A Winter's Wish
A Cinderella Christmas Anthology
By Anna Bradley
Kensington Books - October 2026
Historical Romance
A Cinderella Christmas Anthology consists of three stories, each standing on its own. As can be surmised by the title, they are each variations of the Cinderella fairy tale and set at Christmas. They are Mistletoe Maiden by Sabrina Jeffries, The Cinderella Challenge by Mary Jo Putney and A Winter’s Wish by Anna Bradley.
Gabriel Ambrose Christopher Scott had not been born to be Duke of Hawthorne, but the untimely death of his brother had unfortunately brought the title to him. He did not have the grace to be "His Grace", and he didn't want to meet the women jockeying to be a duke's wife, so he decided to switch places with his valet Rowan, who he'd been friends with since childhood.
Stella Harley Featherstone may have once hoped for a good relationship with her stepmother, Phillippa, and step sisters, Cornelia and Beatrice. But once her father died, she'd essentially become their servant. Adept at designing gowns, she was only useful to made dresses for them. When an invitation arrived for a Christmas Eve ball where the Duke of Hawthorne would choose his wife, Philippa decided this was the perfect opportunity for Cornelia. Of course, Stella had to go simply to take care of them, and otherwise remain in the attic.
She may have been ordered to stay in her room, but Stella had no intention of doing so, and it was when she discovered the conservatory that she met the most intriguing of men. The duke's gardener, Christopher Ambrose, was working with bees. They had the most unusual, and engaging conversation, and she was eager to see him again.
The Cinderella Challenge was an engaging Cinderella tale with the hero hiding his identity while the heroine dealt with a vengeful step mother. Stella is in a difficult position and I enjoyed that it didn't dampen her personality. I enjoyed watching Gabriel stumble in his courtship, something he wasn't too comfortable with. I also loved learning a bit of beekeeping for that period.
Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com
FTC Disclaimer: I did receive a copy for review. However, this website only posts "good" reviews. If I cannot post a positive review, I notify whoever has provided me with the book/ARC/ebook.