The Christmas Secret

The Secrets of Hadley Green #1.5

by Julia London

This is a novella about Eireanne O'Conner, the younger sister of Declan O'Conner, (Year of Living Scandalously) , who returns to Ireland to spend Christmas at Ballynaheath. While there with Declan and Keira, and the pesky twins, Molly and Mabe Hannigan, Eireanne meets an American horseman who captures her attention.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Christmas, Novella, Regency Romance, Regency

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.

Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon

Reviews

[Elizabeth "Liza" · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Bristol, an American farmer and horseman, arrives in Ireland at the beginning of the Christmas season in 1808 to study breeding under the tutelage of Declan O'Connor, Earl Donnelly. There he meets the earl's sister, Eireanne O'Conner, and is immediately taken by her. Eireanne enjoys spending time with Henry also, but she is supposed to marry a titled Englishman to restore the family's honor from a previous scandal. Fate seems to be against them for many reasons, including Henry is an American, even though he comes from a prosperous New York family with land along the Hudson River.

This was a highly enjoyable story that captured the attention right from the beginning. I enjoyed reading about this clash of cultures, as well as the Irish Christmas traditions. There was mischief afoot in the presence of Declan's wife's twin sisters. This was extremely well-written and easy to read.

[Katie B-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up for a novella. Only my commitment to reading series in order made this one worth it. I also did not find the fact that the hero pronounced the heroine's name wrong throughout the book charming.

[Ewa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Both H/h are nice decent people and there wasn't any real conflict between them.

I recommend it if you're in a mood for a non-angsty holiday read.

[Annette Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and funny novella

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christmas story about an Irish woman and an American man who end up falling in love and get married.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will she stay or will she go?

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After waiting in London to be received by Declan O'Connor, the Earl of Donnelly - an expert horse breeder, Henry Bristol is finally on his way to Ireland to learn as much about horse breeding as he can from the Earl himself. But his voyage to the Emerald Isle turns a little too green when Henry begins to suffer from sea-sickness. On one particularly ugly night for poor Henry finding himself hanging on to the railing and fighting hard to hang on to what's left in his stomach, he believes an angel was sent to save him. Believing he would never see her beautiful face again, he continues on with his journey to Ballynaheath, and his future.

You know what I love best about Julia London books? She always makes me feel like the hero and heroine won't make it, but somehow, they always do. I was very much on the edge of really wondering whether or not this would be the first book that they actually wouldn't. It was sort of like the rainy weather that was going in the book - clear one day, and rainy the next; in the sense that the hero and heroines lives were being pulled in different directions. Unfortunately for me, so were my feelings of worry on whether this couple would make it. But I digress...

This was actually a rather delightful Christmas novella, I really liked getting a little taste of the holiday celebrations the characters enjoyed. Of course I would have liked to see more, much more; but then this would have probably been a full-length novel, and not the novella it was intended to be. If you were a fan of The Year of Living Scandalously, you will also get a peek of how Kiera and Declan are doing. Not to mention two excerpts, yes that's TWO excerpts, from upcoming novels in The Secrets of Hadley Green series. The first is The Revenge of Lord Eberlin, which looks really good and I am anxious to see things unfold further between Lily and Tobin. The second is also promising, titled The Seduction of Lady X.

So, overall I really enjoyed this, and I'm not much of a novella fan. But as usual, Julia London did not disappoint. If you are looking for a light-hearted Christmas read that could sweep you away and perhaps even make you want more of these characters in future reads, then this could be the one you are looking for.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this e-novella on my Kindle after I had read a little about it in various status updates on facebook.

I really enjoyed this book and have ordered the first book from amazon so I can read it. I also enjoyed the little previews of the next two novels that preceded this novella.

Eireanne returns home after being away at school to discover a handsome American staying with her family for the holiday. He is there to learn about horse training from her brother. This was a fun read about the two of them and the various people that are at Ballynaheath during the Christmas holidays. I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves good stories and wants a quick read.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a novella it was really good. I always want a little more of the story, but this one provided enough dialogue so that I could really connect to the characters and their story. This is supposed to be a part of the Hadley Green Series. To tell the truth I am never quite sure how the characters connect to the Series. There is never enough background in each story to tell how they connect. I may have to go back and review to see how this one fits. I think perhaps it is less 'series' and more characters appearing in cameo in one book and carried over to the next with their story?

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the entire Secrets of Hadley Green series so far, and this novella was no exception. I'm not usually a fan of novellas because the relationship between hero and heroine often seems rushed due to the short format, but in this case Eireanne and Henry's relationship developed quite nicely IMO.

[The crazy booksellers Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I love the characters and how loving the family seems. On top of giving Eireanne her own love story it gives the readers a chance to see how Keira and Declan are doing.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas novella--takes place after first book in series. Good read.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was good, but I can't figure out why the blurb tells the whole story. The only difference is that the novella has a few more details.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a sweet short romance novella. I'm glad Eireanne and Henry got together. Good for them.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on Kindle. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to say something good or bad about this book, mostly because it is a short story. But it did have nice plot and it was interesting, which is sometimes lacking in other short stories.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Really enjoyed this short novella. Fun, witty and full of Christmas joy.

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

not much - not worth much time

[Mum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute Christmas novella.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it tedious.

[Dottie Legatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, refreshing Christmas love story! An in between novella in Julia London's latest series.