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Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection
Come explore Regency London with Carla Kelly! This collection features four stories that will warm your heart with Christmas The Christmas Ornament, Make a Joyful Noise, An Object of Charity, and The Three Kings. Filled with romance and a touch of humor, these stories are sure to find a place in your heart and remind you that Christmas is a time for love.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 5, 2011
61 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
138 books804 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)
Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work.
The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.)
Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."
Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies.
Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border.
Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate.
Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course.
Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson.
And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone. Carla Kelly is quite ordinary, except when she is sometimes prevailed upon to sing a scurrilous song about lumberjacks, or warble "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in Latin. Then you m
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December 18, 2017
I was digging around in the depths of my Kindle last night for something Christmas-themed and not too demanding of my brain, which was recuperating from hosting a luncheon and book club discussion at my house yesterday. I landed on this set of four short Christmas novellas from Carla Kelly, one of the more thoughtful and realistic writers of Regency era romances. I read these about 4 years ago but didn't remember much at all about them, so it was almost like reading them brand new. Yay for bad memories?
This set is only $3.03 on Amazon Kindle and worth picking up if you like the more thought-provoking type of historical romances. Carla Kelly writes heartfelt stories about realistic people, those who have gone through trials in life. She's more interested in naval captains, doctors, soldiers, women who wish for the right to go to universities, women who don't fit into high society or are poor relations, than the Incomparables at Almacks or dukes. And she has a nice sense of humor:
“The Christmas Ornament” - Two fathers decide to try to make a match between their shy, studious children. The son, James Enders, is definitely interested, but he manages to put his foot in his mouth with Olivia Hannaford several times. When Olivia's brother brings a suave diplomat friend (who wants an "intelligent wife") home for Christmas to meet Olivia, James despairs of his chances. I really enjoyed reading the entire story from James' point of view, and seeing how his view of Olivia evolves as he grows to understand her better.
“Make a Joyful Noise” - Lord Peter Chard, a widower with two young children, gets entangled with his mother's efforts to help put together a choir for the three local churches' annual Christmas choir competition. The problem is that their congregation's choir is terrible, the despair of all. Then Chard meets a young Welsh widow, pregnant and living with her despicable in-laws, with a lovely voice ... but she's not at all in the class of ladies that he's supposed to be looking to marry from. Chard's delightful children and his steadiness and kind heart are big pluses in this story.
“An Object of Charity” - Captain Michael Lynch's ship is in repairs for several months. While he's in Portsmouth, trying to figure out what to do with himself, he meets the destitute niece and nephew of his former first officer, who died in a battle, and ends up taking them with him to visit his long-estranged family. Lynch is a man with a good heart but damaged in his soul by his life's disappointments, and he has a tendency to bark at people like an impatient captain and then regret his hasty words later. This story has some good points to make about forgiveness.
“The Three Kings” - Lady Sarah Comstock is in trouble: she's in Spain during the Napoleonic wars, in the front of the battles between the British and the French. She and her brother are scholars researching Christopher Columbus' old papers, and he's been unexpectedly killed. Now it's up to Sarah to get Columbus' papers home. She's given safe-conduct papers by the French, but somehow the journey ends up far more dangerous than she expected.
The first two stories were my favorites, but they're all worth reading.
This set is only $3.03 on Amazon Kindle and worth picking up if you like the more thought-provoking type of historical romances. Carla Kelly writes heartfelt stories about realistic people, those who have gone through trials in life. She's more interested in naval captains, doctors, soldiers, women who wish for the right to go to universities, women who don't fit into high society or are poor relations, than the Incomparables at Almacks or dukes. And she has a nice sense of humor:
The sound of incredible, perfect harmony exploded in the church, booming from wall to wall with all the majesty the hymnist must have intended but which had never before been even remotely achieved at St. Phil’s. By the end of the first stanza, the choirmaster was gripping the lectern, his knuckles white. At the completion of the chorus, he waved the choir to a halt and staggered to a seat.Or, on a more romantic note:
He knew what to do after that, and he did it, without any demur from the object of his admiration. He would like to have done more, but the winged harpy of good manners clattered into the room and flopped down to roost on his shoulder.The four novellas in this collection:
“The Christmas Ornament” - Two fathers decide to try to make a match between their shy, studious children. The son, James Enders, is definitely interested, but he manages to put his foot in his mouth with Olivia Hannaford several times. When Olivia's brother brings a suave diplomat friend (who wants an "intelligent wife") home for Christmas to meet Olivia, James despairs of his chances. I really enjoyed reading the entire story from James' point of view, and seeing how his view of Olivia evolves as he grows to understand her better.
“Make a Joyful Noise” - Lord Peter Chard, a widower with two young children, gets entangled with his mother's efforts to help put together a choir for the three local churches' annual Christmas choir competition. The problem is that their congregation's choir is terrible, the despair of all. Then Chard meets a young Welsh widow, pregnant and living with her despicable in-laws, with a lovely voice ... but she's not at all in the class of ladies that he's supposed to be looking to marry from. Chard's delightful children and his steadiness and kind heart are big pluses in this story.
“An Object of Charity” - Captain Michael Lynch's ship is in repairs for several months. While he's in Portsmouth, trying to figure out what to do with himself, he meets the destitute niece and nephew of his former first officer, who died in a battle, and ends up taking them with him to visit his long-estranged family. Lynch is a man with a good heart but damaged in his soul by his life's disappointments, and he has a tendency to bark at people like an impatient captain and then regret his hasty words later. This story has some good points to make about forgiveness.
“The Three Kings” - Lady Sarah Comstock is in trouble: she's in Spain during the Napoleonic wars, in the front of the battles between the British and the French. She and her brother are scholars researching Christopher Columbus' old papers, and he's been unexpectedly killed. Now it's up to Sarah to get Columbus' papers home. She's given safe-conduct papers by the French, but somehow the journey ends up far more dangerous than she expected.
The first two stories were my favorites, but they're all worth reading.
January 6, 2018
As always, rating an anthology is problematic for me. I'll include my story notes below, but with one stand-out and the rest average-ish I think I'll go with three stars.
The Christmas Ornament – 3
Charming, but neither were that engaging (not my type). James was too wishy-washy and I wanted him to gain a backbone. Olivia was better, but a bit too willing to withdraw, as well. I get the feeling that both are the type to shrink from a challenge and that bodes ill for their future family. I did like his growth arc and seeing himself in the odious Peter taught him a lesson I doubt he’ll soon forget.
Make a Joyful Noise – 4
Chard is sweet and honorable and faithful. Indeed, we see that his faith penetrates his soul and that he is a good and Christlike man. We don’t have a very good read on Rose because she isn’t terribly present. What we do see of her shows a kind and caring woman doing her best with a rotten hand. They’ll make a great match of things and this story would have been truly outstanding if Chard hadn’t gone so passive in the last quarter. His reluctance to act was weak and undermined all the rest telling us he was good and kind and thoughtful. Rose’s situation is dire and she needs help and safety sooner than later. Every day he wastes getting her out of that “home” is a blight on his soul. And he takes months.
An Object of Charity – 3½
A lot of internal dialogue by a man damaged by war make this a slow, introspective read. And Kelly crams in themes of forgiveness and charity and a couple moral lessons about rich and poor and overcoming adversity through cheerfulness and determination—which is a lot of ground to cover. I wish we had had more with Sally because all we really have here is a paragon in need of charity. I do like how Kelly turns it around to illustrate that Michael is the one with the greater need and the attempt at showing the universal need for charity we all have. But it the end, it only kind of works, mainly because Sally is too perfect and I felt that too many details were left dangling in the end.
The Three Kings – 2
Too-short a time-frame and too much going on and war-torn Spain is depressing. If you like your romance with a heaping helping of death, hunger, desperate soldiers, and more death, then this might be your jam.
The Christmas Ornament – 3
Charming, but neither were that engaging (not my type). James was too wishy-washy and I wanted him to gain a backbone. Olivia was better, but a bit too willing to withdraw, as well. I get the feeling that both are the type to shrink from a challenge and that bodes ill for their future family. I did like his growth arc and seeing himself in the odious Peter taught him a lesson I doubt he’ll soon forget.
Make a Joyful Noise – 4
Chard is sweet and honorable and faithful. Indeed, we see that his faith penetrates his soul and that he is a good and Christlike man. We don’t have a very good read on Rose because she isn’t terribly present. What we do see of her shows a kind and caring woman doing her best with a rotten hand. They’ll make a great match of things and this story would have been truly outstanding if Chard hadn’t gone so passive in the last quarter. His reluctance to act was weak and undermined all the rest telling us he was good and kind and thoughtful. Rose’s situation is dire and she needs help and safety sooner than later. Every day he wastes getting her out of that “home” is a blight on his soul. And he takes months.
An Object of Charity – 3½
A lot of internal dialogue by a man damaged by war make this a slow, introspective read. And Kelly crams in themes of forgiveness and charity and a couple moral lessons about rich and poor and overcoming adversity through cheerfulness and determination—which is a lot of ground to cover. I wish we had had more with Sally because all we really have here is a paragon in need of charity. I do like how Kelly turns it around to illustrate that Michael is the one with the greater need and the attempt at showing the universal need for charity we all have. But it the end, it only kind of works, mainly because Sally is too perfect and I felt that too many details were left dangling in the end.
The Three Kings – 2
Too-short a time-frame and too much going on and war-torn Spain is depressing. If you like your romance with a heaping helping of death, hunger, desperate soldiers, and more death, then this might be your jam.
March 11, 2019
1.75 stars average rating.
The Christmas Ornament- 2 stars. Short, safe and sweet with decently developed MCs. I could've done without the mention of the H's sexual past, but at least it wasn't detailed or long.
Make a Joyful Noise- 2 stars. I liked the H in this one a lot. I understand why some readers would be annoyed with him for being such a coward in love, but it wasn't like the h was in danger or anything like that. I'm not minimizing how disgusting her dead husband's family was to her, but I understand why it took the H over a month and a half to come to his senses. Safe and very tender.
An Object of Charity- 1.25 stars. Short and sweet but simply not that compelling. The character development wasn’t as good in this one as the previous two.
The Three Kings- 1.5 stars. This was a safe story with no steam. It had a well developed setting and plot for a short, but the wartime theme didn't appeal to me. Also, the suddenness of the declaration was a little too sudden, even for these shorts.
The Christmas Ornament- 2 stars. Short, safe and sweet with decently developed MCs. I could've done without the mention of the H's sexual past, but at least it wasn't detailed or long.
Make a Joyful Noise- 2 stars. I liked the H in this one a lot. I understand why some readers would be annoyed with him for being such a coward in love, but it wasn't like the h was in danger or anything like that. I'm not minimizing how disgusting her dead husband's family was to her, but I understand why it took the H over a month and a half to come to his senses. Safe and very tender.
An Object of Charity- 1.25 stars. Short and sweet but simply not that compelling. The character development wasn’t as good in this one as the previous two.
The Three Kings- 1.5 stars. This was a safe story with no steam. It had a well developed setting and plot for a short, but the wartime theme didn't appeal to me. Also, the suddenness of the declaration was a little too sudden, even for these shorts.
December 6, 2013
Oh dear. It's happened already. After reading just three books from her rather extensive backlist, I've become a Carla Kelly fangirl.
She has such a marvelous way of creating heroes and heroines who are fully human - people who are flawed, who struggle to comprehend their emotions, but who are basically good and decent people doing the best they can in life. As I read each one of the four novellas in this collection, I became completely absorbed in their fates, as well as the everyday, small details of their lives. I put off other tasks (including going to sleep) for "just a few more pages." I slowed my pace to savor Kelly's writing and the richness of the emotions evoked by her stories, and at the end of each tale, I sighed with happiness, content with the hopeful, heartfelt ending.
Somehow Kelly does all that to me without ever becoming trite or overly sentimental.
These four romances, previously printed in Signet Regency Christmas anthologies, offer a little something for everyone, with varying degrees of light and shade. "The Christmas Ornament," a tale of two awkward, studious individuals who fall in love, is funny, playful and heartfelt. With humor and insight, Kelly examines the plight of a young woman denied the education she so passionately desires, and explores whether a young man steeped in the prejudices of his times could ever accept a female as an intellectual equal.
"Make a Joyful Noise" starts with a humorous premise: A widowed marquis gets stuck with the task of recruiting a Christmas choir from a neighborhood of people who cannot carry a tune. From that beginning, Kelly weaves a tale of two people hurt, then abandoned, in love, who through their growing feelings for one another find the courage to love again. When Peter Chard hears Rosie Weatherby, a lovely Welshwoman, sing in church, he remembers the talents of the Welsh Fusiliers he served with in battle in India. He recruits Welsh servants and farmhands to his estate to join the choir, while growing more attached to Rosie, newly widowed, heavily pregnant and rejected by her husband's family
A darker, more brooding story, "An Object of Charity" follows Captain Michael Lynch as he returns home for his first Christmas visit in 22 years. His family turned him out at age 14 after a hotheaded youthful indiscretion, leaving him to make his own way up the ranks of the British Navy. During those years, Lynch gained both esteem and riches, but he can neither forgive nor forget his family's cruelty. He takes with him the niece and nephew of his ship's first mate, recently killed in action. Sally and Thomas are homeless and destitute, and Sally chafes at, but must accept, her status an object of charity. The determined, open-hearted young woman helps Lynch realize how his grudge blights his own existence, and prompts him to view his past in a new light as he ponders his life going forward.
The final story, "The Three Kings," takes an unflinching look at the privations of war and the ability of people to do good even in the bleakest of circumstances. After her brother is murdered by French troops advancing into Spain, Sarah Comstock must seek safety with the British Army in Portugal. She finds a camp of British stragglers and Army followers, but after a French attack, she falls under the protection of Colonel Luis Sotomayor, a battle-weary Spanish soldier. With very little to eat, in a countryside crawling with French enemies and suspicious Spanish villagers, the two make their way toward the border, forming an intense bond along the way. Sarah not only finds the strength to face her own privations, she summons compassion for those even hungrier and weaker than she.
I could say so much more about each of these stories, which all packed at least a novel's worth of passion, emotion and insight between their pages. But it's best to let new readers discover these gems for themselves. Enjoy.
She has such a marvelous way of creating heroes and heroines who are fully human - people who are flawed, who struggle to comprehend their emotions, but who are basically good and decent people doing the best they can in life. As I read each one of the four novellas in this collection, I became completely absorbed in their fates, as well as the everyday, small details of their lives. I put off other tasks (including going to sleep) for "just a few more pages." I slowed my pace to savor Kelly's writing and the richness of the emotions evoked by her stories, and at the end of each tale, I sighed with happiness, content with the hopeful, heartfelt ending.
Somehow Kelly does all that to me without ever becoming trite or overly sentimental.
These four romances, previously printed in Signet Regency Christmas anthologies, offer a little something for everyone, with varying degrees of light and shade. "The Christmas Ornament," a tale of two awkward, studious individuals who fall in love, is funny, playful and heartfelt. With humor and insight, Kelly examines the plight of a young woman denied the education she so passionately desires, and explores whether a young man steeped in the prejudices of his times could ever accept a female as an intellectual equal.
"Make a Joyful Noise" starts with a humorous premise: A widowed marquis gets stuck with the task of recruiting a Christmas choir from a neighborhood of people who cannot carry a tune. From that beginning, Kelly weaves a tale of two people hurt, then abandoned, in love, who through their growing feelings for one another find the courage to love again. When Peter Chard hears Rosie Weatherby, a lovely Welshwoman, sing in church, he remembers the talents of the Welsh Fusiliers he served with in battle in India. He recruits Welsh servants and farmhands to his estate to join the choir, while growing more attached to Rosie, newly widowed, heavily pregnant and rejected by her husband's family
A darker, more brooding story, "An Object of Charity" follows Captain Michael Lynch as he returns home for his first Christmas visit in 22 years. His family turned him out at age 14 after a hotheaded youthful indiscretion, leaving him to make his own way up the ranks of the British Navy. During those years, Lynch gained both esteem and riches, but he can neither forgive nor forget his family's cruelty. He takes with him the niece and nephew of his ship's first mate, recently killed in action. Sally and Thomas are homeless and destitute, and Sally chafes at, but must accept, her status an object of charity. The determined, open-hearted young woman helps Lynch realize how his grudge blights his own existence, and prompts him to view his past in a new light as he ponders his life going forward.
The final story, "The Three Kings," takes an unflinching look at the privations of war and the ability of people to do good even in the bleakest of circumstances. After her brother is murdered by French troops advancing into Spain, Sarah Comstock must seek safety with the British Army in Portugal. She finds a camp of British stragglers and Army followers, but after a French attack, she falls under the protection of Colonel Luis Sotomayor, a battle-weary Spanish soldier. With very little to eat, in a countryside crawling with French enemies and suspicious Spanish villagers, the two make their way toward the border, forming an intense bond along the way. Sarah not only finds the strength to face her own privations, she summons compassion for those even hungrier and weaker than she.
I could say so much more about each of these stories, which all packed at least a novel's worth of passion, emotion and insight between their pages. But it's best to let new readers discover these gems for themselves. Enjoy.
May 13, 2017
Carla Kelly is one of my favorite Regency authors because of the unique perspective she offers by focusing on the lower/middle class and military instead of the more popular ton. She has a subtle and sometimes dry sense of humor that brings a lightness to the often desperate circumstances of her characters. The romance stands out because of the little details and mannerisms that make it endearing and so sweet. I loved this collection of Christmas-themed stories and will definitely be reading it again!
November 30, 2011
If you like Carla Kelly's usual regencies, you'll like these fifty page novelettes taken from various Christmas anthologies and republished here as well.
She always has the gift of interesting characters and situations and you can see this here as well. I also totally love the design for the cover - Kelly really got a gifted designer for her re-releases - vis Marian's Christmas Wish, a standalone novel re-release for Kindle.
“The Christmas Ornament" - we have a truly bright woman who - most realistically for the times - has no chance of finding a suitor who will accept her opinions and brightness (except if he can mold her like Pygmalion) and a very shy, very bookish young aristocrat at Oxford who has never dared think about a family but would like to please his father and an old family friend. The question is - will he be able to seriously please the girl and manage to overcome his own preconceptions?
“Make a Joyful Noise” - this was just lovely and warm. There's a marquis returned from war, always earnest he has been working side by side with his tenants, taking care of the crops and his two children. His mother would like this year's choir competition to be decided in favour of their parish, but there are no good singers in the local flock.
When an urgent call to her daughter's family leaves the choir competition in the hands of her son, he uses his systematic approach to heavily salt the local parish with great singers, acquiring further helpers for his lands (how fortunate the Welsh fusiliers are mostly unemployed now the war is over) - and save a lovely and incredibly pregnant young widow from utter negligence by her dead husband's uppity family. The hero is humble. It totally works.
An Object of Charity is probably the darkest story in the anthology, both hero and heroine are at the emotional end of their ropes, and the way the hero got there makes him deeply suspicious of his family at Christmas time, too.
There is a happy end for both, of course, but not an unqualified one. They - and the heroine's younger brother - will move to the USA, maybe taking one other of the family along...
“The Three Kings” is more of an escape caper across enemy lines in the Napoleonic Wars than anything else, clearly showing the desperation of the times and the problem of negligence and prejudice among the soldiers. A nice twist is that the Spanish are the heroes in this book, and with the trial by fire heroine and hero go through it is believable that the two find a deep understanding and respect and tenderness for one another, with the possibility to develop into more - the heroine certainly takes the gamble of returning to the hero in the midst of the war again after having reached safety herself.
She always has the gift of interesting characters and situations and you can see this here as well. I also totally love the design for the cover - Kelly really got a gifted designer for her re-releases - vis Marian's Christmas Wish, a standalone novel re-release for Kindle.
“The Christmas Ornament" - we have a truly bright woman who - most realistically for the times - has no chance of finding a suitor who will accept her opinions and brightness (except if he can mold her like Pygmalion) and a very shy, very bookish young aristocrat at Oxford who has never dared think about a family but would like to please his father and an old family friend. The question is - will he be able to seriously please the girl and manage to overcome his own preconceptions?
“Make a Joyful Noise” - this was just lovely and warm. There's a marquis returned from war, always earnest he has been working side by side with his tenants, taking care of the crops and his two children. His mother would like this year's choir competition to be decided in favour of their parish, but there are no good singers in the local flock.
When an urgent call to her daughter's family leaves the choir competition in the hands of her son, he uses his systematic approach to heavily salt the local parish with great singers, acquiring further helpers for his lands (how fortunate the Welsh fusiliers are mostly unemployed now the war is over) - and save a lovely and incredibly pregnant young widow from utter negligence by her dead husband's uppity family. The hero is humble. It totally works.
An Object of Charity is probably the darkest story in the anthology, both hero and heroine are at the emotional end of their ropes, and the way the hero got there makes him deeply suspicious of his family at Christmas time, too.
There is a happy end for both, of course, but not an unqualified one. They - and the heroine's younger brother - will move to the USA, maybe taking one other of the family along...
“The Three Kings” is more of an escape caper across enemy lines in the Napoleonic Wars than anything else, clearly showing the desperation of the times and the problem of negligence and prejudice among the soldiers. A nice twist is that the Spanish are the heroes in this book, and with the trial by fire heroine and hero go through it is believable that the two find a deep understanding and respect and tenderness for one another, with the possibility to develop into more - the heroine certainly takes the gamble of returning to the hero in the midst of the war again after having reached safety herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2013
3 1/2 stars. This is what I wrote about "The Christmas Ornament" when I originally read it in an anthology: "Kelly's stories are always the jewel in any collection. This was an unique tale about a shy intellectual who finds his perfect match but keeps cocking it up. Eventually he realizes that the way to his lady's heart is through appreciating and understanding her as a person. The entire story is told from his point of view."
Kelly's stories don't shine quite as much when collected together, where their similarities stand out more. The first three of these four stories are all about men falling in love and screwing it up at first, all told entirely from their points of view. The quirkiness of her style also starts to seem a little repetitive. There's still much to enjoy: likable characters, sweet romance, original plots, and a sense of the period.
Kelly's stories don't shine quite as much when collected together, where their similarities stand out more. The first three of these four stories are all about men falling in love and screwing it up at first, all told entirely from their points of view. The quirkiness of her style also starts to seem a little repetitive. There's still much to enjoy: likable characters, sweet romance, original plots, and a sense of the period.
November 9, 2018
I love Carla's books. They're filled with emotion, tenderness and joy.
December 8, 2025
[2025]
the end of an era!! last but not least in our annual carla kelly christmas collection tradition is the three kings. this is my favorite story out of the collection, and NOT just because i share a name with the protagonist. sarah and luis had great chemistry, and this story was more action packed. my only complaint is that i wish we knew more about the circumstances surrounding james (sarah's brother). bumping up my star rating of the whole collection because of this story specifically. shoutout to julia for acing the spanish accent and making the priests vampires.
post-it note stats:
1. sarah talks to herself: 22
2. sarah was relatable to me personally: 7
3. julia says "lispon" instead of "lisbon": 3
4. PALUCA: 1
5. julia relates to luis: 2
word of the story: nuncheon
quote of the story: "she sniffled, stifled a sob, and was not at all surprised when general clauzel leapt to his feet, took her in his arms, and patted her back in the foolish fashion men have attempted ever since adam first consoled eve over her sudden change of address."
[2024]
this was the year of "an object of charity." i'd say this is the juiciest story in the collection thus far, was very intrigued by the family drama but there was a certain point the brotherly feud took over and the development of the relationship was static, so in the end i didn't enjoy it as much as i thought i would at the beginning. also the brother sucked and did not deserve forgiveness anyway. shoutout to julia learning a scottish accent on the fly. (also took some artistic liberties and made the vicar italian, we created our own backstory which we called "uccidi il mio cuore")
[2023]
this year julia read "the christmas ornament." while the plot was better than "make a joyful noise," the latter was funnier to me. hopefully next year there will be a combination of the two strong suits. oh to quiver like the muscles of a rat
[2022]
julia read aloud "make a joyful noise" to me, and she brought the characters to life with her various accents. i didn't love the story, but i had a wonderful time theorizing about the plot and laughing at the protagonist, chard
the end of an era!! last but not least in our annual carla kelly christmas collection tradition is the three kings. this is my favorite story out of the collection, and NOT just because i share a name with the protagonist. sarah and luis had great chemistry, and this story was more action packed. my only complaint is that i wish we knew more about the circumstances surrounding james (sarah's brother). bumping up my star rating of the whole collection because of this story specifically. shoutout to julia for acing the spanish accent and making the priests vampires.
post-it note stats:
1. sarah talks to herself: 22
2. sarah was relatable to me personally: 7
3. julia says "lispon" instead of "lisbon": 3
4. PALUCA: 1
5. julia relates to luis: 2
word of the story: nuncheon
quote of the story: "she sniffled, stifled a sob, and was not at all surprised when general clauzel leapt to his feet, took her in his arms, and patted her back in the foolish fashion men have attempted ever since adam first consoled eve over her sudden change of address."
[2024]
this was the year of "an object of charity." i'd say this is the juiciest story in the collection thus far, was very intrigued by the family drama but there was a certain point the brotherly feud took over and the development of the relationship was static, so in the end i didn't enjoy it as much as i thought i would at the beginning. also the brother sucked and did not deserve forgiveness anyway. shoutout to julia learning a scottish accent on the fly. (also took some artistic liberties and made the vicar italian, we created our own backstory which we called "uccidi il mio cuore")
[2023]
this year julia read "the christmas ornament." while the plot was better than "make a joyful noise," the latter was funnier to me. hopefully next year there will be a combination of the two strong suits. oh to quiver like the muscles of a rat
[2022]
julia read aloud "make a joyful noise" to me, and she brought the characters to life with her various accents. i didn't love the story, but i had a wonderful time theorizing about the plot and laughing at the protagonist, chard
Read
December 8, 2025Reading in 2025:
The Three Kings:
3.6/5 stars, buddy read with sarah fourth year running!!!! we agree that this was the couple with the best chemistry of the quartet (so many smooches!! i'm scandalized in the best way. "my heart"! "querida"! just get married already). carla had some fun similes in this one that i was charmed by. however, i'm so sad that we never fully got an explanation about what went down with james and we did NOT need sarah to make the sacrifice she did dang girl 😭 PALUCA!
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Read in 2024:
An Object of Charity:
3/5 stars buddy read with sarah again OBVS!! the family drama was juicy but the romance ended up being too quick of a progression once michael had realized he caught feelings. I appreciate the opportunity to practice my scottish accent tho.
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Read in 2023:
The Christmas Ornament:
3.2/5 stars second annual carla kelly christmas buddy read with sarah!! james was a big ole mess of a man (big hands, big feet, wide mouth, you know the type) but it made for some amusing mess
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Read in 2022:
Make a Joyful Noise:
2.7/5 stars first annual carla kelly christmas buddy read and I somehow managed to delete my review RIP!! buddy read with sarah and while I wasn’t overly impressed we had a rip roaring good time!! excited to continue on in the ckcc (carla kelly christmas canon).
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
The Three Kings:
3.6/5 stars, buddy read with sarah fourth year running!!!! we agree that this was the couple with the best chemistry of the quartet (so many smooches!! i'm scandalized in the best way. "my heart"! "querida"! just get married already). carla had some fun similes in this one that i was charmed by. however, i'm so sad that we never fully got an explanation about what went down with james and we did NOT need sarah to make the sacrifice she did dang girl 😭 PALUCA!
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Read in 2024:
An Object of Charity:
3/5 stars buddy read with sarah again OBVS!! the family drama was juicy but the romance ended up being too quick of a progression once michael had realized he caught feelings. I appreciate the opportunity to practice my scottish accent tho.
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Read in 2023:
The Christmas Ornament:
3.2/5 stars second annual carla kelly christmas buddy read with sarah!! james was a big ole mess of a man (big hands, big feet, wide mouth, you know the type) but it made for some amusing mess
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Read in 2022:
Make a Joyful Noise:
2.7/5 stars first annual carla kelly christmas buddy read and I somehow managed to delete my review RIP!! buddy read with sarah and while I wasn’t overly impressed we had a rip roaring good time!! excited to continue on in the ckcc (carla kelly christmas canon).
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
October 17, 2013
I am a Carla Kelly fan. It's true. In this book, you will find several short stories with a Regency setting. I loved them all. They were perfect little romantic stories that can be read straight through or one at a time if you are the kind of person that likes to draw things out to make them last. (Kind of like sucking on a piece of candy verses chomping them right away. Guess what kind of candy eater I am?! Chomper.)
I'll admit, I didn't take time to savor these. I read one story after another, almost straight through. They were so sweet. I just couldn't help myself. The characters, the settings, and the Christmas feel all make these short stories feel so good. I think my favorites were "The Three Kings" and "An Object of Charity". I think what I love about collections of short romance stories is that I get multiple happily ever after endings. What's not to love about that?!
This would be the perfect holiday gift idea for Regency romance lovers. Or clean romance lovers. Or it would be the perfect way to give yourself a little indulgence. (think of your cozy reading place, with your favorite cold weather beverage...)
You have the chance to win an ebook copy of this book on my blog, thanks to the awesomeness of Cedar Fort. :)
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.bl... Giveaway ends 10/31/2013
I'll admit, I didn't take time to savor these. I read one story after another, almost straight through. They were so sweet. I just couldn't help myself. The characters, the settings, and the Christmas feel all make these short stories feel so good. I think my favorites were "The Three Kings" and "An Object of Charity". I think what I love about collections of short romance stories is that I get multiple happily ever after endings. What's not to love about that?!
This would be the perfect holiday gift idea for Regency romance lovers. Or clean romance lovers. Or it would be the perfect way to give yourself a little indulgence. (think of your cozy reading place, with your favorite cold weather beverage...)
You have the chance to win an ebook copy of this book on my blog, thanks to the awesomeness of Cedar Fort. :)
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.bl... Giveaway ends 10/31/2013
November 16, 2016
"The Christmas Ornament". Very cute story about childhood friends who love each other as-is. 4 stars.
"An Object of Charity." Another sweet story of love and reconciliation. 5 stars
I'm finding this author's books/stories to really be a nice, sweet change to what I usually read.
"An Object of Charity." Another sweet story of love and reconciliation. 5 stars
I'm finding this author's books/stories to really be a nice, sweet change to what I usually read.
October 22, 2013
I love Christmas stories, especially those that have a little romance thrown in. I really enjoyed these historical short stories.
My favorite was The Christmas Ornament. I loved the way Lord Crandall would stick his foot in his mouth. He was so tongue-tied and the things he came up with to say to these pretty girl were hilarious. I could just picture him cringing and beating himself up over it, yet he'd do it again in the next moment.
The second story was so sweet. It seemed that the Marquis was going to extraordinary lengths to keep the choir together, yet he had ulterior reasons--reasons that involved a certain woman. I loved the ending and the way he treated his children, Rosie, and her baby.
I enjoyed how different the stories were and the messages that were given. They were great little snippets and I didn't feel cheated that they weren't full-length.
Content: Clean.
My favorite was The Christmas Ornament. I loved the way Lord Crandall would stick his foot in his mouth. He was so tongue-tied and the things he came up with to say to these pretty girl were hilarious. I could just picture him cringing and beating himself up over it, yet he'd do it again in the next moment.
The second story was so sweet. It seemed that the Marquis was going to extraordinary lengths to keep the choir together, yet he had ulterior reasons--reasons that involved a certain woman. I loved the ending and the way he treated his children, Rosie, and her baby.
I enjoyed how different the stories were and the messages that were given. They were great little snippets and I didn't feel cheated that they weren't full-length.
Content: Clean.
November 9, 2015
The usual Cara Kelly's in petite bites. I had a soft spot for the hero of "Make a Joyful Noise" and wished the story were longer. "The Three Kings" was the most enjoyable to me, mainly because of the plot and the adventure spirit.
February 1, 2016
This anthology contains two stories I’d already read (Make A Joyful Noise and The Three Kings), but a) I read them many years ago, b) I've no idea where the physical books have gone, and c) the e-version of the anthology was about 2 pounds, so I didn’t mind. Well, I didn’t mind until I finished the book and realised I’d liked the two stories I’d already read and disliked the two I hadn’t!
_____
The first story is The Christmas Ornament, originally published in A Regency Christmas.
James and Olivia have known each other for years, but after Olivia’s brother, who was James’ best friend, died in the war, the families have grown apart. Olivia is now about to come out in society, and her loving father is worried about her. She’s an intelligent, studious girl, and he fears she won’t take (or worse, that she’ll end up with a man who’ll want to quash her intellect). Who better than James, who’s an Oxford don by now, to give her the life she deserves?
James is actually quite taken by the idea, and determines to go back to the old home over Christmas and court Olivia. But his shyness, combined with his intellectual arrogance, makes it harder than expected.
James was sweet, but the story lacked tension. I didn’t really feel he loved Olivia. He just seemed to like the idea of a wife, and the idea of Olivia (by the time the story started he hadn’t seen Olivia since she was really young). To be honest, I found the thing pretty boring.
MY GRADE: A C.
_____
Then came Make a Joyful Noise (originally in Regency Christmas Carol), one of the ones I'd already read.
Peter, the Marquess of Chard (he gets called Chard, mainly, and all I could think of was green leafy vegetables) is a widower and a farmer, raising his children peacefully in his Northumbria estate. He’s lonely, but he had a pretty bad marriage, so he’s a bit wary of women. Until Rosie comes to live with his neighbours. Rosie is the daughter of a Welsh colour sergeant (not quite sure what that means, really, but it sounds pretty cool), whom one of the sons of the house married while soldiering in Portugal. He was a bit of a blockhead and died only a few days later. Her new in-laws are making Rosie's life hell, and under the excuse of recruiting her for the local church choir, Chard tries to help her.
This is a cute story. Chard is an honourable, decent man, and I felt his loneliness. The romance is nice, although we don’t really get to know Rosie that well, because the story is all told from Chard’s point of view. I liked what I saw of her, though. She’s not a pushover, which is hard to pull off when she’s in a situation where her in-laws have all the power and are being jackasses. She doesn’t just roll over, but there’s really not much she can do. The one thing I didn’t like in the romance and characterisation was the demonisation of the first wife. That was pretty mild, actually, but Kelly seems to do it much too often, and I’ve become violently allergic to it.
I quite liked the choir element. See, there’s this supposedly benign choir competition between neighbouring parishes that is actually really cutthroat, and Chard “cheats” by getting a load of Welsh workers on his estate just so he can induct them into the choir (that felt dangerously close to stereotype, but hey, I’ll be charitable and give this a pass). I wish I’d been able to hear what they sounded like!
MY GRADE: This was a B.
_____
After that came An Object of Charity, first published in A Regency Christmas Present.
Captain Michael Lynch has had to come home from the blockade after an accident that took the life of his first mate, who was also a good friend, and damaged his ship. As soon as he's back on land he meets the Purslows, niece and nephew of that first mate, who are there to meet him after their own father died and they were left broke. The news that their uncle is dead is a huge blow, as they are completely penniless and were counting on his help. Michael feels he can’t leave them on their own with no money, so he takes them home to his mother for Christmas, even though he hasn’t been there for over 20 years, since he was thrown out.
I did not get on with this story at all. The romance was a bust, because I saw absolutely no chemistry between Michael and Sally Purslow, and the family drama was overly dramatic. I did not believe any of it for a minute, not the original fight between Michael and his brother, not the interactions between them in the present-day scenes. I was tempted to skim.
MY GRADE: This one was a D.
_____
The book ends with The Three Kings, from the A Regency Christmas II anthology, the other story I'd already read.
Lady Sarah Comstock came to Spain with her scholar brother, who was seeking access to some really important papers and travelled in the wake of the British army to get to them. In Salamanca, however, disaster strikes, and Sarah is left alone in a French-controlled town after her brother gets killed. She manages to get to relative safety with one of the straggling groups of the retreating army, and Colonel Luis Sotomayor agrees to escort her to safety, with the French army hot in pursuit.
I liked this all right, although the romance didn’t particularly work for me (it wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t invested in it). I liked the less saccharine tone. I liked that we got to see the effects of war on Spain and regular Spanish people -so often it’s only a background for British aristocrats’ adventures. I liked the characters individually (although in this one, it was all narrated from the heroine’s point of view). In short, it was good, but not great.
MY GRADE: A B-.
_____
So, not a huge success, I'm afraid, with even the stories I'd already read and liked were only ok.
MY OVERALL GRADE: A C.
_____
The first story is The Christmas Ornament, originally published in A Regency Christmas.
James and Olivia have known each other for years, but after Olivia’s brother, who was James’ best friend, died in the war, the families have grown apart. Olivia is now about to come out in society, and her loving father is worried about her. She’s an intelligent, studious girl, and he fears she won’t take (or worse, that she’ll end up with a man who’ll want to quash her intellect). Who better than James, who’s an Oxford don by now, to give her the life she deserves?
James is actually quite taken by the idea, and determines to go back to the old home over Christmas and court Olivia. But his shyness, combined with his intellectual arrogance, makes it harder than expected.
James was sweet, but the story lacked tension. I didn’t really feel he loved Olivia. He just seemed to like the idea of a wife, and the idea of Olivia (by the time the story started he hadn’t seen Olivia since she was really young). To be honest, I found the thing pretty boring.
MY GRADE: A C.
_____
Then came Make a Joyful Noise (originally in Regency Christmas Carol), one of the ones I'd already read.
Peter, the Marquess of Chard (he gets called Chard, mainly, and all I could think of was green leafy vegetables) is a widower and a farmer, raising his children peacefully in his Northumbria estate. He’s lonely, but he had a pretty bad marriage, so he’s a bit wary of women. Until Rosie comes to live with his neighbours. Rosie is the daughter of a Welsh colour sergeant (not quite sure what that means, really, but it sounds pretty cool), whom one of the sons of the house married while soldiering in Portugal. He was a bit of a blockhead and died only a few days later. Her new in-laws are making Rosie's life hell, and under the excuse of recruiting her for the local church choir, Chard tries to help her.
This is a cute story. Chard is an honourable, decent man, and I felt his loneliness. The romance is nice, although we don’t really get to know Rosie that well, because the story is all told from Chard’s point of view. I liked what I saw of her, though. She’s not a pushover, which is hard to pull off when she’s in a situation where her in-laws have all the power and are being jackasses. She doesn’t just roll over, but there’s really not much she can do. The one thing I didn’t like in the romance and characterisation was the demonisation of the first wife. That was pretty mild, actually, but Kelly seems to do it much too often, and I’ve become violently allergic to it.
I quite liked the choir element. See, there’s this supposedly benign choir competition between neighbouring parishes that is actually really cutthroat, and Chard “cheats” by getting a load of Welsh workers on his estate just so he can induct them into the choir (that felt dangerously close to stereotype, but hey, I’ll be charitable and give this a pass). I wish I’d been able to hear what they sounded like!
MY GRADE: This was a B.
_____
After that came An Object of Charity, first published in A Regency Christmas Present.
Captain Michael Lynch has had to come home from the blockade after an accident that took the life of his first mate, who was also a good friend, and damaged his ship. As soon as he's back on land he meets the Purslows, niece and nephew of that first mate, who are there to meet him after their own father died and they were left broke. The news that their uncle is dead is a huge blow, as they are completely penniless and were counting on his help. Michael feels he can’t leave them on their own with no money, so he takes them home to his mother for Christmas, even though he hasn’t been there for over 20 years, since he was thrown out.
I did not get on with this story at all. The romance was a bust, because I saw absolutely no chemistry between Michael and Sally Purslow, and the family drama was overly dramatic. I did not believe any of it for a minute, not the original fight between Michael and his brother, not the interactions between them in the present-day scenes. I was tempted to skim.
MY GRADE: This one was a D.
_____
The book ends with The Three Kings, from the A Regency Christmas II anthology, the other story I'd already read.
Lady Sarah Comstock came to Spain with her scholar brother, who was seeking access to some really important papers and travelled in the wake of the British army to get to them. In Salamanca, however, disaster strikes, and Sarah is left alone in a French-controlled town after her brother gets killed. She manages to get to relative safety with one of the straggling groups of the retreating army, and Colonel Luis Sotomayor agrees to escort her to safety, with the French army hot in pursuit.
I liked this all right, although the romance didn’t particularly work for me (it wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t invested in it). I liked the less saccharine tone. I liked that we got to see the effects of war on Spain and regular Spanish people -so often it’s only a background for British aristocrats’ adventures. I liked the characters individually (although in this one, it was all narrated from the heroine’s point of view). In short, it was good, but not great.
MY GRADE: A B-.
_____
So, not a huge success, I'm afraid, with even the stories I'd already read and liked were only ok.
MY OVERALL GRADE: A C.
March 27, 2018
Fun style and a reminder of what to do with those leftover great idea that just don't fit into a full-sized book.
November 6, 2013
These are great Regency Christmas stories and I enjoyed them all! My favorite story was Make a Joyful Noise. Peter's mother made the mistake of asking about the Christmas choir and she was drafted into recruiting members. Every year, three parishes had a friendly competition which has now turned into a monster and their choir is lacking. I felt his mother's pain as I have been in the position of recruiting choir members and it's so difficult. She was also fearful that people would run from her (yep). Peter's sister, Bella, suddenly needs their mother's help as her children have the chicken pox, so she asks Peter to take over choir recruitment duties and leaves. He's not thrilled but the opportunity to recruit just might help his social life. I loved Peter's kindness to everyone--his children, his mother and Rosie and her baby. He's accepting of others and willing to help however he can, whether he wants to do it or not.
This is also the first Carla Kelly novel I've read and I'm wanting to read more! These stories felt so authentic that I took my time reading them so I could enjoy her writing. This is a great addition to my Christmas collection and I look forward to reading it again. If you enjoy clean Christmas Regency romantic short stories and are ready to get in the Christmas Spirit, then this is the book for you!
Mel's Shelves
This is also the first Carla Kelly novel I've read and I'm wanting to read more! These stories felt so authentic that I took my time reading them so I could enjoy her writing. This is a great addition to my Christmas collection and I look forward to reading it again. If you enjoy clean Christmas Regency romantic short stories and are ready to get in the Christmas Spirit, then this is the book for you!
Mel's Shelves
December 29, 2021
I am a big fan of Carla Kelly. Included in this collection of 4 stories is the first one of hers I ever read in a different collection; and it is still worth buying for the remainder.
The big reason for rating these books so highly lies in the heroes. I cannot offhand think of any other author whose heroes are, for want of a better word, so sweet-natured. There is certainly conflict in the books, but it comes from other directions. The stories are grounded in the period of the Napoleonic Wars, convincingly so. Many have a naval background, but not in the usual Hornblower style of daring and courageous exploits. These are more thoughtful and look at the everyday courage of men doing an unpleasant job to the best of their abilities.
Highly recommeded as a Christmas read.
(Christmas 2013) One of the real charms of Carla Kelly's writing is the internal monologues of her heroes. They reveal so much of their characters, hopes and fears, that we feel we know them intimately.
The big reason for rating these books so highly lies in the heroes. I cannot offhand think of any other author whose heroes are, for want of a better word, so sweet-natured. There is certainly conflict in the books, but it comes from other directions. The stories are grounded in the period of the Napoleonic Wars, convincingly so. Many have a naval background, but not in the usual Hornblower style of daring and courageous exploits. These are more thoughtful and look at the everyday courage of men doing an unpleasant job to the best of their abilities.
Highly recommeded as a Christmas read.
(Christmas 2013) One of the real charms of Carla Kelly's writing is the internal monologues of her heroes. They reveal so much of their characters, hopes and fears, that we feel we know them intimately.
October 23, 2013
Anytime I have the opportunity to read a Carla Kelly book, I am thrilled to begin and finish. Carla has a way with words that pulls me into the story and keeps me entertained throughout.
This book of four short Christmas stories was no exception. I knew going in that I would find romance, humor, and great characters. I was not disappointed.
Each story is set during the regency period, each is unique. I liked the format of the book, it is easy to read one story when you don't have much reading time and you want to enjoy reading a story in a small amount of time. If you have more time, it is easy to transition to the next story and enjoy a longer reading time. I like that it is good for everyone.
One thing about this book, because it is make up of short stories, there isn't the character and plot development that I usually see in her books. I didn't feel connected to the characters, but I did like them.
This book is generally clean. There is some innuendo.
This book of four short Christmas stories was no exception. I knew going in that I would find romance, humor, and great characters. I was not disappointed.
Each story is set during the regency period, each is unique. I liked the format of the book, it is easy to read one story when you don't have much reading time and you want to enjoy reading a story in a small amount of time. If you have more time, it is easy to transition to the next story and enjoy a longer reading time. I like that it is good for everyone.
One thing about this book, because it is make up of short stories, there isn't the character and plot development that I usually see in her books. I didn't feel connected to the characters, but I did like them.
This book is generally clean. There is some innuendo.
December 22, 2013
These were warm, touching and humorous stories and really capture the Christmas spirit. I think I previously read "The Three Kings" in another Christmas anthology and enjoyed it, but somehow missed the other three Carla Kelly stories, "The Christmas Ornament", "Make a Joyful Noise" and "An Object of Charity". All of these stories are set in the Regency period, but take place far from the familiar romance novel settings of crowded London ballrooms full of beautifully dressed lords and ladies; they have a more intimate, family-oriented feel (never mawkish or sentimental), with what one reviewer cleverly dubbed "beta male" heroes who think with the head on their shoulders, not their "little head", and sweet-natured, kind and loving heroines. The focus is on romance, but also on forgiveness, redemption, and the Christmas spirit, and really left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling! Delightful and highly recommended.
November 11, 2013
This is a really fun collection! I loved reading everyone of these stories. They are all clean and full of romance. Each of these stories takes place around Christmas time in Europe. I loved how they are all very individual, from the intellectual Christmas of James and Olivia to the sea-faring romance of Michael and Sally and then to Sarah and Luis in Spain. I also really liked that in some of these you see things through the eyes of the men and in some you see things through the eyes of the women. Carla Kelly really is an amazing Regency Romance author, you will feel as though you have been transported to England or Spain in the 1800's as you read all of these stories. These cute stories will definitely put you in a Christmas mood, so put on some music, put your feet up and enjoy them all!
August 31, 2013
Carla Kelly has such a way of endearing her characters to you. Whether they are a member of the aristocracy, war orphan, lowly soldier or confirmed bluestocking the nuances of their character are revealed layer after layer in the gentlest of ways.
As I think about the stories from this book, I'm sitting here sighing with satisfaction over each and every one. I think my favorite is The Three Kings. I want the story to continue and hear what would happen next. But that wouldn't be enough. I wanted to hear how their lives would proceed year after year after year. That's always a sign of a story well told.
*Sigh* : )
As I think about the stories from this book, I'm sitting here sighing with satisfaction over each and every one. I think my favorite is The Three Kings. I want the story to continue and hear what would happen next. But that wouldn't be enough. I wanted to hear how their lives would proceed year after year after year. That's always a sign of a story well told.
*Sigh* : )
October 15, 2013
Christmas is a time of fun, a time of celebration, and a time of love. Carla Kelly has combined all of it into this wonderful book!
Four stories filled with wonder and hope and...of course...romance! These stories will touch your heart and make you smile!
You will read of trials and heroes.
You will rejoice in love and romance.
You will hear singing and adulation.
You will be filled with the Christmas Spirit.
And then you will long for more!
PERFECT for the holidays!
OH. SO. VERY. VERY. GOOD!
Four stories filled with wonder and hope and...of course...romance! These stories will touch your heart and make you smile!
You will read of trials and heroes.
You will rejoice in love and romance.
You will hear singing and adulation.
You will be filled with the Christmas Spirit.
And then you will long for more!
PERFECT for the holidays!
OH. SO. VERY. VERY. GOOD!
March 31, 2012
A lovely collection of Carla Kelly's previously-published short stories in various Christmas anthologies. Not many authors can do short stories that leave you feeling satisfied, but she appears to have a knack for it. This also reminded me of how much I like her depiction of historical wartime romances - realistic yet romantic.
February 15, 2014
This is a collection of romance stories set at Christmas time in different places and times. Most are regency area. A lot of these stories have settings similar to her books. I really enjoyed the first couple stories the most. They were all well done shorts and whole story smashed into a short. These stories are all PG and very sweet.
December 30, 2015
This is a collection of 4 short stories. They were okay. I think I've decided that I'm just not a big fan of short stories. I want MORE! A good short story has to be more than a reduction of a full-length novel. The story needs to be shorter, tighter, more immediate so that I don't need background and lengthy explanations to understand the motivations of the characters.
December 24, 2015
'The Christmas Ornament' is the best story in this anthology. The focus of this charming story is on a young man and woman who are gifted intellectually, long for love and marriage, but do not know how to play the usual courtship games. Unusually, all stories were told from the male POV.
November 5, 2024
I love all these stories, and have done since they were initially published. My favorite is "Make a Joyful Noise" or "The Three Kings," depending on what day you ask.
April 23, 2016
4 stars for Make a joyful noise.
March 2, 2018
Four beautiful, beautiful stories. Most of them I needed a handkerchief in hand, so be warned. The heroines were all brave and sensible, but I adored the heroes. I fell in love with a couple of them, I admit. The 3 first stories are told from the hero's POV, so we get to read how each one of them likes to talk to himself 
. It was very amusing, and also very sweet.
- The Christmas Ornament (5/5): James and Olivia are childhood friends who have not seen each other for over a decade. James, a very shy scholar, is in need of a wife, and Olivia's father and James's father agree that their children belong to each other. I loved it, and James was a true gem. I was touched from the very beginning because James is a kindred spirit (and Olivia too).
- Make a Joyful Noise (5/5): A widow, father of 2 children, takes interest in the pregnant widow of drunkard neighbor. When his daughter falls sick, Peter asks Rosie (who is neglected at home by her stupid in-laws) to please come to his home and take care of her. Peter's story with his daughter, and eventually, with the unborn baby, was beautiful. The ending was so good, that just remembering it I tear-up again
- An Object of Charity (5/5): an ex-Marine comes back home, and finds himself taking care of his commander's niece and nephew. Captain Lynch is a bit abrupt in his manners (he has been living in the sea most of his life), suffers from PTSD, and when he meets his mother again
... Like in the previous story, the hero may have known the heroine in a very short time to fall in love, but to me it never felt like "insta-love". In the short time they know each other, they form a strong bond, and I never questioned "why" would they fall in love.
- The Three Kings (3/5): this is my least favorite story, because 1) it is darker than the 3 previous stories; 2) this is the only one that it is not narrated from the hero's POV, and 3) the romance did feel rushed in this one. Of course the war brings people together in a short time, but the hero was mourning his wife yesterday and confessing his love to the heroine the next day. This is the only story I think needed a proper book-length.
Very clean, and super recommended
. It was very amusing, and also very sweet.- The Christmas Ornament (5/5): James and Olivia are childhood friends who have not seen each other for over a decade. James, a very shy scholar, is in need of a wife, and Olivia's father and James's father agree that their children belong to each other. I loved it, and James was a true gem. I was touched from the very beginning because James is a kindred spirit (and Olivia too).
- Make a Joyful Noise (5/5): A widow, father of 2 children, takes interest in the pregnant widow of drunkard neighbor. When his daughter falls sick, Peter asks Rosie (who is neglected at home by her stupid in-laws) to please come to his home and take care of her. Peter's story with his daughter, and eventually, with the unborn baby, was beautiful. The ending was so good, that just remembering it I tear-up again
- An Object of Charity (5/5): an ex-Marine comes back home, and finds himself taking care of his commander's niece and nephew. Captain Lynch is a bit abrupt in his manners (he has been living in the sea most of his life), suffers from PTSD, and when he meets his mother again
... Like in the previous story, the hero may have known the heroine in a very short time to fall in love, but to me it never felt like "insta-love". In the short time they know each other, they form a strong bond, and I never questioned "why" would they fall in love.- The Three Kings (3/5): this is my least favorite story, because 1) it is darker than the 3 previous stories; 2) this is the only one that it is not narrated from the hero's POV, and 3) the romance did feel rushed in this one. Of course the war brings people together in a short time, but the hero was mourning his wife yesterday and confessing his love to the heroine the next day. This is the only story I think needed a proper book-length.
Very clean, and super recommended
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