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eesh25's review against another edition
3.0
I though a lot about how I was going to start this review. At first, I wanted to start off by saying how much I hate Manic Pixie Dream Girls'. Then I wanted to start by telling you how, even though this can be read as a standalone, I don't recommend that at all since the best parts, for me, had to do with characters from previous books, one in particular. Finally, I've decided to tell you how terrible an idea I though the prologue was.
In the prologue, we see our male protagonist, Logan, going to meet our female protagonist, Ellie. He's standing outside her door, apologizing and begging her to open up, while Ellie is being unusually harsh and telling him to fuck off. At first Logan buys it and is about to go away, then he realizes that Ellie is behaving out-of-character and opens the door suddenly, without asking. He's very surprised by what he sees.
Here's why this is a problem.
First off, the story is between Ellie, whose sister is married to the prince of Wessco, making her also a princess, and Logan, a royal guard. A third of the way through, we're introduced to a particular subplot. Taking that new addition and the dynamic between Ellie and Logan into account, it's painfully obvious what Logan sees when he opens the door. Then there's the fact that there's a sub-plot around halfway through which makes it seem as if Ellie has died or might at least be in mortal danger. But we know that's not true because the prologue, in which Ellie is very much alive, is set after the incident. Which killed all the tension.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is, the prologue should have been removed.
Moving on, another thing that could have been removed, Ellie herself; or at least her Manic Pixie Dream Girl-ness. She's all giggles, rainbows and puppy dogs the whole time, and so freaking stupid... I actually counted how many moment of brain activity she exhibited. There were two. She was sometimes almost as annoying as Clary was in City of Glass, and that's a hell of an accomplishment.
And we were expected to believe that she would make a good psychologist, even though everything she described liking about psychology was actually not psychology at all. She was a people-person who wanted to study social interactions and situations. That's sociology. Psychologists are usually introverts who avoid social situations, like me, and they're also the head-over-heart kind. Also like me, and the exact opposite of Ellie. Clearly, Miss Chase needs to get her facts straight.
On to a less critical note, I liked Logan. He was level-headed and didn't make rash decisions. I also understood why he like Ellie (apparently he's one of those people who actually like the ditzy thing that she's got going on). He also had a good reason to be wary of pursuing Ellie and even his "screw up" that was hinted at in the prologue, turned out to not be a big deal. He just needed to get his thoughts straight.
Logan made the novel a lot more bearable. As did the fact that Emma Chase is still a good writer and this was a short and funny book. All that was not the best part though. That was Nicholas.
Nicholas is the prince that Ellie's sister is married to. He's also Logan's boss and my favourite characters in the series. I've loved him since his own book. He is, like Logan, smart and level-headed. He's got the prince thing down with his manners and composure. He's also a really great guy and has a sense of humour. What more could you want? He made this books tons better and I still believe that, had he been more present in book 2, Royally Matched, it wouldn't have sucked as much.
Overall, if you look past some of my rambling, what I'm saying is that this is a book that could have been better without the prologue. I didn't like the female protagonist much. But it's short, fun, has romantic moments and is an easy read. If you don't have as big an aversion to manic pixie dream girls, you might like it. Royally Screwed is still the best one, though.
In the prologue, we see our male protagonist, Logan, going to meet our female protagonist, Ellie. He's standing outside her door, apologizing and begging her to open up, while Ellie is being unusually harsh and telling him to fuck off. At first Logan buys it and is about to go away, then he realizes that Ellie is behaving out-of-character and opens the door suddenly, without asking. He's very surprised by what he sees.
Here's why this is a problem.
First off, the story is between Ellie, whose sister is married to the prince of Wessco, making her also a princess, and Logan, a royal guard. A third of the way through, we're introduced to a particular subplot. Taking that new addition and the dynamic between Ellie and Logan into account, it's painfully obvious what Logan sees when he opens the door. Then there's the fact that there's a sub-plot around halfway through which makes it seem as if Ellie has died or might at least be in mortal danger. But we know that's not true because the prologue, in which Ellie is very much alive, is set after the incident. Which killed all the tension.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is, the prologue should have been removed.
Moving on, another thing that could have been removed, Ellie herself; or at least her Manic Pixie Dream Girl-ness. She's all giggles, rainbows and puppy dogs the whole time, and so freaking stupid... I actually counted how many moment of brain activity she exhibited. There were two. She was sometimes almost as annoying as Clary was in City of Glass, and that's a hell of an accomplishment.
And we were expected to believe that she would make a good psychologist, even though everything she described liking about psychology was actually not psychology at all. She was a people-person who wanted to study social interactions and situations. That's sociology. Psychologists are usually introverts who avoid social situations, like me, and they're also the head-over-heart kind. Also like me, and the exact opposite of Ellie. Clearly, Miss Chase needs to get her facts straight.
On to a less critical note, I liked Logan. He was level-headed and didn't make rash decisions. I also understood why he like Ellie (apparently he's one of those people who actually like the ditzy thing that she's got going on). He also had a good reason to be wary of pursuing Ellie and even his "screw up" that was hinted at in the prologue, turned out to not be a big deal. He just needed to get his thoughts straight.
Logan made the novel a lot more bearable. As did the fact that Emma Chase is still a good writer and this was a short and funny book. All that was not the best part though. That was Nicholas.
Nicholas is the prince that Ellie's sister is married to. He's also Logan's boss and my favourite characters in the series. I've loved him since his own book. He is, like Logan, smart and level-headed. He's got the prince thing down with his manners and composure. He's also a really great guy and has a sense of humour. What more could you want? He made this books tons better and I still believe that, had he been more present in book 2, Royally Matched, it wouldn't have sucked as much.
Overall, if you look past some of my rambling, what I'm saying is that this is a book that could have been better without the prologue. I didn't like the female protagonist much. But it's short, fun, has romantic moments and is an easy read. If you don't have as big an aversion to manic pixie dream girls, you might like it. Royally Screwed is still the best one, though.
starfire_rhexia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
While I adored the previous book in this series, this is my favorite so far. In the first book, Logan and Ellie meet for the first time. I was unsure how the author would play out this romance since she was still a teenager when they met and he was tasked with guarding Ellie and her father while her sister went overseas with a prince. I needn’t have worried, the author handled the progression of their relationship beautifully and with care.
I almost forgot how much I love a bodyguard romance. Logan is an amazing bodyguard, giving Ellie freedom when needed and only stepping in when he knows she is truly making a bad choice or putting herself in danger. He lets her be a young college student and experience the things that entails, even when those things drive him nuts. Ellie does like to push the boundaries, but she isn’t stupid. She may make mistakes, but she learns from those mistakes quickly.
Ellie and Logan have a wonderful connection, even when they are keeping things platonic and professional. She always feels safe with him. Not only with her life but also safe to be herself. Logan finds himself revealing little pieces of himself he usually keeps private knowing Ellie won’t judge. Eventually, the pull is too strong and the barrier falls.
These two gave me all the warm fuzzies. I didn’t want to put this one down.
It was great to have all of the past characters in one place for a bit and, having read the previous books, it added depth to the story. While this can be read as a standalone, it’s so much better knowing the personalities of the side characters in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Stalking
kerithesmutslut's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful ending. I couldn’t put this series down. I don’t know what it was about the books, but I literally read all 3 in 3 days.
I still think book 1 was my favorite with this one coming in a close second, but I loved every second of this series. I wanted to read as fast as I could to find out what happened next, yet hated knowing the book was ending fast.
This specific book gave me the tv show The Royals vibes. I adored both characters, and that’s slow burn y’all
I still think book 1 was my favorite with this one coming in a close second, but I loved every second of this series. I wanted to read as fast as I could to find out what happened next, yet hated knowing the book was ending fast.
This specific book gave me the tv show The Royals vibes. I adored both characters, and that’s slow burn y’all
tfpeel's review against another edition
5.0
Cinque stelle meravigliose. Questo ha avuto la fortuna di portare avanti anche le storie precedenti e ha raccontato meravigliosamente ogni seguito. Nonostante la forzatura dello stalker il giudizio non cambia di una virgola... E anche i flashback ben gestiti. Forse non avremo un seguito di Len e Jasper in TV ma abbiamo Ellie e Logan... Aspetto i prossimi 😍
sophie63's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cala_p's review against another edition
5.0
I've been beyond excited to read this one for so long. This is actually what got me into the series. As much as I love Emma Chase's books, this series wasn't high on my list. Until one day I read the synopsis for this book, realized it's not out yet and it's a third of a series, so I read the first two. Enjoyed them greatly...THEN finally this one released.
Logan and Ellie's story is everything and more. At first I didn't like how it jumped through the years so much, but later realized how important it is for the story. Since there is an age difference as well as a position difference, it was important for us to read how Ellie's attraction started as a crush and became more. And how for Logan he tried to ignore the attraction but could only for so long. We're treated to when Logan is first assigned to her, throughout her last high school year, graduation, eighteenth birthday and finally young twenties, where the attraction becomes a larger and more permanent thing. But still, position keeps these two apart.
When they do come together, Emma Chase delivers! It is HOT between these two. The sex aside, the workup and attraction these two have together no matter what they're doing is HOT. Secondly, it's plain adorable. The way they feel for each other, especially how he feels for her, is so sweet to read. His chapters just melt my inside.
Additionally it's great to read about the other characters. Olivia and Nicholas are a very big part of course. We get to see the result of their story. This book features Henry's engagement and wedding, so the second half of this book (when Ellie and Logan get together) it's only about a year after book 2. Reading about these others are awesome.
This book is easily my favorite of the series and I don't think Emma Chase can beat Ellie and Logan with a different couple, is she chooses to write more of this series.
Logan and Ellie's story is everything and more. At first I didn't like how it jumped through the years so much, but later realized how important it is for the story. Since there is an age difference as well as a position difference, it was important for us to read how Ellie's attraction started as a crush and became more. And how for Logan he tried to ignore the attraction but could only for so long. We're treated to when Logan is first assigned to her, throughout her last high school year, graduation, eighteenth birthday and finally young twenties, where the attraction becomes a larger and more permanent thing. But still, position keeps these two apart.
When they do come together, Emma Chase delivers! It is HOT between these two. The sex aside, the workup and attraction these two have together no matter what they're doing is HOT. Secondly, it's plain adorable. The way they feel for each other, especially how he feels for her, is so sweet to read. His chapters just melt my inside.
Additionally it's great to read about the other characters. Olivia and Nicholas are a very big part of course. We get to see the result of their story. This book features Henry's engagement and wedding, so the second half of this book (when Ellie and Logan get together) it's only about a year after book 2. Reading about these others are awesome.
This book is easily my favorite of the series and I don't think Emma Chase can beat Ellie and Logan with a different couple, is she chooses to write more of this series.
suzyq436's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay. The first one will always be my favourite.
whosevita's review against another edition
4.0
Delicious. Body guard romances are a trope I love. And wow Logan-.
That's mostly because of the voice actor of the audiobook though.
Also the angst was gratuitous and I LOVED it. The smut, sadly, was meh. But everything else was sooo good. Definitely very dramatic and over the top, but I don't read books for the realism.
There were a lot of timeskips. A LOT. I don't really like time skips but I acknowledge that for the format of the book it was mandatory. The format being not at all like the blurb makes it seems to be. The blurbs described the book like it takes time in the present and there are only flashbacks. That's not true. About 50% of the book proceeds with time jumps.
Also Tommy can fold me over like a beach chair, but his book isn't in audiobook format so I won't here that sweet irish accent. UGh
And if you like Wes Ravenel from Lisa Kleypas' "The Ravenels" you wil like Henry. They are literally the same person. Not that his archetype is very original. But do you see me caring? NO. I will eat his book uP.
That's mostly because of the voice actor of the audiobook though.
Also the angst was gratuitous and I LOVED it. The smut, sadly, was meh. But everything else was sooo good. Definitely very dramatic and over the top, but I don't read books for the realism.
There were a lot of timeskips. A LOT. I don't really like time skips but I acknowledge that for the format of the book it was mandatory. The format being not at all like the blurb makes it seems to be. The blurbs described the book like it takes time in the present and there are only flashbacks. That's not true. About 50% of the book proceeds with time jumps.
Also Tommy can fold me over like a beach chair, but his book isn't in audiobook format so I won't here that sweet irish accent. UGh
And if you like Wes Ravenel from Lisa Kleypas' "The Ravenels" you wil like Henry. They are literally the same person. Not that his archetype is very original. But do you see me caring? NO. I will eat his book uP.