I've read the other books in this series and this one didn't really hold my interest. I thought Maria was a silly young woman. Granted she was young, but having been a countess she should have had a little more character. I did like Mr. Granger. He was so honorable and seemed to be the only one thinking about Maria's reputation. There are some serious issues discussed in this book and although well done, not something I would expect to read in a Christmas story. Christmas didn't really play into the plot until the very end.

This book was interesting and the premise was good, however the heroine, Maria, just seemed silly to me. Yes I understand that she is a bit young, but after being married and widowed twice, you would expect her to be a little more sensible. There were lots of little things about the story that didn’t ring true , and the dialogue was clunky.

Let me start by saying that Christmas historical romances are my all-time favorite thing to read. But I really did not enjoy this book. I would not have finished it if u had not been given a copy to review. Christmas plays a really minor role in the plot, and the actual romance is minimal too. I found it both boring, annoying, and depressing.

Trigger warning: attempted sexual assault and suicide. (Just what you look for in a Christmas romance, right?) It focuses on a young (really young and immature) heroine who has lost two husbands and had a baby girl. She was left nothing to live on and has to grapple with her emotions and the heir.

It is a later book in a series that I have not read. Maybe I would have liked it more if I had read those, but this one does not even get 3 stars for me.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

An entertaining and well written regency romance. Good plot and character development. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Such a sweet, moving Christmas romance. Loved this one. Can't wait to read more in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Widows Christmas Surprise by Jenna Jaxon
Twice Married-Twice Widowed. Unlucky or Cursed? The first time Maria was married at sixteen to William , all of two days before he shipped out and was killed in action. Her second husband, she was seduced by a handsome rogue and married due to being with child! He was killed before she delivered the child in a duel because he was in the harms of another!
The author actually has written Maria’s character growing up and being strong. There are a few times in the book that you want to slap her awake and also tell her bossy friend to butt out. However, isn’t that what real life is 🤪 we have to make our own mistakes and learn from them to be able to mature? We all have those well meaning friends and family who want to guide us or guard us from what they think could harm us or happen to us in the future? Life is all about chances and decisions right or wrong!
This book is a great example of a woman who has went from a child bride to a mature woman with a child to a woman who has desires and needs and has found herself and the one man she realizes is her love.
I truly found this book endearing and it’s a book of endless love!
I received a advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions!

I was so happy that Maria had her cousin Jane by her side throughout all of this. It definitely showed her what true family is and should act like.
Hugh is a very noble man. He might not have nobility running through his veins but obviously that's not all it takes to be Noble.
There's not a lot of Christmas in this book. It focused more on the relationships in it which I appreciated.

Hugh and Maria's story was the kind of romance I love to read. This book proves it doesn't matter your station in life, when love strikes, it doesn't care. Ms. Jaxon continues to write stories that make the reader feel they are a part of the story, watching from the chair.

A poor effort to add to the Regency/historical genre. The author didn’t seem to do enough research or build out her characters enough. Maria was clearly far too young and stupid to really enjoy. If she was a countess, she would have been trained in manners, decorum, propriety and how the peerage worked. Apparently she was a trophy instead and no one really wants to read about 2-dimensional characters. I liked Mr Granger but was disappointed that he fell for Maria.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found the story to be romantic. Two people who suffered so much loss coming together. This pulled me more to the story. I found the book inspirational. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
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Initially I got lost maybe I needed to read more of the books but it was well written. Brace yourself tho because this book has sad moments 😭The book is well written -the author really sets the tone and boy can she suck you in with her descriptions . I recommend this book and the cover OMG

4 stars

I started reading this book and soon realised it was a later book in a series. I had read book 4 but it became apparent that if I'd have read the earlier books I'd have understood Maria's second husband Anthony's back story. Maria had married very young and lost her first husband at Waterloo. She had a close set of friends that had been widowed similarily. Her friend, Jane is a constant companion even though Jane has her own romance with Lord Killenan. Hugh is the steward of the estate and because Maria's child was a girl she didn't inherit. The new Lord treats tries to prevent Maria from gaining the legacy her ne'er do well husband has left her. I'm not that keen on jeopardy as a storyline but it all works out in the end. Hugh is a lovely hero and Maria young and niave. I wonder if Hugh's brother will get a story of his own?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maria, is part of the widow's club.
Sadly, her husband was killed in a duel. Her only hope was to have a baby boy so he could inherit. She had a beautiful baby girl.
The next in line to inherit shows up with his family.
Maria must figure out with her steward Granger what to do next.
Likeable primary characters and secondary characters.
A bit of angst

This was the first book from this series that I have read, but it feels like a standalone novel so that didn't seem to matter. I really liked both Maria and Hugh as both individual characters and as a couple. I would have liked to have gotten to see more of Maria interacting with her daughter - I know what is depicted was common for the age, but it still would have been nice to see her in her role as a mother. It would have also offered more opportunities to see Hugh interact with the baby.

Hugh's storyline involving his brother offered a legitimate hurdle in his and Maria's path to their happy ending. Him being worried about his involvement in getting the revised will to the lawyers was a much weaker argument. It just seemed like a way to drag the story out for a few more chapters.

Adult Jane drove me insane and I just kept wanting her to go to Scotland as she had planned. She's so judgmental about Maria's behavior toward Hugh and treats her like a child. Kinellan's involvement in helping Maria learn the truth about her deceased husband's will was the only reason I ended up finding Jane tolerable in the end.

The villains of the story were written just right to keep from being too over the top. They were pretty awful people, but you could imagine men like that actually existing in the world. Their greedy and selfish but not overly so.

A woman, Maria, and her young daughter are left destitute after her husband dies in a duel. Hugh, the estate manager, comes to her rescue. It was nice to see Jane and the other characters from past books in this series. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington books for my honest review.

I originally thought this was a very nice book, good story with a little intrigue, but then I read past the third chapter. I had not really noticed the ages of the main characters, but the heroine was a 'widow twice in as many years' and 'should have had a come-out, not wearing crepe at age 16'. So this poor unfortunate heroine is 19 or 18? And the main character is older because he was hired by the lord's uncle, so the hero must be in his late 20's. I read the chapter again and couldn't catch his age. And there were other inconsistencies, such a the heroine didn't know what a downer house was. If she had been living on the estate for almost 2 years, would she not have known about the buildings on the estate or picked up a Debrett's to know what a dowager was? I changed my mind after that and I slowed down and
continued to read the story more analytically. The heroine also did not know how the estate business was conducted. As a countess, she would have been obligated to tend the needs of the estate workers, and she hadn't a clue. It seemed as it she just floated around the house, breathing and eating, but doing nothing with her life. There is not any regard or build up of a relationship between the hero and heroine. They do not have any shared interests and even though the beginning of the story was about the widowed heroine giving birth, her daughter isn't mentioned very often, so she must have been shipped of to a nurse. The heroine e also persists in finding herself in 'dangerous' situations with Lord Wetherby who is the son of her husband's heir. And of course the new Lord Kersey is an evil lying snake.
I do not recommend this book. 2 stars for appropriate spelling, but since the story all.over the place even with obvious cues for the reader to follow and a lack of combined interest of the main characters, I would not recommend this story.

Jenna Jacob's The Widow's Christmas Surprise is simply wonderful! The suspense, action and romance were out of this world.

I was a little scared for Maria at first but everything worked out just fine. Jenna's writing just makes you feel so much for the character. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.

It's a lovely book through and through.

Lady Maria Kersey’s philandering husband is killed in a duel one month before the birth of their daughter…not a son to inherit the earldom. Estate steward, Hugh Granger, is desperately in love with Maria, but has little to offer but kindness and comfort. When a new heir is located and questions of inheritance arise, Maria and Hugh hope the holidays will bring happier tidings.

This is book five in the Widow’s Club series. While the other couples from the series make an appearance, it can be read alone. It’s a sweet novel and quite enjoyable. I wish the couple had had more time to make a stronger connection, but it flowed very well.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #TheWidowsChristmasSurprise #NetGalley