Joy to the Earl: A Regency Holiday Romance by Elizabeth Cole

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Widow Joy Whitfield is on her way to spend Christmas with her cousin when her carriage becomes inoperable during a snowstorm, and she is forced to seek shelter at a nearby inn. Unfortunately, due to the weather, there are no rooms available, and she is wondering what she will do when she hears a gentleman offer to give up his room for her. She is grateful until she learns the identity of the man – Douglas Sterling, the man she loved ten years ago before he broke her heart by marrying another woman.

Widower Douglas Sterling, the Earl of Hollis is traveling to his estate to spend the holiday with his young son when a storm hits, and he is trapped at inn to wait out a storm. When he overhears the innkeeper talking about a woman who needs a room, he offers his, only to learn that the woman in question is Joy, a woman he courted years ago, but whom he hurt by marrying another woman without a word to her. He never stopped loving her and regretted not following his heart. Can he convince her to give him another chance?

This was a fast-paced, well-written, second-chance, holiday themed novella with interesting characters. Joy and Douglas were once in love, but Douglas decided to listen to his friends and family and marry someone closer to his social stature. A chance meeting and forced proximity ten years later give them a second chance at their happily ever after. I liked the idea of the story but would have appreciated a bit more information about the breakup and a lot more groveling. Overall, this was a quick, steamyish romance with likable characters and a heartwarming ending that I enjoyed reading and would be happy to recommend.

*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. *