Royally Roma is the first book in The Royals series by Teri Wilson. Royally Roma is a modern retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday. I found Royally Roma to be a fun whirlwind adventure romance. I can’t wait to read more of The Royals series. In Royally Roma we get to see a crowned prince play hooky for a bit, and finally let loose and have some fun. This was a light hearted, feel good romance. I would recommend reading this book on a Sunday afternoon by the pool.

Royally Roma is the story of Julia and Niccolo. Julia is a grad student working as tour guide, and Niccolo is a frustrated prince who took advantage of an opportunity to get away for a day. Part of me felt bad for Niccolo initially, but part of me was annoyed at his attitude. I know he didn’t have much of a life because he was being paraded around from country to country making appearances, but he was certainly more than a little snooty at times, which made it hard for me to feel totally bad for him. But most of the time, he really amused me. I liked seeing how amused he was with Julia, who had no idea who he was at first. She thought he was her client, Mano Romano. hahah that name still cracks me up. I liked watching Julia and Niccolo spar, especially the talks they had about royalty.

Royally Roma was not totally without drama ad roadblocks. Niccolo could not hide his identity forever, and he is eventually found out, thus causing some issues. But overall, I really enjoyed the development of this story. It was largely light-hearted fun and the romance ended up being really sweet and satisfying. I can’t wait for more in this series. Teri Wilson did a great job writing a fun, feel good book.

Julia Costa is an American living in Rome. She is studying for a PhD in archeology while working as a tour guide on the side. One morning Julia goes to pick up her client at the Hotel de Russie to start a tour. She assumes that a lone man sitting at a table is her customer and starts her tour. He seems a bit confused about the details but agrees join her for the day. She has no idea that she has just picked up Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto.

Niccolo La Torre is fed up with his royal family obligations. He wants to shed his rigid schedule and live a normal life in anonymity. Instead, he is chased by security and reporters. When he meets Julia, he is relieved to discover that she doesn’t know his identity. With his whereabouts unknown, he gets to spend a normal day with Julia and an attraction forms. Niccolo has no money to pay for the tour so Julia decides to hold him “hostage” until her bill is paid. It’s a fun time for both until the debt is settled.

This story was inspired by the film Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. This is Teri Wilson’s first book in her new series and it is fun and engaging. I look forward to Book Two of the series, Royally Romanov on July 17th.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Somehow, despite the fact that this is a really nice story, it didn't really enthrall me. It was a nice read and it was sweet (and sometimes a bit frustrating) to read how those two explore Rome and get to know each other. Nevertheless, after having read half the book, I put it aside and forgot about it for a while.So - nice but obviously not the kind of book that keeps me glued to my reader.

Somehow Niccolo's Attempts at fleeing his responsibilities (and his bodyguards) were not really convincing and he himself and his actions did sometimes appear a bit, well, not really pathetic but a bit weak.

Oh, Niccolo? Right. Niccolo and Julia are our main characters. Juluia who just works and tries to get by while finishing her studies and Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto.
When Niccolo or "His Royal Hotness" as the newspapers hve christened him, grasps at the opportunity of being someone else, just a simple tourist, for a day, his life is changed forever. Or maybe it is the kidnapping that changes him?
As far as Julia is concerned, well, it's not every day that a girl has to reasort to kidnapping, so , yes, talk about a life chainging incident taking place. And when her plain tourist, actually her plain, kidnapped tourist, turns out to be a real prince, well, that's got "trouble" written all over it - in capital letters! So far so....not really good. Right?

At the end of the book I was a bit frustrated because it felt as if everything was a bit rushed and somehow, miraculously, all those very obvious and insurmountable problems vanish in thin air.
Sooooo....I enjoyed reading this book on the whole but I won't reread very often.

I was so excited for this book, and then I started reading it and it was just......meh.

This book was a sweet and delightful journey throughout Rome. While some may hate the insta-love and attraction factor, I thought it was romantic and light-hearted.

The author brings us along for a fun ride and a tour of some favorite sights all while developing the heated attraction factor with a hottie Prince. And who wouldn't want to be a love interest with a royal? Uh, I would!

With some quirky scenes, some decidedly hot love going on, and a swoon worthy ending, this is a book made for the princess in you. I think this series will be a sweet treat for those that love classic romance, with a splash of heat.

Teri Wilson must be a true romantic at heart to write a sweet story that satisfies all the senses.

***2 Stars***

I was really looking forward to diving into Royally Roma. New to me author, Rome as the setting and who can pass up a retelling of Roman Holiday? But as much as I tried, and believe me I tried, I just couldn’t seem to find a way to connect with the characters and without that connection I couldn’t get lost in the story.

This isn’t to say that I didn’t like Nico or Julia, I thought that they were both quite likeable characters in all honesty. Nico has toed the line since the day he was born and never thought twice about it. His sense of duty, honor and responsibility were all qualities I admire in anyone. His act of “rebellion” also fit along those lines because instead of going on a bender, he went sight seeing. Julia’s life was torn apart. Twice. But she is still determined to have her dreams become reality and is doing all she can to make it happen. I honestly loved how Julia picked herself up, pulled on her shitkickers and moved on with her life, this isn’t to say that she doesn’t have wounds and scars from what happened to her, because she does. But instead of fully immersing herself in a pit of despair over it all she’s only wading in while trying to find a way out of it.

Their relationship was very ‘insta’, insta-lust, insta-attraction, almost insta-love ~ yes, it is a thing when they think it and the waffle over it ~ and while I normally have no issue with it and can roll with it with the best of them, it didn’t work here for me. The spark was missing for me and by the time they got to the bare your soul portion of the story, I was just like “Okay”. Which was pretty much my reaction at the end when they do finally end up together.

But while Nico and Julia didn’t get me going, I did really enjoy the fun little historical facts about Rome that were in the book, some I new, others were brand spanking new to me and were definite bright spots in the story. It’s always painful to admit a book didn’t move you because we always want them to be absolutely, but it happens and while I can see how others will absolutely love this story and the characters, it’s a miss for me and I’m chalking it up to being a “It’s not you, it’s me” situation.

Retellings can be difficult and I have already had a bad experience with a previous Roman Holiday retelling. That being said, I loved Teri Wilson's P&P retelling, Unleashing Mr. Darcy, so I was excited to read this one. I liked it but it was definitely lacking something and I'm not even sure I can tell you what that is. I think that Julia felt a bit undeveloped to me - we have a sense of her past and why she is a bit mistrustful in general - but I think there could have been more. As for Nico, he felt fleeting throughout the entire book. While I got the chemistry between them, I kept wanting something more. Even though Roman Holiday is, in and of itself, a whirlwind, somehow it didn't work in this modern context, at least for me. I still have high regard for and love this author so I will be reading the next book in this series. Let's hope it rings true for me!

Royally Roma comes out later this month on March 27, 2017, and you can purchase HERE. Book 2 of this series, Royally Romanov, comes out in July.

He didn't need a clairvoyant to tell him that this little holiday he'd embarked on would leave a mark. A slow-healing bruise that would leave him tortured and tender. In those melancholy moments, he would need these memories. Recollections of her lips, her smile, the grace with which she moved. Remembrance.

Loved this enchanting story.
This was a delightful and charming romance, with all the flavour of the Audrey Hepburn film plus a passing nod to the trials of the current younger generation of British Royals and their mother. HFN ending. Highly recommended. Will look for more by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

4.5 Stars

Julia is kind of hiding out in Rome. Back in New York her dad destroyed her life and the lives of many other people with his illegal money dealings. That’s why Julia is trying to finish her archeology PhD in Rome, while making some money as a tourguide!
Enter Mano Romano. At least that’s what he tells her his name is. His real name is PRINCE Niccolo. He’s the next king of Lazzaretto. And he’s in the middle of a long tour of lots of countries to turn the Lazaretto Royal Family name into a good thing again – something his little brother is doing his best to destroy with naked shenanigans!
But one morning Niccolo’s suddenly had enough …. somehow he ends up on the back of Julia’s Vespa – pretending to be her new client Mano Romano. He never called in sick for just one day, but he can at least try to have a tiny little happiness in the middle of all that crazy being-a-royal-ness.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH JULIA & HER PRINCE?
WILL THERE BE CHANCE FOR A HEA??? READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺

I really enjoyed this book. Everything is beautifully described and the locations are just beautiful. It feels as if we’re right there in Rome with them.
We have this huge insta attraction on both sides, but of course a royal could never end up with a commoner from New York, a girl with a criminal father! And poor Julia, she can never ever again trust a guy. After everything her dad did and this stupid ex who stole all her money. But there’s something about this Mano guy. She knows he’s lying to her, but she still can’t stop thinking about undressing him!!!
So adorable. We drive through all of Rome on the run from the Palace Guards – which of course poor Julia doesn’t know! I really enjoyed reading this story. I have to admit, I never watched the movie this book is based on, but as soon as it’ll be on german TV, I will watch it!

I had some tiny little problems with the writing here and there – nothing major. Just… I don’t even know. We’re in Italy and the author is american and the heroine is american but we still use SO many british expressions? Maybe done on purpose by the author as a way for the reader to feel more european in europe? No idea, but I just noticed it … seemed weird.
Another thing. I almost stopped reading in the first chapter. The book starts with a chapter from towards the middle/end of the book and then the next chapter is 48 hours earlier. I didn’t like that at all. No idea why it was done that way – didn’t make much sense to me. And I didn’t like it!
Also, I would’ve loved an epilogue ☹ … but …

► ROYALLY ROMA was an adorably funny but also very serious Roman(tic) Comedy! Hurry to your nearest amazon to catch your own ride on Julia’s Vespa – with Prince Niccolo sitting behind or in front of you, of course ;)

I did not know that this was a modern retelling of Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn, probably because I have never seen that movie. This was a fast paced, romance story in which the two characters are thickheaded and stubborn. It is a case of adult insta-love and some of the details annoyed me. As soon as I read the words “wet wonderland” I wanted to put the book down.

It did get a little bit better and I did finish it but this is not something I would gravitate towards normally.

I give this book 3 crowns.

I've always been a fan of stories where the prince falls for the every day girl, meaning a non-royal.
Now, I'd like to point out that the first thing that caught my attention was the cover, how cute is it? I was expecting something fun and sweet from that alone, then I read the synopsis and I just had to read it.

I loved the beginning. I know people are bothered but certain tropes, but I actually love when the MC doesn't realize the man/woman they're crushing on is royal.
The story begins in the present with our MC, Julia, looking between a still sleeping Nicco and a magazine with his face on it. Obviously she's like, "WTF?" and I don't blame her, I'd have the same reaction. We then get taken to the beginning of it all.

Julia has moved to Rome after certain events that led to a very public scandal involving her family, and is working as a tour guide when she meet Nicco and mistakes him for a client.
Nicco is feeling the pressures of being heir apparent, especially with having a younger brother with no regards for propriety. Duty, that's what it's always been about with him, so he takes this opportunity to let loose.

I will be honest, I skimmed through the majority of the second half. I did this because I got bored.
While the beginning was fun, things just stalled for a long while.
I've read books that take place during a short number of days but don't feel that way because of everything that happens... that wasn't the case here.
Almost 50% of the book takes place during the tour of the city, and even though we had dual POVs, I didn't get much from the characters. I got their background stories, but I didn't get the essence of their characters. They were very superficial, as in... they were there because we need MCs. Does that make sense? Also, There was a lot of repetition. Duty, attraction, duty, duty, more attraction.
I was so over it, mostly because I am not a fan of insta-love, which is what we get here. Though there was no proof, It was too forced.

Another reason why I feel this one didn't work was because I read another book with a few similarities, but gave me so much more about life as a royal, meaning the security required for one.
It's a little disappointing when books you're excited about don't work out.

*ARC provided by the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (THANK YOU!)*

This book started off strong. I love any stories that deal with royalty and overcoming expectations. Julia and Nico's story started with a misunderstanding and a lie. A lot of good stories start like his but it should take more than a hot body and attraction to build a relationship which would cause someone to stand in front of a firing squad (the press). Julia's constant insistence that she didn't want anything romantic with Nico and her continual giving in and reciprocating made her seem wishy-washy and made it seem like Nico didn't care what her opinion was, or worse, and thought he knew what she wanted better than she did. Overall, the book ended on a happy note and the happily ever after can commence. I know this is book 1 in a series but I want to know more about Julia's past and how she went from terror about the press knowing about her and Nico to casually standing beside him while he told the world he loved her.

The Review for this book will go live on it's release date at http://dewonthekudzu.com.

Too sweet and too cliched for my tastes. I had to stop reading midway through.

This book was just deliciously fun to read! Julie and Nico have chemistry from the moment they met under strange circumstances. He is prince and she is a tour guide with a complicated past and they find themselves spending the day together and falling for each other in the beautiful backdrop of Rome. The twists of their circumstances and situations are fun and the blooming romance is just lovely. I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie as I read this story and it just left me feeling happy and hopeful.

I wanted to love this one - it started out so well, with Niccolo in Julia's bed and Julia with no idea what's gone on, but then it spooled back to 48 hours earlier and it was all a bit too much for me - the way Niccolo objectified Julia, constantly talking about leaning her up against a wall and kissing her or having sex with her and I was like noooooo, because it seemed so out of character. I barely knew Niccolo, but he didn't seem the type to act like that - I thought he had more respect, more manners.

The setting was fantastic, Rome is an amazing-sounding city, but in the end it wasn't enough to save this book for me. *sad face*

I've been writing this a lot lately but this was yet another disappointment. This is really a 2.5 but not a bad book really. Just flawed.

The story was inspired in Roman Holiday. Guide tour Julia mistakes her client and ends up unknowingly touring runaway prince Niccolo around Rome. When the tour ends, she finds out that not only she is unemployed for not finding her actual client but also that Niccolo has no money to pay and no intention of disclosing his identity, so she sort of kidnaps him until he gets the money.

While the author shows potential for an engaging story, the scenes filled with cliché drama/romance were far too many to the point of infamous instalove. Also, most of the excuses for them to end up in that situation were hard to believe. Really, who would trust Niccolo? The only argument for her was that he was too irresistible. No, I'm serious. And while I believe that Niccolo wouldn't have any money, his secretary needs to be fired if he didn't have at least 250 euros with him while working for royalty. I wouldn't be caught dead without at least the double in cash if I were on a trip abroad. Those flaws weren't exceedingly aggravating but they are still hard to miss.

But the book wasn't all bad, which is what made me pity it the most. You can see the author's potential. Both characters were engaging, and the writing was more than easy to read. It's the type of romance to read with a silly smile on, if you're able to ignore the parts it falls into the commonplaces of romances.

Considering the many pluses intercalated with the also many minuses, this was hard for me to rate. Or maybe easy to rate and just hard to explain why. It wasn't underwhelming exactly... In any case, I don't think I will be trying another from the author this soon—as compelled as I feel by the summary for the second in this series. This can still be recommended for those who really like romances, despite all the negative points. It's silly, clichéd but quick and entertaining.

I enjoyed Royally Roma a lot. I thought it was a cute and fun journey throughout Rome (and I totally want to go there now). Julia has had a rough go of things and is just trying to make it. Nico is just trying to have a life of his own. The 48 hours they spend together is such a fun ride. Cute and fun and some sweet and tender moments too.

I wish though that Royally Roma had more about what happened after their 48 hours together. It' can't have been so easy to just announce all the things and live happily ever after.

Great book. Sweet. Intense. Romantic. A story full of magic, history, and many many feels.
Find my original review on my blog, The Book Portal.