His True Queen (Smoke & Mirrors Duology)

His True Queen was one of my most highly anticipated sequels of this year and OOOOH MY GOD did it blow all of my expectations to smithereens. This follow up was everything I never could've possibly predicted, a sequel full of sweet romance, royally delicious drama, jaw dropping scandal, and heart wrenching impossibility. And it's all illustrated so vividly through what, I swear, is Jodi Ellen Malpas' most stunning writing to date. 

This is not a book you can easily devour in one sitting. This is a loooooong sequel that I curled up with all weekend long. But don't mistake me. There's no lulls in this royal romance. Malpas guarantees that every single page of this book is jam packed with mouthwatering sensuality, stunning revelations and heart stopping romance. I was just as captivated by Adeline Lockhart's struggle with acclimating into her new role as I was by her romance with Josh Jameson. This is truly a forbidden romance of royal proportions. The scheming and plotting and the deception these characters must commit as they feed their need to be together in secret is just... I have no words. It's delicious. It's sinful. It's often sacrilegious which also makes it rife with humor. But this is more than just a love story. It's one of tradition and obligation, one of duty and servitude. It's a story of family secrets and deceit, a story filled with betrayal and pulse pounding twists. This intoxicating duet follows an impossibly forbidden romance between a lowly American actor and his true queen but it's filled with unrelenting drama and seemingly insurmountable obstacles at every turn and it all makes for an absolutely unputdownable, unforgettable read.

I never saw this book coming. As completely blown away as I was by The Controversial Princess, as hungry as I was for this sequel, my expectations didn't hold a candle to what Jodi Ellen Malpas had in store with His True Queen. This duet is extraordinary. It's completely unpredictable. It's angsty and funny, heartbreaking and infuriating. In the moments where I was forced to step away from it, my stomach was left in knots. I was completely consumed with Josh and Adeline's story and I couldn't wait to dive right back in just to see what would happen next.

Jodi Ellen Malpas' meticulous crafting of this story has left my chin on the floor. When I think back on all of it, on where Josh and Adeline began versus where they end up, when I consider the character development and the world building and the brilliance of this fierce attraction set against the backdrop of the British monarchy, I am left STUNNED. I'm still sitting here shaking my head over all that I went through in this series, all the secrets that were unearthed. Decades of smoke and mirrors come crashing down at the hands of a fiery princess who refuses to follow tradition in the face of love and what transpires, what Jodi Ellen Malpas creates with her brilliant storytelling and lush writing on these pages, is nothing short of BREATHTAKING. 

Shel: Hey guys. I hope things are going well, summer's not too hot, you've gone on a quick adventure, and life is good. I also hope that if you pick up His True Queen, the second in the Smoke and Mirrors duet, that you are ready. Are you ready for it? Here's a handy dandy list of things you'll probably want at the ready while you're reading:

1. Yoga classes--you're going to need to really be able to breathe deeply through some of these parts because OHMYGOD.
2. Along those lines, you'll probably want those paddle thingies that they use to restart you're heart because I think I died a few times while reading.
3. Also important? A case to protect your reading device because you may want to throw it a few times.
4. Probably some ibuprofen because between the swooning, sweating, and ovary explosions, you might be a little out of sorts.
5. A friend who's also reading this so you can have someone to text angsty swoony things to.
6. A crown for JEM because she's officially the QUEEN of angsty reads!

Shel: Y'all. I swear this duet was the most fun way to begin and end my summer (I go back to work next week). His True Queen had my heart racing, my brain concocting theories at every turn, and my fingers constantly tempted to go to the last page to see how it ends (and I really never do that because I'm usually so good at self control!). Adelaide and Josh's journey to their HEA was intense and insane and I really had no desire to put my Kindle down until I got to the end (sleep and laundry be (edit) !). The twists and turns and scandal and heartache were great and hard and horrible which made the ending that much more meaningful (and has me hoping for a book for Eddie!).

Shel: If you're looking for an angsty, steamy, fun and funny duet, do not look further because these books have it all.

And mind-blowing to the last page.

I plunged myself into a pool of grief and despair that was this princess’ life after the first book, and it was so thrilling.

The idea of a duet is as attractive as the royal theme, especially if it’s in England, and the mind of JEM has paid a worthy tribute to it. I couldn’t be more invested in Adeline’s fate as I was rooting for her to use her strength to fight for what’s right, yet also to keep her beloved by her side.

The weight of duty is like a heavy blanket on a sweltering-hot day, yet I loved how strong, vulnerable and real Adeline behaved during her struggle to face it all.

This Lady Danger with a regal label has raised the stakes in this finale. The potent cocktail of forbidden love, the farce of perfection in the eyes of the world, and clipped wings on a free soul had me mesmerized. This royal romance couldn’t get any better and more intense than this!

Josh, the American boy who falls in love with a sassy English princess, becomes dangerously demanding and impossibly hot. Clandestine passion explodes in between suffocating marathons of royal duty, all intricately described until you feel immersed in their roles. Adeline is a woman stuck between two opposing worlds, one of the heart and one of inherited obligations. Each decision she takes is embedded with hard choices.

Beyond the drama and the angst, there’s also a gratefully and gracefully huge amount of lust, and loads of humor too.

That Damon is priceless. I’m a little in love with him too :-D Edward, the Fallen Prince, would also deserve at least a novella to tell his woes.

A mountain of lies and secrets keeps piling up, trying to mash Adeline’s spirit and this unrelenting couple’s love, but they fight so valiantly. It’s a pleasure to witness love conquer all. Never have I ever read a more perfect royal romance, so intense and inspiring. I absolutely adored it. Love is the best kind of trouble indeed.

It’s the author’s best work yet.

(I'm happy to share my honest opinion of this book that I reviewed on my blog Literaria)

I was so looking forward to the conclusion of this Smoke and Mirrors Duet. The ending of The Controversial Princess was so emotional, I was super excited to see how the story would end. This book is not a standalone and one must read book 1 before jumping into this book.

I will say that I loved Adeline and Josh. Their love, frustration, heartache, need and want were palpable. In such a predicament, with anything involving anything Royal, Adeline and Josh are sometimes at odds with each other but their love and passion always overrode those odds. They were meant to be together, it was just their worlds that were causing them heartaches. How can The Queen of England and a hot sexy actor follow their dreams and not the ones dictated by family and tradition? The struggles are real and frustrating for Adeline but her sense of family is strong. The world is riding on her shoulders with all the secrets and lies while Josh is carrying her heart and happiness.

The cast of secondary characters were delightful and then their were those that were sinister. I adored Damon and his care for His Queen. Adeline’s staff also added some humor and concern. And poor Prince Edward.....he was a hot mess. And then there were those who’s interest in the crown and not the actual Queen created turmoil for Adeline. And the Queen Mother, she was not one of my favorites but eventually won me over.

But I will say that I thought the story was strung out slightly. I appreciated the struggles and hardships but the middle felt a little repetitive. So I found that I slightly skimmed in the middle. But in all, I loved Adeline and Josh’s story and I also loved the epilogue.

This is a sweet duet. It has hardships but it is full of love and passion between the American Boy and His True Queen.

All Hail The Queen!

Queen Jodi is reigning supreme this year! The drama. The angst. The complexity of the plot. I was on the edge of my seat the entire read! This duet is sheer and utter perfection!

Here’s what you need to know: The beginning is so emotional. It sets up the action of the book superbly. Adeline and Josh’s struggle is so poignant. The middle of the book will keep you guessing, wondering what on earth can happen next. It’s so delicious!! And the end…GAH, the end! Totally unexpected.

What I loved: For starters, the sexy, hot, and possessive alpha. That’s sort of my kryptonite and one of the main reasons why JEM is an auto-buy author. Her male leads are the men you dream about. So hardcore alpha and completely obsessed with the women they love.

“You’re the beginning and end of everything.”

Josh Jameson is exactly that. He puts the A in alpha-male.
Adeline is one of my all-time favorite characters. She’s fiercely independent, sassy, impulsive, but also caring and feels so much.

“Empathetic, zealous, and real.”

She’s such a paradox. A Queen who is submissive to no one, but her man. This dynamic was SO much fun to witness. I could not get enough.

The plot twists, secrets, and unconditional faith exhibited gave me so much pleasure. The writing is superb! The pace was spot on. Typically, longer romances feel overdone and repetitive which weighs down the plot and pace. That did not happen here. It’s an expertly crafted work of art. I had only 1 ticky little nit-picky issue. In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t affect how I felt about the book.

In case you’re wondering….I LOVED IT. Highly recommended!

After the jaw-dropping cliffhanger in Jodi Ellen Malpas’s 'The Controversial Princess', I could not wait for the next book in the Smoke & Mirrors Duology! I honestly had no idea what would be in store for Princess Adeline and her American boy, and 'His True Queen' was a thrilling conclusion! It was full of suspenseful twists and sizzling passion, making this incredibly sweet love story into a scorching hot romance!

I really enjoyed seeing Adeline fall into her new role! She had such a charming and graceful demeanor about her, but I was most impressed with her backbone of steel when she was fighting for what she believed in.

With his compensatory for using bad language, Josh’s character was just honest and real and not about the ‘show’ as you might expect an actor to be. His determination in finding a way for them to be together and professions of love for Adeline were so completely romantic!

Although everything had changed, and the odds were completely stacked against them, the love and desire between the new queen and her American boy never faltered. It actually smoldered until it could no longer be contained!

Jodi Ellen Malpas has scripted an incredible storyline within this creative British Monarchy, full of lies and deceit. Her descriptions and settings submerged me into the world of royalty, which was very intriguing and engaging. The complex story was filled with emotion along with twists and turns that kept me flying through the pages. I also loved the witty dialogue between the characters, which gave the story a realistic feel and made for a really fun read as well!

I loved this Smoke and Mirrors Duology and can’t recommend it enough!

Five freaking brilliant stars for this duet!

This book was everything I expected and so much more!

I want to tell you everything....but I can’t. I won’t, because that would take away from all the the amazing work and writing that this author put into this book. So I will do the best that I can and promise not to spoil it for you.

His True Queen picks up right where we left off in book 1- The Controversial Princess. (If you haven’t read it yet, go right now and pick it up! I promise it will be a ride you won’t soon forget.) After that crazy cliffhanger, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and after reading it-my craving for it is justified.

I don’t know where to begin. It had everything I look for in a book and it was written well, with a unique storyline and amazing characters. The story building in this book absolutely sucked you in and kept you captivated until the last page was turned.

I loved everything about Adeline and Josh. Her fierce and rebellious nature, his possessive Alpha-male character that is completely in love with his queen. There are so many swoon worthy moments, tied in with angst, struggles, passion, scorching hot love scenes and twists and turns that had my head spinning and guessing (incorrectly by the way) until the very end.

This duet is called Smoke and Mirrors for a reason and once you read it you will completely agree.

I wish I could give this book/duet a higher rating than 5 stars because I think it deserves more. I would highly recommend this book as well as the first and anything else written by this author.

You deserve your own tiara for this Jodi Ellen Malpas!
Well done!

Wow. I mean serious wow. If I thought The Controversial Princess threw me for a loop then His True Queen took me around the whole roller coaster- twice. Everything I thought I knew- wrong. Every assumption I'd made about how all the twists and turns would unwind- dead wrong.

Hands down my favorite thing about this book was Josh. His relentlessness when it came do Adeline. How he wouldn't let her push aside what they had out of duty. How he gave her solace and a safe place to land when everything was spiraling out of control. How put his heart on the line time and again. How he proved through his words and actions that she was His Queen.

That's not to say Adeline just laid there and let things happen to her. Oh no. The fiery woman came out swinging. But as determined as she was to be a positive change for the Monarchy, she also has a lot of balls to juggle. The secrets of her family. The mystery around her father's death. The scheming. The decades of dishonesty. Her relationship with Josh. The truth. As things get overwhelming and Adeline learns who her true allies are (there are a few shockers in there), she quickly realizes that her only true comfort is Josh. Consequences and protocol out the door, they were going to find a way to be together...

And just when I thought it was going to happen for them. When the plan was in place, all the steps laid out...BAM!! The ultimate twist of them all. Can you say unexpected? How about mind blown? Whoa! As much as it gutted me and Adeline, it was the perfect setup for the ending. Gah! That ending- all the heart eyes and swoon. it was the happy that Adeline and Josh fought so hard for and so richly deserved.

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the second book in her Smoke & Mirrors duet. His True Queen is not a standalone, you must read the previous book, The Controversial Princess, first.

His True Queen picks up where The Controversial Princess was left off. Adeline Lockhart, the princess of England is - through horrible circumstances - about to become the new Queen. But where does this leave Josh Jameson, the world famous actor and Adeline. Both just discovered their love for each other and how to make their relationship work. Now is everything null and void. Her life isn't hers anymore. Adeline is trapped in history, expectations, intrigue and protocol. Her country and throne are her duty for life. A complicated web of lies, betrayal, mirrors and smoke runs through her reign and life.
But Josh never gave up on Adeline. He goes out of his way to simply be there for her, love her unconditionally.
After reading The Controversial Princess I couldn't wait for this next book to release. I was giddy to get my hands on His True Queen and I had high expectations. And I wasn't disappointed. Jodi Ellen Malpas masterfully weaves a web of twists and turns that had me capivated from the beginneing. The writing is excellent and I love the story, the words and I could very easily connect with the characters. I read the book in one sitting, I had to know what happens next. I will not spoiler here, only so much thiese twists and turns I never ever had expected.
I highly recommend The Smoke & Mirrors duet and wish I could give 6 stars.

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the second book in her Smoke & Mirrors duet. His True Queen is not a standalone, you must read the previous book, The Controversial Princess, first.

His True Queen picks up where The Controversial Princess was left off. Adeline Lockhart, the princess of England is - through horrible circumstances - about to become the new Queen. But where does this leave Josh Jameson, the world famous actor and Adeline. Both just discovered their love for each other and how to make their relationship work. Now is everything null and void. Her life isn't hers anymore. Adeline is trapped in history, expectations, intrigue and protocol. Her country and throne are her duty for life. A complicated web of lies, betrayal, mirrors and smoke runs through her reign and life.
But Josh never gave up on Adeline. He goes out of his way to simply be there for her, love her unconditionally.
After reading The Controversial Princess I couldn't wait for this next book to release. I was giddy to get my hands on His True Queen and I had high expectations. And I wasn't disappointed. Jodi Ellen Malpas masterfully weaves a web of twists and turns that had me capivated from the beginneing. The writing is excellent and I love the story, the words and I could very easily connect with the characters. I read the book in one sitting, I had to know what happens next. I will not spoiler here, only so much thiese twists and turns I never ever had expected.
I highly recommend The Smoke & Mirrors duet and wish I could give 6 stars.

4.5 Stars!
In the midst of tragedy Princess Adeline Lockhart is torn between duty and love. She has fallen hopelessly in love with her American boy Josh Jameson, and now she feels she has to somehow disregard her own feelings, and put the well being of her country first. Her destiny has been written, and sacrifices must be made. As Queen all responsibilities have now fallen on her. She can no longer be rebellious and reckless. She must put her family and the British Monarchy first. This means her love story with Josh must come to an end. In order to be Queen she has to abandon her heart. The world is watching her every move, and as a Hollywood actor, they would rip Josh apart. She can’t live for her own selfish needs, and has to let him go before they ruin him.

Josh has found the woman of his dreams, and won’t so easily be cast aside. He’s determined to be with Adeline, and won’t give up. He refuses to walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He doesn’t care about Adeline’s title or stays. He just loves her and wants her any way he can have her.

This was an amazing conclusion to the Smoke & Mirrors duet. A beautiful, forbidden love story that rocks the British Monarchy. As Adeline tries to figure out who she can trust, advisers continue to try and keep them apart. Boundaries are blurred and their future together seems impossible. Will true love win the the end? I adored this royal romance full of emotion and passion! Just fantastic!

5 Stars

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the stunning conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors duet. If you haven't read The Controversial Princess you'll need to before starting this. I can't even begin to tell you how incredible this book was. After reading TCP, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this story and OH MY GOSH was it worth the wait.

His True Queen picks up where TCP ends. Princess Adeline is not allowed to publicly date a commoner but her American Hollywood star is hard to resist. Their chemistry is explosive but it is also dangerous-for both of them.

His True Queen starts off with a bang. Adeline, who was third in line for the throne, is now Queen of England. Timing in life is everything and for Adeline and Josh, this makes being together nearly impossible. There are so many secrets to protect and Adeline doesn’t know who to trust. Except for Josh. With the lies surrounding them, and the people closest to Adeline having their own agenda, will Adeline and Josh find a way to be together…or will she be forced to live and rule alone?

Everyone knows what a huge fan of JEM I am so it comes with no surprise that I absolutely LOVED this story. There were so many twists and turns and moments where I was like what is going on?! But it made the story impossible to put down. You guys don’t want to miss this duet!! Highly recommend it!

After reading JEM's This Man series, I really felt that she could not top that. Jesse Ward was Lord of the Manor and that was that. That was until I read The Controversial Princess... I believe that JEM has created a well thought out duo in the royal romance category. I have read my fair share of royal romances and I wanted to see someone do it different. I loved how JEM made the heroine the royal and a controversial royal at that.
Adeline couldn't be thrown in a box with the rest of the royals you have read about, but when she meets Josh the chemistry is through the roof. I loved Josh, he was a total package, and gave Adeline what she needed before she even realized she wanted it. In His True Queen, Adeline is thrust into a position she doesn't want and it doesn't help her love affair with Josh one bit, but I swear you need to read their story because it's worth it. It is filled with drama, secrets, steamy scenes, and strong powerful characters that I love to read.
I know that this review doesn't give you much detail, but this us the second book of a duo and I don't want to reveal too much because that would make a spoil sport and I don't want to be that.
Adeline Lockhart and Josh Jameson are to die for... and Long Live His True Queen!
** I voluntarily left a honest review after reading an advanced review copy of this book **

Intrigue, duty, fate, love, passion and destiny collide in this engaging royal romance.
The concept of this duet was original and I loved the author’s fresh take on it as well as the whole story development and character dynamics.
I enjoyed seeing Princess Adeline and American actor Josh Jameson falling for each other for who they truly are and not their fame. Josh was so sweet and never gave up on what he truly wanted. Adeline was also a strong female character, which was refreshing. I liked that she wasn’t weak, she was loyal to her friends and family and she wasn’t afraid to speak up when it was needed.
They had great chemistry, hot banter but what I loved most about their relationship was that they made each other feel like normal human beings and that was very sweet to see.
Things flowed really easily in this book and I was sad when it ended. I'm so glad I read it and loved it!
A really pleasant, fun, hot read!

In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5

***I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book***

Okay, hands down, this is one of my favorite reads of the year. I could not wait to dive into this book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I could not stop reading; I wanted to be in Josh and Adeline’s world. The chemistry these two had was off the charts; it was raw, it was sweet at times, it was hot as hell and every moment you felt the connection.

The story was more than a love story, it was full of lies, deceit, angst and scandal of epic proportions that left my mouth open. Jodi Ellen Malpas’ imagination is truly amazing. The twist and turns this story took left me in awe and I truly loved every moment. I loved Adeline’s character. She was fierce and had something to prove to her family and to her people. I felt for her and screamed at her a few times. The book was written in her POV and I loved reading it through her eyes. It made some parts difficult because I wanted to know what was going through the other person’s mind but it made it more gut wrenching having it all in her POV.

There are so many things I want to say in this review but I don’t want to give the story away. I was on the edge of the chair while reading, thinking no this can’t happen, then OMG what just happened. So my advice is JUST GO ONE CLICK NOW!

My God! This book was intense. So amazingly, fantastically intense. I loved every word of it.

After that epic cliffhanger in book 1, I was dying to get my hands on this book. We pick up pretty much right where we left off and it never slows down. It's an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. So may twists and turns and highs and lows.

Adeline and Josh's chemistry is off the charts and I was enthralled with wanting, no, needing to find out how their relationship would work out. Because it had to work out. Had. To.

Adeline really stepped up her game in this book. She remained true to herself, but also dig deep to gather that royal heritage and put it to good use.

And Josh... *dreamy sigh* God, he can be such a jerk sometimes, but oh how I love him. LOL!

The storyline was fantastic. And man, the plot twists were plentiful in this book! I never knew what was going and was gobsmacked Everytime something happened!

The secondary characters are fantastic. Either fantastically amazing, or fantastically terrible. LOL!!! Damon wins the award for best secondary character ever.

Honestly, this is one of the best duets I've ever read. So do yourself a favor and read it!!!

His True Queen was a highly entertaining and rollercoaster conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors duet by Jodi Ellen Malpas.

Book 1 should be read prior to this book and this story picks up where Book 1 ended. While I had a bit of trouble getting into Book 1 I was definitely interested in reading the conclusion to this story. Especially since the last part of The Controversial Princess had me in a bit of shock with they direction it went.

This book was full of ups and downs and it was just deliciously scandalous. Adeline and Josh are intense whenever they are together and if anything their chemistry just seems to increase.

I’ve always been fascinated by all things Royal and this book definitely has that in spades. Secrets and lies and deception make this storyline completely engaging. If this were to be made into a mini series I would be hooked and watching every episode.

So many shocking revelations had me truly gasping and basically saying holy shizz !!!! I loved this second book, it’s engaging, scandalous and riveting. I have no doubt that many others would feel the same way.

Absolute brilliance!!
His True Queen will have your heart thumping, you will laugh, may cry, probably swoon and also get angry. I had so many emotions whilst reading this story.
The book starts where Book 1 ends. You definitely need to have read it before reading this one. There is first sadness, anger, hurt and a whole lot of drama in Adeline's life, she certainly struggles at times. But she is also determined and strong.
This story will take you on such a ride you won't want to get off. I was riveted and there are things you will find out that will have you shocked. I know I certainly was.
The author has captured my heart in this duet and it's a real credit to her.
What I truly loved, was Adeline and Josh's undeniable love for each other. True love!! It made my heart full.
I particularly like Damon, Adeline's right hand man, if you will. Some of the things he would say, had me giggling.
An absolutely wonderful story that will cause your heart to explode!! Must read series!

Jodi again proves she is the 'true queen' when it comes to romance, plot twists and alpha men! 

His True Queen is a rollercoster of emotions. Adeline has to work through a big changes in her life after what happened in The Controversial Princess. Her life had been turned upside down and she is misarable.

The story is about sacrifice, about what you are willing to give up, about determination. About setting your priorities.Puttingg others ahead of yourself.

I truly admired Adeline in His True Queen - as a character, she reached her full potential from TCP and became a powerful woman, rising above the issues. Up to date, she is my favorite female heroine from all of Jodi's books.

And Josh...Oh my is he a dream come true! He is such a great character - alpha man in love! No better combination! 

The book is amazing! Strong characters, wonderful and well thought-through plot, suprising twists...this book has it all!

5 stars!

It's all smoke and mirrors.....

This book was just everything. I didn't expect to find myself so in love with this series and was pleasantly surprised at how dragged into it I became. Up until the very end of His True Queen, the hits were still coming. This book was full of endless drama, suspense and action. And just when you think you might have an inkling of how the story is going to go, BAM, another ball drops.

I adored Josh from early on. He made his intentions known and he was willing to fight for what he wanted, consequences be damned. There was never a moment in this book that I doubted his love for HIS queen. The book was full of so many rollercoaster rides for Adeline, and so much torment and grief. The solace and peace she found with Josh was much deserved and truly beautiful.

His True Queen was well written, highly engaging and I did not want to put it down or have the story end. A definite 5 star must read!!!

What an amazing conclusion to this Smoke and Mirrors duet, this book is worthy of the fairytale ending that we got and I highly recommend that you get started now!! These characters are intense and full of passion and sass. They make the book intriguing and impossible to stop reading. But this book is not all easy going for these two. They were drug through scandal, treason, secrets, and sabotage but proved that love does conquer all!

This book picks up where Controversial Princesses leaves off and we are left dealing with truths revealed and tough choices to make. But those choices lead to other tough choices and they have to find the truth hidden in a mess of lies and betrayals.

As if Adeline didn’t have enough to worry about, she is now Queen of England and must choose between love and duty, but not is all as it seems and Josh is determined to not let her go. But when trust is tested what choice will be made in the end?

If you thought that the cliffhanger in book 1 left you gasping well prepare yourself for Book 2. Holy s*** what a rollercoaster of angst, love, betrayals. secrets, etc.... Damn I was expecting the “issue” to be resolved at the beginning of the story but nope. It just had one drama and secret after another and I was like damn I did NOT see that coming.

Besides all the secret and dramas you get to see the love between Josh and Adeline grow and watch them struggle with their new revelation. These two fought thru everything for their happiness. At first it didn’t seem like anything but it was one issue after another and your heart will race and beat fast with each chapter. But these two never gave up and Adeline wasn’t an easy cookie to tame.

Overall great suspenseful, full of angst, love story with a beautiful, well deserved ending that wasn’t a walk in the park to achieve.

His True Queen is the epic conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors Duet (Book one The Controversial Princess must be read first). Adeline and Josh are back but after Adeline discovered she is the next heir to the royal throne where does that leave their relationship?

Josh and Adeline are about to hit road blocks every which way they turn if they want to be together. As far as Adeline's advisers are concerned a romantic relationship between the Queen of England and an American Actor is forbidden. Does she have the strength to stand up for what she wants, Josh has a no nonsense attitude he wants Adeline so she will be his but at what cost and with revelations I certainly didn't see coming do they really stand a chance at a forever?

One of the most anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint, one click your copy now!!

After finishing The Controversial Princess I just could not wait for the conclusion to this brilliant duet. And OMG it was worth every second of the wait, I absolutely devoured this book, with each turn of the page I was becoming more and more obsessed.
Jodi Ellen Malpus has simply blown my mind with this story. This is definitely one I'm going to have to reread, like now!!!

You know when you fall in love with the first book in a series and you worry that the next one won't live up to your expectations, well this one just blew my expectations right out of the park!

I LOVED Adeline and her strength, she never gave up and never gave in. And the heat between her and Josh, will get your heart pounding.

This duet has a little bit of everything and I highly recommend reading them. You'll be hooked too!!

This book was everything and anything you could possibly predicted, full of romance, drama, and scandal, and something unimaginable.

Adeline struggles with her new role as well as her romance with Josh. There romance is a forbidden romance of sorts. The depths these two will go through just to be together in secret. But to be a princess comes with a price one tradition, obligation, and duty. But with it also comes a family with secrets, deceit, betrayal and so many twists. This story follows a forbidden and secret romance between an American actor and his true queen but it's filled with drama and obstacles at every turn and it all makes for an absolutely scandalous read!

I loved this book and everything in it! I mean who doesn't like some good old fashion drama and a secret love affair that's forbidden!

The twists and the turns, the forbidden romance, the suspense all continues in His True Queen. I couldn’t anticipate where Jodi would take this story. It picks up where The Controversial Princess left over and it was a lot. There was so much drama going on-the relationship, the Monarchy. It was all coming to a head and it was interesting to see who or what will come out on top. Adeline and Josh needed to be strong. They loved each other but would it be enough? I did like the relationship between the two. It was intense and strong and I believed that they would overcome anything. Jodi kept me intrigued to see how the story would play out. However the drama was just a little much because there was too many of it. But it made me want Adeline and Josh to beat it all. Overall, it was an alright read with some good parts.

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the second book in her Smoke & Mirrors duet. His True Queen is not a standalone, you must read the previous book, The Controversial Princess, first.

His True Queen picks up where The Controversial Princess was left off. Adeline Lockhart, the princess of England is - through horrible circumstances - about to become the new Queen. But where does this leave Josh Jameson, the world famous actor and Adeline. Both just discovered their love for each other and how to make their relationship work. Now is everything null and void. Her life isn't hers anymore. Adeline is trapped in history, expectations, intrigue and protocol. Her country and throne are her duty for life. A complicated web of lies, betrayal, mirrors and smoke runs through her reign and life.
But Josh never gave up on Adeline. He goes out of his way to simply be there for her, love her unconditionally.
After reading The Controversial Princess I couldn't wait for this next book to release. I was giddy to get my hands on His True Queen and I had high expectations. And I wasn't disappointed. Jodi Ellen Malpas masterfully weaves a web of twists and turns that had me capivated from the beginneing. The writing is excellent and I love the story, the words and I could very easily connect with the characters. I read the book in one sitting, I had to know what happens next. I will not spoiler here, only so much thiese twists and turns I never ever had expected.
I highly recommend The Smoke & Mirrors duet and wish I could give 6 stars.

4.5 Stars!
In the midst of tragedy Princess Adeline Lockhart is torn between duty and love. She has fallen hopelessly in love with her American boy Josh Jameson, and now she feels she has to somehow disregard her own feelings, and put the well being of her country first. Her destiny has been written, and sacrifices must be made. As Queen all responsibilities have now fallen on her. She can no longer be rebellious and reckless. She must put her family and the British Monarchy first. This means her love story with Josh must come to an end. In order to be Queen she has to abandon her heart. The world is watching her every move, and as a Hollywood actor, they would rip Josh apart. She can’t live for her own selfish needs, and has to let him go before they ruin him.

Josh has found the woman of his dreams, and won’t so easily be cast aside. He’s determined to be with Adeline, and won’t give up. He refuses to walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He doesn’t care about Adeline’s title or stays. He just loves her and wants her any way he can have her.

This was an amazing conclusion to the Smoke & Mirrors duet. A beautiful, forbidden love story that rocks the British Monarchy. As Adeline tries to figure out who she can trust, advisers continue to try and keep them apart. Boundaries are blurred and their future together seems impossible. Will true love win the the end? I adored this royal romance full of emotion and passion! Just fantastic!

5 Stars

His True Queen by Jodi Ellen Malpas is the stunning conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors duet. If you haven't read The Controversial Princess you'll need to before starting this. I can't even begin to tell you how incredible this book was. After reading TCP, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this story and OH MY GOSH was it worth the wait.

His True Queen picks up where TCP ends. Princess Adeline is not allowed to publicly date a commoner but her American Hollywood star is hard to resist. Their chemistry is explosive but it is also dangerous-for both of them.

His True Queen starts off with a bang. Adeline, who was third in line for the throne, is now Queen of England. Timing in life is everything and for Adeline and Josh, this makes being together nearly impossible. There are so many secrets to protect and Adeline doesn’t know who to trust. Except for Josh. With the lies surrounding them, and the people closest to Adeline having their own agenda, will Adeline and Josh find a way to be together…or will she be forced to live and rule alone?

Everyone knows what a huge fan of JEM I am so it comes with no surprise that I absolutely LOVED this story. There were so many twists and turns and moments where I was like what is going on?! But it made the story impossible to put down. You guys don’t want to miss this duet!! Highly recommend it!

After reading JEM's This Man series, I really felt that she could not top that. Jesse Ward was Lord of the Manor and that was that. That was until I read The Controversial Princess... I believe that JEM has created a well thought out duo in the royal romance category. I have read my fair share of royal romances and I wanted to see someone do it different. I loved how JEM made the heroine the royal and a controversial royal at that.
Adeline couldn't be thrown in a box with the rest of the royals you have read about, but when she meets Josh the chemistry is through the roof. I loved Josh, he was a total package, and gave Adeline what she needed before she even realized she wanted it. In His True Queen, Adeline is thrust into a position she doesn't want and it doesn't help her love affair with Josh one bit, but I swear you need to read their story because it's worth it. It is filled with drama, secrets, steamy scenes, and strong powerful characters that I love to read.
I know that this review doesn't give you much detail, but this us the second book of a duo and I don't want to reveal too much because that would make a spoil sport and I don't want to be that.
Adeline Lockhart and Josh Jameson are to die for... and Long Live His True Queen!
** I voluntarily left a honest review after reading an advanced review copy of this book **

Intrigue, duty, fate, love, passion and destiny collide in this engaging royal romance.
The concept of this duet was original and I loved the author’s fresh take on it as well as the whole story development and character dynamics.
I enjoyed seeing Princess Adeline and American actor Josh Jameson falling for each other for who they truly are and not their fame. Josh was so sweet and never gave up on what he truly wanted. Adeline was also a strong female character, which was refreshing. I liked that she wasn’t weak, she was loyal to her friends and family and she wasn’t afraid to speak up when it was needed.
They had great chemistry, hot banter but what I loved most about their relationship was that they made each other feel like normal human beings and that was very sweet to see.
Things flowed really easily in this book and I was sad when it ended. I'm so glad I read it and loved it!
A really pleasant, fun, hot read!

In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 3/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5

***I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book***

Okay, hands down, this is one of my favorite reads of the year. I could not wait to dive into this book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I could not stop reading; I wanted to be in Josh and Adeline’s world. The chemistry these two had was off the charts; it was raw, it was sweet at times, it was hot as hell and every moment you felt the connection.

The story was more than a love story, it was full of lies, deceit, angst and scandal of epic proportions that left my mouth open. Jodi Ellen Malpas’ imagination is truly amazing. The twist and turns this story took left me in awe and I truly loved every moment. I loved Adeline’s character. She was fierce and had something to prove to her family and to her people. I felt for her and screamed at her a few times. The book was written in her POV and I loved reading it through her eyes. It made some parts difficult because I wanted to know what was going through the other person’s mind but it made it more gut wrenching having it all in her POV.

There are so many things I want to say in this review but I don’t want to give the story away. I was on the edge of the chair while reading, thinking no this can’t happen, then OMG what just happened. So my advice is JUST GO ONE CLICK NOW!

Okay, hands down, this is one of my favorite reads of the year. I could not wait to dive into this book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I could not stop reading; I wanted to be in Josh and Adeline’s world. The chemistry these two had was off the charts; it was raw, it was sweet at times, it was hot as hell and every moment you felt the connection.

The story was more than a love story, it was full of lies, deceit, angst and scandal of epic proportions that left my mouth open. Jodi Ellen Malpas’ imagination is truly amazing. The twist and turns this story took left me in awe and I truly loved every moment. I loved Adeline’s character. She was fierce and had something to prove to her family and to her people. I felt for her and screamed at her a few times. The book was written in her POV and I loved reading it through her eyes. It made some parts difficult because I wanted to know what was going through the other person’s mind but it made it more gut wrenching having it all in her POV.

There are so many things I want to say in this review but I don’t want to give the story away. I was on the edge of the chair while reading, thinking no this can’t happen, then OMG what just happened. So my advice is JUST GO ONE CLICK NOW!

My God! This book was intense. So amazingly, fantastically intense. I loved every word of it.

After that epic cliffhanger in book 1, I was dying to get my hands on this book. We pick up pretty much right where we left off and it never slows down. It's an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. So may twists and turns and highs and lows.

Adeline and Josh's chemistry is off the charts and I was enthralled with wanting, no, needing to find out how their relationship would work out. Because it had to work out. Had. To.

Adeline really stepped up her game in this book. She remained true to herself, but also dig deep to gather that royal heritage and put it to good use.

And Josh... *dreamy sigh* God, he can be such a jerk sometimes, but oh how I love him. LOL!

The storyline was fantastic. And man, the plot twists were plentiful in this book! I never knew what was going and was gobsmacked Everytime something happened!

The secondary characters are fantastic. Either fantastically amazing, or fantastically terrible. LOL!!! Damon wins the award for best secondary character ever.

Honestly, this is one of the best duets I've ever read. So do yourself a favor and read it!!!

At last we have answers!! I love anything that involves prince and princesses. Princess Adeline has to make a choice and it is a difficult one- love or title.
Adeline is the new queen and can no longer see Josh. We know from book one that the chemistry between them is off the charts, and the passion -SWOON! Josh is an american actor as we found out in book 1 and is love for Adeline has no limits.
<b>
"My plight is very real. " Loving you is the easy part, " I say softly. " It's everything that comes with loving." </b>

Adeline learns family secrets and realise to what extent her father was a cruel man. Josh and Adeline cannot stay away from each other and pursue their forbidden love story that we all love but we know that this will not be without consequences...

" There's more danger to me within these walls than there is outside of them Josh. (...) In here, Damon is protecting me from them and them alone, and I am dancing dangerously close to the fire right now."

What a ride it was!! Are they going to get caught? Can Love conquer it all?

Once again, Jodi Ellen Malpas wrote a great story made in Britain!

His True Queen was a highly entertaining and rollercoaster conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors duet by Jodi Ellen Malpas.

Book 1 should be read prior to this book and this story picks up where Book 1 ended. While I had a bit of trouble getting into Book 1 I was definitely interested in reading the conclusion to this story. Especially since the last part of The Controversial Princess had me in a bit of shock with they direction it went.

This book was full of ups and downs and it was just deliciously scandalous. Adeline and Josh are intense whenever they are together and if anything their chemistry just seems to increase.

I’ve always been fascinated by all things Royal and this book definitely has that in spades. Secrets and lies and deception make this storyline completely engaging. If this were to be made into a mini series I would be hooked and watching every episode.

So many shocking revelations had me truly gasping and basically saying holy shizz !!!! I loved this second book, it’s engaging, scandalous and riveting. I have no doubt that many others would feel the same way.

Absolute brilliance!!
His True Queen will have your heart thumping, you will laugh, may cry, probably swoon and also get angry. I had so many emotions whilst reading this story.
The book starts where Book 1 ends. You definitely need to have read it before reading this one. There is first sadness, anger, hurt and a whole lot of drama in Adeline's life, she certainly struggles at times. But she is also determined and strong.
This story will take you on such a ride you won't want to get off. I was riveted and there are things you will find out that will have you shocked. I know I certainly was.
The author has captured my heart in this duet and it's a real credit to her.
What I truly loved, was Adeline and Josh's undeniable love for each other. True love!! It made my heart full.
I particularly like Damon, Adeline's right hand man, if you will. Some of the things he would say, had me giggling.
An absolutely wonderful story that will cause your heart to explode!! Must read series!

What the heck just happened??? The drama, the thrills, the passion, and the fire. That is my quick take on His True Queen. Adeline's and Josh's journey will leave you a bit emotionally beaten down. But wow what a ride you will get finishing the Smoke and Mirrors duet. The title of the series fits perfect. My heart broke for these characters, got angry, and then fell for them. My head is still spinning! You think you know where all the lies and scandals that lie beneath the royal family, but boy was I so wrong.

Did I think coming into this book that Adeline and Josh were over? Honestly I did. I really couldn't see Adeline come out of her guilt to not follow her role. Let's just say I was in for a surprise. Is the heat factor as hot as the previous book? Would you believe me when I say it seems to have gotten hotter?? His True Queen was exceptionally written and these characters will dig their way into you heart! JEM always gives us readers more than we could ever anticipate!

Jodi again proves she is the 'true queen' when it comes to romance, plot twists and alpha men! 

His True Queen is a rollercoster of emotions. Adeline has to work through a big changes in her life after what happened in The Controversial Princess. Her life had been turned upside down and she is misarable.

The story is about sacrifice, about what you are willing to give up, about determination. About setting your priorities.Puttingg others ahead of yourself.

I truly admired Adeline in His True Queen - as a character, she reached her full potential from TCP and became a powerful woman, rising above the issues. Up to date, she is my favorite female heroine from all of Jodi's books.

And Josh...Oh my is he a dream come true! He is such a great character - alpha man in love! No better combination! 

The book is amazing! Strong characters, wonderful and well thought-through plot, suprising twists...this book has it all!

5 stars!

It's all smoke and mirrors.....

This book was just everything. I didn't expect to find myself so in love with this series and was pleasantly surprised at how dragged into it I became. Up until the very end of His True Queen, the hits were still coming. This book was full of endless drama, suspense and action. And just when you think you might have an inkling of how the story is going to go, BAM, another ball drops.

I adored Josh from early on. He made his intentions known and he was willing to fight for what he wanted, consequences be damned. There was never a moment in this book that I doubted his love for HIS queen. The book was full of so many rollercoaster rides for Adeline, and so much torment and grief. The solace and peace she found with Josh was much deserved and truly beautiful.

His True Queen was well written, highly engaging and I did not want to put it down or have the story end. A definite 5 star must read!!!

This conclusion to the Smoke & Mirrors duology is EPIC!

From the first word to ‘The End’ I couldn’t put it down. I always had to read just one more chapter because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. And I absolutely couldn’t get enough of Josh and Adaline. She is still as rebellious as ever, and her sexy American boy is still the alpha rogue he’s always been.

Chemistry has NEVER been a problem between the two of them and it isn’t going to be now, either. But if you thought their journey to this point was hard, you’ve seen nothing yet. More lies and secrets will be uncovered and twists and turns will be abundant. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going to happen, you realize you aren’t even close to the truth.

This duology is FANTASTIC! It’s a must-read, whether you are intrigued by the Monarchy or not. I absolutely loved every bit of both books. Definitely a five-star duology!

What an amazing conclusion to this Smoke and Mirrors duet, this book is worthy of the fairytale ending that we got and I highly recommend that you get started now!! These characters are intense and full of passion and sass. They make the book intriguing and impossible to stop reading. But this book is not all easy going for these two. They were drug through scandal, treason, secrets, and sabotage but proved that love does conquer all!

This book picks up where Controversial Princesses leaves off and we are left dealing with truths revealed and tough choices to make. But those choices lead to other tough choices and they have to find the truth hidden in a mess of lies and betrayals.

As if Adeline didn’t have enough to worry about, she is now Queen of England and must choose between love and duty, but not is all as it seems and Josh is determined to not let her go. But when trust is tested what choice will be made in the end?

If you thought that the cliffhanger in book 1 left you gasping well prepare yourself for Book 2. Holy s*** what a rollercoaster of angst, love, betrayals. secrets, etc.... Damn I was expecting the “issue” to be resolved at the beginning of the story but nope. It just had one drama and secret after another and I was like damn I did NOT see that coming.

Besides all the secret and dramas you get to see the love between Josh and Adeline grow and watch them struggle with their new revelation. These two fought thru everything for their happiness. At first it didn’t seem like anything but it was one issue after another and your heart will race and beat fast with each chapter. But these two never gave up and Adeline wasn’t an easy cookie to tame.

Overall great suspenseful, full of angst, love story with a beautiful, well deserved ending that wasn’t a walk in the park to achieve.

His True Queen is the epic conclusion to the Smoke and Mirrors Duet (Book one The Controversial Princess must be read first). Adeline and Josh are back but after Adeline discovered she is the next heir to the royal throne where does that leave their relationship?

Josh and Adeline are about to hit road blocks every which way they turn if they want to be together. As far as Adeline's advisers are concerned a romantic relationship between the Queen of England and an American Actor is forbidden. Does she have the strength to stand up for what she wants, Josh has a no nonsense attitude he wants Adeline so she will be his but at what cost and with revelations I certainly didn't see coming do they really stand a chance at a forever?

One of the most anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint, one click your copy now!!

After finishing The Controversial Princess I just could not wait for the conclusion to this brilliant duet. And OMG it was worth every second of the wait, I absolutely devoured this book, with each turn of the page I was becoming more and more obsessed.
Jodi Ellen Malpus has simply blown my mind with this story. This is definitely one I'm going to have to reread, like now!!!

You know when you fall in love with the first book in a series and you worry that the next one won't live up to your expectations, well this one just blew my expectations right out of the park!

I LOVED Adeline and her strength, she never gave up and never gave in. And the heat between her and Josh, will get your heart pounding.

This duet has a little bit of everything and I highly recommend reading them. You'll be hooked too!!

After the ending of The Controversial Princess ? I’ve been slobbering over His True Queen cover absolutely beautiful!

This was a fabulous follow up to book 1 and I didn’t think we’d have so much smoke & so many mirrors facing us, but with Jodi she likes to keep us dangling on the end of our toes.

I love Josh his lack of care for anyone other than Adeline but there’s only so much restraint her American boy will have and this time has he been pushed too far.

Adeline I bow to you! This was off the scale woman power.
Taking back what’s rightfully yours and standing up when you were told to sit down.
Your story was amazing and one I will always remember.

Please read book 1 first then immediately click book 2 and find out how this journey continues.....

5 ? ?

This book was everything and anything you could possibly predicted, full of romance, drama, and scandal, and something unimaginable.

Adeline struggles with her new role as well as her romance with Josh. There romance is a forbidden romance of sorts. The depths these two will go through just to be together in secret. But to be a princess comes with a price one tradition, obligation, and duty. But with it also comes a family with secrets, deceit, betrayal and so many twists. This story follows a forbidden and secret romance between an American actor and his true queen but it's filled with drama and obstacles at every turn and it all makes for an absolutely scandalous read!

I loved this book and everything in it! I mean who doesn't like some good old fashion drama and a secret love affair that's forbidden!

The twists and the turns, the forbidden romance, the suspense all continues in His True Queen. I couldn’t anticipate where Jodi would take this story. It picks up where The Controversial Princess left over and it was a lot. There was so much drama going on-the relationship, the Monarchy. It was all coming to a head and it was interesting to see who or what will come out on top. Adeline and Josh needed to be strong. They loved each other but would it be enough? I did like the relationship between the two. It was intense and strong and I believed that they would overcome anything. Jodi kept me intrigued to see how the story would play out. However the drama was just a little much because there was too many of it. But it made me want Adeline and Josh to beat it all. Overall, it was an alright read with some good parts.

5 stars
Obliviously, one must have read The Controversial Princess before reading His True Queen, so having said that… OH MY GOD!!!! In her true form, Jodi Ellen Malpas has blown me away with book 2 of the Smoke and Mirrors Series. No way around this review… just amazing!!! I thank the book Gods when I was certain there would be no book 3 about Josh and Adeline, because my heart could simply not take it… but I’m hoping that maybe Jodi will do a spin off with Eddie or maybe cousin Matilda?! Anyway, back to our Queen and King… actually, I can’t because I’m just overwhelm with it all! Maybe just a recommendation, when you get to chapter 24, make sure you will not be interrupted for the remaining of your reading… I promise you will thank me by the end. I gave the first book 5 crowns… but for this one I would like to give it 5 tiaras. Actually, make that 5 Spanish tiaras ?

Love this book even more then the first one. These two books are my introduction to Jodi Ellen Malpas and I will be coming back for more.
His true Queen continues where first book left off. There are lots of issues, twists, secrets and scandals awaiting Adeline and Josh. She is stretched between her royal duties which she never wanted or asked for and her love Josh.
These two truly complete each other, there is so much chemistry, it’s crazy.
I love Josh in this book because he was fighting so hard for his Queen.
Adeline did it in her own way, the best she could.
I love the ending of the story and how JEM completed the story.
I definitely recommend both books for all my royalty lovers out there. I truly enjoy this modern day princes fairy tail story.

His True Queen was an epic conclusion that saw some amazing plot twists happen! I loved this book and could not put it down.

You can truly feel the struggle that Adeline has with her new role in life. She knows that she must protect her family but the controversy that is occurring but doesn't want to give up her relationship with Josh.

I loved that Josh never gave up on his feelings for Adeline. What seems like a truly impossible position made him push even harder to see her.

This was an intense romance from start to finish but I still found myself laughing out loud at some of the things that happen between them and Adeline's family.

As always Jodie Ellen Malpas has delivered another amazing and unforgettable romance!

I loved Adeline, the girl made some very valid points, “I might be the Queen of England, but I’m still a woman.” I take my half-full wine glass and have a tiny sip. “And women talk.” I give her a friendly smile. “Just because we take on a job of this magnitude doesn’t change the fact that we are women.” Josh is one handsy man, “good. And I get to hold the royal *** I adore.” His hand falls to my bottom, cupping it over the smooth black satin of my dress. He gives it a little squeeze..." Josh could be so sweet, "...your status has never changed to me. You’ve always simply been mine.” I loved this book, and Josh the man was just as pushy as ever and I loved seeing Adeline grow into her potential