Cheeky Royal: Royals Undercover Book 1, Nana Malone

When what you want for yourself is nothing close to what's expected of you.  Both Sebastian and Penny are stuck with roles that neither truly want or even feel they're good at.  When a series of events from the past make Sebastian act out, Penny is reunited with her childhood friend, though he has no clue who she is.  What follows is funny, sexy, and absolutely intriguing.

Each of these characters were utterly likable.  Sebastian was hot yet focused and trying to be true to himself and trying to be serious for once.  His struggles with his father's revelations were real and relatable.  While he was being a bit selfish he wasn't doing so in a way to hurt others or just plain run away.  Penny is adorable and quirky.  Her situation with the boyfriend and the drama concerning her brother is a bit of a shock but not altogether a surprise.  The characters involved were more the shock than anything else, but the reality of what was going on could be predicted.  Penny's reaction, however, was the real gem.  Her loyalty and understanding were never undermined by her hurt and anger.  While it did lead her on her professional and personal adventure, it also freed her up to be true to the core of who she is and what she wants.

There was a lot of back and forth between deciding to reveal and deciding to hold back the truth about their identities.  I'm not really a fan of vacillation but it's understandable here.  I think that Penny's approach right in the beginning was the way it should have gone and her bestie's ideas were kind of cliché and low.  So yeah, they kind of worked, but it was Penny's natural charm and quirkiness that really sealed the deal in the romantic/sexual department.  Sebastian was at the real disadvantage because while he was deliberately keeping back his identity she already knew it all, including their link as children.  I feel more badly for him at the end when the big "reveal" happens in the most unfortunate way and am eager to see how that mess gets sorted in Cheeky King.

Throughout the story and the relationship's progression I was impressed that their interactions were mostly innocent.  Sure, there were tons of sexual undercurrents, but that simmering chemistry was put on hold until they really knew one another and when that seal was broken, holy explosion of hotness.  So yeah, tons of sexy times after that and very hot, but I loved that even with their names and societal positions/roles weren't known, they got a true sense of who the other person really was.  Their motivations, passions outside the bedroom, desires, yearnings, hopes, dreams, ambitions, family struggles...all of that combined to make them truly human, absolutely captivating to one another and to us as readers.

The story's end was as dramatic as possible and a complete surprise.  I kept thinking the secret would get outed but the way it happened was nothing short of a jaw-dropper.  There's an undercurrent of something more sinister that they'll face along the way to their HEA and the duet's ultimate resolution and I'm eager to see what and who is involved and how it will all play out.  I'm envisioning all kinds of problems and heartache to come before they find the happiness and fulfillment they deserve together and as individuals.

*$3.99 on Amazon!