I have been in a dreadful reading slump. How dreadful? I started Tudor Christmas Tidings back in early November and finally finished it on December 29. That dreadful. Is it the book's fault? Not entirely. I mean it's not bad, but it also didn't help my situation at all either.
This anthology kicks off with the late Blythe Gifford's Christmas at Court. I have enjoyed several of Gifford's full-length historical romances, she really had a way of infusing history into her romances that I always appreciated. Unfortunately the short format here does her no favors. This story is mostly political intrigue not given enough room to breathe with a teaspoon of romance that never takes off because I never felt invested in the couple either separately or together.

The story is set after the young princes "disappear" and Richard III is King. Lady Alice is our heroine and her family is working in concert with a rebellion to have Henry Tudor (future Henry VII) claim the throne by marrying Elizabeth of York. Part of the scheme involves Lady Alice becoming betrothed to Sir John Talbot.

That's pretty much it and I confess I couldn't figure out why the Alice-John marriage was so reliant on whether Henry married Elizabeth. Also the whole "romance" consists of Alice and John not sure if they can trust each other because they have to act like they're loyal to Richard, even though they're not, but they also can't tell the other that because what if the other one IS loyal to Richard. The short word count means neither the romance nor the political intrigue have room to grow and it comes off convoluted.

Final Grade = D

Secrets of the Queen's Lady by Jenni Fletcher was by no means perfect, but after slogging through politics it was nice to get back to a story that was mainly romance, even though Anne of Cleves is the main secondary character.

Pippa is a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves who has since been divorced by Henry VIII and living quietly in the country. Landing on their doorstep is Kit, a diplomat, who is delivering a message that Henry wishes for Anne to join the court for the Christmas holiday. Kit met Pippa years ago and was besotted, despite the fact that she was married. Now widowed, he sees an opening, but he's unaware that despite what everyone may think, Pippa's marriage was not a happy one. Her husband became emotionally abusive due to her in ability to get pregnant. Needless to say Pippa has no desire to marry ever again, and besides - Kit is 7 years younger than she is, and even though he's not the heir, his political animal of an older brother is determined that Kit do his familial duty. Marry well, keep the future Mrs. pregnant and squirting out babies.

Kit's a rather enlightened hero for the times, and while his lack of concern about being disowned by his family raised an eyebrow, it helps that he's not a fan of court, Henry's tendency to discard wives, nor his brother's machinations. Our Kit wants a different sort of life. Still, during this period family and loyalty were kind of, well, everything. Pippa is ready to tar and feather Kit with the same brush as her husband - which I can understand better here than in other romances because a woman's ability to procreate was pretty much her sole reason for existing during this time period (and future time periods...). It wasn't perfect but it was quick, readable and heavy on the romance.

Final Grade = B-

The anthology ends with His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe, which is set during that period when Queen Mary was "pregnant" and newly-wed to King Philip II of Spain. Catherine Greaves' father is currently in the Tower of London for his part in the failed Wyatt Rebellion. Catherine's mother came over from Spain with the former Queen, Catherine of Aragon, so the plan is to head to court and hopefully a sympathetic Queen Mary will allow them to see her imprisoned father. The Queen is sympathetic, as is Don Diego de Vasquez, a visiting courtier from Spain who has been sent to help ferret out other plots against the Queen - and turns out that Catherine's father is a double agent. He's Diego's contact on the inside and feeding him information. Oh, and Catherine nor her mother have any clue about any of this. For all they know, their husband and father is a traitor.

Of course these two crazy kids start to fall in love despite the drama and intrigue surrounding them, and there's a little suspense at the end to carry us home to the happy ever after. The story works so long as you don't think about what's going to happen shortly after these events - but I'm convinced it all works out for Diego, Catherine and her parents in the end. One imagines that once they find out the Queen's pregnancy is a "phantom" one, they hightail it back to Spain to live on Don's lands populated with orange and lemon groves.

Final Grade = B

The last two stories were pleasant enough, but the whole reading experience overall was very much a slog. Certainly this time of year is challenging for a lot of us, but I also think the overt political threads running through all these stories was just not where my mind wanted to go right now. I probably would have been better served reading some cotton candy holiday fluff instead of the political machinations and shenanigans of the Tudors. Your mileage may vary.

Christmas and the Tudors ala Harlequin - three novellas to enjoy when you are in the mood for a holiday read.

Short, sweet stories set in the Tudor era, this collection will keep you entertained with delightful descriptions of courtly romances.. If you're looking for quick holiday reads, definitely put this one on your to-read list!

I'm sorry I was unable to read this as I reader broke. And I didn't get it downloaded on another device in time.

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I enjoyed this trio of stories! I wish they had each been longer so I could get to know the characters even better.

Personally, I’m on the other side of the Richard III debate from Blythe Gifford, but I still enjoyed Christmas at Court. I had to suspend disbelief to follow her plot structure and believe in the romance, but it was still a sweet love story.

My favorite was the third one, His Mistletoe Lady. Amanda McCabe managed to create depth and avoid too much plot repetition, even in a short novella.

Overall, an enjoyable escape read! It is fun to read Tudor fiction without committing to a full-length Alison Weir or Philippa Gregory novel!

Three historical holiday novellas.

Ah, you have to love a holiday collection. This one is a tad different because its set in the Tudor time frame,
I found I enjoyed Amanda McCabe and Blythe Gifford's contributions and Jenni Fletcher was a new to me author whom I also enjoyed.

Recommend for a charming Tudor holiday collection.

Tudor Christmas Tidings is an anthology of three novellas celebrating Christmas at various points during the Holiday season. I have to admit, I’ve been looking forward to reading this anthology since I’m a huge Tudor buff -- like super huge -- like it was my focus in College. I’ve always loved the period and I was excited that this book was going to cover some of the lesser known times in Tudor history.

As I do with all anthologies, I’m going to review each story individually and then average it to get my final star total.

Here we go!

Christmas at Court - Blythe Clifford

Initially set not long after the death of Edward IV and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, this story follows Alice and John as they navigate Christmas in Richard III’s court. Betrothed by their families to aid in Henry Tudor’s claim, they must determine if the other is to be trusted or if their feelings and words are false.

I liked this story from Blythe Clifford. I could tell it was well researched (yay sumptuary laws). The Lancaster family uniting with a avowed Yorkist one is interesting. I liked Alice throughout most of the novella and John was okay. But I felt like the story was more about the history and not enough about the romance. Basically, It was good. Four stars.

Secrets of the Queen’s Lady - Jenni Fletcher

Long ago, Pippa helped a young Kit find his way in Henry Tudor’s court. Now several years later they meet again, this time with Pippa a widow and a lady in Anne of Cleves household and him a career diplomat in Henry VIII’s service. Kit’s there to extend the invitation for the king’s beloved sister and her household to join him at court for the Christmas festivities. Will Pippa and Kit overcome the obstacles in their way to find the path to true love.

I... didn’t like this story. At all. As much as I’m here for older woman/younger man relationships and I’m 100% here for children not being every couple’s HEA, I was not here for all of the contrivances and deus ex machina’s that existed in this story. Like seriously, there were so many... from the initial meeting to pretty much every meeting there after. Even the ending was a deus ex machina with a previously antagonistic character, like I’m talking the story’s primary antagonist, deciding for no good reason that they’ll help the two lovers be together. This is after they’ve tried to keep them apart, and there’s no good reason for the heel-face revolution. I also didn’t like Pippa or Kit very much. Pippa was very passive in her own story and Kit was way too impetuous. This was also the story where I found the most egregious historical inaccuracy.. I did like Anne of Cleves (she’s one of my favorites of Henry’s queens... behind Catherine Parr and Anne Boleyn) she reminded me a lot of of Elsa Lancaster in the Private Lives of Henry VIII -- which was good since that’s who the author based her off of). But even an awesome Anne couldn’t save this.

Two stars.

His Mistletoe Lady - Amanda McCabe

Not long after Wyatt’s Rebellion, Catherine and her mother journey to Queen Mary’s court to celebrate the holiday season. There, they hope to find a way to free Catherine’s father who has been branded a traitor, but little do they know just how much of their fate is tied up with the mysterious Diego, a new courtier from the Spanish courts.

I liked this story quite a lot. It had the best and most believable romance arc of the three stories in this book and I felt it had the best characters. I really liked Diego and Catherine and I liked that Catherine very much had agency in her choices. I also liked the historical parallels between characters that were changed enough that unless you are super familiar with the history you wouldn’t notice them. It was nice seeing a story where Mary I isn’t vilified and where you can see her for the often kind woman she was. Because she was kind, kinder in several ways than either of her siblings or her father. Basically, I really felt this was the best story in the bunch.

Five stars.

All of the stories feature some mild kissing and period appropriate cursing. There is implied sex, but nothing is seen on the page.

This was a fun little read before the holidays.

3.66667 stars rounded up to Four Stars

I received an arc via NetGalley

I requested this book because I love everything Tudor and wanted to see where the authors would take a Christmas Tudor Story. .

There was a lot more historical references in these 3 stories then I expected - which I really enjoyed ! Although the Tudor’s were auxiliary characters, I quite enjoyed how they were incorporated into the stories .

What was a bit disappointing was perhaps the love stories - which felt rather rushed, and sometimes lost in the historical details

Overall, all three were enjoyable stories fit for the Christmas season

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for access to this arc.

Christmas at Court by Blythe Gifford starts before Henry Tudor has even gained the throne. In an age of arranged marriages, Alice and John are no exceptions. But their betrothal is far more than that and is arranged by more powerful people than merely their parents. Theirs is to be a life or death pledge of support for an upstart claimant to the throne. First however, they must mask their true intentions from a tyrant who is rumored to have already murdered his nephews, might be poisoning his sickly wife, and has brought his bastardized niece to court. Unsure of whom they can trust in this toxic court, Alice and John must weigh each word and action before a paranoid king – and each other.

I liked the way the story puts John and Alice in close proximity yet demands that they try and keep their distance from each other. Can they trust the other and the feelings that might shine from their eyes. Are the searing kisses they share true or merely a cloak of potential betrayal? Kudos for the traditional Christmas celebrations that are shown as well as how important religion was in the time. B

Secrets of the Queen’s Lady by Jenni Fletcher was already giving me good vibes before I started it: a younger man in love with a woman eight years older plus there is Anne of Cleves (who I always thought had a lucky escape even if she could never marry again) as a secondary character! Lady Philippa Bray, only one year widowed, is the one to meet Sir Christopher Lowell when he arrives at Richmond Palace with a can’t-be-turned-down invite from King Henry and his new darling, Queen Katherine Howard. The King wants his “beloved sister” to join the Christmas revelries at Hampton Court Palace.

Kit Lowell is bowled over to see the woman who kindly helped him find his way around at Court and to whom he’s compared every woman he’s met since then. She’s still the lovely and charming woman he remembers but Pippa hides a secret about her first marriage. During their walks and conversations, Kit dares to hope that she might see in him a man devoted to her and willing to over-set his family’s ambitions for him if she’ll only say “yes.” Can she risk allowing another man control over her?

So who wouldn’t want a cute, young, intelligent, well spoken man who promises to love you and show you the world if only you’ll come away with him? Pippa’s come through to the other side of marriage with freedom that only widows had in the 16th century. She doth protest much against her feelings for Kit but it’s understandable when she explains her life to him. Her “noes” are also partly for his benefit as younger sons were often beholden to the head of the family. I enjoy it when historical heroines have agency within the truth of whatever age authors choose to put them in and Pippa manages it – with a teensy bit of encouragement from Lady Anne and help from an unlikely source to find her totally wonderful beta hero. But I think they need to work on getting married sooner rather than later. B+

His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe rounds out the unusual Tudor setting novellas with a story set during the opening year of Queen Mary’s reign. Lady Elena Greaves and her daughter Catherine (named for the Queen whom Elena accompanied from Spain) are traveling to the royal court in London to plead for husband and father Sir Walter who is imprisoned in the Tower for his part in the Wyatt Rebellion.

Arriving there, Elena is embraced by Queen Mary for her loyalty to the Queen’s later mother while Catherine is introduced to a lady-in-waiting, Jane Dormer. Catherine is not only thrilled to see the glittering court during the festivities but also to get a chance to meet the Spanish courtiers who are there with the Queen’s husband, Phillip of Spain. One man in particular catches her eye with his gentlemanly manners and handsome face. Don Diego de Vasquez finds Catherine lovely but once he learns who she is, he knows he ought to keep his distance. He can’t allow anyone to interfere with his reason to be in England. Of course, all this soon goes by the wayside as Diego and Catherine meet and begin to fall in love. Oh, but what about the plotting in the works?

I must admit to at first being mildly uncomfortable with the viewpoint of the Catholic courtiers and Mary Tudor because, well … Bloody Mary. True at this point I don’t think the burnings had begun (nor is this in the plot at all) but … Bloody Mary and now looking back, we know what’s coming. Still, I ended up being interested in how so many people were (or at least acted as if they were) happy that the Reforms initially forced on England were being swept away and the old religion brought back. The inclusion of actual historical figures as secondary characters was also a nice touch, too. I know that many of these people will need a bolthole to escape England once Mary dies so it’s nice that so many of them appear that they will have one. The romance is a little fast but overall, I ended up enjoying a Tudor setting that is little used. B-

This short story collection really was sweet. If you are expecting to have all the drama that you would normally have with the Tudors, you will not find it within this book. It is truly a book with 3 sweet short stories about other people around this time period.
My favorite story was the middle story. It was an age gap romance with an older woman, and Pippa and Kit were really sweet. It's a friends to lovers age gap, and it fed my soul in the best way.
I didn't particularly care for the last story in the collection, but it wasn't bad. Just not my trope.

Tudor trials!

Three tales of Christmas during Tudor times. Rich with traditions, foods and inevitably, intrigue. From the courtly dances, to gathering Christmas boughs, to court games--often lighthearted on the surface but with dangerous depths.
From the beginning of the Tudor's reign, from Richard and Henry to Mary.
Three stories that find love amidst dangerous times where plots and treason are rampant.

Christmas at Court by Wendy Blythe Gifford
The twelve days of Christmas form the background of this novel reeking treachery and danger. Christmas Eve 1483—Westminster Palace, set under Richard III's rule prior to Henry Tudor's battle for the throne. Lady Alice of Oakshire is told by the former Queen, now Dame Elizabeth and herself in sanctuary, that she is to be betrothed on Christmas Day to John Talbot, son and heir of the Earl of Stanson. Alice finds she must keep her own counsel and be vigilante. Who can she trust at this time? On another note,I found the laws around the concept of betrothal fascinating.

Secrets of the Queen’s Lady by Jenni Fletcher
1541--Hampton Court in the new year
Lady Anne of Cleves, no longer Queen, now legalized as Henry Tudor's sister, returns at his invitation to court for New Year celebrations along with her ladies. Amongst them the widowed Lady Philippa (Pippa) Bray. Philippa, having decided to remain a widow has no time for Sir Christopher Lowell whom she knew years ago as Kit, against everything her heart is telling her.

His Mistletoe Lady by Amanda McCabe
Interestingly set in the Catholic Queen Mary Tudor's court of 1554 when King Philip of Spain is present awaiting the birth of their child. Most stories tell of this time as one fermented of rebellion and sly Spaniards being very much the enemy. This was a different take, with a young woman, Catherine Greaves, whose mother is Spanish, a former lady in waiting to Mary, joins her mother at to plea for her father, Sir Walter Greaves, who it appears was caught up in the Wyatt Rebellion and was subsequently imprisoned in the Tower. Whilst here Catherine makes the acquaintance of one of Philip's Spanish courtiers, the very dashing aristocrat, Don Diego de Vasquez. This will be a Yuletide unlike any Catherine has known.

A Harlequin - Romance ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

These are 3 novellas that are so easy and quick to read. I love Tudor era books/ tv shows/ movies so of course I had to read this. I am glad I did because I very much enjoyed the novellas. Well done but I wish the stories were longer but for novellas, they weren't rushed.

I do recommend it.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As Harlequin is the primary publisher that has released Tudor-era historicals, I was excited to see this upcoming release, Tudor Christmas Tidings, especially as it featured Amanda McCabe, an author I was already familiar with, as well as covering a wider breadth of time than I had previously seen, from just before and after Henry VII’s accession to Mary I’s reign.

“Christmas at Court” by Blythe Gifford

4 stars

A wonderful Christmas story, highlighting the growing relationship between a couple over three Christmases, amidst the backdrop of the tense court of Richard III, as Henry Tudor is abroad planning his uprising. I felt the tension, especially every time the former Queen Elizabeth or young Princess Elizabeth appeared, highlighting their uneasy position of having to kowtow to the new king while hoping for salvation. It was also fascinating to see it the way everyone evolved over the course of three Christmases, even if I wanted more.

“Secrets of the Queen’s Lady” by Jenni Fletcher

5 stars

Jenni Fletcher takes us to Christmas following the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves, when she was invited to spend the holidays at court and met with him and his new wife, Katherine Howard, with things ending much less awkwardly than expected. I love that Fletcher juxtaposed this with the fictional Pippa, who survived a bad marriage and now has the prospect of another chance at love, even while her suitor, Kit’s, friends warn him against it.

“His Mistletoe Lady” by Amanda McCabe

5 stars

I loved this one, highlighting one of the few happy times in Mary I’s life and reign, when she was secure on her throne, newly married, and believed she was expecting an heir. But I also loved the reminder that even while Mary’s life took a turn for the tragic once again in the succeeding years, true HEA-romance did come about during this time, with Catherine and Diego’s love story having real historical inspiration that didn’t end in tragedy.

***

This is a wonderful collectio, that perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays from the perspective of three different periods of the Tudor Dynasty. If you love the time period, or just love well-researched historical romance, and novellas that can still pack a punch, I recommend this collection highly.

A Christmas Romance set in the Tudor Court. That even I found myself enjoying and I don't really like the Tudor time period unless it's non fiction. Fans of historical romance will enjoy this fast read.

It's been so long since I have read in this world of the Tudors and I have missed it! These stories were short and sweet and placed in a world that took me away from the craziness of the one we are in now. It was just what I needed! Thank you for letting me read and review.

I really enjoyed getting to read Christmas stories in a different kind of setting than usual, and I enjoyed the variety of Tudor courts and periods that were covered in these three novellas. I liked the first novella, by Blythe Gifford, a lot, and I'll definitely be looking for more stories from her! I also enjoyed the second novella, by Jenni Fletcher.

I have been obsessed with the Tudor era for many, many years. This is a great collection of stories. My personal favorite was Secrets of the Queen’s Lady by Jenni Fletcher. Out of all of Henry VIII wives I’ve always like reading up on Anne of Cleaves, I was very happy that one of the stories takes place in her household. All the stories were well written and I enjoyed every moment reading this.