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.

Waiting for Christmas is the perfect sequel to Lynn Austin’s recent release Secrets We Keep. Adelaide and Howard live in a modest townhouse in New York. It is very different from the mansion she lived in growing up. Her grandmother taught her that is better to help others than to flaunt your riches. When Adelaide finds eight year old Jack hiding in her bushes, she opens their home to him. With the help of her housekeeper and Howard,, she searches throughout New York to find his sister and to learn the whereabouts of his dad. This Christmas is like no other when seen through the eyes of children who believe in miracles.

Super cute novella where we get to catch up from Addy and Howard from All My Secrets. I loved the plot and how it each section of the book lined up with the lighting of the Advent candles. The love story is super sweet as always, and I loved the ending, which brought me to tears. The only downside was the constant reading of how Addy and Howard were worried about offending the other person. I am sure for the time period that was accurate, but it came across a little redundant at times.

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

This book follows a newly married couple as they navigate the Christmas season while helping an orphan find his lost sister. This book takes place in NYC in 1901. I enjoyed this book.

Waiting for Christmas is the first festive book I’ve read this year and what a great way to start.

This is the story of an heiress who married for love, not wealth. Adelaide is determined to master running a house on a budget. But the newlywed’s plans are derailed when she finds a little boy hiding in the bushes near her house. From there, Adelaide and husband Howard must try and find Jack’s father. missing sister and reunite the family for Christmas. There is a race against time and bureaucracy most of us can relate to.

This book is everything I’d hope for in a Christmas story. The characters struggle but with heartwarming issues, like caring for the vulnerable, empowering others, running a home. Howard must care for his wife while earning significantly less than Adelaide is used to. Not that Adelaide cares, other than not wanting Howard to feel less for that.

There’s an emotionally charged mystery as the three hunt for the missing sister and try to trace Jack’s seafaring father. I appreciated the creativity of the plot, and the complexity of the hunt. Austin has written well developed characters and I especially enjoyed Adelaide interacting with the two staff she has at home. She wanted to help the younger find a job in a department store, while learning from the older housekeeper so she could do some chores herself.

All this set in the backdrop of impending Christmas and what’s not to love?

I received a copy of Waiting for Christmas from the publisher, via NetGalley. The opinions are all my own.

If you are looking for a feel-good story to get you in the Christmas spirit, look no further! This story touched my heart because it reminded me of circumstances in my family history.
The main characters, Adelaide and Howard, are newlyweds. Adelaide comes from a wealthy family upbringing with servants and maids at her disposal. She marries Howard and moves into a nice home in Manhattan but without the convenience of a household staff. The story is set in the early 1900’s, so she must learn to cook, clean, do laundry and manage a budget. Howard is very supportive and patient.
She routinely visits various orphanages and children’s homes with her mother, who helps with fundraising for them.
One youngster, Jack, hides away in her mother’s carriage and ‘escapes’ from an orphanage in order to keep from being placed on one of the orphan trains. He is also looking for his baby sister, who he has not seen since he was placed in the orphan home. There is no record of her anywhere, and the authorities doubt that she actually exists. Adelaide finds him hiding in her bushes, freezing and hungry. She and Howard take him in and promise to look for his sister. Jack insists he is not an orphan. He is adamant that his father, who is away at sea, will come for them before Christmas, as he promised. The authorities are convinced he is dead. His mother died in the tenements of New York City.
Interwoven in the mystery of the lost sister and father, is Adelaide’s involvement in the new suffrage movement.
Adelaide and Howard rely on their deep faith to guide them.
This story is heartwarming, emotional and inspirational. What will become of Jack? Will they find his sister? Will the father come home as he promised?
This is a story you won’t want to put down until you’ve read it all!
This is from the publisher’s website:
“In this hope-filled Gilded Age Christmas novella from bestselling author Lynn Austin, the year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely means: a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.”
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher the via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The cutest little Christmas story! This story works great as a stand alone, but it’s about the characters from Austin’s book, “All My Secrets”, Addy and Howard.
Addy is startled by a young boy, Jack, one night when she comes home, and she ends up bringing him into her home. She soon hires a new housekeeper and maid, and they help her on her journey to find the young boy’s missing family members. There are a lot of great elements to this story- Addy’s relationship with each character, a close look at Howard’s insights and experiences, the journeys of Addy and Howard to find what they want in their next phase of life, a theme of faith and trust in God. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a tender Christmas story.

Waiting for Christmas is the follow-up novella to Lynn Austin's All My Secrets. Following Addy & Howard's story after they were married was delightful. Barely a newlywed, Addy is eager to learn how to care for her home & her husband. In doing so, she hires help, but along the way ends up caring for a little boy, separated from his family.
Waiting for Christmas is a heart-warming tear jerker. It is the perfect little Christmas story.

Lynn Austin is an amazing author and I have read most of her books. And I anxiously watch for any new books by this author. She has a way of transporting the reader right into the midst of her novels. I would recommend Lynn Austin books to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction. However, Waiting for Christmas did not strike a good chord with me. I just wouldn’t consider it a great Christmas novella .

I struggled with reading a novel about looking for a missing 3 year old. This 3 year was possibly wandering the city streets alone for a couple months. This did not produce warm feelings of Christmas joy. But rather, it kept me anxious as I read. I am trying to carefully word this review without spoiling the story so I will only say some of was revealed was horrifying. I am not completely sure why parts were included in this novel. While it made for a good message, it just didn’t seem necessary as a Christmas novella.

I also couldn’t get too excited about a socialite who married for love rather than money but then couldn’t seem to live within a realistic budget. It seemed she just wasn’t comprehending what it would take to transition to a different lifestyle than how she was raised.

I know there were some great lessons of faith, helping those in need, and a beautiful ending . But I just remained distracted with the events leading up to the ending. This was a continuation of All My Secrets. While Waiting for Christmas could easily be read as a standalone, I think it did help to read All My Secrets first. I received a copy of Waiting for Christmas from NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I started this book but I really had to DNF it about 30% of the way through. The writing was not the best (very telly and not showy), but I overlooked it. What really made me put the book down was the overt and annoying "women need rights" message. It overwhelmed every other message that could possibly be developed. I also didn't like the romance between the main character and her husband, but that was just a matter of preference.

We met Adelaide Forsythe in All My Secrets and now we see how she’s enjoying life, having “married down” to Howard. She loves it. Then she finds a young boy crouched in their bushes. His mother died, his three-year-old sister is missing, and his seafaring father promised to be home by Christmas. Or did he abandon his family? Or is he dead too?
Howard experiences stress with the extra carriage fares searching for Jack’s family members, new clothes for him, and the two servants they hired. He learns to trust God whether He answers his prayers exactly the way he wants Him to.
A lovely story.

Waiting for Christmas is a companion to All My Secrets, also by Lynn Austin, which was published in February 2024. While Waiting for Christmas does stand alone, I did become curious about certain references, and I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I had read All My Secrets first.

Waiting for Christamas is a cozy Christmas tale that leans heavily into the characters’ faith. Tyndale is a Christian publisher, so that should come as no surprise here. It’s not over the top, nor is it overly preachy. And it does feel as though it’s steeped deeply in who the characters are.

Austin’s writing is warm and inviting, and her setting is clear and accessible. You can easily picture the action playing out like a Hallmark movie. In that sense, it’s clear that there aren’t going to be any big surprise endings — it’s fairly predictable — but enjoyable nonetheless.

Waiting for Christmas is considered adult fiction, but I would have no problem handing it to a young adult or new adult. It’s a fun option as we head into the Christmas shopping season.

“My faith shouldn’t depend on whether or not God answers my prayers exactly the way I want Him to.”

It was so wonderful catching up with Addy since we last met her in Lynn Austin's ‘All My Secrets’.

Adelaide and Howard Forsythe remind us about the true meaning of Christmas - loving our neighbour, spreading God's love to others and bringing the lost ones home.

Jack and Pollly Thomas are brought into the Forsythe’s lives quite unexpectedly and show this newly married couple the value of prayer, a father's love and serving others. Austin ties together what it means to be a servant and invest in others with the 4 themes of Advent; hope, love, joy and peace.

“We find peace in the assurance that in all life's changes, we can trust in an unchanging God.”

I love how despite Addy’s drive to support the suffrage movement and embrace change, she continues to trust, and encourages others to trust in, an unchanging God.

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.