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Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection by Erica Vetsch, Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt
belovedbrat's review
4.0
first reviewed here: https://belovedgraceful-carissasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-of-joy-to-world.html
Title: Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection
Author: Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch
Pg: 336
Genre: Christmas, Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Joy to the world is a Christmas Novella collection set in the Regency period. Which is a time period that outside of Jane Austen I don’t really read. But I did enjoy this one. And while I liked Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller and Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch. My favorite was Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt which gave me Beauty and the Beast with faith feels. All in All this was a sweet Christmas novella.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Title: Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection
Author: Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch
Pg: 336
Genre: Christmas, Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Joy to the world is a Christmas Novella collection set in the Regency period. Which is a time period that outside of Jane Austen I don’t really read. But I did enjoy this one. And while I liked Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller and Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch. My favorite was Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt which gave me Beauty and the Beast with faith feels. All in All this was a sweet Christmas novella.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
beckys_bookshelves's review
5.0
Joy to the World is a Regency Christmas Novella collection by Carolyn Miller who wrote “Heaven and Nature Sing” ; Amanda Barratt who penned Far as the Curse is Found; and Erica Vetsch who authored Wonders of His Love center around people of faith who find love during the Christmas season in Regency England. I am a big fan of all three authors and I was not disappointed in their stories
Carolyn’s Miller’ Heaven and Nature Sing is a sweet story with a bit of a Persuasion theme. Carolyn has the unique ability to paint a picture of Regency England with people of faith. Her characters Edith and George will steal your heart and draw you into their story. I loved developing a better understanding of Regency Christmas traditions, and left very satisfied with Ms. Miller’s story.
Amanda Barrett’s Far as the Curse is Found is a nice variation on the usual Regency romance themes. Jenny and Dwight are two wounded souls who walk in faith and find a deeper understanding of God’s love and their love with each other. I was reminded of God’s providence and how He makes beauty from ashes after reading Ms. Barrett’s story.
Erica Vetch’s Wonder’s of His Love tells us the story of Widow Lady Cilla Haverly and Scotish artist Hamish Sinclair. Both come from very different worlds, but as their love develops we see they form a beautiful piece of artwork when together. I loved the character of Cilla and enjoyed watching her transform into the women she was meant to be. An incredibly sweet Christmas story.
I am now in the Christmas spirit and so glad that I was able to read Joy to the World. I highly recommend the book and hope you will make it a part of your holiday reading. It will fill you with joy!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
Carolyn’s Miller’ Heaven and Nature Sing is a sweet story with a bit of a Persuasion theme. Carolyn has the unique ability to paint a picture of Regency England with people of faith. Her characters Edith and George will steal your heart and draw you into their story. I loved developing a better understanding of Regency Christmas traditions, and left very satisfied with Ms. Miller’s story.
Amanda Barrett’s Far as the Curse is Found is a nice variation on the usual Regency romance themes. Jenny and Dwight are two wounded souls who walk in faith and find a deeper understanding of God’s love and their love with each other. I was reminded of God’s providence and how He makes beauty from ashes after reading Ms. Barrett’s story.
Erica Vetch’s Wonder’s of His Love tells us the story of Widow Lady Cilla Haverly and Scotish artist Hamish Sinclair. Both come from very different worlds, but as their love develops we see they form a beautiful piece of artwork when together. I loved the character of Cilla and enjoyed watching her transform into the women she was meant to be. An incredibly sweet Christmas story.
I am now in the Christmas spirit and so glad that I was able to read Joy to the World. I highly recommend the book and hope you will make it a part of your holiday reading. It will fill you with joy!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.
cctblog's review
5.0
Joy to the World is a romantic, delightfully festive collection of Regency romance novellas. Each novella is short enough to be read in an evening and long enough to feel complete. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite because I loved all of them, but if I had to pick, I think Erica Vetsch's Wonders of His Love would get the edge because I loved watching Cilla Haverly come into her own, and who doesn't love a Scottish hero? (Of the three novellas, this one most clearly connects to the author's previous work, but it's written in a way that doesn't require you to have read The Lost Lieutenant or The Gentleman Spy.) I also adored Far as the Curse is Found, which had some delightful Beauty and the Beast references. It was my first Amanda Barratt story, but it won't be my last! And I found Carolyn Miller's Heaven and Nature Sing to be a delightful second chance at romance story.
This collection is just perfect for your Christmas reading (though I'd be willing to read it at any point in the year!)--I highly recommend it!
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
This collection is just perfect for your Christmas reading (though I'd be willing to read it at any point in the year!)--I highly recommend it!
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
blackngoldgirlsbookspot's review
3.0
There's nothing I love more than a Regency romance, but I'll confess to not being a huge fan of novellas. That said my overwhelming curiosity over this anthology by three authors, including one I've been a fan of for quite some time, won out. I'm so glad to have taken the time to read Joy to the World as it did indeed bring a bit of joy to my life! As with any novella, these three weren't super in depth, but I actually still felt a connection to the characters. Each of the Regency worlds built by Miller, Barratt, and Vetsch were authentic and actually quite raw for what I thought was going to be an anthology filled with snowflakes and sunshine. Overcoming pain to experience the joy of the season were underlying themes that I really felt will resonate with many this year. I think "Far As the Curse is Found" was my favorite, just because I do love a hero scarred physically and emotionally finding love. "Wonders of His Love" has a Scottish hero, so of course, it was already predetermined that I would adore the story and I did! "Heaven and Nature Sing" was nice, but the chemistry between Edith and George wasn't as palpable as the other couples! Overall, this book was a festive feast fit for Regency and romantic Christian fiction fans!
2 stars - Heaven and Nature sing
4 stars - Wonders of His Love
4 stars - Far As the Curse is Found
~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
2 stars - Heaven and Nature sing
4 stars - Wonders of His Love
4 stars - Far As the Curse is Found
~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
academy252's review
5.0
I am so delighted to share this new collection just in time for Christmas! Kregel Publishing has put together a Christmas collection with really delightful stories from three great authors.
There are three stories in this collection:
Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller
Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt
Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch
Don’t you love those titles? I do! These stories are all set in the Regency Era. They are all novella length so you can enjoy them as you prepare for Christmas. Brew up a hot beverage and sit by a cozy fire as you enjoy lovely stories from Christmases past. These stories are perfect for putting you in an old fashioned Christmas mood. All three stories are written from a Christian perspective. They are, what I call, gentle fiction. I love how you can see God’s hand in each story. These are delightful stories to add to your seasonal collection.
I read this as part of a book tour. I was asked to read and give my honest opinion.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
There are three stories in this collection:
Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller
Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt
Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch
Don’t you love those titles? I do! These stories are all set in the Regency Era. They are all novella length so you can enjoy them as you prepare for Christmas. Brew up a hot beverage and sit by a cozy fire as you enjoy lovely stories from Christmases past. These stories are perfect for putting you in an old fashioned Christmas mood. All three stories are written from a Christian perspective. They are, what I call, gentle fiction. I love how you can see God’s hand in each story. These are delightful stories to add to your seasonal collection.
I read this as part of a book tour. I was asked to read and give my honest opinion.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
rjd's review
5.0
Wow. They just kept getting better and better! I sometimes have a hard time with novella collections. The consistency between stories can be wildly different. But this was excellent. I am a huge fan of all the authors separately. The first was a nice second chances story. Well written. The second was a Beauty and the Beast type. But not so stereotypical! I really enjoyed it. Then the final story brought me back to some of my favorites from earlier this year! I loved it.
I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review positive or otherwise.
I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review positive or otherwise.
cakt1991's review
5.0
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch have all quickly become new favorites in the new crop of up-and-coming Christian historical romance authors over the last few years, so I was hyped for the Joy to the World anthology, which would feature stories from all three of them. And while I may be a little biased as a result, I feel this is actually one of the handful of novella collections that is solid all the way through, without a single dud.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
5 stars
I loved the vibes of this one. I loved seeing Edith and George grapple with their responsibilities and lingering feelings for one another. Both are genuinely good people, and I like that neither was “the bad guy,” or tried to get back at the other, which can come up in stories like this.
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
4 stars
I really resonated with two people finding healing from their dark past in each other. While I’m not a fan of a love as a fix-all for trauma or loss, I like that it allowed them to find comfort and put them on the path toward becoming whole again and finding love in the process, whthout using each other as a crutch.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
5 stars
This one has one of my favorite tropes, cross class romance with an aristocratic heroine and commoner hero…with another twist, with the heroine finding herself in limbo due to her husband dying before being able to assume the title, and thus she’s mistreated by her mother-in-law. I really resonated with Cilla and felt for her, hoping she would find happiness even with the obstacles in her way. And I loved seeing her relationship with Hamish develop, providing a ray of hope in her often unpleasant existence, even though the possibility of a happy ending for them also had obstacles.
***
This anthology is fabulous, and perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit of giving, (re)connecting with loved ones, and the general vibe of hope. If you’re looking for a sweet, inspirational anthology to read this holiday season, I recommend this one highly.
Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch have all quickly become new favorites in the new crop of up-and-coming Christian historical romance authors over the last few years, so I was hyped for the Joy to the World anthology, which would feature stories from all three of them. And while I may be a little biased as a result, I feel this is actually one of the handful of novella collections that is solid all the way through, without a single dud.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
5 stars
I loved the vibes of this one. I loved seeing Edith and George grapple with their responsibilities and lingering feelings for one another. Both are genuinely good people, and I like that neither was “the bad guy,” or tried to get back at the other, which can come up in stories like this.
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
4 stars
I really resonated with two people finding healing from their dark past in each other. While I’m not a fan of a love as a fix-all for trauma or loss, I like that it allowed them to find comfort and put them on the path toward becoming whole again and finding love in the process, whthout using each other as a crutch.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
5 stars
This one has one of my favorite tropes, cross class romance with an aristocratic heroine and commoner hero…with another twist, with the heroine finding herself in limbo due to her husband dying before being able to assume the title, and thus she’s mistreated by her mother-in-law. I really resonated with Cilla and felt for her, hoping she would find happiness even with the obstacles in her way. And I loved seeing her relationship with Hamish develop, providing a ray of hope in her often unpleasant existence, even though the possibility of a happy ending for them also had obstacles.
***
This anthology is fabulous, and perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit of giving, (re)connecting with loved ones, and the general vibe of hope. If you’re looking for a sweet, inspirational anthology to read this holiday season, I recommend this one highly.
bellesmoma2021's review
5.0
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time then you’ll know that I’m a tremendous fan of Carolyn Miller’s novels. She is the queen of Regency-era storytelling. “Heaven and Nature Sing,” her novella in the Joy to the World anthology is another solid home run for the author. With a pace that kept me turning pages well into the night, I finished this delightful story in one sitting. The characters are well-crafted — a wonderful blend of unique, endearing, and realistic. The romantic tension is so thick it could be cut with a knife, and I rooted for the hero and heroine throughout the entire read. And, it wouldn’t be a Carolyn Miller story without excellent and timely themes. I especially appreciate her beautiful message on forgiveness and second chances. All in all, “Heaven and Nature Sing” is a Christmas Regency story I heartily recommend!
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt is a phenomenal story. It’s a little bit Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera, and then something wholly its own. The plot is SO engaging I read this book in mere hours. Seriously, the pages flew by, and since I was reading an actual book I was slightly worried I’d paper cut myself. LOL! Kidding aside, this story is one of those stories that’s so supremely written you stop to read out loud scenes so others around you can share in the beauty of sentence structures and turns of phrase. Drew, Jenny, and Anna, in addition to the cast of secondary characters, are so well crafted. Each one is a fully-fledged character, unique and endearing in his/her own right. Jenny and Anna’s story ripped my heart out. I wanted so badly to protect them from all the crazy bad! And, I 1000% love how Drew’s protective instincts came into play regardless of his personal desire to hide from society. This alone made him one swoony hero. There’s so much to say about this novella, I could go on and on. Suffice to say, “Far as the Curse is Found” is one story I won’t soon forget.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch is a lovely Regency Romance. The plot did take me a minute to get into, but once I did I found the story engaging. Hamish is an insightful and handsome hero who sees Cilla’s true fiery spirit immediately. Cilla is a sweet, docile character who is a bit stuck in her life. It was fun watching her overcome her timidity and become the strong and independent woman she was always meant to be. My favorite aspect of this story is how Cilla’s small group of close friends, which also includes her brother-in-law and his wife, rally around her to buoy her up and help her realize her true sense of strength and purpose. I love the sense of solidarity and loyalty these friends illustrate. We should all be lucky to have intimate friendships like Cilla. Overall, “Wonders of His Love” left me smiling from ear to ear!
Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection is a novella collection that will leave the reader satisfied. Its stories are enjoyable, engaging, and definitely put the reader into a Christmas spirit. I highly recommend this collection.
I purchased a copy of this novel in paperback from Amazon.com on September 27, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time then you’ll know that I’m a tremendous fan of Carolyn Miller’s novels. She is the queen of Regency-era storytelling. “Heaven and Nature Sing,” her novella in the Joy to the World anthology is another solid home run for the author. With a pace that kept me turning pages well into the night, I finished this delightful story in one sitting. The characters are well-crafted — a wonderful blend of unique, endearing, and realistic. The romantic tension is so thick it could be cut with a knife, and I rooted for the hero and heroine throughout the entire read. And, it wouldn’t be a Carolyn Miller story without excellent and timely themes. I especially appreciate her beautiful message on forgiveness and second chances. All in all, “Heaven and Nature Sing” is a Christmas Regency story I heartily recommend!
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt is a phenomenal story. It’s a little bit Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera, and then something wholly its own. The plot is SO engaging I read this book in mere hours. Seriously, the pages flew by, and since I was reading an actual book I was slightly worried I’d paper cut myself. LOL! Kidding aside, this story is one of those stories that’s so supremely written you stop to read out loud scenes so others around you can share in the beauty of sentence structures and turns of phrase. Drew, Jenny, and Anna, in addition to the cast of secondary characters, are so well crafted. Each one is a fully-fledged character, unique and endearing in his/her own right. Jenny and Anna’s story ripped my heart out. I wanted so badly to protect them from all the crazy bad! And, I 1000% love how Drew’s protective instincts came into play regardless of his personal desire to hide from society. This alone made him one swoony hero. There’s so much to say about this novella, I could go on and on. Suffice to say, “Far as the Curse is Found” is one story I won’t soon forget.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch is a lovely Regency Romance. The plot did take me a minute to get into, but once I did I found the story engaging. Hamish is an insightful and handsome hero who sees Cilla’s true fiery spirit immediately. Cilla is a sweet, docile character who is a bit stuck in her life. It was fun watching her overcome her timidity and become the strong and independent woman she was always meant to be. My favorite aspect of this story is how Cilla’s small group of close friends, which also includes her brother-in-law and his wife, rally around her to buoy her up and help her realize her true sense of strength and purpose. I love the sense of solidarity and loyalty these friends illustrate. We should all be lucky to have intimate friendships like Cilla. Overall, “Wonders of His Love” left me smiling from ear to ear!
Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection is a novella collection that will leave the reader satisfied. Its stories are enjoyable, engaging, and definitely put the reader into a Christmas spirit. I highly recommend this collection.
I purchased a copy of this novel in paperback from Amazon.com on September 27, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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