A great collection of Christmas romance by an amazing group of authors. These cozy novellas are sure to make you swoon! Definitely a must.

A Joyful Christmas is a collection of six historical novellas. These novellas include:
A Christmas Castle by Cynthia Hickey
A Star in the Night by Liz Johnson
An Irish Bride for Christmas by Vickie McDonough
Under His Wings by Liz Tolsma
Shelter in the Storm by Carrie Turansky
Christmas Service by Erica Vetsch
I enjoyed every one of these stories. If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Vickie McDonough’s An Irish Bride for Christmas. I am giving the whole collection four and a half stars.

6 beautiful historical heartwarming stories. They will make you smile and give you the holiday spirit. I highly recommend this one. I really enjoyed this one even though I don't usually enjoy short stories. This one goes on the home library Christmas shelf.

This book is a gem! You will love each and every story in it and will find yourself excited to see how they turn out. Great to read all year - even if it isn’t the Christmas season!

Fun collection of Christmas short stories! Wonderful authors coming together to give you five stories in place of one!!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

A Christmas Castle by Cynthia Hickey
Married by proxy in Missouri, Annie Morgan sets off for Tombstone, Arizona, to join her new husband as a cattle rancher. But too soon she finds herself a widow with an unexpected daughter and butting heads with her handsome neighbor.

A Star in the Night by Liz Johnson
Wounded within Confederate territory, Union officer Jedediah Harrington finds refuge at the tiny cabin of Cora Sinclair and her grandfather. Still haunted by what she saw as a battlefield hospital volunteer, Cora finds that only Jed can understand. But, though she longs to give him her heart, the risks to both of them are too great.

An Irish Bride for Christmas by Vickie McDonough
When Jackson Lancaster’s brother and wife die, he takes his three-year-old niece home. But a meddling busy-body makes the judge give her custody “because an unmarried man shouldn’t raise a little girl.” Now Jackson has until Christmas to find a bride or lose his niece forever. Larkin Doyle is grateful her employer took in the orphan and believes Jackson abandoned his niece. When her heart says otherwise, will romance blossom?

Under His Wings by Liz Tolsma
Adie O’Connell, orphaned and left alone in a dangerous Wisconsin logging camp, seeks the stability she once knew when both her parents lived. Despite the compassion and friendship offered by Noah “Preacher Man” Mitchell, she refuses to consider marriage to a man always drifting from one job to another for God.

Shelter in the Storm by Carrie Turansky
The daughter of a wealthy Tennessee doctor, Rachel Thornton begins nursing James Galloway, a wounded artist-war correspondent. As James recovers, their hearts draw closer together. Having already lost one sweetheart to the war, Rachel is hesitant to reveal her feelings for James, who insists on returning to the front lines. Would she be safer in the arms of another man?

Christmas Service by Erica Vetsch
Beth Sorensen has been put in charge of the Christmas pageant at the little log church, and this year she wants something different. But she didn’t count on a Minnesota blizzard paralyzing the whole town. Can the blacksmith teach this preacher’s daughter about what it means to serve one another in love through the storm?

This book is written by several different authors with stories about women in the old west. The women are strong and capable to handle anything that is thrown their way. Even taking care of wounded men.

The only story I didn't care for was Christmas Service. Beth seemed to think no one could get things done except here, so she just did it all. In the end she saw the error of her way.

Overall it was a quick easy read.

I was given this book by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

A lovely collection of inspirational Christmas stories just in time for the season!
As always, Barbour Publishing brings talented authors together to create a delightful collection of stories that will leave readers with a smile on their faces. Feel-good holiday stories with just enough tension and more than enough romance to satisfy an appetite for light, Christmas reads.
Each author brings her own voice and own spin to Christmas tales of faith, hardship and Christmas joy from the 1800s. Some stories have been published before and others are brand new.
You’ll be in for a treat if you pick up this collection.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Six joyful Christmas novellas make up this fun, historical Christmas book.

Each novella is set in the Civil War era, emphasizing challenges of the time and how each primary character learned to work with their faith and love.

I enjoyed this sweet, clean romance book and made for a great addition to holiday reading.
I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

Always a joy to read Christmas stories to set the heart and mind on the season to come. This collection was no different and was a treat to read.

Nice collection of short holiday stories to warm your heart as you settle in with a hot cup of tea. This is a great book for those that don’t want to commit to a long read as you finish most stories in one cozy setting. Enjoy! I sure did.

I am generally not fond of novellas but I love Christmas stories and this didn't disappoint. Each of the six stories is full of heart steeped in Christmas spirit. It was filled with love and hope. I absolutely enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Barbour Publishing, Inc., for providing me with an ARC of this book.

( received complimentary e-book copy in exchange for review )

Each year, I always look forward to the first Christmas themed book of the season. The novellas in this collection were all warmly written and very enjoyable. Will be revisiting with this book when I have some quiet time during the upcoming holiday season. Would make a very thoughtful stocking stuffer or gift.

This collection contains six Christmas stories set in five different states between the years of 1860 and 1875. Each story was very enjoyable with its own set of problems that needed to be resolved so that a Merry Christmas could occur. If you are in the mood for a warm Christmas story, you’ve hit a jackpot with A Joyful Christmas.

I received an ARC ebook from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley.

A Joyful Christmas is a collection of six historical romances. The stories are set all over the United States, all in the run up to Christmas. Readers travel from a logging camp in Wisconsin, to war torn Tennessee, snow ravaged Minnesota and even a ranch in Arizona. Expect to be transported with each new tale.

Each offering is written by a veteran author, and their experience shows. The stories mix desperate circumstances and the hope found only in Christ as weapons to tug on our heartstrings. The mixture is highly effective. I repeatedly found myself wondering how the lead characters would solve their problems. Then in every situation, resolution came, happily just in time to celebrate the season of joy.

For me, novellas are tricky to deliver well. Often the story is rushed to a force conclusion, but in this collection, happily, the authors had their pacing right and I didn’t feel shortchanged in any way. Christmas stories aren’t for everyone, especially ones so focused on the season. However, if you are on the lookout for something to read that’ll sweep you up in a snow flurry, and drop you off by a crackling fire, sipping hot cocoa and humming carols, this is for you.

I applaud both the variety and imagination in A Joyful Christmas, and recommend the collection if you’re ready to get festive-focused.

To check out another Christmas read here…

To buy or read an excerpt, click here…

This is a lovely, inspirational collection of novellas all set around Christmas. I’ve read most of the authors before but enjoyed the new to me authors novellas too.

Some of the stories are resolved somewhat abruptly but all had a feel good message of faith along with some wonderful characters.

Definitely worth reading, especially if you like the Christmas season!

I enjoy novella collections, and this one is set in the 1800s and has a Christmas theme. Each of the six stories is a sweet romance with an underlying religious element, but that's not overpowering. The pace was a bit slow, overall, but it story was a quick read with a satisfying, sweet ending.

This collection is a nice way to set the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

A Joyful Christmas is a compilation of six short Christmas stories by various Christian authors set in the 1800’s. Each story is unique and an excellent read on its own. Together they make a wonderful collection.
I loved reading these and even though it is early to think of Christmas they bring the joy of Christmas to today. I think this would make a great gift for someone special who enjoys reading Christian inspirational and romance fiction. I give this book 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A joyful Christmas
This novella collection has six stories, which is more than most. The stories are all historical romantic fiction and all take place in the late 1800s and a couple during the Civil War.
I liked the uniqueness of these stories. They all were really different. There’s was a underground dugout house, a logging camp, a stagecoach driver and an artist war correspondent.
It is a very nice collection for the Christmas season.
Thank you to NatGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

A Joyful Christmas is a very nice collection of six Christmas stories based in the late 1800’s, written by six different authors. Each of them are a good length to read in an evening. The stories are all well written with good messages. The characters in the stories are strong, caring people. The theme of trust and faith run through the stories as well. They are good clean romance stories, often focusing on family and helping others. The stories are good stories to help prepare the heart for the upcoming Christmas season.

I enjoyed reading these novellas, despite having read three of them several years ago. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

A Joyful Christmas by Cynthia Hickey, et al.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
________________________________________________________________
Story Notes

A Christmas Castle by Cynthia Hickey
This story was a cute little novella about standing your ground and forgiving in the face of pure meanness. Annie is a plucky young woman determined to keep her land and make it thrive. I loved the way that she and Drake started their relationship with convenience and it grew to love. 4 out of 5 stars

A Star in the Night by Liz Johnson
When Cora Sinclair and her grandfather take in a wounded soldier, she will have to face the pain of her past in order to have a hope for the future. This was a really nice story that was well written and complete. The plot was not new but the fleshing out was original. I liked the tie into the Christmas star and the quiet romance between Cora and Jed. 5 out of 5 stars

An Irish Bride for Christmas by Vickie McDonough
This story was really good and I would love to see it expanded into a full length book. Jackson and Larkin were very well written and their quick relationship, though unusual was believable. I got so mad about the situation with Jackson's niece, Rosie, I wanted to smack Mrs. O'Keefe upside her snobby, selfish head. The ending was a bit rushed but complete in its telling. 4 out of 5 stars

Under His Wings by Liz Tolsma
This story was nice but a bit too short for my liking. I needed more backstory that was given for the main characters and the ending was too pat to be really believable. I liked the characters and the plot but it needed more page time to really be fleshed out right. 2 out of 5 stars

Shelter in the Storm by Carrie Turansky
I liked the plot of this story a lot. Its not often that Civil War stories are about those that "report" on the battles that happened. I found the subject of a "war artist" to be fascinating and a refreshing take on that time period. And there was enough friction between the two main characters to make their relationship believable and the story enjoyable. 4 out of 5 stars

Christmas Service by Erica Vetsch
This was my favorite story of the bunch. I love stories that have a character that seems to "know" what they are supposed to do and be in life and then things happen to make them realize there is so much more for them. I can definitely identify with Beth and her desire to serve others as her family always had. And I really liked that Todd didn't give up on her even when she wasn't the most pleasant. Their relationship was perfectly crafted and very realistic. And the scene with the sheep going wild was HILARIOUS!! 5 out of 5 stars

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.