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Brothers Sinister #1.5
A Kiss For Midwinter - Ciuman Musim Dingin
Miss Lydia Charingford selalu tampak ceria. Namun sekuat apa pun ia berusaha tersenyum, ia tak dapat melupakan aib masa remaja yang dapat menghancurkan reputasinya. Ketakutan itu kembali muncul setelah ia bertemu lagi dengan Jonas Grantham, salah satu dokter yang mengetahui rahasianya. Ia tak ingin berurusan dengan Jonas, tetapi pertemuan mereka malah berakhir dengan taruhan konyol yang melibatkan sebuah ciuman.Seperti Lydia, Jonas pun menyimpan rahasia. Ia menanggung rasa bersalah terhadap wanita itu, dan kini setelah mengetahui Lydia berhasil melanjutkan hidup, ia malah jatuh cinta padanya. Meski Lydia terang-terangan menolak Jonas, dengan memanfaatkan taruhan mereka, ia bertekad akan memenangkan hati wanita itu.
184 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2012
324 people are currently reading
3558 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Milan
68 books5,484 followersCourtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,217 reviews
November 19, 2015
A Kiss for Midwinter is Miss Lydia Charingford's story, a sometimes sweet, sometimes heartbreaking novella from the Brothers Sinister series.Dr. Jonas Grantham
Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can't forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation. Even though the worst of her indiscretion was kept secret, one other person knows the truth of those dark days: the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham. She wants nothing to do with him...or the butterflies that take flight in her stomach every time he looks her way.Well, I guess honesty is the best policy, right? Then I have to admit that I wasn't a fan of Lydia's when we met her in The Duchess War, but I also have to admit that she won me over, totally, in this story. Her heartbreaking tale is... well... heartbreaking, and so her treatment of Minnie in The Duchess War was, in my opinion, forgivable. Part of her problem is that she's a woman who believes she has no chance for a happy life - especially when Jonas Grantham, the most annoying man she's ever met, decides that it's time for him to take a wife, and Lydia is the one he wants.
Jonas Grantham has a secret, too: He's been in love with Lydia for more than a year. This winter, he's determined to conquer her dislike and win her for his own. It all starts with a wager and a kiss...
Now, he just has to convince her to have him!
Honestly, I laughed and cried and came away loving both Jonas and Lydia, not just for who they are, but also for who they are not. Both tortured souls striving to live with their "demons" and to do the right thing, always. Apart they were splendid people, but together - they are perfect!
The bottom line: This is, as are all Courtney Milan's stories, a delightful, witty, heartfelt, romantic and sexy tale. If you're looking for a short holiday story sure to leave you with a smile on your face, then look no further. A Kiss For Midwinter is a story I'll be reading again and again, and I'm sure you will, too.
For those interested, this works extremely well as a standalone.
My thanks to Ms. Milan for providing me with a copy of this novella! It was such a wonderful holiday treat!
January 22, 2013
Expanded review at http://coffeeandink.dreamwidth.org/11...
I seem to be at odds with the general internet take on Milan's recent work, because I was disappointed by this romance between a doctor and an allegedly cheerful woman whom the doctor knows to have had a teen pregnancy years before. Lydia Charingford distrusts all of Jonas Grantham's declarations of affection because he's brusque and sarcastic and she believes he's just trying to get into her pants. There are some genuinely moving bits, particularly in Lydia's realization that she has not recovered from her traumatic history, only repressed it, and in Jonas' relationship with his aging and increasingly senile father. These are, however, outweighed for me by the dissonance between what we are told by the characters and what we are actually shown. Yes, the characters may be unreliable -- but both Jonas and Lydia agree that he is blunt to the point of rudeness, and everyone Lydia knows seems to agree that she is cheerful and optimistic.
Jonas is direct and straightforward (frequently to the point of rudeness) in everything except telling Lydia that he didn't initially recognize her as the pregnant teen, and that he would like to court her -- or even simply increase his acquaintance with her -- without having any nefarious intent. Yes, he's defensive and it's difficult to admit an attraction to someone who seems to despise you, but he doesn't have to admit to love at first sight, he just has to respond to her understandable concerns. The entire plot depends on this contrivance and all of Jonas and Lydia's interactions are shaped by it, and it jars me with every single reference.
We are told that Lydia generally presents a cheerful and optimistic face to the world, but we do not actually see any evidence of this before page 40 of a 120-page novella. For the first third of the story, we see her distressed, frustrated, angry, and often openly antagonistic -- and yes, this is because we see her interacting with Jonas, who is marked out as an exception to her usual attitude, but there is no evidence it is an exception because we don't actually see her usual behavior in action.
What I find most frustrating about this story, though, is the way it fits into a larger pattern in Milan's work, which is the way it addresses sexism. She frequently depicts men who have a feminist agenda, by which I mean not just that they object to individual cases of sexism but that they do in some way recognize that there is a systemic social disadvantage to women which must be addressed. In this case, Jonas advocates birth control for women and is particularly concerned with the way medical "science" has actually endangered women; in Unclaimed, Mark Turner promotes male chastity as a way to prevent abuse of women. Notably, these "feminists" are always men. In neither of these stories do we hear of or see the women who actually founded and dominated the social movements of the time which were in fact concerned with women's health, including sexual and reproductive issues. In both of these stories, women are able to recognize the injuries done to them -- and to conceptualize them as unjust injuries, rather than random events -- only because of the intervention of men.
Additionally, "A Kiss in Midwinter" depends on Jonas perpetually ignoring and disregarding Lydia's repeated indications that she doesn't wish to associate with him -- that is, it depends on his harassment of her. Because he is the hero and because we know that Lydia misinterprets his intentions, the narrative pushes us to favor his desires and to ignore that he is consistently disregarding her expressed desires in favor of satisfying his own. He knows better. He obeys her command not to speak to her only when she satisfies his requirements for base knowledge, and even that he undercuts by physically approaching her -- just without verbal communication. And of course he is right. Of course he wins over Lydia. Of course she recognizes that he knows her history, her psychology, and her desires better than she does herself, and his harassment is justified by her unacknowledged attraction; his behavior is excused by the narrative to the point that Lydia ultimately regrets telling him not to speak to her as much because it hurts his feelings as because it does not reflect her final desires.
The surface narrative endorses a woman's right to express her own desires and control her own fate, but the subtext consistently subordinates Lydia's desires (both sexual and otherwise) to Jonas's.
I seem to be at odds with the general internet take on Milan's recent work, because I was disappointed by this romance between a doctor and an allegedly cheerful woman whom the doctor knows to have had a teen pregnancy years before. Lydia Charingford distrusts all of Jonas Grantham's declarations of affection because he's brusque and sarcastic and she believes he's just trying to get into her pants. There are some genuinely moving bits, particularly in Lydia's realization that she has not recovered from her traumatic history, only repressed it, and in Jonas' relationship with his aging and increasingly senile father. These are, however, outweighed for me by the dissonance between what we are told by the characters and what we are actually shown. Yes, the characters may be unreliable -- but both Jonas and Lydia agree that he is blunt to the point of rudeness, and everyone Lydia knows seems to agree that she is cheerful and optimistic.
Jonas is direct and straightforward (frequently to the point of rudeness) in everything except telling Lydia that he didn't initially recognize her as the pregnant teen, and that he would like to court her -- or even simply increase his acquaintance with her -- without having any nefarious intent. Yes, he's defensive and it's difficult to admit an attraction to someone who seems to despise you, but he doesn't have to admit to love at first sight, he just has to respond to her understandable concerns. The entire plot depends on this contrivance and all of Jonas and Lydia's interactions are shaped by it, and it jars me with every single reference.
We are told that Lydia generally presents a cheerful and optimistic face to the world, but we do not actually see any evidence of this before page 40 of a 120-page novella. For the first third of the story, we see her distressed, frustrated, angry, and often openly antagonistic -- and yes, this is because we see her interacting with Jonas, who is marked out as an exception to her usual attitude, but there is no evidence it is an exception because we don't actually see her usual behavior in action.
What I find most frustrating about this story, though, is the way it fits into a larger pattern in Milan's work, which is the way it addresses sexism. She frequently depicts men who have a feminist agenda, by which I mean not just that they object to individual cases of sexism but that they do in some way recognize that there is a systemic social disadvantage to women which must be addressed. In this case, Jonas advocates birth control for women and is particularly concerned with the way medical "science" has actually endangered women; in Unclaimed, Mark Turner promotes male chastity as a way to prevent abuse of women. Notably, these "feminists" are always men. In neither of these stories do we hear of or see the women who actually founded and dominated the social movements of the time which were in fact concerned with women's health, including sexual and reproductive issues. In both of these stories, women are able to recognize the injuries done to them -- and to conceptualize them as unjust injuries, rather than random events -- only because of the intervention of men.
Additionally, "A Kiss in Midwinter" depends on Jonas perpetually ignoring and disregarding Lydia's repeated indications that she doesn't wish to associate with him -- that is, it depends on his harassment of her. Because he is the hero and because we know that Lydia misinterprets his intentions, the narrative pushes us to favor his desires and to ignore that he is consistently disregarding her expressed desires in favor of satisfying his own. He knows better. He obeys her command not to speak to her only when she satisfies his requirements for base knowledge, and even that he undercuts by physically approaching her -- just without verbal communication. And of course he is right. Of course he wins over Lydia. Of course she recognizes that he knows her history, her psychology, and her desires better than she does herself, and his harassment is justified by her unacknowledged attraction; his behavior is excused by the narrative to the point that Lydia ultimately regrets telling him not to speak to her as much because it hurts his feelings as because it does not reflect her final desires.
The surface narrative endorses a woman's right to express her own desires and control her own fate, but the subtext consistently subordinates Lydia's desires (both sexual and otherwise) to Jonas's.
March 21, 2017
Usually I love a character who is described as having a sarcastic, dark sense of humor, but Jonas didn't really do it for me. I just didn't see the humor. He seemed pretty serious to me. And, persnickety. I'm not a fan of persnickety men. If they are going to take the time to hang up my gown and smooth out the wrinkles while they are undressing me for sex, I'm going to re-think the whole sex idea in that time.
He seems like a barrel of laughs. :/
Jonas' main reason for wanting to get married is to have regular sex without getting syphilis. He makes a list of the ten prettiest girls in town to see which one he will marry. Lydia is number 11. And, he tells her so. That's the way to win a girl's heart. Tell her she's the 11th prettiest girl you know.
Go on, you sweet talker, you!
The best part of this book, to me, wasn't the romance at all. It was the relationship the couple each had with their fathers. There was a conversation between Jonas and his father towards the end that almost got a tear or two from my eyes. That's saying a lot, since my tear ducts have basically shrunken away from disuse. It was a very touching moment.
Overall, the romance was okay, but it's worth the read for the father stuff.
He seems like a barrel of laughs. :/
Jonas' main reason for wanting to get married is to have regular sex without getting syphilis. He makes a list of the ten prettiest girls in town to see which one he will marry. Lydia is number 11. And, he tells her so. That's the way to win a girl's heart. Tell her she's the 11th prettiest girl you know.
Go on, you sweet talker, you!
The best part of this book, to me, wasn't the romance at all. It was the relationship the couple each had with their fathers. There was a conversation between Jonas and his father towards the end that almost got a tear or two from my eyes. That's saying a lot, since my tear ducts have basically shrunken away from disuse. It was a very touching moment.
Overall, the romance was okay, but it's worth the read for the father stuff.
September 1, 2016
*4.5 stars*
Another awesome audiobook by Courtney Milan, narrated by the wildly talented Rosalyn Landor. This series is like my crack and I have no intention of quitting any time soon!
For all of those who doubt that they could like historical romance, I implore you to try this series. It is a smart, funny, interesting romance in a really well conceived historical setting.
I loved that the main character was a doctor in this one. I have a weakness for books with factual medical content, and I have an even bigger weakness for plainspoken, somewhat geeky, sex-positive, feminist, beta heroes. Doctor Jonas Grantham is SO my type. I picture him with glasses and sort of curly hair (neither of which were in the book, but a woman can dream). *sigh*
What is awesome about Courtney Milan is that she makes me also love the female characters. No simpletons or annoying ladies here, folks. Lydia Charingford is determined, strong, and very easy to relate to. I loved her and I loved the slow relationship development between her and Jonas.
For a novella, this book is impressive in the slow burn aspect of the romance. It felt like a book of hundreds of pages, that is how well developed everything was. Though I don't know much about historical details, everything seemed right, which is all that matters to me.
The narration... I could have a hallelujah moment from that alone. I ADORE this narrator, and I'm obsessed with her ability to do a husky male voice.
I'm going to keep buying all of the books in this series because I have yet to experience a misstep from this author.
December 18, 2025
4.5⭐️ An incredibly fleshed out novella.
Cannot do justice to it other than to say, Lydia and Jonas (book boyfriend material) engaged in a beautiful and unique courtship dance.
If only there had been more follow through with the Christmas theme and Jonas’ father, it would have been perfection.
🌹My thanks to Irina for bringing this to my attention🌹
Cannot do justice to it other than to say, Lydia and Jonas (book boyfriend material) engaged in a beautiful and unique courtship dance.
If only there had been more follow through with the Christmas theme and Jonas’ father, it would have been perfection.
🌹My thanks to Irina for bringing this to my attention🌹
August 5, 2019
**5/5 Captivating Stars**
As with all Courtney Milan’s books, I loved this delightful novella!
Doctor Jonas Grantham knows his faults. He is outspoken with a dreadful sense of humour and a propensity to always look on the gloomy side of life. This is, however, what makes him such a good doctor…where others might see a touch of indigestion, he would consider poisoning and heart attacks. It is time he took a wife and only one woman will do…Lydia Charingford, but there is a rather big obstacle to overcome. She hates him!
Despite everything that happened to her at the tender age of fifteen, Lydia Charingford survived and has managed to build a life for herself. She is vibrant and always looking on the bright side. She has put the past behind her or so she believes until Doctor Jonas Grantham reappears in her life.
The scene is set for a bumpy journey for these two. At times, it doesn’t seem possible that Jonas and Lydia can ever have a future together. Poor Jonas says all the wrong things and Lydia bristles. I love how Ms Milan subtly moves their relationship forward and makes their happy ending so believable.
“I think, Doctor Grantham, that I’ve been unfair to you.”
He shut his eyes. It wasn’t love, but by God, he’d take it. It was hope, one little ray of hope, that there was a chance for him. That she might know the worst of him and want him anyway.
It was the kind of kiss a man might give a princess whose enchantment had been shattered years in the past, a woman who was struggling to understand a world without ensorcellment. His fingers against her cheek acknowledged her deepest hurts, and that made his kiss the subtlest kind of magic.
Her voice faltered. “How do I let him know that I want nobody but him?”
“Show up in the middle of the night with a French letter,” he advised, setting a finger under her chin, “and he’ll likely get the message.”
The scenes between Jonas and his father were so moving, particularly the one where Jonas has to persuade his father to come and stay with him. This was so touching and heart-breaking that I was blinking back the tears. I love Lydia’s family for the way in which they stood by her.
Ms Milan also provides a fascinating insight into Victorian medicine and the tentative advancements being made.
Once again, Ms Milan lives up to all expectations with this captivating love story.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
The Brothers Sinister series to date (click on cover for more details):
As with all Courtney Milan’s books, I loved this delightful novella!
Doctor Jonas Grantham knows his faults. He is outspoken with a dreadful sense of humour and a propensity to always look on the gloomy side of life. This is, however, what makes him such a good doctor…where others might see a touch of indigestion, he would consider poisoning and heart attacks. It is time he took a wife and only one woman will do…Lydia Charingford, but there is a rather big obstacle to overcome. She hates him!
Despite everything that happened to her at the tender age of fifteen, Lydia Charingford survived and has managed to build a life for herself. She is vibrant and always looking on the bright side. She has put the past behind her or so she believes until Doctor Jonas Grantham reappears in her life.
The scene is set for a bumpy journey for these two. At times, it doesn’t seem possible that Jonas and Lydia can ever have a future together. Poor Jonas says all the wrong things and Lydia bristles. I love how Ms Milan subtly moves their relationship forward and makes their happy ending so believable.
“I think, Doctor Grantham, that I’ve been unfair to you.”
He shut his eyes. It wasn’t love, but by God, he’d take it. It was hope, one little ray of hope, that there was a chance for him. That she might know the worst of him and want him anyway.
It was the kind of kiss a man might give a princess whose enchantment had been shattered years in the past, a woman who was struggling to understand a world without ensorcellment. His fingers against her cheek acknowledged her deepest hurts, and that made his kiss the subtlest kind of magic.
Her voice faltered. “How do I let him know that I want nobody but him?”
“Show up in the middle of the night with a French letter,” he advised, setting a finger under her chin, “and he’ll likely get the message.”
The scenes between Jonas and his father were so moving, particularly the one where Jonas has to persuade his father to come and stay with him. This was so touching and heart-breaking that I was blinking back the tears. I love Lydia’s family for the way in which they stood by her.
Ms Milan also provides a fascinating insight into Victorian medicine and the tentative advancements being made.
Once again, Ms Milan lives up to all expectations with this captivating love story.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
The Brothers Sinister series to date (click on cover for more details):
September 21, 2021
De los libros que llevo leido de la autora, este es el que más me ha gustado. Lydia y Jonas se han ganado ser felices, me han conquistado los dos. Muchas gracias Reggie
June 12, 2023
There are some good parts to this novella. I liked both of the main characters' relationships with their fathers. And I liked that the hero was a doctor.
But the relationship didn't completely click for me. I'm not sure why the hero has been in love with the heroine for over a year. Or why the heroine is so awful to the hero without (in my opinion) good reason.
Also, the book tells one story but shows another. Supposedly the heroine is sweet and optimistic, but she's shown as rude and always expects the worst from others. Supposedly the hero's prevailing characteristic is straightforwardness, but it takes him forever to be open with the heroine about his thoughts and feelings.
But the relationship didn't completely click for me. I'm not sure why the hero has been in love with the heroine for over a year. Or why the heroine is so awful to the hero without (in my opinion) good reason.
Also, the book tells one story but shows another. Supposedly the heroine is sweet and optimistic, but she's shown as rude and always expects the worst from others. Supposedly the hero's prevailing characteristic is straightforwardness, but it takes him forever to be open with the heroine about his thoughts and feelings.
November 22, 2013
4.5 stars. Oh, this was such a sweet, heart-tugging, holiday historical romance. In a genre thick with Dukes and Earls and wealthy business men, I loved how this hero was just a 'mere' Doctor. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments too, including his father who was a 'hoarder' living neck deep in scrap metal and other desirable items he couldn't bear to part with.
Doctor Jonas Grantham was a practical no-nonsense man, and you might even say he was a bit anal-retentive in terms of his personal rules and social decorum. So when he spots Lydia and declares her the 11th prettiest girl around, we get a real taste of the kind of hero we are going to meet in this story. He had a one-of-a-kind look on life that was often shocking and also quite enjoyable, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker along with Lydia.
Five year prior, and when Lydia was only 15 years old, she was unfortunately overly trusting and ignorant in the ways between men and women. A quick doctor visit confirmed the worse, and thus began her life of not trusting men nor herself again. That terrible day was one she would never forget, including the young intern working with the doctor - Jonas Grantham.
Jonas soon realizes Lydia was that young girl who got terrible medical advice from a quack doctor he interned with years earlier, a day he wished desperately he could do over. He also realizes Lydia is the one for him, and sets out to make her his wife.
But the feelings weren't exactly mutual, and 18 months later he was no closer to making her his wife. So he finagles an agreement from her to help him on his medical errands, while also making her a wager that he believes he can't possibly lose.
If you enjoy historical holiday romances, then you should definitely add this one to your list. And while Lydia was a small character in book one 'The Duchess Wars' of this series, this novella can easily be read stand-alone with zero problems.
This story was pure fun, a lot of heart, and a good dose of heat. Jonas is a hero that I won't soon forget. I highly recommend it.
Doctor Jonas Grantham was a practical no-nonsense man, and you might even say he was a bit anal-retentive in terms of his personal rules and social decorum. So when he spots Lydia and declares her the 11th prettiest girl around, we get a real taste of the kind of hero we are going to meet in this story. He had a one-of-a-kind look on life that was often shocking and also quite enjoyable, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker along with Lydia.
Five year prior, and when Lydia was only 15 years old, she was unfortunately overly trusting and ignorant in the ways between men and women. A quick doctor visit confirmed the worse, and thus began her life of not trusting men nor herself again. That terrible day was one she would never forget, including the young intern working with the doctor - Jonas Grantham.
Jonas soon realizes Lydia was that young girl who got terrible medical advice from a quack doctor he interned with years earlier, a day he wished desperately he could do over. He also realizes Lydia is the one for him, and sets out to make her his wife.
But the feelings weren't exactly mutual, and 18 months later he was no closer to making her his wife. So he finagles an agreement from her to help him on his medical errands, while also making her a wager that he believes he can't possibly lose.
If you enjoy historical holiday romances, then you should definitely add this one to your list. And while Lydia was a small character in book one 'The Duchess Wars' of this series, this novella can easily be read stand-alone with zero problems.
This story was pure fun, a lot of heart, and a good dose of heat. Jonas is a hero that I won't soon forget. I highly recommend it.
December 16, 2018
4.5 Stars, one of my favorite novellas out there.
On second thought, I bumped this up to a 5. This was a reread and I remembered it fairly clearly, even though it had been many years. Still loved it this time so that makes it worthy of 5 stars in my book.
On second thought, I bumped this up to a 5. This was a reread and I remembered it fairly clearly, even though it had been many years. Still loved it this time so that makes it worthy of 5 stars in my book.
March 12, 2023
He wanted her to lift her head at this moment. He wanted her to look him in the eyes and realize that he loved her. He wanted her to love him back.Wow. Just ... wow. Loved it!!! It's rare to be able to pull out a great story with well-drawn characters in a novella, but Ms. Milan managed to do that beautifully.
HERO: Jonas (26)
Fantastic hero - very unusual, don't think I've ever read a hero like him. There's nothing cookie cutter here - no rake/rogue, no stuffy aristocrat, none of the usual figures that we see so often (and love! Not bashing them, by any means). Jonas is a doctor; he is very straightforward, blunt, to the point, almost/often to a fault. I don't want to say he's socially awkward, because he's not, but he has the unfortunate habit of sometimes saying the wrong thing (ex: when he tries to explain to Lydia that he wants to talk to her not because of the secret he knows, but because she's the 11th prettiest girl in Leicester, ). A lot of these slip-ups make for some great laughs though and make him all the more endearing. Despite his clinical manner, he is also a very sensitive and caring person and we do get to see that side of him quite early on.
A friend had once told him that he was like bitter coffee---positively habit-forming, once one acquired a taste for the beverage, but off-putting on the first few sips.
HEROINE: Lydia (20)
Lydia was a wonderful heroine; also unusual, though not AS unusual as Jonas. I liked how Milan dealt with the heroine getting pregnant at 15, in the sense that I liked how she had all the characters in the book deal with it (that's essentially the prologue, so I'm not ruining any spoilers). In most romance books, when something like that happens the heroine is then shunned, kicked out of the house, constantly made to feel guilty, etc. None of that here, Lydia's parents were actually wonderful, the father especially. Milan also manages to capture the complexity of emotions that Lydia feels about what happened and the circumstances, which would be a challenge in even a regular-length book, let alone a novella. She doesn't have Lydia's character swing to an extreme because of what happened, but instead really shows us the complexity and layers of emotions and effects that experience had.
For so long, she hadn't let herself feel anything at all. She'd smiled and laughed and ignored the harm that had been done. But deep inside, she hadn't stopped wanting, and no matter how she'd tried, no matter what lies she told herself, she had still hurt.
THE ROMANCE
Finally, even the relationship - the dynamic at the beginning, how it develops, how their feelings evolve, etc. - was unusual and did not at all feel like an overdone romance book recipe. It was such a treat to read their interactions, see how their feelings and opinions changed, and watch the beautiful romance unfold. ::sigh:: Jonas was really great, I gotta tell ya'! Anyway. Milan was able to deliver a believable and lovely relationship in a novella, which is no small feat, as well as wonderful and interesting secondary characters, who only added to the story and didn't get in the way or steal any scenes - she was smart enough to add secondary plots or distractions along the way.
BOTTOM LINE
Overall, a FANTASTIC read that I just adored. Left a huge, dopey grin on my face in the end and I was so sad that it was over. Can't wait for time to pass so I can read it again :-D.
EXCERPT
"I don't know why you're doing this," she sniffed as he dabbed at her cheeks. "You're being kind, but you always make fun of me."
He ran his hand down her shoulder. "I never make fun of you."
"You say such horrid things about me."
"I never say horrid things about you," he contradicted. "I tell you exactly what I think of you, and you never believe me."
"You're sarcastic and contradictory."
He sighed and breathed in the smell of her, sweet and uncomplicated. "Well, yes. That, I must admit to. But half the things I say to you in sarcasm, Lydia, I really mean. I just can't bear to leave them unsaid."
"But if you don't think badly of me ..."
He didn't answer.
December 14, 2025
“Maybe,” he said, “I’m thinking that the days are dark and long, that midwinter is approaching. Maybe, Miss Charingford, all I really want is a kiss.”
If you’ve read The Duchess War, then you’ve already met Lydia Charingford and Dr. Lucas Grantham, as Lydia is the FMC’s best friend. Chronologically, The Duchess War takes place in the sixteen months between Grantham’s return to Leicester and the main plot of this novella.
Lydia is a bright, vibrant, and sunny person. She has a dark secret, though, known only to her and her parents – and a young doctor who returned to town after attending the medical school in the last five years. He could ruin her if he talks about the incident.
Not that it would ever occur to him, because he has his own secret: Despite all their bickering, he has been in love with her for a year, ever since they met again and he approached her with suboptimal remarks. Now, after her former fiancé, Captain Stevens, is out of the picture, he seizes the opportunity when it arises–he challenges her to a wager.
If he wins, he’ll get a kiss from her. If she wins, he’ll never talk to her again. She’s in, and so she agrees to accompany him to three appointments. Just as he had planned, that’s enough time for her to realize there’s so much more to him than his sharp sarcasm, biting wit, and shocking outspokenness. He’s a devoted doctor, who is open to medical and social progress. He’s a good man who cares about people. About her.
But when she finally realizes that he loves her, she's shocked and frightened–despite having feelings for him as well. Because she has a past, and overcoming what happened to her and learning to trust again is far from easy…
Honestly, I loved watching their love story unfold and seeing them open up to each other. I loved Grantham. I loved how steadfastly Lydia’s parents–especially her father–stood by her side without lecturing or scolding her, or locking her up. And I loved the difficult yet fond relationship between Grantham and his father–oh, I felt it so much!
It’s a beautiful, beautiful novella. Read it.
He’d wanted a kiss for midwinter. But secretly, he’d wished for this—that she might not only see him, but like him. Maybe love him.
4.5
(Read in December 2025)
If you’ve read The Duchess War, then you’ve already met Lydia Charingford and Dr. Lucas Grantham, as Lydia is the FMC’s best friend. Chronologically, The Duchess War takes place in the sixteen months between Grantham’s return to Leicester and the main plot of this novella.
Lydia is a bright, vibrant, and sunny person. She has a dark secret, though, known only to her and her parents – and a young doctor who returned to town after attending the medical school in the last five years. He could ruin her if he talks about the incident.
Not that it would ever occur to him, because he has his own secret: Despite all their bickering, he has been in love with her for a year, ever since they met again and he approached her with suboptimal remarks. Now, after her former fiancé, Captain Stevens, is out of the picture, he seizes the opportunity when it arises–he challenges her to a wager.
“I see the worst of Leicester. In five minutes, I’ll leave for my next appointment. You smile and you wish and you see an entire world set forth in the most optimistic terms. I wager that I can find you a situation that lacks a bright side.”
If he wins, he’ll get a kiss from her. If she wins, he’ll never talk to her again. She’s in, and so she agrees to accompany him to three appointments. Just as he had planned, that’s enough time for her to realize there’s so much more to him than his sharp sarcasm, biting wit, and shocking outspokenness. He’s a devoted doctor, who is open to medical and social progress. He’s a good man who cares about people. About her.
But when she finally realizes that he loves her, she's shocked and frightened–despite having feelings for him as well. Because she has a past, and overcoming what happened to her and learning to trust again is far from easy…
Honestly, I loved watching their love story unfold and seeing them open up to each other. I loved Grantham. I loved how steadfastly Lydia’s parents–especially her father–stood by her side without lecturing or scolding her, or locking her up. And I loved the difficult yet fond relationship between Grantham and his father–oh, I felt it so much!
It’s a beautiful, beautiful novella. Read it.
He’d wanted a kiss for midwinter. But secretly, he’d wished for this—that she might not only see him, but like him. Maybe love him.
4.5
(Read in December 2025)
February 7, 2021
a beautifully written novella about a bit unexpected couple I loved it with my whole heart… at first glance Lydia and doctor Jonas Grantham do not look like people who will be good together and yet… *sighs dreamily* what I am learning from the first few books by Courtney Milan I’ve read so far, she has an amazing ability to write about serious and emotional topics while still giving us great romances, witty banter and humor… it’s an absolute gift :) great addition to the series :)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
February 23, 2018
Another one I forgot to review. So just a few thoughts.
I loathe the doctor character. LOATHE. For many reasons. One of which is the part wherein a woman lost her baby because he didn’t open his mouth – there were reasons why he didn’t do so right then and there (when she was being examined) but he suspected that what the doctor he was shadowing was telling her to do would cause her and/or her baby to die, and later asked another doctor – a teaching doctor – and learned his instincts were correct . . . and he still didn’t say anything to the woman (would be hard, sure, he’s way over there *points vaguely* while she’s . . . somewhere else, but still…).
Then there’s the part wherein they both meet again long after their first encounter and he is instantly . . . not attracted to her – she’s something like 11th or 13th on his list of women to talk to (he wants a wife, he ordered women by looks on a list). He talked to her first because he wanted to see if he’d expand the list beyond ten names. Whereupon he finds her . . . still not attractive. She finds him horrible. He begins to become aroused by her reactions to him. She more forcibly lets him know she hates everything about him and wants him dead – by this point Doctor Jonas might have a full on erection.
More time passes. Eventually he bluntly tells her something like "'I'm madly in love with you and have been for a year!' Fucker doesn’t even know her. Didn’t find her attractive until after she rejected him. He even admitted to himself and the reader that her rejection of him is why he finds himself in love with her. I mean . . .fuck.
Then . . Doc Jonas to Lydia: But I have long believed that underneath that lovely, overly cheerful façade, you are actually a worthwhile individual.
Plus – Jonas mission in life, after noting how ‘cheerful’ Lydia is, is to ‘prove’ to her how horrible life can be and to make her sad. Seriously, his mission in life . . . is to make his ‘love of his life’ . . . sad. As I put in my status updates: it is not a good sign that I wish to punch the main male character in the dick every time he opens his mouth, right?
Personality quark, etc. etc., but . . the reason he can’t stand Lydia being cheerful? Two reasons really: he himself is super depressing type of guy and . . . ‘she deserves to be super sad all the fucking time because of the events he was personally witness to’. She lost her fucking baby, which you could have prevented you fucking monster, and you are pissed at her for . . . somehow having a cheerful outer shell? SHE”S FUCKING MESSED UP INSIDE YOU FUCKBALL! DROP DEAD after biting off your own dick and eating it.
60% into the book I reminded myself, via status update, that I didn’t actually like Lydia either. She has imaginary reasons to loath the doctor. And that I loathe him for his actual actions (the – prove life is shit and Lydia shouldn’t be cheerful, etc. actions).
So . . . I did not like either main character, though only loathed the doctor one.
Rating; 2.67
February 23 2018
I loathe the doctor character. LOATHE. For many reasons. One of which is the part wherein a woman lost her baby because he didn’t open his mouth – there were reasons why he didn’t do so right then and there (when she was being examined) but he suspected that what the doctor he was shadowing was telling her to do would cause her and/or her baby to die, and later asked another doctor – a teaching doctor – and learned his instincts were correct . . . and he still didn’t say anything to the woman (would be hard, sure, he’s way over there *points vaguely* while she’s . . . somewhere else, but still…).
Then there’s the part wherein they both meet again long after their first encounter and he is instantly . . . not attracted to her – she’s something like 11th or 13th on his list of women to talk to (he wants a wife, he ordered women by looks on a list). He talked to her first because he wanted to see if he’d expand the list beyond ten names. Whereupon he finds her . . . still not attractive. She finds him horrible. He begins to become aroused by her reactions to him. She more forcibly lets him know she hates everything about him and wants him dead – by this point Doctor Jonas might have a full on erection.
More time passes. Eventually he bluntly tells her something like "'I'm madly in love with you and have been for a year!' Fucker doesn’t even know her. Didn’t find her attractive until after she rejected him. He even admitted to himself and the reader that her rejection of him is why he finds himself in love with her. I mean . . .fuck.
Then . . Doc Jonas to Lydia: But I have long believed that underneath that lovely, overly cheerful façade, you are actually a worthwhile individual.
Plus – Jonas mission in life, after noting how ‘cheerful’ Lydia is, is to ‘prove’ to her how horrible life can be and to make her sad. Seriously, his mission in life . . . is to make his ‘love of his life’ . . . sad. As I put in my status updates: it is not a good sign that I wish to punch the main male character in the dick every time he opens his mouth, right?
Personality quark, etc. etc., but . . the reason he can’t stand Lydia being cheerful? Two reasons really: he himself is super depressing type of guy and . . . ‘she deserves to be super sad all the fucking time because of the events he was personally witness to’. She lost her fucking baby, which you could have prevented you fucking monster, and you are pissed at her for . . . somehow having a cheerful outer shell? SHE”S FUCKING MESSED UP INSIDE YOU FUCKBALL! DROP DEAD after biting off your own dick and eating it.
60% into the book I reminded myself, via status update, that I didn’t actually like Lydia either. She has imaginary reasons to loath the doctor. And that I loathe him for his actual actions (the – prove life is shit and Lydia shouldn’t be cheerful, etc. actions).
So . . . I did not like either main character, though only loathed the doctor one.
Rating; 2.67
February 23 2018
February 17, 2022
5 Sterne
Viele Jahre nach einer Begebenheit, die Miss Lydia Charingford furchtbar unangenehm war, trifft sie auf den damals anwesenden Arzt Dr. Jonas Grantham. Der sieht jetzt in ihr eine starke, faszinierende Frau, während sie zunächst nichts mit ihm zu tun haben will. Wie kann er sie von sich überzeugen?
- Courtney Milan verpackt auch hier, wie immer in ihren historischen Liebesromanen der Reihe "Geliebte Widersacher", total aktuelle Themen (Selbstbestimmung von Frauen, Sex Positivity und wie zerstörerisch das Verinnerlichen von Scham ist). Alles andere als hohle Unterhaltung.
- Jonas ist ein Love Interest zum Dahinschmelzen! Romantisch, ehrlich (dabei immer mal etwas plump) und wertschätzend.
- Lydia wächst während der Geschichte immens. Ihre Auseinandersetzung mit ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit war berührend und kraftvoll. Schön :)
- Dank des Novellenformats ist die Geschichte knackig und straff erzählt, überspringt aber keine wichtigen Entwicklungen. Toll!
Viele Jahre nach einer Begebenheit, die Miss Lydia Charingford furchtbar unangenehm war, trifft sie auf den damals anwesenden Arzt Dr. Jonas Grantham. Der sieht jetzt in ihr eine starke, faszinierende Frau, während sie zunächst nichts mit ihm zu tun haben will. Wie kann er sie von sich überzeugen?
- Courtney Milan verpackt auch hier, wie immer in ihren historischen Liebesromanen der Reihe "Geliebte Widersacher", total aktuelle Themen (Selbstbestimmung von Frauen, Sex Positivity und wie zerstörerisch das Verinnerlichen von Scham ist). Alles andere als hohle Unterhaltung.
- Jonas ist ein Love Interest zum Dahinschmelzen! Romantisch, ehrlich (dabei immer mal etwas plump) und wertschätzend.
- Lydia wächst während der Geschichte immens. Ihre Auseinandersetzung mit ihrer eigenen Vergangenheit war berührend und kraftvoll. Schön :)
- Dank des Novellenformats ist die Geschichte knackig und straff erzählt, überspringt aber keine wichtigen Entwicklungen. Toll!
December 21, 2012
This novella gets 5 stars because of the very original hero and the amazing fathers of both main characters.
In romance, bad parents are a dime a dozen so I was soo glad to see two fathers that were so devoted to their children. I cried both when I learned about the Christmas gift Jonas' father gave him as well as what Jonas said to solve the conflict with his father.
Jonas was very sui generis to say the least with his jokes about gonorrhea and his penchant for calling a spade a spade. Even I was mildly shocked of his talk of penises and vaginas (mostly because you never hear those words in historical romance.) I would have loved to see the heroine's face when she heard that!
A great, great novella to read during the Christmas season because it reminds you of what's really valuable!
In romance, bad parents are a dime a dozen so I was soo glad to see two fathers that were so devoted to their children. I cried both when I learned about the Christmas gift Jonas' father gave him as well as what Jonas said to solve the conflict with his father.
Jonas was very sui generis to say the least with his jokes about gonorrhea and his penchant for calling a spade a spade. Even I was mildly shocked of his talk of penises and vaginas (mostly because you never hear those words in historical romance.) I would have loved to see the heroine's face when she heard that!
A great, great novella to read during the Christmas season because it reminds you of what's really valuable!
June 9, 2023
A novella, but just as satisfying as a longer format would have been. The romance here is just fine, lovely, in fact. But the real pleasure of this book is the relationship between Jonas and his father, which made me ugly cry. Twice.
I would have liked a word—a sentence—at the end about how his father was getting on but, alas, it was all about the romance. An author just can’t win, can she? She ends a romance novella with the actual, er, romance, and someone wants to complain about it. Go figure.
I would have liked a word—a sentence—at the end about how his father was getting on but, alas, it was all about the romance. An author just can’t win, can she? She ends a romance novella with the actual, er, romance, and someone wants to complain about it. Go figure.
September 10, 2020
I get so immersed in the conversations in the book, and there's so much to appreciate.
I find it infuriating though that Lydia is slow on the uptake after the three patient visits, though I did understand her inner conflict. Also, I felt Lydia was slightly underdeveloped although I truly love, as ever, Jonas's continued appreciation for her
The fathers are what really round this story out, besides the detail and competence of the characters.
I find it infuriating though that Lydia is slow on the uptake after the three patient visits, though I did understand her inner conflict. Also, I felt Lydia was slightly underdeveloped although I truly love, as ever, Jonas's continued appreciation for her
The fathers are what really round this story out, besides the detail and competence of the characters.
February 1, 2021
I absolutely love this series, and all these little side novels are just so sweet and a great way to prolong the series before it's over. Only one more to go sadly. This one had such a sad start. Lydia had been through so much and it's just so sickening how she was treated. But the love story is sweet and being so short it was pretty fast-paced. I loved it. I plan to probably read every book this author has written. I love the plots and the romance and just her writing style.
September 9, 2015
Written August 19, 2914
4 Stars - Delightful refreshing reading!!!
...as grandma would have said
Book #1.5
I really liked the prequel novella and the first novel in this Brother Sinister series by Courtney Milan.
• #0.5 - The Governess Affair (4.5 stars)
London 1835, Serena (Barton) & Hugo Marshall (the wolf...)
• #1 - The Duchess War (4.5 stars)
Leicester 1863, Minnie (Wilhelmina Pursling / Minerva Lane) & Robert Alan Graydon Blaisdell, the ninth Duke of Clermont
This is a shortie before book #2 and I got it as an audiobook.
Still as enthusiastic Ingela?
Well yeah, this series is so surprisingl good. Perfect for a slightly demanding more mature girl (a dedicated and tireless romance reader) who want the very best in every romantic book genre.
***********************************************************
Leicester December 1863...
A Kiss For Midwinter is a sweet tender story about a goodlooking honorable young doctor and Miss Lydia Charingford, the young factory owner's daughter. Lydia is the girl with a very sad and disastrous (for young girls then long ago...) event behind her. She is also Minnie's (book #1) best friend.
Long ago, when Doctor Jonas Grantham was still a young ambitious scrap dealer's son and was to begin his medical studies, he got a chance to practice for an elderly colleague during a period. He then witnessed something that felt so wrong, a cynical medical assessment that he could not possibly stop, or never forget.
Several years later meets Dr. Jonas the beautiful cheerful Miss Lydia and since then she's his big life-challenge. His number 1 future chosen woman, even if she just is the twelfth most beautiful young lady in Leicester. ~ But Lydia will not know about this sarcastic, but smart looking, admirer. She so much dislikes him and is always trying to avoid the young, so very outspoken, doctor. His intense dark dangerous eyes doesn't make it better.
Like in the previous books in this series, is this very much the male characters —the hero's— book and own story. We are also, for the most parts, follow his feelings and thoughts.
There are the disease old senile father, the deep poverty among his many patients, thoughts about contraception, cleanliness and infection risks and of course how he should find a wife in order to satisfy his own strong lust.
It was strong and wonderful. I loved these two.
***********************************************************
As an quite short audio novella...?
As I said before Ms. Rosalyn Landor is undoubtedly a very skilled narrator. She is reading these stories for us, even this lovely (100 pages) novella, with so much seriousness and empathy that these tender and thoughtful dialogues, their emotions and and her voices for all characters never gets funny cheezy or feels too ridiculous. ~ Well done!
***********************************************************
I feel even this third time that Courtney Milan not is a writer who makes gigling modest characters.
It is always openly and straight on here. 'Things & happenings' are pronounced in clear text. That way of writing makes these historical romances so charmingly irresistible.
The novella A Kiss For Midwinter is just not another sugary sweet princess story. This thoughtful, slow burning novella about inner strong needs, historical realities and restrained feelings, was a great one to listening to.
I can't but recommend these lovely books for all you romantic readers who still need some wellmade and tasteful HR spice in your romance-reading-life now and then.
Next up book #2 - The Heiress Effect, about Jane Fairfield and Oliver Marshall.
I LIKE - irresistibly charming and heartwarming, again...
*********
The Brother Sinister series by Courtney Milan. Four novels and three short novellas.
Next...
4 Stars - Delightful refreshing reading!!!
...as grandma would have said
Book #1.5
I really liked the prequel novella and the first novel in this Brother Sinister series by Courtney Milan.
• #0.5 - The Governess Affair (4.5 stars)
London 1835, Serena (Barton) & Hugo Marshall (the wolf...)
• #1 - The Duchess War (4.5 stars)
Leicester 1863, Minnie (Wilhelmina Pursling / Minerva Lane) & Robert Alan Graydon Blaisdell, the ninth Duke of Clermont
This is a shortie before book #2 and I got it as an audiobook.
Still as enthusiastic Ingela?
Well yeah, this series is so surprisingl good. Perfect for a slightly demanding more mature girl (a dedicated and tireless romance reader) who want the very best in every romantic book genre.
***********************************************************
Leicester December 1863...
A Kiss For Midwinter is a sweet tender story about a goodlooking honorable young doctor and Miss Lydia Charingford, the young factory owner's daughter. Lydia is the girl with a very sad and disastrous (for young girls then long ago...) event behind her. She is also Minnie's (book #1) best friend.
Long ago, when Doctor Jonas Grantham was still a young ambitious scrap dealer's son and was to begin his medical studies, he got a chance to practice for an elderly colleague during a period. He then witnessed something that felt so wrong, a cynical medical assessment that he could not possibly stop, or never forget.
‘When Lydia Charingford was around, though, he felt like a smiling dark little raincloud.’
Several years later meets Dr. Jonas the beautiful cheerful Miss Lydia and since then she's his big life-challenge. His number 1 future chosen woman, even if she just is the twelfth most beautiful young lady in Leicester. ~ But Lydia will not know about this sarcastic, but smart looking, admirer. She so much dislikes him and is always trying to avoid the young, so very outspoken, doctor. His intense dark dangerous eyes doesn't make it better.
Like in the previous books in this series, is this very much the male characters —the hero's— book and own story. We are also, for the most parts, follow his feelings and thoughts.
There are the disease old senile father, the deep poverty among his many patients, thoughts about contraception, cleanliness and infection risks and of course how he should find a wife in order to satisfy his own strong lust.
‘It was a kiss like chocolate, a heade mif of cacao and sugar, each ingredient imperfect on its own, but breathtaking when mixed together.
And when he tasted her, when he nippet at her lips and she opened up to him, she was sweet and tart, like cherries in brandy.’
It was strong and wonderful. I loved these two.
***********************************************************
As an quite short audio novella...?
As I said before Ms. Rosalyn Landor is undoubtedly a very skilled narrator. She is reading these stories for us, even this lovely (100 pages) novella, with so much seriousness and empathy that these tender and thoughtful dialogues, their emotions and and her voices for all characters never gets funny cheezy or feels too ridiculous. ~ Well done!
***********************************************************
I feel even this third time that Courtney Milan not is a writer who makes gigling modest characters.
It is always openly and straight on here. 'Things & happenings' are pronounced in clear text. That way of writing makes these historical romances so charmingly irresistible.
The novella A Kiss For Midwinter is just not another sugary sweet princess story. This thoughtful, slow burning novella about inner strong needs, historical realities and restrained feelings, was a great one to listening to.
I can't but recommend these lovely books for all you romantic readers who still need some wellmade and tasteful HR spice in your romance-reading-life now and then.
Next up book #2 - The Heiress Effect, about Jane Fairfield and Oliver Marshall.
I LIKE - irresistibly charming and heartwarming, again...
*********
The Brother Sinister series by Courtney Milan. Four novels and three short novellas.
Next...
November 8, 2016
This was just what the doctor ordered. Feel like I've been in the desert for days and finally found water.
Wonderful, wonderful, marvellous. And a good way to ease into the Christmas run up ["It gets earlier and earlier every year." she observed in her thin, Court-worn voice.]
Milan's ability to deal with big, important, awful events in a manner which does not minimise or skirt them, but also keeps the story light and warm is such, such a skill. This one has a humdinger at the centre.
**** Spoilers Below ****
Heroine, Lydia, is a young pregnancy, duped into a physical relationship by an older married man. Hero, Jonas, is the assistant of the doctor called to treat her, a man who prescribes her poison, which will kill the baby and probably her too. Jonas knows and does nothing, wedded to propriety and the knowledge that he will inherit the man's practice if he just sits back and lets it happen. He's a working class boy done good. His father sacrificed everything to put him through school and University.
That's a lot of stuff going on. That's enough for a full length novel and Milan has only given herself a novella to manage it.
Lydia and the pregnancy she handles marvellously. Lydia doesn't let herself be a victim but she's allowed to be angry and sad. The scene when she tells Jonas how it happened and the next when she finally reveals her anger are masterful. She had issues with falling in love and the dangers of physical intimacy which are less well developed but it's a word count restrictions rather than anything else.
I loff Jonas because I have a serious soft spot for blunt, plain speaking heroes. Flowery language will never do it for me in the same way [it's a Knightley thing - 'if I loved you less']. However, I am forced to admit that his character didn't hang together as well as Lydia's - but only when I thought about it. It didn't take me out of the story though. I was kind of just willing to accept it because, these two people have to get together somehow, right?
On which note, the romance was a bit unsubtle, the leaps of progress seemed quite sudden. Jonas is besotted with Lydia in like 3% and Lydia turns up to his house having changed her mind about the relationship rather of the blue. But I think that's just what you get with novellas.
Sex was awesome, as ever with CM.
If this was a new to me author or one without sky high expectations this would be five stars all day long. But really Milan is on a curve of her own and there are imperfections here. So I'm being harsh and only saying 4.5 stars. I'll reread it sometime and probably want to up the grade though.
Wonderful, wonderful, marvellous. And a good way to ease into the Christmas run up ["It gets earlier and earlier every year." she observed in her thin, Court-worn voice.]
Milan's ability to deal with big, important, awful events in a manner which does not minimise or skirt them, but also keeps the story light and warm is such, such a skill. This one has a humdinger at the centre.
**** Spoilers Below ****
Heroine, Lydia, is a young pregnancy, duped into a physical relationship by an older married man. Hero, Jonas, is the assistant of the doctor called to treat her, a man who prescribes her poison, which will kill the baby and probably her too. Jonas knows and does nothing, wedded to propriety and the knowledge that he will inherit the man's practice if he just sits back and lets it happen. He's a working class boy done good. His father sacrificed everything to put him through school and University.
That's a lot of stuff going on. That's enough for a full length novel and Milan has only given herself a novella to manage it.
Lydia and the pregnancy she handles marvellously. Lydia doesn't let herself be a victim but she's allowed to be angry and sad. The scene when she tells Jonas how it happened and the next when she finally reveals her anger are masterful. She had issues with falling in love and the dangers of physical intimacy which are less well developed but it's a word count restrictions rather than anything else.
I loff Jonas because I have a serious soft spot for blunt, plain speaking heroes. Flowery language will never do it for me in the same way [it's a Knightley thing - 'if I loved you less']. However, I am forced to admit that his character didn't hang together as well as Lydia's - but only when I thought about it. It didn't take me out of the story though. I was kind of just willing to accept it because, these two people have to get together somehow, right?
On which note, the romance was a bit unsubtle, the leaps of progress seemed quite sudden. Jonas is besotted with Lydia in like 3% and Lydia turns up to his house having changed her mind about the relationship rather of the blue. But I think that's just what you get with novellas.
Sex was awesome, as ever with CM.
If this was a new to me author or one without sky high expectations this would be five stars all day long. But really Milan is on a curve of her own and there are imperfections here. So I'm being harsh and only saying 4.5 stars. I'll reread it sometime and probably want to up the grade though.
January 1, 2016
Courtney Milan writes wonderfully. Her characters are three-dimensional and nuanced, more like real people than characters. I always feel like I want the romance to happen just as much as they do or in some circumstances more. My heart was with Grantham as he wooed Lydia, and I felt deeply for Lydia. Her terrible experience five years earlier would sour anyone on romance, and I could see why her barriers were erected so strongly. I liked that Milan did give them an opportunity to get to know each other and that they had many talks which helped them to get to know each other in the deep way they needed. Grantham is a bit of an odd duck. He's lacking in social graces in that he doesn't know how to measure or mince his words, but tells it like it is. His reasons for marrying initially are barebones pragmatism, but understandable given his situation. But he learned the hard way that he needed to deal in honesty no matter what the cost.
Somehow Milan managed to make a novella feel like a novel. By the end of the book, I did feel like an entire courtship had taken place and that these two people had plenty of reason to be committed to each other. I also liked that she includes some social consciousness such as the sad state of medicine in the late 1800s, especially in light of women's health and the angst of caring for an aging parent.
This was a rich, engrossing read.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Somehow Milan managed to make a novella feel like a novel. By the end of the book, I did feel like an entire courtship had taken place and that these two people had plenty of reason to be committed to each other. I also liked that she includes some social consciousness such as the sad state of medicine in the late 1800s, especially in light of women's health and the angst of caring for an aging parent.
This was a rich, engrossing read.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
November 15, 2018
My rating is probably closer to 4.5 stars. I really liked this one and it left me with a big old happy grin in the end. At the start of the story, we see Lydia at her low point which Jonas witnessed. Jonas was socially inept which I think added to his charm. Lydia couldn't see past the things that he knew about her. They make a silly bet but Jonas really just wants to spend more time with Lydia to try to win her over. The first time they see each other after that bet was over really got to me. My heart melted into a big puddle over here and I couldn't wait to see this pair together. I am definitely going to have to read more from Courtney Milan.
Book source: Kindle freebie
Book source: Kindle freebie
July 24, 2016
A Kiss for Midwinter is an offshoot of Ms. Milan’s current Brothers Sinister series, a companion novella that takes place after the events of The Duchess War and which tells the story of Minnie’s best friend, Miss Lydia Charingford. We learned in the earlier novel that Lydia’s past contains a scandal which could ruin her if it became known, and in this story, we learn what actually happened.
Now twenty-one, Miss Charingford is vivacious and well-liked. She is always cheerful and the sort of person for whom the glass always seems half-full - an optimist who always finds the good in everyone. The only person who is able to see beyond the face Lydia presents to the world (and even to herself) is the local doctor, Jonas Grantham. He is very taken with Lydia, and would like to court her but she dislikes him intensely and doesn’t scruple to let him know it. He is the only person outside her immediate family (and Minnie) who knows of her disgrace. She doesn’t want to be reminded of it in the form of the handsome and somewhat sardonic young man who was, at the time, acting as an assistant to the local, narrow-minded, stick-in-the-mud physician.
But Jonas is a remarkably constant chap and he determines to wait for her to relent. Yet after sixteen months of waiting, Lydia still can’t stand to be near him. In an attempt to spend a little time with her in a last-ditch effort to get her to see him as the man he really is rather than the man she believes him to be, he proposes a wager.
“I wager,” he said, “that I could show you a situation before Christmas that would be beyond even your capacity for good cheer.”
If she wins, Lydia wants Jonas to promise that he will never speak to her again. If he wins, he wants a kiss.
Believing he wants to teach her some sort of lesson about her eternal optimism, Lydia agrees to accompany Jonas on three house-calls. He takes her to see some of his poorest patients, thus beginning a most unconventional courtship. But where Jonas sees people in poor health who are struggling to make ends meet in difficult situations, Lydia is also able to find genuine love, kindness, and devotion.
There’s also a lovely secondary theme running through the story about the love of fathers for their children. Right from the start, I was struck by the way Lydia’s parents supported her through her ordeal, rather than censuring her or having her put away (not uncommon when dealing with women who did not follow the social norm). His is a swiftly drawn portrait, but we are left in no doubt that Lydia’s father is a kind, loving, and wise man who loves his daughter very much.
Jonas’ father is similarly devoted to his son, but sadly, he is no longer in good health, physically or mentally. The portrait Ms. Milan has painted of a proud man who is determined not to be a burden to his only child is masterful and certainly produced a couple of lump-in-the-throat moments, especially in the scene where Jonas tells Lydia about everything his father has done for him, and of his guilt and frustration at not now being able to reciprocate. The complicated emotions in the relationship between the two men are superbly written, and Ms. Landor’s performance in the scenes between them and in Jonas’ confession to Lydia, is spot on. The quality of her interpretation matches absolutely the quality of the writing and she perfectly expresses Jonas’ underlying despair and sense of guilt as well showing us the vulnerability beneath his father’s outward stubbornness.
Jonas Grantham is, quite simply, lovely and is the real heart of this novella. He’s young and generous of spirit, has a wry sense of humour, and is determined to do his absolute best for the people in his care. He is kind, insightful, and refreshingly honest believing that the truth is the greatest gift one can give another person. He also harbours a lot of guilt for what happened to Lydia in the past because he did not speak out or question the treatment given to her by the quack doctor who attended her. So he has vowed never to just sit by again and works diligently against the ignorance which can so often endanger health, whether it be by talking about contraception to a woman whose body is exhausted from continual childbearing or by undertaking the simple act of keeping his hands clean to help prevent the communication of infection.
The dialogue between Jonas and Lydia is wonderful and much of it is uncommon for a historical romance. I particularly enjoyed Jonas’ no-nonsense manner and his unfailing insistence on calling a spade a spade. Their relationship develops naturally and unhurriedly, even though the bulk of the story takes place over just a few days. Ms. Milan has written one of the most unusual and direct seduction scenes I’ve ever read but it’s absolutely perfect for this particular couple and certainly made me smile.
Rosalyn Landor is once again narrating (it seems as though she is going to be narrating all of the books in the Brothers Sinister series) and as with both The Duchess War and The Governess Affair her performance is impeccable, a perfect complement to the subtleties and the emotional depth in Ms. Milan’s writing.
When performing Lydia, she has employed a slightly higher pitch than she often uses for her heroines and it made her sound appropriately youthful. In her initial encounters with Jonas, Lydia speaks harshly, exhibiting a bitterness with him that isn’t present when she addresses anyone else. Her tone and attitude start to soften towards Jonas after she spends time with him and finds herself beginning to like him, but there’s still an edge, a fragility in her voice warning the listener that here is a young woman who is not as happy as her outward calm would suggest.
Ms. Landor has chosen to give Jonas a slight regional accent, which suits him completely and really helps to communicate his natural openness and candour. His underlying frustrations – with himself and his father – are captured very well indeed, and in her performance of his Mr. Grantham Senior, she has brought to life a vulnerable (and slightly bewildered) old man who is trying desperately not to let his weaknesses show.
All the secondary characters are appropriately and distinctly voiced and as is always the case with this narrator, the story is beautifully and intelligently read.
As ever, I stand in awe of Courtney Milan’s ability to craft a novella in which both story and characters are fully developed and which packs as much of an emotional punch (if not more) than many full-length novels. A Kiss for Midwinter was a delight from start to finish, a lovely story for the holiday period in which a broken young woman receives the gift of truth and a deserving young man gets his heart’s desire.
Now twenty-one, Miss Charingford is vivacious and well-liked. She is always cheerful and the sort of person for whom the glass always seems half-full - an optimist who always finds the good in everyone. The only person who is able to see beyond the face Lydia presents to the world (and even to herself) is the local doctor, Jonas Grantham. He is very taken with Lydia, and would like to court her but she dislikes him intensely and doesn’t scruple to let him know it. He is the only person outside her immediate family (and Minnie) who knows of her disgrace. She doesn’t want to be reminded of it in the form of the handsome and somewhat sardonic young man who was, at the time, acting as an assistant to the local, narrow-minded, stick-in-the-mud physician.
But Jonas is a remarkably constant chap and he determines to wait for her to relent. Yet after sixteen months of waiting, Lydia still can’t stand to be near him. In an attempt to spend a little time with her in a last-ditch effort to get her to see him as the man he really is rather than the man she believes him to be, he proposes a wager.
“I wager,” he said, “that I could show you a situation before Christmas that would be beyond even your capacity for good cheer.”
If she wins, Lydia wants Jonas to promise that he will never speak to her again. If he wins, he wants a kiss.
Believing he wants to teach her some sort of lesson about her eternal optimism, Lydia agrees to accompany Jonas on three house-calls. He takes her to see some of his poorest patients, thus beginning a most unconventional courtship. But where Jonas sees people in poor health who are struggling to make ends meet in difficult situations, Lydia is also able to find genuine love, kindness, and devotion.
There’s also a lovely secondary theme running through the story about the love of fathers for their children. Right from the start, I was struck by the way Lydia’s parents supported her through her ordeal, rather than censuring her or having her put away (not uncommon when dealing with women who did not follow the social norm). His is a swiftly drawn portrait, but we are left in no doubt that Lydia’s father is a kind, loving, and wise man who loves his daughter very much.
Jonas’ father is similarly devoted to his son, but sadly, he is no longer in good health, physically or mentally. The portrait Ms. Milan has painted of a proud man who is determined not to be a burden to his only child is masterful and certainly produced a couple of lump-in-the-throat moments, especially in the scene where Jonas tells Lydia about everything his father has done for him, and of his guilt and frustration at not now being able to reciprocate. The complicated emotions in the relationship between the two men are superbly written, and Ms. Landor’s performance in the scenes between them and in Jonas’ confession to Lydia, is spot on. The quality of her interpretation matches absolutely the quality of the writing and she perfectly expresses Jonas’ underlying despair and sense of guilt as well showing us the vulnerability beneath his father’s outward stubbornness.
Jonas Grantham is, quite simply, lovely and is the real heart of this novella. He’s young and generous of spirit, has a wry sense of humour, and is determined to do his absolute best for the people in his care. He is kind, insightful, and refreshingly honest believing that the truth is the greatest gift one can give another person. He also harbours a lot of guilt for what happened to Lydia in the past because he did not speak out or question the treatment given to her by the quack doctor who attended her. So he has vowed never to just sit by again and works diligently against the ignorance which can so often endanger health, whether it be by talking about contraception to a woman whose body is exhausted from continual childbearing or by undertaking the simple act of keeping his hands clean to help prevent the communication of infection.
The dialogue between Jonas and Lydia is wonderful and much of it is uncommon for a historical romance. I particularly enjoyed Jonas’ no-nonsense manner and his unfailing insistence on calling a spade a spade. Their relationship develops naturally and unhurriedly, even though the bulk of the story takes place over just a few days. Ms. Milan has written one of the most unusual and direct seduction scenes I’ve ever read but it’s absolutely perfect for this particular couple and certainly made me smile.
Rosalyn Landor is once again narrating (it seems as though she is going to be narrating all of the books in the Brothers Sinister series) and as with both The Duchess War and The Governess Affair her performance is impeccable, a perfect complement to the subtleties and the emotional depth in Ms. Milan’s writing.
When performing Lydia, she has employed a slightly higher pitch than she often uses for her heroines and it made her sound appropriately youthful. In her initial encounters with Jonas, Lydia speaks harshly, exhibiting a bitterness with him that isn’t present when she addresses anyone else. Her tone and attitude start to soften towards Jonas after she spends time with him and finds herself beginning to like him, but there’s still an edge, a fragility in her voice warning the listener that here is a young woman who is not as happy as her outward calm would suggest.
Ms. Landor has chosen to give Jonas a slight regional accent, which suits him completely and really helps to communicate his natural openness and candour. His underlying frustrations – with himself and his father – are captured very well indeed, and in her performance of his Mr. Grantham Senior, she has brought to life a vulnerable (and slightly bewildered) old man who is trying desperately not to let his weaknesses show.
All the secondary characters are appropriately and distinctly voiced and as is always the case with this narrator, the story is beautifully and intelligently read.
As ever, I stand in awe of Courtney Milan’s ability to craft a novella in which both story and characters are fully developed and which packs as much of an emotional punch (if not more) than many full-length novels. A Kiss for Midwinter was a delight from start to finish, a lovely story for the holiday period in which a broken young woman receives the gift of truth and a deserving young man gets his heart’s desire.
September 12, 2016
4.5 stars, because it's GOOD, and it's hard to write a shorter story well. Milan pulled it off neatly. This is the third book in The Brothers Sinister series, and just brimming with STORY. Loved it!! And it's sexy, too, with one scalding love scene -- Lydia and Jonas know what they want and neither are shy about going for it.
A Kiss for Midwinteris set in Leicester, England, in December, 1863. The prologue is set in 1857.
So far, I've enjoyed all three books in the series. Even when the romance is going in a frustrating direction I stay tuned, because Milan offers so much more than a love story. In this book, in addition to the sexy and straightforward Jonas -- I want a doctor like him!! -- we get a peek into social strictures and medical history, especially pertaining to birth control and germ control. (I shudder at those earlier practices.) Jonas is totally frank with Lydia about all these matters. The first scene where he just gave her the straight dope -- the look on her face -- hysterical!
We also get a beautiful portrayal of a father's love. Actually, two fathers. These "fatherly love stories" made the book, transforming a good story into something more.
Jonas's father made his money as a scrap metal dealer, selling his small business so Jonas could go to the best medical school in the country. Now he is poor and dying slowly of a failing heart. Even worse, his mind is starting to go. (It's sad, but actually heartwarming). Afraid that he will be a burden to Jonas in his old age, he collects metal madly, planning to some day sell it -- as soon as he can get out of bed again. (But how does he acquire the metal, stuck in bed? Does his servant handle the transactions?) Anyhow, his home is BURSTING with metalic junk -- from nails to bed stands and cooking pans. Yup. He's become a hoarder. It's dangerous, it's dirty, and it's making Jonas crazy, but his dad won't let him help him. It's a matter of pride.
I loved it. I was caught up in this side-story of unconditional love, told through the realistic arguments and appeals between Jonas and his father. Jonas, who values truth above all virtues, has to lie to his father for his own good.
Then there was Lydia's father. Wow. Like, I'm almost weeping at some of the scenes. More unconditional love! With "show and not tell" methods, Milan portrays this man's devotion to his daughter at ages 3, 15, and now, at 21. (Lydia is his only child, I assume, since siblings were never mentioned -- unless I missed it? Would have been good to know whether he had any other children).
High marks for the romance! Jonas gave Lydia complete acceptance. He gave her the gift of TRUTH -- freeing her from shame and allowing her to get good and mad. True, he fell in love with her instantly, but what a fun scene that was, plus he had 16 months to come to his senses, while she did her best to ignore and disdain him, but he was "constant in his affections" and always felt happier in her presence. Milan convinced me that Jonas truly loved Lydia, despite the insta-luv.
Lydia is likable, and I sympathized with her initial feelings of discomfort around Jonas. I also appreciated her interactions with Jonas's father, but she felt secondary almost. Jonas carried the tale. However, Lydia takes center stage in one scene. At the end, she brought Jonas a Christmas gift, placed inside a small drawstring bag made of gold velvet and green ribbon. (Brilliant!! Loved it! Even if improbable!)
The epilogue was disappointing. Milan teased me with the notion of having breakfast with Robert and Minnie from the previous book, and then she didn't deliver! Also, I wanted to know if Jonas's dad was living with them, and whether he was settled in comfortably.
Other books in this series: I read this shorter work right after I finished the full-length and gut-wrenching prequel, The Duchess War, hoping to see more of Robert and Minnie. No such luck. Also, there was no mention of Hugo and Serena from the thoroughly satisfying series opener, The Governess Affair ( but I was not expecting them to appear).
Nonfiction connection: Jonas's unwillingness to wear gloves and his hand-washing practice reminded me of a biography I read last summer, depicting the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881. He was shot, but he died about three months later, not by bullet -- by horrendous infection. In searching, probing, feeling for the bullet in his side, American doctors refused to buy into the new European trend in medicine -- sterilizing tools and washing hands thoroughly, inspired by Dr. Lister (of Listerine) and by Dr. Snow, according to Milan. I found it interesting. See Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
He let out a shaky breath and looked over at her. Her eyes were dark, dark. She reached up and pulled two pins from her hair, and her curls tumbled over her shoulders. Ever so slowly, he held out his hand to her.
A Kiss for Midwinteris set in Leicester, England, in December, 1863. The prologue is set in 1857.
So far, I've enjoyed all three books in the series. Even when the romance is going in a frustrating direction I stay tuned, because Milan offers so much more than a love story. In this book, in addition to the sexy and straightforward Jonas -- I want a doctor like him!! -- we get a peek into social strictures and medical history, especially pertaining to birth control and germ control. (I shudder at those earlier practices.) Jonas is totally frank with Lydia about all these matters. The first scene where he just gave her the straight dope -- the look on her face -- hysterical!
We also get a beautiful portrayal of a father's love. Actually, two fathers. These "fatherly love stories" made the book, transforming a good story into something more.
Jonas's father made his money as a scrap metal dealer, selling his small business so Jonas could go to the best medical school in the country. Now he is poor and dying slowly of a failing heart. Even worse, his mind is starting to go. (It's sad, but actually heartwarming). Afraid that he will be a burden to Jonas in his old age, he collects metal madly, planning to some day sell it -- as soon as he can get out of bed again. (But how does he acquire the metal, stuck in bed? Does his servant handle the transactions?) Anyhow, his home is BURSTING with metalic junk -- from nails to bed stands and cooking pans. Yup. He's become a hoarder. It's dangerous, it's dirty, and it's making Jonas crazy, but his dad won't let him help him. It's a matter of pride.
I loved it. I was caught up in this side-story of unconditional love, told through the realistic arguments and appeals between Jonas and his father. Jonas, who values truth above all virtues, has to lie to his father for his own good.
Then there was Lydia's father. Wow. Like, I'm almost weeping at some of the scenes. More unconditional love! With "show and not tell" methods, Milan portrays this man's devotion to his daughter at ages 3, 15, and now, at 21. (Lydia is his only child, I assume, since siblings were never mentioned -- unless I missed it? Would have been good to know whether he had any other children).
High marks for the romance! Jonas gave Lydia complete acceptance. He gave her the gift of TRUTH -- freeing her from shame and allowing her to get good and mad. True, he fell in love with her instantly, but what a fun scene that was, plus he had 16 months to come to his senses, while she did her best to ignore and disdain him, but he was "constant in his affections" and always felt happier in her presence. Milan convinced me that Jonas truly loved Lydia, despite the insta-luv.
Lydia is likable, and I sympathized with her initial feelings of discomfort around Jonas. I also appreciated her interactions with Jonas's father, but she felt secondary almost. Jonas carried the tale. However, Lydia takes center stage in one scene. At the end, she brought Jonas a Christmas gift, placed inside a small drawstring bag made of gold velvet and green ribbon. (Brilliant!! Loved it! Even if improbable!)
The epilogue was disappointing. Milan teased me with the notion of having breakfast with Robert and Minnie from the previous book, and then she didn't deliver! Also, I wanted to know if Jonas's dad was living with them, and whether he was settled in comfortably.
Other books in this series: I read this shorter work right after I finished the full-length and gut-wrenching prequel, The Duchess War, hoping to see more of Robert and Minnie. No such luck. Also, there was no mention of Hugo and Serena from the thoroughly satisfying series opener, The Governess Affair ( but I was not expecting them to appear).
Nonfiction connection: Jonas's unwillingness to wear gloves and his hand-washing practice reminded me of a biography I read last summer, depicting the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881. He was shot, but he died about three months later, not by bullet -- by horrendous infection. In searching, probing, feeling for the bullet in his side, American doctors refused to buy into the new European trend in medicine -- sterilizing tools and washing hands thoroughly, inspired by Dr. Lister (of Listerine) and by Dr. Snow, according to Milan. I found it interesting. See Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
December 24, 2012
I loved this so much and am at a total loss for what to write to convey how excellent this story was - to simply say READ IT does not suffice. Even though this was a novella, it didn't feel short - it just felt perfect. I said that about Ms. Milan's last novella
that I read and probably thought, at that time, there is no way she can write a better novella and pack more into it. Well, I was wrong.
Sometimes a mistake we make in our youth can carry into adulthood and leave little or no hope for a happy future. Lydia Charingford was a naive young woman who was duped and left in an untenable situation. Jonas is a young physician (21) at the time he meets Lydia (15) and things could not be worse.
Fast forward five years. Jonas is back in town and wants to find a wife. His primary reason for wanting to marry: that he thought it expedient to procure a regular source of sexual intercourse without risking syphilis. That's exactly the reason I got married! Only kidding. One of the things that was different about this book is the frequent use of penis, vagina, cervix, sexual intercourse - words not often used but they made sense in the context they were used (Jonas, being a doctor, was extremely forthright about everything)
Lydia and Jonas are one of the best couples out there - they compliment each other in every way. Jonas tended toward gloom and worst-case scenarios - he was like a dark little raincloud. When Lydia was around he felt like a smiling dark little raincloud. She saw the world in an entirely different way. Jonas helped her see the truth about her past - which she needed in order to heal.
Nothing I write can do this lovely story justice. Just read it, okay? You will not regret it
that I read and probably thought, at that time, there is no way she can write a better novella and pack more into it. Well, I was wrong. Sometimes a mistake we make in our youth can carry into adulthood and leave little or no hope for a happy future. Lydia Charingford was a naive young woman who was duped and left in an untenable situation. Jonas is a young physician (21) at the time he meets Lydia (15) and things could not be worse.
Fast forward five years. Jonas is back in town and wants to find a wife. His primary reason for wanting to marry: that he thought it expedient to procure a regular source of sexual intercourse without risking syphilis. That's exactly the reason I got married! Only kidding. One of the things that was different about this book is the frequent use of penis, vagina, cervix, sexual intercourse - words not often used but they made sense in the context they were used (Jonas, being a doctor, was extremely forthright about everything)
Lydia and Jonas are one of the best couples out there - they compliment each other in every way. Jonas tended toward gloom and worst-case scenarios - he was like a dark little raincloud. When Lydia was around he felt like a smiling dark little raincloud. She saw the world in an entirely different way. Jonas helped her see the truth about her past - which she needed in order to heal.
Nothing I write can do this lovely story justice. Just read it, okay? You will not regret it
December 22, 2013
This has my most hated "hero" in 2013. I found him completely, utterly despicable.
I haven't been able to write a review yet because every time I attempt it my blood pressure goes up.
Standing by while a sham doctor prescribes poison for a young, pregnant girl, knowing it will likely kill her and her unborn baby, because he wants to inherit the doctor's practice? Are you kidding me? And then choosing a list of wifey-candidates (which he wants so he can have lots of sex and not worry about contracting a STD--fabulous) based on their beauty....um, okay. And then, getting irked w/ one of the candidates because she has freckles, and her "smile is too wide"--WTF! And then when he realizes who she is, he wants her because "he always wants what he can't have"....and then, even after he realizes how vulnerable she feels because he knows her big secret, during one of their first conversations, he comes onto her and says he wants her sexually--because that's something a real stand-up guy would do.
Oh wait a minute. No, it's not.
Oh crap. My blood pressure is going up. Must. Stop.
I really enjoyed some other stories by this author, but this was certainly not one of them.
I haven't been able to write a review yet because every time I attempt it my blood pressure goes up.
Standing by while a sham doctor prescribes poison for a young, pregnant girl, knowing it will likely kill her and her unborn baby, because he wants to inherit the doctor's practice? Are you kidding me? And then choosing a list of wifey-candidates (which he wants so he can have lots of sex and not worry about contracting a STD--fabulous) based on their beauty....um, okay. And then, getting irked w/ one of the candidates because she has freckles, and her "smile is too wide"--WTF! And then when he realizes who she is, he wants her because "he always wants what he can't have"....and then, even after he realizes how vulnerable she feels because he knows her big secret, during one of their first conversations, he comes onto her and says he wants her sexually--because that's something a real stand-up guy would do.
Oh wait a minute. No, it's not.
Oh crap. My blood pressure is going up. Must. Stop.
I really enjoyed some other stories by this author, but this was certainly not one of them.
November 5, 2018
1. It had a Christmas vibe. And I am currently feeling the holiday cheer. (I wore my Boston terrier Christmas PJs all day today)
2. Jonas was absolutely the best hero ever. His bluntness. His brilliance. His romantic nature. His humor. Honestly he had me at the 11th most attractive woman, and it only got worse from there. I am just completely in love with him.
3. Feminism. Healing. Love. Respect. Growth.
This has to be one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
2. Jonas was absolutely the best hero ever. His bluntness. His brilliance. His romantic nature. His humor. Honestly he had me at the 11th most attractive woman, and it only got worse from there. I am just completely in love with him.
3. Feminism. Healing. Love. Respect. Growth.
This has to be one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
April 21, 2018
"I only said I would stop talking to you. I never promised to stop loving you."
Lydia Charingford was only 15 when she was seduced by an older, married man, became pregnant and later miscarried. Since then, she has suppressed that time of her life and is living in a denial bubble of cheerfulness and optimism. Dr. Jonas Grantham is a blunt tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, who, as an aspiring medical student, accompanied the doctor who attended 15-year-old pregnant Lydia long ago and is privy to her secret.
Lydia doesn't like him. He decides he loves her. It's not going to be easy to get her on the same page. Her antipathy to him is tied to the repression of her feelings about her past seduction and miscarriage. So to force her into his company, he makes a wager that if she accompanies him on 3 medical visits and still sees something bright, cheery and optimistic about these patients' situations, he will never talk to her again. If, on the other hand, she sees that some things in life have no optimistic outlook, he wins a kiss.
It's a simple story told beautifully but not simply. As usual, Milan has rich detail about life in 1860s England, excellently written characters, and this time with very interesting tidbits of info about medicine and doctoring at that time. Milan has seldom disappointed me with her historical romances. I've read them all and can think of only a few that I did not like.
Another thing about Milan as an author is that she seems genuinely to like and respect her readers, not just as buyers of her books, and never comes out with a sloppy, rushed, trite romance with an overused plot the way some authors do. She's original and meticulous in her writing. Brava!
Lydia Charingford was only 15 when she was seduced by an older, married man, became pregnant and later miscarried. Since then, she has suppressed that time of her life and is living in a denial bubble of cheerfulness and optimism. Dr. Jonas Grantham is a blunt tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, who, as an aspiring medical student, accompanied the doctor who attended 15-year-old pregnant Lydia long ago and is privy to her secret.
Lydia doesn't like him. He decides he loves her. It's not going to be easy to get her on the same page. Her antipathy to him is tied to the repression of her feelings about her past seduction and miscarriage. So to force her into his company, he makes a wager that if she accompanies him on 3 medical visits and still sees something bright, cheery and optimistic about these patients' situations, he will never talk to her again. If, on the other hand, she sees that some things in life have no optimistic outlook, he wins a kiss.
It's a simple story told beautifully but not simply. As usual, Milan has rich detail about life in 1860s England, excellently written characters, and this time with very interesting tidbits of info about medicine and doctoring at that time. Milan has seldom disappointed me with her historical romances. I've read them all and can think of only a few that I did not like.
Another thing about Milan as an author is that she seems genuinely to like and respect her readers, not just as buyers of her books, and never comes out with a sloppy, rushed, trite romance with an overused plot the way some authors do. She's original and meticulous in her writing. Brava!
December 24, 2018
Really liked the blunt and no filter Dr. Grantham. Lydia was OK. But Jonas was a riot!
1. He weeded her out (almost) as the eleventh prettiest girl in the town on his top 10 list :) Until she opened her mouth - then she WAS the list :)
2. He talks to her about cervixes and penises. He's a no-nonsense doctor after all!
3. He spent 18 months pining after her from afar after deciding that she was the one. (After she pretty ruthlessly shut him down!) and had enough self-control to not have sex with anyone else since!
4. She gave him a French Letter as a Xmas gift because she wanted him to finally break his abstinence - with HER =^.^=
What's not to love???
1. He weeded her out (almost) as the eleventh prettiest girl in the town on his top 10 list :) Until she opened her mouth - then she WAS the list :)
2. He talks to her about cervixes and penises. He's a no-nonsense doctor after all!
3. He spent 18 months pining after her from afar after deciding that she was the one. (After she pretty ruthlessly shut him down!) and had enough self-control to not have sex with anyone else since!
4. She gave him a French Letter as a Xmas gift because she wanted him to finally break his abstinence - with HER =^.^=
What's not to love???
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