Jenny Holiday

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world. Leo Ricci's already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a "princess" in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he's got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car. Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn't be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother's death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie's shoulders. She's taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she's seen in a long time. When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he'll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn't expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

A Princess for Christmas

Millie Roberts

this was cheesy and christmassy and I loved it

Miranda Madden

An ultimate cheesefest - expected.

This being 100 pages too long? Less foreseen.

More tan anything I felt like this dragged on in a lot of areas. It started out cute and fun but I got a little bored with it, the tension was gone partway through and yet there were still so many things to resolve within the plot.

Also, the third person changing perspectives within the chapters was super confusing.

Lauren Sullivan

Content warnings: (view spoiler)[MC’s parents died in car accident, MC’s mother died of breast cancer, grief, alcohol (hide spoiler)]

This is a hilarious and self-aware ode to all of those campy and sweet Hallmark holiday movies, with the addition of sex in the woods and a lot of f-bombs.

In the two years since his parents died, Leo’s dropped out of college and is struggling to raise his eleven-year-old sister Gabby. He’s constantly worried that he’s doing it wrong – that not knowing what kind of pads to buy or how to braid her hair is going to irrevocably damage her. Leo’s a regular joe, juggling taxi driving with being his building’s super, a born-and-bred New Yorker who loves the Islanders and architecture. The last thing he expects is that the woman he picks up outside the UN at the insistence of his sister – “she looks like a princess!!!” – is a princess who’ll pay him $5k a day to drive her around NYC.

Marie’s not her mom – she’s not graceful, poised, perfect like her. She feels that in most aspects of her life, but most acutely in regards to her father, the king, who’s always been prickly but in her mother’s absence has become more angry and withdrawn from her and the day to day operations of the kingdom. Her trip to NYC is supposed to prove two things: that her work with the UN on the European refugee crisis is worthwhile, and that she’s capable of helping to shore up her country’s luxury watchmaking business. While things go well on the first front, the second is… not going well, though Leo and Gabby are proving to be a good distraction for taking her mind off that – in more ways than one. But nothing could ever come of a relationship between a princess and a cabbie, right?

“Christmas is big business in Eldovia. We have an annual Cocoa Fest on Christmas Eve day. Restaurants and pubs participate, and so does the palace. We make big cauldrons of different kinds of cocoa and serve them outside on the grounds.”
“Are you kidding me?” Gabby demanded.
Marie laughed. “I am entirely in earnest. And there’s a Cocoa Ball in the evening—though that’s not for children.” She wasn’t sure why she added that qualifier. It wasn’t as if Gabby, whose eyes had grown comically wide, would be around to be told she couldn’t attend the ball.
“Oh my god, you are from a fake Hallmark country,” Leo deadpanned.

This book has nearly every trope from a Hallmark Christmas royalty movie. There’s the snooty royal of a tiny alpine monarchy who just wants someone to love them for themselves and not their title, plus the salt-of-the-earth commoner who wants to show them how normal people live. They both tragically lost parent(s) around Christmas (why is this always a thing in the movies anyway?). There’s the stern butler/equerry/whatever who actually has a heart of gold. The aloof/heartless/sad king. The over-the-top “traditional” Christmas celebrations in Eldovia – Cocoa ball! Snow globe dude! Giant Christmas trees! – plus the stereotypical NYC sightseeing stuff (the Flatiron building! skating at the Rockefeller Center!) round it all off nicely. And then there’s the sex.

“If no one ever danced with the princess of Eldovia like no one was watching, it was safe to say no one ever talked dirty to the princess of Eldovia like no one was watching.”

Leo and Marie have great chemistry. While Marie’s prissy princess manner initially puts him off, Leo’s too much of a softie to not want to help her out, and once Leo realizes it serves the same purpose as his constant grumpiness, he’s pretty much a goner. Marie’s not sure what to do with someone who pays more attention to her as a person than a princess. The banter is hilarious, though I do think Leo was quite a bit kinder than I’d expect a NYC cabbie to be! For the most part, Marie and Leo communicate well with each other and it’s overall rather lighthearted and low conflict – perfect for a Christmas romance.

The side characters were well drawn as well. Gabby was just delightful, a good representation of that awkward tween state where they’re still full of childlike wonder but also gaining some of that teen awareness of the world. The MCs each had their own opposite-sex best friend (and who are obviously going to be a couple later in the series) who was the right mix of supportive and “get your act together”ness. There’s also a local Eldovian pub owner, plus a taciturn artisan. Sure, they’re all a bit true to trope, but the author knows exactly how to play to them perfectly.

Overall, this is just the sort of sweet and a little bit spicy Christmas romance that I love watching around the holidays!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Aundreya Rich

Happiness- whether you're experiencing it or creating it for others-its important. And happiness and comfort, it turns out, are not the same things." 

First off... if you picked up this book because you wanted a clean, sweet, hallmark inspired book keep walking sister!!!

A Princess for Christmas, while adorable and holiday themed is steamyyyyyyyy.

Leo Ricci, a cab driver by day, pseudo-dad by night, and your cliche Italian New Yorker is full of bad words and a lot of grumpy feeling. But with me picturing Theo James I was not mad at all... 



Princess Maria of Eldovia is doing her business rounds visiting NYC, and in a social emergency, she needs a ride to her next destination... cue hot cab driver with special guests Gabby (his sister), and Max (the dog).
Leo doesn't know why he connects with Maria, but with a hefty wad of cash calling his name for a job to escort the beautiful princess during her time in NYC, he can't refuse.

From dreamy NYC tourist dates to hot coca feastivals and balls in Eldovia, this sweet romance had me hooked from the very beginning and easily became a holiday favorite. I planned to gift this book to a friend buuuuut Ill now be rereading it every Holiday Season.

After this I will be reading everything by Jenny Holiday!!!!

Read if you love:
- Christmas theme romance
-a story to make you smile
- A hot MC whose favorite phrases are "f***" and "use me" 😳🥵
- princesses
- family matters
- the hallmark channel if it had a "on after 10:00" special

Rating:
story-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance- friends to lovers
steam- "jeeeeennnnnnyyyyy you let your DAD read this!?!!

Gabriella LePage

A Princess for Christmas was the Hallmark-esque book I was looking for. It boasts a dreamy setting, a quirky love story, and loads of hot cocoa. I adored Marie and Leo’s story, and am looking forward to reading the next installment over Christmas 2021!

Tatiana Alvarez 

Actual rating 3.5

This book took me a bit to get into. But I really enjoyed it and was surprised with his spicy it got! It’s like a hallmark story but after dark. 

I can’t wait to continue on!

Simone Rhodes

3.5 stars

This was a cute holiday romance. It screamed Hallmark Christmas movie but after dark which was quite surprising and welcoming. If you have watched The Princess Switch, this book sort of reminded me of the love story between the Duchess and Kevin. We have a princess visiting NY for business who desperately needs a cab, cue Leo who is a pseudo single father to his young sister Gabby who convinces him to provide his services to Princess Marie. Their first interaction starts off rocky but it develops into a cute friendship and more. I really liked that at least half of the book was set in NY and the other part in Eldovia as I was not sure if it would be a one place setting in the beginning. 

It is told in dual POV thankfully and very much played out like a movie in my head so obviously Marie was Vanessa Hudgens and Leo was any hot male actor that my mind didn’t really specify. I listened via audiobook and highly recommend this format. It would have felt a bit drawn out if I had the physical copy. This also introduces the characters in the next sequel Duke Actually, which is the reason I picked up this book in the first place. 

The smut in this book is a 🌶/5 for me although it was unexpected. It was graphic in part but left much to be desired especially the dirty talk aspect. I liked the familial dilemmas that the characters faced but I wasn’t satisfied specifically with how Marie and her father’s issues were resolved. In hindsight, it wasn’t really addressed in the end but brushed over. However, since it’s a holiday romance I had low expectations on all fronts. Leo became annoying with his constant need to prove that he was proud of his socio-economic status but it was definitely warranted when interacting with the King who is a passive aggressive douche bag. 

Overall, this was a fun read and I would watch it if it was a movie.

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world. Leo Ricci's already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a "princess" in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he's got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car. Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn't be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time. When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

A Novel

Shay

It felt like a spicy hallmark movie. There were moments that I loved, such as when we first met the princess. But once they get to Eldovia. I loved Gabby. She was hilarious!  I just feel like once we got to Eldovia things got stale. I do have the second one and it looks cute so maybe it’ll be better? This wasn’t bad it just got cringy in the spicy sections.  

Lisa W.

The author really wanted this book to be a hallmark movie. She only said so about 50xs. While this wasn’t a bad book it wasn’t something I necessarily needed to read. 

I think it was trying too hard. Even the characters tried too hard, Leo especially. I also felt the sex scenes were uncalled for and quite frankly childish. It was awkward when they would reference her deceased mother shortly before or directly after. 

Plus the immediate switch up at the ball threw me for a loop. Didn’t even have a transition. I would say I’m interested in Max and Dani but honestly I don’t think I care. 

The more I think about the flaws the more I justify giving it a 2. However I can totally see this being someone’s cup of tea.

Lisa 

3.5 stars! I finally finished this Jenny holiday novel after putting it off for a whole year. I really thought some parts were magical and full of Christmas love but there were also some moments I just didn't vibe with. Our heroine is a princess and shes been Binging TV since she was young but when it comes to communicating what she wants sexually, she awkwardly phrases everything. Now, I know she has proper princess training but I doubt even prince William is this stiff outside of press conferences. The other things that didn't work for me was sometimes the lack of chemistry between the two characters. It felt stiff at times and forced. Overall, I liked a lot of parts and thought it was angsty/dramatic and cute.

Coralie | she/her

3,75/5
I was so happy with this one. It was absolutely gorgeous, but the end was way too... easy? I mean, there was this big problem, this impossible love, and suddenly everything is good? I don't know. I hoped for a bit more.
But still, it was so good! Marie is a cutie, and Gabby too. And then Leo. He's a wonderful brother, and a real gentleman behind is cockiness. 

Also, the all "Christmas movie" trope was gorgeous. I really had this cheesiness, but also a real tension between the two characters. Loved it! Now I'm finally in Christmas mood!

Lacey

3.5 STARS

I was SO excited about Jenny Holiday’s Christmas romance – I’ve enjoyed Jenny’s books in the past and I always look forward to holiday books during the Christmas season. A Princess for Christmas is literally Hallmark movie level, except much more steamy, which I will never complain about. This Christmas romance between a European princess who’s trying to save her country from financial downfall and a New York City taxi cab driver who’s taking care of his orphaned younger sister is sweet, fun, and flirty. It wasn’t PERFECT for me, but I still enjoyed my time reading it. If you’re looking for a romance to pick up this holiday season, definitely give this one a try!

Leo Ricci is trying to make ends meet providing for his sister and himself after the tragic death of their parents. He drives his cab all around NYC, and as luck would have it, while driving his sister back home, the Princess Marie of Eldovia asks for a ride to an urgent meeting. Leo doesn’t have time to drive an uppity princess across the city, but he can’t resist a damsel in distress. And he can’t resist the job or the money Marie offers him in exchange for taking her around the city to meetings she needs to save her country.

The first half of this book is adorable. Leo, his sister Gabby, and Marie go on little NYC touristy adventures so that Marie can experience what the city is all about. They are the cutest little group and I really enjoyed all the banter between them. Leo is grumpy but joins in on the fun, Gabby is a pure delight, and Marie is a little awkward but once her frost has thawed out she embraces everything.

The second half of the book takes place in Eldovia, where Marie’s family reigns. I found this second half to be a bit slow and dragged out – this is the main reason I can’t quite give this four stars, even though it’s close. The book felt too long because of this drag and I wanted to fast forward through all the politics and get to the romance. But other than that, this book was still entertaining and gave me all the cozy winter vibes I was looking for. If you’ve ever imagined what a Hallmark Christmas movie would be like as a romance book, A Princess for Christmas is literally it. It almost made me wish Eldovia was a real place that I could go to during Christmas!

Irin 

This holiday novel was charming in every possible way. Many thanks to Avon Books for the digital review copy. 💕

I discovered Jenny Holiday’s books at the beginning of this year, and I absolutely fell in love with her writing style. Paradise Cove is one of my favorite romance novels of 2020 as well, so I was really looking forward to reading A Princess In Christmas. A BOY, oh BOY this book was so good! Written in the style of a Hallmark novel, (funny how Hallmark movies got mentioned so many times in the book though, hehe) this book won by heart with its wholesome cast of characters. I’m a huge fan of royal romance novels, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’ve found a new favorite book from this trope.

I loved every second of reading Leo and Marie’s story. The chemistry that they shared was evident from the very beginning, and their blooming friendship totally melted my heart!! I love seeing couples who grow by being together, which was one of the highlights of Marie and Leo’s relationship. Both of them saw the other for who they really were - they accepted each other even though they had very different lifestyles. I literally SWOONED while reading Marie and Leo’s conversations. 

Jenny Holiday has a very unique way of adding a realistic touch to light-hearted books. I got to see Leo and Marie talking about their struggles while laughing about something else on the very next page. All the emotions that were expressed through the book were perfectly balanced. 

In a nutshell, A Princess For Christmas was a perfect holiday read. GO AND READ THIS BOOK ASAP!

A Princess for Christmas

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