A Royal Christmas – a novel

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She’s been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she’s determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She’s understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king’s invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is 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 fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you’ll never forget!

I know when I pick up a book by this author, I will enjoy it and this time was no exception!  It was different from her norm with a royal family and more mystery, and I absolutely loved it.  Set around Christmastime in a quaint, tiny European country Adelaide is going from barista to princess in what could only be the dream of many little girls to find out they really are a princess, and as Adelaide remarks, Seriously, this feels like the plot of a Hallmark movie.  The only downside to this novella is it is a quick read at only 167 pages (although that could be an advantage around the busy time of Christmas if that is when you read it) and I wanted it to last longer.  And I loved the faith element woven throughout the book.  If you could not tell by now, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

A Royal Christmas was published on September 1, 2023 by Revell.

He Should Have Told the Bees – a novel

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business–one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather . . . precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets–and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

What a different book in a most wonderful way!  I loved so many parts to it – from learning so much about bees, to the sweet romances, not to mention the mystery surrounding Callie and the fallout from a substance abusing parent, and finally the precociousness of little Fern.  Both Beckett and Callie are dealing with so many past hurts that really impact their present lives. But what makes the book different is that although it has a small amount of romance, that is not the focus but instead it is the relationship between the two women who have been thrown together without knowing why.  The faith element is present but minimal.  I so enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in the foothills of Tennesee with her husband and their three children. 

He Should Have Told The Bees was published on August 1, 2023 by Revell.