A ROYAL CHRISTMAS - Melody Carlson - One Free Book

Bio: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie. The movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.MelodyCarlson.com .

With over 7.5 million copies sold, Melody Carlson’s emotive and charming tales have captured the hearts of many fans. Her writing is at its finest in her newest release, A Royal Christmas—a story of intrigue, mystery, and romance. The fictional setting of Montovia provides a picturesque backdrop for unraveling a twisted plot and unexpectedly falling in love. A Royal Christmas is sure to excite and prepare readers for the festivities and benevolence of the Christmas season.

About the story: Hardworking, dedicated law student Adelaide Smith could never have guessed the shocking truth about her unknown, absent father—he’s a royal. In addition, his brother Farcus, the current heir to the throne, has inexplicably gone missing. Adelaide has suddenly become an heir to the throne of the European principality of Montovia.

Intrigued, Adelaide is persuaded to take a Christmas break trip to meet her family in Montovia. What she discovers on the other side of the ocean is nothing like what she expected. Power struggles, plotting, and poverty are around every corner. Suspicions quickly arise concerning the whereabouts of Farcus and the motivations of the king’s only stepson, Georg. Is Georg’s warm welcome of Adelaide genuine or an attempt to woo her into compliance? And what of the handsome member of Parliament working with Adelaide to unwind the mysteries and help the poor?

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, ­­­Adelaide must decipher the past, grasp the present, and determine her future. With her law degree waiting on the other side of the Atlantic, will she return to the States or embrace the new life before her? And will she find lasting love in Montovia?

Please provide a brief summary of A Royal Christmas? Adelaide Smith, a hardworking law student, is discovered to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the dying ruler of a small European principality. Her deceased mother never spoke of her absent father, but the puzzle pieces fit. Adelaide accepts the king’s invitation to visit and travels to Montovia during the Christmas season. Immediately befriended by Anton Balazs, Adelaide is swept into an old-fashioned world filled with family mysteries, royal jealousies, and the possibility of a fairy-tale romance.

What sets this Christmas story apart from the other novels you have written? I’ve never written a Christmas novella about royals before. I enjoyed creating a fictional kingdom and country, as well as some different circumstances from my other novellas.

When you started writing this story, did you know how it would end for Adelaide? I actually wasn’t sure how it would end. I had the same questions as Adelaide: Which way will this go? What will be for the best—for her as well as the kingdom?

This story is set in the fictional country of Montovia. How did you come up with the setting for your novel? I was thinking of a tiny country like Liechtenstein or Luxembourg (where I spent a little time many years ago). I wanted something independent but with German influence. And since I live in the mountains, I thought that would be fun and picturesque.

What inspired the character growth in Adelaide’s mother? We don’t really get to know Adelaide’s mother, Susan, too well since she is deceased, but Adelaide gets to know other facets of her mother as she explores her own heritage. She learns that Susan rejected wealth and title for principles and that she returned to nursing school in order to raise her child on her own, with no help from the paternal parent, who was wealthy.

What are some of the underlying themes in A Royal Christmas? The challenges of a single parent, loss and grief, self-reliance, loyalty, friendship, and caring about those who are less fortunate.

Your books are well-known for their romance. Can you describe the romance that takes place in A Royal Christmas? It’s complicated because Adelaide is a “foreigner” in a kingdom that perceives her as heir to the throne. Although she’s attracted to Anton Balazs, she isn’t sure she plans to remain in Montovia. What about her law career? Anton’s very involved in Montovian government; would he give that up for her? Will true love prevail all their challenges?

What do you hope readers will gain from reading A Royal Christmas? As always, I hope they’ll be entertained and encouraged—and transported to another place. I hope it will put them in a Christmassy frame of mind of peace on earth and goodwill toward humankind.

Is this your first novel depicting royalty? It’s my first adult novel with that theme. I self-published a pair of YA novels years ago that will rerelease later this year with WhiteFire. Those books are about twin princesses who face some interesting challenges—but they are more fairy-talelike stories.

What are you working on next? I just finished next year’s novel (Spring 2024) called Just for the Summer. It’s about two women who are unhappy with their hotel management careers and decide to participate in a job swap that takes them to completely different places—a boutique city hotel traded for an old-fashioned fishing lodge. Fun!

Where can readers purchase a copy of A Royal Christmas? Hopefully at their favorite bookstore (ask for it!) or online stores like BakerPublishingGroup.com, ChristianBook.com, Barnes&Noble.com, etc.

How can readers connect with you? I’m on Facebook, and my website is MelodyCarlson.com. Or readers can email me at MelodyCarlsonBooks@Gmail.com

Thank you for sharing this book with my blog readers and me. I love your writing and royal books.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Christmas-Novella/dp/0800742311/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697227634&sr=1-3

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