A Christmas Promise: A Will and a Way / Home for Christmas

by Nora Roberts

Celebrate the holidays with #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts's A Christmas Promise, featuring two charming tales in one volume--a perfect present to warm up your winter.

A Will and a Way

When her beloved Uncle Jolley died, Pandora McVie couldn’t imagine her life without him—only to discover that he planned for her future by leaving her $150 million. But to collect her inheritance, Pandora must spend six months in her uncle’s isolated Catskills mansion with her co-beneficiary, Michael Donohue. If being set up on a half-year date that lasts through Christmas by a last will and testament isn’t humiliating enough, Pandora finds living with Michael intolerable—even as she falls in love with him…

Home for Christmas

Jason Law has traveled the world, earning accolades for his in-depth journalism, reporting on history-making events. But during that decade on the road chronicling other people’s lives, he didn’t live his own. Now, back in his small-town home of Quiet Valley, New Hampshire for Christmas, Jason wants to give his heart to Faith Monroe. Ten years ago, he chose his career over their love, a decision he deeply regrets. To rekindle their relationship, Jason will have to earn Faith’s trust and prove to her that when they’re together, it’s a wonderful life…

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Adult

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Kylie Bernal · Rating 1 out of 5]

A white elephant “gift” from book club Christmas…. Just as awful as you’d expect. No redeeming qualities.

[Cisz Geverink - Strasters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensie volgt @ The Bookbabe

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[Ashley Hassell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is 2 books in 1 and the first was pretty good it was like a mystery around Christmastime but also lowkey creepy bc it was cousins by marriage falling in love with each other and then the second one was so terrible and cheesy it was painful to read

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two heartfelt Christmas stories in one!!!

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Will and A Way: Uncle Jolley McVie is matchmaking from the grave. The game is afoot. At the reading of his will, his family is astonished at his unconventional bequests and wishes. The most controversial of which is the joint bequest to Michael Donahue and Pandora McVie. They are to live in his home Jolley's Folley for a period of six months, together, and without more than brief times apart to inherit. If they do this, they inherit the bulk of his estate. Michael and Pandora are oil and water, they just don't mix and neither is sure how they will survive six months but they are determined to do so, in honor of the uncle they both adored and to spite the others. Shortly after taking up residence, the incidents start up--mysterious phone calls and notes, lights going out, locked doors, vandalism, spying, and so forth. All unprovable nuisances, despite Michael and Pandora being sure the family is behind it. After a close call, the police are summoned and their mysterious harasser ups the ante. Fed up, a trap is set...and dinner is laid.

Home for Christmas: Jason has returned home to Quiet Valley, feeling it's time. He searches out his high school sweetheart, Faith, to see how her life has turned out. Meeting her little girl Clara, he's enchanted. Faith is stunned to see him, having never expected him to return home; but she's worried too since she's holding a big and important secret. However, Christmastime is magical, Faith has always believed, and the two just might find their way back to each other.

[Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

When her beloved Uncle Jolley died, Pandora McVie couldn’t imagine her life without him—only to discover that he planned for her future by leaving her $150 million. But to collect her inheritance, Pandora must spend six months in her uncle’s isolated Catskills mansion with her co-beneficiary, Michael Donohue. If being set up on a half-year date that lasts through Christmas by a last will and testament isn’t humiliating enough, Pandora finds living with Michael intolerable—even as she falls in love with him…

Home for Christmas

Jason Law has traveled the world, earning accolades for his in-depth journalism, reporting on history-making events. But during that decade on the road chronicling other people’s lives, he didn’t live his own. Now, back in his small-town home of Quiet Valley, New Hampshire for Christmas, Jason wants to give his heart to Faith Monroe. Ten years ago, he chose his career over their love, a decision he deeply regrets. To rekindle their relationship, Jason will have to earn Faith’s trust and prove to her that when they’re together, it’s a wonderful life… (from Goodreads)

[Cathy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

First story was not really about Christmas but it was a fun mystery. When a favorite Uncle dies a niece and nephew leaves most of his large estate to them and the rest of the family is not happy. They are not related but they have to live in his house for 6 months. The family tries to get them to leave. They turn the tables on their family and get the estate.

The second book is more predictable but very sweet. A man returns home after 10 years to find his true love. He finds her and her daughter. One thing leads to another and everyone finds out the truth and live happily ever after.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read a Christmas novel during the season and found this Nora Roberts book. I thought, "perfect," I like Nora's stories. About 60 pages, the last 60 pages, was a Christmas novella....a sweet magical love story. The first 3/4 of the book was a short novel, maybe one that didn't stand on its own when it was first released(1986 I believe.) It did take place for the 6 months around Christmas from Sept-Feb, very little Christmas theme, except for decorating the house. The story line was boring, too. I do wish I had picked something different.

[Carla Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book probably isn’t really a 4-star read, but I did enjoy reading it this December.

The first story was pretty good aside from the fact that the two main characters were cousins (by marriage) and lovers, and repeatedly referred to each other as “Cousin.” Gross. 🤢 Also, the ending was a little anticlimactic, but it was a pretty decent little thriller and I overall enjoyed it.

The second story was much quicker, just a cozy little happily ever after Christmas story like what you’d see on the Hallmark channel.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nora’s writing, no matter what, off course some stories are not as good as others but no matter what all the wannabe critics have to say on this place, everything doesn’t have to be profound or innovative or earth shattering, some times you just need a story to carry you until you decide what you want to read next or a light couple of stories for the holiday season and this book is just that, helps you relax and feel good for a while. Enjoy.

[Brenda Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains two stories but they almost seem as if the are written by two different authors...but aren't! The first has nothing to do with Christmas and is a bit cringey as the couple are cousins by marriage and constantly call each other cousin! The second story is what you would expect for a Christmas novel-short, sweet, predictable-like a Hallmark Christmas movie. The second story has lots of Christmas spirit and is very sweet.

[Darlene Balga · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is two books in one. Both I was pretty much tried to just read it and get them done. The first one was hard to get into because the love interests were cousins by marriage (not blood relatives, but still creeped me out). It turned into a mystery and that was kind of fun, but could have lived without the intimacy scenes. The second one was relatively cheesy, too.

[Lindsay DiBella · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. The first story was like a Christmas thriller. However, it was missing the climax. It just ended, there was no effort or fight. The second story was super short and again you knew exactly what happened. I’m surprised bc Nora Robert’s is usually a really good and suspenseful read. Still enjoyed it either way.

[Jess | The_Book.Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 2 for 1 kind of deal. A novel and a novella put into one, with winter and Christmas vibes galore.

A Will and A Way
3.5/5
-Dual POV
-Forced proximity
-Enemies to lovers
-Winter romance
-Mystery

Home for Christmas
3/5
-Novella
-Christmas time romance
-Second chance romance
-Single mother
-Small town

[Rebecca Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointed in this Nora Roberts compilation. I didn’t realize when I bought it that it was two old stories put into one book and captured as “Christmas”. The first is not holiday oriented whatsoever and has a very strange storyline of two cousins.

[Jodie Bookout · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always been a huge fan of Nora Roberts but this book was disappointing. The first story was a tell of cousins falling in love. It was a tough read. The second story though was a cute Christmas story.

[Guida Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty awful. I was tricked by the title on the cover: “A Christmas Promise.” Two stories, but the first, longer one, had nothing to do with Christmas except that it ran from about October through March.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started “A Will & a Way”, quit at Chapter 3. Read “Home for Christmas” - it was short and not that interesting.

[Sue Gabianelli-danneker · Rating 3 out of 5]

two great christmas stories

[Amy Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in this was not a Christmas story.
But, I really enjoyed the second shorter story. Cheesy, but sweet.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second story was way better than first story.

[Shelly Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my genre. Both stories were cheesy and predictable.

[Mary B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love my Christmas books. This is two different stories in one book. Quick easy read. They were ok but needed little mental effort to figure out. Ok

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first story in this book.

[Gabrielle Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 20% this was really rough and was not the typical Nora Roberts I've come to expect.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, reminded me off the game clue!

[Donna Creedon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet stories!

[Caitlin Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute stories. Was actually my first book by her. I'm pretty sure I've seen movies based of some books, but that's it. I really like her writing stule!

[Diann McEnaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 great Christmas stories. They were both very entertaining.

[Virginia Markhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two short stories in one paperback. Both were good.