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Stewart-Frazer #2
Christmas Belle
Once they were lovers. Isabella was a fledgling actress, struggling to survive. Jack Frazer was a youth as innocent as he was handsome, consumed by love for this girl he could never make his wife.
Their year together was bliss; their parting bitter with jealousy and anger. But that had been long ago. Now Isabella is the premier star of the London stage. And Jack is the city's supreme rake, a jaded libertine currently courting an exquisite if inexperienced young lady on orders from his titled grandmother. Both Isabella and Jack are utterly changed -- so what danger can there be if they meet again? But as they soon discover, there are painful wounds that never heal -- and burning passions that refuse to die...
Their year together was bliss; their parting bitter with jealousy and anger. But that had been long ago. Now Isabella is the premier star of the London stage. And Jack is the city's supreme rake, a jaded libertine currently courting an exquisite if inexperienced young lady on orders from his titled grandmother. Both Isabella and Jack are utterly changed -- so what danger can there be if they meet again? But as they soon discover, there are painful wounds that never heal -- and burning passions that refuse to die...
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1994
175 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,343 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 1, 2021
This second book has higher ratings than the first in the series. But I find that I prefer the first one even though that one has a more routine trope – a shotgun moc and a cruel cheating H.
The premise and backstory of this book is certainly exceptional and more intriguing. An MB regency where the h was a struggling actress who has had a year long affair with the H, ten years ago and later they had parted in bitterness – him alleging cheating and she angrily accepting the charges and leaving him. And, now they meet again – she is now an acknowledged and revered actress, a widowed Comtesse with two kids and he’s a dissolute and cynical rake.
The setting is same as the first book - a few weeks at the Christmas house party at the H's grandparents estate, socializing and enacting plays with the large family - and finding each other again.
I like the sophisticated h and her standing up to the H. His dilemma of comparing his young intended with his old flame is also stimulating to say the least.
I absolutely adored the h’s children and their strikingly opposing characterization, as also the H's remarkable affinity and ability to bond with them. The children provided some very poignant, tear-jerking moments in the book (which should have been the romance’s job).
Problems?
In ascending order...
Arrrgh, this family! As with the first book, all that family/friends and then their preparing for the play is really distracting and boring.
The ow gets too much space as do her thoughts, revealing her sizing up and finding the H lacking. I didn’t need that – the H’s already a struggling figure and this added censure lowers him even more. I get it that the sweet ingénue ow needs to be shown as not attracted to him so that she’s not hurt in the end but maybe a little less of her pov would’ve been better.
And overall, the H spends more time with the ow than with the h.
But the biggest disappointment for me is the ending!
The premise and backstory of this book is certainly exceptional and more intriguing. An MB regency where the h was a struggling actress who has had a year long affair with the H, ten years ago and later they had parted in bitterness – him alleging cheating and she angrily accepting the charges and leaving him. And, now they meet again – she is now an acknowledged and revered actress, a widowed Comtesse with two kids and he’s a dissolute and cynical rake.
The setting is same as the first book - a few weeks at the Christmas house party at the H's grandparents estate, socializing and enacting plays with the large family - and finding each other again.
I like the sophisticated h and her standing up to the H. His dilemma of comparing his young intended with his old flame is also stimulating to say the least.
I absolutely adored the h’s children and their strikingly opposing characterization, as also the H's remarkable affinity and ability to bond with them. The children provided some very poignant, tear-jerking moments in the book (which should have been the romance’s job).
Problems?
In ascending order...
Arrrgh, this family! As with the first book, all that family/friends and then their preparing for the play is really distracting and boring.
The ow gets too much space as do her thoughts, revealing her sizing up and finding the H lacking. I didn’t need that – the H’s already a struggling figure and this added censure lowers him even more. I get it that the sweet ingénue ow needs to be shown as not attracted to him so that she’s not hurt in the end but maybe a little less of her pov would’ve been better.
And overall, the H spends more time with the ow than with the h.
But the biggest disappointment for me is the ending!
January 9, 2025
You might look at a book with this title and whimsical cover and make certain assumptions....and you'd be wrong. A story with characters of depth and intensity that had me turning pages deep into the night. These signet classics are gems, and difficult to find, but fortunately most are available as e-books now. If you want to read some truly awesome HR, go back and read these vintage Balogh's...the stories are absolute gems from a masterful storyteller.
December 18, 2019
Reading early out-of-print (but now released in e-format) Balogh stories is informative of her growth as a writer. It's also informative of her stagnation as a writer. I think she has five, at most, basic romances that she recycles over and over through the years, mainly just supplying new names for the characters. That's the stagnation. The growth is reflected in the slightly better way she now develops the stories and the characters.
This CHRISTMAS BELLE from 1994 has some good moments but it has more clumsy, tedious, annoying moments. The hero here is slightly less of a jerk than Alex in the 1986 prequel, THE FIRST SNOWDROP, but I still wasn't overly fond of him. The heroine here was less of a wimpy drip than the one in the prequel, but she had done and still did several things I did not approve of.
Jack, cousin of Alex of Book #1, and grandson of the same set of ducal grandparents, is expected to pick a wife at the Christmas family get-together this year. Well, actually, his wife has already been picked out for him by his grandmother. He is just supposed to meet her and propose marriage.
Unfortunately, also invited to the bash is Isabella, an actress famous in both England and France, and widow of a French count and mother of two children. Jack and Belle had been secret lovers almost a decade ago, when they were very young, he extremely immature and she an aspiring actress. They parted bitterly because of their immaturity, some stupid misunderstandings and failures to communicate, all of which you'll learn about in the internal blah-blah-blah of both as the story develops in its repetitious, tedious, boring way.
Again, as with the first book in this series, this is a formerly out-of-print Balogh which should have stayed that way. Or at least a really low price for it would have lessened my disappointment and indignation.
This CHRISTMAS BELLE from 1994 has some good moments but it has more clumsy, tedious, annoying moments. The hero here is slightly less of a jerk than Alex in the 1986 prequel, THE FIRST SNOWDROP, but I still wasn't overly fond of him. The heroine here was less of a wimpy drip than the one in the prequel, but she had done and still did several things I did not approve of.
Jack, cousin of Alex of Book #1, and grandson of the same set of ducal grandparents, is expected to pick a wife at the Christmas family get-together this year. Well, actually, his wife has already been picked out for him by his grandmother. He is just supposed to meet her and propose marriage.
Unfortunately, also invited to the bash is Isabella, an actress famous in both England and France, and widow of a French count and mother of two children. Jack and Belle had been secret lovers almost a decade ago, when they were very young, he extremely immature and she an aspiring actress. They parted bitterly because of their immaturity, some stupid misunderstandings and failures to communicate, all of which you'll learn about in the internal blah-blah-blah of both as the story develops in its repetitious, tedious, boring way.
Again, as with the first book in this series, this is a formerly out-of-print Balogh which should have stayed that way. Or at least a really low price for it would have lessened my disappointment and indignation.
June 25, 2021
I read this because I read The First Snowdrop and I wanted Jack's story!
I like this over The First Snowdrop because the sexual tension was amazing. My hero kryptonite is not a possessive hero, or not just a possessive hero, but a needy one. And Jack delivered.
Again, we are transported back to grandma and grandpa's estate for holiday festivities. There is no play to be organized as a famous actress is coming to perform different scenes from Shakespearian plays. This time, instead of She Stoops To Conquer, the hero learns of what went wrong with his relationship with the woman he is meant to be with through Othello.
Jack is being matched up with a virginal miss present at the holiday party where there is an expectation of a proposal at the end of the festivities.
Jack has, more or less, resigned himself to see if he can make an honest go with the girl. The OW is also like Jack - she's not attracted to him but feels like she should try to make it work. There's nothing inherently wrong with the other person aside from the fact that they both do not see each other as a partner. The age difference is a big thing. Jack is, 30? While she is 18 or somewhere around there. Jack wonders if he's too old for her while she wonders if she's too young to be of interest to him.
When the famous actress, Isabella, arrives, Jack and Isabella agree to pretend they do not know each other. Of course, this is not what happens, as this is a second chances romance.
One thing that another reviewer pointed out is that Jack would have continued with the marriage with the OW if the OW did not say anything, and this is annoying, but for some reason I did not notice it.
I'm pretty sure I stayed up late to finish this so I didn't have time to truly think about it. Mary Balogh also has a tendency to write nobly suffering heroes suffering for their honour, and while I hate heroes who would not be with the heroine unless it was a life or death situation, I've noticed that I'm not mad at Balogh when she does it. The Secret Pearl really tested my tolerance on this but I still enjoyed the story overall.
I like this over The First Snowdrop because the sexual tension was amazing. My hero kryptonite is not a possessive hero, or not just a possessive hero, but a needy one. And Jack delivered.
Again, we are transported back to grandma and grandpa's estate for holiday festivities. There is no play to be organized as a famous actress is coming to perform different scenes from Shakespearian plays. This time, instead of She Stoops To Conquer, the hero learns of what went wrong with his relationship with the woman he is meant to be with through Othello.
Jack is being matched up with a virginal miss present at the holiday party where there is an expectation of a proposal at the end of the festivities.
Jack has, more or less, resigned himself to see if he can make an honest go with the girl. The OW is also like Jack - she's not attracted to him but feels like she should try to make it work. There's nothing inherently wrong with the other person aside from the fact that they both do not see each other as a partner. The age difference is a big thing. Jack is, 30? While she is 18 or somewhere around there. Jack wonders if he's too old for her while she wonders if she's too young to be of interest to him.
When the famous actress, Isabella, arrives, Jack and Isabella agree to pretend they do not know each other. Of course, this is not what happens, as this is a second chances romance.
One thing that another reviewer pointed out is that Jack would have continued with the marriage with the OW if the OW did not say anything, and this is annoying, but for some reason I did not notice it.
I'm pretty sure I stayed up late to finish this so I didn't have time to truly think about it. Mary Balogh also has a tendency to write nobly suffering heroes suffering for their honour, and while I hate heroes who would not be with the heroine unless it was a life or death situation, I've noticed that I'm not mad at Balogh when she does it. The Secret Pearl really tested my tolerance on this but I still enjoyed the story overall.
December 27, 2013
'Christmas Belle' is the second book in the Frazer duet by Balogh, following 'The First Snowdrop'. This novel focuses on the reunion of a world weary aristocrat and the successful young actress he kept as a mistress ten years previous. Their love for each other has never died despite misunderstandings and grief. However a future together still seems impossible, and their emotional connection is tortured and poignant. Still, a rewarding and touching HEA awaits in the wings amidst the house party theatricals where they meet again.
October 14, 2016
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw I was about to finish this book. Time went so fast! This has been one of the most enjoyable Christmas tellings I have read in a long time. Commonly, they involve the spirit of Christmas or a Christmas miracle, which, being honest, I am tired of. This one does not.
As per usual, I decided not to read the synopsis in order not to get expectations. I might decide not to read a book if I don't like what it sound about, so when I read a series, I only read the story of the first one and the rest are a surprise.
This one has been a treat. This authors grabs me and doesn't let me go until I finish reading the last word of her books.
Now, about the book: It takes place in the same setting as the previous one, in the home Jack and Alex's grandmother, the duchess. They are reunited all togheter to celebrate Christmas as a family. And the duchess has a couple of surpsises for them.
One is Julianna. Jack's to be bride. He is already tirhty one, and is about time he marries. So the duchess inveted Juliana and her family to spend Christmas with them.
The other one is Isbaelle. France and England most recognized and talented actress. She is to come with her little to children, being her a widow, and give a little representation for the ones present for the occation. What nobody knows is that she was Jack's lover 9 years ago.
Jack is in a dilemma. He already accepted Julianna as his future wife. But he can't stop thinking about Belle, even when doing it brokes something inside him because of the last words the exchanged that final time, in that fight that separated them and sent her to France. But they don't love the other anymore. They are sure of it. But, why did Belle came? What reasons would she have?
The chemistry between these two characters is incendiary. They can't stop feeling when the other is in the same room. They can't stop spending time with each other. They can't stop feeling.
I had my doubt about this book because of the title: October is not the right moment to read a Christmas story. But I ended up truly satisfied and eager to read more. I couldn't believe it when I turned the page,saw the Acknowledgment and realized the story had ended.
I want more!
As per usual, I decided not to read the synopsis in order not to get expectations. I might decide not to read a book if I don't like what it sound about, so when I read a series, I only read the story of the first one and the rest are a surprise.
This one has been a treat. This authors grabs me and doesn't let me go until I finish reading the last word of her books.
Now, about the book: It takes place in the same setting as the previous one, in the home Jack and Alex's grandmother, the duchess. They are reunited all togheter to celebrate Christmas as a family. And the duchess has a couple of surpsises for them.
One is Julianna. Jack's to be bride. He is already tirhty one, and is about time he marries. So the duchess inveted Juliana and her family to spend Christmas with them.
The other one is Isbaelle. France and England most recognized and talented actress. She is to come with her little to children, being her a widow, and give a little representation for the ones present for the occation. What nobody knows is that she was Jack's lover 9 years ago.
Jack is in a dilemma. He already accepted Julianna as his future wife. But he can't stop thinking about Belle, even when doing it brokes something inside him because of the last words the exchanged that final time, in that fight that separated them and sent her to France. But they don't love the other anymore. They are sure of it. But, why did Belle came? What reasons would she have?
The chemistry between these two characters is incendiary. They can't stop feeling when the other is in the same room. They can't stop spending time with each other. They can't stop feeling.
I had my doubt about this book because of the title: October is not the right moment to read a Christmas story. But I ended up truly satisfied and eager to read more. I couldn't believe it when I turned the page,saw the Acknowledgment and realized the story had ended.
I want more!
October 14, 2024
A much better read than the first book in the series (The First Snowdrop, to which I gave three stars - for a Mary Balogh book!). This one has a vastly improved hero, and two possible brides for him, both trying to do their best in difficult circumstances.
Here’s the premise: Jack Frazer has been invited to spend Christmas with his ducal grandparents, along with their vast family, a lot of organised events he’ll be required to participate in, and his future bride. At least, a young lady has been invited, and Jack will be expected to court her and, if they like each other, to propose. He’s not much minded for marriage, having enjoyed his freedom very much, thank you, but he finds himself obeying the summons and meeting the young lady, only to discover that, while she’s very pretty, she’s also very young, a petite, doll-like creature who looks as if she’s straight out of the schoolroom.
Meanwhile, the main entertainment of the festivities is to be provided by a renowned actress, Isabella, the Comtesse de Vacheron, who will perform several extracts from Shakespeare, with the aid of a supporting cast provided by the family. She’s a widow with two children, and remarkably respectable for an actress, having been feted in both France and Britain. There’s only one problem - she was Jack’s mistress for a year nine years ago, a relationship that ended in anger and bitterness. Neither is happy to find the other at the party, but they agree quite early on to leave the past where it belongs and avoid each other as much as possible.
The reader knows, of course, how well that’s going to work out. What makes this whole setup so interesting is that Jack’s potential bride, Juliana Beckford, is also given equal billing with the two principals, so we see her thoughts and feelings as well as Jack’s and Bella’s. I liked Juliana very much. Some reviewers called her spineless, but I think she’s a perfect Regency lady, well brought up, if very innocent and unversed in the ways of the world, and she puts her duty and obedience to her parents above her own wishes. They have arranged a very prestigious marriage for her to the grandson of a duke, a man of independent wealth, and even though she worries about him being so much older and more experienced than her, and she isn’t in love with him, she sets out to do what she feels is the right thing.
Jack, too, is determined to do the right thing. He accepts at an early stage that he’s going to offer for her, and sets himself to court her conscientiously, taking things slowly because he realises she’s very innocent. And if he has reservations about her youth and his lack of physical desire for her, he tells himself that will grow, and that he can make her happy. He’s being honourable and mature and not trying to recapture his youth with Bella, and that makes him a proper hero in my book.
Bella I’m less sure of. I’m not much enamoured of heroines who are so driven to succeed in their chosen profession that they essentially sabotage every other part of their lives. But I suppose she was young and naive and caught in a difficult situation when she was Jack’s mistress, and as a mother she can’t be faulted. She puts her children first, always, and I can only applaud that. The children, actually, are a real highlight of the book. They’re not merely ciphers or plot devices or there to be winsomely cute or wilfully awful. Things do get a bit schmaltzy towards the end, but Balogh keeps it just on the right side.
I do dislike the obvious double standard. One of the reasons Jack and Bella fell out was because he was convinced she was sleeping with other men, despite her denials. When he finally realises the truth, there’s an air of: oh, that’s all right then, she’s not a slut after all. Whereas he consoled himself after their parting by sleeping with every woman he could get his hands on. But somehow nothing is ever said about that.
What else grated? The vast assortment of relations, and since most of them are happily paired off with young children, it’s difficult not to believe that there’s a whole series somewhere that told the stories of them all. As it was, the only ones I knew were the awful hero from The First Snowdrop and his wife, and I remembered Freddie ('I’ve got no brains’) from that book, too, because really, could Balogh not have given him some variation? The whole acting thing was pretty tedious, and apart from the plot device of getting a famous actress to the house, there was no point to it. There was no moment of revelation when Jack and Bella acted together, and all the lurches forwards and back in their relationship happened for other reasons. I’m not a big fan of a Christmas setting with snowball fights and decorating the rooms and the inevitable kissing bough. And did they really have an evening church service in the Regency? And please, please, please can we banish the obligatory skating on the lake scene, followed by the mind-numbingly predictable falling through the ice scene. It’s been done. It’s old.
But despite my grumbles, I really loved this book - mostly! I can’t quite give it five stars, but Balogh did her usual trick of making me cry several times, so let’s call it a very good four stars.
Here’s the premise: Jack Frazer has been invited to spend Christmas with his ducal grandparents, along with their vast family, a lot of organised events he’ll be required to participate in, and his future bride. At least, a young lady has been invited, and Jack will be expected to court her and, if they like each other, to propose. He’s not much minded for marriage, having enjoyed his freedom very much, thank you, but he finds himself obeying the summons and meeting the young lady, only to discover that, while she’s very pretty, she’s also very young, a petite, doll-like creature who looks as if she’s straight out of the schoolroom.
Meanwhile, the main entertainment of the festivities is to be provided by a renowned actress, Isabella, the Comtesse de Vacheron, who will perform several extracts from Shakespeare, with the aid of a supporting cast provided by the family. She’s a widow with two children, and remarkably respectable for an actress, having been feted in both France and Britain. There’s only one problem - she was Jack’s mistress for a year nine years ago, a relationship that ended in anger and bitterness. Neither is happy to find the other at the party, but they agree quite early on to leave the past where it belongs and avoid each other as much as possible.
The reader knows, of course, how well that’s going to work out. What makes this whole setup so interesting is that Jack’s potential bride, Juliana Beckford, is also given equal billing with the two principals, so we see her thoughts and feelings as well as Jack’s and Bella’s. I liked Juliana very much. Some reviewers called her spineless, but I think she’s a perfect Regency lady, well brought up, if very innocent and unversed in the ways of the world, and she puts her duty and obedience to her parents above her own wishes. They have arranged a very prestigious marriage for her to the grandson of a duke, a man of independent wealth, and even though she worries about him being so much older and more experienced than her, and she isn’t in love with him, she sets out to do what she feels is the right thing.
Jack, too, is determined to do the right thing. He accepts at an early stage that he’s going to offer for her, and sets himself to court her conscientiously, taking things slowly because he realises she’s very innocent. And if he has reservations about her youth and his lack of physical desire for her, he tells himself that will grow, and that he can make her happy. He’s being honourable and mature and not trying to recapture his youth with Bella, and that makes him a proper hero in my book.
Bella I’m less sure of. I’m not much enamoured of heroines who are so driven to succeed in their chosen profession that they essentially sabotage every other part of their lives. But I suppose she was young and naive and caught in a difficult situation when she was Jack’s mistress, and as a mother she can’t be faulted. She puts her children first, always, and I can only applaud that. The children, actually, are a real highlight of the book. They’re not merely ciphers or plot devices or there to be winsomely cute or wilfully awful. Things do get a bit schmaltzy towards the end, but Balogh keeps it just on the right side.
I do dislike the obvious double standard. One of the reasons Jack and Bella fell out was because he was convinced she was sleeping with other men, despite her denials. When he finally realises the truth, there’s an air of: oh, that’s all right then, she’s not a slut after all. Whereas he consoled himself after their parting by sleeping with every woman he could get his hands on. But somehow nothing is ever said about that.
What else grated? The vast assortment of relations, and since most of them are happily paired off with young children, it’s difficult not to believe that there’s a whole series somewhere that told the stories of them all. As it was, the only ones I knew were the awful hero from The First Snowdrop and his wife, and I remembered Freddie ('I’ve got no brains’) from that book, too, because really, could Balogh not have given him some variation? The whole acting thing was pretty tedious, and apart from the plot device of getting a famous actress to the house, there was no point to it. There was no moment of revelation when Jack and Bella acted together, and all the lurches forwards and back in their relationship happened for other reasons. I’m not a big fan of a Christmas setting with snowball fights and decorating the rooms and the inevitable kissing bough. And did they really have an evening church service in the Regency? And please, please, please can we banish the obligatory skating on the lake scene, followed by the mind-numbingly predictable falling through the ice scene. It’s been done. It’s old.
But despite my grumbles, I really loved this book - mostly! I can’t quite give it five stars, but Balogh did her usual trick of making me cry several times, so let’s call it a very good four stars.
June 7, 2020
What an achingly sad story.
Two people who fell deeply and passionately in love when they were very young and lost each other.
After 9 years apart they find each other again, but because of circumstances, they almost lose their second chance as well.
Note:
It was a bit disappointing that the young (19yr old) betrothed of the Hero showed more spine about controlling her future than the much more mature Hero and heroine who were about 30 and almost lost their own HEA because they allowed themselves to be gently bullied into following convention, and not making waves.
Two people who fell deeply and passionately in love when they were very young and lost each other.
After 9 years apart they find each other again, but because of circumstances, they almost lose their second chance as well.
Note:
It was a bit disappointing that the young (19yr old) betrothed of the Hero showed more spine about controlling her future than the much more mature Hero and heroine who were about 30 and almost lost their own HEA because they allowed themselves to be gently bullied into following convention, and not making waves.
November 30, 2025
Hell yea Mary Balogh stress me the fuck out!
what I said on twitter: I love how fraught with anguish her sex scenes can be! more characters need to feel bad - not about fucking - but about falling in love, which can ruin your life.
what I said on twitter: I love how fraught with anguish her sex scenes can be! more characters need to feel bad - not about fucking - but about falling in love, which can ruin your life.
May 15, 2023
so hard to rate, the angst is off the charts, second chance romance, two people just lying and pushing each other away, and the HEA is unearned by either party but it is a nice one nonetheless
February 2, 2020
A follow-up to Balogh's The First Snowdrop, but written nearly a decade later, so lacking some of the annoying male arrogance of its predecessor. It features almost the same plot as one of my favorite romances, Liz Carlyle's 2006 Two Little Lies. A young man falls in love with an actress, and convinces her to be his mistress. But his immature jealousy (both of her male fans, and of her fame itself) lead to heated arguments, and ultimately to her fleeing to another country. Both feel done wrong by the other, for reasons.
But years later, after the actress has married and had children, she returns to England, where she encounters her first love again—right when he's on the verge of becoming engaged. Tempers & sexual sparks fly, and ultimately secrets come to light, that allow each lover to better understand the feelings and actions of the other. But will the impending engagement keep them apart?
Needless to say, while the plotlines of Balogh and Carlyle's books are nearly identical, both tell this story in their own, stylistically recognizable way. I particularly liked the lesson that Balogh's hero must learn here (although it may be rather anachronistic): that trying to jealously constrain a woman who has a drive to create art (through performance) is both pointless and cruel. As Isabella tells Jack, "It was not a good love... It was a jealous and possessive love. It was a love without trust and respect."
But years later, after the actress has married and had children, she returns to England, where she encounters her first love again—right when he's on the verge of becoming engaged. Tempers & sexual sparks fly, and ultimately secrets come to light, that allow each lover to better understand the feelings and actions of the other. But will the impending engagement keep them apart?
Needless to say, while the plotlines of Balogh and Carlyle's books are nearly identical, both tell this story in their own, stylistically recognizable way. I particularly liked the lesson that Balogh's hero must learn here (although it may be rather anachronistic): that trying to jealously constrain a woman who has a drive to create art (through performance) is both pointless and cruel. As Isabella tells Jack, "It was not a good love... It was a jealous and possessive love. It was a love without trust and respect."
September 15, 2020
3.5 stars. A solid second chance romance. I like the misunderstandings trope and The angsty buildup, so while that might be a hindrance to some readers enjoyment, it wasn't one for mine. Widows and children I'm eh, about but the relationship between the H and his daughter was one of the more touching I've read. Still, Balogh always does children really well, so that's no surprise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
My fav kind of Balogh with lots of angst (for 220 pages). Second Chance + Secret Baby = Made For Me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2012
Notes from the archive:
I did liked it because the characters were strong and believable but I didn't love it for 2 reasons: I think the misunderstandings went on for a bit too long - I had already guessed what Jack finds out almost at the end - and because when they admitted their feelings for each other I felt they should have acted on it and not rely on fate - or in this case Juliana - to allow them to be together.
2nd read
This is a book I have read a few years ago. I noticed I hadn't written a proper review of it and since I read book nº1 in this duet a few weeks ago I thought this might be a good read for Christmas Eve. I do love Christmas house parties and Balogh does them so well that I couldn't resist it.
Belle and Jack were once lovers. They meet again nine years later during Jack's grandparents’ traditional Christmas house party. Belle is the guest of honor of what would otherwise be a just a family reunion.
I really enjoyed seeing the characters I had met earlier in The First Snowdrop. They all seem like such a warm and close knit family, I would have loved to see Freddie and Ruby get their own book or to read about the Duke and the Duchess's courtship and wedding.
On a second read Christmas Belle is even better than I remembered. I don't usually go for the big misundertanding plot but here I felt that more than the effects of a “big mis” situation we see the characters grow and acknowledge their own errors and behaviours. We see how the years of separation and their new situation in life makes them experience things differently and how they take into account other people that are also important to them.
My complaint about this story continues to be the same, though. The HEA is left in the hands of fate and if I understand Belle and Jack's behaviour I would also would like to have seen them more actively pursuing their happiness. I'm sure it would give us some wonderful angst ridden moments that they would eventually have overcome to celebrate their happiness.
Despite this I think Christmas Belle is a really good Christmas novel and I wish Balogh will keep writing this type of story. I am well on my way to read all her books and I can’t imagine the day when I won’t have one to look forward to.
Grade 4/5
I did liked it because the characters were strong and believable but I didn't love it for 2 reasons: I think the misunderstandings went on for a bit too long - I had already guessed what Jack finds out almost at the end - and because when they admitted their feelings for each other I felt they should have acted on it and not rely on fate - or in this case Juliana - to allow them to be together.
2nd read
This is a book I have read a few years ago. I noticed I hadn't written a proper review of it and since I read book nº1 in this duet a few weeks ago I thought this might be a good read for Christmas Eve. I do love Christmas house parties and Balogh does them so well that I couldn't resist it.
Belle and Jack were once lovers. They meet again nine years later during Jack's grandparents’ traditional Christmas house party. Belle is the guest of honor of what would otherwise be a just a family reunion.
I really enjoyed seeing the characters I had met earlier in The First Snowdrop. They all seem like such a warm and close knit family, I would have loved to see Freddie and Ruby get their own book or to read about the Duke and the Duchess's courtship and wedding.
On a second read Christmas Belle is even better than I remembered. I don't usually go for the big misundertanding plot but here I felt that more than the effects of a “big mis” situation we see the characters grow and acknowledge their own errors and behaviours. We see how the years of separation and their new situation in life makes them experience things differently and how they take into account other people that are also important to them.
My complaint about this story continues to be the same, though. The HEA is left in the hands of fate and if I understand Belle and Jack's behaviour I would also would like to have seen them more actively pursuing their happiness. I'm sure it would give us some wonderful angst ridden moments that they would eventually have overcome to celebrate their happiness.
Despite this I think Christmas Belle is a really good Christmas novel and I wish Balogh will keep writing this type of story. I am well on my way to read all her books and I can’t imagine the day when I won’t have one to look forward to.
Grade 4/5
December 11, 2019
This is slightly better than the first in this "series" but it's still awful. Jack is slightly better than Alex, although not by much. He's a pretty disgusting guy and his turnaround is not very convincing.
November 30, 2015
Nice conclusion to The First Snowdrop; jack Frazier was not as despicable as Alex.
October 2, 2024
Ho deciso di leggere 'Il sogno di Belle' perché avevo voglia di un romanzo natalizio e, pur essendo il secondo di una serie, non mi sono fatta scoraggiare e l’ho letto lo stesso (amo leggere romanzi natalizi a dicembre), ripromettendomi di leggere il primo della serie Frazer ('La prima neve') il prima possibile.
Con questa premessa mi sono buttata nella lettura e… non mi è piaciuto.
Mi dispiace perché di base la Balogh non mi dispiace e trovo alcune interessanti particolarità nella sua scrittura, ma nel leggerlo non ho trovato la consueta ispirazione, come se avesse dovuto scrivere una storia natalizia per esigenze editoriali ed avesse deciso di riprendere in mano i personaggi dei Frazer per metterla su in qualche modo.
Il problema principale di questo volume, a mio avviso, è la volgarità.
L’amore non si sente. Si ha soltanto la sensazione di una descrizione distaccata, senza sentimento in cui si muovono Jack e Isabella. Per non parlare del modo in cui Jack seduce Juliana, pur essendo innamorato di Isabella, cercando di iniziarla alle schermaglie amorose.
Il grande amore tra i personaggi non si vede, non si sente.
La psicologia è praticamente inesistente e i personaggi sono costretti a comportamenti assurdi per esigenze di trama (e Jack sembra una ragazzina isterica nel modo in cui reagisce… C’è pochissimo di mascolino in questo personaggio).
Deludentissimo.
Per la recensione completa visita il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
Con questa premessa mi sono buttata nella lettura e… non mi è piaciuto.
Mi dispiace perché di base la Balogh non mi dispiace e trovo alcune interessanti particolarità nella sua scrittura, ma nel leggerlo non ho trovato la consueta ispirazione, come se avesse dovuto scrivere una storia natalizia per esigenze editoriali ed avesse deciso di riprendere in mano i personaggi dei Frazer per metterla su in qualche modo.
Il problema principale di questo volume, a mio avviso, è la volgarità.
L’amore non si sente. Si ha soltanto la sensazione di una descrizione distaccata, senza sentimento in cui si muovono Jack e Isabella. Per non parlare del modo in cui Jack seduce Juliana, pur essendo innamorato di Isabella, cercando di iniziarla alle schermaglie amorose.
Il grande amore tra i personaggi non si vede, non si sente.
La psicologia è praticamente inesistente e i personaggi sono costretti a comportamenti assurdi per esigenze di trama (e Jack sembra una ragazzina isterica nel modo in cui reagisce… C’è pochissimo di mascolino in questo personaggio).
Deludentissimo.
Per la recensione completa visita il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
December 20, 2024
Could there be anything worse for a gentleman than to fall deeply in love with their first mistress, who is a young, up-and-coming actress? Mr. Jack Frazer doesn't believe so.
Until the day she disappeared, that was worse.
He learns Isabella has fled to France, married a Comte and become a world-renowned actress.
Well, good for her she has the success she wanted.
As for Jack, he quickly becomes London's supreme rake and a jaded libertine. He has a comfortable and satisfying life.
Until his grandmother, The Duchess of Portland, summons him to join the family for Christmas. At one and thirty, his grandmother is tired of waiting for her favourite grandson to marry, so she has taken matters into her own hands and Jack has very little to say about it.
The entire family is invited, along with a lovely young girl, just out of the schoolroom. She is a dutiful child; he should have chosen a bride long ago.
Dear Grandmama, has another surprise in store for her family for Christmas. She has invited a very special guest, who will perform for them for Christmas. Yep, The Comtesse de Vacheron.
After 9 years, they both have moved past that first love and gone on with their lives, hadn't they?
Once again, Miss Balogh weaves even her novellas round and round, up and down, where no good soul is left alone. As always, there is a surprise before her stories conclude. This one, if you've read a great many of her books, you begin to suspect. But this one is heartwarming!
Until the day she disappeared, that was worse.
He learns Isabella has fled to France, married a Comte and become a world-renowned actress.
Well, good for her she has the success she wanted.
As for Jack, he quickly becomes London's supreme rake and a jaded libertine. He has a comfortable and satisfying life.
Until his grandmother, The Duchess of Portland, summons him to join the family for Christmas. At one and thirty, his grandmother is tired of waiting for her favourite grandson to marry, so she has taken matters into her own hands and Jack has very little to say about it.
The entire family is invited, along with a lovely young girl, just out of the schoolroom. She is a dutiful child; he should have chosen a bride long ago.
Dear Grandmama, has another surprise in store for her family for Christmas. She has invited a very special guest, who will perform for them for Christmas. Yep, The Comtesse de Vacheron.
After 9 years, they both have moved past that first love and gone on with their lives, hadn't they?
Once again, Miss Balogh weaves even her novellas round and round, up and down, where no good soul is left alone. As always, there is a surprise before her stories conclude. This one, if you've read a great many of her books, you begin to suspect. But this one is heartwarming!
July 3, 2025
I can never be satisfied with a romance where the couple only get together because the other woman or other man makes the choice to not be with them. And that’s what happens here. Jack was fully intending to marry the “other woman” even though he didn’t want to 😒. The other woman spoke up and admitted her love for someone else. Something Jack couldn’t do even though he had more to lose than just Isabella. And of course, once the other woman has done all the hard work, it’s all flowers and roses, and I love you’s, and all is forgiven. I don’t know how I would feel if the man who apparently loved me so much, was only with me because the other woman didn’t want him anymore. But Isabella was all too happy to let him back in. But then again, she’s only with him now because her husband died.
Moving on from that, the story was fine but I didn’t care for many of the characters and began skimming paragraphs detailing what they were all getting up to. I especially wasn’t interested in the other woman’s budding romance with another character. The hea also doesn’t make sense for the time period. What Jack and Isabella are about to reveal at the end would have been a big scandal in those days. But apparently, his aristocratic family are just all too happy to accept it. 🤨
Moving on from that, the story was fine but I didn’t care for many of the characters and began skimming paragraphs detailing what they were all getting up to. I especially wasn’t interested in the other woman’s budding romance with another character. The hea also doesn’t make sense for the time period. What Jack and Isabella are about to reveal at the end would have been a big scandal in those days. But apparently, his aristocratic family are just all too happy to accept it. 🤨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
Ohhh, I loved this one. This is the epitome of a second-chance romance, they fucked it up when they were young and stupid and they needed the time to mature— him particularly, especially when it came to their relationship, although she did make one big bad decision. But he gives good grovel and I loved seeing his realizations over the course of the story. The “twist” was pretty obvious from the start, but it didn’t make it any less satisfying. I loved the turnaround on age-gap romances also— Jack has been set up with a much younger woman and it makes him uncomfortable.
Balogh magically knows how to handle a large cast of characters, and although I didn’t like The First Snowdrop nearly as much as this, reading it first made this a lovely return to the Stewart-Frazer family, and a few years means marriages and kids, and it worked seeing all of them mature as well. (Freddie is still my favorite.)
Balogh magically knows how to handle a large cast of characters, and although I didn’t like The First Snowdrop nearly as much as this, reading it first made this a lovely return to the Stewart-Frazer family, and a few years means marriages and kids, and it worked seeing all of them mature as well. (Freddie is still my favorite.)
December 14, 2019
Bitter ex lovers at family Xmas
This in an unashamedly sentimental Xmas tale set in a large family gathering ...the type of setting that Ms Balogh depicts so beautifully. Raucous toddlers and happy newly married couples dominate a family Christmas holiday.
Contrasting against this warmth is the pain of lovers who fought and separated 9 years earlier, after their relationship fell into jealousy and insults. Jack is now being pushed into marriage with a lovely young woman, and his ex Bella has been invited to entertain with her acclaimed acting skills.
Bella and Jack are very bitter, and depression over their angry break up dominates much of the story. But the child characters and warm family members offset the bleakness. This is a truly romantic book with a lot of heart and acute emotional insights. Highly recommended.
This in an unashamedly sentimental Xmas tale set in a large family gathering ...the type of setting that Ms Balogh depicts so beautifully. Raucous toddlers and happy newly married couples dominate a family Christmas holiday.
Contrasting against this warmth is the pain of lovers who fought and separated 9 years earlier, after their relationship fell into jealousy and insults. Jack is now being pushed into marriage with a lovely young woman, and his ex Bella has been invited to entertain with her acclaimed acting skills.
Bella and Jack are very bitter, and depression over their angry break up dominates much of the story. But the child characters and warm family members offset the bleakness. This is a truly romantic book with a lot of heart and acute emotional insights. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2022
Christmas Belle by Mary Balogh
This book is the next book in the First Snowdrop series. This story is about Jack and his love life. As a young man, Jack fell in love with Belle, a young girl who was very talented in acting. She became Jack’s mistress. Even though they loved each other, Jack’s jealousy irritated her. Jack believed she was involved with other men even though she wasn’t. It led to an argument in which Belle left and went to France. Nine years later, Belle and Jack meet again at his grandparents Christmas celebration. Recommend.
This book is the next book in the First Snowdrop series. This story is about Jack and his love life. As a young man, Jack fell in love with Belle, a young girl who was very talented in acting. She became Jack’s mistress. Even though they loved each other, Jack’s jealousy irritated her. Jack believed she was involved with other men even though she wasn’t. It led to an argument in which Belle left and went to France. Nine years later, Belle and Jack meet again at his grandparents Christmas celebration. Recommend.
April 4, 2024
I would give it 6 stars if it was allowed!
I liked Jack in the Christmas Snowdrop but I loved him in this book. I loved both Jack and Belle but was anxious for them until the end when everything was resolved in a very delightful and wonderful way. I highly recommend this book and will be rereading it, probably several times. A 6 star book.
I liked Jack in the Christmas Snowdrop but I loved him in this book. I loved both Jack and Belle but was anxious for them until the end when everything was resolved in a very delightful and wonderful way. I highly recommend this book and will be rereading it, probably several times. A 6 star book.
April 7, 2024
Segundas Oportunidades
Quando eram jovens eles se apaixonaram. A imaturidade e o orgulho deles resultaram em separação e muita mágoa. Uma longa caminhada em busca do perdão e da felicidade. Dois personagens fortes cujas diferenças terão que ser levadas em conta para que seus corações sanem essa mágoa. Um leitura surpreendente.
Quando eram jovens eles se apaixonaram. A imaturidade e o orgulho deles resultaram em separação e muita mágoa. Uma longa caminhada em busca do perdão e da felicidade. Dois personagens fortes cujas diferenças terão que ser levadas em conta para que seus corações sanem essa mágoa. Um leitura surpreendente.
July 25, 2024
Dear Ms. Balogh! The years don't mind!
You, dear Mary, said that this "old" stories could be different of your contemporaries ones. That they could be something out of fashion.
That's not so.
They are as lovely as your sagas, and so much "in fashion" now than they were when you published so many years ago.
Thank you for all of them!!
Monica Beltrami, Montevideo, Uruguay.
You, dear Mary, said that this "old" stories could be different of your contemporaries ones. That they could be something out of fashion.
That's not so.
They are as lovely as your sagas, and so much "in fashion" now than they were when you published so many years ago.
Thank you for all of them!!
Monica Beltrami, Montevideo, Uruguay.
December 28, 2024
I read this years ago (probably when it was first published in 1994), and this was my first re-read. I didn't remember any of it and had a good cry at the emotional climax. I didn't love the derogatory term Jack called Isabelle--that's hard to forgive. However, Balogh did a great job having the characters redeem themselves, so I do believe they will have a happily ever after.
October 15, 2025
Changing from 3 to 2 (2 and not 1 because I was able to finish the book).
If Juliana said yes at the last chapter, we would have a perfectly written book about the hero and the secondary character ending with marriage, and I must admire my patience since I stayed tuned till the end waiting for the h and H to have meaningful interaction. Also, I hate Jack!
If Juliana said yes at the last chapter, we would have a perfectly written book about the hero and the secondary character ending with marriage, and I must admire my patience since I stayed tuned till the end waiting for the h and H to have meaningful interaction. Also, I hate Jack!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
3.5 rounded up - this is old school Mary Balogh, in the way that I remember when I first read Regency romance. Characters who are doing their best and misunderstandings that are, at least, "understandable." A Christmas chocolate with some depth to it.
As always, my reviews are a reflection of my experience reading the book and should not be taken as true critique.
As always, my reviews are a reflection of my experience reading the book and should not be taken as true critique.
December 4, 2024
An okay one-off read from early on in Balogh's writing career, but this isn't a particularly memorable entry. A family has a Christmas season house party and wants to get the rakish bachelor of the family married off to a VERY young debutante who has yet to even make her introduction to society. However, the grandparents hosting the party have unknowingly invited the hero's former mistress from nine years previous. And I would say "Queue drama," but well...there really isn't any drama. The family has outings and does stuff. And everything that you assume will happen in this suggested plot line happens exactly as you would expect. No one is totally dislikable (not even the alternate suggested love interest), but nobody has interesting reactions to anything either. And that leaves the ending just feeling very convenient.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either, and one week on from reading it, I am already forgetting everything but the generalities.
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either, and one week on from reading it, I am already forgetting everything but the generalities.
December 10, 2019
This wasn't perfect, but it was so romantic.
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