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Chance Sisters #4.5
The Christmas Bride
A chance meeting on a dark highway, a wounded heroine, a hero-in-waiting and Christmas...
When Blake Ashton reluctantly returns to England for a business meeting—his first visit in ten years—he learns his partners are getting ready for a big family Christmas in the country. Ash wants none of that. He has just one plan in mind—to show his face, then immediately return to his free and easy life in the Far East.
Making his way to Devon on a freezing dark night, he's accosted on the road by a footpad. Shots are exchanged, and to Ash's horror, he discovers he's accidentally wounded a girl. Ash can't leave her bleeding in the road, so he stays and tends her.
Charlotte Underwood, in hiding from an unscrupulous guardian, is battling to support herself and her little brother. Wounded, and helpless in the hands of this handsome stranger, Charley soon realizes her heart is in danger from him too.
Swept into a family Christmas with Max and Abby Davenham and Abby's 'sisters of the heart'—not to mention their imperious aunt, Lady Beatrice—Charley finds the friendship and support her lonely heart craves. And as his feelings for Charley grow, Ash is forced to face up to his own past and the reason he left England in the first place.
When Blake Ashton reluctantly returns to England for a business meeting—his first visit in ten years—he learns his partners are getting ready for a big family Christmas in the country. Ash wants none of that. He has just one plan in mind—to show his face, then immediately return to his free and easy life in the Far East.
Making his way to Devon on a freezing dark night, he's accosted on the road by a footpad. Shots are exchanged, and to Ash's horror, he discovers he's accidentally wounded a girl. Ash can't leave her bleeding in the road, so he stays and tends her.
Charlotte Underwood, in hiding from an unscrupulous guardian, is battling to support herself and her little brother. Wounded, and helpless in the hands of this handsome stranger, Charley soon realizes her heart is in danger from him too.
Swept into a family Christmas with Max and Abby Davenham and Abby's 'sisters of the heart'—not to mention their imperious aunt, Lady Beatrice—Charley finds the friendship and support her lonely heart craves. And as his feelings for Charley grow, Ash is forced to face up to his own past and the reason he left England in the first place.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2020
287 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Anne Gracie
95 books1,534 followersI've always loved stories. Family legend has it that I used to spend hours playing in the sand pit, with a dog on either side of me and Rocka the horse leaning over me, his head just touching my shoulder, while I told them stories. I have to say, dogs and horses are great audiences, apart from their tendency to drool occasionally. But people are even nicer.
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
December 4, 2020
A lovely, sweet, clean seasonal read. Perfect for this time of year. I liked the characters but one thing annoys me is the 'will not accept charity under any circumstances' and the person is on their complete uppers with dependents but this is just a personal niggle.
This novella is part of a series but can be read, quite easily as a stand alone story.
This novella is part of a series but can be read, quite easily as a stand alone story.
July 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s
Many Aussie’s celebrate Christmas in July wanting to experience a traditional Christmas dinner on the coldest month of the year, well, I’m not going as far as making a Chrissy dinner but it is giving me the excuse to read some of my Christmas books this month and as it’s wintry here in Australia it’s the perfect opportunity to read books with a snowy vibe and winter scene.
Christmas in July read 2025
The Christmas Bride is a novella in the Chance Sisters series.
This was such a charming little story. A light, fun tale to delight fans of regency romance.
Many Aussie’s celebrate Christmas in July wanting to experience a traditional Christmas dinner on the coldest month of the year, well, I’m not going as far as making a Chrissy dinner but it is giving me the excuse to read some of my Christmas books this month and as it’s wintry here in Australia it’s the perfect opportunity to read books with a snowy vibe and winter scene.
Christmas in July read 2025
The Christmas Bride is a novella in the Chance Sisters series.
This was such a charming little story. A light, fun tale to delight fans of regency romance.
December 1, 2020
2.5* - 3*
This is a nice cute little read. It goes exactly as expected but that’s not really to its detriment.
It started quite well but ultimately it felt like a rush to finish. And this kind of spoilt it a bit.
This is a nice cute little read. It goes exactly as expected but that’s not really to its detriment.
It started quite well but ultimately it felt like a rush to finish. And this kind of spoilt it a bit.
October 23, 2021
(2.5 stars) I'm a kinda, usta-be fan of Anne Gracie. She's been writing historical romances for maybe two decades now, with HRs such as TALLIE'S KNIGHT and GALLANT WAIF as some of her first efforts. Well, she's a hit-or-miss author for me, but I have enjoyed a few of the books of her Perfect series about the Merridew sisters and also one or two of the Chance Sisters series.
This Christmas novella belongs to the Chance Sisters series and you'll find several of the main characters from the four full-length books as secondary characters here. So if you like the series, I'm sure you'll find this to be a heartwarming addition.
I guess it was an okay-ish read. There are a few heartwarming moments, with themes of human kindness, forgiveness, and redemption. And the characters are all fine people. Not a villain in sight. But it is very unexceptional and rather derivative and nothing in it surprised or really delighted me.
YMMV. If you are a faithful fan of Anne Gracie's books, you'll probably like this more than I did, if only for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends of the Chance series. Since I'm not such a big fan, I was underwhelmed by the whole predictable story.
(BTW, the hero of this is named Blake Ashton. This story takes place in 1800s England. The name Blake was obviously around then and even centuries before, but as a surname. [William Blake, for example.] You'd be hard put to find someone with the first name Blake at that time.)
This Christmas novella belongs to the Chance Sisters series and you'll find several of the main characters from the four full-length books as secondary characters here. So if you like the series, I'm sure you'll find this to be a heartwarming addition.
I guess it was an okay-ish read. There are a few heartwarming moments, with themes of human kindness, forgiveness, and redemption. And the characters are all fine people. Not a villain in sight. But it is very unexceptional and rather derivative and nothing in it surprised or really delighted me.
YMMV. If you are a faithful fan of Anne Gracie's books, you'll probably like this more than I did, if only for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends of the Chance series. Since I'm not such a big fan, I was underwhelmed by the whole predictable story.
(BTW, the hero of this is named Blake Ashton. This story takes place in 1800s England. The name Blake was obviously around then and even centuries before, but as a surname. [William Blake, for example.] You'd be hard put to find someone with the first name Blake at that time.)
December 10, 2020
I understand that it isn't easy to write a believable romance story within the constraints of the word count limit of a novella, but I've seen - or better, I've read - several good ones before, so I wasn't particularly worried about this one. Having read other books by Anne Gracie, I trusted her to deliver another fun and swoon-worthy read but, alas, that wasn't what I've got.
There was nothing wrong with the characters, they were very likeable and I wouldn't mind being friends with all of them, but the romance didn't work for me. Charley, the heroine, spent the first half of the story bedridden, which prevented her from having any significant interaction with Ash, the hero, to make me believe their falling in love. I mean, I fell in love with him watching the way he took care of her and her brother Toby, but she was mostly sleeping and fighting a fever so there was no way she could find herself in love with him as soon as she could rise from her sickbed.
When Charley was finally up and in full possession of her mind, more than half the word limit of the story had been reached and there was no way any author could address the pending issues - Charley's predicament with her uncle and Ash's estrangement from his family - without rushing things. My head is still spinning from trying to follow Ash's sudden change in demeanor. Call me stubborn or inflexible, but I don't buy that a 10-year-old belief changes in one day just because someone tells you to do it, even if that someone is the person you love - a person that you met only a few days earlier, to make it even harder to buy.
I'm pretty sure that this novella would be great if it had been written as a full-length book. Charley's and Ash's falling in love wouldn't have to be rushed and their individual issues would have the necessary time to be properly developed. As a novella, it fell short. No pun intended.
There was nothing wrong with the characters, they were very likeable and I wouldn't mind being friends with all of them, but the romance didn't work for me. Charley, the heroine, spent the first half of the story bedridden, which prevented her from having any significant interaction with Ash, the hero, to make me believe their falling in love. I mean, I fell in love with him watching the way he took care of her and her brother Toby, but she was mostly sleeping and fighting a fever so there was no way she could find herself in love with him as soon as she could rise from her sickbed.
When Charley was finally up and in full possession of her mind, more than half the word limit of the story had been reached and there was no way any author could address the pending issues - Charley's predicament with her uncle and Ash's estrangement from his family - without rushing things. My head is still spinning from trying to follow Ash's sudden change in demeanor. Call me stubborn or inflexible, but I don't buy that a 10-year-old belief changes in one day just because someone tells you to do it, even if that someone is the person you love - a person that you met only a few days earlier, to make it even harder to buy.
I'm pretty sure that this novella would be great if it had been written as a full-length book. Charley's and Ash's falling in love wouldn't have to be rushed and their individual issues would have the necessary time to be properly developed. As a novella, it fell short. No pun intended.
September 29, 2021
Regency.
Charlotte, dtr of a gent, and her darling brother Toby
lived in a small a cabin, w/ insufficient heat and
food. They wore threadbare clothes. Out of desperation
she posed as a footpad & hero Blake accidently shot her.
He could not abandon her & helped restore her to health.
Toby showed his clever ways and cared for his pet duck
who could no longer fly.
The MCs rescued each other. She helped the H reconnect
w/ folks he valued. It felt heart-warming, even though
the author was obviously guiding readers in that direction.
The Chance sisters played a part in this love story also.
Charlotte, dtr of a gent, and her darling brother Toby
lived in a small a cabin, w/ insufficient heat and
food. They wore threadbare clothes. Out of desperation
she posed as a footpad & hero Blake accidently shot her.
He could not abandon her & helped restore her to health.
Toby showed his clever ways and cared for his pet duck
who could no longer fly.
The MCs rescued each other. She helped the H reconnect
w/ folks he valued. It felt heart-warming, even though
the author was obviously guiding readers in that direction.
The Chance sisters played a part in this love story also.
December 30, 2021
Lovend it. It was a nice addition to the serie.
December 8, 2025
What I Loved:
❤️ The ensemble cast, back together again! The endearing and enduring characters made my heart sing!
💚 The compelling story about Ash nursing Charley back to health. Their meet cute is one for the history books!
🤍 Toby, Charley's little brother. Dear and fun!
🩶 The Christmasy feels!
What I Less-Than-Loved:
❤️ The many (5) references to Charley's cousin as things such as "a drooling simpleton". I understand that the statements about a differently abled person may have been authentic to the time, but, quite frankly, it was offensive, and I can't NOT deduct a star for that.
💚 The lack of chemistry between Charley and Ash. Gracie only had so much time, and did so many things well, but the romantic feelings between Charley and Ash were practically nil. I still appreciated their relationship (friendship), however.
❤️ The ensemble cast, back together again! The endearing and enduring characters made my heart sing!
💚 The compelling story about Ash nursing Charley back to health. Their meet cute is one for the history books!
🤍 Toby, Charley's little brother. Dear and fun!
🩶 The Christmasy feels!
What I Less-Than-Loved:
❤️ The many (5) references to Charley's cousin as things such as "a drooling simpleton". I understand that the statements about a differently abled person may have been authentic to the time, but, quite frankly, it was offensive, and I can't NOT deduct a star for that.
💚 The lack of chemistry between Charley and Ash. Gracie only had so much time, and did so many things well, but the romantic feelings between Charley and Ash were practically nil. I still appreciated their relationship (friendship), however.
December 10, 2020
A lovely Christmas tale of family and love
The Christmas Bride by Anne Gracie is a lovely story about forgiving oneself and opening up for being forgiven and loved.
This novella is book #4.5 in the Chance Sisters series but can be read as a standalone.
I am a big fan of the Chance Sisters series and could not miss the chance to read this Christmas story.
Blake Ashton, aka Ash, was a favorite of mine from other books in the series. He was a little ruthless and unattainable and utterly irresistible.
Ash ran away from England after having ruined his family and did not return for ten years. Forced to go to London to meet his business partners, he planned to attend the meeting and immediately return to the Far East.
Unforeseen circumstances delayed his journey, and he arrived too late to attend the meeting in London. His partners had already gone to the country for Christmas, and Ash had no choice but to follow.
On the way to Davenham Hall, his business partner’s estate in Devon, Ash was attacked by a footpad and accidentally shot him in the arm. When checking for the man’s vitals, he realized it was actually a young woman.
Charlotte ‘Smith’ Underwood and her brother Toby were in dire straights, and stealing someone on the road was their last resource.
The novella is romantic, and the side characters are lovely, especially Charlotte’s 10yo brother Toby and his pet duck Hannabelle.
My favorite thing about the book was the heartfelt friendship between Ash and Toby. It showed, more than anything else, Ash’s real character.
Ash was so enchanting but at the same time so convinced that he was not good enough and did not deserve to stay with those he loved.
Charlotte is so worthy of becoming an honorary Chance Sister. Like the others, she was strong-willed, brave, and incredibly protective of those she loved.
The plot is very well developed for a novella and overall a delight to read.
Highly recommended!
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
The Christmas Bride by Anne Gracie is a lovely story about forgiving oneself and opening up for being forgiven and loved.
This novella is book #4.5 in the Chance Sisters series but can be read as a standalone.
I am a big fan of the Chance Sisters series and could not miss the chance to read this Christmas story.
Blake Ashton, aka Ash, was a favorite of mine from other books in the series. He was a little ruthless and unattainable and utterly irresistible.
Ash ran away from England after having ruined his family and did not return for ten years. Forced to go to London to meet his business partners, he planned to attend the meeting and immediately return to the Far East.
Unforeseen circumstances delayed his journey, and he arrived too late to attend the meeting in London. His partners had already gone to the country for Christmas, and Ash had no choice but to follow.
On the way to Davenham Hall, his business partner’s estate in Devon, Ash was attacked by a footpad and accidentally shot him in the arm. When checking for the man’s vitals, he realized it was actually a young woman.
Charlotte ‘Smith’ Underwood and her brother Toby were in dire straights, and stealing someone on the road was their last resource.
The novella is romantic, and the side characters are lovely, especially Charlotte’s 10yo brother Toby and his pet duck Hannabelle.
My favorite thing about the book was the heartfelt friendship between Ash and Toby. It showed, more than anything else, Ash’s real character.
Ash was so enchanting but at the same time so convinced that he was not good enough and did not deserve to stay with those he loved.
Charlotte is so worthy of becoming an honorary Chance Sister. Like the others, she was strong-willed, brave, and incredibly protective of those she loved.
The plot is very well developed for a novella and overall a delight to read.
Highly recommended!
*For more reviews, book art, and book-related articles, please visit https://lureviewsbooks.com *
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November 15, 2020
Witty, lovely and safe novella.
Loved the familial bond and friendship these characters shared.
Recommended.
Loved the familial bond and friendship these characters shared.
Recommended.
November 5, 2020
Oh my goodness this is such a fabulous story, Anne Gracie writes stories that are filled with characters that come to life on the pages they are easy to love and make friends with and her heroes are to die for and Blake Ashton is a hero that made my heart beat a little faster and Charlotte Underwood is courageous strong and so beautiful, inside and out. I hope that you will come along for their journey to a gorgeous HEA.
Blake Ashton has finally returned to England after being away for ten years, he is to meet up with his partners for a business meeting, it is just about Christmas and so cold Ash is not used to this weather. While making his way to Devon on a dark night he is confronted by a footpad, everything happens quickly and shots are fired and Ash is shocked to see that the footpad is a woman and there is no way he is leaving her there injured and takes her back to the cottage she is staying in with her young brother in appalling conditions. Ash being the gentleman he is will do whatever to make things right but will he lose his heart along the way.
Charlotte is hiding out from an uncle and caring for her brother as best she can, things have been hard and with the weather turning so bad Charley must do what she can to survive, with this stranger in her cottage and taking over and making friends with her brother Charley too seems to be losing her heart to Ash.
It is Christmas and Charley finds herself swept away to a gorgeous estate for Christmas she is looked after by Ash’s partners and their wives and soon is finding out that friends can be family and she is finding it uplifting, and falling for Ash was never her intention but she has no control over her heart and as for Ash he has never felt this way for any woman before and is determined to make Charley his.
I loved this story so much, there were happy tears as the emotions flowed and catching up with Max and Abby, Freddie and Damaris, Jane and Daisy and of course Lady Beatrice was just so very good all of these characters as well as Ash’s partners have become friends and it is Christmas I do love a Christmas story. This is a story that I highly recommend I never miss an Anne Gracie story they are heartwarming, beautiful and must reads.
Thank you Anne Gracie for my early copy to read, this story is awesomeness plus.
Blake Ashton has finally returned to England after being away for ten years, he is to meet up with his partners for a business meeting, it is just about Christmas and so cold Ash is not used to this weather. While making his way to Devon on a dark night he is confronted by a footpad, everything happens quickly and shots are fired and Ash is shocked to see that the footpad is a woman and there is no way he is leaving her there injured and takes her back to the cottage she is staying in with her young brother in appalling conditions. Ash being the gentleman he is will do whatever to make things right but will he lose his heart along the way.
Charlotte is hiding out from an uncle and caring for her brother as best she can, things have been hard and with the weather turning so bad Charley must do what she can to survive, with this stranger in her cottage and taking over and making friends with her brother Charley too seems to be losing her heart to Ash.
It is Christmas and Charley finds herself swept away to a gorgeous estate for Christmas she is looked after by Ash’s partners and their wives and soon is finding out that friends can be family and she is finding it uplifting, and falling for Ash was never her intention but she has no control over her heart and as for Ash he has never felt this way for any woman before and is determined to make Charley his.
I loved this story so much, there were happy tears as the emotions flowed and catching up with Max and Abby, Freddie and Damaris, Jane and Daisy and of course Lady Beatrice was just so very good all of these characters as well as Ash’s partners have become friends and it is Christmas I do love a Christmas story. This is a story that I highly recommend I never miss an Anne Gracie story they are heartwarming, beautiful and must reads.
Thank you Anne Gracie for my early copy to read, this story is awesomeness plus.
November 3, 2020
It's not an easy task to write a 125-page novella that gives me the emotion, context, and multi-layered characters of a full-length novel but that's exactly what Anne Gracie has accomplished in The Christmas Bride.
First, let me say how incredibly excited I was to discover Gracie had set this story within her Chance Sisters universe. I adore those characters and have always wanted to know what happened to Blake "Ash" Ashton, the partner in Flynn & Co. who refused to return to England. He was somewhat of a mysterious secondary character who was begging for his story to be told. Okay, okay, maybe it was we readers who were begging but the important part of this is that, finally, his story has been told and it is everything I had hoped it would be.
One of the things I most enjoy about Anne Gracie's novels are her beautifully developed characters and they are on full display in this novella. No cardboard cutouts here. Each character is well formed and wonderfully layered. Charley (Charlotte), Ash, and Charley's younger brother, Toby are the stars of the story but Lady Beatrice, the Chance sisters, their partners, and Ash's family all contribute in meaningful ways.
The Christmas Bride is the best kind of Christmas gift, a story brimming with humor, hope, forgiveness, redemption, family, and love. It made me laugh, shed a few tears, and smile with happiness. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those quick, holiday comfort reads I turn to again and again.
*Advance copy received for fair and unbiased review
First, let me say how incredibly excited I was to discover Gracie had set this story within her Chance Sisters universe. I adore those characters and have always wanted to know what happened to Blake "Ash" Ashton, the partner in Flynn & Co. who refused to return to England. He was somewhat of a mysterious secondary character who was begging for his story to be told. Okay, okay, maybe it was we readers who were begging but the important part of this is that, finally, his story has been told and it is everything I had hoped it would be.
One of the things I most enjoy about Anne Gracie's novels are her beautifully developed characters and they are on full display in this novella. No cardboard cutouts here. Each character is well formed and wonderfully layered. Charley (Charlotte), Ash, and Charley's younger brother, Toby are the stars of the story but Lady Beatrice, the Chance sisters, their partners, and Ash's family all contribute in meaningful ways.
The Christmas Bride is the best kind of Christmas gift, a story brimming with humor, hope, forgiveness, redemption, family, and love. It made me laugh, shed a few tears, and smile with happiness. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those quick, holiday comfort reads I turn to again and again.
*Advance copy received for fair and unbiased review
December 21, 2020
Ambientato tra The Winter Bride e The Spring Bride, questa novella è la storia di Blake Ashton, il quarto socio, assieme a Max, Flynn e Freddy Monkton-Coombes della società di import-export con l'Oriente. All'inizio di The Autumn Bride, questo personaggio compariva, con la sua riluttanza a tornare in Inghilterra - anche se solo per la riunione annuale - per motivi non ben definiti. E io avevo creduto che la Gracie si fosse totalmente dimenticata di lui e della sua misteriosa ritrosia a tornare in Inghilterra, lasciando una piccola falla nella storia delle sorelle Chance.
Quindi, quando ho visto che sarebbe uscita questa novella, sono stata contentissima di poter ritrovare Abby, Damaris, Jane e Lady Beatrice (Daisy l'ho incontrata spesso nella serie successiva della Gracie e mi mancava meno 🤭).
Come al solito, l'autrice stravolge tutto, con una storia che comincia in un modo totalmente imprevedibile e inaspettato, e un'originalità che ormai è un marchio di fabbrica.
Certo, una novella è troppo breve per far sviluppare una storia d'amore credibile, ma lo stile della Gracie è così frizzante che è sempre un piacere leggerla.
Quindi, quando ho visto che sarebbe uscita questa novella, sono stata contentissima di poter ritrovare Abby, Damaris, Jane e Lady Beatrice (Daisy l'ho incontrata spesso nella serie successiva della Gracie e mi mancava meno 🤭).
Come al solito, l'autrice stravolge tutto, con una storia che comincia in un modo totalmente imprevedibile e inaspettato, e un'originalità che ormai è un marchio di fabbrica.
Certo, una novella è troppo breve per far sviluppare una storia d'amore credibile, ma lo stile della Gracie è così frizzante che è sempre un piacere leggerla.
February 2, 2022
Sweet Novella attached to Chance sisters series
I haven’t read the chance sisters series though they are on my kindle waiting for me to commit to bingeing all four at once. I think you would get maximum enjoyment of this story if you’ve read at least the first two. This story was a light and quick read with two lively protagonists. Ash has reluctantly returned from the Far East for a meeting with his business partners including Max from The Autumn Bride. A series of misadventures finds him in a hovel nursing a young lady and helping with her little brother. Charlotte and Toby are on the run from despicable guardians. It’s a Christmas story so all the Chance characters are spending the holidays at Max and Abbie’s place nearby and become involved. Lovely story with a hea and a treat for those wanting to catch up with the Chance sisters.
I haven’t read the chance sisters series though they are on my kindle waiting for me to commit to bingeing all four at once. I think you would get maximum enjoyment of this story if you’ve read at least the first two. This story was a light and quick read with two lively protagonists. Ash has reluctantly returned from the Far East for a meeting with his business partners including Max from The Autumn Bride. A series of misadventures finds him in a hovel nursing a young lady and helping with her little brother. Charlotte and Toby are on the run from despicable guardians. It’s a Christmas story so all the Chance characters are spending the holidays at Max and Abbie’s place nearby and become involved. Lovely story with a hea and a treat for those wanting to catch up with the Chance sisters.
November 15, 2020
I liked the start of this regency romance novella. It was unexpected and introduced two interesting protagonists. But the ending was too rush and too sugary. It felt like the writer started a novel, decided to skip the middle of characters and plot development altogether, and sewed on a sweet Christmas ending just to keep up the word count. A nice read nonetheless, like everything by this author, but mildly disappointing. I think the novella length is not Gracie's forte; she is much better at full-length novels.
December 1, 2020
how did you tell a man you'd known such a short time that you thought you'd fallen in love with him?
Um, honey? How? She’s only had two real conversations with the man, most of the time spent delirious from fever.
I must be an utter grinch but the heroine who lived in a hovel with no food, who would gladly accept money from the hero but refuses to marry him, had me rolling my eyes. 🙄 Goodness save me from self-righteous characters. That personal life pet peeve of mine aside, the plot and couple’s relationship had no impact.
I already scoff at the whole Chance “sisters of the heart” this series has going but I thought this stand-alone would be interesting. Unfortunately, the heroine’s brother Toby and the hero’s family were the most diverting part of this story. I really do wish there was a story about the hero’s sister Louisa and her grocer husband. Their couple of paragraphs of chemistry overshadowed everything else.
Um, honey? How? She’s only had two real conversations with the man, most of the time spent delirious from fever.
I must be an utter grinch but the heroine who lived in a hovel with no food, who would gladly accept money from the hero but refuses to marry him, had me rolling my eyes. 🙄 Goodness save me from self-righteous characters. That personal life pet peeve of mine aside, the plot and couple’s relationship had no impact.
I already scoff at the whole Chance “sisters of the heart” this series has going but I thought this stand-alone would be interesting. Unfortunately, the heroine’s brother Toby and the hero’s family were the most diverting part of this story. I really do wish there was a story about the hero’s sister Louisa and her grocer husband. Their couple of paragraphs of chemistry overshadowed everything else.
December 27, 2020
It’s always a gift when one of your favorite authors pens a Christmas short story and I was so happy to see Anne gave us one this year! And a Chance sisters story to boot! Take my money, lol. Anne never disappoints, but it’s not easy to create fully fleshed characters and a wonderful story in such a limited number of words. Anne, of course, manages to do both and makes this short story feel as satisfying as any novel. It’s a story about the forgiveness we need to give ourselves to live the life we were meant to live, and how sometimes the best families are the ones we find for ourselves. But I won’t spoil it, you should go buy it :-)
December 23, 2020
What better way to spend some time, but with a short holiday book! Unless of course, it’s a short holiday book loaded with carbs!!!!
Yes! Welcome to the Chance sister series by Anne Gracie, and her short story The Christmas Bride. I have to tell you, I was about half way through this book when it dawned on me just how many carbs were being consumed by the characters in the story. There’s alllll kinds of English holiday food being eaten by everyone. There are no fat-free, fake sugar, olive-oil butter treats in this story. There’s real cream! Real butter! There are cream cakes, plum pudding, shortbread, mince pie, fruit pie, ginger biscuits, apple cakes, almond biscuits, bread, sausage rolls, gingerbread, crumpets, muffins…and none of them are gluten free!! It was enough to make me go into a sugar induced swoon, and the story wasn’t bad either.
Unlike a lot of short stories, this one had a well-constructed story line, and a number of delightful characters. When the story begins, Blake Ashton is peacefully traveling through the English country side. His peace is interrupted by the call of “stand and deliver.” Never one to ask to many questions, Ashton defends himself, wounding the highwayman in the process. Ashton is in for a surprise. Guess what! Go ahead guess. The highwayman turns out to be a woman. Her younger brother comes out of hiding and attacks, and soon Blake has the brother, sister and his horse headed toward a tumble-down cottage which the sister and brother have been hiding out in. And, a sweet little romance begins.
Along the way, we get to read some wonderful banter, delightful narrative, and a short story that seems as if it is a full-length novel. There is a sweet romance between Blake Aston and Charlotte Underwood, aka Charley the highwayman. Also present in this short story is a scene stealing secondary character by the name of Toby. Toby is Charlotte’s little brother, and he is honest, painfully honest, and oh so adorable. Also present in this book are characters from the previous stories in the series. Of course, I don’t remember them. My brain cannot retain books after one month. Was this story perfect? Almost, except for the reason Aston’s gives for not being in England for ten years.
When the reason is revealed, my gut reaction was…boy that was lame. I thought his reasoning was a tad bit silly. He had a guilt trip that was way over the top, and his zero contact with his family downright selfish. I don’t know how Ms. Gracie could have explained his absence differently, cause that’s not my job. But it was just not my favorite part of an otherwise enjoyable story.
Regardless of Ashton’s odd thinking, I do recommend reading this holiday story. Just remember, you can always start eating salads in January.
Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm
Yes! Welcome to the Chance sister series by Anne Gracie, and her short story The Christmas Bride. I have to tell you, I was about half way through this book when it dawned on me just how many carbs were being consumed by the characters in the story. There’s alllll kinds of English holiday food being eaten by everyone. There are no fat-free, fake sugar, olive-oil butter treats in this story. There’s real cream! Real butter! There are cream cakes, plum pudding, shortbread, mince pie, fruit pie, ginger biscuits, apple cakes, almond biscuits, bread, sausage rolls, gingerbread, crumpets, muffins…and none of them are gluten free!! It was enough to make me go into a sugar induced swoon, and the story wasn’t bad either.
Unlike a lot of short stories, this one had a well-constructed story line, and a number of delightful characters. When the story begins, Blake Ashton is peacefully traveling through the English country side. His peace is interrupted by the call of “stand and deliver.” Never one to ask to many questions, Ashton defends himself, wounding the highwayman in the process. Ashton is in for a surprise. Guess what! Go ahead guess. The highwayman turns out to be a woman. Her younger brother comes out of hiding and attacks, and soon Blake has the brother, sister and his horse headed toward a tumble-down cottage which the sister and brother have been hiding out in. And, a sweet little romance begins.
Along the way, we get to read some wonderful banter, delightful narrative, and a short story that seems as if it is a full-length novel. There is a sweet romance between Blake Aston and Charlotte Underwood, aka Charley the highwayman. Also present in this short story is a scene stealing secondary character by the name of Toby. Toby is Charlotte’s little brother, and he is honest, painfully honest, and oh so adorable. Also present in this book are characters from the previous stories in the series. Of course, I don’t remember them. My brain cannot retain books after one month. Was this story perfect? Almost, except for the reason Aston’s gives for not being in England for ten years.
When the reason is revealed, my gut reaction was…boy that was lame. I thought his reasoning was a tad bit silly. He had a guilt trip that was way over the top, and his zero contact with his family downright selfish. I don’t know how Ms. Gracie could have explained his absence differently, cause that’s not my job. But it was just not my favorite part of an otherwise enjoyable story.
Regardless of Ashton’s odd thinking, I do recommend reading this holiday story. Just remember, you can always start eating salads in January.
Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm
January 1, 2021
I thought the characters were believable, and Toby stole the show, with his duck, and devotion to his sister Charlotte. Charley as ha calls her, gets shot trying to be a highwayman. Ash shoots her by accident, on his way to meet his business partners. She shoots over his head, and his horse tears up and his cocked gun goes off. He jumps down to see if he has badly wounded the person, and learns she is a young lady. He tends her, and Toby, and feeds them. They fall into a romance of sorts since she is asleep quite a lot recovering. This would have made more sense with more pages. It had a great beginning, and into the middle, where his friends, and the Chase sisters help. The two main characters have problems in their past. That kind of felt rushed, and a sweet ending added for good measure. I gave it 3.5 rounded to a four. It was worth the read , but twenty five more pages would have been a blessing.
March 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the beginning of this but once we got to about the halfway point it just became what I can only describe as silly. so much work done establishing the characters and their story and then it was wham, bam, IN LOVE!
I think this should have been a full length novel based on how rushed the end was.
Big highlight was Toby. Anne Gracie does really good kid characters!
Have to say, I was also disappointed that this was in no way an epilogue for The Chance Sisters quartet! It states that at the very beginning so I wasn't hoodwinked or anything, just would have been cool to see how everyone was doing after The Summer Bride but this actually takes place smack in the middle of the quartet!
December 17, 2025
3.5
I try to read a Christmas themed book every year if I can & I enjoyed this one enough to grab the first title in the series.
My only complaint would be how quickly a novella gets to the point. But that's not the author's fault. Sometimes, you wish the time frame was longer as the romance from beginning to consummation feels unrealistically rushed for a lifetime commitment. But that's just me.
I try to read a Christmas themed book every year if I can & I enjoyed this one enough to grab the first title in the series.
My only complaint would be how quickly a novella gets to the point. But that's not the author's fault. Sometimes, you wish the time frame was longer as the romance from beginning to consummation feels unrealistically rushed for a lifetime commitment. But that's just me.
November 10, 2020
Oh so lovely to return to the Chance sisters and find out what happened to Ash! Reading this has whetted my appetite to go back and reread the series, sigh. Thankyou Anne, what a charming, lovely story, and so beautifully Christmassy as well.
November 11, 2020
A beautiful delightful Christmas read, thank you Anne Gracie.
Buy it, you will love it.
Buy it, you will love it.
November 16, 2020
I absolutely adore Anne Gracie's books, and this one was no exception. The Christmas Bride is such a sweet read that really pulls you in from the start and the Chance family reunion only completed the package. A perfect read to kick off the Christmas spirit.
June 23, 2021
A too-brief return to the world of the Chance sisters. It was sweet but just too short.
December 4, 2024
A sweet story. I enjoyed the domestic and caretaking scenes when Ash is snowed into the tiny cottage with Charley and her brother. Also enjoyed the sweet family reunion.
A little Instalove, but it’s a Christmas Novella, so I’ll accept it :-).
A little Instalove, but it’s a Christmas Novella, so I’ll accept it :-).
July 23, 2023
Very cute novella and I’m glad I did read it in order since I have not yet read the next 2 sisters books.
I would classify this as number 2.5 in the series because it happens directly after the Winter Bride book and Jane and Daisy are not yet married in this book.
Ash (H) is the partner of Max et al. He meets the heroine when she holds him up, unsuccessfully. He ends up wounding her where he finds out she is a lady with her little brother who are hiding out from their nefarious relatives.
Charley (h) and her brother and her pet duck are just delightful. I loved how Ash came to their rescue, met up with Max and Abby and the gang for a wonderful Christmas and a lovely wedding ❤️
I would classify this as number 2.5 in the series because it happens directly after the Winter Bride book and Jane and Daisy are not yet married in this book.
Ash (H) is the partner of Max et al. He meets the heroine when she holds him up, unsuccessfully. He ends up wounding her where he finds out she is a lady with her little brother who are hiding out from their nefarious relatives.
Charley (h) and her brother and her pet duck are just delightful. I loved how Ash came to their rescue, met up with Max and Abby and the gang for a wonderful Christmas and a lovely wedding ❤️
January 9, 2021
2.5 stars.
Short and sweet, but rushed at the end. Clean, no OP drama.
Short and sweet, but rushed at the end. Clean, no OP drama.
November 13, 2020
I just opened a very early Christmas present.
I am a fan of Ms Gracie’s Chance sister’s stories. Each of those characters provided me with wonderful reading. It was lovely to catch glimpses of them in this novella.
In this story, Blake accidentally meets Toby and his sister, Charley. When you shoot someone, the next step is not always to carry the shooting victim home and do your best to help them overcome their injury. But, Blake is a thoughtful gentleman.
Blake has been gone from England for 10 years because he believes he committed an unforgivable crime that harmed his loved ones. He has no desire to be back and he certainly has no desire to become involved with poverty stricken people who need so much.
But, at times, life takes over.
Charley and Toby are in hiding because their uncle wants to steal their property and anything they have of value.. And their uncle is willing to harm anyone who prevents him from getting his way.
So, these 3 people meet and there is instant attraction. Toby is a little boy who has become wise because he must. He is a chess master but he also loves hearing adventure stories and sledding in the snow. When he is treated kindly by Blake, Toby blossoms into a real little boy.
Charley is doing her very best to keep Toby safe and prevent starvation. Because of family situations, she has been raising Toby and taking care of things since she was a young girl. When she is injured, her first concern is that this is another barrier to prevent them from making it through the winter.
Blake has closed his life and his heart to any kind of connection to anyone. For the past 10 years, the idea of home is simply somewhere for him to sleep. He has forgotten what it is like to be a part of the lives of loved ones.
Ms Gracie has done a great deal in a novella. We are reminded of the Chance sisters and their loved ones.
We also find Blake, Charley, Toby and Blake’s family and each of them are perfectly complete human beings.
This is a charming story. And it is perfect for getting me into the mood for all things Christmas.
Thank you Ms Gracie.
I am a fan of Ms Gracie’s Chance sister’s stories. Each of those characters provided me with wonderful reading. It was lovely to catch glimpses of them in this novella.
In this story, Blake accidentally meets Toby and his sister, Charley. When you shoot someone, the next step is not always to carry the shooting victim home and do your best to help them overcome their injury. But, Blake is a thoughtful gentleman.
Blake has been gone from England for 10 years because he believes he committed an unforgivable crime that harmed his loved ones. He has no desire to be back and he certainly has no desire to become involved with poverty stricken people who need so much.
But, at times, life takes over.
Charley and Toby are in hiding because their uncle wants to steal their property and anything they have of value.. And their uncle is willing to harm anyone who prevents him from getting his way.
So, these 3 people meet and there is instant attraction. Toby is a little boy who has become wise because he must. He is a chess master but he also loves hearing adventure stories and sledding in the snow. When he is treated kindly by Blake, Toby blossoms into a real little boy.
Charley is doing her very best to keep Toby safe and prevent starvation. Because of family situations, she has been raising Toby and taking care of things since she was a young girl. When she is injured, her first concern is that this is another barrier to prevent them from making it through the winter.
Blake has closed his life and his heart to any kind of connection to anyone. For the past 10 years, the idea of home is simply somewhere for him to sleep. He has forgotten what it is like to be a part of the lives of loved ones.
Ms Gracie has done a great deal in a novella. We are reminded of the Chance sisters and their loved ones.
We also find Blake, Charley, Toby and Blake’s family and each of them are perfectly complete human beings.
This is a charming story. And it is perfect for getting me into the mood for all things Christmas.
Thank you Ms Gracie.
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