REVIEW: My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake

My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake: Anika is determined to rise in the ranks of the production company that she works for, her latest assignment however is a bit unusual even for her, while she was initially tasked to go undercover as a production assistant for new hit reality show, The King Takes A Bride, to monitor the director for any potential mishaps. However things take a swift turn when one of the contestants drop out unexpectedly and Anika is thrust into the role of one of the hopeful princesses vying for the attention of King Luca of Ralavia. Not expecting to last more than the first few days, Anika is more than a little shocked each time the charming young King keeps picking her to stay another day, more so shocking than this is the unlikely connection brewing between them… The last thing that Luca wants to be doing is staring in a reality dating style show, but he knows how desperately his small European country needs an influx of tourism if they are to survive and if that means he needs to put his love life on display then so be it, after all what is a King good for if he cant save his people. The last thing that Luca expected to find while filming was a real connection with Anika, soon the two have to try and figure out where the line between real and only for show blur…

I loved this book! My Royal Showmance was such a cute play on a Bachelor style romcom with a cute royal spin to it and I absolutely loved every minute of it! There was such a great blend of romance, comedy and a few unexpected twists along the way, this book truly kept me on my toe wanting more and more of Anika and Luca as they tried to figure out their next move.

Anika was such an easy to love leading lady, not only was she relatable and fun, she was actually a really good person. I loved that she was so determined to the best that she could in any position that she found herself in, even though she was reluctant at first to pose as a princess on the show, once she really got into the spirit of it, she was all in. I loved that Anika was no shrinking violet, she knew her worth and was not afraid to stand up for herself, I absolutely loved that she kept Luca on his toes the entire time. As for our swoony king, well Luca was just that swoony. I loved his character to bits, you could just see that he genuinely loved his people and his country, and was ready to do just about anything to ensure their success. I absolutely loved the determination in which he pursued Anika, his desire to have real love truly won out in the end and just made me love his character all the more.

The chemistry between these two characters was just perfection. Right from their very first, slightly awkward meeting they hit it off and things only get better from here. I loved how cute and almost fairytale-like their dates were and just how easily they connected. While they had great banter, it was the emotional connection that truly brought them together. I will say the only thing that was lacking in this book was the steam, but that was not to major. I will say the third act break up kind of threw me for a moment and had me a bit nervous but it all worked out in the end.

The supporting characters in this book are just incredible! I loved the bond between Ivy, Anika and Harper, these three are just a hoot and everything that a great girl gang should be. I loved the way they supported each other but also gave Anika the push she needed when the time came.

If you are a fan of The Bachelor and The Princess Diaries, well then this book is definitely for you! I loved every single moment of this cute play on a reality tv royal love story and would highly recommend reading it!

Book Info:

Publication: June 4, 2024 | Blue Box Press | Park Avenue Promise #2

Three young women make a pact in high school—
to always be friends and to one day make it big in Manhattan.

My Royal Showmance

Anika Fox knows exactly where she wants to be, and it’s not on the set of a reality TV dating show. She’s working her way up at the production company she works for and she’s close to achieving some of her dreams. The big boss just wants one thing from her. She’s got a potential problem with the director of The King Takes a Bride and she wants Anika to pose as a production assistant and report back.

As the king of a tiny European country, Luca St. Marten knows the world views him as one of the pampered royalty of the world. It couldn’t be further from the truth. His country is hurting and he’s right there on the front lines with his citizens. When he’s asked to do a dating show, his counselors point out that it could bring tourism back to Ralavia. It goes against his every desire, but he agrees.

When one of the contestants drops out at the last minute, Anika finds herself replacing the potential princess. She’s sure she’ll be asked to leave the first night, but Luca keeps picking her again and again. Suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a made-for-TV fantasy, and she’s unsure what’s real and what’s simply reality TV.