I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Once Upon a Royal Christmas. This story is pure, sweet escapism, with a prince who’s lost his smile and a pretend princess who helps him find it.

Failed singer Gracie Clark owns a company that provides party princesses to a variety of events, but her life is turned upside down when she wins a contest to perform in a far away kingdom, for a royal family.

Famously private Prince Nicolas of San Glacera can’t catch a break. Labeled as grumpy by the press, nothing he does seems to win over the public, until he’s spotted in a snowball fight with a fake princess.

As Nicolas and Gracie grow close, his heart starts to thaw, but Gracie worries about the future, knowing she only plays princess, but could never move across the world to be a real one. Could she?

I really liked how the characters developed through the story, especially Nicolas slowly thawing out and using his smile. And how Gracie’s confidence grew over time.

This story provides a frosted bubble of happiness and I definitely recommend reading or listening to it. I receive an audiobook copy from the publisher via NetGalley. The enjoyment is all my own.