The Holly and the Ivy + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Spend the holidays with four of your favorite historical romance authors, whose stories of Yuletide romance will brighten the season with humor, hope, and the promise of true love.

“The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden
As nursemaid to the eight-year-old Duke of Kielder, Robbie will spend her holidays with her young charge as a guest of Lord and Lady Jonquil. While the couple makes the child’s holiday magical, the handsome gardener works his own magic on Nurse Robbie’s heart.

“Hiding Christmas” by Esther Hatch
Celebrating Christmas in Scotland will only invite persecution. But that never stopped Kirstine’s English grandmother. When they are almost caught, Kirstine is forced to beg for the help of the one man she cannot abide.

“A Twist of Christmas” by Dana LeCheminant
A Christmas house party offers two members of the ton an irresistible opportunity: a weekend of anonymity. But their charade comes with unexpected romantic consequences.

“A Season to Love” by Anneka R. Walker
Alice Hunt is searching for a Christmas miracle: a husband of her choosing. With the threat of an arranged marriage looming, she looks to an unlikely matchmaker for help.

My Review:

published in 2022

A fantastic collection of holiday romances. I listened to the audible edition narrated by Noah Wall. She’s one of my favourite narrators and does a great job with the British and Scottish accents.

Christmas in spring? How does that even work? Why, beautifully if you’re reading “The Holly and the Ivy” by Sarah M. Eden. And…eeeeeepppppp…totally fan-girling here because it’s about the Duke of Kielder when he’s an eight-year old boy. And, oh my heart! Eden gives us a glimpse into why the austere Duke of ‘Seeking Persephone’ fame is the way he is. Plus we are treated to the Jonquil family at it’s very beginning. So much to love about this novella!!! No worries if you haven’t met these characters in the author’s previous books — this will still read wonderfully as a standalone. Especially since it features a working class romance between the Duke’s nurse maid and the Jonquil’s gardener. And lots of lovely Christmas traditions besides.

Be still my heart. Close proximity and fake relationship tropes feature in Esther Hatch’s Hiding Christmas. As well as some interesting facts about a Christmas ban in Scotland! That sent me on a google deep dive, let me tell you! Love the inauspicious meet-cute for this Scottish lass and English gentleman. Funny and poignant by turns.

Dana LeCheminant is a new-to-me-author and ‘A Twist of Christmas’ was the perfect introduction to her storytelling style. A seasonal Regency Romance? Yes please! Add in some mistaken identities, the lure of forbidden love and a whole lot of enticing mix-ups and you get the recipe for a highly entertaining holiday read. Loved the banter so much but also appreciated the more serious look at what it was like for this hero and heroine to deal with the expectations placed on them due to their social standing. This story is a bit light on seasonal flare, though it culminates at a Christmas ball.

‘A Season to Love’ by Anneka R. Walker is playful and fun with a light touch of angst as the romance builds. The meet-cute between the hero and heroine is hilarious! Alice is only too aware of her short-comings when compared to her successful (and well-married) sisters…or so she thinks. But a visit to her grandmother’s home for the holidays provides her with some unexpected enlightenment. And romance. Eeep! Clever and sweet and laugh out loud funny at times. And achingly tender too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Holly and the Ivy, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 11, 2023

35 thoughts on “The Holly and the Ivy + Giveaway”

  2. When I saw todays book was a Christmas book, I automatically said yes.
    After reading your review, it’s a double yes! Count me in!
    And isn’t that the prettiest cover?!
    Thanks for the giveaway Kav 🙂
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. I try to read one of these collections with any combination of some or all of these authors every year and they are always amazing but this one goes beyond that. Totally twitter-aged. 🙂 Good luck, Tracey!

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  4. “The Holly and the Ivy” still sound like a fabulous read and I still would LOVE the opportunity to read it. What a way to get one into the holiday frame of mind! And just look at that lovely cover.

    Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  8. I LOVE the cover!! I’ve just ventured into Sarah Eden’s Lancaster Family and Jonquil Brothers world with reading Seeking Persephone, and it was fantastic. (I’m picking up the next two books at the library today!)

    eclitton at gmail dot com

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    1. I’ve been inspired to reread Seeling Persephone after reading Sarah’s novella so that will be happening soon. And I still have two of the Lancaster Family books to read. Must get back at it. Good luck, Elizabeth!

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  11. This is a definite must-read for me!! First of all because the Duke of Kielder is my favorite hero of the Lancaster family series by Sarah. I would love to know his backstory and what made him what he was as an adult! I have yet to read the Jonquil family series, but it’s on my massive want-to-read list 🙂

    Secondly, I just recently read “What Dreams May Come” by Dana LeCheminant & absolutely loved it (highly recommend it)! It strongly reminds me of the movie “While You Were Sleeping”, so if you are a fan of it, I know you’ll love this one. In fact, I think I forgot to email you about this book Kav….put it on your to-be-read list. I believe you would love it as much as I did. 🙂

    Thirdly, Anneka is another favorite author of mine. I always look forward to ones written by her, she’s such an enjoyable writer!

    So many reasons to want this book!!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I just checked for Dana LeCheminant books on audible and she has a Robin Hood retelling. Eeeeeeeppppp!!!!! I need to read more from all these authors. A new reading goal is in the works for the New Year! Good luck, Trixi!

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  14. These are all new to me authors so sounds like a good book to give them a go. Thanks for your review and recommendation.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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  17. A bit different from the usual cover as this doesn’t feature snow in a holiday scene…. but, obviously the title is speaking of greenery! I don’t believe I have read anything from other than Sarah Eden. Thanks!

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