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The Christmas Countess
When she discovers that the child she believed to be stillborn is actually alive, Rebecca Tremaine is desperate to meet her daughter and must convince the Earl of Hampton, a distant family friend who has cared for the girl since infancy, to let her into his home and his heart. Original.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
22 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Basso
29 books240 followersBetween stints as a corporate financial analyst, marketing consultant and public librarian, Adrienne Basso has parlayed her vivid imagination and desire to tell romantic stories into a twenty-four-year writing career. She has published contemporary, Regency, Victorian, vampire, and Scottish medieval romance novels. She enjoys the challenge of creating stories that emphasize the everlasting power of love and is truly delighted that her characters always achieve the fantasy of living happily ever after. A native New Yorker, Adrienne, her husband, and their incomparable dog now live in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 4, 2018
Leído en Dic 2012
CONDESA POR NAVIDAD
Una mujer con un pasado…
Hace seis años, Rebecca Tremaine, la hija de un vicario, quedó embarazada de su prometido. Cuando murió inesperadamente, Rebecca tenía el corazón roto y cayó en desgracia. El niño nació muerto, o eso creía Rebecca. Ahora, está impresionada y llena de júbilo al descubrir que sus parientes dispusieron que su bebé, Lily, debía ser entregada a un pariente lejano, Cameron Sinclair, conde de Hampton. El conde viudo acepta de mala gana que Rebecca visite a Lily durante la Navidad en su casa de Kent, donde se encuentra con que la niña, aunque que es un encanto, está alarmantemente malcriada, y el conde, apuesto y seguro de sí mismo, es inconmensurablemente atractivo.
Un amor para todas las estaciones…
Elegante, compasiva y cautivadora por completo, Rebecca llena la casa de Cameron Sinclair de calor y luz. No se puede negar que su preocupación por el comportamiento de Lily está bien fundada. Al igual que sabe que él tampoco puede negar el dolor que siente ante la idea de su partida. Después de la muerte de su esposa hace tres años, Cameron se mantuvo inflexible, pensando que nunca podría amar a otra mujer. Pero a medida que la temporada navideña llega a su fin, sólo le resta esperar que no sea demasiado tarde para admitir la alegría de saber que estaba profunda y deliciosamente equivocado.
CONDESA POR NAVIDAD
Una mujer con un pasado…
Hace seis años, Rebecca Tremaine, la hija de un vicario, quedó embarazada de su prometido. Cuando murió inesperadamente, Rebecca tenía el corazón roto y cayó en desgracia. El niño nació muerto, o eso creía Rebecca. Ahora, está impresionada y llena de júbilo al descubrir que sus parientes dispusieron que su bebé, Lily, debía ser entregada a un pariente lejano, Cameron Sinclair, conde de Hampton. El conde viudo acepta de mala gana que Rebecca visite a Lily durante la Navidad en su casa de Kent, donde se encuentra con que la niña, aunque que es un encanto, está alarmantemente malcriada, y el conde, apuesto y seguro de sí mismo, es inconmensurablemente atractivo.
Un amor para todas las estaciones…
Elegante, compasiva y cautivadora por completo, Rebecca llena la casa de Cameron Sinclair de calor y luz. No se puede negar que su preocupación por el comportamiento de Lily está bien fundada. Al igual que sabe que él tampoco puede negar el dolor que siente ante la idea de su partida. Después de la muerte de su esposa hace tres años, Cameron se mantuvo inflexible, pensando que nunca podría amar a otra mujer. Pero a medida que la temporada navideña llega a su fin, sólo le resta esperar que no sea demasiado tarde para admitir la alegría de saber que estaba profunda y deliciosamente equivocado.
January 4, 2009
"The Christmas Countess" is a heartwarming Christmas story about a woman and a man who rediscover love. I really like the way Adrienne Basso writes her love stories. They strike the right balance (for me) between light and dark--not frothy, but not heavy either.
Rebecca has suffered for anticipating her vows. She still suffers dreams of her dead baby, even after six years have passed. Then, when her father dies, she discovers those she loved most deceived her. Her baby wasn't stillborn, instead she was given to distant relatives to raise. Now all Rebecca wants is to see her daughter, and she'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that--even go through, around, or over an Earl!
The only thing that kept Cameron going after the death of his wife was his daughter Lily. She is everything to him. Now, their life is under threat--her birth mother is asking to see the child. Apparently, neither one of them were told the exact truth. After meeting Rebecca, Cameron realizes she's nothing like he had imagined...and that's NOT good.
Fabulous story about second chances. This one will join the others by Basso on my keeper shelf!
Rebecca has suffered for anticipating her vows. She still suffers dreams of her dead baby, even after six years have passed. Then, when her father dies, she discovers those she loved most deceived her. Her baby wasn't stillborn, instead she was given to distant relatives to raise. Now all Rebecca wants is to see her daughter, and she'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that--even go through, around, or over an Earl!
The only thing that kept Cameron going after the death of his wife was his daughter Lily. She is everything to him. Now, their life is under threat--her birth mother is asking to see the child. Apparently, neither one of them were told the exact truth. After meeting Rebecca, Cameron realizes she's nothing like he had imagined...and that's NOT good.
Fabulous story about second chances. This one will join the others by Basso on my keeper shelf!
December 11, 2016
Me gano el corazón la pareja secundaria... la hermana de conde Charlote y el hermano de la protagonista. La hija muy muy muy muy mimada.
February 25, 2021
Me ha encantado la historia!
Y no se qué pareja me enamoró más, si Camon y Rebecca o Daniel y Charlotte ♥
Los dos romances surgieron muy bonito, en especial el de Daniel y Charlotte.
Y no se qué pareja me enamoró más, si Camon y Rebecca o Daniel y Charlotte ♥
Los dos romances surgieron muy bonito, en especial el de Daniel y Charlotte.
December 31, 2021
Fabulous story, and underrated in my opinion. This is a Christmas favorite and a keeper! I'll be back to finish a more detailed review.
October 13, 2008
The Christmas Countess by Adrienne Basso is a delightful Regency Christmas story that will leave you pleasantly satisfied. A tale of deception and hurt that turns into one of hope but not without hard work and honesty.
Rebecca Tremaine is a lovely young woman grieving the death of her child while sorting through her late father's worldly goods. Intelligent, passionate and honest she would make any man a wonderful wife, but having lost a child shortly after losing the man she was engaged to be married too has left Rebecca feeling a hopeless emptiness that she feels will haunt her until the end of her days.
Lord Cameron Sinclair is a handsome man with wealth beyond compare. He is very high on the social ladder but human all the same. After the loss of his beloved wife Christina, it was the young toddler he and his wife were proud parents of that saved him from the unbearable sorrow that accompanies the death of one he loved so dearly.
Daniel Tremaine, brother of Rebecca, has returned from the America's to help her sort through their father's items so that they can both go back to a normal life. A handsome young man of self made wealth from smart business investments, Daniel does not expect the shock of a hidden family secret and feels he must help his sister in the endeavour of finding the truth before he can go on with his life.
Lady Charolette Sinclair is a plain looking young woman with an affliction. She is crippled, insecure, sheltered and withdrawn to the point that all she can see for her future is that of a spinster. Little does she realize the about face that her life is about to take and the unbelievable happiness she is about to find. The only thing that can stand in her way now is her brother Cameron.
Our story starts out with Rebecca and Daniel finding out a secret that will change their lives forever. Sorting through their recently deceased father's worldly goods they come across a paper with information on it revealing an incident that happened some six years past. Daniel plays an important part in helping Rebecca gain access into Lord Sinclair's life which sets into motion events that will dramatically change all their lives.
Invited to the Sinclair estate for the Christmas Holiday's makes both Rebecca and Daniel uncomfortable but their is no other way for them to take care of what Rebecca wishes. After having been wronged by her parents, can Rebecca ever forgive them for their deception even if it was done to save her reputation? Can the events of the past be righted to create a happiness in the future? Where Daniel finds happiness can Rebecca even hope too? What would a Christmas be like without hope?
Our author has given us an enriched story of love that will touch you deep down in the center of your core. A story of hope that shines brighter than the brightest star in a clear winter nights sky. A story of passion so delicious you can only wish that it was a story of your life instead of a fictional character. A story that will leave you breathless while awaiting to see what turn of events will happen next. A story that is truly a Christmas miracle.
Rebecca Tremaine is a lovely young woman grieving the death of her child while sorting through her late father's worldly goods. Intelligent, passionate and honest she would make any man a wonderful wife, but having lost a child shortly after losing the man she was engaged to be married too has left Rebecca feeling a hopeless emptiness that she feels will haunt her until the end of her days.
Lord Cameron Sinclair is a handsome man with wealth beyond compare. He is very high on the social ladder but human all the same. After the loss of his beloved wife Christina, it was the young toddler he and his wife were proud parents of that saved him from the unbearable sorrow that accompanies the death of one he loved so dearly.
Daniel Tremaine, brother of Rebecca, has returned from the America's to help her sort through their father's items so that they can both go back to a normal life. A handsome young man of self made wealth from smart business investments, Daniel does not expect the shock of a hidden family secret and feels he must help his sister in the endeavour of finding the truth before he can go on with his life.
Lady Charolette Sinclair is a plain looking young woman with an affliction. She is crippled, insecure, sheltered and withdrawn to the point that all she can see for her future is that of a spinster. Little does she realize the about face that her life is about to take and the unbelievable happiness she is about to find. The only thing that can stand in her way now is her brother Cameron.
Our story starts out with Rebecca and Daniel finding out a secret that will change their lives forever. Sorting through their recently deceased father's worldly goods they come across a paper with information on it revealing an incident that happened some six years past. Daniel plays an important part in helping Rebecca gain access into Lord Sinclair's life which sets into motion events that will dramatically change all their lives.
Invited to the Sinclair estate for the Christmas Holiday's makes both Rebecca and Daniel uncomfortable but their is no other way for them to take care of what Rebecca wishes. After having been wronged by her parents, can Rebecca ever forgive them for their deception even if it was done to save her reputation? Can the events of the past be righted to create a happiness in the future? Where Daniel finds happiness can Rebecca even hope too? What would a Christmas be like without hope?
Our author has given us an enriched story of love that will touch you deep down in the center of your core. A story of hope that shines brighter than the brightest star in a clear winter nights sky. A story of passion so delicious you can only wish that it was a story of your life instead of a fictional character. A story that will leave you breathless while awaiting to see what turn of events will happen next. A story that is truly a Christmas miracle.
February 14, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by this. I’m not sure if I’ve ever read this author before so I didn’t know what to expect. The book is very sweet without being sickly so or trite. And the secondary romance was a nice bonus. It was actually a pleasant change of pace to read an historical romance where the entire book is filled with nice characters. There were no villains (aside from Rebecca’s long dead great aunt, and even she we don’t know enough about to peg as truly villainous), yet there was enough conflict and angst to keep me interested. It’s actually kind of sad that I was so surprised everyone was so decent to each other. All the female characters were kind to one another... not a catty snob in sight... and the men were gentlemanly. The Hero is not even a rake! I don’t mean to say everyone was perfect. Far from it. The MCs have a lot of pain, anger, and trust issues to work through (especially Cameron), which they definitely take out on each other in the beginning, but there’s no malice.
The portrayal of the earl’s daughter was also unexpected. She was a far from perfect kid, and that’s all right. I really appreciated how the author showed Lily as multifaceted, but also that constant spoiling can be detrimental to a child, even if it’s done through love. I fully expected the character to be either A) perfect, or B) ignored and/or have a strict upbringing... the whole “poor little rich girl” thing. That really got turned on it’s head.
Finally, the Christmas time frame added a magical element full of great tropes. This book was written in 2008, I believe, and while I don’t like to think of that as being all that long ago, it really is in HR land. Many of the current novels being released are full of strong independent woman taking on the world and a multitude of causes while running businesses and thumbing their noses at society. While I admire many of these heroines, sometimes it’s nice to read an old fashioned romance. Spunky for spunky’s sake gets tiresome after a while, and I appreciate a story in which the heroine fights for her happiness within a more realistic construct of the times in which she lived. Lest you get the wrong idea, there’s plenty of spicey times to heat up the romance, as well!
The portrayal of the earl’s daughter was also unexpected. She was a far from perfect kid, and that’s all right. I really appreciated how the author showed Lily as multifaceted, but also that constant spoiling can be detrimental to a child, even if it’s done through love. I fully expected the character to be either A) perfect, or B) ignored and/or have a strict upbringing... the whole “poor little rich girl” thing. That really got turned on it’s head.
Finally, the Christmas time frame added a magical element full of great tropes. This book was written in 2008, I believe, and while I don’t like to think of that as being all that long ago, it really is in HR land. Many of the current novels being released are full of strong independent woman taking on the world and a multitude of causes while running businesses and thumbing their noses at society. While I admire many of these heroines, sometimes it’s nice to read an old fashioned romance. Spunky for spunky’s sake gets tiresome after a while, and I appreciate a story in which the heroine fights for her happiness within a more realistic construct of the times in which she lived. Lest you get the wrong idea, there’s plenty of spicey times to heat up the romance, as well!
December 26, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I read it in a day. This was a great read during the holiday season. I would recommend this book to everyone!
January 13, 2010
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Full-length, Christmas-themed romance novels seem to be rather few and far between. In fact, The Christmas Countess was the first one I read this holiday season, and for that reason alone, I commend the author for her efforts. I enjoyed reading about the celebrations in which the guests at Cameron's country estate participated. The festivities lasted for several weeks and included activities such as collecting greenery and mistletoe (complete with a few stolen kisses) to decorate the manor house, sledding, and putting on a nativity play, among other things. Everything sounded like great fun. I also thought that the overall premise of the story was a rather unique one, with the heroine giving birth to a baby out of wedlock six years before and believing that the baby was stillborn only to find out that she is alive and well and living as the daughter of a widowed Earl. Of course, the shared connection of their little girl, who Rebecca birthed and Cameron raised, provides the necessary impetus for them to meet and fall in love.
I did like both Cameron and Rebecca, but I felt like their characterizations were rather one-dimensional and never progressed much beyond what the reader learns about them from the back cover blurb. Rebecca was a vicar's daughter who became pregnant by her fiancée. Before she even realized that a baby was on the way, he was tragically killed in a freak accident, leaving her in a very difficult predicament. She was sent to live with a great aunt who lied to her about the baby being stillborn and gave the little girl to Cameron and his wife to adopt, because they had been unable to have a child. Rebecca has never forgotten about her baby girl, and when she finds a letter which reveals the truth in her father's things after his death, she knows that she must meet the child. Cameron lost his wife three years ago and the only thing that really kept him going was his little girl, Lily. I thought that he was very generous in his sympathy toward Rebecca's plight and allowing her to spend the Christmas holidays with his family, so that she could get to know Lily. I liked that Cameron was so involved in his daughter's life, and that he seemed to truly enjoy playing, not only with her, but with all the children who were visiting. I also loved his choice to remain celibate since his wife's death. I think that it showed how much he really loved her. In fact, both Cameron and Rebecca were deeply in love with their partners, and I think it's a nice change of pace to not have the dead spouse/lover be villainized. Overall, Cameron and Rebecca were very pleasant characters, but I just never felt like I got to know them well enough for them to stand out to me.
I also didn't really feel the romantic connection between Cameron and Rebecca. In addition to them still being in love with their former partners, they also had an extremely complicated relationship to overcome. It seemed that the majority of their interactions centered around Lily, both their individual relationships with her and how they both could fit into her life. Even when they were alone together, their conversations still tended to revolve around Lily, and only rarely delved into more personal territory. There is also a certain distance between them because Cameron is wary of Rebecca trying to overstep her bounds in dealing with Lily and/or possibly tell her the truth about her parentage, while Rebecca feels that Cameron has been overindulgent of Lily who behaves rudely sometimes. I felt that their sexual tension was a case of the author telling more than showing, and even in their passionate moments, they still didn't seem to be fully giving themselves to one another. I think perhaps this was because their relationship was rather ill-defined, leaving them and the reader rather uncertain about what they really are to each other. They mainly seemed to be acting out of a sense of loneliness instead of any sort of commitment or deep feelings for each other.
Cameron and Rebecca may have dropped the romance ball for me, but a pair of secondary characters picked it up and ran with it, really added to my enjoyment of the story. There was a little side romance between Rebecca's brother, Daniel, and Cameron's sister, Charlotte, that I absolutely loved. I thought that Daniel was a great brother to support Rebecca and use his wealth to help her gain access to her daughter. He had spent a lot of time in the States and had become somewhat Americanized and disdainful of the English aristocracy. Daniel is just a really nice guy who is a perfect gentleman but tends to march to the beat of his own drum. Charlotte is a very sweet, intelligent woman who is quite plain and also has a birth defect which has left her with a very pronounced limp. Both things have made her quite shy and have caused her to avoid much social interaction. When Daniel takes notice of her, she simply blossoms, and I found a very honest vulnerability in their interactions. I loved that Daniel wasn't the least bit bothered by Charlotte's disability, and that he encouraged her to explore the part of herself that she had been neglecting due to her overprotective family. Even though their scenes take up only a small portion of the book, I felt that they connected on a very deep intimate level. Theirs was a tender love rooted in mutual respect, admiration, and friendship, a union of both the intellectual and spiritual. I adored these two from the moment they appeared within the pages of the story, and couldn't have been happier to see them with each other. In all honesty, Daniel and Charlotte's romance overshadowed Cameron and Rebecca's for me, and I couldn't hardly wait to get back to their scenes. In fact, I felt a tad bit cheated that I didn't get a wedding or consummation, but with them being supporting players, I suppose I can understand why.
There were a couple of other secondary characters who stood out to me. Of course Lily plays a big part in the story. I typically love child characters, but I ended up having mixed feelings about her. Sometime, Lily acts pretty rude, spoiled and manipulative, but then other times, she is quick to apologize and behave sweetly again. She is an incredibly spirited child who tends to keep everyone on their toes. Lily has Cameron wrapped around her little finger, but considering that she was his lifeline after the death of his beloved wife, I could in some ways understand his overindulgence of her. Another stand-out character was Cameron's cousin, Marion. She is a free-spirited woman who could be rather bossy but in an endearing way. Having been lucky enough to find a loving husband and have a wonderful marriage of her own, she can't seem to resist doing a little matchmaking. Marion and her husband's relationship was another romance that was great fun to read, even though their scenes were even fewer than Daniel and Charlotte's and never from their own point of view.
In my opinion, Ms. Basso's writing style could have used a bit more polish. I spotted several words and phrases that I believe were anachronistic. They just sounded far too modern to have been in use in the Victorian era and tended to make this more of a wallpaper historical. There were also some poor or incorrect word choices. All of these things occasionally pulled me out of the story, and should have been caught by a good editor. I also found the prose and the dialog to be a bit uneven with some passages being too poetic and wordy. There are only a couple of love scenes and although they were fairly steamy, I didn't feel that they had the sensuous flow of many other authors I've read. I'm certainly not looking for purple prose, but the blunt anatomical terms that were often used just didn't work well for me. Overall, I did mostly enjoy The Christmas Countess, in spite of any issues I might have had, but a lot of that was owing to the outstanding supporting cast. This was my first read by Adrienne Basso, and I found it to be likable enough, that I will likely try more of her works in the future. I'm thinking that perhaps her other full-length Christmas novel, The Christmas Heiress (which is not, to my knowledge, connected to The Christmas Countess), might be a good choice for the next holiday season.
Full-length, Christmas-themed romance novels seem to be rather few and far between. In fact, The Christmas Countess was the first one I read this holiday season, and for that reason alone, I commend the author for her efforts. I enjoyed reading about the celebrations in which the guests at Cameron's country estate participated. The festivities lasted for several weeks and included activities such as collecting greenery and mistletoe (complete with a few stolen kisses) to decorate the manor house, sledding, and putting on a nativity play, among other things. Everything sounded like great fun. I also thought that the overall premise of the story was a rather unique one, with the heroine giving birth to a baby out of wedlock six years before and believing that the baby was stillborn only to find out that she is alive and well and living as the daughter of a widowed Earl. Of course, the shared connection of their little girl, who Rebecca birthed and Cameron raised, provides the necessary impetus for them to meet and fall in love.
I did like both Cameron and Rebecca, but I felt like their characterizations were rather one-dimensional and never progressed much beyond what the reader learns about them from the back cover blurb. Rebecca was a vicar's daughter who became pregnant by her fiancée. Before she even realized that a baby was on the way, he was tragically killed in a freak accident, leaving her in a very difficult predicament. She was sent to live with a great aunt who lied to her about the baby being stillborn and gave the little girl to Cameron and his wife to adopt, because they had been unable to have a child. Rebecca has never forgotten about her baby girl, and when she finds a letter which reveals the truth in her father's things after his death, she knows that she must meet the child. Cameron lost his wife three years ago and the only thing that really kept him going was his little girl, Lily. I thought that he was very generous in his sympathy toward Rebecca's plight and allowing her to spend the Christmas holidays with his family, so that she could get to know Lily. I liked that Cameron was so involved in his daughter's life, and that he seemed to truly enjoy playing, not only with her, but with all the children who were visiting. I also loved his choice to remain celibate since his wife's death. I think that it showed how much he really loved her. In fact, both Cameron and Rebecca were deeply in love with their partners, and I think it's a nice change of pace to not have the dead spouse/lover be villainized. Overall, Cameron and Rebecca were very pleasant characters, but I just never felt like I got to know them well enough for them to stand out to me.
I also didn't really feel the romantic connection between Cameron and Rebecca. In addition to them still being in love with their former partners, they also had an extremely complicated relationship to overcome. It seemed that the majority of their interactions centered around Lily, both their individual relationships with her and how they both could fit into her life. Even when they were alone together, their conversations still tended to revolve around Lily, and only rarely delved into more personal territory. There is also a certain distance between them because Cameron is wary of Rebecca trying to overstep her bounds in dealing with Lily and/or possibly tell her the truth about her parentage, while Rebecca feels that Cameron has been overindulgent of Lily who behaves rudely sometimes. I felt that their sexual tension was a case of the author telling more than showing, and even in their passionate moments, they still didn't seem to be fully giving themselves to one another. I think perhaps this was because their relationship was rather ill-defined, leaving them and the reader rather uncertain about what they really are to each other. They mainly seemed to be acting out of a sense of loneliness instead of any sort of commitment or deep feelings for each other.
Cameron and Rebecca may have dropped the romance ball for me, but a pair of secondary characters picked it up and ran with it, really added to my enjoyment of the story. There was a little side romance between Rebecca's brother, Daniel, and Cameron's sister, Charlotte, that I absolutely loved. I thought that Daniel was a great brother to support Rebecca and use his wealth to help her gain access to her daughter. He had spent a lot of time in the States and had become somewhat Americanized and disdainful of the English aristocracy. Daniel is just a really nice guy who is a perfect gentleman but tends to march to the beat of his own drum. Charlotte is a very sweet, intelligent woman who is quite plain and also has a birth defect which has left her with a very pronounced limp. Both things have made her quite shy and have caused her to avoid much social interaction. When Daniel takes notice of her, she simply blossoms, and I found a very honest vulnerability in their interactions. I loved that Daniel wasn't the least bit bothered by Charlotte's disability, and that he encouraged her to explore the part of herself that she had been neglecting due to her overprotective family. Even though their scenes take up only a small portion of the book, I felt that they connected on a very deep intimate level. Theirs was a tender love rooted in mutual respect, admiration, and friendship, a union of both the intellectual and spiritual. I adored these two from the moment they appeared within the pages of the story, and couldn't have been happier to see them with each other. In all honesty, Daniel and Charlotte's romance overshadowed Cameron and Rebecca's for me, and I couldn't hardly wait to get back to their scenes. In fact, I felt a tad bit cheated that I didn't get a wedding or consummation, but with them being supporting players, I suppose I can understand why.
There were a couple of other secondary characters who stood out to me. Of course Lily plays a big part in the story. I typically love child characters, but I ended up having mixed feelings about her. Sometime, Lily acts pretty rude, spoiled and manipulative, but then other times, she is quick to apologize and behave sweetly again. She is an incredibly spirited child who tends to keep everyone on their toes. Lily has Cameron wrapped around her little finger, but considering that she was his lifeline after the death of his beloved wife, I could in some ways understand his overindulgence of her. Another stand-out character was Cameron's cousin, Marion. She is a free-spirited woman who could be rather bossy but in an endearing way. Having been lucky enough to find a loving husband and have a wonderful marriage of her own, she can't seem to resist doing a little matchmaking. Marion and her husband's relationship was another romance that was great fun to read, even though their scenes were even fewer than Daniel and Charlotte's and never from their own point of view.
In my opinion, Ms. Basso's writing style could have used a bit more polish. I spotted several words and phrases that I believe were anachronistic. They just sounded far too modern to have been in use in the Victorian era and tended to make this more of a wallpaper historical. There were also some poor or incorrect word choices. All of these things occasionally pulled me out of the story, and should have been caught by a good editor. I also found the prose and the dialog to be a bit uneven with some passages being too poetic and wordy. There are only a couple of love scenes and although they were fairly steamy, I didn't feel that they had the sensuous flow of many other authors I've read. I'm certainly not looking for purple prose, but the blunt anatomical terms that were often used just didn't work well for me. Overall, I did mostly enjoy The Christmas Countess, in spite of any issues I might have had, but a lot of that was owing to the outstanding supporting cast. This was my first read by Adrienne Basso, and I found it to be likable enough, that I will likely try more of her works in the future. I'm thinking that perhaps her other full-length Christmas novel, The Christmas Heiress (which is not, to my knowledge, connected to The Christmas Countess), might be a good choice for the next holiday season.
August 20, 2017
This was a win win fairytale romance. The unwed mother becomes the legitimate mother by marrying her daughter's adopted father, and the crippled wallflower throws away her spinster cap and marries the handsome rich brother making this a double romance.
May 24, 2019
It was a great at the beginning of the book BUT it went downhill afterwards. I lost interest when Daniel and Charlotte’s love story being put in the mix. It took the focus from the main characters’ love story — I don’t approve.
Read: 23.05.2019 - 24.05.2019
Read: 23.05.2019 - 24.05.2019
December 13, 2020
💓Me ha dejado el corazón blandito.
Una muy tierna historia, muy sensible y ambientada en Navidad. Aunque cortita los personajes, tanto los principales , como los secundarios, son muy creíbles y adorables.
Una muy tierna historia, muy sensible y ambientada en Navidad. Aunque cortita los personajes, tanto los principales , como los secundarios, son muy creíbles y adorables.
January 8, 2023
Pleasant read. A romance between secondary characters adds interest and tension to the plot.
October 31, 2012
Un dos por uno siempre es una ganga. Pagar uno y llevarse dos. Si hablásemos de cualquier otro tipo de artículo, no lo pensaría. Pero en una novela a veces eso es arriesgado. Me explico.
La historia principal entre Rebecca Tremaine y Cameron Sinclaire es absolutamente deliciosa. Que al principio él la vea como una amenaza, es algo lógico. Al fin y al cabo es la madre biológica de su hija, una niña que su difunta esposa y él adoptaron de recién nacida. Que la madre aparezca de repente después de seis años pidiendo (a través de su hermano Daniel) conocer a la niña, es alarmante. Que además lo haga a través de un velado chantaje, es preocupante. Y cuando Rebecca se da cuenta de lo altamente mimada que está su hija e intenta entrometerse en su educación, la reacción de Cameron es de esperar. Hasta que se da cuenta que la preocupación de Rebecca es genuina, que no tiene intenciones de romper el delicado equilibrio que ha conseguido después de la muerte de su esposa, y que realmente la pequeña Lily es una niña consentida que con seis años se está convirtiendo en una manipuladora experta.
A partir de ese momento, Cameron empieza a mirar a Rebecca con otros ojos y el romance es inevitable.
Pero esta no es toda la historia. De ahí el dos por uno del principio. Porque también están Daniel, hermano de Rebecca, y Charlotte, hermana de Cameron. Y es su romance el que a mi me llegó más al corazón.
Ambas historias corren paralelas y cada personaje se enfrenta a sus propios miedos y dudas. Charlotte, con una deficiencia física (es ligeramente coja) no comprende que un hombre como Daniel se fije en ella. Daniel, por su lado, sabe perfectamente que una mujer como Charlotte, hermana de un conde, está fuera de su alcance al ser él sólo el hijo de un vicario que se ha hecho rico en el extranjero. Cameron debe enfrentarse a la certeza que el sentimiento que pensó que había muerto junto con su esposa, a la que amaba profundamente, está despertando de nuevo y enteramente dirigido a la señorita Tremaine. Y Rebeca Tremaine, que ya había aceptado que después de la muerte de su prometido, al que quería con todo su corazón, y padre de su hija bastarda, se había convertido en una solterona que pasaría el resto de su vida sola y dependiendo de su hermano Daniel, se sorprende a sí misma enamorándose repentinamente de un hombre como Cameron Sinclaire, que la trata con una hostilidad manifiesta al considerarla un peligro para su familia.
Encontrar el equilibrio justo entre las dos historias para que no se eclipsen mutuamente es difícil y he de admitir que la autora lo ha conseguido con bastante soltura, dedicándole a cada una de ellas la suficiente profundidad para que no nos parezca que la historia supuestamente secundaria entre Daniel y Charlotte es un mero relleno. En realidad, es esta segunda historia la que nos regala momentos realmente deliciosos, como el masaje disimulado que Daniel le da a Charlotte en la pierna enferma cuando se da cuenta del dolor que ella siente, en una sala donde hay más personas aunque estén distraídas jugando a las cartas.
Es, en definitiva, una novela tierna y encantadora que recomiendo sin duda.
La historia principal entre Rebecca Tremaine y Cameron Sinclaire es absolutamente deliciosa. Que al principio él la vea como una amenaza, es algo lógico. Al fin y al cabo es la madre biológica de su hija, una niña que su difunta esposa y él adoptaron de recién nacida. Que la madre aparezca de repente después de seis años pidiendo (a través de su hermano Daniel) conocer a la niña, es alarmante. Que además lo haga a través de un velado chantaje, es preocupante. Y cuando Rebecca se da cuenta de lo altamente mimada que está su hija e intenta entrometerse en su educación, la reacción de Cameron es de esperar. Hasta que se da cuenta que la preocupación de Rebecca es genuina, que no tiene intenciones de romper el delicado equilibrio que ha conseguido después de la muerte de su esposa, y que realmente la pequeña Lily es una niña consentida que con seis años se está convirtiendo en una manipuladora experta.
A partir de ese momento, Cameron empieza a mirar a Rebecca con otros ojos y el romance es inevitable.
Pero esta no es toda la historia. De ahí el dos por uno del principio. Porque también están Daniel, hermano de Rebecca, y Charlotte, hermana de Cameron. Y es su romance el que a mi me llegó más al corazón.
Ambas historias corren paralelas y cada personaje se enfrenta a sus propios miedos y dudas. Charlotte, con una deficiencia física (es ligeramente coja) no comprende que un hombre como Daniel se fije en ella. Daniel, por su lado, sabe perfectamente que una mujer como Charlotte, hermana de un conde, está fuera de su alcance al ser él sólo el hijo de un vicario que se ha hecho rico en el extranjero. Cameron debe enfrentarse a la certeza que el sentimiento que pensó que había muerto junto con su esposa, a la que amaba profundamente, está despertando de nuevo y enteramente dirigido a la señorita Tremaine. Y Rebeca Tremaine, que ya había aceptado que después de la muerte de su prometido, al que quería con todo su corazón, y padre de su hija bastarda, se había convertido en una solterona que pasaría el resto de su vida sola y dependiendo de su hermano Daniel, se sorprende a sí misma enamorándose repentinamente de un hombre como Cameron Sinclaire, que la trata con una hostilidad manifiesta al considerarla un peligro para su familia.
Encontrar el equilibrio justo entre las dos historias para que no se eclipsen mutuamente es difícil y he de admitir que la autora lo ha conseguido con bastante soltura, dedicándole a cada una de ellas la suficiente profundidad para que no nos parezca que la historia supuestamente secundaria entre Daniel y Charlotte es un mero relleno. En realidad, es esta segunda historia la que nos regala momentos realmente deliciosos, como el masaje disimulado que Daniel le da a Charlotte en la pierna enferma cuando se da cuenta del dolor que ella siente, en una sala donde hay más personas aunque estén distraídas jugando a las cartas.
Es, en definitiva, una novela tierna y encantadora que recomiendo sin duda.
December 27, 2011
This was an interesting plot for a Christmas romance. Usually these are light fluffy reads, and though there is still some holiday fluff, there is also the heartbreak of Rebecca finding out the child she believed born stillborn, was given away without her consent at childbirth.
That's pretty deep for a romance and it really doesn't seem plausible that the actions of characters in this book could have happened, but then again, the things that happened in the film Titanic probably couldn't have happened either and everyone and their grandmother loved that film. (Except me).
In the case of this book, I actually enjoyed it. However, I enjoyed the subplot best of all. There are actually two romances going on in this book. Rebecca and the Earl and Daniel and the Earl's sister Charlotte. For some reason I loved Daniel and Charlotte best of all. I think it was because Daniel fell in love with her inspite of her infirmity (which is one leg shorter than the other). The scenes between those two were so much more romantic.
Rebecca and Cameron had too many inner struggles to make their romance easy to take. For one, Lily, was the child born of her love for her fiancee who happened to die before they married, so that allows you to believe that though she's a free thinking woman, she's also free with her favors, and that doesn't quite sit right with a woman who is a vicar's daughter. She is also very prim and proper in a lot of her doings with Lily.
Overall both romances worked for me in the long haul. I was happy that everyone was matched up in the end. I only wish that in the epilogue there could have been something to show readers how Daniel and Charlotte were doing.
That's pretty deep for a romance and it really doesn't seem plausible that the actions of characters in this book could have happened, but then again, the things that happened in the film Titanic probably couldn't have happened either and everyone and their grandmother loved that film. (Except me).
In the case of this book, I actually enjoyed it. However, I enjoyed the subplot best of all. There are actually two romances going on in this book. Rebecca and the Earl and Daniel and the Earl's sister Charlotte. For some reason I loved Daniel and Charlotte best of all. I think it was because Daniel fell in love with her inspite of her infirmity (which is one leg shorter than the other). The scenes between those two were so much more romantic.
Rebecca and Cameron had too many inner struggles to make their romance easy to take. For one, Lily, was the child born of her love for her fiancee who happened to die before they married, so that allows you to believe that though she's a free thinking woman, she's also free with her favors, and that doesn't quite sit right with a woman who is a vicar's daughter. She is also very prim and proper in a lot of her doings with Lily.
Overall both romances worked for me in the long haul. I was happy that everyone was matched up in the end. I only wish that in the epilogue there could have been something to show readers how Daniel and Charlotte were doing.
March 24, 2012
While sorting her father's papers to settle his estate, Rebecca Tremaine learns that the baby she delivered stillborn is actually alive. Her family lied to her about the birth of her baby to spare the family the scandal of her unwed pregnancy. Her Aunt Mildred arranged for her baby to be raised by the Earl of Hampton who had recently lost a baby to miscarraige.
After learning of their parents' duplicity, Daniel Tremaine (Rebecca's brother) arranges to speak with Cameron Sinclair, the Earl of Hampton to discuss a meeting between Rebecca and the Earl's adopted daughter Lily.
Shortly after adopting Rebecca's baby, Cameron's beloved wife died from a long illness. He was forced to raise Lily by himself the past three years. Even though he is angry at Rebecca's intrusion into his life, Cameron decides to invite them to his country home for the Christmas holidays. There are usually thirty guests in his home, and this will give Rebecca time to observe Lily under Cameron's close supervision.
As Rebecca joins the Christmas celebrations, she is able to get to know her daughter. To her dismay, she learns that her daughter is terribly spoiled by her father. Rebecca and Cameron continually disagree about his methods of raising Lily, but their arguments only serve to spark the romance growing between them. Their passionate exchanges lead to a burgeoning love affair surrounded by the joy and celebration of the Christmas season.
Although a bit predictable, Adrienne Basso's THE CHRISTMAS COUNTESS is wonderful! Of course, at Christmas time, a true reader is happy for the familiarity. It is passionate and funny while showcasing the best of the Christmas holiday's goodwill.
After learning of their parents' duplicity, Daniel Tremaine (Rebecca's brother) arranges to speak with Cameron Sinclair, the Earl of Hampton to discuss a meeting between Rebecca and the Earl's adopted daughter Lily.
Shortly after adopting Rebecca's baby, Cameron's beloved wife died from a long illness. He was forced to raise Lily by himself the past three years. Even though he is angry at Rebecca's intrusion into his life, Cameron decides to invite them to his country home for the Christmas holidays. There are usually thirty guests in his home, and this will give Rebecca time to observe Lily under Cameron's close supervision.
As Rebecca joins the Christmas celebrations, she is able to get to know her daughter. To her dismay, she learns that her daughter is terribly spoiled by her father. Rebecca and Cameron continually disagree about his methods of raising Lily, but their arguments only serve to spark the romance growing between them. Their passionate exchanges lead to a burgeoning love affair surrounded by the joy and celebration of the Christmas season.
Although a bit predictable, Adrienne Basso's THE CHRISTMAS COUNTESS is wonderful! Of course, at Christmas time, a true reader is happy for the familiarity. It is passionate and funny while showcasing the best of the Christmas holiday's goodwill.
December 29, 2015
By all rights I should have been able to finish this book in a week. The plot points weren't strong enough that I absolutely HAD to get back to the story at every possible chance. As these books tend to be, it was predictable and cheesy. But it was a book given to me and so I read it.
You know what? It wasn't horrible. There was one exciting scene in it. I wish there were more like it, and truth be told, I would have liked for the focus to have been on Charlotte and Daniel instead, because the disability factor made their relationship more interesting by far.
If this genre is your thing, then I'm sure you'll like this book.
You know what? It wasn't horrible. There was one exciting scene in it. I wish there were more like it, and truth be told, I would have liked for the focus to have been on Charlotte and Daniel instead, because the disability factor made their relationship more interesting by far.
If this genre is your thing, then I'm sure you'll like this book.
April 10, 2017
Me resulta difícil puntuarla. No es mala, es muy tierna. Es que... como que no pasa mucho. El conflicto parece que va a ser grave pero... excepto el accidente de Lily, que termina bien, no pasa demasiado. Todo se va encarrilando sin problemas en la cotidianidad de una larga fiesta campestre de navidad.
Humm, linda, pero para cuando quieran calmar los nervios y relajarse un poco.
Humm, linda, pero para cuando quieran calmar los nervios y relajarse un poco.
December 31, 2010
Two stars is too many. This was a re-read of a book I had forgotten that I had read. It was ok, the secondary romance was sweet, but the "culmination" of the relationship between the h/h was just jarring. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
January 7, 2013
Some vocabulary is not in keeping with the time period peppered throughout. Thankfully not enough to ruin the story, but enough to be noticeable. Otherwise I thought it was one of the better period Christmas romances I've read.
January 4, 2013
No estuvo mal en general y es bastante tierna, pero tardó mucho en arrancar y la atracción entre los protagonistas fue tan instantanea que no sabe a nada. Me pareció mucho mejor y más sentida la de los secundarios y hermanos de estos.
December 17, 2010
This wasn't a bad story, I just didn't find the concept particularly romantic.
December 18, 2012
This was a really great story. I enjoyed both the main and secondary couples.
Read
February 19, 2013I used the words regency,gothic,baby,marriage convience in m searth. Fictiondb came upnwith this title. I have notbstarted reading yet. But,am going to start.
September 11, 2016
A goodChristmas romance of renewal and second chances with a strong secondary romance.
June 4, 2016
I thought this story had an interesting storyline. Being my first book by this author I was thoroughly entertained. I did enjoy how the H/h came to terms with the girl.
December 27, 2014
4.5
I really liked this book (and it happens on Christmas!). But, I liked better the Charlotte and Daniel story's than the Rebecca and Cameron's.
I really liked this book (and it happens on Christmas!). But, I liked better the Charlotte and Daniel story's than the Rebecca and Cameron's.
December 1, 2015
A OK read - much better at the beginning, but before long the cliches have cliches and interest drops to zero.
January 10, 2016
A favorite. This book has two couples of interest. It also includes pets.
November 28, 2016
Hermoso. Una historia llena de magia y amor. Perfecta para esta temporada
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