Category: Part of a Series

A Cinderella Christmas by Sabrina Jefferies, Mary Jo Putney & Anna Bradley

On By TracyIn Anthology, Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, historical-romance, Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Cinderella ChristmasA Cinderella Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Anthology with Ongoing Series Connections

Release Date: October 27, 2026

Three of my favorite historical romance authors have collaborated to write a Christmas anthology, with each author contributing a new, never-before-published novella with a Christmas theme and a HEA.

THE MISTLETOE MAIDEN by Sabrina Jeffries, 3.5 stars – Eve Archer is back in England after being detained in France by Napoleon for years. But the life she once knew is gone, as her father passed before they returned, leaving her and her step-mother and young brother to fend for themselves. She is reunited with Noel Davenant, Viscount Cokesbury, her best friend’s older brother, who is determined to help her restore her family’s fortune, but is unwilling to risk his heart. I liked this one but could have done without the “other woman” plotline – it was not necessary and made both Eve and Noel look bad. This novella is connected to the Lords of Hazard series.

THE CINDERELLA CHALLENGE by Mary Jo Putney, 3 stars – Rejected by her father for being gifted, young Casey was taken in by Jamie Harris, a man who was also gifted. For years she has hidden by disguising herself as a young man and working in the offices of the Chatham Royal Navy Dockyard. But when she reports her concerns of a plot against Britain’s most brilliant engineer to the home office, she didn’t count on them sending Cameron Tremayne or that he would also be gifted. Cameron insists on taking back to London and introducing her to the Tremaynes and helping her find herself and possibly soulmate. This one was a bit rushed, and I just didn’t get the “Cinderella” connection. This novella is connected to the Dangerous Gifts series.

A WINTER’S WISH by Anna Bradley, 4 stars – Estella Harley wants to escape her cruel stepmother and her nasty stepsisters who treat her as little more than a servant. She has her chance when the family is invited to a house party hosted by the mysterious Duke of Hawthorne as a lady’s maid. At the estate she meets Christopher Ambrose, the duke’s gardener and is smitten, but all is not as it seems and sometimes, fairytales do come true. Of the three novellas, this was the only story that had any semblance to Cinderella and I enjoyed it, but I do think the villains got off way too easy. I am not sure if this is connected to an ongoing series.

This was an interesting anthology, but other than Anna Bradley’s offering, I didn’t really get the Cinderella connection. Overall, it was a fun Christmasy anthology with great characters and unique storylines that each end with a happily ever after. If you have been reading the author’s ongoing series, you will be delighted with the connections, but you can still enjoy the novellas without having read the series.

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

 

Brown-Eyed Earl by Jenny Holiday

On By TracyIn Contemporary in Period Dress, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, historical-romance, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Brown-Eyed Earl (Earls Trip #3)Brown-Eyed Earl by Jenny Holiday

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Earls Trip #3

Release Date: October 27, 2026

Simon Courteney, the Earl of Marsden is quiet, thoughtful, and scholarly, with a tendency to put others’ needs before his own. After losing his older brothers and unexpectedly inheriting an earldom, he builds his life around responsibility, parliamentary work, and loyalty to his friends, Archie and Effie. He expresses his kindness through small, consistent gestures rather than grand declarations. His difficult relationship with his mother contributes to his reluctance to marry, while his friendship with Diantha prompts him to reconsider his future. His choices are shaped by a sense of duty and concern for others, and his story follows his efforts to balance those responsibilities with his own happiness.

Diantha Brown is intelligent, determined, and protective of her independence. After her family loses its financial security, her position as a companion provides stability and allows her to care for someone else. But when her former brother-in-law threatens to blackmail her unless she agrees to marry him, she acts to protect both herself and the woman in her care. Deciding the only way to save herself and her charge is to make herself an undesirable bride, and for that she will need a man to ruin her, and she believes Simon is the perfect man for the job.

This was a warm, humorous story with wonderful characters and lots of supportive friends. The book touches on some serious issues, like grief, blackmail, dementia and personal freedom, but is saved from being a dark and heavy read by its lighter moments. That said, I would have liked stronger tension around the blackmail and more satisfying, on-page resolutions to the conflicts. If you are looking for a book that is historically accurate, this book is not for you, this is more what I would call “a contemporary in period dress”, but it is still an enjoyable read. The book has found family, blackmail, good friends, one warm love scene, and a happy ending. Overall, this was a good read, and I felt the author handled the sensitive subjects with compassion and respect, so while I can’t say I loved it, I am glad I read it. This is the third (and final?) book in the series, and while it could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in order.

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