A Tale of Two Hearts: Book 2 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep is a moving love-story by Barbour.
Every chapter starts with a quote from a beloved book by Charles Dickens and the novel is surrounded by a Dickensian spirit.
London 1853, more precisely Golden Egg: Mina Scott is the daughter of Jasper Scott, owner of the inn. Avid reader of Dickens's books, (although her dad doesn't want that she reads because according to his point of view, she wouldn't find any man) Mina Scott secretly loves William.
William stops by at that inn once in a week for some ale.
One day he asks her a big pleasure: to become his wife for deceit.
After all William thinks, Mina is culturally prepared; she will avoid bad figures.
The purpose of William? He would want to be the heir chosen by uncle Barlow; mr Barlow is a man with a great property and pretty wealthy; Will has a serious problem and for this reason he is searching to become the heir.
But, you know: it would be perfect, considering that in the past he hasn't been a saint, to introduce a reassuring good girl, a wife, in grade to "present him" a good reputation as a good man at the eyes of his uncle Barlow.
Mina is in love for Will and of course she loves to make him happy although she understands that not all the people involved in this story are so clear.
She also understands visiting that estate various times, that more than luxury it is important to be beauty inside, it is important to be good and honest people. This important message will also be launched by Will, when he will decide to help someone lost.
With the time Mina understands why Will wanted to be so badly the heir, and although this story starts with a crush, a deceit it will end with a wonderful happy end for all the protagonists, and all the problems will be, for once, like in a dream, or better, I should write, in a book, sorted out.

Keep close to you a box of Kleenex because some passages of this book are truly moving.

Highly recommended.

I thank NetGalley and Barbour for this eBook.

Anna Maria Polidori

This is book 2 in the Once Upon a Dickens' Christmas series, but it reads well as a standalone. This book is delightfully enchanting as you stroll through Dickens' era with Mina Scott and William Barlow. A topsy turvy tale as William embroils Mina in his attempt to appear married for his Uncle Barlow as Barlow decides which of his two nephews would become his heir. Even though William, had good intentions to protect his uncle from his cad cousin Percy, the truth from the beginning would have probably saved William as well as Mina from the problems they encountered with Uncle Barlow and Mina's father.

The Dickens' quotes at the beginning of each chapter were perfectly connected to whatever took place in the chapter, and Dickens cameo appearance at the fancy restaurant where William took Mina was a cute touch. The play on the title of the story to Dickens A Tale of Two Cities was clever as well. This was definitely an enjoyable Victorian read in which Michelle Griep kept me entertained from start to finish. I will be looking for book number 1 to see what else takes place in Once Upon a Dickens' Christmas.

What a super book taking place it Dickens time period. Well written and uplifting. Flows very well. The tension in the book is quite good. Highly recommend.

`Michele Griep's A Tale of Two Hearts is every bit as delightful as her first Christmas story Twelve Days at Bleakley Manor. She fills her stories with charming characters in interesting settings. Ms. Griep's books always teach a lesson but in a way that entertains. I loved the characters Mina and William. They are from different classes but meet at Mina's family's pub. Set at Christmas time the story definitely has a Dicken's feel to it. I read this during one of the hottest weeks of summer, so I turned the AC on high, curled up in a blanket and drank hot tea LOL.
So grab your mug of tea and enjoy a good read!

I was given this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

In this story we meet Will who is a law clerk, and Mina who works for her father in an inn that Will is a patron of. Mina’s father, Will’s cousin and his wife as well as Will’s uncle and a few friends of both Will and Mina round out this story of second chances. A marriage charade and the troubles that brings as well as some troublesome characters makes for an intriguing read. Wonderful story that keeps a reader involved as well as likeable characters make this a great addition to Michelle Griep’s Christmas stories.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing though NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once I picked this one up, I read to the end and it kept me entertained all the way.
We are in Dicken’s time in England, and we begin the story in a tavern, with a young girl who is impressed with a man that doesn’t seem to notice her until?
Will a man who has become a Christian be able to tell a lie to save the life of his Uncle, sounds so innocent doesn’t it, and will he drag his beautiful friend along with him.
I loved the ending of this book, and if you want a quick sweet romance this is it!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Shiloh Run Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep

I love that each chapter begins with a quote from a Dicken's book. This has inspired me to read more of Dicken's work.

Mina Scott is the daughter of the owner of the Golden Egg Inn. Mina works and lives at the Inn and enjoys reading and her friends as time permits.
There is one gentleman that has caught Mina's eye, one William Barlo.

Mister Barlow needs a pretend wife to have a chance to gain his uncle's approval that he has settled down and to be his uncle's heir. the next few weeks are a whirlwind of adventure you won't want to miss.

What a charming story! I loved all the reference Dickensian references.

William and Mina didn't appear to me right for each other at the beginning. She has a crush on him, but he comes across as not paying attention to her as much as she does to him.

When William realizes that his uncle is more likely to choose him as heir if he's married, he asks Mina to pretend to be be his fiancée. She agrees and, of course, not everything goes smoothly.

The prose is fantastic, as usual, the imagery working as an extent of the setting and theme. The characters are expertly developed and even Charles Dickens himself is referenced throughout.

And can't forget to mention the Dickens quotes at the beginning of each chapter, of course.

Looking forward to #3.

It comes to mind that these short novels are like a nod to Dickens' serials. Maybe?

Mina, who works in her father's inn, has been attracted to William, one of the inn's patron's, for months now, but he has never shown any interest in her. Then one day he finds himself in need of a fake bride, just for a night, and asks her to pretend. When she agrees, the two gradually sink deeper into a mire of deception - but they also become increasingly desirous of making the lies come true. The need for a bride relates to his uncle's selection of an heir, and the choice is between a man with an apparently unstained past but terrible intentions and a man with a bad past but excellent intentions - just not always the best way of going about things. When the lies on each side are exposed, who will win? And will two hearts be brought together, or forever sundered?

I was a little afraid from the title that the book would try to follow the storyline of a Dickens novel to its detriment, but was pleasantly surprised to find a completely new storyline, with only mentions of and quotes from Dickens, some of which I recognised and others not. Suitable for both fans of Dickens and those who would never touch anything he'd written, this clean and well written story is one that I would highly recommend to readers who like historical romances with a Christian flavour.

Characters: The more minor characters were somewhat Dickensian, in that they felt a little like caricatures at times - but Dickens does it well and so does this book. Mina and William felt more realistic, and I liked them both.
Storyline: Cleverly done, with the gradual buildup of both lies and conscience. A very satisfying ending, too.
Content and language: Clean and well written, no problems noted.
Message: Lies get you in a big mess, however well-intentioned? Some Christian content, but nothing over the top.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This is a wonderful Christmas story about second chances and redemption. It is such a sweet love story and it holds your attention. This book was a joy to read. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion of this book.

Isn't it just a wonderful feeling when you read a book and while reading it you feel so happy and content? Then to finish it and you're still contemplating the story and characters that have left you changed and wanting to do better/be better? I sure love that feeling and that is definitely how I felt while reading Michelle Griep's latest book. I absolutely love Charles Dickens. Confession-I've read several of his books but not all, but I have watched and rewatched several different adaptions of most of his books and absolutely love his characters and his way of showing life and people, struggles and triumph. I loved his little cameo in one of the scenes of this book but I especially loved how much our heroine, Mina Scott, loved Dickens' works. Plus as readers we get a little bonus throughout this book, the beginning of every chapter has a quote from different books by Dickens and the quote fits perfect with the chapter and what is happening with the characters in the upcoming scenes.

I loved the title of this book and the play on Dickens' book title A Tale of Two Cities. I loved these two characters who are flawed, have past mistakes, struggles and yet there is hope and goodness in them. They have dreams and desires that are good and are trying to navigate life the best they can. Sometimes they don't make the best choices and problems ensue because of those choices. But, I loved watching the inner turmoil. Isn't that how we all are? We have to make choices constantly. Sometimes those choices lead us where we want to go, or where we think we should go. And sometimes those choices lead us down paths that we shouldn't go and we wish we could take back heading in that direction. Michelle Griep illustrates so beautifully this concept of choices, mistakes and redemption in this story. Second chances can mean the world of difference in a life. Are we willing to offer them so that we might receive them?

Mina is such a sweet character. I loved her hope, her character not dwelling on her past struggles as much as she could have. Her dreams are very real and she tries to reach for them as well as trying to be kind and helpful to those in need. She's not afraid to own up to her mistakes even though it is hard. Fabulous character and perfect for William Barlow who needs a little bit more patience, love and understanding than he sometimes might deserve. That said, I didn't quite know if I would like his character at the beginning. But as more was revealed, I grew to like him. I wasn't always impressed with his choices but I could see his intent and cheered him on when he finally started realizing the path that would lead him to happiness.

If you haven't read the first book in this Once upon a Dickens Christmas series, it isn't necessary for reading this second book. But it is also an enjoyable read and another fun tribute to Charles Dickens. Definitely two books that I would recommend. And it doesn't even have to be Christmas time to read them, although that would be a great time to read them.

Content: Clean. Nothing beyond kissing. Christian topics are discussed, especially redemption and second chances but was not preachy for those readers who don't necessarily like Christian fiction because of a lot of religious talk. I think most readers would enjoy this book, Christian fiction fans or not.

I received a copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This is a completely charming Christmas story by Michelle Griep. Her excellent research adds great detail to the story, and she even included a cameo appearance by Charles Dickens himself. All the characters take their place very well in the storyline. Will and Mina are such a sweet
couple. It’s fun reading their story that gets rather tangled up on their way to their happily-ever-after. I’m never disappointed in any book Michelle Griep writes. I’m looking forward to the next one in this series. This book will go on my annual Christmas reading list.

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

Griep's second installment in her Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series, A Tale of Two Hearts, doesn't exactly make you think of A Tale of Two Cities, or at least it didn't make me think of it and that remains my favorite Dickens book. But, it is an apt title, especially since you can conceive that the two hearts could be one or any of several different couples. I like that a lot.

The easy answer of the two hearts is Mina and William, the principal characters and principal romance of the book. But the two hearts could also be William and Percy, his cousin, or the two hearts could be William and his mother, or they could be (view spoiler). This makes A Tale of Two Hearts a rather layered an nuanced book, which is a huge point in its favor.

Mina is an innkeeper's daughter, toiling away her life but her love of reading (and especially Dickens) transports her outside her not so great life. It also means that she spins fantasies about William Barlow who frequents the inn with his best friend for beers and food. They are not exactly a match, something made clear by William very early on. But, Mina is in love.

William is a recovering gambler and a law clerk, saved from penury and gaol by Uncle Barlow. But his former exploits have left a rift between them. William's cousin Percy certainly doesn't help matters either. William is quite thankful for his uncle and he works hard to make him proud even if they are not on speaking terms. But William has a major problem: his sick mother.

So, when Uncle Barlow decides he will decide between William and Percy for inheritance and William finds himself in want of a wife, he picks Mina. One has to assume that the Barlow estate is not entailed in any way, because otherwise, how would this work at all. This is just one of the oddnesses of A Tale of Two Hearts. That William picks Mina is another one. William apparently knows no ladies, as in, none at all in any way shape or form. Mina is his only option. This feels more than a little off as well. And Mina, with her background apparently has enough manners to pass. Is she getting this from the books she reads? What? How?

Archvillain Percy and his even more evil wife seem hellbent on getting the inheritance and plan nefarious schemes to do so. It's up to Mina and William to stop them, but to do that, they must also lie to Uncle Barlow. That causes no end of issues, especially when their secrets are unmasked.

But it's Christmas and a romance so all must come right in the end. I just wish it hadn't felt quite so forced. Even Percy was a reformed character by the end and I just stared at the page with a "WTF?" look. Seriously? Way too easy!

It's not a rollicking read nor is it a particularly interesting or accurate read. It often felt prosy and preachy. It lacked fully three-dimensional characters. And yet I liked it well enough. I'll kepp my eyes open for the next in the series and see where it goes.

I love Michelle Griep's writing! Her Dickens Christmas series is neat in that although the books are sequential, their ties to each other are not such that they have to be read in order (that I can tell...) Book one ties to book two with a side character. She works making hatboxes in the first book, and changes jobs at the end. In the second book she turns up as a fast friend of the main character, but is not central to the story line in either. Then based on the excerpt for book three, a secondary character from book two turns up in his new capacity as part of the initiation of the story line. So there are various secondary and side characters who tie the series together, but it does not require reading in order. I also like how Charles Dickens just kind of floats around as someone various people know, and he floats through in public scenes now and again. I've actually learned much about Dickens's writing from this series, and found I might be more interested in his writing than I thought. Ms. Griep opens each chapter of this story with a quote from Charles Dickens or his characters.
This is the story of Will and Mina. Mina lives with her nose in a book. She longs to live just one day in the life of one of the grand ladies in her stories. She spends her days serving ale to the customers at her father's inn, the only bright spot being Will Barlow - the handsome man she's cast as the hero of her own imaginings. But when a fake marriage turns to true feelings and a mad dash to expose a dastardly plot by scheming relatives, Will and Mina may find themselves buried in a web of deceit too tangled to undo... It will take all of their faith, and the grace of God to work things out!
I can always count on Ms. Griep for sweet, clean romance with twists and turns worthy of Oscar Wilde and Jane Austen. I love her characters, and I love that their faith in God plays a central role to their character development. I pretty much read anything she writes now, no question, and buy her books as gifts for my family and friends.

What a sweet Victorian Christmas story. This will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit. This is a heart warming romance with a bit of suspense. I definitely recommend it.
*I was given a copy by Barbour publishing and was not under any obligation to leave a review. This is my honest opinion.

This was my first introduction to Michelle Griep's Dickens Christmas Series. I found it to be delightful as she cited quotations from Dickens at the beginning of each chapter and then mined the premise throughout.

Michelle has a gift of weaving a tale to produce a fun story that the reader can't put down while also providing a tapestry of spiritual truths along the way. I highly recommend her work.

This book was provided free and I was not obligated in any way to give a favorable review - 2018.

'Either he believed all he'd heard and read of God, or he didn't.'

I enjoyed every moment of this book. Michelle Griep continues her 'Once Upon a Dickens Christmas' series with this second book. A second chance coin features in each novel and it was used so sweetly in this one.

Will is having tea with his rich Uncle Barlow, he and his loathsome cousin Percival and his equally obnoxious wife Alice. Uncle Barlow is going to let the men know which he intends to leave his worldly belongings to. But...Uncle Barlow wants Will to be married. So, Will asks Mina, the young woman who works in her father's tavern which he frequents if she will play the part of his wife for the evening, not knowing that Mina has a huge crush on him. Or did they call it a crush in those days? No matter. Mina really, really likes Will and agrees to the deception. However, her sensibilities betray her after the meeting and she cannot agree to continue with the lie. More is afoot here than meets the eye, though, and the charade must continue in order to protect Uncle Barlow from a very serious fate indeed. Will Mina agree? Will her heart get truly broken into little pieces from a man who merely desires her to play a role?

Michelle Griep is a forever favorite of mine. I truly love how adept she is at switching genres so smoothly and making each work great! I just love her work and I don't ever think I'll change my mind. She makes you feel her characters' pain and joy, lets you 'see' the setting. Even her secondary characters are wonderful. Well, except for the loathsome and obnoxious ones. Don't miss this one, folks. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book. My opinions are entirely my own.

4 1/2 starts! I really enjoyed Michelle Griep's new book, "A Tale of Two Hearts (Once Upon a Dickens Christmas #2) Mina, an innkeepers daughter who is interested in William. He asks her to pretend to be his wife so he can deceive his uncle for an inheritance. Can this work out or will they be discovered and how many people will be hurt. This book is full of lies, deceit and romance and great characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing Inc. through NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.
Though I liked the first book in this series more, this was a fun Christmas romantic read with a dash of intrigue.
I enjoyed the quick moving plot and the story of two people coming together to help someone else.
Sweet and fun.
I received this book from Netgalley for my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own (as my mother can testify).

A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep is Book 2 of her Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series set in the mid 1800’s.
London 1853 finds Mina serving in her father’s business the Golden Egg Inn. She is also an avid reader and has been known to neglect her duties by being engrossed in a story such as David Copperfield, her favorite. She has met William Barlow as he comes in for pint and daydreams of a future like one of the characters in the many stories she reads. Will works in a legal office and is helping support his ailing mother. When he needs a pretend wife to impress his uncle and hopefully become his heir he asks Mina to fill in; it will just be for one tea. Well one tea leads to dinner and then an invitation to Uncle Barlow’s country home. How long will they be able to continue the charade? Where is God in all the deceit?
I enjoyed this story of second chances, romance and many surprises as the story unfolds. A great Christmas gift or for reading at any time. Michelle Griep is an excellent storyteller and weaves romance, history and a bit of mystery together in this story seamlessly. There are multiple twists and turns and surprises throughout the story. The ending is not predictable though for a while it seems like it will be; that’s what I love about reading Michelle Griep’s books. Some of the characters are loveable and quirky while some you really hate. They are very realistic though and I felt I got to know them well. I give this book 5 of 5 stars and look forward to the next one.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.