Royally Roma

I have to open this review up with the following disclosure that based on my own reviewer criteria and looking for great wholesome books that readers won't have to be shocked to read when it contains material that wouldn't ordinarily read in their selection of novels. That could be sexual content, profanity or anything you wish you could be advised of before picking up a novel and reading or purchasing it based on the premise on the back.

With Royally Roma by Teri Wilson, the premise of a private tour guide, Julia Costa, who unknowingly picks up Niccolo La Torre, Crown Price of Lazaretto for the day. It isn't until she presents him with her bill, that he attempts to sneak out of the hotel until she catches him and vows that until she gets paid, she isn't leaving his side. Sounds like something the Hallmark Channel might produce, until you read the novel. I was so hoping for just that, a wholesome novel about this quirky premise that lends some humor along with romance. The setting is perfect as well as the whole idea until you actually beginning reading the book.

What shocked me was that Teri Wilson's other novel Unleashing Mr. Darcy IS a Hallmark Original movie and she is in development for two other films. So where did this novel go wrong? The idea that one man's escapes about being with an entire women's swimming team is now front page news in London and the opening chapter of the book, has Julia waking up with a naked prince in her bed. All he thinks about is his next romance with an attractive female and when Julia shows up mistaking him as her private tour, he finds the idea intriguing of removing himself from all the royal scheduling that has been planned for him. Most of the story line is geared to what each of them think of the other in terms of more than just physical attraction and that is where I lost interest in this. You have Niccolo who loves to drink while entertaining his thoughts about Julia. It is all that he thinks about and that gets downright irritating.

I felt that its fine to let the reader know that both characters are initially attracted to one another, but it is as if every single paragraph alludes to the sexual attraction towards one another.There are some sex scenes that I can't believe Hallmark would include if this were to be made into a film. That is beyond tiresome to read over and over again. In fact one such comment from the press release states that this novel "is an enchanting retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday." Yet this novel comes far from accomplishing that. I would have preferred to have a more classic version I guess with far less content dealing with each characters fascination with the other when it comes to romance. For me this one just fell flat with a 3.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I received Royally Roma by Teri Wilson compliments of Pocket Star books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise.

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Royally Roma by Teri Wilson

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