A wonderful novella by Lynn Austin. Follow s the story of Addy and Howard in All My Secrets. But can be read alone.
I’ll read it again next Christmas.
Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I do enjoy Christmas romance books, I do actually prefer feel good Christmas books of which this one is.
Taking place during the gilded age in 1901, newly married Adelaide Forsythe who grew up in the lap of luxury has had enough of it and just wants to be ordinary and live within her husband's means. It hasn't been easy though, growing up with cooks, nannies and maids has left her unable to do the simplest domestic chores but she's willing to learn.
Coming home one evening hearing a rustling in her bushes she investigates and discovers a ragged street urchin about nine years old. Bringing him in out of the cold he's cared for. Now I fell in love with this little boy, though he did have some problems adapting to a new way of life and insecurities plagued him. Though this is novella length it is a beautifully, pull on your heartstring filled story. A child looking for the rest of his family and can't rest easily until he does. It's almost Christmas, will his Christmas hopes be fulfilled or will disappointment once again fill his life?
Poignant read, one that will be remembered for a long time.
Recommended highly!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

To say that I am a humongous fan of Author Lynn Austin is an understatement! I have not read a book of Ms. Austin’s that is not worthy of less than a 5 star rating and her latest Christmas read is no different. Waiting for Christmas is worth 5 stars and then some! Waiting for Christmas tells the story of newly married couple Adelaide “Addy” and Howard who take in a young boy, Jack, who is searching for his sister Polly after they were separated after their Mother died. Jack firmly believes his Father, who is away working at sea, will be home for Christmas to take care of Jack and Polly. As Addy, Howard, and Jack roam New York to find Polly they learn powerful lessons that will endure a lifetime. God uses this Season of Christmas to remind Addy, Howard, Jack, and those around them that His Timing is Perfect and He Loves being in the Miracle business.

Waiting for Christmas is a much needed book that I needed to read and I’m so glad that Lynn Austin wrote it! I love the way that Ms. Austin paints the pictures in her stories and draws the reader in, building her story on God’s Truth. I enjoyed meeting Addy, Howard, Jack, and the rest of the characters! I love Addy’s heart and how she listens to it to impact the world. I love how supportive Howard is of how Addy wants to impact the world, because his heart is just as big. I loved seeing Addy and Howard grow and change as they were navigating their marriage, always wanting the best for each other and caring for each other the best way they can. I thought that Jack was adorable and I admired his childlike Faith and Gumption, refusing to give up and continuing to believe that his family would be together on Christmas. I love the support system that Addy, Howard, and Jack had around them–rallying around them, giving them help, and Godly needed advice. I learned a lot from Waiting for Christmas and it reminded me of God’s Truth, helping me get into the Spirit of Christmas. I love how Waiting for Christmas was soaked with God’s Truth and Wisdom, sprinkling Bible Verses and Inspirational Quotes throughout. If you are looking for a Christmas escape that’s uplifting and full of Truth, then I highly recommend Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin!!!

Have you read Waiting for Christmas? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank Lynn Austin and Emily (as well as NetGalley and the Publisher) for giving me a copy of Waiting for Christmas to review and for letting me on the Waiting for Christmas Launch Team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is also on Goodreads, Amazon, and my blog Leslie's Library Escape.

This is an absolutely charming Christmas story! I loved every minute of it! This is my first read from this author and I loved her writing style. It’s 1901, Adelaide and Howard are newly married, and I loved their relationship. They are very caring and considerate of each other. And when a boy, Jack, lands on their doorstep they help him search for his little sister. My heart broke for this little boy and his sister. Jack never gave up though and I loved watching them search and work hard. The ending was so heartwarming and I just loved it. It also has strong Christian content which I always appreciate. It’s the perfect Christmas story! And I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

As usual I love Lynn Austin’s books. This book has characters from “All My Secrets” but could be read alone. I’m glad I read the other one first though because I was already close to some of the characters.
Addy was so used to being served by household staff. She didn’t know how to do housework or cook meals but she wanted to marry for love, so she did. Then all of a sudden she had to take care of a little boy along with trying to learn new things. I think her and Howard did a great job, of course with the new housekeeper and cook it was definitely easier. I love the hope and faith that this story shows. You can always count on this author to give you that. Oh and a little romance with Addy and Howard. Remember they haven’t been married very long.
Let this Christmas story be one of the first you read as we enter into this holiday season. I think you will enjoy. I wholeheartedly recommend Lynn Austin’s books!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Another Lynn Austin book? YES, please! And a Christmas story too!! Her stories do not disappoint and this one was a very honest, sweet, and hopeful Christmas offering from her. As always, it has a beautiful Christian message of finding hope in God's will. In this offering, Adelaide, a former wealthy socialite, is now married to a humble lawyer just starting in his career. She goes through a few growing pains in this new role, including trying to learn how to cook and clean her home. Then throw in a street urchin (who claims he is NOT an orphan) who follows her home, and you have a delightfully sweet Christmas mystery combined with the continued love story.

While technically a sequel to All My Secrets, it should be fine as a standalone. But of course, as a sequel, you get to continue the story of beloved characters from the previous book!

Now to stop having a major diagnosis in my family when I get a highly anticipated ARC! Thanks to Tyndale Publishers and Netgalley for letting me read and review this wonderful book.

#WaitingforChristmas #NetGalley

First and foremost, Lynn Austin never disappoints. I can always count on a well-written, well-researched satisfying, faith-filled story. This Waiting for Christmas novella, a continuation of Addy and Howard's Gilded Age story, is no exception. I would recommend reading All My Secrets first to learn their background and that of the Stanhope family. This is a tale of growth and inspiration with imperfect people finding hope through God. I am sometimes disappointed with the rushed nature of short stories and feeling like I only have just touched the surface of getting to know the characters, but this didn't come across that way at all.
The book itself is beautiful and has found a perfect place on my coffee table, even ahead of this holiday season. It would make the perfect gift, perhaps along with All My Secrets. Can't recommend enough!
Many thanks to Lynn Austin and Tyndale publishers for the privilege of receiving this ARC. All opinions are mine.

This book, apparently, is a follow on from 'All my Secrets' which I haven't read. I think it was ok as a stand alone, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read the other book first maybe.
Anyway, This was a lovely Christmas novella, It has great Christian themes in it, such as Loving each other, doing good to others, Praying, believing that God knows what we need. The Children, in this, were so sweet. This is the 2nd Christmas book that I have read by this author, and really enjoyed.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this, this review is my own opinion.

A heartwarming advent tale of hope, love, joy, and peace, that follows a newlywed couple in the month leading up to their first Christmas together, as they blend their lives, and help new friends in need.

An enjoyable Christmastime read that I wanted to savor, as I read this heartwarming novella that follows Adelaide and Howard Forsythe, as they adjust to a life together. Addy has a big heart, and though she is used to a different lifestyle, she is mindful of how she impacts those around her. I loved her big heart, and thoughtfulness towards others, as well as encouragement. Howard is a wonderful man, with a noble heart, he wants to do everything he can to give Addy the life he believes she deserves. I liked how he great with Jack and Polly, and always has Addy's best interests at heart.

I loved the strong core of faith, and wonderful characters. Mrs. Gleason is a favorite, as well as the children Jack, Polly, and Susannah. Well written, with a heartwarming cozy feel to it that I savored and never wanted to end. An excellent Christmas novellas, set in the Gilded Age, about the true hope of Christmas!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lynn Austin's new Christmas novella is everything the season calls for. It is a story of waiting, hope, sacrifice, and love. Set in the Gilded Age, WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS tells the story of Adelaide Forsythe, who has left behind her high society pampered life for the simpler life as the bride of her lawyer husband Howard. Although Addy's suffragette beliefs tell her that the trappings of wealth are not what make a person worthy, she often finds herself frustrated at her own incompetence. How can one person burn toast every day? Then one chilly autumn day she finds a young boy hiding in the bushes outside their small townhouse. She quickly surmises that the lad (Jack) hid in her mother's carriage as they left a meeting at an orphanage her mother supports. Addy soon finds out that Jack's mother recently died and that he got separated from his three year old sister. Jack refuses to go back to the orphanage and wants to find his sister, believing that their father will arrive back on a ship by Christmas as he promised months before. As Addy and Howard make a temporary home for young Jack, both learn big lessons about priorities, faith, and caring for others. If you've read ALL MY SECRETS, you will recognize Addy, Howard, and their families. But this delightful Christmas story does NOT require that you've read that recent title.

This heartwarming Christmas novella by Lynn Austin is filled with messages of hope and faith, love and trust, kindness and generosity. It will warm your heart with a pre-Christmas glow. This follows on the heels of what mind may my all-time favorite Austin book, All My Secrets, and although this can easily be read as a standalone, it does continue the story of Addy Stanhope. One of the things that struck me about this book is that although it is written for adults, I could easily see myself reading this with my grandchildren, one chapter at a time, leading up to Christmas. I loved this story, the message, and this is one of those books that you could read every Christmas season 🥰

I love reading books by Lynn Austin and this Christmas Novella was no exception.

We catch up with Adeline & Howard from All My Secrets as they navigate through their first year of marriage.

Addy having raised in a life of privilege wants to learn to cook & clean and her husband Howard is determined to give her the kind of life she was accustomed to.

When a young boy’s mother dies he runs away from the orphanage and enlists Addy & Howard’s help in finding his deaf 3 year sister. He is determined to find her hoping their father will come home from sea on Christmas Day.

This Christmas story focuses on sacrifice, love & giving.

Thank you Lynn Austin, Tyndale House Publishing & NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful story in exchange for an honest review.

A heartwarming story that points to the true meaning of Christmas. I absolutely loved a further glimpse of Adelaide and Howard, after their happily-ever-after in ALL MY SECRETS. This story explores their first Christmas as their two worlds meet, that of a former socialite and working class lawyer. I found Addy's desire to learn how to care for a home to be utterly delightful. With Mrs. Gleason's help, she turns her humble house into a home that reflects love. Not the empty, shallowness of the mansions of her past.

When a young stowaway turns their lives upside down, Addy and Howard work together, hoping to reunite a family by Christmas. I love the faith threads in Lynn Austin's stories. The young boy's search for his father is symbolic of our search for our heavenly Father.

The themes of hope, love, joy and peace are woven throughout the story, represented by the Advent candles. I love that Addy and Howard continue to trust in God, realizing that His plan is best. Learning that plans and purpose may change as time passes. I was most touched when Addy said, “Maybe that’s all God asks of us. Some people are given the opportunity to do grand things in life, but if we just make a difference in the lives of the people God puts in our paths, I think He’s pleased with that.”

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of New York City in the early 1900's, readers will feel the excitement as they walk the busy streets amidst the bustle of the holiday shopping and the hopelessness amidst the tenements of the poor. Addy's desire to work for women's suffrage, to better women's lives and working conditions is commendable.

A touching story that will definitely put you in the mood for the holiday season.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this short Christmas novel, which takes readers back to New York City around the turn of the twentieth century and revisits characters from Lynn Austin's novel, All My Secrets.

The book is a timely reminder of finding hope, love, joy, and peace through the beauty of the Christ Child. My heart was warmed and stretched through each part, and I found myself wondering how I would have reacted had I faced circumstances similar to the ones these characters experience throughout Waiting for Christmas.

Not only is the story beautiful, but the hardcover and inside printings make it a lovely addition to any shelf. I enjoy the smaller book size and the cozy feel it brought to my reading experience.

Thank you to Lynn Austin and Tyndale Publishers for sending me a copy of Waiting for Christmas to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.

‘Tis the season of cozy, inspirational stories, and Tyndale Fiction’s latest historical fiction novella, Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin, fits the bill perfectly. You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the front cover of this book advertises everything you’ll find inside: warmth, light, and Christmas joy.

The setting is Gilded Age New York City, specifically December 1901, and Adelaide Forsythe is an heiress who has walked away from her upper-class life of comfort to marry for love. Adelaide and Howard are still newlyweds and not quite ready for children when Jack, a young orphan, is found hiding outside their home on the first Sunday of Advent. Adelaide, who is still learning how to run a household, invites the boy in and learns that, when his mother died, he became separated from his sister. Jack is very worried about the little girl and also about how his father, away at sea, will find his children when he returns home this Christmas. Adelaide and Howard are skeptical of the boy’s story, but they set out to help him, searching the city for information about his family in hopes of a joyful reunion. As she works to help Jack, Adelaide finds her footing as a housewife and also slowly develops a vision for how she wants to spend her inheritance and her married life.

This book is divided into four sections, one for each week of Advent, and the sections correspond to the four purple Advent candles representing hope, love, joy and peace. Each chapter is also date-stamped, making it possible to read the book as a sort of Advent calendar, one piece of the story per day. It would be really fun to observe Advent in this way, anticipating Christmas - and the outcome of the story - along with the characters.

Adelaide and her husband are Protestant, but Jack’s family is Catholic, so there is some good Catholic representation in the book, including a supporting character who is a priest. Scripture and prayer appear throughout the story, and as a whole, the book causes readers to reflect on Christian charity and the possibility of miracles. Sometimes Christmas books like this can get a little cheesy, but this one really feels believable while at the same time emphasizing Christian truths about family, poverty, marriage, wealth, and hope.

This is such a wholesome and family-friendly story that it could be enjoyed not just by moms and grandmas, but also by girls in middle school and high school. It reminded me of books like the later titles in the Betsy-Tacy series which address adult concerns but not in a scandalous or inappropriate way for younger audiences. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for all the women in your life, and especially for newlyweds, foster moms, and anyone who loves a good historical Christmas story.

This is such a charming little novella, perfect for gift-giving for Christmas! The Guilded age was a time when people of wealth and influence often lived lives of extreme luxury and privilege--lives that looked perfect on the outside, but were not always satisfying, or bring happiness and joy. The central character in "Waiting for Christmas," Addy, was blessed to have been greatly influenced by her grandmother, who, in her wisdom, knew what was actually important in life. Addy is newly married--for love, but not wealth. She was determined to be a real and loving wife. She also had a heart for "womens' suffrage,' and for the poor and underprivileged in her community. As Austin says in the story, "Addy was a marvelous blend of the privileged rich girl she had been raised to be, and the modern independent woman she was becoming." It is Christmastime, and someone enters her life that nearly turns it upside down! Little does she realize that these changes will lead to the best Christmas ever!

This is a sweet novella that follows the book, All My Secrets. I love how this novella illustrates the true meaning of Christmas. Even though the reader will encounter some hard moments at first, this truly is a heartwarming story that is worth reading to the end. A perfect book for the holiday season.

4.5 stars
Wonderful Christmas novella! I LOVED All My Secrets by Lynn Austin and I was so happy to hear about the upcoming sequel with the former socialite and her working class husband in this novella, Waiting for Christmas. This delightful story follows the newlyweds through a special season leading up to their first Christmas. I thoroughly enjoy Addy and her desire to help the plight of the poor women and children in her city. And her sweet husband Howard who adores her and supports her. They take in Jack a young boy who was forcibly taken to an orphanage after his mother died, but ran away. He will never stop looking for his little sister and his father, and they spend time and money to help clothe him and search the city.

I thoroughly enjoyed the new cook Mrs. Gleason and her wise and kind ways.

A sweet story told in four parts, corresponding to the four weeks of Advent and the four candles of Advent signifying Hope- Love-Joy- Peace.

Don't miss this wonderful Christmas novella! I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy!

Waiting for Christmas is a sweet and meaningful story about what it means to put your faith into action.

I loved the children. Jack's innocent faith added loads of depth to the story, and yet his determination complicated it, too! The way that Austin created his character, with his humble background yet clear intelligence, made him a child one shouldn't underestimate. This played out in great ways.

Adelaide seemed a bit naive at times, but perhaps that was due to her sheltered upbringing. I enjoyed the way that she was willing to take her gloves off and try to understand the world as it really was while also trying to find how she was being called to better it. Figuring out your own calling amidst your own gifts and desires is not easy, and Austin crafted a story that reflected this well - in addition to layering in the historical context of the time.

All in all, I want more from these characters. I want to know the next steps of their story - not only of the Forsythes, but of the other characters, too. I can easily see Waiting for Christmas as a holiday favorite that gets an annual read, and if you like sweet stories that remind you of the true meaning of Christmas, I bet you will, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed “The wish book for Christmas”. I looked forward to reading this novella and wasn’t disappointed. Lovely respite for a hectics holiday season.