Heat Factor: I didn’t get far enough for sex, but they’re having hot smooches by 35% so I’d be optimistic
Character Chemistry: It was good, but I should have been more invested by the time I DNFed in order to make it really click
Plot: He’s the heir with overbearing parents and political problems blah, blah, blah; she’s the clumsy commoner who’s a breath of fresh air but could never really be with him blah, blah, blah
Overall: I was so optimistic about having a fun fake relationship comfort read but I really just cannot deal with this one

Full disclosure: I DNFed this at 37% because I was both bored and annoyed to the point that if Liam had said that he just couldn’t be wild and fun because court and responsibilities one more time, I was going to throw my phone. By 25% I was like, “WHY ARE THERE SO MANY WORDS?”

I get it. Lena has a hard life and she’s a starving artist and she’s clumsy and did I mention that she’s a starving artist who has a hard life who is clumsy?

And did we mention that Liam is the crown prince so he can’t cut loose because he has responsibilities and he needs to be responsible because if he’s not responsible then it’s going to be the end of the monarchy and everyone knows that if you have any fun it’s irresponsible?

And also Liam’s parents are overbearing royals who want to control their children and also don’t love each other at all?

And all Liam's references to things happening at court are weird. Like, is this imaginary monarchy also still somehow in the middle ages? Do they still have courtiers at court? Is that a thing?

Of course, we can't forget that if Liam doesn't marry the proper sort of woman, he forfeits the crown!

The most interesting thing about this book is that Lena's ex boyfriend is suing her and she's already broke…
… And even though we keep being reminded of this, still NOTHING IS HAPPENING.


So, uh, long story short, I just wasn't excited to keep going when I have ten other active books vying for my attention and a TBR that won’t quit.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was the cutest story. I loved Liam and Elena.

Now I want the side stories of Nia and Xander!

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5⁣
I am a sucker for royal romances- historical, modern, I don’t care as long as someone is wearing a crown. This one delivered the most fantastically tragic meet cute and delivered so much clumsiness that I could definitely relate to!⁣
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Our heroine is an artist and decides to throw paint on the mural of her ex, except someone steps in between her throw and the mural..... and he’s a hot Royal of a European country. Oh and paparazzi capture the moment and her business tanks. That is until our hot Royal hero comes up with a solution- fake dating to drum up business for her again.⁣
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This was a cute, warm, Royal romance with heat that didn’t require overthinking and it was exactly what I needed. I loved our clumsy heroine who seems to have a massive streak of bad luck, and our Royal hero who wants to prove himself. This book felt like a little bit of light hearted magic!

This a fun, romantic read with a swoonworthy leading man! Liam, a prince, and Elena, a starving artist trying to keep her business afloat, agree to fake relationship in order to put off Liam's parents need for him to get engaged. The two have immediate chemistry and lots of humor in their banter. This light-hearted romance novel is a great read!

I read A Royal Disaster in one sitting, it was unputdownable. Jennifer Bonds wrote a fast paced and fun romance. Liam was wonderful, not perfect, but close enough. He was adorable, funny, and had more confidence than anyone should. While Liam was great, Elena was what made this story fabulous. She's a bit of a hot mess, but she's REAL. Things happen, she's not the perfect and "trainable" girlfirend for Liam. She has a wonderful art studio that she cares about more than anything, and will do anything for. She knows she's a bit accident prone and tries to steer Liam away, but it doesn't work.

Liam and Elena have a whirlwind romance, but it really works. Highly recommend.

This was a really cute royalty romance with Liam as the prince from a foreign country who is visiting NYC when he finds a shortcut while ducking his bodyguards and lands up as art when Elena throws paint on him. All would have walked away but a journalist is following him and catches it on video and so Elena becomes famous if a very negative way.

Elena is a hispanic woman who has bad luck in life and in love. Her latest ex is suing her and her life is a series of mishaps as she is very klutzy. She runs her own art gallery and when she is painting some art she ends up covering Liam in paint.

When she becomes famous for attacking the prince he decides to rescue her by dating her and trying to help her by turning her klutzy accident into something that can help her. And thats when the fun begins as they start being real with each other which is a very new thing for Liam and he finds he loves being treated like a man rather than a prince.

This was a fun trope with the gorgeous prince falling for the regular girl and I found it original as he tries to rescue her from the bad press related to a paint accident. Elena brings a lightness to the prince and he brings a stability to her life that her exes never gave her. It was a sweet, sexy and adorable romance and I really enjoyed it. I did feel at times that it moved slowly and I would have liked a faster pace, but its a fun read.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

1.5 Stars

I really wanted to love this one. I really did. Unfortunately, I just didn't.

I didn't really believe in the characters, or in their attraction. It fell really flat for me.

I am unable to recommend this title.

This is a new author for me, and I truly loved it. Story is about a Crowned Royal Prince Liam, who trespasses on an artists (Lena) outside back area of her business, and unknowingly right in the way of Lena throwing paint on a wall which starts of a very funny and challenging relationship for both. I loved both Lena and Liam, complete opposites which made this such a great story to read. I loved the haphazard situations Lena got herself into, and how that was what Liam loved the most about her. Steamy scenes, hysterical situations and a great supporting cast made this a great read. Jinx was hysterical.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

A Royal Disaster by Jennifer Bonds is the 1st book in the Royally Engaged romance series, and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book, it was so sweet, as well as funny. I found this book to be a quick and fun read, and look forward to reading this author again. I highly recommend this book, it is a perfect escape, as I watch the snow fall outside my window.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Royal Disaster is a cute take on a royal love story mixed with Murphy’s Law disasters, Pretty Woman romance, and Cinderella fairy tales. While a little predictable, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable happily ever after with enough delectable side characters to make this a fun series. I laughed, I cried a little, and all in all had a great time with these characters. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for a book two in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

When Elena - in a fit of fury - throws a bucket of paint to her wall, she doesn't expect someone to trespass on her property and get in the way of said bucket of paint. Prince Liam, visiting New York on business, is slammed with the paint and the bucket itself. When this unfortunate incident goes viral and Elena is painted as 'Mad Eyes Murphy' Liam sees an opportunity. He offers a fake relationship to Elena. So save her business but also for himself, as he wants to delay having to find a suitable bride.

I enjoyed this steamy story of the prince and the girl hit with 'Murphy's Law'. Elena can't help but get into all kinds of unfortunate incidents. As most European countries have constitutional monarchies where the King/Queen does not have any real power, I thought it odd Liam was in NY to negotiate trade deals (with Colombians... why in NY?) as that would be really unlikely. But it is only a story, so I let it go. Overall it was a very funny and enjoyable romcom.

This must be a good year for books with "Royal" in the title. Melanie Summers became my new favorite author after I read ROYALLY CRUSHED. Now Jennifer Bonds has become my other new favorite author with A ROYAL DISASTER.

All I can say is, it's a good thing I read it during the pandemic while I'm stuck at home. I wouldn't want to be out in public laughing until I choke like I did with this book. The Meet Cute is literally the funniest I've ever read.

I'm a sucker for royal romance, and this one is adorable. Liam is sweet, smart, and sexy. Lena is as cute as a kitten and just as irrepressible. Did I mention that I loved this book?

I loved this book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

Jennifer Bonds is a new author to me but after reading A Royal Disaster that’s about to change because I’m really struggling to understand what she hasn’t crossed my radar before now.
Elena Murphy is going through a bad patch, being sued by her ex boyfriends for one and then she accidentally throws purple paint all over a stranger who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This man wasn’t just a man he happened to be not only royalty but also The Worlds Most Eligible Batchelor.....
Liam didn’t mean to walk into Elena’s backyard and he certainly wasn’t expecting to be covered in purple paint all with the paparazzi on his heels. Liam takes it all in his stride and offers Elena an out by becoming his fake girlfriend for a month and in return he will help her with her struggling art studio, but what’s happens when feelings come into play .......
A fun, entertaining read that will warm your heart, a fake relationship that turns into love with characters and it’s certainly a book I will read again. So if you want a sweet, lighthearted read look no further than A Royal Disaster.

Well this book was a delightful surprise, that's for sure. I went into it knowing only a few things:

1) I loved the cover
2) I loved the idea of a royal fake dating one of us common folk
3) It sounded funny

Honestly, it was even better than I expected. Not only were the characters witty and sometimes just outright funny, but they were also real and vulnerable, and were believable. On top of that? It wasn't some stupid miscommunication that caused the inevitable blowup, and that alone made this book a breath of fresh air.

<i>After all, #disaster was the story of her life.</i>

Y'all, I wasn't kidding when I said this book was funny. I laughed out loud a few times, and honestly when Lena had her embarrassing klutz-tastic moments, it was cringeworthy but not like, terribly so that you just wanted to run and hide. You felt for Lena, but you also could roll your eyes and say "yup been there." She was funny, she was smart, and she was also someone I desperately want to be friends with, if only for her Tia's cooking.

Liam? DREAMBOAT. The man knew how to court a woman and he definitely ramped up the steam factor of this book about 10x. He was a wonderful hero and an excellent book boyfriend. 10/10 would date Liam Stanley.

This book was fun, it was cute, it was funny, had great supprting characters (Nia + Ethan = 4ever), and I loved every minute with this crew. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it and I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Bonds in the future.


***Many thanks to Entangled for the review copy!!***

Such a cute and engaging story this was! A prince and an artist who has one bad thing after another happen to her. Very cute and satisfying read, enjoyable from beginning to end.

Elena and Liam's meet cute sets the tone for this awesome book! It's so much fun, and I cannot wait to read more from this author and series!

Happy release day to A Royal Disaster and thank you so much to Entangled Amara and Netgalley for letting me read an e-ARC of it early! This book was a super cute, quick romance novel that looks like it might be the beginning of a new series about a set of royal siblings in a made up country called Valeria and how they end up getting their HEAs, so definitely super cute!

A Royal Disaster 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

Elena Murphy is doing just fine—if you don’t count her struggling art studio, her ex-boyfriend suing her, and accidentally tossing purple paint onto a man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the very worst time. And not just any man, but freaking royalty. The World’s Most Eligible Bachelor, to be exact, with the paparazzi catching the whole embarrassing incident on camera.

Could her life be any more of a dumpster fire?

Yes it could. Now she’s getting dragged online and her clients are disappearing faster than free drinks at happy hour. And just when she thinks things can’t possibly get worse…His Royal Hotness decides the best way to fix this mess is to make her the envy of New York—by pretending to date.

Because what’s worse than a prince treating her like his very own Cinderella, including dreamy nights at the theater and a nearly X-rated pottery date?

Reminding herself it’s all fake.

I love me a good fake dating trope, so that was a great part of this book. I also really enjoyed the insight we got into Valerian politics and the trade negotiations that Liam was working on. I liked Elena’s art studio and how tied into the community it was. Overall, the characters were pretty great, the plot moved at a decent pace, and this book was a fun, quick, and easy read, which was exactly what I wanted on a Monday morning! Definitely a great way to end the holiday weekend. My only complaint would be that I feel like one side character was just thrown in at the end with no real context and then we saw where she came from/got some information about her in the next scene or so, but then she just disappeared. Like it seemed like she was there to cause drama, and she caused some, but it didn’t feel like she was really well thought out or that if she was really doing what she said she was doing, I feel like she would not have given up. I feel like we should have heard from her again or at least heard of her another time. That part of the storyline felt a little unfinished. Otherwise, I highly recommend this book for all of your royal romcom needs!

3.75 stars

A Royal Disaster is a cute, if a little predictable, contemporary Cinderella story mixed with a bit of Pretty Woman elements.

Elena Murphy's life is pretty much an ongoing experiment proving Murphy's law. (Oh, HA! I just got that her last name was Murphy and the Murphy's law thing... Ah. Yup. Get it now, that was clever Ms. Bonds. Very clever.) Anywho. Lena is just moving on in life from one disaster to another. We open with Lena getting serves papers from a process server exclaiming that she is being sued by her ex-boyfriend for emotional damages. As she is going to burn off some well-earned frustrations on her ongoing mural behind her business, a guy comes barging through her alley, right in front of the paint she just tossed. Now, she has a trespasser that she just accidentally assaulted with purple paint, and could her life get any worse? (Quick answer: Yes, yes it so could.)

Who doesn't love Pretty Woman? The Cinderella meets Pretty Woman crossovers were fab. Add that to my love of the fake dating trope and I was so excited to read all the things!

Elena is cute and quirky. She's got that constant clutz thing going on that is absolutely cringe-worthy at times but she has a good heart. I love that Lena is Latina and we have the whole New York and Latin cultural melding into the story and also because street carts and empanadas are yummy and delicious. And her family and BFF were just adorable.

Liam is essentially a good guy but I never really felt we got to know him. He was the quintessential storybook Prince of (insert here). He had royal duties and his parents wanted him to marry. He was working independently with his advisor/secretary/man on trade agreements for his county. And despite being assaulted with purple paint he wanted to help Lena out of the paparazzi/media storm he unintentionally brought to her door. He had a bit more of a reason for his "fake dating" scheme than he led on but then we wouldn't have had our point of "conflict". I much prefer that once a couple establishes themselves they work together to save the rec center or whathaveyou to defeat the empire. But that's just me.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and am absolutely on the hook for #2 with whatever waiting monarch to come? (Please be Alex. **crosses fingers**)

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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

This book sounded pretty interesting - I haven't read anything by this author in the past but I thought I'd give this book a try! The story was a lot of what I'd expect from a romance about a royal prince. There were some pieces of it that definitely seemed clichéd to me, but overall it was enjoyable. And I think when you're picking up a romance about royalty, you expect there to be certain fundamental pieces included in the plot line. Lena was an interesting character but I didn't love that the ending of the story resulted in her spending so much time apart from the thing she spent the whole rest of the book working so hard for (her art studio). I wouldn't say that the book was overly thrilling or exciting but it was a solid romantic story.

Royal romance walks a die line for me. It’s not my favorite trope, especially when you add in the fake dating aspect of the story. Lena and Liam are engaging enough characters, but the whole storyline seems clique and Hallmark-esque...but with more heat. The writing was good, I love Lena’s fierce independence and Liam’s charm. And I was thrilled that the heroine was a Latina. But overall, it wasn’t a book that’s going to be memorable to me in a few days. 3.5 stars