At the Christmas Wedding

by Caroline Linden, Katharine Ashe, Maya Rodale

Snowed in at a castle full of handsome lords, three young ladies are about to have the holiday of their lives…

From the authors of At the Duke’s Wedding.

Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden

The road to happily-ever-after…

With Kingstag Castle full of guests and the snow falling, Viola Cavendish has her hands full making sure the Christmas house party runs smoothly. The unexpected arrival of the Earl of Winterton and his nephew, Lord Newton, upends everything. Not only is Lord Newton flirting with the young ladies Viola is supposed to chaperone, Lord Winterton, himself, makes her pulse race.

...always takes some twists and turns...

Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton, has come to Kingstag Castle in search of a valuable atlas, and he refuses to be deterred by the snow, the house party, his nephew, or even the most ridiculous play ever staged. But before long, the only map he wants is one that shows him the way to Viola’s heart…

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale

Jilted by a duke: Lady Serena Cavendish was born and bred to be a duchess. Too bad, then, that the Duke of Frye mysteriously and suddenly ended their betrothal.

Seduced by a Rogue: Greyson Jones, an agent of the crown, is the only one who thinks being jilted has made Serena more alluring. When he lucks into an invitation to a Christmas house party at Kingstag Castle to cheer her up—and perhaps find her a husband—he seizes the opportunity to win her heart before they might be parted forever.

On the way to the altar: Their journey to happily ever after involves a ridiculous play, a lovesick swan, a mysterious gift and, of course, a kiss.

Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe

The last time Lady Charlotte Ascot bumped into the Duke of Frye, she climbed a tree to avoid him. Sometimes, it’s simply easier to run away than to face her feelings for him—overwhelmingly passionate feelings that no modest lady should have! Now, on her way to Kingstag Castle to celebrate the holidays with friends, Charlotte is trapped by a snowstorm at a tiny country inn with the duke of her steamiest dreams.

But Frye has a secret of his own, and Christmas is the ideal time to finally tell the woman he’s always wanted the whole unvarnished truth. Better yet, he’ll show her...

Genres: Historical Romance, Christmas, Romance, Anthologies, Holiday, Novella, Historical Fiction

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.

Sign up at http://www.carolinelinden.com/signup.... to get notified about her books and receive a free short story exclusively for subscribers.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the Christmas Wedding by Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale, and Katharine Ashe is a 2017 publication.

This is a last minute add on to my holiday reading. I will confess, I had only planned to read the Katherine Ashe story due to time constraints, but I ended up reading the entire book because, as it turns out, the three stories featured in this anthology are interconnected.

The first novella is written by Caroline Linden and is centered around Viola Cavendish, who is left in charge of Kingstag Castle and the holiday Christmas party being held there. She already has her hands full, when out of the blue, Lord Winterton and his nephew arrive to see the Duke.

Winterton has traveled to Kingstag Castle in hopes of finding a rare Atlas he believes the Duke may possess. While he waits out the winter storm, hoping for the Duke’s speedy return, he finds himself enjoying the company of Viola Cavendish.

This story is not fully fleshed out, is a little too frenetic, but it did make me laugh a couple of times.

3 stars


The second story is written by Maya Rodale and features Lady Serena, who was destined to be a duchess, but who was recently jilted by her long -time fiancé, the Duke of Frye. Will she find her match in Frye’s best friend, Greyson Jones?

This novella explains some developments left unanswered in the first story, and I really liked Greyson. I also have a thing for unrequited love stories, so this one appealed on that front. Super short story, but overall satisfying. 3 stars

The last story is centered around the duke of Frye, and we finally get a more detailed explanation for why he jilted Serena.

Katharine Ashe is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I suppose I may be a little biased, but regardless, this last novella in the collection, did honestly appeal to me a bit more than the first two. I really liked Charlotte because she defied convention and I liked the adventure and intrigue. Charlotte and Frye belonged together, and so it was nice to know all the featured characters in these stories ended up with an enduring love match.

4 stars

I liked the way all the stories were connected, which does encourage readers to engage in all the stories offered in an anthology, which is a good thing.


The collection is a little rocky and uneven in some spots, but overall these are quick and easy to read novellas, very light hearted and fun. 3.5 stars rounded up for the collection as a whole.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B+ overall at AAR; B+ for the Ashe and the Linden, B- for the Rodale.

At the Christmas Wedding is a collection of festive novellas by three of the biggest names in historical romance – Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe. As with their previous anthology, At the Duke's Wedding, the individual stories take place concurrently, this time at and around Kingstag Castle in Dorset, the site of a festive house party being hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Wessex. The three stories are perfect seasonal fare – warm, light-hearted and perfectly romantic, laced with humour, filled with likeable principals and served up with a soupçon of Yuletide cheer and festive frolic.

Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden Grade: B+   
            
When the Duke and Duchess of Wessex are called away urgently just as their Christmas house party is about to start, it seems the bulk of the organisation and hostess duties will fall upon the shoulders of Viola Cavendish, the duchess’ personal secretary and a distant relation of the duke’s.  Viola would not normally be expected to undertake such a duty, but the dowager duchess is indisposed, the duke’s eldest sister, Lady Serena, has recently suffered a broken engagement and neither lady is up to the task of supervising the arrangements.  Viola is somewhat daunted by the enormity of the task, but doesn’t want the duchess to worry and assures her that she has everything in hand.

Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton has inveigled himself an invitation to the Wessex’s house party in order to negotiate with the duke over the purchase of a valuable atlas that had belonged to Wes’ father and been sold in error following his death.  He arrives at Kingstag accompanied by his young nephew, Viscount Newton, just ahead of a snowstorm that is likely to see them stuck there for a few days.

Viola is not a little displeased at the unexpected arrival of two gentlemen whose names aren’t on her guest list.  But with the weather closing in, she has little alternative but to offer them hospitality until it is once again safe to travel.  The blizzard also presents another problem for Viola, that of a house full of young ladies and gentlemen who will no doubt grow bored and restive at being trapped inside for days on end.  Viola knows she is the only person at Kingstag with any hope of preventing mischief and scandal, and resigns herself to being an ever-present chaperone.  But while young Newton is turning the heads of some of the ladies, Viola finds it increasingly difficult to ignore the attractions of his handsome uncle…

Ms. Linden develops the romance between Wes and Viola beautifully so that it doesn’t feel unnaturally hurried.  They talk, exchange opinions and discover common interests and the air between them crackles with longing and attraction. I particularly liked the scene where they talk about the night sky; and Wes’ Christmas gift to Viola is one of those perfect ‘aww’ moments that a romance delivers every so often. Map of a Lady’s Heart is a wonderfully warm and sensual story and Ms. Linden does a terrific job of setting the scene for the other stories.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale Grade: B-   

Maya Rodale’s contribution to the anthology is full of her trademark humour, witty dialogue and slightly bonkers characters.  When Lady Serena Cavendish was jilted by the Duke of Frye for no discernible reason, her mother, the dowager duchess, decided to throw a house party to which she has invited a number of young people in the hope of lifting Serena’s spirits.  Being a canny woman, the dowager also invited Frye, in the hope that perhaps he and Serena will reconcile – but the trouble is she has also invited Frye’s insufferable best friend, Mr. Grayson Jones, who was overheard to have said that his friend ‘dodged a bullet’ when he decided not to marry Lady Serena, because she’s far too perfect to be interesting.

Unbeknownst to Serena, Greyson Jones – Grey – has been in love with her for years, but her long-standing engagement meant he never had any hopes of winning her.  Now, however, he is determined to take his chance; he is shortly to accept a diplomatic posting to India, and has just a week in which to persuade Serena of the truth of his feelings and to get her to fall in love with him.

In the previous story, we were given a few glimpses of the ridiculous play being written for the guests to perform by Lady Bridget (who is no relation to the Bridget Cavendish of Ms. Rodale’s current series,  Keeping Up with the Cavendishes ).  Here, rehearsals are in full swing, and the casting of Grey as the hero, Lord Pirate Captain, and Serena as his heroine, the Lonely Spinster, gives Grey the perfect opportunity to spend time with his lady love and start to woo her.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night is funny and entertaining, and the chemistry between the central couple sizzles nicely. Grey is a delicious hero and I loved Aunt Sophronia, one of those wonderful grande dames of historical romance who get to say whatever they like and pat handsome gentlemen on the bottom without giving a fig for what anyone thinks of them!  The whole thing did pass in a bit of a blur though – it felt rushed and the sex scene seemed to be there because it was expected rather than needed, but it’s a fun read overall.

Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe Grade: B+  

Katharine Ashe is on fine form in the final story, in which we properly meet His Grace of Frye and discover the reason behind his broken engagement.  He and his friend and colleague, Lord Fortier, do ‘odd jobs’ for the crown now and again, and as this story begins, are just arriving at the Fiddler’s Roost Inn near Kingstag, where they hope to apprehend a confidence trickster.  The duke is travelling as plain Mr. Horace Church, but as he and Fortier set up their cover story by faking a brawl in the yard, he is unnerved to notice Miss Charlotte Ascot standing in the doorway.  Not only has he been in love with her for ages, he thought she was in America, where she’s lived for the past two-and-a-half years.

In an anguish of unrequited love, Charlotte fled to America in an attempt to cure herself of her long-standing infatuation with the Duke of Frye.  She has returned, not in hopes that he will at last return her feelings, but in order to comfort her friend Serena, and because she realises now that she carried her feelings with her when she ran and that instead, she must face them and learn to live with them.

The realisation that his friend, Greyson Jones, was in love with Serena Cavendish was as much at the root of Frye’s decision not to marry her as was the knowledge that he was himself in love with another woman.  Charlotte Ascot has haunted his dreams for years, but Frye knows he can never marry her; can never marry anyone due to a mysterious condition which sometimes incapacitates him and which he fears will send him to an early grave like his father.

Ms. Ashe packs a lot of story into a short page count but it all works, culminating in a beautifully romantic declaration of love.  Charlotte and Frye are superbly drawn characters and I enjoyed watching them bicker their way towards understanding the truth of their long-held feelings for one another.  Snowy Night With a Duke is a charming, tender and passionate romance and a terrific way to round off this set of seasonal love stories.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely holiday anthology about three couples who are snowed in during a house party.

Caroline Linden: Map of a Lady's Heart ~ 5 stars
Easily the best story of the bunch. It was a slow burn romance about two genuinely nice people.
After her husband died and left her unable to pay for her brother's education, Viola Cavendish accepts a job as secretary in the household of her late husband's cousin, the Duke of Wessex. The Duke and Duchess have invited a group of people to a house party to cheer up the Duke's sister after her long-time fiancé broke up with her out of nowhere, but are called away for a family emergency at the last minute. Viola agrees to stay behind and take care of everything.
Wesley Morane is desperately searching for an old atlas that used to belong to his father but was, unfortunately, sold. He has heard the Duke of Wessex had purchased it and joins the party to persuade him to part with it.
I loved both of these characters separately. Viola was a marvelous heroine, and Wes was absolutely charming. The antics of the other guests made for a fun, cozy read!

Maya Rodale: Hot Rogue on a Cold Night ~ 2 stars
After being left by her long-time fiancé, Serena Cavendish is a bit of a mess. Add to that the fact her fiancés best friend very publically stated that she's so much more interesting now that she's not engaged anymore and that he was invited to her house, and she is not happy.
Greyson Jones has been in love with his best friend's fiancé since childhood, and now that she's not engaged anymore, he will do anything to finally get her to see him as more than just an annoying friend she loves to fight with....
This was really just to short for me. Serena annoyed me to no end (I know she's supposed to be funny, but she somehow just got on my last nerve), and there was a very confusing sex scene in there that came out of nowhere and did absolutely nothing for the story if you ask me. The second star is really just because I liked Greyson very much.

Katherine Ashe: Snowy nights with a Due ~ 3 stars
Lady Charlotte Ascot (Serena's best friend) and Horace Church (Serena's former fiancé) are both on their way to the Cavendish's house party, but are snowed in at an inn on the way. They have been friends for a long time, but Charlotte has always had a crush on her best friend's intended. At some point, she actually moved to a relation in America to get away from Horace...
This was okay for me. I didn't really connect to either of the main characters, and neither left much of an impression on me.

But then, I was in a really bad mood this past week, so. Who knows. It might just be me. But if you are looking for a sweet and funny holiday collection, I can definitely recommend this!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who loved At the Duke's Wedding by the Lady Authors, get excited! At the Christmas Wedding returns to Kingstag Castle, but this time in the winter. Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale, and Katharine Ashe all return for fun little novellas. Miranda Neville was not a part of this collection and she was missed (her novellas are lovely).

Map to a Lady's Heart by Caroline Linden
This little story is about an earl and a widowed secretary of the Duchess of Wessex. When a winter storm hits and the duchess is not in residence and the dowager duchess is ill, Viola must take over and be the perfect hostess to support the young, unmarried ladies left in her charge. She is distracted from her mission by the handsome Earl of Winterton who is only at the castle in pursuit of an atlas once owned by his father. Wes is a wanderer, but Viola suddenly gives him a reason to linger. This story was lower on the heat scale than typical Linden, but I loved the organic growth of the characters' attraction and when they did come together, the sparks were lovely as only Linden can do it. A lovely story with more mature characters.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale
In contrast to Linden's story of two mature characters, Rodale's is a rollicking fluff piece with much younger characters. Serena Cavendish has been jilted by a duke and is currently throwing herself into a house party to recover. Greyson has been in love with Serena forever and seizes his last chance to finally change her mind. The problem is, he said some things that made Serena vow to hate him forever. This story moved at warp speed and I didn't think the sex scene was necessary, but Rodale is funny and in the scenes with Bridget and her ridiculous play, I was smiling the entire time.

Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe
Ashe wraps up the trio with the story of the jilting duke and Charlotte Ascot, best friend of Serena. To complicate things, Charlotte and the duke have been attracted to each other forever, but have never actually spoken about it. Being stranded at a snowy inn while the duke is pursuing a thieving villain forces them to finally come clean about the past. In Ashe's style, this is another star-crossed lovers united story. Despite the short novella length, I believed in the romance, I loved the sex scenes, and I was all wrapped up in the Duke's surprising secret and his mission to catch a thief. A lovely way to tie together the threads left behind in the previous novellas.

Overall Rating
5 stars. How could I give it anything else? I loved the first collection and this one, though less dramatic than the first, had a fun, sweet spirit to it that is perfect for the holidays. Highly recommended.

[kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Map of a Lady’s Heart, Caroline Linden
Viola Cavendish is attempting to keep Kingstag Castle from burning down or something when Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton and his nephew, Lord Newton, arrive. Now her loins are aflame. Can Viola and Wes Get It On before the children create a ruckus and get fired?

This was very enjoyable, if not very simple (but then: short story). Viola and Wes get to flirt absolute loads, they bond over navigational themes, and bone. My only complaints are super minor: this felt a little bit like Linden was figuring out her characters as she went, and didn't bother to go back to address any of the strange leaps in characterization. (An example is when Wes is flipping through atlases and finds the celestial one; Viola barely reacts. A chapter or two later she's gushing about the stars and how much they mean to her and how her brother is studying astronomy. And not enough changes to justify the sudden exposition burst.) 3 stars.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night, Maya Rodale
Lady Serena Cavendish gets dumped by her long-time fiance. Before this dumping, Greyson Jones said a Mean(ish) Thing about her. Now he's at her house party, demanding attention. ALLEGEDLY they fall into deepest lust. Also: India.

This was hilariously shallow. Greyson has ALLEGEDLY been in love with Serena The Whole Time so when she gets dumped, he's in it to win it. So he says one or two things in her hearing about wanting more from life, and Serena internalizes that to mean that she loves Greyson and also wants to move to India. There's a hilariously impromptu sex scene after Serena's jilter arrives, which happened so out of no where that I had to circle back to make sure that these idiots were getting naked in like a goddamned parlor in the middle of a house party or whatever. RIDICULOUS. 1 star.

Snowy Night with a Duke, Katharine Ashe
Lady Charlotte Ascot has a crush on Horace Church, Duke of Frye. So when he shows up at the same inn she's at (except UNDERCOVER), they set their mission to: GET UNDER COVERS (heh). But first Horace (heh) has to figure out who's preying on older women and Charlotte has to confess she likes to run (unforgivable) and also we need unnecessary medical drama that prevents our hero and heroine from marrying because Reasons.

Yeah, you read that right: Charlotte is apparently a jogger in disguise. I'm disgusted, too. The "going undercover to find bad men" angle was kind of underbaked: it definitely would have still been liquid inside if anyone had bothered to ask any hard questions. (HE'S A DUKE????) But the most egregious part of this was the inclusion seizures as a plot point for angst. I think there's been enough documented about how romance novels cram just about anything they can reach into stories in order to provide more modern takes, to ramp up the drama, or to ramp up the empathy—but a novella and a secondary medical condition are not a good fit. 2 stars.

[Joanna Loves Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linden's was the best in my opinion, though it was a bit slow and could have used an epilogue. Loved the feature of maps. Very good character development for a novella.

Both Rodale's and Ashe's featured a secretly-in-love theme. I thought the hero in Rodale's a compelling and interesting character, but the love story became too ridiculous. Ashe's was too short for what it was trying to accomplish, and I wasn't very interested in the hero or heroine.

Overall, an OK read. It started strong, but after Linden's finished, my interest faded fast.

[Inna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology is a continuation of “At the Duke’s Wedding”. It revisits the same characters and is at the same castle location. It’s totally worth reading both if you’re in the mood for some novellas.


“Map of a Lady’s Heart” by Caroline Linden: 3 stars.

This story desperately needed a better ending. It was so abrupt that it felt incomplete. I also hate that the Duke, who was a good hero in his own novella, was such an asshole in this story. I hate when authors do that! Safe

“Hot Rogue on a Cold Night” by Maya Rosalie: 4 stars.

I really enjoyed this story! It was funny, it was sweet, and it was romantic. I loved the hero and how he absolutely knew what he wanted. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the play in this story, which I found a little tedious in the Caroline Linden novella. Safe

“Snowy Night With A Duke” by Catherine Ashe: 3 stars.

This story was great until near the end where it just went very downhill. The resolutions to some of the issues that were present in the first half of the story came way too quickly and abruptly. The author seemed to have quit the story at that point because it seemed to all wrap up rather quickly. Not that it was terrible, but it definitely needed more. This is one of those novellas that would have been better if it was longer. Safe

[Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting and Fun!

This is anthology between Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe. These authors have produced anthologies before and they are always very good. This is no exception.

The story is based around a house party at Kingstag Castle where Serena Cavendish resides. She has just been jilted by the Duke of Frye and her mother, the Dowager Duchess of Wessex, believes it to be a good idea to have a Christmas house party to brighten her mood. However, the Dowager becomes ill, the Duke and Duchess of Wessex must leave to visit the Duchess' sister as she's giving birth, and there is a massive snow storm. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues.

As with most novellas, the romance can seem rushed. For the first two novellas, I felt this was the case. In the last one by Katharine Ashe, the characters had grown up together so there already was a foundation built and more believable. All are witty and the banter between all characters is lively and funny. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend for getting in the mood for the holidays.

[Mak ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Três histórias maravilhosas de ser lidas, eu amei, principalmente pelo fato de ter o Natal como tema, e cada história está interligada o que torna mais deliciosa ainda.. ​❤ Happy reading, and until the next reading.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first novella by Caroline Linden as a standalone, and then quickly realized I had to read the others in the anthology, as it left me with lingering questions about the secondary characters. I also didn't realize until I started reading that this was a sequel to the anthology "At the Duke's Wedding," featuring many of the same characters from that story, including my favorite Lady Sophronia. So, while I don't see a need to read the first anthology it does flesh out the back story of some secondary characters. However, I do think the three novellas here do need to be read together as they are all interconnected.

The setting is a snowed-in Christmas party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Wessex who we met in the last anthology. Ok, they had me at "snowed-in" because, let's be honest, that's exactly the trope notes I want hit in my Christmas romance novellas. The Duke's sister has been jilted by the Duke of Frye so her mother contrives a house party of eligible bachelors and friends to cheer her up and get her a husband.

In the first story, widowed poor relation Viola is thrust into a chaperone / shadow hostess role and catches the attention of a visiting Earl. This story by Caroline Linden really begged to be longer and to be wrapped up a bit more thoroughly. The beginning was paced more like a full length novel, but then just resolved much too quickly. I loved these MCs and wished for more.

The second novella by Maya Rodale had her signature light-hearted wit to it. It picks up the jilted Lady Serena's story. She discovers she maybe didn't want to be a Duchess after all, and the Duke of Frye's best friend, Mr. Greyson, helps her see there's more adventure to be had instead of just running a house and hosting parties.

The last story by Katherine Ashe features the jilt himself, the Duke of Frye, who is snowed in at an inn, undercover trying to solve a mystery for the crown. His childhood friend, Charlotte, is coincidentally also snowed in at the same inn on her way to the party. Both of them have been secretly in love with each other, but in a star-crossed lovers type of way.

I enjoyed all of the stories here and I thought they each had their own tone and style. If you like any of the three authors, I think you'd enjoy this anthology.

[herdys · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars! Three charming stories, though my favourite ones were Caroline and Maya's. I did find interesting the way Katherine Ashe talked about epilepsy on those times. Her author's note at the end was illuminatig though sad too. I'll definitely keep and eye on all three authors. Love finding new ones through short stories even if they disappoint later...

[Ilze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light entertaining reading. Caroline Linden's was nice (3 stars), Maya Rodale's was unreadable (DNF), and Katharine Ashe's was very nice (4 stars).

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 4 stars when I reviewed it at Romantic Historical Reviews.

Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden (4 stars)
Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale (3 stars)
Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe (5 stars)

I’ve enjoyed quite a few holiday themed stories in the latter half of 2017, so I picked up At the Christmas Wedding with high expectations. In this latest collaboration from Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe, a group of friends and strangers find themselves snowbound at Kingstag Castle for a holiday house party. Thus, a group of handsome lords and lovely ladies are afforded ample opportunity to make mischief whilst spending their free time staging an elaborate (ridiculous) play. The novellas comprising At the Christmas Wedding take place concurrently, and feature the same cast of characters – but that’s where their similarities end. Each romance is delightfully charming in its own way – but only one stole my heart. Romantic, festive, short and sweet… this is the perfect pick-up during a lazy holiday afternoon.

Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden (4 stars)

When the Duke and Duchess of Wessex are unexpectedly called away shortly before the start of their Christmas house party, responsibility falls to Viola Cavendish, the duchess’s secretary. Calm, unflappable Viola tries not to worry over the group of young people descending on the household, but with the duke and duchess away, the dowager duchess ill and unable to chaperone her three daughters and their guests, and an aunt who delights in all things naughty and wicked… well, Viola has doubts about her own abilities to manage the situation. She’s giving herself a mental pep talk when a pair of unexpected guests arrive. Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton, accompanied by his nephew Lord Newton, has come to speak to the duke about a rare atlas he might have in his collection.

Wesley Morane is desperate to locate an atlas that formerly belonged to his father, and is convinced the duke is the new owner. He’s dismayed to learn the duke is away, but arriving in the midst of a house party – with guests of similar age to occupy the attentions of his bored, spoiled nephew – and an opportunity to peruse the duke’s library at his leisure, he’s not unhappy with the situation. He pays little heed to the ridiculous play being staged by the duke’s youngest sister, but nonetheless finds his search unexpectedly distracted by Viola.

Viola is irritated by the surprise arrival of the Earl of Winterton and his nephew, but unhesitatingly folds them into the assembled party. Unfortunately, however, Winterton is a handsome and distracting guest. She finds herself seeking him out when the group is assembled and caught out when he seems to return her interest. Following an early misunderstanding when Viola realizes Winterton inveigled an invitation to the house party under false pretenses, the two form a friendship of sorts. Viola is sympathetic to Winterton’s interest in the atlas, but unconvinced the duke will part with it.

As the house party continues apace, Viola and Wesley find reasons to be together. Viola, resistant to an affair with Wesley, inexorably finds herself drawn to him, and Wesley is similarly unable to resist her. Their longing for each other is intense and wonderful, and the passionate, clandestine love affair that follows is superbly done; I enjoyed every bit of it. Map of a Lady’s Heart is a sophisticated second chance love story, though I found the secondary plot – the bizarre and unfunny play (no matter how hard Ms. Linden tried to sell it) written by the duke’s youngest sister – distracting and unnecessary.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale (3 stars)

Much like other novels by Ms. Rodale, I loved the idea of Hot Rogue on a Cold Night much more than the actual story. Greyson Jones, a close friend of the Duke of Frye, has long loved Lady Serena Cavendish, but her longstanding engagement to his friend meant he could never pursue her. When Frye inexplicably jilts Serena, Greyson adds further insult by insinuating, in public, that being jilted has finally made her interesting. When Mr. Jones shows up at Kingstag – without Frye -Serena tries hard to hide her dismay (and hurt), slighting Greyson and focusing her attentions on another, more eligible, gentleman in attendance.

Greyson – who is due to leave for India in a week’s time – regrets the words that hurt Serena and knows he will have to work fast to win her over. But he believes his life – as a diplomat destined to travel the world for Crown and country – will appeal to the much sheltered Serena. Clearly out of her depth as a house party hostess, curious about the world around her, Greyson sets out to show her all the amazing adventures she might miss in settling. The play, which was so irksome in the first novella, fortuitously places him in close proximity to Serena and chances to show her what a partnership between them might mean.

I liked all the elements that made up this story – including the ridiculous play – and Greyson, charming, suave, and supremely dry, is pure romance catnip. Unrequited love is a favorite trope of mine and he wears it well. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as fond of the seemingly fickle Serena. She’s insecure, slightly silly and only starting to learn what kind of woman she wants to be. I never could see what (beyond her beauty) Greyson saw in her, but since I’m not marrying her, I wish him all the best.

Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe (5 stars)

Snowy Night With a Duke is the best and most romantic of the three novellas that comprise At the Christmas Wedding. I swooned, sighed and melted over this much too brief love story; if had to pick a favorite short story of 2017, this would be a front-runner.

Charlotte Ascot, after a prolonged absence from England, is en route to Kingstag when her carriage gets trapped by a snowstorm and she’s forced to bide her time at a tiny country inn with other similarly stranded travelers. Charlotte has been (hiding) in America ever since a last painful encounter with the Duke of Frye wherein she climbed a tree in order to avoid him. The pain of her unrequited love and sadness over his betrothal – to her closest friend – was too much to bear. She’s determined to overcome her feelings for Frye… when, much to her surprise, she spots him in a battle of fisticuffs in the courtyard of the inn.

The Duke of Frye, masquerading as Mr. Horace Church, is enjoying a staged fight with good friend Lord Fortier when he spots Charlotte Ascot (whom he’s loved since childhood) standing on the threshold of the inn. Distracted, he misses his cue and takes a hard shot to the chin. Frye can’t believe his eyes; he thought Charlotte was still in America… but she’s here. When she approaches him in the stables (where he’s been tossed for fighting) to clean his wounds, and begins berating him for fighting, Frye isn’t quite sure how to handle her. Under the nomme de guerre Horace Church, he and Lord Fortier – who do the odd job on behalf of the Crown – are on the hunt for a con-man who takes advantage of elderly travelers. They think they have their man… but Frye can’t risk Charlotte revealing his identity and putting the investigation at risk.

Charlotte is undaunted by Frye’s vague responses to her questions, while he, thrilled that she is finally back in England, matches her quick wit and tough questions with his own delicious interrogation about where she’s been and why she hid from him. The conversation marks the start of a new slightly adversarial relationship between these star-crossed lovers.

The chemistry sparkles and snaps between Frye and Charlotte and fortunately for us, so does the passion. They finally stop fighting it and finally give in to the fantasy of loving each other that they’ve both nurtured in their secret hearts for years. But Frye is keeping one last secret from Charlotte and he’s determined to push her away.

Well folks, Frye is romantic, awesome, and sexy and Ms. Ashe gives him some of the best dialogue I’ve read this year. Charlotte, his similarly marvelous match, hears him out and then tells him how things are actually going to go. Yep, she sets him straight. It’s brilliant, they’re brilliant and if I have a complaint about Snowy Night With a Duke, it’s that I wish it were longer.

[Susan Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this anthology! The authors took the time to create a fabulous house party theme and crafted three wonderful stories about the couples who are snowed in for the holidays at Kingstag Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Wessex leave their holiday house party in the hands of their daughter Serena and Viola Cavendish, the duchess’s secretary. Serena and Viola must supervise the duke’s troublesome sister Bridget, keep an eye on the mischievous Lady Sophronia and Serena’s friends.

Each story contains enough character and plot cross over to make for an enjoyable, delightful read! I felt that I was reading a book, not three separate stories.

Bridget’s play was woven throughout each of the three novellas. Loved that each author understood the character and her desire to write the play. I enjoyed reading every paragraph devoted to Bridget and her zany play and the unscripted ending was perfect!!

Caroline Linden’s Map of a Lady’s Heart is my favorite story within the anthology. I thought that the all of the characters were relatable and appealing. Ms. Linden did a fabulous job setting the scene and introducing all of the castle’s guests to the reader. The scene where Wes asks Viola to go outside to view the stars at night was exquisitely written. Loved that Wes understood that his love for Viola was the treasure he'd spent a lifetime looking for.

Maya Rodale’s piece features Lady Serena, Lord Gosling, Greyson Jones and Bridget’s play. Grey has loved Serena for years. He did not pursue her because she was engaged to his best friend. Grey views the house party at his opportunity to see if he is really in love with Serena. Loved the hysterically funny scenes when Lady Bridget and her aunt cast Grey as Serena’s love interest in the play. The witty dialogue, laugh out loud scenes from the play and pacing in this novella are superb.

And Bridget’s play? Will the Lonely Spinster choose the Lord Captain Pirate or the Lovesick Swan?The conclusion to this story was very romantic and perfect for the happy couple and playwright!

Katharine Ashe’s descriptive voice and the back and forth banter between Charlotte and Frye make the third novella in the anthology a charming read. I could feel how cold it was outside, understand Charlotte’s feelings towards Frye and understand why Frye loved the feisty Charlotte beyond words. The romance between the couple was delicately paced as Charlotte truly believes that Frye has jilted her best friend. Loved the added touch of the couple celebrating Christmas Eve at the inn. My favorite scene occurred when Charlotte tells an unconscious Frye that he is “forbidden to die’. It’s touching, perfectly executed and yes….made me cry! Ms. Ashe treats us to several fun plot twists and turns before the couple arrives at Kingstag Castle.

I enjoyed this fabulous anthology. It’s filled with great characters, fun and games and so much romance!

[JoRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe. ~ I will review for the other two as I finish them ~
Such a sweet tale! Horace and Charlotte haven’t seen each other in over two years. She knew her love for him wasn’t a good thing so she decided to run away to America. Now that’s she’s returned and is snowbound in a country inn with the man she’s tried to avoid for as long as she can remember, sparks start flying and romance is no longer denied.
I loved the dialogue between the two. At times they argued like children but at the same time they sounded like a couple of old friends reacquainting themselves with each other.
When the story started I couldn’t understand the reason Horace acted the way he did but as the story progressed and everything was explained I was able to sympathize with his predicaments. I also loved that Charlotte was sort of different in a way that I’ve never read before and in a way that was cleverly adapted to the romance aspect of the story. The ending had me having all the feels and I think it was the most endearing part of the book. If you’re looking for a charming, sweet, yet passionate and steamy story with a Christmas theme then this is the book for you.

** This is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher. **

[diana marcela Ballestas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro interesante, al principio cerró q trataba de una sola historia, pero al paso de las hojas descubrí que son tres historias diferentes aunque ambientadas en el mismo escenario y lapso de tiempo y con personajes correlacionados le hizo falta un poco de cohesión y al final todas quedaron cortas. me hubiera gustado que hubiese un epílogo que redondeara la idea y diera un cierre.

[Jennifer Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christmas romance stories and these were great. so much love and merry making. the play was fun and who could forget the lovesick swan.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was very disappointing!

#HRReadathon

[La Bruja Lectora (Tata) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro esta escrito por tres buenas escritoras de romance antiguo, esta muy bien escrito y es fácil y ameno de leer, las tres historias están muy bonitas pase un rato agradable leyéndolas, la reseña completa en mi blog https://labrujalectora1.blogspot.com/

[Lila Seida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finish the book.

The first and second stories were not really finished. The third story did not finish the party. They needed to finish the party to end the plot.

[Nicole Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this anthology as a Rodale fan, and have not read any previous works by Linden or Ashe - but that will be rectified!

A light and humorous collection of novellas, I enjoyed the twists and turns and intertwined threads between all the characters. Add in an English country castle, an eccentric old auntie and some mistletoe. A great holiday read!

[Catherine Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this snowed in anthology and enjoyed the audiobook version.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 1816, at the Kingstag Castle house party in Dorset, England.

MAP OF A LADY’S HEART by Caroline Linden

Just before the guests are to arrive for the house party to lift Lady Serena Cavendish’s spirits, the duke and duchess of Wessex have to depart in a hurry. The duke is the Cavendish sisters’ older brother, and Viola Cavendish, a distant relative, will have to chaperone in addition to overlooking the affair. Viola is the duchess’ personal secretary but now she is in charge, as the girl’s mother, the dowager duchess is under the weather. Viola has to see that Serena, Alexandra and Bridget do not misbehave, which also applies to the girls’ great-aunt Lady Sophronia. A snowstorm seems imminent, and Viola can’t shake a feeling of impending doom… Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton, has finagled an invitation to the party to ask the duke for an old atlas. He is also dragging his petulant and recalcitrant nephew Justin, Viscount Newton. Wes hopes to rein in Justin, who shows all the signs of becoming a full-fledged rogue, and with the number of young ladies present, it won’t be an easy task. Wes has to practice what he preaches, but upon seeing the fetching Viola, he becomes somewhat distracted from the purpose of his visit…

Caroline Linden had the daunting task of writing the first story, setting up the story and the environment, introducing the characters, and does so brilliantly. I was particularly impressed with how well she “got” Bridget – an original creation of Maya Rodale, even though they are not “those American Cavendishes”, Bridget’s spirit is all there! – Ms. Linden has written a wonderful Regency Christmas; she describes Kingstag Castle in lush detail; the ambiance is warm and inviting, even taking into account Bridget’s ridiculous play. Bridget is up to all sorts of mischief, and her play suffers many minor disasters, all quite amusing, while Serena is not as miserable as everyone feared; why is that?

The romance between Wes and Viola is just gorgeous. It progresses gradually as smiles are exchanged, common interests are shared, and the attraction is mutually acknowledged, and every little thing is palpable. It’s all so romantic and lovely; funny and cozy; and superbly written; it’s a perfect Regency novella.


HOT ROGUE ON A COLD NIGHT by Maya Rodale



In Maya Rodale’s novella, Lady Serena’s mother, the dowager duchess, had thought a house party would cheer up her daughter and maybe find her a suitor, even a husband. Serena was jilted by the duke of Frye and Serena had been raised to be a duchess. The dowager duchess has even invited Frye, in case he changes his mind, but Frye has also invited his friend Mr. Greyson Jones, a diplomat of sorts. Grey had publicly said that Serena was too perfect, and that being jilted made her more interesting. Grey prefers interesting women… Serena must act as hostess, and one must not forget one’s manners, even if Grey tries her patience. What she doesn’t know is that Grey has loved her from afar for a long time, but he is not an aristocrat, what’s a man to do? But when Lucian, Lord Gosling (yes, you may think of one bearing the same last name; you can trust Maya Rodale to give us a few giggles!), so Lord Gosling captures Serena’s attention; he is perfect. And that can spur a man on!

The mischievous Bridget and the outrageous Lady Sophronia are up to their usual shenanigans, while love blooms during Bridget’s ridiculous play, and there are quite a few laughs to have there! And I loved that we get to experience a Christmas amongst the townspeople, also stuck at the inn. There is always fun to be had with Maya Rodale!


SNOWY NIGHT WITH A DUKE by Katharine Ashe

Lady Charlotte Ascot and Horace Church – duke of Frye – are both on their way to Kingstag Castle, separately, but a snow storm forces them to stop at the Fiddler’s Roost Inn and wait for the roads to become passable again. Horace is with his childhood friend Freddie, Lord Fortier, and they both do covert work for the Crown. They have a villain to apprehend, and when Frye sees Charlotte, he must ascertain his cover is not blown. Charlotte came from Philadelphia to comfort her friend Serena Cavendish after Frye broke up their engagement. Charlotte hates that Frye did that, and yet she has always loved him.

Katharine Ashe’s story is a delightful conclusion to this anthology, and her writing is as splendid as ever. There are some pretty amazing plot twists, and – be still my heart – what a poetic declaration of love! Who wouldn’t melt! This is a charming and tender romance, while Frye and Charlotte somewhat bicker their way to acknowledging their attraction, and then act upon it in a most unusual and quite amusing way. I loved reading about Charlotte’s time in Philadelphia, and I would have liked to read even more about it. Make sure to read A Note from the Author, as Ms. Ashe relates some rather startling historical facts pertaining to her characters.


I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Map of a Lady’s Heart” - Caroline Linden

Kingstag Castle - December 1816

Viola Cavendish can tell that a storm is coming, however, her employers, the Duke and Duchess of Wessex, don’t appear too concerned. Viola is the Duchess’s personal secretary. The couple is off to be with the Duchess’s sister as she awaits her baby’s birth. The family is quite excited about the event which was not expected until after Christmas.

With the Duke and Duchess away and house guests expected, they need a hostess, but who? The dowager duchess is ill. Ladies Bridget, Serena and great-aunt Sophronia are young or a bit irresponsible. It appears that the responsibility will fall on Viola’s shoulders.

Wesley, the Earl of Winterton, is traveling with his 20-year-old nephew, Justin, Viscount Newton. Since Justin’s father passed away, he has had to shoulder caring for his mother and younger sister instead of being able to take a Grand Tour. Having grow restless, Wesley has agreed to take Justin to visit Kingston Castle where Wesley hopes to buy an atlas from the Duke.

Viola welcomes them and explains that the Duke and Duchess were called away, but that the gentlemen are welcome, especially since it has started snowing. Along with the young daughters of the Duke and Duchess and their friends, Viola sees to it that they are comfortable.

The daughters put together a play and Justin enjoys participating. Wesley and Viola’s chats spark an attraction. Could there possibly be a future for them?

This story started off with great promise but quickly became boring as it focused too much on that silly play. Even though I finished reading it, I lost interest. Not my favorite by this terrific author.

“Hot Rogue on a Cold Night” - Maya Rodale

Lady Serena Cavendish has been jilted by the Duke of Frye. They were betrothed most of their lives. Hoping to cheer Serena up, her mother decides to have a Christmas house party.

Serena is incensed to find her mother has invited her ex-fiance hoping to reignite their relationship and she also invited his friend, Greyson Jones, who had said that Frye dodged a bullet by not marrying Serena. How insulting! Secretly, Greyson has been in love with Serena for years and now he wonders if there is any hope for them to be a couple.

Serena’s sister, Bridget, has decided to put on a play and soon Greyson gets caught up in it as a pirate. As he and Serena act out their parts, they become enamored of one another. Could they be a match?

This story read a bit better but the overwhelming theme of the play is simply too juvenile.


“Snowy Night With a Duke” - Katharine Ashe

Lady Charlotte Ascot, the daughter of the Earl of Ware, is headed to Kingstag Castle for a holiday party. Her friend, Serena, has been jilted by the Duke of Frye, whom Charlotte has known since she was quite young.

Enroute to the party, Charlotte encounters heavy snow necessitating that she shelter at an Inn. Before long, the Duke of Frye and his friend, Monsieur Fortier, arrive at the Inn as well. The Duke is not wanting anyone to know who he really is.

The unrelenting snow keeps them at the Inn and they try to make the best of it which means that the Duke and Charlotte become enamored of one another. But danger lurks and they must fight it.

This was yet another convoluted story that was hard to follow.

These three authors are very talented and I have enjoyed their books. However, I am quite disappointed in this grouping of stories. I think individual books by them would certainly be preferable.

Copy provided by the authors in exchange for an honest and fair review.

[Rose Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars as reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-Gk

This trio of related novellas takes place at a Christmas house party at the home of the Duke of Wessex, though he's not in residence at the time. His wife's sister is about to give birth, so they've traveled to be with her, leaving his three sisters, the dowager duchess, and the current duchess's secretary to manage the affair.

Map of a Lady's Heart by Caroline Linden:
Viola Cavendish is the widow of a distant cousin of the duke. Though the duke offered a small income to Viola, she requested that he employ her instead, and she now is secretary to the duchess. With the host and hostess called away, and the dowager duchess ill in bed, it's left to Viola to try to oversee the duke's three sisters, and to try to keep some semblance of order. Wesley Morane, the Earl of Winterton has finally coerced the duke into allowing him to view an atlas in his possession. Wes believes it to be one that belonged to his deceased father, and was sold in error. He travels to the duke's home, with his nephew, Justin, in tow, hoping to drum some sense into the young man who is beginning to enjoy a wild lifestyle. When Wes finds out the duke is away, he manages to arrange to stay for the party, hoping that he'll come across the coveted atlas. Wes encounters an even greater treasure in Viola, and this couple falls in love amidst the revelry.

HOT ROGUE ON A COLD NIGHT by Maya Rodale:
Lady Serena Cavendish, sister of the current Duke of Wessex, was betrothed for years to the Duke of Frye, an arrangement which their fathers set up. Recently, the Duke of Frye shockingly broke off the engagement, jilting Serena, and leaving her confused and anchorless. Serena isn't heartbroken, as she felt only affection and friendship for Frye, but she did suffer humiliation. Greyson Jones is an agent for the crown, and Frye's best friend. He has secretly been in love with Serena for years, but had no hope because of her engagement. Now that she's free, the somewhat snarky Grey decides to make his move, and Serena finds that an exciting future which involves traveling with the sexy Mr. Jones holds a lot of appeal.

SNOWY NIGHT WITH A DUKE by Katharine Ashe:
Lady Charlotte Ascot has just returned from a two and a half year trip abroad, a trip she took to escape the love she felt for her best friend's fiancé, the Duke of Frye. Charlotte expected to attend the wedding, but instead finds that Frye has jilted Serena. The bad weather has stranded Charlotte at an inn en route to the house party, where she discovers that Horace Church, the Duke of Frye is also residing. Much to her dismay, Charlotte finds that her feelings for Frye are as strong as ever. Can the simmering attraction between Frye and Charlotte lead to a happy ending for them? We finally discover Frye's true reason for jilting Serena, but he harbors another dark secret, one that may prevent him from accepting the genuine love that's being offered to him.

All three stories are very well written and enjoyable. The characterizations carry forward seamlessly in each novella, though each author's style comes through. The silly play that is such an integral part of the story is pure delight. Caroline Linden offers up a truly warm and romantic tale, while Maya Rodale's is light and humorous. Katharine Ashe's story is poignant and touching, and all three offer up some heat. AT THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING is a lovely collection of three connected stories that is pure joy to read and one that I heartily recommend.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lady Serena Cavendish is jilted by her betrothed (since childhood), her mother, the Dowager Duchess of Wessex decides the way to cheer her up and help her find a husband is to have a Christmas House Party. Before the party starts, the Dowager becomes ill and the Duke and Duchess welcome her sister’s baby. The party goes on. The Duchess’s secretary will handle details, Serena will be hostess, the Dowager will advise if need be, Bridget (Serena’s youngest sister) will be in charge of entertainment, and Great Aunt Sophronia will help chaperone. The scene is set for a delightful trio of holiday romance tales.

In Caroline Linden’s Map of a Lady’s Heart, Lord Winterton has come to Kingstag Castle to search for an atlas that once belonged to his father. He meets Viola Cavendish, the Duchess’s secretary and a chaperone for the party. The two of them are kept busy watching his nephew and the girls and trying to keep Bridget’s entertainment from getting out of hand. It’s a big job! As they get to know each other, they discover they share many interests, and Wes finds that the map he really wants to find is the one to Viola’s heart.

In Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale, Lady Serena discovers that being jilted by the Duke of Frye might just have opened the door to her happiness. The Dowager held hope that there might be a chance for reconciliation between Serena and Frye, so she invited him and his best friend to the house party. Serena is not pleased when Greyson Jones (Frye’s friend) arrives at Kingstag. Grey has kept his love for Serena a secret for years because she was betrothed to his best friend. The betrothal is over and he is about to leave for a mission in India. The party might be the last chance he has to win Serena’s heart. Can Captain Lord Pirate win the heart of the Lonely Spinster or will she choose the lovesick swan?

In Katharine Ashe’s Snowy Night With a Duke, the reasons Horace Church, Duke of Frye, jilted Lady Serena Cavendish are revealed. He believes that even though it hurt Serena he has done the right thing. Lady Charlotte Ascot left England for two years rather than watch the man she loved marry her best friend. She has returned to England to console her best friend, who has been jilted by her betrothed. She and Horace are stranded in the same inn in a snowstorm on their way to Kingstag. (He and his friend are in pursuit of a thief who preys on elderly women.) This begins to sound familiar (remember Serena and Grey). Charlotte’s best friend is Lady Serena Cavendish, and the Duke of Frye, the man who jilted her is the man Charlotte has loved since she was a girl. As it turns out, Horace has loved her for just as long. Even after they reveal their feelings and Charlotte learns his secret, Frye insists that he will not marry. Charlotte is determined not to give up. Can she convince him that they can face this and anything else that comes their way together?

This is a fantastic collection by three very talented authors. The stories are humorous, heartwarming, and romantic. The characters are great and the setting is perfect.

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trio is a Regency Anthology featuring three novellas; and is a sequel to The Lady Authors’ bestselling anthology At the Duke’s Wedding.

“Map of a Lady’s Heart” by Caroline Linden

“Hot Rogue on a Cold Night” by Maya Rodale

“Snowy Night With a Duke” by Katharine Ashe


Map of a Lady’s Heart by Caroline Linden
Viola Cavendish has her hands full with the guests and a snow that doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. She has to make sure the Christmas party runs without a hitch. Lord Newton and his uncle Earl of Winterton (Wesley Morane) arriving unexpectedly throws everything off kilter. Viola is supposed to be chaperoning the young ladies, but it is hard to do when Lord Winterton makes her heart race. Wesley has come to the castle in search of a valuable atlas. He refuses to be deterred by everything that is going on; the snow, the house party, his nephew, or even the silly play that is being staged. Before much time goes by, though, the only map he is trying to find is the one that leads him to Viola's heart.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night by Maya Rodale
Lady Serena Cavendish was born to be a duchess. She was jilted by the Duke of Frye, who mysteriously and without any warning ended their engagement. Greyson Jones, an agent of the crown thinks Serena is alluring. He isn't concerned about her being jilted. He lucks out getting an invitation to the Christmas house party at the castle. He thinks maybe the visit to the castle will cheer her up and maybe find her a prospect of another husband. He decides to try for a chance at winning her heart himself. They will both be involved in the play, come across a lovesick swan, have a mysterious gift, and a kiss on their way to a walk down the aisle.

Snowy Night with a Duke by Katharine Ashe
Lady Charlotte Ascot was always trying to avoid the Duke of Frye. Last time she bumped into him, she climbed a tree. She thought it was easier to run away than to have to face the feelings she has for him. She has passionate feelings that no young lady with modesty should have. She is on her way to Kingstag Castle for the party with friends. When they are hit by a snowstorm, she becomes trapped at a tiny inn with the duke of her dreams. She doesn't realize Frye has a secret of his own that he wants to tell her. He wants to tell her how he has always wanted her, or better yet, show her.
Loved the three holiday stories featuring the lords and ladies. I love the authors writing styles, and each of their stories. Can't wait to see if they do another anthology later.

[reveurdart · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...you can make anything as bearable, or as horrible, as you choose by how you approach the matter. Conduct yourself with grace and good will, and you will find yourself master of the situation instead of a victim gnashing his teeth over the gross indignity of everything."

This proved to be a nice, cosy weekend read. I've had a mood for a snowed-in period romance lately, and though it's not yet the season, what with this heat wave, I finally succumbed to this Christmas set book.

There are three stories within and I read one a day in the last three days. I think my favorite was Caroline Linden's because it was about two mature people finding a connection. I appreciated that the lead male character loves maps:

“What sort of atlas?”
Wes’s face softened in memory. “A very dear one, to me. It’s a Desnos atlas, which are not common, but neither are they very rare. But this one was once my father’s. He died while I was away—Tahiti—and by the time I returned home, it had somehow been consigned with other old books and sold. My mother didn’t know it was anything special, but that was the atlas he showed me when I was a small boy. It inspired my interest in foreign lands, from the wild Americas to exotic China. I would like to have it back, for the notes he wrote in the margins, his observations of other peoples, tales from his voyages—” He stopped, unexpectedly overwhelmed.
“Was he a great traveler as well?” she asked softly.
Wes nodded."

India was mentioned in all three stories which I appreciated, considering the historical context of the times. My favorite quote that mentioned India is from the second story by Maya Rodale:

"Serena had stayed up late reading the book. She snuck off throughout the day to read it too. After all, Grey would be departing for India soon and he absolutely could not set sail without this volume in his possession—he would need it to aid in his diplomatic endeavors. Why, otherwise he might inadvertently cause an international incident! She would read it quickly and return it to him. That wasn’t the whole truth, though. Serena found it fascinating: she learned about all the various regions, customs, languages, and the like. It was all so different from England and what she was used to."

I also enjoyed the last story which was set at an inn, so a bit different from the others. However, all three stories are connected by the invitation to Kingstag Castle in Dorset. I like collections like this where the stories are connected but written by different authors. Warmly recommend.

[Sherri Lupton Hollister · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the Christmas Wedding by Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe

Romping through Regency England with Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe during the Christmas Holidays is a lot of fun. I enjoy each of these authors alone but it is a true gift to have them all in one book together. While the stories stand alone, they are woven together with the joy and romance of a Christmas house party.



When Lady Serena Cavendish is jilted by long-time suitor and neighbor, the Duke of Frye, her family plans a Christmas house party to cheer her. In Carline Linden’s “Map of a Lady’s Heart” secretary/widowed cousin Viola is thrown into the role of chaperone and hostess when the dowager duchess becomes ill. With her hands full, Viola has little time for the interesting and handsome, Lord Winterton. Wesley Morane, Earl of Winterton doesn’t except to find such a treasure on his mission to locate his father’s atlas but what he truly seeks may be a map to a certain lady’s heart.

A hot rogue on a cold night might just be what the perfect Lady Serena needs after being jilted. Greyson Jones, an agent of the crown, is not her favorite person. When he shows up at the house party, Serena wants nothing more than to shove him back out into the snow. Grey has a secret. Can he trust her with the power to destroy him? As she learns more about the rogue, Serena begins to question her perfect life and the future she had planned. “Hot Rogue on a Cold Night” by Maya Rodale will definitely brighten your winter blues.

Katharine Ashe’s “Snowy Night with a Duke” is filled with intrigue and romance the way only Katharine can write it. The Duke of Frye jilted his fiancée just months before the wedding. When on a job for the crown, he discovers the reason for his defection, the Lady Charlotte Ascot. Why did she have to show up now, when he was preoccupied? The heart wants what the heart wants. Regardless that he’d been betrothed to Serena Cavendish since they were children, Horace Church, the Duke of Frye knew he couldn’t marry her when he was in love with someone else. Charlotte had crossed an ocean to avoid having to marry. She had nothing against marriage but if she couldn’t have the man she loved…

Christmas is full of magic and romance, in “At The Christmas Wedding,” Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe remind of the power of love.




--

[Maria Dariotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three tales of love from the authors of At the Duke’s Wedding - Caroline Linden, Maya Rodale and Katharine Ashe.

Map of aLady’s Heart-

Lord Newton has tracked down the atlas with his late fathers personal side-notes to the Duke of Wessex home Kingstag Castle. Lady Viola Cavendish is in charge of the Dukes sisters and the house party. Sparks fly when the only thing the Earl of Winterton wants is the beautiful Viola. Emotions run high when all Viola and Wes can think of is each other. The search for an atlas a play and the unexpected love of a lifetime, love comes when you least expect.
Well written story grabs you with the anticipation of the Christmas spirit and an all consuming love. The romance between Wes and Viola is passionate and scorching a really enjoyable story I love Caroline Linden’s writing.

Hot Rogue on a Cold Night-

Greyson Jones has been in love with his best friends -Duke of Frye-fiancé for ever! Lady Serena has been jilted and her sisters are throwing her a Christmas house party in the hopes that her spirits would be lifted, maybe even find a suitor! Grey has until the week of the house party before he leaves on his job for the Crown to India, one week for Lady Serena to fall in love with him! A smouldering kiss, a dance and a play create the backdrop for Lady Serena to throw the restrains of a would be Duchess for love and adventure!
I loved Grey his passion for Serena is so consuming his declaration of love was in the way he described THE KISS I just melted! This was my introduction to Maya Rodale and I’m hooked I’ll be looking for more of her books.

Snowy Night With a Duke-

The Duke of Frye has jilted his betrothed Lady Serena how can he marry a woman when he’s in love with another? Even though his heart belongs to Lady Charlotte Ascot he can never marry with his affliction. He’s cursed to episodes of frothing at the mouth and loosing consciousness. When he comes across Charlotte while on route to Kingstag he’s on a mission for the Crown both are stranded at the same inn because of the snowstorm. Their attraction cannot be denied and secret longings are exposed. In true Katharine Ashe style Horace and Charlottes declarations of love is heart stopping. I truly enjoyed this Christmas tale of love.

I received a complimentary copy from the authors for my honest unbiased opinion