Monday 1 June 2020

A Royal Love Affair

Not sure about anyone else but for any royal wedding I'm pretty much like this in front of the tv screen:

Image credit: giphy.com

Which is also what I look like watching any sort of hallmark royal romance movie, or reading royal romance novels. What can I say, I LOVE royal romance.

When I first had the idea for this blog, the big news around the world was Harry and Meghan doing a split from the crown (sad face). Now, of course, Covid19 has swept us away into a life of isolation and uncertainty (bigger sad face).

Today however, I’m hoping to drag you all back into a world of tiaras, duty and romance.

Image credit: giphy.com


Put your hand up if you aren’t a fan of royal romance. No one? Well I’m not surprised (plus let’s face it, you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t have a thing for royal romance J)






I’m a total sucker for a good royal romance – it’s the ultimate escapism read for me and as I’m just finishing up the final book in a three book royal romance series, my head is chockablock full of diamonds, sweeping ballgowns, glitz, glamour, duty and of course forever love.

Image credit: giphy.com

So I thought, if I love it, surely others do too, and I approached a few of my all-time favourite authors who write compelling, romantic, sensual royal romances that never fail to sweep me away into their worlds, and asked them what they love MOST about writing royal romance.

Clare Connelly on writing royal romance:

“There's so much I love about reading - and writing - royal romance. There's the fairytale, of course! The idea of becoming a princess, of all the trappings, but the thing I adore most is humanising these people we know so little about. I like writing behind the trappings and showing that their problems, worries and sources of happiness are just the same as ours!”

Click to find out more about The Secret Kept from the King




Annie West on writing royal romance:

“You asked my favourite part of writing a royal romance. It’s hard to pin down precisely, but I think the stakes are higher when royalty is involved. All the world is watching and there is tremendous pressure on royal characters to get things right – so when they don’t and things go wrong in a big way (we can’t make it too easy for our characters!) then the consequences grow and so does the tension. I think there’s something about a life lived under the weight of public expectation that adds an extra layer to a royal romance. Plus I love the fact that I’m writing real people with real emotions and in the end it doesn’t matter what their official title is – they’re the same as the rest of us when it comes to grappling with both heartache and joy!”

Click to find out more about Revelations of a Secret Princess

Alyssa J Montgomery on writing royal romance:


“There’s a lot of intrigue about royalty - all the privileges and responsibilities being born or marrying into that status entails. The fascination is no doubt fuelled by the fact that we’re fed a plethora of princess/handsome prince stories as children.

I loved exploring the burdens of royalty for my characters Princess Sabrina and King Gabriel, and what it meant to grow up as the “spare” for Prince Devereaux and Prince Marco - and the pressures brought to bear on Prince Khalid for being the “spare” thrust into the role of inheriting the kingdom. I loved their conflicts and their growth and I’m really thrilled that Escape Publishing are releasing all four stories together as a boxed set in September.”

Click to find out more about The Defiant Princess

I've shared some of my favourite royal romance books, I’d like to now put it back to you: Do you love reading royal romance? And if so, let me know your favourite?

Psst, if you’re looking for a little inspiration I also stumbled across this Goodreads list which I thought I’d share – thank you AusRom for putting this one together!

Let’s bring on the happy ever after, royal style!



I love to love... reading and writing royal romance

I love to laugh... with my daughters whilst playing dress ups (princesses and weddings, of course)

I love to learn... how to paint with watercolours (one of my iso crafting projects)


14 comments:

  1. Hi Jayne. It's hard to imagine the pressure but reading royal romance you can get some idea. It's lovely to see though that they are people who fall in love just like the rest of us.

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  2. Hi Cass, thank you for your comment! I agree, the pressure would be intense! Lucky love gets us all no matter our station ☺️

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  3. Ooh, I love a royal romance, but not too much complaining about the tricky life please (which, sure, it is). I love the H&Hs to have patriotic love for their country and people, and need someone who can rule alongside them with grace, intelligence and also love for their people and for each other. Lots of descriptions of gown and jewels too, please, and balls and banquets and … sigh … all the rest of it... So special. Thanks Jayne!

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    1. Hahah yes, it's not fair for them to complain ;) I must admit the research part of writing a royal romance is certainly fun!

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  4. Hi Jayne, this is a topic dear to my heart! Thanks for featuring my royal romances in your list!

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    1. Hit that too soon ... Looking forward to reading the royal romances you've written. x

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    2. Thanks Alyssa for your contribution! :) xx

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  5. Hi Jayne,

    It was lovely to be asked about this topic. I do love a royal romance - both reading and writing them. I'm looking at writing another one right now...! I love the glamour and behind it the oh-so-real passion that transcends social status.

    Yay, on finishing the final book in the royal trilogy! That's worth celebrating.

    Cheers,
    Annie

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    1. Thank you Annie, I can't wait to read your new one! :D

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  6. My first romance read was a royal romance. Cinderella counts as royal romance, sure it does, it has a prince. I love reading about their lives. Gotta be sure they really love each other.

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    1. Enisa, Cinderella totally counts! I'm a big fan of all the disney princess books and movies :)

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  7. I have a soft spot for royal weddings, I must admit. I think my favourite real-life one was when Frederick married Mary and he had tears in his eyes when he saw her. Such an 'awww' moment. Reading about them is almost as good.

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    1. Marilyn you're so right, that was a serious awww moment :D those two are a fairytale story come true!

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  8. I love reading royal romance. I especially enjoyed The Defiant Princess and look forward to reading the fourth book in this series.

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