A Royal Pain

The author is very talented in both story line and character development! I’ve read the entire series and am now reading it a second time! Still great reading!!

Lady Georgiana Rannoch's credentials are quite impressive: Cousin to the King, 34th in line to the throne...and part-time cleaning lady. Like many members of the aristocracy in pre-WWII England, Georgie is flat broke and trying to make it on her own in London, so she takes the occasional discreet cleaning job to make ends meet.When a beautiful young German princess pays an official visit, the Queen asks Georgie to play hostess/chaperone. The Queen would like nothing better than to distract the Prince of Wales from his relationship with that "awful Simpson person" and hopes that Georgie can help to make sure that the two cross paths. Unfortunately for Georgie, her budget does not lend itself to entertaining of any kind - never mind a princess and her traveling companions! But one doesn't say "no" to the Queen, and with a little subterfuge and some help from her grandfather, Georgie manages to pull it off.But something is odd about the young princess and soon enough the two young women are involved with two untimely deaths, and Georgie finds herself in the middle of a bit of political intrigue...and murder.I don't know whether it was the excellent movie, The King's Speech, or all the hoopla over this year's royal wedding, but I really had the urge to read something set in this time period involving the royal family. I had read the first in this series (Her Royal Spyness: A Royal Spyness Mystery ) last year, and while I thought it was cute, I really had no intention of continuing on with the series. Boy am I glad that I changed my mind! This was a lot of fun. Georgie's first person narrative is charming and quite funny and the period details are just so engaging. I love the fictional royal gossip about the Prince and Mrs. Simpson, and the glimpse of the often odd social mores of the aristocracy is entertaining. I also liked the way the character of Darcy O'Mara, Georgie's love interest, is developed in this installment.And the mystery? Well, this is a "cozy" after all and the mystery is not going to keep you up at night. It is plausible enough though, and the wonderful characters and charming domestic details make for an entertaining read.No strong language or sexual content. This is the second entry in the series and I would recommend reading them in order.

I have read (and reread) all of the "Her Royal Spyness" series, and have enjoyed them all. I love the time period when the books take place, partly because things are changing in the world. Britain is trying to come to terms with the end of its imperialistic rule of much of the world and the end of the attendant wealth it enjoyed. The rigid class system is changing as well, and the role of women in society, too. Lady Georgiana is trapped between her station and her poverty. She is penniless, and yet a royal and not allowed to earn a living. As a mere woman, all she is currently allowed and trained to do is marry well. We sympathize with her efforts to make more of herself than society dictates.Don't get me wrong, though. These books are cozies, and though Georgie's situation and the times are difficult, the books are blithe and full of humor and endearing characters. They are very fun books to read, and each time I read a new one, I anxiously await the arrival of all of the funny and delightful characters. They often appear by chance and coincidence, but rather than coming off as a cheesy gimmick, the surprise appearance of each character is a fun plot staple. I find myself wondering with anticipation when each of these well-developed and entertaining characters will appear: her good-hearted but vague and helpless brother Binky; his snippy sourpuss wife Fig; Georgie's breezy, bright-young-thing friend Belinda; her self-absorbed famous actress mother; her kindly Cockney grandfather, and the charming and mysterious love interest Darcy O'Mara. Another favorite character added in Royal Blood is Queenie, the hapless yet spunky and irresistible lady's maid-in-training.Besides these recurring characters, we meet the British royal family and other famous people of the time throughout the series, including Noel Coward, Coco Chanel, and the abrasive, ambitious and widely-disliked Wallis Simpson. Though fictionalized, of course, they are believable and entertaining. Even minor characters are colorful and full of tongue in cheek humor as the books gently poke fun at nonsensical social traditions and hypocritical people.Georgie herself is the good-natured glue that holds the series together, and I really enjoy watching her as she grows into a capable and even formidable young woman who is stronger and smarter than she ever imagined.

While there isn’t much authentic British flavor to the book, and it seems much more American and rather modern in tone and language, the mystery part was fairly good. It wasn’t too difficult to figure it out early on, but the author handled the mystery & plot in an interesting and reasonably plausible way, at least. At the start, I hadn’t expected to like it, nor thought I’d finish it, but I’d found it to be a pleasantly light read, and will likely read another in the series. A lot of people might find it fun as bedtime reading.

This was a delightful follow up to Her Royal Spyness. I am so glad that this series was recommended to me . Knowing how the heir to the throne proceeded it is a fun look into the family dynamics. Quite a fun theory

2nd in the series, but somehow I missed reading it!Have loved All R. B's books, the series and the novels. She has good editors, so no (or so few it doesn't matter) punctuation, spelling or grammar errors to grind your teeth over and she uses wonderful word pictures. While the history in this isn't as accurate as in many of her other books, in this series, it isn't meant to be as it creates the plot for the heroine to follow.However, the British & royal feelings towards Wallis Simpson are very accurate, her rudeness towards people she felt beneath her and other royals, her domination, contempt & other actions towards Edward are well documented. He was truly enthralled by and absolutely loved her - the feelings were not reciprocated, but Edward never wavered in his feelings for her.Recommend Highly! Enjoy!

Bought as gift, it arrived very fast The author is a favourite and now also of my sister

Superbe écriture; Intrigue bien construite; Je recommande fortement, en particulier la version originale en anglais

I thoroughly enjoyed this second adventure!The plot was well constructed, with so many twists and turns that I read the book in a couple of long sittings. I eagerly await the next!

this whole series is great reading.good fun

Un libro di piacevole lettura, ambientato nella Londra degli anni 30. E' una serie di gialli di ispirazione vagamente woodhousiana. Per chi ama il genere, li raccomando