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His Royal Secret #1
His Royal Secret
The Prince of Wales meets his match in the first novel in an enchanting male/male romantic duology from the author of Asking for More and Begging for It...
James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.
He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.
While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.
But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have to decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...
James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.
He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.
While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.
But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have to decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
110 people are currently reading
3528 people want to read
About the author
Lilah Pace
5 books531 followersLilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author, so she can’t give away too much about herself here, but she has lived everywhere from Italy to the United Kingdom before putting down roots in the American South.
She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).
And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.
She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).
And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
February 25, 2020
~4.5~
Imagine an alternate contemporary world where the Prince of Wales is gay, closeted, and in a decade-long bearded relationship with his best friend Sandra (dubbed Randy Sandy by the media), who is caught red-handed carrying on with another man (you can hardly blame her; the woman's in love).
Meanwhile, the prince's younger sister has severe anxiety disorder; his grandfather (that would be the king) just had a stroke; and his uncle is out to get the throne.
The only true thing in James's life is his relationship with Ben, a man he meets during a torrential downpour in Africa. Ben invites James to play chess, and the rest is passionate kisses, clandestine meetings, and furtive land-line phone calls.
I don't follow the Royals. Maybe if I were English, I would find this book ridiculous, but spending a year in London hardly qualifies me as an expert on the monarchy. I thought this book realistically portrayed the struggles of a private man living a very public life. James's every move is, and always will be, tracked by the tabloids.
Manipulated into submission by a a former lover, Ben is not interested in being tethered to anyone. His relationship with James is exciting and sexually fulfilling, but it has clearly defined boundaries. They can never have anything serious, because Ben is just a reporter and James the future king.
Lilah Pace writes sharp prose and complex characters. This book is edgier and sexier than I anticipated. The relationship between the MCs burns hot and bright from the beginning.
Ben becomes James's confidante, his sounding board. The men spend hours exploring each other's bodies. They go at it full throttle, then settle down with a glass of wine to pet the royal corgis, Glo and Happy. These sweet and tender moments, the glorious sexual tension, about killed me. These two just fit.
This isn't a fast-paced book, but I was fully wrapped up in the story. Love is sneaky and sly, and James and Ben can't escape its clutches. Ben almost runs. Almost. But James beats him to the punch. And it's then, only then, that Ben realizes he can't let James go, the crown and media circus be damned.
This book ends with a HFN. The story continues in His Royal Favorite, and I for one can't wait for the finale.
Imagine an alternate contemporary world where the Prince of Wales is gay, closeted, and in a decade-long bearded relationship with his best friend Sandra (dubbed Randy Sandy by the media), who is caught red-handed carrying on with another man (you can hardly blame her; the woman's in love).
Meanwhile, the prince's younger sister has severe anxiety disorder; his grandfather (that would be the king) just had a stroke; and his uncle is out to get the throne.
The only true thing in James's life is his relationship with Ben, a man he meets during a torrential downpour in Africa. Ben invites James to play chess, and the rest is passionate kisses, clandestine meetings, and furtive land-line phone calls.
I don't follow the Royals. Maybe if I were English, I would find this book ridiculous, but spending a year in London hardly qualifies me as an expert on the monarchy. I thought this book realistically portrayed the struggles of a private man living a very public life. James's every move is, and always will be, tracked by the tabloids.
Manipulated into submission by a a former lover, Ben is not interested in being tethered to anyone. His relationship with James is exciting and sexually fulfilling, but it has clearly defined boundaries. They can never have anything serious, because Ben is just a reporter and James the future king.
Lilah Pace writes sharp prose and complex characters. This book is edgier and sexier than I anticipated. The relationship between the MCs burns hot and bright from the beginning.
Ben becomes James's confidante, his sounding board. The men spend hours exploring each other's bodies. They go at it full throttle, then settle down with a glass of wine to pet the royal corgis, Glo and Happy. These sweet and tender moments, the glorious sexual tension, about killed me. These two just fit.
This isn't a fast-paced book, but I was fully wrapped up in the story. Love is sneaky and sly, and James and Ben can't escape its clutches. Ben almost runs. Almost. But James beats him to the punch. And it's then, only then, that Ben realizes he can't let James go, the crown and media circus be damned.
This book ends with a HFN. The story continues in His Royal Favorite, and I for one can't wait for the finale.
July 30, 2016
2.5 Stars
I was an instant fan of Lilah Pace the second I read Asking for It. Her writing phenomenal, the story provocative, and the characters multi layered. When I saw that she has a bran new MM romance in the works with a dash of the forbidden (a secretly gay Prince of Wales? *gasp*)
My ovaries were all, sign us up for that right meow!
Then I started reading it and they were all
"when does this pick up?"
"That was pretty hot, but I barely popped a lady boner at it."
"Alright, I'm over the sex, what about more story?"
"How much longer?"
"Really? We're not even at 65% yet?"
"Huh. Maybe the next book will bring more"
Clearly my ovaries are fickle bitches. Le sigh. What can I say? This story very sadly left me quite a bit underwhelmed.
While I loved Ben and James individually, together they were barely lukewarm for me. Perhaps that was because I kept wishing for more story development that kept getting overshadowed by all the sex? Perhaps it was because the book read fairly mundane even if it did have a forbidden romance thing going for it. I just wasn't feeling it.
I was pushing myself to finish...and pushing myself...and pushing myself some more. Eventually this began to feel like the longest short book.
Now don't get me wrong, in usual Lilah Pace fashion, it was clearly well researched and extremely well written. The author is immensely talented, and that's clear in her words. What I found lacking here was simply a true connection to the story. But that's more a personal taste issue than anything truly wrong with the story. Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was something else. But while I didn't love this one, I will definitely be continuing with the next book because I was intrigued enough by everything going on and the secondary characters to want to know what happens next.
If you're looking for sizzling hot MM, this book has it. If you're looking for great secondary characters, this book has it too. If you're looking for multi-layered characters, this book definitely has it. Who knows, perhaps it will work better for you than it did for me.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
Take your clothes off."
"Yes, your Royal Highness."
I was an instant fan of Lilah Pace the second I read Asking for It. Her writing phenomenal, the story provocative, and the characters multi layered. When I saw that she has a bran new MM romance in the works with a dash of the forbidden (a secretly gay Prince of Wales? *gasp*)
My ovaries were all, sign us up for that right meow!
Then I started reading it and they were all
"when does this pick up?"
"That was pretty hot, but I barely popped a lady boner at it."
"Alright, I'm over the sex, what about more story?"
"How much longer?"
"Really? We're not even at 65% yet?"
"Huh. Maybe the next book will bring more"
Clearly my ovaries are fickle bitches. Le sigh. What can I say? This story very sadly left me quite a bit underwhelmed.
While I loved Ben and James individually, together they were barely lukewarm for me. Perhaps that was because I kept wishing for more story development that kept getting overshadowed by all the sex? Perhaps it was because the book read fairly mundane even if it did have a forbidden romance thing going for it. I just wasn't feeling it.
I was pushing myself to finish...and pushing myself...and pushing myself some more. Eventually this began to feel like the longest short book.
Now don't get me wrong, in usual Lilah Pace fashion, it was clearly well researched and extremely well written. The author is immensely talented, and that's clear in her words. What I found lacking here was simply a true connection to the story. But that's more a personal taste issue than anything truly wrong with the story. Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was something else. But while I didn't love this one, I will definitely be continuing with the next book because I was intrigued enough by everything going on and the secondary characters to want to know what happens next.
If you're looking for sizzling hot MM, this book has it. If you're looking for great secondary characters, this book has it too. If you're looking for multi-layered characters, this book definitely has it. Who knows, perhaps it will work better for you than it did for me.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
August 17, 2016
3 stars!
His Royal Secret is about the Prince of England, James. James has a secret, he's gay. In a world that is fairly gay friendly you would think this wouldn't be an issue, but when it comes to the monarchy the rules change. On a trip to Africa, James meets political reporter Ben during a rainstorm, and the attraction is instant. Neither one have had sex for a while, but find an instant sexual chemistry.
Living in different countries, the two part thinking they will never see each other again. But when Ben is reassigned to England a few months later, James and Ben begin a secret affair of the friends with benefits style. The more the two spend time together and get to know each other, it becomes less sex only and more of a mutual admiration for the other. But with James in the closet there can be no hope for something more and it puts a limit on their relationship.
I'm a huge fan of the MM genre, it's my go to whenever I want something guilty pleasure to read. The plot in this one is a bit different, I personally have not come across any royal gay romances and I enjoyed that aspect, even though royalty romance isn't normally my thing.
Lilah Pace did a wonderful job at making the entire situation feel real, the what if's of having a homosexual prince in modern times and the options available to James. There are so many things standing in the way of him coming out and Pace listed all of them, displaying the extremely difficult position James was in. It's completely overwhelming and when seeing what he stood against, I felt so bad for the guy.
Ben was an intriguing love interest, a reporter but one with morals and not out to use James to get ahead. I felt the more time Ben spent with James he understood what James stodd against. He tried very hard not to fall for James, but there's something very endearing about the prince that just works its way into your heart. Ultimately the ending was not what I expected in a good way, and I do want to see what happens with this couple in the next installment.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
His Royal Secret is about the Prince of England, James. James has a secret, he's gay. In a world that is fairly gay friendly you would think this wouldn't be an issue, but when it comes to the monarchy the rules change. On a trip to Africa, James meets political reporter Ben during a rainstorm, and the attraction is instant. Neither one have had sex for a while, but find an instant sexual chemistry.
Living in different countries, the two part thinking they will never see each other again. But when Ben is reassigned to England a few months later, James and Ben begin a secret affair of the friends with benefits style. The more the two spend time together and get to know each other, it becomes less sex only and more of a mutual admiration for the other. But with James in the closet there can be no hope for something more and it puts a limit on their relationship.
I'm a huge fan of the MM genre, it's my go to whenever I want something guilty pleasure to read. The plot in this one is a bit different, I personally have not come across any royal gay romances and I enjoyed that aspect, even though royalty romance isn't normally my thing.
Lilah Pace did a wonderful job at making the entire situation feel real, the what if's of having a homosexual prince in modern times and the options available to James. There are so many things standing in the way of him coming out and Pace listed all of them, displaying the extremely difficult position James was in. It's completely overwhelming and when seeing what he stood against, I felt so bad for the guy.
Ben was an intriguing love interest, a reporter but one with morals and not out to use James to get ahead. I felt the more time Ben spent with James he understood what James stodd against. He tried very hard not to fall for James, but there's something very endearing about the prince that just works its way into your heart. Ultimately the ending was not what I expected in a good way, and I do want to see what happens with this couple in the next installment.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 11, 2023
Very pleasantly surprised by this one. After Red white and royal blue and The unlikely heir I didn’t think there was much left to come up with in terms of royal romances (although this is older than the two mentioned above) but color me impressed, this was quite good. A journalist and the British heir (of course ) go from strangers to friends to enemies to friends with benefits and then finally to lovers while trying to keep their connection hidden. There’s a smidge too much sex for my liking (just a smidge) but the scenes were done tastefully and they were hot. I loved both characters and what I loved best is that there’s no sappiness, on the contrary Ben was a bit of a hard nut to crack. As for the secondary characters, they all were amazing and realistic.I usually hate the MC’s female BFF and even the sister but here both Cassandra and the MC’s sister were excellent characters, very believable and realistic. They weren’t overbearing or too involved in the MC’s life or decisions yet they were loving and supportive. A very enjoyable read that ends in an almost cliffhanger so I’ll get on book 2 right away.
September 15, 2016
The ending saved the book for me.
Strange thing to say, because it ends in a cliffhanger. But a merciful one, if that sort ever exists.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the length. The book information says it’s less than 200 pages but it feels like more than 400. And I noticed because the style didn’t exactly drag me in. It was pleasant enough, but it’s a long way from saying it was captivating or that I couldn’t put it down. Because I was distracted too easily.
The strong asset of this book is the blurb, even if it’s a way too familiar story. At least for me. Yes, the journalist falling in love with the Prince and heir of the Crown has already happened in real life. In Spain, that is. Still, it’s something that seriously draws your attention and your curiousity arises in order to see how this is going to go.
However, the world is different. It's like a nowadays story but in a parallel dimension. There is Internet, and smartphones, and forums. They mention the Commonwealth but not the EU, the homosexual marriage doesn't exist yet, and the kings’ and queens’ names don’t coincide. Needless to say, the gay issue is another little detail that gives drama to the story.
The forbidden love story. For so many reasons.
There is an obvious sexual tension and that’s what makes it interesting. There is chemistry between the characters, and the sex pays it off. They can get creative and imaginative in the middle of all the restrictions they find in order to have a normal relationship. They have to “date” each other in secret, and the less people know about it, the better. That doesn’t mean they don’t make up for it with everything in their record. And the author makes you want to glimpse more of them together.
But beyond that, the story is pretty average. It pains me to say so, because I really enjoyed the story, but in fact, it’s quite forgettable after a while. Meh, almost.
Close to the end, I feared there would be a Big Denial of their feelings/relationship and that the characters would turn Too Stupid To Live, but in fact, the author managed a turn of events that surprised me and awoke me from the numbness of the story. Yes, it’s the ending what convinced me the book was a good one.
*****
Tag Review with SRAL!
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Strange thing to say, because it ends in a cliffhanger. But a merciful one, if that sort ever exists.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the length. The book information says it’s less than 200 pages but it feels like more than 400. And I noticed because the style didn’t exactly drag me in. It was pleasant enough, but it’s a long way from saying it was captivating or that I couldn’t put it down. Because I was distracted too easily.
The strong asset of this book is the blurb, even if it’s a way too familiar story. At least for me. Yes, the journalist falling in love with the Prince and heir of the Crown has already happened in real life. In Spain, that is. Still, it’s something that seriously draws your attention and your curiousity arises in order to see how this is going to go.
However, the world is different. It's like a nowadays story but in a parallel dimension. There is Internet, and smartphones, and forums. They mention the Commonwealth but not the EU, the homosexual marriage doesn't exist yet, and the kings’ and queens’ names don’t coincide. Needless to say, the gay issue is another little detail that gives drama to the story.
The forbidden love story. For so many reasons.
There is an obvious sexual tension and that’s what makes it interesting. There is chemistry between the characters, and the sex pays it off. They can get creative and imaginative in the middle of all the restrictions they find in order to have a normal relationship. They have to “date” each other in secret, and the less people know about it, the better. That doesn’t mean they don’t make up for it with everything in their record. And the author makes you want to glimpse more of them together.
But beyond that, the story is pretty average. It pains me to say so, because I really enjoyed the story, but in fact, it’s quite forgettable after a while. Meh, almost.
Close to the end, I feared there would be a Big Denial of their feelings/relationship and that the characters would turn Too Stupid To Live, but in fact, the author managed a turn of events that surprised me and awoke me from the numbness of the story. Yes, it’s the ending what convinced me the book was a good one.
*****
Tag Review with SRAL!
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
July 24, 2023
Absolutely delicious. James is heir to the British throne, perhaps about to be king when his grandfather falls suddenly ill. He’s also secretly gay. When he meets Ben, a reporter, on a trip to Kenya and they hit it off, the two of them have a secret torrid afternoon together than neither expects to turn into anything. But later when Ben comes to England, they wind up seeing each other again. This was really nicely done, with the pressures of living under a microscope as a royal, family secrets and disagreements (I loved the relationship between James and his little sister Indigo), and wanting to live your truest life. So pleased to see there is a part two!
October 6, 2017
Wow! I actually enjoyed this. Maybe it is because of my fascination with the royals, too bad:
The MC’s James the Prince and Ben the Journalist were very likable, and they had chemistry that was believable from the first time they met.
I loved that James got excited with small things like catalogues and slanket
“I’ve never gotten to look at these,” James said. Apparently not much junk mail went to the palaces. “They’re sort of amazing.”
“Amazing? Catalogues?”
“There’s this one thing—I don’t suppose you’d let me borrow your credit card, would you?”
Ben sat back from his notes. “You don’t have a credit card?”
Overall this was a cute, enjoyable read and some hot sex.
July 23, 2016
Prettier review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
3.5 "Chess Mate" Stars
Can you imagine a monarchy with a gay crown prince or king? All the repercussions and consequences this would have? This story barely scratches the surface but even with what we learn here it would already be an unmanageable pile of things you would never have considered in your wildest dreams. Political consequences, social consequences, and the unpredictable effects a gay monarch would have, including not having a direct successor.
James is the fictional crown prince of Great Britain. His secret is only known to a handful of people, not even his family knows that he is gay. His best friend is his beard and she has played along for 10 years. During a visit in Kenya his security deems it safe for him to roam the resort on his own so that's what he does. He runs into a mysterious stranger and James is intrigued.
To say that Ben is surprised when the crown prince seeks shelter from the pouring rain, in the house he has rented for his vacation, would be an understatement. He invites the prince to a game of chess and, to spice things up, their stakes are secrets. Personal, private secrets. The air is electric between them and Ben quickly realizes that His Royal Highness is gay.
At chess mate they give in to their electric chemistry and James allows himself the adventure of having Ben as a lover for a couple of hours, knowing it will be a one-timer. When it's time to leave, James finds out that Ben is a journalist of all people. Will this man keep the crown prince's secret? Or will he make it known to the world and push the monarchy in an unknown crisis?
Let's talk characters. I loved James. Period. He is this gentle yet fierce and strong-willed good man who you want as a ruler. He is understanding and tries to do right by everyone. He has a sweet sense of humor and is loyal to a fault. The way he treats his fellow man is plain amazing. To counter the sweet there is Ben. I struggled with him half of the the story. I didn't like him very much. He is constantly irritated with James and his feelings for the crown prince. He also isn't very understanding that James is not able to come out until he is confronted with a reality check. I ended up adoring them together though, so Ben did pull his head out of his ass.
Cassandra, James' best friend is a shining light and I loved her spirit to bits. Opposite of her is Indigo, the crown prince's sister, who is deeply troubled, yet supportive of him.
The relationship develops at a realistic pace. They start out as sex partners and grow into friends before feelings are even considered. All this considered, why not 4 stars? The story itself was rather slow in the beginning. I kept spacing out and had to re-read paragraphs, and it was not because I had so much on my mind. I just wasn't in it. Once things started happening I really loved the story. The other issue was Ben. He wasn't very likable half of the book and I *want* to like my main characters.
Lilah Pace is a new-to-me author. Her writing style is flawless and fluid and I do think that there rests one hell of a talent in her. The end of the book is kind of tied up but still has a small-ish cliffy which compells me to read the next book.
March 25, 2021
A tag team review with Sheziss
3.5 Hearts--An alternate universe where the Prince of Wales to the British Throne is secretly gay...
No, we're not talking about Wills, baby.
His Royal Secret is the first half of two part series from author Lilah Pace. His Royal Secret is Pace's first foray into MM. This alternate universe is the same as present day just with an alternate British royal lineage.
HRH James is young, orphaned, high educated and directly in the public eye due to being the future king of Britain. He's been raised in the spotlight and sadly can't be free with his sexuality. With a best friend as his public beard, a younger sister with untreated mental health issues and a sad sexual history, due to isolation and fear, James is firmly inside his closet with all the stressors in his private life. Enter Ben Dahan, hot Israeli openly gay, anti-commitment, international journalist who has a chance meeting with James in Kenya. A game of chess and rainy season turns an opportune moment into a steamy little tryst.
Did it make an impression? Not really. It was a nice little interlude. Cut to months down the road and a move to London on Dahan's part, the men figure they're at perfect points in their life to start a strictly sexual relationship. The sex got better as the story progressed though for the first third it was borderline repetitive with the same stroke-finger-lube-penetrate. Thankfully, it broke out the mold.
The story on a whole has good parts. It was better than good when reflecting on the entire thing. A decent set up, two men who shouldn't be together on paper but somehow are-- due to availability and a sexual chemistry. I don't mind closeted reads, but the anti-commitment MC's are my juice. I love them. Especially reading them turn into a pro-commitment fan. We don't get much reflection on the change from either men, especially from the stubborn one. I think the story could have gone deeper with both men, more so with Ben. I'm hoping it's because this is a duology and the second half is going to be bombastic. Or I'll just come back and rate this lower, once I read the second half.
I don't think this story hit it's full potential. There were awkward breaks, weird transitions into chapters or to different characters. And what I think my biggest gripe is if this story was supposed to be Erotica or Romance? I don't mind the two mixed, or separate. The erotica was spicy vanilla at best with role playing being the hardest kink (lol) James seemed naive for that. Maybe if he didn't have his background, I'd have had an easier time buying it. The guys start off slow, kind of lukewarm/medium heat. Then presto!
We're getting sentences like this:
Or even better:
That's a drawers dropper sentence. Mmmhmm I'm all for it!
Sometimes the erotic actions, words and role play kink, seemed at odds with the characters introduced. Erotically, the story works. Romantically...ehhhh...I guess?
I like Ben.
I like James.
Do I like Ben and James together? It's a hesitant yes. But a yes, nonetheless.
I wasn't invested until 75% into the story. Or really cared about the romance until 97%...
There were bursts of magic within.
I wish we got to know more of the person as the reader was inside their head when they made they decisions, to get a sense of their feelings.
A plus on this novel's side? It didn't read like stereotypes or thinly veiled MF in a MM coating.
I'm pretty good at sniffing those out. And I'm happy to report that is not the case in His Royal Secret. #yay
Just dudes who placed strict boundaries on being fuck buddies and somehow broke their own rules because feelings became involved. [Just wish there was more attention paid on that detail of feelings, sharing more inside the character's head when it was their turn]
The story ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. But it's a soft cliffhanger, meaning it's a HFN with a promise of a HEA. But the stakes are too high not to read what the outcome is in the second book of this duology.
I'd read from this author again, to see how this all wraps up. I'm curious how it plays out for the royal and his lover.
A copy provided for an honest review via Netgalley.
3.5 Hearts--An alternate universe where the Prince of Wales to the British Throne is secretly gay...
No, we're not talking about Wills, baby.
"Your Royal Highness. Or is it Your Majesty now that you've become Prince Regent?"
"I don't think you've came all this way to discuss royal protocol."
"No."
His Royal Secret is the first half of two part series from author Lilah Pace. His Royal Secret is Pace's first foray into MM. This alternate universe is the same as present day just with an alternate British royal lineage.
HRH James is young, orphaned, high educated and directly in the public eye due to being the future king of Britain. He's been raised in the spotlight and sadly can't be free with his sexuality. With a best friend as his public beard, a younger sister with untreated mental health issues and a sad sexual history, due to isolation and fear, James is firmly inside his closet with all the stressors in his private life. Enter Ben Dahan, hot Israeli openly gay, anti-commitment, international journalist who has a chance meeting with James in Kenya. A game of chess and rainy season turns an opportune moment into a steamy little tryst.
Did it make an impression? Not really. It was a nice little interlude. Cut to months down the road and a move to London on Dahan's part, the men figure they're at perfect points in their life to start a strictly sexual relationship. The sex got better as the story progressed though for the first third it was borderline repetitive with the same stroke-finger-lube-penetrate. Thankfully, it broke out the mold.
The story on a whole has good parts. It was better than good when reflecting on the entire thing. A decent set up, two men who shouldn't be together on paper but somehow are-- due to availability and a sexual chemistry. I don't mind closeted reads, but the anti-commitment MC's are my juice. I love them. Especially reading them turn into a pro-commitment fan. We don't get much reflection on the change from either men, especially from the stubborn one. I think the story could have gone deeper with both men, more so with Ben. I'm hoping it's because this is a duology and the second half is going to be bombastic. Or I'll just come back and rate this lower, once I read the second half.
I don't think this story hit it's full potential. There were awkward breaks, weird transitions into chapters or to different characters. And what I think my biggest gripe is if this story was supposed to be Erotica or Romance? I don't mind the two mixed, or separate. The erotica was spicy vanilla at best with role playing being the hardest kink (lol) James seemed naive for that. Maybe if he didn't have his background, I'd have had an easier time buying it. The guys start off slow, kind of lukewarm/medium heat. Then presto!
We're getting sentences like this:
"Hand jobs are well and good, but this time I'm not leaving without getting fucked."
Or even better:
"I thought you'd get back around now."
"Only just. Is anything wrong?"
"Yeah. Your mouth's not around my cock."
That's a drawers dropper sentence. Mmmhmm I'm all for it!
Sometimes the erotic actions, words and role play kink, seemed at odds with the characters introduced. Erotically, the story works. Romantically...ehhhh...I guess?
I like Ben.
I like James.
Do I like Ben and James together? It's a hesitant yes. But a yes, nonetheless.
I wasn't invested until 75% into the story. Or really cared about the romance until 97%...
There were bursts of magic within.
"Nobody else ever got to me like this. Nobody ever. And nobody's going to get to me like this again. You got through my defense when on one else could, or can, or will. You're the only one I could ever have loved, the only man on this earth. I can't change it now. It's done. All I know is that if I walk away from you tonight, I'll spend the rest of my life...broken in two. Needing you. So I won't walk away."
I wish we got to know more of the person as the reader was inside their head when they made they decisions, to get a sense of their feelings.
A plus on this novel's side? It didn't read like stereotypes or thinly veiled MF in a MM coating.
I'm pretty good at sniffing those out. And I'm happy to report that is not the case in His Royal Secret. #yay
Just dudes who placed strict boundaries on being fuck buddies and somehow broke their own rules because feelings became involved. [Just wish there was more attention paid on that detail of feelings, sharing more inside the character's head when it was their turn]
The story ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. But it's a soft cliffhanger, meaning it's a HFN with a promise of a HEA. But the stakes are too high not to read what the outcome is in the second book of this duology.
I'd read from this author again, to see how this all wraps up. I'm curious how it plays out for the royal and his lover.
A copy provided for an honest review via Netgalley.
April 22, 2025
2025.04.19 - Re-Read Time. I just really likes these books.
-----------------------------
Overall book rating: 5 I Still Love it stars
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Round Two. Yap. I’m still loving it. I really just adore these guys, but in a different kind of way?
Ben is not a fluffy character. He doesn’t make you trip over you feet with hearts and flowers from the get go but he’s strong and he has courage and he stands up for what he believes in when it comes down to it.
James. Well I just really love him. He’s this great mix of things that makes him interesting and you want to punch “Uncle Richard” in his defense.
On to the next one then hey?
Overall book rating: 5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
This book was one of the most UNEXPECTED DELIGHTS of 2018 in my TBR list. So I’m giving a 5 because it made my little romantic heart beat wildly out of time
I’m not ‘n big Royal Family fan. I don’t much care what they do or don’t do, and I’m also not big on politics so subconsciously connected this series to something in that line.
Two strikes against it already then in my little black book.
BUT... It Surprised me in the BEST of ways!
I can’t tell you how much I’m loving it! I feel like a sponge absorbing every little emotion, glance, touch and thought.
I LOVE the main characters. Both Ben and James.
I Absolutely Adore the way James gets to experience all these things foreign to him.
I swear he’s the most peculiar mix of self-assured and childishly amazed and I just can’t get enough of it!!!!
“Whatever are you looking at that for?”
“I’ve never gotten to look at these,” James said. Apparently not much junk mail went to the palaces. “They’re sort of amazing.”
“Amazing? Catalogues?”
“There’s this one thing—I don’t suppose you’d let me borrow your credit card, would you?”
What is it you want to buy?”
“This.” With great delight, James held out a page revealing, in all its glory, a Slanket.
Now laughing, Ben said, “What do you want with that?”
“It’s just so bizarre. A blanket with sleeves. Who ever heard of such a thing? It looks like some sort of cult robe. But it also looks warm, and Clarence House is so drafty.”
“You’re giving in to impulse shopping, That’s the temptation of catalogues.” Ben firmly took the catalogue from James and said, “Sleep on it at least, will you?”
Yes I’m excessively using exclamation marks! I’m fully aware of it but how else am I to convey my excitement?
I feel like I’m experiencing all these “first” and “taboos” with them. Sitting on a couch watching it all unfold.
And all the while, with a happy heart, I know that somewhere in this whirlwind relationship things are going to have to go wrong/difficult and my heart will break.
It did break. Even though you can see it coming and you know it’s gonna happen. Because James wants to protect Ben, and Ben wants his freedom above all else.
He would only have one more night with Ben. Nothing in the world could make him give that up.
After they rang off, awkward and unsure, James finally put his head down and wept—long, broken, wrenching sobs, the way he hadn’t cried since his parents’ death. Best to get it out now.
Thank goodness the author ends this cliffy on a HFN! I didn’t stop reading until I finished it late in the night and I can’t wait to get my grabby hands on the next one.
-----------------------------
Overall book rating: 5 I Still Love it stars
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
Round Two. Yap. I’m still loving it. I really just adore these guys, but in a different kind of way?
Ben is not a fluffy character. He doesn’t make you trip over you feet with hearts and flowers from the get go but he’s strong and he has courage and he stands up for what he believes in when it comes down to it.
James. Well I just really love him. He’s this great mix of things that makes him interesting and you want to punch “Uncle Richard” in his defense.
On to the next one then hey?
Overall book rating: 5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
This book was one of the most UNEXPECTED DELIGHTS of 2018 in my TBR list. So I’m giving a 5 because it made my little romantic heart beat wildly out of time
I’m not ‘n big Royal Family fan. I don’t much care what they do or don’t do, and I’m also not big on politics so subconsciously connected this series to something in that line.
Two strikes against it already then in my little black book.
BUT... It Surprised me in the BEST of ways!
I can’t tell you how much I’m loving it! I feel like a sponge absorbing every little emotion, glance, touch and thought.
I LOVE the main characters. Both Ben and James.
I Absolutely Adore the way James gets to experience all these things foreign to him.
I swear he’s the most peculiar mix of self-assured and childishly amazed and I just can’t get enough of it!!!!
“Whatever are you looking at that for?”
“I’ve never gotten to look at these,” James said. Apparently not much junk mail went to the palaces. “They’re sort of amazing.”
“Amazing? Catalogues?”
“There’s this one thing—I don’t suppose you’d let me borrow your credit card, would you?”
What is it you want to buy?”
“This.” With great delight, James held out a page revealing, in all its glory, a Slanket.
Now laughing, Ben said, “What do you want with that?”
“It’s just so bizarre. A blanket with sleeves. Who ever heard of such a thing? It looks like some sort of cult robe. But it also looks warm, and Clarence House is so drafty.”
“You’re giving in to impulse shopping, That’s the temptation of catalogues.” Ben firmly took the catalogue from James and said, “Sleep on it at least, will you?”
Yes I’m excessively using exclamation marks! I’m fully aware of it but how else am I to convey my excitement?
I feel like I’m experiencing all these “first” and “taboos” with them. Sitting on a couch watching it all unfold.
And all the while, with a happy heart, I know that somewhere in this whirlwind relationship things are going to have to go wrong/difficult and my heart will break.
It did break. Even though you can see it coming and you know it’s gonna happen. Because James wants to protect Ben, and Ben wants his freedom above all else.
He would only have one more night with Ben. Nothing in the world could make him give that up.
After they rang off, awkward and unsure, James finally put his head down and wept—long, broken, wrenching sobs, the way he hadn’t cried since his parents’ death. Best to get it out now.
Thank goodness the author ends this cliffy on a HFN! I didn’t stop reading until I finished it late in the night and I can’t wait to get my grabby hands on the next one.
August 29, 2016
Review written August 28, 2016
4 1/2 Stars - A lovely gem with all pieces I love in a good romance
Book #1 (of 2)
His Royal Secret is the first in a two parts series. Lilah Pace's "Royal" new contemporary romances in the M/M genre.
A closeted Prince (to be the future king) of Great Britain and a (not tabloid) journalist. — Tempting right? It sounded like a very intriguing (and highly romantic "classic") topic in my ears. — And it was and I'm in such a good mood it can't but be five shining red GR-stars.
**********************************************
It all starts a raining wet and warm afternoon at a nice hotel in Kenya, Africa with a drink and a chessboard. Two strangers, James, Prince of Wales and the reporter Benjamin Dahan, and their right to ask personal question when winning a chess piece. Two men from completely different reality meet by a chance. A single hot encounter, a connection and a unforgettable memory.
James and Ben's story is told enjoyable slowly. Not insta and not unlikely rapidly rushed. It is to begin with desire and curiosity that drives. So tender and ingenious emotional. It feels credible. No grand grandiose affection is repeatedly shown. Nor pronounced grand declarations of big love but I feel it nevertheless. — So good. Just in my taste.
His Royal Secret is a heartwarming gem. My applauses!
Luckily is book #2-His Royal Favorite also published by now. I must grab it at once.
**********************************************
I LIKE - much more than I could imagine
*****
4 1/2 Stars - A lovely gem with all pieces I love in a good romance
Book #1 (of 2)
His Royal Secret is the first in a two parts series. Lilah Pace's "Royal" new contemporary romances in the M/M genre.
A closeted Prince (to be the future king) of Great Britain and a (not tabloid) journalist. — Tempting right? It sounded like a very intriguing (and highly romantic "classic") topic in my ears. — And it was and I'm in such a good mood it can't but be five shining red GR-stars.
**********************************************
It all starts a raining wet and warm afternoon at a nice hotel in Kenya, Africa with a drink and a chessboard. Two strangers, James, Prince of Wales and the reporter Benjamin Dahan, and their right to ask personal question when winning a chess piece. Two men from completely different reality meet by a chance. A single hot encounter, a connection and a unforgettable memory.
James and Ben's story is told enjoyable slowly. Not insta and not unlikely rapidly rushed. It is to begin with desire and curiosity that drives. So tender and ingenious emotional. It feels credible. No grand grandiose affection is repeatedly shown. Nor pronounced grand declarations of big love but I feel it nevertheless. — So good. Just in my taste.
His Royal Secret is a heartwarming gem. My applauses!
Luckily is book #2-His Royal Favorite also published by now. I must grab it at once.
**********************************************
I LIKE - much more than I could imagine
*****
July 29, 2016
*** 4.25 Stars ***
Since it's unlikely that Keira Andrews will ever write another President's-son-falls-for-his-Secret-Service-Agent novel (of which I'd happily read a dozen if they existed), I've resigned myself to searching for something to fill the void. Though His Royal Secret isn't quite as good Valor on the Move, Pace made a valiant effort with this tale of alternative British royalty. I liked the set up, the characters, the emotional depth, and there was one particularly steamy sex scene that practically had me humming "Rule Britannia."
Fair warning to my friends: the book ends in a Happily For Now, but I didn't hate it. I was satisfied with where the book left off, and emotionally engaged enough to be eager for the conclusion (coming in August!).
Since it's unlikely that Keira Andrews will ever write another President's-son-falls-for-his-Secret-Service-Agent novel (of which I'd happily read a dozen if they existed), I've resigned myself to searching for something to fill the void. Though His Royal Secret isn't quite as good Valor on the Move, Pace made a valiant effort with this tale of alternative British royalty. I liked the set up, the characters, the emotional depth, and there was one particularly steamy sex scene that practically had me humming "Rule Britannia."
Fair warning to my friends: the book ends in a Happily For Now, but I didn't hate it. I was satisfied with where the book left off, and emotionally engaged enough to be eager for the conclusion (coming in August!).
October 14, 2023
Loved this! I always love royal romances - and this one was really good! Very short & ends on a cliffhanger so I'll keep this review short so I can immediately start book 2!
July 22, 2016
** 3,75-4 STARS **
“You belong to me. Maybe the public and the press own the part of you that’s THE PRINCE, but not THE MAN. You’re mine, and I won’t let anything take you away.”
VERY unique plot. EXCELLENT characters. EXQUISITE sex.
...and a very disappointingly anticlimactic ending (with no cliffy, which was surprisingly not good news at that point).
OVERALL: MM Romance is like my happy la la land. I choose one whenever I feel like escaping the real world. The problem is...this one was a tad bit too realistic than I've expected, so my whole running-away-from-the-cruelty-and-f*ckedupness-of-the-real-world thingy didn't exactly work. Oh well...
May 25, 2019
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one. It took me a bit of time to connect with the characters, but I was sucked in by the end and had already purchased the second book by the time I came here to review. ;)
The story doesn't attempt to recreate the wheel but it's a fun take. Bring it, book 2...
The story doesn't attempt to recreate the wheel but it's a fun take. Bring it, book 2...
July 25, 2018
*** 4.5 Stars! ****
September 26, 2017
Re-read again-again, and just as much fun as the first time around. This has become a comfort-read for weeks when DNFs and ragey books have been predominant:-)
Holy moly this was a good book, and I am wondering whether Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a best selling author AND a Royal in real life.
Of course we have no way of knowing how accurate her descriptions of the day-to-day life of the Royal family are, but it felt SO REAL. I could not put this book down!
So James is next in line to inherit the British throne after his 83 year old grandfather, since James' parents died in a tragic plane accident.
James is gay but have been living as a straight man, using his best friend Cassandra as a beard. He is not ready to abdicate the throne as this will put his sister Princess Amelia more in the spotlight, and she has quite a few mental issues. Amelia (Indigo to friends and close family) cannot/will not get the help she needs, because of her very public figure.
Also James' uncle Richard is ready to take over, if James and Amelia cannot step up, but James has been training for this his whole life and is not ready to let go. James has had a few very secret affairs with men, but they did not end well.
Ben is a journalist for an international newspaper, he writes about economic stuff and has been a 'nomad' for most of his life. Ben is an out, proud gay man.
A chance meeting in Kenya between James and Ben, sets off this story beautifully. Ben didn't tell James he was a journalist, and when James finds out AFTER they slept together, James is -rightfully so- quite upset.
They part on not friendly terms, but both are thinking about the other in the following months. Then Ben is transferred to the London office, and here he is sent to one of the charity events where James will be present.
What follows is the story of these 2 trying to navigate their affair - which they agree from the beginning is all sex, no feelings and no strings, because of their very different lives. Though Ben believes that James is a coward for not coming out in the beginning, but the more time they spend together, the more Ben sees the sacrifices James has to live with every day.
Cassandra has also met a man, that she wants to be with. Of course the press has picked it up, and they are horrible to her. This pushes James towards coming out and fighting for the throne, though he believes this will be without Ben, both because of their arrangement but also because he knows how it is to live your life in the very public eye, being judged for EVERYTHING from birth to death and beyond.
This book really gripped me, I don't know if it's because I come from a country where Royals are scrutinised, discussed, photographed and devoured in the press and amongst the citizens. But I cannot begin to understand how it must feel to be a symbol of a country and living your life in a glass jar, though this book really fucking does a good job of 'guessing'.
I thought the smexy times were nice, the development between James and Ben awesome, Cassandra provided some comic relief and I felt so bad for Amelia. My feelings for Richard was ambivalent, but James is a very good 'voice' in this book.
There is a crisis, but it worked so well with the premise of the book, that the normal 'cliche' problem did not irritate me.
This book will definitely be read again!
Holy moly this was a good book, and I am wondering whether Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a best selling author AND a Royal in real life.
Of course we have no way of knowing how accurate her descriptions of the day-to-day life of the Royal family are, but it felt SO REAL. I could not put this book down!
So James is next in line to inherit the British throne after his 83 year old grandfather, since James' parents died in a tragic plane accident.
James is gay but have been living as a straight man, using his best friend Cassandra as a beard. He is not ready to abdicate the throne as this will put his sister Princess Amelia more in the spotlight, and she has quite a few mental issues. Amelia (Indigo to friends and close family) cannot/will not get the help she needs, because of her very public figure.
Also James' uncle Richard is ready to take over, if James and Amelia cannot step up, but James has been training for this his whole life and is not ready to let go. James has had a few very secret affairs with men, but they did not end well.
Ben is a journalist for an international newspaper, he writes about economic stuff and has been a 'nomad' for most of his life. Ben is an out, proud gay man.
A chance meeting in Kenya between James and Ben, sets off this story beautifully. Ben didn't tell James he was a journalist, and when James finds out AFTER they slept together, James is -rightfully so- quite upset.
They part on not friendly terms, but both are thinking about the other in the following months. Then Ben is transferred to the London office, and here he is sent to one of the charity events where James will be present.
What follows is the story of these 2 trying to navigate their affair - which they agree from the beginning is all sex, no feelings and no strings, because of their very different lives. Though Ben believes that James is a coward for not coming out in the beginning, but the more time they spend together, the more Ben sees the sacrifices James has to live with every day.
Cassandra has also met a man, that she wants to be with. Of course the press has picked it up, and they are horrible to her. This pushes James towards coming out and fighting for the throne, though he believes this will be without Ben, both because of their arrangement but also because he knows how it is to live your life in the very public eye, being judged for EVERYTHING from birth to death and beyond.
This book really gripped me, I don't know if it's because I come from a country where Royals are scrutinised, discussed, photographed and devoured in the press and amongst the citizens. But I cannot begin to understand how it must feel to be a symbol of a country and living your life in a glass jar, though this book really fucking does a good job of 'guessing'.
I thought the smexy times were nice, the development between James and Ben awesome, Cassandra provided some comic relief and I felt so bad for Amelia. My feelings for Richard was ambivalent, but James is a very good 'voice' in this book.
There is a crisis, but it worked so well with the premise of the book, that the normal 'cliche' problem did not irritate me.
This book will definitely be read again!
July 11, 2016
Take one very closeted royal, one darkly attractive investigative reporter, add in a rainy night at a secluded resort in Kenya and you have the intriguing beginning of "His Royal Secret," the first book in a two-part series by Lilah Pace.
James became Prince of Wales in his late teens, after the sudden death of his parents, Prince Edmund and Princess Rose (think Charles and Diana in the early happy years). Head of "a church that's leaning more strongly away from supporting gay clergy and gay marriage [...] and a country that's inching toward being progressive but is absolutely not ready for a gay king," James is trapped. If he abdicates, the crown passes to his emotionally fragile sister Amelia and James wants to protect her at all costs.
James and Ben begin an arrangement that initially suits both their needs perfectly. Ben doesn't do domesticity. To him, to be loved is to be owned. James knows "Ben didn't give a damn that he was a prince; he just wanted James's body. What a revelation, what a joy, what a complete fucking turn-on to be wanted for only himself." Their sexual chemistry is absolutely Off. The. Chain, and over the course of the book both men slowly come to realize that what they have is much more than a friends with benefits situation.
Reading "His Royal Secret" made me feel this is what it must really be like to be a royal. The author does a beautiful job of capturing that claustrophobic feeling of living a life in the spotlight 24/7/365, combined with the burden of James having to hid his truest self from almost everyone close to him. And the book's pace was perfect - it holds your interest with no missteps and the more you get into the story, the more powerful it becomes.
The only unfortunate thing about this book? It ends in a cliffhanger. Yup, you'll need to wait until the second book in the series - His Royal Favorite - is published in mid-August. I cannot wait.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
James became Prince of Wales in his late teens, after the sudden death of his parents, Prince Edmund and Princess Rose (think Charles and Diana in the early happy years). Head of "a church that's leaning more strongly away from supporting gay clergy and gay marriage [...] and a country that's inching toward being progressive but is absolutely not ready for a gay king," James is trapped. If he abdicates, the crown passes to his emotionally fragile sister Amelia and James wants to protect her at all costs.
James and Ben begin an arrangement that initially suits both their needs perfectly. Ben doesn't do domesticity. To him, to be loved is to be owned. James knows "Ben didn't give a damn that he was a prince; he just wanted James's body. What a revelation, what a joy, what a complete fucking turn-on to be wanted for only himself." Their sexual chemistry is absolutely Off. The. Chain, and over the course of the book both men slowly come to realize that what they have is much more than a friends with benefits situation.
Reading "His Royal Secret" made me feel this is what it must really be like to be a royal. The author does a beautiful job of capturing that claustrophobic feeling of living a life in the spotlight 24/7/365, combined with the burden of James having to hid his truest self from almost everyone close to him. And the book's pace was perfect - it holds your interest with no missteps and the more you get into the story, the more powerful it becomes.
The only unfortunate thing about this book? It ends in a cliffhanger. Yup, you'll need to wait until the second book in the series - His Royal Favorite - is published in mid-August. I cannot wait.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
July 16, 2016
This wasn't bad but it wasn't that good either. Started off well, but after a while I started to get pretty bored. Normally, 186 pages take me no time to read- in this instance this book took me days. I had to force myself to go back to it. I don't know...
What I liked:
*James and Ben. Both men were pleasant.
*Indigo (princess, James's sister).
*I did like the whole monarchy storyline. I grew up watching Disney Princess movies (still watch them actually) so I was extra excited for a story about a Prince falling in love with a commoner.
What I found lacking:
*Story development. I think it relied too heavily on sex, but even those scenes didn't hold my interest, and I started skimming them. To me the story didn't start shaping up until almost the end and boom it was done. Well, not really. The book doesn't finish on a cliffhanger, but it does have an open ending. Which I find kind of annoying.
That brings me into...
*Complaint 2: rather than have two short books- just give me one long one. <-- my dirty mind went there. Lol When I saw book one I was hoping book 2 was about a different character but no. Will I read book 2- probably not to be honest.
More than likely I'll be the minority but that's ok. :)
December 9, 2018
This was so insanely well crafted. I immediately looked to see if I could get a paperback of the book. Alas, there is none.
I really, really, really hope Lilah Pace writes more MM romance.
Straight to all-time favorites.
I really, really, really hope Lilah Pace writes more MM romance.
Straight to all-time favorites.
December 15, 2018
Nobody else ever got to me like this. Nobody ever. And nobody’s going to get to me like this again.
An adorable British royalty secret romance? With corgis?
Yes please!
This was the perfect mix of sweet and serious, passionately sexy and remarkably human. I expected greatness from the author of Asking for It, which might be my favorite erotic romance ever. And while His Royal Secret didn't quite make my favorites shelf, it's still darn good.
James has everything (on the outside) - looks, charm, and a direct line to the British throne. Yes, the Prince of Wales indeed has everything. Including a secret.
Benjamin has nothing. And he likes it that way. Nothing to tie him down, a job that lets him pick up and leave at a moment's notice, and he wants nothing else.
Until he meets the Prince of Wales.
A chance meeting on a rain soaked holiday. A game of chess with ever increasing wages. One lightning-flash of impulsive passion.
A romance between a reporter and a closeted royal could never work. Could it?
Despite the fact that the sexy stuff starts pretty early on, this has all the hallmarks of a slow burn romance. What was supposed to be a meaningless (but super hot) hookup, has the chance to grow into something more when Ben is transferred to London. Ben refuses to be tethered to anyone and James's precarious political position means coming out isn't an option.
That was the whole problem, James thought. He’d been born into a role that demanded he take his place in the museum, and would forever deny him a real home.
What separates this tale from the countless other steamy romances? The characters. James struggles to balance his public persona and duty to his country with his inner desire for affection and freedom. He can't abdicate - that would leave the throne to his younger sister Indigo, whose myriad of anxieties and fears often paralyze her. He couldn't do that to her. And he feels he can't come out publicly either. It could be seen as a political statement and jeopardize international relations, for starters.
Indigo is a fantastic character too. Her neurosis and tendency to self injure are acutely and tenderly written. Really, all the secondary characters are woven with grace, right down to to the aged butler and Ben's demanding, yet trusting boss.
And the romance! The chemistry between Ben and James is startling and charming. Falling in love with each other would be dreadfully inconvenient, just impossible. It's not practical, or logical. They really can't develop feelings for each other. It would be disastrous.
But hey, what's life without a little disaster?
“If the world finds out we’re together, my life is ruined. But my life is ruined if I lose you. So I’m pretty well fucked either way.”
His Royal Secret doesn't end on a cliffhanger exactly. It's clear that the story will continue on, but it doesn't leave anything outrageously dramatic hanging over the reader's head. It lets you know the story goes on in His Royal Favorite, but doesn't force you to read it.
This was probably my first m/m royal secret romance, and therefore the best one I've read! The writing and the characters shine and elevate the entire story. The romance had me swooning a tad, and I'm not exactly the swooning type.
Plus, the corgis. You can never go wrong with pet corgis.
An adorable British royalty secret romance? With corgis?
Yes please!
This was the perfect mix of sweet and serious, passionately sexy and remarkably human. I expected greatness from the author of Asking for It, which might be my favorite erotic romance ever. And while His Royal Secret didn't quite make my favorites shelf, it's still darn good.
James has everything (on the outside) - looks, charm, and a direct line to the British throne. Yes, the Prince of Wales indeed has everything. Including a secret.
Benjamin has nothing. And he likes it that way. Nothing to tie him down, a job that lets him pick up and leave at a moment's notice, and he wants nothing else.
Until he meets the Prince of Wales.
A chance meeting on a rain soaked holiday. A game of chess with ever increasing wages. One lightning-flash of impulsive passion.
A romance between a reporter and a closeted royal could never work. Could it?
Despite the fact that the sexy stuff starts pretty early on, this has all the hallmarks of a slow burn romance. What was supposed to be a meaningless (but super hot) hookup, has the chance to grow into something more when Ben is transferred to London. Ben refuses to be tethered to anyone and James's precarious political position means coming out isn't an option.
That was the whole problem, James thought. He’d been born into a role that demanded he take his place in the museum, and would forever deny him a real home.
What separates this tale from the countless other steamy romances? The characters. James struggles to balance his public persona and duty to his country with his inner desire for affection and freedom. He can't abdicate - that would leave the throne to his younger sister Indigo, whose myriad of anxieties and fears often paralyze her. He couldn't do that to her. And he feels he can't come out publicly either. It could be seen as a political statement and jeopardize international relations, for starters.
Indigo is a fantastic character too. Her neurosis and tendency to self injure are acutely and tenderly written. Really, all the secondary characters are woven with grace, right down to to the aged butler and Ben's demanding, yet trusting boss.
And the romance! The chemistry between Ben and James is startling and charming. Falling in love with each other would be dreadfully inconvenient, just impossible. It's not practical, or logical. They really can't develop feelings for each other. It would be disastrous.
But hey, what's life without a little disaster?
“If the world finds out we’re together, my life is ruined. But my life is ruined if I lose you. So I’m pretty well fucked either way.”
His Royal Secret doesn't end on a cliffhanger exactly. It's clear that the story will continue on, but it doesn't leave anything outrageously dramatic hanging over the reader's head. It lets you know the story goes on in His Royal Favorite, but doesn't force you to read it.
This was probably my first m/m royal secret romance, and therefore the best one I've read! The writing and the characters shine and elevate the entire story. The romance had me swooning a tad, and I'm not exactly the swooning type.
Plus, the corgis. You can never go wrong with pet corgis.
July 1, 2016
I'm not ashamed to admit I like our monarchy. Well some of them. So it's not that surprising that my interest was piqued at the premise that the fictional heir to the British throne is gay.
His Royal Secret wasn't a difficult read, I did like both James and Ben, and there were parts I enjoyed, but what could have been a great story was lacking in any real development until about 70% and as I've said before when I've read M/M, we have a story written by a woman, for women with the aim of the men being physically appealing to a female audience. Because sex. So much sex. And if that's what you're after, then this is definitely worth grabbing. But I need a bit more and call me picky but I like the sex to come with more storyline. And sooner than approaching the final stretch, which isn't actually the end as there's another book.
"He liked the arrangement they had, with few words and lots of sex."
Undoubtedly Lilah Pace has knowledge/done her research on the British monarchy and there are some amusing subtle little jokes slotted in. But I have to be honest and say it was fairly stereotypical with two buff blokes--one commoner, one particularly eloquent with a crown--sneaking around having sex and alternating dominance. I needed more to James and Ben's story sooner than 70% and whilst it did hit a point where it improved hugely, I have to say I was royally cheesed off that That was a huge missed opportunity and a let down. But I do want to read book 2 as it's left on a cliffhanger right as things should start to become interesting.
Copy received courtesy of Berkley InterMix via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
His Royal Secret wasn't a difficult read, I did like both James and Ben, and there were parts I enjoyed, but what could have been a great story was lacking in any real development until about 70% and as I've said before when I've read M/M, we have a story written by a woman, for women with the aim of the men being physically appealing to a female audience. Because sex. So much sex. And if that's what you're after, then this is definitely worth grabbing. But I need a bit more and call me picky but I like the sex to come with more storyline. And sooner than approaching the final stretch, which isn't actually the end as there's another book.
"He liked the arrangement they had, with few words and lots of sex."
Undoubtedly Lilah Pace has knowledge/done her research on the British monarchy and there are some amusing subtle little jokes slotted in. But I have to be honest and say it was fairly stereotypical with two buff blokes--one commoner, one particularly eloquent with a crown--sneaking around having sex and alternating dominance. I needed more to James and Ben's story sooner than 70% and whilst it did hit a point where it improved hugely, I have to say I was royally cheesed off that That was a huge missed opportunity and a let down. But I do want to read book 2 as it's left on a cliffhanger right as things should start to become interesting.
Copy received courtesy of Berkley InterMix via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
August 6, 2018
**3.75 stars!**
August 2, 2016
4,5 stars
Royals have always been a popular theme in films, literature and fanfiction alike, so I was curious how His Royal Secret would pan out. I guess one of the main problems being how believable the characters and the plot are.
Lilah Pace did a fabulous job convincing me that James and Ben's story could actually be happening. She must have done quite a bit of research on security measures, protocol and background knowledge on rules and regulations within the royal circle. To me, the amateur, it all sounded real and possible.
As for the MCs.... you can't just NOT love James. He is a total sweetie, a good man at heart, responsible, upstanding and so desperate to be loved and for someone to love. And yet, with him being gay, he can't see that ever happening. James is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the big cause - him becoming King, and that is not because he is power-hungry and egoistic. Leading the nation, just as his father did, is his vocation. It was agonizing in parts (and yes, there were tears) to see how he made himself put duty first, even when his heart (and mine) was breaking.
Still, Ben is the more troubled out of the two. After a damaging relationship with an older man, he has sworn never to get involved with anyone again. It is just too 'complicated'. He is delighted when James makes clear from the start of their 'relationship' that their arrangement is for sex only. And he is very good at deceiving himself into believing that his is exactly what he wants.
As if that ever worked! *G*.
It is truly delightful to watch these two, gradually falling for each other, toeing and froing with their emotions, while stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that what they have is way more than just an arrangement. James is more willing to admit his feelings to himself, but Ben - he really needs a major shock to figure it out.
And that is where my only problem with this book lies. Ben is strictly against anything that might even come close to look like affection or a proper relationship for virtually most of the book. He wants to back off immediately when he realizes that James is getting too close. But then, in the last chapter he totally changes his tune, seemingly out of nowhere.
Yes, there is the shock of , which makes him re-evaluate his stance, but that didn't seem enough to explain his action in the last chapter. I was really stunned when he suddenly and would have liked to be there when he is working his way towards this revelation.
The book finishes at a crucial point, and although you could just leave it there, I am thoroughly looking forward to the second part. There is a lot to resolve after all. How will James and Ben get on as an out couple, considering James's position? Will James become king? Will Waren show up at one point to rattle the boat? And what about Amelia and Cass (who I dearly loved btw)?
It's a great story and I recommend it for all those romantics out there who enjoy a bit of 'a royal fling'.
Royals have always been a popular theme in films, literature and fanfiction alike, so I was curious how His Royal Secret would pan out. I guess one of the main problems being how believable the characters and the plot are.
Lilah Pace did a fabulous job convincing me that James and Ben's story could actually be happening. She must have done quite a bit of research on security measures, protocol and background knowledge on rules and regulations within the royal circle. To me, the amateur, it all sounded real and possible.
As for the MCs.... you can't just NOT love James. He is a total sweetie, a good man at heart, responsible, upstanding and so desperate to be loved and for someone to love. And yet, with him being gay, he can't see that ever happening. James is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for the big cause - him becoming King, and that is not because he is power-hungry and egoistic. Leading the nation, just as his father did, is his vocation. It was agonizing in parts (and yes, there were tears) to see how he made himself put duty first, even when his heart (and mine) was breaking.
Still, Ben is the more troubled out of the two. After a damaging relationship with an older man, he has sworn never to get involved with anyone again. It is just too 'complicated'. He is delighted when James makes clear from the start of their 'relationship' that their arrangement is for sex only. And he is very good at deceiving himself into believing that his is exactly what he wants.
As if that ever worked! *G*.
It is truly delightful to watch these two, gradually falling for each other, toeing and froing with their emotions, while stubbornly refusing to acknowledge that what they have is way more than just an arrangement. James is more willing to admit his feelings to himself, but Ben - he really needs a major shock to figure it out.
And that is where my only problem with this book lies. Ben is strictly against anything that might even come close to look like affection or a proper relationship for virtually most of the book. He wants to back off immediately when he realizes that James is getting too close. But then, in the last chapter he totally changes his tune, seemingly out of nowhere.
Yes, there is the shock of , which makes him re-evaluate his stance, but that didn't seem enough to explain his action in the last chapter. I was really stunned when he suddenly and would have liked to be there when he is working his way towards this revelation.
The book finishes at a crucial point, and although you could just leave it there, I am thoroughly looking forward to the second part. There is a lot to resolve after all. How will James and Ben get on as an out couple, considering James's position? Will James become king? Will Waren show up at one point to rattle the boat? And what about Amelia and Cass (who I dearly loved btw)?
It's a great story and I recommend it for all those romantics out there who enjoy a bit of 'a royal fling'.
May 12, 2020
Relectura mayo 2020:
Disfrutado como la primera vez, aunque sigue siento todo increíble xD
Reseña original:
3,5 de hecho.
Esperaba una WTFuckada como un piano, pero creo que la autora ha sabido tratar muy bien todo el tema "real", ahora, no está exento de tontadas en el algún momento, hay cosas que me niego a creer que sean tan simples (en el siglo XXI no creo que entrar en un palacio sea así de fácil) pero para eso está la licencia poética, ¿no? xDDDDDD
Es un libro con pocas emociones, bastante frío, pero es que yo a ellos los he percibido así, rodeados de muros para protegerse de unas cosas u otras, es cuando dejan caer los velos, dejándose "querer", cuando me gustan más, en esa domesticidad que Ben tanto teme y James necesita *ojitos de corazón en 3, 2, 1*
No he visto tanto sexo como he leído en otras reseñas, la verdad, y el que hay me ha parecido que absolutamente está al servicio de la historia, para mostrarnos cómo quieren relacionarse y lo que acaba realmente pasando.
Ya he comenzado el segundo y con el final tuve mis dudas, me resulta chocante lo que hace Ben, después de todo su diálogo interno estaba convencida de que iba totalmente por otro camino, y creo que va a resultar interesante.
Disfrutado como la primera vez, aunque sigue siento todo increíble xD
Reseña original:
3,5 de hecho.
Esperaba una WTFuckada como un piano, pero creo que la autora ha sabido tratar muy bien todo el tema "real", ahora, no está exento de tontadas en el algún momento, hay cosas que me niego a creer que sean tan simples (en el siglo XXI no creo que entrar en un palacio sea así de fácil) pero para eso está la licencia poética, ¿no? xDDDDDD
Es un libro con pocas emociones, bastante frío, pero es que yo a ellos los he percibido así, rodeados de muros para protegerse de unas cosas u otras, es cuando dejan caer los velos, dejándose "querer", cuando me gustan más, en esa domesticidad que Ben tanto teme y James necesita *ojitos de corazón en 3, 2, 1*
No he visto tanto sexo como he leído en otras reseñas, la verdad, y el que hay me ha parecido que absolutamente está al servicio de la historia, para mostrarnos cómo quieren relacionarse y lo que acaba realmente pasando.
Ya he comenzado el segundo y con el final tuve mis dudas, me resulta chocante lo que hace Ben, después de todo su diálogo interno estaba convencida de que iba totalmente por otro camino, y creo que va a resultar interesante.
July 18, 2016
“You belong to me. Maybe the public and the press own the part of you that’s the prince, but not the man. You’re mine, and I won’t let anything take you away.”
I get goosebumps whenever an author takes on a fairly risqué storyline that might make you raise an eyebrow at first, but then before you know it, you find yourself consumed by a story that is as touching as it is thought-provoking, and Lilah Pace is truly a master at this. This story immediately piqued my interest with its intriguing premise of a fictional future king of England leading a double life, but it was the sheer brilliance of Ms Pace’s style of storytelling, her unwavering focus on her characters, and the powerful emotions she keeps building on until the end, that held me captive until the very last page. A truly stunning love story—told over two equally riveting books—that I am recommending with all my heart.
Continue reading this review...
October 3, 2019
Very interesting story with lot of - necessary - secrecy.
James belongs to the royal family of the UK and is next in succession. He is also gay, something that must never get out, and very protective of his family and friends.
Ben is a reporter focusing mainly on economics. He moves around a lot and doesn't like to commit himself to anything and anyone.
Ben and James meet in a charming scene and form a connection. During that first meeting Ben was unsure about what he wanted from the prince and if he was going to use any knowlende he gained from their conversation to write an interesting piece about James. Later on, after they meet again and Ben has proven himself they form an agreement. One that seemed like it might suit both of them perfectly. At first....
The story ends with a cliffhanger so get the second book ready when you reach the last few chapters!
James belongs to the royal family of the UK and is next in succession. He is also gay, something that must never get out, and very protective of his family and friends.
Ben is a reporter focusing mainly on economics. He moves around a lot and doesn't like to commit himself to anything and anyone.
Ben and James meet in a charming scene and form a connection. During that first meeting Ben was unsure about what he wanted from the prince and if he was going to use any knowlende he gained from their conversation to write an interesting piece about James. Later on, after they meet again and Ben has proven himself they form an agreement. One that seemed like it might suit both of them perfectly. At first....
The story ends with a cliffhanger so get the second book ready when you reach the last few chapters!
July 24, 2016
4.5 stars
I was a little nervous about this because I've been having bad luck with new to me authors lately. I'm also not a big fan of the Royals and pay as little attention as possible to them when they're on TV. BUT....I found the idea of this....gay prince/regular guy....too interesting to pass up. I am SO glad I gave it a try. I loved this book. It was really good.
James and Ben meet and have a one off and neither expect to ever see the other again. Fast forward a few months later when they're brought together again. These two are very clear with each other (both have their reasons) that this is nothing more than sex. Both are happy about the lack of complications and really excited that they've found someone with as little interest in a relationship as they each are. That makes each scene of them falling for each other even more delightful. I smiled more than once at them and their denial. Silly boys.
The plot was interesting and fast paced. I liked how their relationship developed slowly and it was interesting how they dealt with their different places in society. I liked both MC's and James in particular was a delight (the story goes back and forth between both of their pov's). The love story was sweet and surprisingly drama/angst free under the circumstances and the smexy times were smoking hot. These two had mad chemistry between them.
I can't wait to see what happens between them and I'm going directly on to the next story.
I was a little nervous about this because I've been having bad luck with new to me authors lately. I'm also not a big fan of the Royals and pay as little attention as possible to them when they're on TV. BUT....I found the idea of this....gay prince/regular guy....too interesting to pass up. I am SO glad I gave it a try. I loved this book. It was really good.
James and Ben meet and have a one off and neither expect to ever see the other again. Fast forward a few months later when they're brought together again. These two are very clear with each other (both have their reasons) that this is nothing more than sex. Both are happy about the lack of complications and really excited that they've found someone with as little interest in a relationship as they each are. That makes each scene of them falling for each other even more delightful. I smiled more than once at them and their denial. Silly boys.
The plot was interesting and fast paced. I liked how their relationship developed slowly and it was interesting how they dealt with their different places in society. I liked both MC's and James in particular was a delight (the story goes back and forth between both of their pov's). The love story was sweet and surprisingly drama/angst free under the circumstances and the smexy times were smoking hot. These two had mad chemistry between them.
I can't wait to see what happens between them and I'm going directly on to the next story.
August 5, 2016
It pains to give this book a low rating because I loved this author's other books.
It has a great premise. The crown prince of the British monarchy is gay but stays in the closet for a very good reason. He meets his match in Benjamin, an international reporter who has no interest in settling down. They had a fling which turned into something more, which posed a problem for James because...yanno, he's going to be king, and he needs an heir and if he abdicates, his crown is passed on to his sister, who is frankly a hot mess.
Like I said, great premise, but I never really felt any chemistry or anything for James and Benjamin. I think they're wonderful characters but as a unit, not so much. Their chemistry was underwhelming.
Now I'm hoping that the next book will change my mind because they still have a lot of unresolved issues that needed to be addressed.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
It has a great premise. The crown prince of the British monarchy is gay but stays in the closet for a very good reason. He meets his match in Benjamin, an international reporter who has no interest in settling down. They had a fling which turned into something more, which posed a problem for James because...yanno, he's going to be king, and he needs an heir and if he abdicates, his crown is passed on to his sister, who is frankly a hot mess.
Like I said, great premise, but I never really felt any chemistry or anything for James and Benjamin. I think they're wonderful characters but as a unit, not so much. Their chemistry was underwhelming.
Now I'm hoping that the next book will change my mind because they still have a lot of unresolved issues that needed to be addressed.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 29, 2018
4.25 stars
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