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A Museum of Literature Romance #1
Royal Valentine
Molly Graham doesn't believe in love at first sight or fairy tales. She's been burned too many times before. When her best friend, Brianna Cho, challenges her to aim high and go for men who are out of her league, Molly can't imagine a worse way to spend Valentine's Day. When she stumbles across a very handsome British professor, Albert George, seeking refuge in her office during the Museum of Literature's Valentine's Day gala for the opening of their Austen exhibit, Molly can't help but be drawn to the fellow introverted academic. Together they ghost out of the event and embark upon a month long love affair. Molly is rethinking her stance on happily ever afters and plans to tell Al how she feels, but he disappears. Afraid something bad has happened, Molly searches for him only to discover there is no Albert George affiliated with the university. She's been played for a fool!
Molly is devastated. As registrar for the Museum of Literature, she is tasked with a trip to England to return the Jane Austen exhibition materials on loan from the Whitmore Estate in Bath. It's the only thing she has to look forward to and even this dream trip is a struggle. When she and Brianna arrive at Whitmore Manor, they are introduced to Earl Whitmore and his grandson Lord Insley, or as Molly knows him Albert George. She is shocked and dismayed to discover she has fallen in love with a viscount in line to be an earl. James Albert George Insley Whitmore, called Jamie by his friends and family, arranged for Molly to bring the materials back. He had to leave her unexpectedly, but he hasn't been able to forget her and he wants to win her back. Molly isn't having it. She refuses to be taken in twice. Jamie will have to channel his inner Fitzwilliam Darcy to prove to her that love conquers all and win her heart for good.
Molly is devastated. As registrar for the Museum of Literature, she is tasked with a trip to England to return the Jane Austen exhibition materials on loan from the Whitmore Estate in Bath. It's the only thing she has to look forward to and even this dream trip is a struggle. When she and Brianna arrive at Whitmore Manor, they are introduced to Earl Whitmore and his grandson Lord Insley, or as Molly knows him Albert George. She is shocked and dismayed to discover she has fallen in love with a viscount in line to be an earl. James Albert George Insley Whitmore, called Jamie by his friends and family, arranged for Molly to bring the materials back. He had to leave her unexpectedly, but he hasn't been able to forget her and he wants to win her back. Molly isn't having it. She refuses to be taken in twice. Jamie will have to channel his inner Fitzwilliam Darcy to prove to her that love conquers all and win her heart for good.
105 pages, ebook
First published January 4, 2022
153 people are currently reading
2557 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
70 books5,263 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 735 reviews
August 11, 2023
"Royal Valentine" by Jenn McKinlay is a cute, sweet Valentine's Day Novella!
Molly Graham and her BFF & co-worker, Briana Cho, must attend a regency period costume fundraising event on Valentine's Day to celebrate the opening of the Jane Austen exhibit. As employees of the Museum of Literature in NYC, they also need to mingle with the guests.
Molly, an introvert, thinks it's bad enough that she's single on Valentine's Day and dreads attending this event. Briana, an extrovert, is excited for the event and also mentions to Molly they both need to aim higher when meeting men.
At the event, Briana has stars in her eyes for an attractive man who sweeps her off her feet almost immediately. All Molly can think about is sneaking out, going home to a cup of hot tea and a good book. Then, upon leaving she meets handsome Brit, Albert George...
This is a cute, sweet Rom Com with a little too much sugar and not enough humor. It has interesting and likable characters but I had trouble connecting with Molly. She is that 'do as I say, don't as I do' kind of gal. She has a low opinion of herself and yet is a bit of a know-it all with an unbending personality. Yep, I had a devil of a time figuring her out but I do want to give her a big healing hug!
The audiobook is pleasant and narrator, Sara Young, handles the voicing fine. But as I think about it, maybe the narrator's voicing as Molly gives her the snarky feel that doesn't suit the story. Perhaps the eBook would be a better choice for me? Just an after-thought.
I like this story, but I don't love it. It's a cute, sweet Rom-Com where I want less and more! Do check out other reviews as I believe I'm a bit of an outlier here. If you're looking for a quick seasonal read this may be one for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jenn McKinlay for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Molly Graham and her BFF & co-worker, Briana Cho, must attend a regency period costume fundraising event on Valentine's Day to celebrate the opening of the Jane Austen exhibit. As employees of the Museum of Literature in NYC, they also need to mingle with the guests.
Molly, an introvert, thinks it's bad enough that she's single on Valentine's Day and dreads attending this event. Briana, an extrovert, is excited for the event and also mentions to Molly they both need to aim higher when meeting men.
At the event, Briana has stars in her eyes for an attractive man who sweeps her off her feet almost immediately. All Molly can think about is sneaking out, going home to a cup of hot tea and a good book. Then, upon leaving she meets handsome Brit, Albert George...
This is a cute, sweet Rom Com with a little too much sugar and not enough humor. It has interesting and likable characters but I had trouble connecting with Molly. She is that 'do as I say, don't as I do' kind of gal. She has a low opinion of herself and yet is a bit of a know-it all with an unbending personality. Yep, I had a devil of a time figuring her out but I do want to give her a big healing hug!
The audiobook is pleasant and narrator, Sara Young, handles the voicing fine. But as I think about it, maybe the narrator's voicing as Molly gives her the snarky feel that doesn't suit the story. Perhaps the eBook would be a better choice for me? Just an after-thought.
I like this story, but I don't love it. It's a cute, sweet Rom-Com where I want less and more! Do check out other reviews as I believe I'm a bit of an outlier here. If you're looking for a quick seasonal read this may be one for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jenn McKinlay for a free ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
February 9, 2022
This seemed like a perfect little story for the month of February. Turns out, it wasn't.
I enjoyed the author's Paris is Always a Good Idea last year, so I'd expected to like this one just as much. Sadly, it didn't quite work for me. Why? It's too simplistic and cliché.
This is a a modern fairy tale with a Jane Austen flair, set in NYC and England. It could've been a great story! Unfortunately, 112 pages wasn't long enough to fully develop the plot. There were too many glossed over plot points and the pacing was off in this short story.
I enjoyed the author's Paris is Always a Good Idea last year, so I'd expected to like this one just as much. Sadly, it didn't quite work for me. Why? It's too simplistic and cliché.
This is a a modern fairy tale with a Jane Austen flair, set in NYC and England. It could've been a great story! Unfortunately, 112 pages wasn't long enough to fully develop the plot. There were too many glossed over plot points and the pacing was off in this short story.
November 21, 2022
A Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinley
A Museum of Literature Romance #1. Contemporary holiday romance.
Molly Graham finds a visiting British professor hiding in her office during a Valentine party. They skip the party and find love together.
A cute short romance. Obviously Molly must forgive Albert for basically ghosting her, but I’m in her camp that eventually he should have found a way to get in touch with her if he really did love her. It’s a romance and she is forgiving and has a new job and new life in the end.
3.5
A Museum of Literature Romance #1. Contemporary holiday romance.
Molly Graham finds a visiting British professor hiding in her office during a Valentine party. They skip the party and find love together.
A cute short romance. Obviously Molly must forgive Albert for basically ghosting her, but I’m in her camp that eventually he should have found a way to get in touch with her if he really did love her. It’s a romance and she is forgiving and has a new job and new life in the end.
3.5
February 7, 2025
𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖1🌟
Can I say that I didn't DNF this just to give it one star 🤓 THIS WAS SHIT .
--
➻ Pre-Read :
Time for some Valentines reads !! I searched this and well, let's give it a try !!
Can I say that I didn't DNF this just to give it one star 🤓 THIS WAS SHIT .
--
➻ Pre-Read :
Time for some Valentines reads !! I searched this and well, let's give it a try !!
September 11, 2022
2.5 stars
February 3, 2024
A royal fairytale with sprinkles of Jane Austen. I want a Jane Austen ball too!!!
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars
Royal Valentine is a short and sweet royalty romance novella. Although it has a really cute premise and some strong tropes, I found it to be overly cliche. Additionally, there were some bold choices made in terms of pacing. The first quarter-third of the book was just the set up, but then crucial moments like the main characters falling in love, breaking up, and grovelling were all done over montage. Although I enjoyed this novella as a quick and easy read, it isn't one that I'll think too much about after finishing. I wouldn't put someone off of reading this book, I can't say I'd recommend it either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Royal Valentine is a short and sweet royalty romance novella. Although it has a really cute premise and some strong tropes, I found it to be overly cliche. Additionally, there were some bold choices made in terms of pacing. The first quarter-third of the book was just the set up, but then crucial moments like the main characters falling in love, breaking up, and grovelling were all done over montage. Although I enjoyed this novella as a quick and easy read, it isn't one that I'll think too much about after finishing. I wouldn't put someone off of reading this book, I can't say I'd recommend it either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars
Royal Valentine is a pretty cute romance novella that condenses what could easily be the plot of a full length book into something very short. If you're looking for a quick to read, sweet royal romance, this might hit the spot. Though I wouldn't go in with particularly high expectations. It is quite cliche, glosses over a lot of major plot points, and does this thing I dislike where it doesn't adequately address the conflict it has set up. In this case it's that the heroine hates lying and needs trust in a relationship. The hero has lied about his identity. The solution is that she realizes she's been lying to herself about not being in love with him? Ummmm.....okay, I guess? So not something I would push people towards, but also something that might be a great palate cleanser if you just want a quick, fairly cute romance. The audio narration is pretty good, though the British accent is only mediocre. I received an advance audio copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Royal Valentine is a pretty cute romance novella that condenses what could easily be the plot of a full length book into something very short. If you're looking for a quick to read, sweet royal romance, this might hit the spot. Though I wouldn't go in with particularly high expectations. It is quite cliche, glosses over a lot of major plot points, and does this thing I dislike where it doesn't adequately address the conflict it has set up. In this case it's that the heroine hates lying and needs trust in a relationship. The hero has lied about his identity. The solution is that she realizes she's been lying to herself about not being in love with him? Ummmm.....okay, I guess? So not something I would push people towards, but also something that might be a great palate cleanser if you just want a quick, fairly cute romance. The audio narration is pretty good, though the British accent is only mediocre. I received an advance audio copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
February 10, 2025
why did i think I was going to like this 😭
February 10, 2023
3.5/5 cute but very rushed at the beginning and the end lmao so I guess just very rushed but I’d read more of it! Closed door but they reference sex briefly.
May 3, 2022
I kind of wish this was a full length novel. It has the potential of it but instead we get it as a novella. It was a quick read with a HEA. I enjoyed the characters and can't wait for the next one to come out!
February 2, 2023
This was cute! But I think I prefer Jenn's full length novels. ❤️
February 1, 2022
Bonus half point for the Georgette Heyer mention, plus a half point for noting Bridgerton isn't research!
Molly Graham stopped believing in fairy tales in first grade. All her relationships have been duds but her best friend Briana thinks that should change as long as they aim their expectations high and date someone out of their league. At a swanky fundraising event for the Museum of Literature in New York where they work, Bri and Molly try to put their theory to the test. It's easy for extraverted, beautiful Bri to say but Molly is an introverted, bookish museum registar with wild, curly hair who can't wait to shed her Regency-style dress and go home! Once she returns to her office, she gets the surprise of her life when an unknown man sees her half undressed. Embarassing and awkward, the situation brings Molly into contact with Al, a handsome Brit affiliated with the University. He begs Molly to show him the real New York and while she's wary, she decides a friendship couldn't hurt. A whirwind late night tour of New York soon blossoms into romance but when Al disappears without a word, breaking Molly's heart, she swears off men, especially sexy Brits. Then the museum decides to send her. with the rare Jane Austen books they borrowed from the Whitmore estate, back to England, to Somerset, where Al lives. Surely she can avoid him while in Bath. However, her destination turns out to be the Whitmore estate where some surprises are in store for Molly. She has a chance to seize happiness in one of two ways but does she have the strength to let go of a dream or seieze the day?
I really liked the concept of the story. Why wouldn't I want to read about a registrar at the Museum of Literature who goes to Bath? The execution of the story is not what I had hoped for. The short novella format does the story a disservice. Molly narrates the story as if she's giving a summary to someone after the fact. There's too much telling and not enough showing. 80% of the book takes place in New York and only a page in Bath at the Jane Austen Centre team room and a few pages at the Whitmore estate. I wanted way more Bath and less New York and more story.
The way the story is told doesn't quite make me feel anything for the characters. I can relate a lot to Molly. Once again Jenn McKinlay has written a fictional version of myself with a job and yet another hot love interest! (See also Lindsey Books Can Be Deceiving). For an extrovert, Jenn McKinlay writes introverts extremely well. She gets right into the mindset of an intelligent, introverted literary loving woman who is in her head all the time. Molly has the classic librarian personality. She's a great museum registrar with a job at a fictional museum I would love to work out. She has access to a rare first edition Sense and Sensibility and gets to dress in Regency costume. What on earth does she have to be unhappy about? She wants her cake and to eat it too, in the form of a hot, adoring man. She should learn to stand on her own two feet without a man!
When she meets Al, it's embarassing and awkward. She should have been wearing the correct undergarments: a chemise, stays or a corset and maybe a petticoat so that wouldn't happen! It makes for a good meet cute but unnecessary. He could have just been in her office. Their friendship and romance happens so quickly and Molly lets go of her inhibitions to fall completely in love. I can't connect to the romance because she's just dispassionately telling her story. If this were a full length novel showing these two characters falling in love through actions it would mean more and make me want to root for them to be together. As it is, I don't care all that much.
Al is sweet and fun but not very British. At least when I stayed in London 20 years ago, people just weren't warm and effusive the way Al is. I also wouldn't expect his grandfather to be his best friend given their situation. Al doesn't sound British either. He's wide-eyed and enthusiastic about everything New York has to offer when he comes from a much nicer place! New York is fine to visit for a day but Bath and the surrounding countryside are far more lovely for a longterm stay. Not only does he not sound British, he seems unware of the complications of what he offers at the end of the novel.
The misunderstanding makes a lot of sense given the situation. While Al is a nice guy, he failed miserably. I don't blame Molly for being angry. Hasn't he ever heard of text messages or voicemail? He could have sent a text saying Plus some words on how much he loved spending time with her and words of love. How hard it that to do? However, that also works both ways. Was his number disconnected? Couldn't Molly say "Where r u?" Why not ask Tristan? That would mean Molly has to confess her relationship status to Bri and listen to Bri's lecture. That would be preferable to not knowing right? As far as putting the characters through the wringer though, this situation is fairly mild. I don't like tortured characters any more than Jenn enjoys writing those situations so I was happy for the misunderstanding more than torture.
Briana is an awful friend. She doesn't understand Molly and the challenges Molly's personality and her job present to finding true love. Who can compare with Mr. Darcy? (Mr. Tilney, Mr. Knigtley, Captain Wentworth- she can do better than Edward Ferrars and Edmund Bertram.) Molly feels she can't tell her best friend about her relationship because Al, as a grad student, is aiming low. That's simply not true. A best friend should be happy to see her best friend happy and in love with a great guy even if he's not gainfully employed yet. (Also, Molly never asks him school and if he has a job too). Aiming high should mean a man who treats you with respect and who cherishes you and loves you as much as you love him. (NOT Mr. Darcy in the first half of the novel). Aiming high doesn't necessarily mean a rich guy because rich guys can be douchebags as much as gaming losers who live in their parents' basement or wannabe actors who hook up with other women.
Bri's secondary romance should have been axed in favor of Molly and Al's story. Bri should have her own story. She meets Tristan and he's a handsome, charming Brit and she's smitten. Of course she's beautiful and friendly so he likes her back. I have my suspicions he may be Mr. Wickham or Mr. Willoughby though. I don't trust him. Like Molly, I don't believe in love at first sight. Will this relationship plot continue into the next book?
It isn't true Jane Austen's name was left on the title page because she was female. There were other female writers publishing under their own names, albeit they were married women. Male writers published anonymously as well. It was just a convention of the Georgian era. Women actually had more freedom in Jane's time than her nieces and their daughters and grandaughters did in the Victorian era. Bri's feminist manifesto is wasted on the wrong author. Try railing against the patriarchy on behalf of the Brontës or George Eliot or George Sand! Molly probably knows that as a Literature major but doesn't have the wherewithal to correct her BFF.
The next story may center around Sarah Novak, the curator in charge of the Austen exhibit. I like Sarah. She's smart, sensible and has an awesome job! I'm not sure majoring in the classics gets one a job in real life but in this novella, the characters have all kinds of impractical majors and have amazing jobs. I wish real life was like that! Olive Prendergast is the anti-Austen heroine. She's more into the goth look than romantic. Her personality matches her sense of style. I like that she's not a joiner and really want to know what her job, in charge of "Books of Dubious Origin" means.
I enjoyed this novella for what it was but would have liked it more if it was a full length novel.
Content:
bare breast/nipple slip used in a funny way (accidental slippage)
one love scene that's barely described. It focuses on how Molly felt at that moment. Not so Bridgerton but would make Austen and Heyer blush.
Molly Graham stopped believing in fairy tales in first grade. All her relationships have been duds but her best friend Briana thinks that should change as long as they aim their expectations high and date someone out of their league. At a swanky fundraising event for the Museum of Literature in New York where they work, Bri and Molly try to put their theory to the test. It's easy for extraverted, beautiful Bri to say but Molly is an introverted, bookish museum registar with wild, curly hair who can't wait to shed her Regency-style dress and go home! Once she returns to her office, she gets the surprise of her life when an unknown man sees her half undressed. Embarassing and awkward, the situation brings Molly into contact with Al, a handsome Brit affiliated with the University. He begs Molly to show him the real New York and while she's wary, she decides a friendship couldn't hurt. A whirwind late night tour of New York soon blossoms into romance but when Al disappears without a word, breaking Molly's heart, she swears off men, especially sexy Brits. Then the museum decides to send her. with the rare Jane Austen books they borrowed from the Whitmore estate, back to England, to Somerset, where Al lives. Surely she can avoid him while in Bath. However, her destination turns out to be the Whitmore estate where some surprises are in store for Molly. She has a chance to seize happiness in one of two ways but does she have the strength to let go of a dream or seieze the day?
I really liked the concept of the story. Why wouldn't I want to read about a registrar at the Museum of Literature who goes to Bath? The execution of the story is not what I had hoped for. The short novella format does the story a disservice. Molly narrates the story as if she's giving a summary to someone after the fact. There's too much telling and not enough showing. 80% of the book takes place in New York and only a page in Bath at the Jane Austen Centre team room and a few pages at the Whitmore estate. I wanted way more Bath and less New York and more story.
The way the story is told doesn't quite make me feel anything for the characters. I can relate a lot to Molly. Once again Jenn McKinlay has written a fictional version of myself with a job and yet another hot love interest! (See also Lindsey Books Can Be Deceiving). For an extrovert, Jenn McKinlay writes introverts extremely well. She gets right into the mindset of an intelligent, introverted literary loving woman who is in her head all the time. Molly has the classic librarian personality. She's a great museum registrar with a job at a fictional museum I would love to work out. She has access to a rare first edition Sense and Sensibility and gets to dress in Regency costume. What on earth does she have to be unhappy about? She wants her cake and to eat it too, in the form of a hot, adoring man. She should learn to stand on her own two feet without a man!
When she meets Al, it's embarassing and awkward. She should have been wearing the correct undergarments: a chemise, stays or a corset and maybe a petticoat so that wouldn't happen! It makes for a good meet cute but unnecessary. He could have just been in her office. Their friendship and romance happens so quickly and Molly lets go of her inhibitions to fall completely in love. I can't connect to the romance because she's just dispassionately telling her story. If this were a full length novel showing these two characters falling in love through actions it would mean more and make me want to root for them to be together. As it is, I don't care all that much.
Al is sweet and fun but not very British. At least when I stayed in London 20 years ago, people just weren't warm and effusive the way Al is. I also wouldn't expect his grandfather to be his best friend given their situation. Al doesn't sound British either. He's wide-eyed and enthusiastic about everything New York has to offer when he comes from a much nicer place! New York is fine to visit for a day but Bath and the surrounding countryside are far more lovely for a longterm stay. Not only does he not sound British, he seems unware of the complications of what he offers at the end of the novel.
The misunderstanding makes a lot of sense given the situation. While Al is a nice guy, he failed miserably. I don't blame Molly for being angry. Hasn't he ever heard of text messages or voicemail? He could have sent a text saying Plus some words on how much he loved spending time with her and words of love. How hard it that to do? However, that also works both ways. Was his number disconnected? Couldn't Molly say "Where r u?" Why not ask Tristan? That would mean Molly has to confess her relationship status to Bri and listen to Bri's lecture. That would be preferable to not knowing right? As far as putting the characters through the wringer though, this situation is fairly mild. I don't like tortured characters any more than Jenn enjoys writing those situations so I was happy for the misunderstanding more than torture.
Briana is an awful friend. She doesn't understand Molly and the challenges Molly's personality and her job present to finding true love. Who can compare with Mr. Darcy? (Mr. Tilney, Mr. Knigtley, Captain Wentworth- she can do better than Edward Ferrars and Edmund Bertram.) Molly feels she can't tell her best friend about her relationship because Al, as a grad student, is aiming low. That's simply not true. A best friend should be happy to see her best friend happy and in love with a great guy even if he's not gainfully employed yet. (Also, Molly never asks him school and if he has a job too). Aiming high should mean a man who treats you with respect and who cherishes you and loves you as much as you love him. (NOT Mr. Darcy in the first half of the novel). Aiming high doesn't necessarily mean a rich guy because rich guys can be douchebags as much as gaming losers who live in their parents' basement or wannabe actors who hook up with other women.
Bri's secondary romance should have been axed in favor of Molly and Al's story. Bri should have her own story. She meets Tristan and he's a handsome, charming Brit and she's smitten. Of course she's beautiful and friendly so he likes her back. I have my suspicions he may be Mr. Wickham or Mr. Willoughby though. I don't trust him. Like Molly, I don't believe in love at first sight. Will this relationship plot continue into the next book?
It isn't true Jane Austen's name was left on the title page because she was female. There were other female writers publishing under their own names, albeit they were married women. Male writers published anonymously as well. It was just a convention of the Georgian era. Women actually had more freedom in Jane's time than her nieces and their daughters and grandaughters did in the Victorian era. Bri's feminist manifesto is wasted on the wrong author. Try railing against the patriarchy on behalf of the Brontës or George Eliot or George Sand! Molly probably knows that as a Literature major but doesn't have the wherewithal to correct her BFF.
The next story may center around Sarah Novak, the curator in charge of the Austen exhibit. I like Sarah. She's smart, sensible and has an awesome job! I'm not sure majoring in the classics gets one a job in real life but in this novella, the characters have all kinds of impractical majors and have amazing jobs. I wish real life was like that! Olive Prendergast is the anti-Austen heroine. She's more into the goth look than romantic. Her personality matches her sense of style. I like that she's not a joiner and really want to know what her job, in charge of "Books of Dubious Origin" means.
I enjoyed this novella for what it was but would have liked it more if it was a full length novel.
Content:
bare breast/nipple slip used in a funny way (accidental slippage)
one love scene that's barely described. It focuses on how Molly felt at that moment. Not so Bridgerton but would make Austen and Heyer blush.
February 14, 2023
Got a few chapters in. Narrative voice is engaging, but the overall plot and individual scenes seem unfocused and in need of a great deal of editing. Gave up after they have barely gone on any dates and I did a double-take when I realized they’d had sex and it didn’t even register at first.
It just feels very unfinished.
It just feels very unfinished.
January 10, 2022
2.5 stars
Not a bad book and for a novella it was actually alright, just a bit too cliche for my tastes. I felt the story was moving both too fast and too slow at the same time if that’s even possible
Not a bad book and for a novella it was actually alright, just a bit too cliche for my tastes. I felt the story was moving both too fast and too slow at the same time if that’s even possible
April 17, 2022
Sweet romance. I liked how she didn't forgive him asap.
July 11, 2022
Okay, so I dove into Royal Valentine because I wanted to read the second installment. It also doesn't hurt that this, and the next one, were available as audiobooks on my hoopla app either. Two birds, one stone and I was a happy girl.
Now, if you never guessed it, this book revolves around a certain holiday. Valentine's day to be exact. The romance was pretty adorable at times. I probably would have enjoyed everything a bit more if the book was longer and things slowed down a bit. Since it's a pretty short one, everything moved at a much faster pace.
That's pretty much my only complaint. Still, it was good and I'm excited to jump into the next one.
Now, if you never guessed it, this book revolves around a certain holiday. Valentine's day to be exact. The romance was pretty adorable at times. I probably would have enjoyed everything a bit more if the book was longer and things slowed down a bit. Since it's a pretty short one, everything moved at a much faster pace.
That's pretty much my only complaint. Still, it was good and I'm excited to jump into the next one.
February 1, 2022
This novella has everything that I have come to love about Jenn McKinlay. Sara Young does an excellent job of bringing this story to life. Molly Graham meets Albert George by chance at a museum event. They decide to ditch the event and do some sightseeing and spend the next month together. Then Albert abruptly disappears on Molly. Weeks later she is tasked with overseeing the return of Jane Austen materials to England where she runs into Albert, whose full name is James Albert George. He had to leave her unexpectedly and wanted to see her again, so he requested for her to be the one to bring the materials back.
I loved the story. It is a cute, quick read just in time for Valentine's Day. The narration was well done and made you feel like you were in the story.
I received this audiobook from Dreamscape Media and Net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the story. It is a cute, quick read just in time for Valentine's Day. The narration was well done and made you feel like you were in the story.
I received this audiobook from Dreamscape Media and Net galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2024
vibe: 📚👑🪻🍕🏰🍾
spice: 0/5
rating: 3.25/5
As a bridgerton/regency fan this is a cute quick read. The plot is pretty predictable, and the fmc’s inner monologue is a bit annoying, but it’s an endearing novella nonetheless. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.
spice: 0/5
rating: 3.25/5
As a bridgerton/regency fan this is a cute quick read. The plot is pretty predictable, and the fmc’s inner monologue is a bit annoying, but it’s an endearing novella nonetheless. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.
January 28, 2022
I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley and Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own!
If you're looking for a quick, fun read for Valentine's Day, this is definitely the book for you! I really enjoyed how cute it was and how much depth it had even for being so short. It still showed so much growth with both main characters even in the little amount of time it had, and it made their relationship really mean something.
I also really enjoyed the way that they got to see New York and really had the classic tourist experience. It added to the experience of the book and made it that much more fun to imagine their relationship in action.
Everything about this book was super cute and fun, and I would highly recommend it to romance lovers!
If you're looking for a quick, fun read for Valentine's Day, this is definitely the book for you! I really enjoyed how cute it was and how much depth it had even for being so short. It still showed so much growth with both main characters even in the little amount of time it had, and it made their relationship really mean something.
I also really enjoyed the way that they got to see New York and really had the classic tourist experience. It added to the experience of the book and made it that much more fun to imagine their relationship in action.
Everything about this book was super cute and fun, and I would highly recommend it to romance lovers!
February 19, 2023
Hmmm... maybe I'll start reading more of these types of books 🤔
January 25, 2022
I absolutely adored this Valentine's novella by Canadian Jenn McKinlay about a Rare Books librarian and the man she meets at an office party. The two spend a lovely few weeks together exploring New York City but then suddenly he disappears. Molly is left heartbroken and then has to travel to Bath to return a rare collection of Austen books only to meet her mystery man and find out who he really is and what caused him to leave. Sweet and full of bookish love. I really enjoyed these characters and didn't want the story to end! Great on audio as well. Much thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for my audio review copy!
November 27, 2022
You light up when Jamie walks into the room just as he does when he catches a glimpse of you. You hang on his every word and he on yours. You love him just as much as he loves you, and you're lying to yourself every time you tell yourself you don't.
2.5 🌟
This would've been a charming romance story. A noble and a commoner falling in love who wouldn't swoon, right? Well, I didn't.
The main characters are very unlikeable, especially Molly. I get where she's coming from and I don't want to invalidate that. The fact that she's steadfast about not going into a relationship with someone who lied to her while she herself is lying to her best friend and herself makes her look like a hypocrite (for me).
There's also so little build-up with Molly and Al's relationship. The author keeps on telling about the couple's this and that, how the two fell in love etc. but as the reader, I couldn't relate or feel any giddiness or kilig while reading their supposed romantic scenes. They felt empty, though the ending was kinda okay.
There are a lot of Austen references in this story, and if you dig that, give this a try.
2.5 🌟
This would've been a charming romance story. A noble and a commoner falling in love who wouldn't swoon, right? Well, I didn't.
The main characters are very unlikeable, especially Molly. I get where she's coming from and I don't want to invalidate that. The fact that she's steadfast about not going into a relationship with someone who lied to her while she herself is lying to her best friend and herself makes her look like a hypocrite (for me).
There's also so little build-up with Molly and Al's relationship. The author keeps on telling about the couple's this and that, how the two fell in love etc. but as the reader, I couldn't relate or feel any giddiness or kilig while reading their supposed romantic scenes. They felt empty, though the ending was kinda okay.
There are a lot of Austen references in this story, and if you dig that, give this a try.
April 29, 2023
This was a short and sweet little novella. Spoiler version:
The non-spoiler versions: Read if you like princes with aliases, Jane Austen and fairy tale references, and royal libraries.
The non-spoiler versions: Read if you like princes with aliases, Jane Austen and fairy tale references, and royal libraries.
June 20, 2025
Royal Valentine by Jenn McKinlay was a light, enjoyable read, but it didn’t particularly stand out for me — I gave it 3 stars.
The story follows Molly, who meets a charming British professor during a Valentine’s Day event at the museum. They quickly connect, and just as Molly is ready to share her feelings, he suddenly vanishes. It turns out he’s not exactly who he claimed to be… he’s actually royalty.
It’s a cute premise, but the story felt a bit predictable and didn’t leave a lasting impression. Still, a sweet read if you're in the mood for something light and romantic.
The story follows Molly, who meets a charming British professor during a Valentine’s Day event at the museum. They quickly connect, and just as Molly is ready to share her feelings, he suddenly vanishes. It turns out he’s not exactly who he claimed to be… he’s actually royalty.
It’s a cute premise, but the story felt a bit predictable and didn’t leave a lasting impression. Still, a sweet read if you're in the mood for something light and romantic.
January 25, 2022
Didn’t like the story. It felt forced and not funny. A weak heroine and not so honest hero. It just fell flat for me.
January 26, 2022
2 stars
A cute love-at-first-sight novella. Includes books, period costumes, & nobility. Also includes senseless non-communication issues as the main conflict.
[What I liked:]
•Curator at a book museum? What a cool job, & one I wanted to read about. Kinda the main reason I picked up this book.
•There are some cute/funny moments. I will say that the last scene has a charming parallel to the meet-cute.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Ugh, why does the MC lie about stupid things to her best friend? She had such a weak motivation to lie, & she’d already gone on a long rant about how no lies are ever acceptable, not even small white lies to be polite.
•Aaaand the MC is a big fat hypocrite for not giving Al/Jamie a chance to explain, since she herself had been lying to Brianna for just as long.
•The main conflict had no real reason to happen…Al/Jamie could have texted Molly before the flight, emailed at any time, tried to get in touch with her through the museum, etc., etc. So many opportunities for him to explain existed, & he took none, which doesn’t make sense if he was actually in love with her. He didn’t have to explain *everything*, he could’ve just said there was a family emergency & apologized for leaving suddenly & explained the rest in person.
•Also, the MC is apparently a classist bigot. She decides she doesn’t deserve to be with someone rich because she grew up on a farm, & instead of talking to Al/Jamie about these concerns, she *lies* to him about why she thinks the relationship wouldn’t work 🤦♀️
•The MC complains about having to wear a Regency style dress to a party & complains about how uncomfortable it is…those are some of the most comfortable clothes ever! At least the women’s. Plenty of other historical eras had uncomfortable clothes for women, but not this one. Plus, fichus weren’t normally worn with evening wear.
CW: infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
A cute love-at-first-sight novella. Includes books, period costumes, & nobility. Also includes senseless non-communication issues as the main conflict.
[What I liked:]
•Curator at a book museum? What a cool job, & one I wanted to read about. Kinda the main reason I picked up this book.
•There are some cute/funny moments. I will say that the last scene has a charming parallel to the meet-cute.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•Ugh, why does the MC lie about stupid things to her best friend? She had such a weak motivation to lie, & she’d already gone on a long rant about how no lies are ever acceptable, not even small white lies to be polite.
•Aaaand the MC is a big fat hypocrite for not giving Al/Jamie a chance to explain, since she herself had been lying to Brianna for just as long.
•The main conflict had no real reason to happen…Al/Jamie could have texted Molly before the flight, emailed at any time, tried to get in touch with her through the museum, etc., etc. So many opportunities for him to explain existed, & he took none, which doesn’t make sense if he was actually in love with her. He didn’t have to explain *everything*, he could’ve just said there was a family emergency & apologized for leaving suddenly & explained the rest in person.
•Also, the MC is apparently a classist bigot. She decides she doesn’t deserve to be with someone rich because she grew up on a farm, & instead of talking to Al/Jamie about these concerns, she *lies* to him about why she thinks the relationship wouldn’t work 🤦♀️
•The MC complains about having to wear a Regency style dress to a party & complains about how uncomfortable it is…those are some of the most comfortable clothes ever! At least the women’s. Plenty of other historical eras had uncomfortable clothes for women, but not this one. Plus, fichus weren’t normally worn with evening wear.
CW: infidelity
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
January 27, 2022
I read McKinlay’s Wait For It last year and loved it - her layered, complex writing resonated with me, so I was excited to read more from her. Unfortunately, this was a total miss. First, the ENTIRE plot is described in the blurb; every part of the book is spoiled before you even begin. And neither character is likable - the heroine acts like a moody teenager, and the hero’s weak excuses don’t hold up under scrutiny. I didn’t like either of them, and their love story was difficult to root for. I don’t expect a ton of depth in a novella, but this was SUPER cliché and not executed very well. The romance itself flies by, but the overall story drags. It didn’t work for me on any level, which is unfortunate because the foundation of a light and fun royal romance is here - a handsome stranger, a bit of miscommunication, some chemistry. It just didn’t come together in a satisfying way.
Normally, I’d give a few details about the storyline, but the blurb tells you everything there is to know. So let’s skip right to some notes on the audiobook. I enjoyed the female narrator’s voice, which made this an easy and relaxing three-hour listen. The story is single perspective, so the narrator voices every character, and her attempt at European accents left a little to be desired. I had no trouble understanding her or differentiating between the characters though, so that was fine. The story is low angst with no steam, so it’s the perfect listen for a workday. It was over before I knew it, and the overall audio quality is solid.
Normally, I’d give a few details about the storyline, but the blurb tells you everything there is to know. So let’s skip right to some notes on the audiobook. I enjoyed the female narrator’s voice, which made this an easy and relaxing three-hour listen. The story is single perspective, so the narrator voices every character, and her attempt at European accents left a little to be desired. I had no trouble understanding her or differentiating between the characters though, so that was fine. The story is low angst with no steam, so it’s the perfect listen for a workday. It was over before I knew it, and the overall audio quality is solid.
February 12, 2022
Royal Valentine put me in mind of The Prince and Me. Did I watch that as a teen and young adult entirely too much? Maybe... but as a girl growing up on the Disney princess drugs of Gen X and Millennials, I don't think I can be blamed.
The best part of this novella is that Jenn wrote an insta-love story that turned into a second chance. I often find that novella length stories can lack a timeline believability into why characters end with a HEA. In this case, I think the conflict and resolution added to the credibility of this modern fairy tale.
Love is the last thing Molly wants or needs so her month long love affair with a fellow academic, Albert, is too good to be true. Especially when he no-shows their last date and ghosts her for no apparent reason.
Jenn is an entertaining writer. I quite appreciate her voice in both contemporary romances and cozy mysteries, easily making her an author I will consistently reach for. I wish this had been a novel simply so that I could have had more of her humor and a deeper character arc.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
The best part of this novella is that Jenn wrote an insta-love story that turned into a second chance. I often find that novella length stories can lack a timeline believability into why characters end with a HEA. In this case, I think the conflict and resolution added to the credibility of this modern fairy tale.
Love is the last thing Molly wants or needs so her month long love affair with a fellow academic, Albert, is too good to be true. Especially when he no-shows their last date and ghosts her for no apparent reason.
Jenn is an entertaining writer. I quite appreciate her voice in both contemporary romances and cozy mysteries, easily making her an author I will consistently reach for. I wish this had been a novel simply so that I could have had more of her humor and a deeper character arc.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
September 6, 2022
I'm usually a sucker for the commoner/royal romance genre, but this one was a miss for me. It was short, and there was a lot missed because of the length. The relationship between Molly and Albert was not developed deeply enough for it to seem solid enough to overcome the royal/commoner issues that might arise. I couldn't feel any growth in the relationship that made me feel invested in them as a couple. They apparently fall in love after a month of adventures in New York, but why? When Molly finds out the truth about Al she has the mother of all freak-outs. She is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Albert should have seen this as a giant red flag to get out of here, but he persists in going after this girl. I found her to be annoying. So annoying. Yeah, people have hurt you in the past. I can see why you might be cautious, but to ascribe all those issues to a person who had nothing to do with your past hurts was unfair, to say the least. Her actions were infuriating. I didn't care about her getting a HEA ending, so the whole things fell flat. Two stars. It was okay.
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