Staff Review: Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Ever since I saw the 2004 romantic comedy The Prince & Me in theaters, I have been a sucker for the "ordinary girl + prince" plot
combo. I have read my fair share of romance novels revolving around that plot and I have watched all of the made-for-TV movies. I watched the live stream of the royal wedding in 2011. When I saw Romancing the Throne by Nadine Jolie Courtney on our cart of new YA books, I knew I had to read it.

Charlotte and Libby are sisters who are different in lots of ways. Libby is studious, serious, and artsy. Charlotte is popular, fashion forward, trendy, and oh, yeah, she's dating Prince Edward, heir to the British throne. When Libby ends up switching from her all-girls school to Charlotte's elite boarding school, she is thrown into a world she has a hard time understanding. Charlotte and Edward break up, and he seems to be spending more and more time with Libby. Two sisters should never fall for the same guy, but sometimes love grows where you least expect it.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and it's probably only partially because I'm biased about the plot. Having the book told from Charlotte's point of view brought in a perspective about this rom-com plot that I hadn't previously thought about. What happens to the family of the person dating royalty? This book was about that "ordinary girl + prince" trope, sure, but that seemed secondary to the sisters' relationship. It reminded me of The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan or The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright.

If you like romantic comedies and are intrigued by modern royalty, this is definitely one to check out. I'm not just saying that because there's a character named Libby either. :D

-Libby, Youth Services

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

I had today's review half-written when I picked up Mrs. Queen Takes the Train last week. I'd only planned to flip through and get a sense of the writing, but instead I found myself giggling, out loud, in the staff room on my lunch break. I did not want to put this book down.

This is Mr. Kuhn's first novel; his previous work has been in biography. This was mostly to his benefit, but there were times when the story did not flow as a novel should. While his research of and familiarity with the history of England's royal family and household helped to create believable characters, occasionally the balance tipped from entertaining to educational.

The characters and their interactions are what make this book work. I was instantly charmed by The Queen and found her depression understandable. At first I was annoyed when the narrative shifted to a different perspective, mostly because it wasn't always obvious that the perspective had shifted, but by the end of the book I wanted to know more about all these people living and working in the background of royalty's glamor.

Many of the reviews suggest that fans of Downton Abbey or The King's Speech will enjoy this book, and speaking as a fan, I'd say they are correct. It's a fairly gentle and overall optimistic peak behind the scenes of the lives of the powerful.

Oh! And if you're looking for more books and movies about the British Royals, check out our post from the Royal Wedding. You might also enjoy this recent photo set of The Queen meeting a soldier in full camouflage and a very large horse.

~Sarah

"Majesty" is August's Magazine of the Month

Majesty is a monthly magazine that provides coverage of the royal families of the world, with a special focus on the ever fascinating British Royal family. If you too were caught up in the excitement of the recent Royal Wedding, we invite you to stop by and check out Majesty for yourself! You can also check their website to get a preview.

August marks the four-month wedding anniversary for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I wonder if they'll be taking any hints from this eHow article on celebrating four-month anniversaries? To celebrate in your own home, check out our DVD of the happy day: "The Royal Wedding: William and Catherine" (941.085 ROY)

August 4th will mark the 111th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother's birth. Though she died in 2002, the award-winning "The King's Speech" has drawn greater attention in her direction.

August 11th is the 300th anniversary of the Royal Ascot Racecourse. Yet another location to wear your fanciest of hats!

The Royal Wedding: William and Kate

After months of preparations and years of speculation, this Friday Prince William will marry Catherine Middleton. You can satisfy your curiosity over the details of the celebration by visiting the Official Royal Wedding website, which links to wedding preparations on the Brittish Monarchy's Flickr account, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and the Clarence House's Twitter. You'll find photos and videos for the cake, musicians, official commemorative china, and more! The ceremony itself will occur at eleven A.M. at Westminster Abbey, which works out to five A.M. here in Dubuque. If, like me, you're not quite willing to give up your sleep to enjoy the pageantry, or if you've simply been bitten by the royalty bug, we've got some book and movie suggestions for you!

Read more about Prince William and Kate Middleton:
Prince William by Valarie Garner
William and Harry by Katie Nicholl
After Diana: William, Harry, Charles, and the royal house of Windsor by Christopher P. Andersen
Kate: Kate Middleton: princess in waiting by Claudia Joseph
William and Kate: a royal love story by Christopher P. Andersen


Books and Movies about British Royalty at Carnegie-Stout

Books and Movies about Royalty from around the world at Carnegie-Stout


Or, if you're in a particularly silly mood, you might enjoy this wedding themed April Fools' prank from "The Guardian."