Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin Review

 Happy Friday Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.

I've talked quite a bit on my blog lately about going through some tough times. Well, unfortunately, my hubby and I received some more unexpected news this week on a couple of different fronts, and it's been a tough one to put it mildly.

I'm thankful more than ever for a Heavenly Father who provides us so much comfort during these uncertain times, and I honestly don't know how people without faith get through the tough times.

That being said, every single day there's still many things to be thankful for and find joy in, and one thing I continue to find joy in is getting to read and review titles for you all.

I'm here today with another Christmas book review, and I can't wait to tell you all about this heartwarming, historical tale. I hope you'll all keep reading down below for today's full review.

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2024

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Christmas Read

Synopsis:

In this hope-filled Gilded Age Christmas novella from bestselling author Lynn Austin, the year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true. The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adelaide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all. 

The novella length of this delightful work of Christmas fiction about the true meaning of Christmas makes this a great stocking stuffer or host/hostess gift Beautiful hardcover, giftable size. Great companion to All My Secrets by Lynn Austin. Includes discussion questions for book clubs.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I went into Waiting for Christmas not realizing that it was a continuation of a previous Lynn Austin title, All My Secrets, that I hadn't actually read. However, that didn't end up hindering my enjoyment of it, and I ended up loving this heartwarming, delightful story that left me thinking about it long after I read the ending.

Lynn Austin is truly a masterful storyteller, and I always enjoy how her historical titles are well researched, atmospheric, and plot driven. In this particular title, readers follow newlyweds Adelaide and Howard during their first Christmas season as husband and wife. As Adelaide adjusts to a drastic different lifestyle than the one she's accustomed to, and Howard wrestles with not being able to give his wife the world, their Christmas plans suddenly change in the blink of an eye when a young ward from a local orphanage ends up on their doorstep. As the couple wrestles to get the answers to the questions their seeking about his parentage, they will find their own lives changing in ways they never could have imagined.

A beautiful Christmas story that speaks of the importance of family, love and friendships, Waiting for Christmas was everything I've come to expect from this author, and it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year. My favorite part of all, however, was the lovely way she was able to incorporate a beautiful faith message about redemption and our Heavenly Father's never ending love for his children right into the main plot. I truly adored that, and I can't recommend this wonderful story enough.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I look forward to going back and reading All My Secrets in the very near future to learn more of the backstory about the main characters, but I appreciated that you can still enjoy this one without needing to do so.

Thanks so much to Tyndale Fiction for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Tyndale Fiction) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your weekend :) I look forward to sharing more bookish content with you all again next week!