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.

Lynn Austin provides us a cozy followup to All My Secrets with a Christmas novella. Lynn's excellent writing provides a satisfying story as Adelaide helps a young boy she finds hiding near her new home the first Sunday of Advent.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin
4 Stars
A great companion story to All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

“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.”

What a sweet Christmas story set in 1901 during the Gilded Age. All My Secrets was a favorite of the year for me this year and we follow Adelaide and Howard from that story. We see them as newlyweds together and they find Jack, a young boy who is missing from his family and says he is not an orphan. We see the journey of Addy and Howard trying to do the right thing and help this young boy and reunite him with his sister and family. Finding this young boy on her doorstep changes their lives completely.

This novella was filled with the spirit of Christmas. Addy and Howard working together as a newly married couple on something very serious really brings them together in showing their support for one another. We see some details surrounding women's suffrage and her husband's support for her efforts. Howard really is a hero for Addy who really supports his wife in everything she wants to do.

If you're looking for a novella that really captures the true meaning of Christmas this holiday season, check this one out. It's definitely going to tug at your heart strings and Lynn Austin never disappoints in her storytelling!

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This sweet Christmas read follows up with Lynn Austin's novel All My Secrets. Adelaide Forsythe is now married and living in a townhome with her husband Howard. She can't cook to save her life and cleaning - well, where does a rich girl begin to learn all the homemaking skills she so desires? A conundrum to be sure! On her way home one day, she finds little Jack huddled in her bushes and so begins her new project. A disputed orphan - that's his story and he's sticking to it! - Jack insists his little sister is out there somewhere and must be found; also, his father WILL return for Christmas. As Adelaide and Howard search for answers, Christmas creeps closer and they all begin to wonder what will transpire.

Lynn Austin is a fantastic writer! I was in the mood for something cozy and heartwarming, and this was just the book to read! I fell in love with Adelaide right away. She wanted to be more than her status. She wanted to be independent and make the world a better place. Shortly after that, I fell in love with Jack. A young boy who won't take no for an answer, when it comes to finding his sister and father again. Of course, it broke my heart when they shared about the state of the orphanages they had to search through. Being an adoptive parent, it breaks my heart to think of the many many children still awaiting forever families and the ones who will never be part of one. This was a great book and I highly recommend it!

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin

This novella takes up where Ms. Austin’s last book, All My Secrets, published in 2024, left off. I really enjoyed learning how Addy and Howard were adjusting to married life. Their little family expands to welcome some orphans in need of temporary home. Addy and Howard do their best to help them find their missing father, who may be working as a sailor. As they prepare for the holiday and work to find Jack and Polly’s missing parent, both Addy and Howard learn important lessons about love and trusting God.

The characters are lovable and determined. I admired Addy’s tenacity and determination to be a good wife. Howard is creative and loves Addy well. Each character grows and develops in a realistic way.

The plot is neatly tied up at the end of the book with some interesting possibilities for the characters’ futures and a couple of surprises the reader will enjoy. I am grateful to the publisher for this book in exchange for this, my honest review.

It’s only September, but I’m always ready to read a Christmas story; this one is billed as a novella but it’s 280 pages long. Set in 1901, Adelaide is a newlywed who, as her mother would say, did not marry up; she’s a New York society girl and suffragette who fell in love with a middle-class man who will do anything to make her happy, including busting the budget to hire servants and not batting an eye when she takes in a runaway child who’s looking for his little sister and insists his father is at sea but will be home for Christmas. A sweet, motherly cook and her shy niece complete the cast of characters in this sweet story. Love the cover, too! (Netgalley)

This story was so sweet! We follow the newly wedded Addy and Howard. After Addy finds a little boy, Jack, at their door step, she takes him in and learns his family has been separated after his mother’s death. Together they search for his sister, Polly, and pray for his father’s safe return.

“I’ve prayed some pretty big prayers over the years that seemed to go unanswered. And if I wasn’t careful, I could start to believe that God didn’t love me because He didn’t give me what I asked for. I had to learn that my faith shouldn’t depend on whether or not God answers my prayers exactly the way I want Him to.”

This story is told in four parts, following the four weeks of advent. Love, hope, joy, and peace. The author goes on to show how the happenings of the book align with these four things and how Jesus is with them through it all watching over them and helping them. I loved this book and highly recommend adding it to your holiday tbr!

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

Overflows with the hope, love, joy, and peace of Christmas. 🎁 🎄

Here are five things I loved about this inspiring holiday read:

⛪ The book is set during Advent with a section for each of the weekly candles.

📚 We return to the world of Adelaide and Howard from All My Secrets. The two are newlyweds and working through the differences in their upbringings. They bring Ephesians 5:25-33 to life.

🚸 James (8) and his sister Polly (3) are about the same age as my grands. We were just visiting them so it was easy for me to picture these two little waifs without a home. You will need your tissues!

🎄 This may sound like an overused cliche, but Lynn Austin has given us a holiday read that truly points us to the meaning of Christmas -- the reason for the season!

😍 And how about that gorgeous cover! Today is Publication Day. Wouldn't this be perfect for someone on your Christmas list?

A big thank you to Tyndale House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.