This was very cute, but I definitely didn't enjoy it as much as her past books. It wasn't very steamy, and I don't know if it's because it's 50-somethings as the main characters, or if it's because it's meant to be sweet. Either way, I kind of missed the steaminess.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital ARC.

An extremely sweet holiday fantasy. Vivian’s daughter Maddie (star of the previous book in Guillory’s series) invites her mom to tag along to England for a styling job at Christmas. Vivian has devoted her life to social work and raising her daughter alone, so she jumps at the chance to travel. And whom should she meet at the royal residence but Malcolm, a tall drink of hot chocolate, private secretary to the Queen, who is only too happy to escort Vivian around to see the sights.

I always enjoy seeing older characters get their own story, since so much of romance is dominated by twentysomethings and their young drama. Vivian and Malcolm struggle with many of the same issues (career, trust, love) as their millennial counterparts, only they’re more mature about it. Mostly.

Overall, a delightful read and one that’s sure to be popular for Christmas.

I really liked this book. It was fun to read a book about an older couple falling in love. I liked the long distance romance also.

I just loved this book. I'm almost sad I read it now, in the middle of summer - it really is just begging to be read curled up in front of a fire. The central love story is a whirlwind, but a slow burn at the same time. They're so practical and realistic about their lives, but at the same time they can't deny the chemistry between them. I loved how easily they talk to each other!

Enjoyable little romp set mostly around one of the Queen's homes, Sandringham Castle. I thought a lot of the royal information, servant working life, the ins and outs seemed accurate and interesting. The love story was realistic. I appreciated that the leading couple were in their 50s. Love isn't just for the young ones.

I have loved all the books in this series but I have to say that this one is my least favorite. I think I am just too young to be reading about character's who are in their 50's.

By now I think I would read a training manual if it was written by Jasmine Guillory. I have read and enjoyed all her books. I love the characters she creates and their witty and heartfelt HEAs.

This book is from the emerging Romance subgenre called Seasoned Romance. The main characters of Royal Holiday are in their early to mid-fifties. It was delightful to watch their attraction grow through the handwritten notes and later the postcards they sent to each other. Seasoned Romances show that there is no age limit on opening up your heart to someone and taking a chance on love.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC

Honestly, I didn't care.

I really enjoyed The Wedding Date and The Proposal, but one thing I did notice at the time was that Guillory's characters didn't seem particularly differentiated - their inner voices all sounded the same to me. As she's written two more books, this problem has only increased. I can't tell her narrators apart. Vivian sounds like Malcolm, even though they're supposed to be very different people in their gender, nationality, profession, etc and they sound indistinguishable from the much younger narrators of her previous books.

My other objection is purely personal, and has nothing to do with the quality of the book, but I'm just generally less interested in late-in-life romance. It doesn't appeal to me - maybe when I'm older!

I love Jasmine Guillory! Her books always make me happy, and Royal Holiday was no exception. Royal Holiday starts with Vivian taking a trip to England with her daughter Maddie. (I believe Maddie was the heroine for The Wedding Date, but I haven't read that one yet; I had no trouble following this book, so if this is your first Guillory you'll be fine.) This is a work trip for her daughter (who is a stylist), so Vivian has time to herself to explore. She meets Malcolm, the private secretary to Queen Elizabeth, and the two immediately hit it off. As an aside, sometimes the way authors approach royals can be weird, but Guillory hit it perfectly, I felt. She makes references to Meghan Markle and Brexit, but I liked the way she didn't focus on them; she lets her characters be the story. I also liked that she was obviously referring to (though not naming) Meghan and Harry as opposed to making up royals, calling them "Reghan and Barry," and having them be overly prominent. Anyway, both Vivian and Malcolm were wonderful, full characters. They were warm and fun, but imperfect. I loved that they both made mistakes but were willing to talk them out. It was also so nice to read a book with 50-somethings who are mature and not overly insecure, and who approached their relationship in a realistic way. This was another fantastic book from Jasmine Guillory, and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. (Oh and I'm even more excited for The Wedding Date now!)