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Regency Christmas Gifts: Three Stories
The Lasting Gift: Christmas approaches, and Mary Ann Poole has little to anticipate. Her daughter Beth was born just after the death in battle of her father seven years earlier, and never knew Lt. Poole. Mary Ann has just lost her job. As a future in the poorhouse looms, she receives a package that was misdirected from the post office. Unable to afford return postage, the Pooles pay a visit to the sender, Thomas Jenkins, a retired sailing master in nearby Plymouth who is bored by life ashore. Thomas takes an immediate interest in the pretty widow and her bright daughter. He decides Mrs. Poole’s welfare is just the right charitable Christmas project to banish boredom while he searches for a way to return to sea. Soon he has a new dilemma: now that he has met Mary Ann Poole, does he really want to go sailing again?
Faithfully Yours: John McPherson left Dumfries, Scotland, as an impoverished, neglected boy, determined to make his fortune in North America. Make it he did, thanks to his facility with languages and business savvy. Now he is home after ten years for a visit. He hopes to marry Margaret Patterson, the lovely correspondent he left behind, and who has exchanged letters with him ever since. But Margaret, daughter of a prosperous merchant, is engaged to another. His faithful correspondent has really been Sally Wilson, pretending to be Margaret, who is not quite the person John thought she was. Just the daughter of a minister, Sally never judged John for his poverty and even saw him off on his adventures. But how could he possibly know that?
Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas: Lucinda Danforth is downhearted this Christmas, her first since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Her sister is getting married on Christmas Eve, and Papa Danforth has been trying to keep events on an even keel ever since the death of his dear wife. Overwhelmed by wedding preparations, he tells Lucy to forget about Christmas traditions this year. But Lucy wants Christmas, too. Enter Lucy’s second cousin Miles Bledsoe, Oxford scholar, who wangles an invitation to the Danforth’s home. He’s happy to help out, and even happier to see Lucy Danforth. Thoughts of Lucy have been distracting him from his studies of late. He might be in love, and he wants to test his theory. Along the way, Lucy and Miles seek to honor the memory of Lucy’s departed mother by helping others, in this case, a war widow and her children.
Faithfully Yours: John McPherson left Dumfries, Scotland, as an impoverished, neglected boy, determined to make his fortune in North America. Make it he did, thanks to his facility with languages and business savvy. Now he is home after ten years for a visit. He hopes to marry Margaret Patterson, the lovely correspondent he left behind, and who has exchanged letters with him ever since. But Margaret, daughter of a prosperous merchant, is engaged to another. His faithful correspondent has really been Sally Wilson, pretending to be Margaret, who is not quite the person John thought she was. Just the daughter of a minister, Sally never judged John for his poverty and even saw him off on his adventures. But how could he possibly know that?
Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas: Lucinda Danforth is downhearted this Christmas, her first since the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Her sister is getting married on Christmas Eve, and Papa Danforth has been trying to keep events on an even keel ever since the death of his dear wife. Overwhelmed by wedding preparations, he tells Lucy to forget about Christmas traditions this year. But Lucy wants Christmas, too. Enter Lucy’s second cousin Miles Bledsoe, Oxford scholar, who wangles an invitation to the Danforth’s home. He’s happy to help out, and even happier to see Lucy Danforth. Thoughts of Lucy have been distracting him from his studies of late. He might be in love, and he wants to test his theory. Along the way, Lucy and Miles seek to honor the memory of Lucy’s departed mother by helping others, in this case, a war widow and her children.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
31 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kelly
137 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 17, 2020
When I realized that my library had a Carla Kelly book I haven't read yet, I was so excited! This is a collection of 3 short Christmas stories. Every one was a winner.
The Lasting Gift: A widow and her daughter catch the attention of a retired sailing master who comes into their lives at just the right time. Mary Ann and her daughter Beth were wonderful! I think the girls saved him as well.
Faithfully Yours: Probably my favorite but also the shortest. When John leaves England for Canada, the rich and vapid Margaret tells him she will write to him while he's gone. Sally is the one who is really writing the letters and she has fallen in love with John over their many years of correspondence. When John returns to England, will Sally get the happy ending she has dreamed of? Or will John pursue the woman he thinks has been writing to him? This one was soooo good! John is much smarter than either girl gives him credit for, and the evil Margaret gets the perfect comeupance!
Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas: Miles has realized that he is in love with his second cousin Lucy. He visits over Christmas and the two of them set off on a mission to do a Christmas kindness which turns out to be more than either imagined.
All 3 books were perfectly safe and kisses only. Carla Kelly is one of my favorite historical romance authors. I love that she write about ordinary people and the conflicts are real and original. There was some slight religious talk in the stories (they are about Christmas, after all) but it was mentions only. If you can find this one, it is a great read!
The Lasting Gift: A widow and her daughter catch the attention of a retired sailing master who comes into their lives at just the right time. Mary Ann and her daughter Beth were wonderful! I think the girls saved him as well.
Faithfully Yours: Probably my favorite but also the shortest. When John leaves England for Canada, the rich and vapid Margaret tells him she will write to him while he's gone. Sally is the one who is really writing the letters and she has fallen in love with John over their many years of correspondence. When John returns to England, will Sally get the happy ending she has dreamed of? Or will John pursue the woman he thinks has been writing to him? This one was soooo good! John is much smarter than either girl gives him credit for, and the evil Margaret gets the perfect comeupance!
Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas: Miles has realized that he is in love with his second cousin Lucy. He visits over Christmas and the two of them set off on a mission to do a Christmas kindness which turns out to be more than either imagined.
All 3 books were perfectly safe and kisses only. Carla Kelly is one of my favorite historical romance authors. I love that she write about ordinary people and the conflicts are real and original. There was some slight religious talk in the stories (they are about Christmas, after all) but it was mentions only. If you can find this one, it is a great read!
February 4, 2016
I read these 3 stories over a long period of time. I enjoyed them all but probably the first one best. No formal review for this one. It's been too long since I read the first two stories.
December 30, 2016
3 wonderful story.
October 21, 2016
This is a second Christmas anthology by Carla Kelly that let me down. Just like the duo released last year, Season's Regency Greetings: Two Christmas Novellas, the trio hit all the wrong emotional buttons. I don't mind a bit of angst in the Christmas-themed historical romance. It lends credence to whimsical love stories, developing between characters, who might not otherwise find their way to one another. Still, I prefer lighter tales that put me in the mood to celebrate, and these stories just didn't.
As much as I enjoyed the first love story between an impoverished soldier's widow and a retired sailing master, I had to wonder if part of the heroine's feelings for the hero weren't mixed with gratitude. After saving her and her daughter from a future in the poorhouse by finding her a job, he offered her marriage, the kind of security no job could provide. It is possible that he fell for the charity case he took upon himself out of boredom, but I didn't get a chance to find out. Their story ended at the time when it was actually only beginning, and I was left to imagine the rest.
I had a similar problem with the second novella. The description led me to believe the hero of this story didn't know who wrote him letters during all those years he spent making his fortune in North America. But, from the beginning, it was obvious that he suspected the woman, whose name was signed on the letters, had never spared him a thought. And, while the scene between the hero and the spoiled merchant's daughter, who decided to take advantage of the "mistaken" identity, made me smile, the story didn't offer much in the way of relationship development between the protagonists. Their story was over before it really started, as well.
But, it was the third story that made me wish I'd skipped this anthology altogether. The relationship between the protagonists simply wasn't the focal point of this novella. It thoroughly explored the meaning of Christmas and family, but lost the essential part of romance in the process. The hero and heroine were an afterthought, at best.
As much as I enjoyed the first love story between an impoverished soldier's widow and a retired sailing master, I had to wonder if part of the heroine's feelings for the hero weren't mixed with gratitude. After saving her and her daughter from a future in the poorhouse by finding her a job, he offered her marriage, the kind of security no job could provide. It is possible that he fell for the charity case he took upon himself out of boredom, but I didn't get a chance to find out. Their story ended at the time when it was actually only beginning, and I was left to imagine the rest.
I had a similar problem with the second novella. The description led me to believe the hero of this story didn't know who wrote him letters during all those years he spent making his fortune in North America. But, from the beginning, it was obvious that he suspected the woman, whose name was signed on the letters, had never spared him a thought. And, while the scene between the hero and the spoiled merchant's daughter, who decided to take advantage of the "mistaken" identity, made me smile, the story didn't offer much in the way of relationship development between the protagonists. Their story was over before it really started, as well.
But, it was the third story that made me wish I'd skipped this anthology altogether. The relationship between the protagonists simply wasn't the focal point of this novella. It thoroughly explored the meaning of Christmas and family, but lost the essential part of romance in the process. The hero and heroine were an afterthought, at best.
November 4, 2020
This was so short but the stories were enjoyable despite their length. The first story seems pretty similar to other Carla Kelly books with a captain hero and a poor heroine. The second one is the shortest and more like a one-shot than a story. There is some casual mentions of the stereotypes that Native Americans had but nothing of this actually happens on page. The third story is about the hero and heroine trying set up the hectic wedding of her sister. I should add that the hero is also her second-cousin, just in case this might be weird for anyone.
All of them were fast, low-angst, and pretty cozy. I really love my reads to be like this so this was a treat!
TW/CW:
grief, loss of loved ones, poverty, use of racial slurs for Native Americans and stereotypes.
All of them were fast, low-angst, and pretty cozy. I really love my reads to be like this so this was a treat!
TW/CW:
grief, loss of loved ones, poverty, use of racial slurs for Native Americans and stereotypes.
August 12, 2022
If You've Been Good (or not) Santa May Give You This Book
Carla Kelly's gifts to her readers are just what they should be--not a one-size-fits-all story repeated three ways, but three individual, unique tales. Rather than give readers metaphorical socks for Christmas, she has crafted three pictures of kind-hearted, decent people overcoming problems.
"The Lasting Gift" tells of Mary Ann, a poverty-stricken war widow, and her young daughter, Beth. See what happens when a parcel is accidentally sent to them and they return it to recently retired John, who misses the navy and life at sea.
The ending is a bit in turmoil as all the loose ends must be sewn into a crazy quilt of an ending, but all's well that ends well.
"Faithfully Yours" shows what happens when Sally writes letters to John, a village boy from an indigent family who goes to America to seek his fortune. Margaret, wealthy and self-centered (and the closest to a villain in any of the stories), was supposed to write to him, but she has Sally write for her for 10 years. What happens when John, who as done very well in America, returns to see his correspondent? I think you know, but how that happens is satisfying.
"Lucy's Bang-Up Christmas" follows Lucy, mourning the loss of her mother, as she finds noble ways to honor her mother, with the help of her favorite cousin Miles, who finds himself in love with Lucy.
All the stories have happy endings, of course. Good people are rewarded and the not so good ones have their comeuppance. Feeling the satisfaction that gives is the real gift.
Carla Kelly's gifts to her readers are just what they should be--not a one-size-fits-all story repeated three ways, but three individual, unique tales. Rather than give readers metaphorical socks for Christmas, she has crafted three pictures of kind-hearted, decent people overcoming problems.
"The Lasting Gift" tells of Mary Ann, a poverty-stricken war widow, and her young daughter, Beth. See what happens when a parcel is accidentally sent to them and they return it to recently retired John, who misses the navy and life at sea.
The ending is a bit in turmoil as all the loose ends must be sewn into a crazy quilt of an ending, but all's well that ends well.
"Faithfully Yours" shows what happens when Sally writes letters to John, a village boy from an indigent family who goes to America to seek his fortune. Margaret, wealthy and self-centered (and the closest to a villain in any of the stories), was supposed to write to him, but she has Sally write for her for 10 years. What happens when John, who as done very well in America, returns to see his correspondent? I think you know, but how that happens is satisfying.
"Lucy's Bang-Up Christmas" follows Lucy, mourning the loss of her mother, as she finds noble ways to honor her mother, with the help of her favorite cousin Miles, who finds himself in love with Lucy.
All the stories have happy endings, of course. Good people are rewarded and the not so good ones have their comeuppance. Feeling the satisfaction that gives is the real gift.
December 30, 2015
3.5 probably. I enjoyed these three stories quite a bit - good Christmas Eve before bed reading.
November 7, 2024
Three excellent stories about love and family, set during at Christmas time.
August 9, 2018
Three stories (really 2 novellas and a short story) that are typical Carla Kelly romances dealing with a variety of Regency era characters not all of them from the 'ton'. The Lasting Gift matches a retired naval sailing master having trouble adjusting to life on land with an impoverished war widow with a 7 year old mathematical genius daughter. They meet through a misguided postal delivery. A warm Christmas story. The short story Faithfully Yours involves a young man who left Scotland for Canada at 18 and the girl of 14 who corresponded with him. She writes to him instead of her friend who had said she would write but said it as a prank. Knowing both girls he has figured out the deception over the ten years of writing and has returned to verify his thinking and ask her to marry him. A simple story, very predictable. Lucy's Bang Up Christmas deals with second cousins, close since childhood, who through creating a perfect Christmas for a poor family discover their own feelings. Also a warm romance. A favorite author.
December 4, 2025
Are you kidding me?
Three short stories in one book and I LOVED them ALL? I’ve read tons of books containing short stories. Not sure I ever read one where I LOVED them ALL!!!
1. The Lasting Gift. Oh my. A down on their luck mother and daughter. A well to do brother and sister. When the four accidently meet all sorts of things happen. It’s impossible to believe this short story was only 80 pages. SO much happened. 5 Stars
2. Faithfully Yours. Short (a wee over 20 pages). So much detail in those 20 pages. Most enjoyable. I predicted the ending. Not a problem however as I was entertained. 5 Stars
3. Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas. A trifle less than 100 pages. This one NEEDS to be a Great American / Pure Flix movie!!!! Trevor Donovan and Merritt Patterson I envision as playing the leads. Sure they are “too old” but I don’t care. It’s my mental movie 😉 Such a delightful story.
I could not pick a favorite if my life depended on it. Where has Carla Kelly been my entire reading life?!?!?
Three short stories in one book and I LOVED them ALL? I’ve read tons of books containing short stories. Not sure I ever read one where I LOVED them ALL!!!
1. The Lasting Gift. Oh my. A down on their luck mother and daughter. A well to do brother and sister. When the four accidently meet all sorts of things happen. It’s impossible to believe this short story was only 80 pages. SO much happened. 5 Stars
2. Faithfully Yours. Short (a wee over 20 pages). So much detail in those 20 pages. Most enjoyable. I predicted the ending. Not a problem however as I was entertained. 5 Stars
3. Lucy’s Bang-up Christmas. A trifle less than 100 pages. This one NEEDS to be a Great American / Pure Flix movie!!!! Trevor Donovan and Merritt Patterson I envision as playing the leads. Sure they are “too old” but I don’t care. It’s my mental movie 😉 Such a delightful story.
I could not pick a favorite if my life depended on it. Where has Carla Kelly been my entire reading life?!?!?
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December 10, 2025I don’t think I’ve ever given five stars to a regency Christmas short stories collection. Usually because at least 2 of the 3-5 stories are atrociously written AND cheesy as heck. I want them to be cheesy, as that’s the whole point. But atrociously written is the usual downfall.
This one, however, was written extremely well. Kelly seems to have a gift and I’m interested in more of her works. Subtle humor, not so subtly scathing societal critique, subtle references to Jane Austen and academia. And clear knowledge of the historical time period. My one caveat was that all of the heroines had a bit of “not like other girls” mild misogyny written into them which I could have done without. But there were also times when I expected worse and was surprised instead with capable and feminist heroines despite the negative aspects.
Basically, who wouldn’t love well written, cinnamon roll heroes, and heartwarming stories for lighthearted Christmas reading?
This one, however, was written extremely well. Kelly seems to have a gift and I’m interested in more of her works. Subtle humor, not so subtly scathing societal critique, subtle references to Jane Austen and academia. And clear knowledge of the historical time period. My one caveat was that all of the heroines had a bit of “not like other girls” mild misogyny written into them which I could have done without. But there were also times when I expected worse and was surprised instead with capable and feminist heroines despite the negative aspects.
Basically, who wouldn’t love well written, cinnamon roll heroes, and heartwarming stories for lighthearted Christmas reading?
September 2, 2018
A delightful break from summer's heat, with Kelly's trademark stories of rather ordinary people being extraordinary human beings. They're not only doing well, they're doing good, what's called tikkun olam--"repairing the world" among those of us who don't celebrate Christmas, but still enjoy a solid, weepy love story.
Each of these tales has its own charm as lives are made better and love discovered during the holiday season. I miss the old Regency Christmas collections that used to come out each year, but it's nice to know some of the best authors in the genre continue to release their holiday best.
Each of these tales has its own charm as lives are made better and love discovered during the holiday season. I miss the old Regency Christmas collections that used to come out each year, but it's nice to know some of the best authors in the genre continue to release their holiday best.
April 30, 2018
Three sweet Regency stories compiled in one book. I really enjoyed each one. I'm not sure I could even pick a favorite because I liked each one for different reasons. There were fun, likable characters, as well as the "insufferable" ones, which seem to always to be present in Regency stories. But they make the stories all the more interesting.
December 21, 2018
Here were three absolutely sweet, charming romances. I do like the Regency era. Kisses and hand-holding are quite enough for me. Ms Kelly does need a better editor. There were several misspellings and grammatical errors. That's just the old red pencil in me noticing. It certainly did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
December 27, 2020
Confession: I’d started a modern Christmas romance and hated it. So stupid and unbelievable and predictable. This book, though, was a delight. Was it predictable? Of course! But I clearly prefer predictable holiday romances that include virtuous widows and noble gentlemen in Regency England.
January 24, 2021
Christmas is for lovers
My favorite is the first story. I love mature peo ppl e in love and Anatoly problems to be solved. But I especially enjoy intelligent Cinderella being rescued.
My favorite is the first story. I love mature peo ppl e in love and Anatoly problems to be solved. But I especially enjoy intelligent Cinderella being rescued.
February 22, 2022
Carla Kelly is a favorite author of mine, but her constant Goodwill and happy ever afters sometimes, are a little hard to take. For example, these three stories were so mushed full of goodwill with honest, kind, dogooders it was a little hard to swallow.
December 29, 2017
This book contains the same three short stories that are in the book “A Season of Love: A Christmas Anthology”.
December 22, 2018
Three Short stories. I liked the first onebest. Even reread it. Got me in the mood for Christmas. Regency romance light.
March 5, 2019
Easy, delightful holiday read.
April 10, 2021
I’ve always enjoyed her regency stories. And Christmas! Yay! It’s fun to read Christmas stories all year round.
December 31, 2021
A delightful collection of regency short stories. My favorite is the last one, Lucy's Bang-Up Christmas. It's funny and witty; had me laughing out loud.
January 6, 2022
Sweet Regency stories.
January 6, 2022
C'était mignon bien qu'un poil mièvre et tire-larmes. J'ai tout de même passé un bon moment de lecture.
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December 31, 2024Included in another collection I read.
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October 24, 2025These stories are also contained in the book A Season of Love by Carla Kelly (along with two more).
June 24, 2019
Three fun short Christmas stories just right for a easy, quick read!
June 16, 2019
Christmas comes whenever Carla Kelly releases new stories. This slender volume barely lasted a few hours; now when will Ms. Kelly publish another? I'm eagerly awaiting it.
The Lasting Gift
Desperately poor, Mary Ann Poole receives a package in the mail. (Info: In those days, the recipient paid the postage.) Having paid postage on a misdirected package, Mary Ann cannot afford to lose the money. Therefore, she and her young daughter walk the distance to return the box and get their money back.
Along the way, we learn that this mother and child are so poor that they draw pictures of the gifts they would like to give each other and then present the drawings in lieu of actual gifts on Christmas day. When they arrive at the sender's address, they find a retired sea master who has too much time on his hands.
Faithfully Yours
This is an extremely short story about John, a poor lad who went to North America to raise himself from his poor circumstances. Before he left, the most popular girl, Margaret, promised to write to him. However, she only promised on a lark and had no intention of following through on her promise. Sally, the local minister's daughter overheard the promise and decided to write, in Margaret's name (with Margaret's permission).
During John's absence, Sally became a teacher of the local children. The letters had been a lifeline to Sally; allowing her to experience the adventures of her old school friend. When John returns to his hometown, he wants to discuss his growing relationship with 'Margaret.'
Lucy's Bang-up Christmas
Lucinda's mother has died during the past year and Lucy's father and sister just want to concentrate on Lucy's older sister's wedding. However, Lucy is devastated that the Christmas traditions will be set aside for expediency's sake. When Lucy's cousin Miles arrives from college, she entreats him to help her create a Christmas like her mother always did. Realizing that he is in love with Lucy, he helps her recreate Christmas. However, they are both surprised to see the lengths to which Lucy's mother went to share the Christmas spirit with those less fortunate.
The Lasting Gift
Desperately poor, Mary Ann Poole receives a package in the mail. (Info: In those days, the recipient paid the postage.) Having paid postage on a misdirected package, Mary Ann cannot afford to lose the money. Therefore, she and her young daughter walk the distance to return the box and get their money back.
Along the way, we learn that this mother and child are so poor that they draw pictures of the gifts they would like to give each other and then present the drawings in lieu of actual gifts on Christmas day. When they arrive at the sender's address, they find a retired sea master who has too much time on his hands.
Faithfully Yours
This is an extremely short story about John, a poor lad who went to North America to raise himself from his poor circumstances. Before he left, the most popular girl, Margaret, promised to write to him. However, she only promised on a lark and had no intention of following through on her promise. Sally, the local minister's daughter overheard the promise and decided to write, in Margaret's name (with Margaret's permission).
During John's absence, Sally became a teacher of the local children. The letters had been a lifeline to Sally; allowing her to experience the adventures of her old school friend. When John returns to his hometown, he wants to discuss his growing relationship with 'Margaret.'
Lucy's Bang-up Christmas
Lucinda's mother has died during the past year and Lucy's father and sister just want to concentrate on Lucy's older sister's wedding. However, Lucy is devastated that the Christmas traditions will be set aside for expediency's sake. When Lucy's cousin Miles arrives from college, she entreats him to help her create a Christmas like her mother always did. Realizing that he is in love with Lucy, he helps her recreate Christmas. However, they are both surprised to see the lengths to which Lucy's mother went to share the Christmas spirit with those less fortunate.
November 23, 2023
“The Lasting Gift” – I loved this story: 5 stars! Exactly the touching Christmas story that that warms my insides while the peace and quiet of a real hearth fire warms my outside.
Widow Mary Ann Poole and her little daughter Beth are barely getting by when a misdirected package is delivered to their tiny home. She feels an obligation to return the accidently opened package to its sender so it can be properly rewrapped and sent. Mary Ann and Beth walk several miles to the return address and are welcomed into the home of retired navel captain, Thomas Jenkins and his sister. The humble mother and daughter’s unselfish actions and their sad situation touch them. All of a sudden the captain does not regard this Christmas as a boring time on land, rather than the sea he so sorely misses. Wonderful Story!
“Faithfully Yours” is a delightful very short story about a once raggedy, smelly boy that leaves Scotland for America to seek his fortune. When he leaves, a certain young lady promises to write while he’s gone. But that certain young lady is not the one who actually corresponds. Ten years later John McPherson returns as a wealthy, successful businessman to seek his faithful writer. 4 stars from me.
“Lucy’s Bang-Up Christmas” – A wonderful, beautiful story! 5 stars! It epitomizes the very essence of what Christmas should be, and mean. The Danforth home is busy planning for her older sister’s Christmas Eve wedding. Sadly, Lucy’s mother died months ago so all the planning falls on an anxious aunt and the whole stressed household. Lucy is saddest of all because all the busy stress does not include any Christmas, something that was important to her and her mother. To help get through it all, her second cousin Miles comes to help and in turn they quietly proceed to bring the most meaningful part of Christmas to life, just as Lucy’s mother used to do. My favorite quote, pg. 165: “…Lucy suddenly understood what Mama meant. ‘You expect me to do, rather than just be,’ she thought, and realized that keeping Christmas this year meant exactly that. Christ hadn’t come to earth to be an ornament – he’d come here to ‘do’.”
I absolutely loved this collection of three Christmas Stories! Not only is it a keeper, but I will pick it up every Christmas season to re-read.
Widow Mary Ann Poole and her little daughter Beth are barely getting by when a misdirected package is delivered to their tiny home. She feels an obligation to return the accidently opened package to its sender so it can be properly rewrapped and sent. Mary Ann and Beth walk several miles to the return address and are welcomed into the home of retired navel captain, Thomas Jenkins and his sister. The humble mother and daughter’s unselfish actions and their sad situation touch them. All of a sudden the captain does not regard this Christmas as a boring time on land, rather than the sea he so sorely misses. Wonderful Story!
“Faithfully Yours” is a delightful very short story about a once raggedy, smelly boy that leaves Scotland for America to seek his fortune. When he leaves, a certain young lady promises to write while he’s gone. But that certain young lady is not the one who actually corresponds. Ten years later John McPherson returns as a wealthy, successful businessman to seek his faithful writer. 4 stars from me.
“Lucy’s Bang-Up Christmas” – A wonderful, beautiful story! 5 stars! It epitomizes the very essence of what Christmas should be, and mean. The Danforth home is busy planning for her older sister’s Christmas Eve wedding. Sadly, Lucy’s mother died months ago so all the planning falls on an anxious aunt and the whole stressed household. Lucy is saddest of all because all the busy stress does not include any Christmas, something that was important to her and her mother. To help get through it all, her second cousin Miles comes to help and in turn they quietly proceed to bring the most meaningful part of Christmas to life, just as Lucy’s mother used to do. My favorite quote, pg. 165: “…Lucy suddenly understood what Mama meant. ‘You expect me to do, rather than just be,’ she thought, and realized that keeping Christmas this year meant exactly that. Christ hadn’t come to earth to be an ornament – he’d come here to ‘do’.”
I absolutely loved this collection of three Christmas Stories! Not only is it a keeper, but I will pick it up every Christmas season to re-read.
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