Royally Deceived (Love Over Murder Book 2)

De: JD Carothers

Narrado por: John Hartley, Stephanie Nemeth-Parker

Prince Xander has one job to do: become king. Unfortunately, that means the confirmed bachelor must find a bride.

Engaging the help of an elite matchmaking service guarantees finding a suitable wife. What he didn’t expect was to be friend-zoned by one of the ladies...especially when she’s the first woman to spark his soul.

When Ariana loses her job in a NYC PR firm, she heads to London following her dream of becoming a romance writer. A friend’s matchmaking service is the perfect starting spot for research into royal love lives. Swearing off men was supposed to be easy, until Prince Xander asks for help.

Monarchy, matchmaking, and murder entangle Xander and Ariana in a dangerous plot. Will it turn their friendship into forever love, or will fate keep them apart?

This is book two in the series, but it can be listened to as a stand-alone. HEA guaranteed.

©2023 Dreamlific Publishing (P)2023 Dreamlific Publishing

Royally Good

J.D. Carothers' "Royally Deceived" delivers a charming blend of romance, intrigue, and royal escapades, making for an enjoyable audiobook experience. The narrative centers on Prince Xander, tasked with finding a bride to secure his ascension to the throne, and Ariana, a PR professional turned aspiring romance writer. Their paths collide through an elite matchmaking service, setting the stage for a delightful "friend-zoned" romance.

The audiobook's narration effectively captures the characters' personalities, bringing Xander's regal charm and Ariana's witty determination to life. The pacing is well-maintained, balancing the development of the romantic relationship with the unfolding mystery surrounding a potential murder plot. This adds a layer of suspense that keeps listeners engaged.

Carothers skillfully navigates the familiar tropes of royal romance, injecting fresh humor and relatable character dynamics. Ariana's initial resistance to Xander's advances provides a refreshing twist, fostering a genuine connection between the characters. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, enriching the royal backdrop and the matchmaking service's quirky environment.

The blend of lighthearted moments and suspenseful twists works well, creating a satisfying listening experience. While the premise is rooted in familiar romance themes, the execution feels unique. The audiobook successfully transports listeners to the opulent world of royalty, making "Royally Deceived" a delightful escape. The story explores the conflict between duty and personal desire, adding an emotional core that resonates. Overall, "Royally Deceived" is a well-crafted audiobook that delivers a satisfying mix of romance, humor, and intrigue.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Romantic, suspenseful, and royally entertaining!

Royally Deceived is the second book in JD Carothers’ Love Over Murder series, and it pulled me in from the very beginning. We follow Prince Xander, charming, soon-to-be-king and Ariana, a novelist hopeful, caught up in a reality show-style dating setup with a twist: murder.

Their instant connection was electric, and the fact that there’s a past connection they don’t even realize at first made it all the more delicious. The suspense elements were woven in perfectly, adding just the right amount of tension.
The story is a great blend of romance, drama, and mystery that kept me engaged the whole time. But when Xander suspected Ariana of deceit? That moment crushed me and definitely rooting for some serious groveling.

And the audiobook performance was outstanding. John Hartley brought Xander to life with a swoon-worthy accent and emotional depth. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker perfectly captured Ariana’s voice, strong, vulnerable, and real. Their duet narration took the story to another level.

If you love royal romances with mystery, emotion, and a fantastic audio experience, don’t skip this one!

Gripping

Prince Xander is the crown prince of Catalinius and is in need of a bride even though the last thing he wants is to get married.

Employing a matchmaking service he meets Ariana and from the first moment he is drawn to her.

I really enjoyed this story and the friendship that developed between them was heartwarming.

This book was an entertaining listen with a good balance of suspense and romance. In fact I was surprised by a number of the twists and turns.

The narration by John Hartley and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker brought the characters to life for me. Their voices were easy to listen too and they brought all the passion, drama, romance and suspense to their performances.

Matchmaking, Mystery and Murder ❤️

This was a fun story with a bit of suspense and mystery, and feels like The Bachelor mixed with a mistaken identity trope. Maybe throw in a little we're-just-friends-vibe as well ☺️

This was my first experience with JD but after this I clearly need to go find book 1. I enjoyed the surprises in this book & went in without reading the blurb so I really didn't see anything coming, which for me worked out great. I knew I would still get my HEA but I really like getting to play the who-done-it game and finding out who would come out on top at the end. Ariana was fun and up for almost anything in the name of research 😉 while Xander was struggling with life changing decisions about a future he might not be ready for. The friendship that developed between these 2 was quick but sweet.

I really enjoyed the narration here. John's smokey sultry Xander worked very well with Stephanie's smooth and engaging Ariana (This was my first by Stephanie and I can't believe I haven't listened to her before-time for a deep dive 🤗) They gave lovely performances and I found their styles and pacing worked great for me.

I'm so in LOVE with this series!

J.D. Carother's you have seriously nailed this series!! I'm in LOVE! As soon as I start the audiobooks I can't stop listening. I'm instantly hooked. The narrators John Hartley and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did a fabulously job telling this story. Their voices held my attention and kept me entertained throughout the entire story. They make you feel like you truly know these characters. The story and characters are well written.

Ariana heads to London after getting fired form a PR firm to become a romance writer. Well what better way to write a romance book then to do your research through your friends matchmaking service for royal love lives. What she didn't expect to be part of the research was being part of the matchmaking process and matching with Xander.

Prince Xander is in need of a wife since he is next in line for the crown but he doesn't want one chosen for him so he calls a matchmaker. When he meets Ariana he knows there something special about her and wants to get to know her more as friends. So she will go along on the ride with the other matches.

This story will keep you on the edge of your seat and toes! Not only is there romance but there is a little murder too! There are so many exciting moments in this book and you will not want to stop listening to it. I listened to this book in a day because I seriously couldn't stop listening. Thankfully I had cleaning to do and other things to accomplish while listening. LOL
Xander and Ariana were so much fun in this story. I loved their friendship and how everything came together. This is a must read book and series. I would HIGHLY recommend it.

5 Wonderful Stars

The narrators did a truly fantastic job. The accents and emotions portrayed by both really brought Xander and Ariana to life for me. I am obsessed with this book, the storyline and wonderful characters. Xander and Ariana meet and there is this spark and immediate attraction. Ariana makes it clear she is not looking for love or marriage. So they agree to be friends... This book is a slow burn that is full of suspense, angst, secrets and deceit but also lots of steam that just kept me glued to every word. I love their deep connection and chemistry they truly build on as friends. This book had some twists I definitely wasn't expecting. I should have expected that as J. D. Carothers has an amazing ability to weave a suspenseful story that keeps you guessing till the very end. I highly recommend this 5 star book.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from Home Cooked Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this royal romance with a touch of suspense!

Royally Deceived by J.D. Carothers was a royal romantic suspenseful ride full of swoony twists and gripping turns that kept me guessing till the very end. This is book two of Carothers' Murder and Romance Are on the Menu series, and it is taken the top spot for me in the series so far. Royally Deceived can be enjoyed as a complete stand-alone.

Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and John Hartley narrate the audiobook, and this was the first time I'd heard these two paired together. Stephanie brought grace and poise to her performance of Ariana highlighting her passionate, dedicated, and determined persona. Plus, all of her accents were on point! (Yes, lady!) John's portrayal of Prince Xander was regal and dignified emphasizing his loyal loving and charismatic persona to the crown and Ariana perfectly. The slow-burning chemistry between Ariana and Xander was magnetic and undeniable in audio!

Overall, I enjoyed this book! If you are a fan of a royal romance with a hunky heroic prince, a fierce brave novelist, monarchy, matchmaking, suspense, murder, slow burn steamy times, mistaken identity, deception, plot twists, and a HEA that is crown worthy, then you will love Ariana and Xander's story. I look forward to more from J.D. Carothers.

fun mystery

Xander is a crowned prince set to become King of his island country, but to take the thrown he must first be married. As a public servant, his work is focused on charity and fundraisers to help those in need and his citizens, so when his journey to become King is fast tracked and he has to find a wife ASAP, he turns to a matchmaking service for the best way to find someone suitable for the title of Queen.
Ariana works in events and, unbeknownst to her, has been working closely with a crowned prince on his charities, a man she only knows as Alex. When she is abruptly fired from her job and is stuck wondering what is next for herself, she feels the most loss at losing contact with Alex, this mysterious man whom she has developed a connection with. Looking to start a new journey in writing fiction, Ariana goes to London and meets with a family friend, who happens to be a matchmaker. Ariana proposes the idea of shadowing her matchmaking process for research on her book, but ends up being put into the running of a possible match instead.
Deciding to go into the process with eyes wide open, she is matched with Xander and decides to tell him her intentions from the start, making them friends and an ally for Xander as he tries to choose the next Queen. But as they spend time together their feelings develop into more than friendship, and when incidents start happening around them that put everyone in danger, they work together to find out what is going on and who exactly is the target.
Testing their trust in those around them and even in each other, this story was full of suspense and an interesting storyline that unfolded beautifully. Great plot and lots of chemistry and tension between these two.
John Hartley and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker were wonderful on this title. Their use of accents was fun in this story and their performances were impassioned and heightened all the suspense and tension in this story.

Find a wife and solve a murder

Second in the Series, but it stands alone very well. As this was my first entry in the series I had zero issues following along. I could tell there was a story previously told that I want to know more about, but it had no impact on my ability to sink into this story.

This one is unique cocktail mix of a book. We have a little match making/dating competition going on (very much giving untelevised The Batchelor vibes complete with group and one-on-one dates). We have a little mystery and suspense going on (accidents actually aren't, injuries, plots and even a murder to solve). Did I mention that our Hero is the heir to the throne of a European island nation? well yeah, there's that complication to everything too.

Xander really just wants to live his life on his own terms but being heir has a ton of complications, especially when the rules of the monarchy for his country are really detailed and he has 3 weeks to find a wife or his father can't retire as King. Using an elite match making service, he's introduced to several candidates and he narrows down the field and asks 4 of them to accompany him home to better explore their potential future marriage-of-convivence/royal duty marriage.

Ariana lost her job and is taking time to work on her passion project, a romance novel. She asks a friend of the family to help her understand the ins and outs of the professional match making world and for research purposes, she's added to the mix of candidates for Prince Xander. She's upfront and honest that she's not looking for love after her last relationship tanked.

I really loved how their friendship built out of these dating contest outings even when Ariana isn't in the official running for the ring. She's also the only one concerned about all the things going wrong and people in danger. They bonded and found passion without really trying, but everyone comes with baggage and that doesn't exclude royals.

The audiobook was performed by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker & John Hartley. Stephanie was perfection as Ariana. The emotional range from the character as she flows through the story is delightful. She was wounded and guarded, joyous, flirty and friendly, cautious yet protective and when the time came for it, she was angry and upset. I likes the tones and inflections used to bring the world to life, it make it very easy to be on her side. John Hartley is delicious as the reluctant prince Xander. His voice was soothing and regal as a baseline and then everywhere he went off that baseline just dragged me along with him. Disappointment, unease, a little plotting to try and get his way in a most difficult situation. They way he delivered performances for some of Xander's "Candidates" was utterly fantastic. I had a physical reaction to some of these women and what they were looking for out of the process. John did an amazing job with his performance in this whole book.

I was quite invested in the story very early and got attached to the characters, wanting to see how they dealt with everything and once the murder mystery aspect hit, I was all in! I had to figure it out and I am pleased to say, I did not predict the outcome. I love when that happens.

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook. These are my honest opinions.

Fun, smart and sexy adventure

Despite knowing going in that this was romantic suspense, I got so caught up in the romance that the murder caught me off guard! From there, the action picked up with enough clues dropped to keep me guessing and coming up with multiple theories.

The dual narration is fantastic. John Hartley reminded me of Jeremy Irons, which is never a bad thing, and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did a great job with the voices of all the women.

Although this is book 2 in the series, I listened to it first and had no trouble following along. However, I do plan to go back and listen to the first book in the series to spend more time with this family.