After having read 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, I was excited to see this book! It met my expectations and was a great story. Griep’s so good at writing this time period. She helps the reader slip from the present day into the past. The stories come alive. The characters are so well developed. The relationships between the characters are natural and flow easily. There’s no stiltedness about this book. I love the bit of sass and snark too! I found myself laughing, wanting to cry, feeling impatient, etc! I couldn’t wait to see what happened to the characters. There are strong themes of redemption and forgiveness, love and grace, and patience in this story.
Overall really well written, great story. I enjoyed it.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley. I was not required to write a review. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.

Truly - A Tale of Two Hearts !

Ms Griep's writing talents evident once again in this second tale of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Inspiring Dickens quotes invite the reader into this storyworld. Loveable Mina with her mind on Dickens' novels and her heart lost to William the handsome regular at her father's inn. William himself scheming his way into his Uncle's good graces and taking Mina along for the ride...

Family plots and despots piqued my attention as I too was taken along for this dynamic reading rollercoaster. And enjoying its buoyancy, despite drama and desperation, as characters became embroiled in deception.

But what will be lost in the final scheme? Is there ever a second chance? Can two hearts survive?

Unique historical details, characters evidencing tangible development, suspense ~
all kept me stealing moments to discover more . . .

1. How did you feel about the setting? London, 1853, at the time when Charles Dickens was writing. It was obviously well-researched. I even learned what a reticule was by the author's description.
2. What do potential readers need to know most about the main character? Mina is a poor innkeeper's daughter who dreams of her crush, William Barlow. When William asks her to help him by pretending to be his new bride for an afternoon, she can't say no. But her heart is more than just an infatuated youth. She is compassionate for not only his rich Uncle Barlow but also for the less fortunate sick whom she sacrifices to help. Mina is also an intelligent girl, always trying to read the latest Dickens novel, her penchant for reading landing her in Uncle Barlow's good graces, as well as bonding her to my heart as a friend who understands my own hobby. William Barlow, on the other hand, is not quite so likable. It's a good thing the author mentioned his care for his sick mother early on, or I might have been inclined to think of William as a cad, a flirt. He doesn't have the squeakiest past. But he does seem to have changed. At 41% of the book now, I hope he doesn't betray Mina's trust.
3. Which supporting character caught your interest the most? Uncle Barlow, of course, a merry, intelligent, merciful man, gave William a second chance and took an instant liking to Mina. He also reads, quoting Dickens as much as Mina, which of course warms my heart, too.
4. What journey does the main character take? Mina journeys from working for her father and escaping through books to living out a real adventure beginning with deception, fear, and pining, ending with integrity, courage, and romance.
5. How is the writing style or quality of the writing? Excellent! From the first line, we get a sense of Mina's character and the second paragraph pulls us directly into her life, the setting, the dreariness of her current existence. Masterful storytelling, beautiful editing, and likable, relatable characters! My kind of book! I read 11 chapters in one sitting, because I kept wanting to know the character's reactions.
6. Is there humor in the book? Yes, some.
7. (for Christian fiction) Are there spiritual truths to be gleaned from the story? The mentions of God and religion are light. However, William does credit God, along with Uncle Barlow, for his reformation. Whether that was a true conversion or not is finally revealed in chapter 27. Also, the theme of truth and deception is summed up in this great quote: “Maybe—perhaps—true meaning in life had nothing to do with outward trappings but with inward genuineness.”
8. For whom would you recommend this book? Anyone who loves literature, especially Dickens, will enjoy his quotes throughout, not only at the beginning of each chapter but also woven into the dialogue and thoughts of the characters themselves. I also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a delightful read, suspenseful but light on the mystery, a quick but satisfying read.
9. Who will not like this book? I don't know how anyone could not love this book! The only thing I didn't like about this book was very minor. I was disappointed that we didn't get any closure about Mina leaving the Secret Society.
10. Favorite quotes?
“'Oh, pardon me. Did I say that out loud?'”
“Uncle Barlow's shoulders shook with a great chuckle. 'Ahh, but you do a heart good.'”
“A heroine would've given him some kind of explanation instead of running off like a coward. Oh, what a humbling truth.”
“Reading about such intrigues was far different from living it—and she wasn't sure she liked it. At all.”
“'My mother—God rest her—always told me to think of eternity, then live backward from that. Such a view has a way o' whittlin' down our current troubles to a size we can crumple up into a ball and toss aside.'”

(I received this book for free from the publisher through CelebrateLit. The decision to write a review, as well as the opinions expressed in it, are all my own. I was not compensated for this review.)

I do love this story! I think my expectations of it overshadowed the plot by a little bit though... I was expecting another mysterious novel, like the first book in the series (which has much more of an Agatha Christie-esqe plot, in which I was fully enamored). In book two, I found the story, while intriguing, to be more romance-driven (not quite so much my taste, but I liked it anyway).

I still greatly enjoyed this volume, especially the Victorian setting, the faith-based plot, the Dickens references, and the love for books so vividly displayed!

Will I be reading the next book in the series if/when it is published? You betcha!

Grab a mug of your favorite Christmas tea or coffee, sit in your most comfortable reading spot near the Christmas tree, and get ready to savor another wonderful installment in Michelle Griep's Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. A Tale of Two Hearts follows the story of Mina, a book-loving daughter of an inn keeper, and William, the dashing hero of her dreams who frequents the inn. What begins when Will, on a whim, asks Mina to pose as his wife at a small tea with his uncle to prove that Will has settled, married, and is worthy to be named his uncle's heir turns into a much more complicated situation. It is a tale of grace, truth, and second chances -- the second-chance coin from the first book returns! As with Griep's other books, character development is key, and I loved watching the relationship between Mina and Will evolve as the story unfolds.
My only regret is that my reading of Dickens has been limited to A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. I feel as if I missed some of Griep's little nods to other Dickens characters and plots.
A beautiful story to read at Christmas or any other time of the year!
Thanks so much to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy in order to supply my honest opinion.

The month of December is like no other month of the year. The whole month is filled with parties, gifts, decorations everywhere, lots and lots of goodies, and Hallmark Christmas movies. December seems to be the only month when I am not only willing, but urgently seeking out Christmas movies. Hallmark has so many of the these movies I find myself craving. Movies with not a lot of depth - there is not a lot of deep thinking going on, movies where relationships happen unbelievably quickly, people always forgive each other and there is always a happy ending. Any other time of the year such a description would not have me wishing every day I could find the time to watch such a movie. In December though I can’t get enough and I enjoy every minute of it.

While reading A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep I couldn’t help but compare it to a Hallmark Christmas movie. There was not a lot of depth, relationships happened unbelievably quickly, people forgave each other and of course there was a happy ending. Just like a Hallmark Christmas movie, I have to say I really enjoyed the experience.

Set in London in 1853, Mina Scott is an Innkeeper’s daughter who loves to read, especially Charles Dickens. She wishes that her life could be as exciting as the characters she reads about. She dreams that someday William Barlow, a customer at the inn, will fall romantically in love with her, just like a plot in one of the books she reads. William’s uncle will soon be naming his heir. William has given his uncle the impression that he is married in hopes of securing the inheritance for himself. When his uncle invites him and his wife for a visit William asks Mina to be his pretend bride. I’m pretty sure I have seen a Christmas movie with just such a plot and just as I enjoyed the movie, I enjoyed this book.

I loved the references to books written by Dickens. Mina loves reading just as much as I do and she sees her favorite authors as much as celebrities as I do. Though we don’t get to know the characters really well I found them enjoyable. A Tale of Two Hearts is the second book in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Though there were a few characters that are mentioned that we met in 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, and a coin that first appears in that book which reappears in A Tale of Two Hearts it can be read without reading the first book, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor.

If you can’t get to a TV to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie A Tale of Two Hearts will fill your craving for unexplainable enjoyment.

I loved this book. The story of Mina and Will is a story of second chances. Second chances for many characters in this Tale of Two Hearts. Once again, Michelle Griep's storytelling drew me in and did not let go. I listened from beginning to end without stopping.
I loved the reappearance of the second chance coin and the meaning it holds.

I purchased the audio version of this book after I began reading it. LOVED it!

update 12/3: updated my rating

"And in the meantime, when ere your fingers rub against the metal, think on more than just the second chance I gave you. Think on the second chance God gives us all, eh love?"

A Tale of Two Hearts (2018, Barbour), second in the Once Upon A Dickens Christmas series by Michelle Griep, is a Christian historical romance set in 1853 London. The novel is a standalone story, and is only connected to 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by the Dickens theme and the presence of a certain second chance coin, passed along by a secondary character present in both books. I wanted to read this book simply because I read everything I can by this author!

Rating: 4.5 stars (update: When I originally gave this book 5 stars, I checked the "dislike" section in the review and felt that all the negatives were either very minor or only reflective of my personal preferences. I overlooked my comments about the language in a different section. While the language issues outlined below were not prevalent, they were present, and not quite what I think should be in Christian fiction.)

The heroine: Wilhemina Scott, 23, is the beautiful daughter of an innkeeper. Her life revolves around helping her father, Jasper Scott, run the Golden Egg Inn. Mina loves to read Charles Dickens books and is involved in helping her community. She has quite a crush on William Barlow, one of their patrons. So when he asks a favor of her, "how could she refuse the man she'd cast as the champion in every story she'd read?"

The hero: William Barlow has lately been invited to tea by his uncle, who insists that William bring his wife with him. Uncle Barlow is trying to decide which deserving married relative to bequeath his estate to. Will explains to his good friend, "Well, I gave Uncle Barlow the impression I'd recently wed, or I'd not even be considered." Which, of course leads right into a fake marriage trope. As Mina serves him at the inn, he asks, "Say, Mina. You wouldn't be willing to be my bride, would you?"

Christian elements:

*Prayers are uttered. "Lord, though I don't deserve it…"

*There's contemplation on the nature of God during prayer.

*"My mother - God rest her - always told me to think of eternity, then live backward from that. Such a view has a way o' whittlin' down our current troubles to a size we can crumple up into a ball and toss aside."

Is it clean/chaste? Yes, certainly!

Language

*The cook surprisedly exclaims, "Peas and porridge!" Substitute swear?

*The hero of this story utters these British swears: "Thunderation!" and "Blast it!"

*"Sweet Heavens! What was he to do?"

*"What in all of God's great goodness could…?"

What I liked:

*I'm not a Dickens expert, but I definitely found some nods to Dickens' stories!

*Quotes from Dickens at the beginning of each chapter. I just love to see this in books I read, and these quotes are fabulous. Also, the names of some book titles unknown to me are downright delightful. Martin Chuzzlewit, anyone? I think I need to read more Dickens.

*"Pen nibs scritch-scratched like little feet running across so many pages, and the hushed whispers of conferring clerks circled the room, as dry and rustling as leaves caught up in an eddy."

*"Pay her no mind, my dear. I should much rather live in a world of unicorns and faeries."

What I didn’t like: (all nitpicks or personal preferences)

*"Just thinking his name lit a fire in her belly." The on-fire bellies grates on me even though I don't believe the author overdoes it.

*At one point, Mina thinks, "Why was God so good to her?" I objected to this statement because she's experiencing something under false pretenses. The reader likely knows that this is a misguided statement, but I think it would have been better left out - or better to have Mina call herself out on her own statement.

*Just a couple of nitpicks regarding period language: The phrases "out of context", "...it's not like I can…" and "...not knowing how the plot wil twist…" feel anachronistic. However, I think Griep does a great job with period-appropriate language in general.

*The fake marriage scenario is NOT my favorite romance trope, but as the characters have misgivings about it, it assuaged my feelings. "Her heart twisted, and she drew back her fingers. The old fellow would not say such things if he knew he held the hand of a deceiver."

***********

The bottom line: A Tale of Two Hearts was a delightful Christmas read. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Christian historical fiction or Charles Dickens fans. In the very near future, I'll be reading Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery, also by Ms. Griep.

I enjoyed this cozy Dickensian Christmas romance! Uncle Barlow was my favorite because of his good humor and wisdom. The rest of the cast goes about trying to deceive or manipulate him for the most of the book - some for honorable reasons, some not.

The romance between William and Mina was sweet and the lessons learned about honesty and what's truly important (people over status) were melded naturally into the story.

This Christmas series has been a treat!

This was a delightful book! This book was perfect to read for Christmas, and it had a nice romance in it. If you're looking for a good book to read for Christmas, then I recommend this historical Christian book! :)

From the beginning of this delightful book, I was invested in the characters and the storyline. It was easy to become fond of the likeable characters and to dislike the rotten ones.

I would love to be friends with Mina. Mina gets distracted by and lost in books. Her current read is David Copperfield, one of my most favorite books! And, she is reading it for the very first time...lucky, little bookworm!

Miss Whymsy was such a fun character! She was an older friend who loaned books to Mina and her trademark scent was lavender and old books.

I loved the sweet and loyal friendship between Mina and Effie. True friends who spurred one another on to do good works and gave each other courage.

I loved the secret group that Mina, Miss Whymsy and Effie belonged to! Such a noble mission...doing good deeds, unannounced.

Mina hoped to meet and marry the man of her dreams one day, but she was also concerned about much needed social reform.

Every young adult needs an older friend/mentor. Mina and Will each had such a friend to guide and advise them.

I loved how the romance between Will and Mina originated as an attraction, pretense and daydreams, but grew into something real and satisfying.

As you read this delightful book, you will see that second chances, mixed with much kindness and forgiveness can lead to happy, perfect endings.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for my complimentary copy of this book. I was under no obligation to post a review.

What a lovely book for Christmas time or any time of the year!
Deceit, redemption, love and second chances are wonderfully woven into this story. Forgiveness - not only from people - but also from God is beautifully written down to touch the readers' hearts.
A delightful story to savor with a hot cup of chocolate on a winter evening.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a year now. It was worth the wait! Last year I read the first book in the series and knew that if it was any indication of what was to come I wouldn't be disappointed. I wasn't. This book shifts the story to an unlikely couple. William Barlow seems to be the perpetual bachelor and Mina Scott is a server at her father's tavern. Mina has had a crush on William since she first set eyes on William but he's not really paid that much attention. But when a family situation arrises Mina becomes the perfect person to help William.

This charming story takes a few twists and turns but on the whole stays pretty much as you would expect. It really is the perfect read for a cozy night in front of the fire. The characters are lively (just wait until you meet Uncle Barlow) and the romance is warm and fuzzy. If you've been binge watching Christmas movies then this will be a nice change of pace. The little shout outs to the wonderful works of Dickens are the perfect accompaniment to this delightful story.

I am eagerly anticipating the third book in this series which is slated to come out next year. I hope that this will become a nice little Christmas tradition from Michelle Griep for years to come.

This was a great novel! And I enjoyed so much reading it, especially now that we are getting close to the Christmas Season.
It is set in 1853 in London, victorian era. Mina is the Innkeeper's daughter, a bit frustrated of her "boring" life, and dreaming of a better and much more exciting life of a real lady. She constantly escapes to her books, where all her dreams always come true. She also has a secret crush on William Barlow, one of the Inn's frequent guests. William is a charming young man, but as penniless as charismatic he is. He wants nothing more than to inherit his elderly uncle's wealth, so he pretends to be married, to gain a few points over his scheming cousin. But the story complicates as William's uncle asks him to bring his wife so he can meet her... William reccurs to Mina, will she be his pretend wife?
This is a lovely story. I loved that it has depth, and it is not just romance. It is two people finding their way in the world, both flawed, but kind and compassionate with others.
I also liked that it had an inspiring message about trusting God with your life, about forgiveness, mercy and second chances.
Both characters were wonderful portrayed. I just struggled a bit with William at first, he seemed so superficial. But I liked how he grows throughout the story. Mina has her growing to do too and I loved her character and found myself cheering for her, and for William too!
The Dickens quotes made the book all the more interesting. I love Dickens!
This is a story I totally recommend to anyone who likes historicals! I haven't read the first book, I don't think it is necessary to read this one. But now I know I will be definitely getting book number 1!
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Will love or lies win out at Christmastime...?

I'll be the first to admit that I've never been into reading Dickens. The Christmas Carol was more than enough for me, and A Tale Of Two Cities, yeah, I didn't get past the first few pages. What I am into is Michelle Griep's wonderful brand of historical romance. When I read book one of the Once Upon A Dickens Christmas series last year I knew I would be looking forward to the next book.

A Tale Of Two Hearts was a little different than its predecessor in that there was less adventure and more about the motivations of the hero and heroine themselves. Will and Mina are two of the most delightfully flawed characters. They make mistakes and their relationship is mostly based on deceit as they do all of the wrong things for the right reasons.

A Tale Of Two Hearts is a fairly quick Holiday read perfect for these crisp cool days. Whether you are a Dickens fan or not Michelle Griep's latest addition to her Once Upon A Dickens Christmas series is a fun story. A story of second chances and love during the Christmas season.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

This was a comfortable, light holiday read! Perfect to snuggle up with while sitting in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate. I enjoyed the characters and the story. While there isn’t a lot of depth to the characters, they were still likable. Occasionally there were moments that felt a little “preach-y,” but overall it was an entertaining tale. I liked the inclusion of the “second-chance coin.” I’ve read several of Michelle Griep’s books and have enjoyed them a little more than this story. So even if this one isn’t your cup of tea, be sure to try Brentwood’s Ward (my favorite of her books).

Clean read, rated G
—no sex
—no language
—no violence

I was provided this ebook free from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

very sweet story and nice characters. had all the sweetness I look for in a holiday romance including a nice resolution

This is such a delightfully charming, Dickens-ish Christmas story. I loved it!
I loved seeing quotes from different Dickens books at the beginning of each chapter.

I loved the characters, especially Mina. She's so sweet! And then, William. He's an excellent hero, reminiscent of Dickens. He's trying so hard to do right, but has to live up to high expectations to overcome some bad from his past.

He wants to help his mother, but in order to get the funds he needs, he hopes to be named as the heir to his Uncle Barlow's estate. But he needs to have a wife, and so he is sure that Mina will be a good one to help him in this endeavor. What an interesting story line! And yes, their deception kept getting them in where they didn't want to go...

The setting. The foods described. All of it combined to be a perfectly quaint Christmas novel.

If you like Dickens, or if you like historical fiction, give this one a try!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

In A Tale of Two Hearts, Michelle Griep creates characters of great depth. The themes of love, second chances, and trying to build an authentic life are throughout this book.
The main characters, Mina Scott and William Barlow, engage in the classic romance novel trope of pretend wife/fiancée. Their reasons for this lie are noble, but they are plagued by the fact that they are deceiving other characters in the story that they care about. As Mina and William begin to care for each other, the initial lie begets more lies and makes them question each other’s true intentions.
This is the second book in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. You wouldn’t need to read book one to enjoy book two. The connection between the books is a “second chance coin” that is clearly and nicely explained.
Even though this book gets classified as Christian Fiction, I think its appeal can go beyond that audience. This is a well written historical romance in which the characters happen to think about God and how to live their lives with a connection to a higher power, but that isn’t the entirety of the story.
The way this series has been put together is beautiful. The covers are lovely. The paper quality with its ragged edges gives the appearance of an old book. I like the quotes from the novels of Charles Dickens that grace each chapter.
Loved the quote Griep uses for chapter two from Great Expectations, “I have been bent and broken, but – I hope - into a better shape.”
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

A Tale of Two Hearts features one of my favorite tropes: fake relationship turned real. In this case, William asks Mina to attend a family dinner as his "wife," as he told his elderly uncle Barlow he was married in an effort to get the man to name him the heir. It backfires when Uncle Barlow refuses to name an heir immediately and invites William and Mina, along with William's cousin and his wife, to his country estate for Christmas. Mina hates the deception but goes along with it because she believes it's in Uncle Barlow's best interest ... and along the way, she and William realize their relationship may be more real than they'd planned.

This is an engaging story with interesting characters and just a touch of intrigue. But my favorite part? Uncle Barlow. The man is simply delightful, and I loved the rapport between him and Mina. I also appreciated that there was a secondary romance for Uncle Barlow—that man deserved every happiness.

While I probably enjoyed the plot of 12 Days at Bleakly Manor with its Agatha Christie-esque mystery more, I think A Tale of Two Hearts is the better-written book. All loose ends are tied up, and I'm eager to see where the "second chance" coin goes next!