This Christmas gem plays out over the course of a decade’s worth of Christmases in the 1950s. Olive is a BBC reporter with increasing responsibilities as a royal reporter. Jack, an American, is a chef who started a job as a palace cook while he dreams of opening his own restaurant. Both are friends from the past who reconnect in their shared service to Queen Elizabeth. Over the years, we see them reconnect, long for each other, and sharing their hopes. But Olive also has a secret which could shatter their world.

Told in alternating chapters, readers have an opportunity to see both Olive and Jack’s sides of the story. Olive fought for her role and increasing responsibilities at the BBC despite being a single mother and a woman most of her colleagues looked down on (typical for the era), however her connection to the Queen by assisting with speeches opened doors. Jack happened into his job by chance after a tragedy and became a favorite cook of the Duke of Edinburgh, both connected by their shared Navy days. Interspersed are snippets “narrated” by Queen Elizabeth talking about her life in those years. Each of these segments has its own narrator in the audiobook who matches their character perfectly, right down to accent and inflections. And we also have the chance to travel the world with the characters when all connect on the Queen’s Coronation Global Tour in 1953 as well, adding an introduction of other cultures of the Commonwealth.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It was touching, with some parts making me grin with joy and others making me tear up. I do think the narration helped drive this home alongside the authors’ words. And the romance between Olive and Jack is a slow burn type, where they started as friends, but this works perfectly into their story. This is a Christmas read many will find heartwarming this season.

This was a sweet story of life and secrets and second chances at love. Set against the backdrop of the annual Christmas Day message by the Queen it covers years in the life of Olive Carter and Jack Devereux. It is told from multiple points of view and time periods, with flashbacks to the time after the war when Olive and Jack met and Christmases 1952-1957. The characters are likable and the inclusion of the royal family add to the story. Olive is an especially enjoyable character filled with ambition, and kindness. The narrators do a good job at giving the characters a voice. I recommend this for readers that enjoy sweet second chance romance or historical fiction.

Another heartwarming historical fiction second chance romance from a fav author duo. This book follows Olive Carter, an unwed single mother trying to become a BBC reporter who gets assigned to cover the Queen's Christmas broadcast in Sandringham when her male colleague falls ill.

While there she is reunited with a man from her past, Jack, an American former navy cook and new widow who is working in the Queen's kitchens. Taking place over several years with flashbacks to how they first met, we get to learn more about the life of a working single mother in post-war England and can't help rooting for Jack and Olive to finally get a chance for their HEA together, if only the secret Olive has been keeping from him won't tear them apart for good.

Great on audio with a full cast of narrators to help voice Jack, Olive and the Queen herself. I really enjoyed the short sections where we get insights into the Queen's early life as a new sovereign. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Fans of the Netflix show, The Crown definitely don't want to miss this one.

A simply delightful read!
This story gave me all the holiday feels. A fantastic mix of historical fiction, with fascinating historical references, lovable characters, one of them The Queen, and a beautiful, heartwarming love story. I loved it.

The cover artwork was lovely!!! I saw one description describe this book as The Crown meets when Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones diary and that was pretty accurate. This book takes place over a few years and features Queen Elizabeth and her yearly Christmas speech along with Olive and Jack’s story. We start with Queen Elizabeth’s first Christmas broadcast. Jack is a chef and his character has been in London a short while but originally he is from New Orleans. I loved the parts about what he was cooking and when the action happened in the kitchen but would have loved an additional section with a few recipes ❤️ Overall an enjoyable book.