The Sugarplum Ladies (2024)

Canadian barrister Percy Gladstone and American Eugénie Mott both have the gift of compassion and love to serve people.

Eugénie started the Sugarplum Ladies to help widows from the war learn a way to make a viable living, by becoming caterers and chefs.

Percy gives legal counsel to women targeted for their money by marriage to charlatans and widows protecting their children’s inheritance.

Carrie Fancett Pagels tells their love story in a Christmas novella.

English Christmastied traditions blend with their American, Canadian ones beautifully, as Percy’s aristocratic family arrive from England to Windsor, Ontario just in time for the holidays. Of course, they need the Sugarplum Ladies for festivities. Enjoy!

Great story. I loved the characters. Both Eugenie and Percy had a heart to help those who were less fortunate. When Percy has unexpected company coming for the holidays, he hires Eugenie’s Sugarplum Ladies to cater for him. Of course, there were some surprising turns along the way. This was a great story and I loved the way it turned out.

Eugenie Mott was supposed to marry Horace Ontevredon who was 20 years her senior. She has no feelings for him; and when her father dies, she tells Horace she is not the least interested. What Eugenie is interested in is helping underprivileged ladies learn enough skills to land a good paying job in the home of the upper crust. When Lord Percival meets Eugenie, he is caught by her personality immediately. A letter informs Percy that his family is coming to visit him from England over the Christmas holidays, and he realizes he doesn't have the servants to entertain them in the style they are accustomed to. Eugenie and her girls, nicknamed The Sugarplum Ladies, to the rescue. Will Chistmas bring more to Percy than just a few gifts?

This was a delightful Christmas tale filled with humor, great characters, lots of Christmas fun, and a touch of romance!

Stepping back and forth across the Canadian/American border, Percy, a barrister, and Eugenie, a social reformer, bring their lives together to make Christmas special for family and wartime widows. Add your blend of Christmas traditions to theirs.

What a delightful story! I fell in love with Percy and Eugenie right off! A very good book to read.

“I love the idea of helping others help themselves.”

The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels is a delightful, light historical Christmas novella. The gorgeous holiday cover itself will be enough to draw you in.

Eugenie Mott, an 1867 Detroit resident, is resisting her father’s schemes to marry her off to a much older man. She prefers her work helping Civil War widows gain skills as waitresses so they can acquire needed jobs.

After meeting Canadian lawyer Percy Gladstone, Eugenie is drawn into his company. When Percy’s parents arrive from England while Percy has sent his servants on Christmas break, can the ladies that Eugenie has been training rise to meet the need?

I loved the heart both Eugenie and Percy have for helping others. Eugenie realizes that just giving money to a cause isn’t enough. She is a social reformer on a small scale, taking area widows, some of whom have turned to questionable ways to earn money, and giving them help for a lifetime by teaching them marketable skills.

In so many ways, the giving spirits of both Percy and Eugenie caused them to reach out to those around them and better lives. “This was what Christmas was truly all about. Loving others as Christ would love us.”

I found the notes about names, factual events, and recipes at the end very interesting!!

I was gifted a copy of the book by the author, plus bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Christian Romance set in Detroit, Michigan

Eugenie Mott,from Detroit Michigan, having inherited her mother's fortune, begins a lady's society. It consists of widows and ladies who had fallen on hard times after the Civil War. Her father wanted her to marry his friend Horace. He was 20 years her senior. After her father passed away Eugenie could care for herself and her ladies society. How would she get out of the engagement with Horace? Many strange occurrences happen in this charming tale. It is one I am sure you would enjoy reading. I received this book as a gift and all words are strictly my own.

I truly enjoyed this Christmas story by Carrie Fancett Pagels. I love Eugenie Mott's character. Her strength, independence and heart for service lead her to organize what eventually becomes known as The Sugarplum Ladies. This is a group of Civil War widows and other women who have fallen on hard times but wish to take care of themselves and not be the recipients of pity or charity. When Eugenie learns her friend, Barrister Percy needs help for his family's unexpected Christmas visit, she enlists the help of her ladies. This novella is full of great characters and interesting twists that keep the reader engaged. Pagels even includes a couple of Christmas miracles along the way.

** Endorsem*nt for The Sugarplum Ladies**

The Sugarplum Ladies is perfect for those looking for a short, Christmas historical romance with a clean story line and a lighthearted plot to enjoy this holiday season. That's not to say the characters aren't deep, having faced loss themselves, but the story doesn't deal with heavy topics. Instead, The Sugarplum Ladies focuses on the joy of serving others, especially during Christmastime. There were two subplots that I wish would have been developed further, but overall this was a sweet love story set at Christmas.

I just finished a sweet Christmas novella called The Sugar Plum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels. This was a group of Civil War widows and other displaced women who needed to learn a way to support themselves. The founder of the group is Eugenie. She is single but wants to find a good man to raise a family with. This book is rich in characterization, which is hard to do with a novella. I don't like to give too.much plot away!! Just get the book , it doesn't disappoint!!

The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels

1867 Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan.
Eugenie Mott and Percy Gladstone unexpectedly meet and end up helping each other in ways neither had anticipated. I love the way Eugenie is helping the war widows. . .Kathleen, Nancy, Anne, Melissa, Tina, Deborah and Lucy. . .to be functional in areas they had not been prior to her help. The name she calls the ladies, The Sugarplum Ladies, fits perfectly. These ladies soon find themselves helping Percy in the midst of his staffing crisis. I especially enjoyed the historical notes at the end of the story. A cute, sweet, fun and delightful story. I first read this novella as part of The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection: 9 Women Dream of Perfect Christmases during the Victorian Era and was happy to revisit these sweet ladies.

The likable Eugenie Mott's passion for helping others shows up in how she leads and encourages a group of civil war widows to learn skills moving them toward independence in caring for themselves and their families. Her "Sugarplum Ladies" take on a major holiday responsibility that benefits them all.

Story of Matters of the Heart

Love this story of Eugenie and Percy. A beautiful story of Christmas, family and how God fills the loneliness and desires of the heart. Love the setting in Canada and Northern Michigan. Carrie writes a beautiful eighteenth century Christmas Love story.

Sugarplum Ladies

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Thank you Carrie for sharing this with me! The cover is absolutely beautiful & inviting. I enjoy a good book with historical facts woven, along with God's wisdom as well.

My first Christmas Novella of 2022 and it totally put me in the mood for more. This was a charming book and sure to put you in the mood for this Christmas season or anytime of the year.

Delightful Christmas Novella

This is a quick, fun Christmas read. Percy and Eugenie will warm your heart as you cheer for them to find their happily ever after.

interesting easy read

Enjoyed this light hearted seasonal read. It helped put me in the mood to get ready for Christmas. The idea of the many Civil War widows in Detroit who struggled to survive those years after the war and how they worked to overcome their situation. They had to learn some kind of trade and learn to be self sufficient.

An Enjoyable Christmas Read

An enjoyable Christmas read with an interesting plot. An unwanted suitor, an unexpected death and meeting someone new, who isn't judgemental. Overcoming obstacles, helping others and discovering love. A deserved ending for all.

I received this book from the author and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m not a fan of historical fiction but I decided to give this book a try. It was a quick read that I finished within hours. The characters were likable, and the story was well-written and flowed nicely. If you’re looking for a quick read novella, then I highly recommend this book!

A Perfect Christmas Delight!

The Sugarplum Ladies delivers just the right mix of romance and holiday cheer to captivate the reader’s imagination. Carrie Fancett Pagels’ careful development of each character creates a memorable warm glow that will last throughout the holiday season. This is a tale to cherish for years to come!