Once Upon a Christmas - Jane Porter

Once Upon a Christmas

By Jane Porter

  • Release Date: 2022-10-26
  • Genre: Holiday Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 62 Ratings

Description

Can the magic of the Christmas season lead to a fairy tale happy ending?

When Cara Roberts’ family plans an extra special Christmas to support her after her broken engagement, she wants nothing to do with the holiday. After learning her brother and his wife can’t use the cottage vacation they purchased, she impulsively escapes to an English cottage in the bucolic village of Bakewell, despite having no idea where Bakewell is.

Lord Alec Sherbourne of Langley Park is no fan of Christmas, but following in his parents’ footsteps, he annually donates his impressive 19th century country home to be decorated and opened on December weekends as a community fundraiser. This year, Christmas is complicated by the arrival of a pretty American woman who booked a cottage on his estate—only the cottage is occupied. Forced to take her under his vast roof, he’s dismayed when a storm and frozen pipes keep her with him longer than he’d anticipated. Even more worrisome, her presence is making it feel like Christmas for the first time in forever.

As these two holiday housemates become friends, is there something more in the Christmas air?

Reviews

  • Utterly charming

    5
    By beckyb0416
    Once Upon a Christmas, the first book in the Love at Langley Park series by Jane Porter, hits hard at the heartstrings right out of the gate. From the opening page, Cara’s unique loveliness captures your heart…she takes you with her on her utterly charming and wonderfully unexpected Christmas travel to the English countryside of Langley Park. With Ms Porter’s trademark wit and charm, along with a fluidity flowing dialog, Alec and Cara, and the remaining delightful cast of characters, fill you with a holiday warmth that only the most gifted writers are able to create. I most certainly am looking forward to the next installment in the series, Ella’s story. This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
  • Full of Christmas Cheer

    5
    By Mrsnoah6
    What a sweet, heart-warming Christmas story!!! I loved everything about this book!!! It turns out that love happens between two people no matter what the circumstances. Alec and Cara come from two different countries as well as two very different backgrounds. When a couple of lodging issues come up and Cara, the American traveler, has to have different arrangements for her week in England, the real adventure begins. She ends up bringing some Christmas cheer to Langley Park and opening the hearts of the ones visiting for Christmas!!! Buy this!!! You will be full of smiles and singing Christmas carols!!!!
  • The perfect 1st Holiday read of the season!

    5
    By gr8tjoy
    I am so glad this was my first holiday read of the season. It was magical, hopeful, and not like all the rest. I truly love holiday romances, but they are usually all the same...people meet, there's insurmountable conflict, but then they fix it. And don't get me wrong, I love the comfort in that, especially during the hectic holiday season, but this was different. Cara and Alec are seemingly incompatible...for a minute, but as the layers are peeled back you realize they are just perfect together. This was one of those books where I wanted this to be my story, LOL. I just love the hope this book imparts. I had just returned from Ireland when I got this, and I was enchanted by the English setting but never felt sick thinking this wouldn't end the way it should. Thanks Jane, you did it again!
  • Holiday Magic in England

    5
    By Nycolabear
    When Cara Roberts heads to England for Christmas to spend time in a cottage in Bakewell she is looking forward to some alone time. When the cottage turns out to be double booked she ends up staying at the main house at Langley Park owned by Lord Alec Shelbourne,a widower still grieving his wife’s death from 8 years ago. This unlikely duo become friends and spend some enjoyable days with Alec’s elderly Relatives who come to Langley Park each year for Christmas. As the days go by Cara is falling for Alec but he panics and tells her that there can be no relationship between them because of their differences and it just would not work between them. Cara heads for home earlier than expected heartbroken. Will Alec realize his mistake in letting her go? I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Moves right up to one of my favorites from Jane Porter.
  • Fantastic!

    5
    By angie1229
    This was my first holiday story I read this year, and it was perfect! Sort of a slow roll to begin with but filled with fascinating characters, it built into a sweet romance and ended with a very “Hallmark” scene! Thoroughly loved it!
  • Absolutely lovely

    5
    By sailormarymoon
    I absolutely loved this book! It’s a perfect fit to become one of my favorite books: it’s takes place during Christmas, it’s a forced proximity, the hero is British upper crust and it’s written well.
  • A feel good Christmas story

    5
    By kristylof
    I loved Cara and Alec’s story! All the details made me want to pack up for a spur of the moment Christmas holiday! Cara and Alec seemed to be just what the other needed. You can’t go wrong with a feel good Christmas book and Jane writes the best ones!