Let us help you continue to bask in your #RoyalWedding2018 feels even after the big day! Check out our list of royal romance novels and fanfiction for your enjoyment.
Image Source: @KensingtonRoyal
In 2011, I was in Lagos, Nigeria doing fieldwork for my dissertation. But you better believe that on April 29 I took a break to enjoy Prince William’s and Kate Middleton’s wedding! My Anglophilia extends from historical romance novels to the House of Windsor, so Will’s and Kate’s wedding had pride of place on my calendar. And truth be told, it was like the stars aligned for me that day. I woke up at 6:00am (Nigeria was in the same timezone as the UK), plopped down in a chair in the living room (I was staying with family friends), tuned into CNN International, and there I sat all day–smiling and starry-eyed and swooning. Anyone familiar with Nigeria will know that electricity provision is hit or very miss (although some places, like Ikeja, Lagos) are better than others. You won’t believe me when I tell you that we did not lose electricity one time that day.
It was awesome–watching Will and Harry joking with each other as they waited at the front of Westminster Abbey; Kate arriving with her father and making her way inside with Pippa; the royal family, guests, and their colorful fascinators (I’m looking at you Beatrice and Eugenie); Kate’s fine AF brother doing a reading; the vows; the recessional; the carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace; Will’s and Kate’s kiss on the balcony!!!!!!!
I’m so deep in my feels right now and I am thrilled to do this again tomorrow when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married. I’ve loved Meghan since Season 1 of Suits, and Harry has long been a problematic fave of mine… though, in recent years he has certainly reformed.
If you haven’t, you want to make sure you’re following @KensingtonRoyal and @RoyalFamily for the wedding details that are already known and additional updates. As for me, I’ll be up at 4am EST, enjoying mimosas and quiche as I watch #RoyalWedding2018 unfold. (Incidentally, USA Today has an awesome list of the networks broadcasting and live streaming the wedding events, HERE.)
If you’re like me, you’ll want to be able to bask in Royal Wedding feels even after Harry and Meghan get married. So, I’ve put together a list of royal romance novels for your enjoyment! Most of these, I’ve read myself and can vouch for their swooniness. The others come recommended from trusted friends and are high on my own TBR list. There are three categories: historical romance, contemporary romance, and Twilight fanfiction. The list below is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to share your faves in comments!
Historical Romance
1. ANYTHING BY LISA KLEYPAS; but my faves include Devil in Winter, Devil in Spring, and Lady Sophia’s Lover (Hello Stranger is one of the best I’ve read from Lisa Kleypas, and while they couple isn’t royal, they do have connections to the aristocracy.)
2. Mistress by Midnight by Nicola Cornick
This entire series is really good, it’s just this one features a Bluestocking heroine and enemies-to-lovers romance. (Read my 5 Star review HERE.)
3. The Plantagenet and Tudor Series by Philippa Gregory
These are the quintessential novels for anyone who is intrigued by Tudor England; especially The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen’s Fool, and The Constant Princess.
4. Castles Ever After Series by Tessa Dare; especially Do You Want to Start a Scandal.
5. The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries
This story hooked me within the prologue! Read my 5 Star review HERE.
6. Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
The heroine is a street urchin and masked vigilante in London, while the hero is the King’s secret agent send to defeat a dastardly secret organization known as the Lords of Chaos. This story has a case of mistaken identity, suspense, and a really sexy romantic relationship.
7. Bedchamber Games by Tracy Anne Warren
Rosamund Carrow pretends to be her barrister brother in order to save their father’s London law firm. In the process, she goes up against Lord Lawrence Byron in court and beats him! Lawrence is super intrigued and when he finds out that the lawyer who beat him is a woman, he devises a plan to get to know her even better.
8. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
Read my 5 Star review HERE.
9. Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
Read my 5 star review HERE.
10. This Earl is on Fire by Vivienne Lorett
Read my 5 Star review HERE.
Contemporary Romance
1. Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole
Alyssa is an absolute fave of mine and this series gives me so much joy! In the first novel, A Princess in Theory, the romance and drama are too juicy and remind me of the classic romantic comedies I’ve loved. I was drowning in Coming to America and While You Were Sleeping feels! Plus, it’s so refreshing to read about royals in a contemporary setting, especially since they’re from Africa (like me)! You can ready my 5 Star review HERE.
The second book in the series, A Duke by Default is out in July and you can read an excerpt from Entertainment Weekly HERE.
2. Royal Wedding Series
Alexa Riley is my go-to for erotic romance and, lucky for us, in honor of Harry and Meghan’s wedding, Alexa Riley decided to link up with three of their author buddies to produce a series of erotic royal romance novellas.
—The King’s Spinster Bride by Ruby Dixon
—The King’s Horrible Bride by Kati Wilde
—The King’s Innocent Bride by Alexa Riley
—The King’s Reluctant Bride by Ella Goode
I’ve read all four and can attest to their ability to generate all the feels, plus they’re so super sexy! The King’s Spinster Bride is for those looking for high fantasy; The King’s Horrible Bride is a contemporary arranged marriage trope, with an fierce and intelligent heroine; The King’s Innocent Bride is straight-up erotic instalove; and The King’s Reluctant Bride is a friends-to-more, opposites-attract romance.
3. Royal Scandal Series by Parker Swift
This series follows Lydia Bell who moves to London for a new job and begins a relationship with Dylan Hale, Marquess of Abingdon. He promises incredible, passionate sex, but with three conditions: first, he doesn’t do relationships, this is just sex. Second, he’s in total control of their encounters, and things will get kinky. Third, no one can know about their arrangement. Lydia agrees and the sex is phenomenal! But as they get to know one another, Lydia and Dylan’s feelings get involved, and their secrecy/sex-only pledge might not be tenable.
I’ve seen the description that this series is Devil Wears Prada meets Fifty Shades of Grey meets The Royal We. I’d say, Devil Wears Prada comparison isn’t so accurate because the heroine’s work in fashion is really more of a backdrop. However, if you’re a fan of Fifty Shades and looking for something quite similar, I 100% recommend this. (Read my review of book 1, Royal Affair, and book 2, Royal Disaster.)
4. The Royal We by Heather Cocks
I haven’t read this, but it’s highly recommended to me by trusted friends who love romance as much as I do.
5. Royally Series by Emma Chase
I haven’t read this series yet, but I love Emma Chase’s Legal Briefs series. I trust her to write romantic comedy that will make me cackle with laughter, swoon me off my feet, with really strong male characters.
6. Dirty Royals Series by Kaye Blue
I haven’t read this series yet, but Kaye Blue is an absolute fave. I’ve read her Romanian Mob Chronicles series and The Syndicate: Crime and Passion series and Kaye’s writing is GOOD. What I love most is that she portrays interracial relationships with badass Black Women as heroines. Plus, the sexy times are off the charts.
7. BONUS: Meghan: A Hollywood Princess by Andrew Morton
Grand Central Publishing was kind enough to provide me a review copy of this biography and I’m currently making my way through it. The book begins with a genealogy of Meghan’s family (I find Meghan’s mother’s side of the family particularly interesting), before taking us through her childhood, acting career, and then relationship with Harry.
Twilight Fanfiction
Even still, Twilight fic is my jam, and Royalward tropes are one of my favorite storylines. Here are several of my favorites from over the years… and they’re still up on fanfiction.net!
1. Plight Thee My Troth by Gingerandgreen
2. The Selkie Wife by Lissa Bryan
3. The Heart of a King by MandyLeigh87
4. From the Cup of Duty by LadyExcalibur2010
5. Restoration by Elise de Sallier
Twilight crossover with Ever After *SWOONS*
6. The Lady’s Honor by Melolabel
7. Wrenfield Hall by Wannabe Charlotte
8. Duty and Desire by Aspenleaf
Twilight meets Pride and Prejudice. Need I say more?!!!
9. BONUS: Hell is Empty…and the Devils are Here by ashotofjac
The BEST (and only) Game of Thrones fic I’ve ever read… what would have happened if Rhaegar Targaryen married Lyanna Stark after the tourney at Harrenhal? This story is so creative and ingenious, while simultaneously following GoT cannon to a tee. It’s marvelous and dramatic and sexy!
