30-year-old Eve Sharland is browsing a Pennsylvania antiques store when she discovers an old brass lantern tucked away on a shelf. She picks it up and sees something behind one of the sooty glass panes. To her surprise, she finds an unopened letter stuck inside.The letter is postmarked December 24, 1885, and it is addressed to Evelyn Sharland in New York City. Eve gasps and drops the letter. … letter. That’s her name! The letter is addressed to someone with her name in 1885: Evelyn Sharland.
Eve purchases the lantern and the letter, and returns to her New York City apartment. Later that evening, she opens the letter and reads it, astounded by its contents. She stares at the lantern in wonder and alarm, deeply moved by the story of a tragic romance.
A few days later, following a request in the letter, Eve cautiously lights the lantern. To her utter shock, she finds herself in the past—in 1885 New York City. Eve is thrown into a life far beyond what she could have ever imagined, as she gets involved with one of the richest families in New York City, and meets the handsome Patrick Gantly. She must struggle to survive and return to her own time, even as her destiny is changed forever.
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Where has this series been all my life? I absolutely LOVE time travel romance when it’s done right (which it rarely is…). Well this book has got it! The characters are real and grand. The details are spot on. It’s not cheesy or your typical time travel story – it’s just wonderful.
Don’t take my word for it – read it yourself and see! You’ll thank me later.
The Christmas Eve Letter by Elyse Douglas is the most delightful time slip novel. It is the first book in the Time Travel Novel series and I cannot wait to read more, more, more. In spite of the title, this book is a perfect read all year round.
The action is set from October to Christmas, moving from 2016 to 1885 in the most incredible way. I always love time slip novels. Here, the wrongs of the past need to be righted. What will the effect be on the future? Love is the motivation, love and a romantic heart.
In 1885 women were definitely seen as second class citizens to be used and discarded by men. A female doctor is viewed with suspicion. It’s okay for females to be nurses, but a doctor is seen as men’s work! Add a very modern miss to this mix and see how things are shaken up.
There is the theme of trust. Having done research, there are certain people the heroine knows not to trust, but what about the others?
Society in 1885 was clearly divided into the haves and have-nots. Those who were poor were in total desperation. It was poverty like we know nothing about. The rich were very rich. Money ‘spoke’ and ruled lives. Corruption was rife as loyalty could be bought and crimes paid off. “If some-one gets in their way, they simply remove them.”
Elyse Douglas has created a wonderful set of characters. Her heroine was so delightful with her huge heart to help others.
The novel came to life under the skilful pen of Elyse Douglas. Her descriptions enabled the reader to ‘walk’ through the scenes.
The Christmas Eve Letter was such a delightful novel. I ‘lived’ it and now feel bereft that it is over. It was totally charming and enchanting. It was my first novel by Elyse Douglas but I want to read much more. Elyse Douglas is up there in my ever growing list of favourite authors.
Elyse Douglas – The Christmas Eve Series Bk 1 – The Christmas Eve Letter – Reviewed 8/9/19
The past, 1885 how could that be? But here she was and now what?
While taking some time off for herself Eve Sharland loves to go to old antique stores. She spends the weekend in Pennsylvania to visit one that she has heard about. While there she finds an old brass lantern that gives her a funny feeling. When she picks it up, she sees something inside? Carefully she removes a letter and then she has a shock, the letter has her name on it. She buys them both and decides to wait until she gets home to read the letter. That same evening she reads the letter and is so touched. It affects her deeply and she decides to do just as is requested in the letter, light the lantern and think forgiving thoughts about the author. Low and behold she finds herself transported to the past – 1885, New York City. She finds herself involved with the upper class and meets the man of her dreams, handsome and funny, Patrick Gantly. Things get out of hand and she fights to return home but even then, her destiny is changed.
What did I like? I think everyone wishes at some point in their life that they could go back in time or maybe even forward. Eve gets that chance, but it leaves her emotionally in a tailspin. She wants so very much to help the young woman that her research told her was dying, this could be her chance but if she could have planned the event instead of by accident arriving there it might have been easier. Ah but life doesn’t happen that way for Eve and it is amazing the problems that she runs into. Just the fact that women are suppressed during that time has her in a turmoil. She is an extraordinary character in this book.
What will you like? An incredible storyline that is filled with fun facts and history of the time period. The details and descriptions are so amazing that you will feel like you are right there with Eve every step of this remarkable journey in the past. The sights, sounds, and smells rise from the pages and it becomes 1885 for you too. The research and work the author put into this book shows on every page. You will be drawn into the story and like myself will not be able to put it down till the very last page. I personally loved it so much that I got the next book in the series and couldn’t put it down either. Elyse has a third book that will be releasing soon, and I cannot wait to read it. @ddeegott I received this from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. All opinions expressed are my own and not edited by anyone but me.
I’ll be honest and say I was skeptical about reading this book, but I am so, so happy I did read it. This book is absolutely fantastic. We have some romance, but mainly it’s suspense that will keep you flipping the pages as fast as you can. Eve goes to The Time Past Antique Shop and purchases a lantern, which includes an unopened letter to Evelyn Sharland, and a pendant watch. Evelyn is a distant relative of Eve’s. When she finally reads the letter, she finds herself back in 1885. She is in for an adventure and we get to experience it with her. Elyse Douglas describes everything so that we feel like we’re right there with Eve. When Eve feels as if she’s being followed, she finally walks up to the man and confronts him. Enter Patrick Gantly. They are both attracted to each other, but he doesn’t like that Eve doesn’t tell him the truth about everything. When Albert Harringshaw takes an interest in Eve, this poses more problems for Eve. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I can’t recommend this book enough. Grab your copy and see if Eve makes it back to present day.
If you were tossed back in time to 1885, would you know how to dress, act or behave? I know I wouldn’t, but luckily for our heroine, Eve, she has a little idea of what to do but not much.
Eve finds a lamp with a letter inside and starts wondering about the mogul family – who they were and what happened to them especially since the letter had her name on it, but she knows it cannot be for her. This sets her on a quest to find out what she can through research. Some of it was good and some of it was bad.
This book was very enjoyable because I do like time travel stories – the possibilities and potential and having to figure out how to fit into the past (or the present depending on which way you are going!). Eve is a nurse which is to her benefit because she understands the methods of treatment that really were not good for a person. She is also smart and aware of her surroundings which is how she figures out that the dashing Patrick Gantry has been following her. It helps that he is a police detective. I like how he is intrigued by Eve and helps her even though it could mean his downfall, after all this is 1885.
I thought the author did a good job of recapturing that time period including that women really didn’t have any rights and were chattel. The men were egotistical which contributed to any downfall they experienced.
The ending has an interesting twist that changed how I saw a few characters in the book.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will be seeking out some of her other books.
While the book is fantasy, I loved this book. A letter is found in an old lantern. Eve goes back in time. While there tries to reunite the couple in the letter. Not the usual time travel book. Eve has many encounters and doesn’t quite fit in. You will not be disappointed.
Loved it. Clever. Will be looking for more of Douglas’ books.
Great book.
An amazing time travel story that hooks you to the point leaving you unable to put it down caught on the pages as the tale unwinds. It has beautifully crafted characters and story development.
Loved this book! Highly recommend this author duo for writing about life with a small touch of magic!
Great read. I enjoyed the book didn’t want it to end.
This book was very entertaining. I couldn’t wait each evening to sneak in the time to read
Loved this book!
Well some of the characters are wonderful and some are not. But as I was coming down to the end of the book, even it was beginning to alarm me if it would end happily are not. Interesting way the way they went about the story and wrapping it up.
Very, very slow, Did not finish
I really liked this book. Great story. I would read another by same authot.
Very sweet lovely story
Love time travel stories liked connection between heroine and antique store owner.
I liked the storyline, a different take on time travel. I did think that it was a little long winded. It seemed like the author would get stuck on a thought & didn’t know how to end it. So a lot of the time it seemed to go on & on & on & on, when you just wanted to get on with the story. Other than that, I enjoyed it.
Fabulous read! Seven stars out of five (grin).