Category: Christmas

Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger (A Mayfair Christmas Romance, #2)Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s Rating:  4.5 of 5 stars

Series:  A Mayfair Christmas Romance, #2

Release Date:  September 30, 2025

After returning to London early to meet her family for Christmas, Lady Elizabeth Tierney is surprised to find a letter from her father waiting for her. The letter informs her that her brother is bringing his friend Stanton Morley-Bridges, Viscount Fairchild, who happens to be looking for a wife, to dinner and her father believes he would be a good match for her. Her father makes it clear that after four seasons and the rejection of numerous suitors, he has had enough and expects her to marry Stanton and if she refuses, he will ship her off to Scotland to be a companion to her Great-Aunt Agatha and her plethora of pugs. Elizabeth is enraged and needs time to process this turn of events and find a way to change her father’s mind before her family arrives. She decides to take a walk in the park, hoping no one will see her as it is Christmas morning.

She makes it to the park but begins to rethink her decision to go out alone, when she sees a man watching her and he offers to escort her home. She immediately refuses his assistance, but he is persistent. He introduces himself as Tom and makes her feel comfortable, so she agrees to walk with him. They spend a lovely morning together and she is sad to leave him and return to her family. They make plans to meet again the next morning, and she returns home right before her family arrives. She is now more determined than ever to defy her father and rebuff any courtship attempts Stanton Morley-Bridges might make and find her own HEA.

This was a sweet and spicy Christmas novella featuring several wonderful characters, including Lady Elizabeth, who has been in many of Ms. Campbell’s regency novels, yet never found her HEA, until now. I loved this story, it flowed so nicely and never felt rushed or unbelievable, despite being a novella. The story is a light, fun read with a bit of spice and a twist that will keep you flipping pages to find out how everything works out! This novella is a standalone title in the A Mayfair Christmas Romance series that is also loosely tied to the Scandal in Mayfair series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Christmas with a Chimera by Isabelle Taylor

On By TracyIn Christmas, Contemporary, New To Me Author, Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Rom Com, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Christmas with a Chimera: A cosy, spicy, Alaska-set second chance romance – perfect for Christmas 2025 (Claw Haven Book 2)Christmas with a Chimera: A cosy, spicy, Alaska-set second chance romance – perfect for Christmas 2025 by Isabelle Taylor

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Claw Haven #2

Release Date: October 9, 2025

Chimera Arthur Pineclaw left his hometown of Claw Haven, Alaska twelve years ago to pursue his dream of acting in Los Angeles. Now a successful actor, Arthur has returned to film a holiday rom-com and is a bit surprised at the changes in the small town. But one thing hasn’t changed and that is Emma Cult, the girl he loved and left behind all those years ago. Arthur is still drawn to Emma, and she is still as shrewish as ever – why does that still turn him on? As Arthur reconnects with his past and Emma, he wonders if he can convince her to give them another chance and move with him back to LA. He is sure he will win her over, after all, he can charm anyone!

Emma Cult is now the owner of Cozy Grotto Café and let newcomer Luna Musgrove talk her into allowing the film crew to use her café for the movie, but no one told her that her ex-boyfriend, Arthur was the star! Emma was devasted when Arthur left her on Christmas Eve all those years ago and hasn’t spoken to him since. She is determined to keep him at an arm’s length, but Arthur is just as determined to make her forgive him and give him a second-chance. Let the battle of wills begin!

This was a reverse grumpy/sunshine romance that definitely had a Hallmark rom-com vibe, just with monsters. The book is a cute and spicy second chance romance with long separated high school sweet hearts, Arthur is very charming and likeable and cannot handle anyone not liking him, but he hasn’t let anyone really know him since Emma, Emma is his complete opposite, she is angry and apparently has been that way all her life, and despite her denial, she is still hurt by Arthur’s abandonment. Together, they will have to come to terms with the past and move forward, but before they can do that, they will each have to look inside and be honest with themselves. This was a cute story with a happy ending, making it a quick, holiday read that leaves with that Hallmark-like feel good feeling.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *