Waiting for Christmas is an absolutely delightful continuation of Lynn Austin’s gilded-age novel All My Secrets. Austin’s historical fiction is always interesting, well researched and inspiring. I loved reading more of Addy and Howard’s story. Such strong, complex characters. The heart tugging tale is filled with love and hope. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale Publishers for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

“Waiting for Christmas” is a wonderful Christmas tale filled with love, devotion, family, and growth. Lynn Austin does a wonderful job introducing us to Addy and Howard, the young couple just starting married life; to Mrs. Gleason and Susanna, the aunt and niece who come to work for Addy and Howard; and to Jack a young orphan who is desperate to find his family. The author does a wonderful job drawing the reader into the search for Jack’s family. I adore Mrs. Gleason, and I think all readers will. Addy is devoted to women’s suffrage, but not just about voting, she cares about helping women and orphans better themselves and creating a better future for them through training and assistance. Addy and Howard are both learning lessons about God: His love, His faithfulness, and His provision. Addy is especially trying to figure out who God wants her to be and what He wants her to do with her life. I appreciate the author sharing these journeys in Addy and Howard’s lives with the reader. What an uplifting and encouraging story - for Christmas or any time of year! I highly recommend this book. It will be on my list to read again.

I requested a complimentary copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.

Waiting for Christmas is a delightful, heart-tugging sequel to All My Secrets continuing Adelaide and Howard’s story after their marriage. I loved All My Secrets and was thrilled to read more about Adelaide and Howard. My expectations were met and exceeded in this novella. The characters, main and secondary, are expertly crafted and easy to cheer for. I love Addy and Howard as individuals and as a couple. The children Jack and Polly stole my heart. The historical aspect of the story centers on the women’s suffrage movement and the plight of the poor immigrants and orphans in 1901 New York. I appreciate the “faith in action” angle of the story and the emphasis on the real meaning of Christmas. This is the kind of book that makes you smile and perhaps shed sad and happy tears. I recommend this charming story of family and faith brimming with hope and love as an enjoyable, inspiring read not only at Christmas time but also at any other time of the year!
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin is a Christmas novella, a sequel to a previous book which I have not read but I was able to follow this one as a standalone. This is such a warm and beautiful book with lessons on hope, joy, love and peace. It is a lovely reminder that Christmas is all about Jesus and God's love. Thank you, Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for granting me the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are mine.

This book is fabulous! There's nothing better than reading a Christmas book, especially when it's 90 degrees outside!! I was immediately drawn into this book and eagerly read it. (Almost hoping it would be longer 😀!)

Addy and Howard are an amazing couple! When their paths cross with young Jack, their lives will never be the same! Jack's sad story tugged at my heartstrings. He's persistent, and he never wavers in believing the promise his father made. Honorable mention to Mrs. Gleason, Susannah, Addy's mother, and Howard's parents. Its their loving and caring support that help lead this story to a happy ending!

Faith in God is prevalent throughout the book. My favorite quote is: "God knows all our needs before we even ask. And He knows the best way to answer our prayers, even if it isn't always what we wish for. "

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers/Tyndale Fiction via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We are back with Addie and Howard, they are married now, and Addie is trying to live a life of a wife, rather than a spoiled socialite.
This read is so heartwarming, and a beautiful Christmas story! There is even an antique creche!
The story is so much about giving, and with the giving comes the real meaning of Christmas.
From finding a precocious, if not challenging, eight year old little boy, to saving the life of a three year old girl.
This read did focus on the true meaning of Christmas and I loved immersing myself into the story, and one I could read each Christmas!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Waiting for Christmas is a follow-up novella to All My Secrets. I had not personally read that previous book and found that I was still able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.

This was such a beautiful Christmas story. As the story starts, Addy is adjusting to her new role as a wife, as well as living a much more modest lifestyle than that she grew up with. When a young boy shows up, claiming not to be an orphan as assumed, but on the hunt for his family, they set out of a search to reunite this family. It was an eye-opening look at how some lived during this time period, but also a really beautiful story of hope and family--- perfect for the holiday season. One of the things that I really loved is how the meaning of the advent candles connected to the story as well. I thought this was a heartwarming historical read that will help readers remember the true reason for the holiday season! It is certainly one to add to your holiday TBR.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

"Waiting for Christmas" is a novella continuing Adelaide and Howard's story from "All my Secrets". At the beginning of Advent, Adelaide "Addy" finds a young boy named Jack in the bushes by her house. Jack followed her home from the orphanage because he isn't an orphan! He asks her for help finding his missing sister and for shelter until his dad comes home from sea.

This is a cosy feel good Christmas story! I really enjoyed all the characters. I especially loved Addy, who married down for love and has trouble adjusting to her new lifestyle. The story was a good mixture of Christmas preparations and joy and worry about Jack's family and future. It is not necessary to read "All my Secrets" to enjoy this book.

It is important to know, that this is Christian literature. Addy and Howard go to church and pray regularly. The story follows Advent and the symbolism of the candles. Bible verses are quoted. I enjoyed this very much and it fits into the time (1901), but not everyone will like it. So, if you are not religious you may want to skip this novella

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the digital ARC

Lynn Austin's upcoming novella release "Waiting for Christmas is a perfect follow-up to her amazing novel that released earlier this year, "All My Secrets". This sweet story continues Adelaide's story after the ending of "All My Secrets" and is a wonderful glimpse into Adelaide's married life. I've read both books and though this could be a standalone, the story is much richer having read "All My Secrets" first.

I love the story of how Adelaide and her husband take in an orphan boy who ends up following her home in her mother's carriage. They start a quest to try and reunite the boy with his lost sister and father. The boy's mother passed away 2 months earlier and he and his younger sister were separated.

This book is set in the Gilded Age in New York City. It touches on the poverty found in the city and the women's suffrage movement. It is a very rich story with wonderful characters. Adelaide is an encouragement to all of us to look into helping those in need. This is a great reminder to all of us during the Christmas season (and really anytime) to look into what God is calling us to do and how we can help those in need around us. Christmas is central to the book and this is definitely a Christmas novella to enjoy and savor this holiday season.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. I will definitely be purchasing this book to add to my shelves to sit right next to my copy of "All My Secrets".

Book Title: Waiting for Christmas
Author: Lynn Austin
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishing/Tyndale Fiction
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
Pub Date: September 3, 2024
My Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Pages: 288

I was drawn to this Christmas in July story as we are having a nasty heat wave that just won’t cool down.
When I read that this story promises to be a story of faith and the true meaning of Christmas - was in!

. It is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Adelaide (Addie) and Howard Forsythe are newlyweds and looking forward to their first Christmas.
Addie comes from a very privileged family. In the fact, the home she grew up in it a 69 room mansion. She and Howard are deeply in love and Addie wants to please him. She has never cooked no cleaned and is given the okay to hire help and she promises she will learn how to do both. She continues to help her mother in various charity events.
One day they visit an orphanage and unknown to them eight-year-old Jack Thomas sneaks into their carriage and ends up hiding in the bushes outside Addie’s and Howard’s home. She offers to feed him but tells him he will have to go back to the orphanage.
He insists he is not an orphan. He was sent there after his mother died and the landlord reported he is living alone to the police,
He has a three year-old sister Polly who doesn’t speak to anyone but him and his father was out of work so is working on a ship and will be back by Christmas.
Turn out little Poppy was found walking the street and assumed feebleminded and sent to a home for the insane.
Yikes!
Okay I am not going to give anything else away only that this was a quick, page-turner and I want you to enjoy it as much as I did.
I love these characters as well as the side characters Mrs. Gleason, Susannah, and Howard's parents.
BTW: Story delivered what it promised 💕

Want to thank NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishing/Tyndale Fiction for granted me this enjoyable early Christmas digital galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 3, 2024.

This Christmas novel should be read together in a whole family, as a reminding for us to wait for Christmas. I like the story and I hope you will like it a lot, too.

Waiting for Christmas is a well written Christmas story. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the character dynamics. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

For some reason Christmas novellas are the prefect read not matter what time of year you read them.
Lynn Austin is one of my must read authors and in this delightful Story, we once again get to visit with Addy and Howard and how their first year of marriage takes a bit of a turn when a young orphan ends up on their doorstep.
Full of hope, joy, love and peace, this little story might just become a Christmas book you read over and over.

Really really loved the Forsyths first Christmas together.
I know it couldn't have been easy back then but what I love was the family values and how they learned to appreciate each other.
The orphan trains have always intrigued me.
I'm very happy that Jack was determined to do right by his own family. He's a delightful kid to get to know and so was Polly.
I also liked learning a bit more about the sufferage movement of the women. They were very brave.
Love, faith and hope stood out very well in this delightful novella.
I would suggest reading All my Secrets before reading this one. I think at some point I'll reread it again.
It was very much worth the wait for them to approve me for this novella. I very much enjoyed it and I hope there will be more that will include Jack's family.
Five stars for an early Christmas read. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of hope, faith and love set at Christmas!

Set in the early 1900's, a sequel to All My Secrets, it was wonderful to see the main couple after their marriage, and see how they faced new challenges and encouraged each other. Both of them grew in faith as they struggled with finances, social pressures, and decisions for their future. The children were both precious and heart breaking. The side characters of Mrs. Gleason and Susannah, plus Howard's parents, expanded the plot and added wonderful examples of kindness and faith.

Highly recommend for readers who enjoy historical inspirational stories. It would be fine to read as a stand alone, but better enjoyed if the novel All My Secrets is read first.

WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS by LYNN AUSTIN is a meaningful Christmas novella that follows on from All My Secrets, but it can easily stand alone.
It is story of hope, love, faith, peace and joy, as Adelaide and Howard Forsythe spend theit first Christmas together as a married couple. It is 1901 in New York, and as we are reminded of the wealth and glitter of the Gilded Age, we are also taken into the horrors of tenement living, childrens’ homes and asylums as Addy and Howard try to find Jack Thomas’ little sister and his sea faring father.
The Christian message is strong and it is an altogether a lovely read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I loved All My Secrets and was delighted to read this heartwarming sequel, Waiting for Christmas. Lynn Austin has written a tender tale about the plight of orphans and the poor in 1901 New York.

The class distinctions could not have been more extreme, but newlyweds Addie and Howard are determined to make a difference in the life of one 8 year old boy, Jack Thomas. He's been separated from his family, but against all odds he's determined to find his 3 year old sister Polly. He also believes his father's promise to return from a sea voyage by Christmas. It's going to take a miracle, but Jack believes.

Waiting for Christmas is destined to be a classic, a charming tale of faith and family and the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you, Lynn Austin and Tyndale House Publishers, for the pleasure of reading this wonderful story. I appreciate a copy of Waiting for Christmas being available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

A light hearted Christmas book set in 1901, and Adelaide is a Gilded Age wife, who knows little about running a household. While she enjoys the quiet time she also worries about how she will bake a meal fit for the holiday.
Then a housekeeper and child show up at her door, as if an answer to a prayer.
The book unfolds with insights into light and wonder in this delightful novella.

The author revisits the characters of Addie and Howard from her previous novel "All My Secrets." When newlywed Addie finds a young child hiding in the bushes near her home before Christmas, she and Howard set out to find a way to help him reunite with his family in this sweet story of faith and family.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin is a continuing story of All My Secrets. Austin titles the four parts of the story to go along with the Christmas Advent Candles. This is a feel good Christmas story. I love the heart of Adelaide, and how she wants to help Jack. Even so far as to travel to a less-than-desirable places in New York City. At first, Howard wants to give Adelaide a life that she is accustomed too, but as she keeps purchasing slight things, he feels the purse strings tightening a little more and more. Eventually, Howard as a change of heart. Adelaide and Howard are trying to make a better Christmas for "not an orphan" Jack. All the resources Adelaide and Howard use to try to help Jack pursue his Christmas wish is a delight to watch. The plot was nicely handled and made me want to grab a cup of cocoa and turn on the Christmas music while reading the story. This novella will look nice on my shelf with all her other books. I recommend fans of Lynn Austin's stories or anyone who loves a good historical feel-good Christmas story pick up this story. I believe you will not be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.