Daniel never wanted anyone to know that he was a prince. Having his half sister show up and remind him was definitely something he wanted to relive. He tried to keep that part of his life a secret until Madison overheard a conversation that would change his world forever. Having to make a choice was something he didn’t want. Hockey or ruling a kingdom. Will he be able to sacrifice one without any repercussions? The authors paint a wonderfully crafted tale of making a tough decision when your dreams are almost in reach.

This book was cute. Very young characters that were really not very relatable. The main character was still in high school and doing way to many adult type things, Just couldn't quite get into this one.

❝ I swear, I get more roughed up from one motorcycle ride with her than I do in a Junior League hockey game.

Not that I mind. I mean, I’ll take bruises in exchange for having her arms around me any day.

Too bad she doesn’t realize that. ❞

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

I was a huge fan of Just One of the Boys, the first book in The Chicago Falcons series so I was really excited to read book two. I already knew from the synopsis that this book wouldn’t be about the same characters, but I was excited at the prospect of getting to know Daniel and Madison better. And I feel like the plot for this book was perfect for all this royal family craze.

In Just One of the Royals, we find out that Daniel Sacachelli is the prince of Eldonia. His sister, Evangeline comes to him asking for help. She needs him to step up and take the throne, or else risk losing her freedom and kingdom. But, it won’t be as easy as they think because Daniel has a reputation and in order to earn the support of his people he’ll have to remake his image.

And who better to sculpt his image than mastermind of disguise, Madison! She was one of my favorite characters in Just One of the Boys because of how supportive and charming she was, and that didn’t change with this book. Madison was really animated and just happy all the time. She put on a brave face for others, especially Daniel. Madison was loyal to her friends and didn’t back down easily. I thought she was ambitious when it came to her plans and she just always did her best.

Daniel was a little bit of a different story. It was harder for me to connect with and like Daniel’s character because of how explosive his emotions could be. He was hot-headed and impulsive, but he also had a different side to him that Eva and his friends brought out. When it came to people he loved, Daniel could show the best of himself. He could be super dedicated, loving, and willing to put others’ needs before his own. Daniel was complex that way. He fluctuated between angry and sweet. I also didn’t like that he acted like an idiot at times, letting people bait him into situations that got him in trouble and that he pushed Madison away so much whenever he thought she wasn’t interested in him (or was only interested in him because he was going to be king).

❝ I see the way Daniel’s eyes light up when he steps onto the ice. The Falcons get to live their dream, and I spend all my time helping them. Isn’t it my turn? ❞

And as a side-note–because this bothered me quite a bit–I wasn’t really okay with Evangeline calling Daniel “Dan-dan” because it made her seem really childish. I don’t know, it just felt weird and didn’t fit with her overall personality. It never failed to throw me off. But, other than that I felt like Evangeline was a pretty average character. We didn’t get to spend as much time with her as other characters, so that may be part of the reason. I’m really looking forward to seeing her character in more detail in the next book since I saw a tweet from Leah and Kate a while back that looked like they were dropping some hints about book 3 haha. One thing I knew for sure was that she loved her kingdom.

Finally, let’s get to the plot and pacing. Was I excited to have a princess/prince themed book? Um, yes! I love books with royalty so I was happy about that aspect of the book and I liked the direction that the authors took with the whole “reluctant heir”. I’m not going to lie, it was a little ridiculous to have one of the characters be a bastard prince, but that’s kind of the theme of this series. In the first book, we had Alice pretending to be a boy for a whole season and she fell in love with the captain of the team. That’s just something I expect from the series. These crazy, drama-y, over-the-top stories that are really a guilty pleasure ❤

The only problem with the plot for me was that there wasn’t a clear line of where it was going. Yes, Madison was remaking his image, but I didn’t know exactly how she was going about that. It felt like things just developed over the story and I guess it being so organic rather than planned threw me off. For example, when there was a fire and they planned the charity event to help rebuild. It wasn’t necessarily bad but more of personal preference. Most books I read usually have at least a couple of points/steps of the plot that we know are coming and help me gauge where we are plot-wise, but I didn’t get that with Just One of the Royals so it made the plot progression seem slow at times because I wasn’t sure what the next step was.

I think overall this was still a fun read, but it felt less smooth than Just One of the Boys. This is still a series I’m looking forward to continuing and I hope the next book will be even better! ❤

Just One of the Royals was released on June 4th, go check it out!

she’ll lose him forever...

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YA Review My Thoughts
Just one of the Royals is the second book in the Chicago Falcons series by Leah and Kate Rooper. I loved the first book in the series, Just one of the Boys, so much that I actually re-read it before picking up this book. So I had a pretty good feeling I was going to enjoy Just one of the Royals. Leah and Kate Rooper make a great writing duo. I can’t wait to see what the next book is going to bring for us. The Chicago Falcons series is a young adult sports romance series, where each book follows a different hockey player and tells his story.

In just one of the Royals we follow Daniel and Madison. Daniel and Madison are best friends, but one of them is hiding a pretty big secret- that he is actually a prince! I know the set up is a bit different, but this book gave me all kinds of great Princess Diaries vibes. I loved it. I also really liked the best friend romance aspect of the story. That is always going to be one of my favorite contemporary romance tropes. Not to mention there is tons of hockey fun…and hockey players. Basically, all of my favorite things in a light hearted young adult romance.

Kate and Leah have a wonderfully conversational writing style, which leads to books that have a wonderful flow to them. I read both of the books in this series in one day. They are quick, reads that you can easily demolish in one sitting, and at the end you will have a nice big satisfied smile on your face. So whether you love hockey romances, best friends romances or secretly royal romances, this is the book for you. It has everything all in one! I really enjoyed Just one of the Royals. It was a cute and fun read.

I love all books by entangled crush and this one was no different. I love it and I love the characters.

3.5 Stars: I love hockey & royalty & princess diaries esque set ups? I wish the solution hadn't been *quite* so obvious though, since it was a bit frustrating it took everyone the entire book to figure out the fairly easy answer to the kingdom woes?

Obviously I started with the 2nd book of this series. However, while I guess I didn't need to read the first one, I am definitely intrigued enough by getting to know the characters from that first book in this one, that I want to go back and read it. At first I wasn't quite sure how I felt about the characters. There was too much hemming and hawing, and I like you, but I can't tell you, because there's no way you could like me too, or I'm not good enough for you, etc., etc. It went on and on. But then we got into what was the real heavy plot of the story, Daniel as prince. Daniel needing to go back to his father's home and become king, to save his sister from having to marry a creep, who would then rule the country. Madison agreed to help him, but with a slightly ulterior motive. However it was one of those types of things, that I feel like if she'd been honest with him right away, there shouldn't have been the problem there was when he found out.

There were all the usual misunderstandings, on why she was kissing him, was it because he was now a prince and good enough for her? When he pushed her away from a kiss, was it because he was repulsed and not interested in her in that way? Only needing to kiss her to keep up the charade so he could become king? But in the end, it worked out the way it should have. And at the end I was on the edge of my seat, racing through the end of the story to find out how they could make it all work.

Another reviewer mentioned that Daniel's sister Eva had a very annoying nickname for Daniel, and I totally agreed with that. I got to where I cringed a bit every time I read it. Other than that, it was a good story, and definitely worth the read! Although, I'm not quite sure, are they high school age? After high school? I can't tell. That was one thing I was unsure of.

An adorable story about friends to more, with hockey, and oh yeah, royalty! Daniel “Sacs” Sacachelli has a big secret, one he hopes will never catch up with him in Chicago. Madison has her own secrets, like a crush on BFF, Daniel. She comes from a family who doesn’t believe in pie-in-the-sky dreams, like becoming an actress. She wants nothing more than to go to Julliard, but her parents shoot her down before she even has a chance to tell them her plan. When she discovers Daniel is the heir to the throne of a small European country, she sees her chance to get everything she’s always wanted. She proposes helping him prepare for the throne by posing as his girlfriend and showing his evil step-queen-mother that he’s more than the illegitimate son of her late husband; that he’s every bit a royal ready to assume the role he was born to play.

Whenever there are secrets this big, things are bound to go wrong, and JUST ONE OF THE ROYALS is no exception. Everything comes crashing down on Daniel and Madison in spectacular fashion, forcing both of them to examine what really matters in life.

Plot
The plot centers on Madison and Daniel’s relationship. Both have feelings for the other that each is afraid to verbally express for different reasons. Whether or not Daniel will be the next king is a solid subplot. Much of the story is relatively predicable, but in a feel-good sort of way.

The Characters
Daniel is absolutely fascinating as the royal bastard with serious daddy issues. It took me a long time to warm up to Madison, though. She came across as shallow for much of the early part of the book. She probably has more growing up to do than Daniel, though, and she does eventually redeem herself. I love Alice and Trembley, but some of the other characters, including the Dowager Queen and Daniel’s rival for the throne, came across as stereotypical and it was hard to take them serious at times.

Top Five Things I Enjoyed About JUST ONE OF THE ROYALS
1. Daniel. He’s a royal like no other. A force to be reckoned with on the ice, he’s as unsure as they come when it comes to his birthright.

2. Alice. As one of Daniel’s hockey teammates, she spent the previous season pretending to be a guy so she could play on the team. She’s a spunky ball of determination.

3. Hockey. Fast becoming one of my favorite sports romance genres.

4. Angst. There’s not nearly enough of this, but what there is was my favorite part.

5. Reluctant royals. With so many people wishing they could be king or queen, it was refreshing to read about a teen who wanted no part of that life.

Bottom Line
The Princess Diaries meets The Mighty Ducks.

Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was a cute summer romance book for teens. It actually reminded me of all the typical teen romance movies I watched like 10 years ago. It was very easy to soak up the sun and get lost in the trivial drama in their world.

I liked that there was a lot of focus on the friendship aspects of some characters. It isn't often you get to see that since most of the plot revolves around that relationship they are trying to drive home so that was nice to see.

First of all I want to say that I didn’t read the first book and that it didn’t bother me in the story.

In this book we meet Daniel and Madison, they are friends but they would like to be more than friends. The one and only concern is that they are unable to communicate and confess their feelings. When Daniel tries, Madison doesn’t let him talk and then she gets upset. When Madison discovers that Daniel is a prince, she will help him conquer the hearts of his people, at least she will try.

Quite frankly I loved Daniel very much, I find him very kind and attentive, he’s ready to help his sister even if for that he must stop doing what he loves more than anything, playing hockey. I liked Madison less, she didn’t always make the right decisions and especially if she talked to Daniel about her feelings, just like she does with her parents, there would never have been any problems.

The story is nice, it reads fast and the characters are endearing even if they have flaws. I appreciated the relationship between Daniel and his sister, they love each other even if they don’t have the same mother, and that everything could oppose them.

Quick word: A pleasant reading for the summer.

Just One of the Royals is the typical cliche love story with somewhat cute characters and a very predictable plot. We follow the life of our two main characters Daniel and Madison. Daniel is a hockey player and Madison desires to be an actress but her parents do not let her because of their background and because she thinks she should be a doctor. The plot twist comes in when Daniel apparently is also a Prince of some kingdom, after his father's death he must assume power and become King or the power will fall into the hands of a very mediocre King because his sister cannot be Queen since she is a girl.

My first problem with the story was Madison. Her dialogue, her characterization and her person is all wrong. You never get a feel for her and honestly I never really enjoyed her chapters. They were very repetitive following on the lines of her not being able to be an actress, her brooding because she thinks Daniel doesn't like her when it is obvious it is not, and her trying to get an audition.

"All my Beauty and the Beast dreams are coming true" - thoughts like this from Madison made her feel like a two year old and a wannabe.

Daniel, however, is probably the only reason why I actually enjoyed the book. I liked his brain much more than being in Madison's point of view. Yet the story seemed very one dimensional for me and it really didn't have much structure to it all.

The story is very childish in many ways and not realistic. Predictably, he becomes King as he barges in into his sister's wedding and he gets crowned right there. That simply is not how a King gets crowned, also his first rule is to absolve the law that says no girls can't be queens and then absolves and gives the kingdom to her sister. The whole moment the book leads to this event and it ends in 2 pages. It felts rushed at times and in all honesty the sub story of the best friends is much better as the girl impersonates a boy to enter the hockey team and falls in love with the captain. I felt that had more drive and momentum than the whole prince and actress wannabe storyline.

Note: I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A major thanks to both of them for this opportunity!

Good god I fricking loved this. Look, a few points:
1. it's an entangled crush novel
2. it's got a hot hockey player
3. aforementioned hot hockey player is a ROYAL
4. best friends who really want to be more but are too scared to tell each other
5. just read through that list again, if that tells you how much I loved this.

Possibly now one of my favourite books from entangled crush ever. The 2 characters were just so loveable, I loved Daniel, I loved Madison. What can I say. Just loved them, and of course I loved the storyline. I've always been a sucker for the whole 'royal' thing. And I loved seeing Al and Hayden again. I loved their story. I love this story. Sigh. that's literally all I can say. Just fantastic!

Just One of the Royals is about a hockey player who is hiding a secret. The hockey player turns out to be a Prince, and next in line for the throne of a small European nation. This story follows the “Hockey Prince” and his journey to the throne, along with his best friend whom he is in love with! Daniel and Madison’s story is romantic, troublesome, and funny! Great read....can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Five stars and here's why:

JUST ONE OF THE ROYALS is sexy and sweet romance at its finest. Leah and Kate Rooper deliver a great hockey-themed friends to lovers story with a royal twist! It’s a modern-day take on THE PRINCESS DIARIES but with the hella-hot, “bastard prince” in the starring role. Totally devoured the story in one sitting!

It’s the second book in the Chicago Falcon series, but you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this story. Having said that, I am hopping over to Amazon to buy book one and putting book 3 on my must read list!

If you love hella-hot, bad-boy guys with a heart of gold, sassy, smart theatrical girls, and a rom-com ending with an entire hockey team that’ll make your head spin, then this book is for you! Highly recommend!

This book reminded me of the Princess Diaries 2 movie - with the Royal being a male in this story. The romance in this book was cute, but I wish they would have had a few more moments together to build some romantic chemistry. I did not read the first book in this series. Though this book can be read without reading the first one in the series, I felt like I missed out on some character development. I would recommend this book for a younger YA audience.

Bring on the honkey-hunks! Sweet, fun romance. Light and fluffy. Perfect read to keep you 'cool' in the summer.

Daniel is a royal “bastard” prince. He is one of the key players of the hockey team. He lives with her mother in the US, far from his father in Eldonia. On the other hand, Madison is Daniel’s best friend for two years now. She is part of a team as a “nurse”, because her parents believe that her experience with the team will help her as a premed student in the future. However, Madison’s dream is too far from that. She wants to be an actress and her parents are not open to that idea. When Madison accidentally heard Daniel’s secret and met Daniel’s sister, Eva, she couldn’t resist Eva’s offer, and help Eva and made a plan to make Daniel a king.

They story is good. You can read it as a standlone though it is part of the Chicago Falcon series.

Although some parts are predictable thought that this one is another cliché story, but it is not. Honestly, I’m amazed with the setting to the point that I looked where Eldonia is.

The characters are okay. Though at some point I’m annoyed at Madison because she keep on insisting of not telling Daniel her deal with Eva. Daniel is lovable but at some point, I kind of hate him because of being close minded. Contrary, I want to meet and be friends with a “Daniel” someday. Ma is the sweetest and ever supportive mother. I can’t help but remember my mother. Also, I couldn’t forget the Queen of Eldonia because I thought is an evil queen, but I’m wrong.

It is in good pace and easy to read. If you want to read something light that worth your time, read the Chicago Falcon series.

P.S. KDramas are mentioned specifically Boys Over Flowers and Coffee Prince!!! My heart flutters.

I had no idea this was a series. I probably would not have read Just One of the Royals if I had known that since I don't like to read books out of order. However, this could stand alone and it's really not necessary to read book one first since you get the back story in this one. The authors did a nice job of filling in gaps from the previous book without info-dropping key plot elements.

What they did manage to do, though, is make a very predictable story line. Typical cookie-cutter teen romance novel. In fact, one line in the book tells you exactly how book 3 will turn out.

I found that the characters were not relatable at all. It was incredibly hard to make connections to both Daniel and Madison because there was not much depth to either. I also found it incredibly unbelievable that Madison's super protective and future-focused doctor parents would allow her to travel "across the pond" for an entire summer without so much as meeting the "adult" chaperone or doing any sort of background planning. There was zero thought given to that whole scenario which was problem number one. Little issues like that kept piling up as I read.

I went into this book looking for a beach read. I wanted something light and fluffy that didn't involve a lot of brain power to sort out characters and plot twists. I can safely say I got what I was looking for. I can see the appeal this book would have for a certain group of readers. It's a good, clean romance that reads a lot like a Disney channel teen movie (i.e. Camp Rock or High School Musical). It just happens to not be the complicated, layered story that I prefer.

First, let me start by saying this is technically the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone (that’s what I did after all). Fair warning, though, that you will find out parts of book one, so you may be spoiled. Up to you!

Now, the book. Hellooooooooo Princess Diaries meets hockey player. I am here for these royal stories. *heart eyes*

This was another lunchtime read for me: light, cute, fun, and a quick read (a.k.a. easy to get in a chapter or two during lunch). The cast of characters was quirky in the best kind of way, and their relationships were book goals. As a book with a hockey player protagonist, Just One of the Royals brought teamwork and the team mentality front and center, and it was very refreshing to read about characters that had each other’s backs no matter what.

I found myself chuckling more than once while reading. Daniel was a funny character and he made the story! As the book went on, he had more and more moments where his personality really shined!

The pacing felt a little rushed to me. Admittedly there was a fast-approaching deadline built into the plot, but it was a very quick read that I wish had been slowed down a little at times. Overall, it worked for the book, but I felt it was more of a teaser than a full helping of romance.

There is a third book to come in the series, and I am definitely interested in checking it out! I really like the friendship between these characters, and I look forward to revisiting them!

(review to be posted June 18)

Daiel Sacs is all about hockey and Madison. In this male version of the Princess Diaries, Daniel's life parallels Mia Thermopolis in that he is the only, illegitimate male heir that is in line to the throne. Daniel has never felt a part of the Royal family, but his sister who is the right heir comes all the way to Chicago to bring big brother back home to take the throne. But what about hockey and Madison? What does the throne have to do with his life when it hadn't ever cared about him before.