A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly
Historical Fiction, Holiday
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 9.23.25
Pages: 169
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: ARC
Source: Shadow Mountain Publishing and Austenprose
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas.
By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties, decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year.
But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart.
Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself. But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales?
Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving.
Catherine Dickens struggles with the burdens of Christmas despite her husband’s success with A Christmas Carol. A magical sprig of holly leads her on three journeys into her past, rekindling her faith and holiday spirit. This heartwarming tale celebrates love, faith, and the simple joys of Christmas.
Sophia Rose's Review:
A woman married to the man who is famous for ‘inventing Christmas’ finds herself struggling to appreciate let alone enjoy the holiday festivities and needs a little Christmas magic to restore her cheer. Rebecca Connolly’s books and stories are long-time family to me so I was delighted to pick up her heartwarming novella-length tribute to a Christmas classic.
Catherine Dickens, wife to popular author and writer of the contemporary classic Victorians revered, is trying to hide her struggles from Charles even as she is helping him put the finishing touches on their annual, festive Christmas Eve dinner party. After recently losing a child, pregnant with another, and finding herself oddly longing for the days of simple celebration of the Christ-child’s birth, she sees all the enthusiasm and festivities that Charles’ fills their home and lives with do not move her as they once did.
But, a temporary party staff member gives her some wise advice to open herself and want the Christmas spirit to return and perhaps it will happen. Little does Catherine know that over the course of a lavish Victorian Christmas dinner party that she will encounter some surprising Christmas magic.
A Carol for Mrs. Dickens is loaded with all the historical holiday backdrop, festive tones, and carefully crafted characterization of real-life figures, Catherine and Charles Dickens. The focus is on Catherine and I loved how there was a delving into her past to see how her story began, progressed with Charles in it, and right on into their family life. Though novella-length, it was not lacking a bit and felt a beautiful complete, sweet holiday tale.
Author Bio:
I was born in California, but grew up in the Midwest, specifically in Ohio and Indiana. I consider myself a Midwest girl, with all of the wholesome sweetness and "girl next door" attributes that come along with that.According to home videos, I have always loved to make up stories. There was nothing simple about a game of House, and every game involving imagination had some sort of plot, whether it was fighting off dragons or being a school teacher. My elementary school had a little book press for stories by students, and I had so many little books printed [but very poorly illustrated!] that I could fill a box at home. I've always been a bookworm, and my grandma would send me more books almost every month so I would never run out. Book Fairs were like a carnival to me, and libraries my happy place. My creative writing professor in college once said, "In order to be a great writer, you must be a great reader." That gave me hope, since I had been reading my entire life! I got my bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, which is where I completed my first novel, and started collecting the ideas for several others! I worked for a few years after that, dabbling in writing and reading and other activities, and then I went to get my master's degree from West Virginia University. I came back to the Midwest after all of that, and I have no desire to leave it again!
Website: https://www.rebeccaconnolly.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
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