#NetGalley Book Review: All Hearts Come Home for Christmas Collection

This is a wonderful collection!
All Hearts Come Home for Christmas
by Sarah M. Eden, Anita Stansfield, Esther Hatch, Joanna Barker

File Size: 2029 KB
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications (September 1, 2019)
ASIN: B07W6J5RJG
Genre: Christmas, Historical Romance, Holiday
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Christmas at Falstone Castle - Sarah M. Eden - The Dowager Duchess of Kielder eagerly anticipates spending Christmas with her son and his family. Though their relationship has been strained, the duchess is determined to heal the chasm. Even with the help of the widowed local vicar, her plan will take a Christmas miracle. But during this magical season, anything is possible . . . even two second chances for love.

The Heart of Christmas - Anita Stansfield - When a chance meeting brings together a gentle seamstress and a widowed banker, each lonely soul finds a first hint of hope. As their lives become entwined, it will take Christmas spirit to guide a broken family to love and healing.

’Tis the Season to Be Daring - Esther Hatch Elizabeth - Davenport has had quite enough of the London Season. Determined to evade a parade of unsuitable suitors, she seeks help from the one gentleman who has no regard for Society’s rules. All of Society knows Lord Hawthorne is not interested in marriage, yet he cannot deny Miss Davenport’s unique charm. And as the Christmas season works its magic, their charade begins to feel less like playacting and more like love.

The Christmas Dress - Joanna Barker - Seamstress Nell Addington is thrilled when her childhood friend Jacob Hammond commissions a dress for his sister. But when Nell realizes her feelings for Jacob run far deeper than friendship, an unexpected snowstorm—and some holiday cheer—may convince them both that love is worth fighting for.

Review:
This is a lovely holiday collection and a nice way to “meet” new authors. Faith is a low key part of the stories. I would enjoy reading more by any of these, especially by Ms. Eden and Ms. Elizabeth. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy gentle historical romance.

Christmas at Falstone Castle by Sarah M. Eden.
Adam, known as the Dangerous Duke, became the Duke at age seven when his father died. Adam’s face had been scarred as an infant and he believed his mother struggled with caring for him. Adam had been taught that “Duke’s don’t cry” and he hid his hurt when his mother returned to London after a short visit for his father’s funeral. He remained estranged from his mother for all these many years but this Christmas his mother has come home unexpectedly.

Adam was fortunate to have married a bright, beautiful woman, Persephone. They have been blessed with a boy, Oliver, and are expecting their second child which is due after Christmas. The local Vicar, Roswell Duncan, is visiting as a houseguest, rather than traveling back and forth in the snow.

Vicar Roswell and Dowager Duchess, Harriet, begin to enjoy keeping each other company. They decide on a special surprise for Christmas, hoping the plans will allow Harriet to heal the rift with her son.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the way the author brought them together. This is a lovely story. My rating 4.5.

The Heart of Christmas - Anita Stansfield.
Addie escaped a bad home life and was thankful to find a position as a seamstress that provided room and board although money for savings. One early morning a local businessman, Theo, sees the shop light on and stops in. He asks Addie to sew a button on his jacket. After they chat a bit, he asks her to come manage his home as his sister-in-law has become ill and can no longer take care of his daughter, Becky, and the household.

Addie is thrilled to find a better position. She is happy to step in and begin preparing food, and cleaning and straightening the house. Addie is especially glad to find herself caring for Theo, Becky and Marla. They all begin to flourish but sadness still pervades the house. As Christmas nears will Addie be able to find a way to bring joy to the season and the family?

The characters seemed very real and this is another lovely story. My rating 4.25.

’Tis the Season to Be Daring by Esther Hatch Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is in her second season and is fighting her mother’s plans to marry her to a wealthy nobleman, no matter how much older he may be. Her friend gives her the idea to be just a little daring to put off the current matchmaking. She learns that Lord Hawthorne, Davenport, is on the outs with society and he is not interested in marriage. Elizabeth decides to solicit his help in her plan.

Davenport is a delightful young man who is misunderstood by society. He is high enough in society to ignore rules but he will also be careful not to compromise Elizabeth. He agrees to help her and they are soon delighting in their shared adventures.
Elizabeth is charmingly natural and Davenport an unusual nobleman. This is wonderfully fun and I would love to read more by Author Elizabeth. My rating 5.0.

The Christmas Dress by Joanna Barker.
Nell Addington was gently raised as a Vicar’s daughter. After his death, she had to take work as a seamstress to help support the family. She is very pleased when her childhood friend, Jacob Hammond, commissions a dress for his shy sister.

Jacob is surprised to learn Nell is working as a seamstress. He has been away at town avoiding his own father and he didn’t realize the circumstances that impacted Nell’s life after her father died.

Nell agrees to come to the house for fittings and Jacob is pleased that her visits are helping to draw out his sister. A snowstorm causes Nell to have to spend extra time at Jacob’s estate. Even as she realizes she would like a deeper relationship with Jacob, she fears she may lose her job with her strict seamstress boss.

These characters are gentle, and the story is sweet. My rating 4.25.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.