Fun romance in that it followed a fake monarchy and had a murder mystery element, however, the writing was very telling rather than showing.

I don't read a lot of historical romances, but I love to read books by Julia London! I can almost picture myself in the settings, the descriptions are so good! I love the concept of romance between royalty and commoners, and Sebastian and Eliza make a great couple. This is a swoon-worthy romance and worth reading!

It took me awhile to start reading this book due to life circumstances.

I am so glad that I started reading this book. It was such a delightful story. It had me laughing, shocked, and rooting for Eliza and Sebastián. The author capture each scene and made you feel like you were in the story with the characters

I recommend this book. Review this book from Negalley to give my honest opinion.

Eliza and Sebastian's story in The Princess Plan was brilliantly planned. I love to read novels that aren't typical romance and Julia London delivered in this story! I highly recommend.

i really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I loved the setting of the book. I look forward to more from the author.

I love Julia London's book and pretty much any historical romance that has to do with royalty so this was right up my street. I'm glad it's the start of a series because I will be buying the next two immediately.

Eliza Tricklebank suffered a scandal years ago.  She was ruined in the eyes of society but her family has stood by her.  Her father is a justice who has lost his sight and Eliza helps him by reading law and the cases to him, she also has a hobby fixing clocks.  Her life is comfortable if unconventional.  She missed her chance to have a family for herself but she is comfortable.  Her younger sister is a widow who inherited her husband financial newsletter which she changed to on ladies interest newspaper.  Eliza helps her sisters find interesting topics for the newspaper, little ondits picked up in the market or from neighbors, and beauty or shopping advice. From the outside it might seem weird but Eliza likes her life. 

When a prince comes to town from Alucia looking for a trade deal and a bride, Eliza hopes to catch a glimpse or even meet him in a receiving line.  She gets more than she bargained for when she accidentally bumps into him when hiding in a servants passage at a masked ball.  That night the prince’s secretary is brutally murdered in Kensington Palace.  A few days later Eliza’s father receives an anonymous note delivered by a substitute mailman.  Eliza shares the note with her sister who prints it in the women’s newsletter. The anonymous tip points a finger at the Alucian field Marshall.  The British authorities do not take the tip seriously as it was reported in a ladies newspaper.  The prince however wants it investigated and takes it upon himself to do so.  He meets Eliza again and they get off on the wrong foot.  The investigation means they must work together and in doing so the prince falls for Eliza. Can the prince choose a commoner though? He is the heir to the throne, what will his country say? 
This is the first in a three book series.

My Rating:: 4.5 Stars

Prince Sebastian of Alucia is beside himself when his secretary is murdered. When Sebastian discovers that the woman behind a gossip gazette, Eliza Tricklebank, has reported what he thinks is false information about the murder, he decides to investigate things himself.

Before he knows it, they are working alongside one another. What's more is that they previously met at a masked ball, and a connection between the pair was made, no matter how impossible that would e for Sebastian and Eliza.

As far as to why Sebastian is in England, it is to further trade agreements with his country. Furthermore, he is hoping to find a bride, one that will be a good match, thus cementing agreements that will benefit both countries. The murder has definitely thrown a wrench into these plans.

The pair spend time together when it comes to trying to find the murderer, but it should come to no surprise that they will be forced to face their growing feelings for one another. However, with Eliza being the relatively poor spinster daughter of a blind judge, she is hardly marriage material.

The Princess Plan is the delightful first story in the A Royal Wedding series. What a delight! Quite naturally, Eliza and Sebastian are perfect for one another, and it was great fun watching them seek to identify the murderer, all while stealing moments together. This enjoyable story had a delightful conclusion and I am excited for the next book in the series. A Royal Kiss and Tell, coming in May.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I realized after I finished my most recent read (A Royal Kiss and Tell by Julia London) that I had been scheduled to read the first book in the same series last year and just hadn't gotten to it. I just loved the covers in this series, I have to say in both cases the covers definitely influenced me in requesting the books for review. I have to say I enjoyed the second book in the series a little bit more. However, this book was still good! Eliza was a really fascinating character and I loved her enthusiasm and how opinionated she was and just fierce. Bas on the other hand fell a little flat for me. He just didn't feel as alive as Eliza did and the contrast between their two characters was really striking. The one thing I can say about him that felt alive were his feelings for Eliza, which I really was struck by how strong his feelings for her were and that piece really appealed to me. I thought the ending was a little rushed and there were some things that I thought should have been addressed that weren't. Like I get the Eliza really likes him but there wasn't hardly any discussion until like the last page that she'd be leaving behind her entire family. Overall though it was a sweet story and had a romantic (if somewhat rushed) ending. Even though it wasn't my favorite, I'd still say it's worth the read!

5 Stars - I highly recommend if you enjoy historical and/or royalty romance.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! This was my first Julia London novel and I am already a big fan. I love a spunky, fun historical novel, but I also love a little bit of angst and intensity. This book was such a great mix of both. The characters and settings were so vivid and quirky, and the gazette element rounded it out and made it so fun to read. I adored Eliza. She was quirky and brash and absolutely hilarious. I loved her relationship with Caro and Hollis, and Poppy, her father, and Beck too. I cannot wait to keep reading about these characters. I enjoyed the descriptions of their cluttered, noisy home, and especially the prince's interactions with it. Sebastian was a little bit grumpy but also very earnest and loyal. I loved him, and I especially loved his intensity in his relationship with Eliza. The interactions were mostly light-hearted and humorous, I laughed so hard at some of the scenes. But when there was a steamy scene everything was so pleasantly intense. It was a good way to do the grumpy one, sunshine one trope. I loved the depth that those scenes added to their relationship. And yes, the steamy scenes were so good in this one. Swoon. I loved the ending of the book, and I can't wait to read more of this series! This is exactly everything I'd want in royal romance. Loved. It.

I really enjoyed this first in a new series story. Really enjoyed watching two intelligent characters working around and then with each other before falling in love! Another winner!

The Princess Plan is a historical royal romance with a bit of murder mystery on the side, and while royal romances aren’t always my thing, I’m happy to report that I ended up enjoying it! When Prince Sebastian of Alucia’s personal secretary is murdered, he finds himself swept up in investigating the circumstances of the death. He ends up crossing paths with Eliza Tricklebank when her gossip gazette has an anonymous tip about the crime, and the two team up in order to find the culprit. They butt heads, sparks fly and you can imagine what happens next! This was a really enjoyable read, though I felt like there was the tiniest lull in pacing in the middle and it didn’t necessarily manage to consistently keep my attention from start to finish. But there are so many other aspects that more than made up for that overall - the gossip gazette aspect (very Whistledown/Gossip Girl), the relationships (Eliza’s family dynamic, her circle of friends and the budding romance), the murder mystery (which worked really well for me), and the banter (because, of course, the banter). While Julia London hasn’t fully yet cemented her status as a new favorite historical romance author for me, she’s definitely on my radar with this solid story. I certainly plan to check out the rest of the series at the very least!

At age 28, Eliza Tricklebank is the eldest and spinster daughter of an honorable justice of the Queen's Bench in Her Majesty's Service in the year of our Lord 1845. Her father is a doting man, and rather dependent on Eliza to read his missives to him as he's nearly blind. Eliza's younger sister Hollis is widowed, and publishes her late husband's broadsheet rechristened from a political magazine into Honeycutt's Gazette of Fashion and Domesticity for Ladies, which is an upscale gossip rag. Connections to some higher society folk brings plenty of tidbits for the paper, but none so much as Eliza manages to stumble into.

While at a masquerade ball in honor of Crown Prince Sebastian of Alucia, Eliza encounters his highness in a service corridor. She is well on her way to drunk on rum punch--her first time ever tasting it--and offers the parched man beside her a taste of her drink. He thinks she's offering up more than that--and she's slightly offended, but not so much. He's just a tall, foreign masked man in the moment and it's not until later that she's stepped on by Sebastian making his getaway that she realizes who'd attempted to seduce her in that hall.

Her scandalous accounting to Hollis is nothing compared to the big news the next morning: the personal secretary of the prince was MURDERED that night! Sebastian is frustrated that the English law enforcement can't help him find the killer, and he thinks (with good reason) he's a huge target for assassins from a neighboring country working in London. Sebastian, who is in London to establish trade treaties and find an advantageous English wife, remembers the odd and brash woman who introduced her own self at the ball the night of the murder. Clues in Honeycutt's Gazette point him to Judge Tricklebank to whom he immediately goes in search of answers. There he finds Eliza, who will not stand for his rude and upsetting behavior--which he's only more incensed about.  Sebastian is not a man who hears "no" very often, and his ire at being upbraided on his manners soon tempers into an inexplicable attraction for Eliza. Her quick wit, fearlessness, and hidden beauty are enough to tempt him, but when she goes beyond all reason and expectation to help Sebastian discover the killer, and the traitors in his midst, he's in a full-out swoon. 

Only, Sebastian, for all his power, can't marry any woman he fancies; he must marry a titled lady, something Eliza lacks. That said, he's not a lazy man, and his ability to see a plan to its end might just catch the woman of his dreams--a princess fit to lead beside him.  

This is a fun romp with some dangerous twists and scandalous curves. Eliza isn't a fair maiden, and she's not looking for a rescue. Sebastian is a man in need of help, and he's not going to get it by throwing his weight around. London is not his domain, and for all his power he's utterly helpless in his pursuit of justice. The recurrent theme of not underestimating the fairer sex really drives this home as Eliza continually challenges Sebastian and rises above his expectations. She's a fun character, with a low filter and a BS meter set a zero. I loved the banter and the flirtations, which build from the first meeting. The vignettes from the Gazette serve as interludes of humor and plot motion, filling in gaps in a quick and snappy way--continually poking fun at the sexist and classist notions of the era. Though set in 1850s London, the sensibility is clearly American Individualist as Eliza flouts conventions of society time and again, in ways that would be 100% boorish in another character. She's educated and intelligent and unwilling to give up her independence, which is a hindrance to the period romance. 

This isn't a chaste story, but it's not super steamy. Expect a slow burn and a ton of sass. Eliza may not want to be a married woman, but she doesn't mind making use of Sebastian's athletic body and sexual frustration. In their quest for truth, Eliza eventually accepts that she's falling hard for Sebastian, and she'll be sad to see him marry a pretty, vapid heiress with the right social connections. 

Good thing that's not how it ends! I really enjoyed it, and look forward to the sequel coming out later this month.

A fun twist on the royal romance and a mystery thrown in too!  Prince Sebastian is just too cute and appealing. A quick and enjoyable read.

Julia London - an author to be remembered by good historical romance, great plot and plenty of cute characters. You will feel the story that is being read. You will enjoy the twist from time to time. Each book written by this author is a good read, so try it if you never had a chance to experience her writing! 4.5 solid shiny stars.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to be able to read this, unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances I was not able to download this title. I do appreciate the opportunity given to me and I look forward in the future to be able to review another book. 
Thank you once again.

I enjoyed this, as it was filled with characters that made me laugh and want to care about them.  Eliza was a doll and made me cackle with delight in her ventures.  It was no wonder Prince Sebastian fell for her.  The characters and the romance made me stay, however, I felt the murder plot was built up only to be resolved in a rather dull and anti-climactic way.  I would say the romantic scenes were not as steamy as I would have hoped.  But again, I give it a four out of five stars.

I really enjoyed The Princess Plan. I had originally started this in 2019, but stopped because I wasn't in the right frame of mind. But later, in 2020 and amidst this quarantine, it was just what I needed. 

I enjoyed Eliza Tricklebank, daughter of a blind Judge, fixer of old clocks, and blunt spinster of the ton. She's fun and doesn't take anything, especially not from a Prince of Alucia.

The Prince of Alucia, Sebastian was a bit harder to get around to, but he was the typical prince type. Arrogant and entitled, with all the expectations that he was born to expect. 

The plot itself was different, and I enjoyed it for what it was. A murder plot, in the middle of trade negotiations for two countries, and a wedding deal? A lot rolled into one. 

Overall, I enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the next!

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy of The Princess Plan by Julia London in exchange for an honest & fair review.

The Princess Plan

Eliza was the spinster daughter of a blind court judge. Her days were filled with helping her widowed sister continue to publish the gazette her brother-in-law had started, assisting her father with his legal work, or partaking in her hobby of fixing timepieces.

Bas was born the crown Prince of Alucia.  His days were full of royal matters; war with their neighbor and finding a British wife with ties to Queen Victoria 's court.

Love Eliza

Eliza is my kind of girl.  She's smart, opinionated, brave, and she cares not for society's rules regarding single women. Not the typical young woman.

An untimely murder, an anonymous note to the judge, and a blurb in the Gazette lead to many, many meetings between Sebastian and Eliza.

During their time together, Bas starts to depend on Eliza for her attributes detailed above.  He recognizes that she has so much more to offer than the propped up and promoted twits paraded before him as potential mates.

How can these two shatter the Victorian shackles and expectations to find true love and happiness?

THE VERDICT

I really enjoyed this book! Even if you think historical romance is not your thing, try it! The Princess Plan is fun. Another romance I loved recently is The Write Escape by Charish Reid.

The Princess Plan was an enjoyable read featuring a royalty romance and an intriguing mystery plotline.

Prince Sebastian of Alucia is hoping to spend as little time in London as possible. He simply wants to finish negotiating a trade deal for Alucia and secure a bride so he can return home. But when Sebastian’s personal secretary is murdered, he finds his priorities changed. Having little faith in England’s authorities to find the killer, Sebastian begins looking into the murder on his own leading him to Miss Eliza Tricklebank, a woman who runs a gossip gazette that received an anonymous tip about the murder. As Sebastian and Eliza work together to solve the crime, the attraction between the pair heats up until Sebastian will be forced to make a choice—his country or his heart.

Eliza and Sebastian’s relationship is very antagonistic at first as Eliza has information that Sebastian wants and he goes about getting it in a rude fashion. Actually Sebastian was a jerk overall when the story began and he definitely takes some time to warm up to. Eventually after they pair up to solve the murder there were some wonderful scenes between them. I enjoyed their romance the most when the two had time to just be with each other and not be constrained by society’s expectations. My biggest issue with their relationship was due to Sebastian sleeping with a woman who was not Eliza early on in the story. While I understand Sebastian and Eliza hadn’t interacted much at that point, I am just not a fan when part of the main couple sleeps with someone else in the story. As the scene happened within the first few chapters, it soured me on the romance for a while which led to my not enjoying the romance as much as I may have without that scene.

The murder of Sebastian’s secretary was an intriguing premise and I was curious how in a group with so much security (they are royals after all), someone would have the opportunity to kill the man. I picked out the culprit fairly on in the story, but I still thought the author did a good job building things up and getting the main characters to the right conclusion. I am a heavy reader of mysteries and thrillers so if those are not genres you typically read, then the identity of the killer may come as more of a surprise to you.

Overall while I had some issues with the romance, The Princess Plan was still an enjoyable read and I will be continuing on with the series.