Book Review: The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Pages: 464

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date:  July 7, 2020

Publisher: Grand Central

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: The Royal We

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Making it up the aisle was the easy part: After marrying the heir to the throne, Rebecca “Bex” Porter must survive her own scandals as she adjusts to life in the glamorous British royal family, in this “highly anticipated” follow-up to The Royal We, the “fun and dishy” bestseller and NYT Summer Reading List pick inspired by Will and Kate’s romance (People).  After a scandalous secret turns their fairy-tale wedding into a nightmare, Rebecca “Bex” Porter and her husband Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile. The public is angry. The Queen is even angrier. And the press is salivating. Cutting themselves off from friends and family, and escaping the world’s judgmental eyes, feels like the best way to protect their fragile, all-consuming romance.  But when a crisis forces the new Duke and Duchess back to London, the Band-Aid they’d placed over their problems starts to peel at the edges. Now, as old family secrets and new ones threaten to derail her new royal life, Bex has to face the emotional wreckage she and Nick left behind: with the Queen, with the world, and with Nick’s brother Freddie, whose sins may not be so easily forgotten — nor forgiven."

Things pick up where The Royal We left off. Nick and Bex had a beautiful wedding, well, except for the rumor that put a dark cloud over their ceremony. The rumor was about an alleged affair between Bex and Prince Freddie, Nick's brother.  Cue all the drama as the tabloids pick the story up, which was tipped off from one of Nick's former friends.  Obviously, this takes away from what should be a fairy tale wedding, so Nick and Bex escape to Scotland to avoid the public, tabloids, and all rumors.  However, after going into hiding for awhile, the public starts to get annoyed with them, not to mention the Queen.  Who do they think they are escaping all Royal duties and trying to blend in with the public in Scotland? Leave it to the Queen to get them home under false pretenses and then the story continues from there.  Bex and Nick must face the music and dance while trying to repair their relationships with just about everyone including the issues within their own marriage.  Royal lovers rejoice, because you will take pleasure in revisiting these characters and all their drama in The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan.

It's no secret that I absolutely loved The Royal We, so I was dying to return Nick and Bex's world.  Cocks and Morgan didn't disappoint.  There were many recognizable scandals pulled right off of the headlines and inserted in this book, which made The Heir Affair a lot of fun.  However, it wasn't all fluff.  Nick and Bex's relationship is difficult at times in this book. They have to deal with rumors, Royal duties, expectations, the fractured relationship with Freddie, and then the ever-present pressures of producing an heir.  Things aren't always easy for them, but I loved their relationship in The Heir Affair.

Cocks and Morgan are so good at what they do.  I was reminded of so many Royal rumors and scandals as I read The Heir Affair. It's sort of fun how they are able to incorporate some real-life issues into this work of fiction.  If you love all things Royal family, you'll appreciate this aspect of the novel. At times it felt so real, it was almost like getting a glimpse into the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

I didn't love The Heir Affair as much as The Royal We due to some drawn out drama---the book is almost 500 pages--nevertheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed The Heir Affair and loved revisiting these beloved characters.  If you love all things Royals and are looking for a good escape this summer, pick up The Heir Affair--it's the perfect beach or poolside read.