Book Review: The Christmas Heirloom

From the Back:
Four Festive and Heartwarming Romance Novellas That Celebrate the Magic of Christmas Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

In Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

In Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Fulbright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from a wealthy resort owner. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

In Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

In Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love?

My Reflections:
Christmas is just around the corner, are you in the Christmas spirit?
I have to admit I am not feeling the warmth of the season this year, however, this novella set my spirits just a tiny bit brighter! 

All the tales have the connection of a central theme, the legacy of a brooch. 
Each and every story in this four is so different the reader will have no problems with getting mixed up or the stories melding together into a soup of sappiness. 
The plots, in fact, are all so wildly different that it made me smile and laugh out loud in many places! You can't even count on the time period or setting to be consistent in these novels.  We go from England (1827); Texas (1890): West Virginia (1958) and back to the present time in Washington! I was contemplating which of the novellas was my favourite, and I simply can't choose just one. All these authours, each and everyone are on my favourite lists. They differ in writing styles and intensity but are similar in quality and sweetness.

I don't think I have read a more cohesive novella, every story different but tie-ins to each one. I also found it so clever that we see so many connections to the author's series as well, brilliantly executed!
If you are looking for a completely unique read that will engage not only your heart but also your sense of tradition, look no further. Christmas is fast approaching, run don't walk. 
This is the perfect cozy fire, hot chocolate Christmas day read.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

Karen Witemeyer

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three...

Continue reading about Karen Witemeyer

Kristi Ann Hunter

Kristi Ann Hunter (www.kristiannhunter.com) graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is a RITA Award winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for...

Continue reading about Kristi Ann Hunter

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Sarah Loudin Thomas (www.sarahloudinthomas.com) is a fund-raiser for a children's ministry who has time to write because she doesn't have children of her own. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the...

Continue reading about Sarah Loudin Thomas

Becky Wade

Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas.  She published historical romances for the general market,...

Continue reading about Becky Wade

Book Review: A Defense of Honor

From The Back:

Praise for Kristi Ann Hunter's An Inconvenient Beauty
When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and to raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. But as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, the risk of revealing the truth may come at too high a price for those she loves.

My Reflections:  
A defence of Honor is book one in the Haven manor series. What a strong start to a very promising series! I was expecting the normal stiff ballroom, high society storyline with a heart-tugging plot thrown in for good measure, what I got, however, was so much more!

The ballrooms were largely replaced by a quiet, quaint little village that boasts tranquillity and peace. The plot was deep, emotional and oh so well executed! 

I was pleasantly surprised by Hunter's candid exploration of the topic of illegitimate children and all involved. This aspect was very hidden in high society, ruining many lives in the process. Bringing to light the darkness surrounding these children was a bold move for this authour and I for one am overjoyed to see the beautiful story crafted from the ashes! well done Kristi Ann Hunter.

If you are looking for a regency type tale this may be your next read!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Kristi Ann Hunter

Kristi Ann Hunter is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her...

Continue reading about Kristi Ann Hunter

Book Review: An uncommon Courtship

From the Back:

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier he is not the duke in the family. Free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, he has grand plans of someday wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he barely knows, his dream of a loving marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier when she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. But even with her socially ambitious mother's focus entirely on her, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience before she's been introduced to society.

With nothing going as expected, can Trent and Adelaide's marriage of obligation survive their own missteps and the pressures of London society to grow into a true meeting of hearts and minds?

My Reflections:

This is the third book in the Hawthorne House series, written by Kristi Ann Hunter. I would recommend reading these in order as it gives the reader insight into the family dynamics and essential back stories.

I so wanted to be swept away with this novel, I loved the plots concept, the cover, and the main character Adelaide. She was quirky and different. I felt her pain, such a hard situation to endure, but even my endearment to this character just couldn't turn this novel around for me.

I think most of my disinterest stemmed from Trent Hawthorne, can we say wishy washy? He was hot then cold. He didn't act as I thought one might in his situation, forced marriage or not. The steamy romance was a little over the line, nothing explicit just a tad too much detail for my liking. It may have seemed essential in the development of a new marriage, but I don't need those details to enjoy a story. Please use caution when handing this one over to your teen. I rate this 18 plus for the young adults in your life.

The backdrop centered around tedious tea serving sessions and high society musings, the monotony was just too much for me.

I love the whole marriage of convenience scenario, the regency era and such but this book just did not deliver for me, but perhaps I just need more tea? This is just one reviewer's humble opinion It may very well be another person's absolute favorite.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

---

THE AUTHOR

Kristi Ann Hunter

1. Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner and Christy Award finalist. She lives with her husband and...

   Continue reading about Kristi Ann Hunter