Joy to the Word by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

About the book:

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors.

In Joy to the World, three popular authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a break from their holiday business.

“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller

Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome their obligations and fears to find their way back into each other's arms?

“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt

One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

“Wonder of His Love” by Erica Vetsch

A Scots portrait painter with a hidden identity finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

My Review:

As is often the case with a collection of novellas, I like one better than the others. First, the others. In “Heaven and Nature Sing,” Miller showcases the customs and traditions of the elite of the time as they celebrate Christmas. It was interesting to read about the parlor games people played as women vie for the attention of eligible men. In “Wonders of His Love,” Vetsch gives us insights into the power of parents in arranging marriages. We wonder if one woman will have the courage to break away from family control and go her own way. I also appreciated learning quite a bit about the art of painting portraits at that time. Both of these novellas have good character development and plot.

My favorite novella is “Far as the Curse is Found.” I especially like Barratt's deep look into the character of a man who has been disfigured. Overwhelmed with his own social stigma, he is willing to reach out to another hurting person. I like how he is drawn out of his self imposed shell. I like how this story displays the power of a person's love and ultimately the power of God's love.

This is a good collection of Regency novellas highlighting the Christmas traditions of the era as well as revealing how characters traversed the social conditions of the time, finding true love.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Authors:

Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, her novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. You can find out more at www.carolynmillerauthor.com.

Amanda Barratt is the ECPA best-selling author of several novels and novellas, including My Dearest Dietrich. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a two-time FHL Reader's Choice Award finalist. She and her family live in northern Michigan. You can find out more at www.amandabarratt.net.

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She lives in Rochester, Minnesota. You can find out more at www.ericavetsch.com.

Kregel, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by the publisher.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)