Category: Christmas

The Highlander’s Christmas Countess by Anna Campbell

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander's Christmas Countess (The Lairds Most Likely, #8)The Highlander’s Christmas Countess by Anna Campbell

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Lairds Most Likely, #8

Release Date: November 17, 2020

Quentin MacNab has been living with his uncle Hamish Douglas, Laird of Glen Lyon, acting as his assistant for the last six months. But recently he has noticed the new stable boy, Kit. He is sure something is not right about the boy and takes the opportunity to get him alone while gathering greenery for the upcoming Christmas celebrations. His suspicions are confirmed when they are caught in a blizzard and forced to take shelter – Kit is actually Christabel Urquhart, the Countess of Appin!

To escape her step-brother, Neil Maxwell’s plan to force her to marry his friend and steal a good portion of her inheritance, Christabel flees Appin and takes refuge with her father’s former head groom at Glen Lyon. She only has to keep hidden until her birthday on Christmas Day when she will reach her majority and will no long be subject to Neil. But her truth is revealed when she and Quentin have to spend the night in a woodsmen’s hut.

The next day they are rescued, but Emily, Hamish’s wife points out that while posing as a stable boy would cause some damage to her reputation, spending the night alone with Quentin will be a scandal she will not be able to withstand. She suggests that Kit be revealed to everyone as the Countess and that they marry ASAP. A solid, sensible plan – but will marriage be enough to save her from Neil? And will a forced marriage bring them the HEA they each long for?

I thought this was a well written, quick, uncomplicated read. The book has a bit of action, warm love scenes, cameos with other “Lairds” and their families and of course a HEA. I did feel like the conflict with Neil was resolved a bit to quickly which made the ending a smidge anti-climactic, but overall, I enjoyed the story and would happily recommend it. This is the eighth book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone title.

Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Christmas, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Lady Lucinda's Lords (12 Days of Christmas, #10)Lady Lucinda’s Lords by Jane Charles
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Days of Christmas, #10

Release Date: December 10, 2020

After four seasons, Lady Lucinda Claxton’s father, the Duke of Arscott is tired of waiting for Lucinda to find a husband and decides to move things along. With the help of his mother, the dowager Duchess, he invites 10 men to their country estate to vie for Lucinda’s hand.

Lucinda is not pleased to learn that her father and grandmother have decided to host a house party in an attempt to find her a husband, she is even less pleased when she reads the list of lords who will be attending – all of whom she knows and none of whom impress. She resigns herself to the party and promises to try and give each man a chance. But things start going wrong even before the guests arrive. Most of their servants are exposed to the measles and have to quarantine – leaving the house severely short-handed.

The lords arrive and the dowager is frank with them as to why they were invited, then proceeds to lay down the “rules” of how Lucinda will give them all a chance to win her hand (think The Bachelor – Regency Edition). Lucinda has little hope that she will find a husband, until she meets Caleb Copeland – an American who was not invited, but escorted his maiden aunts who are guests of the dowager.

Caleb is interested in Lucinda, but is sure that her father would never consider him worthy as he is a mere mister. Since he has nothing to offer her, he tries to keep his distance from the party goers by lending a helping hand to the understaffed household. But Lucinda keeps finding him and insists on assisting – much to the disgruntlement of the “leaping lords” as Caleb calls them. Can Lucinda convince Caleb that he is all she wants and a title isn’t important? Or will he leave his heart in England when he returns to America?

This was a fun, quick read with ties to Scot to the Heart series. The book was well written, with a bit of humor, a little drama, sweet (kissing only) love scenes and a nice ending. The novella is part of the 12 Days of Christmas Collaboration and has ties to another series, but really can be read as a standalone title and I hope the author plans to write more books featuring Lucinda and Caleb’s many siblings!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher.*