Slightly out of season but here goes, Christmas in the King’s Bed is written by Caitlin Crews and published by MB Modern. Calista’s father has blackmailed King Orion into marrying Calista. Calista agreed to marry him in order to protect her sister Melody and prevent her being institutionalized. Calista is also plotting to bring her father down.
I enjoyed this book. Calista acts out like a petulant toddler during the first few chapters but it is clear during her interactions with her sister that this is not the real Calista who is working to save her sister and destroy her father. Orion is angry that he is being blackmailed into marriage to protect the royal family and at first only sees his wife to be as an angst ridden toddler. Slowly his perception changes but will she betray him as well?

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

This was a well written, perfectly paced romance with characters that are engaging and realistic.
I enjoyed the plot of this book and how it progressed throughout.
I love a romance with a lovely, light hearted finish, and of course a happily ever after, which this book certainly delivered.
I enjoyed this book.

Calista’s father has blackmailed King Orion into marrying his daughter, an agreement he had with Orions father
I liked Calista, everything she does is because of her sister Melody, she plans to oust her father from his company so he could no longer threaten her so easily. She doesn’t really want to marry Orion and thinks that she will probably call off the wedding once she has sorted the problem with her father but that’s before she got to know Orion as a person not as a king. She is smart and isn’t willing to let Orion have power over her which makes her treat him in a way that may be felt as disrespectful but which in a way he likes
I loved Orion, he is determined to be a different type of king to his father and spends a lot of time trying to be in control and make himself seem kingly to the outside world as well as never breaking his word to his people, something his father did regularly. Calista isn’t what he expected and which takes him by surprise and seeing him develop as the kind of person who isn’t always in control, especially around her, was really interesting to see
Their story develops and has a few twists and turns that I didn’t expect as well as some that I could see happening which pulled me in and made me want to keep reading
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a romance with different characters coming together and clashing but also learning about themselves in the process

I usually really like Caitlin Crews books, however this one left me feeling a little confused. King Orion is tired of making up for the sins of his father so when he finds himself blackmailed into marrying the daughter of a tabloid giant he feels he has no choice but to proceed with the wedding. Calista his bride to be is also being blackmailed by her father and to protect her sister she too must marry without love. But here is where the story is confusing for me, if she hates her father so much and she knows King Orion hates her father why not just be honest and tell him that she is also being blackmailed, it seemed like a quick win in that her sister could just be bought into the palace where she would be untouchable. If you put that aside it was an easy read, I found myself not really invested into the characters but overall if you want something to pass the time, this will do.

This is a fairytale romance full of passion, villains and happy ever afters. King Orion forced to marry an adversary's daughter to protect the monarchy from further scandal. Calista agrees to marry Orion to save her sibling from her father's wrath. Their intense connection is something neither expected but is a blessing or a curse?

This is a story of betrayal scandal and trust. The connection between Calista and Orion is passionate but conflicted. Both need to trust the other with their secrets to move forward. Despite the legacy of despicable parents the two, principled lovers manage to rise above the scandal, to find their fairytale ending but only after, some sensual encounters and personal soul searching.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book was fantastic and it is another great release from Caitlin Crews!!

The storyline was great and it was packed with heartfelt feelings and a complete page turner.

I thought that the characters were well developed too and they worked really well together.

It is 5 stars from me for this story - very enjoyable and a delight to read - very highly recommended!!

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've read this author before so was pleased to be able to read this
Really enjoyed it
Written well - emotional, lots of twists, goodies and baddies character wise
Enjoyed the story

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I am a real fan of Caitlin Crews’ work. She has a unique voice and the way she takes traditional tropes and gives them a modern twist whilst paying homage to operatic and fairy tale styles and treatments is usually successfully executed, so as to produce truly satisfying reads. It therefore pains me to write a critical review.

King Orion and Lady Calista are brought together in a forced marriage Because of her father’s blackmail of the King and of his daughter.

Calista is a truly unsympathetic and unbelievable character for 90% of the book. She talks in a studied, combative and pretentious way which instead of entertaining, simply annoyed me. Orion in contrast is an interesting and sympathetic figure and I desperately wanted him to kick Calista to the curb and to to hell with her father’s blackmail. Orion was worth so much better.

Calista’s father is beyond a caricature villain. I mean I understand the Fairy Tale simplicity of a pantomime villain but seriously? I am sure any similarity between him and any other media mogul is merely coincidental, but I found it hard to understand how he had any power over Calista or her sister and why Calista didn’t simply tell Orion right away about the threats her father is making about Melody . He is King and could protect Melody in an instant. As indeed he does at the end of the story. A click of his cell phone and Melody is rescued and brought under his protection. End of problem.

This is a huge plot failure as far as I am concerned and it becomes even more so as the story proceeds and Calista starts to fall in love with Orion. The fact that she finally behaves the way she ought to, makes no sense in the story arc because nothing has changed so why doesn’t she tell Orion from the start? They both hate the Dad so could work together to bring him down. That would have made sense.

I found the conversations between Orion and Calista at the beginning unbelievable.. Calista behaves like a spoilt toddler in a playgroup rather than a mature, professional adult meeting her King and future husband.. As a member of the aristocracy in this fictitious country, she would know about protocol and there is no logic to the way she behaves.

I read it and enjoyed CC’s prose and most of the story - but I am sad to say that it was a disappointing read from one of my very favourite authors. I guess her standard is so high it really is a shock when she doesn’t meet it. Still an enjoyable read though - so still 3 stars.

An emotionally charged, seductive, blackmailed, but romantic story of love, enduring happiness and commitment.

A father and media tycoon, blackmailing a king and coercing his daughter into marriage, with threats about her sister.

Amongst all the treacherous conditions and feelings grows a deep connection of love and happiness.

With a happy ever after ending in this romance.