Jersey Royal

Flying Into Love, Book 5

By: C F White

Narrated by: Piers Ryman

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Can a humble farmer bag himself a true Jersey royal to save his farm...and steal his heart?

Distant royal, Nicholas Osbourne, has one last chance to prove his worth to his wealthy family. A string of bad press over even worse relationships has him agreeing to star in a reality television series getting down and dirty with the ordinary folk. He can live a lie for a week. He’s been doing it for years.

Jersey potato farmer, Alex Hamon, has no time nor patience to babysit a pretentious television crew, nor a work-shy, bratty rich-kid. But the hefty fee and potential promotional opportunities for his farm are too tempting to turn down. He just needs to keep his head in the soil, and not on how his under-the-radar gaydar is blinking overtime for the rogue royal.

Nicholas is out of his depth. Distracted by the stunningly sexy farmer’s son, he’s unable to bury his attraction the way he has been back in London. But he’s on camera. Twenty-four-seven. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. His only saving grace is that the farmer’s son is straight…isn’t he?

Jersey Royal is an opposites attract, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, rich v. poor, first-time contemporary MM romance, featuring an appearances-is-everything royal with a secret, and a temperamental potato farmer with a track record for burying things.

©2023 C F White (P)2023 C F White

I loved this audiobook!

When I read and reviewed this book after reading it with my eyes, I said: "The only thing that could make me like this story more would be to hear Piers Ryman perform the audio version. I love how he does CF White’s stories!" Well, I got my wish! Listening to this story brought back all of the emotions I felt while reading it. There isn't anything more I can add to my original review which is shown below.

I loved this book so much! I’ve never been disappointed in a CF White book and Jersey Royal didn’t break that streak. I seem to be on a reading jag of books that have me nearly sobbing (that means I love them). Nick and Alex are complete opposites but they are just what the other needed and didn’t know it.

Nicholas Osbourne’s mother is very distantly related to the royal family and his family is very wealthy. He’s been a playboy, spending money willy-nilly, and his mum and dad are tired of his behavior. They get him a starring role on a reality show where he does “working man” jobs and he ends up working and filming on Alex’s potato farm.

I love how this book brought out all kinds of emotions. There were certainly sad times, especially regarding Alex’s family situation (no spoilers here) and Nick also had his share of problems – namely that he was living in the closet. But there were also light-hearted moments – a great blend of feelings.

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.

Ebook and audiobook is a match

I first read this novel as an arc copy and it’s been a long time I laughed aloud so much. And when the audiobook was available I knew I needed it because the writing was so spectacular that I needed the sounds. I was not disappointed at all. The narrator is perfection, he is so good with the voices and the way he uses his voice-range. Absolutely perfection!!

The Royal and the Royal Potato Farmer

This is such a great addition to the Flying into Love series! I’ve traveled from Ireland to Australia to France and now I’m back in England – only this time on the Isle of Jersey. I desperately would love to visit Britain and, after this book, Jersey’s on my bucket list.

I have to say that I felt empathy for Nicholas, even though he was a bit of a twit. He grew up rich and had everything handed to him. And yes, he tried to launch a venture that failed, but he being focused on likes and shares isn’t the right way to go about things. I had to say, his mother putting him in front of the camera for a reality show was an interesting twist. To say Nicholas didn’t want to get his hands dirty was an understatement.

Alex is running his family farm after a devastating tragedy. He’s struggling to keep things going while living with intense guilt. He’d love to turf the prima donna royal and the film crew, but his father signed an ironclad contract and Alex won’t turn down the extra cash that’s coming to him.

Then something interesting happens – the men actually get to know each other. Start to really care about each other. They – gasp – listen. And, shocker, share. Frankly, I loved that part. Nicholas’s true self emerged and Alex apparently didn’t have a potato wedged up his tush. Then, just as they were making progress, the time for the shoot to end and Nicholas to leave arrived. Alex being Alex…he blew it. And Nicholas being Nicholas…he didn’t help the situation.

Looked kind of bleak. But, this is a CF White romance, so I knew I’d get my happy ending. I just didn’t predict the ending I’d get.

Also, shout out to Alex’s mate Charlie and his man Darius from Leap of Faith. I was so thrilled to see my favorite circus performers back home! Loved the cameos.

Final kudos to Piers Ryman. I’m a huge Piers fan and I feel like his narration style fits brilliantly with CF’s perfect writing. A great combination and I highly recommend.

Loved it!

I love this series because it makes me want to travel and visit all the places, but I must admit I felt very ignorant this once! I never heard of the island of Jersey, so for some reason when I read the title my mind latched onto New Jersey, and I expected a book set in America! But I was pleasantly surprised both about the setting and the book itself!
The main characters have so many issues between the two of them I don’t even know where to start, and they keep lashing out first to avoid rejection and hurt. Alex is the worst of the two (for reasons) and the one most stuck in the endless circle of distancing himself and regret, which he doesn’t seem to be able to exit.
I love CF White’s writing style, and Piers Ryman gave one of his wonderful performances!