Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

Caroline was a disgraced Princess, who was basically exiled from her family and/or country when she married someone that her family didn't approve of. She's not one who break the rules all the time, as she tried to follow the rules set before her, but she finally got very tired of it, and from then on out, she marched to the beat of her own drummer. After she lost that husband, she really went underground as she would rather die than go back to her family. If that's not enough, out of the blue, her sister's presumed dead fiance finds her, and begs for her help. Caroline definitely needs to know what the hell is going on, and for the trifecta of chaos, her old bodyguard, Hugh, shows up. She's always had a strong attraction to him, so him being in close quarters with her, isn't helping the situation out at all. This when the story takes a new turn, as Caroline is in danger, so the twists start coming out of the woodwork, while the intensity winds up making my heart start to race big time. Who is after them?! You'll have to one click to find out! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Not what I expected- in a good way! Caroline is smart, independent, fierce, and loves her family despite her circumstances. She teams up, often reluctantly, with Hugh who she knew from years past. Between them there is a great spark, but the story isn’t solely focused on that. There is plenty of mystery, action, and drama to suit everyone! I hadn’t read the first of this series, but that was no problem. You can jump into this one and follow it easy. You might have a bit more background though if you’ve read the first.

Liked the first one. Really enjoyed this one as well. Great read. I love me bodyguard story. I will read more from this author

Heads up - this story will sound familiar in the beginning and it took me way too long to realize that this was the same story as The Royal Runaway just told from a different perspective. Instead of being from Thea's point of view, it was from Caroline. I really liked Caroline and Hugh a lot and was completely immersed in their world and the royal machinations going on behind them. I would like at least two more books - one for Sophie and one for Henry as well.

I highly recommend reading Royal Runaway before this so there is more depth to the story.

This book seemed interesting from the short blurb I read, but it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. Maybe that’s the reason I just didn’t care for it. It read more like chick lit than romance, and what romance there was was brief and took place behind closed doors, so to speak. I couldn’t connect with the main character, Caroline, and felt that there was just way too much going on in the book. There were so many sub-plots and side characters that it was hard to keep track of it all, and I often felt a little lost. Hugh might have been interesting, but I just didn’t feel like I got to know him well, nor did I get to see the relationship between him and Caroline in any real, meaningful way. It felt a lot like the author was trying to throw everything she could into the story, and I would have much preferred it slimmed down and focused more on Caroline and Hugh. I think this book is the start of a series, but I’m just honestly not interested enough to read more. Not recommended.

This was a weird, weird experience. I spent the majority of the time reading this book thoroughly confused and mightily perplexed. I didn’t really follow what was going on — the plot felt underdeveloped and somewhat like I’d been dropped in the middle of a dark forest with no compass. It was a bizarre reading experience, and I can’t say I enjoyed it. Whilst the writing in terms of language and sentence form was great, the characters were lacking dimension, personality and chemistry. The story felt lacking, and definitely didn’t make any sense. I simply couldn’t follow the plot which is a shame because this book had so, so much promise. It had the potential to be brilliant but it sadly missed the mark.

I enjoy reading this story, have suspense, intrigues, some detective skills and a great love story. Hugh is the bodyguard assignee to princess Caroline. But Caroline is the rebel sibling, the brave twins that eloped when her teenage crush rejected her. But her crush is a wise brave bodyguard who plan his retirement and their future.
I received a ARC from Netgalley for a honest review. I recommended this book.

This book was okay.

It had a really good premise, and the plot seemed to flow really well except until the end. I felt a little confused, and very let down as the ending was really just kinda blah for me.

I also felt that I didn't get to know who Caroline or Hugh really were. I felt like I was only getting glimpses into their characters. More than midway through the book, I realised that the book was part of a series, so that was probably why I felt that I was missing certain parts of the story.

I found the book to be entertaining at times, however, and found plenty to fan my like of romantic intrigue & royal scandal romances.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book, which was kindly provided via Entangled Publishing & NetGalley.

I received an ARC in return for an honest review.

I was delighted to get a copy of this novel. I loved this story. Caroline was immediately a likable character that you wanted to know the tale of; a disowned princess. Early on in the novel, she is faced with a tragic loss of Stavros, the race car driver that she ran off with. She has to find her way...and eventually to Hugh. Her once bodyguard, and now possible current flame, have an unique experience in finding themselves, love, and possibly even their way back to each other.

Just okay. I didn't like the POV too well. The heroine was tough to like.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Royal Bodyguard by Lindsay Emory is an interesting instalment in the Royal series.

Readers are invited back into the modern royal kingdom of Drieden, this time following Princess Thea's younger sister Caroline who was exiled after eloping with a race car driver. Now a widow, Caroline is trying to live a quiet life away from the spotlight when she runs into her older sister's ex-fiancé Christian, the same man everyone believes to be dead. Christian tempts Caroline with an exclusive tell-all story, for Caroline has been writing expose pieces under different pen names, but her old bodyguard Hugh gets in the way before she can accept Christian's offer. Forced to work with Hugh to get a second chance at Christian's story, Caroline discovers a lot of has changed about Drieden but her unrequited love for Hugh still remains.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Royal Runaway but I was really underwhelmed with The Royal Bodyguard. I thought Lindsay Emory did an incredible job building the modern royal kindgom of Drieden and the mystery behind the Royal House Laurent and its enemies in The Royal Runaway and I wish that carried on through The Royal Bodyguard. As the second book in the series, The Royal Bodyguard expands on the mystery of who is trying to overthrow the Laurent's but does so in a rushed and not fully explored way. I also felt the romance between Caroline and Hugh took a backseat to the mystery, which would have been fine if the mystery was executed better.

Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and Lindsay Emory for the digital ARC!

2 stars
I honestly thought I was going to love this book. In reality, I struggled to even read it. An exiled princess tells he story from one point of view. It was flat and a little boring at times.

This book was really not what I was expected, I didn't know that this was a second book in the series and I didn't find that it really took away from the story though more background would have been nice. Although now I'd like to read Thea's story. This story is told from the perspective of the exiled princess. It would have been nice to have multiple perspectives especially from the bodyguards. Overall a good quick read!
Thanks again to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

"Perfect princesses exist only in fairy-tales. Humans wear tiaras, my darling. Humans who deserve love and forgiveness, just like everyone else."

Caroline eloped with a race car driver. She was exiled from her family and stripped of her royal title. When her husband died in a crash, she further separated herself from everything by hiding from the world. Caroline has a very complicated history with her family - and a lot of secrets. Including her job as a reporter and her previous role as a gossip columnist whose primary role was talking about her own family.

Hugh is a body guard with the royal police. He was Caroline's bodyguard 10 years ago - until he asked to be reassigned. Caroline had developed feelings for Hugh and wanted to act on them. Hugh chose honor over love.

From what we are told, Caroline seems to have gone in to something of a downward spiral after that event. Hugh stayed the course as a bodyguard, building his skills and reputation. They are brought back together again when Caroline's sister's ex-fiance (who had reportedly killed himself) suddenly reappears in her life.

There is a LOT going on in this book. Like a lot. Royal intrigue plots, unrequited love, personal loss, action, adventure, the list goes on! I think a little judicious editing might have narrowed things down a bit. I also think that some things that happened in this story are designed to set the stage for the next stories in this series -rather than putting the focus on this book. I am a series junkie - but things like that tend to make the focal story a little unwieldy and scattered.

I also wanted a little more development of the relationship between Hugh and Caroline. Obviously their past history explains a lot of their present connection, but they don't spend much time getting to know each other either. A point that is made by Caroline's sister - but isn't really fleshed out. I think there was so much else going on - that there wasn't time for that.

The ending was totally and completely anticlimactic. Like totally. I actually still feel like -really - that's it? I felt that way about everything that happened in the last 25% of the book.

That being said, I did enjoy the story and was invested in what was going to happen. But I felt like there was so much going on that the story didn't have a lot of focus. Without focus, I wasn't able to develop a lot of depth of connection to the characters.

If you like royal romances (which can be hit or miss for me) - this is a great book for you. It will remind you of Emma Chase's Royally Series. Or a very grown-up Princess Diaries. As a side note - the sexy-times in this book are definitely fade-to-black, so this might be a good transition book for a young-adult reader.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley - but these opinions are all my own!

Liked my review? Want to read more about what I've read? Check out my blog here: https://thisbookthatlife.com/

A royally good romantic read full of drama, passion and suspense, The Royal Bodyguard is a heart-warming, emotional and enjoyable tale from a writer I’ve added to my must-buy list: Lindsay Emory.

Princess Caroline of Drieden had chosen love over duty to the crown and had eloped with a racing car driver, forfeiting her royal title and her family. However, now that her husband is dead, Caroline finds herself alone, exiled from her homeland and eking out a living writing shocking exposes under a pen name. Always on the look out for the next scoop, she is floored when she catches sight of her sister’s former fiancé Christian – who is supposed to be dead! If Caroline manages to break this story, she could have the scoop of the century on her hands. However, her plans to reveal to the world what really happened to Christian are shot to smithereens when Hugh Konnor – her former bodyguard and first love – turns up! Caroline needs to focus on her story and she certainly cannot afford any distractions of any kind. But when the man you never really stopped loving turns up out of the blue bringing with him a plethora of emotions which have been long-buried, Caroline realizes that she’s got more to worry about than being out scooped by her rivals!

Hugh refuses to leave her side and with every moment they spend together, him and Caroline find themselves getting closer and closer. As old desires rekindle making it impossible not to give into temptation, Caroline and Hugh find themselves reconnecting and falling in love with one another anew. However, as Caroline begins to wonder how deep she is prepared to go to protect the family that had deserted her, is she aware of the obstacles and dangers that are standing in her way?

Hugh swears to protect her body from all enemies, however, it soon becomes clear that it’s not just her body that will need protecting, but also her heart.

A thoroughly enjoyable romantic read full of adventure, intrigue and romance, The Royal Bodyguard is a wonderful tale of second chances, new beginnings and moving on from the past that kept me entertained and engrossed throughout. Lindsay Emory has a fantastic breezy style that holds readers captive and will have them falling head over heels in love with Caroline and Hugh. Add humour, danger, passion and plenty of heart and you have a fabulous romantic read you will not be able to put down.

The Royal Bodyguard was my first Lindsay Emory but it shall certainly not be my last. A fantastic romance I couldn’t bear to put down, Lindsay Emory’s The Royal Bodyguard is a must-read that should not be missed.

It took me a little bit to get into this story and like Caroline, but once I did it felt like watching a spy movie. I have not read the first book about Thea, but I did not feel like I was missing any important information.

The action moves between many different locations around Europe and I was intrigued as Caroline and Hugh attempt to capture and discover what Christian, her sister's ex-fiance, is up to.

This is a single POV story from Caroline's perspective. While I wish we had been able to get inside Hugh's head, I understand how the story was better told with him being more of a mystery.

Emory weaves another tale of family and intrigue with the Royal Bodyguard. This second installment in the series does not disappoint. Fans of the royal genre will be impressed with another original story that brings a strong protagonist to the forefront as she tries to find her way back FYI the family. Her relationship with her bodyguard is beyond satisfying. This is an excellent read.

Thank you Author's Pal for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Royal Bodyguard
By:Lindsay Emory

*REVIEW* 👑👑👑
The Royal Bodyguard was not what I expected. I did not realize this is a second book in a series. I recommend reading the first book because some background information would have been useful. I like the premise, but the story did not connect with me. The heroine exiled princess tells the story, and that is problematic. I would have liked the hero's perspective as well. It was just a one sided story that fell flat. Unfortunately, I was not invested in the outcome. Readers who enjoy a single point of view will like this book I think.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. 

This book technically follows The Royal Runaway but each of these novels are stand alone books.  You won't be lost reading The Royal Bodyguard if you've not read Runaway.  I do encourage you to read The Royal Runaway though.  

In this edition of the royal family of Drieden the focus is on the second oldest female princess.  Caroline has been excommunicated from the royal family by her grandmother, the Queen, but that will never stop her from caring for them.

She's had some crazy things happen in her adult life and we find her in hiding in Italy.  No one knows where she is...or so she thinks.  That is until her sister, the Heir, ex-fiance shows up near her house and then a royal bodyguard is suddenly in her space. 

Lots of drama people!  Not bad drama.  It's just enough to keep you flipping the pages to see what's going to happen next.  There were some parts where I was a little confused as to what was going through Caroline's head but that's Caroline for ya.  

If you like royalty stories this book will help with your craving.