Stevie‘s review of Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals, Book 2.5) by Alyssa Cole
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Avon Impulse 08 Jan 19
While I was disappointed by the second book in the Reluctant Royals series, I was determined to keep reading the rest as they were released, since I enjoyed the overall premise, if not the way the plot of that one story took liberties with how things are done in the UK. For this intermediate story, however, we’re back in the US, and back to following members of the Royal Household of Thesolo: Likotsi Adelele, Advisor Most High to Prince Thabiso, in this instance. As always, it’s a pleasure to see LGBT+ characters take the forefront in a mainly heterosexual romance series, even when they only get a novella’s worth of space to conduct their affairs.
Likotsi, a very dapper butch, is enjoying some well-deserved time off and intending to forget, once and for all, the woman who broke her heart the first time she was in New York by creating new memories of the city on a solo exploration of its tourist spots. Her plans are derailed, when the woman in question coincidentally catches the same train and attracts Likotsi’s attention with a series of text messages, photos, and videos. Back when the pair dated – briefly – before, Fabiola had been a stylish, ultra-feminine lover of classic styles, while now she is more practically, though no less stylishly, dressed; and whereas before she’d been an accountant about to launch herself into the world of independent jewellery design, now she’s still working for someone else and apparently packing in too many hours at the day job to even think about making herself a new pair of earrings.
Wanting closure – and, preferably, an explanation as to why Fabiola stood her up, then ignored all subsequent communications – Likotsi agrees to go for Dim Sum and unlimited refills of tea with her ex. That date leads into a series of excursions to lesser known places of interest, and slowly we, and then Likotsi, learn about the dramatic change that caused Fabiola to end their incipient relationship so abruptly.
I really liked both characters in this story. While Likotsi is very much tied to her job and reluctant to commit to anything that requires she stay in the US when her employer returns to their own country, Fabiola’s sense of loyalty towards her family is just as strong and is ultimately the driving forces behind the changes she’s had to make in her life. Seeing the various places Fabiola found for them to visit, especially through Likotsi’s point of view, was an absolute delight, and I loved the way their interactions in the present were intercut with happenings in Fabiola’s past so we got a real sense of why the relationship had been both a joy and an obstacle for her the first time around, and why she was reluctant to make any promises for the future when she got a second chance at happiness.
My one disappointment, which I was prepared for going into the story, was that the novella format didn’t allow us to see the pair grow together. Although the epilogue gave us some clues as to whether they’d get a happy ever after, it wasn’t as satisfying as a few extra chapters might have been. On the other hand, I’m greatly looking forward to the next novel in the series, assuming it follows the trend set by two out of the three romances so far.
Grade: B
Summary:
While her boss the prince was busy wooing his betrothed, Likotsi had her own love affair after swiping right on a dating app. But her romance had ended in heartbreak, and now, back in NYC again, she’s determined to rediscover her joy—so of course she runs into the woman who broke her heart.
When Likotsi and Fabiola meet again on a stalled subway train months later, Fab asks for just one cup of tea. Likotsi, hoping to know why she was unceremoniously dumped, agrees. Tea and food soon leads to them exploring the city together, and their past, with Fab slowly revealing why she let Likotsi go, and both of them wondering if they can turn this second chance into a happily ever after.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
