Name: So This Is Christmas
ISBN: 9780062952127

Jenny Holiday

A Novel

So This Is Christmas

Jenny Holiday is an amazing writer. It’s very descriptive and easy to read. This book is the third book in the A Princess for Christmas series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

I actually really enjoyed this book. While it did feel a bit slow and kind of dragged on, the chemistry was there and I loved it. The Christmas vibes were definitely there, especially with the description of Eldovia. I especially loved the banter between Cara and Matteo. 

I adored Holiday’s Duke, Actually, so I was kind of sad that this one wasn’t equally as good, but this was still an enjoyable holiday romance. Just heavy with backstory and plot, which can make it slow at times.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday concludes her beloved royal Christmas series with an unforgettable romance about a confident American woman and the strait-laced royal advisor who falls hopelessly in love with her.

Matteo Benz has spent his life serving at the pleasure of the Eldovian crown. His work is his life and his life, well...he doesn’t have much of one. When he is tasked to aid a management consultant who has been flown in to help straighten out the king’s affairs, he is instantly disturbed by her brash American manner—as well by an inconvenient attraction to the brainy beauty.

Cara Delaney is in Eldovia to help clean up the king’s financial affairs, but soon finds herself at odds with the very proper Mr. Benz. As intrigued by his good looks as she is annoyed by his dedication to tradition for its own sake, she slowly begins to see the real man behind the royal throne.

As they work together to return Eldovia to its former glory during the country’s magical Christmas season, Matteo discovers he is falling hopelessly in love with the unconventional American. But a man who has devoted his life to tradition doesn’t change easily. Can he become the man Cara needs, or will their love be another sacrifice to the crown?

It pains me to write this because I enjoyed “Duke, Actually” so much! But sadly this one didn’t work for me.

What I loved was Matteo and Cara as characters. I personally haven’t come across many characters in romance books quite like them. I loved that they were both family oriented, Star Wars/Trek fans and also workaholics. 

What didn’t work for me was the main conflict and the pacing. The idea of Cara coming to assess the country’s financials (businesses, etc) kept me separate from the Christmas aspect of the plot. Also the characters were very hot and cold throughout the book and then bam: they were in love. 

I think overall they are a good match but maybe I needed more pining/tension throughout (and don’t get me wrong, there was pining). But the pacing overall felt very slow even though the characters only had a month together (until Christmas). 

Don’t let this review dissuade you from Jenny Holidays’s other work! This one specifically just wasn’t a good fit for me. 

I would love to have an Imogen POV book if that’s an option 😂. 

Kathryn

"Mr. Benz, may I propose something?"

"You may propose anything you like."

It pains me to write this because I enjoyed “Duke, Actually” so much! But sadly this one didn’t work for me.

What I loved was Matteo and Cara as characters. I personally haven’t come across many characters in romance books quite like them. I loved that they were both family oriented, Star Wars/Trek fans and also workaholics. 

What didn’t work for me was the main conflict and the pacing. The idea of Cara coming to assess the country’s financials (businesses, etc) kept me separate from the Christmas aspect of the plot. Also the characters were very hot and cold throughout the book and then bam: they were in love. 

I think overall they are a good match but maybe I needed more pining/tension throughout (and don’t get me wrong, there was pining). But the pacing overall felt very slow even though the characters only had a month together (until Christmas). 

Don’t let this review dissuade you from Jenny Holidays’s other work! This one specifically just wasn’t a good fit for me. 

I would love to have an Imogen POV book if that’s an option 😂. 

2.5/5⭐️

So This Is Christmas A Novel