A Royal Christmas Quandary

by Samantha Hastings

Readers looking for a light, fun read full of holiday mischief will be delighted by Samantha Hastings' A Royal Christmas Quandary, perfect for fans of A Christmas Prince.

When you spend Christmas in a castle, anything is possible.

1860. Lady Alexandrina Gailey is looking forward to a cozy holiday at Windsor Castle with her best friend, Princess Alice, and her long-time crush, Lord George Worthington. But Drina's plans are all but dashed when Alice's parents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, declare that Alice must choose one of two royal princes to become engaged to before Christmas.

There's just one problem: George, a junior member of the Foreign Office, has accidentally misplaced one of the princes.

Together, Drina and George scour the town of Windsor for the missing prince, desperately hoping to deliver him to the royal dinner party with the queen and king none the wiser. They might just need a royal Christmas miracle to pull it off.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Christmas, Fiction, Romance, Victorian, Holiday

First published October 6, 2020

About the author

Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey-sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her kids. She writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen.

Reviews

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Drina and George. Drina is spending her Christmas holidays at the Windsor Castle with her family, since Queen Victoria is her cousin. There she hangs out with her best friends, Princess Alice and George. George happens to be her crush for so long, but he doesn't seem to return her affection and sees her only as a friend. Things get complicated when there's a pressure from their parents, for different reasons each of them and there are some things going on that could lead to scandals,so they must unite their powers to avert crisis.

I haven't read many historical romances, but this was by far one of my favorites! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It had everything. Royal families, old language, scenery, castles, beautiful gown descriptions and slow burn romance. And of course my favorite trope friends to lovers. This is YA however, so keep it mind, that this is just so pure and cute.

The only bummer for me was the fact that it wasn't focused much on the romance of the lead protagonists, but I was rather more invested in her cousin's Alice love story. Not that I mind watching secondary characters getting their romance too, sometimes I even prefer it and it seems that this was one of these times. I loved it more as a YA historical fiction, than the romance and that's probably because the hero was very oblivious and we spent a large amount of time on the affection being one sided.

Overall, it was a really lovely story and if you love some royal history like I do, then this is the perfect book to pick for Christmas - or sooner than the holidays like I did! Fun fact, there are some characters based on real royal members and I was so excited when I read that part!

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Sarah {The Clever Reader} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha did it again! I love her books so much and this one was no exception. I love the witty characters she creates in the world of Victorian England! I love how she incorporates a bit of mystery in her historical romance settings. There’s always a something to be solved and I enjoy her ability to bring her love interests together in order to solve them.

Lady Alexandrina’s parents are pushing her to marry in order to secure their family fortunes as they have no male heir. Drina is now on a mission to find a way to claim her status as heir to her family name without having to marry. She is determined to find her independence.

George’s father is pressuring him into becoming an Officer of Foreign Affairs when all he wants to do is become an engineer. When his father bestows that task of finding Prince Albert and bringing him to the royal dinner everything goes awry.

George recruits Drina to help him find the missing prince which foils both Drina’s plans at finding a way out of marriage and George’s need to confront his father about the career he truly wants to pursue. The two of them have great chemistry with one another throughout this adventure. I also really enjoyed the friendships Drina has with those around her in the palace. In the end these two make for a perfect pair.

This gave me the beginnings of all those Christmas feels. I am now bound to find myself searching for Hallmark Christmas movies to sit down to watch while sipping on some hot cocoa.

If you’ve loved Samantha’s previous books than I know you’ll enjoy this one. I will gladly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fun holiday read and any other time of the year as well! It’s just so fun!

[Zaira's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something about Samantha Hasting's writing just makes me want to finish it one sitting. And that's exactly what happened with A Royal Christmas Quandary! I couldn't put it down for even a moment.

I did not realize going into this book that this was a friends to lovers romance! That's one of my all-time favorite romance tropes, and I was so excited to see it play out. Drina has had feelings for George for a long time, but she's convinced that he feels nothing but friendship for him. George is unsure about his feelings for Drina... except she's the only person he wants to spend his time with this Christmas. Their chemistry continues to grow as they chase down a wayward prince and deal with their own troubles plaguing them. I loved their friendship--so supportive of each other and their dreams. And when they both come to terms with their feelings--swoon! I was cheering for them the whole way through!

I loved the whole cast of characters. Drina's and George's royal friends are hilarious and so much fun--especially when playing their wildly hilarious games. I could not stop laughing while I read this book.

Samantha Hastings has crafted another favorite historical romance that I know I'll be revisiting each year.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but all opinions are my own.

I loved this story. I love holiday books (especially romance) and this one didn't disappoint. Honestly, all the characters are great. I love the dialogue. And some of the shenanigans these characters get up are a hoot.

Add this one to your holiday TBR. You will not be disappointed.

[Haley The Caffeinated Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drina is the only child to her parents, and that means that someday she and her mother could be left without a home and Drina without a title when her Father passes, so what’s the mission this Christmas? Drina wants to try and convince the Queen to let her inherit.

Too bad for Drina she’s got a long to do list and her mission isn’t even at the top of it! Her cousin is a visiting royal prince from a province from Germany, a possible suitor to her best friend, Princess Alice, but the problem is that he’s missing!

Her other best friend, and the young man who seems to hold her affections, even if he doesn’t know it, is George and he’s been tasked with taking care of the prince, and he would, if he knew where he was.

I loved how Hastings completely wraps you up in this setting, she does everything to perfection and I adored reading about the games they would have played! Not to mention she even gives us a handy little guide on how to play some of the games too! [I’ll definitely be playing some this Christmas with my family]

This is such a great read, a perfect holiday pick and it just brought me so much joy to read it. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Hastings, and you all can get this book now as today is its release day! Yay! Happy publication day!

4.5 HUGE cups of coffee from me!!

Thanks SO much to XpressoTours and Swoon Reads for an eARC in exchange for my honest review as part of the blog tour.

[S. Cinders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun Christmas romp!

This Christmas novella was just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit. Drina is a spunky 17 year old that you can't help but want to get behind. Another wonderful story by Hastings.

[Elayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way this story mixed fact with fiction – faction in truth except that the people you would normally write faction abut, were bit part players here. Queen Victoria appeared here in all her majesty and dictates.
Unfortunately for our heroine the entailed Estate was still legal at this time. In fact: England only outlawed the entail in 1925 applying to real estate. But England still allows male-only primogeniture for aristocratic titles, but this was changed for Royalty in 2013 whereby an Act of Parliament replaced male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture for those in the line of succession born after 28 October 2011, which means the eldest child, regardless of sex, precedes their siblings.
And as for the crinoline and corsets – well – the fact that women had difficulty going through doors was well known as it was considered fashionable to have the largest crinoline you could, with the most furbelows!
or!
I liked the adventures that our hero and heroine got up to, no matter how silly or unlikely, but still come back to the idea that 18 is much too young to decide on who to marry even though it was common then – and as for the Princess who was engaged at 14, well…
I also liked the parlor games and thought they could be great fun considering the lack of other entertainment – and as for the forfeits they were rather cheeky. Ice skating was a popular pastime too as it was rather colder during this period than it is now – partly because of the mini Ice Age being experienced, but also because of the Krakatoa explosion in 1883 which dropped average temperatures by at least 1 degree for over a year due to the dust cloud cover.
Over all a nice romp through a Victorian romance .

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review on The Candid Cover

A Royal Christmas Quandary by Samantha Hastings is the perfect read to get you feeling festive. This historical novel contains shenanigans and a bit of mystery as a prince goes missing. Both the main characters are easy to root for, and their dialogue is engaging. This is such a fun read that I would definitely recommend this holiday season.

This book follows Drina, only child who could lose her status after her father’s death, as she tries to find a way to claim her title without having to get married. George, on the other hand, dreams of becoming an engineer, counter to his father’s wishes for his future. When Prince Albert goes missing, Drina and George team up to find him, and find love in the process. This book contains castles and cameos from actual historical figures, and it is filled with hijinks.

❀ FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE

Both Drina and George are surprisingly well-developed for such a short read. I loved how independent Drina is, wanting to claim her title without having to rely on a man, and the feminist theme was a nice surprise. Drina and George have such an entertaining dynamic, and I really enjoyed their witty dialogue. If you enjoy the friends to lovers trope, this is one to pick up.

❀ SHORT AND SWEET

A Royal Christmas Quandary by Samantha Hastings is a short and sweet historical holiday read. Its plot is upbeat and entertaining, and both the main characters are lovable. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for something quick to get them in the holiday spirit.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha Hastings does it again with another historical contemporary novel! This one was so much fun. We're following Drina and George as they try to find a missing prince in time for a Christmas dinner/royal meeting/important thing. It was equal parts mystery and equal parts love story as they did some hilarious and slightly scandalous things to find out where this prince was. In true Hastings fashion, the story wrapped up beautifully and I was left wanting another 50 pages. I highly recommend this one as we're nearing Christmas soon-ish. Curling up with this book on Christmas eve with a fire would be so much fun.

Merged review:

Idk why this book always loses my review and rating but I’m here again to say I read this years ago and liked it

[Summer Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay holiday read. The parts about Victorian parlor games were fun to read about. Queen Victoria's statements about the state and role of women that were in direct contrast to her own state and role as a woman were frustratingly amusing.

The search for Prince Friedreich was a bit farcical, as was George hiding under Drina's massive hoop skirt. Drina herself I enjoyed as a character, George, too, but the romantic declaration that serves as our climax was a bit lacking, in my opinion.

Still, this was a fun read. If you are looking for a lighthearted, clean, sometimes humorous holiday romance, this might be just the ticket.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the perfect Christmas romance I've been waiting on to kick-start my holiday reads. It had adventure, humor, and, of course, heart-pounding romance.

There was so much to love about this book, but perhaps one of my favorite parts was the adventures the two main characters, Drina and George, seem to go on. As they search for Drina's missing cousin, they get into all sorts of trouble. Plus, because of the time period of this book, things that would be normal and fine now, only add to the adventure here.

Along with this adventure, there is a lot of humor which was fun and entertaining. The book is written in third person POV, but the chapters alternate focus between Drina and George. Hearing their thoughts about each other and certain situations were also quite funny. Drina would think of things one way, while George would see things completely differently. I laughed out loud a few times at the different things they each thought while in certain sticky situations.

I also really liked the touch of feminism in the storyline. Since this is a historical romance, I wasn't expecting to get that aspect in the book, but I think Hastings did a good job of weaving it into the book while staying true to the time period.

My only complaint is that I feel like the subplots could have come together a little better. There were different things both Drina and George were working towards outside of the main goal of finding Drina's cousin, and I think those goals could have merged together a little better. I could just feel a little bit of choppiness as I read, but it wasn't bad enough to put me off.

Overall, I loved the fun and festiveness of this book. It's pretty hard for me to be won over by historical romances, but this one had no problem in doing so. I can't wait to read more by Hastings!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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[Shannon Miz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful! Such a perfect story to bring holiday cheer- it was exactly what I needed!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the more fun Christmas stories I read this year. I wish there was a print copy!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and you can tell it very well researched. A great holiday book and also a great book for those royally obsessed like me : )

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute romp of a story that takes place at Christmas time. When I won this book in a giveaway I thought what I was getting was a romance. But though the story actually includes two romances it was more about all the stuff going on around them while the romance happens. The main characters are tracking down missing princes, trying to keep their parents satisfied, arranging their own future stability and helping arrange a royal romance. I really could see this story as a 1940 Cary Grant slapstick comedy style movie but set in Victorian England if that makes sense. It would just be fun to watch. And it was fun to read.

Sex: some rakish innuendo and some leering
Language: no
Violence: no

[Jacqueline Firkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, joyful romp full of longing looks, Victorian parlor games, family pressures, and more than one royal quandary. Hastings sets a fast pace right away as her hero and heroine take to the streets in search of a missing relative. As Drina tries to lift the entail on her family's estate and George fights against his father's reluctance to support his engineering career, the pair gets embroiled in a series of white lies that threatens to undo both of their dreams. Hastings keeps the tone light and festive though, with lots of flirty banter and a few antics that feel straight out of a Shakespearean comedy. The novel is sprinkled with historic details about social and political life at the time, and while our hero and heroine fall in love, they also forge their own futures, independent of the central romance. Their sensibilities feel quite modern and will no doubt be relatable to contemporary readers. Pin up your mistletoe. Fasten that crinoline. Settle in for a joyful escape from modern life.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Samantha Hastings sprinkles plenty of fun, adventure and romance in her latest Victorian historical romance, A Royal Christmas Quandary.

Lady Alexandrina Gailey is looking forward to spending a fun Christmas in Windsor Castle with her best friend, Princess Alice. Drina and Alice have made plenty of plans for the holiday and not only is Drina counting down the days until she can spend the Christmas season with her best friend, but she is also excited about the fact that her long-time crush Lord George Worthington is going to be joining them as well. This Christmas is going to so much fun – until it all goes awry when she is ordered by Alice’s parents to choose one of the two royal princes to become engaged to over the holiday! While Drina would love to refuse this order, saying no to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is hardly something that is possible, but just when Drina thought that she couldn’t take any more excitement George announces that one of the princes has gone missing! What will they do now?

Drina is determined to help George find the missing prince without arousing the Queen’s suspicions. With a dinner party which the prince must attend, time is not exactly on their side, but Drina and George will leave no stone unturned in their quest to locate the missing royal. As they scour Windsor, Drina and George are dismayed when the missing prince is nowhere to be found and with time running out, it looks like they are going to need a Christmas miracle to uncover just where Queen Victoria’s son is hiding! But it’s not all doom and gloom for Drina and George as thrust into close proximity together, they quickly find themselves realising that they are falling in love with one another.

Will Drina and George’s dreams come true this Christmas? Or will Drina be forced to choose duty and obligation over her heart’s desire?

A delightful royal romp, Samantha Hastings’ A Royal Christmas Quandary sparkles with charm, humor and intrigue. A fast-paced romantic adventure with a smart and resourceful heroine and an intrepid hero, this enchanting holiday read is a fabulous and feel-good tale that will captivate historical readers of all ages with its blend of delicious wit, nail-biting drama and high society mischief.

An enjoyable read holiday romances fans will love, Samantha Hastings’ A Royal Christmas Quandary is not to be missed.

[Rukaiya Mustafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Royal stories since Prince William and Katherine got married back in 2011. My research about the Royal family is pretty good and knowing that someone else shares the same level of dedication is truly exciting.

After watching various Royal sitcoms such as The Crown and Reign, I have realised that a Royal household cannot carry on without any dramas or scandals. A Royal Christmas Quandary happens to celebrate a very amusing scandal that allegedly takes place in Queen Victoria’s reign.

This book is a perfect start to the Christmas reading. The characters, Drina and George and so well-developed. Drina, being an-almost royal knows that after her father’s death, she won’t inherit his estate, makes it her duty to convince Queen Victoria to change the laws. I loved the strong nature of Drina trying to take a stand in time where this was not easily possible.

George, on the other hand, is a far off cousin but is determined to prove to his Duke of a father that he is capable enough to manage the works of the Foreign affairs, even if it’s not to his liking. Being the second son always puts him at a disadvantage with his overachieving brother standing next to him.

When the Crown Prince of Germany disappears, under George’s unofficial watch, matters seem to get a bit serious as the Crown Prince would be a suitor to Princess Alice, Queen’s daughter and Drina’s best friend. Drina being the only sole companion and trusted confidant of George’s tries to help find the Crown Prince. What ensues, is a series of comical situations and fixes that made me laugh a lot.

The best part about this book is the secretive romance between Drina and George. The author has weaved it into the book so perfectly that it feels like a mini fairy-tale with lots of fun drama. The chapters are short and flow from one to another in an organised manner which is fun to read. The third person POV shows both the character’s thoughts which makes it so easy to understand their feelings.

In all, I loved the book and recommend it to those who love themselves a Royal family drama. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and all the thoughts and opinions above are mine.

[Thamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a YA historical romance that while as cute as we need our YA's to be it's also very well researched and in a way that doesn't feel like info dump just to prove they researched it.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Drina has had a crush on George forever, but he's just the second son while she's almost royalty. Because her family hasn't made any male heirs, they risk losing everything upon her father's death, so her mother has other plans to ensure her future. Drina however wants to make sure the estate is passed to her, even if she has to defend herself to the queen. Meanwhile, George's father threatens to send him to Austria if he doesn't follow his commands, and the German prince he was supposed to escort for a couple of days? Disappeared before they even met, and Drina is the only one among those who knew the prince who he can go for help.

I don't think I've read any YA historical romances before so I wasn't sure what to expect—the heroines in historical romances can act just like those in YA's already. And the result was very much my thing, it's almost the same as any historical romance minus all the sex scenes. I feel the writer did her best to give it a juvenile feel, including some games the young people used to play back in the time for example, but this pretty much stand in the two genres.

So this is your chance, YA fan, of learning the magic of historical romances without being traumatized by the scandalous sex usually included. It's a nice story, I liked Drina a lot and although George wasn't anything special for me he was a good boy too. I don't think I knew this writer before, but I'm looking forward to more of her works.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little Christmas read set during the Victorian period. It was an adorable friends to lovers romance, and I liked the spunky heroine. I also liked the historical details about Christmas in the 1800s.

[Jenni Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and fun romp through Victorian England at Christmastime!

[Leslie Books and Socks Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. I loved learning about the different Victorian parlor games they played and the history with the royal family. Hastings did a great job making it seem real and authentic. The characters were fantastic and I kinda want my husband to call me “liebling” which means darling or sweetheart.
🎄
George and Drina have been friends for a long time and both secretly/not secretly love each other with out the other one knowing it. And George is put in a tough situation by his father - to keep the prince of Hoburg happy or George is shipped off to Austria. Only problem is George can’t find the prince! He gets Drina to help and they run into their own trouble along the way.
🎄
So many great scenes from their escapades. This is was unrequited love, friends to lovers, love triangle type of book. Make sure to check out Samantha Hastings instagram page for more about the games!

[B.R. Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A missing Prince, a secret crush, and an unexpected proposal nicely come together in Samantha Hasting’s latest YA novel, A ROYAL CHRISTMAS QUANDARY. Set in a castle trimmed with all the regal lustre and traditions of the Victorian era, this romantic mystery is a delightful balance of flirtatious whimsy and charming history, making it a satisfying holiday escape.

[TrixieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. It sounds like a madcap mystery with a touch of romance. It's not.

There is no mystery. It's a friends to lovers cute book at Christmas. It's a little simple in plot and characterization but it's fun. Just don't go into it expecting a mystery, and you'll be fine.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful Christmas love story!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this gem at Christmas time this year! The story line was full of timeless romance, flirtatious banter, and was sprinkled with all kinds of historical tidbits of the Victorian royal family that I found very interesting! Bravo!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughs with George & Drina

Lady Alexandrina Gailey loves Lord George Doverly, but doesn’t think her love is returned. They have been best friends for years, and are constantly getting in scrapes together. Well written with lots of laughs.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the Christmas fix I’ve been looking for! This was sweet and perfect.

[Irene Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book! I loved the predicaments they got themselves into as the story unfolded.

[Sanjana Medikurthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Fun, witty characters and it’s the kind of book that makes you want to read it all in one sitting.