Sophie Reads YA: A Princess by Christmas

Waiting On Wednesday: A Princess by Christmas (A Royal Wedding #3) by Julia London

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2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: A Princess by Christmas (A Royal Wedding #3) by Julia London

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A Princess by Christmas
Series: A Royal Wedding #3
Author: Julia London
Published October 1st 2020 by Mills & Boon

Goodreads Synopsis
A Secret. A Lie. A Revolution.

Hollis Honeycutt has written her London gazette since the death of her husband – featuring fashion plates, marriage advice, and the latest gossip in and around Mayfair. But now she feels her gazette should have more meaning, cover topics of more consequence than the latest curl cream.

The opportunity presents itself when Hollis overhears rumours of a potential coup in the Kingdom of Wesloria, a coup linked to the highest level of government in London. During her investigation Hollis spies a man with no business lurking around peace talks, and determines to expose him for the traitor he most certainly must be.

When Weslorian Marek Brendan was fifteen he was shocked to discover his heritage was not what he believed – he was whisked away from the Weslorian palace when he was born because there was fear that corrupt forces would try and kidnap him. Now he is determined to stop these corrupt forces staging a coup in his home country. Except for the beautiful woman whose questions are putting his own investigation at risk. Yet soon Marek realises that pretty Hollis can help him. But when he confides his suspicions, Hollis’s loyalties are tested and she must choose between her loyalties to her family, or her heart…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After her sister, Eliza, and best friend, Caroline, recently married, and to princes at that, the widowed Hollis Honeycutt has been wanting more for herself. She's loved running her late husbands gazette, which she transformed into one of the most popular papers in London, but she wants to focus on more hard hitting journalism now, and not just society gossip. During the upcoming Christmas period, she's invited to numerous royal events, as the guest of her sister, the Duchess of Tannymeade, and while observing the Westlorian entourage, she is intrigued by the quiet and mysterious Marek Brendan. He's a civil servant, but keeps a very close eye on the Westlorian king, and she's concerned that someone may be plotting to harm the royals, or even kidnap her young niece, just like the Westlorian prince was as an infant. Unbeknown to her, Marek is in fact that stolen prince, but no one knows, and this is the only time he can be anywhere near his father and siblings. He's more worried about the fact that the trade and peace talks between Westloria and Alucia seem to be more in Alucia's favour, and the ministers around his father, the King, are playing him a fool. Is a coup at play, and will Marek have to rely on the industrious Mrs Honeycutt to help in his investigations?

Now, ever since I finished the two previous books in this series, I've been desperate for Hollis' story. She's always been such a strong and supportive character, loving to her family, and I knew she deserved her own happy ending. Because she had loved her late husband, Percy, she felt guilty thinking about ever moving on and finding love again. She's more than content to live at home with her various members of staff, including devoted butler and friend, Donovan, who everyone thinks is her lover anyway. It's only when she meets Marek, and is drawn back to him again and again that she starts to consider what could be.

For Marek, an illness in his childhood, and then his following upbringing, left him deaf in one ear, so he seems aloof to most. He's wary around new people, especially during such important talks such as the peace talks, and when it seems as if his boss and another minister are working against the king, he needs to find the evidence to stop them. Hollis seems to be the perfect person to assist, and the more he's with her, the more he's wishing he could stay and not return to Westloria, and be separated from her.

Both the romance and the plot was as good as in the previous books, though I think that The Princess Plan will always be my favourite. I'm both gutted and overjoyed with this book, as I wish the series didn't have to end, but it all ended in such a perfect way, with everything tied together that I could've asked for. London is now a favourite of mine, and I look forward to her next book!

Dates Read:
September 24-26, 2020

Rating
4 Stars