One year ago, on Christmas, Drew Harwood returned home from the Great War, only to lose his fiancée to the Spanish flu. Determined to never love again, he's become standoffish and a recluse, but that is all about to change, when the sister of his army buddy comes to visit her brother on Christmas, and Drew's personal ghost decides the man is ready to move on.


This one started off really well. I liked the sad prologue and I liked the first couple of chapters, where the characters were introduced, where the nice countryside and little town picture was painted.

Unfortunately, after those few chapters passed, everything ground to a standstill. The characters, especially the hero, turned rather childish and immature in their actions, decisions, and even some conversations, there was no development whatsoever, the romance felt forced and came across as rather awkward, and the fact it was helped along by the ghost of the hero's departed sweetheart didn't help matters at all.

Audra and Drew are fighting the demons of their past as they come together in the Harwood House Hotel. A helping hand from Drew's past love from the other side steers them to a future together. Good story in the Whiskey river series.

Ebook from Net Galley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

A Texas Christmas Past is the first story in the four book multi-author series inspired by Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol. Set in Whiskey River Texas, the series starts with the idea of the ghost of Christmas Past. In this case, the ghost is Felicity, Drew Harwood’s fiancée, who died soon after bis return home after World War One. Felicity’s dying wish is for Drew to be happy for both of them.
With the delicate scent of lavender floating into key scenes throughout the story, we are reminded of Felicity’s subtle matchmaking as she works to heal Drew and give him the happy ever after she believes he deserves.
Drew’s war wounds are mental as well as physical - he has shell shock, which has caused him to withdraw into himself. His character is well developed and believable although he does a bit too much soul searching at times.
Audra Donaldson has also been traumatised by the war having served as a nurse on the front lines. She’s a widow and has strong views on how she’d like her future to unfold. Marriage is not in her plans, and while she’s willing to stay in Whiskey River until Christmas, that’s not where she intends to remain.
The story unfolds delightfully with the ghostly Felicity orchestrating events quietly in the background. At times I felt it could have picked up the pace a little but overall I really enjoyed this one.

A Texas Christmas Past is book one in the "Whiskey River Christmas series" and if you like historical Christmas stories set in Texas this is the one to read. It is filled with love and romance and second chances. If you also like that the "Christmas spirit" can help people fall in love it will help you like this book and story even more. It´s such a good, very well written story, that you just want to keep on turning those pages.

A heartwarming story of sorrow and renewal that brings many emotions to the surface. Set in 1918 after WWI, this is a different setting than most historical romances and was a good perspective of life during that time. As in any war, there are always losses, whether it be physically or mentally and this story addressed many.. Drew Harwood has come home from the war, wounded but has kept hope alive by anticipating seeing his sweetheart Felicity. Unfortunately Felicity perishes from a sickness that has traveled through the area. Audra has been a nurse during the war and has seen horrors herself. but is trying to cope. Audra travels to Drew's ranch in order to be with her brother, who works at Drew's ranch and begins working at a nearby hospital. Can two injured souls help each other and find love themselves? The author is excellent in her descriptions of the many problems facing returning soldiers and their families. The emotions are strong and you will find yourself tearing up but smiling as well when Felicity's spirit makes some appearances to try to help Drew. What a wonderful story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Sometimes you just want a romance to be straightforward. You want to feel comfortable and cosy. This book certainly delivers on these needs.
This is a sweet historical romance with a matchmaker ghost to add to the holiday spirit.
After reading, I felt satisfied that all bases had been covered. Early sadness. A tortured hero, a feisty heroine. Some holiday magic. A little steam. A happy ending. What more do you need on cold winter nights.

I am a fan of historical romance, I really enjoyed this book. I finished it because I liked it! . it was not overly mired in the minutia of life in that time - it seemed accurate but more natural than many other historical romances.

What a sweet Christmas romance! Taking place a year after the end of World War I, neither Drew nor Audra escaped the war without scars. Drew was injured, and though his leg never fully regained all of its motion, it is his violent, shell-shocked nightmares that steal most of his joy. Audra was a nurse and took care of injured frontline soldiers. Their unit was hit by artillery, and she too has nightmares. With their shared wartime scars and the shared pain of losing their spouses, Drew and Audra are a match made in healing Heaven. But they fight it, just like all good romances do.

I enjoyed that it was set in my home state of Texas and that it was a cozy December read. The PTSD was realistically done through the historical lens, and it was beautiful to watch the chemistry sizzle between the leads. It's available now, and certainly worth a read if you want a sweet, quick, Christmas romance.

Thank you to Netgalley, Julia Justiss, and Tule Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Drew Harwood survived World War I and made it home to Texas and his beloved fiancee, Felicity, just in time for Christmas and the annual Harwood Ball. Within hours of his arrival, Felicity falls ill with the Spanish Flu, and dies with Drew at her side. Her one request is that he live and love for both of them.
A year later, it's obvious Drew is struggling. Between his struggles to put the War behind him and the loss of Felicity, he has become more closed off and isolated, although he helps his mother convert the family home into an inn. The early arrival of his best friend's sister for an extended stay throws him for a loop. Audra Donaldson has had her share of tragedy: she spent the War as a nurse on the front lines of the war and also lost her husband. She is happy to visit her brother, but is determined to continue her nursing work with veterans. When she hears Drew in the midst of a nightmare, her training kicks in and she rushes to help. Felicity may have died, but her ghost has been watching over Drew, almost giving up hope that he would find happiness. When Audra arrives, Felicity realizes she could be the one for Drew...maybe with a little push.
This was a wonderful beginning to a series of stories, written by different authors, but featuring a Felicity who helps the couples along.
Drew and Audra had both faced so much, and had so much baggage trying to move on with life after the horrors of war. The story was by turns sweet and heartbreaking as we went through their ups and downs as they shared both happiness and their struggles.
I really enjoyed this story, the characters, and a look at life in early 1900s Texas. I am also excited to see what Felicity does next in the rest of the series.

Appreciated the flawed characters, but flawed in a way that can be identified with. Always like strong female characters that go after what they want.

There are four books in this series, each written by a different author but all featuring Felicity - the matchmaking ghost! She was looking forward to marrying the love of her life, Drew Harwood, after he returned from fighting in the first world war. However, fate intervened and she died of Spanish Flu shortly after his return. Felicity didn’t want him to stay alone and took steps to help him and others to find their HEA at Christmas.

In ‘A Texas Christmas Past’ the events in Felicity’s tragic demise are related before going on to show how Felicity helped to bring together the man she loved with the widowed sister of his best friend from his time in the army, the man who has made it possible for him to keep his ranch running. Audra Donaldson had worked as a nurse during the war and has seen more than her share of tragedy. She is visiting her brother for the Christmas season and plans to go to work with others who have been traumatised by their war experiences and suffering the then unacknowledged PTSD. She is suffering herself and has personal knowledge of strategies to help herself and others. Drew is determined to resist his attraction to the nurse but Felicity has other lavender scented plans for the two!

This is a lovely, caring romance which is a great introduction to the series and scenarios. It is a heartwarming story with great characters and one that left me eager to read the subsequent stories in this series!

I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

It's been awhile since I read a book in this time frame, and it didn't disappoint! I got a little teary about poor Felicity in the beginning, poor thing. But I really liked Audra and Drew and I'm curious about Brady's story as well now lol. It was a very special story that pulls on the heartstrings.

I am usually not a fan of historical romance but I really enjoyed this book. I started it because I felt I should read the whole Whiskey River Christmas series but I finished it because I liked it! I think I liked it primarily because the heroine Audra was such a strong woman and challenged societal boundaries. Secondarily I liked that whole clearly an historical story it was not overly mired in the minutia of life in that time - it seemed accurate but more natural than many other historical romances. Finally of course the very challenging romance between Audra and Drew was the true centerpiece of the story (and sweet Felicity’s role!). Drew’s demons were more obvious than Audra’s initially but she had some very real challenges to overcome to be with Drew.

A Texas Christmas Past is a story with many layers. Some layers are light hearted and charming, others are darker, more into the realm of nightmares than dreams for Drew and Audra both know the ravages of war and neither has emerged unscathed. At the ending of World War I the medical profession was only beginning to understand the emotional, mental and physical aspects of what was then called shell-shocked and now we know as PTSD.

Drew was injured during the war as his limp is a constant reminder of a leg that no longer works as it once did. What destroys his nights, and sometimes days, are the dreams, the memories of battle. And he will not acknowledge them as he sees them as a weakness that he must overcome on his own and hide until he can. Added to his anguish is the death of the woman he was to marry, Felicity, to a savage outbreak of Spanish flu that stole so many lives. He had just returned home and within hours had lost the love of his life, the woman who he fought to return to. Now he is a completely closed off man who lives in constant nightmares of the past and sees no future that will give any relief.

Audra also knows the terrors of battle as she was a nurse tending the wounded, often within the range of artillery shells She is a widow who has resolved to never risk love again for to lose someone is simply to painful to bear. She also suffers from nightmares where she is back on the battlefield, although she has an advantage of knowing of breaking developments in the treatment of shell-shocked soldiers and utilizes those methods on herself. She’s traveled to Drew’s ranch where her brother now lives and works alongside of Drew for a month long visit, and to establish herself at a nearby hospital where the staff is also working with soldiers returning from the war. Two people who battle similar emotional and mental anguish and who can easily understand what the other is going through. The difference is Audra is willing to acknowledge her troubles and works to resolve them – Drew is in denial and continues to fight anyone who tries to help him.

One woman who was denied her time with her loved one will work to bring Drew and Audra together… as much as a ghost can. She wants the man she loves to find happiness, to love again and Audra is perfect for him, he just has to see that.

It’s very easy to get caught up in Audra and Drew’s story. I ached for them both for perhaps different reasons. Drew is so stubborn, yet once he lets his guard down he is so tender with Audra. They will not have an easy path to a happy ever after, but the difficulties they face will make the ending that much sweeter. I laughed, I definitely cried and at times my heart broke for this couple. A Texas Christmas Pastis an excellent introduction to the Whiskey River Christmas series, and one that I would highly recommend to any reader who enjoys a touch of whimsy and a touch of reality in their romance reading. I believe you’ll find your heart touched by this romance, and isn’t that why we read Romance?

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Most of what I have read of Texan historical romance fiction takes place in the 1800’s. It was refreshing to see a different time in A Texas Christmas Past by Julia Justiss. The effects of war, in this case WWI, on so many lives are illuminated through the characters of Audra Donaldson and Drew Harwood as Christmas approaches in 1918.

This character driven story has a wonderful plot with a little of the mystical in it that I found to be touching. While Felicity’s actions are not at all probable; still it added to the magic, making this an enchanting yet bittersweet story. Also, the Harwood House Inn and surrounding ranch descriptions seen through the eyes of the characters stood out to me as I read.

A Texas Christmas Past is Christmas is more than the traditional Christmas romance book. I have found myself thinking of these characters, and actual people that must have come home to similar situations. It is a story that will stick with you long after you close the book upon completion.

Unfortunately for me, this story with great promise, left me feeling unsatisfied. I had expected more involvement of Felicity’s ghost in the lives of Drew and Audra as the brief summary about the book had led me to believe.
I really enjoyed the determination and independent attitude of Audra to minister to returning veterans from WW1 despite circumstances. Drew came across as too wishy-washy and self-centered to ever fully commit to another woman. Even when he did apparently take advantage of his second chance, I didn’t believe him.