The Whispering Pages Book Blog

Blog Tour Review

The Controversial Princess

{Smoke & Mirrors Duet #1
by
Jodi Ellen Malpas

Release Date: May 22, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance

~ Synopsis ~

Her father is The King of England.

She is The Controversial Princess.

Regarded as down to earth by the press and rebellious by The King, Princess Adeline refuses to bow to the royal expectations her title carries. She knows better than anyone that the united front of the royal family is nothing but smoke and mirrors – lies and secrets masked by power and privilege. She wants no part of it, and she will never surrender to The King’s demand to marry a man she does not love. But despite Adeline’s determination to retain her free will, she remains deeply unfulfilled, feeling caged and suffocated.

That is until she meets Josh Jameson. Drawn in by his confidence, Adeline is soon captivated by the scandalously sexy American actor. His ability to penetrate her defences overwhelms her – his touch is pure fire, and his allure overpowering. Nothing has ever made her feel so alive in a world where she’s otherwise slowly drowning. However, while Josh may be Hollywood royalty, he’s not actual royalty, and Adeline knows The King and his advisors will do everything in their power to keep them apart.

But Josh Jameson becomes the princess’s ultimate vice.

And although she bows to no one, she bows to him.

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon US https://amzn.to/2FyEtXU
Amazon UK http://bit.ly/Princess-Amz-UK
Amazon CA https://amzn.to/2vOysqB
iBooks bit.ly/Princess-iBooks
Nook http://bit.ly/Princess-Nook-US
Kobo http://bit.ly/2wX3JZ7

~ Excerpt ~

Leaning over, he kisses the tip of my nose. “Now, food’s on the way. We’ll have a carpet picnic, what do ya say?”

“I’ve never had a carpet picnic before.”

“Say what?” He looks horrified. “Never?”

My shoulders jump up on a little shrug. “It’s all fine dining, posh china, and solid silver cutlery at a table that’s so shiny you can see your face in it.”

“Then tonight we fix that.” He pulls me up and walks us through to the lounge. “Get all the cushions on the floor.” He pulls a throw off the back of a chair and wafts it into the air while I pull all the cushions from the couch. I watch as Josh gets on his hands and knees and starts pulling at the corners of the blanket, straightening it out and placing cushions.

I have a permanent smile on my face, fascinated by his deep concentration. “You are doing a tremendously good job,” I say, clearing my face of my smile when his motions falter and he looks up at me. One of his eyes narrows, and in a lightning move, he snatches my wrist and yanks me down to the floor. I cry in surprise, being rolled to my back until I’m once again pinned against something by his body. Not that I’m complaining. Would never dream of it. I blow a tickling hair from my nose and grin at him.

“You’re making fun of me.” He dips and bites the end of my nose.

“Not at all.” I chuckle, squirming beneath him while he makes a meal of my face.

“Too good for a carpet picnic, are you? You want a throne?”

“Definitely not,” I blurt. “Unless your face will be my throne.”

Josh pulls back speedily on a little choke, his eyes bulging. I press my lips together as he stares at me in shock, like how could such a vulgar thing have fallen from the lips of a princess? “I think I just fell in love with you.”

It’s my turn to choke. “Blimey, you fall easily, don’t you?”

“Actually, I don’t fall at all.”

“No?”

He shakes his head. “Baby, I’ll be your throne any day of the week.”

“Honored.”

“It is me who’s honored. It’s not every day a real-life princess tells you she wants to sit on your face.”

Laughter erupts from deep within me, my eyes clenching shut, my head thrown back. My position and lack of control gives Josh the perfect opportunity to ravish my throat. And he does, growling dramatically, squirming above me...rubbing me.

~ Review ~

This book had perfect timing in my opinion. Being all caught up in the recent Royal Wedding it was nice to dive into Jodi's book and get lost a little more in the "Royals". I can't honestly say which character I was truly more in love with, Princess Adeline or Josh Jamison.

Both of them are used to being high profile and both hating all of the unwanted attention. Josh could pretty much have any woman he wants but the one he wants is highly unattainable. Well that is until Princess Adeline decides that she too wants what she shouldn't have.

Josh and Adeline where fun to spend time with as they started to fall for one another in more than just the physical way. Stealing moments whenever they could just added to the intensity of their passion when they were finally able to be together.

Let us not forget Damon though, Princess Adeline's security and driver who was more like a father figure to her and protector. I could tell at times he was torn in doing what was best for her vs. what she wanted. His loyalty to her knowing no bounds in spite of his better judgment at times.

This book was amazing. A great love story with secrets and deceit laced throughout. This being a duet I knew that there would not be a happy ending but what Jodi leaves us with are questions and excitement to see what comes next. Where will the cards land now that the house of cards has tumbled? I for one, can't wait to see.

~ Rating ~

~ About the Author ~

Jodi Ellen Malpas wrote her debut series, The This Man Trilogy, in secret, worried about what people might think if they knew what her imagination was capable of. She was shocked herself. But she finally found the courage to unleash her creative streak and self-published THIS MAN – the first book of the This Man Trilogy – in October 2012. She took a chance on the story with a hero who soon became one of modern day fictions most prolific alpha male characters. Jesse Ward – also affectionately known as The Lord of The Manor, sparked incredible reactions from women across the globe and catapulted Jodi into the world of women’s fiction.

Jodi went on to self-publish the second book in the trilogy, Beneath This Man in Jan 2013, just before Grand Central Publishing, part of the Hachette Book Group, picked up the popular trilogy and the unknown Jodi. The third book of the trilogy, This Man Confessed, took Jodi to the top of the bestsellers lists, earning her the proud title of #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. This Man has since been voted one of the top romance novels of all time.

With so much love, enthusiasm and a thirst for her words from her readers, Jodi suddenly wasn’t afraid of her imagination anymore. She went on to write The One Night Trilogy with the delectable and mysterious Miller Hart and stole the hearts of her readers once again. Her first stand-alone novel, THE PROTECTOR, released in September 2016 and has since been nominated for a Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. Jodi’s next stand-alone novel. THE FORBIDDEN, is set for release in August 2017.

All seven of her published novels have hit the New York Times best sellers list – as well as the Sunday Times list and various international best seller lists. Her work is now published in over 24 languages across the world.

Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a mojito addict, is famous for her obsession with Converse, and has a terrible weak spot for Alpha Males. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion – a passion she now shares with her devoted readers