Loyally, Luke - Book Review

Over the past few weeks I've reviewed the first two books in the Skymar series by Pepper Basham. Today I'm reviewing the third and final book, Loyally, Luke, where Luke Edgewood, the grumpy cousin from Authentically, Izzy and Positively, Penelope, finally gets his own story and romance!

Plot Summary

Luke Edgewood flies into Skymar to renovate an orphanage for the royals of the country. Almost immediately upon his arrival he meets Ellie St. Clare, who annoys and intrigues him at the same time. Just as he allows himself to fall in love with her, he finds out she's actually Princess Ellianna, Duchess of Mara and the North Country. Since she is a working royal and he can't imagine himself being a prince, they agree to be just friends until Luke goes back to the States.

Ellie is in need of a friend, especially as she tries to rebuild her reputation and fulfill her royal duties. The problem is, she doesn't want Luke to be just a friend; she wants more. However, he's not on her parents' list of approved potential husbands. They continue to work as a team and be "friends", but the attraction is hard to ignore and she can't imagine him not in her life. Is there any way they can be together?

Content Warnings

There are a few hints about Ellie's past, but no details.

Personal Thoughts

Personally, I think one of the best parts of this book is seeing Luke - who's allergic to romance - live out a bunch of romance tropes. Poor guy. He had no idea what was coming. For those who have read the previous books, you know that Luke is adverse to anything containing romance, Hallmark movie tropes, and princesses. Well, he get bombarded by all three and it's hysterical. I swear, he lives all the classic Hallmark clichés - coffee mix-ups, catching her when she falls, royals in disguise, a ball; yet somehow he survives it all. Yet his relationship with Ellie is unique and free of internal drama and I loved how things turned out in the end.

Ellie is the kind of character you want to cheer for as she begins to prove she's no longer the woman she was in her past. There are also updates on Izzy and Brodie's relationship, as well as Matt and Penelope's.

Notes

This book is best for teens and adults.

Steam Level: 💋💋💋

For those of you who have read Loyally, Luke, what did you think of it? For those of you who haven't, would you read it?