readitwithred's review against another edition
4.0
Some good old fashioned cheese to bring the Christmas Cheer to your door!
The characters were lovable, the love story (though predictable) was charming, and it got me excited for Christmas.
I really appreciate the note at the end from the author, she wrote this during the height of the pandemic and you can tell. She writes about how family and togetherness is important and our lives cannot be just work.
I really enjoyed this and the only comment I have is the typical big drama that comes toward the end or a Romantic Comedy, for me, was not big enough.
But I enjoyed it and it filled me warmth and brought a smile to my face.
The characters were lovable, the love story (though predictable) was charming, and it got me excited for Christmas.
I really appreciate the note at the end from the author, she wrote this during the height of the pandemic and you can tell. She writes about how family and togetherness is important and our lives cannot be just work.
I really enjoyed this and the only comment I have is the typical big drama that comes toward the end or a Romantic Comedy, for me, was not big enough.
But I enjoyed it and it filled me warmth and brought a smile to my face.
loonyhiker's review against another edition
5.0
I love a good love story but especially if you throw in Christmas! This was a great story that left you wishing it was Christmas time right now so you could hear Christmas music and see Christmas decorations.
thathappyreader's review
4.0
Kaylie Karlyle is a New York City reporter who suddenly finds herself without a job. When her former boss recommends her for a freelance assignment in Europe right before Christmas, she has no reason to say no. When she arrives at her final destination, she’s surprised to see that she’s been dropped off in front of a castle. She is greeted by the Queen who she finds is charming, and the less friendly Prince and his daughter.
Kaylie learns her assignment is to write a fairy tale for the young Princess highlighting the many Christmas traditions of the royal family. The young Princess has missed out on Christmases at the castle since the passing of her mother two years before. But the Prince is unhappy that his mother has hired a reporter to write this story. His relationship with the press has not been amicable for quite some time. When his mother requests that he show Kaylie around the castle and introduce her to their Christmas traditions, he is unfriendly and task-oriented. As the days leading up to Christmas pass and the Prince and Kaylie learn more about each other, they begin having feelings for one another.
I enjoyed this book. Not only does the book read like a fairy tale, but the descriptions of the castle and the surrounding town at Christmas are magical. I adore Christmas traditions and this one has several that are unique to this royal family. The characters are all highly likeable.
There are several humorous moments in the book which I found to be charming. You will also find some magical scenes including several in which decadent gifts were given to Kaylie. As with any good fairy tale, there were also a few surprises in the story. Without giving anything away, Kaylie’s professional ethics during one significant point in the book were quite shocking. This concern abated, however, as the story progressed.
What I Liked:
- The presentation of the story as a fairy tale
- The descriptions of Christmas traditions in the castle and town
- The theme of believing in yourself to find happiness
Kaylie learns her assignment is to write a fairy tale for the young Princess highlighting the many Christmas traditions of the royal family. The young Princess has missed out on Christmases at the castle since the passing of her mother two years before. But the Prince is unhappy that his mother has hired a reporter to write this story. His relationship with the press has not been amicable for quite some time. When his mother requests that he show Kaylie around the castle and introduce her to their Christmas traditions, he is unfriendly and task-oriented. As the days leading up to Christmas pass and the Prince and Kaylie learn more about each other, they begin having feelings for one another.
I enjoyed this book. Not only does the book read like a fairy tale, but the descriptions of the castle and the surrounding town at Christmas are magical. I adore Christmas traditions and this one has several that are unique to this royal family. The characters are all highly likeable.
There are several humorous moments in the book which I found to be charming. You will also find some magical scenes including several in which decadent gifts were given to Kaylie. As with any good fairy tale, there were also a few surprises in the story. Without giving anything away, Kaylie’s professional ethics during one significant point in the book were quite shocking. This concern abated, however, as the story progressed.
What I Liked:
- The presentation of the story as a fairy tale
- The descriptions of Christmas traditions in the castle and town
- The theme of believing in yourself to find happiness
amyma's review
4.0
A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler is a sweet holiday read that will surely get you in the mood to make a mug of hot cocoa and snuggle up by the fireplace. It is a quick read that will grab your attention from beginning to end. A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale is the story of Kaylie, an investigative reporter, that loses her job right before Christmas and is offered a top-secret story that she has to fly to Europe to complete. She accepts and ends up in a castle in Tolvania living with the queen, prince, and princess tasked with writing a fairy tale. I am a sucker for all things royal, so this story was right up my alley. I would definitely recommend adding this book to your holiday reading list. Thanks to HawkTale Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions shared are influenced by nothing other than my own reading experience.
wilshires1's review against another edition
5.0
Between movies and books, I’ve probably come across this kind of storyline a handful of times. But every time, I love it.
ceraphimfalls's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
I'll start by saying that I am not the audience for this book- I'm not a fan of Christmas or Hallmark movies or 5 day romances. But I can see the value of a story when well written, when the heart of a book is sincere. This was neither.
Knowing that the author wrote screenplays really explains the repetitive, stunted writing. Every character reads the same, every cliche is lit with a spotlight, every turn screams "look at me! I'm important!" This isn't subtle or nuanced or felt like any care was put into its writing. It felt smushed together to meet a publishing deadline for a paycheck, like it was a rejected Hallmark script that had the chance to be turned around quickly. The heart of this book is simply the word "Christmas" and the expectation that the reader will insert magic and joy appropriately on their own.
Just to give you a taste of this book, the head of the kitchen is always referred to as Chef Jake, who is the prince's best friend who he met while at Harvard. I finished this book because I don't quit books partway, but it was a slog to say the least, mainly because of characterization and writing like this.
Knowing that the author wrote screenplays really explains the repetitive, stunted writing. Every character reads the same, every cliche is lit with a spotlight, every turn screams "look at me! I'm important!" This isn't subtle or nuanced or felt like any care was put into its writing. It felt smushed together to meet a publishing deadline for a paycheck, like it was a rejected Hallmark script that had the chance to be turned around quickly. The heart of this book is simply the word "Christmas" and the expectation that the reader will insert magic and joy appropriately on their own.
Just to give you a taste of this book, the head of the kitchen is always referred to as Chef Jake, who is the prince's best friend who he met while at Harvard. I finished this book because I don't quit books partway, but it was a slog to say the least, mainly because of characterization and writing like this.
bigskybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Title: A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale
Author: Karen Schaler
Publisher: HawkTale Publishing
Genre: Holiday Fiction
For some people October signals ‘spooky season’. For others, it signals new release’s of Holiday/Christmas books! And spoiler alert . . . neither answer is wrong!
It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without a new Karen Schaler (@traveltherapy) book. Last year I got to review ‘Christmas Ever After’ and this year I’m back with her lastest ‘A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale’. This just may be my favorite yet! You probably know Karen from her hit book & Hallmark movie ‘Christmas Camp’ or maybe even her Netflix movies ‘A Christmas Prince’. As you can see she is no stranger and a veteran when it comes to writing about Christmas!
A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale opens up introducing us to main character, Kaylie Karlyle. Kaylie is a bulldog investigative reporter and is kind of grinch when it comes to Christmas. Her and her family haven’t celebrated Christmas in years. And that’s what she plans to do again this year . . . work through Christmas. That is, until her news station gets bought out and she loses her job. Desperate for work, she agrees to go to “somewhere in Europe” for her former boss and write a “fluffy” piece on Christmas traditions. Something that isn’t her normal cup of tea. Or hot cocoa. But money is money. Imagine her surprise when the assignment is for the royal family in Tolvania. And the assignment is actually to write a fairy tale for the princess for a Christmas present!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Karen Schaler
Publisher: HawkTale Publishing
Genre: Holiday Fiction
For some people October signals ‘spooky season’. For others, it signals new release’s of Holiday/Christmas books! And spoiler alert . . . neither answer is wrong!
It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without a new Karen Schaler (@traveltherapy) book. Last year I got to review ‘Christmas Ever After’ and this year I’m back with her lastest ‘A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale’. This just may be my favorite yet! You probably know Karen from her hit book & Hallmark movie ‘Christmas Camp’ or maybe even her Netflix movies ‘A Christmas Prince’. As you can see she is no stranger and a veteran when it comes to writing about Christmas!
A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale opens up introducing us to main character, Kaylie Karlyle. Kaylie is a bulldog investigative reporter and is kind of grinch when it comes to Christmas. Her and her family haven’t celebrated Christmas in years. And that’s what she plans to do again this year . . . work through Christmas. That is, until her news station gets bought out and she loses her job. Desperate for work, she agrees to go to “somewhere in Europe” for her former boss and write a “fluffy” piece on Christmas traditions. Something that isn’t her normal cup of tea. Or hot cocoa. But money is money. Imagine her surprise when the assignment is for the royal family in Tolvania. And the assignment is actually to write a fairy tale for the princess for a Christmas present!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
miczekk's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
katkinney's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really sweet Christmas romance. Kaylie is dismayed when she finds out her company is downsizing right before the holidays. Her boss gets her a short-term gig reporting on a European family that is very secretive about her assignment. It turns out she is interviewing the royal family of Tolvania, including Prince Alexander who is recently widowed and the queen wants her to write a fairy tale using all the country’s best Christmas traditions for her young granddaughter who has recently lost her mother. I love Christmas stories that throw all the cozy traditions they can into one book and this one did not disappoint! 4/5 stars
bibliobelle22's review against another edition
Took too long too finish and now not in the mood to read Christmas romances since the season is over