would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

its an insightful book of the life and times when the queen took over the throne from her father and took on the mantel of making the christmas speeches

but its also about a young chef called jack from america and his dream about owning his own restaurant and the cruel way that life has at times

and then there olive whose one dream is to a good reporter and breaking the mold solidly built by men....

have to say i thoroughly enjoyed this skip down memory lane with the late queen elizabeth and how she changed the monarchy and how jack came to work for the queen and also the impact olive had on the queen

a whimsical read for people who love christmas and the monarchy maybe just a tad to long....

What an interesting way to tell a story about the young queen elizabeth 11 without it feeling intrusive and false.
The book covers the first six Christmas broadcasts made by the Queen with the lives of two imaginary characters, Jack the chef and Olive a BBC reporter woven around Sandringham and the broadcasts.
I really enjoyed the characters and the behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace and Sandringham.
Loved the story, loved the characters and loved the conclusion.
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Best festive read by miles this year, with the historical fiction strongly evoking the post-war era, balancing with the slow burn second chance romance. Really enjoyed this book, it's excellent!

December 1952. Against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth II’s first Christmas speech, this beautifully crafted novel weaves a story of second chances, quiet love, and the enduring charm of Britain’s royal traditions. Jack and Olive, two endearing characters, find themselves reunited after years apart, and their journey is as heartfelt as it is cozy.

I gave this book a glowing five stars for a reason. It perfectly balances a slow-burn romance with poignant realism, capturing Olive’s fears about revealing her secret to Jack in a way that felt deeply authentic. The time jumps added depth and complexity to the story, allowing the narrative to unfold at just the right pace, and the interactions between Olive and Jack were as tender as they were genuine.

The inclusion of Queen Elizabeth II as a point-of-view character was handled with remarkable respect. The authors refrained from turning her into a caricature, instead portraying her in a manner that felt true to how England saw her at the time—graceful, thoughtful, and deeply human. The subtle interactions between the Queen and Olive were a highlight for me, showcasing mutual respect and the understated power of kindness.

Beyond its compelling characters and plot, the book radiates good vibes. It’s the kind of story that feels like curling up under a warm blanket with a cup of tea on a rainy day. Jack and Olive’s connection, enriched by the second-chance romance trope, made my heart ache in the best way, while their growth kept me rooting for them from start to finish.

This is a novel I’ll cherish, and I’m already eager to explore more from these talented authors. If you’re looking for a book that’s both comforting and meaningful, I can’t recommend this one enough.

Olive Carter enjoys her job at the BBC. If only the bosses would see past her being a woman and to her potential as a correspondent of value.
Jack Devereux is working in the kitchens at the Sandringham Estate, after a personal tragedy he is burying himself in work.
When Olive and Jack bump into each other it rekindles old memories and feelings they thought were long gone.
Can Olive and Jack move forward when there is so much of the past that still haunts them.
This story starts in London in 1952, against the backdrop of a London coated in thick Smog and a new Queen Elizabeth II working on her first Christmas speech. It then moves across the next few Christmases weaving facts and fiction into a beautifully told story of friendship and love.
Perfect to get you in a festive mood.

This was an unusual story with personal recollections from the Queen but also from two people, Olive and Jack. The story takes place mainly around Christmas in the years from 1952 but also includes some flashbacks to 1945. Olive is an ambitious woman who works for the BBC but intends to become the royal corespondent. However, there is an old stickler in her way. Jack is an ambitious chef whose dream is to own his own restaurant. I enjoyed seeing things from the Queen’s point of view, her relationship with Prince Philip and her commitment to her duties. Jack and Olive had met before but had gone their own ways and had lost touch over the years. I enjoyed the way the recipes and cooking played a part in the story. Now circumstances mean they meet again, could this be the start of some more permanent. This was an enjoyable read with engaging characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful read .. and a lovely way to remember our late Queen.

Olive works at the BBC during the early 1950's; while the new Queen Elizabeth is finding her feet at the palace and leading the country, life is still a struggle for women in their chosen professions. Every small achievement for Olive is a fight against the establishment but she continues on, undaunted. When the opportunity arises to travel to assist the Queen with her first Christmas message, Olive grabs it with both hands and bumps into Jack, a former friend who works in the palace kitchens. As the years pass, Olive finds herself closer to the job she wants and her reacquaintance with Jack results in a new friendship.

This is such a delightful read, good for any time of year but perfection itself for the festive season. The authors have obviously done their homework - and then some - and anyone who has taken an interest in the Royal Family will savour each and every word. A fabulous feel-good read and one which left me feeling very festive indeed. A great addition to any readers' stocking, and one I highly recommend. 5* from me.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I enjoyed reading about the Christmases at Sandringham, and the kitchen stories and detailed recipes are excellent. The royal trips provide insight into the private lives of the royal family, and are delightfully portrayed. However, I was frustrated by the slow development of the relationship between Olive and Jack, so only 4 stars.

This lovely novel begins in 1952 as a young Queen Elizabeth prepares to give her first Christmas speech at Sandringham.
Olive, a woman working for the BBC, is frustrated trying to make her way in a man's world. She finds herself standing in for her fallen ill colleague.
Jack, recently widowed, is persuaded by his friend Mason to take a job at Sandringham in the hope that a change of scene and the busy season will help him heal.
What follows is a look behind the scenes at the Royal Family, friendships rekindled and secrets unveiled. It is friendships, missed opportunities and fate stepping in. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Enjoyed reading this historical fiction festive novel set in the early years of our late Queen’s reign. Great characters mixed in with the history of the royal family.

A wonderful and magical blend of history and fiction . Go behind the scenes with royalty , enter the world of journalism and broadcasting then stir in the hope and despair of love and romance’s

It was December 1952 and a young Queen Elizabeth II was preparing for her first radio speech to the Commonwealth. Sandringham was bustling with energy, staff trying to keep up with all that had to be done. Single mother Olive Carter was with the BBC and when her colleague who delivered the royal news fell ill, Olive took his place. Her nervousness and excitement were keeping her awake; she hoped she could pull this off and not mess it up. Meanwhile, Jack Devereux had been shattered by his young wife's death and when his good friend Mason took him along to Sandringham to join the kitchen staff for the royals, Jack wasn't sure. But they were intensely busy, so it took his mind off his loss. Jack's life in New Orleans with his grandfather, who had been a top chef, meant Jack was also a well respected cook; he soon earned his place in the palace kitchens.

When Jack and Olive bumped into one another, they were both astounded. Not having seen each other since just after the war back in 1945, they had a lot of catching up to do, but little time, both having jobs to do. And when Queen Elizabeth requested Olive help her run through her speech, Olive was thrilled. They'd encountered each other briefly a few hours before; Olive had no idea this would happen, but what an opportunity it was. As the years went by, each Christmas found Olive back at Sandringham, seeing the friendly faces, including Jack's...

Christmas with the Queen is an absolutely delightful story set around Queen Elizabeth II, by Hazel Gaynor. I enjoyed my visit to Sandringham, to the kitchens as well as Queen Elizabeth's office, along with Prince Philip and his mischievous ways. Christmas with the Queen is an exciting look into the inner circle of the royal family, when Charles and Anne were young children. Although the story is fictionalised, with a light romance on the side, the main characters are real. In the author's notes at the end, learning about her research was intriguing, although quite sad. I've read one book previously by this author, and loved it - I'll definitely look at her other books. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for my digital ARC to read and review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, which gave you an insight into the royals and their places of residence.

It had some lovely characters and the story kept you hooked.

I recommend this book.

I’d not realised that there were two authors, both of whom were new to me, but they blended seamlessly. The story has a dual time line between the end of the Second World War in 1945 and the early years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign in the 1950s and includes some well researched historical events. This is a multi POV story with the Queen being one of lead characters. There is also a strong cast of supporting characters. This is an easy and gentle Christmas read.

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb is a charming and cosy read perfect for the winter season and ideal for fans of The Crown Netflix series.
The book begins in 1952 when a young Queen new to the throne is preparing for her first Christmas day speech which will be broadcast live to millions. The festive period is a busy one at the royal residence of Sandringham and the royal kitchens are in need of staff. Jack, a recently widowed ex Navy chef finds distraction from his loss in the hectic kitchen but is surprised to encounter a face from his past. Olive is working for the BBC, reporting on the preparations for a royal Christmas and trying to get her foot in the door of a very traditional male dominated establishment , not an easy thing to do, especially as a single mother. She had not seen Jack in years and meeting him in a royal kitchen was the last thing she expected, well that and giving the Queen advice on her speech.
We follow Olive and Jack over the course of the next few years as they rekindle their friendship despite a secret that might blow it apart while also seeing the Queen grow in confidence as she finds her feet in her new role. With chapters from the perspectives of each of these three characters and the use of a dual timeline there is plenty going on to keep the reader engaged and allow the authors to really develop their characters. The second chance romance trope is sensitively handled here and is well done. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, particularly those at Sandringham and felt they really added to the story. Of course the ending is predictable, but what else would you expect in this genre, and I really enjoyed the journey that we are taken on to get there.
While I have read and enjoyed books by both of these authors individually I had never read one of their co authored works and I think I have been missing out. The writing is seamless, if I had not known beforehand that there were two authors involved I would never have been able to tell .
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own .

This was a lovely story and took me back to my youth. We used to see a lot more of the Queen in those early days. It is a true life story that showed the Queen in her true colours, a lovely. kind and caring person, with a great sense of her role as our Queen.

I am a massive fan of the Royal Family so when I saw this book was about Queen Elizabeth II I was instantly interested. I didn't realise until the end that the book was written by two authors. Had I known this it may have put me off but I honestly could not tell. I found the book quite slow to start and maybe a lottle bit too long. I think some parts could have been easily cut. Although the storyline/ending was predicatable I found it enjoyable and I liked the characters.

This was a read in a day book.
I couldn't put it down.
A lovely story merging the early life of the Queen with a "will they, won't they" love story.
I loved the mix of the royal and the everyday, of the life of the Queen and the life of the people around her.
The fact that it followed the characters every Christmas added to the story.
Highly recommend this book!

Oh, what a gorgeous read. It's obviously perfect for this time of year due to its time setting but also because it is full of warmth and love and nostalgia. Even the saddest parts are touched with such humanity and hope that ultimately you'll find yourself smiling through it. The story is a wonderful idea and will have you rooting for Jack and Olive. But I also adored the other characters - those in Sandringham such as Evans and Mr Leonard, Mrs Howard, little Lucy, the Carters, Max, Mason, Rosie and Andrea... all of them. Even the Queen and Prince Phillip in the glimpses we have of them! It's a heartwarming read that you'll want to end well but won't want to finish.

A wonderful royal read which totally kept me hooked. An insight to the royals and the royal residences. Great characters and storyline. I do love a romantic read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.