The Royal Nanny is a phenomenal piece of historical fiction, seamlessly blending fact and fiction to tell the story of Mrs. Lala, nanny to the British royal family during a hugely pivotal time in history. While clearly extensively researched, it never gets bogged down in detail. Instead, Harper expertly weaves the historical facts into the fabric of the story and it becomes impossible to tell which is which. This is the perfect read for fans of historical fiction and the monarchy alike.

Often staff is overlooked and they have a "secret" life unknown to other even when they're part of the family. Nannys -servants or family? This historical fiction, yet filled with accurate details, is told through the eyes of Charlotte Bill, who becomes a nanny for a generation of British royals. The true test of love by birth or love by relationship.

I have always been a bit of an Anglophile and the royal family is something that I’m always curious to leave more about! This book combined a true story with moments of fiction that I really thought was done well.

LIKES:
1) the Royal family… During the end of Queen Victoria’s reign. It was interesting to see read about Queen Elizabeth’s father when he was just a boy.
2) Chad… at times I was frustrated for how he acted about Charlotte (LaLa) but in the end he was a sweet man that loved her so much
3) Johnny. We don’t hear much about this Royal child, but Lala’s love for him, the growth that happened about treating epilepsy, it was very interesting

DISLIKES:
1) nothing about the writing… it just always makes me upset that “keeping up appearances” is the MO of the Royals. There are too many stories written where this is the case.
2) I also dislike that the nanny isn’t allowed to marry. I truly hope this practice has changed.

Highly recommended to all Anglophiles!! Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Book Club Girl for this Freebie Friday pick during 2020.

I really enjoyed this story about Charlotte Bill ( Mrs. LaLa) and her life as a nanny to the royal family. Anything royal is always an interesting read, and this was no exception. A great story about those who give up on their own hopes and dreams to serve England’s monarchy, their future king, and his siblings.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers, William Morrow Paperbacks, Book Club Girls and NetGalley for this free copy. # TheRoyalNanny #NetGalley

I was drawn to this book, because I like anything usually about little ones and I usually enjoy historical fiction. I loved reading a story from the nanny's view of taking care of royal children. The secretive things you learn and find out while being part of the help. Also the love of the children you helped grow. I did have a hard time getting through the book in the beginning. Even though this has several things I do like about it it was slow going on actually finishing. It was a good read overall, but I did struggle to fully finish.

Who isn't fascinated by the British Royal Family. Karen Harper writes the story of Charlotte Bill, best known as Nanny Lala, a woman who dedicated her entire life to the upbringing of the children of the Duke and Duchess of York. She was the Nanny for King David, who abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, and King George VI, Queen Elizabeth's father.

In this story we learn about Nanny Lala's dedicated to Prince John who is often called the Lost Prince. Prince John suffered from epilepsy and learning disabilities. In those days people of the upper crust often put children with illnesses and learning disabilities into sanitariums so that the general public would not know that they had a child that was not normal. Nanny Lala did not allow that to happen to Prince John.

The Royal Nanny was an extremely enlightening read. The author did a great job including the historical context of what was going on in the world with what was happening to the Royal Family. She also included many details about the exactitude expected of those that worked for the Royal Family.

Great read. Highly recommend it.

This book had a combination that I should have know would not work for me. Royal European history. Not a good mix. The storyline is boring.. I could not finish the book.

Just like so many, I have a fascination with Great Britain’s royals. This story from the point of view of the nanny is so interesting. It is said to be a combination of fact and fiction. It starts in 1897. This book does not disappoint. I highly recommend it.

The Royal Nanny is based on the true story of the nanny to the future kings, David and Bertie, and their siblings. I knew very little about their childhood and didn't know that there were siblings! This is a great book for those obsessed with royalty like I am!

If you like the monarchy, British history and the royal family you will really enjoy this piece of historical fiction. I have been fascinated with the royal family ever since I can remember. I’m intrigued by the history, mystique, and tradition of it all. I really enjoy when an author can take some pieces of history and create an interesting fictional narrative around it. Great story about love, protection and sacrifice.

#NetGalley
#TheRoyalNanny

Based on the life of Charlotte Bill who was the nanny for the royal family, the Duke and Duchess of York at the Sandringham estate. She was intricately woven into the family's life and knew of their many secrets. The children loved her so much they called her, Lala.

I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting.I didn't know much about the Royals in the preceding generations.This was so informative and has me curious to learn about others in the Royal family.I will definitely look up the author's other books since I liked this one.

Oh, how I loved this story! Charlotte, aka Lala, is the Royal Nanny. She loves the children as her own and gives up marrying the love of her life, so she can remain with the children.

This story made me laugh and cry. I pray everyone has someone in their life who loves them like Miss Lala!

Fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy this well written tale of a nanny’s love of the royal children she cares for while getting a glimpse inside the English royal family from a servant’s perspective. I enjoyed hearing about the childhood of the famous Royals - Bertie (from the Kings Speech), his older brother David, King George V, and Queen Mary. I marveled that a servant (Charlotte Bell) would basically give up her life to care for someone else’s children. This was an interesting look at the people and circumstances that shaped a future king. It showed how their upbringing affected their entire lives.

I was vaguely aware of Prince John and had basic knowledge of the royal family during this time period, but this novel really brought it all to life for me. Lala’s love for the children was put forward in such a beautiful way. The author did such an excellent job writing her story. My heart really broke for Lala throughout the book and while it was all wrapped up nicely, I find myself wanting to binge the author’s other novels about the royal family.

I enjoyed reading about Lala. The young nanny that arrived to Sandringham to nurse the young princes Bertie, who later becomes King George VI, and David and at the end caring also for Mary,George, Harry and especially John.

It was sad to read about the health issues of John and how he's been shunned from the public to the point of sending him to live with Lala until his death at a very young age

Karen Harper did a very good job writing this book about a young woman who basically gives up her life to dedicate it to the care of these six children's and the special relationship and sense of duty she had for her job to the point of sacrificing her personal happiness with the man she loved to take care of these kids.

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I really enjoyed this fictionalized version of history. I learned some new things about the Royal Family (for instance, I had no idea when they became known as "The Windsors"), and it was well written, This follows the story of Charlotte Bill (aka Lala), the nanny of David (King Edward VIII Duke of Windsor), Bertie (King George VI), and their siblings. This included the rarely seen or talked about John.

Lala comes into the children's lives early, and rescues them from a potentially harmful situation with a bad nanny. She is then asked to take over the role of the head nanny and proceeds to be a part of the Royal family for years to come. Much of this story is about John, known as "The Lost Prince" due to rarely being seen or talked about. John needed much help from Lala, but was loved dearly by her.

While the story is not completely historically accurate, you can tell a lot of research went into the book and the story line. I appreciated the explanatory information at the back that told which characters were or were not real people.

Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers, William Morrow Paperbacks, and NetGalley for this free copy.

A slow start, but overall a good look into the true story of the royal family. Perfect for historical fiction and based on a true story readers

Flew through this book in just a few days - highly recommend for anyone loving a fairly accurate depiction of royal life during the Edwardian time. We all are aware of the crisis with King Edward (David) giving up his crown for the woman he loved - Wallis Simpson, and how younger brother Bertie rose to the challenge and became the next king. This book tells the story of their other siblings, and how a young Charlotte Bill became their nanny and basically their mother figure. Obviously it was a common practice for royals and other mothers of the elite, to "hand off" the rearing of their children to their nanny. We've all heard the story of a young present day Prince of Wales, greeting his mother with a handshake after she had been away for a few months. Charlotte - aka "Lala" to everyone - becomes the steady hand in the children's lives, but at the cost of giving up so much of her own. Much of the story centers around the youngest child, Johnnie, who suffered from epilepsy. Even though she gave up the chance of her own happiness to spend so many years in the royal nursery, after reading the book, I was left with the impression that she wouldn't have changed a thing, and considered her service to the royal family as a highlight of her life. Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

This was a good story of historical fiction. There were some things that felt off or not correct but overall good story.