Royal Valentine

A Cute and Short Royal Affair

I really liked this book. It was super cute and dealt with multiple cultures which was really fun to read and listen to. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a super fast cutesy romance with no smut.
❤️❤️

Royal Valentine is the last in The Improbable Meet-Cute series and this story is a little longer than some of the previous ones. However, it packs a LOT into the one story, moving at rapid speed. At times I had questions as there are multiple questions left unanswered. It’s a fun premise though and certainly a very different kind of meet cute.

Princess Ilaria of a fictional European country bordering Italy just wants some time alone to be anonymous. And where better than Rome? (She’s also got her eye on a photographer she saw from her hotel window). So she convinces her assistant to pretend to be her and sets out on her adventure. But she stupidly takes two zolpidem tablets (which she thinks is aspirin…seriously…) and passes out show more only to be rescued by said photographer Callum. It turns out he’s Scottish and more than willing to spend the day with her, having no idea who she is. They do lots of touristy things and Ilaria is nearly caught out several times and the evening brings a kiss or two. But then things turn sour. Can Ilaria rediscover the magic she had with Callum?

Ilaria and her family are part of a wider book series by the author. It’s relatively easy to understand what’s going on quickly. However, this novella packed in so much, so fast that some scenes left me with questions. Like why didn’t any of the Italians at the party and tourists recognise Ilaria? Why was Callum’s dialogue written with a Scottish accent when the majority of the characters are European and would also have an accent? (I found writing out Callum’s accent pretty annoying at times). The twist was clever, but the breakup was pretty unnecessary in such a short book. I’d like to read a slower, more fleshed out version of this story – I think it could be more fun. Wilson is good at laying out the scene and keeping the plot moving.

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While I found Royal Valentine to be predictable, I still found it to be a cute and romantic short story. It ended with me wishing there was more. I'd be curious to follow the specific characters' lives further. I enjoyed how all of the books in the Improbable Meet-Cute series took place in the same universe and had referenced overlaps with each other in some way. This had me thinking of the Princess Switch movies throughout.

review -

Royal Valentine follows Princess Ilaria, previously mentioned as a guest on the invite list for Rhett and Carmilla's wedding. However, instead of attending, she finds herself in Rome for a fundraising event.

On the eve of Valentine's Day, Ilaria was supposed to return back to her home but impulsively decides to swap roles with her PR to have weekend in her favorite city as a normal person without paparazzi.

Her adventurous of touring Rome anonymously takes an unexpected turn when she accidently drugs herself into unconsciousness, leading to a chance encounter with Callum Stewart, a charming Scottish photographer who becomes her unexpected savior and tour guide.

Attraction between Illaria and Callum is instant but they really show more connects through their mutual love for Rome and their passion for their respective professions. However, just when their feelings are about to turns deep they discover each other's identity that derail any chance of future.

Ilaria's lovely and delightful character shines through story despite the clichéd situation of getting into trouble being saved by handsome man. I enjoyed reading little facts of famous Rome locations through her.

I didn't like Callum's reaction to the revelation of their true identities but his his eventual redemption and speech was heartfelt. What I truly enjoyed in this story is theme and layers of struggle of being royal and pressure that comes with title, paparazzi scrutiny, fulfilling responsibilities, and taking chance for happiness.

Overall, Royal Valentine is lovely, heartwarming royalty romance with clichéd plot but amazing themes and layers. show less

Story: 1/5
Spice: None
Characters: 2/5
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Overall reco:
I hated this.

I don't know how to express how much I hated this book/novella. It's not often that I get something that makes me wise I owned a paperback copy so I could throw it across the room (I'm not throwing my e-reader.. maybe I should get a plush book stand in.. hrm..). Novella's are short, cute, and super unrealistic. I'm not expecting a full story arc nor am I really expecting depth to the characters. If I get it, so nice, but if it's done poorly it's amplified.
Here.. it was amplified. I already struggle with billionaire/millionaire romances. RoyalXCommoner haven't generally been a problem for me but it's not my favorite genre. They just kind of tend to come off as show more fucking .. whiney. BUT. I kind of liked this in the beginning. and it wa fine until about page 70 and then I wanted to yeet my ereader. I finished, by the skin of my teeth, and it left a super bad taste in my mouth. It's taken me days to sit down and right this and some other reviews because of this. Kudos to the others that liked it but.. not for me. show less

Not engaging

The writing and dialogue was very stiff. I also didn't care about the main couple at all. I assume this character part of a series, but I found the female heroine blah. I have just never got into secret royal romance stories set in the modern era. I don't mind historical novels with secret dukes, counts, etc., it just makes more sense back then.

In a Nutshell: More “Improbable” than “Meet-Cute.”

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Plot Preview:

Princess Ilaria of Monterra (probably the fictional equivalent of Monaco) is fed up of the paparazzi watching her every move. A day before Valentine’s, when she is in Rome for a royal obligation, all she wants is one normal day without anyone’s judgemental stares or intrusive photos. So she gets her PR assistant to swap places with her for the weekend. Her first day as a “commoner” on the streets of Rome gets off to a shaky start, but a Scottish photographer swoops in for the rescue. There is an instant (