Book Review: Waiting for Christmas

I squeezed in one more Christmas in July read with an ARC I received of Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin.

This was such a sweet and heartwarming Christmas story with a little bit of romance in it. There is a book that comes before this, which I didn’t know, but was evident with the way parts of the storyline were described, but this can absolutely be read as a standalone as I had no issues with understanding it. In the novel, Adelaide Forsythe, Addy, is a newlywed to her husband Howard. The year is 1901 and Addy is working on the women’s suffrage movement while her husband works as a lawyer. Addy grew up very wealthy and is now happily adjusting to a bit more of a modest life with her husband. They live in a nice home in New York City, but it is nothing like the huge mansion she grew up in with countless servants. One day, she notices a little boy hiding in the bushes in front of her home and takes him in. Jack is 8 years old and ran away from an orphanage. He is adamant that he is not an orphan – his mother passed away a couple months ago, but he has a father who is away working on a ship and promised to be home by Christmas. He says he also has a 3 year old sister and she was hiding when the police came to take him to the orphanage and he needs to find her.

Addy and Howard do everything they can to help Jack find his little sister and make sure his father will know where to find the kids when and if he returns.

This is a Christian novel, but it’s definitely not anything too religious. The characters go to church, especially since Howard’s father is a pastor, and they pray to find Jack’s sister and father but it’s not too preachy or takes up much of the story.

I really enjoyed this book so much and I loved the story and Addy and Howard. It’s clear from the little explanations that are given that the first book shows Addy and Howard meeting and I assume leading to them getting engaged and/or married. I would definitely be interested in reading about the beginning of their love story! And the kids were so adorable too. If you’re looking for a heartwarming Christmas novel this holiday season, I recommend this one!