HISTORICAL ROMANCE: THE HOLLY AND THE IVY: a Christmas romance collection

 

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

a Christmas romance collection

written by Sarah M. Eden, Esther Hatch, Dana LeCheminant, Anneka R. Walker

Covenant Communications, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-52442-222-6

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & book summary provided by publisher through Deseretbook.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Holly and the Ivy by Sarah M. Eden As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart. Hiding Christmas by Esther Hatch Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide. A Twist of Christmas by Dana LeCheminant A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences. A Season to Love by Anneka R. Walker Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

REVIEW

Christmas stories live in my heart all year long. Through in some romance and I am happy as a clam. This lovely collection contains four stories by some of my many favorite authors. First, I got to visit the childhood of one of my favorite all time characters, the Duke of Kielder, who shows up in a number of Sarah M. Eden's regency novels. But in this story, he's a lonely, grieving child in the care of his nanny. He comes to visit Lord and Lady Jonquil who shower him with all the love and celebration his heart could desire. But when his nanny Robbie falls for the handsome gardener working for the Jonquils, can it truly be a great Christmas. I loved returning to the world of these beloved characters and reading about events mentioned elsewhere. I adored all the characters in this one.

Hiding Christmas by Esther Hatch takes readers on a journey with Kirstine as she takes her grandmother to England to celebrate Christmas, something still frowned on in Scotland. But the only way to get there is to ask for help from a man she would prefer not to know. But along the way, her heart softens as she learns more about the man she's so desperate to despise. I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud at spots in this one. Witty banter is one of my favorite things to read in a romance and this one has plenty.

A Twist of Christmas sees two members of high society dipping their feet into anonymity as they both pretend to be someone lower in station. What neither expects of course is to fall in love with someone they seemingly cannot marry. The secondary characters play a rather entertaining role in the story as they know more about what's going on then the main characters do. Another enjoyable romance full of holiday spirit.

Alice Hunt's search for a husband in A Season to Love provides plenty of Christmas spirit as well as humorous misadventures as Alice recruits a clergyman to help her find a husband. But maybe she's looking beyond the mark and the solution to her deepest desire is right under her nose. Alice and Thomas make a great match and it's a true delight seeing them get there.

A wonderful collection of feel-good stories full of amusing details and lots of holiday spirit.