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From Amazon:
Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales.
She’s been working hard to put herself through law school, and she’s determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she is a direct descendant of King Maximillian Konig V, the ruler of a small European principality called Montovia.
What? No. That’s the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.
Still, curiosity gets the best of her, leading to a Christmas break trip chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament, and the chance at a real-life fairy tale romance.
My Take:
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from publisher Revell. All opinions, however, are my very own.
We first meet Adelaide as a barista in a small, family-owned coffee shop working to put herself through law school. Her single mother passed away three years ago, and she is feeling all the holiday blues. We meet her friend, Isla, too, a supportive and encouraging young woman.
When things are at a low point, Adelaide receives a special letter from the country of Montovia saying that the king, her father, isn't doing well. She is next in line for the throne. Thinking it sounds like a scam, she confers with her friend and together they decide that Adelaide should check it out. She receives a stipend and an airline ticket and off she goes.
Once she arrives she learns that her mother was engaged to King Max and that the king is indeed her father. A beautiful Christmas holiday is happening and all the magic of Christmas shines through on this short and sweet book.
This is an adorable holiday read that I would recommend to anyone. It reminds me of a Hallmark movie but with more depth and details. It didn't hurt that the love interest in the book calls Adelaine a Cinderella, who happens to be my all-time favorite Disney princess.
About the Author:
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales of around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors, etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/
