This book was so good!! Perfect feel good Christmas book!! I would recommend reading If I Were You by Lynn Austin before reading this novella!** Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

This was a delightful story in four parts, corresponding to the Four Candles of Advent: Hope- Love-Joy- Peace.
After his mother died, all 8 year old Jack wants is to find his 3 year old sister Polly and wait for his father to come home for Christmas. He runs away from an orphanage and hides in the bushes at the townhouse of Addy and Howard.
It was great to reconnect with Addy and Howard from All my Secrets to see how this lawyer and former wealthy lady are coping with married life. Howard is a worthy hero, hardworking and fighting for the underdog while supporting Addy and her dreams. Addy is determined to continue what her grandmother and mother started: to uplift women in the early years of the suffragette movement. She wants to be a good wife and learn domestic skills that were missing in her privileged upbringing.
Jack steals the show with his doggedness to find his missing sister and is certain his father will return by Christmas.
This story will tug at your heart and give you a peek at what New York City was like in the early 1900s.
With solid spiritual content, this story has characters who rely on God and use their God-given talents to serve their neighbors. It is all wrapped up in the joy of Christmas and its true meaning of Christ coming to earth.
I enjoyed this Christmas story that reminded me in a way of The Gift of the Magi by O’Henry.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

I absolutely love anything by Lynn Austin. Her latest Christmas novella, Waiting for Christmas, was such a delight. Containing my favorite characters from her previous book, All My Secrets, Austin crafted a story filled with the hope and promise of Christmas. Complete with the love of family and a hint of mystery, this novella made me smile in satisfaction. Truly, Austin knows how to tell a story that keep you riveted from start to finish!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Themes/Tropes: Christmas season, Christian historical fiction, Hope against all odds

Waiting for Christmas is a book at its core about hope and trusting in your faith. When an orphan boy hitches a ride on Addy’s mother carriage bringing him to her house she decides to help him. Addy learns that Jack is not an orphan but is looking for his sister after his mom died and they are waiting for their father to come home for Christmas.

This is a novel at right out of every feel good Hallmark movie you have seen. It is a sweet nostalgic look at Christmas time in the 1900s. This is a novel that is strongly about the Christian faith and has a lot of those themes as well.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin is a heartwarming novella that wraps the true meaning of Christmas in a story filled with hope, faith, and love. Set against the backdrop of New York's Fifth Avenue in 1901, this Gilded Age tale draws us into a world where the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations intertwine with the deeper yearning for family and belonging.

Jack, a young boy who insists he's not an orphan, arrives on Adelaide’s doorstep, bringing a flurry of emotions and hope with him. His determination to reunite with his family echoes the relentless love of our Heavenly Father for His children. As Adelaide and her husband, Howard, unravel the mystery of Jack’s story, they also discover a greater truth—one that highlights God’s sovereignty, the power of prayer, and the true essence of family, whether by blood or by heart.

What shines brightest in this novella is the portrayal of faith. Lynn Austin gently weaves the characters' trust in God into every decision they make. Adelaide’s compassion, Howard’s steadfastness, and Jack’s pure and consistent faith in God and His power come from a place of deep belief, reminding us of the simple, child-like faith that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 18:3-5.

The theme of reunion resonates deeply throughout the story, reflecting the spiritual truth that God pursues us with relentless love, just as Jack searches for his sister and waits for his dad’s arrival. It's a reminder that we are never lost to Him, no matter how far we may wander.

As the Christmas season unfolds within the pages, the novella beautifully explores themes of sacrifice and generosity. It’s not just a historical tale but a tender reminder of the true spirit of Christmas—of giving, serving, and trusting in God’s provision, much like Jesus did when He came to earth for us.

One of the most touching moments is when Adelaide reflects, “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.” This simple truth captures the heart of the story—serving where God places us and trusting Him with the rest.

From the candle-lit warmth of Adelaide’s home to the snow-covered streets of New York, Waiting for Christmas fills the soul with the light of Christ and the promise of hope. It’s a story that gently reminds us that no matter how cold or dark the world may seem, the light of Jesus shines brightly, guiding us home. If you're looking for a novella that captures the joy, wonder, and true meaning of Christmas, this one is a treasure waiting to be unwrapped.

I received a digital ARC of Waiting for Christmas from the publisher and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Thank you Netgalley & Tyndale Fiction Publishing for an eARC ♥️
Cozy up with this charming Christmas novella!🥰

Meet Adelaide, a lovely lady navigating married life in 1901 New York. She's trading in her carefree days for a new adventure, but let's be real, she's still figuring things out. Who hasn't been there, right?

Just as Adelaide is finding her footing, two unexpected visitors bring joy and mystery into her life. There's Jack, a sweet young boy with a story to tell, and a kind housekeeper who's like a warm hug on a cold day.

As Adelaide and her husband Howard help Jack uncover his past, Adelaide discovers a whole new world of possibilities. It's a heartwarming tale of hope, love, and the magic of Christmas.

And the best part? It's only September outside, but the moment you lay eyes on this book's cover, you'll be transported to a winter wonderland! There's something incredible about feeling the Christmas atmosphere wash over you, even when the leaves are still green. It's like a warm cup of hot cocoa for your soul.

This delightful novella is the perfect holiday treat - short, sweet, and full of cheer. Slip it into a stocking or share it with your book club friends. Either way, it's sure to spread some holiday joy!

Rating: 5/5 stars

An endearing Christmas novella!

If you think you will read All My Secrets, then read it before even looking at the description for this book—-it will give some things away. If not, this sweet story can also be read as a standalone.

Oh, this is a magical Christmas story, with hardships mixed with joy and a true meaning of Christmas ending. I adored all of the main characters in All My Secrets, so getting to visit some of them again was a joy. Add in a feisty little boy named Jack, an endearing cook and a quest to solve the mystery of Jack’s family and you have a lovely, wintry adventure. I also loved the spiritual arc as church services, lighting candles, praying and the spirit of advent created a deeper story of trusting life in His hands.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin is a sweet holiday story. I discovered when I began reading Waiting for Christmas, that it continues the story of Adelaide and Howard from All My Secrets. I was able to read the book as a standalone. Addy and Howard are newly married and there will need to be adjustments on both of their parts. The couple must deal with financial issues and social pressures. They also need to make decisions regarding their future. I liked the main and secondary characters. I thought it was a well-rounded cast of characters. Jack was a little rapscallion while Polly was a sweetheart. Mrs. Gleason was a dear. I thought the author captured the time and place. Addy is actively involved in the women’s suffrage movement. Most people associate women’s suffrage with the right to vote, but they advocated for other rights for women as well. The other topic addressed was the plight of orphans. It was heartrending the number of children without homes. I like how the author tied the meaning of the Advent candles to the story. The true meaning of Christmas is discussed, and I loved the reading the description of the beautiful nativity that Addy received from her mother. Waiting for Christmas is a touching tale with a tenacious child, financial tension, a lost little one, an upsetting search, lighting candles, helpful lessons, and a happy holiday.

Waiting for Christmas tells the story of a pair of newlyweds enjoying their first Christmas together along with the company of an orphan boy who has escaped from an orphanage. When they hear his story of his lost sister, deceased mother, and sailor father, they adopt the mission of reuniting him with his family with the help of their cook and servant.

Unfortunately, I didn't love this book. In the past, I have really enjoyed Lynn Austin's work, and I did love that this book was set around Christmas. The characters were sweet, and I liked the connection with the suffrage movement in the Gilded Age. The book touched on class differences and financial strain, and I enjoyed Adelaide's rapport with her employees. However, this book was just too sentimental for me. Much of the dialogue sounded unrealistic and stilted, and many of the characters were two dimensional. This book didn't work for me, but if you enjoy Hallmark movies, you will probably enjoy this book!

Set in the late Gilded Age, this story centered around hope, faith, and love contrasts the lives of the working poor with the middle and upper classes. As Addy and Howard adjust to married life, they find themselves helping a young boy find his mute sister and father who went to sea, and learn more about themselves, each other, and the world they live in that they anticipated. Minor details from the period were effective in providing a solid sense of time and place. I especially liked the exploration into the way the suffrage movement aimed to help women in ways beyond seeking the right to vote. The writing at times was stilted and choppy, which was distracting, but this was otherwise a quick read despite not being completely lighthearted.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, Tyndale Fiction, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this holiday novella.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Adelaide is looking forward to enjoying the holidays with her husband. She finds a young boy who is searching for his family. This was an uplifting read.

"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."

If you aren't already compiling your Christmas reading, then you're not a fan of Christmas. But if you are, add this to you list.

This was a pretty quick and sweet read, bound to get many a reader into the festive Christmas spirit.

I'll admit, I've not read the first book in this "series" (a full-length novel, for which this is a sequel novella); as per my norm, I didn't realize there was another book to read first, lol. I did feel a little lost at times, and I'm sure readers of the first book would enjoy even more.

I also didn't really care for the writing style; I felt it a bit overwritten and overly descriptive. It's been a long time since I read a Lynn Austin book, so I can't speak to whether that's simply her style or if it's unique to this read.

That aside, it is a sweet story, with several touching moments and the gospel/true meaning of the season well presented.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"Waiting for Christmas" is a Christian novella set in 1901. It's a continuation of the events from the story "All My Secrets." Howard wants to be the provider for his wife and insists that she keep the money she inherited in reserve in case of emergency. Adelaide wants to live life as a normal housewife, but she doesn't know how to cook or clean. Howard doesn't want her doing that anyway, so they hire a cook and someone to clean the house. Adelaide intends to live within her budget, but expenses pile up as she tries to help an 8-year-old boy find his younger sister after they're separated when their mother died. And how can they let his father know where to find Jake when his ship returns on Christmas?

Historical details about tenements and orphanages were woven into the story. The main characters were likable, complex, and acted realistically. Adelaide and Howard had to work through certain expectations they had for their marriage. Adelaide methodically tried to track down Jack's sister, and Howard helped when he didn't need to be working. In my experience, an 8-year-old would have remembered a great deal more about his father's job and ship than Jake did, but, hey. And after one miracle, I would have thought Adelaide and Howard would have been more positive about another happening, but instead they tried to solve certain problems before they even occurred. Still, it was a nice story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, well-written Christmas novella.

Lynn Austin has been a long-time must-read author for me, and when I learned there was a follow-up Christmas book that included the characters of All My Secrets, I knew I'd want to read it. I think this book is best read with having read All My Secrets first. The story itself will stand alone, but you will care more about Addy and Howard if you've read the book that introduces their story, and their feelings will make a bit more sense. For fans of All My Secrets, this book is what happens next in the life of Adelaide after she marries Howard. When she finds a young boy on her doorstep after doing some charity work with her mother, she wants to help him, but he claims he won't return to the orphanage and that he has a father coming home and a younger sister somewhere that will only talk to him. As Addy is adapting to newly married life and transitioning to a more middle class lifestyle, adding a child and his troubles to the mix seems like a bit much, but it brings about some clarity to both Addy and Howard as they try to make their own paths. There is a solid faith thread in this one, and the story has 4 parts to it - each corresponding to one of the traditional Advent candles. There was a sweet new-married romance included, a bit of a mystery as they searched for Jack's family, good character growth and development and a beautiful story ending. I loved how Addy's growth through the book resulted in her finding her calling and how her husband not only supported her in her endeavors, but aided her in getting there. Though this one was on the shorter side for the author, it was long for a Christmas book based on my experience of both. And though it could have trimmed a few of the redundant passages about how they were afraid of letting each other down, it was a good length as it was perfectly paced. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and getting to see what happens next after one of my favorite reads from earlier this year. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

This is the sequel to All My Secrets. It follows Howard and Addy as they navigate their lives together as husband and wife. It was a delight to hang out with them and the two adorable children, Jack and Polly.

The author concentrates on the women's suffrage campaign and the hardships of New York's destitute immigrants and orphans in 1901. This narrative will make you smile and shed a few happy tears, as well as inspire you, as the author does an excellent job of demonstrating how the couple's faith grows through their financial hardships, social expectations, and how they prepare for the future. This story will tug at your heartstrings and encourage you at any time of the year.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

I enjoyed this book. I have never read this author before but will look for other works by her. It was a story that held my interest.

Adelaide and Howard have been married for a month and are enjoying their honeymoon phase…until a cold November afternoon when Addy arrives home and finds a boy, dirty and freezing, hiding in the bushes. He has run away from an orphanage and is adamant that he has a family and is in search of his little sister. So Addy and Howard take him in until they can figure out where he came from and what they should do about his situation.

This is a sweet story and a quick read. I like Addy’s compassion, seeing ways she can help others, and her respect for her husband, and the little boy, Jack, who is bound and determined to never give up looking for his sister and believing that he will get his Christmas miracle.

You will like this book if you enjoy:
-A quick read
-FMC who marries into a lower class
-The Gilded Age era
-The suffrage movement
-Christmas stories
-Christmas miracles

*I received an advanced digital copy of the book from NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. All opinions stated are my own.

More than a mere story, Lynn Austin, gives us a gift to lift us above the busyness of the holiday season to a space filled with God’s hope, love, joy and peace. Using each of the advent candles, she masterfully weaves the story into sections encompassing the meaning of each.

Addy and Howard’s first Christmas together turns out much different than they had expected. Addy finds eight-year-old Jack on her doorstep who has run away from an orphanage. Together Addy and Howard spend their time, money and energy helping Jack find his family. The setting of New York in 1901 provides many facets of history including how women’s suffrage was about more than just the right to vote. Along the way, Addy finds her true purpose in helping those God places in her path.

Addy sums up the lesson she learns by saying, “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.”

The characters are real and growing in their own faith. The way they handle their own doubts and struggles provide insight into truths about prayer, trusting God, and sharing these with children.

Refreshed, encouraged and hopeful are three words that fit how I felt after reading Waiting for Christmas. It’s everything you would hope to find in a Christian Historical Fiction.

This book helps to open our eyes to the small daily ways God brings opportunity for purpose during the Christmas season and beyond. It may be a book I now read every pre-Christmas season to remember and focus on this truth. It would also make a wonderful gift to share the truth of God’s great love and His gift of Jesus.

This novella is a continuation of the fuller story of Addy and Howard which is found in Lynn Austin’s previous book – All My Secrets. It is not necessary to read that book first though; I look forward to reading it next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I went into Waiting for Christmas not realizing that it was a continuation of a previous Lynn Austin title, All My Secrets, that I hadn't actually read. However, that didn't end up hindering my enjoyment of it, and I ended up loving this heartwarming, delightful story that left me thinking about it long after I read the ending.

Lynn Austin is truly a masterful storyteller, and I always enjoy how her historical titles are well researched, atmospheric, and plot driven. In this particular title, readers follow newlyweds Adelaide and Howard during their first Christmas season as husband and wife. As Adelaide adjusts to a drastic different lifestyle than the one she's accustomed to, and Howard wrestles with not being able to give his wife the world, their Christmas plans suddenly change in the blink of an eye when a young ward from a local orphanage ends up on their doorstep. As the couple wrestles to get the answers to the questions their seeking about his parentage, they will find their own lives changing in ways they never could have imagined.

A beautiful Christmas story that speaks of the importance of family, love and friendships, Waiting for Christmas was everything I've come to expect from this author, and it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year. My favorite part of all, however, was the lovely way she was able to incorporate a beautiful faith message about redemption and our Heavenly Father's never ending love for his children right into the main plot. I truly adored that, and I can't recommend this wonderful story enough.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I look forward to going back and reading All My Secrets in the very near future to learn more of the backstory about the main characters, but I appreciated that you can still enjoy this one without needing to do so.



Thanks so much to Tyndale Fiction for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Tyndale Fiction) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.