Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Royally Indebted
SERIES: Royalty to Riches Trilogy #1
AUTHOR: M.J. Calabrese
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 200 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2021
BLURB:
Eric Tinsley, the unexpected new Lord Gossett, has inherited a mess. He was never meant to be Lord of the manor, since he was the ‘spare’, but is forced into the role upon the deaths of his father and brother.
Little does he know that the title comes with a mound of debt that he cannot afford to pay.
Enter Robert Bennett, American Billionaire. Robert has tried multiple ways to move up in society, but even his billions can’t crack the royal elite. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Robert finds that way with Eric, Lord Gossett.
Married under a ten-year contract that outlines every aspect of their relationship, they soon find themselves questioning everything.
REVIEW:
Content warning: brief, non-con bdsm act; cheating by a main character
Royally Indebted is an imaginative take on the fake boyfriend trope. In this case, it’s a marriage of convenience arranged by two men who have only met once, for the purpose of solving their individual problems. The marriage is contracted to provide both men with personal gain.
American self-made, multi-billionaire, Robert Bennett, isn’t fully accepted by the socially elite because he doesn’t have the proper breeding. He aims to elevate his social standing by marrying a British royal. Furthermore, the idea of having a family of his own is appealing since his own family of origin is despicable.
Eric Tinsley is the “spare heir” who became Lord Gossett after his father and older brother both died unexpectedly within six months of each other. He grew up beaten and bullied by his parents and brother because they discovered he was gay; his only loving family member is his younger sister, Sarah. But now, he’s left with massive debt and the impending loss of the royal family homes that his father and brother left him with. When Sarah suggests he talk to Robert about a marriage of convenience, Eric jumps at the opportunity. The first thing the men do is hop into bed to test their sexual compatibility and let’s just say, there are no problems with the sexual chemistry and attraction.
After three months of being seen together publicly to ensure they’re perceived as a real couple, the men are married. They are wildly compatible out of bed, also. They enjoy each other’s company and form a strong friendship. I was pleased this wasn’t an insta-love story as so many fake relationship stories are. For three years, all is copacetic with Robert and Eric until the relationship goes off the rails spectacularly. The book concludes after the men are together for ten years, with regular looks at their relationship at yearly intervals. Their happily ever after is cemented in place and is truly forever. It’s a wonderful ending.
There are a few things in the book that might bother some readers:
- There is a dangerous act of non-consensual BDSM with no warning and no safe words. It is very brief.
- One of the main characters cheats on the other during their marriage. I mention this because I know cheating is a major hard no for many readers. It didn’t set me on edge the way it normally would for several reasons. It was vague – there was no one specific, no name or face, and no description or on-page relations, just the knowledge that someone cheated. Also, it’s an important driver of the story. It’s what brings the men closer and has them admit their love for one another.
- I generally enjoy stories that incorporate elements of BDSM, but they engage in a kink I found very unpleasant. I’m not passing judgement whatsoever, I just personally thought it was distasteful, pun intended. Again, it was very quick so I didn’t let it bother me.
The two instances of kink mentioned above don’t flow into the narrative organically. They were intended to signify trust but, in my opinion, were gratuitous and meant simply to titillate without serving a real purpose.
If you feel the above points won’t bother you too much, I highly recommend this novel. They’re such a brief part of the book that I was easily able to brush them aside and not let them impact my enjoyment of the story. I hope you are able to do the same.
RATING: 
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