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attytheresa's review
4.0
I picked this up thinking to find a typical diverting Regency historical romance set at Christmas. What I got was a lovely work of historical fiction set at Christmas that tugs at the heartstrings and speaks to the soul.
Christmas galloped toward Broomhill Hall, singing, “Fa-la-la-lala-lala-lah-lah!”
Lord Copeland is facing a difficult Christmas, likely his last. You see, Copeland, in the prime of his life, has a heart condition that has worsened to the point his doctor suggest he get is affairs in order. At this Christmas gathering of his siblings, their families, and his fiancé, Copeland will need to break the news, and break his engagement too as he refuses to burden his fiancé with a future as a young widow. Alas, a blizzard hits the region before any can reach the family estate, and Copeland faces a lonely cold Christmas with just servants, the thoughts of his grim future, and the ruin of his holiday plans whuch included a ghost hunt. You see, the family home is considered the most haunted house in England, with the ghost of a young boy who holds your hand, footsteps that appear running toward the lake, and a Mistletoe Bride.
A carriage full of musicians hired for the festivities makes it through before the roads are closed by snow. Entering the main hall to greet them after hearing noise of their arrival, Copeland finds instead a pale golden haired woman dressed in white and clutching a dried out sprig of mistletoe. Assuming she is his sister's invited school friend having gotten a lift with the musicians, Copeland welcomes her as an expected guest.
Only, as the story progresses, something isn't quite right. There are mysteries to be solved, stories to learn, tragedies to assimilate. And all the accoutrements of a Regency Christmas to be displayed and enjoy. And yes, there is romance, it not at all the light entertainment I expected but something far richer and deeper. The title tells the whole story: this is a story of The Christmas Spirit, in all its meanings. Keep the box of tissues at hand.
I did drop a star from my rating because wonderful as it was, it still dragged, is a bit too long, repetitive, yet a few plot points introduced (like the musicians) are forgotten through long sections then suddenly dropped in again out of nowhere. But these are minor quibbles that did not in the end detract from a moving Christmas story.
Christmas galloped toward Broomhill Hall, singing, “Fa-la-la-lala-lala-lah-lah!”
Lord Copeland is facing a difficult Christmas, likely his last. You see, Copeland, in the prime of his life, has a heart condition that has worsened to the point his doctor suggest he get is affairs in order. At this Christmas gathering of his siblings, their families, and his fiancé, Copeland will need to break the news, and break his engagement too as he refuses to burden his fiancé with a future as a young widow. Alas, a blizzard hits the region before any can reach the family estate, and Copeland faces a lonely cold Christmas with just servants, the thoughts of his grim future, and the ruin of his holiday plans whuch included a ghost hunt. You see, the family home is considered the most haunted house in England, with the ghost of a young boy who holds your hand, footsteps that appear running toward the lake, and a Mistletoe Bride.
A carriage full of musicians hired for the festivities makes it through before the roads are closed by snow. Entering the main hall to greet them after hearing noise of their arrival, Copeland finds instead a pale golden haired woman dressed in white and clutching a dried out sprig of mistletoe. Assuming she is his sister's invited school friend having gotten a lift with the musicians, Copeland welcomes her as an expected guest.
Only, as the story progresses, something isn't quite right. There are mysteries to be solved, stories to learn, tragedies to assimilate. And all the accoutrements of a Regency Christmas to be displayed and enjoy. And yes, there is romance, it not at all the light entertainment I expected but something far richer and deeper. The title tells the whole story: this is a story of The Christmas Spirit, in all its meanings. Keep the box of tissues at hand.
I did drop a star from my rating because wonderful as it was, it still dragged, is a bit too long, repetitive, yet a few plot points introduced (like the musicians) are forgotten through long sections then suddenly dropped in again out of nowhere. But these are minor quibbles that did not in the end detract from a moving Christmas story.
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