4/5. Releases 7/11/2023.

For when you're vibing with... Harry and Meghan but with a lighter touch, romance about the capital A-List, heroines who get shit done and heroes who worship them.

After falling in love in a whirlwind romance, Prince Jameson and Dani--aka Duchess--are attempting to settle into their new relationship. But a high profile royal scandal puts them in the spotlight all over again, attempting to distract the press from mistakes made by Jameson's family. At the same time, Dani is confronted with a business deal that would give them the opposite of the privacy Jameson wants so badly. They love each other--but love may not be enough to tackle these hurdles...

It's not often that you see a true sequel romance, but I felt like there was more to come after the so-good American Royalty. I'm glad Tracey went for it, and I'm happy with the results!

Quick Takes:

--The way Tracey Livesay writes these books feels so much like you're watching a romcom onscreen... And personally, I think these books would be great adapted. Her style is both chatty and emotional, funny and incredibly sexy. I mean, I don't know if Hollywood is ready for the sex scenes in this book, but I'd like to see them try anyway.

--I really appreciate the way this book in particular confronts Jameson's desire for a private life with Dani's immense celebrity and the fact that... She does like being in front of people. She's a performer! And that's okay. Plus, she's a businesswoman, and it's valid for her to want to get out there to promote that business. That validity doesn't mean it doesn't push his buttons and test his boundaries. This book definitely works as a romance, but it works as a romance between two people who already love each other and know each other so well. You could feel the Work being done, but it wasn't frustrating or annoying. It made me believe in their love story even more.

--This book gets into the systemic issues with Jameson's family even more. One thing I love about this duology is that his grandmother is like? The worst? Often we see horrible older characters get a pass simply because they're older (same goes for horrible older real people) and Livesay doesn't let up on that horrid woman. CRUSH HER!

--There is a sense of a bridge to this one; I would personally appreciate another book touching on the next chapter in this relationship, though this works as well. Whereas I feel like the first book had more of a plotty conflict, The Duchess Effect is more about internal conflicts and taking a supposed fairy tale into reality, having Dani and Jameson prove that they are about each other for real.

--I also just really enjoy that while Jameson has his issues and Dani has hers, there's a very clear understanding of like... his privilege. He's called on it--often by her--and he isn't allowed to get away with having a mini tantrum. So often it feels like heroines are forced to bend over backwards for heroes, and while Dani isn't perfect (both of them make a move towards the end of the book that I love) and isn't treated as such, I really loved reading about a hero who's like... Willing to go the extra mile for his heroine, even though he has his damage to work out.

--I did miss the emphasis on Dani's musical career. A lot of her plot is focused on her skincare line, and while I see why, it felt as if we really left Dani the rapper behind for this installment. I would've enjoyed seeing a bit more of that aspect.

--Look, if you're seeking royal reality, you won't get it here... But also, I don't care, because this isn't about the Windsors. It's about Livesay's own individual Royals, and they live in a heightened (sometimes borderline satirical) reality. So while I can see some royalists holding their monocles and going "THEY WOULD NEVER" first of all... honestly, they probably have, second, I don't give a fuck and neither should anyone picking up this book.

The Sex Stuff:

HOT. One nice thing about a sequel is that you're jumping into an existing relationship, and that includes jumping into the sex. I really love the way that Jameson is a bit mild and nerdy and uptight in his everyday life, but he lets the fuck loose with Dani in bed. It adds to the sense of their sex life being a place where they can unite and protect themselves from the rest of the world. I also love a good "stress relief" sex scene, and this book.... has those. The car sex? Um.... wow.

A worthy successor (get it) to American Royalty--and again, I certainly wouldn't say no to a third installment. It hits some hard issues, but isn't too heavy, and never loses sight of what matters: the love story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed seeing Dani and Jameson again and them figuring out how their lives would change with their relationship being public. I loved their conversations on how to navigate being celebrities and royalty and how that would affect their relationship as they were in the spotlight a lot. One thing I didn't like was the lack of communication that had to do with the book's main argument; though I do understand why they kept it from each other, it annoyed me as I just wished they would talk about it.

Sorry I just was really uninterested in the second book. Dnf. Maybe it was the timing and the characters. It was really uninteresting to read.

I am biased and def loved the first book more but I loved that we got more of the story of Duchess and Jameson. Also, Jameson is obsessed with this woman, OK! LOL. I love that he was willing to step up but there was some missed opportunities to get deeper.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I wasn't head-over heels for the first book in this series, but I wanted to give it another go. This follow up was a let down, as I hoped to see a bit more strong development between Jameson and Dani. The majority of the book is revolving around a lack of communication between the two, and it was excruciating. I tried to forget that there was this lie hanging over them, but it ruined every sweet moment the two had for me. I liked how the book treated the monarchies attachment to it's colonies, but I hated Jameson's lack of nuance when it came to Dani's evolvement.

While I personally love spice, it was really frustrating that most arguments were solved via intimacy. The arguments felt unresolved, and I would feel off during what should be something that deepens their connection. I think it was lovely how they did find healthy outlets by the end of the book, but I believe they still need to work harder on themselves before making rash decisions.

(2.75)

I loved this one so much. More than the first one by a long shot. I wish more than anything that there was more to the story. I could read about these two forever.

I really enjoyed this sequel and hope the series continues!!

I felt like we got to know Dutchess and Jameson more in this book and we also got some authentic exploration of what a relationship like theirs would be like once the pressures of their respective worlds came into play and the honeymoon period started to expire.

I also thought the subtle critiques of the monarchy were well done.

All the warm fuzziness of the first book with more depth and substance.

I thought it was interesting that this book starts with the couple’s relationship already established. I like that this book sort of turned that romance trope on its head and showed what happens after a couple falls in love. How do you blend two completely different lives together? I enjoyed seeing the realistic unfolding of this couple trying to build their life together.

I also like how strong Dani’s character is. She’s been taking care of herself for so long that she has a hard time letting other people take care of her. Her fierce independence not only draws Jameson into her orbit, but the reader as well. You really get a sense of how hard Dani has had to work to get to where she is, and why it’s so important for her to remain true to herself. Jameson is the calm, protective force that Dani doesn’t know she needs until their relationship is put to the test, and she realizes she just may lose it all.

Overall, The Duchess Effect is an engrossing novel about two people falling in love and trying to make it work despite coming from very different backgrounds. While I still missed the “falling in love” aspect that you usually see in romance novels, I enjoyed reading about what happens after the whirlwind romance settles down a bit. The Duchess Effect is a realistic, yet still, fantastical book to curl up with that will leave you wanting more.

Thanks NetGalley for approving me to read an early copy of this book.

I was excited to read this because I thoroughly enjoyed American Royalty. However, I was highly disappointed by this book and don’t feel like it was necessary. It did not add anything to the relationship and in fact made me feel that their relationship was not going to last long.

I hoped that their relationship would go deeper and we’d see emotional maturity but we didn’t. There was so much lack of communication that I struggled to stay in the story. Because of the lack of communication, we barely saw their connection deepen past the surface level connection.

I enjoy Livesay’s writing and humor but was not a fan of this one.

This book was a little bit of a let down. The issue within the story was very lackluster and lack depth. The over story didn’t require a second book. I was hoping to see very difficulties like racist, culture etc. overall it just okay.

Thank you Netgalley and Tracey Livesay for the ARC!

The sequel to American Royalty, The Duchess Effect follows Dani and Jay into their public relationship and the private things that will test their romance.

Falling in love with Jay was the easiest thing Dani had ever done. Everything else? That's the hard part. With a relationship, privacy and a brand deal on the line the pair must decide what parts of their lives to share and what to keep for themselves and what they both are willing to risk. Jay did his part for his family and wants to retreat back out of the spotlight but when the queen threatens someone he loves he's forced to figure out how to keep his life the way he likes. Dani is on a high in life that is quickly fading as her skin care line deal wants something she's not willing to give... her relationship. What will the pair do?

This sequel was disappointing to say the least. It was completely an unnecessary angle bu which to set a sequel. Too much angst and the miscommunication trope over took the entire plot to the point where it was the plot and nothing else. I understand why the FMC did what she did, it was explained, but it was a bit unrealistic in my eyes that she wouldn't just communicate a little bit. It was so simple and every action she took we as readers are reminded that she is deceiving her love interest on purpose. She very clearly knew she was lying and that it would hurt their relationship. I did feel like it dragged on too long. It essentially made everything feel fake and false. Their relationship was ruined by this because while we are privy to know that the main character is lying, on the outside she is still pretending and having the couple do couple activities and being intimate while she was very clearly manipulating him was terrible and made me quite uncomfortable. Literally nothing was gained or learned. The third act break up was done horribly and rushed. The half done take on racism and the monarchy was a mess. I just wished this hadn't been the sequel.

So this is the sequel to American Royalty with Jameson and Dani. I just really like them together. They bring the most of who they are out in each other. Jay was a little freaky and naughty; and Dani was there for it. She was just a down chick within his life back at home and with his friends. Some of that was just fun to read. But the best was how serious and real they were about their feelings for each other. They NEVER played around about that. Whatever else happened, that was a certainty. And I really appreciated that.

I'm giving it 4 stars because I think the author did a fairly honest job of tackling the complexities of the press and its relationship to public figures in a broader sense without being preachy about it. Jameson really tried to hammer home the difficulties in trying to maintain some semblance of a private life from the press from across the pond and the difference in comparison from the States. I felt Jay's frustration with Dani about it, I don't think Dani fully comprehended that difference until she had to really deal with it.


Overall, it was a good sequel.

LOVED!!!!! I LOVED THIS! Tracey Livesay DID THAT!!! I was dying to read this!!! I am so happy I got an ARC cause this book was everything I wanted and more! I will be day dreaming about these characters for a long time!

I really enjoyed this book! I had high hopes after reading American Royalty and was not disappointed. This book continued the story of Duchess and Jameson as they navigate both their professional and personal lives. It does a great job of portraying what I would imagine it feels like to be a black woman dating a prince and how sometimes people of color are looked at as "Tokens." I found myself rooting for Dani and Jay and just wanting them to be happy in the end.

the writing was great, another book I DEVOURED. So thank you NetGalley and the publishers and Tracey Livesay for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

good reads review to be posted 5/5/2023

This was a delightful story. I found that I couldn't wait to read the next page. This was a wonderful story with complexing characters. I can't wait to read the next book by this author. I would recommend to other readers in a heartbeat.

I loved this book! The journey that Jameson and Duchess go through was so realistic and heartwarming. Their character development was excellent. They both realized they had some issues to deal with individually and addressed them before they could fix the relationship and I loved that the most. I will definitely read from this author again. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5 stars

This picked up right where the first book left off! I wasn't totally sure what to expect from the sequel, but it was really cool to see Duchess and Prince Jameson continue to figure out what their relationship looked like after a presumed 'happily ever after.' I hated that the central theme/conflict was miscommunication (or lack of communication). I thought Duchess and Jameson had matured more as a couple together from the first book, but they clearly had more growing to do. This felt repetitive as I was reading, while also introducing more themes. I think Duchess' inner dialogue wasn't as strong as the first book and she kept making decisions that were really frustrating to read about. The spice was great, but felt too frequent for the story — it seemed less about connection and more about the act and I thought with all of the hidden conflict there should've been more conversations and growth beyond the bedroom. Overall this was fine! I think if you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one.

Thanks to Tracey Livesay and NetGalley for an eARC of the book!

3 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an eARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I had really high hopes going into this book series but for me it just didn’t work.

I loved Dani’s character in book 1 and how amazing, strong, and fierce she was and seeing her character turn selfish, use Jameson, manipulate and lie to him really made me frustrated.

I also struggled with the fact that Jameson wanted to act so dense when it came to the racism that Dani was experiencing at the hands of the press and monarch. And it could be that this story is inspired by Megan and Harry that this struck a cord because we all know just how detrimental this was to Megan’s mental health and why they had to leave the family. So Jameson acting like she should have know or obtuse and down play it just set me off.

Lastly, the way in which the author would not let them communicate with each other like adults made me irrationally angry. Like 🛑 it they are grown adults and are not communicating through the problems, just a quick sorry and onto to 🌶️ times- No.

I have a feeling there will be another book with how this one ended and I just don’t have enough of an emotional connection to them to want to continue.

CW: racism, sexual content, mention of child abandonment, mention of death of family member

Quick Summary: An against all odds romance

My Review: The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay is the sequel to American Royalty. It is a continuation of the love story between a hip hop rapper and a European prince.

About the Story: Dani Nelson and Jameson Lloyd are not a normal couple. She is a hip hop rap goddess. He is a prince; he is His Royal Highness, Prince Jameson Alistair Richard Lloyd, the Duke of Wessex, to be exact. When they met, they struck sparks off one another, engaging in an explosive relationship that rocked the masses across both sides of the pond.

When the couple is faced with fresh challenges from the crown, from their handlers, and from others in power, will they have what it takes to weather the storms, or will they make a break for it and run?

About the Characters:
Duchess - > Dani has had a tough life. She has been hurt in her past. The very people who should have loved her, supported her, and stood by her let her down. As such, she has had to rely on her own strength. She built her reputation and her business from the ground up, making no excuses for her hustle and grind attitude. She would not bow down to anyone or relinquish any of the control she had acquired. What would she be willing do in order to reach her goals? Is her dream worth losing her bae?

Prince Jameson - >Jameson does not love the press. After what they put him and his family through, he would have no problem cutting ties with them. As a member of the royal family, however, he has not always had the luxury of being able to leave them in the wind. Now that he and Duchess are official and the Queen needs them to do damage control, he is between a rock and a hard place. How can he protect the two most important women in his life and still get the upper hand over the establishment?

About the Conflict: Internal and external factors creep in and play a part in Dani and Jay's relationship. More is going on than meets the eye. From manipulations and betrayals to distrust and gaming at the nth degree, the new "it" couple are in for a bumpy ride.

What I Appreciated About the Story:

- Jameson was a charmer and a fire starter. I adored him. His declarations of love to Dani were so revealing.

- Dani's strengths and insecurities were so understandable. I was totally with her when she finally took a stand. I felt for her when it cost her.

- The chemistry and love that Dani and Jay had burned hot, just like in book one. I loved the natural flow of their connection. I also really liked how they supported and protected each other, despite the obstacles.

- I liked that this installment was relationship rich. Not only did it present the complicated nuances of the couple, but it also highlighted other relationships between the main characters and their family and friends.

- Nyla was true. She was the kind of friend who loved you hard through the good, the bad, and the ugly. She didn't pull her punches.

- Jameson's mom was fierce. Just because she was a kitten didn't mean she didn't have any claws. I loved the relationship that she and Duchess were able to forge.

- The Aristocracy served their purpose. The end.

My Final Say: Being in a relationship takes work. It requires love, trust, communication, patience, and grace. In this book, readers get to witness the ups and downs that come with being an international multicultural power couple. Nothing is taboo. For those who want a little taste of Dynasty and The Crown with their tea, this book is for you.

Other: While this book can be read as a standalone, it would be helpful to read American Royalty first.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: Hot and heavy 🚨
Series: Duo

Thanks to the author and to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

I just love this couple, even the things that weren't really exciting to read were tolerable just to get back to these two. It's hot from the beginning, these two have been so horny for each other since the first book it's good to see that hasn't slowed down at all, The first scene is at 6% - what a blessing lol. This may be Livesay's steamiest yet! Maybe because there's no real build for these two; we already have one book of these two resisting each other but they're a couple so there's no need for that anymore so they could really hit the ground running.

I understood Jay's position throughout so when the inevitable 3rd act conflict happened, the stakes didn't feel high. I think Dani's conflict wasn't much of anything, it became such an afterthought for me - one because I didn't think it would have been a big deal for Jay to begin with and two because it seemingly resolved itself? I did find the business stuff a bit boring (I found business school equally as boring so this isn't unique to the story). I think either the stakes needed to be higher or the fallout for Dani & Jay needed to be bigger for me to truly be invested in it.

Loved the glimpses of Nyla throughout, wish we got more of her romance. It seems that her schedule is even more difficult than Dani's!