The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle-a review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2021
Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.
And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.
But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.
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REVIEW:THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR by Karina Halle is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, erotic romance series focusing on Canadian elementary school teacher/romance podcaster Piper Evans, and British PPO (Personal Protection Officer)/bodyguard Harrison Cole.
Told from first person perspective (Piper) THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR follows in the wake of British royalty Prince Eddie and Duchess Monica’s (aka Duke and Duchess of Fairfax) escape from Britain in an effort to find peace and solitude on the small island of Salt Spring near British Columbia, Canada. Piper Evans and her mother Evelyn own a small cottage adjacent to the mansion of which Eddie and Monica have retained temporary occupancy, and as such have had to be vetted and approved as neighbors and friends. Enter personal protection officer aka bodyguard Harrison Cole, the man with whom Piper will fall in love but not all is well on the small island of Salt Spring as the ‘real islanders’ struggle to accept royalty, and the encroaching paparazzi that is about to turn their island upside down. What ensues is the building romance and relationships between Piper and Harrison, and the potential fall-out as Piper and Harrison are stalked by local paparazzi, and their affair is made public for the world to see.
THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR follows a similar plot line to the real royals of the British Monarchy, specifically Megan and Harry, and their attempts for privacy against the lifestyle and media that are in constant pursuit. The similarities are numerous including names, titles, situations, locations, cultural and racial issues that have been revealed and plagued by the current Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Monica is an African –American singer who has married into the British Royal Family, a family that has followed certain traditions for hundreds of years. Former British soldier and England’s Prince Eddie fell in love with an African American singer, and the fall out of their relationship is beginning to affect the Royal family and everyone involved.
The relationship between Harrison and Piper begins acrimoniously as Harrison must ensure Piper and her mother are no threat to the Royal couple but Piper life was slowly spiralling out of control, and first impressions left something to be desired. As the relationship builds, our couple must come to terms with the possibility that Harrison’s time in Canada is only temporary, and their ‘affair’ may directly affect the Royals back home. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to the Duke and Duchess of Fairfax, Prince Eddie and Monica, as well as body guard James, Piper’s mother Evelyn, the Royal’s housekeeper Agatha, as well as the Salt Spring Island ‘real islanders’ who find fault in just about everything and everyone that doesn’t belong.
THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR is fast paced, character driven story of family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is heart warming & emotional; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are sassy and energetic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.
Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.
Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.
Connect with Karina
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