I present to you a guest review of ALL HEARTS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, a Regency Christmas Collection featuring stories by Sarah M. Eden, Anita Stansfield, Esther Hatch, and Joanna Barker, published September 1, 2019.
Blurbs for ALL HEARTS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS:
Christmas
at Falstone Castle by Sarah M. Eden
The
Dowager Duchess of Kielder eagerly anticipates spending Christmas with her son
and his family. Though their relationship has been strained, the duchess is
determined to heal the chasm. Even with the help of the widowed local vicar,
her plan will take a Christmas miracle. But during this magical season,
anything is possible . . . even two second chances for love.
The Heart
of Christmas by Anita Stansfield
When a
chance meeting brings together a gentle seamstress and a widowed banker, each
lonely soul finds a first hint of hope. As their lives become entwined, it will
take Christmas spirit to guide a broken family to love and healing.
’Tis the
Season to Be Daring by Esther Hatch
Elizabeth
Davenport has had quite enough of the London Season. Determined to evade a
parade of unsuitable suitors, she seeks help from the one gentleman who has no
regard for Society’s rules. All of Society knows Lord Hawthorne is not
interested in marriage, yet he cannot deny Miss Davenport’s unique charm. And
as the Christmas season works its magic, their charade begins to feel less like
playacting and more like love.
The
Christmas Dress by Joanna Barker
Seamstress
Nell Addington is thrilled when her childhood friend Jacob Hammond commissions
a dress for his sister. But when Nell realizes her feelings for Jacob run far
deeper than friendship, an unexpected snowstorm—and some holiday cheer—may
convince them both that love is worth fighting for.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Connie’s
Review:
Christmas at Falstone Castle - Sarah M. Eden
Falstone Castle, Northumberland - 1785
Adam Boyce was just 7-years-old when his father died and he became the Duke of Kielder. His mother had been around most of his life and is packing to leave again. He had loved his father and they had been close. Adam is conscious of some scars on his face, but is assured by his nurse that he is not ugly.
Newcastle - 1816
Harriet Boyce, the dowager Duchess of Kielder, is thinking over her life. When she married her husband, it had been an arranged match. It has now been 30 years since she left Falstone Castle and her son, Adam. She regrets not seeing him since then. Adam is married and the father of 3-year-old, Oliver. Adam’s wife is Persephone and they are expecting another baby soon. Harriet wants to be there with them and show Adam the love she has not given him before. Adam is known to be gruff and has a temper, but his wife is kind and well liked.
Roswell Duncan is the vicar of Falstone parish. The vicar is surprised to learn that the Dowager is coming for Christmas. It has been a long time since he has seen her. The Duchess invites the vicar to stay at the castle for Christmas as he is a calming influence on Adam who is also known as the Dangerous Duke.
After she arrives at Falstone, Harriet decides to orchestrate a Christmas party for Persephone’s family. The party is a success and everyone is happy to be together. Harriet and the vicar have so much in common and an attraction sparks between them. When Persephone gives birth to a healthy baby girl on Christmas day, the family is so very happy. Could Harriet find a new love and new happiness with her son, Adam, his family, and the vicar?
I found this story to be heartbreaking, yet healing at the same time. The shame Harriet must feel for leaving her son all that time must be horrendous. She certainly has a lot of making up to do. Hopefully, she will find new happiness and forgiveness in her life. I really like Persephone because she has love and kindness in boundless amounts.
“The Heart at Christmas” - Anita Stansfield
London - 1820
Adelaide (Addie) Moore is hurrying to open the dressmakers shop where she works. Her employer, Miss Glade, has given her room and board in exchange for doing basic sewing for the woman.
A man walks in the shop asking her to sew a button on his coat. He introduces himself as Theodore (Theo) Hardwicke and he works at the local bank. Addie learns that he is a widower. As they chat, he offers her a job caring for his 9-year-old daughter, Becky, while keeping the house running. She will also be caring for his ailing aunt, Marla. She happily accepts the job and dives into running the house and catching up on some much-needed cleaning. She even enlists Becky’s help with setting the table and keeping her own room clean and neat.
But Addie sees that Theo, Becky, and Marla are all sad and she enlists Becky’s help again to find ways to make them all happy. When Theo’s wife died a few days after Becky’s birth just at Christmas, none of them have wanted to celebrate Christmas. So Addie finds ways to get them interested in doing so and they all find excitement in Christmas again. Will Addie and Theo find an attraction to one another and they all become a family?
A sweet Christmas story to show how while some people shun Christmas if it brings back memories, it can be overcome and joy can be returned to this special day.
“Tis the Season to be Daring” - Esther Hatch
London - 1814
Elizabeth Davenport, age 18, is being pressured to make a good impression on Lord Fagerlund who is said to be looking for a wife. Even though he is over age 40, he is a baron. With five daughters to marry off, her mother has become quite skilled in pinning down men to notice her daughters.
Unimpressed by Lord Fagerlund, Elizabeth manages to escape her mother’s hold and hurries to visit her friend, Fanny. There they discuss ways of getting out of the season. They also discuss Lord Hawthorne, an earl, who has a reputation for being a rake. Bravely, she marches to the man asking his help to be with her for a few days so that her mother will stop making her attend the balls. He agrees.
As they spend time together and he introduces her to his family, she realizes that he is the man she has waited for. They share a good sense of humor and before long, find themselves falling in love.
I liked this story and the characters of Elizabeth and Lord Hawthorne make the perfect couple.
“Christmas Dress” - Joanna Barker
Yorkshire - 1816
Nell Addington, age 23, working as a seamstress, is on her way to Oakhurst Park to meet with Mr. Jacob Hammond and his sister, Alice, age 17. Nell is the daughter of a vicar who passed away several years ago. Nell must work to help support her mother. Jacob’s father has recently passed away, thus necessitating his return from London. As the family is just out of mourning, Jacob wants Alice to have a whole new wardrobe. Having lost her mother early in life, Alice had lived with her cold and unloving father. Alice remembers Nell’s kindness to her when she was a child as she endeavored to put a smile on the young girl’s face.
Nell learns that Christmas has never been celebrated in the Hammond home due to her father’s tyranny. Now, Nell is encouraging her to change that. Nell suggests that Alice get a red silk gown for Christmas and Nell will happily make it for her. She agrees. Jacob is pleased that Nell and Alice have had such a nice meeting today.
When Nell comes to take more measurements, she gets caught in a snowstorm and must stay at Oakhurst Park for a couple of days for the roads to clear. There, they all get to know one another better. When Nell returns to work, her mean boss tells her to finish the dress quickly. Just as she is about to leave for Oakhurst to deliver the dress, she is delayed by a woman who has eyes for Jacob and Nell is unable to attend the Christmas Eve dinner as planned. Will there be a chance for Nell and Jacob to have a life together?
I loved this story and found it fun and thoughtful. Joanna Barker has quickly become a favorite author of mine.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Falstone Castle, Northumberland - 1785
Adam Boyce was just 7-years-old when his father died and he became the Duke of Kielder. His mother had been around most of his life and is packing to leave again. He had loved his father and they had been close. Adam is conscious of some scars on his face, but is assured by his nurse that he is not ugly.
Newcastle - 1816
Harriet Boyce, the dowager Duchess of Kielder, is thinking over her life. When she married her husband, it had been an arranged match. It has now been 30 years since she left Falstone Castle and her son, Adam. She regrets not seeing him since then. Adam is married and the father of 3-year-old, Oliver. Adam’s wife is Persephone and they are expecting another baby soon. Harriet wants to be there with them and show Adam the love she has not given him before. Adam is known to be gruff and has a temper, but his wife is kind and well liked.
Roswell Duncan is the vicar of Falstone parish. The vicar is surprised to learn that the Dowager is coming for Christmas. It has been a long time since he has seen her. The Duchess invites the vicar to stay at the castle for Christmas as he is a calming influence on Adam who is also known as the Dangerous Duke.
After she arrives at Falstone, Harriet decides to orchestrate a Christmas party for Persephone’s family. The party is a success and everyone is happy to be together. Harriet and the vicar have so much in common and an attraction sparks between them. When Persephone gives birth to a healthy baby girl on Christmas day, the family is so very happy. Could Harriet find a new love and new happiness with her son, Adam, his family, and the vicar?
I found this story to be heartbreaking, yet healing at the same time. The shame Harriet must feel for leaving her son all that time must be horrendous. She certainly has a lot of making up to do. Hopefully, she will find new happiness and forgiveness in her life. I really like Persephone because she has love and kindness in boundless amounts.
“The Heart at Christmas” - Anita Stansfield
London - 1820
Adelaide (Addie) Moore is hurrying to open the dressmakers shop where she works. Her employer, Miss Glade, has given her room and board in exchange for doing basic sewing for the woman.
A man walks in the shop asking her to sew a button on his coat. He introduces himself as Theodore (Theo) Hardwicke and he works at the local bank. Addie learns that he is a widower. As they chat, he offers her a job caring for his 9-year-old daughter, Becky, while keeping the house running. She will also be caring for his ailing aunt, Marla. She happily accepts the job and dives into running the house and catching up on some much-needed cleaning. She even enlists Becky’s help with setting the table and keeping her own room clean and neat.
But Addie sees that Theo, Becky, and Marla are all sad and she enlists Becky’s help again to find ways to make them all happy. When Theo’s wife died a few days after Becky’s birth just at Christmas, none of them have wanted to celebrate Christmas. So Addie finds ways to get them interested in doing so and they all find excitement in Christmas again. Will Addie and Theo find an attraction to one another and they all become a family?
A sweet Christmas story to show how while some people shun Christmas if it brings back memories, it can be overcome and joy can be returned to this special day.
“Tis the Season to be Daring” - Esther Hatch
London - 1814
Elizabeth Davenport, age 18, is being pressured to make a good impression on Lord Fagerlund who is said to be looking for a wife. Even though he is over age 40, he is a baron. With five daughters to marry off, her mother has become quite skilled in pinning down men to notice her daughters.
Unimpressed by Lord Fagerlund, Elizabeth manages to escape her mother’s hold and hurries to visit her friend, Fanny. There they discuss ways of getting out of the season. They also discuss Lord Hawthorne, an earl, who has a reputation for being a rake. Bravely, she marches to the man asking his help to be with her for a few days so that her mother will stop making her attend the balls. He agrees.
As they spend time together and he introduces her to his family, she realizes that he is the man she has waited for. They share a good sense of humor and before long, find themselves falling in love.
I liked this story and the characters of Elizabeth and Lord Hawthorne make the perfect couple.
“Christmas Dress” - Joanna Barker
Yorkshire - 1816
Nell Addington, age 23, working as a seamstress, is on her way to Oakhurst Park to meet with Mr. Jacob Hammond and his sister, Alice, age 17. Nell is the daughter of a vicar who passed away several years ago. Nell must work to help support her mother. Jacob’s father has recently passed away, thus necessitating his return from London. As the family is just out of mourning, Jacob wants Alice to have a whole new wardrobe. Having lost her mother early in life, Alice had lived with her cold and unloving father. Alice remembers Nell’s kindness to her when she was a child as she endeavored to put a smile on the young girl’s face.
Nell learns that Christmas has never been celebrated in the Hammond home due to her father’s tyranny. Now, Nell is encouraging her to change that. Nell suggests that Alice get a red silk gown for Christmas and Nell will happily make it for her. She agrees. Jacob is pleased that Nell and Alice have had such a nice meeting today.
When Nell comes to take more measurements, she gets caught in a snowstorm and must stay at Oakhurst Park for a couple of days for the roads to clear. There, they all get to know one another better. When Nell returns to work, her mean boss tells her to finish the dress quickly. Just as she is about to leave for Oakhurst to deliver the dress, she is delayed by a woman who has eyes for Jacob and Nell is unable to attend the Christmas Eve dinner as planned. Will there be a chance for Nell and Jacob to have a life together?
I loved this story and found it fun and thoughtful. Joanna Barker has quickly become a favorite author of mine.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
ALL HEARTS COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, a Regency
Christmas Collection featuring stories by Sarah M. Eden, Anita Stansfield,
Esther Hatch, and Joanna Barker, Covenant Communications, available now in ebook,
print, and audio at Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, and Kobobooks.
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