jessbookishlife's review
5.0
Is it to early for Christmas books? Honestly, I don't care because I will read any Holiday type of novel anytime of the year. And having read the previous books in this series, I was so excited!
Although it can be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend you to read the first two books because some characters appear in this one despite the fact that the main character is Cornelia, and by reading the previous novels you will have a better understanding of the background of the characters as well as the world and the context, time period and location where and when this story happens.
It's a historical romance, and I loved the previous novels because of how the author talked about different issues and showed us how society was (and in a way, still is in some aspects). This novel kept things up, and here the author talks about divorce, domestic violence, and so much more. And every single one of those topics are still worth talking about in our present.
We follow Cornelia as she deals with her personal issues (divorce and being at the verge of loosing her children), and Stephen Gower the (handsome, okay, that's how I imagine him) head of security at Pennington's. And I loved them both and loved discovering more about them and see them win and be happy in the end.
Of course, as the title indicates, it happens during Christmas, and reading about the magic of Christmas in Pennington's, I loved the images I had and the excitement I felt. Of course, the Christmas spirit isn't just happiness, romance and lights, because this story bring us mystery and crime, which just adds to captivating element.
Overall, I loved this novel and I highly recommend this entire series. If you like Historical Romances with mystery this one is definitely for you.
Although it can be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend you to read the first two books because some characters appear in this one despite the fact that the main character is Cornelia, and by reading the previous novels you will have a better understanding of the background of the characters as well as the world and the context, time period and location where and when this story happens.
It's a historical romance, and I loved the previous novels because of how the author talked about different issues and showed us how society was (and in a way, still is in some aspects). This novel kept things up, and here the author talks about divorce, domestic violence, and so much more. And every single one of those topics are still worth talking about in our present.
We follow Cornelia as she deals with her personal issues (divorce and being at the verge of loosing her children), and Stephen Gower the (handsome, okay, that's how I imagine him) head of security at Pennington's. And I loved them both and loved discovering more about them and see them win and be happy in the end.
Of course, as the title indicates, it happens during Christmas, and reading about the magic of Christmas in Pennington's, I loved the images I had and the excitement I felt. Of course, the Christmas spirit isn't just happiness, romance and lights, because this story bring us mystery and crime, which just adds to captivating element.
Overall, I loved this novel and I highly recommend this entire series. If you like Historical Romances with mystery this one is definitely for you.
ellesea's review
4.0
This is the third book in the Pennington's series. I read this as a standalone novel, although I've previously enjoyed The Mistress of Pennington's, the first instalment in this series.
In the midst of a divorce from her abusive, cheating husband, Cornelia Culford is she's trying to rebuild a life for herself and sons by working in the jewellery department at Pennington's in Bath. There she meets Stephen Gower, head of security and another new employee who is also trying to forget about events from the past.
This novel has it all, romance, history and mystery all wrapped up in a fascinating narrative. Ms Brimble continues to enlighten me about this momentous time in history with well-researched details within well-written and thoughtful story-lines. The simplicity of a department store backdrop is perfect for the different plot threads; some new whilst others are a continuation from previous books in the series. The latter doesn't require previous knowledge but will tempt to want to find out more about these equally charming characters, specifically Joseph Carter and Elizabeth Pennington.
The time-line is the lead up to Christmas, 1911 and I love all the descriptions of the festive decorations used at this time making it easy to visualise how it all looked in reality. Despite this, the narrative focuses on the everyday events and happenings of the character's which just happen to occur at this time of year. I liked this aspect because this novel can be read at any time of the year, not just at Christmas.
One thing is now certain, I want to read book two, A Rebel at Pennington's to learn more about Esther and Lawrence Culford. Also, with many references within the narrative relating to something significant in 1912, I'm expecting another intriguing instalment, soon...I hope.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Aria via Rachel's Random Resources***
In the midst of a divorce from her abusive, cheating husband, Cornelia Culford is she's trying to rebuild a life for herself and sons by working in the jewellery department at Pennington's in Bath. There she meets Stephen Gower, head of security and another new employee who is also trying to forget about events from the past.
This novel has it all, romance, history and mystery all wrapped up in a fascinating narrative. Ms Brimble continues to enlighten me about this momentous time in history with well-researched details within well-written and thoughtful story-lines. The simplicity of a department store backdrop is perfect for the different plot threads; some new whilst others are a continuation from previous books in the series. The latter doesn't require previous knowledge but will tempt to want to find out more about these equally charming characters, specifically Joseph Carter and Elizabeth Pennington.
The time-line is the lead up to Christmas, 1911 and I love all the descriptions of the festive decorations used at this time making it easy to visualise how it all looked in reality. Despite this, the narrative focuses on the everyday events and happenings of the character's which just happen to occur at this time of year. I liked this aspect because this novel can be read at any time of the year, not just at Christmas.
One thing is now certain, I want to read book two, A Rebel at Pennington's to learn more about Esther and Lawrence Culford. Also, with many references within the narrative relating to something significant in 1912, I'm expecting another intriguing instalment, soon...I hope.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Aria via Rachel's Random Resources***
heatherr's review
This is the third book that I've read in this series set in an English department store. Each of the books focuses on a particular couple but because there is a larger mystery that moves through all of them, it is best to read them in order.
Cornelia is a soon to be divorced woman who is working at the jewelry counter. Stephen is a policeman on leave pending an investigation into his role in a case that went horribly wrong. He's working security at the store. Several people find out that he is from Scotland Yard and decide to enlist him in solving problems of their own. He doesn't want to be involved in anyone's affairs but he finds himself being drawn in.
I like the setting of the books. It is 1911. That's isn't a time period I see represented a lot in historical fiction. The backbone of this series is women who are trying to move themselves out of the domestic sphere that they have been pigeonholed in. One is trying to run a business. One is active in trying to get the vote. One is trying to get away from an abusive husband. I like seeing those perspectives.
I'm not a fan of the men in these books. I really learned to despise the man who was the romantic lead of book one. He's obsessed with finding out who murdered his first wife. That's fine but it is turning him increasingly nasty which is an interesting story arc for a person who was supposed to be a hero. He keeps saying that his first wife won't be able to rest in peace if he doesn't find her murderer. I don't think that is how it works. She doesn't care because she is dead. You care, sir.
I wasn't a huge fan of the resolution of that story line either. For the buildup it was over pretty quickly. There was a connection between several victims that I have a hard time believing no one noticed. "Oh, 50% of our group has been murdered? Is that why we don't need as many refreshments at meetings?"
But if you are willing to let that go, it is an interesting look at a time and place.
Author Bio –
Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath, England. Since 2007, she has had several novels published by small US presses, eight books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical.
In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a new Edwardian series set in Bath’s finest department store. The Mistress of Pennington’s released July 2018, A Rebel At
Pennington’s February 2019 and Christmas At Pennington’s September 2019.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America and has thousands of social media followers all over the world. To sign up for her quarterly and new release newsletter, click here to go to her website: https://rachelbrimble.com/
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
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