Royal Creed | BOOK REVIEW

At the age of 25, Esme was well aware that being a part of a royal family meant sacrificing her freedom of choice, including the liberty to marry for love. Upon returning home from Paris, her grandmother delivered the unexpected news of an arranged marriage with someone Esme neither loved nor knew much about. This marked the beginning of an unplanned romance between Esme and Creed.

The unconventional love story unfolded when Esme, following a friend’s advice, decided to lose her virginity to someone of her choosing instead of Jameson, the man she was obligated to marry. The moment she encountered Creed, a decade later, she instinctively knew he was the one. Despite Creed’s initial hesitation, fueled by numerous risks involved—Esme’s royal status and his impending induction as a royal guard, challenging the prohibition of forming intimate relationships with monarchs—he ultimately changed his mind, prepared to face the consequences.

Esme and Creed mutually agreed that their relationship would be solely for physical satisfaction, unaware that they were embarking on a deeper connection than they had anticipated.

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Royal Creed is a contemporary romance written by T.K. Leigh. It is the first book in the trilogy ‘Broken Crown’.

Esme emerged as a woman striving to transcend her role as a member of the monarchy, opting to independently learn skills considered customary for everyday people rather than relying solely on her privileged life. Before returning home, she embraced a liberated existence in Paris. However, the intricacies of her complex life took an unexpected turn with the central focus on her virginity. Following her unconventional proposal to Creed, where she expressed a desire to lose her virginity, he yearned to be her first and insisted on exclusive possession of her body. Creed, typically a rule-abiding individual, found himself willing to defy conventions when it came to Esme.

The narrative introduces their love as forbidden since Esme is expected to feign affection for another man, Jameson. Jameson, in contrast to Creed, hails from an elite family dedicated to philanthropy, making him the ideal match in the eyes of many. Despite Jameson’s agreeable character, the author skillfully distinguishes Esme’s emotions when she is with Creed versus Jameson.

The author draws a parallel to Lady Chatterley’s story, highlighting the forbidden nature of Esme’s feelings and her relationship with Creed. Similar to the book, the protagonists engage in a forbidden affair, but the forbidden aspect of the affair is not related to relationship status but rather to her royal affiliation.

There were excessive explicit scenes incorporated, leading me to skip certain portions. Additionally, I found Esme’s willingness to let both men kiss and touch her to be a disagreeable element, especially in scenes involving Jameson, which I perceived as unnecessary.

The story’s depth felt somewhat compromised as it became dominated by these intimate encounters. The dynamic between Creed and Esme seemed characterized by a constant push and pull. Despite their awareness of the complexities of their situation, imposing limits and setting deadlines proved challenging, as their connection appeared more addictive than rooted in genuine love. The cliffhanger caught me by surprise as well. For those who enjoy steamy monarch romance book series, I would suggest giving this one a try.