Review: The Hope of Christmas Past by L.G. Rollins

Synopsis
With so much at stake this Christmas Season, love will only get in the way.

Belle Young has waited three years for Lord Wilkins to return from his travels abroad—and a full seven years since he first promised to marry her and carry her away from her aunt’s oppressive home. What better time of year for their reunion than Christmas? Belle is certain Lord Wilkins means to make good on his word—that is, until she’s introduced to the vibrant young woman who followed him home from America, at his invitation. Shocked and confused, Belle is determined to remind Lord Wilkins of his promise to her. After all, she needs this marriage. It’s either that or spend the rest of her life as a nobody, an unwanted ward of her aunt, alone and wholly unloved.

Mr. James Radcliff has never minded his lack of title or high standing among society. He is quite content with his status as gentleman and cousin to the exuberant Lord Wilkins. But then he learns that his cousin is not actually the son of the late earl; if the information ever got out, James would find himself Earl and his cousin would be thrust from society. It may not be what most men would do, but James is determined to find the only proof of his cousin’s illegitimacy —and destroy it.

The Hope of Christmas Past is the first in A Dickens of a Christmas series. It is a clean and wholesome Regency Christmas romance; a story of goodness amidst adversity, holiday cheer, and, hope. Each book in this series is a stand-alone and can be read apart or enjoyed in proper order.

What I thought
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is just something about the way this author’s writing that draws me in and makes me have all the feelings. I love reading her books and I am lucky that I have the privilege of being on her ARC team. All of her books make me feel a full range of emotions and I just love reading them.

From the very beginning of this story I was sucked in and I found it very hard to put down. This story is not a retelling of a Christmas Carol but uses key elements from the original story to build the basis of this story. There is a cameo of Mr. Scrooge in this story.

My absolute favorite character in this story is James. He is beyond your typical good guy. He is willing to put those he cares about before himself. James comes into information that could give him the title of Earl and he would never have to worry about money again. However, he does not want any harm to come to his cousin in any way and does everything in his power to make sure that any proof is destroyed. He is just a wonderful character and I wanted everything to work out for him.

Fezzi is such a character than even though his actions makes you want to not like him there is just something in the way that he is written and makes it just so you can’t.

Belle’s character grows so much in this story. Belle has so much to lose if she does not hold Fezzi to his promise. As the story progresses she grows so much. So as not to spoil this story I am just going to say that she learns what the phrase “Always a Lady” really means in the end.

I loved this story so much and I will suggest this for anyone who loves a good Regency romance.

My Rating: /5