‘Royally Roma’ Is a Hilarious Romp Through the Eternal City [REVIEW]
April 27, 2017 1 Comment
When Julia Costa meets Niccolo La Torre, she doesn’t realize he’s the Crown Prince of Lazaretto. (Photo by cristian, Flickr)
When a young woman moves abroad to escape the notorious family drama in her past, she goes to great lengths to live a very normal existence. But that may not be possible when she crosses paths with the dutiful grandson of an Italian monarch in Teri Wilson’s delightful new romantic comedy, Royally Roma, the first installment in her “The Royals” trilogy.
Pocket Star
Julia Costa has her hands full. Not only is she trying to complete her PhD, but she’s also working full-time as a private tour guide in Rome. She doesn’t have time to pay attention to celebrity gossip, regardless of what her friends might think. Besides, she had enough of that back home to last a lifetime.
Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto, is also determined to avoid the paparazzi. Much to his chagrin, his notorious “bad boy” brother is an embarrassment to the throne and is constantly leaving Niccolo to clean up his PR nightmares. Already tired from fulfilling his royal obligations, he decides to play hooky when he meets Julia, who has mistaken him for a client.
Together, they have a fun-filled day exploring the Eternal City. When their time together draws to a close, Julia presents him with the bill. The only problem is he doesn’t carry any money! Not one to let a client take advantage of her, she vows not to let him get out of her sight until he pays up, one way or another. The fact that she has fallen head over heels in love with this handsome stranger is beside the point.
If Royally Roma sounds familiar, it should. This is a modern retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck film, Roman Holiday, but with a twist. The royal in question isn’t a princess, but a hunky prince. Thankfully, Wilson has a gift for storytelling, and she makes the tale her own by infusing it with a spunky heroine, great banter and lots of comic relief.
Julia is over-the-top serious. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great gal, and readers will love her. But her feisty side is omnipresent, and it threatens to get the best of her. That’s why Niccolo is such a breath of fresh air. As an heir to the throne, he is obviously used to getting anything he wants with a mere wave of his hand, and has an uncanny way of getting under Julia’s skin. This dynamic makes it fun to watch their relationship blossom.
Those who haven’t read Wilson’s work before are in for a treat. She writes authoritatively about Rome and royalty, and spins her knowledge into a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud yarn that keeps us turning the pages faster than a Vespa can navigate through Italy’s twisty streets. This is the kind of story Nora Ephron would have had a field day directing for the silver screen. So it comes as no surprise that two of her other books have already been picked up by Hallmark Channel.
If you love a story that is hilarious, full of romance and dripping with charm, do yourself a favor and download Royally Roma to your e-reader today. This story will make Wilson one of your favorite new writers. Enjoy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teri Wilson
Teri Wilson is a romance novelist for Harlequin Books and Gallery/Pocket Star. She is also a contributing writer at HelloGiggles, a lifestyle and entertainment website founded by Zooey Deschanel and now a division of People Magazine.
Teri is the author of His Ballerina Bride, The Art of Us, Unmasking Juliet, It Started With A Diamond, The Princess Problem, and Unleashing Mr. Darcy, now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie.
She’s currently working on a new series of books set at a Tiffany-esque jewelry store, as well as a trilogy of royal romances, both slated to debut in 2017.
Teri loves books, travel, animals, and dancing every day. Visit her home on the Web at TeriWilson.net, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
ROYALLY ROMA
By Teri Wilson
252 pgs. Pocket Star. $5.99
Want to know more about the movie version of Unleashing Mr. Darcy? Watch the trailer below.
About Jathan Fink
Jathan & Heather 
Reblogged this on Jadeworks Entertainment and commented:
There’s nothing quite as fun as a comedy of errors, and that’s what you get in Teri Wilson’s delightful new novel, ROYALLY ROMA. If you’ve ever dreamed of falling in love with a hunky prince, this is the story for you.