I love all books "royal". So when I saw this title I had to request it. I thought I knew exactly where the story was going but was surprised to find I was wrong. I loved the fact that Theo's Mom was American and he'd come to the US to reconnect with his grandparents. I loved Rowan and her joie de vivre...she was so much fun to read and I found myself giggling quite a few times. I would definitely read more of Bielman's work.

For those of you who follow my reviews, you'll know that Robin Bielman is an author who I love. As in, if-I-met-her-I-would-squeeze-and-hug-her-so-tightly-I-would-probably-be-arrested-for-grievous-bodily-harm, love. And I'm no hugger. But how could you not hug someone who consistently creates the perfect romance and never fails to hit the spot. Once Upon a Royal Christmas keeps up that trend.

"Whatever man stole her heart would be in for quite a ride."

Every thoughtful, gentle, sexy, witty, innuendo-laden inch of Prince Theo was an absolute delight. He may be royalty, but he is grounded, has no airs and graces and when he visits to Marietta, Montana to meet his maternal grandparents following his mother's death, he meets his match when he becomes acquainted with Rowan Palotay.

"I’m just an ordinary person here. No special treatment."

We met Rowan in her brother Nick's story, Falling for Her Bachelor and I couldn't wait to see what her story would bring. As a secondary character she was fantastic, but Robin really does her a justice; smart, outspoken, stubborn and with a superb sense of humour and the biggest heart, she's honest with her feelings, her wants and her blossoming romance with Theo was filled with meaning, intimacy, emotion and humour.

“My royal package is better than anyone else’s. Trust me.”

Once Upon a Royal Christmas was exactly what I want from a book with a festive theme. I want snow and snuggling and a couple to fall in love with, and from the moment I picked it up to the moment I flicked the final page, I was swept away on a romantic journey that was realistic, perfectly paced and left me with a happy heart after the laughter, tears and contented sighs.

"Magic happens at Christmas time."

Marietta is one of my favourite places to visit, and Tule have really got the formula right with so many wonderful characters reappearing whilst new ones are introduced bringing the promise of more, yet each can easily be read as a standalone. Rowan and Theo are unforgettable characters and their story is one I'll definitely be reading again: because that's what Robin does, as soon as you finish one of her books, you want to go right back to the beginning and re-live every moment.

A fairytale romance !

Rowan is out walking dogs when she sees Prince Theo. The dogs get excited and their leashes get tangled around them and to top it off one of the dogs pees on the Princes trousers. When a book starts in such a hilarious way you know you are in for an enjoyable read.
Prince Theo is in Marietta, Montana to connect with his grandparents.
Rowan is a journalist with the local newspaper, and has to write a story on Prince Theo.
To write a story she has to spend time with him, get to know him, and with their chemistry they share, fireworks are guaranteed.m
Robin Bielman hits the spot with this heartwarming, sexy, funny and entertaining read, that leaves you with a sigh and a smile

I would like to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
This didn't start out brilliantly, but improved dramatically.

Rowan Palotay feels like she’s managed to get herself put onto the naughty list this holiday season when it comes to her job as a reporter. One little mistake has her sidelined when a big story hits her small town of Marietta, Montana of a visiting Prince. What Rowan never expected was to cross paths with the prince while out dog walking and make what she thinks is one of the worst first impressions ever.

Prince Theodore Chenery is in Marietta to meet his grandparents after his mother’s passing. After running into Rowan he is immediately intrigued by her and insists that she is the one who will handle his interview while he is visiting. The two share a connection but with royal obligations standing in the way the prince begins to question his duties.

Once Upon a Royal Christmas is not the first book I’ve read that takes place in this small town of Marietta and I can honestly say that they have all been quite lovely reads. It’s such a lovely little place with wonderful characters that it was not surprising to me in the least to enjoy this one quite a bit too. There’s just something about the holidays and this small town that is quite appealing this time of year and I was happy to venture into this story.

Along with the small town holiday charm this book brings to the table you have a story that would be every young girls fantasy. Who wouldn’t love to meet their very own Prince Charming and have him live up to be everything you’d ever dreamed of? The characters in this story were given their time to get to know one another as they dealt with their paths crossing and of course it turns into a wonderful holiday romance.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend checking out this along with the other Marietta holiday romance reads, such a lovely setting and characters in each story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a very charming story about two lonely souls finding each other. Theo is the main character in the book. He is a second son to a prince and his now deseased mother was born in Murietta, MT and so he comes home to meet his grandparents for a month. When he goes back home his father is going to announce arranged marriage for Theo. So this is really his last tiny bit of freedom.

Rowan is born and bred in Murietta and she is also a reporter. She is a reporter who screwed up and so this is hr last chance, to get a story on prince Leo and his relationship with his grandparents. When the two meet they are very much in like. But the almost fiancee and the job Rowan has to do help create obstacles for these two.

Despite that you feel them falling HARD and I really enjoyed watching them try to resist the unresistable. This is not a very deep story but it is very enjoyable about a prince and a tomboy with lots of family, friends and around the holiday season.

Will be reviewing closer to release- These books are terrific and heartfelt.

4 - "Magic happens at Christmas time." Stars!

I have been patiently waiting for Rowan Palotay to have her story told since we met her in her brothers book Falling for Her Bachelor earlier this year, and Robin Bielman gave me a story that was soooo worth waiting for.

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Once Upon A Royal Christmas was just perfect romantic reading escapism. I am always happy to return to the town of Marietta, Montana, and it would appear that it now has Royal connection as well, and with the Kingdom of Montanique no less.

"I’m here for your pants and shoes."

Rowan and Theo were such a great couple, the contrasts between their personalities and upbringing made for a great connection between them and for a sexy simmer on the chemistry front, as they got to know each other on a more personal level.

"I’m not most women…"
"...I’m getting that."

Both of them know that their time together is limited to Theo’s time in Marietta, his responsibilities as heir to the throne mean he cannot just up sticks and settle down wherever he wants, the problem with that though it that he wants to be wherever Rowan is.

Leaving Marietta would be harder than he’d imagined.

Add in a fairy-tale ball, a bit of Cinderella magic and a lot of seasonal cheer, and Once Upon A Royal Christmas, was just a joy to read from start to finish.

"When I hold you against me, I don’t plan on letting you go."

I really hope that Robin has the opportunity to return to Marietta and provide more stories in the future, I love going back there myself, and this author always offers up such great additions to the books and stories that are set there.

ARC generously provided, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

This story has a fairytale quality to it that is both sweet and charming. Add to that two warm, caring protagonists whom I found myself liking immediately and you have the makings of a real page turner. As Theo is a prince, you'd expect a bit of the pomp and ceremony that is normally associated with royalty, but he presents himself as a person with genuine affection for and interest in others around him. Rowan also comes across as somebody who is truly invested in her community, if a little uncertain about her talents.
This story is set in the gorgeous make-believe Montana town of Marietta, which I have grown to love over the years. The setting guarantees gorgeous scenery - think breathtaking snow-capped mountains and shimmering lakes. The story is filled with small-town people who genuinely care about each other, and because this is a Christmas story, there are some lovely Christmas traditions as well. Robin Bielman has written a truly lovely story here and it was an absolute joy to read.

Returning to Marietta, Montana is certainly no hardship, and this small town’s magic shines especially bright during the Christmas season. There are many reigning families among the citizens of Marietta and the surrounding area, but this time we have an honest to goodness real Prince visiting and life is never going to be quite the same again for Rowan and Theo.

We first met Rowan in Falling For Her Bachelor, her brother Nick and his lady, Cassidy’s romance. Now we get the chance to focus on Rowan, who’s hit a rather rough patch in life. While normally an upbeat, bubbly and positive woman, right now Rowan isn’t feeling all that special after her disastrous mistake which has landed her writing a pet column and walking dogs. But her chance at redemption and possibly her own happy ever after crashes into her.. no truly does walk right into her… in one of the most delightful scenes I’ve ever read.

Theo is visiting his grandparents soon after his mother’s death. This charming small town holds his roots and he wants to understand his own personal connection to this place. It’s impossible to outrun the royal part of himself, but the people of Marietta, his grandparents and now this charming woman have all given him a glimpse of a different life, one that he’s not so sure he can easily walk away from.

If you’re looking for a Christmas romance that has fairy tale glittered all over it, then Once Upon A Royal Christmas should be on your holiday list for yourself this year… and many re-read years to come. Theo and Rowan are a delightful couple. Love finds a way for these two people who come from such different backgrounds, yet know that their future must be together.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

The prince and the country girl. They were destined to be together.

Rowan Palotay was barely able to make ends meet. After her professional reputation was ruined, her newspaper assignment was changed to writing the Pet Corner in The Copper Mountain Courier. To supplement her income, she took on the job of a dog walker. One morning while out with the dogs, she comes face to face with Prince Theodore Chenery who was in town to meet his grandparents for the first time. It was not the introduction that Rowan wished to have when one of the dogs wrapped its leash around both of their legs and almost tripped them. To top it off, one decides to pee on the Prince's leg. How is that for a first impression?

After his mother's death, Theo decided to spend Christmas in Marietta with his grandparents and see the town where his mother grew up. He had always been told stories about the place and he wanted to see it through his own eyes. When it came time to return to Montanique, his father was to announce his engagement. It was an arranged marriage, but Theo was willing to do it for his father and his country. That was until he got to know Rowan. Now he is second guessing his plans.

Rowan and Theo knew there was a line that shouldn't be crossed when it came to their attraction to each other. But it might be a little easier said than done, once they really get to know each other. They are prefect for each other in every way.

This was a fun book to read. While Rowan and Theo were getting to know each other there are some funny and very memorable moments. One of my favorite moments (beside the dog pee scene) was when they were at Rowan's house singing and dancing to the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack. It showed the playful side of both characters. Both were very caring and willing to do anything for other people too. The story was well written and kept my interest all the way through.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

4.5 heartwarming stars

Once Upon a Royal Christmas was a beautiful, heartwarming holiday read.
The storyline had me smiling, crying, a little frustrated and made my heart swoon on more than one occasion.
I loved Theo and Rowan, they were both such wonderful characters. They amused me & entertained me with their antics and watching them fall in love brought out all the feels.

Overall, Once Upon a Royal Christmas was a well written and heartfelt love story with endearing characters that will leave you full of happy feels.

I'm a huge fan of Robin Bielman's work and highly recommend you read her beautiful words.

Purchase Links
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iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/…/once-upon-...…
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*Thank you to Tule Publishing for the advance copy*

This is the first time I have read Robin Bielman, I totally loved the story of Theo and Rowan, I loved how she weaved the story around the two characters. I can't wait to read more of Robin's work in the future.

this is a beautiful, heart warming, Christmas story that you'll want to read in front of the fire on a cold afternoon. This book is full of emotions which will have you smiling and crying as you read. Fab characters that you will just fall in love with while read the story. I just couldn't put this book down till id got to the end, then I was left wanting more and more. The dialogue between the characters is fab and very well written. I cant wit to read more from this author in the future.

Highly recommended

Prince Theodore Chenery comes to Marietta, Montana to meet his Grandparent for Christmas after his mother passes away. He meets Rowan who fascinates him and tells her editor she is the reporter to give his story to. As Rowan takes him around Marietta where his mother grew up, she completes the interview and captures his heart. Problem comes in that his father , the King, has already set up an arranged engagement from when Theo returns home.
Enjoyed the journey back to Marietta to see more of the town's residents. Find a comfy chair and settle into this small town Christmas story .

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are my own.

Prince Theodore Chenery was exotic, sexy and smelled really good according to Rowan Palotay. In my opinion it was Rowan's quirky, witty, "all out there and I won't apologize for it" attitude that was the star of this book. Rowan Palotay is a "take care of everyone else before yourself" type of person. She's great! Falling for a Prince that has an arranged marriage far away on some Mediterranean island is not in her future plans.

Great story! I love the part of the story line that actually brought Theo to Montana. It gives this lighthearted Romance a little more emotional depth. This author has a fantastic writing style that always leaves you with a smile on your face at the end. I can't wait to see what's next!

This book is adorable, funny, and sexy! A must read.

Loved this sweet heartwarming Christmas romance. Finding love when you least expect, and to top it off to a prince. Rowan is a little ditzy, who has been demoted on her reporter job to dog walking, when she gets tangled up with Prince Theo with the dog leaches. Prince Theo is in Marietta visiting his mother's parents. There is an instant attraction between the two, but now they need to figure out how to over come the obstacles in life. A fun book that you will not want to put down. I highly recommend this book be part of your holiday reading.

Rowan Palotay's Christmas is not going to be very merry this year. Having bungled a news reporting assignment in a huge way she's now demoted to writing a small pet column in the local newspaper. If she wants to rebuild her reputation and regain the trust and respect of her boss she can't afford to make any more mistakes.

Prince Theodore Chenery has come to Marietta to visit his mother's hometown. Having been estranged from her family when she chose to marry his father, she was unable to return. Now he is fulfilling her dying wish, for him to make amends with her parents, to experience Marietta and see it the way his mother did. Of course, he's the center of attention with the local news and media clamoring for an interview. A chance "collision" with Rowan and 4 dogs sparks his interest in the effortlessly candid reporter and he agrees to only let her interview him, giving him the opportunity to spend more time with her. Even better she's renting his mother's cottage from his grandparents and is almost like a grandchild to them.

He wants more with Rowan but his future has already been mapped out by his father who does not want him to face the same heartache as he did when Theo's mother passed away.

I haven't read any of the Tule Montana books for a while - but I'm so glad I have started doing so again as I thoroughly enjoyed doing so! It is great to visit so many places I remember from earlier stories. There are actually a series of festive reads all based around the same town, places, people and events ...... Get ready to visit Marietta's Christmas Stroll and the Ball in all the stories! I've been lucky enough to read several of them and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this and the other books in the series to anyone looking for a lovely festive romance with great stories involving many common characters and events but each written by a different, talented author focusing on a different couple.

Once Upon a Royal Christmas by Robin Bleiman

Prince Theodore Chenery of Montanique has come to stay in his Mother's home town to spend a month visiting his grandparents and the area after her tragic death. His Mum had never returned after her marriage, but he has been brought up hearing all about the small town, the people and places his Mum had remembered so fondly. His visit is a personal one and he's taken over the local B&B, Bramble House, for him and his bodyguard, Hawk, for the duration of his stay.

Rowan Palotay is an aspiring news reporter, though her latest gaffe has sidelined her to the pets column. She really wishes she could have been the local reporter following the Prince's visit but accepts that won't happen. She's out dog walking when the dogs decide to drag her to meet the unsuspecting Prince! That's the start of their encounters and a really enjoyable Royal romance. I've loved books by this author in the past and this is another superb read with laugh out loud moments, great characters, a brilliant plot, angst as well as twists and turns galore.

I was gifted an ARC of this novel via NetGalley with no obligation or requirement to review it. This is my honest review after reading the ARC.

Once Upon a Royal Christmas was absolutely delightful! It was sweet, charming, funny, and touching all rolled into one holiday fairy tale. Rowan is a sweet, yet feisty girl who made a some sort of mistake in her reporter career that we never quite find out the details about- but her job is suffering a bit for it, and so is her self-esteem. Prince Theo comes to visit family in Rowan's small hometown of Marietta, and when they meet, their chemistry is off the charts. Theo is every girl's dream- a true Prince Charming! It's not hard to see why they fall for each other, but of course there are some obstacles in the path to a relationship. The drama was low, and I enjoyed the satisfying HEA. This was my first time to read a book by Robin Bielman, but I understand there are other books with characters from Marietta, and I'm looking forward to reading them!

Just a typical romance novel, without the drama. Needed an easy read after a difficult one, and this one filled the bill.

Once Upon A Royal Christmas is a wonderful fairy tale type holiday romance. Well written and developed characters. Prince Theo is the ultimate hunky Royal and so down to earth. Rowan is a feisty ball of fun determined to restore her reputation as a news reporter. There is wonderful, smart, sexy, fun banter between the two main characters. Bielman has the characters get to know each other which then blends into their great connection to each other and their passion. Two things I wish we had more of a backstory on: why the estrangement between Prince Theo’s mother & her parents and what mistake Rowan made which caused her problems at the paper. Very minor, just had me curious. Marietta with all of its small-town charm and snow covered landscapes makes it a perfect setting for this magical Christmas romance. This will be an annual holiday re-read for me. A bonus: both Prince Theo and Hawk claim to have gotten a smile from the B&B’s crusty Aunt Mabel! A fun, magical story that has you rooting for a Christmas miracle. Well done!

Rowan was doing her part time job of dog walking four larger type dogs when she Spotted Prince Theodore Chenery but the dogs had spotted him also. Prince Theo was in Marietta to see his mother’s hometown and meet his grandparents for the very first time. The dogs had twisted all around o stop Rowan from falling on her butt. She did untangle the dogs and sincerely apologized to the Prince. The stepped from a car and greeted Prince Theo. Several months ago Rowan had been given an assignment that should have set her career but she had forgotten to say she was a reporter BIG MISTAKE now she still had a job with the newspaper with a small column called The Pet Corner. Rowan considered herself a work in process but she needed to make things right and get everyone’s respect back. One of the dogs urinated on the prince’s leg and shoe and Rowan promised to return and get them cleaned. Theo was intrigues with Rowan but when he returned home his father would be announcing Theo’s engagement To Elizabeth who was a friend but neither was romantic about the other. His older brother Otis and his wife could not have children so it was left to Theo to produce and heir. Theo went to see his grandparents and saw Rowan there and learned she lived in the cottage that had been his mother’s right down the drive from his grandparents. Theo’s grandparents clearly cared about Rowan and had known her most of her life. Theo’s grandparents were sweet people who had loved their daughter and was very happy to have Prince Theo there with them. Rowan was called into Emmaline’s office and told the Prince wanted Rowan to interview him. This was Rowan's chance to make things right if only Rowan could keep things professional and not about more personal things with the Prince.
I really loved this story. I loved how Otis wanted his younger brother to be happy and stand up to his dad if he really cared for Rowan and to marry for love like Otis had been able to. I was happy when Elizabeth called and said she loved another and maybe pregnant. I also loved how Rowan’s parents stood completely by her when she wanted to follow her passion and go for art. I also loved how Rowan loved painting a mural for the sick kids and wanted it perfect to cheer them up and wanted to go to more hospitals where kids were and do more murals. This was just all around a good read. I loved the plots, the characters, and the ins and outs of the story and I highly recommend.

This is my third festive read of the year. Filled with snow, sweetness, and a bit of heat, it had everything I could of asked for as I curled up in the evenings in front of the fire.

Once Upon a Royal Christmas was a heartwarming, feel-good book. It was a quick read, but had plenty of personality. The characters were quirky--especially Rowan. I liked her sense of humour and the fact she spoke her mind rather than be blinded by Theo's title. I thought the two were well match and it was a great romance.

Overall this was the perfect Christmassy read. It'll set you in the festive mood and I'd definitely recommend it.

Whoever thinks you need two to three hundred--or more!--pages to tell a beautiful love story needs to take their cue from bestselling author Robin Bielman. In the 105 pages--I'm taking advanced reader's copy and that number includes the pages that weren't the actual story per se--This isn't my first read from her and she's consistently written stories that I've simply fallen in love with, but me being the sucker that I am for a royal romance, well, Once Upon a Royal stole my heart just as Prince Theodore Chenery of Montanique was stealing Rowan Palotay of Montana's. Fans of the author's books should be able to recognize Rowan, who was in the love story involving her older brother Nick and her best friend Cassidy Ware in Falling for Her Bachelor, the second book in the Bachelor Auction Returns series and another Bielman-penned masterpiece that I adored. Rowan and Theo's story is a total standalone, though if you're like me and prefer to read books in a certain order and if you appreciate well-written stories, then I'm highly recommending Nick and Cassidy's romance. Trust me, it's a good one, so totally no regrets.

Maybe you wouldn't expect to find royalty in the Big Sky country, but twenty-eight-year-old Prince Theodore Chenery has flown all the way from his home country of Montanique to meet his maternal grandparents in his late mother's home state of Montana for the very first time. On his first day there, he bumps into Rowan Palotay, also twenty-eight, as she busily tries to stay one--okay, several--steps ahead of the pack of dogs under her dog-walking care. From the moment he meets her, Theo can't help but be taken by Rowan's candor and charm. She's nothing like the other women he's meet, those who blush profusely if he turns their way or who actively vie for his attention. Rowan is refreshingly underwhelmed by his royal status and he doesn't hesitate in requesting her to be his interviewer for an already planned article. She's genuinely interested in who he is, not entirely as a prince but as a man meeting his grandparents and someone trying to carry his mother's legacy. As drawn to one another as they are, Theo knows loyalty to crown and Montanique comes first, even if it means leaving his heart in Montana...

I loved the subtlety and simplicity of this love story. It never felt as if splashes and splatters of paint in loud colors were being thrown on a canvas, but more of gentle brushstrokes that blended together perfectly into this beautiful representation of romance and family except with words. Ro and Theo were so darn cute that it was impossible to not fall for these two and their story. This wasn't "just" a love story, but a tale of discovery about oneself and about their history and the history they went to create for themselves and leave behind later on. This earned bonus points because of the dogs, especially with one being named Oliver, which is also my furry, four-legged baby boy's name (and yes, he, too, is a rather naughty rascal at times!). There were also notable supporting characters, and the ones at the top of my list were the father and daughter tandem of Sean and Annabelle, and I'm desperately, wishfully hoping they'll get their story told down the line as well, because I'm already rabidly curious about them, helping to make Once Upon a Royal Christmas is one of my favorite holiday romances for this year. Five-plus stars. ♥

Once Upon a Royal Christmas by Robin Bielman gives us a prince in cowboy country. I was so intrigued by the idea of a visiting prince to Marietta, Montana. But then why not, if it was real it would be at the top of my bucket list of places to visit. The title is perfect since Prince Theodore Chenery is a Prince Charming for real, besides charming he is kind, down to earth and oh so hot.

Rowan Palotay is a perfect match for him even though she would probably say that is not so. She is honest, maybe a little more tact would be good but honest nonetheless. She is also intelligent, knows herself and treats others with kindness and dignity. She is also intriguing especially to Theo. What fun to see the journey these two strong characters take over the holidays in Marietta. An easy to read plot with emotional intensity, humor, and choices to be made. This irresistible story is straight out of modern fairy tales only 10 times better.

**My thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Another brilliant book to help get you into the holiday spirit.

Rowan is one of those people that just like to help everyone around her and is not that great with thanks. However her first meeting with Prince Theodore does not go as she had hoped. In fact her colleague is getting to write an article on him that should have been hers.

Prince Theo is a down to earth kinda guy and has gone to his mothers home town after her death for a month to get to know his maternal grandparents and never acts like a prince. He always seems like one of the people.

Its a really sweet story and you can't help but get swept up in the story and fall for the two characters.

Although it is part of a series it can certainly be read as a stand alone book.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

A steamy modern Cinderella story, complete with a prince.

One of my tropes that I love when it comes to books is that I am a sucker for Royalty. I love my stories which include members of a Royal family. So when I read that there was a new Christmas book coming out called Once Upon a Royal Christmas, I had to read it. I am glad I did as it was a sweet Christmas romance. In this book we meet Rowan who is out dog-walking as she tries to pick up odd jobs now that her job as a big-time journalist fell through after a nasty media incident, she is lucky she got to keep a small animal column. Prince Theodore Chenery is on holiday in Marietta, the hometown of his mother who has recently passed away. Theo decided that it was time to reconnect with his grandparents and discover all about the small town his mother came from this Christmas. He figured he better enjoy it while he can do as when he returns home, Theo is expected to marry his best friend Elizabeth in an arranged royal marriage. The thing is that neither of them truly love one another and it seems that the Gods above knew this and had decided that it is in his mother's hometown that he may find true love this Christmas season. Overall, Once Upon A Royal Christmas was a quick read and one of those books to get you not only in the Christmas spirit but also to put a little hop in your step with the happiness and romance in the air.

Prince Theo comes to Marietta in hopes of connecting with his grandparents that he's never met. While visiting he meets Rowan who happens to be a reporter in the small town. The two connect on a professional and personal level even though he is supposed to marry someone back in his homeland.

This is a great read. I loved the connection between the Prince and Rowan. She was such a sweetheart, always helping others and finally she did something for herself.

4.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

OMG, this book is already in the running for favourite Christmas read this year, and I've only just begun! But it was just...I don't know...just Lenore perfect, you know? Like there are certain things that just make for a perfect Lenore read, and this one hit soooooo many of them. I have a weakness for royalty books. I don't read them much, but I do enjoy them (and that probably comes from all my Harlequin reading in the past). But this one turned out to be less about the Royalty aspect, and more about...I don't know, just a freaking fabulous love story with lots of romantic tension, and laughs, and goofy grins, and not a lot of moments where I wanted to bang my head. It had the kind of climax and tension where I got what was happening, even if I already knew that they were thinking about things all wrong. But don't worry, they got there.

I wondered how the whole reporter thing was going to play out, but it didn't really play that big a factor. And her mistake didn't either. It was kind of glossed over. But that was ok, b/c by that point I was so sucked in to the sweetness of their romance, that I didn't even care. Both of these characters on their own were my kind of characters. Rowan was really rather hilarious. I loved that she could be kind of bold, goofy, a wee bit insecure, but stubborn and still really kind and sweet too. Sassy and sweet, I love that combination.

And Theo. Oh Theo. I want Theo for myself. He was...AHHH!!! So sweet, and sexy, and a bit sassy in his own right. I just adored him to pieces, and I'm not even going to be able to do justice to why....

But the winner for me was them together, and how their romance progressed. For what was a pretty short novel (or a long novella, depending on how you look at it), I really felt like we got a fabulous romance out of it. I really believed the progression from lust and infatuation to friendship to more. I loved watching them get to know each other, asking questions and really developing that base of connection. And OMG the tension. I can't even tell you. So many butterflies in this book for me. And the steamy scenes fulfilled on the tension promise.

And all that set in a great holiday atmosphere, with lots of great family and secondary characters. It made me want to read more Marietta stories, and definitely more stories from this author. And it obviously got me feeling the magic of the season. So yeah, success. Gonna be hard to top.

This is a sweet and sexy romance set in Marietta, Montana - a familiar location for fans of the Tule romance books that often feature this setting. This time the hero Theo isn't a local boy but rather a royal Prince, whose mother came from Marietta. She's passed away and he's come to the small town to meet his grandparents, ones that his mother was estranged from for an assortment of reasons after she married his father the King. His grandparents welcome him with open arms, and he quickly finds another reason to be enamoured with the small town - a beautiful and vivacious reporter, Rowan. Tasked with interviewing him for their local paper, Rowan is trying to make up for some past mistakes that damaged her reputation as a serious journalist and a profile of the prince will do nicely to improve her standing at the paper. Though she enjoys her writing, she also spends a lot of time painting, a hobby that she secretly wishes could turn into more. When Theo and Rowan meet, he's practically engaged to a princess in a neighbouring state, an arranged marriage more to suit their families than because either of them really wish it. This cautions Rowan that while she enjoys spending time with Theo and showing him around their town, she can't afford to get in too deep. The resulting story is fairly predictable, with Rowan and Theo eventually giving into the attraction between them (but not before his sort-of relationship back home is settled, leaving him free to pursue Rowan so there is no cheating in the story). Still, he's royalty and she isn't, so having a real relationship and not just a vacation fling is not going to be easy. I liked the way the story progressed, the scenes with their families and friends, and the way their friendship turns into a sweet romance, with some sexy scenes later on in the story. It's an entertaining, lighthearted tale and a lovely Christmas read with a happy ending. 3.5 stars.

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Super sweet romance story. Rowan is a quirky country news reporter who recently tarnished her reputation and Theo is a foreign prince staying in Montana to meet his maternal grandparents for the first time.

Ro is tasked on writing an article on his royal highness who is to die for. The recently departed queen was born and raised in Montana before the king swept her off her feet. Her son (Theo) had come to Montana to spend some time with his grandparents and meets Ro along the way. I enjoyed reading this book. Im not certain what Ro did to tarnish her reputation with the paper in the beginning however.

A sweet read, perfect for the holiday season. I didn't quite buy the whole thing - if there's no overt animosity between the Prince and his mother's family, why in God's name did it take him so long to come visit - but the chemistry between the hero and heroine worked well and I enjoyed my time in this world.

What prince wouldn’t make a country girl a little restless? Those eyes, that mouth, the broad chest, were a royal combination unlike any other. He only held power over her if she let him, though. He brushed his teeth just like every other person. Put on his shoes one foot at a time.
Prince Theo was just extraordinarily normal.
And she could handle him and her story.
Probably.

Rowan Palotay, who was introduced in FALLING FOR HER BACHELOR, gets her very own happy ever after in ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS by Robin Bielman. Let me tell you. It was worth the wait because Robin hit ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS out of the ball-park! I laughed and cried. It actually kept me awake until four am on a day I had to make an early appearance at work. But… I honestly couldn’t sleep until I’d read every word. It was a teensy slow for me at the very beginning - and, in hindsight, that might have totally been on me - but, man, once the story grabbed me, it didn’t let go.

Prince Theodore Chenery, our hero, has come to the small town of Marietta, Montana to meet his grandparents for the first time. His mother, who Theo adored, has recently passed away and Theo had promised her that he’d visit her hometown. Rowan and Theo first meet in a rollicking comedy of errors. Let’s just say that she made an unforgettable first impression. Theo is suitably impressed (!!!) and, much to Rowan’s surprise, insists that she be the reporter to write a story about him. This is the story of a girl meeting her Prince Charming only to find that he will always be out of reach.

Rowan and Theo make such a great couple. Their personalities mesh perfectly and the chemistry between them is sizzling from the get-go. From the very beginning, they both know that their time together is limited. Theo is engaged to another and his responsibilities as heir to the throne preclude any long-term relationship… or do they?

It was great catching up with Nick and Cassidy from FALLING FOR HER BACHELOR. However, the snake wars between Rowan and Nick are not something I want to participate in… ever.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS:

“How bad is it?” she asked.
“Not bad.”
“You always wince when it’s not bad.”
Hawk chuckled.
Theo scowled at him. “It’s a little overly sensitive because I broke it six months ago.”
“I guess grace doesn’t come with the royal package,” she teased.
“My royal package is better than anyone else’s. Trust me.”
---

“Phew. I thought I was going to have to slay a few dragons for you while I was here.”
“I’m no damsel in distress, Your Highness. I can take care of myself.”
---

“Want to sleep over?”

Robin Bielman is one of my very favorite authors. I know that I can count on her books to have the most unanticipated and scrumptious endings that are guaranteed to leave the reader with a happy heart. ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS is a perfect holiday romantic escape. I sure hope Robin returns to this idyllic little town with another wonderful lighthearted story soon. If you enjoy holiday romances with plenty of snow and snuggling, I highly recommend that you pick up ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS soon!

Cute story & hope we get to red more of Rowan and Theo in the future! I loved how we see not just Rowan and Theo but their families as well... I think it really added to the story. The one thing I didn't like was Rowan's name. Rowan Palotay.. what kind of name is that?!

I fell in love...HARD with Once Upon A Royal Christmas! I loved this sweet, sexy romance. I fell in love with the way these two stunning characters met and how they fell in love left my heart melting and my soul sighing...this story made me just plain happy.