As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their old friendship would kindle into something more--but that was before she heard that Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will finally be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste. Due to misunderstandings, Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself torn between his affection for her and her family's distance toward him because of Lady Pearl, a woman he'd rather forget. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas . . . and to disgrace Cyril in the process. Inspired by The Nutcracker, this Edwardian-era historical romance is a tale of holiday spirit, love, and the power of family and friendship from bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White.
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Such a delightful book! This vintage-y Christmas novella is a reimagining of the original Nutcracker tale and it's simply brimming with old-fashioned 1902 Christmas charm. I instantly liked Mariah and her parents and I warmed up to Cyril pretty quickly. I really wasn't able to predict the storyline with the Danish suitor who's in England to select a bride to take home.
I absolutely loved the deep Christian message throughout the story and how the Lord impacts the lives of all the main characters. I wish this level of Christianity was a more common theme among Christian fiction books.
This is Roseanna at her best and I'm glad I took a chance reading this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.