The Heirloom is a collection of four delightful novellas. While each are set during Christmas, there is nothing to stop you enjoying this collection all year round. From a story set during the Georgian era to contemporary story, these four novellas span many generations of women following their dreams and their hearts.

Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter

This is the first of Kristi Ann Hunter’s works that I have read. I don’t usually read books set during the Georgian era, but I found Legacy of Love was one of my favourite novellas in this collection. Legacy of Love sets the heirloom’s legacy into motion. Sarah, the main character, is a companion to Dowager Lady Densbury. When in front of the Dowager’s wider family, Sarah plays the role of meek, boring companion, yet she is a strong and forthright young lady. When she speaks out against the family to protect her mistress, Sarah captures the eye of the Earl’s third and youngest son. As Sarah and Randall work together to ensure the Dowager enjoys her Christmas, they find they have more in common then they first realised. Legacy of Love is a sweet, romantic and charming story. I loved Sarah. Loved her strength, gumption and desire to stick up for what she believes in. If Hunter writes all her protagonists with the same fire, I can guarantee that Legacy of Love will not be the last of her works I will enjoy.

Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer

I adore everything that Karen Witemeyer has penned and her novella Gift of the Heart was the major draw card for me to pick up this collection. A story of a second chance at love, of children, and acceptance, Gift of the Heart is set in America just after the Civil War. Ruth Fullbright has already known love and tragic loss. Now she and her young daughter are relocating to Hope Springs to start a new life. With limited funds, Ruth must convince the biggest businessman in town, Beauregard Azlin that she is reliable and worthy of an advance in her rent. But Bo is not the aloof and harsh businessman he at first seems, and before long Bo finds himself drawn to the strong and principled Mrs Fullbright and her vivacious daughter. Full of laughter and love, Gift of the Heart was my favourite novella in this collection and a delight to read.

A Shot at Love - Sarah Loudin Thomas

Thomas’ books have been on my to-read list for a while now but A Shot At Love is the first time I’ve read anything by this talented author. A Shot At Love is a fun novella, with a fantastic lead character. Fleeta would much rather be out hunting or designing guns than ever donning a fancy gown or trying to capture the eye of a gentleman. When her aunt gives her a family heirloom rumoured to bring the beholder true love, Fleeta couldn’t be more skeptical. But when a friend of a friend is passing through town, she (through a bit of healthy competition and a shared love of fine weaponry), finds herself just a little bit drawn to the charming Hank Chapin. But Fleeta is determined not to let attraction get in the way her chance to finally follow her dreams of becoming a gunsmith. While there were a few loose ends at the end of A Shot At Love, it was impossible not to be drawn to Fleeta and her dertermination to love her life on her own terms.

Because of You - Becky Wade

Chocolate, unrequited love, Christmas shopping and happy endings. Maddie Winslow has loved Leo Donnelly since she first met him. But he started dating, fell in love with and married her best friend. For years, Maddie watched from afar and tried to get her heart under control. Leo, now widowed, and his young son have moved back to town and he and Maddie are paired to work together on the church’s Christmas mission project. Spending time together might be a challenge for Maddie, but for Leo it is an eye-opening experience that his second chance at love might be right in front of him. While I didn’t love this story as much as I have enjoyed books by Becky Wade in the past, mostly because I just didn’t click with Maddie, I did enjoy Leo’s side of the story.

While each of the four novellas are part of larger series, they can each be read as standalones. Perfect for fans of each of the writers or for readers looking to discover new authors, The Heirloom is a delightful collection.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Cozy with just enough Christmas to delight, but not Overwhelm

Legacy of Love, a Haven Manor Novella by Kristi Ann Hunter •*•A Wonderfully Heartwarming Christmas Tale •*• 1827 Lancashire, England - Sarah Gooding plays piano and is companion to the elderly and frail Dowager Countess of Densbury, and she loves cake!
Mr. Randall Everard is a third son and therefore of little consequence to the earldom. However, he is the apple of his grandmother's eye and he has a deep love of cultivating the earth.
The Dowager Countess has lived a full life and enjoys music, fellowship and practical jokes. She is both kind and formidable if trifled with. She wears a beautiful pendant her sweetheart gave her in her youth that often reminds her of the wonderful love they shared. This Christmas she has some very special ideas of how to celebrate and hopefully cultivate young love.
I laughed out loud and I also cried. A wonderfully heartwarming Christmas tale.
“From this moment on we live life the way my grandmother did. We love Jesus. We love each other. And we let everyone else come along or get out of the way.”
(5 stars)

Gift of the Heart, a Novella by Karen Witemeyer •*• Incredibly Sweet Story of Acceptance •*•
1890 Hope Springs, TX - After the death of her husband and losing nearly everything, Ruth and her seven-year-old daughter, Naomi, are starting over in the up-and-coming town of Hope Springs. With scant few personal items, a beloved family heirloom is the only thing of value she possesses. But, that will be given to her daughter one day, when true love comes to call. Although she has reservations about so many things, she has gumption and the sheer will to provide for her daughter will push her past any doubts. Beauregard owns the local hotel. Heck, he owns most of the town. But his debilitation keeps him hidden away. That is until a fiery widow with a talkative little girl, a meddling best friend and a pesky cat pull him out of his shell.
Bo and Ruth are drawn to each other and find something they were each missing in their lives.
“When Ruth pushed open the door, warmth from the front room enveloped them like a welcoming hug. … It left her feeling cherished, pampered. Loved?”
(5 stars)

A Shot at Love, a Sound of Rain Novella by Sarah Loudin Thomas •*•Great little Romance in the Woods •*•
1958 Bethel, West VA - 22-year-old Fleeta is a crack shot and can hold her own with any man. More of a tom-boy, she dreams of becoming a gunsmith but is beholden to her family.
1. “Fleeta whispered a prayer that…the ghost deer hadn’t been a sign of anything bad. There were rumors about him.”
2. “She’d had her fill of men. She’d take care of herself and never look to a husband for anything.”
Hank Chapin is a timber man but is getting restless for something new, and perhaps settling down.
He collects guns, and when he’s invited home for the holidays with his best friend Judd, he decides to enter the local turkey shoot with his brand new Remington 740 Woodsmaster rifle. Little does he know what he’s in for when he meets the attractive and strong-willed Fleeta hidden behind a pile of masculine clothing and a Winchester 1890 rifle.
3. “He had the definite sense he could no more hold on to her than he could a gossamer cloud of mist.”
TEA MOMENT: “The best apologies have something to hold them, maybe a bunch of flowers you cut out in the woods, or a tin of tea from the store. The words are the main thing, but it’s nice to have something to remember them by.”
Great little romance in the woods that draws you in and moves right along.
(4 stars)

Because of You a Bradford Sisters Romance Novella by Becky Wade •*•Maddie and Leo find their way through Christmas to Each Other •*•
Present Day, Merryweather, WA - 27-year-old Maddie Winslow and 31-year-old Leo Donnelly have a unique connection. Maddie is compassionate and a people person who works in a sweet shop. Leo is a bookish professor and rather shy, and dad to three-year-old Charlie. When they are paired up at church to work the “Mission – Christmas” project together and bless Kim and her daughters, a local family in need, they spend more time together than just the occasional run-in they might have expected during the holiday season. “I’m not on my own. God is still with me and God still provides. He always makes a way.”
(3 stars)

The stories are cozy with just enough Christmas to delight, but not be overwhelming if you read it in October like me.
Bethany House Publishing © 2018
Karen Witemeyer kindly sent me a complimentary hard copy book and Bethany House approved me for an eBook in the hopes of a favorable review, with no further compensation.

4 stars overall

I love that these authors got together and created this collection! What a fun idea! I love the idea of a novella collection that spans the centuries, especially from some of my favorite authors!
Legacy of Love was a sweet story, and fun to read as Sarah Gooding began to show more of who she truly was to her employer’s handsome young grandson. She is such a unique, fun character, and I loved watching the two get to know each other better.
Gift of the Heart was an engaging story, set in a fun location. This hero is multi-faceted and not the man that anyone in town thinks he is. Getting to know Ruth brings him out of his self-imposed seclusion, and makes for a humorous, fun story.
A Shot at Love was delightfully different, as Fleeta is not a girly-girl by any stretch of the imagination. She’s strong, opinionated, and definitely does not want to fall in love, not when that love has the capacity to so overwhelm someone, they leave other loves behind. It was so fun watching how her mind changed on this aspect, and she learned there might be a man worth falling for.
I was so very excited for Because of You, as I love anything Becky Wade writes. This sweet story explores what it might be like to love again, and all the confusion that can be caught up in that. It’s a satisfying conclusion to a sweet collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Probably the most unique and cleverly written set of novellas I've ever read! Every set of short stories will have some kind of connecting theme, but this has knocked it out of the park!

Starting with Kristi Ann Hunter's story, set in late 18th century England. The beginnings of the journey of the heirloom brooch, that will find itself being passed through the generations, right through to present day. It will cross the Atlantic, and see life through every kind of hardship and sweet joy.

There's a legend, is it true? You'll have to read these books and decide for yourself.

Extremely engaging stories, each one intertwined by a family connected by blood. Women willing to hang on tight to the brooch, not for its physical value, but for what it represents. Overwhelmingly, the love that comes into each of their hearts. A gift from God.

Becky Wade completes the set, and oh boy does she bring this to a climatic conclusion! I could not put this down. The sheer talent in her writing is something else. Every thought process, every emotion is there for the feeling. You can practically smell the pine trees.

A great Christmas time read to rival anything you may have read before.

I received a complimentary eARC from Bethany House & Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I typically don't read a lot of novellas, but they're starting to grow on me! Especially when it's a collection that includes some of my favorite authors: Karen Witemeyer and Becky Wade. I haven't read many of Kristi Ann Hunter or Sara Loudin Thomas' books, but I really enjoyed their work in this novella collection.
The connection between each of these novellas was a brooch that was passed down from generation to generation. It not only was a beautiful, valuable piece of jewelry, but there was a deep love that passed from the giver to the receiver. There was also a "legend" that accompanied the brooch that foretold of a love match. I enjoyed both of these aspects of each story. Each heroine was a little different and full of personality. The heroes stories were also told, but were a supporting role to the female leads. I love that you get a taste of each author's style in a novella collection like this. As the holidays are approaching, this is the perfect book to cozy up on the couch with and get a taste of Christmas. I would definitely recommend it!

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in order to give an honest review, which I did. **

The Christmas Heirloom is a collection of four novellas which are each set in the ever-magical and joyous time of Christmas.  I was impressed by how each of these authors tied together the entire collection of novellas simply by a single piece of jewelry passed down as a family heirloom: a lovely brooch.  While I loved the connection to each character in the respective novellas, I loved the overall themes of faith, love, courage, strength, ingenuity, family, and friendship seen in each story. You will not be disappointed in this collection and I dare say you may not be able to put it down!  

"Legacy of Love" by Kristi Ann Hunter begins the work with the sweet, strange, and strong story of Miss Sarah Gooding, a young woman serving as a companion to a feisty elderly wealthy lady in seventeenth century England.  Miss Gooding has always gravitated to the background, especially when in the public eye with her employer the Dowager Countess of Densbury. Although seemingly quiet, in the private setting, Miss Sarah has some very strong opinions and asserts them with confidence in the private setting of her home with the Dowager Countess.  Sarah's love for music, delicious cake, and a rather lonesome and quiet Randall Everard, the Dowager Countess' grandson combine to make a rather comedic, adorable, and fun introduction to the storyline. 

I greatly enjoyed Ms. Hunter's work and would definitely recommend this story to others.  I appreciated the unique characters, Sarah, Randall, and the Dowager Countess, as well as their oddities, past, and individual struggles. Ms. Hunter artfully combined the themes of personal growth under difficulties, faith even in sorrow, love across social boundaries, and humor even in the darkest of times in her brief tale of "Legacy of Love." What an excellent beginning to this collection!   

"Gift of the Heart" by Karen Witemeyer was absolutely adorable, captivating, and heartwarming.  I loved the main characters Ruth Fullbright, her daughter Naomi, and her unsuspecting hero and landlord Beauregard Azlin. The hope and faith that Naomi had in her mother was wonderful and heart-warming.  The strength, courage, perseverance, devotion, and self-sacrificial attitude shown by Ruth was only part of the reason that I loved this novella. Another reason for my enjoyment of Ms. Witemeyer's writing was her portrayal of the hero in this book in Mr. Azlin, a humble, strong, shy man who is hiding himself from public eyes because of his handicapped arm.  Overall, this was a wonderfully sweet portrayal of the important things in life of faith, family, and love.    

"A Shot at Love" by Sarah Loudin Thomas although not the typical tale of romance was a wonderful story of persevering through difficulties and loyalty to family both of choice and blood.  The protagonist in this work is an unconventional young woman Fleeta Brady whose expertise as a marksman and gunmaker adds humor, strength, and a uniqueness to her character that draws Hank Chapin to her.  I absolutely loved Fleeta's character and her strength, tenaciousness, and fierce determination to follow her goals and dreams. She is probably my favorite character in this whole collection.     

"Because of You" by Becky Wade the conclusion to this collection of novellas was the perfect finale. I haven't read many stories that have a plot like this one, with Maddie Winslow falling for her deceased friend's husband, Leo Donneally.  Maddie has to deal with the fact that Leo was married to her best friend Olivia as well as the complicated nature of a relationship with Leo as a father to Olivia's young son. What an interesting tale to tell of difficult and awkward situations, but of faith throughout all of it.  I appreciated Ms. Wade's clear characters, the depth of each character's back story, the familiar context and setting for the story (see her series the Bradford Sisters Novels), and the very sweet, courageous, and comedic insights to each character.  Overall, a very excellent story of love, heartache, laughter, and joy.    

I hope you have the opportunity to pick this book up and enjoy it as much as I did! 

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased honest review.

Some of my favorite authors all in one delightful book. Four sweet stories about finding love all bound together by an heirloom brooch. This brooch was passed down from 1827 to present day and each one that inherited it has a story to tell.   The stories also happen around Christmas making this story a wonderful way to begin celebrating Christmas.  Although these novellas take in the Christmas holidays, they are not Christmas stories. They are romantic and interesting....... I was given this book by Bethany Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I am in awe of the multi generational theme that run through this book! It is a rare theme to find in a book, and the author did an exceptional job continuing the lineage of Ruth throughout the mini books.
There are four separate stories in this book, that span about 100 years and all of the female characters are related. Each individual love story was unique and special in its own way, and I didn’t want the author to stop with the last modern romance. This book was very festive, and would draw any reader into the Christmas cheer that it brings.

I cannot say enough about this book! The whole premise is so traditional, yet modern too! It bridges generations and for that, it will pull in every reader that reads it. It has something for everyone! I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was one of those books that you are truly sorry when it ends! I don't want to give out any spoilers so I will just give a little "hint" about each story!
LEGACY OF LOVE - Krisiti Ann Hunter
This, of course, starts things out! It all begins in England in the 1800's and tells where the special brooch comes from and how is comes into the life of a spunky old woman whom I adored! Her companion, Sarah, was thought to be "meek and lowly in station" but she was actually a strong woman. The old woman's grandson, Randall, is the only one who saw that!
A SHOT AT LOVE - Sarah Loudin Thomas
This story was very different! Going from England to almost a "hillbilly" setting! Fleeta was the best shot around! She didn't want to get married, she was raised by her aunt and uncle because her parents had died. She was a total tomboy and loved guns! Enter Hank who was a guest of a family Fleeta knew. He totally understood Fleeta like no one else. He gave her the space to be herself.
GIFT OF THE HEART - Karen Witemeyer
I loved this story of Ruth, a widow, and her sweet daughter, Naomi. They had moved to a small town to start over after the death of her husband. The rich man in the town who owned just about everything was Beauregard Azlin and he was quite misunderstood! Naomi gets under his defenses and so does a kitty....the rest is history!
BECAUSE OF YOU - Becky Wade
Another very emotional tale. This time the widower is Leo with a cute child name Charlie. He can't seem to move on after the death of his wife 2 years earlier. Maddie has been in love with him for years but, of course, never acted on it! They get put on a church mission project together and have some special experiences but Maddie knows nothing will come of it! Then, Maddie finds out about the brooch.....

The Christmas Heirloom contains four lovely stories centered on a beautiful luckenbooth brooch and Christmas. The stories range in time from the mid 1800s to the present day, which I really enjoyed. The characters are all in the same family line, which I admit delighted me as a family historian myself.

The first story, Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter, tells the story of Sarah Gooding, the companion of the elderly Lady Densbury in 1827 England, and Randall Everard, the grandson of Lady Densbury. Randall has no hope of inheriting any of his father's earldom as he is a third son, but has hopes of owning his own farm some day. This was a really sweet story and I really enjoyed Hunter's writing style.

The second story, Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer, tells the story of Ruth Fulbright, a widow with a young daughter in 1890 Texas, who has come to to the town of Hope Springs in hopes of starting a new life. There she meets Bo Azlin, the man who owns most of the town but has become a recluse due to a childhood injury. I am a huge Witemeyer fan and this story did not disappoint. I love how her stories flow seamlessly and always leaves me wanting to read more.

The third story, A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas, tells the story of Fleeta Brady, a woman who has grown up more comfortable behind a rifle than in a kitchen in 1958 West Virginia. She dreams of being a gunsmith, but lacks the funds to begin. She meets Hank Chapin, a man who is hoping to find a new career away from the timber company he's been working for. This story was different from what I usually read, but I really enjoyed Thomas's writing style.

The final story, Because of You by Becky Wade, tells the story of Maddie Winslow in present day Washington, who has had an unrequited crush on Leo Donnelly ever since she meet him. Unfortunately, her best friend Olivia found him first and married him. Now that Leo is back in town after Olivia was killed, Maddie feels guilty for still harboring those feelings. I really enjoyed this story by Wade and will look for her other novels.

Overall, this was a great book. I thought that the brooch was a lovely way to tie the stories together and I loved that each was in a different time frame. I highly recommend this novella collection to anyone looking for a sweet Christmas read.

An ancient heirloom - can it bring love?

When I saw that two authors I know and love were a part of this collection, I knew I had to read it. All the stories are tied together by a beautiful luckenbooth that has been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries.

Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
England – 1827

When a lonely orphan becomes Companion to a Dowager Countess, she is snubbed by most of the family. I was enthralled by the way the author conveyed the distance the family placed between them and her using the giraffe piano that she was expected to play through their meals. And I cracked up at the way that Sarah was playing so distractedly, peeking around to see where in the meal she was and to make sure she didn’t miss the cake.

The rest was every bit as endearing. The contrast between Sarah’s thoughts and her meek demeanor when she was with the family made for amusing reading. But the way that she pulled out of her quiet ways to defend the dowager showed some of the fire that she had kept hidden. What a lovely person she was!

Randall was delightfully confused at his grandmother’s Companion. When he saw the spark of life in the mousy girl. Well! He was the third son, and therefore unimportant. He didn’t really care because he loved living on the family farm working the land and making it prosper. Despite his lofty upbringing, he was humble and kind.

Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Texas – 1890

When the lovely widow, Ruth, comes into Hope Springs, her hopes are no higher than having a chance to provide for her daughter. She is surprised by the warm welcome and deep friendship her new employer offers her.

Bo has been mostly a recluse due to an injury to his arm when he was just a boy that left it practically useless. In an attempt to not call attention to himself and his disability, he spends most of his time at home and his resort and sneaks through back alleys when he needs to travel between the two. He doesn’t have much trust in women – the only ones who had paid him any attention were only after his money.

The author uses Proverbs 31 references throughout to describe Ruth and it is very fitting. She had a deep faith in the Lord and worked hard to provide for her daughter. She was full of kindness and didn’t give Bo’s injury any thought other than with compassion, not pity.

I loved the way Ruth slowly wormed her way into Bo’s heart by simply being friendly and seeing him. And then when Bo discovered Maddie, Ruth’s daughter, in danger. Wow!

Gift of the Heart was warm and fuzzy (there was a cat in it after all!) and filled with the humor I have come to expect from the author.

A Shot at Love by Sarah Louden Thomas
West Virginia – 1958

Fleeta was as unusual as her name. Orphaned as a young girl, she now lived with her aunt and uncle and their passel of children. Having heard how her mother died of heartsickness and loneliness once her husband had died, Fleeta determined to never fall in love. She was more comfortable in pants than a dress and with a gun in her arms than with a kitchen pan. She was such a great shot, the men of the West Virginia town she lived in never hoped to win a contest shooting against her.

Hank was also a gun enthusiast. He was only in town a short time for work but while he was there, he saw in Fleeta something none of the local men had seen – that in addition to her tomboy ways, she was a beauty and was worth pursuing.

Though I am not anything like Fleeta, I could relate to the insecurities she experienced and really enjoyed reading her story. It was such fun to have a blue jay play an unexpected role. The writing pulled me into the Appalachian village and had me falling in love with the people.

Because of You by Becky Wade
Washington – Contemporary

I was hooked from the first sentence. I can’t even imagine how awkward it would be to have a crush on your best friend’s boyfriend, especially when the friend ends up marrying him. Ouch!

Maddie was a godly woman who had a heart of gold. I admired her sense of how to take charge of serving the single mother in need at Christmas. For her, it was much more than just a cause to write a check for. She poured her heart and soul into raising money and then shopping for the family to make sure they knew they were loved.

I’m hesitant to say much. I don’t want to give any spoilers here. I will say that Maddie had burdened herself with requirements that were not from the Lord, and she almost missed out on a huge blessing. However, her concerns about doing everything right and staying close to the Lord were so admirable.

My heart was deeply involved in this story.


Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net

I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

All enjoyable short stories. I especially enjoyed the first two. A good, light read to get into the Christmas spirit.

The Christmas Heirloom is a collection of four short stories written by Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, and Becky Wade.
Each story takes place during the Christmas season-in 1827, 1890, 1958, and present day respectively.
Woven throughout each story is an amethyst brooch-passed down by family for generations. The brooch is said to bring about true love for the woman who possesses it, and through each story, the women find that even though life has brought them tragedy, an unexpected love might just be around the corner.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to read through several different time periods, all connected by the brooch. The stories were well-written, interesting, and made for a very enjoyable read. The only downside I could find was that I felt like the third story didn’t have a resolution to a major issue that occurred in the book (I don’t want to give anything away by being more specific.)
Overall though, this is a great, light read, and would be perfect to curl up with during the Christmas season.
I want to thank Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book for my unbiased review, and I encourage you to check this one out!

I don’t always go for novella collections, partly because the stories tend to meld together in my mind after I've read a couple of them, but there’s absolutely no chance of that happening with this collection. Each of these stories is set in a distinctly different time and place: England, 1827; Texas, 1890; West Virginia, 1958; and modern-day Washington. Each of the heroines also has a very distinctive voice, from the gun-toting Fleeta Brady: “She wanted to be a gunsmith. To take care of her family. And now she was supposed to fall in love too?” right through to Maddie Winslow, who “met the man of her dreams the same day that her friend Olivia introduced Maddie to her new boyfriend. Which would have been splendid, except that the man of Maddie’s dreams was Olivia’s new boyfriend.”

In fact, the only difficulty I DO have with this collection is in trying to decide which of these novellas was my favourite. Was it the first, with the elderly matchmaker who went to the trouble of handpicking a bride for her (unsuspecting) favourite grandson? Or the second book, with the wealthy and aloof (but actually rather soft-hearted) Bo Azlin, who can’t help but be fascinated by a hardworking widow, her charming daughter, and the furry miscreant who moves in despite his objections. And I’ve already mentioned feisty Fleeta and moonstruck Maddie from books three and four. Each romance was perfectly paced for the novella format, very engaging, and had just the right level of sweetness to produce a sigh of contentment at the final paragraph.

Okay, so maybe the second novella just sneaked over the line ahead of the others, (I did form a bit of a soft spot for Bo Azlin) but seriously, they were all delightful reads. So I guess it’s going to be up to you to read them for yourself to see if YOU can work out which one is your favourite.

I received a copy of this collection from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

What an absolutely delightful novella collection! I loved how perfectly the brooch was woven into each of the novellas! I adored every single one of these stories and highly recommend The Christmas Heirloom!


Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter
This adorable novella drew me in from the first page and didn't let go!
I absolutely loved Sarah and Randall's story! The dowager Countess of Densbury quickly became a favorite secondary character. Kristi's writing was fantastic as always and I absolutely loved every moment of this novella!


Gift of the Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I always adore Karen's books and this novella was no exception! Ruth and Bo were such fabulous main characters, and little Naomi and her matchmaking cat Teddy were absolutely delightful and made me laugh out loud numerous times! Every single word of this novella was phenomenal and I hated to see it end, but as usual when I finish one of Karen's books a sigh of happiness left my grinning lips when I turned the final page!


A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas
This was such a cute novella, I loved it even more than I was expecting to! Seeing as I am not super girly myself I love to read stories about grown up tomboys, and I found myself relating to Fleeta in a number of ways! I loved the voice that this story is written in, it's just so entertaining and all around fun to read! I loved the ending, and the story was an absolute pleasure to read! I don't often read stories set in the 1950's but I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future!


Because of You by Becky Wade
This novella was absolutely fantastic! Maddie and Leo were great characters. I found myself relating to Maddie quite a bit, and I loved Leo's quiet reserve and bookishness! I'm a huge fan of Les Mis and I LOVED that it was mentioned in the story, so awesome! I was swept away into this story on page one and I loved every single second I spent reading it! Total awesomeness from beginning to end!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher and author Kristi Ann Hunter, which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

I loved the way the stories were woven together, and especially enjoyed having more stories featuring characters from from two of my currently favorite series. These novellas are beautifully created stories that feel like full length novels.

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

These four novellas are tied together by a luckenbooth brooch that was passed down through the generations of the family of Lady Densbury. In the 1700s Lady Densbury received the brooch from her husband as a token of his unending love for her. It became an omen of the promise of true love for the ladies who came to possess the brooch. We read of Sarah, a lady's companion, who received the brooch in the 1820s; of Ruth, a widow with a young daughter, in the 1890s; of Fleeta, an orphan, in the 1950s; and finally of Maddie who finds the forgotten brooch in her parents' attic during contemporary times.

While these stories each take place at Christmastime, they could as easily have taken place in another season. Christmas is not an integral part of most of the stories. This is a collection of sweet romances, the type I like to read following the intensity of reading a suspense novel. Using the luckenbooth brooch to tie the stories together, and to link the characters over time, was a delightful touch. I enjoyed stumbling across characters I had encountered in an earlier book by Sarah Loudin Thomas. Other readers may have a similar experience.

I recommend this book to readers who are in the mood for an uplifting, sweet romance. I thank NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of The Christmas Heirloom in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Loved this set of novellas. My favorite part was how the brooch appeared in all the stories - but not necessarily in the same exact fashion. It all felt very organic -, especially in the last one! It was neat to see it travel through so many hands and so many love stories. And I especially liked that while this was a Christmas theme that it wasn't overbearing. I'm not overly fond of Christmas themes so I loved that it wasn't the entire point of the series. In fact, I almost forgot they were based on Christmas and not simply just the brooch.

I received an advanced copy of this through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

What a charming collection of novellas by some of my favorite authors. Each of the of stories take place during the Christmas season and are centered around an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter.

With delightful and heartwarming stories this book soon became one of my favorites for the holiday season. I loved the characters and different time periods that each author wrote about. Though the stories are short in length, they will stay in my heart for a long time and I will read them again as Christmas approaches because they are just that good.

It's just one of those very special books that should be added to your collection and one that would make a perfect gift for readers of all ages.

I received a copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

The Christmas Heirloom is a collection of four fantastic novellas told by some of the best writers in Christian romance. I was in love with this book. Each story captured my full attention. Stealing pieces of my heart as the journeys lured deep into the characters' lives. Struggles come in all shapes and sizes. This was a heartfelt group of stories. Engaging from the the beginning, each writer hooked me right in...I could not stop reading. These pieces remind me what really is important in life. Things like love, faith, and family. There were times I both laughed and cried so hard. Overall, I recommend The Christmas Heirloom to all readers.