Mini Reviews: His Royal Secret Duology by Lilah Pace & The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

His Royal Secret: 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 decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth... ~ Goodreads (Source – purchased)

His Royal Favorite: The conclusion of Lilah Pace’s racy, romantic male/male duology following His Royal Secret...

James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight. ~ Goodreads (Source – e-arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Thoughts: I loved the first book, His Royal Secret, in this duology. It was a super quick read – fun and  sexy! With all the royal secrets, back stabbing, danger and romance – it was crack-a-licious in all the best ways.

The conclusion, His Royal Favorite, had a very satisfying ending but dragged out far beyond necessary. The conflict between James giving up or staying in the monarchy vs Ben going back to private life or giving it up for James was intense but it was rehashed so many times that I was like – shit or get off the pot Ben! (something my father used to say lol)

Fun series overall and I’d like to check out more by this author.


Debut author Sally Thorne bursts on the scene with a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

2) A person’s undoing

3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game. ~ Goodreads

Thoughts: Soooo….everyone is going crazy for this one and I just don’t get it. It’s cute enough. But I didn’t find the banter or love/hate relationship all that captivating and most of that rests on my strong dislike of Lucy.

She’s competing for a promotion against her arch nemesis, Josh. She’s SO paranoid and SO hung up on this rivalry, that she came off as very unprofessional to me. She’s not very good at delegating at her job – she’s a complete doormat.

As for the rivalry/romance. It’s so clear that Josh has a thing for her and his *hate* is the kindergarten version of a boy pulling your pigtails because he likes you – that it hurt to read Lucy be so mean to him and turn every nice gesture by Josh against him.

Don’t get me wrong – I did like this book. It has a fun chick-lit vibe, the chemistry between the two is palpable and there are a few really strong scenes near the end but I just wasn’t getting the OMG this book is amazing thing that everyone else seems to be feeling.