A review by booksrockcal
Christmas with the Queen by Heather Webb, Hazel Gaynor

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.25

I am pretty much a sucker for any book about the royal family, fiction or non fiction, and if you add in Christmas as a theme it is all the more appealing.  This book is about two friends from WWII who are reunited in 1952 in Sandringham, the royal estate where Queen Elizabeth, newly ascended to the throne, is set to deliver her first Christmas address. Olive works for the BBC and has been sent to report on the events related to Christmas and the royal family. Jack is an American Navy veteran and chef who ended up in Britain after his service as a Seabee when he married a British woman who tragically dies as the book begins. The romance between these two develops over the years with royal events as the backdrop although it is nearly derailed by a secret Olive keeps from Jack. I enjoyed this book although the romance was a bit slow in reaching its conclusion. But all’s well that ends well and the story provided an excellent conclusion to my holiday reading.