Christmas Carol by Flora Speer is, as the title would suggest, very similar to the famous story by Charles Dickens.  However there are also some interesting differences to give this novel an  interesting twist.

The ghost's target of this story is Carol Simmons, who is a lot younger and poorer than Scrooge, but just as heartless.

Three nights before Christmas Carol is visited by the ghost of her recently deceased employer, Lady Augusta Marlowe and taken by her (not three other spirits) on the journey of a lifetime to teach her the meanings of Christmas and love.

The first port of call is Regency England.  This is where the first major difference is apparent.  For Carol is not merely observing her own past history but is now living in the body of another person.  The niece of another Lady Augusta, whose body is taken over by the ghost.

In the person of Lady Caroline Hyde, Carol is now forced to live in Regency England as the betrothed of the handsome and elegant Nicholas Marlowe, Earl of Montfort.

Marrying for convenience they soon find romance together but Carol is still learning the lessons of the ghost and Christmas Past must soon become Christmas Present.

Back in the present Carol's journey is more like Scrooge's observations.  For in this time she merely observes her colleagues and acquaintances celebrating Christmas in their own ways, despite the fact that, like Carol, they will be out of work in the New Year, due to their now repentant employer.

After reflecting on their plight Carol must face the future.  But again the story takes a twist in showing, not Carol's personal future, but the distant future of the year 2168.

In this time Carol is once more a part of the time.  In this time she appears to be in her own body and is left by Augusta  (or Aug as she is known in this time) in the capable hands of Nik (a reincarnation of Nicholas), who is about to stage a revolution against the government which has abolished Christmas and repressed the world.

Once more their love is limited to the time she can spend in the future and after the dramatic finale in which Carol must face the ultimate test she finds herself once more in the present.

The rather predictable ending in no way stops this book being a wonderful read over the Christmas period.

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Links to  online stores

Also by Flora Speer :   Love Just in Time,  Love Once & Forever, A Time to Love Again and A Love Beyond Time.

Visit Flora Speer's page at  Dorchester Publishing