Snowflakes, Cakes and Royal Mistakes: A Cozy Royal Romcom

by Elizabeth Heathly

1 princess in disguise.
2 strangers stuck in a cabin.
12 days until the Winter Solstice Ball.

Princess Svetlana (AKA Lana) has two weeks to choose a fiancé, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Lana’s been moonlighting in her best friend’s lab for years, and their top-secret grant proposal is due the same day as the Council’s fiancé deadline. A visit to her baker grandmother in the remote mountain village of Havos is just what she needs.

But when Lana and her grandmother rescue a handsome stranger (Hadi) from a blizzard, Lana’s temporary escape becomes complicated. Hadi has no memory of who he is, and because he knows nothing about either of their real identities, Lana finally has a chance to get to know somebody without her title—or the Council’s spreadsheet of “appropriate men”—getting in the way.

As Hadi’s memories gradually return, Lana realizes that she likes him. A lot. And the more Lana experiences what it’s like to have chemistry outside the lab, the more she starts to question the future she chose for herself. With deadlines looming and feelings rising, it never seems like the right time for Lana to tell Hadi who she really is.

When the snow melts, they’ll both have to confront their real lives…and see if a relationship built on half-truths can become real, or if they were just royally mistaken.

This cozy royal romcom is perfect for lovers of The Princess Diaries, Hallmark-style Christmas movies, and closed door romances filled with flirty banter. Lana’s adventure includes:

A small town in the middle of the Alps

A mischievous wild sheep that knows something it shouldn’t

Cookies so good you thought they only existed in fairy tales

Winter wonderland vibes perfect for any vacation

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2024

Reviews

[Lindsey (Bagel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a cute and cozy read to end the winter season (in Texas at least!) It was like a mix of Hallmark and Princess Diaries 2 with a little bit of steamy tension!

Although it was warm and fuzzy…I wished that Lana and Hadi had a bit more added to their story. It felt very insta-love which I’m not a fan of! I would have loved for their personalities to be fleshed out more before they started falling for each other!

There was also an excess of politics that took me away from the whimsical setting of a snowy cabin! As soon as I got all cozy with scenes of baking and shopping…I was back to learning about their policies…which killed my fireplace hot cocoa vibe◠̈

HOWEVER, I definitely recommend for anyone wanting a fluffy, snowy closed door read less than 300 pages! It was cute and fun!! Just had a few quirks!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and cozy read for the holiday season!

Snowflakes, Cakes, and Royal Mistakes is a fun and (mostly) wholesome rom com and a great debut novel by Elizabeth Healy (who also happens to be my friend)! There are a lot of fun tropes: hidden identity, snowed-in, small town, cinnamon roll mmc, royal romance, etc!

Come for the romance and cute tropes, but you'll want to stay for the side characters! The sassy grandma, cunning assistant, and sweet sibling relationship are great additions to the main plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who's a fan of romance with minimal spice, Hallmark movies, or the Princess Diaries 👸🩷

Just be warned: you will be tempted to drink hot chocolate and eat a lot of baked goods while reading this novel.

[Keyonna (theamethystarchives) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before you read Snowflakes, Cakes, and Royal Mistakes, make sure you are snuggled up with some hot coco or mulled wine, a comfy blanket, and a few sweet treats. It is seriously a super cozy read for the winter season and I loved it. Elizabeth Heathly is a wonderful storyteller. This definitely gives Hallmark and The Princess Diaries (PG-13 version) vibes. A princess (who moonlights in her bestfriend's lab) being forced to marry, a hot (cinnamon roll and cheeky) stranger who has amnesia, a couple of sheep and a snowstorm in a cozy abode? Yes please.

I have to admit third person pov is not my first choice when it comes to reading, but this specific novel is very well done and held my interest tightly after the first few chapters. At the beginning of the story the pacing was slower but I appreciated the background history of Bavaria we got to learn that the story is set in. When Lana arrived in Havos, I could not stop reading. Every chapter I wanted to finish and continue to see what mishaps or cute moments may occur. Despite being a princess, I love how relatable Lana is. From the anxiousness, migraines, and introvert tendencies, she has become a favorite mfc of mine and I wanted to root for her the whole way. Lana and Hadi's story is swoony, cute, and funny. I love how both characters have a little sass to them when they let their guard down around each other. The chemistry between these two was delicate in the best possible way. The ending left me wanting at least one more chapter to see some unanswered questions answered and some more of Haid's cuteness. I am hoping to see more of their story in the future. We are also in need of a Esmelda cook book asap! The description of the delicacies baked in the story made my stomach growl several times while reading.

Thank you Elizabeth Heathly for the ARC.

[Georgie Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a cosy dive into the festive season - set in a cosy mountain town with old traditions, baking and plenty of spiced tea. Elizabeth has done a really good job of making you feel like you're in a Hallmark movie while reading.

Lana is escaping her royal life and impending duties for a week in her grandmother's idyllic cottage when she gets snowed in with a mysterious stranger who can't remember anything about himself. As he tries to learn who he is (and falls for his rescuer in the process), Lana learns to let go and prioritise herself.

Lana and Hadi's relationship is so sweet to read, and the anxiety rep was really well done. I really enjoyed their flirty banter, the strong female leads and Lana's character development as she begins to put herself first for once.

This is perfect for you if you enjoy:

❄️Royal romance/ Princess Diaries 2 vibes
❄️Anxiety rep
❄️Cosy winter vibes
❄️Small town romance
❄️Secret identities

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!

[Brittany Rolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read if you like:
👑 Royal romance
✨ Secret identities
✨ He falls first
✨ Winter wonderland vibes
✨ Fade to Black Romance

This was a sweet read. Lana & Hadi were adorable, and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom. I will admit that I struggled a bit at times during it, mainly because of the flow. I felt like it jumped around a bit. BUT, after sitting with it for a few days, I really did enjoy the overall story.

Lana had a lot to deal with as she grew up, and had so much on her shoulders. She wanted to please her family, and never wanted to cause any issues. She did what she was told, even at the expense of her happiness. When she travels to her yearly trip to stay with her grandmother, she's met with an unexpected stranger and insta-sparks fly. He is suffering from Amnesia and doesn't know she's a princess -- and she takes that as a moment to get to know someone without expectations.

Hadi became someone Lana needed. She helped break down her walls, and helped her see what she really wanted and needed. He was able to help her understand why she needed to push back a little, and get her happy ending! It also helped that he was super flirty and adorable. Their chemistry was .... fire. 🔥

You'll also fall in love with the other characters in the book. Her best friends and grandmother added a fun aspect, and didn't take away or steal the spotlight!


I received a free e-book copy from Elizabeth, in exchange for an honest review. :)

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Elizabeth Heathly for the eARC!

read if you like:
- Royal romance
- Secret identities
- He falls first
- Winter wonderland vibes
- Closed-door romance

Snowflakes, Cakes and Royal Mistakes takes us on a cozy journey with Princess Lana, who just wants to escape to a snowy cabin. Instead, she gets snowed in with her matchmaking grandmother and a mysterious stranger named Hadi, who has no memory of who he is.

This heartwarming romcom really brought back memories for me, reminding me so much of The Princess Diaries, which I absolutely adored! The chemistry between Lana and Hadi is just adorable, and their romance blossoms in such a sweet way that I couldn’t stop smiling. The small-town setting felt like stepping into a Hallmark Christmas movie—so cozy and inviting!

The conversations between Lana and Hadi had me laughing out loud! Their flirty banter is not just cute, it’s downright delightful, making their blossoming romance even more enjoyable. Honestly, I could totally see this story as a movie!

Now, I don’t usually read royal romances, but I really connected with Lana as a strong female lead on her journey of self-discovery. Plus, the mystery around Hadi kept me on my toes, making me excited to uncover his true identity!

Sure, the pacing slowed down a bit around the 75% mark, but I was still hooked. I found myself staying up late just to see how their story would unfold!

With charming characters and that delightful flirty banter, Snowflakes, Cakes and Royal Mistakes is such a cute read for the holiday season. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a sweet and cozy escape!

[Staycha Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

its starts of slow, but just like a blizzard it picked up. I fell head over heels inlove with “jiro” but I hated that Lana couldn’t be honest with him during their time together. I’m very pleased with the help of Vera, it made this story worth the slow burn. But I need more 🥰😅

[Molly Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, cozy read perfect for the festive season!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A royal romance with an updated twist. This book takes a few of our favorite plots - royals marrying for the country, and amnesia in a small, winter town, it mixes them all up in a fun way that feels different. I can absolutely see this as the next holiday book turned TV movie, and I am hoping for that to happen! The flow, for me, was a little off for the first few chapters, but then smoothed out and I fell into the book. This is a new to me author, and I look forward to reading more.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowflakes Cakes and Royal Mistakes is cute royal romcom with a science twist. This book merges tropes like princess being forced to marry and small town romance together to create something that is totally unique! I really enjoyed the romance in this book, it was so cute! I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cute, holiday romance this winter!

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute royal rom-com.. I loved it! Heartwarming and swoony.. Adorably funny, with endearing characters..

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

If you enjoy Hallmark movies and royal themes, you'll enjoy this one! This was very cute and lighthearted, and an enjoyable read. I liked the royal vibes, though I wish Lana had stood up for herself more (and earlier), and the amnesia trope isn't my favorite but worked well here. I saw the twist with Hadi coming a mile away, but it was still a cute read!

Thank you to Elizabeth Heathly for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Tracey Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a wholesome, hallmark Christmas movie, meets spicy princess diaries type of book then, Snowflakes, Cakes and Royal Mistakes is definitely a must read for you.

Lana the FMC is an anxious but amazing princess who moonlights her career in STEM and wants nothing more than to do whats best for her country.

When she goes on her annual Christmas visit to her grandmothers house in a remote mountain village with a daunting royal decision to be made, she never thought she'd end up snowed in... With a gloriously handsome stranger who has no memory of who he is after being rescued from the blizzard.

Will this handsome stranger affect her royal decisions and future she had already planned out for herself? Or will she embrace the chemistry growing between them and choose to change everything?

I enjoyed this cozy read, as it was wholesome and just what you want to read to feel the warm and fuzzies. The characters were well thought out and given there is anxiety representation it made it that much nicer. Definitely add to your TBR if you want a wholesome and lovely holiday read.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute little Christmas story is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. If you’re a fan of The Princess Diaries, The Prince and Me, or A Christmas Prince—or if you simply love a good hidden-identity, royal, romance—this book is for you.

While the story gets off to a somewhat chaotic start, with a lot of characters and information introduced in the first chapter, things settle down by the second chapter, and the pacing improves significantly. From then on, I was thoroughly entertained. The humor had me laughing out loud at times, and toward the end, I even found myself tearing up a little bit.

The ending, while predictable, delivers exactly what you’d expect from a holiday romance: cozy, feel-good vibes. This isn’t a book that hinges on shocking plot twists—it’s about joy, warmth, and the kind of swoon-worthy moments that leave you smiling and kicking your feet.

For a debut novel, this book exceeded my expectations. It’s pure, happy, and brimming with holiday cheer—a perfect read to kick off your holiday season.

[Bookishkayy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

This is such a cozy winter read and is perfect to be read cuddled under a blanket with a hot chocolate. If you’re looking for a book with hallmark and princess diaries vibes then this is it!
This book follows Princess Lana who just can’t wait to go on her yearly visit to Havos to visit her grandmother and get away from the spotlight of royalty. Instead, she ends up getting snowed in with her grandma and a mysterious stranger who has amnesia which turns out not that bad after all. I loved Lana and Hadis chemistry throughout this book, truly felt like they were meant for each other.
I am not usually a fan of royalty romances, however, I am happy I picked this book up. The beginning chapters were a little slow for me but it picked up. The secret identity had me wanting to keep reading to find out who Hadi really was.

Thank you Heather for the ARC copy!!

[harperbooktok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Elizabeth for giving me this opportunity to read Snowflakes, Cakes and Royal Mistakes as an ARC to review.

At first you'd say this is a predictable romance, perfect for escapism and to let your mind go. But, I was pleasantly surprised that this plot was a little different to what I was expecting. It's a hallmark movie in a book and I was totally here for it. It's an easy read, reflecting on the consequences of people pleasing constantly for others and finding yourself again through that bad habit. It's the perfect cosy and light hearted winter romance to snuggle into this Christmas.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really cute!

Like other reviewers have said, it’s a cute, cozy, hallmark-style book perfect for winter!

I like that the setting was a wintry cabin, where Lana was able to be herself! She was also able to keep up the ruse of being a normal person. The ending was obvious, but in a good way!

For me, this is a clean cutesy read with nothing graphic! I would recommend this book to all my romance loving friends, no matter what level of spice they’re comfortable with!

[Arleigh Salerno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why was this so cute... cozy, fun... even had me laughing a little at times.
The way the author has written this story had me wanting to visit Havos... but also cheering for what could be. I would absolutely adore seeing more from Hadi and Lana.
Theres so much a person goes through, what their families will accept... what one can do to still be happy. And this was such a wonderful story portraying that.

[Tori Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sweet with some innuendos and closed-door spice. It was a cute mix of one-cabin, amnesia, and hidden royal identity tropes, with strong Princess Diary vibes. I was rooting for "Jiro" to be the good guy, and for Lana to find her own path.

It started off slowly, but things picked up as the characters grew closer. The ending did not disappoint!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet cosy book. It follows Lara a Princess who spends a week each year with her grandmother in the middle of cold mountains. This is where she meets a man who has lost his memory.

I loved the humor, absolute cinnamon role MMC and following our FMC as she worries to becoming more open and relaxed.

Definitely worth a read if you like cosy romance about a princess finding love

[reva luther · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters I felt I was about to read a slow burn but then it picked up and I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie. It was adorable, fun, and charming all in one! I could definitely see this being another rom com book turning into a movie!

[Zuzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Christmas read, even though it took me some time to finish it I liked the story especially lots of sheeps and mouflons in it, because that was something that I definitely did not expect.
I also enjoyed how we can see that Lana changed during the short time and the ending was amazing.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun ! The brilliant, beautiful, sensitive, nerdy (yet royal !) Lana is an unlikely but genuinely relatable heroine in this action packed adventure-romance that I just couldn’t put down. Imagine getting a homework assignment to pick a lifelong mate by Monday ! The engaging and witty conversation just jumps off the page and made me feel as if I was in the room (or castle, lab, etc.).
Grab a copy of this quick - for that next flight, holiday or work-from-home day !

[Bailey Brabson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a wintery, cozy, hallmark vibe read this is the book for you. It was super cute. I first two chapters were a little slow for me but it picked up quickly!❄️

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It took a bit to get into but by the end I was hooked. I wish there was an epilogue though for like a year later though. Great characters and the world built was fabulous!

[Jazzmine Whissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute little book, a hallmark staple! Definitely recommend this book if want a light read ☺️

[Eliza Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully well written book!! The chemistry between the two main characters was unmatched and the cosy small town love just made me want to curl up by the fire. I read this book in 24 hours and I give it 5 stars⭐️