This is the first book I have read by this author and I found it to be a quick, easy, enjoyable read.  I liked both characters and thought the author did a great job of developing their chemistry.  I liked that they developed part of their relationship through letter writing.  It was old fashioned and sweet.  I liked that Ella knew what she wanted and didn't settle.  I also liked that in this updated telling of Cinderella, the step-mother and sister weren't the typically selfish individuals.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

A spin on Cinderella where the King in this case King Phillip has to persuade Ella (Cinderella) to marry him, the chemistry was clear but something about the writing style just did not draw me in. A light easy read but one that I was not fully engrossed in. Nonetheless it made for a good quick read.

This is a sweet Cinderella type book... only she isn't poor (just poorish) and she isn't forced to do what her step-mother has her do (she chooses to do it).
While helping her two step-sisters win the title of Queen and wife to the King, Ella falls in love with King Phillip. I thought this was a very sweet book and had some nice twists from the original Cinderella story. 
This book does not appear to be part of a series. This is my first book by this author, but will not be my last.

A royal quickie.

Philip is the reigning monarch of the country of Danover, but if he wants to keep that title past his thirtieth year he needs to marry. Unfortunately, he's spent more of his time fixing up antique motorcycles than hunting for a wife, now he was three months left to meet and marry the woman who will be his queen.

Ella is not looking to be the Cinderella cliche. She has no interest in being queen, intact, she's only agreed to attend the party where the king is planning to select his bride to help her sisters. If one of them becomes queen her family obligations can be put to rest and she can fly back to the United States to work as a horse trainer, because horses are her real fairy tale. Of course while she's in town for the party there's no reason she can't consider having a fling with the sexy motorcycle mechanic the castle employs.

Royal Service crossed off all the must haves on the romance must haves. It was short, but definitely got all the major  points correct, it was a little lacking in the storytelling area though. The amorous scenes were a bit dry and the plot itself short on emotion. So if you're looking to get really hot and heavy or shed a tear in between a laugh or two this isn't really the read for any of that. If you're looking for a simple romance this is exactly that. There was almost no conflict, even the step sisters and step mother characters aren't antagonists, there's no one to hate or get riled up about. In fact no other characters even feel fully developed. This is fluff, Fun fairytale themed fluff, but still lighter than air cotton candy, enjoyable and diverting,  but lacking substance or any emotional nutritional value.

*** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review,

This is a lighthearted and sizzling version of Cinderella.  King Phillip is close to reaching his 30th birthday.  Phillip has to either marry by then or allow his irresponsible brother to become king.  His mother has set up a week long house party with all the eligible guests.  Ella wants her one of her step-sisters to marry the king.  Then Ella would be free to return to America to pursue a horse training business, Ella isn't sure if she wants to go from serving her step-family to serving a country  From their first meeting, their relationship starts sizzling and their attraction builds.  Due to his duties as king and his search for his queen, they exchange many steamy letters.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery.  This is my honest and voluntarily given review.  This was a fun read for me.  There are many amusing scenes as well as some steamy ones.  I enjoyed the book so much that I read it in one afternoon.

Royal Service, is a modern day Cinderella story. King Phillip is being heavily persuaded to pick a queen so there's a house party with all the eligible ladies in attendance. Ella is stepsister to two of the candidates. On the plus side Ella's stepmother is not evil. She truly only wants what's best.

It's a cute Cinderella story. I guess I enjoyed it, although the Cinderella parallel could've been fleshed out more. I definitely felt that the opening scene showed the MMC's reluctance to get married to the "eligible" women.

Royal Service is book one in the Royals of Danovar series by Leslie North.  This is a sweet modern day retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale.

King Phillip Gregory Humbert Alcott is the King of Danovar.  Phillip is almost thirty years old.  It is the law that in order to hold the position of King, you must marry by your thirtieth birthday.  Phillip is completely dedicated to serving his people and if that means choosing a wife by her ability to be a good Queen, that it would be a marriage of servitude only, not one borne of love, then that is what he will do.  Phillip’s mother has invited all of the eligible women of their country to Summer House so that Phillip can get to know them and choose a bride.  Only on the first day when the women are arriving, he sees her.  He sees a woman who he thinks is a maid, but who awakens something in him he had given up on.  But he owes it to his country to choose a proper Queen.  Can he just seek out this woman for a fling?  He has to find out who she is.

Ella Fernstone was born in Danovar but grew up in the States after her father died.  She lives with her step mother and two step sisters.  Ella is a giver, it just comes naturally to her.  She is tired, though, of constantly giving to her family.  She wants her freedom.  She has promised her step mother that she will help to get one of her sisters married off to the King.  Then she can start her own life.  Her dream is to ride show horses and to teach others to ride.  Horseback riding is her passion.  The problem is that neither of her sisters is particularly interested in marrying the King.  The first time she saw him, she thought he was a mechanic.  He was covered in grease and in dirty, work worn clothes.  But she felt something.  He was a beautiful man, even with the grease on his face.  She was so tempted by him.  But she has to keep her eyes on the prize, getting one of her sisters married to the King.

Eventually Phillip discovers that in deed, Ella is not a maid but is an eligible possibility to be his Queen.  But she has her mind made up.  She is leaving.  So Phillip is determined to spend as much time with her as he can.  Maybe he can convince her to stay, to give him a chance.  But if she still wants to leave, at least they’ll have this time together.

“Ella was trying to get out of a life of servitude, not add an entire country’s population to her list of people to wait on.”

Ella is falling fast for Phillip as he is for her.  She has to decide what she really wants,  What is most important to her.  

“She fulfilled him, brought out the color and adventure in a life that had always been duty after obligation after responsibility.  With her at his side, all of that would be so much more meaningful, a joy instead of a burden.”

This was such a cute story, and pretty steamy as well.  This Cinderella has a bit of a dirty side!  I loved how the relationship developed with these two, through letter writing.  With all of today’s technology, I thought it was so romantic.  Phillip had given up on marrying for love and Ella wanted her freedom.  It is Ella that has to decide here if she can sacrifice that freedom for a love that is just beginning to grow.  If she is cut out to lead a life of service to the country she was born to.  Or, will she walk away to the life she had planned?  I did enjoy this.  It sweet and hot and even had a bit of a villain.  I do look forward to more from this series.  The next book is Phillip’s younger brother, Eric’s turn in Royal Treatment.