ROYAL MARRIAGE MARKET is a brand new standalone contemporary romance by Heather Lyons due to be released on December 15, 2015! Grab ROYAL MARRIAGE MARKET now for a limited time special sale price of $1.99! Price will rise on December 23rd.
Every decade, the world’s monarchs and their heirs secretly convene to discuss global politics and social issues—and arrange marriages between kingdoms.
Elsa may be the Hereditary Princess of Vattenguldia, but she finds the entire situation archaic and unsavory. While she wants what’s best for her country, she isn’t about to jump into an unwanted relationship—let alone a marriage—with a virtual stranger. Of course, her feelings matter little to her parents, whose wheeling and dealings over trade pacts and alliances achieved at her expense begin the moment they set foot in California for the Summit. So when a blindingly handsome royal runs into her, she doesn’t hesitate to tell him there’s no way she’s marrying him.
Christian is all too happy to agree: no marriage. As the Hereditary Grand Duke of Aiboland, his main goal is to get through the summit without a bride being foisted on him. Which is why he suggests they help each other field potential intendeds. As Christian slowly gets to know Elsa, though, he realizes they have a lot more in common than just their feelings about the Royal Marriage Market. Only he can’t fall for her, because royal or not, they’re not meant for each other.
Elsa and Christian will have to evaluate matters of the heart verses those of state and crown, and decide whether or not tradition trumps love.
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BFF K’s Review
PERFECTION! Heather Lyons’ Royal Marriage Market is complete and total, contemporary romance perfection! I’m certain that I would love anything Heather writes, but I was particularly interested in her first foray into the contemporary romance genre. She writes paranormal/fantasy/magical so well, but I was anxious about a story with none of those elements. While there are absolutely no paranormal creatures or fantasy-laced tales, this story is pure magic! I will be anxiously awaiting more from Lyons in this genre.
Christian and Elsa are incredible characters. Their romance hit hard and fast and left me with a stomach full of butterflies and my heart threatening to burst from my chest. They are strong, independent characters, and find their equals in each other. With so many many things threatening to tear them apart both individually and as a couple, they must decide if their feelings/attraction/love are worth risking everything. (Side note – isn’t that what we want from a romance…a love so altering that the characters are willing to risk everything for one another?)
The cast of supporting characters are all complex and add depth to the story. The storyline is sweet and wonderful, but not overly predictable. There are few tropes that I like as well as the Royal Romance. This book shoots to the top of my list. Lyons weaves words together in ways that leave me savoring her sentences. This New Adult romance was in many ways similar to her other books – the storyline is sublime, the characters are engaging, the plot is unpredictable and the romance is off-the-charts-swoony! I will be recommending this book over and over.
An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
Excerpt
A sly grin is thrown my way. “Luk got in even later than I did, looking like he’d been at the party of the century.”
“Ah. How very interesting. Who do you think he was cavorting with at such a late hour?”
“I think the better question is, who wasn’t he cavorting around with?”
“Me.” I smile brightly. “And you. Our cavorting was limited to a very exclusive party of two.”
“Is that what we were doing? Were we cavorting?”
We were falling in love, I think. Wonderfully, miserably, tragically, beautifully falling in love. Or at least, I was. But I say, “Of course. You and I are natural cavorters.”
Bittersweet amusement sparkles in his eyes. “I thought our thing was to run amuck.”
“That, too.” I gently touch the back of his hand. “We run amuck and cavort.”
The smile on his face softens. “Only with each other, though. We cavort best when it’s with the other.”
“Shall we make a deal then? Shall we swear to the other that, when it comes time to cavort, we must only do it together?” My words are light, so is my tone, but part of me crumbles within, knowing what I jokingly request will never come to be.
Gravity invades his face as he shifts on the seat toward me, knees brushing up against one another. I am trapped by his gaze, motionless with his leg pressed against mine. “That’s a promise I can easily make.”
I am still as the golden princess before us when he slowly, gently pushes stray hairs freshly escaped from my ponytail behind my ears. The feel of his fingers, light as breezes against my cheeks, leaves me hot and desperate.
“Shall we shake on it?” I whisper.
The muscle within my chest ceases its rhythm when he shakes his head. He stares at me then, as if he is unraveling all my atoms, rendering me exposed and vulnerable.
But then he leans forward, lips caressing one corner of my mouth and then the other. “All the best agreements,” he murmurs, words just as soft as mine, “are sealed with a kiss.”
I consist only of nothing but exposed nerve endings when I replicate his promise. My lips tingle, my heart hammers, and tears swarm my closed eyes. “You have my promise in return.”
He tilts his head up, mouth pressing against my temple before resting his forehead against mine. “I’m going to hold you to that, Els.”
“The perfect royal romance.” Nichole Chase, New York Times bestselling author.
Grab Your Copy of ROYAL MARRIAGE MARKET today for just $1.99 now through December 23rd!
About Heather Lyons:
Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.
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“Heather Lyons has officially charmed me. Royal Marriage Market is an indulgent read that will have you flipping pages until the very end.” – R.S. Grey, USA Today bestselling author.
Heather Lyons’s ROYAL MARRIAGE MARKET – Release Week Blitz Schedule:
December 14th
I Love Romance
The Talking Bookworm
Witchy Richey’s Booktastic Reviews
December 15th
One Girl Lost in Romance Books
December 16th
I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.com