Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey Mqcuiston

Paperback, 421 pages

Published May 14th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin

Library

Romance NA?

I had heard such good things, but frankly I was so bored!

Alex is the son of the first female president of the US. He is obsessed with politics and visits senators to get his mum re-elected *falls asleep* Oh yes the politics was so boring. I like a cool mum, but she just felt too cool. Too idolized. She should have been a bit more busy. Both her kids are in their 20s and live at the white house. They are all given jobs with her new campaign, and the the vp's kid. There I felt a bit, just don't. I get Trump kids flashbacks.

Alex has a beef with a British prince cos he was on the cover of some magazine or whatever. I never really got it. They destroy the crown prince's wedding and have to pretend to be friends. Yes, let's just fly everyone back and forth and try to pretend to be friends.

The royalty thing is again very idolized and she didn't to any research. Henry is referred to the Prince of Wales, as a foreign head of state, heir to the throne and spoiler [when they do come out as a couple they have a photo shoot that is like an engagement photo op, they are just dating! His face will not be on plates and soaps. You are just dating.! (spoiler)] He is just a prince, he has two older siblings. Btw his dad was a Bond actor and made movies all his life. Ha, like if.

They manage to keep their love affair secrets for months. And then everyone lives happily ever after and the US is so progressive and happy! I wish, I wish.

Ok, so I was talking a lot about flaws. But the premise was wonderful, I mean come on, First Son meets British prince! Hearts! But the politics dragged it down, I wanted more romance, I only got that through letters. All in all, I was bored

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you? 

Audio: The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat

 

Narrator: Deryn Edwards 

Imprint: Harlequin Audio

On Sale: February 2, 2021

Pages: 587 minutes

Historical fiction

To review

The book is inspired by the true story of Hedwig Bercu. 

Edit: The book has other names by other imprints if you have come across it.

Hedy managed to escape Austria, her siblings scattering in the wind, her parents leaving behind, and she coming to Jersey. And she is still there when the Germans invade. Not the best place for a Jewish woman. I liked Hedy, what was there not to like. To survive she even had to go work for the Germans, knowing very well what they felt about Jews.

There is romance, since she starts seeing a German soldier, and even this is true. He helps her out with food and more when she has to go into hiding. In the book she is torn, he is a German soldier! But sometimes people just fall in love.

The book touches, but does not delve into the whole jerrybag issue. Dorothea is an islander who marries an Austrian baker, who is then conscripted. Her family stops talking to her, and others see her as scum. But since this is not her book we do not really see how tough that has to be for her. Instead she is the hopeful one who later hides Hedy in her house.

Yes I googled her life to see if I had to cry at the end...But I still was on edge and wanted to see what would happen!

I might have known, but have long forgotten, that over 5000 Brits were deported from the Channel Islands and sent to camps. Just cos they were not Channel born, but mainland born. And the UK government seemed to not care. The islands could not be protected, every man for himself. And those left behind were left to starve.

I enjoyed this one.

Great narration. She did had to do accents and I felt they were good, distinct voices and you could feel the utter exhaustion in Hedy's voice,

Inspired by the true story of a young Jewish girl - Hedy Bercu - who fled to Jersey from Vienna only to find herself trapped on the island during the German occupation.

In June 1940, the horror-struck inhabitants of Jersey watch as the German army unopposed takes possession of their island. Now only a short way from the English coast, the Germans plan their invasion. Hedy Bercu, a young Jewish girl from Vienna who fled to the isolation and safety of Jersey two years earlier to escape the Nazis, finds herself once more trapped, but this time with no way of escape.

Hiding her racial status, Hedy is employed by the German authorities and secretly embarks on small acts of resistance. But most dangerously of all, she falls in love with German lieutenant Kurt Neumann -- a relationship on which her life will soon depend.

Dangerous Magic by Monica Fairview

 

ebook, 242 pages

Expected publication: March 15th 2021 by White Soup Press

Pride and Prejudice variation /Romance

To review

I didn't have an idea what this was about when I said yes, because as you all might have seen, I do love Pride and Prejudice variations.

Alternative England where there is magic, and England is slowly loosing the war against the French. The English are strict and all True Blood magic! While the French conscripts everyone.

Elizabeth has been taught magic at home, she is opinionated, free and when told she has to go and become a mage, and marry. Well she is pretty upset.

Darcy is the same proud Darcy and he does worry about his bloodline, and he is not too happy either.

Oh and there is this horrible woman that is all bloodlines! And more. Ugh, Lady Alice was the worst. We also meet the Bingleys, even Caroline was pretty nice, mostly cos they did not have those precious bloodlines so she was pretty decent.

There is magic, blossoming romance, danger, the French! And all in all an interesting twist to the story. I even felt it was too short, I mean there must be more right? I mean the French! Will they bet the French or will Napoleon invade or something? So I do hope she writes more (I really should go google this).

An interesting P variation, you do not need to know the story (I tell this to Jen ;) Just follow along and experience the magic.

A sparkling tale of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two mages who must work together to save the Kingdom.

Elizabeth Bennet is stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She has always dreamed of marrying for love, and an arranged marriage with an arrogant stranger was never part of her plans.

But Darcy and Elizabeth have no choice in the matter. Uniting their two forms of magic is essential if the Kingdom is to defeat Napoleon’s mages. They may dislike each other on sight, but Darcy and Elizabeth have to overcome their differences and find common ground before it is too late. Fortunately, it is not long before the sparks begin to fly between them.

TMST. Social Media

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

Social media: love them or hate them?

It depends. Facebook is just, honestly I never see anything from people I want to see, it is mostly like things FB thinks it wants me to see.

Twitter, I used to really like twitter, I got book news and yes I liked the drama too. Now it is mostly politics and I can't say I care.

Insta, how to people take suck pretty bookstagrams!!! Agrhhhh.

I like social media, but it is mostly used as nothing, I scroll, I do not see. Candy for the brain, or maybe drugs for the brain is more like it

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