Friday, July 3, 2020

Review & Giveaway: REIGN OR SHINE by HJ Welch (Rosavia Royals #2)



Blog Tour & Giveaway:

The Rosavia Royals Series



Featuring: 

Reign or Shine
by HJ Welch

Welcome to the tiny European country of Rosavia, where roses ramble over alpine slopes and princes fall for the men of their dreams. Every Rosavia Royals book happens simultaneously, so books can be read on their own, or in any order... but keep an eye out for familiar faces around the palace!


Come join the fun on the Royals Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RosaviaRoyals/

Add them out to your TBR on Goodreads!




Reign or Shine
By HJ Welch

Rosavia Royals, Book 2


A secret prince needs: a lost tourist to save.

Prince Cassander is on vacation from his overdeveloped sense of duty. While hiding out as simply ‘Cas’ in the Rosavian capital, he rescues a gorgeous, distressed American tourist. Matty has no idea that Cas is second in line to the throne. And with only two weeks together to explore the sparks between them, he doesn’t need to ever find out.

New Yorker Matty Doyle is a fish out of water, taking care of his niece and mending his broken heart. When Cas rescues him, the handsome stranger coaxes Matty out of his shell and he throws caution to the wind. Nobody knows him here. Would it hurt to live a little for once?

But a prince can’t stay secret in his own country for long. Cas would give anything to protect Matty from reality, but how can this fantasy together continue when they belong in different worlds?



Exclusive from Helen & the Inspirations behind her Prince:

Reign or Shine by HJ Welch

How did you become a part of this project/world?

Fun fact! The covers came first! Our incredible designer, AngstyG, did a pre-mades sale, and our princes were the pièce de résistance. Ed and I just happened to be online at the right time, and as soon as I saw them, I started screaming at him over messenger that we HAD TO HAVE THEM lol. We had loved working on Hidden Creek so much, but after 24 books we knew that we’d said goodbye to Texas. Suddenly, a chance to create a brand new shared universe dropped into our laps, and there wasn’t even a moment of hesitation.
After that, I felt like we were assembling the Avengers! We reached out to a variety of authors and editors, and the stars aligned to give us the incredible line up we have today. We used what we’d learned from Hidden Creek and I know our shared universe is better than ever. We all beta read each other’s books as we worked, and I swear to you Rosavia is a real place now that I want to go on holiday!!

Where did your story’s inspiration come from? 


I am a huge fan of cheesy romantic films – I wish we had the Hallmark channel in the UK!! I feel like I was heavily influenced by films like The Princess Diaries, A Crown For Christmas, The Princess Switch etc… The idea of the American tourist and the secret prince popped immediately into my mind and I knew it would be so fun and fluffy to write! I also knew early on that these guys needed to save each other from their own pasts, and it was obvious that a holiday romance would soon blossom into a tender love before Matty had a chance to get back on that plane to New York!

 How did you create your Prince?

As the covers were already made, we got a sense of who all the princes would be very quickly. The rebel heir, the secret spy, and the bratty baby all came right away, and Throne Together just had to be two princes. So that left Book #2, and I knew that was Cassander and had to be mine. With those explosive personalities all around him, I figured Cas was the long-suffering responsible one, trying to keep the family together. He compares himself to Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice at one point, and I think I was channeling a lot of my favourite classic literary heroine into him. But by taking a vacation from his real life at the start of the book, he soon realizes what he craves is to love and be loved, to have something that just his, not for crown or country. That’s where Matty came in! I loved the dynamic between these two, and how they end up saving each other. They have a very beautiful, gentle relationship that was a joy to capture.


Carra's Review

Here in the second book of the series we get the second-oldest prince, Cassander (Cas), the good guy who covers for his brothers and cleans up after their messes…at least until he decides to take a well-deserved break to put himself first for a change.  He just wants to get lost in the masses for a while, to feel like he’s just Cas, and not a member of the royal family.  Good thing, too, because taking that break lets him run into Matty.

Matty is a super-sweet, selfless, and dedicated guy, and I think everyone who reads this book will wind up falling for him.  He’s been hurt in the past by both his parents and his exes, and while that doesn’t make him fragile it does make him wary.  But with Cas, he decides to throw caution to the wind, resulting in a dizzying, passionate connection that quickly morphs into more.

Now throw in one persistent (and super-shady) reporter, a faithful and resourceful valet, and some newfound friends.  It’s a recipe for a great story, and my only niggle was that it felt just a bit drawn out.  That aside?  I adored Matty and Cas together.  Their relationship is intense, the attraction between them immediate, and their physical chemistry sizzling.  Even when things go sideways, the connection between the two is so strong that you just know everything will work out.

Reign or Shine was a strong 4-star read for me.  I liked getting to see glimpses of all the brothers, and it’s starting to look like the palace is going to need a never-ending supply of blueberry lube ;-)  And yes, the adult language and sexual content (blueberry flavored and otherwise) does make this story one for readers 18+.

Check out the other books in the series: 

Book 1: Up for Heir
By Stella Starling

A playboy heir needs: a man to marry, right now.

After spending half his life dodging his duty to the crown, the rebel heir to the Rosavian throne has been told in no uncertain terms that it’s time to settle down. Crown Prince Leopold has one month and a vetted list of suitable princesses, and he will announce his engagement during Rosavia’s Royal Ball. But Leo’s got his own ideas about what really suits him…

Royal Librarian Edvin Blom is good at not attracting attention. Shy and self-conscious of his stutter, he’s used to being overlooked and more than happy to stay in the background. At least, until the crown prince with a wild reputation shows up at the library’s new opening and decides to flirt with Edvin’s sister…

Edvin isn’t at all what Leo thought he wanted, but turns out to be everything he can’t stay away from. Edvin’s been burned by falling for someone out of his league before, though. And believing that Leo has really fallen for him? While Edvin’s drowning in his own doubts and insecurities, that might prove impossible… unless love gives them both a reason to come up for air.





Book 3: Throne Together

By Zoe Dawn 

3
 
A pining prince needs: a second chance at love.
 
Prince Julius has only ever wanted one man. Raised alongside Prince Dante of Thedes, the two were inseparable until their unspoken mutual attraction ignited into a single passionate encounter. Convinced that it ruined their friendship, Julius retreated to his duties in Rosavia, where he daydreams of another chance to win Dante’s heart.

After four years apart, fate brings Prince Julius back to Thedes. He offers Dante a coveted invitation: return to the Rosavian palace for ten days, and be his plus-one to the Royal Ball of the century. Before long, they realize one night of passion wasn’t enough, and they can’t imagine losing each other again.

As the clock ticks down to the ball, Julius catches wind of Dante’s family meddling, and he must decide if their feelings are real or if they’ve both been played. Were they always meant for each other, or is it all an illusion that will melt away at midnight?




 
Book 4: In His Court

By Max Rowan 

4

A spy prince needs: a man who sees through his disguise. 

Prince Benedict is not what he seems. His image as a lazy playboy is carefully constructed to hide the truth. Trained since childhood to become Rosavia's top spy, he spends his life in disguise—and danger—to protect his country. Nobody sees the loneliness in his heart.

Felix Wright is a genius with four degrees, no real-world experience, and a top-secret job... and he's never even been kissed. A lifetime of being alienated for his most valuable assets has left him reluctant to trust the charming prince who thrusts him into fieldwork for the very first time.

When the Crown Jewels are stolen two weeks before the royal ball, it's their job to save the country's reputation. Benedict helps Felix believe in himself, while Felix slowly coaxes the real prince out of hiding. But can they find the jewels and rescue the most priceless treasures of all: each other?



 Book 5: Barely Regal 

By E. Davies 

5
 
A bratty boy prince needs: a firm but fair Daddy.
 
Prince Renford is a royal brat. Nineteen and last in line for the throne, Wren hates his made-up job: Commander of Roses. Good thing his long-time valet has a firm hand—if only Wren could tempt him to break all palace protocol and use it.

Thom Pierce is sixteen years older. Old enough to know he should ignore his prince's less-than-subtle flirtation. He's been burned by a higher-ranked boy before. His job and reputation are at stake if the palace catches a scandal unfolding under their noses.

Wren needs the part of Thom that he's kept locked away for years. If the young prince wants to be taken as seriously as his older brothers, he has to grow up fast. Thom's rules could help Wren become the man Thom knows he can be in time for the Royal Ball... or they could attract the very attention that forces them apart forever.


 Rosavia Royals Out Now! 

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Enter the Giveaway:


 To celebrate the release of the Rosavia Royals, we are giving 2 lucky winners a full set of the Rosavia Royals Series.


Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!



About Helen (HJ Welch): 



HJ Welch is a contemporary MM romance author living in London with her husband and two balls of fluff that occasionally pretend to be cats. She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a fulltime author.

She also writes contemporary British MM romance as Helen Juliet.

HJ Welch/Helen Juliet Links:

Website | Newsletter


Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group


Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | BookBub




About the other Authors:

 

3

Zoe Dawn Links:


4

Max Rowan (formerly Max Hawthorn) Links:


5

E. Davies Links:




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