Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas
Genre: Romance
Published on: August 7, 2018 by Everafter Romance
The breathtaking conclusion of The Smoke & Mirrors Duology.
A beautiful, defiant princess. A renowned, sinfully gorgeous Hollywood actor.
A love affair that is sure to rock the British Monarchy…and the world.
Their love affair began intensely and passionately. Princess Adeline and Josh Jameson knew any future together was impossible—her status as a princess and his standing as a Hollywood heartthrob dictated that. But the heights of pleasure they could take each other to were wildly unanticipated by them both. Josh’s absolute disregard for Adeline’s status quickly drew her into his hedonistic world. And her perfectly worn mask and false façade captivated Josh to the point of obsession. The boundaries became blurred. The physical became emotional. Their hearts became entwined.
But a cruel turn of events rips their worlds apart and Adeline is more bound than ever by the protocol and expectations her title commands. The army of royal advisors who guard the secrets and scandals of the Monarchy will go to unthinkable lengths to keep the smoke and mirrors in place…and Josh away from Adeline. She knows the power she possesses comes with agonizing sacrifices. Walking away from Josh devastates her…but it keeps him safe from the corrupt institution that has ruled her life.
Yet Josh refuses to lose the woman who has consumed him so completely, distorted his boundaries, and stripped him of all sensibility.
Will the power of the British Monarchy triumph? Or will their fierce love for each other change the course of history?
This is the sequel and final novel of the Smoke and Mirrors duology. It’s a royal drama/romance set in contemporary England. The protagonist is Princess Adeline Catherine Lockhart. Or I should say, Queen Adeline Lockhart I. The Controversial Princess ended with a stunning development. Adeline’s father, King Alfred, and his first-born son John, died in a helicopter accident. With them gone, the next in line would have been the Lockhart middle child, Edward. A big family secret meant that the crown bypassed Edward and landed on Adeline’s head. It was the last thing she wanted. Adeline had recently fallen for Josh Jameson, a famous American actor she met at her 30th birthday party.
If there was no way Josh and Adeline could be together when she was a princess, it will be all but impossible now that she’s the Queen. Even though Adeline dreaded ascending to the throne, she’s not one to shirk her duty. To add to her mourning, the new queen is also suffering from guilt. Adeline believes her father scrambled into the helicopter to get to her and Josh and stop them from being together. A few of the royals think so as well. Before the accident, Adeline confessed her feelings for Josh to her father and some of his inner circle. As expected, they definitely didn’t approve.
At the end of The Controversial Princess, it seemed that the news of Adeline’s ascension crushed Josh’s hopes of being with her. He’s not giving up so easily, though. Josh never wanted Adeline because she’s a princess or a queen. He fell in love with the person that she is. Josh’s refusal to let go of the love of his life impressed me. He is going against incredibly overwhelming odds with such confidence. Josh and Adeline keep seeing each other despite the situation. When Adeline moves to the Monarch’s residence, it comes with an unexpected perk. This lets her see Josh more easily, without much risk of anyone finding out.
So much happens in His True Queen that you won’t want to stop turning pages. Most of it is good, though there is one drawback I noticed. Adeline has a best friend within the royals, Matilda the Duchess of Kent. They are close not just in age, but also in personality. Matilda also resents the royalty’s need to keep up appearances, though not as much as Adeline. Matilda shows up less in this book than she did in The Controversial Princess. I wish there had been more scenes with Adeline and the few friends she has. If her attention isn’t drawn by Josh or her royal advisors, it’s drawn by Prince Edward. The previous book’s ending also revealed stunning truths about him. Eddie, as Adeline calls him, took none of it well. He is going on a downward spiral that even the new Queen may not be able to save him from.
As for Adeline’s fate, I liked the way it was handled. The author could have had the new Queen take the easy route: say to hell with her duties. Adeline takes her new position as Queen of England seriously. Even when it drives her to despair, Adeline never neglects her tasks or anything. The Queen is a responsible woman, and that makes me admire her more. Adeline’s new position does have silver linings. She makes new friendships that could make her life better. I particularly liked the interaction between Queen Adeline and the President of the United States. They make good friends. And despite Adeline's transition to Sovereign, some of her key staff remains with her. The most important of these is Damon, her head of security. He's incredibly loyal and seems to love Adeline like a daughter. Damon never gets tired of her schemes to sneak off and see Josh.
While this duology doesn't really have a main antagonist, Adeline and Josh still face opposition. The late King Alfred's inner circle vehemently oppose their relationship. They go to such extreme lengths to keep Josh and Adeline apart. The new Queen has to constantly stay on her toes to thwart their plots. But they didn't get to their positions for nothing. The most dogged of this group is Sir Don, chief advisor to the Sovereign. His (and his group's) last bid to break Josh and Adeline up involves the man they want for her, Haydon Sampson. He's been a part of Adeline's life forever and absolutely believes she'll fall in love with him if they marry. Adeline tolerates him, but even he drives her mad when he goes too far at one point. I gotta say, Queen Adeline's wrath is something to behold.
His True Queen was a fitting end to Adeline and Josh’s story. This is also one of the best duologies I’ve read. Usually, I like to read standalone novels or series with three or more entries. But Smoke & Mirrors shows that duologies can be just as great. Two books were enough to tell the romance of Adeline and Josh. A third entry would likely have been a disservice. All in all, these are books I would definitely re-read. They have excellent characters, a compelling story, and a great setting. The Smoke & Mirrors duology also have steamy scenes, so it’s only for 18+ readers.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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