Christmas Joy
Mary-Anne O'Connor
Reviewed by Helen
It is the 1st November 1889, Rye, Sussex and Joy Parker’s most favourite time of the year is coming up she loves Christmas and loves helping people however she can no matter that her family do not live the way they used after a terrible tragedy, love is still there and that is what life and happiness is all about, Joy by name, Joy by nature.
Joy works as Lady’s companion to the formidable Lady Hyacinth Montague, this doesn’t change how she feels, Lady Hyacinth treats her like a servant but she keeps going day after day and now Lady Hyacinth’s great nephew is arriving to take over his position as The Earl and the pressure is on to make the manor sparkle.
Peter arrives early and takes a wander through the village, here a young woman captures his attention not only is she beautiful but she is so caring towards the people in the village, she is someone he will never forget and hopes to meet her soon, his wishes come true when he makes his way to the manor and again he meets her this time a mishap starts the sparks flying between them.
Joy cannot believe her feelings for the new Earl this cannot be they are from different worlds but she knows before long that her heart is captured by Peter, Lady Hyacinth has a plan for Peter and soon Jointwoods Manor is brimming with high society guests, the upper class one of them being Lady Regina Hove who Joy makes friends with but it is not too hard to see that Lady Hyacinth is plotting for a marriage between Peter and Regina.
Joy is organizing the lavish Christmas ball at the manor but when the evening comes Joy decides that she cannot attend after all that has happened, but her loving family have other plans, Joy cannot understand the games the idle rich play with their hearts it just doesn’t feel right and with the scandal that seems about to happen how on earth will this all turn out, will Joy and Peter find the love and happiness they deserve or will Lady Hyacinth have her way?
This is such a beautiful story with such a gorgeous Christmas feeling throughout, the setting, the characters, and the romance of the story all go towards making this a Christmas story that I highly recommend, the joy and love is gorgeous, I loved it and if you love Christmas stories then this is the one to pick up.
My thanks to Penguin Au for my copy to read and review.
Joy works as Lady’s companion to the formidable Lady Hyacinth Montague, this doesn’t change how she feels, Lady Hyacinth treats her like a servant but she keeps going day after day and now Lady Hyacinth’s great nephew is arriving to take over his position as The Earl and the pressure is on to make the manor sparkle.
Peter arrives early and takes a wander through the village, here a young woman captures his attention not only is she beautiful but she is so caring towards the people in the village, she is someone he will never forget and hopes to meet her soon, his wishes come true when he makes his way to the manor and again he meets her this time a mishap starts the sparks flying between them.
Joy cannot believe her feelings for the new Earl this cannot be they are from different worlds but she knows before long that her heart is captured by Peter, Lady Hyacinth has a plan for Peter and soon Jointwoods Manor is brimming with high society guests, the upper class one of them being Lady Regina Hove who Joy makes friends with but it is not too hard to see that Lady Hyacinth is plotting for a marriage between Peter and Regina.
Joy is organizing the lavish Christmas ball at the manor but when the evening comes Joy decides that she cannot attend after all that has happened, but her loving family have other plans, Joy cannot understand the games the idle rich play with their hearts it just doesn’t feel right and with the scandal that seems about to happen how on earth will this all turn out, will Joy and Peter find the love and happiness they deserve or will Lady Hyacinth have her way?
This is such a beautiful story with such a gorgeous Christmas feeling throughout, the setting, the characters, and the romance of the story all go towards making this a Christmas story that I highly recommend, the joy and love is gorgeous, I loved it and if you love Christmas stories then this is the one to pick up.
My thanks to Penguin Au for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
November 4, 2025 by Penguin
