A Secret Christmas: Chase Family Series, Book 8

Lauren Royal

Jan 2017 · Chase Family Series Book 8 · Novelty Publishing

4.6

53 reviews

Ebook

200

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

♥ A secretly betrothed viscount

♥ An attraction of opposites

♥ Snowed in at Christmas

♥ Decorating, dancing, and a double wedding

♥ Steamy romance!

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Royal, this beguiling romance reveals the origins of the beloved Ashcroft family featured in her acclaimed Chase Family Series!

It’s 1651, and Christmas has been outlawed by England’s new Commonwealth government. But that won’t stop Lady Chrystabel Trevor from embracing the holiday spirit. When she finds herself snowed in with handsome and intriguing Joseph Ashcroft, the Viscount Tremayne, merrymaking leads to mayhem. In a time of fear and oppression, can the magic of Christmas bring two hearts together?

BOOK DETAILS

A complete, standalone novel—no cliffhangers!

Series: Chase Family Series, Book 8

Style: Humorous historical romance

Length: 50,000 words (about 200 standard pages)

Bonus Material: Author’s Note, preview of next book, link to giveaway

R-rated Content: Steamy love scenes!*

* If you prefer to read Sweet & Clean (kisses only) romance, look for “The Cavalier’s Christmas Bride” by Lauren Royal & Devon Royal.

REVIEWS

"A captivating historical romance. Fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series will love Lauren Royal!"

—Glynnis Campbell, USA Today Bestselling Author

CONNECTING BOOK

While A Secret Christmas can be read as a stand-alone novel, many readers enjoy reading it as part of a series. All of Lauren's books feature Chase family members. Should you wish to read them in chronological order, this is the sequence:

Chase Family Series

When an Earl Meets a Girl

How to Undress a Marquess

If You Dared to Love a Laird

A Duke’s Guide to Seducing His Bride

Never Doubt a Viscount

The Scandal of Lord Randal

A Gentleman’s Plot to Tie the Knot

A Secret Christmas

A Chase Family Christmas

Chase Family Series: The Regency

Tempt Me at Midnight

Tempting Juliana

The Art of Temptation

New in 2022

Alice Betrothed

Specially Priced Boxed Sets

Chase Family Series: Collection One

Chase Family Series: Collection Two

Chase Family Series: The Regency Collection

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LAUREN ROYAL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance. Her “truly enchanting” novels have won many awards including Booklist's “Top 10 Romance of the Year,” and they’ve earned raves from reviewers including Publishers Weekly, who calls her “an impressive talent.”

All of Lauren’s books are complete, stand-alone stories, and yet they are also all connected—because they all feature her beloved “outrageously funny, loyal, compassionate, and unconventional” Chase family!

Lauren writes steamy historical romance on her own and sweet/clean historical romance with her daughter, Devon Royal. She lives in Southern California with her family, two constantly shedding cats, and a stupendous collection of fuzzy socks. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys singing along (off-key) to Hamilton, dancing (badly), and (wasting time) watching HGTV.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN

• Want great free and 99¢ books sent to your inbox on select Fridays? Sign up for Lauren's newsletter at: http://royall.ink/Newsletter

• Become an honorary Chase cousin (and get a FREE historical cookbook)! Join Lauren's Chase Family Readers Group on Facebook at: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders

• To learn about the real people and places in Lauren's books, enter a contest to win jewelry, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree, visit her website at: LaurenRoyal.com

Ratings and reviews

4.6

53 reviews

Tina Armato

October 10, 2017

Finally we get the story of Chrystabel and Joseph, the loving but slightly eccentric parents of the Chase family. They meet when Chrystabel, her sister and brother are traveling to their property in Wales after being unceremoniously evicted from their home by the Cromwell regime. Nearly frozen, they seek refuge at the home of the Ashcroft family, who graciously host them. When Joseph's mother recognizes the spark between Chrystabel and her son Joseph, she encourages the Chase family to remain through the Christmas season, even though Joseph is betrothed to another. An evil Justice of the Peace, a damsel in peril, a clandestine holiday celebration and a concealed priest hole all add interest and suspense to this charming story. I read it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down! I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cyn Rolland

December 5, 2018

❤️ the stand alone work. Enjoyed reading of the. customs for a bygone era .We live in a time of indifference—especially when it comes to celebrating Christmas. While isn’t illegal today, there are those who would do their best to squelch the joy the season offers. I hope it never returns to the necessity of secrecy. Christmas is meant to be celebrated.

Marilyn Coates

April 8, 2018

Lady Chrystabel is a very unusual young lady, who is not afraid to think and act on her own ideas. Living under Cromwellian rule was stifling with no celebrations allowed, and neighbors encouraged to spy on each other.

1 person found this review helpful

About the author

I decided to become a writer in the third grade (or, as my Canadian friends call it, grade three), after winning a "Why My Mother is the Greatest" essay contest and having my entry published in a major newspaper. Seeing my words in print was a thrill! But everyone told me it's too hard for novelists to get published, so after college I spent fourteen years as the CEO of my own jewelry store chain before writing my first book. A mistake? Maybe...but my first heroine, Amethyst, was a jeweler, so at least I took advantage of that wise old saying, "Write what you know." And I learned a good lesson: Don't let other people tell you what you can or can't do!

I write humorous historical romance mostly set in England and Scotland in the 17th and 19th centuries (Restoration and Regency periods). I've been oh-so-lucky to see my books hit bestseller lists all over the world, including the New York Times and USA Today lists, making this second career a real dream come true. I live in Southern California with my family and a constantly shedding cat, and I still think my mother is the greatest!

Visit my website at http://www.LaurenRoyal.com, where you can learn about the real people and real places in my books, enter a contest, sign up for my newsletter, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree.

Join me on...

Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Facebook Profile: facebook.com/readLaurenRoyal
Facebook Page: facebook.com/LaurenRoyal
Twitter: twitter.com/readLaurenRoyal (@readLaurenRoyal)
Pinterest: pinterest.com/LaurenRoyal

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