'Falling Hard for the Royal Guard' was an interesting read because it was both a slight disappointment, and a total delight in equal measure. It delighted me for reasons I wasn't expecting and slightly let me down in other ways.
The book follows a young woman named Maggie, a history buff who lives with her Dad who is a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. She gets to drench herself in the most gorgeous, historic and interesting landmark in London, making friends with ravens and also the veteran soldiers who make up the Beefeaters. She literally lives in a palace, however her life is anything but royal. Maggie lost her mum several years before which she's never really gotten over and has a lukewarm relationship with her typically emotionally stunted but well-meaning Dad. Her history passions are wasted working at a Tower ticket office where she is bullied by her cartoonishly evil coworkers, and worst of all she has recently split up with her boyfriend of several years who clearly spent a long time emotionally abusing and gaslighting her, to the point where her self-esteem is at zero and she has nobody in her life she can talk to because he isolated her from all her friends. Enter Freddie, a strong-and-silent type Grenadier Guard, who seems to see Maggie for who she really is, and likes her for it.
My main disappointment stems from the cover and title of the book- the cover illustrates Maggie as a gorgeous plus size woman, and I do admit it is the main reason I wanted to read the book- I've been looking for body positive plus-size romances for ages and I was hoping this would be one. However, Maggie does describe herself as plus size several times throughout the book- mentioning her big tummy, breasts and behind- but somewhere towards the end of the book mentions what her height and weight is, which is very firmly on the healthy side of thin, and would nowhere near resemble the lady on the cover. Overall I feel like it's yet another case of a character insisting they're a total mess, but actually all they need to do is brush their hair and smile and they're suddenly a goddess.
In addition, the title suggests that the romance with Freddie, the royal guard, is the main focus of the book, which couldn't be any more misleading. I found the main plotline to be Maggie's adjustment to being single and the modern dating world, while also grappling with her self-esteem issues and mental health. The romantic plotline is only very gently sprinkled throughout before becoming the main focus of the story about four fifths of the way through the book. While I did find the whole story of the book very interesting, I do wish it had been paced a little better and Freddie be a bit more fleshed out rather than being so mysterious. 
However, I found the setting of the book (the Tower itself) to be incredibly interesting, you can really tell from the details that the author lived there herself and her passion for the history of the place really shines through without ever being boring. If you haven't ever been to the Tower of London, this book will make you desperately want to go. Also Maggie's foray into modern dating was both hilarious and relatable. 
Overall I really enjoyed this book while being a little disappointed at parts. I feel like it could have been twice as long with the storylines running concurrently rather than having the stuff with Freddie happen right at the end.

3.5 ⭐

Thanks to social media, I discovered Megan Clawson from her Instagram page! I’m a history buff and love British history. When she announced her upcoming debut novel, I was so excited and knew I had to read it. My bookshelf is loaded with books on royals and their palaces.

What a delightful read - especially for anyone looking for a clean romance! It was the perfect mixture of history, humour, and romance. I learned so much about this unique postcode and the wonderful people who are fortunate enough to call it home.

I’m British and I loved the expressions - ‘skive off’, ‘earwigging’, and ‘ten minutes of kip.’ I’m sure those will have many running to Google!

I laughed out loud at her rope burn experience and was saddened by the lack of privacy - a trade-off for security - for those who call this home.

I can’t wait to see what Clawson has planned next. I hope it’s a sequel.

I was gifted this copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I spent the entire book falling in love with Maggie instead of the guards. From the moment she collides with Lord Lamppost to having a pint with her guardsmen family, I loved following her journey in discovering such an intense sense of self-worth.

The romance here is the buy-in, but please do stay and follow Maggie as she processes old traumas, fends off a manipulative ex, and braves the ghostly corridors of the Tower of London.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an early copy of Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was not at all for me. The writing style was difficult for me to read- there was a lot of internal dialogue and I kept finding myself skimming. I also had a hard time connecting with Maggie (who seemed much younger than her age) and kept wishing we also got Freddie’s POV to break the story up.

I was so excited to read this- it seemed to check a lot of my boxes: romance, comedy, Royal guard, fun setting, etc- and while I didn’t enjoy it like I’d hoped, I think other people could like it.

Super cute Rom Com that I really enjoyed! It's funny and sweet with a great ending! I had no clue you could live in the Tower of London!

I wanted to read this as I was hooked by the description, set amongest the Tower of London while we see it as glamourous they consider it just another day at work.

Maggie works in the box office, with the messy prevous relationship still hanging around, a boss who is the worst and dreams of escaping the tower. A chance encouter ignites her interest sending her everyday hum drum into multicolour.

I found this to be the perfect light weekend read, we have a lovable relatable heorine and a broody shy hero (in uniform!). It is the perfect mix, is it a little predictable? Yes but in times of needing comfort this is perfect. The Tower of London outshone like a jewel as a charactor of it's own.

I LOVED this! What a fun rom com read. Especially with all of the Harry/Megan things in the media lately, this felt so appropriate. I just really enjoyed jumping into this! A guard trope may be something that I look for more!

A really sweet story with lots of history facts throughout. I did make a few notes of stories of people from the Tower that were mentioned that I want to look up.

It was a really interesting insight into living in the tower and what goes on that we might not necessarily think about - pizza delivery?! One of my fondest memories is going on a school trip to the Tower, and a Beefeater sang happy birthday to me, and this boo definitely make me want to go back - but to be aware of not to ask stupid questions at the ticket booth...

It was also really interesting to read a book that was very timely in terms of talk of the King rather than a Queen, and that really added to making the book feel very current.

The overarching theme was opposites attract, but the way it's done and the setting are so unique that it sets it apart from a lot of other books.

The writing is very descriptive I could picture every character and setting, as well as Cromwell and the ravens.

This romance has an interesting and unexpected premise. Set in the Tower of London, our quirky heroine falls for a member of the royal guard or "beefeater" The story is peppered with some interesting history and information, not executed in a dry or heavy handed way. A slow burn with some engaging side characters. An easy light read.

I follow Megan Clawson on Instagram because her life in Tower of London is very intriguing! She does an amazing job of making reels explaining what it’s like to live there. I was really excited to get approved for an ARC of her upcoming romance novel, FALLING HARD FOR THE ROYAL GUARD. I love everything London/England and royalty! This was a cute slow burn romance between Maggie and Freddie. I enjoyed Freddie’s mysterious side, but Maggie was hard to like at some points. I can see the pride and love towards Tower of London in the book, the author did a great job of descriptive writing. Thank you to Net Galley and Avon for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would! This book held me captive from the start! I have been in a huge book slump but this book changed all that!

Maggie is without a doubt one of the most relatable heroines I have read in a while! I laughed with her, I cried, I felt like she was as a fast friend and reading her story, witnessing her journey was absolutely enthralling! I loved seeing her grow into herself and take charge of her life! Freddie was the added bonus in this story! The way he helped her come out of her shell was amazing and the only thing I would’ve loved would’ve been a chapter from his perspective! But either way this story gave me such amazing insight into history (another added bonus) and provided a story that I couldn’t put down until I was done!!

Highly recommend this beautiful book!

What a fun rom-com with a unique setting! I enjoyed reading the story and the insight into a world I know nothing about. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for my Advanced Reader Copy of 'Falling Hard for the Royal Guard'.

Maggie is a regular northern girl who just so happens to live in the tower of London with her beefeater Dad, surrounded by guards and cameras at all times. Perhaps she's not so normal. Maggie is trying to navigate through her bitchy co-workers at the ticket office, and her horrible ex who shows up just about everywhere, when she falls headfirst into a very handsome royal guard. Freddie is a member of the Grenadier Guards, constantly standing as still as a soldier, with an air of mystery that Maggie can't put her finger on. Maggie and Freddie's chance encounter leads to exciting adventures in the centuries-old tower grounds, new friends, and more embarrassing moments for Maggs. Will Freddie catch Maggie when she inevitably falls (pun intended) for him?


The author did a wonderful job when creating Maggie. She is a relatable, complex character in her mid-twenties, who struggles with the same things we all do. Body image, reputation and social encounters, and loss. I constantly felt myself cheering Maggie on, and I was so happy when she spoke her truth and got her happy ending.
Freddie is yet another book boyfriend I am adding to my list. Not only is he sweet and protective, but he can make a girl fall in love with him when wearing a silly hat! His hilarious friends in his troop perfectly offset Freddie's serious demeanour and I really enjoyed every scene with them in. Honestly I think Megan Clawson should give each of the guards a spin off!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lovely, heartfelt read with moments where I literally laughed out loud. And Though having never set foot in the Tower of London, I feel I could navigate it now perfectly thanks to the author's detailed descriptions, and I desperately want to test that theory soon!

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a rom-com with some royalty. I can't wait to see what this author produces next!

A romcom with a twist! Delightful and entertaining on many levels. I found the details of life inside the tower especially fascinating. Loved it!

This was such a sweet romance. I enjoyed the setting. As an American who knows absolutely nothing about the Tower of London, it was very interesting to have some of the history integrated into the story. There were times where some of the setting was described in a way that made me want to skim here and there to get back to the action, but mostly the book was very well written. I actually cried a couple of times, which doesn’t happen a lot to me. I enjoyed the main characters and their relationship, although for some reason the steam went out of things right towards the end. I might have sad fried earlier in the book, but I didn’t feel at all like happy crying at the end- although I did enjoy the ending. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely check out further books written by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

It is 2:32am as I review this because I quite literally couldn’t put this down. I. Loved. It. Maggie is such an absolute laugh, a total spitfire, and shares those nagging voices in my own head. Freddie? Swoon. I think I’ll be booking my flight to london looking for one of those. I don’t think I could pick one of the guardsmen I like best as they’re all such characters. Honestly? I wish I could go back and re-experience this one for the first time. I snagged this as a light hearted read and I’m so glad I did because it was *chefs kiss* so good. Will wholeheartedly be suggesting this to all of my romcom loving girlies (unisex).

Thank you for letting me read this arc. I found this story to be enjoyable. Maggie has had an unfortunate set of events of the course of a few years and having a rough go. When she runs into Freddie things get interesting! I loved Maggie's chaotic and over sharing energy!

<b>ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.</b>

I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this ARC. Years ago I visited London for the first time and it felt like home in a way mine doesn't. I haven't had a chance to go back but this story gave me that close feeling I have missed.

Megan Clawson's writing style appealed to me so much throughout the story, from the way she wrote her characters to the way she painted pictures with words. There is a line in the book somewhere in the realm of being amazed by the way we can rearrange 26 letters over and over to create such a masterpiece and I feel like Clawson created her own.

I fell in love not only with Maggie and Freddie, but also Mo, Riley, Walker and Chaplin. With her father and the other beefeaters. I left the end of the book feeling like they were my friends. And, the thing I was most excited for was watching Maggie go from a relationship where her Boyfriend took away her opportunities of other friendships, to finding Freddie who gave her more friends than she had ever asked for.

The love they had for each other felt pure, and watching it develop the way it did made my heart patter. This is easily another story that I wish I could see where they go from here, but in the end I am happy I got to share these friends with Maggie for as long as I did.

Very interesting read, I loved the characters and the plot, It had me guessing what would happen next. A great read.

I actually found this debut author from following different London, England Tik Tokkers. This woman popped up with her tours of the Tower of London and I knew I wanted to get her upcoming book. It sounded light, delightful and a book cleanser.

And it was just that. Nothing hard to contemplate, no major triggers, just a sweet, love story with the backdrop of one of my favourite cities. I enjoyed it <3

Thank you to the pub house and the author of the gifted arc on NG, it was just what I needed in this long month of January. 3.5 stars