Welcome to Advent Reads!
This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now. Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!
Synopsis: "A charming Christmas village, a storybook castle, a royal ball, and a gorgeous prince are the last things New York City reporter Kaylie Karlyle expects to find on her holiday freelance assignment to Europe. But when the family she's interviewing turns out to be the royal family of Tolvania, Kaylie has a meltdown when the quirky queen wants her to write a Christmas fairy tale for the spunky, young princess. Kaylie must battle the princess's father, who doesn't trust the media, and her own insecurities about writing anything beyond the news.
To spark inspiration for the fairy tale, the queen recruits the prickly Prince Alexander to show Kaylie the family's most spectacular royal holiday traditions. And sparks definitely fly when the only thing Kaylie and the prince agree on is that they're both more "bah humbug" than "ho, ho, ho."
But somewhere between sleigh rides and snow angels, merrymaking and mistletoe, upside-down Christmas trees, and a legendary Christmas crown, Kaylie and the prince open their hearts to Christmas and start believing in themselves and each other. It's a real-life fairy tale in the making until Kaylie discovers a secret about a royal Christmas heirloom that jeopardizes everyone's happily ever after. Can the magic of the season save this holiday happy ending?
Bonus Content: Includes delicious royal Christmas recipes and holiday activities."
My Review: I have read another book by Schaler before and I loved the focus on traditions, so I was really thrilled when I got into this one it also heavily featured family holiday traditions. Of course you can't go wrong with a castle setting with a bit of enemies to lovers romance thrown in and just a touch of mystery to fill out all the holiday moments. It was an easy book to settle into and picture. The characters did fall a little flat for me but all the descriptions of the holiday fun really pulls it together. If you are looking for a Hallmark style Christmas book to read, this definitely fits the bill.
My Rating: While this one was a bit predictable with characters that seemed a bit cookie cutter, it still pulls it off with all the wonderful holiday traditions and warm cozy feelings. I give it a rating of Three Paws.
My Rating: While this one was a bit predictable with characters that seemed a bit cookie cutter, it still pulls it off with all the wonderful holiday traditions and warm cozy feelings. I give it a rating of Three Paws.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the above is my honest review and opinion.
You can find out more about Karen Shaler and her books on her Goodreads Page or Website.
A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale was just released on October 5th so you can pick up your own copy in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or request it at your local bookstore or library. It also is the Christmas book for the Once Upon A Book Club box, if any remain I recommend it for a little holiday treat.
With the Hallmark stamp on this one, I would have to be in the right mood to read this.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely very Hallmarky, if you are looking for a book that you don't have to focus on because it is like every other holiday romance then it is a good fit.
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