Category: Novella

A Lady’s Christmas: Everton Domestic Society by A.S. Fenichel

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

A Lady's Christmas: Everton Domestic Society

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Everton Domestic Society
Publication Date: 12/5/23
Number of Pages: 98

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the characters but wondered why in the world he would think she’d just instantly like/love him when he had treated her so miserably while they were growing up. He knew what was in his mind – but she didn’t. So, he was gobsmacked when he inherited the title and she left. Ha! Silly man!

Gwen grew up as the ward of the Duke of Stratham and she loved him as a father. She lost her father so young (5 years old maybe), that she never knew anything different. The Duke spoiled her and doted on her, but, for some reason, he never took her to London for a season.

Theo Dandridge, the new Duke of Stratham, was about ten years old when Gwen came into his life. She was a lost and lonely little thing and he comforted her. Then, boys being boys, he tormented her. Then, one day he heard his father (the duke’s brother) and the duke talking about Theo and Gwen marrying. Theo grossly overreacted and set about being nasty to Gwen and absenting himself from home.

When his uncle dies, Theo inherits the title but comes home to find that the only occupants are the servants. Well, that just won’t do – he has to find Gwen and bring her home! But, will she come?

I liked Theo’s quick acceptance of why he wants Gwen back under his roof and I admired his quick belief in her and his admiration of her skills and talents. But, convincing Gwen wouldn’t be easy.

Each had long admired the other but had kept it well hidden. Can they quit hiding behind that façade and acknowledge their true feelings to themselves and each other? Theo has a lot to make up for – can he do it?

I enjoyed this quick read and I hope you will as well. However, I will mention one thing to you. When I saw the title, I was expecting an actual Christmas-themed book with mistletoe, decorations, snow, and the whole works, so I was a tad disappointed. In actuality, this book is only very loosely related to Christmas in that it takes place during Christmas time. Still an enjoyable read though.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Tales of a Society Nothing by Shana Galen

On By TracyIn Novella, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Tales of a Society Nothing (The Royal Saboteurs Book #5)Tales of a Society Nothing by Shana Galen

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Royal Saboteurs, #5

Release Date: November 14, 2023

After eighteen months of intense training with the Royal Saboteurs, Margaret Vaugh is finally given a mission, but instead of working with another agent, she is sent to London to track down a missing agent, who also happens to be her estranged husband, Ambrose Holyoake, Viscount Holyoake. She hopes to find him quickly and return to the farm. But when she does find him it is clear that she won’t be returning to the farm anytime soon, because Ambrose is gravely injured and his would-be assassin is still on the loose. Margaret has not seen or heard from Ambrose since she left three years ago, and seeing him now brings back all the feelings she thought she had buried because despite leaving him to pursue her dream of becoming an agent for the Royal Saboteurs, she never stopped loving him. In fact, love was never a problem between them, but while Margaret longed to be his partner in all things, Ambrose couldn’t seem to accept that she was capable of protecting herself and unwittingly held her back. Walking away from him was the hardest thing she had ever done and she isn’t sure she can do it again.

Ambrose Holyoake has loved Margaret “Maggie” for most of his life and it nearly killed him when she left, but he let her go because he knew he was holding her back and honestly didn’t know how to change or if he even could. He invites her to work with him to track down the man who tried to kill him because he is sure that it is tied to the case he was working on and that finding the assassin will lead them to the man threatening to kill the Prime Minister’s son. But old habits die hard and try as he might, he can’t seem to quelch his need to protect her, even when she proves that she can take care of herself and even save him. He knows that if he can’t find a way to let her be his equal, he will lose her and she won’t give him a third chance.

This was a perfectly executed novella, the writing is impeccable and the story never feels rushed or skimpy which is often the case with novellas. The backstory between Margaret and Ambrose is perfectly woven into the story without the use of the much dreaded “flashback” and gives the reader a good understanding of what drove the lovers apart and what is still keeping them apart. The book is filled with emotion, second chances, longing, action, steamyish love scenes, heartache, acceptance, and a happy ending that includes an epilogue. This novella is closely tied to and runs concurrently with the previous book Must Love Scoundrels and I would recommend reading at least that book before this one, however, all the books in this series can be read and enjoyed as standalone titles. Overall, I think this is my favorite installment of the series, which is saying something because all the books were great and I highly recommend reading the entire series!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*