Let Nothing You Dismay”: In 1810 England, Cecilia Ambrose is an oddity at the Bath academy for young ladies where she teaches. Although gently raised, she is half-Egyptian, and at age twenty-eight believes she will never marry. With Christmas only days away, Cecilia has agreed to escort twelve-year-old Lucinda back to Chase Hall in York. The girl’s parents have been delayed, and in their place is Lucinda’s uncle, Lord Trevor Chase, who has been charged to chaperone Lucinda and her siblings. The bachelor black sheep of the family, Trevor scandalized his own class by becoming a barrister in London and championing the poor. Cecilia’s plan to return to Bath is thwarted when fire breaks out in the mansion, and she reluctantly agrees to stay a while longer. Will her delay prove to be Trevor Chase’s salvation? First published in 2003.
“No Room at the Inn”: With Christmas, 1815, around the corner, Lady Mary is told that she is not the daughter of an earl, but simply Mary McIntyre, the base-born orphan Lord and Lady Davy reared as their own. After her true parentage is revealed, Mary must leave Coventry for Yorkshire and the farm of her new-found grandmother. Her travel companions are the snobbish son of Lord Davy’s estate steward, Thomas Shepard, and his family. Heavy snowfall soon blocks the roads, and there is no room at the inn, so the little group is forced to seek shelter in the home of Joseph Shepard, Thomas’ estranged brother, a handsome man Mary remembers fondly from childhood. In this “vulgar” mansion belonging to a common businessman, Mary will discover that happiness has little to do with titles or income, and that Christmas works its own magic. First published in 2002.
Despite the impossibly stupid title, this two-fer set of Christmas themed Regency novellas strikes the perfect note for the Season.
Both novellas feature H/h that come from more of the developing middle class. Both heroes work for a living, helping to explain their mutual kindness and charity in comparison with aristocratic counterparts who are portrayed a bit buffonishly. In other words, there are no Dukes behaving badly or Earls running rampant.
Both heroines are also orphans of a sort, finding their way in the world through some very sweet Christmas accidents. That they both find a level of development and redemption in limited word counts underscores the talent of Carla Kelly. Although I would’ve liked a bit more meat on the second story’s bones, we have on offer two sensible spinsters who embrace the Season’s little miracles (mostly love and hot guys).
These are not funny or steamy Christmas stories, much more sentimental and filled with drama. I nonetheless found them delightful and quick reads. The first is a bit more developed than the second, with characters that could easily be developed into a longer novel. I enjoyed the historical/social context of the heroes work for the criminal justice system and felt, although the topic was serious, it was not heavy handed in presentation.
I wanted the second novella to go a bit further, for the wrap up felt a little rushed and too perfect, but then again it certainly gives that feel good feeling rampant this time of year. The second novella did have some great secondary characters that moved the action along and also helped round out the holiday cheer.
The Christmas portions are not only present in decorating, snow, and holiday meals but also in the traditional themes of kinship, charity, forgiveness, and goodwill. I like a little meat with my cheese, and these novellas definitely provide that.
Definitely a re-read worthy collection.
5 out of 6 Two sweet Christmas novellas that strike the perfect tone for the holidays
| Content Rating/Heat Index | |
|---|---|
| Mature Content |   |
| Minimal mature content | |
| Intimacy | |
| Kissing | |
| Violence | |
| Nope | |
| Overall |  |
|---|---|
| Appropriate for most ages | |
