A Royal Christmas Wish

by Lizzie Shane

Nobody does royal romance or Christmas like Hallmark!
Enjoy the enchanting original novel from Lizzie Shane.

Jenny knows she isn’t the princess type. Sure, she’s friendly and caring, but with her clumsiness and lack of self-confidence, glass slippers would only make her trip. When Dom, the cute guy she runs into in the park, turns out to be the prince of San Noelle, she figures he must not be her happy ever after.

But a mysterious countess grants Jenny’s one wish, and she finds herself married to this handsome prince! Unfortunately, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas night, her life will go back to normal.

In funny and touching ways, Jenny navigates royal traditions the best she can. But even as she grows closer to Dom, the clock is ticking. With love and a little holiday magic, could she somehow make the enchantment last forever?

This sweet holiday romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Chicken Shawarma.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Royalty

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2019

About the author

Contemporary romance author Lizzie Shane was born in Alaska and still calls the frozen north home, though she can frequently be found indulging her travel addiction. Thankfully, her laptop travels with her and she has written her way through all fifty states and over fifty countries.

Lizzie has been honored to win the Golden Heart Award and HOLT Medallion, and has been named a finalist three times for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award®, but her main claim to fame is that she lost on Jeopardy!

For more about Lizzie and her books, please visit http://www.lizzieshane.com. Happy reading!

Reviews

[Natalia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is a heartwarming Christmas romance and a must-read for fans of the Hallmark channel. The writing is excellent and I fell in love with the beautiful country of San Noelle. Jenny and Dom had wonderful chemistry together and I enjoyed reading about them. I really liked Jenny as the main character. She's lovely, relatable, and very kindhearted but her lack of self-confidence prevents her from seeing just how incredible of a person she's truly is. Thankfully, her best friend, Margo is always there to remind her of that. This book is so much more than just a feel-good romance. It's about self-empowerment, believing in yourself and not letting the fear of failure hold you back. And that's exactly what Jenny learns in the end, and I was so proud of her for finally chasing after her dreams. I highly recommend this book. It's a story that will stay with me for a very long time. Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for providing me with this ARC. And thank you, Lizzie Shane, for delivering such a powerful and inspiring message to your readers. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Teri Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! I adored everything about this. It's perfect Hallmarky Christmas goodness! Plus, I am always a sucker for a royal romance and this definitely didn't disappoint. Honestly, a rescue pup named Prince Harry?? YES, PLEASE. I do hope this gets adapted for film. It would be a great addition to Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas line-up. I was so looking forward to reading this, and I loved it even more than I thought I would. It's the perfect Cinderella Christmas story.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from my favorite book box company called Once Upon a Book Box for their 2019 Christmas mini box. The story was pretty cute and sweet and it was one of those typical traditional Cinderella-Meets-Prince-Charming romance novels. What I liked most was definitely the self-exploration for the female main character, Jenny, and I was happy she found herself in the end of the book. Aside from that, there wasn't much to expect or experience other than the magical twist of some pixie dusts.

As for the box itself, there were two items in correspondence with the book including a peppermint-scented candle and a snowflake bracelet. I absolutely adore their boxes as you never know what you'll get in the box prior to unwrapping them when you reach a certain page according to their matching gifts. What's more, I recently joined their #bookclubVIP so you could always use my code JASSIMPLYREADS10 on your subscription to save some money! :)

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Jenny James is a Just Jenny one day and she wakes up in a different situation the next. Living in New York City with her best friend, Margo, Jenny does odd jobs to make her rent. One of the jobs is a volunteer dog walker and her favorite is Prince Harry, a dog with a great personality and red fur. While walking Prince Harry in Central Park one day, she literally knocks down an handsome jogger named Dom, a very likable fellow. Later on that night, she is serving at a charity party and discovers he is actually a prince of a small kingdom, San Noelle, in the French Alps! After the party, a lovely lady who is like a fairy godmother grants Jenny a wish for returning a bracelet that she had lost. Her wish? To have a wonderful Christmas with a special man. The next day, she wakes up in San Noelle married to Dom! Is it a dream or just a wish? Where does reality begin and end? How long will her wish last? Just Jenny is now Princess Jennifer but she can't seem to get the princess thing right. She just needs some confidence. This is a sweet, feel good story that I honestly didn't know how it would end. A delightful Christmas story perfect for the Hallmark Channel.
I received a complimentary ARC from Hallmark Publishing through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Inkslinger for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Royal Christmas Wish
By: Lizzie Shane

*REVIEW* 🎄🎄🎄🎄
I'll admit it-I watch Hallmark Christmas movies, and I genuinely enjoy them, too! Why wouldn't I? Do I want to live in a world where wishes come true and happily ever after does exist? Yes, please! A Royal Christmas Wish is all of these things in book format. Plain, clumsy, good hearted Jenny lacks self confidence and is unsure where her life is going. One fateful day, Jenny literally runs into the swoon worthy Dom. They share a conversation and a connection. Dom sees Jenny for all her worth. Later, Jenny finds out Dom is actually a prince! Sigh. She meets a mysterious woman who grants her one wish, and Jenny is suddenly married to the Prince. She is a princess, but it's for a limited time only. Jenny has calamities and mishaps as she navigates her way through royal society. Is she truly falling for the prince in her reality, or is this just a dream liasion that will end soon? It's Cinderella with a modern spin, and I adored all of it. Jenny and Dom/Prince are perfectly written and delightful. The story is timeless, beautiful and expertly crafted to touch your heart. I love stories about spectacular Christmas wishes and the warm fuzzy feelings they bring. Maybe it's cheesy stuff, but I don't care because the message here is also positive, peaceful, hopeful and inspiring. A Royal Christmas Wish is exactly what I needed to remind me of the spirit of the season and what it truly means. Thank you, Lizzie Shane, for writing this little lovely gem!

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

With an engaging plot, this holiday fairy tale makes for an entertaining winter read. Who wouldn't love to meet a fairy godmother, make a wish, and wake up in a palace married to a handsome prince? This book did a good job of showing the ups and downs of royal living. I also appreciated the character development that we saw in Jenny. Dom seems a bit too wooden most of the time, though. If you are dazzled into picking this up by the cover you will not be disappointed.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Christmas Romance

This book was such a great read. A little bit of romance, mystery, fairytale and magic. It kept me guessing until the end. I had a hard time putting this book down., Fai

[Caitlyn Lynch]

A Royal Christmas Wish is published by Hallmark, and it is, unashamedly and delightfully, a pure sugary fluffy candyfloss confection of a romance. I was mentally casting Kat Dennings as Jenny, a broke part-time waitress and dog-walker with dreams of being Something One Day, and Tom Hiddleston as the European prince she literally collides with one day in Central Park.

There’s an actual fairy godmother, magical Christmas wishes, a romance that’s almost tooth-rottingly sweet and at the heart, a message that being yourself is actually enough, no matter how much you might feel like a failure compared to family members and friends who totally have their act together from a young age. It’s a lovely story with a beautiful message… and I’m definitely hoping to see Kat and Tom, or some other delightful couple with similar chemistry, bringing it to the screen in a Hallmark movie sometime soon!

Five stars for a sweetly fluffy and charming royal romance.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.

[Leanne | Read Sweetly to Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I picked this up as a preview because I saw Lizzie Shane's newest release on Netgalley and wanted to get a feel for her writing because I requested it. And then I could not stop reading.

This is such a wonderful Christmas book, full of festive joy and comfort. It genuinely made me grin throughout, giving me all the warm Christmas fuzzies I would expect from a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The premise is a simple one -- Jenny is a woman who is clumsy, has little confidence in herself, and is struggling to find her place in life. Whilst out walking one of the rescue dogs she looks after, she literally runs into a man called Dom--who turns out to be a Prince! Jenny knows a life for them together is impossible, until a good fairy grants her a Christmas wish that will change everything...

Everything was so charming. I would probably label this more as a women's fiction than a romance, because whilst I enjoyed the growing relationship between Jenny and Dom, I felt that most of the focus was put on Jenny's personal growth. Seeing her confidence improving, and the steps she takes to gain control over things, was amazing. I loved how the Jenny at the end of the book, was a completely different one to who she was in the beginning.

If you're looking for a wonderful, warm and cosy Christmas book with lots of magic and love, then you really can't go wrong with A Royal Christmas Wish. I can't wait to dive into Lizzie Shane's next book!

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who says wishes don’t come true?

The perfect and yes, predictable and cheesy story of a girl who is down on her luck trying to make it in Manhattan when she suddenly collides into a handsome man who she later finds out is a prince. The best thing ever to read before the Holiday Season begins ☺️☃️

[Chris Buono · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the spinning snowflake bracelet fits, watch out for mistletoe.

Told in first person, Lizzie Shane’s “A Royal Christmas Wish” is an enchanting holiday tale. In it, clumsy caterer, volunteer animal shelter aide, dog walker, and aspiring editorial assistant Jenny James Monteville has but one wish in life: to kiss the man of her dreams under a mistletoe. That “kiss” is to keep her family’s tradition alive. Easier said than done, though, for this awkward Iowan and recently-planted New York City gal who’s without direction in life.

Surrounded by her happily-married parents, professionally-accomplished, and perfectly beau-matched sisters Chloe and Rachel, and best—engaged—friend Margo Gonzalez (soon-to-be Bernhardt), Jenny’s only true male companion is Prince Harry—a rescue dog for whom she cares at Paws for Love.

Playing with Prince Harry, colliding into stranger Dom in Manhattan’s snowy Central Park, and the spirit of Christmas visiting Jenny in the most unique, catered-party way, the boyfriend-less gal’s road to an HEA with Dom unfolds into a surreal royal world of which Cinderella would be proud.

And that’s where Shane’s novel royally peaks, as it whisks away the reader with humorous scenes, fine character moments, and magical-filled storyline. That’s all while Jenny stumbles through a non-commoner life, wondering about her predicament, and how a silver-haired duchess elf of sorts—and her own Christmas wish—had a hand in bringing Dom, a stuffed-shirt noble, to her door as husband.

Knighted with laugh-out-loud moments, and a glass-slipper twist, Shane’s writing style held me. I was eager to find out more about Prince Alexander Dominic (Dom) of San Noelle and his country in the Alps obsessed with Christmas and its legendary holiday festival—especially after Jenny’s life magically changed overnight. One day she was the “queen of odd jobs,” the next “Her Royal Highness” and married to Dom—the guy she and four-legged pooch Prince Harry had met previously in the park.

All along the story way, Shane delivered with delightful surprises. Through Jenny’s adjustment to royal life with Dom in their unreal reality, to her klutziness jeopardizing a trade deal, before she righted it with the ambassador to France��for San Noelle’s benefit—and every “princess-prince” moment in between.

A community and family-oriented story mix, Shane had Jenny’s interaction with Dominic’s tradition-fixated world entertain in a believable, fantasy-like way. All was a befitting combination that constantly rang relationship true for “Just Jenny” and “San Noelle’s Prince Dom.”

More than just a sleigh ride to romance, Shane’s royal holiday fairy tale brought about all in a special, rewarding way for the characters. This is a feel-good Christmas romance that you won’t want to miss reading, and will not soon forget once you have done so.

*I had received an ARC from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinderella gets a makeover just in time for Christmas. A Royal Christmas Wish uses humor and heart to inspire hope. Part fairytale fantasy, part reality check, Jenny and Dom are a reminder that true beauty is never perfect. Flaws and all, Shane pulls out all the stops to captivate hearts and dole out wisdom with a simply marvelous feel good holiday romance.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a different, totally delightful Christmas tale. To be honest I started this book thinking, "Eh, another prince book". However, this one is different. Ms. Shane has thrown in a mysterious woman who has granted Jenny a wish to have a fairy-tale Christmas. She wants "The whole Cinderella deal. To be the princess and go to the Christmas Ball in a beautiful kingdom and dance with the prince who falls madly in love with me and kisses me beneath the mistletoe."
She finds there's a little more to it when she wakes and discovers that she might not be cut out to be a princess. Most princesses aren't clumsy and awkward. She's got Dom (a real live prince), who she had met in the park before she made the wish, but will she ever be able to act in a way that won't embarrass him or his country?
One other thing--she doesn't know how long the wish will last. What if she falls in love with her prince, only to wake up again in her lonely bed all alone in an apartment she shares with her roommate who is soon getting married. How do you go from being a princess to not being able to pay rent?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. NOT what I expected and that is a good thing! It may be too early for Christmas for some, but don't let that deter you from checking out this book.

Jenny is trying to find her place in the world in terms of her professional and love life. When she meets a prince from San Noelle, her life takes a very exciting turn full of wishes, exploring year-round and what it truly means to be a princess.

I found "Just Jenny" so relatable with trying to figure out your place in the world and trying to be realistic about the impossible becoming possible. That sounds like all of us along with comparing ourselves to those who have more success and appear to have found their purpose in life. Prince Dominic, Dom for short, was also relatable and a lot more than meets the eye. Other characters like Margo, Andrea and more were awesome. I truly enjoyed this book. Also, cute dog with Prince Harry.

If you need some inspiration in your life and a dose of holiday magic, check out this book. Well done to Ms. Shane on this story!

I received this book from Hallmark Publishing and BookFunnel for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was too sweet. It is a modern Cinderlla story set in NYC and a fictional country in the Alps at Christmas. It involves a wish and alternate reality. The story wasn't the problem. I didn't like the characters. I found Jenny annoying. She was too much. The others were okay.

[LibraryLaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form, but less cheesy. I truly enjoyed this (clean) wish-fulfillment romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

I don’t often use the “must-read” recommendation on my reviews. It always sounds so hyped up and not every story is to every reader’s liking so I hesitate to say that… However. If you love Christmas Romance, a touch of magic, the feeling of being right there in the book itself, a strong but gentle message of self-empowerment for women, and a couple who (fate or not) were meant to be with each other — then, yes, A ROYAL CHRISTMAS WISH is a “must-read” romance for you!

I loved watching Jenny go from being a self-conscious, almost nondescript woman who saw herself as “Just Jenny”, seemingly not deserving of happiness in any form to a confident woman who knows who she loves, is loved in return, and finally sees her own self-worth and embraces it – along with the true prince of her heart, a shelter pup called Prince Harry. Dom is perhaps the prince of my own dreams for he saw Jenny’s worth, her specialness long before she could.

I easily fell into this world where the impossible can become reality, where wishes come true but with a few twists and decisions to be made as well. Secondary characters will always enhance any story I’m reading and I loved the cast of characters we meet in A ROYAL CHRISTMAS WISH.

This is a story that I will pull out to re-read every Christmas season from now onwards. And you might, too once you’ve visited this very special Christmas Romance. I had a charming, engaging, magical time with Dom and Jenny – I’d not hesitate one second to recommend this story to any Romance reader who simply enjoys the magic of falling in love no matter the circumstances.

Oh, and that cover is simply stunning!

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[LaBibliodeCaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I recommended a book as a “must-read” and that’s precisely what I’ll be doing for A Royal Christmas Wish. A truly feel-good festive novel!

It was such great fun to read about Jenny’s journey to self-empowerment. She’s a lovely, relatable character but must learn how to overcome her crippling lack of confidence and sense of purpose. A bit clumsy but a very generous soul, self-proclaimed “Just Jenny” sees her world turned upside down when she crosses paths with a real European prince and an elusive countess with magical powers.

Convinced of her unworthiness, she will dismiss her chances of finding her soul mate in such an unattainable man, but fate has more in store for her and she’ll learn to believe in the impossible! She’s thrown in a wish world where all her wildest dreams are fulfilled and while she navigates this strange, but wonderful lavish parallel universe, Jenny will learn to come to terms with who she is and what she really wants in life.

Frankly, I hadn’t expected such a strong message about female empowerment at the end. This feel-good romance isn’t just about some predictable royal romance, it offers much more about how women value their self-worth, and that is for me, one of the strongest assets of this fun, entertaining, fast-paced and truly enchanting novel!

NOTE: I hope the author won’t take umbrage, but I must point out that there’s a small incorrect part in French that would need editing in Chapter ten. The proper spelling is not “quel est votre tradition de noël préféré?” but “Quelle est votre tradition de Noël préférée?” The feminine inflexion must be applied everywhere needed, since “tradition” is a feminine word. As I received an advanced copy, hopefully there might still be some time to amend it!

Princess Jenny would agree that it is a difficult language! :)

[Rady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can only say I loved the whole story. I love the season and therefore I could feel the spirit of Christmas in every single chapter. It was a tale of Christmas warming your heart. Modern Cinderella story mixed with season movie. The kind which let you believe in a magic of Christmas again. The kind which shows that kindness and togetherness are more worth than any expensive present you can get. That Christmas is for everyone and that people and wishes matter. 

The book was beautifully written und left you wish for more.

I would also like to thank NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the given opportunity to read and review this book.

[Patricia Sue Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant! It caps off my holiday season with grace. Lizzie Shane makes Jenny, our heroine so relatable that you feel everything she feels. We have all felt inadequate and less than. This book is a beautiful love story. Not only about romantic love but, finding yourself and loving yourself. Even with all your flaws.
I hope Hallmark makes this into a movie. It’s so charming. The Royal theme , hit it out of the park ! What little girl doesn’t dream of being a princess and Dom was the perfect prince. You could say, they saved each other. Highly recommended!! ❤️

[Meghan Buchman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, wholesome, Christmas story. This story is rich in humor,love and wishes. It's a quick, fun read that will have you wishing you were "Just Jenny". Definitely a story that will get and keep you in the Christmas spirit.

[Michelle Seckinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by this but I can. I am not normally a fan of romantic comedies, and I truly do not enjoy the Hallmark movies. The only reason I read this book is because it was the book in Once Upon a Book Club’s Christmas mini box. When I saw that it was published by Hallmark publishing, I did not expect to enjoy it.

I greatly enjoyed the beginning of this book. In fact, I only started to become apprehensive once Jenny woke up in the middle of her Christmas wish. While the book was, of course, very predictable on what the ending would be… It is hallmark after all. It was a very cute adaptation for a romantic comedy.

I enjoyed the character development throughout the book, especially that of Jenny. I would honestly love to see a book written about Margo and each of Jenny‘s sisters as well.

And how can you not enjoy your book that also has an adorable dog as one of the main characters.

This was a very quick and easy read, I read it within a couple hours. While probably not something that I would ache to reread, it might be one that I reread each year around the holiday season as it was a very cute book on what the spirit of Christmas is about.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Hallmark book, and I don't watch Hallmark movies, so I'm not sure how to rate it. I think it's probably good, for a Hallmark book? I'm giving it three stars because it seems like a Hallmark movie, but I can't give it more, because it just didn't do anything for me. It was very cheesy, but maybe that's the point? If you like Hallmark, definitely pick it up!

[Laura Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute Christmas read! I loved the fairy tale/dream aspect and Royal setting. Jenny was relatable and had such great chemistry with Dom and Prince Henry, the dog was a great addition. I love how Jenny finds herself inside of the dream and then makes it a reality.

[Amanda Engelking · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel consistent with the Hallmark tradition of Christmas romance, magic and happily-ever-afters. I enjoyed it!

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuter than any Hallmark book has a right to be.

[Stephanie Abramski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It gave me all the feels! It was perfectly Christmasy and such a great love story. It started out with the main character annoying me by her lack of confidence and horrible interview skills. It led her though to being super confident and the perfect character for this Christmas wish. It would make for an awesome Hallmark movie!

[Vanessa Mozayani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I was hooked from the first chapter. Such a feel good Christmas story!

[Kathleen Brunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew Hallmark has a series of Christmas romance books? An enjoyable light read. The perfect way to cap off a wonderful holiday break. Thank you Stacey K for sharing this book with me.

[Rachel D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a hopeless romantic, and this book was perfect for that. It’s my second time reading it, and I’m so glad I picked it for my book group to read. I’m excited to discuss it with them.