While I had very much enjoyed ROYAL
PAIN, I knew I would like ROYAL TREATMENT even more
because of what had previously occurred, that is, Crown
Prince Garrett's abduction and torture. While he was a
prisoner, his twin brother Kian took over, and their father
has let things stand where they are; the King does not trust
Garrett. This snub added to the PTSD that still plagues
Garrett does nothing to improve his situation. Garrett wants
to be the Heir to the throne, as he was groomed to be, not
the spare, and besides Kian is doing rather poorly at
handling his new duties. Then Garrett encounters Lola
Barnes, a successful American businesswoman on a business
trip in Wildemar, who shocks him into living again.
I thought I would love ROYAL TREATMENT, and I was wrong: I
adored it! Garrett is not a playboy -- which in itself for
me is a huge plus -- he takes his royal duties very
seriously, he is a little staid, but he has a great sense of
humor and his priorities straight. Tracy Wolff really
impressed me with her fictional kingdom this time around,
apart from the fact that a principality does not have a
King, it was almost perfect. The claustrophobia caused by
the omnipresent security details and protocols; the anxiety
and sheer terror inflicted by the paparazzi, as well as the
perks of the "job" all felt entirely believable. The writing
is superb, and the dialogues are sheer brilliance; Garrett
can relax, but he does tend to measure his words, while Lola
always speaks her mind, and not always diplomatically, she
is flippant but knows when to stop. And a very short passage
on celebrity couples nicknames had me snorting, tears
streaming down my face. Garrett and Lola's initial meeting
is a bit prickly, as Lola is not overly fond of rules, but
their attraction is real, and Garrett is charmed by someone
who is not bending over backward to please him.
Garrett is so genuinely cute, sweet; he does behave as a
royal, still, he lacks all pretentiousness! Lola is not an
over-the-top caricature, she is an original and a free
spirit, she takes her job seriously, and lo and behold, she
actually does work! I also very much appreciated how
Garrett's PTSD was handled -- especially in the last two
chapters, which are beyond intense -- how it affected his
life, his thinking, and that he did work on it with a
therapist. In spite of what the blurb proclaims, Garrett and
Lola don't jump into bed quickly, and I was ever so
grateful for that. The romance takes its own sweet time,
builds slowly, and we can feel them getting closer. They
enjoy each other's company, and it really showed; I felt it
in their smiles, in small but thoughtful gestures. The ROYAL
TREATMENT, "It is what it is," and it is fabulous! Do
yourself a favor and pick it up!
What's a crown prince to do with time on his hands? Or
better yet, who? It's Prince Garrett's turn to find
love in this mouthwatering standalone novel from the New
York Times bestselling author of Royal Pain.
Once upon a time I was being groomed to sit on the throne of
Wildemar. Now I'm lucky they let me into the palace through
the front door. After I was kidnapped and tortured by
extremists, my reward upon my release is that nobody trusts
me enough to let me be king. And since my twin brother,
Kian, has assumed all my responsibilities, I figure why not
take over as the black sheep?
But after breaking things off with my betrothed—we never had
much chemistry, anyway—and giving the jetsetting playboy
lifestyle a try, I'm starting to wonder if I'm cut out for
this s***. Then I meet Lola Barnes, a drop-dead gorgeous
entrepreneur from the States who's as refreshing as she is
feisty.
It's supposed to be a one-night-stand—until the press
catches wind of my "new American sweetheart." Trouble is,
Lola's no sweetheart. But the more I see our names together
in the headlines, the more I find myself craving another
taste. . . .
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