Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Celia's friend Clementine is considering getting married to Seth, a man she dislikes. This book was well written and I cant wait to read Anne Perry's next book.

Celia loves to go to church. Seth,a member of Celia's church , has lost his wife and had problems with his child. I liked the characters and feel

A thoroughly enjoyable addition to Anne Perry’s annual Christmas mystery novels. Set in Victorian England, the story is compelling and the characters sympathetic. I would have given it 5 stars but for a Christmas based novel there were no details that brought out Christmas at all.

This novella was a delightful read. I have not read other books in the series but that did not effect my understanding of the characters or their relationships. Set in Victorian era England, this story blends mystery and intrigue with a story of love and forgiveness. This is a story I could read over and over again.

I've read all of Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas (I believe there were 17 earlier Christmas novellas) and, while I absolutely love this series, this one was the best of them all.

Taking some characters, Celia and Hooper, from one of her Monk mysteries, Perry explores the meaning of forgiveness. while these two characters try to figure out who has sent some poison pen letters.

As always, there is plenty to ponder with this one.

Highly recommended!!

A Christmas Resolution by Anne Perry

What a wonderful book to have on your bookshelves permanently to get out whenever you are not feeling benevolently. I know there are times that I have a hard time with forgiveness or letting go of things from the past. Reading this book it made me pickup the phone after 5 years and have a conversation with a dear friend that we had a falling out over now what was a trivial matter.
Things can be repented and our Savior is their for us, but we have to take that first step.
The author has done an extraordinary job in keeping the characters flowing and interesting!
I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I am willingly giving my thoughts and opinions!

This books uses side characters from one of Anne Perry’s previous books but as I only read her Christmas novellas, I have not read that book and still understood this story just fine. I always go into these novellas with a set of expectations. There is almost always a couple as the center and their changing relationships as well as some sort of mystery and a good Christmas moral, usually involving grace, forgiveness, or redemption. For some the moral part may be a little heavy handed but the use of the Reverend and his sermons felt right at home in the time period. Anne Perry described daily life and the setting in a detailed way that drew me in as a reader, and everything was set right by the end without being perfect as to be unbelievable. All in all, that is what I look for in my Christmas novella each year (even if I read it a few month early this time).

This Christmas story involves the characters from a previous William Monk mystery, Dark Tide Rising. It isn't necessary to have read that one to understand what's going on here, but it does help to get a better idea of the characters involved and the events spoken of. This story involves the Hoopers; one of Monk's policeman and his wife, who met in that book. Celia Hooper's friend Clementine is about to marry an unpleasant man who is trying to separate the friends. He has accused Celia of writing poison pen letters that have frightened and upset him. Eventually, Mr. Hooper decides to investigate the truth of the letters to clear his wife. The story is more of a Christmas parable on the nature of forgiveness than a story of suspense. but it has enough of the lattter to give spice to a satisfying yuletide tale.

Usually in a book with Christmas in the title, one expects to read a cozy story or perhaps a cozy mystery. This was certainly not that. Although the book is character driven, there is no character that one especially relates to. I read this book for Netgalley as an early reviewer. I was surprised by the unlikeable characters... although the protagonist seems to be benign, she seems to control the lives of others. This might be okay if one is expecting a surprise...I am still trying to discern the ending...try it...

Anne Perry's descriptions of life in Victorian England and of the minds of her characters evoke deep emotion. In some ways 'A Christmas Resolution' was almost painful to read as the intensity of feeling is so intimate. The blessings of love and loyalty are so beautifully taught, and indeed the 'resolution' is is worthy of joy. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt Christmas story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A Christmas resolution is a book that can be enjoyed anytime. It doesn't have to be in the Christmas season. It is a fast read that brings you back into William Monk’s time, he makes a brief appearance.
Is Celia who is now married to John Hooper, looking for trouble because she dislikes the man her friend plans to marry and letting everything get out of hand or is she justified with her concerns? The fiancé is a righteous man and isn’t shy about letting his opinion been know. I’m not going to tell you the story that would spoil the fun of reading it and I like you to enjoy it as much as I did.

I love Christmas, and I was really happy to read this now. I needed this hopeful spirit along with some Christmas spirit right about now, so glad I was able to read this!

Celia Darwin, who lost her cousin Kate to murder in the William Monk mystery Dark Tide, has married John Hooper, Monk's current assistant at the Thames River Police. Celia is looking forward to their first Christmas together until she finds out her closest friend Clementine Appleby is marrying Seth Marlowe, a new member of her church and the Reverend Arthur Roberson's former brother-in-law. Roberson is a shy, retiring man who preaches forgiveness while his brother-in-law is an unyielding, judgmental being who still has not forgiven Celia for perjuring herself at the murder trial, even though the court gave her clemency for her decision, and forbids Celia to speak to Clementine except for "matters of housekeeping and motherhood." Clementine believes her gentle love will change him, but Celia finds out Marlowe's wife, "a strumpet," he called her, committed suicide and his daughter ran away from home. Was it true? Were Marlowe's wife and child so deceitful that it's understandable that he's bitter? Or must further investigation be done so that Clementine does not suffer the same fate?

A thoughtful story and within the theme of Christmas about forgiveness—but about how with forgiveness must come acceptance that truths must be faced and corrected. This isn't my favorite of Perry's Christmas mysteries—that's A CHRISTMAS PROMISE with Gracie Phipps—but Celia and John are fine characters I'd love to know and I appreciate the love Celia has for her friend that she dares Marlowe's wrath to assure Clementine is happy.

I find that Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas are a welcome harbinger of the Christmas season. The use of some of her secondary characters fulfill my desire to learn more about them in their own setting without being overshadowed by the major characters. A Christmas Resolution allows us to see how Detective John Hooper and his new wife Celia think about the integrity of marriage and the true meaning of forgiveness and how their resolutions effected the outcome of others.

Even though this is a Christmas story, it is a good book for any time of the year to read and to enjoy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Another excellent Christmas book - there is hope that everything turns out good from a bad situation. Thanks to Celia's dedication to her friend, the truth came out in the end to save her and their relationship.

A CHRISTMAS RESOLUTION: A NOVEL – Anne Perry
Ballantine Books
ISBN-10: 059312958X
ISBN-13: 978-0593129586
ASIN: B084M6LC6G
November 3, 2020
Historical Christmas Fiction

England, 1872, Victorian Era

Celia Hooper, who is just over forty, married only a year ago. Her husband is John Hooper, a detective with the Thames River Police. They live a modest lifestyle, but they married for love. Celia goes to church regularly and likes the Reverend Arthur Roberson who preaches forgiveness. She does not like church member Seth Marlowe, who is Roberson’s brother-in-law. Roberson’s wife, who was Marlowe’s sister, died of a serious illness several years ago. Marlowe is very judgmental and unforgiving, and he singles Celia out to tell her he is marrying her best friend Clementine Appleby, who at just over thirty, is much younger than her intended husband. He disapproves of Celia, and demands she stop seeing or talking to Clementine, or he will tell not only Clementine of Celia’s lies in court, but also all the church members which will sully her reputation. She did lie in court, but the judge in the case forgave her because of the reason behind the lie.

Celia is very disturbed by this marriage announcement. She doesn’t trust Marlow as he defames his previous wife who committed suicide and his wayward daughter who disappeared. Clementine, her charitable and affectionate friend, seems deliriously happy with the engagement. Then Seth accuses Celia of sending him an anonymous hateful letter. Celia doesn’t know what the letter says, but she guesses maybe a truth which Seth doesn’t want known. He promises her and John trouble. They will lose everything. He doesn’t understand John Hooper is a detective dedicated to discovering the truth.

Christmas is quickly approaching. Will Celia let Seth ruin her friend Clementine’s future as she suspects he might do? Can Celia convince Reverend Roberson that sometimes a person must become aware of their sins and repent before earning forgiveness? This is a very short novel, only 200 pages, so it is a fast read. The story contains some very galvanizing issues still plaguing society which will also rivet the reader’s attention. The characters are interesting and make entertaining reading. A CHRISTMAS RESOLUTION is not a Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas story, but more about what Christmas really means. An appealing and heartfelt Christmas story.

Robin Lee