Christmas With Miss Austen (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza) by [Briggs, Laura]I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once I saw the name Austen in the title I was sold. I had a feeling I would like this book.

Julia Allen is a busy lady. She is a waitress, a painter and an 1800s authoress. She attends a historical open house as Jane Austen and she loves it. Then she gets locked inside after falling asleep. When she heads home she runs into a stranger, Eliot Weston. Weston thinks he must have imagined that historical figure. In her rush to go home, Julia loses a friends rare copy of Northanger Abbey. Weston finds it but cannot find any identification in it as to who the owner is.

This is a short book, 59 pages, and is a sweet Christian romance. I love the way there are little references to Jane Austen through the book. This is a nice, easy, fun read. ( )

Julia Allen makes her living as a waitress but her real passion is painting; something she does in her off time. She also loves portraying Jane Austen at a Christmas open house at one of the historical homes in town. One evening, she fell asleep in the mansion after all the guests had left. When she awakens it's late and she rushes home in the dark, still dressed as Jane Austen, and collides with a stranger which causes her to drop the rare and extremely valuable copy of Northanger Abbey that she borrowed from a friend. Knowing she must replace the book before her friend returns from vacation, she seeks help from Eliot Weston. Eliot Weston thinks he may have dreamed up his encounter with the lady dressed in Regency-era clothes, except he finds the book she dropped. Knowing the value of it he wants to find its rightful owner. Julia is nothing like the girl in his late-night encounter but she is seeking to find a copy of that exact book. Not to mention there is something about her that draws him in. What happens when Julia finds out that Eliot has the book she's looking for? Will Eliot ever figure out who the lady of his late night encounter was?

I thoroughly enjoyed this cute story and thought it had the makings of a good Hallmark movie. The characters were very well drawn and I felt like I really got to know them. This is a 'feel good' story so you won't find any major conflicts, which makes for a nice soothing read. I've read two books by this author and both have been very good. If you're looking for a quick, romantic, intriguing read then look no further. Christmas with Miss Austen is a fun story that can really be enjoyed any time of year. I look forward to seeking out other books by Laura Briggs.

*This complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review* ( )

The overall story was great and I enjoyed the book as a whole. However, the beginning was almost off-putting and hard for me to get involved in. When I kept reading, I got entranced and enjoyed the story immensely. The characters were quirky and that’s a good thing! The diversity in them was so enjoyable it made me smile. The book was fast-paced and covered much information about the couple and their families. The inspirational aspects were subtle, yet inspiring. They definitely would be well-received by other readers. I haven’t read much by Ms. Briggs but I will look for more of her works in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who’s a fan of Jane Austen. It’s a quick read that can make an enjoyable break for a few hours.

~ TRS for ARe Cafe ( )