Category: Novella

The Earl’s Christmas Pearl by Megan Frampton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Earl's Christmas Pearl (Duke's Daughters, #4.5)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Duke’s Daughters #4.5
Publication Date: 10/29/19
Number of Pages: 144

This is a really quick, lovely, fun Victorian Christmas story. It is well written and the characters are relatable and very sweet. You can’t go wrong with this book if you want a romantic Christmas read.

Lady Pearl Howlett is the ‘NOT’ sister. Nobody particularly notices her other than she is NOT the intelligent sister, and she is NOT the scandalous sister, etc. Even her mother doesn’t really notice her – that is how she came to be left alone in London during Christmas. Her mother just left her at the townhouse – not even noticing that she wasn’t in the carriage.

Pearl almost ran out after her mother’s carriage, but then decided not to do so. She thought it would be wonderful to be on her own and have her own adventure. After she considered all the things she could do – like skating through the hallway — she realized that she had no food in the house, no servants, and she didn’t know how to do anything for herself. She couldn’t light a fire, and she couldn’t cook even if she did have food. So, what is a girl to do? Our intrepid Pearl found a way to make it happen.

Owen Dwyfor, Earl of Llanover has come to London over Christmas for two reasons – one is that he has a leg injury and the doctor is in London and the other is that he just craves some time alone. His sisters and his mother make constant demands on him and he’d love to have some time for himself. He’s staying at his Godmother’s home, but she has visited other family for Christmas. He doesn’t have any servants either, but he does have some food – and he can build a fire – and even cook eggs for himself.

Owen and Pearl are staying in homes right next to each other and they meet out on the street where they are staying. Their adventure is fun to watch because they are really two kindred spirits designed to complete each other. I love that Pearl thinks of Owen as “his grumpy earlness”

It is definitely a light-hearted fun read and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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

Earl of Kinross by Meara Platt

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

Earl of Kinross (Wicked Earls' Club Book 14)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Club #14
Publication Date: 10/8/19
Number of Pages: 117

I am really enjoying all of these Christmas additions to the Wicked Earls’ series. This one was particularly good. I thoroughly enjoyed both the hero and the heroine because they were both strong, confident and well-rounded. I thought the ‘love’ happened a little quickly, but, well, it was a novella length. It was all very believable.

Marcus Brayden, Earl of Kinross, comes from a close and powerful family that boasts many titles, much wealth and influence, many military heroes and strong, independent women. According to Marcus, “Having been raised by strong women, he was not of the mind that the fairer sex was helpless.” That, of course, made him a perfect match for our heroine who was, according to Marcus, “a squirming bundle of defiance and determination”.

Lady Lara LeBrecque, the only daughter of the Earl of Stratton, has had a miserable last few years. Well, her entire family has had a miserable last few years. The LeBrecque’s have been under siege and they can’t seem to find a way out. Lara’s father has been accused of treason and her brother, Hugh, has been accused of murder. Now, Lara is feeling under threat from Lord Alistair Dunning who is the judge who has presided over both her father’s and her brother’s legal woes. Dunning watches her with lecherous eyes and she knows he has intentions for her as well as the rest of her family. With her brother on the other side of the world trying to hunt down the villain they are sure is behind their troubles, and her father under house-arrest and watched constantly, Lara has few, if any, people or places to go to for help.

Marcus has been back from the wars in France for only a month or two – recuperating from a wound. He hasn’t been out in society, so he has no clue what has been going on in England while he’s been off fighting. He’s a high ranking general and has about every medal for bravery you can get – not to mention that he’s handsome as sin. One morning, in the earliest daylight hours, he catches a glimpse of a woman scaling over his fence and heads out to catch her. What a surprise to see that it is Lady Lara, his very best friend’s sister. Once she tells Marcus what has been happening to her family, Marcus knows he has to help her and her family – but it will take all of his family resources as well as his relationship with Queen Charlotte and the Prince Regent.

This was a delightful, romantic, non-stop, action-packed story that you’ll read straight through. You just won’t be able to put it down because you will just have to know what happens next. There is also a wonderful epilogue to round out the book – and I always love epilogues!