Once Upon a Royal Summer
A delightful royal romance from Hallmark Publishing
by Teri Wilson, Hallmark Publishing
Narrated by Brittany Pressley

I listened to this arc audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the second Teri Wester book I have read. The other book I read was Unleashing Mr. Darcy. A very fun Pride and Prejudice homage for any Jane Austen fans out there. I also enjoyed the Hallmark Movie version of that book although like many avid readers I felt the book was better. I very much hope this will also be a Hallmark movie and will eagerly look forward to a girls night with my sister to view it.

This is a combo single dad / Royal + commoner romance with a twist that the heroine is also professionally a pretend princess but more importantly that she embodies the character and heart of what should make a true princess. I enjoyed the parallels of her playing the princess and the pea who’s princessness must be tested before marrying the prince. This is a delightful cotton candy sweet and clean romance. I enjoyed the length of the book. Sometimes you just need a 6.5 hour fun romp of fictional wonderment.

The sound quality was exceptional and the narrator was perfection. I was in awe of her ability to convincingly portray so many characters of different genders, ages and nationalities that pulled you deep into the magic of the story. I was genuinely struck by some of the descriptive language utilized to paint such an exact picture intoning the perfect ambience to make the reader truly visualize the feel and atmosphere of each scene.

5/5 would listen (and/read) again.

Oh how I love a good fairy tale. Once upon a royal summer is happily ever after romance read. Teri Wilson had me after the first chapter at the amusement park. I love the daughter is included in the romance. I listen to it all the way through..

Once Upon A Royal Summer was such a fun and touching story.

Lacy works as a Princess Sweet Pea, a theme park princess bringing smiles to people's faces and helping make their dreams come true even if just for one day -- a job that is near and dear to her heart. Unfortunately, her ex-boyfriend didn't see it as an acceptably career choice. One day during her Royal Tea Party she spots a grumpy dad with his little girl and does what she always does, tries to make them smile. Little does she know the grumpy dad is Henry, the crown prince of Bella-Moritz, who is at the theme park trying to give his daughter a "normal", happy 7th birthday after she lost her mother (and Henry's wife) four years before. Between the loss, and the pressures of the palace, all Henry wants for his daughter, Rose, is an escape and some time to be a kid. Lacy is tasked to help show them the park and help with this task, but when Henry and Lacy get to know each other, they both find more than they bargained for.

This story was fun and sweet and oh so charming. I love Henry and his desire to protect his daughter and give his a sense of normalcy in his crazy world. You could tell the loss of his wife and his daughter's mother had caused him to close off and he was trying to open himself back up. Then there was Lacy who just wanted to bring joy and light to people the way someone gave it to her when she needed it most.

My biggest critique of the book was the way it ended. While I am all for suspending relief, and believing in fairy tales, I felt this one went a little too far. I won't spoil but I felt the ending was too over the top and rushed for my tastes. But overall I liked the characters and the story.

The narration by Brittany Pressley was excellent. She handled the transitions between the British accents and Lacy very well. I thought she did a great job on the narration. I would definitely listen to other books from her.

This is the quintessential love story Hallmark is so well known for. Lacey is fulfilling her dreams of living the fairytale life through her employment as Princess Pea at a Florida theme park. Anxiously awaiting her own happily-ever-after, she realizes her unofficial fiancé is not the one for her. She’s on a dating hiatus when she, as Princess Pea, meets Prince Henry and his little girl, spending Rosie’s 7th birthday enjoying her childhood instead of maintaining the Royal life according to societal views. Henry, incognito, finds the theme park theatrics depicting royalty comical and Lacey calls him on it, challenging him to dance with her at the tea party. I think you see where this is going...
It’s not without its conflict and will they-won’t they. You can easily envision the book-to-film unfold as you read this. My 5yo also enjoyed listening along. It’s a quick read and very enjoyable.
#onceuponaroyalsummer #netgalley

I am a sap for Hallmark movies. No matter how cheesy and predictable they are; I cannot pass one up. Once Upon a Royal Summer is just that! A sweet, utterly predictable, but so enjoyable novel about a girl who works as a princess at a theme park, whose run in with an actual prince turns in to a whirlwind romance – what they know each other a few days (maybe a week or two) before he proposes? I guess when you know, you know.

This book is hard to put a star to because of the expectation vs. execution. I expected it to be cheesy without much character development. Lacey had a hard upbringing, with her mother dying when she was young and princesses bringing her happiness at the hospital. Then realizing her boyfriend didn’t really like her chosen lifestyle of a full-time princess. It was all stated, with a few little winks at it – Lacey wanting to go talk to a little girl at the park when she felt obligated to be Henry and Rose’s personal guide. It didn’t have a lot of feeling behind it. Also, the insta-love; I know, I know, it’s a Hallmark-ish novel, what can I expect? But inviting Lacey to your palace after knowing her for 5 days and her agreeing.

In regards to the audio, overall the narrator was good. The only criticism I have is that it was hard to differentiate between the queen’s voice and Henry’s voice at times. It seems like everyone with an accent sounded the same.

Other than that, an enjoyable read/listen. I wish there was a little more to the characters and their growing relationship, but a nice quick, clean, and charming “happily ever after” romance novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC. I woud give it a 3.5 star, but will bump it up to a 4.

OMG This is such a fun story! I listened to the audiobook and refused to take out my EarPods until it was finished!!! A really clever take on The Princess and the Pea and Cinderella, this Hallmark presentation does not disappoint. You will enjoy the characters that are sweet, wholesome and original. Such a wonderful feel-good book that even though you may know the story, has a fresh appeal. This made me wish for my Prince Charming and believe that goodness is still a great thing!! #OnceuponaRoyalSummer#NetGalley