I was initially really drawn in by the characters, descriptions of the grounds, and the overall premise. However, when we started getting more details about the characters, I realized just how closely this mimicked the real English monarchy. I found it to be unimaginative and really just a retelling of real life events with a slight spin on it. I did like how the story bounced back and forth between the past and present to show just how similar the events were though. I would have liked even more explanation on Penelope's story because it was really interesting and captivating. Overall, I would have liked this to be a bit more unique and less like the real life events that happened to Princess Diana and Meghan. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Royal Game was very middle of the road for me. I couldn't stop reading (well in my case listening), but at the same time, it felt a little too close to reality for it to be a fun lighthearted rom-com. If it hadn't used real locations and very specific events that paralleled reality, I think it would have been more enjoyable. Instead, it was more of a distraction.


I think I stayed interested because I enjoyed both narrators! I've listened to Barrie before and have always been a fan, but this is the first time I've heard Shiromi and now want to check out what else she has narrated.

3.5⭐️ I'm really torn with this book for a number of different reasons. And I will start by saying I didn't read they synopsis of the book (I usually go into books blind) - so my initial impression was only from the cover/title and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I listened to the audio version which was very well narrated and definitely did the story justice.

Overall, I thought the story was fine - but maybe I read this too soon after watching some of The Crown - this book was essentially a fictionalized version of Harry and Megan, with some other royal family members thrown in. There were some parts that were just blatantly following the arc of the royals real-life story with just small changes to fictionalize. And that felt a bit jarring to me. I wanted something that felt a little more creative for a narrative.

I did think the mystery element was fairly interesting - although that too was very close to some of the conspiracy theories that are very easy to find about the royal family behind closed doors. This wasn't as much of a romance as I was expecting, the romance plot line was pretty shallow and high level. The mystery plot line was a little more developed. Overall, a light and fairly entertaining read - especially for anyone who is a fan of the royal family and/or contemporary fiction based on the royal family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Jennie Jennson is playing in Abesithza when a mysterious handsome stranger comes in demanding she plays her most famous song. This is the start of her love story with England's Prince Hugh. The story of their love is told through past and present as tragic events of the past seem to be playing out again in the present. This book seemed like an alternative version of the current English monarchy's relationships. I did truly enjoy the writing. The journal entries from the past made the book feel more authentic. I was genuinely emotional multiple times during this book. There was a little bit of drag, but overall I enjoyed the book.

The Royal Game by Linda Keir
Narrated by Sharomi Arserio (Jennie) and Barrie Kreinik (Penelope)
For a strict mystery reader who spurns anything classified as "romance", I thoroughly enjoyed this tale! I was enthralled from the "meet cute" which was so charming, and early in the book. This is preferable to me as an impatient reader; I detest having to slog through the minutiae for several chapters to get to the meat of the story; multiple chapters spent droning on about how alone the protagonists are.
As I (possibly in the minority) have never watched The Crown, this book was fascinating to me as a lover of all things British. Behind the scenes was one aspect, but behind the scenes from the eyes of an American was an added draw. There was a nice mixture of American-isms and British-isms.
Although I don't normally do much more than endure the requisite romance in most mysteries, I found myself engaged in Jennies story. Who doesn't love a good down to earth rags to riches tale? While Jennie isn't wearing rags, she is certainly not rich. She is absolutely down to earth, and just likeable! She has a good head on her musical shoulders as well, and doesn't go racing off into dark basements or trusting the questionable rogue. For an American, she's very respectful of most things British as well, and I felt like she stepped into her role as Princess-to-be admirably.
Jennie is trying to piece together Penelope's story and the possible reason for her death as she finds notes hidden by Penelope in some of the late princess' possessions. We, as the readers, have the full scoop as Penelope's narrative is given to us in her chapters, often in her own words as written in her journal. This gives a nice duplicity to the story, and lets us see where Jennie gets it right, and where she gets the wrong idea.
I decided early on this was more of a behind the scenes glimpse of Royal life than a real mystery. That said, I was drawn in by that glimpse, especially from an American pov. I will most definitely be recommending this title and this author to everyone and checking out more Linda Keir novels!
A big Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this digital review copy in exchange for my (always honest!) review!

I enjoyed this book, but wish I had known going in that it would be a fictionalized account of the actual Royal Family with Princess Diana and Meghan Markle. It felt very un-exciting because it tracked real life events in many ways, and the twist at the end didn't feel very twisty. But I really liked the narrator and thought she did a great job. If you go in knowing this is basically a fictionalized telling and it's definitely not a romance, I think you'll enjoy this more than I did.

2.5 Rounded

This was a miss for me. The biggest miss is due to the marketing. This was sold as a royal romance, but it isn’t. We get the whole “whirlwind romance” from first meeting to engagement in a few paragraphs in the opening of the story. Due to this glossing over of the building of their relationship I had zero buy in nor did I believe their love story. If this had been marketed more as a mystery then I think I would have better set my expectations.

The second miss for me was the first half of this book didn’t feel original. Everything that happened felt ripped from the headlines. I didn’t feel like the author was adding anything more to the drama until almost the last quarter of the book.

I enjoyed the narrators for the audiobook even if I wished at times their voices were a little bit more distinct.

I didn't particularly enjoy this one. I didn't think it was a thriller or a romance. I would have enjoyed it more if it had stuck to one genre. In this case, in trying to do both, it succeeded in neither. It might be a me problem, but definitely not the right book for me

I will say the beginning of this one was a bit tough to get through for me. The time jumps and POV changes were super abrupt and hard to keep track of but once the book hit its stride it was so good and I could not turn it off. I really enjoyed the narrators and thought they did a wonderful job. The ending wrapped up nicely and I felt like all questions were answered. I would recommend this one for those who like a little mystery not a ton.

I think this is incorrectly marketed as a romance. We don't actually get to experience them falling in love or even hardly interacting. The mystery is intriguing, but the parallels to princess Di is too close to not detract. I found myself thinking more about what I could remember about Di and Charles and less time thinking about the book except to compare the two.

I will say the moment we heard the pub order my jaw dropped as I made the same connection our FMC did and I did not see that coming.

Base too closely on Princess Diana and Meghan Markle's stories. The author changed car crash to plane wreck yet the concept is the same. Well written yet the plot is very predictable: Creative mystery for those who enjoy the Royal Families saga.

Thank you #netgalley and #lindakeir for allowing me to listen and review this book!

Copied from Goodreads:
The Royal Game borrows heavily from the English royal family and it is much the worse for this. The plot is intriguing--a would-be marriage between a pop singer and the Prince of Wales is threatened when the bride appears to be the victim of threatening behavior. I wouldn't say it was a thriller, but the mystery was solid. However, the royal backstories, individuals' initials, the dead mother-in-law, tension between older and younger generations... They were so clearly the Windsor family that I was distracted from the book. Changing the setting or the royal family would have made this a much more interesting and engaging book. Unfortunately, the aped Sussexes of The Royal Game do not make for interesting reading.

The Royal Game was released in the U.S. on January 30, 2024. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this audio ARC given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love the royal Romance/celebrity trope. And this book did not disappoint. it was very reminiscent of the English monarchy and Harry and Megan. Overall a good read.

I love a good royal story, so I was stoked to read this novel. “The Royal Game” did not disappoint. It also features a pop star coupled with a royal, so it was extra entertaining in that regard. It is a bit reminiscent of Harry and Meghan, which is a plus for me. I found this novel to have romance, fun, and intrigue. This book is a 3,5 rounded up to 4 stars ⭐️ for me. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

This book was a solid 3.5 stars for me.

1. A lot of unnecessary backstory on Princess Penelope.
2. It was more obvious than the author was trying to lead on. Less of a mystery than anticipated.
3. Basic fanfic of the current Royals in the UK.
4. Would have like to had more on the relationship of the prince and future princess.
5. She was a Famous US singer- but it really just kept popping up randomly, and not developed in the plot well. It felt like the author kept throwing it in to remind us at random times vs making it part of the plot - other than how her and MMC met.

Thank you so much to @netgalley, Blackstone publishing, and author Linda Keir for graciously sending the audiobook to review. Jennie Jensen is an American pop singer who is getting engaged to a prince of England. Hugh was a loveable MMC, and I adored Jennie's character. As Jennie was preparing for the wedding, she is of course, learning new pieces of etiquette, most of which were completely foreign to her. She is hitting some bumps, but then she got an anonymous letter threatening that she would perish the same was her love's mother did - in a mysterious plane crash. She works to unravel the mystery, and I loved her character caught on to so many secrets.

I loved the mix of romance and mystery - so good! My one complaint, as a romance lover, was the abrupt beginning to the story. I would have loved a little more backstory to become more invested their story.

The audiobook was done very well. by Barrie Kreinik and Shiromi Arserio.

A mystery that centers around the American fiancé to a British prince, and his mother who died in what some thing was mysterious circumstances years ago. While a romance is at the center of the plot, very little time is spent there, which I appreciated because I think that plot can get too predictable. Instead, there is some of the fun of the "plebian fish in royal waters" trope, but it doesn't get bogged down. The mystery element wraps up just a little too quickly for my taste, but overall I really enjoyed the story.

This royal novel is more of a thriller than a romance. In the lead-up to her wedding to England's Prince Hugh, American singer, Jennie Jensen, is having trouble fitting into the royal family. When she starts to receive death threats, she starts to see the parallels of her life with the late Princess Penelope.

Why We Like it: The female lead is a mash-up of Meghan and Kate, but it's the thriller/mystery element that makes this story stand apart from most royal reads.

Jennie, a pop singer, and Prince Hugh. A fairytale engagement! Or is it?

Someone isn't happy about this engagement and they are letting it be known. Is it someone inside the royal family's inner circle? Jennie gets anonymous letters. Things in her room get broken. There are some accidents that are near misses.

Prince Hugh's mom, Princess Penelope, died in a mysterious plane crash when he was younger. Jennie hears rumors it was not actually and accident and is determined to find the truth. But someone doesn't want her to find out and this puts a bigger target on her back.

I enjoyed the audio of this one!

This had a very Princess Di and Meghan Markle feel to it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Apparently overly fictionalized versions of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship/time in London are my guilty pleasure because I ate this up. American musician (definitely NOT a famous actress copycat) Jennie Jensen has a meet cute with Prince Hugh (H names huh?), the future King of England, and very quickly they fall in love, have a secret romance, publicly get engaged, and then the horror begins.

We also get flashbacks throughout the book from Princess Penelope"s (cough cough Diana cough cough) diary, where she shares similar horrors she encountered while married to Prince Hugh's dad, prior to her death in a plane crash (NOT a car crash because that would be too obvious, right?). Are these connected? Is someone really out for Jennie? Was Penelope actually murdered? ..... You'll just have to read it to find out.