Loved these stories by such sweet authors. This is the perfect read for the upcoming holiday season. Can't wait to sit with my girls and reread them all.

This book contained one of my favorite authors: Carla Kelly. And her story did not disappoint. Ms. Kelly writes lovely historical romance usually of non-titled characters which is a welcomed change from all those Dukes out there! This story is of a married couple, the return of the husband from a long stint with the navy during the war with France. Their getting to know each other again and reconnecting with his growing children was very sweet. There was a bit of drama with overbearing relatives and a little Christmas magic.

The cover is gorgeous and I loved this collection of heart-warming Christmas stories. I look forward each year to seeing which authors will be invited to contribute to the collection. I love collections because I can read a complete story in a short amount of time. I enjoyed all of the stories.

LORD BLAKELY’S GIFT by Anneka R. Walker--When Ivy Hunt visits her grandmother for a month it never entered her mind that she would become involved, in any way, with Lord Blakely of the neighboring estate. To further complicate matters, their families have been feuding for the past several generations and don't even acknowledge each other's presence.

What a memorable first meeting these two had! I liked seeing the change Ivy had on Lord Blakely as they visited his tenants while she tried to find the owner of a found purse. I loved Ivy's kind heart and how she treated everyone well. Her compassion helped Lord Blakely become a better person. I loved Lord Blakely's sister and would enjoy a story about her.

A SEASON OF HOPE by Sian Ann Bessey--Amelia Nesbitt's family's barely getting by since the death of her father, the vicar. Mr. Cunningham "graciously" allowed them to move into the old gamekeeper's cottage when the new vicar arrived. Things start to look up when her childhood friend Phillip Cunningham arrives after living in Jamaica.

I love childhood friends reconnect stories and Christmas stories, and this one combined both. I liked that the elder Mr. Cunningham had to spend time in the run-down cottage Amelia and her family lived in. They were kind to him even though he hadn't been very kind to them about the cottage or the goat that kept escaping his pen. It helped soften his heart which had been hardened over the years.

CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA by Carla Kelly--William Crenshaw is home for Christmas after being away for two years with the Royal Navy. Instead of having a quiet Christmas with his small family, and getting acquainted with the daughter who was a baby when he left, he has to deal with conniving siblings who think they know what's best for him and his family.

I thought this story had a mysterious element to it in the form of the "caretaker" Mr. Paul. I loved that Will and Meg had genuine love between them and were so kind to others. Inviting those with no family to their modest Christmas dinner showed true Christmas spirit. This story was a little different but I enjoyed it.

EXPECTATIONS AT CANTERWOOD by Krista Lynn Jensen--Marina is a spinster and is not looking forward to meeting a Lieutenant Stanhope at the house party she and her family are attending over the holidays. Can an embarrassing case of mistaken identity lead to love?

This fun story had me giggling within the first chapter. I love stories that take place at house parties because there are many events where the characters can spend time together and get to know each other better. In our time the mistaken identity would've been cleared up without any issues, but in Regency times, the rules of propriety caused additional issues.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Covenant Communications via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

I absolutely loved this collection! It's like every Christmas TV special all combined into one book. One refreshing point was that the third story, "Christmas by the Sea", expanded on an already healthy, positive, love-based marriage. So often we read stories where two individuals fall in love, but we never get to see into their happy ending. I also LOVED the insertion of Mr. Paul. The letter at the end ... shall we say ... perfection? Absolutely nailed it.

Backing up to the beginning, "Lord Blakely's Gift" was also beautiful. It reminded me a little bit of Romeo & Juliet, but with a much happier resolution.

"A Season of Hope" started off so sadly, but that made the turning point so much sweeter. Giles is such a sweet character. "I don't clatter ... I just have places to go in a hurry."

"Expectations at Canterwood", well, let's just say ... if you pair a military gentleman trying to find his place in life with a lady waiting for someone to discover her true self ... it's going to be a winner. There are so many special moments in this brief story. "Consider me an alternative to sinking into the floor?" It left me wanting more!

Overall the collection flows quite nicely, although "Christmas by the Sea" is more of a vignette - a glimpse into a brief period in time for the small family - so I found myself taking a chapter or two to get used to its pacing.

Content: Super clean and super sweet. Faith-based, but not preachy.
Language: Nothing noteworthy
Violence/Injury: Very minor (though Will carefully treating an injured puppy nearly made me cry in story #3!)

I wholeheartedly recommend this story to anyone wanting a bit of Christmas cheer. Grab a fuzzy blanket and a cup of cocoa, light the fire, and cuddle up for a thoroughly satisfying read.

I was given an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Hopeful Christmas
A Regency Romance Collection
by Anneka Walker, Sian Ann Bessey, Carla kelly , Krista Lynn Jensen


Covenant Communications
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance
Pub Date 01 Oct 2020


I am reviewing a copy of A Hopeful Christmas/A Regency Romance Collection through Covenant Communications and Netgalley:



In the first story in this collection, Lord Blakely’s gift we meet Lord Curtis Blakely and when Miss Grace Hunt , the two have established a secret acquaintance, but neither of them can deny that their feelings for one another go beyond friendship. The problem with the two falling in love though is their family are bitter rivals. Will a Christmas Miracle allow these star crossed lovers, to reach their happily ever after?




The second story in this collection, A Season of Hope introduces Amelia who following the death of her Father knows that Christmas is going to be tight, but when things become dire it is the arrival of a childhood friend that brings Amelia hope both for the future and love.



In the third book Christmas By the Sea, Royal Navy Surgeon Will Crenshaw longs for a quiet Christmas after two years at sea with the Royal Navy. But after unrest at home threatens to ruin the holidays, it takes the intervention of a mysterious house sitter to remind them of the true meaning of the season.



In the final story in this collection Expectations at Canterwood a spinster and a war weary military man are thrown together by a case of mistaken identity. But soon the unexpected feelings stirred up lead to an unforgettable holiday romance.


I give A Hopeful Romance five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

A very well written collection of Regency novellas. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

A Hopeful Christmas by Anneka Walker, Sian Ann Bessey, Carla Kelly, and Krista Lynn Jensen, 372 pages. SHORT STORIES. Covenant Communications, 2020. $18.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Christmas is a time for joy -- even if everything else in life seems like it’s trying to trip you up. In these four short stories, these authors encourage readers to find kindness, hope, and forgiveness in the upcoming Christmas season.
At the end of each story, I found myself wishing for just another chapter or two because I wasn’t ready to let the characters and the hopeful feelings go. Each of the four authors did a splendid job of crafting stories to prepare readers’ hearts for the good feelings of Christmas, and I wonder if they had a secret bet on who could include the most adorable animal in their story. If you aren’t feeling particularly in the Christmas spirit, you will at the close of this book.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Lord Blakely's Gift - Anneka R. Walker 4*
I enjoyed the characters in this tale of Christmas miracles.  Their faith and goodness were inspiring to watch developing. 

A Season of Hope - Sian Ann Bessey 5*
With the 2nd story in this anthology, I was delighted to discover the undergirding similarities between this story and the previous one.  Sian Ann Bessey has taken these elements and crafted a pleasing tale of love and redemption, set beautifully at Christmastide. 

Christmas by the Sea - Carla Kelly 4.5*
A departure from a traditional romance story, this sweet tale of a seaman rejoining his family for Christmas was full of goodness and miracles.  Carla Kelly's characters were thoroughly good and I loved all the internal dialogue embedded in the first person narrative!  There is also plenty of faith and wisdom and inspiration to be a better person.

Expectations at Canterwood - Krista Lynne Jensen 4.5*
This sweet story of misunderstandings, accepting shortcomings, and finding ones' path was full of exceptionally witty dialogue and sweet romance.  I enjoyed the nods to Jensen's previous story in Christmas Grace, but the story referenced was not necessary to understand this one.  I appreciated the catchy opening and a satisfying conclusion!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Color me surprised when the first two stories had meet cutes involving precocious goats. I was watching to see if this would remain a theme, but alas it did not.

That being said I was delighted with all four stories in this anthology and would have loved to have more. To me a good story leaves me satisfied but wanting to read more from the author. These stories do just that.

I love Christmas stories, these have been added to the stories that I love. There is an overwhelming feeling of love and spirit in these stories.. Each story is different and carries its own magic. with each author bringing their own distinct voice to this work. There is laughter, family, spirit, healing, learning, and growing.

I will have to read this one again as the holidays set in.

I received a complimentary copy and these are my own thoughts.

First off, this cover is absolutely gorgeous! I reviewed the Kindle edition, but if I saw this in a store, I'd desperately want to own it and display it for all to admire (and of course, borrow - I'm not a complete Scrooge).

I received this copy from Netgalley to review - much appreciated. Overall, it wasn't a landmark Christmas book, filled with earth-shattering plots. But that's not what we want in a Christmas Regency collection, is it? We want comfort, joy, peace, hope, and love. This collection has it in spades. While I'm not particularly in the mood to revel in a Christmas read right now in October, I do recommend it for you to add to your Regency Christmas collection.

This is a very sweet collection of Regency novellas about Christmas that all have an element of hope. Every last one of them is wonderful and it definitely makes a nice addition to my Christmas reading that I like to do each December!

A HOPEFUL CHRISTMAS is a charming set of novellas perfect for the Christmas season.

Lord Blakely’s Gift is a timeless tale of estranged families and of opposites attracting. Yet, Ns, Walker charms us with Ivy’s kind and giving nature. Ivy pulls Lord B into her open spirit with no effort. She even charms her Grandmother back to life; leaving Lord Blakely to win over her father.


A Season of Hope sees Philip returning home to a bitter father from an adventure in which is childhood friend died, Amelia’s brother. He, also, sees his father is turning that bitterness, and almost Scrooge-like behavior, on others. Yet, when Philip visits his deceased friend’s home, Amelia and her mother welcome him. They welcome the stories of the boys’ adventures together before the death. When Philip sees the hardship Amelia, her mother and her little brother are suffering, he sees a need to right a wrong, especially once Amelia’s family help his own father following an accident. Through all of this, Philip realizes he feels more for Amelia than he ever realized, and she feels the same. Sweet story!


Christmas by the Sea - Will Crenshaw is every Navy wife’s dream. An already married couple is not the norm for romance books. I fell in love with the Crenshaw family. Will loved and trusted Megs. Everything she did deepened his belief that she was doing a fantastic ‘job’ of being his wife, raising their children, standing up to his family and raising their children to do the same, as well as, to protect each other. I loved this story!

The idea of Christmas miracles was a precious story line surrounding the Crenshaw family, showing that love and faith important. Loved Mr. Paul and the way Will believed in him and his ‘miracle.’

One interesting alternative to typical romances was the male perspective – I liked it for a change of the norm.


Expectations at Canterwood provides a charming hero in Richard, a lieutenant home from the war. A case of mistaken identity from Marina charms him from their first meeting. He knows he needs to correct this and wants to make sure he does not embarrass her. Well, that does not work; so, he seeks his mother’s advice. In time, that causes problems. But, along the way to their HEA, Marina provides unexpected insight that helps Richard determine his future without hurting his brother and the family business as he plans to branch out on his own. Richard is able to see past Marina’s spectacles to the real young lady.

I overall really enjoyed reading this book the third story was the hardest one for me to get through. With that said though it really was a great read to start think about Christmas and has great stories!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a set off four short stories set in regency time period at Christmas time. The stories were clean and uplifting. I enjoyed the first and last stories best.

Lord Blakely’s Gift by Anneka R. Walker
A sweet, inspirational novella! Curtis and Ivy had a very memorable first meeting, and a lovely story. I really liked the idea of the conflict in the story, but it could have been better developed. 3.5/5 stars

A Season of Hope by Sian Ann Bessey
A very sweet, humorous story! Although it was a bit slow for a novella, Philip and Amelia are still well-developed characters. 3.5/5 stars

Christmas by the Sea by Carla Kelly
This was a very unique novella. I’ve read few stories about a couple who is already married, and have been for awhile, at the beginning of the book. Personally, I would’ve rather had the story be about how Will and Megs met and married, and perhaps had this story told as a sort of epilogue. I also wish we could’ve had Megs’ point of view too. Overall, this story wasn’t my favorite. 2.5/5 stars

Expectations at Canterwood by Krista Lynn Jensen
This one may be my favorite in this collection! There were a lot of characters to keep up with for a novella so sometimes I felt a bit lost, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. Its message is very important and relevant, and I loved its uniqueness. 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a wonderful collection of Regency Christmas novellas. Hope, miracles and love can transform anyone but it seems especially magical at Christmas.

Each of these authors are well versed in the Regency world.

-Lord Blakely’s Gift by Anneka Walker - Ivy’s father refuses to visit his mother and his ancestral home because of a fall out from something. Ivy doesn’t know the particulars and she loves Christmas at home but she sacrifices her beloved holiday at home to visit her sickly grandmother, who isn’t long for the world. Ivy comes across a handsome gentleman when she falls into mud..., a Lord B, but learns it is Lord Blakely and that they can’t be friends. A little Romeo and Juliet storyline.

I loved this story and thought it was perfect to start the book. Ivy is pure goodness, she reads to her grandmother who treats her with indifference, and despite knowing she shouldn't spend time with Lord Blakely, she can't stand the thought of someone without their coins. I loved seeing the change in Lord Blakely too.

-A Season IG Hope by Sian Ann Bessy - Amelia’s mother and young brother have fallen on hard times since her father, the local vicar, passed away. It doesn’t help that their goat escapes and fancies Mr. Cunningham’s dress shirts. He sends a missive that they need to reimburse him in full by Christmas, an impossible task. Mr. Cunningham’s son returns after years away and has fond memories of Amelia’s family. He sets out to help them improve their circumstances.

This was a great transformation too of some characters who had just been alone a little too long. Amelia's family has fortitude to do their best and to never pity their circumstances. Amelia was brave to help Mr. Cunningham.

-Christmas By The Sea by Carla Kelly - this was interesting as it was from the POV of a married man. He’s away at sea for years and returns early. He’s a stranger to his children and gets a black eye by his 2 yr old daughter 😅 They all have to reacquaint themselves. Troublesome relatives, an impending move and a stranger with a touch of magic fill their holiday season.

This story was a little harder for me to get into-I'm not sure if it was because it was from the sole male POV or a married man who is a sailor and gone a long amount of time but it was harder to relate to him but you could feel for him being a stranger with his own family.

-Expectations at Canterwood by Krista Lynne Jensen - Marina travels with her family to a house party with expectations to attend to Lieutenant Stanhope. Only he’s round, old and apparently married...as she’s cursing her misfortunes in the garden she gets caught in a branch and a stable hand overhears. Only it turns out he isn’t a stable hand.

This felt like a complete story with depth and character growth. I liked that Marina had spectacles, as not many books have the female MC that isn't perfection.

Of the stories, I think Jensen’s was my favorite because I didn't want to leave that world. I wanted to see more of the characters.

Sweet Christmas Regency anthology to warm your heart this holiday season. Two of my beloved authors, Anneka Walker and Sian Ann Bessey, combine with two new to me authors, Carla Kelly and Krista Lynn Jensen to deliver four thoroughly satisfying holiday romances. Anneka and Sian Ann deliver exactly what I have come to expect, charmingly sweet and delightful stories that easily grab my attention and pack a powerful punch into a short novella. I enjoyed being introduced to Carla and Krista’s style and look forward to more works by each of them. All four novellas can stand alone. Each story, although all very different, offers the promise of love and hope realized. I love happy endings, especially at Christmas, and this book delivers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

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

“Lord Blakely’s Gift” by Anneka R. Walker

4 stars

A charming story of love that overcomes obstacles. I really liked seeing how, even amidst an intense family rivalry, Curtis and Ivy could come together/ Curtis is also wonderfully flawed, growing over the course of the story in a beautiful way.

“A Season of Hope” by Sian Ann Bessey

4 stars

This was another sweet story about finding love in the midst of loss and uncertainty. I felt for Amelia’s dire situation, and appreciated the contrast between Thomas, Amelia’s childhood friend, and his miserly father.

“Christmas by the Sea” by Carla Kelly

3 stars

I liked this one, but didn’t love it, which was a shame, given this was the one I was most looking forward to. I liked Will and the kids, but I found the romance in this one a bit lacking and it went on a bit long for my taste.

“Expectations at Canterwood” by Krista Lynn Jensen

5 stars

Mistaken-identity can be hit-or-miss for me, but I was utterly charmed by this one. As a result, the story was kinda quirky, and I liked that Marina and Richard’s relationship transitioned from that initial awkwardness to friendship and then love.

***

This collection is a full of lovely historical stories that would make a great addition to to your holiday romance reading list, especially if you love sweet historicals.

A Hopeful Christmas is a Christian Regency Romance collection of encouraging holiday stories written by four talented authors! I don't know about you, but I can only take so much of the chaotic, loud, unloving depictions of families and households at Christmas. (Not that my house is not chaotic and loud 😂 - it is.) But the selfishness and biting humor that's in a lot of books and movies really sort of grates on my nerves and makes me feel tense.

This book is a beautiful change of pace. It's full of love, humility, service, generosity and truly captures the spirit of the season. If you're looking for a book that will uplift you and encourage you to forgive, to remember what it's like to fall in love and to feel the mood of a wintry day - pick this one up! Even though I read it in August, it begs to read next to a cozy fire with a cup of cocoa in hand.

I love Christmas stories and these all were fun reads. Lord Blakely's gift was light and had a Juliet and Romeo theme without all the depressing parts. I really loved Ivy and felt I could relate to her as a person.
A Season of Hope was probably my favorite of all four stories. I loved that it was so full of Christmas giving and joy and the characters were very well written.
Christmas by The Sea was also very well written. I felt like I could picture the story so well as I read and felt like I was there in the book. I loved the Christian references and it reminded me that Christmas is a time of miracles.
Expectations at Canterwood was also such a good read. It had great depth and I actually wished it could have been a full novel so I could learn more about these characters. I loved Marina