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The Christmas I Stole a Viscount
Persephone Ballard has kidnapped a viscount. In her defense, it was her brother's fault.
For ten years, Percy’s brother has been madly in love with a notorious actress. And for just as long, he’s refused to marry her to protect his wallflower little sister from scandal. But now that Percy’s firmly (and happily!) on the shelf, she’s had enough of her brother’s self-sacrifice. Her plan? Kidnap his rakish best friend at the family Christmas party, ruin her own reputation, and rescue her brother from his self-imposed heartbreak.
Leopold, Viscount de Valincourt has found himself in plenty of scrapes—but waking up beside his best friend’s shy, scholarly, surprisingly cunning sister isn’t one he anticipated. Leo shocks them both, however, when he takes Percy's scheme even further. Why stop at ruination? If he brings Percy to his ancestral home as his bride, he can fulfill his beloved grandmother’s dying wishes to see him happily settled and save his best friend.
But to convince Leo’s grandmother of their passionate elopement, Percy and Leo must fake a grand romance at the ancient abbey until the end of the Christmas season. Nothing—not ghostly monks or scorched plum puddings or even Grand-maman's watchful eye—will ruin their perfect plan. Unless, of course, someone actually falls in love . . .
For ten years, Percy’s brother has been madly in love with a notorious actress. And for just as long, he’s refused to marry her to protect his wallflower little sister from scandal. But now that Percy’s firmly (and happily!) on the shelf, she’s had enough of her brother’s self-sacrifice. Her plan? Kidnap his rakish best friend at the family Christmas party, ruin her own reputation, and rescue her brother from his self-imposed heartbreak.
Leopold, Viscount de Valincourt has found himself in plenty of scrapes—but waking up beside his best friend’s shy, scholarly, surprisingly cunning sister isn’t one he anticipated. Leo shocks them both, however, when he takes Percy's scheme even further. Why stop at ruination? If he brings Percy to his ancestral home as his bride, he can fulfill his beloved grandmother’s dying wishes to see him happily settled and save his best friend.
But to convince Leo’s grandmother of their passionate elopement, Percy and Leo must fake a grand romance at the ancient abbey until the end of the Christmas season. Nothing—not ghostly monks or scorched plum puddings or even Grand-maman's watchful eye—will ruin their perfect plan. Unless, of course, someone actually falls in love . . .
139 pages, ebook
First published December 10, 2025
22 people are currently reading
5093 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Vasti
11 books1,373 followersAlexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
December 16, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up because the last line of the book was perfection
The unholy joy to be experienced in this Christmas novella! The sparkle! The lively beauty of the writing!
Percy, because she wants her brother to have his heart’s desire, devises a plan that involves her own ruination and, to accomplish that goal, kidnaps her brother’s best friend, the über attractive rakehell Leo Valincourt. Leo has a better plan.
It’s Christmastide, there’s a sweet French Grand-maman, a seventh century Welsh castle, a wailing tortoise, snow, brandy and dried plums, wonderfully personal gifts to exchange, and a last-minute family influx to bring celebration and problems.
Leo could convince me of ANYTHING, even that rain is just very wet, silvery sunshine. So did he convince me he was madly in love with his small, plump, Arthurian-mad blackbird? Yes, he most certainly did. But the only niggling criticism I have of this story is that I wasn’t entirely certain how that came to be, how Leo moved from noticing her previously to finding her so utterly enthralling. Did it matter? No.
The unholy joy to be experienced in this Christmas novella! The sparkle! The lively beauty of the writing!
Percy, because she wants her brother to have his heart’s desire, devises a plan that involves her own ruination and, to accomplish that goal, kidnaps her brother’s best friend, the über attractive rakehell Leo Valincourt. Leo has a better plan.
It’s Christmastide, there’s a sweet French Grand-maman, a seventh century Welsh castle, a wailing tortoise, snow, brandy and dried plums, wonderfully personal gifts to exchange, and a last-minute family influx to bring celebration and problems.
Leo could convince me of ANYTHING, even that rain is just very wet, silvery sunshine. So did he convince me he was madly in love with his small, plump, Arthurian-mad blackbird? Yes, he most certainly did. But the only niggling criticism I have of this story is that I wasn’t entirely certain how that came to be, how Leo moved from noticing her previously to finding her so utterly enthralling. Did it matter? No.
December 16, 2025
The excitement that coursed through my person when this author’s newsletter announced a surprise holiday novella available through the newsletter! My favorite of her stories are actually her novellas and I adored this sweet, historical romance. I love when characters have known each other for a while, not been necessarily close, and then develop these surprising feelings when placed in new circumstances with each other. Esp when they start thinking of all the memories they actually have together, sigh. Which is exactly what this gem of a story delivered. Plus, she “my husband” defends him and he’s ready to do anything to make her happy, including support her historical research, so she’ll want to be real married to him. Recommended!
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama. I don’t love rakes for MMCs, however the H has no on page anything with any other women AND he’s absolutely lovely. The story also touches on his reputation vs any specific actions or scandals. The h seemed to be inexperienced, but I don’t believe it was directly stated.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Brother’s best friend
☆ She’s an almost-spinster, nerdy historian
☆ He’s a popular, rakish Viscount
☆ They both adore her family
☆ Light kidnapping - for a good cause!
☆ Unplanned marriage proposal
☆ “we agreed to be married in name only and now we’re staring at each other’s mouths”
☆ Precious, yet sneaky, grandmother
☆ A TORTOISE
☆ Snowed in
☆ Holiday vibes, historical style
☆ He’s such a softie
☆ TENSION with steamy payoff
☆ “My husband”
☆ The brother’s not a jackass
☆ One of the sisters kinda is
☆ No true third act issues, but they have to vocalize their feelings
☆ HEA
☆ The last line 🥺
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama. I don’t love rakes for MMCs, however the H has no on page anything with any other women AND he’s absolutely lovely. The story also touches on his reputation vs any specific actions or scandals. The h seemed to be inexperienced, but I don’t believe it was directly stated.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Brother’s best friend
☆ She’s an almost-spinster, nerdy historian
☆ He’s a popular, rakish Viscount
☆ They both adore her family
☆ Light kidnapping - for a good cause!
☆ Unplanned marriage proposal
☆ “we agreed to be married in name only and now we’re staring at each other’s mouths”
☆ Precious, yet sneaky, grandmother
☆ A TORTOISE
☆ Snowed in
☆ Holiday vibes, historical style
☆ He’s such a softie
☆ TENSION with steamy payoff
☆ “My husband”
☆ The brother’s not a jackass
☆ One of the sisters kinda is
☆ No true third act issues, but they have to vocalize their feelings
☆ HEA
☆ The last line 🥺
December 12, 2025
rating: 3.75★
very cute and sweet! it moves fast as a novella but it's perfect if you want a quick hisrom w christmas and winter vibes. i thought the arthurian fixation and dragons was a fun touch, and it was sweet and steamy 💙
very cute and sweet! it moves fast as a novella but it's perfect if you want a quick hisrom w christmas and winter vibes. i thought the arthurian fixation and dragons was a fun touch, and it was sweet and steamy 💙
December 22, 2025
Here, at Dorstone Abbey, they weren't what they had always been. He wasn't the Viscount de Valincourt; she wasn't Ajax's sister.
A sweet bit of fluff with lovable characters.
❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️ 🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️
A sweet bit of fluff with lovable characters.
❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️ 🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️
December 17, 2025
Having kidnapped the rake, Persephone Ballard found she was not entirely certain what to do with him.
In her latest newsletter, Alexandra Vasti shared this Christmas novella with her readers and expressed her hope that “it's the swoony, spicy, delightfully warm-hearted, endlessly Christmas-y story of your dreams.”
Well, it’s exactly this. Swoony, spicy, and delightfully warm-hearted. And it starts with a bang. Persephone gets Leo, her brother’s best friend, drunk, abducts him to an inn and wants him to ruin her for the sake of her brother, Ajax. Leo, despite being a rake, refuses to compromise her and comes up with another idea: a marriage of convenience. They negotiate the terms, and it’s a done deal. But spending time at Dorstone Abbey together after their hasty marriage, getting to know each other, changes the terms … and quickly!
I was hooked from the first sentence of this book. I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t stop smiling, sighing, and raving until the very end. Sure, their love came suddenly, but they had known each other for years, so it could have actually happened that way. However, I wouldn’t have cared. It was just a wonderful story with great heroes and the perfect balance of emotion and humor. I loved it.
EDIT: This novella is only available via the author's newletter. You can sign up at alexandravasti.com — I (boldly) promise, it's worth it!
In her latest newsletter, Alexandra Vasti shared this Christmas novella with her readers and expressed her hope that “it's the swoony, spicy, delightfully warm-hearted, endlessly Christmas-y story of your dreams.”
Well, it’s exactly this. Swoony, spicy, and delightfully warm-hearted. And it starts with a bang. Persephone gets Leo, her brother’s best friend, drunk, abducts him to an inn and wants him to ruin her for the sake of her brother, Ajax. Leo, despite being a rake, refuses to compromise her and comes up with another idea: a marriage of convenience. They negotiate the terms, and it’s a done deal. But spending time at Dorstone Abbey together after their hasty marriage, getting to know each other, changes the terms … and quickly!
I was hooked from the first sentence of this book. I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t stop smiling, sighing, and raving until the very end. Sure, their love came suddenly, but they had known each other for years, so it could have actually happened that way. However, I wouldn’t have cared. It was just a wonderful story with great heroes and the perfect balance of emotion and humor. I loved it.
EDIT: This novella is only available via the author's newletter. You can sign up at alexandravasti.com — I (boldly) promise, it's worth it!
December 18, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I finished this little gem ten minutes ago and I’m still smiling!
Romantic and funny, tender and passionate, filled with so much yearning, this novella had me feeling all kinds of swoony.
And Leo, oh my. Earnest and romantic and delicious and so in love with his new wife… I’m asking Santa for a Leo of my own.
Much love also for wise, irreverent Grand-maman, and the beautiful relationship she shared with Leo.
”When you find the one who feels like…” She paused, looking over at Leo.
“What do I mean, my Leo? The one who feels like… the home to your heart?”
Leo’s gaze rested, soft as a kiss, on Percy’s face.
“That sounds right, Grand-maman. Exactly as you said it.”
“Enfin. When you find the person who feels like the home to your heart, there is no reason in the world to hesitate.”
Romantic and funny, tender and passionate, filled with so much yearning, this novella had me feeling all kinds of swoony.
And Leo, oh my. Earnest and romantic and delicious and so in love with his new wife… I’m asking Santa for a Leo of my own.
Much love also for wise, irreverent Grand-maman, and the beautiful relationship she shared with Leo.
”When you find the one who feels like…” She paused, looking over at Leo.
“What do I mean, my Leo? The one who feels like… the home to your heart?”
Leo’s gaze rested, soft as a kiss, on Percy’s face.
“That sounds right, Grand-maman. Exactly as you said it.”
“Enfin. When you find the person who feels like the home to your heart, there is no reason in the world to hesitate.”
December 21, 2025
So good.
A great Christmas novella by the absolutely wonderful Alexandra Vasti. She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
This story has great Christmas vibes and just the most gooey romance with the most down bad MMC.
A great read to start off my holiday books for the year ❤️
A great Christmas novella by the absolutely wonderful Alexandra Vasti. She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
This story has great Christmas vibes and just the most gooey romance with the most down bad MMC.
A great read to start off my holiday books for the year ❤️
December 24, 2025
This might be the single most romantic thing I have ever read. Percy wants her brother's best friend Leo to compromise her for Altruistic Romance Reasons, he proposes marriage instead for (Allegedly) Dying Grandmother Romance Reasons, and then they fall in love as they fake it over the holidays.
Vasti is just SO GOOD at writing the awareness of falling in love. The danger to losing your heart to someone who might not return the emotion. The realization that you're been aware of and Seen the other for years. Another character asks them when they fell in love and they both have specific moments at the ready, so much for fake. There's a scene in Leo's POV where we are right with him when he gets overwhelmed by his attraction to her all snapping into focus. It's just beat after beat of tension building as he sneaks a side hug and covertly feels her hair, he just can't with it all. "It was hard to see - the light dazzled his eyes - and his wife smelled delicious, like ginger biscuits and icing sugar - and - and-" There's another scene of snapdragon where my kindle note is "so [forking] romantic." SWOON.
My personal favorite microtrope is the "Same nondescript brown hair and brown eyes as the rest of the family" to "Had he really once thought the color nondescript? How could he have? It was the prettiest shade in the world: like autumn leaves, late fallen, rippling brown and shiny at the bottom of a stream." pipeline. I love it every time.
One thing I particularly admire about Vasti's writing in general is that she's very queer-positive with her characters. When Percy tells Leo she's not going to marry, he's very non-judgmentally "Do you [...] prefer the company of ladies then?" All her books are like this, people are causally bi, or get their love stories no matter who they choose. She's just fact of life about the existence of queer people in general in her writing, and maybe people back then wouldn't be so openly accepting? I don't actually care, it's nice for readers today to see.
Vasti is just SO GOOD at writing the awareness of falling in love. The danger to losing your heart to someone who might not return the emotion. The realization that you're been aware of and Seen the other for years. Another character asks them when they fell in love and they both have specific moments at the ready, so much for fake. There's a scene in Leo's POV where we are right with him when he gets overwhelmed by his attraction to her all snapping into focus. It's just beat after beat of tension building as he sneaks a side hug and covertly feels her hair, he just can't with it all. "It was hard to see - the light dazzled his eyes - and his wife smelled delicious, like ginger biscuits and icing sugar - and - and-" There's another scene of snapdragon where my kindle note is "so [forking] romantic." SWOON.
My personal favorite microtrope is the "Same nondescript brown hair and brown eyes as the rest of the family" to "Had he really once thought the color nondescript? How could he have? It was the prettiest shade in the world: like autumn leaves, late fallen, rippling brown and shiny at the bottom of a stream." pipeline. I love it every time.
One thing I particularly admire about Vasti's writing in general is that she's very queer-positive with her characters. When Percy tells Leo she's not going to marry, he's very non-judgmentally "Do you [...] prefer the company of ladies then?" All her books are like this, people are causally bi, or get their love stories no matter who they choose. She's just fact of life about the existence of queer people in general in her writing, and maybe people back then wouldn't be so openly accepting? I don't actually care, it's nice for readers today to see.
December 18, 2025
They say you can’t just kidnap a guy and ask him to ruin you…or can you? Percy Ballard has a grand plan to help her brother find happiness. All it requires is reputational ruination by a certain hazel-eyed Viscount who’s too cocked on cognac to notice his own abduction. Fortunately, Leo has a most agreeable demeanor, so the Lord-napping quickly morphs into a convivial marriage of convenience where he's happy to help Percy while also fulfilling his dying grandmama’s last wishes. They journey to his Whales estate nigh the village of Three Cocks and a bunch of stuff happens including frequent run-ins with a horny tortoise who won’t stop moaning. What do you do when you fall deeply in love with your own wife? You thrust a log into the fire then you thrust your log into her. If you can’t have Anthony Bridgerton, methinks Leopold Valincourt is a mighty fine substitute. When they copulate in the library I thought I was going into heat and by the end of these 120+ pages, I don’t know who needed a release more, me or the turtle.
December 11, 2025
I assume that one day Alexandra Vasti will write a man I do not fall immediately and hopelessly in love with, but today is not that day. ILU, Leo 😭
January 10, 2026
4.5 stars.
😍
This was so sweet and cozy and lovely. I love them so much.
I'm taking a half star off for him being a rakehell when it's not necessary for the story and for him running away at the end in a way that made no sense.
But I love a marriage to lovers story and they are so sweet and loving to each other.
My heart is full of Christmas cheer.
🔥 🍈🎄
😍
This was so sweet and cozy and lovely. I love them so much.
I'm taking a half star off for him being a rakehell when it's not necessary for the story and for him running away at the end in a way that made no sense.
But I love a marriage to lovers story and they are so sweet and loving to each other.
My heart is full of Christmas cheer.
🔥 🍈🎄
December 17, 2025
i ADORE alexandra vasti whyyyyy was this a novella :’)))
December 11, 2025
5 huge dragon breathing stars 🥹
This was the most perfect Christmas novella. So heartwarming, so romantic and just super sweet!
Now I wanna steal a viscount and get him to bring home a dragon to me 😩
Leo and Percy were just perfection. Everything I want in a Christmas novella and more. I have zero notes and zero words. I was getting so choked up towards the end too. This gave me Tessa Dare vibes in the best way. Who doesn’t wanna read about two idiots in love, a horny tortoise, a scheming grandmother and a crazy family?
The last line!!! Just chefs kiss!
This was the most perfect Christmas novella. So heartwarming, so romantic and just super sweet!
Now I wanna steal a viscount and get him to bring home a dragon to me 😩
Leo and Percy were just perfection. Everything I want in a Christmas novella and more. I have zero notes and zero words. I was getting so choked up towards the end too. This gave me Tessa Dare vibes in the best way. Who doesn’t wanna read about two idiots in love, a horny tortoise, a scheming grandmother and a crazy family?
The last line!!! Just chefs kiss!
December 19, 2025
Cute historical Christmas romance about an apparent insufferable rake and the bookish youngest sister of his best friend. Except he's actually a complete cinnamon roll and she's head over heels. There was a surprising amount of character development and chemistry for such a short novella, and I especially loved Leo's French grandmother.
December 20, 2025
Completely charming and full of wonderfully loveable details and characters 🌟
December 11, 2025
very cute and cozy
December 14, 2025
A big fat Welsh YES to this festive regency romp 🙌🏻🏴❤️ Alexandra Vasti I love you with my whole heart
December 23, 2025
Oh the banter in this one. The Rogue and the Scholar are a lethal repartee combination.
Would that we were all as unbothered (and eventually as utterly bothered) as Persephone is when kidnapping her brother’s best friend or investigating a rogue tortoise in a darkened Abbey hallway.
And, turnabout’s fair play for our hero, who accepts being kidnapped largely without fuss, but puts up a hell of a fight when falling in love.
No surprise here, but, impossibly, I adore every Vasti story more than the last and The Christmas I Stole a Viscount is no exception.
The Rogue: Leo reminds me of Peter Kent (the OG) - roguish but reliable, his goal to make Percy comfortable and at ease in any situation. Until it isn’t, and until he doesn’t.
And the man loves a good sandwich and a smart woman.
The Scholar: Percy is a delight, a book lover with a sharp tongue and heart of gold that she wears on her sleeve. She walks boldly into a marriage of convenience to ensure her brother’s happiness, but panics at the thought of meeting Leo’s sweet grand-maman. She contains multitudes. She is all of us.
I have been a sucker for the roadtrip historical romance - with a dash of she’s a nerd, he’s a rake - since I first read Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove early in my Historical Romance journey. This novella was like a warm hug. All the feels of a classic Hist Rom, written with the sharp wit - and laugh out loud humor (I don’t say this lightly, true lols will be had) that Vasti has perfected - all wrapped up in Christmas coziness.
Would that we were all as unbothered (and eventually as utterly bothered) as Persephone is when kidnapping her brother’s best friend or investigating a rogue tortoise in a darkened Abbey hallway.
And, turnabout’s fair play for our hero, who accepts being kidnapped largely without fuss, but puts up a hell of a fight when falling in love.
No surprise here, but, impossibly, I adore every Vasti story more than the last and The Christmas I Stole a Viscount is no exception.
The Rogue: Leo reminds me of Peter Kent (the OG) - roguish but reliable, his goal to make Percy comfortable and at ease in any situation. Until it isn’t, and until he doesn’t.
And the man loves a good sandwich and a smart woman.
The Scholar: Percy is a delight, a book lover with a sharp tongue and heart of gold that she wears on her sleeve. She walks boldly into a marriage of convenience to ensure her brother’s happiness, but panics at the thought of meeting Leo’s sweet grand-maman. She contains multitudes. She is all of us.
I have been a sucker for the roadtrip historical romance - with a dash of she’s a nerd, he’s a rake - since I first read Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove early in my Historical Romance journey. This novella was like a warm hug. All the feels of a classic Hist Rom, written with the sharp wit - and laugh out loud humor (I don’t say this lightly, true lols will be had) that Vasti has perfected - all wrapped up in Christmas coziness.
December 27, 2025
Bluestocking kidnaps brother's rakish Best Friend so she can be irredeemably compromised. They end up in a marriage of convenience, travel to his Welsh castle for the holidays and get snowed in. This novella packs so many tropes in and still manages to tell a sweet story. Very light and fluffy which I do not gravitate towards but it was the perfect palate cleanser after a heavy read.
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
MoC
kidnapping
Brothers bestie
snowed in
⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
MoC
kidnapping
Brothers bestie
snowed in
December 14, 2025
4.5 ✨️
one of my best decisions of 2025 was starting Alexandra Vasti books honestly a new top author I will read anything she puts out
one of my best decisions of 2025 was starting Alexandra Vasti books honestly a new top author I will read anything she puts out
December 24, 2025
"There's room," he thought. "All my life, I've been making a place for you."
A chrismacy regency love story with dragons, tortoises, and lots and lots of yearning - I can’t think of a better novella 😍
A chrismacy regency love story with dragons, tortoises, and lots and lots of yearning - I can’t think of a better novella 😍
December 12, 2025
Persephone Ballard has decided to do the right thing: to kidnap Leopold, Viscount de Valincourt. But you see, it's her brother's fault. Ajax Ballard has been in love with an actress, and heartbreakingly sets her aside to protect his spinster sister Percy from scandal, and in return Percy wants to, uh, get a little ruined so Ajax can marry without guilt. When she confesses the plan to her brother's best friend, said kidnapped viscount, he suggests an alternative: marriage. After all, he would sacrifice himself for his friend as well. A hasty marriage in name only can only go so far for my-wife-will-call-me-Leo, and the first order of business is taking her to Wales to meet his grandmother.
We do not deserve this utterly sweet Christmas novella from Alexandra Vasti. It's soft and warm, filled with family and the tender beginnings of love. It's low on the angst scale, with the conflict revolving around the tentative emotional chaos of the siblings-best-friend who could be so much more. I laugh, I cried, and I found a lot of joy in a Christmas story where the hero will stop at nothing for his beloved, even if neither of them knows.
Truly, what a delight to follow One Burning Heart, set in Wales 1293, with Percy and Leo in Wales 1820 trying to uncover a little bit of Welsh history.
We do not deserve this utterly sweet Christmas novella from Alexandra Vasti. It's soft and warm, filled with family and the tender beginnings of love. It's low on the angst scale, with the conflict revolving around the tentative emotional chaos of the siblings-best-friend who could be so much more. I laugh, I cried, and I found a lot of joy in a Christmas story where the hero will stop at nothing for his beloved, even if neither of them knows.
Truly, what a delight to follow One Burning Heart, set in Wales 1293, with Percy and Leo in Wales 1820 trying to uncover a little bit of Welsh history.
January 6, 2026
A very good love letter to the devil in winter by Lisa K! A fresh and modern twist on a kidnapping, a rake and a marriage of convenience 😍
December 18, 2025
a lead named percy whose special interest is medieval history?? i've never felt so represented thank u queen
December 21, 2025
This book has everything I want in a Christmas novella: fast read, loud and chaotic family, animal side kick, charming and feisty elder, good spice, and a genuinely *romantic* story. So glad I own this because its now on the permanent Christmas book rotation.
December 24, 2025
I absoltely adored this historical romance novella! The dynamic between Percy & Leo, I laughed so many times in this book but also the swoon and angst I just ate it up! The best friend’s brother, marriage of convenience was perfect and I loved watching them realize their love for each other. I also adored the grandma so dang much!
December 15, 2025
“Dear Ajax. I have run off with your best mate and have found him most generous with his instrument.”
Unsurprisingly, Alexandra Vasti has written another novella that I am obsessed with. I simply adore her writing style—the banter, the humor, the tension, the tenderness, the joy, the bits of spice—it’s all such a treat. Ten out of ten, no notes. Loved it.
** Walks away to learn and practice Snapdragon. **
Favorite Quotes:
🐢 “[…] but Valincourt had merely grinned his beautiful rake grin and shoved back his swooping rake hair […]”
🐉 “She could not stop thinking in exclamation points!”
🗺️ “Would you like to handle my poker?”
Unsurprisingly, Alexandra Vasti has written another novella that I am obsessed with. I simply adore her writing style—the banter, the humor, the tension, the tenderness, the joy, the bits of spice—it’s all such a treat. Ten out of ten, no notes. Loved it.
** Walks away to learn and practice Snapdragon. **
Favorite Quotes:
🐢 “[…] but Valincourt had merely grinned his beautiful rake grin and shoved back his swooping rake hair […]”
🐉 “She could not stop thinking in exclamation points!”
🗺️ “Would you like to handle my poker?”
December 25, 2025
“having kidnapped the rake, persephone ballard found she was not entirely certain what to do with him.”
tfw you decide to ruin your own reputation so your brother can marry the actress he loves but then the viscount you kidnap suggests you marry him instead (to make his grandmother happy) and gifts you a massive library where you can research arthurian legend to your heart’s content (interrupted only by a screaming tortoise)
oh, and it’s christmastime and your family throws an epic party every year and you’d really hate to miss it but oh no, you’re snowed in 🎄❄️
this was a cozy, light christmas eve read that managed to charm despite its brevity. i picked it up on a whim (people keep mentioning it on booksta) and it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
rating: 3.5/5.0 stars (or thereabouts)
December 12, 2025
i think i just kinda love everything vasti does. her novellas are fantastic. this was such a fun story and she really packed a lot in there for 139 pages. percy and leo are such a fun couple. i think this makes vasti my most read author of the year.
December 15, 2025
Diantre ! c'est une novella donc relativement court et rapide, mais c'était mignon (et c'est agréable d'avoir de vraies phrases en français correct, ce n'est pas toujours le cas). Par contre le Leo, il est adorable hein, mais c'est le rake le moins rake de l'univers 🙃
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