I loved this wonderful almost fairy tale with love and intrigue and secrets and royalty. I loved Adelaide and how down to earth she is. I could not put the book down. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson invites readers to Montovia, a small country with friendly citizens, Christmas spirit, and a dying king. Law student Adelaide Smith receives a “Princess Diaries” experience when a DNA test identifies her as a close relation to King Max of Montovia. She agrees to meet King Max, who warmly embraces her, but she finds opposition in the form of a wicked stepmother and cunning step-sibling. The novella felt like a mashup of The Princess Diaries and Cinderella wrapped in Christmas festivities. There’s a mystery and a small twist at the end, but the story seemed predictable and mostly unoriginal. I wished for greater character development or more emotional depth, but readers who desire a light, Christmasy tale to pass a few hours with might enjoy this novella more than I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

I've been keeping my eyes open for this ChristFic author's Christmas novellas every year for the past few years. As a huge lover of Christmas and quite a fan of The Princess Switch movies and other holiday royalty flicks, I was immediately sold when I saw this novella's cover. Didn't even peek at the book blurb beforehand.

Admittedly, I don't approach this author's short 'n' sweet Christmas tales looking for astonishing plots or extraordinary characters. I come looking for easily digestible, uplifting reading infused with holiday warmth and sparkle, and this tale delivers that.

It also includes a thread of suspense. Granted, the story is vague on some important points that would have come with details in an actual suspense novel. But the gist of that thread works here, and that side of the story helps to illustrate that the heroine isn't a pushover.

Now, the justification for a romantic obstacle in the story seems weak or at least underexplained, as if it'd been added as a quick, convenient reason to check off a common step in romance plots. Also, some of the story's political aspects are rushed to accommodate the book's fairy-tale speed.

But that's precisely what this is. A fairy tale. A wholesome, entertaining one that other lovers of holiday royalty tales should check out.

Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. ( )

I'm a fan of this author and reading her latest Christmas novella has become a yearly tradition for me. A Royal Christmas is Melody Carlson's latest holiday story, and it is a true delight! Yes, it has a fairytale vibe, but this makes it even more special. Carlson once again gives readers relatable characters, a touch of romance, and just enough mystery to keep us guessing. She also weaves an inspiring faith message into the enjoyable plot. King Max of Montovia proved to be a man of faith and a very wise ruler, and I appreciate this advice to his daughter. "God's plan in God's time." Shouldn't we all remember that?

If you're looking for a feel-good story that could easily become a Hallmark movie, grab a copy of this book. The cover is gorgeous, Christmas is in the air, and you're bound to get the Christmas spirit! I recommend A Royal Christmas to all who enjoy Christian contemporary fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Revell Reads. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts ( )

"A Royal Christmas" by Melody Carlson is a truly delightful holiday story perfect for reading at this time of year! This is the tale of Adelaide, a struggling American law student who learns that she is the probable heir to the throne of Montovia, a small (fictional) European country. It's near the holidays, so Adelaide decides to use her Christmas break from school to head overseas, meet her possible father, and figure out what to do about all of this.

First, I loved all the descriptions of Montovia. The author provided enough detail that I could easily imagine what the town and palace looked like. With the holiday theme, I also got to enjoy all the depictions of holiday events, traditions, and celebrations along with Adelaide.

Adelaide herself is a fabulous protagonist. I appreciated her initial skepticism, and her eventual decision to head to Montovia to observe the situation first-hand. I also liked her moral character, faith, and commitment to doing the right thing. There were some lovely scenes between Adelaide and her father, the terminally ill King Max, who was portrayed as a good king who only wanted the best for his country after his death. He quickly decides that having his daughter take his place instead of his scheming wife or lazy stepson is what is best. Obviously, the evil queen doesn't take kindly to this, which makes for an exciting storyline with just a touch of danger.

There is a bit of romance between Adelaide and Anton, the young courier assigned to show her around and assist her as needed. However, this is only a minor part of the plot. They like each other, and there's a bit of attraction, but Anton doesn't feel it's appropriate to date the future queen, and Adelaide is more focused on getting to know her father and deciding what do to about the offer of the throne. I appreciated this; it was nice to read a holiday story that was about more than too people getting together just in time for a kiss under the mistletoe!

To avoid spoilers, I won't share what eventually happens. Pick this one up to see if Adelaide ends up ruling Montovia or going back home to finish law school!

5 slices of perfectly creamy Provolone! ( )