A Royal Pain

Nov 23, 2012 Evangeline Holland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, contemporary-romance, england, humor, marriage

This is a difficult review to write! It was page-turning, but not particularly loveable because the writing--and Bronte--was just so spiky, prickly, and difficult. That isn't a bad thing, because what kept me glued to the book were elements I love in Marian Keyes' novels (dirty humor, sarcasm, "unlikeable" heroines, interesting interpersonal conflicts, family relationships), but the writing couldn't pull everything together: was this tongue-in-cheek chick-lit, or darkly humorous women's fiction,...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Missy rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I should have stopped in the first ten pages when our heroine, a high-powered ad exec secretly loves that the larger-than-life Texas jackass is all Mr. Dominant on her. She's suitably ashamed of this, of course, but just can't heeeeeelp herself.

I didn't, though.

So, you know, I got the rest of it: The Real Hero, with his conveniently Not Upscale Enough To Tip Off His Untold Family Wealth apartment and Understanding Of Body Issues (the heroine is Too Skinny, *gasp*, he sets about to set her to r...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Wow, there are lots of polarizing reviews on Goodreads - lots of people loved this debut novel and just as many despised it. I thought the author did a good job of providing the perfect fantasy male: handsome, smart (Ph.D. in economics from U of Chicago!), caring, sexy, funny, and oh by the way, also a rich British duke. The author also provided a smart, competent heroine who was neither klutzy nor ditzy (which too often happens in Chick lit novels). The first half was a real page turner, with l...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A really excellent contemporary romance. Funny, fast-paced, and highly entertaining; the plot could have easily become cliched or saccharine, but the characters maintain enough realistic edge that overall it is more savory than sweet. Bronte has emotional issues that keep her commitment-phobic and with a nearly instinctual aversion to being told what to do (thanks to a domineering father), yet she is so feisty and funny and self-deprecating that she never becomes maudlin. Max is the quintessenti...more A really excellent contemporary romance. Funny, fast-paced, and highly entertaining; the plot could have easily become cliched or saccharine, but the characters maintain enough realistic edge that overall it is more savory than sweet. Bronte has emotional issues that keep her commitment-phobic and with a nearly instinctual aversion to being told what to do (thanks to a domineering father), yet she is so feisty and funny and self-deprecating that she never becomes maudlin. Max is the quintessential Englishman, but is laidback enough to avoid stuffiness and is willing to do whatever necessary to shelter Bron emotionally while still taking a stand on big issues such that he avoids being a doormat.

I sometimes felt that his "demanding side" wasn't presented quite as tangibly as the other characters' comments seemed to warrant--Bron is warned by multiple people not to let him steamroll her (I assume with his high-handed, duke-ish ways), but the few times he really pushed back were perfectly reasonable, adult responses. It always seemed to me that Bron was overreacting rather than that he was truly trying to push her around. In all cases, once she moved past her "don't tell me what to do" reflex response and really thought about it, she realized that as well.

The supporting cast was colorful, but was never really given enough room to shine. However, I'm happily envisioning a sequel where Sarah and Devon meet up...

[Update] I happened to troll through a few of the other reviews after posting this, and all I can saw is Wow! It's reather intriguing how different people can take such a completely different read on the exact same scenes. (view spoiler)(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-tommyrot, flirtatious-badinage, horribly-depressing, plot-diamonds, wealth-porn, awful-writing

A Royal Pain is a great example of how to take a fantastic premise and utterly fuck it up in the execution.

In this case the premise is "girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy is secretly a duke," which, YES, I will read the hell out of that book and I am not ashamed.

The fucking up, sadly, is extensive and irredeemable. It occurs in the writing (and the characterization and the plotting, but primarily the writing). Mulry is... not a natural wordsmith. For one thing, her ear for dialogue suggests...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Valerie rated it 1 of 5 stars

How does a high powered marketing female do a complete turn around and become a submissive fiancee to a privileged, arrogant, aristo? Read this book.

Ugh! Bronte was likeable before meeting Max...even with her penchant for dropping the f-word in every other sentence. True she moved from NYC to Chicago for an ill-fated romance with the Texan, but she rebounded... unfortunately into Max's arms. Unbeknownst to Bronte, Max is the heir to a dukedom, even though he is working on his dissertation at a u...more How does a high powered marketing female do a complete turn around and become a submissive fiancee to a privileged, arrogant, aristo? Read this book.

Ugh! Bronte was likeable before meeting Max...even with her penchant for dropping the f-word in every other sentence. True she moved from NYC to Chicago for an ill-fated romance with the Texan, but she rebounded... unfortunately into Max's arms. Unbeknownst to Bronte, Max is the heir to a dukedom, even though he is working on his dissertation at a university in Chicago. He is nice enough when they first encounter one another, but What starts as a relationship with a "Transitional Man" erupts into full love (probably helped along by the lengthy, steamy sex scenes). Truthfully, I had hope for Max as the TM relationship began to evolve into a true romance. There was potential for him to reveal his title and lineage to Bronte in a humourous fashion and for her to drop the f-word even more. But Max's cold, authoritative demeanor rears its head at the death of his father and his need to return to the UK to assume the title and handle business. He hasn't told Bronte of his background but demands that she return to the UK with him. Naturally Bronte is hesistant and then flummoxed when, after she declines and they fight, and Max delivers the now or never ultimatum, Max departs. That's the first four chapters.
The next few chapters deal with Bronte being so good at her job she is able to convince her bosses that she can open an office in NYC. So she returns to NYC and continues along her high powered path. We are also introduced to Max's family and his regret about the break-up. Naturally the two meet in NYC and after some high charged chemistry renewed, Bronte is on her way to the UK, affianced to Max.
Why Bronte did not run in the opposite direction after experiencing Max's temperment on the way to meet his family memebers is probably rooted in their animal lust for one another. Otherwise the high powered Bronte has succumbed to the man who is convinced this woman will give him 10 kids. Bear in mind, that never appeared on Bronte's to do list. Then of course there was the pregnancy scare which morphed into a pregnancy which led to more of Max's arrogance that Bronte was doing cartwheels instead of trying to accept the reality. Another break-up and Max comes to his senses and follows his fiancee to NYC to beg forgiveness... again. And we can presume they lived happily ever after.
I thought this would be a chick-lit read, but instead it was the sex scenes from a romance novel coupled with an underwhelming story. So many lost opportunities to devle into a comedy of manners/humourous backlash about a Yank grabbing the most eligible bachelor in the UK/Max losing his arrogance. And the weak attempts to tie-in royalty. LOL.(less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Caryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-romance, faves

Ok, my title is tongue in cheek, as an attempt to balance out Bronte's (h) potty mouth, which didn't offend me but I see it did other readers. To each her own, right? I thought this story rocked! I passed it up a couple of times because of the cover and then finally gave it a shot and was more than pleasantly surprised at how great it was. Here's why -

Bronte and Max are two ships that pass in the night the first few times they should have met, which just doesn't happen in most wham-bam-thank-you...more Ok, my title is tongue in cheek, as an attempt to balance out Bronte's (h) potty mouth, which didn't offend me but I see it did other readers. To each her own, right? I thought this story rocked! I passed it up a couple of times because of the cover and then finally gave it a shot and was more than pleasantly surprised at how great it was. Here's why -

Bronte and Max are two ships that pass in the night the first few times they should have met, which just doesn't happen in most wham-bam-thank-you-maam stories (as in, they happen so fast). I was antsy-pantsy at the way Bronte dated Mr. Texas in the first chapters- was this the H or not? Given that he's, uh, from Texas (duh), he's obviously not the royal (as in Royal Pain...), so I was even more antsy for her to figure out he was the wrong man. Whew, when Bronte and Max finally meet, it's not meet-sleep-total love overnight but it follows a normal pace. It's actually sweet how old fashioned their courtship (?) is, with dates and not instant sex. And once they finally have a sleepover, there is still so much to the story.

I'll leave the rest of the plot alone except to say that Megan Mulry doesn't rely on false drama/misunderstanding (well, only a little but I can't talk about it without spoiling the twists and turns) and doesn't rely on the typical formula for romance novels (as in, the H/h sleep together around the 50% mark). She's didn't follow a contemporary formula hardly at all, so much that, a couple of times, I looked at my Kindle and saw that we were only 22% in and ... then think, where the heck is she going to take this for the next 78% of the book? (You know you do the same thing...). At each point, I was pleased with where she in fact took us. Although nothing was terribly surprising, the plot moved along on realistic but not always predictable turns. In some cases, those turns were somewhat predictable but the way the characters reacted were not. I also liked that the characters were multi-dimensional (e.g., Bronte is a bit of an adolescent brat to her father and it's portrayed one-sided for part of the novel but then we start to see, or imagine, his perspective).

I have to mention that there is one trick to the book - it's a contemporary (very) story with plenty of allusions to Regency period romances. It's interesting how Ms Mulry is able to update the concept of commoner-marries-Duke. It's as if you've caught up with an old friend and get to see how they grew up.

This was my first Megan Mulry book - she writes well, the book is well edited and her book is filled with humor and snappy dialogue. And the woman must be a serious shoe-hound as she knows a LOT about them. (This made me all tingly given that I do my best to help the economy by keeping shoe stores in business. :) I also thought her description of the London bank was something else; it it's accurate, she must have gained access to one to be able to describe it this way.

Oh, back to my summary - this was my first MM book and I will definitely be back for more. I'll also be rereading this. I can only hope that she continues to write about the cast of characters we met in Royal Pain (I already see another book about Max's brother and one of Bronte's clients, yum).

Granted, not everyone has the same tastes - if you're turned off by potty mouths, this might not be for you. (less)

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Dec 02, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

Some secrets can make or break a relationship. After Bronte Talbott, an advertising executive, breaks up with her Texan boyfriend, she meets a new guy, a really great British guy, Max Heyworth. They have a wonderful time together, but he’s withholding pertinent information. When Bronte discovers his doozy of a secret, she sees him through different eyes.

They break up. The time without him is tortuous because she has real feelings for...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Trevor Veale rated it 4 of 5 stars

A deliciously decadent romp in the thicket of thwarted desire, as Bronte Talbott first finds, then loses, then finds again Max Heyworth, the man with whom she is fated to be mated.
They meet seemingly by chance in a Chicago book store, when Bronte wanders thru the SF section after being bemused by a hot Saturday cashier. Many Saturdays later they decide: Enough with the deja vu! and date, then consummate, finally agreeing to terminate, as soon as he's finished his studies and returned to England....more

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Nov 19, 2012 Marlene rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

This dual review was originally published at Book Lovers Inc.

Marlene: A Royal Pain was just that, an absolute pain to read. I hate to put it that way, but the pun is just right there waiting to be said. I finished because I said I would. And I was on an airplane and “what the heck”.

Stella: I’m sorry to say but I completely agree. *sighs* Which is even sadder since from the moment I read its blurb I was predisposed and predestined to love it, I mean it is my go-to fantasy the normal, ordinary gir...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Reviewed by: Robin
Book provided by: NetGalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

As little girls, we dream of being swept off our feet by a handsome prince, movie star, sports star or even sometimes the boy next door. In A Royal Pain, Bronte decided she wanted royalty. As a young girl she read the British magazines, studied everything about the royals that she could, and even watched everything on T.V. that was related. Growing up in Jersey, she felt her dad was a little off but loved...more Reviewed by: Robin
Book provided by: NetGalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

As little girls, we dream of being swept off our feet by a handsome prince, movie star, sports star or even sometimes the boy next door. In A Royal Pain, Bronte decided she wanted royalty. As a young girl she read the British magazines, studied everything about the royals that she could, and even watched everything on T.V. that was related. Growing up in Jersey, she felt her dad was a little off but loved her mom as she was the glue that tried to keep peace.

I found this story was well written showing the depths of relationships that we as women have to deal with. Although at times, we seem to put more of ourselves into the relationship then the guy does. Bronte has had her share of failed attempts at love. True love for her comes in the form of Max, in an unlikely place. Having just come from a bad break-up she isn’t looking for a permanent romance. I found that I simply loved the ease of her relationship with Max. Bronte just wants plain mind-blowing sex which Max seems all too happy to give to her. Somehow, the tables are turned and Max decides that Bronte is the person he intends to marry.

Secrets tend to flourish in the relationship because Max leaves out a pertinent fact that he is royalty. As he heads back to England because of his father’s illness, he wants Bronte to go with him but she has a career and chooses to keep it simple.

This story has a depth to it which kept it real. We have Bronte who tends to be free with certain words. She throws them around with a flourish keeping you laughing or possibly offended. Max finds it rather endearing as it makes Bronte who she is. It is natural and a part of her but I think that the Queen Mum would have a problem if those actual words would come out of Kate’s mouth.

As for Max, he wasn’t your usual royal figure either as he was a little askew with his t-shirts, piercings and tattoos. Prince William or Prince Harry (although more of a free spirit then William) are both void of any of the above mentioned.

I enjoyed the cleverness of Ms. Mulry’s witty-laugh out loud story of falling in love. I think it is something that keeps the stuffiness of royalty at bay and shows that there is a slim possibility that they are human after all and just maybe if you are lucky enough to find your one true love, he just might be a royal or a royal pain. I simply loved the fast-paced story and can’t wait to read more laughable humor/romance from Ms. Mulry.(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author, young-adult, 2012

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

Bronte really isn't looking for Mr. Right, she just wants someone. After dating Mr. Texas, she finds that although he is charming, he just isn't the right guy for her, even after moving to Chicago to see if the romance will go anywhere. She buckles down and becomes Career Girl. And to her surprise she meets an English guy. Now to fully understand Bronte, you need to know that she has a closet addiction to British royalty. She was enthralled when Diana married Charles, devastat...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

My full review.

Mulry gives us years of Bronte and Max’s lives. She gives space for mess ups, for growth, for change, for angst. And in that way, it made it feel like we were on a journey with these two characters, not simply peeking in on a quick courtship.

Bronte is wonderful. Like any romance heroine, she makes incredibly frustrating choices and I want her to just give Max a chance even if I understand why she is hesitating. But man, I loved that she cursed all the fucking time. And I loved tha...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Sarah Elizabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, romance, never-again

Not going to lie, I skimmed the end of the book because, to be honest, I just didn't care anymore. I actually had high hopes for this book, it was recommended by an author I adore and who doesn't love a story about a modern day duke falling for an ordinary girl? In the end though, it just didn't live up to the expectations. The heroine, Bronte, was overly crass and whiny and bitchy and mostly acted like a hormonal sixteen year old. I don't care if a person swears, but the author seemed to use th...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chick lit meets romance....and they have a beautiful baby! I read a lot of romances but don't read chick lit at all. I have never seen an episode of Sex in the City. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this romance between career-driven Bronte Talbot and British graduate student Max Heyworth. He neglects to mention that he is next inline to be the Duke of Northrop.

They were supposed to meet at a party thrown my mutual friends but his flight was late and she was swept up by Mr. Texas. She and Mr. Tex...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Leisl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013_reads

Bronte Talbott has a successful career in NYC and in the beginning of the book meets the wrong guy and moves to Chicago to be near him, which he does not appreciate. However, Bronte meets the right guy finally, but keeps flubbing it up. So does Max. Oh, man, these are some frustrating characters . . .

I enjoyed the book overall, but parts of it just moved oddly. It felt as if I was waiting half the book for Bronte and Max to just get together. It felt sloggy as I waded through all the back story...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chic-lit, contemporary-romance, romantic-fiction

I do not where to put this book in a way, it's kind of chick-lit, meets contemporary romance meets romantic fiction meets neurotic New Yorkers (ok so not a genre but I could not think of anything else.) Sure it's funny at times, romantic at times, but there is much more too.

The lovestory takes time, in all ways. It takes time for them to meet, to fall in love and more. I guess I was expecting instalove and a trip to England but no My Lord, that was not in the cards. There is drama, hardship and...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Jo (My House of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Decidedly "chick lit" in tone, I thought I would give this debut a try. Who hasn't fancied themselves a princess in daydreams? And who doesn't get a little excited by the prospect of a royal wedding?

The typical chick lit tropes are there: heroine obsessed with fashion, heroine with an endless supply of money (though Bronte seems to have a high-paying job to pad her bank account and thereby make her credit card payments), heroine with poor luck in the love department. When Bronte met Max, howeve...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, europe, romance, the-americas

3.5 stars. Oh! This was such a fun book! Sometimes you just want a light, fun read that you don't have to use too much brain power to read. This book was definitely brain candy for me. It's a smart romance with a loveable main character that was so much fun to read about. I absolutely loved Bronte. First off, what a cool name! Second, she is definitely someone that I think would be a lot of fun to hang out with. She's bright. She's funny. Oh, and she has an obsession with the British Royals, whi...more

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Oct 24, 2012 SOS Aloha rated it 5 of 5 stars

“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” - Oscar Wilde

A ROYAL PAIN opens at an apartment party in NYC. The English hostess, Willa, hopes to introduce her American friend, Bronte, to her English friend, Max (en route to grad school in Chicago). But Max is late and Bronte meet “Mr. Texas” (a wandering spirit with a home in Chicago). Bronte begins a long distance romance with Mr. Texas. She even moves to Chicago...more “Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” - Oscar Wilde

A ROYAL PAIN opens at an apartment party in NYC. The English hostess, Willa, hopes to introduce her American friend, Bronte, to her English friend, Max (en route to grad school in Chicago). But Max is late and Bronte meet “Mr. Texas” (a wandering spirit with a home in Chicago). Bronte begins a long distance romance with Mr. Texas. She even moves to Chicago to see if Mr. Texas is the one, giving up her budding career and a rent controlled apartment. Unfortunately, Mr. Texas is not the one and Bronte withdraws into her Chicago career.

Eventually, she meets an English doctorate student, Max, not realizing that he is Willa’s friend. As they explore their mutual attraction, Bronte engages in a new approach to relationships. She will be BRUTALLY HONEST. Bronte also designates Max as the TRANSITIONAL MAN since he will only be in Chicago for eight more weeks to defend his dissertation. Fate interferes with Bronte’s new attitude – Max falls in love with Bronte for her BRUTAL HONESTY and wants to be more than the TRANSITIONAL MAN. The Pièce de résistance - Max insists on "dating" Bronte before they begin their physical relationship. But Fate is not yet done with this couple in the making - Fate creates a series of challenges that force both Bronte and Max to look within themselves to find a lasting love.

Mulry delivers a heartfelt romance with a modern heroine worthy of my admiration. Mulry reveals over time why Bronte is so determined to be independent and why Max takes charge of every situation. As I came to know Bronte, I sympathized with her insecurities arising from her childhood. Likewise, I appreciated the contemporary twist to the Cinderella story with Bronte swearing all the way – an unlady like attribute which only increased Max’s attraction to Bronte. It was difficult to put this book down – I almost finished Bronte’s self discovery in one night.

A ROYAL PAIN is smart, sexy, and sassy. It is a laugh out loud adventure at its best.

Recommended read for those who enjoy contemporary romances that balance emotional growth with humorous dialogue. Also recommended for Anglophiles – those who love all things English.

I received an ARC from the publisher for this review.
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Nov 16, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 2012-reading-challenges, blog-tour, publisher-provided

I adore books with hot British men. Give them a title and I'm a goner. Make that titled, hot British man down to earth, pushy and adorably sweet all once and I'm reduced to a puddle. Megan Mulry has reduced me to a puddle with her wonderful, wonderful Max Heyworth.

Bronte Talbott is a woman who has been jaded by what she considers bad instincts when it comes to men. After she quits her jobs, moves half way across the country to be with a man, who she later finds out, was only providing lip servi...more I adore books with hot British men. Give them a title and I'm a goner. Make that titled, hot British man down to earth, pushy and adorably sweet all once and I'm reduced to a puddle. Megan Mulry has reduced me to a puddle with her wonderful, wonderful Max Heyworth.

Bronte Talbott is a woman who has been jaded by what she considers bad instincts when it comes to men. After she quits her jobs, moves half way across the country to be with a man, who she later finds out, was only providing lip service when he said those three magical words, you can understand her feelings. When she meets Max, she doesn't trust what she feels and definitely doesn't want to believe a word that comes out of his mouth. She develops all these dating 'rules' that have to be followed that will allow minimal impact to her heart. She doesn't count on Max calling her on her 'rules' and challenging her to open up to him and trust that he'd be there for her. Bronte has a hard time letting go of everything that happened in her past with her father and the men she thought she loved. It almost costs her because she was so unwilling to bend, but she finally go the message.

As for Max, he was jaded in his own way by his past with a mother who would rather shop than care for her three youngest children. While he knew he would one day need to marry and produce an heir, he was determined to do it on his own timetable and after he achieved his PhD. But when he met Bronte while sitting on the floor in the Sci-Fi section of a bookstore, everything went out the window. Max may have been willing to play along with Bronte's 'rules' he knew what he wanted and was determined to ensure he had her by his side for the long haul. It wasn't easy for Max, since he was so willing to give everything to Bronte while she seemed to push him to play by her rules. Max had to decide what he wanted more and if doing things Bronte's way was what was going to make him happy.

This was a quirky, but really enjoyable book. Bronte is brash and sometimes way off base when it comes to Max, but the two of them were absolutely perfect for each other. And who doesn't love a woman who takes the use of the "F" word to a new extreme! This is definitely one you should pick up.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bronte Talbot is a modern American woman brought up by a mother she adores and a father she hated for reasons never fully articulated. At least not that I completely grasped - not for the level of hatred she had for the man. She is career driven and she curses. A lot. I didn't understand the need for that particular personality quirk because it came and went and added absolutely nothing to the plot or truly to the character. She has problems with men because she feels that by compromising within...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Kathleen Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

A young beautiful American woman and a handsome British Duke...what more could you ask for in a story?? Royal Pain is about a young woman, Bronte, who has had bad luck finding the right man until Max Heyworth..the attraction is instant. Bronte has always had an attraction for the 'royals', she knows everything about them, well most of them. When she meets Max she has no clue that he has some "royal" blood in his veins. Their relationship takes a turn and they go their own ways for a year and mee...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, chick-lit, contemporary, romance

This book started strong, but maybe lost its way while entering the home stretch. I feel that a lot of Bronte's actions made sense, and that Abby was completely correct in her assessment of Max's well-intentioned habit of thinking he knew best. I think that he got his way in the end (or did he? more clarity would have been nice), and he maybe shouldn't have. He made a lot of assumptions and paid lip service to respecting how difficult things were for Bronte, without actually doing so. I found hi...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, 2012, romance

Bronte Talbot has worked hard since graduating to establish her career in advertising, and would never have imagined giving up her great life in New York for any man. But when she meets sexy "Mr Texas" at a party hosted by her British friends, David and Willa, she decides to let this all-American, fun-loving investor based in Chicago whisk her off her feet and take care of her. Unfortunately, after several months, Bronte realises that their relationship is going nowhere - unless she moves to Chi...more Bronte Talbot has worked hard since graduating to establish her career in advertising, and would never have imagined giving up her great life in New York for any man. But when she meets sexy "Mr Texas" at a party hosted by her British friends, David and Willa, she decides to let this all-American, fun-loving investor based in Chicago whisk her off her feet and take care of her. Unfortunately, after several months, Bronte realises that their relationship is going nowhere - unless she moves to Chicago. It's her last-ditch, drastic measure to make their romance a romance again, and maybe head it onto the commitment path, but everyone she knows can see it as a desperate measure.

And sure enough, as soon as she lands in Chicago she can see that Mr Texas preferred to have her as the odd-weekend girlfriend from afar. After they break up, Bronte focuses on her career again, now in a boutique advertising agency, and lets the depression creep up on her. Months later, she's in a bookshop when she literally stumbles into a very sexy man with a very sexy English accent.

Max Heyworth is finishing up his PhD in economics after which he plans to move back to London, to enjoy his unfettered years before he has to take up the mantle of dukedom - which will hopefully, with his father's good health, be quite some time. He's always resisted the role he was born to, but he's learned it well all the same.

Bronte and Max embark on a passionate romance with a fixed end-date, Bronte clear all the time that Max is her rebound guy. She wants eight weeks of fun, sex and honesty, and Max happily agrees - but there are two things he's not honest with Bron about from the beginning. One, his title (viscount, a placeholder) and looming inheritance; and two, that he's in love with Bronte and has no intention of ending things in eight weeks time. He's confident that when he asks her to move to England with him, of course she'll say yes.

Things change though when his father falls ill and Max has to head back early, and Bronte refuses to go with him. It's a breakup neither of them were ready for, and after months of moping, Max decides to hunt her down and propose. But even though she's had a lifelong fascination with British royalty, Bronte doesn't really want to be an aristocrat herself - not to mention the fact that Max's mother scares the crap out of her. Can they work things out to achieve their happily-ever-after?

I may not read chick-lit very often, but I usually enjoy it when I do. A Royal Pain was definitely in the 'enjoyed' camp, for several reasons. The novel may be chick-lit, but it's also heavily romance too. I don't think I could define my own understanding of what chick-lit is, except that it's like romance without sex or graphic descriptions, they tend to by humorous, and more realistic in some ways. The difference here is that there're graphic descriptions, and the story is wholly focused on Bronte and Max's relationship. It's a very satisfying blend of the two genres, I have to say, and definitely entertaining.

Bronte started out strong, and while in many ways she's a completely different person to me, I could empathise with her when it came to how her relationship with Mr Texas (real name never disclosed because his persona was just too huge) ended, and her withdrawal and depression afterward. Mulry doesn't dwell on this time and it doesn't make the story heavy in any way, but it's yet another aspect of the story and Bronte's life that gives it that chick-lit realistic edge over the romantic fantasy.

Not that the fantasy isn't there too: Max Heyworth is the romantic hero through-and-through, the ultimate fantasy man. Having said that, he's not a walking cliche - at least, he didn't feel that way, most of the time. The interesting thing is, my impression of Max during their initial relationship in Chicago is almost of a different man altogether to the one who smouldered all over Bronte in New York later (where he became quite the glowering alpha), who was again different to the man who was her fiancé in England. Frankly, I enjoyed the character regardless, and it certainly satisfied my romantic need, but he wasn't particularly consistent.

Along this very bumpy road, Bronte has to overcome her insecurities and low self-image, as well as her fear of commitment - a fear that fitted her character well except for that notable exception, of drastically upheaving her life and moving to Chicago for Mr Texas. I did have to wonder: how does a woman who shies away from real commitment, do that? Wouldn't she have secretly preferred using Mr Texas's own lifestyle choices as an excuse not to commit to him? Yet it's never that simple either, and her reasoning behind moving to Chicago seemed so realistic and even familiar, that it totally made sense. It was more that I was surprised at how, later, with Max offering her everything, she balks time and again. Sure the dukedom complicates things, but that's just an excuse. Perhaps it's that, deep down, subconsciously, she recognised that things with Max are real, as they weren't with Mr Texas, where there was no real danger of anything permanent ever happening.

Bronte did disappoint me toward the end, though, when she became noticeably difficult and stubborn and, yes, scared. I got a bit annoyed with Max too, and thought he could have handled things better. I don't want to give away the ending, but there was a new complication thrown in that really bothered me - hard to discuss it without spoiling it and I'm tempted to regardless, because I really don't like how these ... things, are used in romantic plot-lines. It just saddens me, and angers me a bit. (The same thing, more or less, happened at the end of The Marriage Bargain which I read recently; it's a bit of a fallback plot-line.)

This is a great story to read when you want something entertaining and engrossing, that will connect with your emotions without leaving you feeling in any way morbid, a story full of classic misunderstandings, almost-missed opportunities, realism, great love, class divide and humour. It's intelligently written, with a focus on growing up and facing your own flaws, rather than dealing with any kind of social issues or things like that. Perhaps because I expected something a sillier, or because I was wary of an American story about British royalty, but this did not disappoint, and I would happily recommend it to readers of chick-lit and contemporary romance alike.
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Sep 21, 2012 Yekaterina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-won, 2012

Bronte is a stubborn, hilarious, New York girl who gets her heart squashed within the first 30 pages of this book. She then meets Mr. Right and puts him through hell.

I liked this book a lot. It had me laughing to myself and trying not to look like a fool on my lunch breaks. It would have been read faster if I had more free time. I enjoyed the characters so much in the book. I would recommend it to anyone.

The only negative I have is that I was disappointed by Max's mother. She was worked up to b...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Susan rated it 1 of 5 stars

The concept of the story is good - A gal meets a great guy in a bookstore in Chicago. He is her soul mate, but she doesn't know it. He walks out of her life and then re-enters. She doesn't know that he is the 19th Duke of Northrop and that he wants to marry her and make her the Duchess, making his mother the Dowager Countess, ala Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey.

However, this book is a hot mess! FIRST OF ALL, IT IS NOT GOOD WRITING EVER TO HAVE JUST BIG BLOCKS OF THE F*** word. WE CAN GET THE PICT...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Karen White rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is really a 3.5. This book is a good women's fiction/romance crossover - that is parties from both camps will most likely enjoy it. Fun, feisty heroine and dreamy but occasionally difficult British hero in a contemporary setting. It's been a good vaca read, but I did have a few problems with it. One, is my own pet peeve of shifting POVs without warning. It's written in 3rd person, but is still clearly in the head of either Bronte (heroine) or Max (hero). When the shifts happen section to se...more

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May 19, 2013 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-location

Though this is not my type of book I needed something very different. I enjoyed it until the cattiness with the two friends in London, drove me nuts, but, I know it truly happens. Overall, good read.

Re-read and look forward to If The Shoe Fits.

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Nov 20, 2012 Chelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

I, just like Bronte, am enthralled with the lives of Royals. I wish I could live in their shoes for one day. But if this book made me realize anything it is that life as a commoner is the best way to live! Bronte is obsessed with the lives of the British Royalty, and I bet she never thought that she would end up dating one! Max Heyworth is soon to be the Duke of Northrop and has every intention of making Bronte his duchess. What he doesn’t know is that Bronte has just had her smashed, broken hea...more I, just like Bronte, am enthralled with the lives of Royals. I wish I could live in their shoes for one day. But if this book made me realize anything it is that life as a commoner is the best way to live! Bronte is obsessed with the lives of the British Royalty, and I bet she never thought that she would end up dating one! Max Heyworth is soon to be the Duke of Northrop and has every intention of making Bronte his duchess. What he doesn’t know is that Bronte has just had her smashed, broken heart handed back to her on a platter. Will Max be able to tear down the walls around Bronte’s heart?

Bronte Talbott is in your face and extremely forward. You never have to guess what she is thinking because she doesn’t care who knows it. It was nice to read a character like her, even though she was harsh and crass at times. I think this is a very realistic representation of many women after having their heart broken. Bronte is one of those women that we told she cannot do something she flicks her hair over her shoulders and says, “watch me!” She has a very strong personality and a need to protect herself. I like that her relationship with her father was strained because this gives readers some understanding as to why she is so brutally honest and forward at times. She was never allowed to be who she really was, but always encouraged to be who her parents wanted her to be. The only problem that I had with Bronte was the amount of curse words she threw around. Slow down girl! But it does add depth to the character and her abrasive personality. She is definitely not what you expect a duchess to be.

The last sentence leads me to my thoughts on Max. *Sigh* Max is perfect, at least in my eyes. And the number one reason I say this is because he loves and cherishes Bronte no matter how hard and cold her heart is when they first meet. He sees through all of that and even takes her home to meet his over the top, classy, snooty mother; the Duchess of Northrop. He just impressed me so much because he was Bronte’s counterpart. He was the calm to her fury! Every great relationship has its strengths, and this was theirs. Max was a gentleman and appreciated Bronte’s space, most of the time. I would have liked to have read a little more background knowledge about him and his entire family.

Bronte and Max both have issues with their parents and I can see that this joins them together on a certain level. They both understand what it feels like to be ridiculed by someone that should love you unconditionally. I believe that they both aspire to be better people than their parents were to them. I loved this aspect of the novel because it was something that you don’t normally read about that joins two people together!

I loved the look into the Royal life and this book was very well written and paced. I wish I could have seen more from the lives of the Royals, and I wouldn’t mind reading what’s next for Bronte! This was my first Megan Mulry read and I want to thank her for making me laugh and making my jaw drop in shock at the same time! Fans of contemporary romance and chick lit will enjoy this look at British Royalty! Don’t miss it!

***Thank, thank, thank you to Megan’s publicist, Heather, for sending me a copy of this book for review purposes!***
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