This isn't the type of book I would normally pick up, but its simple writing and engaging story was unexpectedly great.

Cal is the broken hero of the story. He manages to maintain his considerate and kind nature, particularly towards Juniper despite his mental and physical hardships he's faced. While her stepmother and sisters have always tormented June (classic Cinderella style) she remains full of joy to find hope beyond her family.

The spicy scenes were fantastic, and you could just feel the connection between Cal and June through the pages. Their physical connection only highlighted their emotional bond.

Overall, it was a good book but was given 3 stars because of my personal tastes.

A lovely and exciting combination spin of a Cinderella story and military romance. Cal was introduced in the previous book with his team mates turned co-owners in Maine. June is introduced in this book as a modern Cinderella whose live is horrible with her step mom and sister. The chemistry and openness between Cal and June is immediate and well developed. The attention to emotional and physical connections played a role in this story and was beautifully shared along with friendships and other relationships. The book develops the town and its members more which I loved, especially the senior citizens. The danger was built up and then executed so well that I had tears! Great ending and story. Can’t wait for the rest of the friends to get their stories ❤️

An instant attraction and love romance story between a wounded hero and a heroine with scars of her own, “The Royal”, by Susan Stoker (Montlake), has also great moments of passion, human connection and intimacy.
There’s a matter-of-factness, sometimes even bluntness, in Stoker’s presentation of our very wounded hero, Cal, that I liked.
All the pain, the external and internal scars, is there for us to acknowledge right from the beginning.
Cal sees himself as a monster or a broken man, yet he’s thoughtful, considerate and kind. What a powerful combination!
The attraction between Cal and the modern Cinderella June is fast and strong. It’s believable despite happening so suddenly.
There were moments of deep connection, trust, and love between Cal and June that were moving and touching. They really made the story heartwarming.
The hero’s protectiveness, sometimes possessiveness, towards the heroine gives him some interesting alpha vibes.
I really liked watching the grumpy hero reveal his very soft and sweet core, too.
June’s story was a bit sad, and I liked how she managed to rise from the ashes. It’s also great that June wasn’t the model of feminine perfection
I enjoyed the friendship between Cal and his teammates and spouses, and the small-town atmosphere
I felt the final part of the book had too much talking about emotions and some indecision and cheesy moments that I didn’t appreciate that much.
I found the evil sister and stepmother were too stereotyped to feel genuine.

The Royal is a loosely based Cinderella story with a bit of a twist. Rarely do we get a hero who is ashamed to show his body, and to the point he has hidden so much of himself from life. He went through something terrible when his unit was captured, and the evil done to him when they found out he was a prince, is beyond what most could recover from.

Juniper is living in her own nightmare with a step-mom and step-sister. She's wasted so much of her life after her dad's passing, being their servant. You get the impression that she's finally woke up from a nightmare and realizing she has to make a change. This is where Cal comes in and sweeps Cinderella off her feet, but you get so much more in Cal and June's story. You have two flawed characters, saving each other from their own demons.

I'm enjoying this team of men and the women they fall for. The guys are just so protective and caring, you can't ask for more in a hero. The women are kind and loving and the perfect fit for each of the men. We get a sneak peek into the next book and I am so intrigued by the heroine, I can't wait for to read their story!

The Royal takes the modern day Cinderella story to a whole new level of hot romance, wicked suspense and HEA, Susan Stoker style. Cal is a damaged Prince Charming and June rescues him from a daily life of despair. He introduces the fair maiden to a group of loyal friends who accept and love her like she always deserved. However what would the story be without an evil step mother and step sister. I'd love to see the authors take on some other classic fairy tales. Another winner from a great writer!

Susan Stocker is a fabulous author. I have read a number of her other books and really enjoyed them. This one is no different. June and Cal make a great couple. The characters in the retirement made me laugh out loud.m

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book **

3.5 Stars

Positives: I am always a sucker for a fairy tale story, I can't tell you why but give me a Prince Charming and I will eat it up. And Prince Charming is exactly what Cal is, he is so freaking sweet but troubled. Think Prince Charming crossed with The Beast. I felt like Cal was really the best pull of the book and him dealing with accepting everything that has happened in his past as a POW as well as a prince makes him a really interesting character with a lot of depth outside of just a typical romance alpha hero. I also felt like the spice scenes were well balanced and well written, not smut for the sake of smut, while still being very steamy.

Cons: I felt like there wasn't as much action as I am used to getting from a Susan Stoker book since there was no real danger until right up until the very end. In some ways this could make it more appealing to more readers since it's more standard romance than her general romantic suspense, but for me when I pick up a Susan Stoker book I expect danger and hot alpha hero's saving the day. My other annoyance was while I did like June, she's such a sweetie, it sort of felt like every single chapter she was talking about how fat she was. It's sort of off putting to have both characters be so insecure about there bodies and I just felt like it would better if she was a confident bigger girl rather than down trodden so as to contrast Cal's insecurities. She is supposed to be Cinderella/belle and those girls were not self doubters, they were strong, confident and kind..

Overall I liked it well enough and would put it solidly mid tier in her line up of books

A heart-touching modern day Cindrella retelling!

The book tells the story of Cal, a former military man and a royal member, who is convinced by his cousin to investigate his latest love interest's case of a possible stalker. Upon his arrival to start the investigation, Cal meets June. As he gets to know her and her relation to his cousin's latest conquest, he begins to develop a determination to save her, both from him and the cruel world.

I wasn't lying when I said the book is truly heart-touching. There are some heartfelt scenes that just touches your heart, especially in some scenes where the characters talks about their painful pasts and how they cope with it. And in a way, I feel like everyone could relate to that which is a great point for people to start reading the book.

I like the portrayal of the reimagined main characters that feels way more three dimensional than the ones in the classic Cinderella story, from physical traits stand point. There are times I feel like the author is trying too hard to reimagine the characters' physical traits, like the author is trying too hard to make her version of cinderella and prince charming to be "too different" from the original version. But then I stop myself from judging further, and instead I appreciate her effort to make her characters more relatable for the readers.

Now onto the plot, I hadn't give myself a chance to read the blurbb because I immediately requested the copy for its simple title. But when I read it, I really could feel it in my bones that this is a Cinderella kind-of-plot because it's very apparent in the way the author writes the story, like you can exactly know from the first chapter how the story is going to end. I don't mind it, to be honest. But it would be better if the author could write the plot in a way that the readers wouldn't automatically connect her original plot to Cinderella's.

As far as the writing goes, there's too much telling and too little showing. There are a lot of passages that begins with something a long the line of "He was sad..." or "She was hurting..." or "She loved him..." or "He was frustrated...". I would like it better if the author could show us how frustrated the character was; how hurt she was; or how deeply in love he was through her narration rather than just a mere statement to start off a paragraph.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down! It definitely wasn't perfect but I loved it. Very enjoyable, and I will now be looking out for this author's other works.

Loved reading the engaging and enthralling romance story. When Cal comes to town to determine if the stepmother and stepsister have a stalker, he meets June and wants to help her escape the clutches of her family, but the stepsister has designs on Cal for her own. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a riveting must read love story. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the amazing author, Susan Stoker!

My husband likes it when I read romance vs reading thrillers. He said it’s like never knowing if I’m going to plot his murder or jump his bones.

Tonight baby, I’m jumping your bones.

Leave it to Susan Stoker, to give me the tingles in all my favorite “places”

If I’m going to have to wait for craig I might just need a shower to cool off .

I don’t read much Erotica, although I should! I love that breathless feeling I get when I come across all the steam! Holy hell, this one broke the mold !
I also loved that this had thriller elements so I had the best of both worlds!

Here’s a little teaser on The Royal:

In this modern Cinderella story, New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker weaves a tale of stepfamilies, stalkers, and a suspenseful, sweeping romance that proves true love can conquer all.

Former military man and member of a royal family Callum Redmon can’t deny his sense of responsibility. So when his cousin’s latest love interest claims to have a stalker, Cal reluctantly meets with the young woman and her mother. He wants to write off the situation as a complete farce—if only his feelings for another member of the household could be as easily dismissed.

Since her father’s death seventeen years ago, Juniper Rose has been at the cruel beck and call of her stepmother and stepsister. Her fantasies of escape mean leaving behind her father’s beloved home, but enough is enough: when Cal offers her a way out sooner rather than later, June takes the leap.

Cal’s home in Maine with his military brothers seems like the safest place to start fresh. But as Cal and June’s fairy-tale romance blossoms into something real, they find that the dangers stalking them may have been real all along.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 2nd in a series, but reads well as a stand alone. I have not read the first. This is a fun book, and the characters are pretty realistic. Because you will be fuming at June's stepmother! This is Cal and June's story. For them it is quick love. This is a Cinderella type story. Horrible stepmother and stepsister. 3.5 stars Fun summer read

Absolutely loved this dark Romance- reminded me of Cinderella meets Beauty and the Beast with a bit of Snow White!
Cal is not only a Prince but a former POW subjected to cruel torture which has left his body disfigured. Cal due to family obligations met Juniper, the modern day Cinderella and cue their love story. Throw in a murderer and this makes for an enjoyable read.
Favourite line is actually from the first part of the book. Cal and June share a room on the way to Maine and there is certainly chemistry between them! Cal tells June: “They hate you because you’re the complete opposite of them. Because you’re sunshine and light and everything that’s good in the world"
Highly recommend this to readers who like a dark Romance

These two have been through so much! Cal has scars inside and out, and it makes him wary of everything and everyone. June should be wary of everyone, but she has managed to hang onto her joy of life, despite all she’s been through. They find a kindred soul with the other, and they build upon the trust they instinctively know they have. Great chemistry, loads of emotions, these two save themselves while falling in love with each other. This is a real life Cinderella story, but without needing any glass slippers!

After suffering the unthinkable as a POW, Callum/Cal Redman, along with his former teammates decide to start a new life in Maine. Choosing them instead of returning to his royal family.
When a cousin asks for his help with a possible stalker bothering a girlfriend, he never expected to meet Juniper Rose, the woman’s step sister.
Juniper has suffered from her step mother’s cruelty and Cal decides he’s going to rescue her by taking her to Maine. Little did they know that danger would follow them there.
I have to confess that I am not a fan of modernized fairy tales, and this definitely follows the Cinderella guidelines.
It was not the best one of the author I’ve read, but it still was entertaining. Though for me it was more of a 3.5, I have a great deal for the author, and will give it a 4.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I loved this book and this series. A modern take on the tale of Cinderella. Call was tortured and disfigured and Juniper Rose was treated terribly by her stepmother and step sister. I can’t wait for the next book in the series as the stories of these four friends are wonderful.

a great continuation of the series. I l loved the characters. My heart went out to Juniper and the cruely she had to face at the hands of her stepmother and sister. I hated them instantly and that was probably the intent. Great chemistry and romance between Juniper and Cal

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Cal and June - a modern Cinderella…
Susan Stoker has quite the unique writing style that has you enjoying every word and sentence. I’m still not sure how that’s possible after a quazillion books she’s already published. The receipt is always the same - hero, (not-)damsel in distress, bad guys out to get to the heroine, much drama and wtf-moments in between and et voilà - novel. Gotta love this books.

***ARC review***
Almost a Cinderella retelling?

This was an easy read that I really enjoyed. The characters relationships worked well and the banter between them didn't feel awkward of forced. If you like bodyguard romances with a tortured soul as the MMC then this is for you!
I also enjoyed that the FMC wasn't your usual skinny girl with big boobs!

Another modern take on Cinderella that doesn't let us down. Cal and June are our main characters who don't let us down. In this version of the story, they both have obstacles they have to overcome to get their happily ever after.

In a twist, it's the male character who has the body issues - and it's a refreshing twist to read and to see how he deals with them. June has her own issues - family problems that Cal comes in and takes her away to remove her from them.

Reading about them overcoming their own issues while falling in love is a great way to spend a day.