The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection
Stories by C J Chase, Susanne Dietze, Rita Gerlach, Kathleen Maher, Gabrielle Meyer, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Vanessa Riley, Lorna Seilstad and Erica Vetsch
I loved each and every one of these stories. I’d be hard pressed to find a favorite among them. All are well told and keep one’s attention. A wonderful read for the season and all heartwarming to not only put you in the mood for Christmas, but leave you feeling content and happy.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing through Net Galley with no review required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection is a wonderful set of nine delightful Christian historical stories with the backdrop of Christmas. Set in the nineteenth century, some are in America and some in England. All are heart warming and leave the reader smiling. With similar themes, you are in for a real treat. Did I have a favourite? I am afraid not as they were all fabulous.
One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase is a sweet story of love, loyalty, second chances and new beginnings. Long standing friendships are renewed as old misunderstandings are resolved. Lines are blurred between employer and employee. A delightful tale.
Star Of Wonder by Susanne Dietze is a story of reconciliation and family traditions set against the backdrop of snow. Childhood friendships blossom as prodigals return to the family fold with blessings.
The Holly And The Ivy by Rita Gerlach is a warm and welcoming Christmas romance. A very modern, forward thinking young lady has a mystery to solve. Some wonderful interactions between the accident prone heroine and a young Englishman entertain the reader. Romance lasts down the years. Memories keep one warm.
Love Brick By Brick by Kathleen L Maher is such a delightful tale that draws the reader in from the start. The heroine is a breath of fresh air with a huge heart for widows and orphans. Dual themes of pride and prejudice keep the reader entertained, as does the misunderstanding. Roots are important but adoption into God's family completes us.
A Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer is a delightful, light hearted story that surrounds a promise. With an independent spirit, the heroine is a pure delight - forward thinking blends with keeping traditions alive. An upper class cad contrasts with a hard working progressive American. A really wonderful story that brings the festive spirit alive for the reader.
The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a wonderful, warm tale with big hearted characters that take up residence in the reader's heart. Forward thinking and philanthropic, the heroine helps to improve the plight of civil war widows. This has a grounding in historical reality. With comprehensive descriptions, I was able to 'see' the action. I loved the warmth of the interactions of main characters and their inclusiveness of people from all walks of life. Positively delightful.
Paper Snowflake by Vanessa Riley is set in England but with an air of Jamaica, the reader basks in a warm Christmas glow. Children are a gift from God. Sometimes we have to love them enough to let them go. A wonderful bond between mother and son reminds the reader that God loves us with an everlasting love. Christmas is the time for miracles but our God can work miracles every day.
Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad is a delightful tale that surrounds gifts. When God gives you a gift, we owe it to Him to use our gift wisely and to pass the baton to further generations. The story has a warm feel to it as a father searches for a Christmas gift for his daughter. At the heart of the tale is family. There are also themes of guilt and forgiveness.
A Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch is set in a London department store, very reminiscent of ITV's Mr Selfridge. The reader is in for a real treat. A wonderful warm atmosphere pervades the story as the reader witnesses an awakening to the fact that people matter. Family is important too. A delightful tale.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This is a collection of 9 stories of romance that take place at Christmas time during the Victorian era. Overall it was a very enjoyable read that I would recommend. My favorite story from the collection was Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley.

One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase

Marianna Granville is the companion to Tristram Nowell’s aunt. Tristram is not happy to see Marianna again because he believes that she turned down his proposal years ago because she wanted to please her father and marry for money. After the financial ruin and death of her father, Marianna and Tristram’s positions have now reversed but does their love remain after all these years?

This story reminds us that we should know all the facts in a situation and we shouldn’t hold on to grudges.

I liked the use of switching between time periods. It helped keep the novella moving along at a great pace.

I found some scenes in this story that reminded me of Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.


Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze

Lady Celeste Sidwell and Bennet Hett, Lord Harwood, are to have a marriage arranged by their fathers unless they are able to stop it. They both have work they want to continue before even considering marriage and they hardly know each other. Will solving a mystery bring them closer together?

I liked the characters in this story. There was some predictability in the plot but it was still an enjoyable read.


The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach

Lily Morningstar is an aspiring writer. Andrew Stapleton is an expert in antiquities. They have been anonymously writing to each other for a year. Now they want to work together to figure out who wrote some love letters that Lily found.

Lily seems more in love with having a Christmas wedding with holly, ivy, and candles, than with an actual marriage or husband. Their relationship also seems pretty superficial. Lily seems flaky and acts like a child.

I just couldn’t get into the story and didn’t feel invested in the characters.


Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher


“It isn’t my home. It’s just where I live.”

SarahAnn Winnifred is training to be a doctor and Rufus Sedgwick’s mother is her patient. The Sedwicks had to leave England for Elmira, New York and Rufus is rebuilding their English home there for his mother.

Misunderstandings and communication are major issues in this story. SarahAnn and Rufus almost lost a chance to be together because they misunderstood and didn’t communicate. They also both misjudged each other when they first met. Rufus also almost missed a relationship with his father because of a misunderstanding.

SarahAnn grew up in an orphanage and didn’t have a family. Once a week she returns to care for the orphans.

Some of my favorite scenes were with the orphans, especially the three brothers.

I like the connection that we are never orphans though God’s adoption.


A Christmas Vow by Gabrielle Meyer

During the first Christmas without her mother, Lady Ashleigh Arrington must play the perfect host even though she feels she lacks elegance refinement and sophistication.

Her hosting abilities are tested when Christopher Campbell returns from her past. Christopher is an American whose family was friends with her mother. Eleven years earlier he liked to play tricks on her and set a fire, almost burning down the house.

In their youth, their mothers agreed to an arranged marriage for their children and to get out of it they must be engaged or married by that Christmas Eve.

I liked the childhood stories and wish there were more of them. I also would have liked this novella to be longer, then their falling in love wouldn’t have been so fast.


The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Eugenie Mott is expected to marry Horace Ontevreden who is over 20 years her senior. Before a commitment is made, Eugenie’s father dies.

Percy Gladstone is a barrister whose family is unexpectedly visiting him for Christmas.

There were too many characters and too many things going on. It seemed like there were a ton of side characters briefly mentioned that may be from other side stories. (I confirmed this after reading the book)

I wasn’t really invested in any of the characters.

I did like that some of the story was based on real historical events.


Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley

Geoffrey Landson, Lord Litton, comes to collect his ward Joshua from his widow mother, Ophelia Hanover, right before Christmas

Before Ophelia married her husband, she shared a past with his cousin Geoffrey. Geoffrey kissed Ophelia on a dare but she believed he never really loved her. Now years later he is back to claim her son and his ward after her husband’s death. Both must search their feelings from the past or lose a future together.

Geoffrey was always reckless and willing to be dared to do anything until his most recent dare almost costs him his life. Now he has vowed to turn that life around.

I found this story very interesting and I liked the characters.

I also thought how the paper stars were used at the end was cute.


Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad

Hugh Sherman’s daughter is taking music lessons from the widow Beatrix Kent. As Beatrix’s feelings for Hugh grow, she must decide if she is willing to lose what she loves for him.

This story is about characters who hold on to anger from the past and blame others. It also is about deciding if people are worth more to you than things.

I don’t like when people suddenly compare their late spouse to their current love interest, and they always seem so negative about the late spouse.

I thought it was funny that Hugh seemed so intimidated by picking out a doll for his daughter Clara.

Overall this was a cute story.


The Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch

Melisande Verity is the department head for chocolates and confections. She is chosen to do the stores Christmas window display even though most believe a young woman can’t do it justice. As Melisande’s boss’s grandson, Gray Garamond oversees the work on the display.

Gray’s biggest concern is making a profit which he believes is more important than people.

There was a chasm between the two and Melisande felt she was putting on a false persona when she was in Gray’s world.

I had never heard the name Melisande and it wouldn’t roll off my tongue. I would pause every time I got to her name until I changed her name to Melissa in my head.

I enjoyed this story but I wish they had a little more of a connection.

This is a lovely collection of Victorian Christmas novellas. Each has its own charm, and that’s what makes this such a good compilation. All the authors did a great job writing their stories, and I will be looking for new books from each one of them. These stories are clean and sweet, just the right length for those times when you want something lighter to read. This collection can be read during each Christmas season to come and I’ll be looking forward to adding this one to my list of favorite Christmas books.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Novella collections are a lot of fun because you get to read more than one author at a time. Most of the time these collections have an author that I’m not familiar with, which allows me to enjoy a sample of another author’s work and add to my preferred author list. Some of the authors are award winning, so you can enjoy 9 different stories about Christmas brides.

One is about a widow whose son must live with his new permanent guardian who comes to take him before Christmas. She was hoping fort that perfect last Christmas together with her young son.

A former heiress who jilted a soldier in the past returns. He is wounded and is struggling with forgiveness.

An orphaned young lady overcomes the norm and apprentices with groundbreaking physicians. The handsome son of a patient and a new resident gains her attraction.

A ragtag bunch forms a catering crew when a barrister unexpectedly has his entire family descend upon him for Christmas.

Who could forget the Star of Wonder diamond and how it disappears when a proposal is near at hand on Christmas Eve?

The perfect department store Christmas window display pits a poor hardworking young woman and the department store heir as they fight attraction to one another.

A widowed harpist is controlled by her former in laws because if she remarried everything in her deceased husband’s home owned would be theirs, especially her deceased mother’s beloved harp. A handsome widowed architect with a precious little girl is keeping an eye on the matter and on the lovely young widow.

A glass ornament and mysterious love letters lead to a family secret which opens the door to love.

How would you like a missive delivered at Christmastime that contains a peculiar agreement that was written before you were born?

Each Victorian era novella is very different and they are completely stand-alone.. I enjoyed each one, as the topic is a Christmas bride, but each had very different scenario which made for a lot of variety and pleasant reading. The stories do have a Dickens feel which I found intriguing as well as refreshing in this day and age. I would definitely recommend this novella collection.
I received an advanced E-copy from Barbour Publishers on NetGalley. Please note that I am not required to give a positive review nor am I swayed by a complimentary e-copy of the book.

Love reading these novella collections Which I seem to be happily collecting btw! There are 9 stories set in the 1800 time frame and nice Christmas stories. But great even for warm summer days! There were several new authors for me. And I enjoyed their style, their stories making for a wonderful reading collection. It would be nice to see some of these stories developed into a full length book. Great stories!

These were happy stories that leave you happy that you were able to read them. Because of the time period involved, I am sure much research time was involved in the writings so that they would be true to the time. And they were.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

This collection has nine novellas set in Victorian times, when caring, understanding and love were just as important as they are today.
The Golden Ring - C. J. Chase
Friends that might have been lovers, had the war not intervened, meet again. Choices that should not have been made have led to financial ruin and the loss of something very precious. Can a misunderstanding explained lead to the return of a long lost love?
Star of Wonder - Susanne Dietze
Can an arranged marriage lead to love? Perhaps being snowbound, with a most precious item disappearing, can teach us that God holds the universe in His hand. We need only to trust!
The Holly and the Ivy - Rita Gerlach
As an aspiring writer, Lily is enthralled by a box of old letters written during the civil war. Perhaps it is possible that a Doctor of History can help her in her quest to find out more about the writer and the recipient. Could it be that old, fragile love letters might bring new love?
Love Brick by Brick - Kathleen L. Maher
Dr. Gleason's water cure was seen as something quite wonderful in 1857, bringing patients to Elmira, NY from far away places. A young lady, an orphan, is learning to become a doctor studying with the eminent Drs. Gleason. Was it possible, that even those patients from a much higher social status, had family difficulties and a checkered past?
A Christmas Promise - Gabrielle Meyer
Anglesey Abbey was getting ready for Christmas with family and guests in attendance, including several railroad magnates from America. Was it even possible, that a contract made years earlier, by mothers no longer alive, would change the lives of one in England and one in Minnesota?
The Sugarplum Ladies - Carrie Fancett Pagels
Wonderful smells come from the rooms where Eugenie is busy helping Civil War widows learn to cook, bake and take care of their families. Across the river from Detroit, in Windsor, a young lawyer finds himself in sudden need of Christmas help. Enter the Sugarplum Ladies and their teacher to save the holiday festivites and make them extra special.
Paper Snowflakes -Vanessa Riley
A young widow looking forward to creating a special Christmas for her young son, finds herself snowed in with the man charged to 'see to the education' of this son. Is it possible that what started as a dare could end as love?
Father Christmas - Lorna Seilstad
Fern is an accomplished harpist who has played in venues with very prestigious people in attendance. Now a widow, she teaches piano to many young musicians. Through experience she learns that grace means unmerited favor, can she now extend that grace to others, even those who have hurt her?
A Perfect Christmas - Erica Vetsch
A department store that has stood the test of time, an employee at a confection counter, a stroke and a contest for the best window display. How can these possibly teach a young businessman, who has profits on the brain, the true meaning of Christmas?
I received an advance copy from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley and all the above opinions are my own. This collection was a true joy to read and I am happy to review it.

This collection of Christmas novellas is a fun Christmas read. Some stories take place in England and others take place in America.
The first story grabbed my attention right away, One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase. This is a beautiful story of unknown sacrifice, reunion, and restoration. Marianna once used to be part of high society until the death of her father brought her to poverty. She sacrificed what she could for the man who wanted to marry her so that his family would not be brought to shame by their connection. Years later the couple are brought into circumstances in which allows them the freedom to speak the whole truth of the past and realize what true love means.
The second story was a bit of a mystery as the Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze, a precious set of jewels passed down from generation to generation of which the groom presents as an engagement gift on Christmas Eve, and had a bit of action involved. There’s a slight twist to who the thief turns out to be – I’m not sure I liked that part at all. It’s a cute story of trying not to fall in love.
The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach – This is a fun story about a set of lost letters from the civil war making its way into the hands of an English professor teaching in Georgetown, and the woman who found them. As the two try to figure out who the letters belong to, there’s another mysterious stranger who appears claiming to know who they belong to. Eventually the mystery is solved in a fun, even if it seems “coincidental” kind of way.
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen Maher – This story is a beautiful reunion story of family and the doctor in training who was instrumental in bringing it about. It’s also a story filled with hope for women who studied medicine in the Victorian days.
Other stories and authors included in the collection:
A Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer
The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Pagels
Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley
Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad
A Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch
If you don’t have the time to read a full novel but still want to enjoy feel good Christmas reads, this is the collection for you! Grab a cup of cocoa and snuggle by the fire.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Barbour Publishing has me happily traveling all over today, through history and time, and now I’m ensconced in The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection,
addictively reading nine amazing stories from authors totally new to me. I’m in Victorian heaven. Please pass the wassail! 5/5

Pub Date 01 Sep 2018

Thanks to Barbour Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#TheVictorianChristmasBridesCollection #NetGalley

These novella collections are great for vacations when you don't have time to devote several hours to a full length novel. You can read one in a sitting and save the others till you have time for it. Some good Christian authors here, too.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. A review was not required and my opinion is entirely my own.

This is a very well written collection of Christmas tales. I enjoyed each selection. Some of the authors were new to me. It is always nice to find new authors that I enjoy. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Nine Christmas stories set in Victorian England that are sure to bring in the holiday spirit! These delightful Christian stories are written by nine different authors and each one centers around romance and marriage. A great collection of stories!

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection by C.J. Chase will be available September 1, 2018 from Barbour Publishing, Inc. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The Victorian Era and Christmas. What better way to have them both at the same time then in a collection of stories in a book. All of the Victorian charm with a lighter Dickens tone.

This collection of nine stories by nine amazing authors, some I've read before and a few new one's to me, contain all the charming and romantic elements that we all want in a sweet Christmas cheer read.

The stories may be predictable. I mean boy gets girl in the end. Right? Of Course. Is it a smidge sappy? Absolutely. Are some of the details and dialogue a little too sweet even for some the most romantic of people? Yes, perhaps a little.

But that's the whole point. We read loveable, sometimes witty stories like these to feel good. To be able to curl up on the couch with a blanket and maybe some Mulled wine (a favorite Victorian drink for the holidays) or hot chocolate.

I loved every story, I honestly could not choose a favorite from amongst them.

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection by various authors will make a nice Christmas gift for those who enjoy historical novels with a Christmas theme.
Set in the Victorian era there are nine stories of women dreaming of the perfect Christmas wedding. Each faces a challenge and is not expecting to wed, at least not this Christmas. Each story is unique in its characters and setting allowing the author to take the reader on path that twists and turns to the often-surprising ending. The stories are filled with love, laughter and humor while keeping the focus on God and the true meaning of Christmas.
I enjoyed this book very much as I read it in summer. A nice reminder of cooler weather and that Christmas with all its joy will come again soon. I found it difficult to put down. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. Each author brings a new story to life that will keep the reader glued to the pages. The characters have substance and are very realistic, acting in ways one would expect. Each story title gives us a hint of what the focus of the story will be. I truly believe this will make a great Christmas gift.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection, published by Barbour Books and written by a number of authors, is a collection of Victorian romance stories set in the Christmas time of the year. Authors such as CJ Chase; Susanne Dietze; Rita Gerlach; Kathleen Maher; Gabrielle Meyer; Carrie Fancett Pagels; Vanessa Riley; Lorna Seilstad, and Erica Vetsch. All established authors.

This collection of short stories was a charming and delightful romantic read; a read in which the girl and the guy are together in the end despite various things that seemed designed to keep them apart. Some may say if they know the two lovebirds get together in the end, why bother reading the book? Stories that might just seem a wee bit sappy.

But that is the point. We all need feel good, love stories that are more about the journey than the end result. The ending is just icing on the cake! We need those times of reflection, perhaps, on our own “courtships”, that remind us of the silly and goofy things we did way back then. Perhaps we may be encouragered to remember our parents stories. Along with remembering some of the fun things, we may be reminded of just why we love this person in the first place; the kind of things that sometimes get lost in the day to day, year to year shuffle of ordinary life. The kind of memories that puts a smile on your lips and a sparkle in your eyes, and just maybe an extra hug for your beloved.

Yes, we need stories like this. The authors who have written this compilation of delightful and romantic Christmas stories, know their history and did their research, but they also know how to write stories that will make the reader’s heart go pitter-pat once again.

Each of the stories in this collection tugged at my heart. Well written and engaging from the opening. Highly recommend. I received an advance reader copy from net galley. Opinions are my own.

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection is a collection of nine Victorian era Christmas stories. These stories include:
One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase
Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze
The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach
Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher
A Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer
The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley
Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad
A Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch
I enjoyed all of these stories. My favorite would have to be Erica Vetsch's A Perfect Christmas . I give this collection four stars.

Fun read! Loved the stories.Read on a 100 degree day in July and could feel Christmas in the air!
The stories are whimsical,thought provoking,enduring,and just plain fun.A good way to spend a lazy afternoon. So grab a cup of cocoa,throw another log in on the fire and treat yourself to a good holiday read You won't be disappointed.

A great book by some great authors. A collection of novellas set in the Victorian times during the Christmas season each story is well written with well developed characters. That being said I do wish some of the stories were made into a full length book as I would have liked to have read more about each. Each authors did their research on not only the time period but also the locations. God's wondrous words and love, along with lessons about trusting God, are gently weaved into their story.

The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection is the perfect anthology to add to your list of books to read for the holiday season. With nine authors offering a taste of Yuletide romance this anthology will certainly put you in the Christmas spirit.

While most of the stories held my attention, at times I felt myself struggling with things like crazy character names that had me tongue-tied (Tristram?), implausible plot lines like forced marriages that were not legally binding in any universe, and unnatural dialogue that was too sweet even for hopeless romantics. That said, I truly enjoyed these short stories and wished that some of them were made into full-length books. I loved how each character had faith in God and wanted to do right by Him.

If you want to get a head-start on getting into the Christmas spirit, this is definitely a book you should put on your TBR (to be read) pile.