Review of Heather Moll's New Christmas Novella, "A Hopeful Holiday."

It's hard for me to believe how quickly 2021 has flown by and that the holidays are just around the corner. As radio stations are starting to play Christmas music and the Hallmark Channel commences its 24/7 holiday-themed romantic movies, the JAFF universe follows suit with an array of heartwarming yuletide novellas! Just a few years ago, these holiday gems were few and far between, but now it seems many of our favorite Austenesque authors are contributing to this emerging tradition. 

One such author is Heather Moll. I've enjoyed many of Heather's novels, and I even featured her last novel, 9 Ladies, in a post earlier this year. Her latest novella, A Hopeful Holiday, strikes a unique, compelling tone and avoids falling into the trap of the overly cute holiday tale--the Regency equivalent of an ending in which all of the characters singing carols together to cap off a tree lighting ceremony. It's refreshing to read a shorter story since so many of the releases this year have been quite lengthy. There is something particularly rewarding about a shorter story that one can finish in a few sittings or binge in one fell swoop without sacrificing an entire day.

Hands down, my favorite part of this novella was the masquerade ball. It was a true masquerade ball in which attendees were unable to easily recognize one another and forbade to reveal their true identities until midnight. A large part of the novella takes place as the characters prepare for and attend an elaborate costume-laden event hosted and presided over by none other than Lady Catherine herself. 

There is a certain dreamy mystique surrounding the idea of a masquerade. For example, I've always loved the masquerade ball scene from the movie Labyrinth, but it is so very short. I was excited to find that the long, detailed description of the ball in this novella is quite magical. Our Dear Couple has to search through a throng of hundreds of boisterous guests to find one another. In the process, they encounter various roadblocks and distractions along the way. In the end, neither give up and satisfyingly end up in one another's arms.

If that does not entice you to read this novella, I don't know what will! As she reads this, Heather is probably shaking her head. My thoughts on the books I read and review are nothing if not random. 

If you're interested in learning more about the novella and author, consider checking out Heather's website I'll leave you with the book blurb:

"After secretly arranging Lydia and Wickham's  marriage, Mr Darcy encouraged Bingley to return to Jane. While his friend is no happily married, Darcy regrets not having the courage to pursue Elizabeth in the autumn. As 1812 draws to a close, Darcy rallies his spirits to spend the Christmas holiday with Lady Catherine.

Elizabeth Bennet wanted to show Darcy that her feelings for him hand changed, but he never returned to Hertfordshire and she fears Darcy could never tolerate being brother-in-law to Wickham. For a change of scene and with the hope of lifting her spirits, Elizabeth accepts an invitation to visit Charlotte Collins and her new baby at Christmas.

Lady Catherine's New Year's Eve masquerade ball is the social event of the season and, amid the festivities and mistletoe, both Darcy and Elizabeth hope for a reason to make their affections known. But will her ladyship's interference, the sudden appearance of her scheming nephew, and Elizabeth and Darcy's insecurities prevent them from finding happiness during the holiday season?

I would love to read your thoughts on my review and your feedback once you've read the novella! This post is the second along Heather's blog tour. Please consider checking out the other posts for additional information, including excerpts, from A Hopeful Holiday!