About the Book
Book: Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection
Authors: Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch
Release Date: October 13, 2020
Genre: Regency Romance novellas, Christmas Lit
Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors
In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome both their obligations and their fears to find their way back into each other’s arms?
“Far as the Curse Is Found” by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he’d fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.
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My Thoughts
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time then you’ll know that I’m a tremendous fan of Carolyn Miller’s novels. She is the queen of Regency-era storytelling. “Heaven and Nature Sing,” her novella in the Joy to the World anthology is another solid home run for the author. With a pace that kept me turning pages well into the night, I finished this delightful story in one sitting. The characters are well-crafted — a wonderful blend of unique, endearing, and realistic. The romantic tension is so thick it could be cut with a knife, and I rooted for the hero and heroine throughout the entire read. And, it wouldn’t be a Carolyn Miller story without excellent and timely themes. I especially appreciate her beautiful message on forgiveness and second chances. All in all, “Heaven and Nature Sing” is a Christmas Regency story I heartily recommend!
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt is a phenomenal story. It’s a little bit Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera, and then something wholly its own. The plot is SO engaging I read this book in mere hours. Seriously, the pages flew by, and since I was reading an actual book I was slightly worried I’d paper cut myself. LOL! Kidding aside, this story is one of those stories that’s so supremely written you stop to read out loud scenes so others around you can share in the beauty of sentence structures and turns of phrase. Drew, Jenny, and Anna, in addition to the cast of secondary characters, are so well crafted. Each one is a fully-fledged character, unique and endearing in his/her own right. Jenny and Anna’s story ripped my heart out. I wanted so badly to protect them from all the crazy bad! And, I 1000% love how Drew’s protective instincts came into play regardless of his personal desire to hide from society. This alone made him one swoony hero. There’s so much to say about this novella, I could go on and on. Suffice to say, “Far as the Curse is Found” is one story I won’t soon forget.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch is a lovely Regency Romance. The plot did take me a minute to get into, but once I did I found the story engaging. Hamish is an insightful and handsome hero who sees Cilla’s true fiery spirit immediately. Cilla is a sweet, docile character who is a bit stuck in her life. It was fun watching her overcome her timidity and become the strong and independent woman she was always meant to be. My favorite aspect of this story is how Cilla’s small group of close friends, which also includes her brother-in-law and his wife, rally around her to buoy her up and help her realize her true sense of strength and purpose. I love the sense of solidarity and loyalty these friends illustrate. We should all be lucky to have intimate friendships like Cilla. Overall, “Wonders of His Love” left me smiling from ear to ear!
Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection is a novella collection that will leave the reader satisfied. Its stories are enjoyable, engaging, and definitely put the reader into a Christmas spirit. I highly recommend this collection.
I purchased a copy of this novel in paperback from Amazon.com on September 27, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Christian Fiction Girl 
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