I’ve got 99 problems, and picking the wrong guy might be all of them.
I've always had my royal checklist: Attend the Husband Hunting Ball? Check. Find the perfect match for a princess like me? Check. Feel zero sparks with Mr. Right (aka Enzo Revera)? Sadly, double check.
But then I meet Marco, Enzo's charming and rugged brother. He's everything I shouldn't want, especially since I've planned my life to avoid the messiness of love.
When a twist of fate puts Marco at my side, I can't deny our chemistry, even if he's all wrong for a princess like me. Thrown together by royal duties and an ancient riddle, Marco and I embark on a crazy adventure that leads us to hidden clues.
As we unravel a secret that changes everything, I’m faced with a choice between duty and desire. Can I defy expectations and claim both the throne I’ve always wanted and my true love? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
I’ve read the first book in the Royally Kissed series, The Backup Princess (reviewed here), and as much as I enjoyed that experience, I really loved Royally Matched! I felt very invested in both main characters. Sofia is known as the “Pitiful Princess” of Ledonia, due to her more rigid and pristine attitude, while Marco is a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy, content to go where the wind takes him. Sofia has fallen for that type of guy before, and it ended in heartbreak for her, so she’s made it her mission to completely eliminate attraction and chemistry from any relationship, preferring to create a list of potential suitors who look good on paper.
The man who looks the best on paper is Enzo, Marco’s brother. Enzo checks all of Sofia's boxes, but none that sets her soul on fire, which Sofia is completely fine with. For her, it’s better to be safe than in love. But she can’t get Marco out of her head. Despite how different they seem to be, he is the one who can get her out of her shell. And for Marco, with his head in the clouds, Sofia is the comfort he needs to find his way back to earth from time to time. I liked the sweet connection they have and the way Marco continually gets past Sofia’s defenses, even when she thinks she needs to put duty first before her own wants and needs.
The crazy adventure they go on was a nice addition to the story, and I did not suspect who was ultimately responsible for it. Marco thinks he knows who is behind everything, but who it really is was a pleasant surprise. Discovering the truth behind Sofia and what her future holds was also nice to see. While I enjoyed seeing the progression of possible romance for Sofia–Enzo or Marco–it was even better to witness the strength and power she has, particularly when she can define her life by her own terms.
Royally Matched reminded me of the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces, with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges. Maybe because like Sofia, Jeff’s character Gregory had been burned one too many times before by overtly sensual, charismatic women, and decides to look for someone he felt he would have no chemistry with–Rose, played by Barbra Streisand…although, let’s be honest here, no one has more charisma than the incomparable Babs. The same goes for the ties between Sofia and Marco. It is a connection that is for the ages, despite how hard Sofia tries to deny it or refuse it. It’s the “sizzle” that really spices up this sweet endearing love story, making it a well-deserved five-star experience!
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