Once Ghosted, Twice Shy: A Fun, Sexy Reluctant Royals WLW Romance – Love in NYC

Read the e-book (a novella of 168 pages) through the Libby app and had to own a copy for myself. Plain and simple. Such an excellent read. The slow burn, the tension, the hurt, the love, the forgiveness and the passion between both characters is described so beautifully. This is my first read from the author, but I enjoyed the novella so much that I am now reading the prequel in the series, “The Princess in Theory,” just to learn more about the main character from this book, Lokotsi. To read of a gentle, yet expansive love between two Black, queer characters was a treat! And so very relatable. I appreciate that this book exists. The author did a great job.

I was thrilled to discover Likotsi had her own story, since she was my favourite character in A Princess in Theory. In that, we learn she met someone, fell in love and had her heart broken. (PS. You don't need to have read A Princess in Theory to understand or enjoy this, but you'll probably enjoy this more if you've already met Likotsi in book 1) Once Ghosted Twice Shy sort of picks up from there. Likotsi is back in NYC and has a systematic plan to help her forget about the woman who broke her heart - Fabiola (Fab). Here plans get altered when she runs into the very person she'd trying to forget. Through their journey of rediscovery, we learn about the events from their first meeting and the reason behind their break-up. Fab turned out to be a fun character, whose personality complemented Likotsi's well. The story is told in two parts, switching between their first meeting "last Spring" (told in Fab's POV) and their present meeting in "Winter" (told in Likotsi's POV). Some readers might find this confusing or off-putting, but I thought it was a good way of showing what transpired before and how Likosti could have had her heart broken by someone she spent just a few days with - especially for those who read A Princess in Theory. I'd love to see more of them in their HEA in future books in the series. As an African, one thing I've enjoyed about the series so far (with this book and A Princess in Theory) is that it isn't the Africans being 'rescued' as is often the case…

4.5 stars! ONCE GHOSTED, TWICE SHY is a charming, second-chance F/F romance. I loved both Fab and Likotsi, who are different in so many ways, but perfect for each other; I found myself rooting for them to get back together from the first scene. The story unfolds in both current time and a series of extensive flashbacks to their first whirlwind romance and the events that cut it short. Ms. Cole expertly conveys the heady excitement of their first dates as well as the love, longing, and pain both characters are feeling in the present. Her vivid descriptions of various scenes and settings ground the book in a realistic New York, with all its contrasts and contradictions. The novella also piqued my interest in the other novels in the series. I tried reading book #2 a year or two ago, and couldn’t quite get into it, but I think I was just in the wrong mood at the time. I look forward to reading book #1, A PRINCESS IN THEORY; I want to know more about events and people who are referred to in this book. NOTE: Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.

“Once Ghosted, Twice Shy” is my first Alyssa Cole book. So many of my friends love her romances so it’s about time I gave her a try! But of course, I decided to challenge myself further with reading her standalone, sapphic novella in her Reluctant Royals series rather than one of the main books. I’m still a bit uncertain about this author, but I think the fault is mine with starting where I did. This cute little story follows Likotsi, assistant most high to the prince, and Fabiola, an aspiring Instagram model and jewelry maker who both swipe right knowing that their initial meeting was just going to be a fling. But these captivating and beautiful women end up needing and wanting so much more from each other. I like the dual timeline POV and how that weaved these characters stories together and gave them a history that is otherwise so hard to establish in a novella, but personally, I don’t think the novella format worked for me. I am discovering I am just too much a fan of the slow burn novel, both with stories and romances. I need that tension to be built up and teased out, and you just can’t do that in a novella. However, this was a delightful, quick little read with just enough spice to definitely intrigue me toward the authors’ novel length romances! I liked the second chance romance aspect of this story and thought it was very well done, and also thought the subtle attention to detail was fantastically done, I just had a hard time being fully invested in these…

Being the personal assistant to a prince has its ups and downs, even for the very efficient Likotski Adele. One of the downsides is that her personal life, what little she has, tends to suffer. At one time, she didn’t mind so much, but ever since she met Fabiola C on an Internet dating site, life has not been the same. From the moment she’d seen Fab’s picture, Likotski had been intrigued, and meeting her did nothing to change her opinion. Everything was great… until it wasn’t. Until Fab coldly and unexpectedly broke up with her, citing Likotski’s leaving as the reason. Now Likotski is back in New York with the prince and his princess, and she can’t stop thinking of Fab. The past is past, and Likotski is determined to let go, aided by the new shoes given her by her father for Christmas. His note said: New shoes point toward the future…. But how can she think of the future when her heart lies in the past? Now Likotski is taking some time for herself, visiting a list of places she’s made up for herself. While on the subway, she receives an unexpected text from a source she does not recognize. Is Fate so cruel that she should run into the one woman she is trying to forget in a city the size of New York? Or is it that Fate is not done with them yet and has something else to say? Once Ghosted, Twice Shy is a Reluctant Royals novella, and it packs a sweet punch in its short length. In the first book, A Princess in Theory, we see Likotski secretly and happily but love, but…