With a touch of Cinderella meets a somewhat male version of The Princess Diaries, I found myself presented with a main couple that I just couldn’t root for, folks. At only 40% into it, I was repulsed by the idea sweet, gullible, always taken advantage of Ella was OK with having a very brief fling with King Phillip then deliberately handing him off to marry one of her stepsisters. The fact he was more than ready to do the same didn’t endear me to him, as well. No, frankly, I didn’t find that romantic at all. In fact, they did a disservice to each other by even entertaining that notion for a minute.  

To have their almost first very intimate encounter interrupted because he needed to continue to meet/date the large number of other women staying under his roof only further proves my point. 

Though in the past I’ve enjoyed several quick, flirty, steamy reads by this author, this storyline and mechanical writing missed the mark with me. Here’s to hoping others enjoy it. It just didn’t work for me.

Title: Royal Service, Series: The Royals of Donavar (Book 1), Pages: 132, Leslie North.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

While the author has a pleasant writing style, I found this book to be too predictable and think that the story line has been done over and over again.

Leslie has out done herself again with this book.  Strong characters and a great story line that will keep you entertained while reading this book.  I so couldn't put it down once I started reading it either and neither will you.  I can't wait to read more of her work either too.  I can't wait to read the next installment  for this series.

Hilarious.. that's what it was.I liked the characters and could actually understand where they each were coming from. Thanks for a good story!!

I really enjoyed this story.  King Phillip needs to marry by the time he is 30 and he doesn't even have a girlfriend.  His mother invites all the eligible girls she could find to have him pick one.  Ella is eligible but is too busy helping her stepsisters to compete.  He sees her the first day and is very interested but thinks she is just a maid or assistant.  When he learns she is nobility, he pursues her harder. Once he wins her, he forgets to treat her as his love and more like it's a job.  She leaves and he learns a valuable lesson.  I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This is a modernized version of the Cinderella story that focuses on the balance between one's personal life and one's public duty.  Phillip still carries scars from a selfish decision years ago, so he's dedicated himself to serving his country above his own personal desires.  Ella, on the other hand, has lived a life of forced servitude and wants nothing more than the freedom to chart her own course.  Their instant and intense connection has them both rethinking their priorities.  

It's a sweet love story, a little light on the drama but has a wonderful cast of characters and an open, honest approach to resolving the conflict.  I read it non-stop and enjoyed every bit.  I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy to read and give my honest opinion.

Cute cover, but all this mess with the Royal Wedding had me grabbing this book. Have to tell you though, the blurb is longer than the book. I think the blurb is a bit more detailed too since I don't recall some of that in the book. 
Ella is a nice play on Cinderella type novelette as she takes her stepsisters to the party. The only explanation that the author gives is that Ella is better at taking care of her stepsisters than they are of themselves. Need something done? Ella is much better qualified.
King Phillip is turning 30 soon and law says he must have a queen. He thinks Ella is a maid and decides to have one last fling. When he finds out she is nobility things change. 
I think the author could have made the ending a lot more suitable than a guy begging for the girl. After the upset that drives Ella away, why would he choose the letters over a thief...kind of made no sense. Three stars of entertainment!

Freaking absolutely loved this book!! The characters were perfect together, I loved how they were meant to be but they both are too stubborn!

Although Prince Phillip is a bit stern (bottled up) Ella is his opposite.

Ella want nothing to do with rules, but she finds herself smack in the middle of the regency.

This is a funny, romantic book; I love the banter between Ella and Phillip.  

I throughly enjoyed the story and cannot wait to read Leslie North’s next story.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Cute modern version of Cinderella's story but with nicer step-sisters and step-mother. It was almost Cinderella meets The Bachelor until Phillip finds out that Ella was part of the nobility and he could marry her.

Parts were sweet when they would meet secretly and their note writing but it seemed like Phillip changed when Ella agreed to be his queen. He couldn't find time to see her and was already trying to change her. Granted, I thought that Ella was just a little to willing to be used by her family but Phillip didn't want her to change that! He wanted her to be a servant for the crown.

The worst was when he had to choose who to stab in the back and decided that it was Ella. I did not think that part made sense to me, he could have arrested the reporter and only one letter would have been revealed but he choose to let the reporter reveal all the letters if he kept quiet about the theft. One, if he kept the reporter jailed, one letter was a lot less exposure than all their letters, and two, even if the theft got revealed, Phillip was the king and could pardon the thief!

I am not sure that I could forgive as easily as Ella but the HEA was a good one!

5 Stars

ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is book one in the Danover Royal family & it was off the charts good !! Like many of Leslie North’s books it’s a quick read & I only wish it was longer not wanting King Phillip & Ella’s story to end ... it was also great to read something that read like a Cinderella Fairytale so soon after the Royal Wedding of Prince Henry & Meghan Markle...

Great story with a great HEA ❤️❤️

King Phillip needs to get married by his 30th birthday to continue ruling. Ella needs to get one of his step sisters married to the King, to be free to return to America and pursue her dreams. 
But when she starts falling for the King herself, will she be able to let go of her dreams ? 
Royal service was like a modern age Cinderella story. It was well written and fast paced. I think the letter writing between them was very romantic and fairytale like. 
Overall a very enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.

What else could you ask for motorcycles, horses, crowns, tiaras and hot steamy sex all wrapped up in one book!

Initially, I thought this retelling of Cinderella was terrific but it slowly lost my high rating.  I though the author dd a good job with tweaking the Cinderella plot.  Ella was not demeaned but wanted to "serve" her step family because of her love for them.  Her step family was also not "mean"...just a little clueless.  The plot could have been fleshed out more but I did enjoy how Ella and King Phillip enjoyed their letter writing.  However, the plot twist just left me flat.  Overall, it was a quick read but I will probably not go on to the next in her series.  I was given an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good retelling of classic fairy tales and Royal Service does Cinderella quite proud. Just about everything you need to know upfront is in the cover description blurb.

Phillip is a charming man who wears the crown with pride and not a little hesitancy about his future bride. In order to rule he must marry, and that deadline to find a royal bride has about run out. He’s not looking forward to this get together at all, but one woman has caught his attention… even if she’s not in the running for his bride. Ella is a sweet and a determined woman. She’s about had it with her stepmother’s ways and if the only way she can find the freedom to do what she loves is to get her stepsister married to a king… then that’s what she’ll do. She didn’t expect that the man she found attractive was anything at all royal… but then one should never make assumptions, right?

I found Ella’s hesitation over giving up one kind of servitude for yet another to be completely understandable. Marrying a royal is not quite like hitching up with the guy next door. It’s a life time job as well as a marriage. So, I wasn’t surprised by Ella’s reactions to Phillip. I enjoyed their romance very much and I’m definitely looking forward to the next story in this series. Love a good romance involving royalty? Then you’ll want to pick up Royal Service, I believe you’ll enjoy yourself.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This light-hearted romance is a wonderful twist on the classic Cinderella story.  King Philip of Danovia has to marry by his thirtieth birthday or the crown goes to his younger brother.  He is having problems choosing his bride, so his mother invites all of the eligible maidens to The Summer House Party.  

Ella Fernstone has retreated to the role of servant/personal assistant since her father's death.  Her stepmother is forgetful in her determination to make sure one of her daughters marry the king.  Ella wants to escape and be able to pursue her own dream.  Her goal is to have one of her stepsisters marry King Philip.  

I enjoyed reading Philip and Ella's story.  It was a smoking hot read!  The characters were fun.  I liked the Cinderella twist without the stepmother being evil.  Ella's stepsisters were sweet.  I can't wait for the rest of this series!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

I loved reading the fabulous and fantastic romance story. I reviewed a copy from NetGalley. It's time for King Phillip to get married. Ella volunteers to help Phillip find the perfect, royal wife, but Phillip is more interested in Ella herself. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read love story.

This was a sweet, Cinderella-esque fairy tale that perfectly satisfies your royal cravings post the Royal Wedding. 

King Phillip is the king of Danover, a fictional nation, and at almost thirty years old it's time for him to take a wife.  As the law of Danover states that he must be married by thirtieth birthday or he can't rule, time is of the essence. As he is completely dedicated to serving his people, he wants to marry a woman who will make a good queen since he cannot marry for love. Phillip's mother has invited all the eligible women she can to their Summer House in the country with the intention that her son will take his pick from the lot. 

Ella Fernstone, grew up in the USA after her father died. In classic Cinderella style, she live with her stepmother and two step sisters. Ella, by nature, is a giving person - putting 100% into everything she does in order to make others happy which is an admirable trait. However, she feels constrained by the boundaries but on her by her living situation. Promising she would help one of her step sisters marry the king, Ella take bull by the horns to see the job done so she can start her own life. The problem? Neither of her step sisters are particularly interested in marrying the King and neither is she. 

I enjoyed the story for what is was… A light fluffy read. I just wish there was a little more of everything. While it ticked all the romance boxes, it didn’t engage me emotionally, the story was a little lacking for me, and there was no real conflict. 

The author's style also failed to draw me in. I wanted to escape into this royal romance, but I found myself, unfortunately, easily distracted. There was moments that made me laugh and the love scenes were steamy. For a modern take on Cinderella, it was delightful. I just tend to prefer my stories with a little bit more meat.

CINDERELLA love story!  Fun to read the connections between the fairy tale and North's Royal Service. Light hearted romantic telling of King Phillip and his hunt for a wife.  At his first sight of maid Ella; Phillip was drawn to her.  Ella has dreams of training horses and the freedom to go back to America.  Sweet meetings lead the couple to admit their true feelings.  HEA!!  "A copy of this book was provided by Relay Publishing via Netgalley with no requirements for a review.  Comments here are my honest opinion."

A wonderful updated Cinderella story! Phillip was amazing and Ella independent and flirty. I enjoyed the quick read. I'll be looking for the next royal in the series.