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Christmas Matches of Worth #2
A Brooding Christmas Promise
"This is just an agreement, Charlotte… a Christmas pact, nothing more."
Samuel Crestwood, the Marquess of Crestwood, has spent years hidden behind a cold, guarded exterior. His marriage to Charlotte Millerton was meant to be practical—a contract without the complications of love.
Charlotte, strong and independent, expected only stability from this arrangement. She knew affection wasn’t part of the bargain. But as Christmas brings warmth and unexpected closeness between them, a spark of trust grows.
When an old secret surfaces, their fragile bond is threatened. In this season of forgiveness, they must face their true feelings, or risk losing everything before love even has a chance.
"A Brooding Christmas Promise" is the perfect one-sitting read if you love historical romances with a festive twist. With strong-willed characters, heartfelt emotions, and a touch of holiday magic, this story is a must-read for fans of second chances and a marriage of convenience tropes.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Get your copy today!
Also Free with Kindle Unlimited!
Samuel Crestwood, the Marquess of Crestwood, has spent years hidden behind a cold, guarded exterior. His marriage to Charlotte Millerton was meant to be practical—a contract without the complications of love.
Charlotte, strong and independent, expected only stability from this arrangement. She knew affection wasn’t part of the bargain. But as Christmas brings warmth and unexpected closeness between them, a spark of trust grows.
When an old secret surfaces, their fragile bond is threatened. In this season of forgiveness, they must face their true feelings, or risk losing everything before love even has a chance.
"A Brooding Christmas Promise" is the perfect one-sitting read if you love historical romances with a festive twist. With strong-willed characters, heartfelt emotions, and a touch of holiday magic, this story is a must-read for fans of second chances and a marriage of convenience tropes.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Get your copy today!
Also Free with Kindle Unlimited!
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2024
108 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 23, 2024
As you may or may not know, I rarely DNF books. But this one? I have no patience for this crap. 'Repetitive' doesn't even begin to describe what happens here. At 26%, I lost all energy to read the same over and over again:
1. The heroine is verbally attacked by another woman.
2. The heroine discusses the attack with her sister.
3. The hero overhears the heroine's conversation with her sister, so we read the same dialogue again from his 'POV'.
4. The hero tells his friend about the heroine's conversation with her sister.
5. The heroine and the hero discuss the other woman's attack and the hero's overhearing her conversation with her sister.
I don't know if the author thinks her readers are stupid or if she doesn't know her job or if she just wants to add characters, but seriously – this is outrageous!
1. The heroine is verbally attacked by another woman.
2. The heroine discusses the attack with her sister.
3. The hero overhears the heroine's conversation with her sister, so we read the same dialogue again from his 'POV'.
4. The hero tells his friend about the heroine's conversation with her sister.
5. The heroine and the hero discuss the other woman's attack and the hero's overhearing her conversation with her sister.
I don't know if the author thinks her readers are stupid or if she doesn't know her job or if she just wants to add characters, but seriously – this is outrageous!
January 6, 2025
Sadly, a poor showing
The title of the book, I thought, was strange. “Brooding“ seems most often to be associated with a male character , especially in a Gothic story—rather than with a woman, and certainly the “promise” refers to Charlotte. And though a small thing, it did not get much better from there.
The most positive thing that I can say about this book is that the plot and its twisting was rather unique. And it was only to discover what Charlotte‘s stepmother had in mind that drove me to finish the book. The dialogue was pretty terrible: stilted and unrealistic.
It was much like a Cinderella story, mostly because of the presence of the wicked stepmother intent on inflicting misery upon her stepdaughter.
There was very little character development.
The return of Maria seemed an unnecessary complication. Fortunately, the author did not drag that out as some writers will do.
Reading separate accounts of the same incident from different viewpoints was interesting and did allow for the reader to understand how each character saw the same situation.
I skimmed a lot to get to the end so that I could find some closure.
It was a cozy romance, which I appreciated.
This book is the second in a series. I did not read the first book, but the story stood alone easily without reading the first.
A disappointment. I would not read another book by this author.
The title of the book, I thought, was strange. “Brooding“ seems most often to be associated with a male character , especially in a Gothic story—rather than with a woman, and certainly the “promise” refers to Charlotte. And though a small thing, it did not get much better from there.
The most positive thing that I can say about this book is that the plot and its twisting was rather unique. And it was only to discover what Charlotte‘s stepmother had in mind that drove me to finish the book. The dialogue was pretty terrible: stilted and unrealistic.
It was much like a Cinderella story, mostly because of the presence of the wicked stepmother intent on inflicting misery upon her stepdaughter.
There was very little character development.
The return of Maria seemed an unnecessary complication. Fortunately, the author did not drag that out as some writers will do.
Reading separate accounts of the same incident from different viewpoints was interesting and did allow for the reader to understand how each character saw the same situation.
I skimmed a lot to get to the end so that I could find some closure.
It was a cozy romance, which I appreciated.
This book is the second in a series. I did not read the first book, but the story stood alone easily without reading the first.
A disappointment. I would not read another book by this author.
September 22, 2025
A clean story. Disappointing I am afraid, so I ended up skim reading. The premise of the story is that following the death of their father one daughter is marrying after a delay for mourning, whilst the other has to remain with her step mother who hates both of them. Charlotte is of an age but accepts some sheet of paper shown her allegedly signed by her father saying she must keep her stepmother company. Her brother returns from being overseas and takes up the title and is apparently a positive person who does not like stepmother but accepts the situation. Eventually someone thinks to check with the solicitor and the addendum didn’t exist and stepmother has been manipulating things to keep an income.
All very far fetched. I am sure on returning to take up the title her brother would have visited or been visited by the solicitor who would have gone through the Will so he knew what bequests had or had not been made and the state of everything. He would then have known what his father’s wishes were, and that his stepmother had effectively been cut out of the Will and only had the bare minimum.
Then we had Crestwood and his former ‘betrothed’. That all seemed odd with references to ‘Help me out of my situation’ and suddenly introducing some known gossips to try and blacken his character.
Sorry just not for me at all
All very far fetched. I am sure on returning to take up the title her brother would have visited or been visited by the solicitor who would have gone through the Will so he knew what bequests had or had not been made and the state of everything. He would then have known what his father’s wishes were, and that his stepmother had effectively been cut out of the Will and only had the bare minimum.
Then we had Crestwood and his former ‘betrothed’. That all seemed odd with references to ‘Help me out of my situation’ and suddenly introducing some known gossips to try and blacken his character.
Sorry just not for me at all
January 13, 2025
Don’t believe everything you hear and read!
An interesting story of greed, cruelty and betrayal! Samuel Marquee was in love with Maria but when he went to ask for her hand,she told him she loved someone elseand eloped the next day. Shattered, spent the next three years in country. Charlotte, father has died while her brother is on the continent on business. Charlotte is told she is to be her stepmother’s companion and never marry! She goes to London to spend Christmas with her sister and brother-in-law, and the true story begins!
An interesting story of greed, cruelty and betrayal! Samuel Marquee was in love with Maria but when he went to ask for her hand,she told him she loved someone elseand eloped the next day. Shattered, spent the next three years in country. Charlotte, father has died while her brother is on the continent on business. Charlotte is told she is to be her stepmother’s companion and never marry! She goes to London to spend Christmas with her sister and brother-in-law, and the true story begins!
November 23, 2024
Charlotte agrees to what she thinks is her father’s request for her to stay as a companion to her widowed stepmother although not understanding why he would expect that of her. Then while she is enjoying the season away with her sister in London she learns the real truth and also ends up finding her hea with Crestwood after misunderstandings are cleared up
November 29, 2024
I loved this story! A sweet Christmas read. Charlotte being pulled by a duty to her fathers dying wish, lets go of all thoughts of love and marriage. A mean stepmother who is tedious and has many working for her leads Charlotte on to a Season that she will never forget.
This book is full of love, deception, joy, and Christmas.
This book is full of love, deception, joy, and Christmas.
December 14, 2024
Surprised Betrothal
Charlotte is destined to be alone as the companion to her truly evil stepmother. A chance trip to London for Christmas changes everything! Lord Crestwood overhears two sisters in trouble and takes matters into his own hands. Fate is alive and strong in this whirlwind Christmastide where you might just find true love in a surprise betrothal!
Charlotte is destined to be alone as the companion to her truly evil stepmother. A chance trip to London for Christmas changes everything! Lord Crestwood overhears two sisters in trouble and takes matters into his own hands. Fate is alive and strong in this whirlwind Christmastide where you might just find true love in a surprise betrothal!
December 19, 2024
There are villains to add intrigue which I always like. The heroine is trying to abide by what she feels was her last father’s wishes and stay as a companion to her evil stepmother. But one Christmas season she and her sister get a reprieve. The hero over hears their conversation and steps in to help. Then the intrigue starts. It was a good read.
December 28, 2024
Charlotte and Crestwood
I like when the characters in a book are so well written that I feel like I know them and either love them or dislike them intensely. This book is one of those. The plot is well written and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. It held my attention throughout. I highly recommend this book.
I like when the characters in a book are so well written that I feel like I know them and either love them or dislike them intensely. This book is one of those. The plot is well written and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. It held my attention throughout. I highly recommend this book.
November 16, 2025
Great series
This series is a set of six books all by different authors, more on the sweet side of regency romance. The storyvof Charlotte and Samuel was one that was not meant to be but circumstances brought them together though a stepmother did her best to keep them apart. Enjoy!
This series is a set of six books all by different authors, more on the sweet side of regency romance. The storyvof Charlotte and Samuel was one that was not meant to be but circumstances brought them together though a stepmother did her best to keep them apart. Enjoy!
November 19, 2024
3.5*
I love Christmas romance. I loved the main characters Samuel and Charlotte they had good chemistry. The storyline was a good one and I’ve not read one like it before. My main reason for a lower rating was I did not like the repeated chapters of dual POV.
I love Christmas romance. I loved the main characters Samuel and Charlotte they had good chemistry. The storyline was a good one and I’ve not read one like it before. My main reason for a lower rating was I did not like the repeated chapters of dual POV.
November 25, 2024
This was a great story! I do wonder how people back then fall in love so quickly. The characters were delightful and well written. The two villains were quite vicious and terrible. I love their comeuppance.
December 8, 2025
Never marry
Good plot. Clean, easy afternoon escape.felt much for Charlotte. Would be tough living with someone you don't like. Watching your life go by. There's not too much drama a bit of mystery. Plotting relatives.
Good plot. Clean, easy afternoon escape.felt much for Charlotte. Would be tough living with someone you don't like. Watching your life go by. There's not too much drama a bit of mystery. Plotting relatives.
November 18, 2024
This book is great i give it 5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to buy it and to recommend it to their friends also. This book is well written well, done Miss. Sally.
December 5, 2024
Sweet intense romance!
The author has good character development, and depth of character- that grow and are challenged throughout the story. A good clean sweet romance.
The author has good character development, and depth of character- that grow and are challenged throughout the story. A good clean sweet romance.
December 5, 2024
Fantastic
The book was fantastic from start to finish. Very good story and plot. It's best to read in one sitting.
The book was fantastic from start to finish. Very good story and plot. It's best to read in one sitting.
February 7, 2025
Lots of repetitive info from different people, and generally a lot of chatter without a lot of action.
December 6, 2025
An Absolute Christmas Read
Thoroughly enjoyable regency romantic read. The story was well written and I could not out it down. Highly recommend it. One that I will reread.
Thoroughly enjoyable regency romantic read. The story was well written and I could not out it down. Highly recommend it. One that I will reread.
November 21, 2024
A lovely clean Christmas book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews