American Royals II: Majesty

With her father gone, Beatrice must step into her role as queen. To do this, she has to let her first love go and make the decisions her father would have wanted. For that reason, she takes on the challenge of marrying Teddy. Sam is distraught by this bit of news, which is only natural. To get back at Teddy, she decides to pretend to date someone, hoping he'll grow jealous. She enlists Marshall, but it's hard to distinguish what's real and what isn't when you spend each moment pretending.

Daphne still has her sights on Jefferson and gets Ethan to distract Nina so she can make her move. Nina is hesitant with Ethan because he's Jefferson's best friend, but she likes how she doesn't have to hide with him. She can be herself, even if she's playing into Daphne's hand. Daphne will still do anything to get what she wants. It doesn't matter who she has to stand against, not even her best friend or the other person who is the only one who wants to remain at her side no matter how heinous she is.

MAJESTY is a giant flip flop of relationships. It's why this book is 3.5 stars to me and felt more like a standalone. I love the forbidden relationships between Connor and Beatrice and Nina and Jefferson in the first one. In MAJESTY, the main characters kind of fall in line to conformity it feels like, except for Sam. I love Sam and Marshall's relationship and how it started. To me, this was the best development and I love both of their characters. Teddy is still willing to do what's right and is sweet, but it's hard not seeing him with Sam. I love the idea of Nina and Ethan in a relationship, but it's weird after everything we saw in the first one. I do wish we saw more of Jefferson as well.

Final Verdict: Overall, MAJESTY is a whirlwind of relationships and friendships. It's a story of coming to age and Beatrice accepting what she has to do for America with her title of Queen. I love the female power in this one and as always, dislike Daphne. For fans of romance and drama like Gossip Girl and stories like that, you won't want to miss this one.

Majesty begins right after the King of America dies, leaving his oldest daughter Beatrice queen. She was in the process of telling her father that she wanted to abduct and run off with her guard Conner. That all changed when her father dies.

Her younger siblings, Sam and Jefferson have their own issues. Sam thinks she's in love with Teddy who comes from a blue blood family but has no money. He's also the one Beatrice's family wants her to marry. Jefferson has broken up with Nina and she's back in college, trying to get her life back to normal. Only Daphne, the royal circles 'mean' girl has other plans

What worked: This is the second book in the American Royals series. I was a big fan of the first book and couldn't wait for the sequel. So when I got approved to review the second book, I was excited! And this book doesn't disappoint!!!

What I really enjoyed was revisiting this alternative universe where America has royalty. I especially loved how McGee weaves in backstory from the previous book so readers don't forget all the intrigue and secrets.

Beatrice's life changes when her father dies. Her character arcs toward the end of the novel when she has to make the personal decision whether to have the crown be forced on her or to take things in her own hands. That doesn't mean this comes easy. There's the question of loyal and how she fits as the new Queen of America.

Sam's the 'spare' and now finds she has to take her royal calling as the next in line more seriously. She also decides to make the object of her affections-Teddy-jealous by getting a 'fake' boyfriend. Only things don't turn out the way she planned.

Jefferson's story is intertwined with Nina and Daphne. Nina seems to have grown up more and her story and new relationship with Ethan is one that I especially enjoyed. Daphne of course is still the 'mean' girl who plots to do anything she can to get Jefferson's attention and become a princess that her mother desperately wants.Saying all that, Daphne isn't the one-dimensional, stereotypical mean girl. Readers see her vulnerabilities and weaknesses that drive her to make the decisions she makes.

I think the only weakness had to be Jefferson's story. He seemed to take a backseat to the others in the story. I wanted to see more on what he thought and for McGee to dig deeper into his character.

The ending of the novel is fast-paced with many of the loose ends being tied up. Hint, Connor shows up again.

Gossip Girls meets an alternative reality where America has royalty. Fast-paced, with court intrigue, back-biting, and friendship. This sequel is a satisfying continuation of the first book.