"After pledging loyalty to Cromwell’s Commonwealth, a family is allowed to return home in this compelling festive historical novella set during Christmas."
Sitting as a prequel to the Measham Hall series, The Secret Christmas is a lovely festive slice of historical fiction sitting in 1653 when Christmas has been banned. As it’s a prequel you could easily begin here and meet the Hawthorne Family as they reunite after being separated for supporting the King. In creating this series, author Anna Abney has written a fictionalised account of her own ancestors lives. The first book began in 1665 with The Master of Measham Hall, and the two following books travelled through to 1690. While The Secret Christmas is an intimate family based drama, the arrival of a travelling theatre troupe livens proceedings, particularly as those loyal to the Puritan parliament are seeking out any wrongdoers. The house comes to life in front of your eyes, while the theatrics of the players adds a vivid splash of colour. Christmas recipes and traditions head chapters, which ensures the festive treats add to the overall atmosphere. The story itself comes with a level of suspense as the family attempt to hide their celebrations, there really is rather a lot packed into this novella. Satisfying and wonderfully readable, The Secret Christmas makes for a fascinating festive read.
