| Title | : | Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date, #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2019 |
| Awards | : | RUSA CODES Reading List Romance (2020) |
Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie’s work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can’t refuse. She’s excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn’t expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality.
Malcolm Hudson has worked for the Queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour—until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling.
Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year’s Day. . .or are they?
Royal Holiday (The Wedding Date, #4) Reviews
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4.5 stars.
Okay, now how long do I have to wait for Jasmine Guillory's next book?
It’s crazy to think at this time last year while I had heard of Guillory I hadn’t read any of her books, and now here I am having read all four.
Maddie (a main character in Guillory's last book, The Wedding Party) is a stylist who gets an incredible opportunity to dress a royal duchess in England for the holidays. She takes her mother, Vivian, along, as she rarely does anything for herself and has never been out of the country.
Vivian quickly becomes enamored of Sandringham, the royal estate where they are staying, not to mention the scones baked by the cottage's chef. She becomes even more charmed when she meets Malcolm, the Queen’s private secretary. They form a quick friendship that surprises both of them, as does the intensity of their attraction to one another. Both are willing to step outside their comfort zones for perhaps the first time in a long time, to positive results.
And although Vivian is falling for Malcolm she is always practical and knows that a relationship like this—at their age and given the fact that she lives in California—will never be more than a fling. Malcolm knows the same, but it’s rare that he’s opened himself up to someone, particularly so quickly. They also realize that they are two very different yet similar people in many ways, and that's both a positive and a negative.
When you’re a practical person, do you throw caution to the wind and let your heart do what it wants, even if you know it probably won’t work? Can you teach yourself to be as impulsive as your heart instead?
Guillory brings her signature charm to this book, once again creating characters you root for. I love the fact that all four of her books are interconnected in that they share characters, yet you don't have to read them in order. And while this book seems a little more fairytale-like (read: unrealistic) than the others, I like that she dealt with more mature characters who had lifetimes of baggage to deal with.
If you're a fan of rom-coms, you should check out Guillory's books. They're fun, charming, and heartwarming.
Now I go through withdrawal until her next book!!
See all of my reviews at
itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at
https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/. -
The fourth book in Jasmine Guillory's series focuses on Maddie's mum Vivian Forest and her meeting a smart and handsome British man.
I like the way throughout the series the author created diverse characters that do not often get enough representation in romance books. This time she concentrates on slightly older protagonists - Vivian is 54 and has been divorced for more than three decades. She has also been working hard as a social worker in a busy hospital, raising her daughter as a single mother and taking care of her sister Jo who has had serious health probems. All this meant that she hasn't had much time for travelling or holidays.
When Maddie Forest unexpectedly is invited to step in and substitute her mentor on a work trip to the UK which is scheduled around Christmastime, Maddie knows she can spend New Year with her boyfriend Theo, but Christmas...Christmas is for family, Christmas is for her mum. Luckily, Vivian is all in. The job is high profile as it involves the royal family and Ms Forest and Ms Forest get to spend a part of their holiday at a royal residence in the north of England. We do not see much of Maddie in this book as she is way too busy with clothes alterations and fittings, so Vivian has a lot of free time to explore the house and marvel at neverending cultural differences. Vivian's meet cute, Malcolm Hudson has an important job- he is a private secretary of Her Majesty. He has been divorced for six years, and his private life very much centres around his sister and his 19 year old nephew Miles. Malcolm is charmed by Vivian's smile and positive attitude: 'She had such a strong and playful sense of self...She was neither demanding nor bashful; just friendly and inquisitive and smiling'. Christmas holidays and New Year are a special time when unusual things can happen and even the most careful and realistic people decide to give in to romance. Malcolm takes time to get to know Vivian and what is important to her, as much as it is possible in the short time they have together. I love the way Vivian vents her feelings on the subject of surprises and how they are often about what the other person wants, not the person they are surprising, and Malcolm takes it aboard to make sure she feels comfortable with the things he suggests.
The fairy-tale setting and royal guest appearances in the book might make you think that this romance is too far away from real life and difficult to relate to, but it isn't the case. Vivian and Malcolm live thousands of kilometers away, but, ultimately, they will understand that the connection they have is special and worth the risk. You don't have to be based in different countries to experience this feeling: No, we are too different...No, there is no way it will work... He/She is too set in his /her ways. His job/ college/family is too important for him...The logistics would be a nightmare... And another potentially beautiful relationship bites the dust before you've even given it a chance. Yes, our life experiences teach us that we have to be realistic and pragmatic, and avoid risks, and this is how we may end with a job that brings more money, but less joy and happiness, or refuse to apologise to a relative or a friend who might just have a different point of view, but be as right as we are. Vivian and Malcolm knew from the very beginning the risks, but, still, they decided to give it a try, and they certainly deserve their own happy ever after.
This was not a laugh out loud book for me, but Jasmine Guillory's trademark sense of humour is still there, coupled with her impeccable writing style. If you loved her previous books, and the diversity of her characters and settings, you will definitely appreciate this slightly more mature romance. And if you love tea, scones, cucumber sandwiches and all things British, you will have even more reasons to enjoy this last instalment of Jasmine Guillory's hugely successful Wedding series .
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. -
This had so! much! potential! to be a new favorite book of mine because it features two of my absolute favorite romance tropes (royalty and the holidays), but I still just.. really didn't like this. The writing did not work for me at all and I am SAD. Pretty sure I'm done with Jasmine Guillory now. Womp womp
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3.5 stars
It had all started with a call from Maddie a few weeks ago.
I know it’s still summer, but I couldn’t pass up reading this holiday book written by Jasmine Guillory. If you’ve kept up with her ‘Wedding Date’ series, you know the leading lady of this story is Maddie’s mother. I couldn’t wait to read her love story. It was so sweet and super adorable.
“Hey, Mom, I need an answer fast—do you want to spend Christmas with me in England?”
Vivian is a busy social worker who doesn’t vacation nearly enough. When her daughter Maddie asks her to go on a work-trip with her around Christmas, she can’t say no. Who could refuse Christmas with their only child and a trip to England? While Maddie is styling a member of the royal family, Vivian plans to read, relax, and site see. She doesn’t plan on Malcolm Hudson.
Malcolm works directly for the Queen and happens to be in the same place as Vivian. When he first sees her, he’s mesmerized. He gives her a tour of the grounds and after that, they fall into a sweet friendship with some kisses and loads of flirting. Before they know it, Vivian is set to go home. But Malcolm convinces her to stay a few days longer with just him. That time is so special between them.
When Vivian is set to go home for real, these two decide long distance would be too hard and part on good, friendly terms. They still keep in touch, though. I loved their relationship and the pen-pal way they stayed in contact. I especially loved how each of them was going through something big in their life and the other was there to lend an ear and helped them through it.
This book was a sweet romance. By the end I was charmed and had a big smile on my face. If you’re looking for a fun, romantic, holiday read, check this one out! -
Many thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review
After a little bit of thinking, I am bringing my rating down to three stars. This just completely fell short compared to The Wedding Party. It was rather boring and lackluster. Strange because I went in expecting so much and left with so little.
I think I know why this happened. It felt like the author was holding back. Now, I’ve only read one of her other books but, compared to that one, this was very tame. As far as I remember, all of the sex scenes were fade to black. C’mon, Jasmine Guilllory. That’s so PG-13.
Also, was I the only one who felt kind of uncomfortable during the steamy scenes, even though they were tame. In The Wedding Party, Vivian, the main character of this book, was a mother and an authority figure. So, for some reason, I found it very weird to read a book about her… explicit thoughts. It felt like the equivalent of hearing your parents making out.
And you know… now that I think about it, maybe that is the reason Guillory held back in the steaminess of the novel.
Finally, this book was not Christmas-y. At all. Sure, it took place around Christmas time but there was no Christmas spirit.
All that said, there were a few genuinely funny scenes. So… there’s that.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this novel but maybe you will. Give it a try!
Happy reading!
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[12/15/2019] - 3.5 stars.
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[12/10/2019] - I'm really glad I have this audiobook because I'm going to be making 20 dozen cookies this Friday and it'll be nice to have something to listen to
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best early Christmas present ever
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Cute story, quick read. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but all in all it's a nice Christmas read. Although this is #4 in the series, I think it's fine as a stand-alone read. I'd only read #1 in the series (The Wedding Date). Now though, I plan to read #2 and #3.
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this was.. really boring🧍🏻♀️
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I love how Jasmine Guillory's fiction features strong, smart women of color, who have real jobs and work in urban areas. (I mean, I do love me a sweet story that takes place in a small town diner, but I don't want ALL my love stories set in those quaint settings!) And I love how in her latest book, her previous character's MOM takes center stage.
If you’ve read Jasmine Guillory before, you’ll remember Maddie, Alexa’s best friend in The Wedding Date and the female lead ofThe Wedding Party. Maddie is a personal stylist, and in a fortunate turn of events, she’s been hired to dress the duchess for the holiday season. She’s going to England, and she wants to bring her mom, who’s only been out of the country once before.
And so 54-year-old Vivian Forest, a black social worker from Oakland, suddenly finds herself in England living like royalty—literally. She was ready to encounter new people, and new experiences, but she wasn’t prepared to meet Malcolm Hudson, the Queen’s very handsome private secretary. He begins by showing her around just to be polite, but it soon becomes something more. It’s been ages since she met a man she actually enjoys spending time with, and how strange it is that the man she looks forward to seeing is in England, of all places, and working for the Queen. It’s totally bizarre to Maddie, but it’s also totally happening.
This book is fast and fun, and funny, you can fly through the 300 pages, and it will be an absolute delight for anyone who enjoyed Guillory’s previous works or is interested in royal life. I particularly liked how the protagonist was a 54-year-old woman who had her own life, her own career, her own child (who took part in the story, but not terribly often). And while this book is set firmly in Jasmine Guillory’s universe—you’ll recognize some character names here, and you might know their history—it is not the tiniest bit necessary to read the previous books first. And yes, this book is set during the holiday season, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it poolside NOT during the holidays, so don’t let the book’s setting stop you from reading it any time at all. -
Wow. This. Was. Not. Good. I think that Guillory is pumping out too many books these days and not making sure that her characters and plot lines are developed. This whole thing also didn't work since we have Maddie styling a mysterious Duchess (look it's supposed to be Duchess Meghan) and that whole thing of course did not have me in a romantic mindset. I loved the first book, noted some issues in book #2 and flat out did not like book #3. I hope that whatever book comes next it actually makes sense, has two leads I am invested in, and actually takes time to set up the romance/characters/etc.
"Royal Holiday" follows Vivian Forest. We were introduced to her somewhat in the last book. Vivian is Maddie's mother. When Maddie somehow gets asked to go to England to style a royal Duchess (seriously this would never happen and it was beyond idiotic) Vivian goes along. Vivian gets to meet the private secretary of the Queen (this would never happen) named Malcolm. The two find themselves attracted to each other. Cue scenes in England. Cue bland AF romance.
I can't say much about Vivian. I was not invested in her at all after she and Malcolm meet. There's no chemistry between them and the dialogue was weak as anything. Malcolm was rude/nasty to Vivian to the point that I was not enamored with him at all. I guess Guillory was trying for an alpha romance or something here, but it didn't work. Also can I say this? Malcolm is black...I got thoughts about the Queen having a black male secretary. That's all I am going to say and move along. And there's a whole thing with these two writing each other post cards that had me in disbelief. I guess phones are not a thing anymore.
Also Maddie barely interacts with her mother. The whole thing was a bizarre choice. I found myself wondering about prior characters since these two were not holding my interest.
The flow was not great. This has taken me weeks to get through because I kept stopping and starting it. This is totally different for me since I stayed up all night to finish book #1 and was so excited for book #2, I bought it and read it on my Kindle at 12:01 AM when it became available. However, after book #3 I decided to just get these books via the library. I am glad I did not buy this one even though the cover is eye-catching.
I do love romance books that take place in London. And this should have worked for me with supposedly Maddie and Vivian staying at Sandringham House and once again I was all, this would never happen and it took me out of the story. Also it's obvious that Guillory maybe just read some People magazine articles cause her understanding of some of these locations....was not great. Maybe next time she sticks to her own wheelhouse.
This felt like a cash grab by Guillory to jump on the popularity of Duchess Meghan. Too bad she and Prince Henry rightfully said (swear word) your couch and got out of England and are now set to not be full-time royals. I just could not get past the idea that Maddie would be styling someone this famous. She didn't even get her tv presenter job, the whole plot to force fit them being in England was dumb. I tend to not like royal romance novels as a rule though unless they are set in regency or earlier eras cause too many things in this book were taking me right out of it while reading. -
Cute romance.
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This story had a bit of a unique twist on it in that it is the story of a mother and daughter taking a trip and finding romance.
At first thought we would probably be thinking the romance was about the younger woman. However, the author focused on a middle-aged mom in this sweet story.
Whisked away for a royal treat, the main characters spend the Christmas holidays time in England with the Duke and Duchess.
The author gave us a lighthearted and delightful read that makes you smile the whole way through. Along with the added excitement of meeting a wonderful man unexpectedly, this story truly ignites the heart. Sparks fly from the beginning and we get to enjoy their new found attraction.
Written with grace and a tiny bit of spice, we also experience emotional uncertainty as they try and figure out how to date and enjoy themselves after so many years of being single.
There are scenes that are awkward, as awkward as one would feel in similar circumstances. There are scenes that are heartwarming and just so sweet. The author has a beautiful talent that describes the rich countryside, the lush accommodations, and the timid and tantalizing new feelings.
With just the right amount of heat added to the mix, we have a wonderful story that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. A wonderful romance for those that love to read stories with mature adults. Nice change of pace.
* copy received for review consideration
full review -
https://amidlifewife.com/royal-holida... -
2.5 stars
The stakes were low, if not non-existent.
The character growth was little to none.
The plot trod along without ever really changing pace.
The dialogue felt forced and cringe-worthily unnatural.
I realized all of this about a third of the way through the book with the unfortunate (and correct) feeling that it wouldn't change as I kept reading. So I lowered my expectations significantly, and the story became much more enjoyable.
Vivian Forest accompanies her daughter, Maddie, on a work trip to England. While Maddie works as the Duchess's personal stylist for the holidays, Vivian finds herself falling head-over-heels for the Queen's charming private secretary, Malcolm Hudson.
I loved that our heroine and hero were both middle-aged (in their 50's), which is atypical of popular romance novels. I enjoyed experiencing England and the world of British royalty through Vivian's eyes. If you're ready to treat this book like a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, and you're looking for something light and easy to get you through the holidays, I would definitely recommend this book.
Otherwise, there's not much more to say about it. It's filled with likable yet unused side characters and missed opportunities to heighten the stakes that left me wanting more.
If I hadn't been reading this for a book club, I'm unfortunately not sure I would have finished it. However, I would be interested in reading some of Guillory's other novels to see how they compare, especially if they aren't centered around a specific holiday. I'd love to get the chance to fall in love with her books! -
Unfortunately, was really disappointed by this. I enjoyed The Wedding Party so much and that was what convinced me to request this one from NetGalley, but everything about this fell flat. To be fair, the characters are a bit older than me, so that had something to do with it, but I really didn't feel their connection and their conversations just felt bland and not funny at all (even though we're told over and over that they keep laughing). I did enjoy the escapism of Vivian dating the personal advisor to the Queen (who even makes an appearance), and the descriptions of the locations of London were spot on, but otherwise this just wasn't for me.
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I'm trying to read a mountain of holiday romances in time to do a recommendations episode of the Reading Envy podcast, so the short version of this is that it's the fourth in a series of books I have not read otherwise, featuring the mother of one of the previous characters as she accompanies her daughter on a work trip to England. As a woman of color in her 50s, she's not expecting to find love but meets the Queen of England's personal secretary and sparks fly. How often do you see an over 50 romance?
The sense of humor is fun. At one point, Vivian decides "It was time to put her bra on and do this."
She's a social worker, so she has supreme people skills that smooth over a lot of precarious situations. She knows who she is and what she is willing to do, which I liked. And she appreciates a man who knows that the best position to sleep in is close enough to touch but never trying to hold her when she is trying to sleep! Real talk.
I found the author to sometimes be needlessly repetitive, for instance a scene would happen, then she writes Malcolm's thoughts about the scene, and then Vivian's... when often their thoughts would be obvious from their behavior. Not sure if that's filler or a style but I noticed it on multiple occasions.
I had a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, but it did come out October 1, 2019. I'm a bit behind. -
I had loved the previous books in this series and loved the idea of a holiday book in London.
I liked Vivian and Malcolm well enough. They’re both sweet and unassuming and much too polite to have any actual chemistry. I was a little wary at reading a book with older people and perhaps that’s the reason I didn’t connect to either of them.
Plot wise, it was so very bland. I quickly found myself skimming chapters just for the dialogue. As much as I love London {which is at an insanely high level of obsession}, I didn’t want to bother reading the descriptions of the city. One of the things I did really love was the letter writing, but sadly, that’s about it.
Overall, I was really into this idea, but the execution just didn’t work for me.
**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge** -
I adored this story. Vivian and Malcolm were wonderful together and I loved that they were a mature couple of color that found love. They were fun … they were funny … they were absolutely adorable.
Vivian was wonderful. She was a self-assured mature woman who knew her likes and dislikes. She wasn't afraid to voice her opinion and wasn't afraid to accept the consequences. She had a wonderful sense of humor that shone throughout the story. She had a wonderful daughter and a family that depended on her. She also had a job that she adored. But, she never put herself first until her holiday to England.
Malcolm was interesting. You would think, being the Queen's secretary, that he would be snobby, formal and utterly English. But, he wasn't. He was respected by all who came in contact with him, loved by his family and had a healthy taste for scones. He was taken with Vivian the moment he saw her and became a very uncharacteristic Malcolm to the delight of everyone around him. He was attentive, a gentleman and showed Vivian the utmost respect and support.
From the kiss under the mistletoe to the fireworks on New Year's, I loved every moment of this story. It was fun and interesting. It brought out a mature sense of humor and romance. And, when they made love, it was just that. It was done with feelings not a sense of complete urgency and I loved, even at their age, they used protection! I thought that was the cutest thing.
This was my first time reading Jasmine Guillory and can't wait to read more from her. Her characters were well-defined. I was thrilled with the way the story flowed. I loved the notes and the postcards. They just made this story so much more enjoyable. Then there was wonderful ending. I loved how she brought them back together and showed us that even a mature couple could have a healthy, loving relationship when they least expected it.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review. -
“Hey, Mom, I need an answer fast—do you want to spend Christmas with me in England?”
📚 Series: Yes, 4th, but can be read as a standalone.
📚 Genre: Contemporary romance.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Miscommunication between two lead characters.
⚠ Read if: you are looking for Hallmark-ish Christmas read.
Royal Holiday is my first read from the author, Jasmine Guillory, and I admit it is a little foolish of me to start a series in its 4th installment. But, I was in the mood for a holiday read and this book is perfect for the readathon I participated in.
I loved that this book shone the spotlight on an older couple, 50-ish, I think, because this is not a common choice for sweet contemporaries.
Both the leads, Vivian and Malcolm, were fun to get to know, especially with the clashes in their personalities and cultures.
I didn't expect much from this read aside from "getting out of your comfort zone" for a lead and some fun adventures. Luckily, this read was able to deliver that for me.
All in all, this book was so endearing, passionate, and romantic. I am curious to read what the first three were about, especially since I've seen reviews that the first three were better than this one. 😅
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Audiobook Production: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 ☁
📚
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Royal Holiday is book 4 in The Wedding Date series and while I enjoyed it, it was definitely my lest favorite of the series. Royal Holiday is about Vivian who is the mother of Maddie who was the main character in the previous book The Wedding Party. Vivian tags along with Maddie to England where Maddie is styling Meghan Markel. The book never mentions Meghan's name but we all know who "The Duchess" is they're talking about. While in England Vivian meets a handsome Black man with a British accent(my weakness) who just so happens to work for The Queen. They of course fall in love but that was never in doubt. I did wonder how the distance would be handled but I thought it was okay but expensive solution.
I found this book to be less exciting than the first 3 books. It was just a book about two people in their 50's falling in love. There wasn't really any conflict and little disagreements they had were quickly patched up. I wanted a little more angst. Middle aged people can still be angsty(is that a word?)
Overall I still liked it and plan on reading book 5 later on this month.
If you like syrupy sweet and predictable(in a good way) romances, than give The Wedding Date series a try! -
I basically ended up finishing this out of pure stubbornness. I was ready to DNF 25% in... no 10%.
In fact, everyone was telling me "Life's too short, DNF!" and I was like true but I also like getting worked up about books I dislike, so onward and downward.
The dialogue was painful, especially between Vivian and her daughter... and her daughter and absolutely everyone she spoke to. The whole fictionalized royalty based on real royalty felt super made for tv movie in the cheesiest way and the writing style was jittery. I don't know how else to describe it! It didn't flow in any kind of pleasing way!
I have heard from several people that this is the worst of her books but I'm not sure I'm going to jive with any of the others if this is the style in which they are written!
Honestly, maybe this is a great book and I just don't like royal fan fiction or the writing style! But the ONLY thing I thought was done well was the representation of characters over the age of 35!
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This is my third time? Maybe second time. Reading jasmine guillory. While her stories have a great set up, strong characters, and good writing, they lack conflict that keeps readers interested. I just wait and wait for something to happen but nothing exciting ever does. This one was a sweet holiday romance but lacked conflict that made me care.
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Generally I don't read romances but the premise of Royal Holiday caught my eye and captured my attention.
Vivian's daughter is hired to be the "stylist" for the Duchess. Since the work involves staying over in the UK during the holidays, she brings Vivian along with her. They have good fortune to stay at the "cottages" on the royal grounds. There Vivian meets Malcolm, the secretary for the Queen. Yes, it definitely will be a royal holiday for Vivian but can the magic continue once she returns to the US.
I loved the characters in Royal Holiday. They were funny, real, and had real life issues despite the fairy tale premise of the book. I also enjoyed the fact that Vivian and Malcolm are in their fifties - something rarely seen in romance novels - or any other novels for that matter.
My only concern was that the ending seemed abrupt. That certainly didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying Royal Holiday.
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As much as this story is set around winter and the Christmas/holiday season, I say from experience (reading this book in July) that the story can be enjoyed year round.
I really liked that this main character was in her fifties in comparison to the main characters in the rest of the series. Each of those main characters were in their twenties (I think) so this gave a different perspective of love and romance from a character with more life experience and struggles.
It may be due to the novel's shorter length but I felt like the ending was rushed in comparison to the rest of the story. The novel could have benefitted from a longer length so that it was concluded adequately and with more detail. -
Jasmine Guillory's books are PERFECTION. Her characters are so well-rounded and the love story unfolds perfectly. Like Helen Hoang's books, I love how each story is a standalone romance, but characters from the other books pop into the story here and there, which gives the books some cohesion overall. I read Red, White, and Royal Blue shortly before this book and I loved being back in England with the royal family, albeit in a different way. Vivian and Malcolm had the sweetest love story and they were probably one of the most captivating of Jasmine's stories. Actually, scratch that, I can't pick favourites - all of her books have been delightful in their own way and I love them all.
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My least favorite Jasmine Guillory novel to date; I think it's because the set-up involves way more suspension of disbelief than her other books. The romance is charming but it was hard for me to really buy into the premise. More to come.
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I loved this book! It was a sweet, slow-burn romance full of passion and no over-the-top drama. It was entertainment based purely on the real-life circumstances and situations between Vivian Forest and Malcolm Hudson, ... okay, as real life as one can get being Vivan is in England because her daughter is working as a stylist for the Royal family, and Malcolm is the Queen's private secretary ... their romance was believably sincere and lovely.
You may remember Vivian's daughter Maddie from the 'Wedding Party'? In 'Royal Holiday', Maddie has the opportunity to go to England over Christmas to help prepare the princess for the royal Christmas festivities. Because Maddie has never been away from her mother at Christmas, she invites her along. With Maddie working all day and into the night, Vivian is left to entertain herself. When the very handsome and intriguing Malcolm suggests he show her around, Vivian can't resist his charm, and goes all-in on her royal holiday!
Rarely do we get romance stories with older characters and when we do, they are relegated to secondary ones. I was so excited to read about new love and second-chances experienced by older characters. I wish we had more of them!
I was provided a review copy by Berkley; this did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
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I was really excited for the premise of Royal Holiday- older woman finds love with a man connected to royalty during Christmas? Yes! In practice, this was just okay, and often pretty dull. Which is unfortunate because I think it had a lot of potential. The relationship between Vivian and Malcolm is fairly uninteresting for a good part of the book, and so the supposed depth of their feelings for each other over the course of just a few days never felt believable. While the last part of the book was cute, for me it felt like too little too late to have me really rooting for their long-distance HEA. They both seem like nice enough people (although the hero is not terribly interesting) and I'm all for Vivian having fun on her first vacation in a long time, but mostly this was just boring. Which is a bummer, because the premise should have made this an easy win!
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This book just did not work for me.
I wasn't very enthusiastic about the idea of having a book solely dedicated to Vivian because I wasn't sure there was really a story to tell and I think that in some way I might have been right.
Everything was just so bland. There wasn't any excitement or even something that truly drove the story forward. Malcom and Vivian were nice people but they lacked chemistry, I didn't feel the spark between the two of them.
I'm sorry to say that this book mostly bored me. -
Wow! Let me just say kudos to Maddie for deciding that no she will not be bringing her new boyfriend on a last-minute trip to England for the holidays, and choosing her mom instead. Definitely, a cute and quick holiday read to warm your heart.
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I LOVE that this romance centers on seasoned adults. Yay for love over 50!
I'm so excited about Royal Holiday for a number of reasons. I love that Jasmine Guillory took us "across the pond" this time, expanding the location of where black people are found. Also, the fact that Malcolm is a black man working as secretary to the Queen of England? Oh my God! But what stood out most to me were the ages of Malcolm and Vivian. Far too often protagonists in romances are 20 or 30 somethings, so it was refreshing to explore the romance of the 50 and up crowd.
I loved how both of their past experiences (and wisdom) informed their conversations, how they acted with each other and how they conducted their relationship. I honestly can't get enough of Guillory's writing and can't wait to read more from her. -
I don’t read a lot of rom-com novels, but I make an exception for Jasmine Guillory’s books. They are funny, engaging, and filled with great characters. There’s also some steam involved! “Royal Holiday” is based on a fascinating premise - what if a woman who has been asked to style a member of the royal family during the holidays invites her mother along, and the mother happens to be a fictionalized version of Megan Markle’s mother, Dora. From that idea, Guillory creates a delightful story, one where sparks fly when the woman meets a handsome and charming member of the Queen’s personal staff. This is a book sure to alleviate the winter-time blahs and bring cheer to readers’ hearts. A fun read and a great escape.
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Thank you, Jasmine Guillory, for giving us the romance heroine we never knew we needed: Vivian Forest, a 54-year-old African American social worker — hard-working, devoted mother, caring professional, and all-around amazing woman! And let me just say this part again: Vivian is IN HER 50s. When’s the last time you read a fun, upbeat love story with a woman in her 50s as the star? I’m guessing the answer is never.
Royal Holiday is the fourth in the author’s loosely connected Wedding Date series — the connection being that the stories’ characters are all linked by friendship or family, although each can easily be read as a stand-alone. Here, Vivian is the mother of Maddie, the lead character in the previous book (The Wedding Party), who in turn is best friends with the lead character from the first book (The Wedding Date). It’s fun to see how the characters’ lives connect and weave together, but as I said, reading the other books isn’t truly required to enjoy each one, and that’s especially true with Royal Holiday.
The basic plot: Maddie, a successful stylist, is asked to fill in last minute as the stylist for a member of the British royal family for the Christmas holidays, and asks her mother to come along. Vivian rarely travels or takes vacations, but she and Maddie always spend Christmas together, and with a bit of prodding, she agrees to go. Staying at the Sandringham estate is magical, and Vivian is delighted by the beauty and splendor… and is instantly attracted to the very handsome Malcolm, Private Secretary to the Queen, when he appears at the guest cottage on the estate and offers to give her a tour.
Vivian and Malcolm connect right away, bringing out each others’ playful sides as well as listening and appreciating one another as people, and they also find each other incredibly attractive. As Vivian’s holiday with Maddie draws to a close, Malcolm asks Vivian to stay on in London for a few more days — and while Vivian is the type to draw up pro and con lists for all decisions, she goes with spontaneity this time around and accepts Malcolm’s invitation.
Ah, this book is such a delight! The romance and chemistry between Vivian and Malcolm is sparkling and fun and sexy… and yes, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this book features attractive 50-somethings having a romantic and physical relationship that includes sex and flirtation and public kissing, and it’s glorious.
Granted, there’s not much conflict or dramatic tension in Royal Holiday. There are a few minor disagreements and misunderstandings, but the main source of tension is whether the relationship should be a holiday fling or if they’re willing to consider a long-distance relationship — and even then, there really isn’t much question that it will all work out.
I really like how seriously Jasmine Guillory takes her characters’ careers. Vivian is absolutely committed to her work, and it’s refreshing and inspiring to read about how much she cares for her patients and how energized she is by her ability to help people and improve lives. The big dilemma for Vivian much of the book is being up for a big promotion at work that would provide a higher salary and more prestige, but would mean focusing her time on administration rather than on direct care. I love how deeply Vivian feels about her work and the seriousness with which she weighs her decision. And at no time is it suggested that she chuck it all to move to London to be with Malcolm — they each have careers, and their challenge is how to make their relationship possible without either abandoning the work that is so meaningful to them.
All that may make this sound more serious overall than it actually is. Above all else, Royal Holiday is a sweet, romantic, joyous romp, full of happiness and appreciation and heart. I can’t say enough good things!
Except maybe one last comment: Vivian Forest rocks! More of her, please!!
