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A review by emilylovesbooks94
The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder
5.0
I thought Callum and Oliver's story was captivating, romantic, and unique, just like the men I watched fall in love despite knowing it was forbidden. Callum started off this book in the unenviable position of having his entire life dissected by the press after a massive scandal led him to becoming the next in line for the British throne. It was difficult to see how discouraged and defeated Callum was feeling when everything he did in the UK ended in disaster and countless friends and acquaintances kept coming forward with tell-alls about him as a child. For a while, I genuinely wasn't sure if he would make it through the media scrutiny without falling apart, but that's when Oliver reached out a lifeline and gave Callum a safe space to talk and vent without fear of being betrayed. Their late night text sessions and video calls were the single bright spot in some of Callum's worst days, and as he slowly gained confidence in himself and his value to the royal family, their more serious chats gave way to silly jokes and random facts and getting to know each other on a soul-deep level. I'm not sure either of them realized how quickly their feelings would turn from platonic to romantic, but as they opened up more and more and shared the things closest to their hearts with each other, love took root.
I was completely captivated by the depth of their connection, but their positions in the royal family and Parliament made an actual relationship impossible for them. Callum and Oliver made a serious effort to walk away and not give into temptation, but their love could only be held back for so long before it drew them together and didn't let go. The only thing that bothered me during that section of the story was the way Callum seemed to not grasp the severity of their situation at all, when it was the one thing Oliver wrestled with daily. I wanted to be swept away in the romance and passion of their secret fling, but when Callum started telling people and then acted surprised that it blew up into a major situation, I was frustrated with him. It didn't seem fair that one of them would be forced to give up their position for the other, and the angsty back and forth made me feel like there would never be a satisfying resolution. All of that ended up being temporarily eclipsed by a plot to take Callum out and Oliver's brave rescue attempt, but when the dust settled and Callum and Oliver realized their love was more important than any job title, I was still a tiny bit disappointed by the way one of them had to give up everything for the other. In the end, I came around when I saw how happily they settled into life together, but a part of me still wishes there had been more compromise.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
I was completely captivated by the depth of their connection, but their positions in the royal family and Parliament made an actual relationship impossible for them. Callum and Oliver made a serious effort to walk away and not give into temptation, but their love could only be held back for so long before it drew them together and didn't let go. The only thing that bothered me during that section of the story was the way Callum seemed to not grasp the severity of their situation at all, when it was the one thing Oliver wrestled with daily. I wanted to be swept away in the romance and passion of their secret fling, but when Callum started telling people and then acted surprised that it blew up into a major situation, I was frustrated with him. It didn't seem fair that one of them would be forced to give up their position for the other, and the angsty back and forth made me feel like there would never be a satisfying resolution. All of that ended up being temporarily eclipsed by a plot to take Callum out and Oliver's brave rescue attempt, but when the dust settled and Callum and Oliver realized their love was more important than any job title, I was still a tiny bit disappointed by the way one of them had to give up everything for the other. In the end, I came around when I saw how happily they settled into life together, but a part of me still wishes there had been more compromise.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.