Cover Image: A Royal Christmas Wish

A Royal Christmas Wish

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was a different, totally delightful Christmas tale.o 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.

Was this review helpful?

A Royal Christmas Wish by Lizzie Shane is a delightful and sweet Christmastime novel following Jenny, a NYC transplant from Iowa, who is trying to find who she is and her way in life. Amongst trying to find her destiny, and trying to live up to the success and perfection of her siblings, she meets “Dom”, who happens to be a real prince.
With the help of a magic wish, newfound friends, and realizing her self-confidence and worth, Jenny finds everything that she is looking for. But will this newfound happiness last, or will she always be “ just Jenny”.

I truly enjoyed Jenny, Dom, and the full cast if supporting characters.
The storyline was honest and endearing, and carried with it a great message.
I loved Jenny. An honest soul with a good heart, she was always thinking of others (anyone who loves dogs and volunteers at a pet shelter is an angel), and I felt her goals and aspirations in life were realistic and reasonable.
I also enjoyed her relationship with Dom. They definitely had chemistry. I also enjoyed the ending and the message that the reader os left with at the end of the book.
My favorite of the awesome collection of Hallmark Publishing books that I have had the privilege to read so far.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

Update 9/10/19 posted on B&N account under Rachel_Denise01 and Amazon under RF

Was this review helpful?

I truly enjoyed reading A Royal Christmas wish. It was well written and a wonderful story line. I enjoyed the characters and it was easy to read, and it help my attention, and a page turner.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a advanced copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are of my own. Thank you NetGallery and Hallmark Publishing.

Was this review helpful?

i loved this book! The timelines make the pacing fast. The characters are so well drawn and the story is perfection!

Was this review helpful?

Excellent quick read and about my favorite time of the year, Christmas. I do wish that they would have spent more time in the reality rather than in the wish itself. However, it's not something that took away my enjoyment from the book. Overall this is an excellent book!

Was this review helpful?

Exactly what you would expect from a Hallmark Classic and if you are like me and grew up with these Christmas stories playing on repeat all season long then the books are for you too! I first noticed the Hallmark Publishing books in the somewhat local Hallmark store and I was caught. I want to read them all! I miss that feel-goodness and over the top story and if I want it to feel like Christmas in smoldering Texas then by golly bring out the hot chocolate and holiday scented candles! So, of course, when I saw this on Netgalley, I didn’t even hesitate.

Now, when the book first took off, I flew. I love the quirky characters that are cute but also kinda a complete mess that seems a wee bit over the top. I loved the witty cute banter between “Just Jenny” and Dom and I was completely in love with here BFF roommate that I kinda want a sequel for (please…). This propels you about 30% of the way and it was so magical.

Then…. we hit the “Hallmarkness” section. Blah, blah, blah “royal”, “Christmas wish”. “Fairygodmother/elf”. You know what I’m talking about, the “perfect” section where the character get everything they wanted in a not so perfect package. Funny enough, this is where I slowed down reading. The banter between characters were gone and it was a play at being perfect, Now, this is where I usually make fun of my mom for being hooked on these shows but once we got past the perfectness and into the “I don’t fit in here, I am not perfect, save me” section of the book (about 50% into the book) I vastly enjoyed it again! LOL, in that section you kinda loose that character relatable-ness, all the witty dialogue and the BFF. So yeah, as a character based reader it kinda lost me for a wee bit. I still vastly enjoyed the story and I want to #ReadAllTheHallmarkBooks, so I consider that a win. I gave this 5/5 because I greatly enjoyed it, I would recommended it (probably closer to Christmas because Texas heat) and I totally want to see if this is a movie on Hallmark!

Was this review helpful?

A whimsical holiday story of sorts. A little reality and a little dream world. If you are looking for an enjoyable holiday story, this one will fit the bill nicely.

It’s a story of wishes, princes, and Christmas all wrapped into one.

I received an ARC from the author for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for the review.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

I thought to myself for a quick second "is it too early to read Christmas books?". What was I thinking? It's never too early. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I always look forward to watching Hallmark movies and now I get to read stories that have the classic Hallmark signature to them.

Hallmark truly does Christmas the right way for romance lovers. A Royal Christmas Wish was a magical Cinderella story about finding love and self-discovery.

Jenny is a young woman who doesn't feel like she has found her place in the world. She has two sisters who have their whole lives planned and know what they want. Jenny is struggling. Her self-confidence is lacking and never feels like she is enough. All she wants is to know what she wants and feel like she can actually deserve them in her life.

Dom is a prince of San Noelle. He is charming, kind, and down to earth. He meets Jenny and they hit it off. The only thing is is that Jenny doesn't know he is a prince. As soon as she finds out the truth about him, she doubts herself. Her self-confidence is the main thing that holds her back. So, when she meets a countess who grants her a wish her life is changed.

Jenny wished she could be a princess and someone who people could believe is worthy of the title.

A whirlwind romance begins between Dom and Jenny. Their romance is full of love, magic, and spontaneity.

I love that Jenny is able to feel comfortable in her skin and feel like the princess she has always been.

I give A Royal Christmas Wish 4.5 stars. I appreciated the heart of the story and how it was filled with the Hallmark Christmas spirit. that I just can't get enough of. I would love this book to be turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie and see these characters come to life.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved A Royal Christmas Wish by Lizzie Shane. It delivers all the feels, from moments when I laughed out loud to others when I reached for the tissue box. Wonderfully drawn characters, gorgeous settings and a few unexpected plot twists made this my favorite Hallmark book so far. I'll definitely be on the look-out for more great books from this author!

Hallmark and NetGalley provided an ARC of A Royal Christmas Wish, but I was under no obligation to comment on the book, and the feelings expressed in this review are my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

Stories about unlikely romances between a lovable everyday young woman and a member of royalty are my jam, and this delightful Christmas romance hits it out of the park! This book is perfect for anyone who wants a bit of a modern fairytale with a bit of magic. This has Cinderella vibes, compete with a bit of a fairy godmother, magical wishes, and a modern Prince Charming.

Dom and Jenny are characters to fall in love with, and there is even an adorable canine Prince Harry. This is as heartwarming as one could hope for, and it is sparkling with humor. This would be perfect as a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to @netgalley & @hallmarkpublish for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: One of my favorite plots to any book or movie is commoner to royal. Add in Christmas and it’ll be hard for me not to absolutely love it. All opinions are of my own. I gave it a 5️⃣⭐️ rating!

We follow a young woman, Jennifer, who is struggling to find herself in NYC until she makes a Christmas wish that ultimately changes her life forever.
Prince Dominic, Dom, is the heir to the throne of a very small country, San Noelle. A company Christmas ball lands him in NYC, at a party catered by none other than Jenny herself.

A Royal Christmas Wish is the kind of book to read when you are looking for a fun, romantic, and christmasy escape from reality. Everyone knows you aren’t going to randomly meet Prince Charming, fall in love, and become his Princess, but it’s nice to be a hopeless romantic every now and then.

Lizzie Shane’s writing captures the reader and makes you feel like you are Jenny and it’s you falling in love with a prince. The world building of San Noelle, the personalities of many different supporting characters all fitting together, and the character development of both the main characters and some supporting characters are all incredibly detailed. You almost forget that you’ve never met these characters before and that it’s fictional. You become invested in the lives of Jenny and Dom and you feel the emotions that they go through.

I could almost hear the chatter of the crowds and the scents wafting around. It’s been a very long time since I repetitively kept reading until falling asleep, and that’s always the sign of a book I won’t forget. There tends to be a pattern with all Hallmark stories: main characters meet, slowly fall in love, something dramatic happens and they separate, and then they find each other again at the end. As I was reading, I kept thinking about the dramatic moment, and I was dreading it because I had already grown so attached to Jenny and Dom. I knew everything would work out in the end but it was the unknown that had me hooked. The ending was beautiful and happy, but at the same time I was hoping for an epilogue that was a larger time jump. I can’t complain though because it was still amazing. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I’m ready for all the Christmas stories. I highly recommend romance and Christmas fans pick this up!

Was this review helpful?

In terms of sweeping romance and holiday tales, no one does it better than Hallmark. This easy beach read is the ultimate holiday rom-com story, almost sweeping and romantic as a Hallmark Christmas movie (which I think it needs to be). The transition from reality into the wish was a bit abrupt and more fitting of a movie than for a page of text in a book. Cute and indulgent nonetheless, it was sweet. A perfect Christmas story to curl up by the fire and get sucked into, however it's more fitting for a movie than a novel but as an avid romance fan, I enjoyed and melted just the same

Was this review helpful?

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 truly is. Thankfully, her best friend, Margo was 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.

Was this review helpful?

Book version of Christmas movie!

Jenny James doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life when she runs into Prince Alexander Domenic (Dom) of San Noelle while walking Prince Harry for a shelter trying to place dogs in the forever homes and knocks him over. Jenny while trying to make ends meets ends up serving a reception of Prince Dom and afterwards, she finds a bracelet and the owner gave her wish. Jenny choose to have a fairy-tale Christmas and it was a very Hallmark Christmas story.

A Royal Christmas Story is a book version of a Hallmark movie and is doesn’t take itself very seriously, but it is a fun and enjoyable read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

An incredible book. Jenny thought of herself as a bit of a klutz. It appeared she didn't have enough confidence in herself to think that she could succeed so she didn't portray that when she went on job interviews. She worked as a part time dog walker for an animal shelter and part time as at a caterers.

While she is walking Prince Harry she goes into the no leash area and he decides to chase after something so she has to chase after him. While she is chasing him she runs right into a jogger. She finds out later that he is the Prince.

Once she meets the Prince her life starts to change, it truly is an incredible book that I think you will enjoy. I know I was sorry to have it end.

Was this review helpful?

A perfect Christmas romance, well written and heartwarming.
I found it engrossing and entertaining, I liked the cast of characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

It didn't take long to be pulling for Jenny. She was a lovely main character. She didn't give herself much credit for the kind, giving, loving person that she was. She would give people the shirt off her back if she could. All she saw was how she was lacking in physical grace and direction. Good thing her BFF Margo, saw all her goodness and was the first one to lovingly give her reality checks. She was a great cheering squad all on her own. Cheering Jenny on but also speaking truth that she needed to hear but in a way that she could receive it.

The Countess.....what a character she is. I liked the peppermint swirl that surrounded her. She was unpredictable, which was fun at times. She did get a bit grouchy with Jenny when she asked so many questions. Especially when she questioned what was going on. But come on,it's not like Jenny got a manual along with her wish.
Cora might be only a tiny part of the story but boy, did I love that sweet part.
Several good twists happen towards the end of the story. Those made me smile. The Epilogue was even sweeter.
There is also that Chicken Shawarma recipe that was promised. I had never heard of it before but it sure did look delicious.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Was this review helpful?

A perfect, sweet Christmas romance! Just like watching the Hallmark channel at the holidays. Great one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?