Book Review: Royally Romanov by Teri Wilson

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ROYALLY ROMANOV
The Royals #2
Author: Teri Wilson
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: July 17, 2017
Review Source: Pocket Star

In this charming modern day retelling of the 1956 classic Anastasia, a museum curator falls for a mysterious man who may or may not be a long lost heir to Russia’s imperial Romanov dynasty.

Finley Abbot is organizing the most prestigious art exhibit of her career at the Louvre museum—a retrospective of art from the House of Romanov. But the sudden appearance of Maxim Romanov threatens to turn her into the biggest laughingstock of the art world. When she finds herself falling in love, she realizes there’s even more at stake than her career. How can she trust a man with her whole world when he can’t remember a thing about his past?

After suffering a violent blow to the head, Maxim’s only clue to his identity is a notebook containing carefully researched documentation in his own handwriting indicating that he is the sole surviving descendant of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, previously thought dead in the murder of her family during Russia’s Bolshevik revolution. His struggle to put the mysterious pieces of his past back together leads him to Finley. At first, she’s convinced Maxim is nothing but a con artist. But there’s something undeniably captivating about the beautiful, brooding man who claims to be searching for his identity—something Finley can’t quite bring herself to resist. When he reveals a secret about one of the imperial Fabergé eggs in the collection, she accepts he may actually be telling the truth. But as soon as Finley and Maxim act on their feelings for one another, Maxim is confronted with evidence that calls into question everything he’s begun to believe about himself.

I did not read Royally Roma, The Royals Volume 1, so I had no idea what to expect. The opening line “He should have been dead”, grabbed me. I knew that the book had to do with Anastasia Romanov (the cover states ‘inspired by Anastasia) and I knew it was a modern setting.  I read this book in 2 sittings and really enjoyed it, the 2 sittings was because I fell asleep reading. There was a plot twist that I did not expect even though the book hints there is one coming, I thought the twist would be something else.

I really enjoyed the 2 main characters and the setting. I have never been to Paris and the author does a good job helping the reader understand travel, Point Zero, and the Louvre. The author also clearly enjoys royals; there was a lot of information about the Romanov’s. It was a great read that pulls you along if you let it. My chair by the pool was a great place to finish reading the book. I would a love a sequel to this book with more on these two characters!