Waiting for Christmas + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

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 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.

My Review:

published in 2024

The word that comes to mind when I think about this book is ‘exquisite’. Exquisite storytelling. Exquisite characters. Exquisite Christmas message. And just plain exquisitely emotional. I choked up at one point which was kinda embarrassing since I was listening to the audiobook while grocery shopping. I actually had to blink back tears. It’s hard to compare prices and read labels when your vision is all blurry!

This novella follows ‘All My Secrets’ and it was a delight to get a more in depth glimpse at Addy and Howard’s happily ever after. However, ‘Waiting for Christmas’ could easily be read as a standalone as well. It focuses on the newlywed’s first months of marriage and the adjustments they both learn to make as they create a new life together.

Addy in particular is struggling with feelings of inadequacy as she learns to live well beneath the means she grew up with. What she lacks in experience she more than makes up for with passionate determination. And her servant’s heart opens doors and changes lives in astonishing ways over the Christmas season.

I was charmed and thrilled and emotionally wrung out by the end. A truly heartwarming and uplifting holiday read. (Well, listen in my case. As always, I enjoyed Sarah Zimmerman’s narration.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Waiting for Christmas  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 1 2025

31 thoughts on “Waiting for Christmas + Giveaway”

  2. This sounds like the most perfect book for a Christmas read!! Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors. Count me in please.

    angieadams306 at gmail dot com

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  3. Thank you for refreshing our memories on this fabulous book! I wanted to read it when you first posted it and I’m wanting to read it even more now (Christmas approaching and all). Love stories in this era. Also love the idea of a high society woman being comfortable with herself, her love, and being able to make a difference.

    Thank you for the amazing chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  4. I loved this book so much, I may do a retro read myself. In fact, I have about a dozen books for Nov lined up and then I’m wide open to read all my favorite Christmas books. I may just do that, so many good ones!

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    1. I won’t say I was surprised at how much I loved this book, but I usually go for a Christmas romance – new beginnings, second chances, whatever during the holidays. Anyway, I wasn’t sure this would grab me the same way since it features a married couple – their happily ever after already decided. Boy, was I wrong. It was……stupendously superific! 🙂

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  5. I think I had this on my Christmas want-to-read list last year but never got around to it. I just love that cover!! It’s such a classy old fashioned Christmas scene 😊🎄

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  6. I noticed this one last year, Kav, and put it on my want-to-read list. Your review makes me want to read it all the more now. Include me in the draw, please! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  7. In all my newly enthusiasm finding Hoopla, I missed the small print that I could only have FOUR requests a month! Especially, when the first book I chose was a close title but not the one and I sent it right back. But… Hoopla has a copy of All My Secrets and Saturday is soon! So, all that to say, thanks and I would like to then read this Christmas following! Kathleen lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I love your newfound love of Hoopla. I used to love weighing my four choices each month. Sadly, the library canceled it’s Hoopla subscription this year so I don’t get to agonize over those choices any more. You’ll love All My Secrets! Good luck, Kathleen!

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  12. I loved All My Secrets and Waiting for Christmas too! They are on my keeper shelf and I’m planning to reread this one this Christmas season. Lynn Austin is one of my favorites.

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