It is a difficult Christmas for Adelaide. She has no family since the passing of her mother. Struggling to get by working at a coffee shop and finish law school she hopes for a better future. Scrimping and doing without is nothing new, being the daughter of a single mom. She never knew who her dad was, a seemly closely guarded secret of her mother’s.
Then one day a very official letter arrives in the mail from the country of Montovia telling her that through a DNA match, she is the daughter of King Maximillian Konig V, and heir to his throne. She would have tossed it in the trash had it not being for her friend Maya. After investigating she decides the letter is legitimate. What does she have to lose? She decides to accept the invite and meet the father she never knew.
Upon arriving she finds her father is on his deathbed. Anton the courier assigned to take care of her was a real blessing. He helped her in every possible way to make her visit as easy as possible. He even protects her from those who are not happy the heir to the throne has been found.
The story beautifully unfolds making the reader a part of all the glamour and excitement of discovering her country and heritage. I found myself saddened that she found her so near to the end of his life. In reading about her experiences seeing the shops, traditions, and festivities delighted an overwhelmed my senses and emotions as I cannot imagine how it did hers. The splendor the royal life that lavished upon her was surreal to Adelaide after living such a simple life.
I love that in all opportunity and honor, she did not lose sight of her values and what was truly important. Doing what was right was more important to her than any amount of wealth or position of importance.
Not everything was glamour and glitz,. She was faced with mysteries and even danger. A true Christmas Cinderella story! Delightful and entertaining!
I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program and Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own. ( )

I loved this wonderful almost fairy tale with love and intrigue and secrets and royalty. I loved Adelaide and how down to earth she is. I could not put the book down. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson invites readers to Montovia, a small country with friendly citizens, Christmas spirit, and a dying king. Law student Adelaide Smith receives a “Princess Diaries” experience when a DNA test identifies her as a close relation to King Max of Montovia. She agrees to meet King Max, who warmly embraces her, but she finds opposition in the form of a wicked stepmother and cunning step-sibling. The novella felt like a mashup of The Princess Diaries and Cinderella wrapped in Christmas festivities. There’s a mystery and a small twist at the end, but the story seemed predictable and mostly unoriginal. I wished for greater character development or more emotional depth, but readers who desire a light, Christmasy tale to pass a few hours with might enjoy this novella more than I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

I've been keeping my eyes open for this ChristFic author's Christmas novellas every year for the past few years. As a huge lover of Christmas and quite a fan of The Princess Switch movies and other holiday royalty flicks, I was immediately sold when I saw this novella's cover. Didn't even peek at the book blurb beforehand.

Admittedly, I don't approach this author's short 'n' sweet Christmas tales looking for astonishing plots or extraordinary characters. I come looking for easily digestible, uplifting reading infused with holiday warmth and sparkle, and this tale delivers that.

It also includes a thread of suspense. Granted, the story is vague on some important points that would have come with details in an actual suspense novel. But the gist of that thread works here, and that side of the story helps to illustrate that the heroine isn't a pushover.

Now, the justification for a romantic obstacle in the story seems weak or at least underexplained, as if it'd been added as a quick, convenient reason to check off a common step in romance plots. Also, some of the story's political aspects are rushed to accommodate the book's fairy-tale speed.

But that's precisely what this is. A fairy tale. A wholesome, entertaining one that other lovers of holiday royalty tales should check out.

Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. ( )

I'm a fan of this author and reading her latest Christmas novella has become a yearly tradition for me. A Royal Christmas is Melody Carlson's latest holiday story, and it is a true delight! Yes, it has a fairytale vibe, but this makes it even more special. Carlson once again gives readers relatable characters, a touch of romance, and just enough mystery to keep us guessing. She also weaves an inspiring faith message into the enjoyable plot. King Max of Montovia proved to be a man of faith and a very wise ruler, and I appreciate this advice to his daughter. "God's plan in God's time." Shouldn't we all remember that?

If you're looking for a feel-good story that could easily become a Hallmark movie, grab a copy of this book. The cover is gorgeous, Christmas is in the air, and you're bound to get the Christmas spirit! I recommend A Royal Christmas to all who enjoy Christian contemporary fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Revell Reads. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts ( )