Carols and Chaos

November 1, 2018
In 1817 England, eighteen-year-old Kate Darby, lady's maid to Imogene Chively (from Suitors and Sabotage), and Matt Harlow, valet to the visiting Steeple family?including Imogene's betrothed, Ben?become reacquainted at the country estate of Shackleford Park during the Yuletide season. A kiss under the mistletoe seems to cement their mutual affection, but, in Regency romance fashion, complications ensue. The Steeples' footman, Johnny, disappears?was it foul play??andKate and Matt investigate. There's deviousness and peril along the way, but all ends well with an engagement, an ice-skating outing, and general holiday merriment. Anstey provides another diverting mystery/romance with period details and Christmassy flourishes. elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-This Christmas tale set in the 1817 English countryside is a nod and a wink to the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Two servants from two different estates with little time during the busy holiday season, find time for love. They also become embroiled in a counterfeiting scheme that leaves them wrapped up during the festivities, in more ways than one. This book could serve as a stepping stone to classic read-alikes, such as Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre. Fans of romantic historical fiction will welcome this quick and fun holiday read. VERDICT Purchase where the author's previous YA titles are popular or where Regency-era fiction circulates well.-Margo Fryling, Eastvalley Elementary School, Marietta, GA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
Grades 7-10 When two households come together for the holidays in 1817 England, sparks fly between lady's maid Kate Darby and valet Matt Harlow. They both know a Christmastime romance isn't really in the cards?Matt will be leaving with the rest of the guests after the holidays, and besides, any whiff of a scandal could ruin both of their plans for the future. But what could be wrong with a little harmless flirtation? An encounter under the mistletoe or two later, and things are looking a little more than flirtatious, but it turns out that Kate and Matt have bigger problems: a missing footman, a money-laundering scheme, and an attempted kidnapping are just the start of what promises to be an unforgettable Christmas. Anstey (Suitors and Sabotage, 2018) offers up another lively historical tale that's one part intriguing mystery, one part cozy romance. Jane Austen fans will enjoy the propriety and the Regency setting, while that dose of Christmas adds an extra bit of cheer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
In 1817 England, eighteen-year-old Kate, lady's maid to Imogene Chively (from Suitors and Sabotage), and Matt, valet to Ben Steeple's family, become reacquainted at Shackleford Park during Yuletide. A kiss under the mistletoe seems to cement their mutual affection, but complications ensue after the Steeples' footman disappears. There's deviousness and peril, but all ends well in this diverting mystery/romance with Regency period details and Christmassy flourishes. Glos.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)