A Princess by Christmas

A Royal Wedding #3

by Julia London

She's discovered his secret.

Now the trouble really begins...

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband's gazette into the ton's sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late... Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup...and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria's lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt's cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she's letting on—and worse, Marek can't seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who's determined to find the truth...and a prince of her own.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Christmas, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Holiday

384 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 29, 2020

About the author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon

Reviews

[Alba Turunen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5 Estrellitas. Me ha gustado, pero le habría cambiado ése final. Al menos me ha gustado más que el anterior, pero no más que el primero.

"Princesa de repente" es el tercer y último libro de la serie Una boda real, de Julia London, donde tenemos a estas hermanas y amigas tan unidas, que acaban enamorándose de príncipes de los ficticios reinos de Alucia y Wesloria.

En los anteriores libros, Eliza y Caroline, mejores amigas se enamoraron de los príncipes de Alucia, Sebastian y Leopold. Ésta vez es el turno de Hollis, la hermana menor de Eliza, que arrastra un pasado distinto.

Hollis Honeycutt se casó muy joven con el amor de su vida, Percy, un hombre bien posicionado y dueño de una revista de política. Un trágico accidente acabó con ésta dicha demasiado pronto, y Hollis decidió seguir con su vida convirtiendo la aburrida revista de su esposo en una revista femenina de chismorreos y consejos para damas.

Marek Brendan es un funcionario de Wesloria que oculta un pasado secreto. Marek ha venido a Inglaterra con la delegación wesloriana que ha sido invitada para firmar un tratado de paz con su vecino de Alucia. Entre los invitados se encuentran la familia real, y Marek ha descubierto un complot para acabar con el rey.

Será en medio de esto cuando Marek y Hollis se conozcan. Aunque en principio no se llaman mucho la atención, Marek es un hombre taciturno y solitario que no parece hacer ni caso a Hollis, y ella se comporta como una abeja revoltona cada vez que se le acerca. En seguida, Hollis descubrirá que Marek no parece hacerle mucho caso porque es sordo de un oído, a causa de una enfermedad infantil.

Hollis ve a Marek muy solo, y por el motivo que sea, decide hacerse amiga de él, por eso y también porque ambos acaban de descubrir algo que puede poner en peligro a la familia real de Wesloria.

El libro está bien, pero me ha costado más leerlo porque no he podido leer tanto como quisiera. Como pareja, es verdad que Hollis y Marek me han gustado mucho, es mas, de los protagonistas masculinos de ésta serie, ha sido el que más.

Reconozco que ha habido algunos puntos que me han convencido menos, el romance tarda en aparecer y cuando lo hace es muy repentino, además del final, que me ha parecido muy rápido y creo que le habrían hecho falta dos capítos más, pero dos capítulos muy necesarios en que la autora debería haberle dado a Marek el final que merecía, porque ni el título de la novela ni la sinopsis aciertan.

Aún así me ha quedado buen recuerdo de la novela y de esta manera doy otra serie por concluida. En general me ha gustado, pero me ha parecido flojita, creo que desde que Julia London publica con Harlequin sus libros son más flojitos.

[Dash fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3☆ Intrigue, Mystery and a Sprinkle of Christmas Charm.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. After reading the book I discovered that it was part of a series and I believe there lies the problem with me fulling enjoying A Princess By Christmas. This book is definitely not a standalone.

For me I felt like I was dropped into a story that was already part of the way through and the characters were already well acquainted but just not to me.
Which Is fine as thats the beauty of books is discovering characters. But I just felt it took me a fair while to work out who was who and being a royal based political book there was a fair amount to catch up with.

I did enjoy the journalism articles but again I wasn't aware that Hollis was the one writing the articles or how she became to write them. It's just a few finer details I wish I had known. It may seem minor but not having the full pieces of a puzzle makes it incomplete and a lil frustrating.

Overall this was an ok read, but would of been far more enjoyable had I read the previous books. This book will definitely appeal to Historical Romance and Mystery lovers.
There is a dash of Christmas charm, endearing characters, plenty of intrigue, politucal secrets and mystery with a sprinkle of romance.


Thank you to Mills and Boon Insiders for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hearty dose of Victorian Christmas cheer with a healthy helping of international intrigue. Hollis Honeycutt is the star of this third book in A Royal Wedding series. It has been interesting to see the gazette Hollis publishes evolve through the three books. I also found it refreshing to have a heroine who is a hearty eater -- and her waistline reflects it like in the real world. Sometimes the Weslorian/Alucian negotiations got a bit confusing. If you have been reading this series, this one will be a satisfying continuation of the saga and could also be the last?

Thank you to HQN Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Miniikaty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

Reseña completa http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com/...

La premisa era tremenda, el título y la portada terminaron de convencerme y como me apetecía algo romántico y ligero me tiré de cabeza, no obstante, me he llevado una buena decepción con este libro porque aunque es un libro romántico me ha parecido que le faltaba de todo y le sobraban muchas cosas.

De primeras avisaros de que es tercera parte de la serie A Royal Wedding y aunque en los libros románticos esto no suele ser un impedimento porque la mayoría tienen protagonistas diferentes en este no pasa así, porque la protagonista de aquí es hermana y mejor amiga de las anteriores protagonistas y salen bastante en esta novela así que se desvela su romance y desenlace y además salen los reinos mencionados y claro al empezar la novela iba súper perdida con tanto nombre y localización, hasta que fui avanzando no me enteraba apenas de nada. Lo malo es que como hay tanto politiqueo y tramas de intrigas pues tampoco me interesaba mucho 😅 y encima la parte romántica no me ha convencido en absoluto, es sosa, le falta chispa, pasión y química, me ha dejado muy fría, además de que en mi opinión pasa todo muy deprisa y no tiene mucho sentido, no sientes nada cuando se besan o confiesan sus sentimientos y para mí eso es imperdonable en una novela romántica.

Un romance histórico con buenas dosis de intrigas políticas.

[Joana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review originally published at Romancing Romances.

I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

2.5*

First of all, I have to admit it took me quite a bit of time to read this book (and if you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen a few stories about me being bored with the current book). However, I kept reading, and around the 75%, 80% mark, the book did improve.

I usually really enjoy Julia London’s writing and stories, but this series has been amiss with me (I’ve started the first one I don’t know how long ago, but since it wasn’t an ARC, I’ve put it aside to read at a different time).

I didn’t really like the heroine, Mrs Hollis Honeycutt, and I didn’t like that the author kept perpetuating this “oh corsets are bad, they squeeze you up, bla blab la” situation. If you’re interesting in knowing more about the subject, and why it’s wrong to keep saying this, check out Abby Cox, Bernadette Banner, and others on YouTube. It really annoyed me that even though we were given a curvy heroine, she was always complaining about the tight dresses, not wanting to wear a corset, and her family just kept harassing her about her extra weight. It just seemed unnecessary, and too much, too many times.

I wasn’t a fan of the heroine’s family, either. It just didn’t feel right how they treat Hollis, and how she sometimes behaved.

I actually liked Marek, even though it was hard to know him – but that was part of his charm. I felt the whole white hair/deaf situation (me trying not to spoil things!) was left unfinished, and in truth the title made me think something different would have happened.

I liked the main plot point, but boy did it drag on! It took a looong time for something to happen, which is one of the reasons why this book was just too boring for me.

At the end, it picked up the pace a bit, but that didn’t make up for everything before.

There really isn’t much more to say about the book, it wasn’t bad, it just was… boring.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 if you're generous (I listened to the audiobook and usually the scenes feel a bit shorter to me on audio than written – but these felt extremely short. It’s hard to for me to judge the length without having it black and white on the page :) )
Humor: Yes! Some lovely humor and dialogue that had me smirking.

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )

Should I read in order?
I would say yes – I read the second book in the series (and I found myself wishing I had read book 1) and now that it’s been awhile I found myself kind of lost in the beginning. There was a lot of information dumping and people talked about – this may come as redundant if you’ve recently read the whole series, but as it was I was wishing I read read this one sooner after finishing book 2. The Princess Plan starts off the series.

Basic plot:
Hollis has been a widow for 3 years and poured her efforts into Lady Honeycutt’s Gazette, which features fashion and gossip, though she’d love to have it take a more serious investigative theme. It seems her family and friends are all married and she is becoming ‘that relative’. Marek is in London visiting with others from Wesloria. Hollis latches onto him for information and also a bit of suspicion for his purpose in town. Soon they are finding each other at every function and working together to solve a dangerous mystery.

Give this a try if you want:
- Christmas time novel
- Victorian time period (1841)
- Lower steam – There are 2 scenes but they are on the short and flowery side
- Disability featured – our hero has hearing damage on his left side and is almost completely deaf when sound comes from that side
- A focus being on working together to resolve a problem in the story (kind of a mystery?)
- Lots of family members love – there’s plenty of scenes of Hollis with her family, including characters from the prior books and being and aunt to their children

My thoughts:
I struggled with this story. I had the same issues that I had with book 2, though they seemed more pronounced in this one (or it could be my issues with focusing now that I didn’t have a few years ago)

The characters really were lovely. Especially Hollis. I just adored her. She was this ball of sunshine and never let anyone get her down. She was happy, spunky, stubborn, but she used the most adorables ploys to get what she wanted. She cajoled and bribed and said the right things. She was just a pure delight to read, really.

Marek it look much, much longer to get to know. He was very private and standoffish with Hollis, trying to avoid her through the first half the of book. But when he does realize he’s falling, it was beautiful. I adored the ending and his declarations were so romantic to me. I had no qualms that these two were going to make it long term.

But – it took FOREVER for me to get to this point. The beginning I was so bogged down in details it was just too much. I started to be overwhelmed with the plot, the intrigue, the back story, and all the characters and I just wanted to get through it. I kept stopping this one and picking it up again and having the same problems with it.

It’s a fairly slow moving plot. It’s slow burn. I just found it….slow. And I don’t want to imply it’s a bad book because I do think this was totally me struggling to connect – but I ended up only really enjoying maybe about 15% of the book.

It was funny! There were a lot of super adorable, cute, and utterly sweet family moments and humor and that was just lovely.

I am thinking I wouldn’t try anything else from this series (I don’t know if that was the end of it, but I don’t plan on reading book 1). This is all I have tried from London so I will have to go back and try some of her older work sometime.

Content Warnings:

poisoning
treasonous plots
death of a spouse remembered


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

70% - kiss
74% - brief kiss
78% - kisses, light breast play, missionary sex (on the short side)
86% - sex – quite short

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was slow

For a holiday read, this one dragged and just didn’t hold my attention. I loved the cover and had had high hopes because the heroine is a strong one. But....

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest in the Royal Wedding series, A Princess by Christmas follows the widowed Hollis as she unknowingly befriends and falls for the secret, lost prince of Wesloria, right in time for Christmas! I loved the holiday vibes of this book and they have a lovely, slow burn romance. Hollis is entertaining, ebullient and utterly herself, which makes the introverted, grumpy Marek her perfect foil. They work together to uncover a plot involving dangerous political machinations. Also, Marek is partially deaf and I liked how that was handled.

I will say, this book does drag at times, especially in the earlier parts. I wasn't really invested until around 35% and I think this could have been tightened. I also think it's irritating that we supposedly don't know who Marek really is for such a long time when it's IN THE BACK COPY OF THE BOOK! It makes his perspective feel a bit disingenuous. On the other hand, I like that this uses the story of a side character to tackle homophobia and how LGBTQ people found ways to live and love even in this time period.. Ultimately I did end up liking this, but it was quite slow to start and had some pacing issues. A solidly festive pick though! I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a lovely story!! Hollis was such an interesting character, forceful and strong and determined and everything I could hope for in a heroine. I love her chaotic house and her relationship with Donovan and business...she is fabulous! I also really enjoyed Marek, who always feels out of place and has a hard time hearing and is the only one to give credence to Hollis’ theory that there is a plot afoot. I loved this story although I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more between Marek and the king.

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Emotion, secrets, intrigue and romance combine into a entertaining blend that had me eager to keep reading. The characters I had to warm up to but I did grow to like Hollis and Marek. I felt it was a bit over-the-top but still a good book. Of my own volition I am posting a forthright review.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

I would not wish any companion in the world but you

First Impressions
A Princess By Christmas is the final book in the trilogy (at least I am pretty sure its the final book) and after reading the second book, I was really excited for Hollis’ book especially since there was such a teaser about her story in the second book ” A Royal Kiss and Tell” and honestly I didn’t really know what to expect in this book as there was a teaser about Hollis and her Butler (who is this sexy butler and is always by her side and very protective) but I hate to disappoint but that is the center focus of the story. But ironically, I really liked this romance more than I probably would have enjoyed Hollis with her Butler. Hollis and Marek are such a great match and they really connect together. There is such a smooth transition in their relationship and the flow felt so natural. It’s a story that will definitely bring the charm of the Christmas season, a bit of a mystery, and a bit of forbidden love to keep you interested all the way through.

Summary
Hollis Honeycutt has been mourning her dead husband for three years and she is at the point of her life where she aches to move on and find joy in life again. While she loved her husband, she is young and full of life and wants to share her ideas and thoughts with the world. But her life is changing so much with her family moving in various directions, and Hollis feels like she is being left behind in a cloud of dust. But she has a very fulfilled life with her gossip sheet column which she has transformed into something deeper and more elemental for the readers. Where she will brave the society with her talk of progressiveness and enlightenment. But then she meets a sexy stranger, who is full of mystery. At first, she thinks that he is after the throne of Westloria and that he is a true villain. But she is surprisingly shocked to discover that is far from the villain in the scenario, but a true hero. And when his secrets are revealed to her, Hollis is determined to get to the truth of who is after the King of Westloria, and after the safety of her family and what the future may hold for Hollis and Marek. But as Marek and Hollis investigate this plot against the King, intense chemistry builds between them. But their lives are so opposite from each other, and they wonder how they could ever find a way to their happily ever after when they are worlds apart. Will Hollis and Marek be willing to sacrifice to keep their love or let it go?

She missed a man’s touch, that feeling of being wholy desires, she missed abandoning herself to pleasure. She missed lying against someone. The kiss was wild and dangerous, full of craving and desire.

What I Loved
I simply had such a blast with this book and there were many elements to the story that I really enjoyed. I first want to mention the heat in this story because it was actually very well done. You never know what you will find especially in a historical romance here, but I found that in this one I was charmed by the heat that is played out within this novel. It was much more heated than I expected, but there weren’t that many scenes which is why I didn’t put it under a higher level. And it doesn’t happen until the latter half of the story. I will say the kissing under the mistletoe scenes were on point and so delightful. The characters themselves were the stars of the story and really shone throughout this novel. Julia London has this unique talent of really writing the most endearing character that just comes alive for the reader. The plot of the book was the icing on the cake. I really felt like even though there was such focus on the character’s depth and growth, it was well balanced with a decently built plot. We have this plot against the king, so we have this mystery of discovering who is behind it but also saving the King in time. I really liked how these elements blended together and what a great team that Marek and Hollis make together. It’s such a true partnership and once the steam level builds, the intimacy between them really solidifies in such a relatable way. Another aspect that I really loved was seeing the hero fight for the heroine. He is so devoted to her and willing to fight for what they have.

He was so different from any man she had ever known, he was taciturn and solemn, surprsing in so many ways. Somehow he had made her feel vibrant and necessary again, he’d made her want again.

What I Disliked
There were a few things that I struggled with in this story. As much as I enjoyed this one, there were some issues that I had with this one. The first being the pacing, I have technically been trying to listen to this one for weeks but just wasn’t interested in it. I am not sure if it’s the book itself or if it was the narration although I really liked the narration so I am not sure that even played a factor in the pacing element. It wasn’t until about 50% of the book that I started to really get into it, and I almost DNF’d it because it just wasn’t holding my interest as I wanted it to. Then we had the way that her family treated Hollis. They were actually pretty neglectful of her and then act all surprised when she has a love match. I really felt for Hollis in how her family acted with her. But also I would have liked to see Hollis fight to be with the hero more. It seemed like he had to do all the fighting for the relationship just because she didn’t want to leave her family (who by the way were leaving her for the countryside anyway). She did have this bond with her butler that was strange and wasn’t ever really explained and I would have liked for the author to give more focus on this a bit. The ending was lackluster, while there were some good things about it, nothing was revealed about the hero’s identity not even to his true parent and I was really disappointed in that.

I need my life to mean something, I have wants, and I want to live, I don’t want to live to mourn.

Overall Evaluation
I found A Princess By Christmas to be a loveable romance that sparks joy into the soul, its a story that while it has some drawbacks, as a whole, is a beautiful well told story that left me with a tear in my eye and a smile in my heart.

I am twice the man I am when you are near

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Princess by Christmas
A Royal Wedding Series #3
Julia London
https://www.facebook.com/JuliaLondon/
Release date 10/13/2020
Publisher HLQ Books

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

She’s discovered his secret.

Now the trouble really begins…

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband’s gazette into the ton’s sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late… Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup…and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria’s lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt’s cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she’s letting on—and worse, Marek can’t seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who’s determined to find the truth…and a prince of her own.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will they be able to let go what hold them back ...

What a surprising read this book was, as I was a bit disappointed by the previous book, I had low expectations for this one, and I was wrong.
I just loved it.
Sure it is more a mystery than a love story until the end, it is such a slow burn romance, it is often secondary in the grand plot, but I adored ever second of my reading.
I loved Marek, he is a man living in between, not knowing really whom he is. While he knows from where he comes from, he does not know where he belongs. While he is impeded by a deaf ear, he did not let it define him.
Hollis had it all until she lost her her husband and had to learn to live without him. She rebuilt herself in a successful business manager. But life seems to move on faster than she.
Now she wonders what will be left of her when everyone around her is changing or leaving.
Their relationship is at first an inconvenience, she is dubious about him when he wants to avoid any notice. Slowly she will slip in his affairs and win his trust, not a small matter.
During their time together, she comes to realize she has lived in stand by, she might have evolved, yet she is live with her late husband in the shadow. This short adventure sees her comIng out of her shell while Marek learns to ease up, to appreciate the happy moments he is granted.

With this last in the series, the author wraps all the lose ends of the previous books, plus a lovely epilogue to complete it.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher HLQ Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

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

Hollis Honeycutt is fearful that she is being left behind–her sister and friend have both married and moved away, her father may soon be moving to the country, and Hollis is still stuck where she has always been, publishing her deceased husband’s gazette, and scandalizing society with her disregard for corsets and her insistence on joining clubs meant only for men.

Her life is soon to face a huge upheaval though when she meets the suspicious Marek Brendan, a man who holds himself apart from the rest of the crowd. Hollis’s curiosity about him will draw her out of mourning and into a love that could conquer anything–even a treasonous plot against the King.

A Princess by Christmas was, without a doubt, my favourite of the three books in the Royal Weddings series. Julia London’s writing is as beautiful and time appropriate as always but the characters in this one really sparkled–especially the widow Hollis. It was such a delight to finally get to properly know the younger sister we only got glimpses of before. She has shown herself to be a smart woman, but in this one she really comes into her own. You can really feel her encroaching loneliness and her fear that she is getting left behind. When she meets a kindred soul in Marek it is all to easy to see why the two would fall in love. This is definitely a slow burn romance, but it had some very sweet moments. I absolutely adored that they quoted Shakespeare to one another, that was utterly adorable.

I did like Marek, although perhaps not as much as Hollis. Whereas she is very open, and honest about her feelings, Marek, by nature of his past, is very closed off. Especially to begin with he makes it very difficult to know him properly, but it was very satisfying to learn more about him as he started to open up to Hollis.

The intrigue in this one was better than the other two as well. There was a genuine sense of danger in some parts, and a bit of sleuthing, although most of the fall out happened off page again. The mystery did take over parts of the story but I accepted that as part of Hollis’s insistence on finding out the truth.

One of my favourite parts of this book was the direction Julia London took with regards to Donovan. In previous novels its made to look as if Hollis and Donovan have feelings for one another–or, at least, that is what her friend and sister believe. I was a little worried we might have a love triangle forming, and was even a little discouraged when I found out about Marek being the love interest but I really did appreciate the way London handled the issue. It was very well done.

All in all, A Princess by Christmas, is a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue and a sprinkle of festive spirit.

Many thanks to Mills and Boon and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Julia London's A Royal Wedding Series. I started with the second book. This is a great addition to the series. Hollis's sister, Eliza, and close friend, Caro, have both met and married princes from the same country (Alucia). They also both got to help solve a mystery during their courtship. So now it must be Hollis' turn to find her own prince.

Hollis, a widow, appears to be fulfilled by her life. She writes a popular gazette for women, and the rumor is that she must be having an affair with her attractive butler. What people don't realize is that Hollis is feeling stuck. It's been three years since she lost her husband, and she's feeling as if everyone is moving (literally and figuratively) but her. Hollis is an intelligent woman who wants to be considered an equal. When her sister is in town for a peace treaty, Hollis puts together some clues and thinks something nefarious might be going on. She connects with Marek, an advisor to Wesloria, who believes she might be on to something.

This is a sweet romance with some intrigue. I thought the story was going to go in a bit of a different direction based on the beginning, so was surprised at how it wrapped up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that it took me a little while to like both Hollis and Marek. Hollis annoyed me with her incessant chatter while Marek annoyed me for the opposite reason - he was silent and apparently sullen and while I get that Hollis was probably annoying the bejesus out of him I do think he could have been a little nicer.
Thankfully as the story unfolded I warmed to these two and enjoyed watching them falling in love. As I came to understand how Hollis suffered following the death of her husband I also began to understand her behaviour and her motivation. Like a flower she began to unfurl and reveal a much nicer and more admirable woman inside. I loved that it was Marek who helped her to heal, “Somehow he’d made her feel vibrant and necessary again. He’d made her want again. Hollis drifted to sleep with want wrapping around her like an old, familiar blanket.” Author Julia London has a wonderful way of showing emotion through scenes like this one and it is this that hooks me every time. I love that sense that you’re feeling the same emotions as the characters in the story, that you’re right there living the whole thing with them. Honestly I don’t think this is the best book she’s ever written but this is still a great read.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Princess by Christmas by Julia London is book Three in A Royal Wedding Series. This is the story of Hollis Honeycutt and Marek Brendan. I did feel this was a standalone book for me. Marek is more than he lets on when he is working to investigate a case of possible treason. Marek is know as the advisor to the Minister of Trade for Wesloria but he hasn't revealed who he really is for his own reason. Hollis is a young widower who has been taken care of her late husband's newspaper. But in her present day her sister and best friend have started a new life with the men they have fallen in love with leaving Hollis alone with her paper. Thinking to spice up the paper with more news worthy stories leads her to suspect there is more to Marek then he presents to be. So let the games begin with their hunt and chase to their happy ending. Really enjoyed this book.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A princess by Christmas is the third book in A Royal Wedding series. I read the other books and I’ll be honest that I had a hit or miss experience but was so looking forward to this story and wasn’t disappointed at all. You don’t need to read the others as it can be read as a stand-alone but it’s nice to know a bit more of certain characters that make appearances.
A opinionated widow that won’t allow to be left aside in finding the truth and a hero that wants to protect his inheritance are a perfect match for this story. I really enjoyed their mix characters and interactions, all the what’s to come next and why not moments as well as the side characters.
Finding themselves in complicated situations adds more to the realisation of what ifs and the love story blooms within the pages.
It’s a great read that many lovers of historical romance will enjoy.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; HQN

Yay, book three was Hollis's story and it did not let me down. I enjoyed learning more about Hollis's backstory and the connection between her and Donovan. Hollis is a strong lead, but is much more endearing than Caroline is. I was happy two see her and Eliza with their significant others in the story, as well as the Gossip Rag that started this series. I am looking forward to London's next historical romance....or any romance novel.

**I forgot to mention that this novel did not seem to be tied to Christmas in a big way. Other than the title and pretty cover, I would not label it as a holiday read, personally

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Princess by Christmas picks up a year or so after the conclusion of the previous book, A Royal Kiss & Tell. Negotiations between Alucia and Wesloria are taking place in London, bringing home Hollis’s sister Eliza, her royal husband, and their eight-month-old girl, as well as their best friend, Caro and her princely husband. Hollis has been lonely and unsettled; trying to find her way in the world now that her support system is gone.

Hollis has been working to shift her Ladies’ Gazette from home and beauty tips to real political news, so with the arrival of the Alucians and Weslorians, she feels it is her opportunity to learn and report on the peace negotiations. This brings her into contact with a Weslorian man with a secret, and Hollis is determined to uncover more about the strange Mr. Marek Brendan.

Hollis is a self-reliant widow with a huge heart. In the previous two books, readers were made to believe she’s in love with her butler, Donovan. And in A Princess by Christmas, we learn more about their unique relationship. I absolutely love Donovan and the direction Ms. London took his storyline. Their friendship is one of the best things about the book, and created a few tender and heart-felt moments.

Even though the book is shared from both Marek and Hollis’s POVs, it feels like it is really Hollis’s story and Marek is a key player. We see inside Hollis and understand her heart. She is lonely and ready to move on, but she doesn’t know where to go. She has responsibilities to her staff, and isn’t sure she can leave or change. I admire how driven she is to uncover perceived secrets, yet is perceptive to the sensitivity of the truth. On the other hand, Marek is driven and focused on protecting his king and Wesloria. He understands the enormity of his secret and the impacts it would have on the nation.

The romance between the pair is very much a drawn-out journey. The pair doesn’t really connect until the midpoint of the story. But once they do, they realize how much they have in common and that the quirks of the other are enjoyable and familiar in ways. They are attracted to one another, but it takes an evening of too much absinthe to finally push the two together. Although it’s only a matter a days after that until the end of the book, their love doesn’t feel rushed. They are two people in the right place in life to fall in love.

I like that the pair works together to uncover the truths of what is happening with the Weslorian delegation. Similar to the previous two titles, the bulk of the action taken to correct the “wrongs” of the story take place off page. However, this time around, we see enough to know what happened off page.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed reading A Princess by Christmas and the entire A Royal Wedding series. The books are a delightful mix of historical romance with a dash of mystery and intrigue.

My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Netgalley

[Norah Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Princess by Christmas is the third book in Julia London’s delightful A Royal Wedding Series. The author does a good job of filling in the background information so you could read it as a standalone, but I think you will enjoy it more if you read the series in order. Hollis Honeycutt has been a widow for three years, and as her grief begins to lessen, she is at a turning point in her life. Her sister and best friend have both married and have their own lives, her father is planning to move to the country, and while she’s proud of the success, she’s made of the gazette her husband left her, she’s wondering if it’s enough. When she hears a rumour of a possible political coup that could affect the peace talks her sister's husband, heir to the throne of Alucia, is engaged in, she decides to investigate. Marek Brendan, an assistant to the minister of trade for Wesloria, comes to her attention because he strikes her as just a bit mysterious and out of place, which is partially caused by the fact that he is deaf in one ear and has limited hearing in the other. So really, he’s not ignoring her; he just can’t always hear her. Marek is worried because it appears that the talks are being sabotaged. When Hollis tells him of her investigations, things begin to make sense and working together with her seems to be the only way to prevent disaster. Evil Plots, nasty villains, and a secret that could change everything make this story one to keep your reading long after your bedtime. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 13, 2020 #APrincessByChristmas #JuliaLondon #HarlequinRomance #HQN #HarperCollinsCanada #MyBookPledge #HistoricalRomance #BooksOfHCC #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

[Luz T · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Princess by Christmas
Book 3 in "A Royal Wedding" series
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

A Princess by Christmas was an okay read for me. The political intrigue of trying to find who was behind the evil plot to bring down the king was very interesting, but I think it took away from the romance between Hollis and Marek.
I really liked Hollis. I loved her personality and how courageous she was. Her life was not in easy one. She's a widow who runs a business in a society where it's men who dominate it. Hollis wore her heart on her sleeve and cared for all of those who lived around her. It is her tenacity that leads the story to take us to the world of where there are people who will do anything to hurt the kingdom of Wesloria for personal gain.
In the process of investigating she meets Marek. Oh Marek...he fell flat for me. He didn't stand out for me. He was just there. He tries to avoid Hollis, who seems to overwhelm him. It was funny to see how he didn't know how to respond to her. He is attracted to her, but it seems that she's just a little too much for him.
I would of liked for to be more chemistry between them.
It was nice to see the couples from the previous two books. Though how they treated Hollis did sit well with me. Since she was not in the same royal ranking as them, she was left out at times, even by her sister. I felt bad for Hollis.
Hollis does find someone who makes her feel worthy, which is the only good thing I liked about Marek.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is just something about a male narrator when it comes to historical romance, I really enjoyed it!

Hollis is a widow who owns and writes for a popular women's magazine. This is the third book and in the previous ones her sister married a crown prince, and her friend married his brother. But yes even though they are in London for peace talks, I did not feel like I had missed something. It worked well as a stand alone, but it did make me want their stories too.

Hollis was kind and I just wanted something for her, she was stuck in place as people moved on and moved away.

So she meets Marek, a civil servant from the country that her brother in law is not keen on. Long story there, two warring countries, seems to be a bad guy in Marek's country causing trouble, and someone will be causing trouble in this one as peace is trying to be reached. But anyway, Marek was quiet, calm, loved his country and his peaceful life on his farm. Just this solid guy.

It takes a long time for anything to happen. They run into each other, they talk, and long long in things start to progress, and at the end I was holding my breath. They had to be together!!

A sweet book. I wonder if there will be more? I would like more.

As I mentioned I really liked the male narrator. I liked what he did with female voices, and he made his male voices really dark. But it was fun listening too.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series so much. This story is about Hollis Honeycutt who has been in mourning for her husband for 3 years and it was her husbands gazette Her sister and friend have been writing for years. Marek Brendan has been investigating terrible rumors the could hurt his home country. I really enjoyed these two working together. I loved the characters and plot for this book.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with scandal and secrets, charm and love. Truly enjoyable historical fiction. Julia London captures the time and place so well. I loved it.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

When owner of Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion & Domesticity for Ladies, widow Hollis Honeycutt, overhears a rumor concerning the peace accord between the counties of Alucia and Wesloria – she is immediately intrigued. Hollis’ sister Eliza is married to Prince Sebastian, the heir to the throne of Alucia. She is sure there is more to the story and won’t stop digging. She is pondering how to get information from the Weslorian delegation, when purely by chance she meets Marek Brendan, an advisor to the Minister of Trade for Wesloria.

Marek has secrets which make his life very solitary, he is a loner and straddles two worlds. He is deaf in one ear and so when he meets Hollis, he has a hard time understanding her and isn’t sure what to make of her! He tries to keep her at arm’s length, but she isn’t having it, she pulls him in to her investigation and by extension; her life. At first, he thinks she is crazy, but soon realizes she may be on to something – something that could not only destroy peace between Alucia and Wesloria, but could be a plot to assassinate his King!

This book was not at all what I was expecting, the romance is a very slow burn and almost secondary to the mystery. Hollis truly loved her first husband and has felt like life is beginning to pass her by, slowly she lets go of her mourning and opens her heart to the possibility of loving again. Marek is a subdued character, he is clearly overwhelmed by Hollis at first, but they soon discover a shared love of Shakespeare and as they work together, she discovers his secret and he begins to realize that she is what has been missing in his life. The book is the final installment in the series and it does nicely wrap up several ongoing plot points from the previous books. I felt the book did drag a bit, there are still title errors and mistakes (that may – fingers crossed – be corrected prior to publication) and the romance is on the back burner until almost the end of the book – but it was a nice read and the ending was very romantic and the epilogue was very sweet. While I would suggest reading the series in order, this could be read as a standalone title without a problem.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the publisher.*

[Harisa- EsquiredToRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up because there was nothing necessarily BAD....it just wasn't for me.

This was a royal historical romance with a bit of mystery and political intrigue. I liked the addition of the newspaper snippets at the beginning of each chapter. Some of the characters (like Donovan) really shined through for me and I liked the bit of mystery involved in the book.

However, overall, I found it a bit...bland. I just wish there was more build up in many elements. The romance was a slow burn (and nothing really happened) but then it quickly ramped up at the last 20% and I didn't really buy it. I wasn't rooting for this couple and never really felt the connection. The countries were made-up countries so it wasn't a historical fiction based or inspired on real events. There wasn't much built up on either the romance or the political intrigue since so I wasn't really invested in the future of the countries or the romance.

Usually when a series has books that include different couples I figure they can be read as stand-alone but for this one I would recommend going in order if you decide to pick this book up.

*Book provided for free by publisher from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

[Kerry Croucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A PRINCESS BY CHRISTMAS, book 3 in Julia London’s A Royal Wedding series, brings us Hollis Honeycutt’s story. Hollis watched both her sister and best friend find love and happiness, moving away in the process. Hollis lost her beloved husband three years ago and spent the time since taking his financial newspaper in a different direction and making it wildly successful as a women’s paper with advice and gossip. This was great, but Hollis wanted more. She wanted to be taken seriously so went looking for a serious story. When England hosted peace talks between Wesloria and her sister, Eliza’s new home country of Alucia. When Hollis overhears what sounds like a plot to overthrow the Weslorian king, she is intrigued and on alert. While attending one of the events, Marek Brendan catches her eye. Not only does he seem out of place, but he seems to be watching the Weslorian King more closely than he should be.
Marek came to London as part of the Weslorian delegation as the assistant to the Trade Minister, but when the talks start taking a turn in the opposite direction than he thinks they should and his King looks frail, Marek is determined to find out what is going on, but why does Hollis keep popping up, insisting she can help? Marek is a loner by choice and necessity, so he isn’t sure what to make of her or whether he can trust her.
I love Hollis. She lost her husband unexpectedly and early. Once she realizes that she has to go on, she does. She is strong and independent, but also loyal. She doesn’t need a man to live her life or tell her what to do, yet she has Donovan and lets the world think what it wants about their relationship. Her loyalty is amazing, not only to her family, but to those who depend on her. When she meets Marek who first accepts her help and then realizes how wonderfully unique she is, her eyes are opened to the fact it’s time to let go of the past and find her future because her life is missing something. Marek never thought there would be someone he could trust with his secrets, but now that he’s met Hollis, would she want to share his simple life?
Mystery, romance, family, and secrets: Julia London has packed this novel with so much to love. Her characters are quirky and loveable. The pages kept turning as I flew through it and I hated to see the end. Grab a cup of tea and cozy up to London’s latest.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
#aprincessforchristmas #aroyalwedding #julialondon #harlequin #HQN

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The peace talks between Alucia and Wesloria are set to begin in London. Rumors abound about a coup to get rid of the Weslorian king. Hollis Honeycutt is determined to find the truth. As the publisher of the Honeycutt Gazette, she is always tracking down gossip that society wants to keep hidden. Hollis is a fascinating character. She's a widow with a sparkling wit and a keen intelligence. When she meets a mysterious man at the palace, she decides to learn more about him. Marek Brendan is the strong silent type who has a devastating secret. He keeps his own council, but Hollis has a way of getting him to open up. I loved the chemistry between them. Definitely opposites attract. Marek is a loner. Is there a reason why he watch the Weslorian king so closely? Hollis pulled me into her story. She was so alive. I couldn't put down this book until I knew that she would get her HEA. It was wonderful to catch up with familiar characters from earlier books in this series. The Christmas season was the perfect setting for this romantic adventure. Julia London did a wonderful job writing Hollis. I related to her and her concerns. When she meets Marek, her world changes. I wanted her to face her future. I enjoyed A Princess By Christmas. This story has romance and political intrigue.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Royal Wedding series, in which another Tricklebank sister, widow Holly Honeycutt, is insistent on growing the readership of her gazette from more than a source of both fashion and juicy gossip, but also with political intrigue as well. She gets her chance when she encounters the mysterious Marek Brendan at a party/ton.

Unbeknownst to Holly or to the rest of the world, Marek is the kidnapped son of the King of Wesloria. That news he's kept quiet since he learned of it, but now his observations of the king force him to consider going to the man and telling him not only who Marek really is, but also that he suspects someone is trying to kill the king and take over the country. But does he dare? Will anyone believe that Marek is the crown prince? Being a royal is not something he wants. On the other hand, he can't bear to see harm come to the man who really is his father.

How Holly assists in uncovering the plot against the king makes for a merry-go-round of fun parties and disclosures, all while she wrestles with the thought that perhaps she's ready to dump her widows weeds and grief and move ahead with her life. But where will it take her?

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect story to lose myself in this holiday season. Julia London's A Princess by Christmas is chock full of charm, mystery, shenanigans, and heart-tugging romance. Marek and Hollis are both complex, engaging characters who captured my heart. I so enjoyed watching the evolution of their relationship as well as the growth of each of them individually. And I appreciated the happily-ever-after London gave them - not the one I expected but the one that was right for them. Tears of joy were shed.

But Marek and Hollis aren't the only ones who shine in this novel. London has surrounded them with a cast of supporting characters who enrich the story and help bring it to life; endearing characters who are as well-developed as the leads. In particular, my heart was snared by Donovan, Hollis's manservant, confidant, and dear friend. I adored him. If London ever writes a story for him I'll be first in line to buy it.

This is the third book in London's A Royal Wedding series. While characters from the first two books make appearances, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.

*ARC received via NetGalley for fair and unbiased review