hint of seriousness. This is a perfect feel good book that has characters that readers will root for throughout the whole book! 4/5 Stars.

Thank you to the author and CelebrateLit for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

 

More from Chautona

Did I Really Agree to Write a Romance Series?

When my fledgling little idea for a single book transformed into a series that then transformed into a SERIES, I kind of missed the part where I agreed (and likely suggested, if truth be told), that the books should be contemporary romance.

I mean, beach reads. Romance. Duh.

There’s just one problem? I rarely write a straight-up romance. And if I do, it’s usually a short novella in a collection—often at Christmas.

Why?

Isn’t it obvious?

Despite nine kids and being married for almost thirty-two years, I am THE most unromantic woman on the planet. No habla amor. Or something like that.

So there I was, toodling down the 395 (a treacherous bit of road between my house and the publisher’s) when all of what I’d agreed to exploded in my brain. I’m still scraping brain matter off the windshield and trying to stuff it back in. I need every last one of those “little gray cells,” thank-you-very-much!

Romance. My heart sank. Boy meets girl. They like each other. They fight. They get back together. They live happily ever after.

It’s a thing, folks. A formula. And if you deviate, true romance readers get annoyed. What was I going to do? I didn’t want to write romance. Not really. I had ideas. The prequel book had been all about trying to bring a young woman back to the Lord. That’s more my speed, okay?

The wheels began churning.

The ones in my head, I mean. The tires still rolled along the ground. Fortunately, my cranial explosion hadn’t caused an accident or anything. Just in case you were curious.

I considered making each one loosely related to a fairy tale retelling. I’d have a Cinderella story, a Beauty and the Beast, a… nope. That made it that far and I just couldn’t. The minute we got to Sleeping Beauty, I’d have my readers in comas. No. Thanks.

Next came Rom-com. We’d make it funny. All the stuff that happens in beach romances gone wrong. Why not? We live once!

I was yawning before the thought finished forming.

Right about then, I think, is when I wondered what kind of tropes I needed to consider.

See, romance tropes are a thing. I even talk about them on my podcast. The tingling sensation that comes when a good idea is brewing happened. A grin formed.

Tropes. I’d play with tropes. I’d take all those familiar things and twist them somehow. Why not? It would be fun.

And it was.

Right about then is probably when I began recording my ideas. Creosote and sage whizzed past at breakneck speeds (let me dream. I’m not a speed demon, but c’mon… for the sake of poetic license and all?). And the ideas whizzed faster (no license needed. They really did).

Book 1. Marriage of convenience. I mean, those are always fun, right? So why on earth would someone need to get married?

Every idea I came up with has been done… and done again.

That’s when I upped the stakes. Authors do that, you know. We come up with a way to torment our characters, and then we say, “Okay, now how can I make this worse? Nope, I need it even worse. Oh, and…” Bam! The story goes from interesting to can’t-put-it-down. All because we’re not afraid to be cruel to non-existent people. Score!

How’d I do it with this one? I added in another trope. One I personally just can’t “get.” People love the things, and I’ve got no idea why. But it answered my first question of why someone might need a marriage of convenience or… as my gal puts it… “a paper marriage.”

My guy became the world’s newest billionaire.

Yep, you read that right. I wrote a “billionaire romance.” Sort of. Now, if I could figure out how on earth I’d take two people on opposite sides of the world and get them together.

*insert hands rubbing together in fiendish delight*

Oh, yeah. I did it. And even more than that, I love it. I made my characters do some stupid things. I really did (you know, like how two Christians didn’t even pray about their marriage decision? Like how they didn’t even ask if the other person was saved? Why should they? They’ll never see each other again… they said. Ha! The Lord had other ideas. Sorta. This is fiction, right? Oops! I suddenly feel like that crazy Kathy Morningside in Miss Congeniality).

From Adelanto to Kramer Jct., I planned out that first book—Dual Power of Convenience.

(the title gives away that reason for marrying, no? Also, links may be affiliate links that provide a small commission at no extra expense to you.)

It was almost too easy.

Then I started playing with the next ones, and the series became a reality to me.

– Dual Power of Convenience—when a woman too afraid of men goes to work for a man who is too busy making money to want anything to do with that whole marriage and family thing.

– Bookers on the Rocks— This couple’s marriage is on the rocks (that’s the trope, of course), and neither of them has a clue. They’ve been married for twenty-five years, neither is having an affair, no one wants a divorce, life is good, so why is it on the rocks? You’ll see…

– Directing Hearts— The Crawforths got tricked into allowing a reality matchmaking show film on their islands. Brooks Crawforth tangles with the director until their verbal battles turn into a different kind—a battle for their hearts (enemies to “lovers”)

– Just a Memory— In this one, Mallory Barrows (who makes appearances in all of the books) comes across an old journal that tells a story she’d never heard. It’s the old Patti Paige song “Go On with the Wedding” but over forty years later! Mallory knows something that might just create a (here comes the trope) second chance at romance.

–Printed on Her Heart— After being instrumental in so many couples’ relationships, it’s Mallory’s turn in this dual-trope story. In this one, we get a mashup of friends to more and love at first sight. Can’t wait to share it. Squee!

Okay, that’s the deal. Yes, I really did agree to write a romance series.

And yes, it probably was my idea.

I might deny it to my dying day, but it is also a whole lot of fun… so far.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 5

Inklings and notions, August 6

lakesidelivingsite, August 6

deb’s Book Review, August 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 7

Rebekah Jones, Author, August 7

For Him and My Family, August 7

Artistic Nobody, August 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 9

Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 9

21st Century Keeper at Home, August 9

She Lives To Read, August 10

Simple Harvest Reads, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 11

Adventures of a Traverlers wife, August 11

Emily Yager, August 12

Stories By Gina, August 12

CarpeDiem, August 12

cultivating us, August 13

Connect in Fiction, August 13

Livin’ Lit, August 13

Read Review Rejoice, August 14

Quiet Workings, August 14

Blossoms and Blessings, August 14

Just Your Average reviews, August 15

Rebekah Reads, August 15

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 15

Lis Loves Reading, August 16

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, August 16

Splashes of Joy, August 16

Pause for Tales, August 17

Captive Dreams Window, August 17

Spoken from the Heart, August 17

Lots of Helpers, August 18

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book (winner’s choice of eBook or paperback format)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ff14/dual-power-of-convenience-celebration-tour-giveaway

 

First Line Friday #16 – A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole

Hello everyone,

Welcome to another installment of First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books.

A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole

“My father and I live under different suns. In reality, it is the same: read and hungry, an inyense crimson eye that sends the sweat fleeing from my skin.” 

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Party Princess (The Princess Diaries #7) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Party Princess by Meg Cabot.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Party Princess picks up six months after the events of Princess in Training. Mia discovers that the student council is broe and she somehow needs to raise $5,000 in order to pay for the hall that graduation will be held at – and hopes that the valedictorian doesn’t find out and kick her butt. Enter Grandmere who has a plan to help Mia raise money, putting on that she has written based on Genovian history  called “Braid!”. Oh, and she expects Mia and her friends to put it on within a week, in front of a bunch of celebrities!

To top it  all off, Michael is having a party at his parents’ place and Mia is nervous because she is not a party girl and she wants to prove to him that she is one – which ends up being a disasters. Also, Lana (Mia’s nemesis) discovers that the student council is bankrupt and blackmails Mia into getting her tickets for Grandmere’s fundraising event.

Lilly’s also decided that she is going to create a school literary magazine to help earn money for the student council, and she is including a story that Mia wrote called “No More Corn” based on a student at their school that she refers to as “the guy who hates it when they put corn in the chili.” Only, now they have all gotten to know him, J.P., through the musical and Mia doesn’t want to hurt his feelings.

Overall, this was an okay read, however Mia seemed as shallow as ever. This is probably one of my least favorite installments in the series, however it is worth reading it to get to the rest of the books in the series. 2.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Princess in Training (The Princess Diaries #6) by Meg Cabot

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Princess in Training by Meg Cabot.

***WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES***

Princess in Training starts at the beginning of Mia’s sophomore year of high school. She’s just returned from a month in Genovia, where she might have accidentally caused an environmental disaster that could get Genovia kicked out of the EU. Michael has just started at Columbia, and Mia is proud to be dating a college boy…that is unti her nemesis, Lana, implies that now that Michael is in college, all he cares about is sex and that he will break up with her if she refuses to do it. Which of course, Mia obsessively takes to heart and starts freaking out, even though everyone she asks tells her to talk to Michael.

To add to the drama, Lilly has nominated Mia for student council president and she is running against Lana (!). Not only is Lilly making her run, but she has teamed up with Grandmere to help with Mia’s campaign. The only bright shining light in Mia’s life is her baby brother Rocky, who was born at the end of the previous book.

This was an okay book, but I felt like Mia was pretty neurotic, it also revealed some obvious cracks in her relationship with Michael, mainly that it lacks open and honest communication, mostly on her part – but the agai, she is only 15 years old. Also, she is incredibly self-centered and immature, and overreacts a lot, especially when it comes to her relationship.

I also found Michael to be kind of a jerk too, because when they do have the talk about sex, he says he doesn’t mind waiting, but that he won’t wait forever…I think this is the wrong thing to say to your 15 year old girlfriend, who has already said she isn’t ready. But then again, we are told the events from Mia’s point-of-view, and she is not a reliable narrator, especially since she has the tendency to overthink and overreact to things with out getting clarity.

However, Mia did come into her own when she gives her speech for student council president. Although it does not help that Grandmere uses it as an opportunity to try and distract the press from the “enironmental disaster” Mia accidentall caused – which includes inviting Larry King to cover the student council debate.

Lilly was somewhat better in this installment, except for pushing Mia  to run for student council president with her own ulterior motives.

Overall, Princess in Training is definitely not the best isntallment in the series, it was still a fun  and fluffy read that had several great quotes throughout it:

“Life is a constant roller coaster… joy followed by crushing disappointments, with occasional patches where nothing at al happens and I just admire the scenery” (67).

“The road to romantic bliss is filled with many pot holes and speed bumps. People think that once they’ve found that special someone, everything is smooth sailing. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Good relationships only stay that way through hard work and personal sacrifice on the part of both participants” (205).

2.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.