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The Finches #3
The Christmas Wish
She wished for love, and it came true. But what if it’s all a lie?
Evelyn Finch has given up on love. Finding a man to dance with her was difficult enough; finding one to spend his life with her was impossible. Better to embrace spinsterhood and rid herself of that false hope. No man will see her in a romantic light. But when a dashing gentleman sweeps into her life, reigniting her dreams, Evelyn can’t help but wonder if her greatest wish will finally come true.
But he’s not all he appears to be…
Desperation can make a person do foolish things. Though Gideon Payne hadn’t thought himself so ridiculous as to agree to a fake courtship, when Evelyn’s father comes begging for that very thing, Gideon finds himself agreeing. He has the wherewithal to help her find her footing in society, and she has the sterling reputation that will help to repair his ruined one. A mutually beneficial arrangement. That is all.
But the plain wallflower is not at all what Gideon expected. And this simple Christmas courtship soon becomes something far more complicated.
Can a romance started with a lie become something real? Or will good intentions lead to broken hearts?
Evelyn Finch has given up on love. Finding a man to dance with her was difficult enough; finding one to spend his life with her was impossible. Better to embrace spinsterhood and rid herself of that false hope. No man will see her in a romantic light. But when a dashing gentleman sweeps into her life, reigniting her dreams, Evelyn can’t help but wonder if her greatest wish will finally come true.
But he’s not all he appears to be…
Desperation can make a person do foolish things. Though Gideon Payne hadn’t thought himself so ridiculous as to agree to a fake courtship, when Evelyn’s father comes begging for that very thing, Gideon finds himself agreeing. He has the wherewithal to help her find her footing in society, and she has the sterling reputation that will help to repair his ruined one. A mutually beneficial arrangement. That is all.
But the plain wallflower is not at all what Gideon expected. And this simple Christmas courtship soon becomes something far more complicated.
Can a romance started with a lie become something real? Or will good intentions lead to broken hearts?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2022
375 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Nichols
38 books484 followersBorn and raised in Anchorage, M.A. Nichols is a lifelong Alaskan, though she briefly ventured south to get a fancy bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from Utah State University—neither of which had anything to do with why she became an author, but they kept her alive while launching her publishing career.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 5, 2022
“Aunt Evelyn, why aren’t you married?” with those opening words, I knew I'd like this book. It took me back to my Italian grandmother's dining room table, "why you no married?" Why indeed Grandma? I feel like no one is writing this style of book in the historical romance genre. M.A. Nichols just has this understanding of what utter idiots we make of ourselves in the process of finding love, sometimes it really is incredibly awkward and almost painful. Evelyn and her deer in the headlights reaction to a potential relationship is just so spot on! Not all of us knew how to react when asked out, some of us reacted in fear. And Gideon, I believe he's what the kids would call a cinnamon roll. I really appreciated that difficult relationship with his father playing out. Not all relationships have happy endings, that's just the reality of things. I just have to say, that first kiss. Brilliant. That is indeed the reality of a first kiss where one party has never actually done it before. Another gem, Bravo 👏
December 5, 2022
wounded healers
This is neither a fast burn or a slow one, rather a stuttering one where the scars of the past, and present, disrupt the course of true love. It is as much about a father-son relationship as it’s about a romantic one. It is about love binding the wounds of the soul, even when the lover is wounded themselves. Nichols always writes well, and her setting of the 12 days of Christmas is evocatively drawn. The dialogue is great and our couleare appealing people.
This is neither a fast burn or a slow one, rather a stuttering one where the scars of the past, and present, disrupt the course of true love. It is as much about a father-son relationship as it’s about a romantic one. It is about love binding the wounds of the soul, even when the lover is wounded themselves. Nichols always writes well, and her setting of the 12 days of Christmas is evocatively drawn. The dialogue is great and our couleare appealing people.
December 2, 2022
A beautiful story of long awaited love
Evelyn is 30 yrs old and has never had a suitor. Her family loves her , but she is still lonely. Gabriel has been treated horribly by his father and does not believe he deserves love. Set at Christmas time, Evelyn's father, Mr Lewis Finch devises a plan that can help them both. Only what starts out to be a good idea, has a different result. As always, M. A. Nichols writes stories that make me feel so deeply. I can relate to those feelings of the characters and find myself invested in the outcome. Thanks to you for another lovely book.
Evelyn is 30 yrs old and has never had a suitor. Her family loves her , but she is still lonely. Gabriel has been treated horribly by his father and does not believe he deserves love. Set at Christmas time, Evelyn's father, Mr Lewis Finch devises a plan that can help them both. Only what starts out to be a good idea, has a different result. As always, M. A. Nichols writes stories that make me feel so deeply. I can relate to those feelings of the characters and find myself invested in the outcome. Thanks to you for another lovely book.
December 6, 2022
Sweet story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all the books in these series! I am so happy Evelyn got her story and happy ending! I felt so bad for Gideon and it was easy to feel their anxiety and hurts throughout their lives! That they found each other was so wonderful I hope that will be more books!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all the books in these series! I am so happy Evelyn got her story and happy ending! I felt so bad for Gideon and it was easy to feel their anxiety and hurts throughout their lives! That they found each other was so wonderful I hope that will be more books!
December 11, 2022
a desert-isle-keeper
This was a sweetheart of a book. The characters resonated so much with me - the insecurities and feelings of unlovableness and inadequacy, and the healing that loving and being loved can bring. A beautiful book. I’d recommend to anyone who loves Jane Austen’s persuasion as it had a similar tone (although not based on that story). Beautiful work
This was a sweetheart of a book. The characters resonated so much with me - the insecurities and feelings of unlovableness and inadequacy, and the healing that loving and being loved can bring. A beautiful book. I’d recommend to anyone who loves Jane Austen’s persuasion as it had a similar tone (although not based on that story). Beautiful work
November 23, 2023
After years of letting others’ opinions determine their self-worth, Evelyn and Gideon are on a collision course of risk and discovery. What do they stand to lose…and gain? Funny how one can see others so clearly, but struggle in a fog about oneself. I love these troubled souls and their stop-and-start journey to their own happily-ever-after.
December 13, 2022
Another clean and sweet romance by M.A. Nichols. I adore her characters
December 2, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. It might be my favorite M.A. Nichols novel so far. Both characters were so beautiful in their vulnerability, and the humor sprinkled throughout kept it from being too completely serious, although I was brought to tears several times!
December 6, 2022
Loved, loved, loved this book. Evelyn's story touched my heart so much. I really felt her pain. The author captured the awkwardness of falling in love so beautifully!
July 14, 2024
I simply loved that Evelyn's story continues, from Tempest & Sunshine, so we are able to get a better finality to her deserved happiness. I also love that we get to be immersed in The Finches, once again, but this time we are seeing a meddling Papa {Lewis Finch} and an on-fire Mama Bear {Mary Finch} when their daughter's heart is ultimately broken...by her meddling Papa.
What felt really clever here was to make Lewis/Papa actually comprehend exactly how he had misstep, that he was genuinely mistaken about what he had requested of Gideon, our main hero. Especially how massively Gideon had misinterpreted exactly what Finch wanted of him to "befriend" his daughter. In Lewis's eyes, both had come out of scandalous rumors, specifically to do with a romantic edge, and possibly managed to worm their way back into society, kind of. Gideon was still bothered but Evelyn had simply turned off her emotions, slowly smothering her heart from hope.
Look...once Lewis explained himself, because we had POV'd the majority of the book from Gideon's angle, it was easy to see why exactly Gideon initially reacted the way he did. Because the secretive-mission approach Mr. Finch took to pull Gideon aside, working so hard to create a story-line of how similar their plights were, made it seem...a bit dastardly. Like Papa Finch had meant to "arrange" some kind of romance for his unmarried daughter, when he truly did just mean "friendship"--mutual heartbroken society, maybe? Gideon took ALL that Mr. Finch had asked of him and spun it [inside his own head] to sound as if he was being asked to court a strange man's daughter, right in the dead center of a party.
What I adored here so intensely that it shifted my enjoyment of the main story itself [once again by Nichols deft hands] is yet another morally gray, but enriched MALE LEAD. At first glance Gideon feels...or seems like a true blackguard. Possibly yet another Lothario who left a trail of crumbled hearts wherever he had just escaped.
But in one particular scene with Gideon, as he readies himself for the next society event he will meet Evelyn Finch at--"accidentally-on-purpose"...we meet his Father...sickly and a piece of work who finds it important to keep reminding his lone heir whose family name HE represents in society.
Mr. Finch had given Gideon a special invite which is going to allow him to...navigate but also business network. Gideon is, after all, about to inherit his father's banking business. He needs the right connections to build trust and respect. If he can include Evelyn in his traipsing about, then all the better.
The reason I loved Gideon as a hero was because I knew EXACTLY who he was or really whom Nichols was portraying him as this rough, mysterious character. Gideon adored his mother...obeys his father...and has a blackened background that goes back to his misspent youth. He took the fall of one of his supposed friends who had stolen his identity and broke the heart of an innocent woman. To this day, they ALL still believe he was the one at fault. These days, Gideon doesn't have great friends. In fact, he only has ONE...from childhood. The rest make fun of him and gossip about him behind his back.
Lemme spin a web, for you... in 2024, there was a 50yr old contestant on the Australian version of "MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT" this past Season 11. His name was Timothy. Timothy was a bit of a jovial DadBod dude. Timothy had scraped by to survive his ominous 50yrs, but it was filled with heartaches galore. So much so, his remaining family and friends called him THE TIN MAN; he even has a tattoo of the Oz Tin Man on his bicep. The thing is Timothy was born of a generation of fathers...parents...where men were men and people took their roles in the house seriously [succinct & non-fluid]. At a young age, Timothy lost both his mother and his brother fairly close to one another. One was a terminal illness [mom] the other was a suicide [brother].
Before Timothy joined MaFS casting, or even thought about sending in an audition tape...his father--his only remaining immediately family got sick, laying on his deathbed. Six weeks before Timothy enters MaFS to marry his stranger, Lucinda [Lu, for short], his patriarch dies...and Timothy self-locks every drop of emotion from his heart, genuinely turning himself into a REAL Tin Man for television viewers. It didn't help that the wife he was sent to wed was a bon-a-fide hippie, Mother Earth type...but she chipped away at him, begging him for mere shards of scraps in affection. Even just a bit of a hug, but she did it.
It was achingly slow-burn by TV standards, but what MaFS generates is a powder-keg of rapid-fire immersions, week after week. I love the Aussie version because they just give great and better story-lines of every single human personality possible. There's free therapy sessions and you can build new friendships and possibly find your soulmate.
Timothy was "Gideon"...or maybe Gideon is a "bit" of Timothy, as they often say. What we learn about Timothy during one episode where he broke his deeper truth about his Father dying was that when HE WENT...he basically told Timothy a diabolical passage, "I Always Hated You/I Never Like-Loved You" and THAT is what spiraled Timothy into shutting down utterly & completely as he entered this marry-a-stranger episode of his journey.
Gideon understands more than he lets his father know. Father likes to talk in riddles and pious grandstanding advice...especially about entering society after his son's past missteps. But what is gorgeous about Gideon is his ability to gently peel away his softer layers...as Nichols does whenever she mentions Gideon has chosen to wear his mother's garish sewing projects she gifted him years before her passing.
I loved every minute of viewing Evelyn's side of eyeballing Gideon. Because at first she is rightfully, and genuinely wary of this strange man. She thinks it's because of her siblings, not her own Papa. She takes his mild interest in stride but eventually Gideon finds Evelyn less of a burden and thinks more like, "Why in the heck is she still unmarried?!?"
I liked the dual onion-peeling moments. Surface-wise, most strangers seem or appear uninteresting, until you start to have real, authentic conversations. That is what happens here.
What always happens with Nichols' couples is she doesn't stray from taking the time to build a solid friendship...one that will make their intimacy even more palpable. Because, these are married couples that will reappear years later [at times, in later books], when it feels like the romance has drifted and they might lose sight of the other--eh, fall out of love. Nope, Nichols makes certain you know and understand this woman and this man will spend incremental time alone together, maybe sipping hot chocolate by the fire and reading favorite book passages to one another. As if they actually enjoy one another's company, which explains even more why they fall in love, gradually.
This was easy for me to see. I got scared when the truth was revealed. Mama Bear Finch chewed out her husband AND Gideon...but it was Lewis Finch coming to a heart wrenching reality check...and Gideon's ability to comprehend the harm he had done with his blatant idiocy.
What was masterful was Evelyn...Evelyn did the most mature ADULT thing she could do in her own power/control...1) she didn't allow herself to give up on Gideon [even if it was just friends]...and 2) she healed herself by helping to heal Gideon. She kept at him, as she should have, especially about this supposed best friend who kept ruining their chance at happiness. Evelyn gave Gideon gumption--the secret ability to feign courage and face the fear and, maybe, danger...danger of losing everything he once knew.
Gideon believed...or was made to assume his own mother was the bad guy...when it as always his father. So much that he doesn't bat an eye when he exits STAGE LEFT on his way out to go claim Evelyn...saying a final goodbye to a worthless human being he once had a smidgen of respect for, or thought he HAD to because he was under the belief his mother had an affair...and his father had claimed Gideon even though they weren't biologically related. It was worse than he could even imagine, which is why he finds a hidden power to drop every piece of who he was...to reach and discover who he always will be with Evelyn...an the better man for it.
What felt really clever here was to make Lewis/Papa actually comprehend exactly how he had misstep, that he was genuinely mistaken about what he had requested of Gideon, our main hero. Especially how massively Gideon had misinterpreted exactly what Finch wanted of him to "befriend" his daughter. In Lewis's eyes, both had come out of scandalous rumors, specifically to do with a romantic edge, and possibly managed to worm their way back into society, kind of. Gideon was still bothered but Evelyn had simply turned off her emotions, slowly smothering her heart from hope.
Look...once Lewis explained himself, because we had POV'd the majority of the book from Gideon's angle, it was easy to see why exactly Gideon initially reacted the way he did. Because the secretive-mission approach Mr. Finch took to pull Gideon aside, working so hard to create a story-line of how similar their plights were, made it seem...a bit dastardly. Like Papa Finch had meant to "arrange" some kind of romance for his unmarried daughter, when he truly did just mean "friendship"--mutual heartbroken society, maybe? Gideon took ALL that Mr. Finch had asked of him and spun it [inside his own head] to sound as if he was being asked to court a strange man's daughter, right in the dead center of a party.
What I adored here so intensely that it shifted my enjoyment of the main story itself [once again by Nichols deft hands] is yet another morally gray, but enriched MALE LEAD. At first glance Gideon feels...or seems like a true blackguard. Possibly yet another Lothario who left a trail of crumbled hearts wherever he had just escaped.
But in one particular scene with Gideon, as he readies himself for the next society event he will meet Evelyn Finch at--"accidentally-on-purpose"...we meet his Father...sickly and a piece of work who finds it important to keep reminding his lone heir whose family name HE represents in society.
Mr. Finch had given Gideon a special invite which is going to allow him to...navigate but also business network. Gideon is, after all, about to inherit his father's banking business. He needs the right connections to build trust and respect. If he can include Evelyn in his traipsing about, then all the better.
The reason I loved Gideon as a hero was because I knew EXACTLY who he was or really whom Nichols was portraying him as this rough, mysterious character. Gideon adored his mother...obeys his father...and has a blackened background that goes back to his misspent youth. He took the fall of one of his supposed friends who had stolen his identity and broke the heart of an innocent woman. To this day, they ALL still believe he was the one at fault. These days, Gideon doesn't have great friends. In fact, he only has ONE...from childhood. The rest make fun of him and gossip about him behind his back.
Lemme spin a web, for you... in 2024, there was a 50yr old contestant on the Australian version of "MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT" this past Season 11. His name was Timothy. Timothy was a bit of a jovial DadBod dude. Timothy had scraped by to survive his ominous 50yrs, but it was filled with heartaches galore. So much so, his remaining family and friends called him THE TIN MAN; he even has a tattoo of the Oz Tin Man on his bicep. The thing is Timothy was born of a generation of fathers...parents...where men were men and people took their roles in the house seriously [succinct & non-fluid]. At a young age, Timothy lost both his mother and his brother fairly close to one another. One was a terminal illness [mom] the other was a suicide [brother].
Before Timothy joined MaFS casting, or even thought about sending in an audition tape...his father--his only remaining immediately family got sick, laying on his deathbed. Six weeks before Timothy enters MaFS to marry his stranger, Lucinda [Lu, for short], his patriarch dies...and Timothy self-locks every drop of emotion from his heart, genuinely turning himself into a REAL Tin Man for television viewers. It didn't help that the wife he was sent to wed was a bon-a-fide hippie, Mother Earth type...but she chipped away at him, begging him for mere shards of scraps in affection. Even just a bit of a hug, but she did it.
It was achingly slow-burn by TV standards, but what MaFS generates is a powder-keg of rapid-fire immersions, week after week. I love the Aussie version because they just give great and better story-lines of every single human personality possible. There's free therapy sessions and you can build new friendships and possibly find your soulmate.
Timothy was "Gideon"...or maybe Gideon is a "bit" of Timothy, as they often say. What we learn about Timothy during one episode where he broke his deeper truth about his Father dying was that when HE WENT...he basically told Timothy a diabolical passage, "I Always Hated You/I Never Like-Loved You" and THAT is what spiraled Timothy into shutting down utterly & completely as he entered this marry-a-stranger episode of his journey.
Gideon understands more than he lets his father know. Father likes to talk in riddles and pious grandstanding advice...especially about entering society after his son's past missteps. But what is gorgeous about Gideon is his ability to gently peel away his softer layers...as Nichols does whenever she mentions Gideon has chosen to wear his mother's garish sewing projects she gifted him years before her passing.
I loved every minute of viewing Evelyn's side of eyeballing Gideon. Because at first she is rightfully, and genuinely wary of this strange man. She thinks it's because of her siblings, not her own Papa. She takes his mild interest in stride but eventually Gideon finds Evelyn less of a burden and thinks more like, "Why in the heck is she still unmarried?!?"
I liked the dual onion-peeling moments. Surface-wise, most strangers seem or appear uninteresting, until you start to have real, authentic conversations. That is what happens here.
What always happens with Nichols' couples is she doesn't stray from taking the time to build a solid friendship...one that will make their intimacy even more palpable. Because, these are married couples that will reappear years later [at times, in later books], when it feels like the romance has drifted and they might lose sight of the other--eh, fall out of love. Nope, Nichols makes certain you know and understand this woman and this man will spend incremental time alone together, maybe sipping hot chocolate by the fire and reading favorite book passages to one another. As if they actually enjoy one another's company, which explains even more why they fall in love, gradually.
This was easy for me to see. I got scared when the truth was revealed. Mama Bear Finch chewed out her husband AND Gideon...but it was Lewis Finch coming to a heart wrenching reality check...and Gideon's ability to comprehend the harm he had done with his blatant idiocy.
What was masterful was Evelyn...Evelyn did the most mature ADULT thing she could do in her own power/control...1) she didn't allow herself to give up on Gideon [even if it was just friends]...and 2) she healed herself by helping to heal Gideon. She kept at him, as she should have, especially about this supposed best friend who kept ruining their chance at happiness. Evelyn gave Gideon gumption--the secret ability to feign courage and face the fear and, maybe, danger...danger of losing everything he once knew.
Gideon believed...or was made to assume his own mother was the bad guy...when it as always his father. So much that he doesn't bat an eye when he exits STAGE LEFT on his way out to go claim Evelyn...saying a final goodbye to a worthless human being he once had a smidgen of respect for, or thought he HAD to because he was under the belief his mother had an affair...and his father had claimed Gideon even though they weren't biologically related. It was worse than he could even imagine, which is why he finds a hidden power to drop every piece of who he was...to reach and discover who he always will be with Evelyn...an the better man for it.
May 2, 2023
My short review is that I found this incredibly boring making it my least favourite entry from MA Nichols to date.
My slightly longer (and a little meaner) and maybe spoilery review is...
MA Nichols writes "bleak" stories. They often start off with either one or both characters feeling diminished and their journey to more. The strength of Nichols books has always been her characterisations - you feel really invested in these people and their lives and you want to see how their lives improve. It's also what makes her brand of stories unique to me because even though they are romances, the character development is really the main hook for the stories. All this to say, you live and die by the characters. And in this entry I felt zero connection to (looks at the blurb to remember the characters' names) Evelyn or Gideon. And that made this as a real slog to get through. Admittedly, I've been in a pseudo reading slump of late but I'm truly not exaggerating when I say that for me this was a chore to get through.
That's it that's why I gave it 2 stars.
For future context when I can't remember this story anymore, Evelyn is George's (?) sister from Tempest and Sunshine. In our introduction to her in that story she had been led up a merry path by a no-good-suitor who crushed her when he wasn't sincere in his courtship. So when we meet Evelyn here she's decided to simply resign herself to spinsterhood rather than continuing to try and woo a gentleman. Her father is alarmed by this stance and therefore convinces Gideon to try and befriend her. From the outset you can already plot the threads of the story which I think was my first disappointment. Nichols doesn't usually write predictable plots, her books are often more character focused in complex human situations. As soon as this premise was introduced I'm merely biding time until all of this comes to light, so I don't even fully invest in their developing romance.
In the background we see Gideon's mistreatment by his father and how he's incredibly misunderstood by everyone. This isn't necessarily bad but the story lacked movement in this area. Instead of progressing steadily through the story, it's all sort of resolved at the very end of the book, so we're in the same place emotionally for the majority of the story.
Needless to say, the first two issues might have been resolved if the characters drew me in, and as it was I just didn't connect with this one. I'm still a fan of Nichols though so I'm hoping this was a once off experience.
My slightly longer (and a little meaner) and maybe spoilery review is...
MA Nichols writes "bleak" stories. They often start off with either one or both characters feeling diminished and their journey to more. The strength of Nichols books has always been her characterisations - you feel really invested in these people and their lives and you want to see how their lives improve. It's also what makes her brand of stories unique to me because even though they are romances, the character development is really the main hook for the stories. All this to say, you live and die by the characters. And in this entry I felt zero connection to (looks at the blurb to remember the characters' names) Evelyn or Gideon. And that made this as a real slog to get through. Admittedly, I've been in a pseudo reading slump of late but I'm truly not exaggerating when I say that for me this was a chore to get through.
That's it that's why I gave it 2 stars.
For future context when I can't remember this story anymore, Evelyn is George's (?) sister from Tempest and Sunshine. In our introduction to her in that story she had been led up a merry path by a no-good-suitor who crushed her when he wasn't sincere in his courtship. So when we meet Evelyn here she's decided to simply resign herself to spinsterhood rather than continuing to try and woo a gentleman. Her father is alarmed by this stance and therefore convinces Gideon to try and befriend her. From the outset you can already plot the threads of the story which I think was my first disappointment. Nichols doesn't usually write predictable plots, her books are often more character focused in complex human situations. As soon as this premise was introduced I'm merely biding time until all of this comes to light, so I don't even fully invest in their developing romance.
In the background we see Gideon's mistreatment by his father and how he's incredibly misunderstood by everyone. This isn't necessarily bad but the story lacked movement in this area. Instead of progressing steadily through the story, it's all sort of resolved at the very end of the book, so we're in the same place emotionally for the majority of the story.
Needless to say, the first two issues might have been resolved if the characters drew me in, and as it was I just didn't connect with this one. I'm still a fan of Nichols though so I'm hoping this was a once off experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
Victorian romance, started off in Nov. 1845 in Devon.
The pace was too slow in places. Gave this 3 stars.
Evelyn was 29 & had no need for a dance card. Men
considered her plain & disliked her bright red hair.
Her sisters all married. Gideon, about 35, former
army man, received rude comments & social isolation
due to rumors. He took over running the bank for his
ill, sanctimonious father.
The MCs had a rocky introduction & courtship. 2 men
devalued Gideon & Eve suggested that Gideon deserved
better treatment than that. An OK story, but it took too
long for MCs to fall in love. The hero's sire, a killjoy,
pulled the story down. Sorry but a Christmas story
should have a tiny bit of hope.
The pace was too slow in places. Gave this 3 stars.
Evelyn was 29 & had no need for a dance card. Men
considered her plain & disliked her bright red hair.
Her sisters all married. Gideon, about 35, former
army man, received rude comments & social isolation
due to rumors. He took over running the bank for his
ill, sanctimonious father.
The MCs had a rocky introduction & courtship. 2 men
devalued Gideon & Eve suggested that Gideon deserved
better treatment than that. An OK story, but it took too
long for MCs to fall in love. The hero's sire, a killjoy,
pulled the story down. Sorry but a Christmas story
should have a tiny bit of hope.
September 21, 2023
DNF. I was finding this boring and depressing.
November 29, 2023
What a enchanting Christmas story! A tale of two people ignored by most, needing and wanting a heart to hold on to.
Evelyn was a wallflower and her father devised a silly plan. He asked Gideon Payne to pay her attentions. His attentions would make more men pay attention to Evelyn, and her friendship would open doors for him. Because people wrongly accused him of corrupting a girl, and they refused his company.
Well Gideon scoffed at that at first. When he approached her at a ball, she was sharp tongued. She was not at all what he expected when they danced. But when he went to talk to the Jollies/ Ninnies, their laughing idiotic behavior drove him right back to Evelyn.
There was just something about her. As he started spending more and more time with her, he realized that he honestly liked her a lot. He was courting her in honesty. He should have told her right away about the conversation with her dad, but when do you squeeze that in?
So obviously that secret has to come out , but I think all of the conversations that come out of it show M.A. Nichols strength as a writer. She shows us that we are all capable of stupid mistakes that hurt each other, even when we don't mean too. She shows us the power of forgiveness. The way each character faces those feelings is what keeps me coming back to her stories.
Not everything is roses. Gideon has so much pain. Oh. Is his name being Gideon Payne a literary pun? I didn't see that till now. His father is a terrible person who makes Gideon believe he unworthy of love. In this too M.A. Nichols excels. She shows the ugly humans, and how their ugliness taints our hearts and views of ourselves.
I love Gideon and Evelyn's story. It is such a story of hope and honesty. And it all sprang from a Christmas wish.
Evelyn was a wallflower and her father devised a silly plan. He asked Gideon Payne to pay her attentions. His attentions would make more men pay attention to Evelyn, and her friendship would open doors for him. Because people wrongly accused him of corrupting a girl, and they refused his company.
Well Gideon scoffed at that at first. When he approached her at a ball, she was sharp tongued. She was not at all what he expected when they danced. But when he went to talk to the Jollies/ Ninnies, their laughing idiotic behavior drove him right back to Evelyn.
There was just something about her. As he started spending more and more time with her, he realized that he honestly liked her a lot. He was courting her in honesty. He should have told her right away about the conversation with her dad, but when do you squeeze that in?
So obviously that secret has to come out , but I think all of the conversations that come out of it show M.A. Nichols strength as a writer. She shows us that we are all capable of stupid mistakes that hurt each other, even when we don't mean too. She shows us the power of forgiveness. The way each character faces those feelings is what keeps me coming back to her stories.
Not everything is roses. Gideon has so much pain. Oh. Is his name being Gideon Payne a literary pun? I didn't see that till now. His father is a terrible person who makes Gideon believe he unworthy of love. In this too M.A. Nichols excels. She shows the ugly humans, and how their ugliness taints our hearts and views of ourselves.
I love Gideon and Evelyn's story. It is such a story of hope and honesty. And it all sprang from a Christmas wish.
December 16, 2022
Evelyn Finch (daughter of Lewis and Felicity, from The Jack of All Trades), is another red-headed spinster with freckles, unlucky at love. At 29, she has given up hope of marrying. Instead of being shy, agonizing over speaking the right words, she has decided to accept her spinster fate. Her father seeks out Gideon Payne, a man with a tarnished reputation who is shunned by anyone of influence. When he dies, his bedridden father will leave his bank to Gideon, so it behooves him to try to reestablish his reputation. Mr. Finch points out to him that a connection to the Finch family would do a lot to repair his standing in the community. In return, he asks Gideon to dance with Evelyn at balls, take her for rides, etc., in the hope that other men will take notice and dance with her as well. Gideon resists the idea of such manipulation, but the experience of being rejected by nearly everyone in a ballroom convinces him of his need to give it a try.
He rather quickly becomes smitten with Evelyn and she with him, although the endless battles in her mind about her insecurities and doubts cause missteps and confusion. Gideon has his own shocking past to overcome as well. It was completely predictable that she would find out about her father's deal with Gideon and fall to pieces over it. A few words of explanation on his part would have cleared the air immediately, but that would have made for a shorter book. I was rooting for both of them, but at times they tried my patience.
I enjoyed much of this book, but the last third was a soup of angst, melodrama and glurge.
He rather quickly becomes smitten with Evelyn and she with him, although the endless battles in her mind about her insecurities and doubts cause missteps and confusion. Gideon has his own shocking past to overcome as well. It was completely predictable that she would find out about her father's deal with Gideon and fall to pieces over it. A few words of explanation on his part would have cleared the air immediately, but that would have made for a shorter book. I was rooting for both of them, but at times they tried my patience.
I enjoyed much of this book, but the last third was a soup of angst, melodrama and glurge.
April 28, 2024
Evelyn Finch is twenty-nine years old and has decided to face the truth: She is a spinster. When a child in the family embarrasses Evelyn by commenting on her unmarried state, Mr. Finch decides to take action. He asks Gideon Payne to conduct a short courting with his daughter.
Gideon has black marks against him. A young woman was compromised through none of his doing, and Gideon was blamed. The girl's family knew the truth, but Gideon must remain silent to protect the young lady's good name. People know he's unsavory, but they don't know why. Now that Gideon has taken over his father's bank, he has difficulty because of the rumors.
Lewis Fitch, Evelyn's father, sees a potential solution to both Evelyn's singlehood and Gideon's tarnished reputation. He believes that the two can help each other and, thus, proposes the idea to Gideon. After a brief internal debate, Gideon agrees to meet Evelyn. Their first encounter is set at a party, an event orchestrated by Mr. Fitch to bring them together.
Of course, like all previous M A Nichol books, characters grow and evolve. This story was beautifully written. This leaves me to grieve the loss of Ms. Nichols. I await her latest novel (A Light in the Dark -- due on May 24, 2024). Then, I will have read her whole backlog of stories at least once. She is a wonderful writer.
Finches
The Jack of All Trades (2021)
Tempest and Sunshine (2022)
** 3. The Christmas Wish (2022)
Gideon has black marks against him. A young woman was compromised through none of his doing, and Gideon was blamed. The girl's family knew the truth, but Gideon must remain silent to protect the young lady's good name. People know he's unsavory, but they don't know why. Now that Gideon has taken over his father's bank, he has difficulty because of the rumors.
Lewis Fitch, Evelyn's father, sees a potential solution to both Evelyn's singlehood and Gideon's tarnished reputation. He believes that the two can help each other and, thus, proposes the idea to Gideon. After a brief internal debate, Gideon agrees to meet Evelyn. Their first encounter is set at a party, an event orchestrated by Mr. Fitch to bring them together.
Of course, like all previous M A Nichol books, characters grow and evolve. This story was beautifully written. This leaves me to grieve the loss of Ms. Nichols. I await her latest novel (A Light in the Dark -- due on May 24, 2024). Then, I will have read her whole backlog of stories at least once. She is a wonderful writer.
Finches
The Jack of All Trades (2021)
Tempest and Sunshine (2022)
** 3. The Christmas Wish (2022)
December 2, 2022
I really enjoy MA Nichols' books, but this one made me wish Prozac had been invented soon enough to benefit the heroine. The central tension in the story was different enough to intrigue me (the heroine has never had a man show romantic interest in her, so she finds it hard to believe when the hero does), and her insecurity was realistic. However, her dithering and self-consciousness were a little over-the-top for my taste. I kept wanting to recommend she see a therapist. I did like the hero and his conflict with his father, and also his patience and kindness.
December 23, 2022
Contains: verbal/emotional abuse and kisses. I thought the pacing seemed off on this one. In retrospect I think it was because I thought this would be a story about the MCs falling in love but it was really a story about the MCs learning to love and forgive themselves. Instead of watching the MCs grow in love, their time together was kinda glossed over. The FMC declares her love, they kiss and all that about half way through the book (even the inevitable falling out between the two only lasts a few pages). I guess all in all it just wasn’t that interesting of a read to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2023
I do love a plain and insecure spinster! Though Evelyn is more anxious than she is insecure - she doubts herself and her judgment, but does not ruminate on her plainness. I did feel a bit judgy towards Gideon, who has, just, the WORST taste in friends! I get that his insecurities led him to believe he doesn’t deserve better, but why in the world would you hang around people who treat others, particularly women, so poorly? Still, I do love a betrayed heroine and a hero in pursuit, though I do think this could do with a touch more groveling. (3.5 stars)
January 21, 2024
well done clean regency
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the relationship development.
I was a little annoyed with how the h became tongue tied at the mention of courtship.
Itt was well written and developed.
I was a little put out that the H didn't think off doing a little research to find out who his mother was. He was portrayed as smart, so it isn't rocket science too find out who accompanied his mother for his birth.
Anyway I don't like loose ends.
But the book was great.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the relationship development.
I was a little annoyed with how the h became tongue tied at the mention of courtship.
Itt was well written and developed.
I was a little put out that the H didn't think off doing a little research to find out who his mother was. He was portrayed as smart, so it isn't rocket science too find out who accompanied his mother for his birth.
Anyway I don't like loose ends.
But the book was great.
November 5, 2023
Overcoming the pain of past trauma
Evelyn, as fiery-spirited as her hair, carries a load of pain and self-doubt. Gideon, virtually unloved and unwanted by those who should have cared, also is scarred by his relationships. The author skillfully illustrates in their story the awkward growth towards deep love and healing. This was an honest and deeply satisfying story of overcoming fears, wounds, and doubt to arrive at joy.
Evelyn, as fiery-spirited as her hair, carries a load of pain and self-doubt. Gideon, virtually unloved and unwanted by those who should have cared, also is scarred by his relationships. The author skillfully illustrates in their story the awkward growth towards deep love and healing. This was an honest and deeply satisfying story of overcoming fears, wounds, and doubt to arrive at joy.
May 25, 2023
Tender!
The Christmas Wish was unexpected- It was romantic, yet filled with many of life’s troubles and feelings. The main characters are not perfect people and showed their vulnerabilities. Their families played a big part of their lives. I enjoyed this book more than any I have read in a long time!
The Christmas Wish was unexpected- It was romantic, yet filled with many of life’s troubles and feelings. The main characters are not perfect people and showed their vulnerabilities. Their families played a big part of their lives. I enjoyed this book more than any I have read in a long time!
November 22, 2023
Sweet-but-quirky Evelyn has never even been kissed -- but she's had her heart broken before by a thoughtless bounder. Evelyn's papa tries to bring her out of her shell (and to the attention of other suitors) by encouraging scandal-plagued Gideon to pay attention to Evelyn. And of course that plan goes awry when they start to fall for each other.
November 30, 2023
ebook
She’s been hurt and isn’t the belle of the season. Her dad asks for help from a gentleman not popular . He is just supposed to dance with her to being some attention to her, but as all good plans, he falls for her. But she’s wary, not willing to be hurt again. Can he woo her
She’s been hurt and isn’t the belle of the season. Her dad asks for help from a gentleman not popular . He is just supposed to dance with her to being some attention to her, but as all good plans, he falls for her. But she’s wary, not willing to be hurt again. Can he woo her
December 1, 2023
wonderful read
A lot of emotional issues in this story concerning a heading to spinsterhood young lady and a young man who never had opportunity to experience true friendship or paternal love. How they get together and the road they travel to their hea made for a delightful read
A lot of emotional issues in this story concerning a heading to spinsterhood young lady and a young man who never had opportunity to experience true friendship or paternal love. How they get together and the road they travel to their hea made for a delightful read
December 5, 2023
what the heart needs
This is an introspective tale so we’ll told it doesn’t need a grand climax to keep the reader’s attention. Finding a true mate is a last ditch wish for an almost spinster. Finding love doesn’t seem likely for an almost confirmed bachelor. But an interfering father puts the wheels in motion.
This is an introspective tale so we’ll told it doesn’t need a grand climax to keep the reader’s attention. Finding a true mate is a last ditch wish for an almost spinster. Finding love doesn’t seem likely for an almost confirmed bachelor. But an interfering father puts the wheels in motion.
December 24, 2023
Fun read
This was exactly what I needed to read right now. Sweet, clean romance with just enough angst to enhance the storyline. I loved the characters and found the writing itself to be excellent. Nothing deep here, just a sweet story. This is my first M.A.Nichols, but it won’t be my last.
This was exactly what I needed to read right now. Sweet, clean romance with just enough angst to enhance the storyline. I loved the characters and found the writing itself to be excellent. Nothing deep here, just a sweet story. This is my first M.A.Nichols, but it won’t be my last.
December 7, 2024
The Christmas Wish by M.A. Nichols – The last of the Finches to marry is sweet Evelyn. When her father asks a young man who could use the social boost to engage in what boils down to a fake dating pact, Gideon is hesitant. But the more time he spends with Evelyn, the more danger their budding romance is in when his past associations come to call. So very sweet! Happy Holiday Reading!
December 30, 2022
Too Much
The emotional and psychological problems of the two main characters are over played, especially with Gideon. Otherwise this is a good addition to the series. Certainly recommend reading.
The emotional and psychological problems of the two main characters are over played, especially with Gideon. Otherwise this is a good addition to the series. Certainly recommend reading.
March 23, 2023
Five stars more
This entire journey through recency English society has been spectacular. Evelyn and Gideon's story is a worthwhile conclusion. I heartily recommend the reading of the entire series whether by family or timeline.
This entire journey through recency English society has been spectacular. Evelyn and Gideon's story is a worthwhile conclusion. I heartily recommend the reading of the entire series whether by family or timeline.
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