What a delightful wonderful story! Hollis has been a widow for years, she turned her dead husband's publication into a women's gazette, diverging society's secrets. Now alone after her sister and best friend found their princes (book 1 &2 of the series) she finds herself a little at loose ends when her eyes find the lone handsome stranger staring at the foreign king her mind runs wild. Marek is in town to help with peace negotiations, never did he think he'd encounter such a pushy beautiful woman that kept inserting herself in his business. Very entertaining read with great characters!

A Princess by Christmas is the third book in A Royal Wedding series by Julia London. A captivating historical romance with a bit of mystery and political intrigue. There is a lovely undertone of belonging and family woven through this mystery, and it made my heart happy to read it. I can't wait to read the next book in  A Royal Wedding series.

Julia London strikes again with the perfect mix of romance and mystery. Hollis Honeycutt’s life used to be filled with with running her gazette, which features fashion, advice, and gossip. But lately she needs more, her life doesn’t feel as full. Then she begins to hear murmurs of a plot to kill the Wesloria kings whose in England for peace negotiation. But the issue is that no one seems to take her seriously.
Marek Brendan is part of the delegation from Wesorlia but he has a secret. Everything seems to be going to plan until Hollis walks up and shakes up his world. Soon Marek and Hollis are trying to determine if the rumors of treason and murder are true. While their investigation brings that closer, each try to hold k to their secret. But will those secrets keep them apart in the end?
Delightfully written, this novel will captivate readers with its multi-faceted characters and unexpected plot twists.

I recieved an ARC through Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
A Princess by Christmas is the third book in the series by Julia London. Of the 3 books in this series, I was looking forward to this one the most. Hollis's character intrigued me out of all of the cast of characters from this series. She is a lonely young woman mourning the loss of her husband, running a business, & watching everyone around her settle down and start their own families. Hollis runs the gazette and added her own advice/gossip and fashion column. She hears some political gossip about a possible coup between Alucia and Wesloria during a peace summit between the two countries. She meets the mysterious Marek, whom she soon develops feelings for, and together, they forge ahead to get to the bottom of it all. Add the familiar cast of characters, romance, mystery, and air of Christmas time, and it easily became my favorite book of the series.

4 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy historical romance and have read the first two books in the series.

I was happy that all of the characters were back together for the bulk of this novel. I think that the interactions between Caroline, Eliza, Hollis, Beck, etc. make these stories so endearing. Marek was so mysterious, and the initial meetings between him and Hollis were so funny to read. I thought that they were well-matched, and their relationship was swoony. I loved the slow burn pace, and especially the Christmas Party chapters. The festive touches were so well-done, it made me wish I could have been there for the celebrations. I thought that Marek and Hollis working together to solve the mysteries and intrigue was what was missing from the previous book. The ending was satisfying, though I do wonder at Beck's story being wrapped up behind the scenes. Excited to see what will happen next with this series.

Hollis's best friends have married and she is left to her own devices. While her gossip column is a hit, she longs to make it into something more. When she hears of a rumored coup, she thinks this is her chance to be the one to break the story. When she mets a mysterious man from Wesloria, she think he might just be the key to solving the mystery.

Marek is in London with the team from Wesloria. He senses that things are not all that they seem with the peace negotiations and starts to investigate. He keeps running into Hollis and soon they are investigating together. There is an instant attraction between them and the more then spend time together, they wonder where it will lead. Hollis's life is in London and Marek plans to go home at the end of the negotiations.

Will they both end up with a broke heart?

I really enjoyed Hollis and Marek's story. I loved watching them try to solve they mystery of what was truly going on during the peace negotiations. I've really enjoyed this series and I'm hoping that London is not done as their are a few more people that I think need their HEA!

The third in Julia London’s Royal Wedding series, A Princess by Christmas is Hollis Honeycutt’s story. The third in the trio of young women, Hollis’ sister, Eliza, and Caroline, her best friend, Hollis has been in mourning for her deceased husband for a few years. Trying to have a purpose in life, she has taken over the publication of her husband’s gazette and added fashion news and gossip along with general news. She becomes very interested in a rumor overheard regarding trouble between the fictional countries of Wesloria and Alucia. When Hollis meets Marek, a member of the Weslorian delegation, she tries to garner information about the trouble, but finds herself quite interested and enamored with this mysterious fellow. Needless to say, Julia London creates intrigue within a happily ever after story. Her writing never ceases to put a smile on my face along with a few tears here and there. This was a fitting end (maybe not?) to a charming historical romance trilogy.
Many thanks to Julia London, Harlequin Romance and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

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

Really loved this book when you get into the story you realise Hollis and Marek were made for each other . I found this story different Hollis was the one to do most of the running she is tenacious and not quick to let things go. Marek now although he he has his suspicions you get the idea that he wouldn’t have got anywhere without Hollis. I must say I loved the ending not at all what you were expecting .

A Princess by Christmas is the third charming book in Julia London's A Royal Wedding series. I enjoyed the first two books, but I think this was by far the best. It had me both laughing and crying. I hate to see the series end!

Widowed Hollis Honeycutt has turned her deceased husband's gazette into an extremely popular source of news, gossip and fashion. However, her sister has moved abroad, her best friend has moved to the country and her father is about to leave the family home and move to Sussex. With all the changes going on around her, she is beginning to feel lost and wants more, whatever that may be. When she hears rumors about a possible coup in the country of Wesloria, she decides to investigate and change the gazette into one with investigative news. She thinks handsome Marek Brendan may be behind the coup...little does she know he's the lost crown prince of Wesloria! The two join forces to investigate the danger to the King of Wesloria and can't help but be drawn to each other.

In the beginning of the book, I found Hollis to be somewhat flighty and annoying, though I don't believe she was in the first two books. However, stick with it! You will be more than happy you did. Hollis loved her husband dearly but finally seemed to realize that she needed more than to live with memories of the past. She was smart and charming but lonely, and though Marek was irritated by her pursuit of him for her story, he was deeply drawn to her (even if he thought she was deranged!). Marek was quite the interesting hero. He was totally deaf in one ear since having scarlet fever as a child. Though he was the crown prince and wanted to know his father the King, he didn't want to take away the rights granted to his stepsisters since he was believed to be dead. The interaction between Hollis and Marek had me laughing, but as I got toward the end of the book I couldn't help but cry!

However much I liked these two, I have to give special props to my favorite character: Donovan. I originally thought he would be the hero in this book, but as I read I discovered why he could not. There was the truest sort of love between Hollis and Donovan; one could not ask for a better friend. I would LOVE to see at least a story showing Donovan finding his one and only. PLEASE?

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed were entirely my own.

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.

A Princess by Christmas Julia London, book three in her A Royal Wedding series, tells the story of Hollis Honeycutt. She has mourned her deceased husband for three years, turned his gazette into a successful source of fashion and gossip, yet Hollis feels something is missing in her life. Her sister lives abroad, her best friend moved to the country, and now her father started talking about also moving away. She has no idea what to what to do. She considers adding serious, investigative news, starting with a rumored coup; she accidently overheard. Encountering a mysterious, yet dashing gentleman, who seems out of place, Hollis wonders if he might be involved in this coup. Marek Brendan is in London to assist with negotiating a peace treaty for his country of Wesloria. When Hollis confronts Marek with her belief that he is involved with coup, he sets her straight. Marek has a secret and he has to make sure no one discovers the truth. After all, no one would ever believe he is the lost crown prince of Wesloria; except maybe Hollis. Spending time together, searching for clues about who is behind this coup, Marek finds himself attracted to Hollis and falling for her. These two definitely burn up the sheets with their sizzling chemistry and it is probably a good thing electricity had not been invented yet as theirs could have lit up the city. As Marek discovers the “mastermind” out to destroy the King, thanks to Hollis’ help, he discovers he needs her and the happiness and love she inspires in his life. Hollis needs to decide if she is willing to leave London and move to Wesloria to start a new life with Marek.

Ms. London wrote an emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, intelligent banter, and charming characters who provide Hollis and Marek a chance to discover a shared love, and possible future together. I highly recommend A Princess by Christmas to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Intrigue and a large cast, including an indomitable heroine and a strong hero. This cute, fast-paced Christmas romance would appeal to fans of Eloisa James. I recommend reading the books in order to better understand the relationships and cameos.

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.

The series finale(maybe??) for Julia London and her Royal Wedding Series. I usually mention the series and if it can be read as a standalone at the end(it can), but I felt it was important to bring it up now. I do recommend you read them in order if you can, so you can better appreciate Hollis, her sister, and her bestfriend when they reunite in his one. It really showcases London's talent and I enjoy three heroines just as much as any of their separate romances.

Hollis, the merry and bored, widow is trying to figure out what she wants to do. Her best friend and sister have gone away on a grand romance with their Alucian princes and left her all alone. What I liked most about the widow storyline here, is that normally the story all about how lucky a widow is to be living more free of society's constraints, but this was a fresh take. A woman free of society's constraints? Also easily bored!

Hollis does have a gazette she publishes though, always searching for stories, and it truly fits her curious nature. So what is she to do when she finds the Alucian and Weslorian diplomats in London for a trade agreement. It's not her fault if she overhears something intriguing is it?

This is how she meets her hero, Merek. He is the advisor to the Weslorian trade minister, though he's often not used to his full ability. Such as now, when he hears rumors and starts to investigate the trade agreement. When the two get to know each other a slow burn relationship forms as they dive into the plot.

The intrigue was interesting and it didn't overshadow the plot, it only enhanced it. I really enjoyed it actually because this last book of the three really set itself apart from the last two, which can sometimes be hard to do in a romance series, but as usual, London didn't disappoint! I've yet to find a book of hers I haven't truly enjoyed.

My opinions are my own and freely given.

This is the third book in The Royal Wedding series. I liked being reacquainted with the characters from the previous books. Hollis Honeycutt has been a widow for three years. Her friend, Caroline, recently got married and moved away. Her sister, Eliza, is married to the prince of Alucia. They are back for peace talks between Alucia and Wesloria. Hollis is always lookin for things to write about in the Gazette she publishes. Each chapter of the book begins with articles from the gazette ~ gossip and self improvement tips. While at a ball, she is suspicious of a man paying close attention the king from Wesloria. The man, Marek Brendan, has heard rumors of threats against his king and is watching the king to see if the rumors are true. I enjoyed them getting to know each other during their adventures while investigating these rumors.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Mrs. Hollis Honeycutt, a young widow, has watched her beloved sister and her best friend carried off by Alucian princes, leaving her in London with only her popular gazette to entertain her. She’s feeling out of sorts and lonely.

Marek Brendan is the advisor to the Weslorian Minister of Trade, if his superior would ever listen to him. He’s kept to the edges of events as Britain hosts his country and Alucia to facilitate trade negotiations, but something seems off. Neither the king’s appearance nor what Marek sees in the negotiations make sense.

Despite growing discontent with her life, Hollis still loves to write and to track down a good story. Is she to ignore the rumors she overhears about threats and plots then? Of course not. Even if her family doesn’t believe her, Hollis is on the case.

This is the third book in the series A Royal Wedding, which could easily have fallen into a pattern. Instead, Hollis and her true love meet under vastly different circumstances than found in the first two books. They’re both outside looking in. Marek’s upbringing and background set him apart while Hollis knows her presence is only tolerated because her sister married the Alucian crown prince.

She doesn’t wallow in this understanding, though. Hollis takes the opportunity to meet some real Weslorians. And who better to start with than the handsome, but aloof, fellow who saved her from an undignified spill onto the street as they were going in?

Marek’s not quite what he seems, and in the loud chatter of Queen Victoria’s tea party, his appearance of being standoffish is heightened because he can barely understand a word she’s saying. He’s deaf in one ear and partially in the other, a fact he does not share with every foreign lady who accosts him.

Hollis is nothing but persistent, however, and quickly declares him both a friend and a fellow investigator trying to uncover the truth of these rumors. After she accuses him of planning a coup, that is.

The characters are once again delightful and different in spirit as well as circumstances compared to the couples from the previous books. The story is true to the Victorian period, with Hollis taking advantage of the increased freedom offered a widow to make her gazette a success while causing her family, birth and chosen, no end of alarm. She may balk at the restrictions, but her behavior does not pass without notice any more than other events escape the dangerous consequences of the time. Despite the deviation from history to produce a slew of princes to marry, the book successfully brings to mind the period in which it is set.

I’ve mentioned for the previous two books how the description, especially of clothing, seemed a bit much for me. Oddly enough, when the story focuses on the very producer of iHoneycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and Domesticity for Ladies and every chapter begins with a clip from same, I didn’t feel as though fashion distracted from the intrigue at all. It may be Hollis is less interested in fashion than it would seem.

Beyond the rumors of a coup, there’s more going on than anyone knows… That is until Hollis turns a sharp gaze to following the clues her groundwork lays before her, and the careful reader. This is one of the fun parts about this book because Hollis is not tripping over the intrigue but rather diving in against all recommendations, even those of her best friend Donovan.

I appreciated how Marek recognizes what makes Hollis tick. He sees her as she is rather than how he’d want her to be. Even more, he’s entranced by her nature. The development of their relationship from initial draw to love is well written both for the story and the period. There is open door intimacy before their happy ever after, but the physical is only one aspect of their attraction. The connection is complicated by what she knows, by their different home countries, and the responsibilities that keep each where they are.

I’ve enjoyed this book as much as the others in the series. Julia London is talented, and capable both of telling a compelling story and seeding a mystery so I can make my guesses alongside the characters. Besides, I liked Hollis and Marek a lot. I’m glad they found their answers, though they might not be what you suppose.

Note: This book will be available for purchase on October 13th or can be pre-ordered now.

P.S. I received this Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

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.

This is the third installment in Julia London's 'A Royal Wedding' series. As with the previous two, I found the book entertaining, but not as captivating as her other works. The characters in this series are kind of all over the place - some show real growth while others don't really change over the course of the series. It makes for uneven reading.

I also didn't find this story as intriguing as the previous two, although I did like the way things turned out. Not quite what you would expect, but still satisfying.

I am not sure if this is the last in the series, or if there will be more. Either way, if you are a fan of Julia London, it is well worth reading all three.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is part of a series and I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to read these
I love Julia London's books and this is fantastic - although part of a series it works really well as a standalone

As the third part, it does tie up some loose ends from the other 2 books
I loved the use of humour - it is written so well

I found it a well spent afternoon