Christmas Historical Romances: 6 Books to Warm Your Winter Nights
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In the days leading up to Christmas, I love to pass my evenings curled up with a cozy holiday romance, especially one set in the distant past. Perhaps it’s the dim candlelit rooms or horse-drawn carriages, but something about historical Christmas romances makes them feel cozier than their contemporary counterparts. If you feel the same way, then keep reading to discover six stories of timeless love with a healthy serving of holiday cheer.
A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
An homage to Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, A Holiday by Gaslight is a Victorian romance about love across the social divide. Set at a country estate during the holiday season, the book revolves around the seemingly mismatched but ultimately well-matched relationship between Edward Sharpe, a London merchant, and Sophie Appersett, the daughter of an upper-class – but financially strapped – gentleman. Read full review→
A Match Made at Christmas by Ellie St. Clair
A Match Made at Christmas is a prime example of why you must never judge a book by its cover. Lackluster cover? Sure. Lackluster story? Absolutely not. This Regency romance is a captivating read that transports you to a grand, festively decorated estate. From holiday feasts to caroling and crackling fires, the story is brimming with Christmas cheer. Plus, it features one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. Read full review→
Twelfth Knight’s Bride by E. Elizabeth Watson
This book takes us a bit further back in time, whisking us away to 16th-century Scotland. There, we meet Aileana and James, members of the feuding Grant and MacDonald clans. In an act of desperation, Aileana steals vegetables from MacDonald land to feed her starving kin, but she is caught and forced to handfast James as recompense. Her only consolation is that she negotiated a condition for their union: if by Twelfth Night she does not wish to remain bound to James, she can return home. She is certain that she’ll be back home in a couple of weeks. Fate, however, has other plans. Read full review→
Christmas Carol by Flora Speer
Have you ever wondered what Dickens’ A Christmas Carol would be like if it were written from the perspective of a woman…and if it had some spice? If so, then this vintage romance is the book for you! Read full review→
A Sleigh Ride Kiss by Jen Geigle Johnson
Set in the Regency countryside, A Sleigh Ride Kiss is a sweet romance featuring a case of mistaken identity. Odette Goodson despises the Marquis of Wilmington, a man who couldn’t be bothered to attend his own mother’s funeral. So, when her grandmother suggests a match between her and the marquis, she scoffs at the idea. Even if he were of a better disposition and character, she has eyes for another: Henry Wardlow, a man newly arrived in town. Only, Henry isn’t new to town, nor is he who Odette thinks he is. It turns out Henry and the marquis are one and the same. Read full review→
A Yorkshire Carol by Jennie Goutet
Another Regency romance set in the English countryside, A Yorkshire Carol is a delightful, feel-good story about two childhood friends discovering the true depths of their feelings for one another. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be smiling more and more with every page you turn. Read full review→
And that just about does it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these books, or if there are any that you’d add to this list.
Merry Christmas, and happy reading!
-Julia
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