Initially I wasn’t sure what to expect from A Christmas Surprise. Though I am a sucker for a good love story, historical romance is a genre I never felt particularly drawn to. However, I found no trouble getting into this novella. This was my first Emily Murdoch novel and I will definitely be reading more. It’s clear, from her writing, that she has a vast knowledge of the era in which the story takes place. And she has a wonderful way of painting a scene with her words.

The only downfall of a quick read is that there is very little room for character development. Though there was some development, mainly focused around Lady Audrey and her father, but I found myself wishing there was more. Fortunately, this didn’t take away from how quickly and easy it was to fall in love with the characters. I would have enjoyed to watch Lady Audrey and Thomas’ fondness for one another grow, but I was not at all disappointed with what was given.

I would recommend this in a heartbeat for anyone looking for a good read for the holiday season.