A Regency Christmas Night The Mistletoe Wager A Regency Christmas Carol

A moment under the mistletoe

In this beautifully written “Christmas gift to her readers” (Booklist), New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh draws on the warmth of the Christmas season to heal the wounds of the human heart in five holiday historical romance novellas of family, friends, lovers, and strangers.... In A Family Christmas, an estranged husband and wife make an unexpected connection—and an illuminating discovery—during the holiday season. The Star of Bethlehem is a lost diamond ring causing a riff in an already troubled marriage until a servant solves not one mystery but three surrounding its disappearance. The Best Gift can come at the most unexpected moments, especially for a lonesome teacher enlisted over the holidays to chaperon the niece of a notorious rake. Playing House finds an impoverished young woman longing to celebrate just one last, joyous Christmas before she and her orphaned siblings are separated forever. And in No Room at the Inn, a winter storm on Christmas Eve brings a young couple in from the cold, desperately in need of warmth and shelter for their unborn child.

Many Christmas traditions and images of 'old fashioned' holidays are based on Victorian celebrations. Going back just a little further, to the beginning of the 19th century, the holiday Jane Austen knew would have looked distinctly odd to modern sensibilities. How odd? Families rarely decorated Christmas trees. Festivities centered on socializing instead of gift-giving. Festivities focused on adults, with children largely consigned to the nursery. Holiday events, including balls, parties, dinners, and even weddings celebrations, started a week before Advent and extended all the way through to Twelfth Night in January. Take a step into history with Maria Grace as she explores the traditions, celebrations, games and foods that made up Christmastide in Jane Austen's era. Packed with information and rich with detail from period authors, Maria Grace transports the reader to a longed-for old fashioned Christmas. Non-fiction

The man who brought mistletoe magic to a single mom Most people dream of a white Christmas. But this particular Yuletide Meg could have done without snow! She'd crashed her car and was forced to seek the kindness of a stranger. Jed Cole clearly wasn't delighted to have Meg and her little boy foisted upon him. But they found themselves sharing Christmas together—and watching a festive miracle unfold….

When a proper lady attends a rakish lord's holiday party, the fun and games lead to a gamble for love in a “charming Christmas Regency confection” (Publishers Weekly). Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation for daring, wagering, and delightful wickedness. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas extravaganza—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Unable to refuse the challenge, he will simply have to act as Miss Oliver's protector . . . Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she refuses to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures. When Lord Xavier's invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues' gallery, she just may teach her gentlemen friends a thing or two about daring . . .

Why did I fall for this devilish man? Barbara needs to stop her father. He’s about to incite a protest against new factory owner Joseph, who’s known as a merciless businessman, and she’s worried the protesters may be thrown into jail. As soon as she gets to the site of the new factory, the crowd of people almost pushes her to the ground, but Joseph saves her from out of nowhere. Despite his reputation, he captures her heart in a matter of seconds. But is he just using her to get what he wants?

Harry Pennyngton, Earl of Anneslea, is surprised when his estranged wife, Elise, arrives home for Christmas, especially as she is still intent on divorce! The festive house party is in full swing when the guests are snowed in, and Harry and Elise find themselves together beneath the mistletoe. Maybe the magic of Christmas is just what these two need to reignite their love….