It’s November, which means my Christmas binge of novellas has begun. First up on my TBR pile was this newest release from Lucette Nel. The Christmas Husband is my favorite of her stories so far. For one, Benedict (the hero) is a Brit, and who doesn’t love a swoony Brit? 😉 Bless his soul, this poor man stumbles into a mess and does the merciful thing, even though it is a detriment to him. Naomi is a mother just trying to do the best she can for her daughter. Who knew that one little lie to appease her daughter would end so disastrously?
I adore the interactions between Benedict, Naomi, and Elise. This twist on a marriage of convenience story will have you chuckling, swooning, and hoping for love as you speed through the pages while trying to savor every interaction.
I recommend this story to fans of marriage-of-convenience, misunderstandings, sweet romance, and ready-made families. This story will leave you with all sorts of warm fuzzies and happy sighs.
Genre:Â Historical Romance, Texas, 1885
Plot Overview:
It was one little lie told only to protect impoverished Naomi Stuart and her daughter. But when Benedict Ramsay — a man she met fleetingly years before who should be in England — arrives in town, all she’d carefully constructed threatens to crumble.
Benedict arrives a stranger in Noelle, hoping to confront the father who’d abandoned him. What he did not expect was to discover he was a married man … to a woman he didn’t even remember meeting. And against his will, Benedict warms to the idea of a ready-made family.
What I loved: This is an adorable story. I loved all the feels it gave me, but I especially loved the dynamics between Naomi, Elise, and Benedict. That man was my poor bumbling hero.
Favorite Character and Why:Â I struggle between Benedict and Elise. Elise is just so innocent and sweet, but Benedict is just as adorable with his sweet, bumbling ways. I will be reading him over and over again.
Rating and Why: Five Stars. This was one of those quick, feel-good stories that leave you on cloud nine. I will be rereading this one every Christmas.
Hello fellow bookies! I’m traveling the country in an RV with my family this month, so I thought I’d make it easy on myself and do book lists with various topics this month, and first up is CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!
It seems everyone has their own version of Christmas in July, and I figured why not? Some of these I have reviewed and the links are included, and some are just on my TBR pile. Links to those lead to Amazon. If you have a favorite, list it in the comments so I can add it to my TBR pile!
London, 1853: Innkeeper’s daughter Mina Scott reads and dreams of someday becoming a real lady—and catch the eye of William Barlow, a frequent guest at the inn. William’s bachelor uncle will soon name an heir—either him or his scheming cousin. William asks Mina to be his pretend bride. When the truth is finally discovered, more than just money is lost.
A Match of Sorts by Lucette Nel – As Christmas approaches, widowed Reverend Caleb Brennan needs a wife, or his vengeful father-in-law will take his young daughters. Bounty hunter Grace Blackwell refuses to owe a debt to any man, especially one as charming as Reverend Brennan. To repay him for saving her life, Grace agrees to pose as his mail-order bride. If their ploy is discovered, Caleb could lose his daughters. But in their pretense, the reverend and the bounty hunter might just both lose their hearts.
The Widow’s Captive by Lucette Nel – On the run with two small children and a third due within weeks, Adeline Spencer seeks refuge in an abandoned cabin. Sheriff Jonah Hale is determined to prove himself worthy of his badge, even if it means riding into a blizzard to check on a crazy miner. When Jonah reaches the cabin, he’s caught off guard by a pretty and very pregnant young woman wielding a skillet. Bound to a chair while the storm rages, and as Christmas settles in around them, he must find a way to earn Adeline’s trust…and perhaps her heart.
The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection – Enter the heartland of historical America at Christmastime through twelve inspiring romance novellas from acclaimed Christian authors. Meet Alma, Lucy, Esther, Marilee, Polly, Deborah, Annabelle, Sophie, Maddie, Karen, Arabella, and Kate who are surprised by how God brings them the desires of their hearts. Watch as faith, romance, and heartfelt gifts open each of their hearts to love. Â
3 Talented Seamstresses, 3 Christmas Romances Return to Christmases of yesteryear with three seamstresses who use their talents to succeed in the late 1800s. But can love also be stitched into their lives?
A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs – As warm as a woolen scarf on a cold winter’s eve, A Wreath of Snow is a tender story of love and forgiveness, wrapped in a celebration of all things Scottish, all things Victorian, and, especially, all things Christmas.
Siblings forge new paths and find love in three stories filled with the wonder of Christmas. Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.Â