Last week I reviewed the first two novellas in the Noble Holidays collection by Anthea Lawson. These novellas are all Regency/Victorian Christmas romances. I do recommend reading my reviews for the first two novellas in this collection but it’s not necessary. Since these stories are on the shorter side, my reviews will be spoiler free.

Synopsis:

A brand new, heartwarming Victorian-set holiday novella from USA Today bestselling, RITA-nominated author Anthea Lawson, celebrating the best of the season – Christmas trees, mulled wine, deceptions, and, of course, true love~

Miss Eliana Banning attends the Midwinter Masque and meets a gentleman in wolf’s clothing who might prove to be her heart’s desire… or her worst enemy.

My Thoughts:

• Rating– ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A Prince for Yuletide” by Anthea Lawson is part of a four novella collection called Noble Holidays; it can also be purchased on its own. Of the four novellas in the collection, this one is the longest. It’s a continuation of the second novella, “A Duke for Midwinter,” but picks up with Selene’s younger sister, Eliana Banning.

Eliana is beautiful and has plenty of admirers but none of her suitors care to know the real her. She’s tired of superficial games and has almost given up on finding true love. When she attends the Midwinter Masque, however, she can’t help but be intrigued by a stranger with dark hair and blue eyes. Unfortunately, he’s not who he claims to be and Eliana is destined for heartbreak… unless she can forgive.

In my review for “A Duke for Midwinter,” I was upset that it was just a novella because I loved the characters and the story SO much. I was very excited when I realized that “A Prince for Yuletide” not only had the same characters but was also longer. As an added bonus, I loved it even more than “A Duke for Midwinter.” It had drama, tension and a satisfying ending; everything I look for in a romance.

Synopsis:

Lady Peony Talbot never meant to be tangled in a false betrothal to her best friend’s brother. After the holidays, she promises to break their engagement, but William Banning will never know that it will break her heart into the bargain.

My Thoughts:

• Rating– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For some reason, “A Nobleman’s Noel” does not have its own Goodreads’ page and the cover for it is also the cover for the general Noble Holidays collection. This is also the only one in the collection that you can’t buy on its own, which is unfortunate because it’s the best of the four.

William Banning is the last in his household to be unmarried now that both of his sisters, Selene and Eliana, have found their true loves. He enjoys his life as a bachelor but (thanks to pressure from his mother) he can’t help but wonder if he’s missing out by not searching harder for a potential bride. A bride finds him, however, after a scandalous misunderstanding at the Winter Ball. Peony Talbot is his sister’s best friend and to keep her reputation intact, he agrees to a false betrothal. The two plan to break the betrothal after a respectable amount of time but they soon realize that might not be what either of them really wants…

Ugh, this novella was so incredibly good! I love the fake dating/relationship trope, when done well, and it was done very well here. I was also happy that this was yet another continuation of the Banning family’s story. Overall, this whole collection is great but this novella is the standout.

Final Thoughts:

I am so happy that I accidentally bought this collection from Anthea Lawson. It was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read during the Christmas season. Lawson is an excellent writer and I can’t wait to read all the other stories that I bought by her. I also realized that she released a new Christmas novella, “The Duke’s Christmas,” for 2020. Of course, I had to pick it up and I’ll be reviewing it next week. I’d love to know what you’re reading during the holiday season! Thanks for reading and have a great day!