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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
slow-paced
I loved the self reflection of acknowledging that this book is a Hallmark Christmas movie. The pacing was a little slow, but I loved the character development.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
This book gave me exactly what I was looking for: a cheesy Christmas Romance novel. Definitely hits all of the marks of a cheesy hallmark christmas movie, add on a bit of smut and you are there with this book. The book itself was just fine, didn't really love it that much, but that is okay.
Leo is struggling to get by, he's working two jobs and trying to be the best pseudo parent he can be to his little sister. So when Gabby begs him to help the woman who looks like a princess outside the United Nations, he does. What's more, when the woman turns out to be a real princess and offers to pay him 15 grand to drive her around for 3 days, he can't say no.
Princess Marie of Eldovia is just trying to save her country since her father can't seem to be bothered since her mother passed away. So she's taking charge of her trip to New York. Hiring Leo seemed like the most logical solution to her problem. Of course, neither of them expected that they would get along so well or that they wouldn't want to part ways after that long weekend.
Now here they all are at the palace in Eldovia for Christmas. What could go wrong?
A Princess for Christmas was a great Christmas story with the earmarks for a Hallmark movie and a few steamy scenes thrown in. Overall the story was enjoyable, though Leo and Marie's story felt stilted. They went from innocent friendship to steamy relationship very quickly, it just didn't feel like a natural progression between them. They were interesting characters and I like that Marie was kind of awkward.
I think the addition of the Cocoa Festival and the side characters are what made the story. If you want a Hallmark movie, but with the addition of steamy scenes, than this is the book for you.
✔ Royal/Commoner
✔ Dual POV
✔ Christmas
✔ Hallmark Movie-esque
🔥 Spice
Princess Marie of Eldovia is just trying to save her country since her father can't seem to be bothered since her mother passed away. So she's taking charge of her trip to New York. Hiring Leo seemed like the most logical solution to her problem. Of course, neither of them expected that they would get along so well or that they wouldn't want to part ways after that long weekend.
Now here they all are at the palace in Eldovia for Christmas. What could go wrong?
A Princess for Christmas was a great Christmas story with the earmarks for a Hallmark movie and a few steamy scenes thrown in. Overall the story was enjoyable, though Leo and Marie's story felt stilted. They went from innocent friendship to steamy relationship very quickly, it just didn't feel like a natural progression between them. They were interesting characters and I like that Marie was kind of awkward.
I think the addition of the Cocoa Festival and the side characters are what made the story. If you want a Hallmark movie, but with the addition of steamy scenes, than this is the book for you.
✔ Royal/Commoner
✔ Dual POV
✔ Christmas
✔ Hallmark Movie-esque
🔥 Spice
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Jenny Holiday, author of this adorable, smack you in the feelings romance, calls it “a Hallmark-style Christmas book” in the Acknowledgments & while I haven’t watched a Hallmark movie before I definitely got some of those isn’t-this-book-cuddly-&-cozy vibes I associate with the genre.
I’m a big fan of Jenny Holiday’s books. They’re emotionally resonant, they’re sexy, & they’re beautifully written. A Princess for Christmas is all of those things: it’s also , super sweet, & it features a working class, kind hero & *these are a few of my fav-o-rite things.*
The Princess of Eldovia, Marie, is in NYC to secure a market for one of her country’s chief exports. While there she unexpectedly has to take a cab driven by our hero, Leo, who has two jobs & is basically living paycheck to paycheck while taking care of his orphaned sister.
The gulf between them is huge, for obvious reasons.
Like I said before Holiday is so skilled at writing emotion. A Princess for Christmas sparkles with feeling. It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s real. Both leads have anxiety; they buy pads for his preteen sister together—>those are just a couple of moments that plucked my heart like a guitar string.
Also the attraction between them is a dream & I love how Leo notices ALL OF THE THINGS about Marie.
In short I love so much about this book. But there are a couple of things that I have reservations about.
First, there’s a loose love triangle plot because Marie is a *princess* & there’s a suitor her father favors. My problem is that I don’t feel like the book is upfront enough with the reader about Marie’s plans with this (ie is she actually engaged? Is she on the way there?), her feelings, if she is in some way possibly acting or feeling inappropriately because of that possible relationship, etc.
The book moves pretty slowly in the steam department so it wasn’t a huge issue; still, I was a little confused about the basics of the potential love triangle for part of the book & when it comes to that trope in particular I don’t want it to be any more complicated/unclear than it needs to be.
Moving on (somewhat), I wanted Marie to take on an even more active role in choosing her future—for growth reasons. And finally, I feel like some logistical aspects of the resolution are rushed.
So in the end this wasn’t a “perfect” read for me. But it was really enjoyable & sweet, with leads who deserve happiness dammit! & we all need more of that.
4⭐️. A Princess for Christmas is out on 10/13. Thanks to Avon Publishing & Edelweiss for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
I’m a big fan of Jenny Holiday’s books. They’re emotionally resonant, they’re sexy, & they’re beautifully written. A Princess for Christmas is all of those things: it’s also , super sweet, & it features a working class, kind hero & *these are a few of my fav-o-rite things.*
The Princess of Eldovia, Marie, is in NYC to secure a market for one of her country’s chief exports. While there she unexpectedly has to take a cab driven by our hero, Leo, who has two jobs & is basically living paycheck to paycheck while taking care of his orphaned sister.
The gulf between them is huge, for obvious reasons.
Like I said before Holiday is so skilled at writing emotion. A Princess for Christmas sparkles with feeling. It’s funny, it’s warm, it’s real. Both leads have anxiety; they buy pads for his preteen sister together—>those are just a couple of moments that plucked my heart like a guitar string.
Also the attraction between them is a dream & I love how Leo notices ALL OF THE THINGS about Marie.
In short I love so much about this book. But there are a couple of things that I have reservations about.
First, there’s a loose love triangle plot because Marie is a *princess* & there’s a suitor her father favors. My problem is that I don’t feel like the book is upfront enough with the reader about Marie’s plans with this (ie is she actually engaged? Is she on the way there?), her feelings, if she is in some way possibly acting or feeling inappropriately because of that possible relationship, etc.
The book moves pretty slowly in the steam department so it wasn’t a huge issue; still, I was a little confused about the basics of the potential love triangle for part of the book & when it comes to that trope in particular I don’t want it to be any more complicated/unclear than it needs to be.
Moving on (somewhat), I wanted Marie to take on an even more active role in choosing her future—for growth reasons. And finally, I feel like some logistical aspects of the resolution are rushed.
So in the end this wasn’t a “perfect” read for me. But it was really enjoyable & sweet, with leads who deserve happiness dammit! & we all need more of that.
4⭐️. A Princess for Christmas is out on 10/13. Thanks to Avon Publishing & Edelweiss for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Rating 3.5/5
This story was very Hallmark-y/fairytale-ish as it was advertised and I found it very funny how even the characters themselves highlight it throughout the book.
The premise of the book was very cute, sweet and adorable with some extra spicy flavouring
This story was very Hallmark-y/fairytale-ish as it was advertised and I found it very funny how even the characters themselves highlight it throughout the book.
The premise of the book was very cute, sweet and adorable with some extra spicy flavouring
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes