Lady Osbaldestone And The Missing Christmas Carols

Therese, Lady Osbaldestone, and her household are quietly delighted when her younger daughter’s three children, Jamie, George, and Lottie, insist on returning to Therese’s house, Hartington Manor in the village Little Moseley, to spend the three weeks leading up to Christmas participating in the village’s traditional events.

Then out of the blue, one of Therese’s older granddaughters, Melissa, arrives on the doorstep. Her mother, Therese’s older daughter, begs Therese to take Melissa in until the family gathering at Christmas—otherwise, Melissa has nowhere else to go.

Despite having no experience dealing with moody, reticent teenagers like Melissa, Therese welcomes Melissa warmly. The younger children are happy to include their cousin in their plans—and despite her initial aloofness, Melissa discovers she’s not too old to enjoy the simple delights of a village Christmas.

The previous year, Therese learned the trick to keeping her unexpected guests out of mischief. She casts around and discovers that the new organist, who plays superbly, has a strange failing. He requires the written music in front of him before he can play a piece, and the church’s book of Christmas carols has gone missing.

Therese immediately volunteers the services of her grandchildren, who are only too happy to fling themselves into the search to find the missing book of carols. Its disappearance threatens one of the village’s most-valued Christmas traditions—the Carol Service—yet as the book has always been freely loaned within the village, no one imagines that it won’t be found with a little application.

But as Therese’s intrepid four follow the trail of the book from house to house, the mystery of where the book has vanished to only deepens. Then the organist hears the children singing and invites them to form a special guest choir. The children love singing, and provided they find the book in time, they’ll be able to put on an extra-special service for the village.

While the urgency and their desire to finding the missing book escalates, the children—being Therese’s grandchildren—get distracted by the potential for romance that buds, burgeons, and blooms before them.

Yet as Christmas nears, the questions remain: Will the four unravel the twisted trail of the missing book in time to save the village’s Carol Service? And will they succeed in nudging the organist and the harpist they’ve found to play alongside him into seizing the happy-ever-after that hovers before the pair’s noses?

Second in series. A novel of 62,000 words. A Christmas tale full of music and romance.

Praise for the works of Stephanie Laurens

“Stephanie Laurens’ heroines are marvelous tributes to Georgette Heyer: feisty and strong.” Cathy Kelly

“Stephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots, snappy dialogue, and unforgettable characters.” Historical Romance Reviews

“Stephanie Laurens plays into readers’ fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again.” Romantic Times Magazine

Praise for Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols

“Lady Osbaldestone’s rambunctious grandchildren are back and hoping for a repeat of the previous year’s Christmas capers. Brimming with the sweet sights and sounds of the season, this book hits all the right notes in a most charming and nostalgic holiday tale.” Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

“Recalling their sleuthing triumph of the previous year, Lady Osbaldestone's grandchildren have returned to Little Moseley in hopes of finding another Christmas adventure. They haven't long to wait: a music book has gone missing, without which the church organist will not be able to play the village's traditional carol service. They undertake the search, eager to produce a Christmas miracle—one that includes nurturing new love along the way.” Kim H., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

“Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles has just what Stephanie Laurens’s readers enjoy about her stories—engaging characters, a mystery or two, and budding romances, all in an authentic Regency setting. It’s enjoyable to read about the competent matchmaker and grande dame of the ton attempting to play the role of grandmother. Laurens has created a new favorite Christmas tradition—seeing what Christmas has in store for Therese and her grandchildren.” Laura B., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing