I am so sorry to say that I was unable to finish this book. The plot sounded so wonderful and something I could just get lost in, However, I could not. I wish the author, and publisher, much success upon the book's release..

A chance meeting during the wild London VE celebration has 20 somethings Jack Devereux and Olive Carter having eyes for each other. Alas, fate intervenes and they both connect with others in their group. Flash forward to 1953 and things have really changed with a tragedy and a deep secret now haunting the two would-be lovers. In step with Jack and Olive is Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne as her self-doubts follow Jack’s and Olive’s search to find themselves and each other. By coincidence they both find themselves employed at the Queen’s Christmas home, Jack as a chef and Olive as a BBC correspondent. The book follows a five-year quest of girl meets guy, loses guy and struggles to get him back storyline. But Olive’s secret adds intrigue plus juicy insight into the royal family would make a delightful Hallmark movie.

4.5⭐️

Told over several years and from the alternating perspectives of Olive and Jack, with pop ins from a young Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas with the Queen is a heartwarming right person, wrong time second chance story. After meeting on VE Day, Olive and Jack form a flirtatious friendship but eventually go their separate ways. Olive attempts to climb the ladder of the male dominated BBC while Jacks picks up the pieces of his life after a gutting personal loss. Circumstance, or fate, finds them at the Queen’s Sandringham estate in the lead up to Christmas and the reunion brings long held secrets to the surface.

This book was such a joy to read that I was genuinely disappointed when it was over. This was a near perfect blend of post WWII historical fiction and contemporary romance.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

It is 1952 and the Young Queen Elizabeth must do her first Christmas Day broadcast, as her father would of done annually. But she must find the right words to say to her country's people. She spends Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk for the Christmas season. There are two young people who meet up at Sandringham who knew each other years earlier. Jack Devereux is a chef from the United States and is recently widow. Losing his young wife to a tragic accident. Olive Carter is in the typing pool at the BBC. She is a single mother with a young daughter and they live with her parents.

Olive has a chance to go to Sandringham for the BBC as one of its reporters. She did not know she would have the opportunity to meet the Queen in person. Jack is given an opportunity to work in the kitchen at Sandringham, much to his surprise he would run into Olive while he was there. They met at Sandringham for several Christmas Seasons. Olive had many opportunities to meet with the Queen, at the Queen's request.

I wanted to read the book, as I love the novels when Queen Elizabeth is in the novels. I found the story line very heart warming. What a difficult time it was putting the book down each night, as I wanted to know what was next to take place. Thank you to Net Galley, Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb for giving me the opportunity to read this before publishing

I loved Last Christmas in Paris by this author duo, so I was hoping to love this one as well. Unfortunately, that was not the case as I had a hard time connecting with the two main characters that the perspective was alternating between. It was a second-chance romance, but I was let down by the rekindling of the relationship as many years past with no progress forward and no conversations had. I couldn't agree with a major decision one of the characters made about hiding a big secret - it just didn't make sense.

The big positive for me was the atmosphere and sense of place around Christmas time in London.

I still hope to read more from this author duo!

Author duo Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb's new book is described as "The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary" so I had to read it. It was wonderfully festive, beautiful and warm. Part classic second chance love story and part historical fiction. I loved spending time with a young Queen Elizabeth during her first Christmas broadcast at Sandringham in 1945.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Jack didn’t anticipate running into Olive again, especially right now. His wife died a few weeks ago and he’s taken a job in the Royal Household because, well, what else was he supposed to do? Olive didn’t anticipate being in Sandringham either, but the BBC reporter on the royal beat was sick and she’d lobbied to take his place. Olive and Jack hadn’t seen each other in nearly 8 years when they bumped into each other in the library at Sandringham during preparations for Queen Elizabeth II’s first Christmas as monarch. Will their spark reignite as they get to know each other again, or will the secrets of their past come back to haunt them under the watchful eye of the Royal Household?

Christmas with the Queen is the latest historical fiction release from the powerhouse partnership of Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. Following up on successes like Last Christmas in Paris, this novel showcases their talents of dual timelines and multiple main characters while pulling back the curtain on life in the Royal Household throughout the first few years of the Queen’s reign. While ripe with historical facts and beautifully written scenes that make you feel as though you’ve traveled back in time, this novel also provides a beautiful romance between Olive and Jack. This is a book about overcoming the odds to achieve your dreams.

I give Christmas with the Queen 5 out of 5 stars. Readers may be familiar with the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign through recent documentaries and the Netflix series The Crown, but this novel delves into the lives of the hired help and background characters to the public life of the Queen. I appreciated the inclusion of so many historical moments from this period to set the scenes for this storyline. I also appreciate the excerpts from the Queen’s Christmas addresses at the beginning of each new year – it helps to delineate the time jumps and prepare the reader for the next adventure for our main characters.

If you loved The Crown, Young Victoria, or The Cook of Castamar on the small screen, you will enjoy this book! I would also recommend this book to readers who appreciate historical fiction set in the 1940’s and 50’s who are looking for something with a little romance and lots of history. With minimal physical romance and no other abrasive subjects, I would direct this novel to readers as young as 13.

I first heard about Christmas with the Queen at an author event with Heather Webb for her latest solo release The Queens of London earlier this year and was immediately drawn to this story. I was very excited to see it available through Netgalley and to have the opportunity to read it early! This is a beautiful story and I can’t wait to share it with my friends!

3.5 stars rounded up. I am a big fan of both Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb. I’ve read, and loved, many of the historical fiction books they a have written separately as well as co-written, including their other Christmas time book, Last Christmas in Paris. If you are picking this book up, go in with the mindset that it will be a little (but not a lot!) about Queen Elizabeth and her early days as she addressed the public with her annual Christmas Day speeches. You’ll hear a little about the goings on with the staff as they prepare Christmas meals for the Royal family at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where they spent the holiday season. However, the book is mainly focused on the relationship of two friends who have reunited. Jack, a transplant from New Orleans, and Olive, a young woman who works for the BBC and who is determined to make something of herself. Jack has recently lost his wife and is working as a chef for the Royal family when Olive goes to cover the Queen’s Christmas speech for the BBC. They are old friends who once shared feelings for each other and the story is highly based around their reunion and how they feel about each other all these years as well as a big secret that Olive has been harboring. It’s told from both Jack and Olive’s points of view which I enjoyed more than I probably would have if it was only one sided. I love Christmas but I think it felt less Christmasy than I wanted it to, perhaps because I read it in the Fall. Towards the end of the book when the Auld Lang Syne song was mentioned, it started going through my head and it finally got me into that season!
Overall, it was a cute, light story, good for Christmas time when it’s nice to read that kind of book. I had expected a bit more about the Royal family, but in the end it was a good read despite that.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Christmas With the Queen is a delightful cozy holiday read following Olive and Jack as they are reunited at Sandringham after a hiatus of many years. Jack, recently widowed and trying to start over, takes a job as a temporary chef to the royal family. Olive is a vivacious reporter for the BBC who has a daughter from a one night stand years prior. When the usual palace reporter takes ill, Olive finds herself fortunate to be sent to Sandringham as his stand in for the Christmas report and while there, she runs into an old friend: Jack Deveroux.

This story was a feel good and easy read. I found myself cheering for the couple and love after loss. I especially enjoyed how the royal family anchored the love story throughout, though the first person perspective from Queen Elizabeth was a bit distracting to me.

I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A slow start but quickly became an 'unputdownable' page turning novel. Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb wasn't what I expected but far surpassed my expectations. Riveting suspense on whether relationships will be restored and secrets revealed.

Releases Nov. 19th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Christmas with the Queen is a heartwarming historical fiction set primarily in the 1950s at the very opening of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. It follows Olive Carter and Jack Devereux, two old friends who reunite unexpectedly around the royal Christmas and spend years floating in each other’s orbit while single-mother Olive tries to build a career at the BBC and widower Jack tries to find himself in his work as a chef.

The characters are sweet as they keep their cards frustratingly close to the vest. I cheered for the couple the whole time, and while the middle dragged a bit to me, the end was lovely. The authors capture the emotions caught up in love and loss well. It’s a great story, the first that I’ve read from these authors, and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Is British monarchy fanfic a thing? That's one of the pleasures of this novel! Ambitious journalist Olive helps a young Queen Elizabeth polish her broadcast scripts. Olive also crosses paths with Jack, a former flame who now works in the royal kitchens—but has much bigger plans. Best read with a pot of tea and some scrummy scones.

Thanks to @NetGalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for the advance reader copy.

This book followed multiple characters whose lives overlapped with the Queen of England, particularly at Christmas. I found it somewhat disconcerting at first to switch between the different story lines but they eventually came together to create an interesting story. The Queen was not the predominate character in the story but her story did add interest to what became a love story over the years between the two main characters. The story line was somewhat slow to develop but I did enjoy the story and would recommend it.

The dynamic author duo has done it again. Co-written a lovely histfic tale, this time featuring young Queen Elizabeth II during the years 1952 to 1957, and two MCs Olive and Jack, as they work for the BBC and the Royal kitchen, respectively. The charming story captures the era with grace and poignancy.

As the book opens we find ourselves in London during the infamous fog of 1952, which leads to the death of many due to illness caused by the toxic smog, or to tragic accidents as visibility is impossible. Jack's life is forever changed as a result.

Olive bravely makes her way through the impenetrable "soup" to the BBC, and talks her way into covering the Royal Family at Christmas when a veteran reporter becomes ill. The stage is set for a wonderful holiday gathering, and the chance for Olive and Jack, filling in at the Sandringham kitchen, to reconnect.

I was enthralled by the vivid scenes that make you feel you are with the young Queen as she celebrates the holiday and makes her first Christmas address. She has just lost her father to lung cancer, and become Queen so much earlier than anyone ever imagined. She is a wonder!

As the novel unspools during the next five years, I found myself incredibly nostalgic for the Queen, who reigned longer than any other Royal except for King Louis XIV of France. I was also totally invested in the compelling lives of Olive and Jack, and of England post WWII.

Highly recommended for fans of the Queen, The Crown, historical fiction, and the talented authors. And a perfect holiday gift!

I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. This delightful story offers a fun and heartwarming glimpse into the royal family's Christmas traditions. The way the authors captured the charm and warmth of the season reminded me of the love, joy, and cheeriness that Christmas can bring. The festive spirit and family togetherness portrayed in the book made it a perfect holiday read, leaving me with a cozy, uplifting feeling. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good Christmas tale!

Oh I enjoyed this book so much. A story within a story as Jack, newly widowed is reconnected with Olive, a single mom when they both go to the Sandringham when Queen Elizabeth celebrates Christmas, Jack as a chef and Olive covering the event for the BBC. This story takes place over a number of years as they see each other briefly. Old fashioned romance abounds and there is a hidden backstory here when later revealed to the reader makes you respond with an "ah ha" moment. This is a story of hope and joy and a great insight as well into the life of the young queen and her prince when she came to power following the untimely death of the king, her father. We see how Queen Elizabeth grows as a woman and as a sovereign and connects with her people. Well written, this story kept me engaged from page one. It's a winner. Many thanks to #netgalley #hazel gaynor #heatherwebb #chritmaswiththequeen for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Very thankful to have been able to read an advanced reader copy of this book. Lovely story of two people whose lives continually intertwine over a number of years. Love any book that somehow involves the royal family and this one has just enough of that. In ways, it is similar to Downton Abbey. Highly recommend.

If you enjoyed watching The Crown on Netflix, you’ll want to read Christmas With The Queen, by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. Focusing on the first few years of Elizabeth’s reign, this delightful story is told from three points of view: Queen Elizabeth, Jack (one of the royal chefs), and Olive (a reporter for the BBC). Jack grew up in New Orleans and was taught how to cook by his grandfather. His spicy recipes becomes a favorite of Phillip. Olive is in the right place at the right time to help Elizabeth prepare her her first Christmas broadcast. How their lives intertwine makes for a great read. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

This is my second read from the dynamic duo of Gaynor & Webb, and I think they've very quickly become my go-to for historical fiction books. I loved reading about Queen E, Jack, and Olive, and the rest of the colorful cast! There was something so homey & cozy about this one (and the love story!!!). You absolutely must put it on your TBR for this holiday season! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, netgalley for this opportunity to arc read this

I went into this thinking “not my typical genre but it’s Christmas and my favorite time period so I’ll try it”

Let me tell you I was very pleasantly surprised! I absolutely adored this book. It was such a sweet story. I loved the bit of history in it as well. I don’t know anything about what the Royals do for Christmas but after reading this book, I really would love to visit some of the places they spoke about.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that I feel like she took way too long to tell Jack what she needed to tell him. Other than that, I give this book a 10 out of 10! It’s a nice clean story, no smut etc, so I can’t wait to buy a copy and gift it to my grandmother for Christmas because I know she will love this!! I also want to copy for myself because I will be reading this again. It was such a nice relaxing story, perfect for curling up by the fire at Christmas time to read.

This was my first time with this author, but I will definitely be back !