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A Magical Regency Christmas
Three Sparkling Festive Regency Tales
CHRISTMAS CINDERELLA
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing the spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop… With the aid of some Christmas mistletoe, he may just get his wish!
FINDING FOREVER AT CHRISTMAS
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thinks she wants – but an interlude with his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire…
THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. But nothing could have prepared her for the secrets he’s keeping!
CHRISTMAS CINDERELLA
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing the spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop… With the aid of some Christmas mistletoe, he may just get his wish!
FINDING FOREVER AT CHRISTMAS
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thinks she wants – but an interlude with his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire…
THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. But nothing could have prepared her for the secrets he’s keeping!
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Rolls
100 books123 followersWe live in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, in a beautiful lush valley full of apple, pear and cherry orchards. We moved here a couple of years back, escaping from the city and it’s just gorgeous. The property is small, only five acres, but we have room for two small noisy boys, three dogs, two cats and several woolly things masquerading a environmentally friendly lawnmowers. Before that we lived in Melbourne, which was fun, but we always wanted to live in the country and now we do.
I’ve been married to an ex-nuclear physicist – don’t ask! for the last 17 years and we have two rowdy little boys, commonly described as “feral”. Most of our friends think we have far too many animals, and everyone knows we have far too many books.I grew up moving around a fair bit. Dad was in the army and every few years we had to up sticks and move on. I was born in England, expelled from kindergarten in Melbourne, started school in Papua New Guinea and finished school in Melbourne. After taking a degree in Music Education I taught music for several years while my husband finished his Ph.D.
How I started writing
I had the writing bug from a very early age. From the time I could read I loved writing stories. Throughout my school days I was nearly always writing something very quietly, and there were several teachers who encouraged me. One student teacher, whose name I have totally forgotten, when I was in sixth grade, as well as a couple of high school English teachers, Mrs Redman and Mrs Mackay.
I started writing my first book after I finished my Masters degree. For one thing I really, really missed my thesis. I’d enjoyed researching it, and I loved writing it. So it seems inevitable now that when I was looking for something to do in the evenings to unwind after work, I started writing again.
I’d been staying with an old school friend. Meg is a fellow Georgette Heyer fan, and she had a very large collection of Regencies on her bookshelves. Well, that was an eye-opener. I’d had no idea anyone else apart from Heyer had actually written them. By the time I went home I had an idea floating around in my brain and I sat down and roughed out some sort of chapter plan. Then I started typing. Six months later I had a story with a beginning a middle and an end which I sent to Meg. After a great deal of talking, she persuaded me to send it off to Harlequin Mills & Boon. After doing the rounds of all three editorial offices and undergoing a major rewrite and extension while I was about seven months pregnant with the second small noisy boy, it was accepted for publication and published as The Unexpected Bride.
Most of my writing friends have threatened to lynch me over that story at one time or another. Personally I envy them for having learnt an enormous amount about writing and the industry before acquiring an editor who understandably expects you to know what you are doing.
I’ve been married to an ex-nuclear physicist – don’t ask! for the last 17 years and we have two rowdy little boys, commonly described as “feral”. Most of our friends think we have far too many animals, and everyone knows we have far too many books.I grew up moving around a fair bit. Dad was in the army and every few years we had to up sticks and move on. I was born in England, expelled from kindergarten in Melbourne, started school in Papua New Guinea and finished school in Melbourne. After taking a degree in Music Education I taught music for several years while my husband finished his Ph.D.
How I started writing
I had the writing bug from a very early age. From the time I could read I loved writing stories. Throughout my school days I was nearly always writing something very quietly, and there were several teachers who encouraged me. One student teacher, whose name I have totally forgotten, when I was in sixth grade, as well as a couple of high school English teachers, Mrs Redman and Mrs Mackay.
I started writing my first book after I finished my Masters degree. For one thing I really, really missed my thesis. I’d enjoyed researching it, and I loved writing it. So it seems inevitable now that when I was looking for something to do in the evenings to unwind after work, I started writing again.
I’d been staying with an old school friend. Meg is a fellow Georgette Heyer fan, and she had a very large collection of Regencies on her bookshelves. Well, that was an eye-opener. I’d had no idea anyone else apart from Heyer had actually written them. By the time I went home I had an idea floating around in my brain and I sat down and roughed out some sort of chapter plan. Then I started typing. Six months later I had a story with a beginning a middle and an end which I sent to Meg. After a great deal of talking, she persuaded me to send it off to Harlequin Mills & Boon. After doing the rounds of all three editorial offices and undergoing a major rewrite and extension while I was about seven months pregnant with the second small noisy boy, it was accepted for publication and published as The Unexpected Bride.
Most of my writing friends have threatened to lynch me over that story at one time or another. Personally I envy them for having learnt an enormous amount about writing and the industry before acquiring an editor who understandably expects you to know what you are doing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 8, 2015
Averaged out to 3.5 stars
What a nice surprise! This anthology gave me the opportunity to read three short stories by authors I had never tried.
Coming in at first place was Bronwyn Scott's FINDING FOREVER AT CHRISTMAS about a childhood acquaintance returning home to find love with the most unlikely person. Almost 4 stars.
In a close second, Elizabeth Rolls' CHRISTMAS CINDERELLA has a minister offering a job to a young lady in need of assistance. 3 1/2 stars.
Lastly was Margaret McPhee's THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL about a man rescued from the sea. 3 stars
All the stories would have been better off as full-size novels but if you are not familiar with these authors and would like a sampling of their style of writing, give this anthology a go.
What a nice surprise! This anthology gave me the opportunity to read three short stories by authors I had never tried.
Coming in at first place was Bronwyn Scott's FINDING FOREVER AT CHRISTMAS about a childhood acquaintance returning home to find love with the most unlikely person. Almost 4 stars.
In a close second, Elizabeth Rolls' CHRISTMAS CINDERELLA has a minister offering a job to a young lady in need of assistance. 3 1/2 stars.
Lastly was Margaret McPhee's THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL about a man rescued from the sea. 3 stars
All the stories would have been better off as full-size novels but if you are not familiar with these authors and would like a sampling of their style of writing, give this anthology a go.
December 9, 2017
DNF - 5 stars for Elizabeth Rolls story, DNF the other two as they failed to hold my interest. I’ve decided I’m going to disengage from the news for the Christmas season and enjoy lighter seasonal reads or favorite rereads.
I’ve read a few stories by Rolls over the years after she was recommended to me by a romance reading GR friend and she never disappoints. Her heroes are more beta than alpha but decent, quiet men of strong character- nice for a change! In Christmas Cinderella a handsome young vicar courts a young lady who has lost her fortune and been forced to make her own living as a governess. A sweet, tender love story with Christmas and it’s true meaning at front and center. Charming.
I’ve read a few stories by Rolls over the years after she was recommended to me by a romance reading GR friend and she never disappoints. Her heroes are more beta than alpha but decent, quiet men of strong character- nice for a change! In Christmas Cinderella a handsome young vicar courts a young lady who has lost her fortune and been forced to make her own living as a governess. A sweet, tender love story with Christmas and it’s true meaning at front and center. Charming.
January 2, 2015
Christmas Cinderella - Elizabeth Rolls
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing his spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop.... With some mistletoe, he may just get his wish.
Loved this sweet Cinderella story. Polly is the poor relation in a local family. When she hears that Alex is looking for a teacher for the new parish school, she goes to him and asks for the job. Alex had been looking for a man for the job, but when he realizes the desperate straits Polly is in, he gives her the job. He also discovers a passion in himself that he never expected and it's all directed toward Polly. I loved seeing Alex watching out for Polly and compelled to visit her each day. His gradual realization of his feelings toward her is so sweet. I loved the way that he stands up for her against her nasty aunt. Polly had a nice inheritance until an unscrupulous trustee stole it, leaving her penniless. Her first job as a governess ended when a son of the house made advances to her and then blamed it on her. She is miserable living with her aunt's family and determined to get out and stand on her own feet. I loved her determination to prove herself to Alex. She has a great rapport with the children and their families and quickly becomes loved by them all. She grows to love Alex but worries that she is not a suitable woman for him to court. I loved the ending with the visit by the bishop and his attitude toward everything that had happened.
Finding Forever at Christmas - Bronwyn Scott
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thought she wanted--but a kiss from his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire....
Good story. Catherine has come home after several years in Paris with her aunt. She's been looking forward to seeing her friends again, especially Channing. She finds herself spending more time with his older brother Finn and discovers that she has far more in common with him. I loved seeing the way that Catherine and Finn naturally gravitated to each other. There was a connection there that neither one could deny. Catherine quickly realized that Channing was not a man that she could spend her life with when he did so many things that irritated her. I loved seeing her growing interest in Finn and the way that she understood him. She was surprised by how much she liked being with him. It didn't take too long for her to recognize her feelings but was sure nothing could come of them, especially with her mother telling her that Finn was too far above her. Finn was surprised by his quick attraction to Catherine. He remembers her as the little girl who was friends with his siblings, but now sees her as a grown woman. He'd much rather spend time with her than with yet another woman that his mother has deemed suitable for his bride. He was a little confused by his feelings at first, but soon realized what he really wanted. I loved the waltz scene and the way that they were so wrapped up in each other.
The Captain's Christmas Angel - Margaret McPhee
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers a man adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing could have prepared her for the gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander, or the secrets he keeps!
Good story. Sarah is returning to England for the holidays, taking her niece with her. She has left behind the memories of her late husband, who had not been faithful, and a suitor who was trying to threaten her into marrying him. While on deck one day she spies a man floating in the water. After he is rescued she begins to get to know him. He is always polite to her and kind to her niece and she starts to relax her guard around him. I loved seeing the slow buildup of feelings between them. Daniel is watchful and cautious around her at first. He has secrets that he must keep in order to protect her. The scene of the storm was very intense and I could almost feel the wind and waves as I read it. I loved the way that he was able to make sure that they were safe. He was also there when Sarah needed him during her niece's illness. When they were rescued I could see how hard it was for Sarah to believe what she was told about him. I loved the way that the rest of the story played out.
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing his spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop.... With some mistletoe, he may just get his wish.
Loved this sweet Cinderella story. Polly is the poor relation in a local family. When she hears that Alex is looking for a teacher for the new parish school, she goes to him and asks for the job. Alex had been looking for a man for the job, but when he realizes the desperate straits Polly is in, he gives her the job. He also discovers a passion in himself that he never expected and it's all directed toward Polly. I loved seeing Alex watching out for Polly and compelled to visit her each day. His gradual realization of his feelings toward her is so sweet. I loved the way that he stands up for her against her nasty aunt. Polly had a nice inheritance until an unscrupulous trustee stole it, leaving her penniless. Her first job as a governess ended when a son of the house made advances to her and then blamed it on her. She is miserable living with her aunt's family and determined to get out and stand on her own feet. I loved her determination to prove herself to Alex. She has a great rapport with the children and their families and quickly becomes loved by them all. She grows to love Alex but worries that she is not a suitable woman for him to court. I loved the ending with the visit by the bishop and his attitude toward everything that had happened.
Finding Forever at Christmas - Bronwyn Scott
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thought she wanted--but a kiss from his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire....
Good story. Catherine has come home after several years in Paris with her aunt. She's been looking forward to seeing her friends again, especially Channing. She finds herself spending more time with his older brother Finn and discovers that she has far more in common with him. I loved seeing the way that Catherine and Finn naturally gravitated to each other. There was a connection there that neither one could deny. Catherine quickly realized that Channing was not a man that she could spend her life with when he did so many things that irritated her. I loved seeing her growing interest in Finn and the way that she understood him. She was surprised by how much she liked being with him. It didn't take too long for her to recognize her feelings but was sure nothing could come of them, especially with her mother telling her that Finn was too far above her. Finn was surprised by his quick attraction to Catherine. He remembers her as the little girl who was friends with his siblings, but now sees her as a grown woman. He'd much rather spend time with her than with yet another woman that his mother has deemed suitable for his bride. He was a little confused by his feelings at first, but soon realized what he really wanted. I loved the waltz scene and the way that they were so wrapped up in each other.
The Captain's Christmas Angel - Margaret McPhee
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers a man adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing could have prepared her for the gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander, or the secrets he keeps!
Good story. Sarah is returning to England for the holidays, taking her niece with her. She has left behind the memories of her late husband, who had not been faithful, and a suitor who was trying to threaten her into marrying him. While on deck one day she spies a man floating in the water. After he is rescued she begins to get to know him. He is always polite to her and kind to her niece and she starts to relax her guard around him. I loved seeing the slow buildup of feelings between them. Daniel is watchful and cautious around her at first. He has secrets that he must keep in order to protect her. The scene of the storm was very intense and I could almost feel the wind and waves as I read it. I loved the way that he was able to make sure that they were safe. He was also there when Sarah needed him during her niece's illness. When they were rescued I could see how hard it was for Sarah to believe what she was told about him. I loved the way that the rest of the story played out.
December 28, 2024
Four stars for Elizabeth Rolls and Margaret McPhee.
“Christmas Cinderella” by Elizabeth Rolls. The best of the bunch. This is much more satisfying and well-written than its predecessor, “A Soldier’s Tale” (from the “Mistletoe Kisses” anthology)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Alex was the matchmaker for his cousin in the first story, and here he gets his own romance.
Rolls has a way of crafting compelling beta heroes who are fundamentally decent and assertive in all the right ways, and strong heroines who find agency within the restrictions of society. Alex and Polly are well-drawn characters, especially for a short story, and I was immediately invested in both characters. I am a sucker for a clergyman hero, and Alex is everything I want from one: deeply compassionate, perceptive, honorable, protective, and secretly super horny for the heroine. Really loved the way he uses his position in the community to protect Polly from her odious family. I like the way Rolls writes spine-of-steel heroines who are on the periphery of London society, without taking them into Not Like Other Girls territory. Polly, a wealthy merchant’s daughter who has lost her entire fortune and security through no fault of her own (I was incensed on her behalf!), sees an opportunity for independence and goes for it. She’s loosely framed as the Cinderella of the story, but Polly is so much more — she’s the agent of her freedom and is no one’s doormat. The chemistry and romantic development was engaging and believable, and for a short story, this was surprisingly complete and wholly satisfying. (And in case this is on anyone’s bingo card, Alex is a virgin hero.)
“Finding Forever at Christmas” by Bronwyn Scott. Well-drawn characters and believable romantic development, but not nearly as compelling as Elizabeth Rolls’s story. Also, early in the story we learn that the hero has just broken it off with his mistress, and while it’s not mentioned often, there’s just one too many references to the mistress, especially for a short story. It cast a minor pall on the story for me.
“The Captain’s Christmas Angel” by Margaret McPhee. Super short timeline and forced proximity on a boat, but surprisingly engaging and believable. I was swept up in the hero’s immediate pull towards the heroine, and believed in the strength of their magnetic connection.
The second-best story of the anthology.
“Christmas Cinderella” by Elizabeth Rolls. The best of the bunch. This is much more satisfying and well-written than its predecessor, “A Soldier’s Tale” (from the “Mistletoe Kisses” anthology)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Alex was the matchmaker for his cousin in the first story, and here he gets his own romance.
Rolls has a way of crafting compelling beta heroes who are fundamentally decent and assertive in all the right ways, and strong heroines who find agency within the restrictions of society. Alex and Polly are well-drawn characters, especially for a short story, and I was immediately invested in both characters. I am a sucker for a clergyman hero, and Alex is everything I want from one: deeply compassionate, perceptive, honorable, protective, and secretly super horny for the heroine. Really loved the way he uses his position in the community to protect Polly from her odious family. I like the way Rolls writes spine-of-steel heroines who are on the periphery of London society, without taking them into Not Like Other Girls territory. Polly, a wealthy merchant’s daughter who has lost her entire fortune and security through no fault of her own (I was incensed on her behalf!), sees an opportunity for independence and goes for it. She’s loosely framed as the Cinderella of the story, but Polly is so much more — she’s the agent of her freedom and is no one’s doormat. The chemistry and romantic development was engaging and believable, and for a short story, this was surprisingly complete and wholly satisfying. (And in case this is on anyone’s bingo card, Alex is a virgin hero.)
“Finding Forever at Christmas” by Bronwyn Scott. Well-drawn characters and believable romantic development, but not nearly as compelling as Elizabeth Rolls’s story. Also, early in the story we learn that the hero has just broken it off with his mistress, and while it’s not mentioned often, there’s just one too many references to the mistress, especially for a short story. It cast a minor pall on the story for me.
“The Captain’s Christmas Angel” by Margaret McPhee. Super short timeline and forced proximity on a boat, but surprisingly engaging and believable. I was swept up in the hero’s immediate pull towards the heroine, and believed in the strength of their magnetic connection.
The second-best story of the anthology.
December 21, 2023
Read "Finding Forever at Christmas." Really sweet. Kisses only.
November 1, 2013
I always look forward to Harlequin Historical's Christmas anthology and this years did not disappoint! Featuring some of my favorite authors: Elizabeth Rolls, Bronwyn Scott and Margaret McPhee. My favorite out of all three works was the story of Alex and Polly, but that's mostly because I have a soft spot for stories where teachers or governesses find true love! It was a delightful spin on a Cinderella-type plot and I adored it to no end. I also very much enjoyed Bronwyn Scott and Margaret McPhee's stories as well. All the heroes and heroines were well fleshed out for being non-novel length stories and I loved McPhee's return to the sea with a very unexpected tale that had me hooked right from the start. I say a big THANK YOU to the authors for providing me a wonderful afternoon of reading on a chilly day!
November 10, 2013
5 stars to Bronwyn scott's story.
December 5, 2025
This was actually an even more fun, Christmassy read than I anticipated. Containing three short seasonal stories for a change I liked them all equally and the characters of hero and heroine in each story were particularly endearing.
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
Which I didn't find much in common with the concept of Cinderella our heroine, Polly, and her hero, Alex were the sweetest of the three. Polly has lost her family and her fortune and is on sufferance with some fairly distant and mostly unpleasant relatives. The opportunity to become the teacher at the new village school throws her into contact with the village vicar, and from then on after a few false starts the people of the village help these two realise that they would be perfect together.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one as it threw a lot of characters at the reader at once but then the hero Finn saved the day with his (mostly) decisive courtship of the heroine Catherine. I do enjoy a rather geeky hero and the realisation that the two of them were meant for each other since they were children was cute. Catherine is finally back home for Christmas but thinks she is unlikely to find happiness with her crush. His brother however is an unexpected and another matter!
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
This one almost shouldn't work but it does...Sarah is on her way home from America to England to see her family for Christmas. She doesn't expect to find our hero, Daniel, half drowned in the ocean on the way over! Adventures and storms ensue with a kind of spy sub-plot but the intense romance between the two actually really works on board ship. The only thing was the conclusion dragged on a bit too much for me and without a great explanation.
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
Which I didn't find much in common with the concept of Cinderella our heroine, Polly, and her hero, Alex were the sweetest of the three. Polly has lost her family and her fortune and is on sufferance with some fairly distant and mostly unpleasant relatives. The opportunity to become the teacher at the new village school throws her into contact with the village vicar, and from then on after a few false starts the people of the village help these two realise that they would be perfect together.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one as it threw a lot of characters at the reader at once but then the hero Finn saved the day with his (mostly) decisive courtship of the heroine Catherine. I do enjoy a rather geeky hero and the realisation that the two of them were meant for each other since they were children was cute. Catherine is finally back home for Christmas but thinks she is unlikely to find happiness with her crush. His brother however is an unexpected and another matter!
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
This one almost shouldn't work but it does...Sarah is on her way home from America to England to see her family for Christmas. She doesn't expect to find our hero, Daniel, half drowned in the ocean on the way over! Adventures and storms ensue with a kind of spy sub-plot but the intense romance between the two actually really works on board ship. The only thing was the conclusion dragged on a bit too much for me and without a great explanation.
December 27, 2025
Enjoyable Christmas reading
Loved the first story with a handsome young rector. An unusual but lovely hero for a very regency Christmas tale. The second story is 1838, and is a houseparty where a young lady returns to the place where she grew up and finally a Scottish Captain is found adrift in the Atlantic by a widow returning from America. It's great being able to read Christmas stories at Christmas. Very cosy.
Loved the first story with a handsome young rector. An unusual but lovely hero for a very regency Christmas tale. The second story is 1838, and is a houseparty where a young lady returns to the place where she grew up and finally a Scottish Captain is found adrift in the Atlantic by a widow returning from America. It's great being able to read Christmas stories at Christmas. Very cosy.
December 29, 2017
One out of three
Elizabeth Rolls’ story of a country vicar and an impoverished school teacher was a sweet, heartwarming Christmas story. Although the other two stories were entertaining, they were also forgettable.
Elizabeth Rolls’ story of a country vicar and an impoverished school teacher was a sweet, heartwarming Christmas story. Although the other two stories were entertaining, they were also forgettable.
November 18, 2018
One very good story, one good story (which, unfortunately, is not as well edited as the others), and one so-so story.
This is not the best Christmas anthology I’ve ever read, but it’s not the worst, either. It’s comfortably in the middle.
This is not the best Christmas anthology I’ve ever read, but it’s not the worst, either. It’s comfortably in the middle.
December 21, 2020
Fun, Regency romance escapism. An anthology of three novellas set during or mentioning Christmas. I liked the first one best, Christmas Cinderella, about a school mistress and the village rector. That one was worth 5 stars.
December 27, 2021
This Harlequin anthology of roughly novella length stories was surprisingly good.
The first story is about Polly, a former heiress cum governess cum village teacher, and Alex, the vicar. I've complained recently about stories where the hero is only nominally a man of the cloth, and, while it's not exactly my preferred hero situation, Elizabeth Rolls does a great job of making Alex a kind, good man, who's not pedantic or preachy at all. I found this to be a sweet, enjoyable story.
The second story is about Catherine, who has returned home from Paris to see childhood friends for the holidays. She's trying to catch Channing, but ends up finding herself attracted to his older brother, Finn. This hits up some of my favorite tropes (childhood friends to lovers, friend's older brother), so the whole situation was pleasing and well-executed.
The final story is a bit more exotic in concept: while crossing the ocean, Sarah spots a man in the sea, Daniel. He's hauled on board, and they gradually begin a shipboard romance. However, he's hiding secrets, from both Sarah and the reader. I enjoyed this one, but found I was more exasperated with waiting for the reveal than anything--but I tend not to enjoy suspense.
The first story is about Polly, a former heiress cum governess cum village teacher, and Alex, the vicar. I've complained recently about stories where the hero is only nominally a man of the cloth, and, while it's not exactly my preferred hero situation, Elizabeth Rolls does a great job of making Alex a kind, good man, who's not pedantic or preachy at all. I found this to be a sweet, enjoyable story.
The second story is about Catherine, who has returned home from Paris to see childhood friends for the holidays. She's trying to catch Channing, but ends up finding herself attracted to his older brother, Finn. This hits up some of my favorite tropes (childhood friends to lovers, friend's older brother), so the whole situation was pleasing and well-executed.
The final story is a bit more exotic in concept: while crossing the ocean, Sarah spots a man in the sea, Daniel. He's hauled on board, and they gradually begin a shipboard romance. However, he's hiding secrets, from both Sarah and the reader. I enjoyed this one, but found I was more exasperated with waiting for the reveal than anything--but I tend not to enjoy suspense.
April 19, 2016
This book included three novellas.
41/2 stars
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
Setting: England. Date not given, but probably Regency period.
Polly is an orphan whose inheritance was stolen. It had been planned since she was a child that she would marry her cousin, Tom. Of course, when her inheritance disappeared, so did the possibility of a betrothal and marriage. After 2 years as a governess, she is now living on the charity of Tom's family. The rector of the village church, Alex, and the local lord of the manor, have decided to start a village school. Polly gets the job as schoolmistress after begging for it, to avoid going to be unpaid companion to another relative. Alex makes daily visits to the cottage that serves as both schoolroom and Polly's quarters. They get to know one another, then there's kissing, etc.
The story was nice. It followed the Cinderella trope, as evidenced by the title, but there was enough interest in the characters to make me forget it was following a pattern. I did get excited by the fact that, not only was it a cute little story, the grammar and usage were wonderful. Too often with ebooks, the editing is shoddy. That isn't so here. I think I'm in love with the editor.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
Setting: England. December 1838
Catherine Emerson has returned, after 5 years in Paris, to the home of her childhood friends. She is sure that her dream of marriage to one of those friends, Channing Deveril, will come true before the end of the Christmas season. The rest of the Deverils, as well as many friends, are attending the house party. Will Catherine end up with her teenage crush, or will someone else capture her heart?
This was a very sweet reunion story. The characters were likable and well rounded, and the plot ran smoothly. There were no problems with grammar, spelling, or usage. Either there is a wonderful editor involved, or the author does an excellent job of proof-reading her work.
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
Setting: At sea, then in England, 1807
Sarah Ellison is a 29 year old widow of 4 years who is very disillusioned with the whole love and marriage issue. Her late husband was a philanderer, so she is still wearing mourning to keep suitors at bay. However, one got past her guard, but his subsequent behavior reinforced her negative feelings about the male of the species. I'm a little confused about that bit of her story. Was she allowing him to court her, or was she being coerced to marry him? Anyway, she escaped him by returning her niece to England. One day while on deck, Sarah sees a something in the distance that looks like a man. She insists ship personnel look and it turns out to be Daniel Alexander. The mystery of why he was in the middle of the ocean, and the sexual tension between the protagonists keep one invested in the story. There's more action in this story than the other two, and the characters are well-described. But I'm in mourning. I'm pretty sure the editor is dead (I do hope it was not foul play!). How else can one explain the muddiness of the prose at the beginning (it did get better), and the poor grammar and usage? I know it's challenging, but can't all writers accept that learning subject and object is a good idea? I hate it when I have to edit in my head while I'm reading. It drags me right out of the story. Other than the language issues, I really enjoyed this story.
41/2 stars
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
Setting: England. Date not given, but probably Regency period.
Polly is an orphan whose inheritance was stolen. It had been planned since she was a child that she would marry her cousin, Tom. Of course, when her inheritance disappeared, so did the possibility of a betrothal and marriage. After 2 years as a governess, she is now living on the charity of Tom's family. The rector of the village church, Alex, and the local lord of the manor, have decided to start a village school. Polly gets the job as schoolmistress after begging for it, to avoid going to be unpaid companion to another relative. Alex makes daily visits to the cottage that serves as both schoolroom and Polly's quarters. They get to know one another, then there's kissing, etc.
The story was nice. It followed the Cinderella trope, as evidenced by the title, but there was enough interest in the characters to make me forget it was following a pattern. I did get excited by the fact that, not only was it a cute little story, the grammar and usage were wonderful. Too often with ebooks, the editing is shoddy. That isn't so here. I think I'm in love with the editor.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
Setting: England. December 1838
Catherine Emerson has returned, after 5 years in Paris, to the home of her childhood friends. She is sure that her dream of marriage to one of those friends, Channing Deveril, will come true before the end of the Christmas season. The rest of the Deverils, as well as many friends, are attending the house party. Will Catherine end up with her teenage crush, or will someone else capture her heart?
This was a very sweet reunion story. The characters were likable and well rounded, and the plot ran smoothly. There were no problems with grammar, spelling, or usage. Either there is a wonderful editor involved, or the author does an excellent job of proof-reading her work.
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
Setting: At sea, then in England, 1807
Sarah Ellison is a 29 year old widow of 4 years who is very disillusioned with the whole love and marriage issue. Her late husband was a philanderer, so she is still wearing mourning to keep suitors at bay. However, one got past her guard, but his subsequent behavior reinforced her negative feelings about the male of the species. I'm a little confused about that bit of her story. Was she allowing him to court her, or was she being coerced to marry him? Anyway, she escaped him by returning her niece to England. One day while on deck, Sarah sees a something in the distance that looks like a man. She insists ship personnel look and it turns out to be Daniel Alexander. The mystery of why he was in the middle of the ocean, and the sexual tension between the protagonists keep one invested in the story. There's more action in this story than the other two, and the characters are well-described. But I'm in mourning. I'm pretty sure the editor is dead (I do hope it was not foul play!). How else can one explain the muddiness of the prose at the beginning (it did get better), and the poor grammar and usage? I know it's challenging, but can't all writers accept that learning subject and object is a good idea? I hate it when I have to edit in my head while I'm reading. It drags me right out of the story. Other than the language issues, I really enjoyed this story.
May 6, 2014
Ok, so I'm a little behind.
A Sparkling of Christmas Magic is a sweet anthology with a couple of pretty good short stories in it.
First of all, my favorite in the group is Christmas Cinderella, by Elizabeth Rolls. It revolves around a handsome rector, Alex, and Polly, the new schoolmistress. Polly is, of course, Cinderella and she has the requisite nasty relatives that all Cinderella's have. She just doesn't have the singing mice. Anyway, our Polly is a delightful, spirited heroine and the perfect match for a surprisingly lusty rector. I'm always a little taken aback to realize that men that stand behind pulpits also have Mr. Toads. Except for the I'm-not-worthy moment, this was a fast moving love story with plenty of chemistry. And, for a short story, the characters were surprising well-developed. Fun read. I also loved the wonderful relationship between Polly and her students.
Finding Forever, by Bronwyn Scott, is the next story in the book and my next favorite. It is the story of Catherine, who is returning home from years spent in Paris. She has turned into a stunning woman and she has returned to stake her claim on her childhood infatuation, Channing. She's always been in love with Channing, but things are not what she has always thought. She soon becomes disillusioned with Channing. Instead her eyes and heart fall on his older brother, the enigmatic Finn. Finn seems to have always loved Catherine, but he has been aware of her infatuation with Channing and has remained quiet. It only takes one kiss for all of that to change. This was an interesting story, a sort of triangle, because Channing also reveals his feelings at this time. I think this book probably deserved a full-size book treatment, because these three characters would have been a lot better if their feelings could have been explored more. But overall, it was a nice story; just wish it had been longer.
The last story in the book is The Captain's Christmas Angel, by Margaret McPhee. This is my least favorite story out of the three; however, it is a pleasing story. We have Sarah, who had an unfaithful husband, so she has the opinion that men cannot be trusted. Then we have Daniel Alexander, who is adrift in the ocean and has some big secrets. So, Sarah falling in love with a stranger with secrets may not be the wisest thing. Of the three selections in this book, this had the feel of a short story. There was a rush to fall in love and a rush to a HEA...could have been better in a longer format.
KaysBlog
A Sparkling of Christmas Magic is a sweet anthology with a couple of pretty good short stories in it.
First of all, my favorite in the group is Christmas Cinderella, by Elizabeth Rolls. It revolves around a handsome rector, Alex, and Polly, the new schoolmistress. Polly is, of course, Cinderella and she has the requisite nasty relatives that all Cinderella's have. She just doesn't have the singing mice. Anyway, our Polly is a delightful, spirited heroine and the perfect match for a surprisingly lusty rector. I'm always a little taken aback to realize that men that stand behind pulpits also have Mr. Toads. Except for the I'm-not-worthy moment, this was a fast moving love story with plenty of chemistry. And, for a short story, the characters were surprising well-developed. Fun read. I also loved the wonderful relationship between Polly and her students.
Finding Forever, by Bronwyn Scott, is the next story in the book and my next favorite. It is the story of Catherine, who is returning home from years spent in Paris. She has turned into a stunning woman and she has returned to stake her claim on her childhood infatuation, Channing. She's always been in love with Channing, but things are not what she has always thought. She soon becomes disillusioned with Channing. Instead her eyes and heart fall on his older brother, the enigmatic Finn. Finn seems to have always loved Catherine, but he has been aware of her infatuation with Channing and has remained quiet. It only takes one kiss for all of that to change. This was an interesting story, a sort of triangle, because Channing also reveals his feelings at this time. I think this book probably deserved a full-size book treatment, because these three characters would have been a lot better if their feelings could have been explored more. But overall, it was a nice story; just wish it had been longer.
The last story in the book is The Captain's Christmas Angel, by Margaret McPhee. This is my least favorite story out of the three; however, it is a pleasing story. We have Sarah, who had an unfaithful husband, so she has the opinion that men cannot be trusted. Then we have Daniel Alexander, who is adrift in the ocean and has some big secrets. So, Sarah falling in love with a stranger with secrets may not be the wisest thing. Of the three selections in this book, this had the feel of a short story. There was a rush to fall in love and a rush to a HEA...could have been better in a longer format.
KaysBlog
December 23, 2015
Every now and then it's a good idea just to let your brain relax with a book that offers nothing intense, nothing too deep. Such is the case with Christmas romances. Christmas Regency romances are usually the best of these, and for the most part, this book could have been numbered among those. A Sprinkling of Christmas Magic is a series of three short stories, from three well known authors.
In the first, Christmas Cinderella, Alex Martindale is lonely at Christmastime, and decides he needs an assistant who can also teach the village children. What he doesn't expect is that a young woman, who has been unfairly left without a penny, would desire the position in order that she will not become an unpaid companion to a distant relative. After seeing firsthand her situation at home, he reluctantly agrees to take her on temporarily, in order to see if things will work out. When they do, he finds himself spending more and more time with her, and realizing that she might just be what he's wanted all along.
In the second, Finding Forever, Catherine Emerson has returned home after living for five years in Paris with her aunt. What she wants most in the world is to live permanently at the Deverill home, where she has spent most of her childhood with her best friends. Her idea to become a part of the family is to marry Channing Deverill, whom she has been in love with as long as she can remember. But it is Finn Deverill, the older brother, who quietly draws her to him. When he kisses her one afternoon when they are found alone during a skating party, she begins to wonder if she has been wrong all those years.
In the third, The Captain's Christmas Angel, young widow Sarah Ellison sees a man adrift in the ocean, and discovers he is Captain Daniel Alexander, a man with secrets he is not at liberty to divulge. The more time they spend together, the more she realizes that she is falling in love with him, and hopes that he is also falling in love with her.
While I enjoyed reading these three stories, I enjoyed Ms. Scott's the most, truly being a nice Christmas romance, with two people who fall in love over a period of days with just a few kisses between them (but oh, the things conveyed in kissing can be so much more). That being said, it was worth reading for anyone who enjoys Christmas Regencies. Recommended.
http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2015...
In the first, Christmas Cinderella, Alex Martindale is lonely at Christmastime, and decides he needs an assistant who can also teach the village children. What he doesn't expect is that a young woman, who has been unfairly left without a penny, would desire the position in order that she will not become an unpaid companion to a distant relative. After seeing firsthand her situation at home, he reluctantly agrees to take her on temporarily, in order to see if things will work out. When they do, he finds himself spending more and more time with her, and realizing that she might just be what he's wanted all along.
In the second, Finding Forever, Catherine Emerson has returned home after living for five years in Paris with her aunt. What she wants most in the world is to live permanently at the Deverill home, where she has spent most of her childhood with her best friends. Her idea to become a part of the family is to marry Channing Deverill, whom she has been in love with as long as she can remember. But it is Finn Deverill, the older brother, who quietly draws her to him. When he kisses her one afternoon when they are found alone during a skating party, she begins to wonder if she has been wrong all those years.
In the third, The Captain's Christmas Angel, young widow Sarah Ellison sees a man adrift in the ocean, and discovers he is Captain Daniel Alexander, a man with secrets he is not at liberty to divulge. The more time they spend together, the more she realizes that she is falling in love with him, and hopes that he is also falling in love with her.
While I enjoyed reading these three stories, I enjoyed Ms. Scott's the most, truly being a nice Christmas romance, with two people who fall in love over a period of days with just a few kisses between them (but oh, the things conveyed in kissing can be so much more). That being said, it was worth reading for anyone who enjoys Christmas Regencies. Recommended.
http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2015...
February 6, 2017
This is a fun group of Regency novellas with a Christmas theme. It's nice to have stories you can read quickly during this busy time of year or to get you in the mood for Christmas any time.
In Christmas Cinderella, the heroine is being ignored by her relations now that she's lost her fortune. They'll only tolerate her if she does their bidding as basically an unpaid servant. Talk about a Cinderella complex! The local vicar needs a schoolteacher for the new school, but he certainly wasn't planning on a female applying for the job. Can he keep the relationship between himself and the girl he admired as a youth strictly business?
I enjoyed Finding Forever at Christmas because I always like when the more reserved, duty-bound sibling finally gets the girl despite his more outgoing, stunningly handsome brother. It was great to see the heroine discover which brother she could truly count on and fall in love with.
The Captain's Christmas Angel is a great sea adventure where the hero is saved from drowning due to the eagle eye of the young widow on board a ship bound for England. She's leaving behind an unwanted suitor, and he's running for his life. They are both keeping secrets and hoping to start fresh when they reach England. There's a little danger, a little mystery, and a lot of romance!
In Christmas Cinderella, the heroine is being ignored by her relations now that she's lost her fortune. They'll only tolerate her if she does their bidding as basically an unpaid servant. Talk about a Cinderella complex! The local vicar needs a schoolteacher for the new school, but he certainly wasn't planning on a female applying for the job. Can he keep the relationship between himself and the girl he admired as a youth strictly business?
I enjoyed Finding Forever at Christmas because I always like when the more reserved, duty-bound sibling finally gets the girl despite his more outgoing, stunningly handsome brother. It was great to see the heroine discover which brother she could truly count on and fall in love with.
The Captain's Christmas Angel is a great sea adventure where the hero is saved from drowning due to the eagle eye of the young widow on board a ship bound for England. She's leaving behind an unwanted suitor, and he's running for his life. They are both keeping secrets and hoping to start fresh when they reach England. There's a little danger, a little mystery, and a lot of romance!
October 8, 2014
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing his spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop…. With some mistletoe, he may just get his wish!
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thought she wanted—but a kiss from his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire….
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers a man adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing could have prepared her for the gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander, or the secrets he keeps!
The first two stories could have been better if they had had a bit more development. The disadvantage of a short story is the "speed" of the action, and both could have benefitted from a few more pages. In the last story, "Christmas" is only a minor part of the plot. If the story is marketed as a "Christmas" one, a bit more holiday spirit is needed. All three stories would have made better novels.
Handsome country rector Alex Martindale dreams of kissing his spirited schoolmistress and never having to stop…. With some mistletoe, he may just get his wish!
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
At the yule ball, Catherine Emerson receives a proposal from the man she thought she wanted—but a kiss from his mysterious, darkly handsome brother unleashes a deeper desire….
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
Returning to England for Christmas, Sarah Ellison discovers a man adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing could have prepared her for the gorgeous Captain Daniel Alexander, or the secrets he keeps!
The first two stories could have been better if they had had a bit more development. The disadvantage of a short story is the "speed" of the action, and both could have benefitted from a few more pages. In the last story, "Christmas" is only a minor part of the plot. If the story is marketed as a "Christmas" one, a bit more holiday spirit is needed. All three stories would have made better novels.
January 23, 2015
I love to read Christmas novellas all year round, but I can't say I found all these so entertaining.
I admit to being an Elizabeth Rolls' fan. The "Christmas Cinderella" worked well in the shorter format (maybe not so much if it were a full novel). Alex and Polly were an engaging H/h and Aunt Eliot the perfect "wicked step-mother."
"Finding Forever at Christmas" suffered from what was likely poor editing. For example: "This, one," Finn called out after looking over several possible logs.
Then later: Her eyes traveling the path to where Finn and Marcus worked the saw...
Finally: "I need to tell you why I didn't come on the Yule Log cutting this afternoon."
Did Finn cut the log or didn't he? This is very confusing.
There was not much about Christmas in "The Captain's Christmas Angel," but I liked the concept and the characters. However, if one is searching for a Christmas story, this is not one.
I admit to being an Elizabeth Rolls' fan. The "Christmas Cinderella" worked well in the shorter format (maybe not so much if it were a full novel). Alex and Polly were an engaging H/h and Aunt Eliot the perfect "wicked step-mother."
"Finding Forever at Christmas" suffered from what was likely poor editing. For example: "This, one," Finn called out after looking over several possible logs.
Then later: Her eyes traveling the path to where Finn and Marcus worked the saw...
Finally: "I need to tell you why I didn't come on the Yule Log cutting this afternoon."
Did Finn cut the log or didn't he? This is very confusing.
There was not much about Christmas in "The Captain's Christmas Angel," but I liked the concept and the characters. However, if one is searching for a Christmas story, this is not one.
January 6, 2015
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls
4/5
Very sweet.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
4/5
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
1.5/5
One cliché after another. The 0.5 star is because I did finish it, but only because I wanted to see if she would be pregnant because that would just be the final cliché. And the Hogmanay bit was a nice touch. Brought down the whole average of the anthology. Too bad.
Whole anthology 3.5/5
4/5
Very sweet.
Finding Forever at Christmas by Bronwyn Scott
4/5
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee
1.5/5
One cliché after another. The 0.5 star is because I did finish it, but only because I wanted to see if she would be pregnant because that would just be the final cliché. And the Hogmanay bit was a nice touch. Brought down the whole average of the anthology. Too bad.
Whole anthology 3.5/5
November 27, 2015
Christmas Cinderella by Elizabeth Rolls - This was a lovely read. Alex & Polly are so well suited. Polly found her Prince Charming....and he is charming and very sweet. An enjoyable read.
4.5*
Finding Forever by Bronwyn Scott - An enjoyable HEA read. Loved Finn...so sensitive.
4*
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee - My least favourite, but still a good story. A very pleasant read. Aahh, love at sea!
3.5*
Overall 4*
4.5*
Finding Forever by Bronwyn Scott - An enjoyable HEA read. Loved Finn...so sensitive.
4*
The Captain's Christmas Angel by Margaret McPhee - My least favourite, but still a good story. A very pleasant read. Aahh, love at sea!
3.5*
Overall 4*
December 24, 2019
I enjoyed this series of three tales for Christmas. I had no expectations going in, since these were all new authors for me.
The first tale was sweet. This is probably the best written of the tales.
The second had one glaring editorial error that annoyed me but was otherwise my favorite of the trio.
The third one was more high-adventure-y and therefore a bit less my style, but good if that's your thing.
The first tale was sweet. This is probably the best written of the tales.
The second had one glaring editorial error that annoyed me but was otherwise my favorite of the trio.
The third one was more high-adventure-y and therefore a bit less my style, but good if that's your thing.
Read
December 29, 2014"Three lovely stories set around the holiday season are short and sweet, focusing on the magic that emanates from the spirit of the season and not enchantment itself. With everything from old friends to intrigue and danger, this trio of tales is just what readers want during this hectic time of year." RT Book Reviews
December 29, 2014
I enjoyed all three stories. I usually read these seasonal collections so I can check out new authors and enjoy some Christmas themed romance. This book did not disappoint. I discovered three authors I will seek out again and three stories that truly delivered the romance and Christmas magic.
March 24, 2016
A collection of three Christmas stories. My personal favorite was Christmas Cinderella, which inspite of the religous undertone was very sensual and moving.
December 23, 2013
Aw, I wish I'd bought this one instead of library-ing it. The first was my favorite, the second great and okay, the third one I sped through. Boats aren't my thing. But I really loved the first one.
January 13, 2014
Nice collection.
Read
December 25, 2014Fun holiday read
October 12, 2015
Loved the first and last story, but the middle one as set in 1838 which can't be classed as a Regency Christmas story. Enjoyed it though x
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