Category: Novella

Wishing Upon A Christmas Star by Lana Williams

On By TracyIn Christmas, Novella, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

Wishing Upon A Christmas Star (The Seven Curses of London Book 8)Wishing Upon A Christmas Star by Lana Williams
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Seven Curses of London, #8

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Miss Violet Fairchild is feeling discontent, she wishes she possessed the courage of her sisters and friends, but it is just not who she is. She sees a star and makes a wish to be bolder and make a difference. The next day, she sees her elderly neighbor in her overgrown garden and ventures out to talk to her. She wonders if the Adleys have fallen on hard times – she knows the gossip, they lost their fortune and moved to this house, but it seems like they are not even making ends meet and have little help. She also knows their son Braxton is in India, does he know how his parents are faring??

Braxton Adley moved to India three years ago to make his fortune, his father was taken in by a scam and lost the family’s wealth. Overnight Braxton’s life changed, his friends deserted him, the woman he was courting cast him aside and the things he had once taken for granted were all gone. He has worked tirelessly to restore what was lost and hopes to one day return to London financially secure. He misses England and as he looks at the sky, see the Christmas star – he makes a wish. A few days later, he gets a letter from his mother, praising the nice young neighbor who has been helping them, he is immediately suspicious – his parents have already been fooled once by someone claiming to help them – he refuses to let it happen again. He will journey to England, check on his parents and return.

Braxton is shocked at the air of neglect in his parents home – what is happening to the money he has been sending them? He enters the house and meets Violet when she literally falls in his arms. Braxton’s parents are overjoyed at his return and want to know if he is staying for Christmas. His parents reminisce about Christmases past and Violet offers to help them recreate their Christmas traditions – enlisting Braxton’s help. He soon learns what has happened to the money and begins to set things to right. The more time he spends with Violet, the more he likes her – but nothing can come of it, as he will be returning to India soon. But that doesn’t stop him from kissing her or dancing with her.

Things are going well between them and their plans for Christmas are coming together – Violet is falling for him, but when rumors begin to circulate about him reuniting with his former love interest, she is crushed, especially when he leaves her standing alone at a ball and dances with Lady Alice.

Can Braxton prove to Violet that Alice means nothing to him? Will Violet let him go without a fight? Can wishes on a Christmas Star come true? This was a very sweet little Christmas novella that will get you in the spirit for Christmas with wonderful characters, some misunderstandings, some kisses and Christmas wishes! It is part of the Seven Curses of London series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title with no problems.

The Viscount’s Only Love by Cerise DeLand

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Christmas, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)1 Comment

The Viscount's Only Love: Christmas Belles, Book 2The Viscount’s Only Love: Christmas Belles, Book 2 by Cerise DeLand

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Christmas Belle’s #2
Publication Date: 10/29/18

This is a lovely, very romantic read. It is well-written and the characters are fun, three-dimensional, well-developed and very likable. The first novella in the series, The Earl’s Wagered Bride, set up the stories for all three Craymore sisters and the war heroes who love them.

The Craymore sisters, Bee (Belinda), Del (Delphine) and Marjorie are living with their aunt, Countess Marsden because their father and brother died within weeks of each other and left them at the mercy of an avaricious cousin. He put them out and didn’t even let them keep a memento of their mother. They love their aunt and appreciate the largess of her and her step-son Griffith Harlinger, the fourth Earl of Marsden. However, they don’t like accepting charity and each of them is actively looking for a way to support themselves. Marjorie and Griff’s romance was featured in the last book and this one features Del and Neville Vaughn, Viscount Bromley.

Neville received a letter from his aunt Penelope (Penn) saying that her good friend, Gertrude, Countess Marsden, is having a Christmas house party with the express purpose of marrying off her three nieces. Neville met and fell in love with Del a couple of years prior. He proposed and she accepted. That same night, his nasty piece-of-work father appeared and announced Neville’s betrothal to another woman. Neville refused, but his father had the means to force him into the marriage. Needless to say, Neville and Del’s parting was not a pleasant one. Now, Neville’s father is dead as is his wife, and he’ll do whatever is necessary to make amends and win Del’s hand in marriage. Neville begs for a three-week leave from his post in war-torn France and seeks out the Earl of Marsden at Wellington’s headquarters in Paris. He asks Marsden for an invitation to the house party and tells him why it is so important to him.

Del was shocked and dismayed when the crowd parted on the first day of her aunt’s house party and she saw the man who broke her heart. She’s never forgotten nor forgiven him. He’d proposed to her and crushed her heart all in the space of a few short hours. She is still angry, but she can’t be rude at her aunt’s party – besides – she’s a sweet and kind young woman and he’s a wounded war hero. He comes straight to her and the wooing begins. She’s distrustful, but she still cares.

It was lovely to watch Neville woo Del. I think we’d all like to have our loves woo us that way. He’s sweet and thoughtful and caring and slowly wears her down. I loved watching their story unfold. Now, I can hardly wait to see Bee and Alastair’s love story.

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