3.5/5 stars! This was a cute and quick contemporary romance read. The storyline is a bit silly at times, but this blended itself to an almost modern fairytale-esqe story. Maggie was an engaging character, despite making the typical bad decisions throughout the story. Freddie was likable until the big reveal but hiding something like that made me wanna hit him with my shoe. Overall, an enjoyable tale and a typical HEA.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I enjoyed every page of Falling Hard for the Royal Guard! If you like Bridget Jones Diary, Jane Austen, romance and the Royals you will love this book. I absolutely loved all the history about the Tower of London woven through the pages. I look forward to reading more books by Megan Clawson, she blends humor, life, and love so beautifully on the page.

This book is the story of Maggie who has moved back in with her father at The Tower of London. Where she meets Royal Guard Freddie. After an actual run in and an awkward encounter with Maggie’s ex her and Freddie start a friendship. Which develops into feelings for one another, but something is holding them both back.

I really had a fun time reading this book. Maggie is a really fun character and relatable. She is trying her hardest at life but she hasn’t had many wins yet with her horrible ex and awful boss at work.

Her friendship with Freddie is really great too. The dynamic between the two them is awkward times, in a good way. It is also easy and comfortable like they have known each other for a long time, but only met not that long ago.

I am a history nerd and I really loved how Clawson wove the history into the story without feeling like a textbook. Clawson also does a really wonderful job describing The Tower of London, having been there I was able to see the places that were mentioned.

At one point I was a little worried about seeing one of my least favorite tropes in the book but that didn’t happen. In fact I actually really liked what Clawson did for Maggie in this story.

There is no spice in this book, but still a sweet romance.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves rom-coms, anything British, and those who just need something sweet and fun to read.

CW/TW It is important to note there is talk of losing a parent.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.


This is hands down one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. I absolutely loved it and can not wait to get my hands on an actual copy.

I love Maggie. Her character is so dang relatable and I feel like it makes me relate to the story more. I also really loved Freddie but bless his heart. He should have stood up to his father long ago but I’m glad that he finally did.

I also really love the Guardsmen. They were a hoot and a half. I would really love to see this be a series and all the guardsmen have like their own spin off stories. This book was wonderful but I would’ve loved to have seen more of the Guardsmen lol.

Honestly, I have nothing negative to say about this book. I truly love Maggie and Freddie together and just wanted their story to keep going. The ending with Freddie “talking” to her mom had me in tears because gah lee that was just the sweetest.

5 stars for a book well read! Thanks again for an ARC copy!

3.8
Don't be fooled, there is some cat content here but very little of the puppy pictured on the cover. You do, however, get a slightly Darcy-eske hero and a very Austen ending, both of which I'll take any day.

This was a lovely easy read for the first one of the year. Set in the Tower of London, it follows the story of Maggie lives and works in the Tower with her dad, a Beefeater.

Apart from the bit about living in the Tower of London, Maggie is relatable - with her unruly curly hair, not on the slim side and grieving after the loss of a parent.
Following her life and seeing her become more confident was a confidence boost to me too.

The book made me laugh, cry - happy and sad tears - and I’d love to know more about Maggie and her life in the future.

I loved this book. It was fun, cute, and so informative!! I can’t wait for what’s next from the author.

I absolutely love when books set in the UK are done right! You can 100% tell when the author is British and there is no doubt about where this author lives.

Maggie lives in the tower of London, a perk of her fathers job as a beefeater. She can be a bit clumsy and as a result often is the butt of insults from her cliquey colleagues, add in an ex that just will not leave her alone and things can get tricky.

Maggie loves nothing more than losing herself in the rich history of the tower and making discoveries that have been long forgotten to help the days pass. She soon finds herself bumping into someone that can give her a more in depth experience of the tower, taking her to areas she has never been before.

It doesn't take long for Maggie to trust Freddie but she senses there something not quite right. Learning what it is he is hiding may just push her away.

This story was so much fun to read, a real feel good book and a great way to start the year, i cant wait to read more books by this author.

This is a real romcom feel-good book, perfect for vanishing those January blues. With an interesting twist on the classic boy meets girl plot, this time girl meets boy and falls for him but he just wants to be friends.

The backdrop to the story is The Tower of London and it was really good to learn some behind-the-scenes information from the author who lived there when she was younger.

I was hooked from page one.

Definitely one to read, finished in one sitting! Enjoyed the romance, between Freddie & Maggie. Thank you for the copy!

I enjoyed the book a little but It was just a bit much for me with her falling all the time it was weird I'm clumsy but I don't fall everytime I walk and the love interest was weird anyways the book was okay and it took a while to get into

I fully enjoyed this book! This gave me Bridget Jones vibes and I am here for it!!

I related to the main character Maggie with her clumsiness and fumbling through life.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review.

a thoroughly enjoyable feel good book! . The Tower of London was a very unique background to this story.
I really liked the main character, Maggie, over all I highly recommend this book.

This is one of those books that's perfect for reading in one sitting! I read this during a free afternoon I had and was surprised at how quickly I finished it. It's my first time reading a book where the main MC has a similar body type to mine and share similar insecurities. I felt like kind of seen and almost like I was reading about myself for a moment. I know it's a weird thing to say but yes, that's how I really felt.

In terms of the romance, I thought it was pretty cute. It wasn't rushed nor was it too slow in my opinion. I adore rom-coms and this definitely satisfied the craving I had for a good, solid rom-com book! Highly recommended if you're looking for a cute, fun and quick romance book!

Rating: 4/5

I have mixed feelings about this one. I really enjoyed the first third and the last third of the book. Like, a lot! I loved the setting, the concept, and the writing style. However, the middle part of the book was lacking. It was repetitive and the love interest was nowhere to be found. I was confused why Maggie was so in love with Freddie when he gave her absolutely nothing to work with. He would disappear for weeks, even months, on end with no explanation. He would even disappear in the middle of a party they were both attending! I liked his friends more than I liked him; they were actually present and seemed somewhat interested in Maggie. I also felt like some things were a little overdone. Maggie is clumsy. REALLY clumsy. She can’t seem to walk home from work without falling down. I’m so tired of the “clumsy girl” trope. I’m clumsy, but that’s not my whole personality! I also thought the coworkers and the women at the gala were unrealistically mean. Nobody talks like that to person’s face. Making fun of her hair, clothes, relationship status… I found that totally unbelievable.
The book did have redeemable qualities. Like I said, the setting was immersive. I learned so much British history just from reading this book. I loved that! Overall, it was a really cute story, there were just some things that annoyed me!

This was a cute story. The characters are fun, and it was interesting to take a journey to London. The story was a slow burn sweet romance. It took Freddie almost the entire book to grow a backbone and admit he was in love with Maggie. I spent most of the story wondering will they or won't they. I was hoping for more of a love story. I like it better when the characters have more time together as a couple and not just 30 minutes to the end of the story. That being said I did enjoy the book. I just felt I needed more from the story.

Again another book I devoured in one go! I love romance books like this! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access to this book

As a story about the relationship of a young woman to her home, the Tower of London, this is an informative one. As the story of a young woman falling for a royal guard, it falls short. Their interactions are few and far between. She has more connections to his fellow guards than to him.
The story picks up toward the ending but it is a long way to get there.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a jewel of a five-star read. I really enjoyed this story, there is just a lovely fluffiness to this story, but there is also an undercurrent that has an edge to keep it from being too light. There are some perfect British moments in this story, they will keep you hooked and make you smile. Maggie was a sweetheart and I just adored how she came out of herself, from peeking at the guards to jumping in with them. Watching her come out of herself with the aid of some boys will keep you hooked all the way through. I simply loved the details of this story as well, and it made me so desperate to go and visit the Tower again, I haven’t been since I was a child and loved getting to know all of the details, especially getting to know the Yeoman Warders and all of the different characters they are, seeing them in so much detail beyond the red tunics. I can’t forget the royal guards that all play their part, but this time its Grenadiers that shine their brightest shine and bring a beautiful light to this story as well as Maggie’s life.

A very cute addition to the contemporary romance shelf. Clawson's book would be great for fans of red, white, and royal blue and those who love to imagine they might someday come close enough to royalty to date a royal guard. Would highly recommend for a quick, cute read.