'A Queen's Match' by Katharine McGee - A Queens Duet #2

5 royal stars!

Book Blurb:

"In the sequel to A Queen's Game, broken hearts and secret loves lead three princesses to their final marriage matches, and their rightful places in the history books--from the New York Times bestselling author of the American Royals series.

As Queen Victoria tries to match her grandchildren with powerful marriages across Europe, matters of the court and matters of the heart collide for three princesses as they close in on the end of their marriage seasons.

Exiled French princess Helene d'Orleans had no choice but to break it off with Prince Eddy--but that doesn't mean she doesn't have a broken heart. And now her parents have their sights on another prince for her...but his heart is already taken.

The queen finally understands that her beloved granddaughter Alix of Hesse isn't interested in a match with Prince Eddy...but the Queen does not approve of Alix's true love. So where does that leave her?

And May of Teck? She's just looking for a crown. So with Eddy back on the marriage market, she's biding her time, letting his heartbreak settle, before she makes her move.

Set in the last glittering decade of the monarchies, A Queen's Match is the thrilling conclusion to the story that began in A Queen's Game."


My Review:

This clever Historical Fiction duet, based on real people and events, was so very well done! Even if you don't know what actually happened in real life, this series is an amazing YA read! It's about three princesses and several princes and has all the humor, romance, cunning, and schemes that Katharine McGee readers have long enjoyed.

In this 'Queen's Duet,' Queen Victoria of England tries to play matchmaker for her many grandchildren, spread throughout the thrones of Europe. Her favorite granddaughter, Alix of Hesse, rejects the proposed match to the future king of England, Prince Eddy. Prince Eddy, meanwhile, has fallen in love with a French princess, whose family is banished from France. And May of Teck schemes in the background, determine to secure a crown for herself at any cost.

I love how the author tied everything up, to align with real-life events, while also granting readers a satisfying conclusion to the spin she put on all the characters.

Highly recommended YA reading!  Grab your copies:

A Queens Duet #1 -  'A Queen's Game' by Katharine McGee 

A Queens Duet #2 - 'A Queen's Match' by Katharine McGee

#AQueensMatch #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

The Mirror Chronicles by Rachel Huffmire

The Mirror Chronicles by Rachel Huffmire is a compelling trilogy, with a novella, that cleverly re-imagines several fairy tales into one cohesive and thrilling time travel adventure.  Start with 'Snow White's' tale, dive right into 'Sleeping Beauty' reimagined, conclude the trilogy with a fabulous take on 'The Snow Queen,' and finish with a 'Cinderella' novella.

Highly recommended reading for fairy tale fans and all YA readers!

The entire Mirror Chronicles series is available on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Unlimited program. Grab a copy here!

Snow White's tale - 'Shattered Snow' by Rachel Huffmire - Mirror Chronicles #1

"Time travel is illegal… But only if you get caught.

Keltson Grammar is a vigilante hacker who doesn’t mind breaking a few laws. Hiding behind mirrors, he rescues unfortunate souls in the past and leads them to happier endings. However, a single misstep could send a time-traveling huntsman on his trail. If he finds Keltson, history will be reset to its original dismal fate and Keltson’s future will be permanently behind bars.

Lilia Vaschenko is a Russian Mechanic surrounded by cinderblock towers, ladders she cannot climb, and a glass ceiling that holds her down like a casket. She'll do anything to escape—even work for the world's most wanted renegade.

Margaretha is a young German countess who wants nothing more than to forge her own path in life. But when she discovers a mysterious mirror in the woods that transforms her world into shadows and ice, her future shatters. Will she ever find who she was truly meant to be?"

'Sleeping Beauty' reimagined - 'Spinning Briar' by Rachel Huffmire - Mirror Chronicles #2

'The Snow Queen' - 'Saving Winter' by Rachel Huffmire - Mirror Chronicles #3

'Cinderella' re-telling - ' Sculpting Fables' by Rachel Huffmire - Mirror Chronicles novella

'Fake Skating' by Lynn Painter

5 stars!

Book Blurb:

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter comes a heartfelt and banter-filled rom-com about childhood sweethearts whose icy reunion in their hockey-loving hometown unexpectedly thaws when they fake a romantic relationship.

Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend. Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t.

Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance to confront him on his MIA status for all these years). But teenage Alec is nothing like the kid Dani remembers. He’s a hockey star in a town where hockey players are worshiped as gods. Dani’s place as his shadow has been taken up by drooling female fans…and he loves it.

Dani is resolved to ice out her former best friend until an unlikely series of events brings them together—and forces them to fake being a couple. Once forced together, the former childhood sweethearts begin to reconnect, unearth complicated family secrets, and face their true feelings towards each other…including the real reason Alec has been pushing Dani away all these years."


My Review:

Another wonderful Young Adult book from author Lynn Painter, full of witty banter and a sweet clean romance between these childhood-best-friends to high school sweethearts. There's small town 'hockey is life' and there's the jealous boy next door, and there's family drama, and so very many curse words out of these athletes. I love the duel POV, with both Dani and Alec narrating and sharing their feelings with readers.

 Releasing on September 30th - grab a copy here!

#NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.