William Coles

Palace Rogue is based on the true story of the tabloid hack who got a job as a Queen's footman at Buckingham Palace. As a former journalist at The Sun himself, William Coles writes authentically from the point of view of Kim, who infiltrates the palace to obtain a massive scoop and ends up causing a huge security scandal and working in close proximity to Her Majesty. This fictionalised version is absolutely hilarious as Kim doesn't have that much to lose and doesn't always toe the deferential line that a Queen's footman ought to. Tales of ventriloquism featuring the Queen's beloved corgis had me giggling out loud and some of the staff and their dealings with Kim were hilarious.

I loved the below stairs (or in this case, above stairs) feel of the story too, with raucous parties, gin-quaffing and all sorts going on between the staff. Buckingham Palace sounds like quite the place to work and I also liked the finer details of life as a member of staff. Kim's subterfuge forms part of the story but the other part is that of palace maid, Campion, a particular favourite of the Queen. Feisty, fun and quick-witted, Campion is a brilliant character whose story takes quite a turn. The two strands intertwine to make this is a fantastic read which satisfied my love of royalty and scandal. Unsurprisingly, there's one member of the royal family who doesn't come out of it too well (I'll give you one guess) and tales of what went on behind their door were a bit hair-raising to say the least.

This is such a fresh and funny read, with an unexpected thread of romance running through it. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but what I got was a book that had a quite mischievous feel to it, was sharp and different, and which I found utterly compelling. I was pleased to see it's the first in the Rogue series and I very much hope the next book is as good as this one.… (mehr)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
Title: The Eton Affair
Author(s): William Coles
Character(s):
― India James: 23 year old, Brunette, Hazel Eyed
― Kim: 17 years old
Setting: Windsor, England
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary, Historical
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: First Person (Hero)
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s): N/A
― “I so envy you Kim, I hope you never lose your passion.”
Overall Opinion:
An overall light hearted romance between a music teacher and student. "The Eton Affair" begins with Kim, the protagonist, sharing his insight on meeting the young brunette beauty and how their whirlwind romance form. The characters complimented each other and throughout the pages you're able to feel the innocent warmth and love between the lovers. It was a short and bittersweet read, and a great way to start off the author's debut.

… (mehr)

This was a tearjerker. First I love how this is a man talking about one of his loves. One he cannot forget and one that changed his life.

Kim is floundering and doesn't have a clue what to do with his life. So he decides to go work at a hotel he used to go to with his dad and mom before his mom died. Upon getting there he meets Cally who is just breathtaking to him but he doesn't want to act upon it because she is older than him.

Cally takes matters into her own hands and one thing leads to another and they are together. This book chronicles their love affair and how his time with her impacts his life.

A beautiful heartbreaking book where we learn how one person can truly make a difference in your life if you open yourself up to the experience.… (mehr)