Between a Rock and a Royal and Blue Bloods and Backroads by Sylvie Stewart

ROMANTIC COMEDY

Publication date:
Blue Bloods and Backroads, 09/01/2018
Between a Rock and a Royal, 11/14/20
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: Yes

(Note: This is a review for a book duet. You’ll need to read both books, since book 1 ends on a cliffie.)

This is one of those stories that could have crossed over into cliche land REAL fast. I mean, the story of a prince from a fictional tiny land who falls for a small town girl? It’s been done a time or two (or ten thousand). But the author deserves MAJOR props because never once did I feel like I’ve read this story before.

First of all, I loved Leo about 99% of the time. (He’s a bit of a jerk at the end of book 1 for a hot minute, but I kind of understand where he’s coming from, so I’ll let it slide) But except for that 1%, he was a total sweetheart—hot without being an alphahole, sweet and gentlemanly without being a wuss, and witty enough to keep up with the fast-talking heroine. I’d gladly add Leo to my all-time favorite nice guy book boyfriends list.

Ruby was all kinds of fun. She’s a successful mechanic who owns her own garage (girlpower!), and never once traipses into TSTL land. (I might’ve questioned her sanity for a second or two in book 1 when she agreed to roadtrip with Leo and his brother, but again, I understood where she was coming from, so I cut her some slack. I also think that if it came down to it, Ruby could take both Leo and Malcolm in a fight, so there’s that…)

There are also some genuinely hilarious moments in this rom com duet, too—and y’all know how much I HATE IT when a book is being marketed as a rom com and there isn’t anything funny about it. Most of the truly great comedy came from Leo’s brother Malcolm, and I loved every minute of it.

(Side note: I will 1-click THE CRAP out of Malcolm’s story when it’s out)

The dialogue is fun and snappy, the sex scenes are hot, and the chemistry between Ruby and Leo is combustible. Additionally, I adore road trip romances, and this one fits the bill nicely.   

Anyhoo, long-story-short, this was a fun, light-hearted, low-angst read that I’d recommend to any rom com lover out there in the reading audience. It’s a lot of fun, and you can 1-click with confidence.
 
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s stigma free. No rehab needed!

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