Historical Christmas

In An Irish Country Christmas, the third book in Patrick Taylor's Irish Country Books, Barry Laverty, M.B., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. That unhappy prospect dampens his spirits somewhat, but Barry has little time to dwell on his romantic disappointments. Christmas may be drawing nigh, but there is little peace to be found on earth, especially for a young doctor plying his trade in the emerald hills and glens of rural Ireland.

An independent woman. A prideful man. A brutal storm. Can this Christmas unlock the love they never expected? Gertrude Devlin expected a fresh start on the Montana frontier, but not a boss like Art Loftis—a man as cold and unyielding as the brutal winter storm that traps them together. Art wanted a young, docile bride, not a fiercely independent woman who threatens his control over his hotel and his heart. As the snow piles up, so does their tension, turning every encounter into a battle of wills. But as secrets crack through their defenses, an unexpected spark ignites. Now, with nowhere ...

Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

Christmas has arrived in the Darcy household. After a year of felicitous marriage, Elizabeth and Darcy are ready to host their very first Christmas celebration at Pemberley. Invited are all the family members: Jane, Bingley, Georgina, Colonel Fitzwilliam, the Bennets, and Lydia—though without her husband. But when Wickham shows up anyway, and a heavily pregnant Elizabeth starts giving birth, will there be peace to be had during this holiday season? Christmas at Pemberley is a sweet, clean romance novella suitable for all lovers of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is a holiday ...

Two hearts. One kiss. Following his wife’s death in childbirth, Fitzwilliam Darcy hopes to ease his way back into society by hosting a house party during Christmastide. He is thrilled when his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam sends a message saying not only will the colonel attend, but he is bringing a young woman with him of whom he hopes both Darcy and the colonel’s mother, Lady Matlock, will approve. Unfortunately, for Darcy, upon first sight, he falls for the woman: He suspects beneath Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s conservative veneer lies a soul which will match his in every way; yet, she is...

Escape to the American frontier this Christmas with four heartwarming tales of love, redemption, and second chances. The Christmas Schoolmarm (New and Never Before Published!) - In 1880s Dakota Territory, Mary McGurty flees Boston and an unwanted suitor, reinventing herself as mail-order bride Adelaide Whitfield. Desperate for a fresh start, she agrees to marry widowed rancher Michael Campbell and become stepmother to his young daughter Sarah. As Christmas approaches, Mary finds herself falling deeply in love with both her new family and life on the frontier. Her plans to create a magical ...

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 friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He's grim and silent. A man of little emotion - or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she's ready to put an end to things. But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn't as straightforward as Sophie envisioned.

An epic quest across the sands of ArabiaIn the exotic lands of the east, a secret sect of Persian magicians study the night sky for generations. When the stars announce a strange royal birth, Misha, a first-level mage, is ready to prove himself by chasing down this new world leader. But then an ancient document surfaces, whispering of an artifact of immense power. The temptation to seize power is too great to resist. And Misha is not alone in his quest. The king’s general Reza seeks power to fulfill his mysterious destiny, and both he and Misha have their eye set on the Egyptian princess ...

Years ago Lady Louisa Windham acted rashly on a dare from her brother, and that indiscretion is about to come to light. She knows her reputation will never survive exposure. Just as she's nearly overwhelmed by her dilemma, Sir Joseph Carrington offers himself to her as a solution. But Sir Joseph has secrets as well, and as he and Louisa become entangled with each other, their deceptions begin to close in on them both.

A reputation in tatters. A marriage of convenience. One holiday to save it all. After her grand plan to wed a wealthy aristocrat ended in disaster, Holly Mayweather's reputation lies in ruin. Desperate to salvage her standing in society, she accepts a betrothal to a soldier she’s never met. Scarred inside and out, Reynard Sharp has no expectations of love from his new bride. Yet Holly’s charm and beauty stir something in him he thought was long dead. He clashes with the impetuous lady from the moment they meet - but their arguments spark an unexpected attraction. As Christmas approaches...

For Christmas, soft-spoken Lady Jenny Windham craves the freedom to pursue her artistic ambitions, though it will mean scandalizing her ducal parents and abandoning all hope of a family of her own. She confides her plans to successful artist Elijah Harrison when he's commissioned to paint a portrait of her small nephews, because assisting Elijah will bring Jenny that much closer to her heart's desire - won't it?

Snow and steel. A new life awaits beyond the Christmas Train. She’s fleeing heartbreak. He’s facing danger. Neither expected to find hope… or each other. After a painful betrayal shatters her dreams, Rena Beckwith boards a train west, clinging to nothing but a letter and a sliver of hope. She doesn’t expect warmth in the windswept Montana town, and certainly not the quiet strength of Samuel Farley, the man kind enough to take her in when she has nowhere to go. Samuel has his hands full as the newly appointed superintendent of the local schools. He wasn’t expecting a guest, ...

The reigning queens of Regency romance return with another delightful Christmas collection of three sparkling holiday romances, as stranded travelers find merriment, mistletoe, and holiday romance awaiting at a quaint country inn.

Snowed in at a castle full of handsome lords, three young ladies are about to have the holiday of their lives.... In Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden, Viola Cavendish has her hands full making sure the Christmas house party runs smoothly. In Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale, Lady Serena Cavendish was born and bred to be a duchess. In Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe, the last time Lady Charlotte Ascot bumped into the Duke of Frye, she climbed a tree to avoid him.

A desperate, expectant mother. A blacksmith locked in the past. A group of well-meaning meddlers. When she finds out she's expecting a baby shortly after her husband dies, Ruth Cunningham is torn between joy and dread. She writes to a wealthy miner via The Matrimonial Times, but leaves out a major detail... and when he rejects her upon their first meeting, she must forge a new path on the unknown Colorado frontier, aided by welcoming strangers who become friends. Earl Gibson lost his wife and daughter years ago and spends his days alone, focused on work. When a beautiful, pregnant widow ...

Phoebe Farrell has one distinguishing talent: listening. When a wealthy, if vinegary, widow employs her as a companion, Phoebe becomes acquainted with a variety of people upstairs and downstairs, in and outside of the household. Some are caustic and greedy; some are generous and kind. A few are tender. One is planning a murder. While Phoebe unearths their secrets and desires, can she uncover the truth before it is too late?

In the snow-dusted town of Pike, Mary Ellis pours her heart into her family's cozy bakery, but just as Christmas approaches, a sleek new competitor threatens their livelihood. Determined to keep them afloat, Mary fights to outlast the ruthless competition—until one fateful night she stumbles upon a wounded stranger who will change everything… On a secret mission to Pike, Jake Manning is ambushed and left for dead, only to be rescued by Mary and her family's warm holiday cheer. Captivated by her kindness amid the festive season, he finds his feelings for her growing, yet he hides a truth...

Give the gift of love this holiday season with five romantic, magical Christmas stories - and feel as if you've just been kissed beneath the mistletoe. Originally published in separate anthologies and out of print for many years, these Christmas-themed novellas by legendary Regency romance author Barbara Metzger are in one volume for the first time ever!

All it takes is a little faith—and a meddling friend or two—for love to find its way home. Lilly Byrd is fiercely independent and perfectly content running the newly inherited Rose Haven Boarding House. Hunt for a husband? Hard pass. She has enough on her plate, including dodging the matchmaking attempts of her two sisters. Blacksmith Graham Christensen arrives in town with his future mapped out—open his own shop, build a home, find a wife. Unfortunately, his carefully arranged mail-order bride ends up married to someone else, and the agency isn’t sending another until spring. ...