Review: A Christmas Love Redeemed (novella)

Title: A Christmas Love Redeemed (novella)

Author: Alison Stuart

Publisher: 15th November 2021 by Escape Publishing

Pages: 67 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: Christmas, regency, romance

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Once, on Christmas Day, she sacrificed her heart to save his life. Now, after nine years, will a single glance spark the fire of redemption?

February 1816

Fabien, Comte de Mont Clair, once a highly decorated officer of the exiled Napoleon, cuts a dashing swathe through a London society ball, his eyes only for the glittering ladies of the ton. His heart jolts at the sight of a woman sitting in a shadowed corner. Not just any woman, but one he would have once given the world for.

For Hannah, Lady Maxwell, catering to the spoiled darlings of the ton as a humble chaperone is nothing compared to the pain she suffered at the hands of her late husband. Alone and impoverished, she is a person of no consequence but once, a long time ago, she sacrificed her world for the dashing Comte de Mont Clair. Now all she can do is hope that he may glance her way ...

Revised and updated. Previously published as Nine Years 'Til Christmas in the 12 Rogues of Christmas anthology (see also A Person of No Consequence)

My Thoughts

I am such a fan of Alison’s work and have reviewed her writing before (HERE).  To kick off this Christmas season (Yes! A bit early I know) I thought a short novella by her might be the go! Gosh was I right … she sure packs a punch into this little tale!

‘Was it possible that a shred of the old Hannah Linton still remained? Would the grand Comte de Mont Clair still recognise the girl who nearly gave her life to save him?’

This is such a fantastic novella (something I am never a fan of if we are being honest here) with touches of Jane Austen’s, Persuasion, to it. Two Christmas’, nine years apart, with much going on. There are shipwrecks and concealing the enemy, to park promenading and Christmas Eve balls. Will the stars finally align for these two? Well it was one intense journey to arrive at that final destination - a ride well worth your time.

‘I beg to differ, chere madame. Everyone is of consequence, however great or small.’

Short, sweet and highly entertaining. I seriously consider that Alison could easily have constructed an entire novel around these two as there was just so much more that I wanted to read about. Therefore I am happy to report that Alison has swayed me over with this winning novella. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Lord Somerton's Heir

 

Title: Lord Somerton's Heir

Author: Alison Stuart

Publisher: 1st September 2021 by MIRA - Harlequin Australia

Pages: 446 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, romance, regency

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

First love left them desolate ... can a new love heal their wounds? A tale of second chance love in aristocratic Regency England, for lovers of all things Bridgerton.

Sebastian Alder's sudden elevation from penniless army captain to Viscount Somerton is the stuff of fairy tales, but the cold reality of an inherited estate in wretched condition leaves him little time for fantasy, and the memory of his wife's brutal death haunts his every moment. When he learns of the mysterious circumstances of his cousin's demise, he must also look for a potential murderer ... surely not Isabel, his cousin's ladylike widow?

Isabel, Lady Somerton, is desperate to bury the memory of her unhappy marriage by founding the charity school she has always dreamed of. Her hopes are shattered from beyond the grave when she is left not only penniless but once more bound to the whims of a Somerton ... although perhaps the new Lord Somerton is a man she can trust ... or even care for?

Suspicion could tear them apart ... honesty and courage may pull them together.

My Thoughts

Having read and enjoyed Alison’s Australian colonial tales, I was eager to step back to Regency England for a change of scene. Suffering from Bridgestone Blues, it was time to find a fix somewhere else and I am happy to say Lord Somerton’s Heir more than fits the bill.

This is classic stuff and highly entertaining. Alison gives this Regency romance some real drama with a fabulous murder mystery. There is the mandatory handsome hero and a wise widow, along with a solid cast of other characters that bring real depth to this great getaway. Add to the standard plot of redemption some evil blackmailers, a couple of murders ending with an edge of your seat final coach chase across the English countryside which is all neatly tied together with a romantic bow for good measure. 

Regency England comes to life from a lavish ball, to the other end of the spectrum with the lengths some poor souls needed to go to in order to survive. What I truly appreciated was how Alison subtlety brought to light the very real struggle of how the aristocracy lived beyond their means, often with the cost of running such estates moving beyond them. 

I very much enjoyed my trip to Regency England - a sweet romance and murder mystery - with Alison’s words flowing at an easy and enjoyable pace that kept me engaged to the very end. 

‘She was free, but at what price came that freedom? … To attain freedom, first she had to find Lord Sommerton’s heir.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Goldminer’s Sister

Title: The Goldminer’s Sister

Author: Alison Stuart

Publisher: 8th July 2020 by HarperCollins (Australia)

Pages: 378 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, suspense

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Gold is a fever. Will it lead her to love ... or death? A suspenseful romance set on the turbulent goldfields of 1870s Australia, for readers of The Postmistress and The Woman in the Green Dress.

'There are people in this town with the gleam of gold in their eyes and cold steel in their hearts.'

1873. Eliza Penrose arrives in the gold mining town of Maiden's Creek in search of her brother, planning to make a new life for herself. Instead she finds a tragic mystery - and hints of betrayals by those closest to her.

Mining engineer Alec McLeod left Scotland to escape the memory of his dead wife and child. Despite the best efforts of the eligible ladies of Maiden's Creek, Alec is determined never to give his heart again.

As lies and deceit threaten Eliza's life, Alec steps in - although he has problems of his own, as he risks his livelihood and those he holds dear to oppose the dangerous work practices at the Maiden's Creek Mine.

When disaster draws the pieces of the puzzle together, Eliza and Alec must save each other - but is it too late?

My Thoughts

‘One thing I’ve learned after my years out here is that gold is a fever, just like they say. It can change a man.’ 

The Goldminer’s Sister is a rich historical drama from 1873 set in a fictional gold mining town in the state of Victoria, Australia. The lead character of Eliza Penrose is a fabulously strong and determined woman for her time who pushes on, despite of and against the odds surrounding agitation from the local community and other surprising sources. 

This story is engaging on so many levels as both people and location jump off the page and all you want to do is read to the very end. Eliza is a fabulous leading lady for this tale, strong and courageous despite the tragedies that have befallen her. Her determination to pursue the truth is what endears her to the reader and you want her to not only survive but also succeed. The male lead of Alec elicits similar feelings of strength and survival and with a range of secondary characters, likewise realistically portrayed from rich and poor to villain and hero. It makes for riveting reading.  

Much research was done with regards to the harsh realities of the time in terms of living conditions, class and gender. The fictional town of Maiden’s Creek is based on a small town in the south east of my state Victoria, Walhalla, and the mining operations that took place there last century. Both the living and working conditions in these mining towns would have been extremely tough and add into the mix dangerous characters and scenarios and it makes for quality reading. This, of course, comes from Alison’s quality writing not only in plot and the rich descriptions of location, but also her factual knowledge with regards to the logistics of mining for that time. However,  this is a multidimensional tale and with strong themes of women's rights, working rights, educational rights... even childbirth drama - there is much to appreciate throughout this book. 

I was totally engaged and loved reading The Goldminer’s Sister for all of the reasons discussed. With strong themes of love and loss, greed and kindness, mystery and suspense, I am so happy to have discovered Alison’s writing and can’t wait to see what historical adventures she will take her readers on next. 

‘You’re an idealist, Eliza,’ Cowper said. ‘You can't save every underprivileged child in the world.’ ‘But she has so much potential,’ Eliza said.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.