Book Review: Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection (2020)

Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection by Carolyn Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Go to my Christmas Fiction page to read more of my reviews!

Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller

This novella is my least favorite of the collection. I've read about Regency house parties before and in ways that made them unique from each other. This one is merely the stereotypical house party. Throw into the mix two people suffering from the "he/she loves me, loves me not" syndrome, and I just completely lost interest. I can't stand that much miscommunication between romantic leads. It was almost like the stereotype of a stereotype. I would give this one 2 stars. They should have hired Camille Elliot to contribute instead.

Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt

Brilliant. This novella is brilliant, especially for fans of either The Phantom of the Opera, The Man in the Iron Mask or Beauty and the Beast. It's radiant from start to finish, the story of two inexorably broken souls who are yearning for wholeness. I found the faith elements in this one to be very genuine, especially when the hero, Dwight, surrenders all of his anguish and fear to the Lord. This one I rate 5 stars, hands down, and I intend to read it faithfully every year.

Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch

We have another winner! I haven't read many books about artists so it was interesting having the hero be an artist struggling to make his place in the world. Ms. Vetsch's imagery is strong. I could see the fabric, smell the pain, see the colors the way that Hamish did. Overbearing parents are a reality of any era, so I completely bought that Cilla would be overwhelmed by her deceased husband's mother. My one niggling complaint is that, in some ways, it felt more Edwardian than Regency, but since I also love the Edwardian era, it didn't really matter in the long run. This one is 4 stars.

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12 Delights of Christmas Tag

Better late than never, I suppose! Although it's still the actual Twelve Days of Christmas since that ends at Epiphany. So I guess this still counts. Many thanks to Heidi at Along the Brandywine for tagging me; so thoughtful of you!

I hope everyone has enjoyed a Merry Christmas. This year's holiday was a bit of a strain which is why I disappeared for almost an entire month. But I wanted to get one last post in before we ring out the old and ring in the new. Thankfully, this is the first time that my sister and I actually did Advent every day, so that was an enormous blessing in our lives. It helped keep some of the frantic worries at bay.

 1) A favorite Christmas tradition?

My family goes to the WWI memorial in a local cemetery on Christmas Eve to commemorate the Christmas Truce during the Great War. We play Silent Night in German on m phone (the version from the film Joyeux Noël), light candles, say a prayer, and leave a bouquet of flowers. It only takes us a couple of minutes, but it's important to remember those times when peace won out over war.

2) Say it snowed at your domicile, would you prefer to go out or stay curled up inside?

I'm more of the stay inside and read kinda girl. Although I do go ice fishing, so I guess it's a 50/50 chance.

3) Tea or hot chocolate?

Both! Although tea is healthier for me, so that's usually what I choose.

Our Christmas tree

4) Favorite Christmas colors (i.e. white, blue, silver, red and green etc)?

I've preferred the pastels of pinks and greens and silvers in the past, but this year I've enjoyed having a very Victorian Christmas tree in reds and greens and golds. I do have a shelf in my room with a Narnia flair so it's all white with some Jim Shore figurines from his White Woodland collection and I love it.

Date Nut Balls

5) Favorite kind of Christmas cookie?

Probably a recipe we make called Date Nut Balls. Loads of chocolate, dates, peanut butter, and walnuts. They're delicious.

6) How soon before Christmas do you decorate (more specifically, when does your tree go up)?

It's usually the day after Thanksgiving. My sister and I helped our parents decorate too so I don't remember which day, in particular, we decorated our apartment. Probably the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

My Narnia themed white shelf

7) Three favorite traditional Christmas carols?

Silent Night (sung in German), Once in Royal David's City (as sung by Michael Crawford), O Holy Night

8) A favorite Christmas song (i.e. something you might hear on the radio)?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town as sung by the Jackson Five

9) A favorite Christmas movie?

Mmm, probably The Apartment from 1960 with Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. I know, I know, it's not really a Christmas movie, but I always watch it at Christmas. Otherwise, I love The Polar Express and both of the Home Alone movies.

10) Have you ever gone caroling?

Not so far, no.

11) Ice skating, sledding, skiing, or snowboarding?

Probably sledding since I loved that as a child. I haven't gone in years though, so sad.

12) Favorite Christmas feast dish?

The prime rib. So delectable!

 

Here are the questions if you choose to answer them on your own blog! Do let me know if you answer them and let Heidi know as well!

1) A favorite Christmas tradition?

2) Say it snowed at your domicile, would you prefer to go out or stay curled up inside?

3) Tea or hot chocolate?

4) Favorite Christmas colors (i.e. white, blue, silver, gold, red and green etc)?

5) Favorite kind of Christmas cookie?

6) How soon before Christmas do you decorate (more specifically, when does your tree go up)?

7) Three favorite traditional Christmas carols?

8) A favorite Christmas song (i.e. something you might hear on the radio)?

9) A favorite Christmas movie?

10) Have you ever gone caroling?

11) Ice skating, sledding, skiing, or snow boarding?

12) Favorite Christmas feast dish?

 

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A Christmas Blessing

Dear Readers, you know what kind of year this has been in the United States. It's been rife with emotional ups and downs, with health challenges, with fear, and with courage, with rebellion and obedience, and with social and political unrest.

My heart and spirit grow weary more easily now, especially as Christmas draws closer. So many plans and traditions have been canceled. There are no craft fairs this year, no Lutefisk dinner, no Christmas tea with the ladies at Sons of Norway, and no opportunity to attend the German Christmas Market or the St. Lucia Day celebration in Denver.

When I'm troubled, I tend to clean. Yesterday I rummaged through my nightstand, stacking papers in the shred or throw-away piles, and I found a book that I suspect is going to be a blessing during this December. A very dear friend of mine gave me a copy of When God Calls the Heart at Christmas by Brian Bird & Michelle Cox, a series of devotions from Hope Valley, based on the Hallmark television program When Calls the Heart.

I actually stopped watching this show maybe 2 or 3 years ago for various reasons, but my friend gifted me this little book in Christmas 2018 and I just never got around to reading it, the fate of many books, unfortunately. That is until my cleaning frenzy unearthed it from the depths of my nightstand.

When God Calls the Heart at Christmas has devotions for the 25 days of December leading up to and including Christmas. What are the chances that I would find this book on December 1st? That's what I like to call a Godthing. Instead of simply putting it aside because I don't watch the show anymore, I decided to sit down and spend time reading the devotion for December 1st.

There's nothing quite like being whacked over the head with profound truths that are relevant to how I'm feeling emotionally and to what the world is currently going through with Covid. It was called What is Your Unexpected Storm? and reminded me that that troubled times "can prove difficult, but they can also be blessings in disguise because they cause us to lean on God in ways we wouldn't otherwise." 

Even the prayer was pinpoint accurate, beginning with Dear Lord, I don't like disappointments and difficult circumstances - especially at Christmas. Even though my heart is heavy, remind me of why we celebrate this time each year, of the joy of your amazing gift of ultimate love and redemption for the world.

This little book is truly blessing my heart. I even dragged out my journal so that I could journal out my responses to the two questions asked in each daily devotion. 

I guess what I'm saying is that even though Christmas looks different this year, God is still faithful. And he still works in providential ways. Like my finding this book and the very first devotion being so timely. That's providence.

Maybe I'll even watch When Call the Heart again after being so deeply touched by this little devotional. Thanks, Brian and Michelle, so very much, for this Christmas blessing.

Merry Christmas,

Carissa

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