I loved the thought of this book! I mean come on, a rapper and a prince, who would've thought? It was a little slow to me, but was made up through the amount of steam!! It was honestly a really good escape from my little life into something different.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it DID NOT disappoint! I really loved the storyline and the romance between Jameson and Dani. It may be a little "insta-lovey", which I generally do not like at all. However, this was executed so well and the chemistry was so good that I could look past it. And the spice!!! It was steamy for sure.

Overall 5/5 stars and 3/5 on the spice scale.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

This review may be a tad spoilery so please be aware of that!

I could not put this book down!! I immediately loved Dani. She’s a bad bitch who doesn’t take shit from anyone. I rooted for her every step of the way. I loved that the story was dual POV but I think even if it was told just from Dani’s POV it still would have been great because she is such a strong character.

This book is super hot, the physical chemistry between these two characters is off the charts, but there wasn’t as much emotional chemistry as I would have liked. Since they did not actually meet until 27% into the book, there wasn’t very much time between their initial meeting and when they got together.

I also feel like because this ended on a HFN I could totally see there being a second book and I really hope there is because I definitely feel like their story is not over and I want to know what happens next.

This book has so much drama! Normally I would be annoyed by so much drama but I felt like it really worked for this story and I kind of loved how much drama these was.

Thank you to Avon for an eARC of this book.

CW: death of a loved one

Royally Good!

Dani, aka Duchess, needs a good PR diversion and a Royal concert would be perfect…as long as she doesn’t become the story by falling for the prince in charge of organizing the concert.

I really enjoyed the chance to get to know both Dani and Jamison before meeting them as a potential couple; so often we meet characters in through the eyes of their potential partner but not here we know who they are before they even meet.

I also liked that they were both honest in that initially it was just physical attraction that drew them to each other but then quickly realize they like the other person now that they understand each other better.

And Duchesse’s lyrics before certain chapters?! Love, love, love!

And let’s be honest who doesn’t love a seemingly straight laced prince who get dirty talk with the best of them?! The chemistry and intimacy between Dani and Jay was perfect!

Finally, I really liked the ending. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t say more but for me it really worked.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

This is a story about defying expectations.  Danielle "Duchess" Nelson is a popular rapper but her true love is the company she founded for a line of skin care products.  The company has been very successful, and she seems on the verge of signing a deal with a major cosmetic conglomerate that will take her company to the next level and finally give her control over her life.  But when a video of an incident between Dani and a minor pop star goes viral (driven largely by the pop star's effort to get more attention), the acquiring company gets cold feet about the deal -- and tell Dani she needs to do something to turn around her public image if there is any hope for the deal going through.

Dani is not sure what to do -- until she learns that she has been invited to perform at a benefit concert the royal family is throwing.  Surprising most of the British people, the concert is being hosted by Prince Jameson, one of the Queen's grandsons who has kept a low profile since the death of his father when he was a child.  Now a college professor, he much prefers the classroom to the limelight.  But the Queen insists that Prince Jameson be the public face of the concert.  Little does he realize, this will involve hosting Dani at his country home.

When the Duchess and the Prince first meet, things don't go well -- but soon they realize what they thought was tension is actually a deep and undeniable attraction.  As they spend more time and get to know each other, they find their connection may go even deeper -- but both question whether a relationship between people from such different worlds can survive public scrutiny, or perhaps even more challenging, the scrutiny of the royal family.

I really enjoyed this book.  One can't help but note the parallels from real-life events.  From that kernel, the author creates a richly imagined story all its own. Both Dani and Jameson are fully realized characters -- you get a sense of how their pasts inform the choices they make as adults, including their professional ambitions, why they are drawn to each other initially, and how, for both of them, their relationship grows and deepens.  I found myself fully consumed by their worlds -- and I would definitely be interested in a sequel to find out what comes next in this story.

Highly recommended!

"American Royals" by Tracey Livesay - 4.5/5 stars!
To start, I was immediately drawn in by this beautiful cover! It is absolutely stunning. i am a huge fan of a royalty/famous trope, so the story had me hooked from the first chapter! I loved that it was dual pov and we got to know each of the characters individually before they met. From the very first meeting Duchess and Jameson had insane, steamy chemistry! The initial dislike they had for each other was no match for their obvious attraction. Duchess was such a strong FMC; she was so dedicated and passionate about her music and business, and her personality was very charming and down to earth. She had really strong Meg Thee Stallion vibes, which I loved. Jameson was a royal, turned professor who preferred to stay out of the limelight and live his quiet life. He was also very charming and easy to like. Their relationship felt so special because, while they appeared to be opposites at first, both of them were trying to overcome preconceived notions that others had of them and present their authentic selves. Overall, I thought this book was a really solid 4.5/5 stars and would recommend to anyone who loves romance.
My only complaint was that the relationship felt very fast and insta-lovey in the beginning but then we didn’t get to actually see enough of their relationship post main conflict. I would’ve loved more romance in the ending or an extended epilogue.

I'm so disappointed!!! Celebrity romance is a favorite of mine, and I was especially intrigued that one of main characters was a hip=hop artist. I think the book started off strong and it wasn't totally awful, but there were a lot of elements I took issue with.

1. I thought the pacing was off. Jameson and Dani didn't even meet each other until 30% into the book, and the climax of the book happened about 90% of the way through, which left little time to solve the problem and see how the main characters grew in their relationship. Also the epilogue really made me upset.

2. The whole Samantha Banks situation seemed to have little to no relevance to the story?? Other than throwing off a deal Dani wanted to make which caused her to accept the royal concert proposal. After that it kept being brought up for no reason and added literally nothing to the story.

3. I will say that the spicy scenes were enjoyable, but they seemed to cut off at super odd places on more than one occasion. Also Jameson would constantly be like "we need to talk" and then instead of talking they would just have sex. Do royals ever learn about communication??

Overall this was pretty disappointing for me :( 2.75 stars.

1.5 Stars
This book was a struggle. I was excited to read this when I learned that it was based on Meghan and Harry. The idea of a Black American celebrity dating a British prince sounded amazing, but that’s where the similarities to Meghan and Harry ended. My first major annoyance was that the pair didn’t meet until we were over 25% of the way through the book. How were we ever going to get a complete story if they don’t meet until a quarter of the way through? The answer, we aren’t. This book doesn’t resolve a single thing. Rather than getting a story of people from different but similar worlds falling in love and overcoming the barriers between them, we got two people who fell into instant lust who never had a meaningful conversation that ends with them saying they will need to figure things out. What the hell was the point of the book if they weren’t going to figure things out? I am so annoyed. Prince Jameson had exactly two moods: grumpy and horny, and never actually showed any growth. I did like Dani, but was annoyed on her behalf that she’s the one that’s going to have to make sacrifices for the relationship. She deserves better. I can tell from the epilogue that there is going to be another book, but I don’t know why I would want a book about that character. This book was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe this is a debut!!! I loved this from start to finish. I love anything royal family-related, so I was SO ready to dive into this, and it did not disappoint! This book had me laughing out loud from the first page. The concept of this was hilarious too - a yummy British prince has to find someone to perform at a concert honoring his grandfather, and who better than an artist named Duchess? Their chemistry was off the charts too. All in all I loved this, and I'm patiently waiting for Livesay's next installment (Nyla and Rhys?? 🤔)

This was my first book by Tracey Livesay and trust me it won't be my last this was such a fun delightful read and that's just what I wanted

American Royalty had so much potential. While I mostly enjoyed the book, I had mixed feelings.

What I enjoyed:
-- Dani's character - she's vividly defined, so much so I could see her as a rapper that I would like & listen to
-- Steamy moments between Dani and Jameson
-- Real world parallels and commentary

What didn't work for me:
-- For most of the book, it was unclear how strong Dani and Jameson's connection was beyond sex
-- Uneven pacing

So the blurb compares this to Harry and Meghan.
That's a stretch.

Our two main characters: Prince jameson and Duchess ( a Black rapper and entrepreneur ) meet, have a whirlwind romance and conflict ensues.

Insta love at it's finest.

That being said, I wanted to love this book, but I only ended up liking it.
The romance felt rushed without us really getting to know the characters. I'm all for strong sexual tension from the beginning. But one minute Jameson was in denial the next minute they are going for it on the couch!

I wanted to love both the characters, and in some ways I did. I just wish we had had a little more time to get to know them and a little more depth in their characters.

And let's not forget the ending. It felt RUSHED. It was a major conflict resolved REALLY quickly and it just threw me.

overall, this is a light read, heavy on the stream. A good by the pool read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Ebook. All opinions are my own.

A stellar read - especially if you're in love with all things royal! This royal romance is not like others I've read before, for starters because it's MULTI-RACIAL! (We love a good multi-racial love story.) And Dani (or Duchess) is so bad-ass. She's a strong, independent woman, who really just is an inspiration in herself. I loved reading from her point of view, how much she loved her family and treasured her fans. I really enjoyed that aspect of it, and of course watching the love story between her and Jameson bloom. I think what made it so fun to read, is because it seemed like they were opposites, I mean they did come from different families and upbringings, but how they got to learn about each other throughout the book was so fun. I think this was a fun read all around.

I liked this book. The blurb compares it to Harry and Meghan, but I think that’s kind of a stretch. The FMC, Dani, is a rapper who calls herself Duchess. Her lyrics are explicit and her stage costumes skimpy.
The MMC Jameson (Jay), is a professor who is encouraged ie forced by the Queen to become a working royal. He’s not happy about putting on a concert in honor of the Queen’s deceased husband until he meets the real Dani, who’s not in her Duchess persona.

Anyway, I liked the plot and loved the characters. Dani and Jameson have mad chemistry, and the sex is steamy and sometimes graphic.
I liked seeing the differences in the public and private faces of both Dani (Duchess) and Jameson, and the scenes describing the music industry and backstage of the concert were really interesting. There are lots of glimpses inside the palace, and at the Queen and her adult children.

If you’re a fan of royals you’ll love this one! 4.5 stars.

Synopsis:
In this dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, a prince who wants to live out of the spotlight falls for a daring American rapper who turns his life, and the palace, upside down.

Sexy, driven rapper Danielle "Duchess" Nelson is on the verge of signing a deal that'll make her one of the richest women in hip hop. More importantly, it'll grant her control over her life, something she's craved for years. But an incident with a rising pop star has gone viral, unfairly putting her deal in jeopardy. Concerned about her image, she's instructed to work on generating some positive publicity... or else.

A brilliant professor and reclusive royal, Prince Jameson prefers life out of the spotlight, only leaving his ivory tower to attend weddings or funerals. But with the Queen's children involved in one scandal after another, and Parliament questioning the viability of the monarchy, the Queen is desperate. In a quest for good press, she puts Jameson in charge of a tribute concert in her late husband's honor. Out of his depth, and resentful of being called to service, he takes the advice of a student. After all, what's more appropriate for a royal concert than a performer named "Duchess"?

Too late, Jameson discovers the American rapper is popular, sexy, raunchy and not what the Queen wanted, although he's having an entirely different reaction. Dani knows this is the good exposure she needs to cement her deal and it doesn't hurt that the royal running things is fine as hell. Thrown together, they give in to the explosive attraction flaring between them. But as the glare of the limelight intensifies and outside forces try to interfere, will the Prince and Duchess be a fairy tale romance for the ages or a disaster of palatial proportions?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

At the beginning of this book, I didn't think I would like it at all. Rap and Hip Hop are not my thing, so I wasn't excited about a book featuring a rapper. Once the setting of the book moved to England, and the Prince and "Duchess" Dani met, things began to heat up. Dani was actually a down-to-earth woman, with a kind heart. However, she was a bit raunchy.
The chemistry between the prince and Dani was definitely there, and there were many, MANY, steamy scenes which portrayed their interest in bed. I know that this novel is in response to the Harry/Meghan marriage, as well as referencing some other celebrities with business ventures, but although I liked the romance between Dani and the prince, I still found it VERY difficult to imagine that 1. a performance for the royal family would be laced with profanity, and 2. that a rapper and a prince would be able to pull it off.
As always, with books like this, I truly wish the author would spend more time showing the personalities of the characters, so that if they do make a go of it, you believe their relationship would last - because they know each other as friends, vs. just being hot for each other. I do think it is important to show interracial relationships.
All in all, I ended up liking the book, and the ending was just deserts.
Thanks to BookClubGirl/HarperCollins/WilliamMorrow and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Grab a fan, cause this book was hot!
The main characters, Dani and Jameson, had combustible chemistry. It practically burned through the pages! I was not expecting that from a royal romance that's for sure!
Dani is a wonderful heroine. She's a famous rapper (yas!) and super confident and sexy. I loved how she owned her identity and didn't let anyone tell her who she is or change for anyone.
Jameson did take a moment to warm up to since it was kind of a jerk in the beginning but I grew to like him too. His character had layers and I liked that we got to see them.
This book had so had so much going on but I think everything gets resolved in a way that is believable.
If you're into celebrity/royal romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden relationship, steamy reads, and spicy scenes this book is for you.

Thank you Tracey Livesay for the fairytale every Black woman has been waiting for. American Royalty is a superb study of what it means to be true to yourself no matter what you stand to lose. Being you is the most powerful and attractive thing in the world. This book has all the things I love: A heroine who is the perfect mix of a sexy ‘around the way girl’ and a ‘boss b*tch’, a hero who is swoonier than all the Hallmark princes collectively, fire chemistry, and it was written by Tracey Livesay. What more can you ask for? Read this book!!!

This weekend I needed an escape - and did American Royalty deliver. The dynamics between Duchess/Dani and Jameson kept me reading. This is a perfect summer read, with fun and heat, but also touching on business commitments, family, and the challenges of fame.

Thank you to Avon and HarperVoyager and to Netgalley for an ARC.
#AmericanRoyalty #Netgalley

This was a fun read my only gripe the rushed pacing towards the end. I hope there is a part two of Dani and Jameson's story. Definitely want more of these two characters chronicling their life in the royal palace. Pick this one up if you are a fan of Harry and Meghan.

When I first heard about this book, I was excited to read it because I love Prince Harry and the Duchess Meghan Markle together. However, I made the mistake of not reading the full synopsis before diving in. This is the story of a Black female rapper and skin care entrepreneur name Danielle "Duchess" Nelson and her whirlwind romance with the introverted prince who works as a philosophy professor. In the U.S., Duchess has been dealing with her management constantly making decisions for her without her consent and a pop star who won't stop trying to ride the rapper's coattails through social media and the press. She just wants to control her own life and move more into the skin care realm with a company interested in striking a deal. Thankfully, she gets the perfect opportunity to escape the madness for a while AND drum up good press through a surprising opportunity.
In the U.K., the Queen is at her wits end with her children and the negative attention they've brought on the royal family. Seeking to convince the public of the royal family's importance and celebrate her beloved late husband, she tasks Prince Jameson with organizing a week long celebration complete with a tribute concert. There are just a few problems...Jameson hates public attention, he doesn't listen to popular music, and he can't back out. On a whim, Jameson asks a student for musicians to recommend, which leads to his decision to invite Duchess to perform without looking into her or her music.

This book was very steamy and full of sexy scenes. I also loved the Great British Baking Show references. However, there wasn't much else I loved about this story. Aside from Prince Jameson being described as extremely attractive and the sexual tension between him and Duchess, I didn't see any real reason the two could fall in love. They barely opened up to one another and when they did, it was only with partial explanations. Most of the time, they were having sex, thinking about it, or trying to act normal in public. So Their love connection didn't feel believable. I also had a hard time with this book because I felt like there were way too many instances of things not quite making sense...
One example: If Jameson grew up as a royal with their need to appear proper at all times, why is he so ignorant of how obvious he and Duchess are in front of his staff and others? They both seemed to lack common sense throughout the book.

If you like instalove and smut and don't care as much about these things, I think you'll enjoy this book!