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| Once Upon a Christmas (Signet Regency Romance) | 
 enlarge | Author: Diane Farr
Publisher: Signet
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $2.48
You Save: $4.51 (65%)
New (22) Used (6) from $1.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 0451227131
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780451227133
Publication Date: October 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Product Description
After a tragic loss, Celia Delacourt accepts an unexpected holiday invitation-which is, in fact, a thinly veiled matchmaking attempt. For the lonely Celia and a reluctant young man, it turns out to be a Christmas they'd never forget....
"Ms. Farr beguiles...."-Romantic Times
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 The book actually rates a 4 1/2 November 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
At least that is what I would have given it had I reviewed it in the year 2000 when I read it for the first time. I think it is disingenuous to not mention that this is a re-release of a previously published book. I was reading along and wondering why this all seemed so familiar. Then I looked at the copyright page and--there it was--this is the October 2008 "first printing" of the "$6.99 edition"!
It has a new cover, a new copyright date, a new price, but it's the exact same book I had already read (and enjoyed) eight years ago in the $4.99 edition. I would have preferred to spend my $6.99 on a book I haven't read before and feel both foolish and cheated.
 Perfectly Captures the Spirit of Christmas October 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't think I've ever read anything that captures the true spirit of Christmas better than Diane Farr's lovely, uplifting novel, Once Upon A Christmas. The joy, compassion, humanity, and firm conviction that what is best in human nature can be brought out in us all which is evident in all of Diane Farr's beautiful writings, flowers once again in this delightful tale. The story showcases the blooming of true love in an austere house that manages to recapture the spirit of Christmas it had long before lost.
Celia Delacourt is a poor relation who has recently lost her entire family to a swift illness when her distant cousin, The Duchess of Arnsford, arrives and inexplicably orders Celia to move into the family palace, Delacourt. It is a place Celia's never seen because her branch of the family has been estranged ever since her grandfather married `beneath' him.
When Celia arrives at Delacourt, she slowly discovers that her cold and forbidding cousin's scheme is to marry Celia to her son Jack Delacourt, the heir, who has been living a life of pleasure in London. Her Grace worries he may find an unsuitable bride and thus continue the family curse of marrying beneath them that's hit all second sons. (Jack's older brother had died in infancy, leaving him the heir.)
Celia is a compassionate yet strong and direct-speaking woman with a mind of her own. It's fun to watch how she struggles to reconcile this with her gratitude to Her Grace. Celia actually has nowhere to go except Delacourt but resists acceding to Her Grace's wishes to entrap Jack. Especially once she meets the handsome and charming Jack who disturbingly appears to be mad as a hatter. She has no intention of taking advantage of him in any way and actually just wants to protect him from his ruthless family.
The joke is, Jack is as sane as they come but is a big prankster and, having guessed his mother's intentions to marry him off, has no intention of allowing this to happen. So before he arrives home, he's concocted an elaborate scheme to drive away his potential bride by playing insane. He does so to hilarious results.
What he didn't count on was actually falling in love with Celia, the woman he initially assumed was merely a fortune hunter. And, once he did, not being able to convince her he's sane, no matter how normal he acts. There is great fun in seeing the delightful developing relationship between Jack and Celia, their good-natured sparring, and the inevitable closeness they develop. Their love feels very genuine and like a breath of fresh air, Also, it is inspiring to see how Her Grace and her eldest priggish daughter Elizabeth are both in a way healed by the events of the story.
This is a story that brings Christmas healing and good cheer to its wonderfully developed, likable characters as well as to the reader. You will feel happiness and a love for humanity as and after you read it!
Lovely book September 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is my favourite of the Signet Christmas regency stories. In short, a touching story well told. Quite deep, surprisingly - a small book with many levels, etc. Ms. Farr's dialogue is consistently witty, I think this is what people mean when they compare her to Georgette Heyer, I always end up reading her conversations over and over - highly amusing banter in every book & this one is no exception although the best bit IMHO takes place between the heroine and the butler! I read the hardcover from my library but am ordering several copies of the paperback this year to give as stocking stuffers, it is being reissued.
poignant, touching, also funny September 16, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is one of my favorites by Farr. Made me cry, made me laugh, touched my heart. The characters are VERY well drawn, plus feature a couple of characters from her first book, The Nobody. They are nasty people in The Nobody and in this book she shows you a glimpse of what their lives are really like and you understand more where they are coming from. Brilliant. Even the nastiest character in this book, the duchess, you can't help sympathizing with to an extent. This reminded me of Jane Austen where every character is flawed even the heroines, and every character has redeeeming features even the villains. By the way, Farr excels in writing beta heroes who aren't wimps. Anyone in her right mind would fall in love with Jack. And Manegold the cat acts exactly like my own cat, he's great. I promise you will LOVE THIS BOOK.
Not on par with the best, but a nice little story January 30, 2004
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book by Farr has few glaring historical errors and focuses on a simple, sweet love story (or two). There's a fair amount of humor as hero Jack sets out to foil his mother's schemes in an outrageous manner. Instead he evokes the heroine's sympathy -- and her sad story evokes his. Naturally, it all leads to love and marriage. The mother is an extremely manipulative woman; just when you think she might have a redeeming quality ot two, you find out she doesn't. The rest of Jack's family are mostly sketches, not fully realized characters. The cat is, indeed, wonderfully written; I could picture my own cats doing those very things. Celia, the heroine, is almost too sweet at times, but then displays a robust bit of stubbornness against the Duchess' manipulations. Jack too is nearly flawless, but certainly a pleasant fellow who enjoys life. I have to wonder, however, how he will manage all his future ducal duties. Nevertheless, Farr's book is sweet and humorous, with enough holiday atmosphere. Celia seems to get over her family's loss too quickly; later timing would have made the transition smoother. But the books ends with a wonderfully romantic gesture that should leave a smile on the reader's face.
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