Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Cathy SharpSearching for an uplifting read with powerful Christmas nostalgia? Then look no longer! You have found Carol Rivers, Sunday Times bestselling author, writing her new Victorian Romance Series.Christmas Day, London 1880 Snow falls … a dying Irish girl clutching her new-born baby drags herself to the sanctuary of an East End orphanage and … drags herself to the sanctuary of an East End orphanage and throws herself on the mercy of the Sisters of Clemency. The nuns raise little Ettie O’Reilly as their own and provide her with the love and education she might never have had. But the lives of the nuns and orphans are soon crushed by a powerful and greedy bishop.
The heart-breaking outcome separates Ettie from her friends and family, luring her into a world of male dominance and the fickle nature of intimate relationships. In her naivety, with her faith in the goodness of human nature severely tested, she doesn’t know who to trust. And when the boy who has promised his undying love and loyalty betrays her, Ettie’s world starts to crumble.
She must finally accept the hard-hitting truth – happiness comes at a cost! Does she have the courage and wisdom to face the demons she long ago learned about from the Sisters of Clemency? Will the resolution of an undiscovered and painful secret be her making – or breaking?
’A gripping page turner’ – LEAH FLEMING
‘Surely one of the best saga writers of her time’ – ROSIE CLARKE
‘Brings the East End to life – family loyalties, warring characters and broken dreams. Superb’ – ELIZABETH GILL
‘Carol Rivers has captured the true spirit and resilient characters of East London’ – JEAN FULLERTON
What readers are saying about Carol Rivers’ books:
5***** star Amazon reviews
Beautiful, page by page …
Carol Rivers is a new author to me and I will certainly be reading more of her books.
I would like to extend my thanks to her for a terrific read.
I love nothing more than to curl up with a nice cup of hot chocolate and a book by my favourite author.
Keep up the good work Carol.
One amazing author – Carol Rivers is number 1 xxxxx
Was so much more than I expected, I didn’t want to put the book down!
Really would like a sequel to this.
The author has a wonderful talent for conveying an authentic sense of time and place, and creating realistic characters.
I became so immersed in this fantastic read.
Thank you Carol Rivers for always providing the perfect read that keeps you gripped throughout and your imagination alight.
The queen of sagas has done it again! Omg what a brilliant read! Been waiting for this!
Another fabulous story by the equally fabulous Carol Rivers. Whether you are new to sagas or have read them for many years (like me),
you will never be disappointed reading one of Carol’s books. They are utterly addictive and beautifully written, leaving you with a mixture of emotions.
You will be laughing one minute and crying the next, my description of a brilliant saga writer.
I’ve read all Carol’s books now, sometimes twice. I have never been disappointed
What an amazing book, such a great read. Carol Rivers is an amazing writer, well on to my next read by Carol
I have read so many of Carol Rivers books, they’re all good books. I’ve still got more to read.more
Carol Rivers has written a poignant coming of age story story. Christmas Child is heartwarming and had me on a roller-coaster of emotions. The first in the Victorian Saga Romance series, this book is absolutely a beautiful Historical Fiction.
Ettie was born on Christmas Day. The beginning of this novel is emotional and it had me crying right off the bat. I knew I found a special novel and this was going to be a wonderful journey of heartbreak and strength. I was right. Ettie’s life from birth until her 17th birthday was rough. Circumstance after circumstance, things went wrong. Despite the hardships, she was able to thrive. Carol Rivers found the right balance of heartbreak and feel good vibes to keep this story inspirational!
Set in the Victorian era, I could visualize the setting. I love how much research was done to make this authentic. This type of research is what makes me love Historical Fiction!
A story of courage and determination in the midst of hearbreak, with a bit of romance in the Victorian era, Christmas Child is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
Christmas Child is actually the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from author Carol Rivers. I was so impressed with this story and Ms. Rivers writing style that I’m planning on going back and reading her backlist! This was an absolutely fantastic read based in East London in the Victorian Era.
From the very start of the book, Ms. Rivers pulls you into the story and grabs your emotions and doesn’t let go. We first meet Colleen O’Reilly on Christmas Day in 1880, who has just given birth to a baby girl. Colleen knows she’s not going to survive and desperately wants to save her daughter. When she leaves her newborn daughter to the Sisters of Clemency Convent, my heart broke for young Colleen and her innocent baby.
Our story then jumps 13 years forward, with a young Henrietta “Ettie” O’Reilly living in the orphanage run by the Sisters of Clemency. Ettie has spent her entire life living in the orphanage, and rarely ventures outside the walls. The nuns and the other orphans are her only family. But then word comes from Rome that the orphanage must close and all the children must be found new homes. Ettie’s world starts to change as she’s told she is to be sent to work in the city. When her dear friend Michael Wilson leaves the orphanage before he can be sent away, Ettie wonders if she’ll ever see him again.
This truly was a fabulous story from beginning to end and I struggled to put it down. Ettie was a wonderful, loveable character. As we follow her through her life outside the orphanage, you can’t help but want to see her succeed and gain a HEA. There were so many wonderful secondary characters in this book, each with fascinating stories of their own. It’s obvious Ms. Rivers does tremendous research as the book is richly detailed, beautifully written and the storyline along with the characters was enthralling.
This was so much more than a romance story. It was a story of life, death, survival, heartache and finally happiness. The ending was absolutely perfect and I look forward to reading more from author Carol Rivers in the future. Highly recommend!