When Penny and Robert meet again on Christmas Eve, will their childhood love bloom into something more? They only have the Twelve Days of Christmas to find out.
Robert Ellsworth, born the son of a wealthy gentleman, is now a mere steward in the service of another. While his position brings him satisfaction, it does not make him much of a matrimonial catch. It hardly matters, as Robert’s heart … It hardly matters, as Robert’s heart has long belonged to his childhood friend. When a chance meeting brings them face to face on Christmas Eve, he cannot bring himself to hope that she feels the same.
When she lost her parents years before, Penelope Clark also lost contact with her dearest friend. Visiting the community where she grew up, Penny is taken aback by how handsome Robert has grown, and how little her girlhood infatuation has diminished. But when a Christmas Ball leads to a mistletoe kiss him, she finds herself as much in love as ever before. Unfortunately for her, Robert confesses his heart already belongs to a mysterious woman.
Through the Twelve Days of Christmas, Penny and Robert each make a wish for the other’s happiness. Will they realize only confessing their hearts will grant those wishes before their time together is spent?
Penny’s Yuletide Wish is a sweet Regency romance novella, and continuation of the Branches of Love series by Sally Britton. It can be read as a stand-alone romance.
Other books in the series include:
Prequel Novella: Martha’s Patience
The Social Tutor
The Gentleman Physician
His Bluestocking Bride
The Earl and His Lady
Miss Devon’s Choice
Courting the Vicar’s Daughter
Other books by Sally Britton include:
Rescuing Lord Inglewood, Inglewood Book One
Discovering Grace, Inglewood Book Two
Saving Miss Everly, Inglewood Book Three
The Captain and Miss Winter
His Unexpected Heiress
more
This “continuation “ of the Branches of Love series is a delightful story of rediscovery between two characters who had been separated by life’s events.
Both struggle with their love and assume that the other might find them lacking and not return their love.
It is well worth the read to enjoy this well written story with characters and the plot richly developed.
I said continuation but this can been read as a stand alone but I find it so much richer when read with the other books in the series!
Really cute winter read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance. Predictable? Probably. Worth it anyway? Yes! I really enjoyed the two characters, and switching back and forth between their POVs was done well (except for one small part that didn’t matter). I was surprised that the title was about Penny, but the first POV we got was Robert’s. Interesting decision. It definitely made me root for him.
I have just recently mentioned that I’m getting tired of the trope where the hero and heroine knew each other as kids but didn’t think of each other romantically until the hero saw how beautiful the heroine has grown up to be. This book made that trope work because Penny and Robert had already liked each other as young teenagers but never let the other know. When they got a second chance, there was no past unfaithfulness or indiscretion to deal with first. They only need the courage to risk rejection and show their true feelings.
And the ending was very satisfying, especially the sweet epilogue, though the last chapter was still a great ending in its own right.
The only issue that dropped it down from 5 stars for me was the existence of a few typos. As a proofreader, those things stare me in the face and take me out of the story.
But all in all, a very satisfying end to my holiday romance binge.
Favorite quotes:
“Her aunt saw fire and strength in Penny. Perhaps it was time Penny found it within herself and did something about her wish.”
“Somehow, Robert’s brother had turned tactful. He had somehow procured a book and sat with it in such a way that it blocked both Penny and Robert from his view. Penny’s eyebrows lifted, and Robert grinned.”
Sally Britton’s Branches of Love #7 is a Christmas novella. Though it was Christmas story, I still listened to it in the 100 degree weather in June. The romance in this story was superb, and it was fun coming across characters from the series. It was a nice quick listen. Great for any time of the year.
A cute book! I enjoyed it.
Disaster and loss led to Penny having to leave her childhood home and her childhood sweetheart, Robert. However, a visit with friends sees Penny returning for the holidays. Will Robert and Penny be able to find love again or are they destined to part ways again?
This story was a wonderful, sweet holiday read. I loved the regency holiday traditions, such as the New Years wish after drinking from a well, and getting to watch Penny and Robert reconnect. Robert’s brothers were my favorite! The book made my heart happy and was a delightful tale from start to finish.
This book was very good, I like to read the occasional “Regency” novel and this was one was so well written I may read more!
Well done Ms Britton!
What do you wish for Christmas? Is it a new fangled fancy electronic? An expensive piece of jewelry? A new car? A bigger home? Well not so for Penny. Her’s was a wish money couldn’t buy. A humble wish that brought me to my knees. I was almost ashamed that mine was monetary. I think on all the trials we humans have experienced this past year of 2020 and wondered why I didn’t even wish for health. I will think on Penny’s wish more seriously now. Perhaps even wish for peace on earth for we as a nation sorely need it. After reading this novella, Ms Britton has stirred up all these thoughts and more for me to contemplate. Maybe my wish for Christmas now will not be so selfish. A job well done Ms Britton.
A sweet and Romantic Christmas Novella
Penny’s Yuletide Wish by Sally Britton is a sweet historical novella about two old friends reconnecting and finding love.
Penny lost her parents in a carriage accident and had to quit her hometown to live with her uncle and aunt. Seven years later, Penny returned to town to spend Christmas with some friends. She was thrilled to revisit all the places from her childhood, but nothing compared to the happiness of meeting Robert again.
Robert was a neighbor of their estate and a very dear friend. The last time they saw each other, they were still very young, but deep down, Penny knew he meant more than a mere friend to her. Penny was so charming and Robert so adorably shy and insecure. Everybody knew they were in love with each other: everyone but themselves.
The audiobook is three hours long, perfect for listening to in one sitting. The narration is excellent.
This is my second audiobook by Jessica Elisa Boyd. I love how she differentiates the male and female voices and the variety of voice tones that make it easy to identify the many characters.
Penny’s Yuletide Wish is a sweet and romantic historical novella perfect for a few hours of peace in a happy place where love blossoms and triumphs. Highly recommended for anyone in need of a small dose of Christmas cheer.
I received a code for this book from the author for an honest review.
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It is a wonderful romance story! The delightful humor, the unique historical tidbits, and the appealing setting make this story alive and enchanting.
The narrator did an awesome job!!! Loved it!
I listened to the audiobook of this sweet childhood friends-to-more story that takes place at Christmas. Robert and Penny run into each other when Penny is visiting the town where she grew up. Each realizes that the youthful attraction they felt toward the other is still there. Robert feels unworthy of Penny because he is now a steward instead of a landowner himself, and says foolish things that make Penny think he doesn’t care for her, but for someone else.
This is a novella but it didn’t really feel like one to me, as the story didn’t feel rushed. I also felt this isn’t the usual long-time-friends-become-more storyline, because Robert and Penny liked each other as teens but never let the other know. I liked the dual points of view we get in the story, as I like to know what the male character is thinking rather than try to guess. I enjoyed Robert’s brothers teasing and wonder if he would’ve ever told Penny how he felt without some encouragement from them. This novella is part of the Branches of Love series but is written so that it can standalone. This is a sweet holiday story.
Such a sweet yuletide romance. I love when friends become more and this story is a cover page for this genre. Penny and Robert are both too proper to assume they can hope for more and get signals and messages mixed, leading to multiple laugh out loud moments. There are also sweet, tender moments that remind me why I love Sally Britton so much. A clean regency read. I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are my own.
This is Robert’s story. He was introduced in Courting the Vicar’s Daughter.
Robert feels unworthy of Penelope and she feels like she has little options for her future. Fortunately, they have good friends who are looking after them and all ends well.
Definitely a feel good story to enhance the Christmas season.
Romance – PG / kissing
Language – clean
My rating – 4 stars
A delightful read for any time of the year, although events surround Christmas festivities. This is included in the Branches of Love series, but I have not yet read any of the other books and feel this story easily stands on its own with engaging characters and plot. I enjoyed the interactions between the hero and heroine. The misunderstandings between them were entirely understandable given the passage of time and altered circumstances between their youthful friendship and their cautious reunion as adults, even as they still silently harbored adoration for each other. I appreciated the alternating perspectives. The descriptions of faded, fond memories absolutely resonated with me. This book left me smiling and content.
*I received an ARC of this book, and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.*
I really enjoyed reading this novella by Sally Britton. It is the seventh book in the Branches of Love series and I have loved each story as well as glimpses of characters from each previous book. The love story is so sweet and clean and the ending is wonderful. I liked the characters and seeing their strengths, doubts, and courage. Great book!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
Penny and Robert run into each other after many years a part. Each of them oblivious to the feelings of the other and each feeling socially beneath the other. At least they have the good sense to remain friendly with each other so nature can take it’s course.
I love Sally Britton’s writing style and this world she has created. I think the thing that makes Regency Romances so compelling is that the romance happens in a world when that wasn’t always the norm. Daughters were used to create alliances with other powerful families and there isn’t always a chance to let the hearts make their choice.
This was a perfect little story set at Christmas and full of everything good about that season.
This novella is perfect for holiday reading! It feels closer to a novel than short story, I think because of the full arc of the plot and characters. I admired Robert from book six in the Branches of Love series, Courting the Vicar’s Daughter, and how he stepped into the role of steward and helped repair much of the damage done by Harry’s father and the previous steward. I love when supporting characters get their own story! Robert and Penny are reunited after a long time apart and it was lovely to see their friendship renew. They both harbored feelings for the other in the past, and now that they are in a position to pursue romance, they each feel unworthy of the other, not realizing that they are actually a perfect match in circumstance as well as affection. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Christmas traditions of the era as Penny and Robert fall in love and their friends help them towards their happily ever after.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Penny’s Yuletide Wish is a delightful, well-written, Regency romance. I loved Penny and Robert and found them to be very likable, well-developed characters. Sally Britton’s writing flows smoothly, is easy to read, and easy to follow. She brings the characters and the Regency period to life. I could feel the cold seeping through me as Penny goes to the well at night and drinks from it. (Have your sweater handy!) There is a wonderful HEA and a very emotionally satisfying epilogue. I definitely plan to read more from this author. I would recommend this book to readers of clean/wholesome romance, of historical romance, and of Regency romance. I received a complimentary copy. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this lovely romance.
This is a perfect Christmas/Winter read. It is short and sweet; and is part of the Branches of Love series, but you don’t have to read the others for this to make sense. I really liked Penny and I loved that her and Robert had a second chance! This is a novella, but the story wasn’t rushed and felt complete. I absolutely loved the ending! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Great clean Christmas time novella! You could really read it any time of year and it would still be great. love Sally’s books they are so good! It was fun to go back and visit all the characters from the Branches of love series
This is a sweet,clean holiday romance novella set in Regency England. I thought it was a wonderful holiday story. I have loved everything by this author I have read so far and I think she did a great job of giving us a wonderful holiday read! This story is about two friends who, after being apart for a while, when they see each other again realize how much they love each other. Really a sweet story and I highly recommend it!