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Belles of Christmas #1
Unmasking Lady Caroline
She thought the mask would protect her identity, but she underestimated his determination to discover who she was.
Peter Blythe, Earl of Rockwell fled England when he was thrown over in favor of his father. Now after nearly ten years, he has returned to England to assume his family title. When he asks a young woman to dance at a masquerade ball, he is intrigued by her wit and charm. The only problem is she refuses to give him her name.
When Lady Caroline unexpectedly meets the man she has always loved at a masquerade ball and he does not recognize her, she is determined to keep her name a secret. What starts out as a game soon becomes much more when she realizes she still loves him, all the while knowing if he knew her true identity, he would never feel the same for her.
When they both return home to their neighboring estates for the holidays, acquaintances from years past threaten to sever more than just their childhood friendship.
Peter Blythe, Earl of Rockwell fled England when he was thrown over in favor of his father. Now after nearly ten years, he has returned to England to assume his family title. When he asks a young woman to dance at a masquerade ball, he is intrigued by her wit and charm. The only problem is she refuses to give him her name.
When Lady Caroline unexpectedly meets the man she has always loved at a masquerade ball and he does not recognize her, she is determined to keep her name a secret. What starts out as a game soon becomes much more when she realizes she still loves him, all the while knowing if he knew her true identity, he would never feel the same for her.
When they both return home to their neighboring estates for the holidays, acquaintances from years past threaten to sever more than just their childhood friendship.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2019
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861 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️
Nice story , childhood friends romance
Nice story , childhood friends romance
April 8, 2020
'She thought the mask would protect her identity, but she underestimated his determination to discover who she was.
Peter Blythe, Earl of Rockwell fled England when he was thrown over in favor of his father. Now after nearly ten years, he has returned to England to assume his family title. When he asks a young woman to dance at a masquerade ball, he is intrigued by her wit and charm. The only problem is she refuses to give him her name.
When Lady Caroline unexpectedly meets the man she has always loved at a masquerade ball and he does not recognize her, she is determined to keep her name a secret. What starts out as a game soon becomes much more when she realizes she still loves him, all the while knowing if he knew her true identity, he would never feel the same for her.
When they both return home to their neighboring estates for the holidays, acquaintances from years past threaten to sever more than just their childhood friendship.'
______________________________
Unmasking Lady Caroline is the first book in the Belles of Christmas series. This book is written by Mindy Burbidge Strunk, but each book in the series is written by a different author. All of them are of a novella length and, as each book also focuses on unrelated chracters, it is not necessary to read them in sequential order. They can all serve as stand-alones
I came across this series on Goodreads during this asr holiday season and decided to add this first book to my TBR list to keep in mind for this year's holiday season. But with working from home now and everything going on, I figured why not read a historical Christmas series now?
This book was alright but seems to pick and choose when to remember the rules and societal retrictions of the day. I felt for Caroline that she was treated so poorly in her own home by her mother, constantly being spoken down to and humiliated in front of company as well as being made to feel that she was being replaced in her own home.
I enjoyed reading about the growing connection deveoping between Caroline and Peter after so many years without seeing one another. But by about the midway point, I thought that things were being dragged out too much. He is almost completely convinced that Caroline is Miss Tree but prevents persuing anything between them because what if they aren't the same woman? If you care for her, the chance that Miss Tree is still out there somewhere shouldn't matter. And she's never brave enough to say admit to be Miss Tree which would have solved so much here.
The plotting ex who threw him over for his father and is now there to push Caroline away was just not needed. It added nothing to the plot really except to drag out the confict a couple exra pages there at the end. Had that not been in there, it would have made the book that little bit better for me.
Overall it was a nice story and quick to read so I will be continuing on with the series.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
Peter Blythe, Earl of Rockwell fled England when he was thrown over in favor of his father. Now after nearly ten years, he has returned to England to assume his family title. When he asks a young woman to dance at a masquerade ball, he is intrigued by her wit and charm. The only problem is she refuses to give him her name.
When Lady Caroline unexpectedly meets the man she has always loved at a masquerade ball and he does not recognize her, she is determined to keep her name a secret. What starts out as a game soon becomes much more when she realizes she still loves him, all the while knowing if he knew her true identity, he would never feel the same for her.
When they both return home to their neighboring estates for the holidays, acquaintances from years past threaten to sever more than just their childhood friendship.'
______________________________
Unmasking Lady Caroline is the first book in the Belles of Christmas series. This book is written by Mindy Burbidge Strunk, but each book in the series is written by a different author. All of them are of a novella length and, as each book also focuses on unrelated chracters, it is not necessary to read them in sequential order. They can all serve as stand-alones
I came across this series on Goodreads during this asr holiday season and decided to add this first book to my TBR list to keep in mind for this year's holiday season. But with working from home now and everything going on, I figured why not read a historical Christmas series now?
This book was alright but seems to pick and choose when to remember the rules and societal retrictions of the day. I felt for Caroline that she was treated so poorly in her own home by her mother, constantly being spoken down to and humiliated in front of company as well as being made to feel that she was being replaced in her own home.
I enjoyed reading about the growing connection deveoping between Caroline and Peter after so many years without seeing one another. But by about the midway point, I thought that things were being dragged out too much. He is almost completely convinced that Caroline is Miss Tree but prevents persuing anything between them because what if they aren't the same woman? If you care for her, the chance that Miss Tree is still out there somewhere shouldn't matter. And she's never brave enough to say admit to be Miss Tree which would have solved so much here.
The plotting ex who threw him over for his father and is now there to push Caroline away was just not needed. It added nothing to the plot really except to drag out the confict a couple exra pages there at the end. Had that not been in there, it would have made the book that little bit better for me.
Overall it was a nice story and quick to read so I will be continuing on with the series.
_____
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited membership.
July 5, 2022
I don't usually like historical romances but this was so good. Just sweet enough to keep me interested.
Caroline was great. I was hoping for a mum redeem but sadly she finished being awful to Caroline.
Sweet would read again.
Caroline was great. I was hoping for a mum redeem but sadly she finished being awful to Caroline.
Sweet would read again.
December 22, 2019
Lady Caroline has been put firmly "on the shelf" by her family, since she has turned down any proposals that have come her way, and is now 24. While being forced to chaperone a wayward younger cousin, she comes face to face with Peter Blythe, Earl of Rockwell, her brother's childhood best friend whom she has loved since girlhood. Masked at the ball, he does not know who she is, and she refuses to tell him.
Peter has been traveling the world for the past ten years, after being thrown off by the woman he loved, when she instead married his father. Forced to return home to take up his duties after his father's death, he returns home just in time for Christmas. In need of help, he enlists Lady Caroline, who has grown up while he was away. But even though he is drawn to her, he cannot help but think about the mystery woman from the masked ball.
Such a fun, sweet and clean romance, with a little Christmas fun thrown in. I really liked Peter's character, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Peter has been traveling the world for the past ten years, after being thrown off by the woman he loved, when she instead married his father. Forced to return home to take up his duties after his father's death, he returns home just in time for Christmas. In need of help, he enlists Lady Caroline, who has grown up while he was away. But even though he is drawn to her, he cannot help but think about the mystery woman from the masked ball.
Such a fun, sweet and clean romance, with a little Christmas fun thrown in. I really liked Peter's character, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
October 8, 2019
I'm excited for this new series. It's looks like it will be a lot of fun. I love the plot of this story. Peter being intrigued by an unknown woman and then being drawn in by another. This story was fun, sweet and frustrating at times. I really liked Lady Caroline. She is just a wonderful person who is underappreciated by those who should love her the most. Peter is also a wonderful man although a little dense at times, but we still love him. The conflicts were predictable, but it didn't stop me from loving the story.
December 1, 2019
Sweet and clean. The family names in this story were completely silly, and the plot wasn't anything exceptional, but at least there was no real OP drama. The H was a real gentleman . Unfortunately, the h's mother was completely single-faceted and utterly unlikable.
December 9, 2019
3.5 stars for this book. I did enjoy the story and I was drawn to keep reading and finish it. I think this could be a great book with some writing improvements. The writing made me roll my eyes at times. I didn’t love the flow of the words.
Clean romance.
Clean romance.
February 15, 2020
Too many uses of the word "gah." Also, the plot wore pretty thin by the end; I get impatient with shilly-shallying when even a halfway straightforward conversation between characters would clear things up. It makes the plot feel unnecessarily artificial.
January 4, 2022
.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am extremely behind in posting reviews for the books that I have read.
However, I did rate this book with it 3-Stars when I completed reading it.
Hope other readers enjoy it more!
July 20, 2021
Solving The Mystery of True Love 💘
SWEET and CLEAN Regency Romance 💕
Caroline💃💋, the daughter of a Marquess, had a childhood crush on Peter,🐺 the son of a nearby Earl. He always saw her as a frecklefaced child👩.
After a scandal where his fiance dumps him and marries his recently widowed father, Peter🐺 goes to Europe and America, too, and stays there 9 long years until his father dies.
Finally back in England to take up his heritage, Peter🐺 meets an entrancing young woman at a masked ball. It is Caroline💃💋, all grown up! She recognizes him and wants him again, but she gives him the name of Miss Tree, or Mystery, as he doesn't recognize her.
At Christmas time, Peter🐺 finally goes to his country estate 🏰where he grew up, and realizes he's been gone way too long and is a stranger to almost everyone.
He discovers Caroline💃💋 at her father's estate🏰 next door, and goes to see her. Smitten at the beautiful young lady she has become, he still pines for the unknown Miss Tree. He hasn't put two and two together yet!
Other forces show up for Christmas with the bad 👺 intent to throw a wrench in his plans to woo💕 and be with Caroline!💃💋
This is a well written ,Clean Historical Recency Romance.💕
SWEET and CLEAN Regency Romance 💕
Caroline💃💋, the daughter of a Marquess, had a childhood crush on Peter,🐺 the son of a nearby Earl. He always saw her as a frecklefaced child👩.
After a scandal where his fiance dumps him and marries his recently widowed father, Peter🐺 goes to Europe and America, too, and stays there 9 long years until his father dies.
Finally back in England to take up his heritage, Peter🐺 meets an entrancing young woman at a masked ball. It is Caroline💃💋, all grown up! She recognizes him and wants him again, but she gives him the name of Miss Tree, or Mystery, as he doesn't recognize her.
At Christmas time, Peter🐺 finally goes to his country estate 🏰where he grew up, and realizes he's been gone way too long and is a stranger to almost everyone.
He discovers Caroline💃💋 at her father's estate🏰 next door, and goes to see her. Smitten at the beautiful young lady she has become, he still pines for the unknown Miss Tree. He hasn't put two and two together yet!
Other forces show up for Christmas with the bad 👺 intent to throw a wrench in his plans to woo💕 and be with Caroline!💃💋
This is a well written ,Clean Historical Recency Romance.💕
December 10, 2021
A lovely Christmas romance
What will Lady Caroline do about the feelings she has had for Lord Rockwell since they were young? He has been away for years, but now he has come back home and has brought a woman from France with him.
This story takes you through a passel of emotions as you find yourself rooting for Caroline to somehow finally declare herself to Peter. As fate would have it, all manner of obstacles are in her way. And even if she could fess up to this love, she knows that he might never return such feelings. And that she could not bear.
A lovely story that will have you sighing in the end. So, don’t stop here...read Thawing the Viscount’s Heart to learn more of Gabrielle, Lord and Lady Kirtley and.....Lord Brinton.
This book is appropriate for teens and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and no bad language.
What will Lady Caroline do about the feelings she has had for Lord Rockwell since they were young? He has been away for years, but now he has come back home and has brought a woman from France with him.
This story takes you through a passel of emotions as you find yourself rooting for Caroline to somehow finally declare herself to Peter. As fate would have it, all manner of obstacles are in her way. And even if she could fess up to this love, she knows that he might never return such feelings. And that she could not bear.
A lovely story that will have you sighing in the end. So, don’t stop here...read Thawing the Viscount’s Heart to learn more of Gabrielle, Lord and Lady Kirtley and.....Lord Brinton.
This book is appropriate for teens and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and no bad language.
October 6, 2022
When the Earl of Rockwell returns to England after a prolonged absence, Lady Caroline is surprised he doesn’t recognize her at a masquerade ball. She’s always had a secret crush on her childhood friend and neighbor. Then he moves back home and seeks her help in decorating his manor house for the holidays. Will he recognize that there’s something special between them, or is she due to be hurt again? A charming romance that’s an easy-to-read escape.
December 27, 2022
Not bad.
November 9, 2020
Super sweet and quick read. You will enjoy this if you like regency era books and Christmas.
March 7, 2020
After pining for him for over ten years, Lady Caroline finally sees Peter, her childhood crush, again and he doesn't recognize her. To be fair, it's a masquerade ball and she's dressed as a peacock, but they flirt and she feels like he takes her seriously for the first time in their lives. When returning to their neighboring estates, he doesn't know it was her and she's afraid to say. But circumstances still pull them together and their relationship builds more naturally.
It's a cute book, looks exactly like the Hallmark movie which it is. I'm stupid because I didn't get the whole Ms Tree thing until they explained it and I thought that Caroline just picked a completely subjective name and they all found it hilarious. The reason that I couldn't rank it higher was because of how preoccupied Peter was with Ms Tree when he talked to her for about five minutes. It wasn't even a particularly witty meet-up, it was just his first conversation with someone after returning from his extended world tour.
I also hated Caroline's relationship with her mother and I feel like there was a missed opportunity with her telling her mom off. I get that she did it a bit and that was nice, it was just kind of weak. The romance was cute but I feel like Lady Caroline had so much more untapped potential. Don't advertise a character as witty and charming if she can't string three sentences together in front of her parents.
Overall though it was pretty enjoyable, short and cute. Just wish the characters had been given a little more room to grow outside of their relationship.
This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot....
January 27, 2020
I'm not sure how this has such high ratings. It reads like a Sweet Valley High book, replete with mean girl stealin yo man trope and everything.
The dialogue was as flowing and inspiring as cold oatmeal. Interactions with servants read like a middle school student stumbling through supporting lines in a school play: "Very good, my lord." "As you wish, my lord."
Grr.
The antagonists, Caroline's mother and Peter's "ex", were cartoonishly awful. Making an antagonist 110% bad doesn't flesh out a story, you're forcing the reader to see.someone a certain way, why not allow them to make their own judgments?
AND. At the beginning (which is honestly when i should've bailed) Caroline calls out the act of a debutante having her hair stroked as being "untoward", but then in the same chapter *presses a man's lips together with her fingers*. Wtf.
There was faaaar too much blushing and running away when things were uncomfortable and just acting like a goddamn coupla teens instead of grown adults.
Sorry. End rant.
The dialogue was as flowing and inspiring as cold oatmeal. Interactions with servants read like a middle school student stumbling through supporting lines in a school play: "Very good, my lord." "As you wish, my lord."
Grr.
The antagonists, Caroline's mother and Peter's "ex", were cartoonishly awful. Making an antagonist 110% bad doesn't flesh out a story, you're forcing the reader to see.someone a certain way, why not allow them to make their own judgments?
AND. At the beginning (which is honestly when i should've bailed) Caroline calls out the act of a debutante having her hair stroked as being "untoward", but then in the same chapter *presses a man's lips together with her fingers*. Wtf.
There was faaaar too much blushing and running away when things were uncomfortable and just acting like a goddamn coupla teens instead of grown adults.
Sorry. End rant.
December 24, 2020
Have you attended a masquerade ball?
I have never attended a masquerade ball but the first one in this story had me wishing I did. Peter did not recognize Lady Caroline when he asked her to dance and she did not tell him her true name. I’m sure if he recognized her or if she told him who she really was, this story would not have been all that interesting. Of course Ms Mindy Strunk is more clever than to reveal all the cards in the first hand. This plot had me intrigued to the point that I could not stop reading. Peter’s and Caroline’s romance was thwarted at almost every turn. Poor Peter tried so hard to tell Caroline how he was feeling but of course it didn’t happen the way he planned it. Strunk managed to fill these pages with wit and light comedy and yet I felt almost as frustrated as Peter and Caroline. When I feel the feelings in a book I know it was written well, and I definitely felt them. I was very entertained as I knew I would be as I was in many of Strunk’s other books I have read. I can easily recommend this book especially during this holiday season.
I have never attended a masquerade ball but the first one in this story had me wishing I did. Peter did not recognize Lady Caroline when he asked her to dance and she did not tell him her true name. I’m sure if he recognized her or if she told him who she really was, this story would not have been all that interesting. Of course Ms Mindy Strunk is more clever than to reveal all the cards in the first hand. This plot had me intrigued to the point that I could not stop reading. Peter’s and Caroline’s romance was thwarted at almost every turn. Poor Peter tried so hard to tell Caroline how he was feeling but of course it didn’t happen the way he planned it. Strunk managed to fill these pages with wit and light comedy and yet I felt almost as frustrated as Peter and Caroline. When I feel the feelings in a book I know it was written well, and I definitely felt them. I was very entertained as I knew I would be as I was in many of Strunk’s other books I have read. I can easily recommend this book especially during this holiday season.
March 22, 2020
Lady Caroline is on the shelf. What proposals she has had she refused. Since a child, she has been in love with neighbor Peter, who has been off traveling the world for the past ten years. Then Caroline sees him at a masked ball, and she doesn't know what to think or do, so refuses to give Peter her real name when he asks her to dance. This begins Peter's search for "Miss Tree" as he also rekindles his friendship with "little Caroline" who is suddenly all grown up.
The author does an excellent job of helping the reader feel Caroline's hopes, frustrations, and fears -- and Peter's confusion between his interest in a mystery woman and his growing attachment to Caroline. Throw in a protective older brother, a domineering mother, and an old flame and you have one interesting and delightful read.
The author does an excellent job of helping the reader feel Caroline's hopes, frustrations, and fears -- and Peter's confusion between his interest in a mystery woman and his growing attachment to Caroline. Throw in a protective older brother, a domineering mother, and an old flame and you have one interesting and delightful read.
December 11, 2024
Lady Caroline gets asked to dance at a masquerade ball by the man she loves, but Peter does not recognize her. Peter is instantly intrigued by her wit, but she will not tell him her name. When they both return to their homes for the holidays, Caroline realizes she still loves him.
I love historical romance, and Mindy did not disappoint. I love the chemistry between Caroline and Peter. My favorite part was the sledding scene. This is the first book I have read by Mindy, and I cannot wait to read more.
Content Warning:
-Kisses Only
-No Language
I love historical romance, and Mindy did not disappoint. I love the chemistry between Caroline and Peter. My favorite part was the sledding scene. This is the first book I have read by Mindy, and I cannot wait to read more.
Content Warning:
-Kisses Only
-No Language
March 3, 2023
2.5 stars
Had soooo much potential! But the author focused too much on going round and round the same questions rather than moving the story along. Unfortunately there were also many times the same phrases were used over and over and over...I lost track of how many times someone "cried off," or wanted to "cry off." The constant interruptions became obnoxious as well.
Had soooo much potential! But the author focused too much on going round and round the same questions rather than moving the story along. Unfortunately there were also many times the same phrases were used over and over and over...I lost track of how many times someone "cried off," or wanted to "cry off." The constant interruptions became obnoxious as well.
December 31, 2024
Too much of “Is he doing this because he likes me. Surely not for there is no reason to like me.”
And maybe if we got more of their background to know why she even liked him. It just felt like this story was about nothing.
And maybe if we got more of their background to know why she even liked him. It just felt like this story was about nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2019
This was another Hallmark like story. This had a few distracting typos and this kissing was intense at one point.
April 24, 2020
Clean regency romance. Did not find the characters very compelling and the story felt flat to me.
April 16, 2024
What a silly book! It is a fast read, only 196 pages long, published in 2019, set in Regency era England during Christmastime. It is also part of a "Belles of Christmas" series but reads just fine as a stand-alone. If you are looking for a cozy, clean read to cuddle up with-this is the book for you. I personally have no wish to read anything else by this author or continue with this series.
Lady Caroline Trowbridge is twenty-three years old and has failed to marry. No real reason. She was never asked or courted or pursued by any other single gentleman. Growing up she carried a torch for a childhood friend named Peter Rockwell who just happens to be back in England and is still single. In fact, Peter is, naturally, the hottest single guy on the market. Even his widowed step-mother is making passes at him, (EW!) but of course he wants nothing to do with her. Second-person POV narration switches between Caroline and Peter throughout the story.
We begin with Caroline and Peter attending the same masked ball at the start of the Christmas season. Peter fails to recognize his old childhood friend now grown into a proper young lady. Caroline immediately recognizes handsome, dashing Peter behind her mask but the hurt she felt ten years earlier, when Peter left to seek his fortune in exotic foreign countries, told Caroline they could only ever be friends and she has never forgotten the sting of that rejection.
Wanting to teach him a lesson, she gives Peter a fake name and the rest of the story is dragged out as the reader waits for this these two silly characters to just come clean with each other in a plot device that could be easily resolved by a single conversation. This is what is called a "cliché." Such poorly written stories like this annoy me and while there is nothing inappropriate, no swearing, or anything offensive, this is a very clean read, it gets boring fast.
After the masked ball, Caroline and Peter return to their respective homes but Peter keeps finding excuses to call on the Trowbridge estate for the next several days. Now that he is home, his father is dead, (stepmother is out visiting her own family and will be revealed as competition later) and he is master of this big house all alone by himself, he needs Caroline's help as he intends to really go all out this year in decorating and celebrating for Christmas. They trapse through the snow for a Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe (yes Christmas trees are just starting to come into fashion during this time but it will be Albert and Queen Victoria who will officially start the tradition). Next, Peter begs Caroline's help in cooking and baking in preparation for the servants' Boxing Day meal and she helps him with shopping for presents for all of his staff in the small village nearby. Peter also takes Caroline sledding and they even end up in the same ice skating party together. That's right, every cliché Christmas date straight out of a Hallmark movie is in this book.
To further complicate this stupid plot, Peter has to clear up one misunderstanding after another with Caroline that he really is single, honorable and not already engaged to a young teenager or interested in other women, oh, except for the mysterious woman he met at the masked ball which he suspects was Caroline but Peter is too much of an idiot call her out about it until the very end of the book. There is another masked ball to be held on Twelfth Night and that's when they finally have their "ah-ha!" moment and can live happily ever after.
THE (freakin') END
Lady Caroline Trowbridge is twenty-three years old and has failed to marry. No real reason. She was never asked or courted or pursued by any other single gentleman. Growing up she carried a torch for a childhood friend named Peter Rockwell who just happens to be back in England and is still single. In fact, Peter is, naturally, the hottest single guy on the market. Even his widowed step-mother is making passes at him, (EW!) but of course he wants nothing to do with her. Second-person POV narration switches between Caroline and Peter throughout the story.
We begin with Caroline and Peter attending the same masked ball at the start of the Christmas season. Peter fails to recognize his old childhood friend now grown into a proper young lady. Caroline immediately recognizes handsome, dashing Peter behind her mask but the hurt she felt ten years earlier, when Peter left to seek his fortune in exotic foreign countries, told Caroline they could only ever be friends and she has never forgotten the sting of that rejection.
Wanting to teach him a lesson, she gives Peter a fake name and the rest of the story is dragged out as the reader waits for this these two silly characters to just come clean with each other in a plot device that could be easily resolved by a single conversation. This is what is called a "cliché." Such poorly written stories like this annoy me and while there is nothing inappropriate, no swearing, or anything offensive, this is a very clean read, it gets boring fast.
After the masked ball, Caroline and Peter return to their respective homes but Peter keeps finding excuses to call on the Trowbridge estate for the next several days. Now that he is home, his father is dead, (stepmother is out visiting her own family and will be revealed as competition later) and he is master of this big house all alone by himself, he needs Caroline's help as he intends to really go all out this year in decorating and celebrating for Christmas. They trapse through the snow for a Christmas tree, holly and mistletoe (yes Christmas trees are just starting to come into fashion during this time but it will be Albert and Queen Victoria who will officially start the tradition). Next, Peter begs Caroline's help in cooking and baking in preparation for the servants' Boxing Day meal and she helps him with shopping for presents for all of his staff in the small village nearby. Peter also takes Caroline sledding and they even end up in the same ice skating party together. That's right, every cliché Christmas date straight out of a Hallmark movie is in this book.
To further complicate this stupid plot, Peter has to clear up one misunderstanding after another with Caroline that he really is single, honorable and not already engaged to a young teenager or interested in other women, oh, except for the mysterious woman he met at the masked ball which he suspects was Caroline but Peter is too much of an idiot call her out about it until the very end of the book. There is another masked ball to be held on Twelfth Night and that's when they finally have their "ah-ha!" moment and can live happily ever after.
THE (freakin') END
November 19, 2021
Sweet Christmas Regency romance
MY RATING
5 stars--WOW
4 stars--would read again
3 stars--was good
2 stars--didn't enjoy
1 star--didn't finish
Should I read books before this one: no
Cliffhanger: no
SUMMARY
Dressed as a peacock, 23yo Caroline is chaperoning her cousin at a masquerade ball. Caroline's mother considers her a spinster. She sees Peter, her neighbor and brother's best friend, has returned from 9 years traveling. She'd recognize him regardless of his costume. He makes his rounds, gets to her just as she laughs because she made Prudence dance with someone. She explains the joke. When she calls him Lord Rockwell, he confesses he doesn't recognize her. She introduces herself as Miss Tree. They dance, she gives him hints. Then Prudence acts up and they're separated. This is the last ball before Parliament breaks for Christmas.
Peter is intrigued and frustrated he doesn't even have her name. He rides to his family's country home. He'd left when his mother died and his father married Peter's girlfriend 2 months later. The butler tells him his neighbors are home (Lord and Lady Killingsworth, Lord and Lady Montjoy [his buddy], and Lady Caroline). He goes over to visit. He sees the family in the parlor with a lovely young woman, but doesn't see Caroline. Lady Killingsworth reintroduces her. He'd left when she had plaits and freckles, and now she's a woman. She smiles at him, he sees she's still mischievous. She invites him to stay for dinner. His pulse skitters, he wonders if he should see the doctor.
EVALUATION
This is a sweet story with organic character and romance development. The plot processes smoothly, too, with no unnatural events.
It has more thinking and speculating than conversation. The conflict was predictable, but also quickly resolved.
RECOMMENDATION
Anyone who likes historic romance with Christmas in it
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS)
Sex: kisses
Language: none
Violence: none
MY RATING
5 stars--WOW
4 stars--would read again
3 stars--was good
2 stars--didn't enjoy
1 star--didn't finish
Should I read books before this one: no
Cliffhanger: no
SUMMARY
Dressed as a peacock, 23yo Caroline is chaperoning her cousin at a masquerade ball. Caroline's mother considers her a spinster. She sees Peter, her neighbor and brother's best friend, has returned from 9 years traveling. She'd recognize him regardless of his costume. He makes his rounds, gets to her just as she laughs because she made Prudence dance with someone. She explains the joke. When she calls him Lord Rockwell, he confesses he doesn't recognize her. She introduces herself as Miss Tree. They dance, she gives him hints. Then Prudence acts up and they're separated. This is the last ball before Parliament breaks for Christmas.
Peter is intrigued and frustrated he doesn't even have her name. He rides to his family's country home. He'd left when his mother died and his father married Peter's girlfriend 2 months later. The butler tells him his neighbors are home (Lord and Lady Killingsworth, Lord and Lady Montjoy [his buddy], and Lady Caroline). He goes over to visit. He sees the family in the parlor with a lovely young woman, but doesn't see Caroline. Lady Killingsworth reintroduces her. He'd left when she had plaits and freckles, and now she's a woman. She smiles at him, he sees she's still mischievous. She invites him to stay for dinner. His pulse skitters, he wonders if he should see the doctor.
EVALUATION
This is a sweet story with organic character and romance development. The plot processes smoothly, too, with no unnatural events.
It has more thinking and speculating than conversation. The conflict was predictable, but also quickly resolved.
RECOMMENDATION
Anyone who likes historic romance with Christmas in it
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS)
Sex: kisses
Language: none
Violence: none
August 14, 2021
A very cute, clean, wonderful Romance novel!!
Loved this book! From the very first words to the very last, I wanted Peter to fall in love with Caroline. I wanted to choke Caroline's mother & wring Lady Rockwell's neck.(not really but I did want them to go away!) I only wish that both women (they weren't ladies) would get their comeuppance just once. This author proved, as many have, that a reader doesn't need pornography to enjoy a true romance. Passion was all around these two, as well as friendship & loyalty & trust. As a woman eho was married to my soulmate for 29 perfectly wonderful years (going through a tornado, my husband broke his neck in an auto wreck, I became disabled 6 years with RA after we married, then dealt with drug addiction in our family, & finally 29 months f my husband in pain from cancer before he went home to Heaven), I know what true love is. That's what I want these characters to have..not my trials of course, just love, honor, & trust. This book shows these two with all of those qualities. Love IS the passion!! So get ready to read a terrific book!!
Loved this book! From the very first words to the very last, I wanted Peter to fall in love with Caroline. I wanted to choke Caroline's mother & wring Lady Rockwell's neck.(not really but I did want them to go away!) I only wish that both women (they weren't ladies) would get their comeuppance just once. This author proved, as many have, that a reader doesn't need pornography to enjoy a true romance. Passion was all around these two, as well as friendship & loyalty & trust. As a woman eho was married to my soulmate for 29 perfectly wonderful years (going through a tornado, my husband broke his neck in an auto wreck, I became disabled 6 years with RA after we married, then dealt with drug addiction in our family, & finally 29 months f my husband in pain from cancer before he went home to Heaven), I know what true love is. That's what I want these characters to have..not my trials of course, just love, honor, & trust. This book shows these two with all of those qualities. Love IS the passion!! So get ready to read a terrific book!!
December 7, 2025
A sweet, short Yuletide romance
I rounded up from 3.5 stars.
My biggest complaint with this book was that it largely felt like a contemporary romance set in regency England. Lady Caroline and Lord Brockwell's relationship left them largely alone because "he is an old family friend!". Well, no,.he was a 31 year old bachelor and she is a 23 year old daughter of title. But, her inattentive mother didn't seem to care about that. Thankfully her brother did, though, so that added some realism.
The suspense didn't really seem real, either. I do know that the Earl was trying to convince himself he wasn't interested, but he'd been away for 10 years, and his first thought was, "Let me go see if Lady Caroline is home." And then he doubts his affection for the rest of the book.
But....it was very cute and sweet. Just kisses and readings in this one. The Earl makes it very clear that his ten years abroad were spent in study, not trifling with women. There was at least one typographical error that was so confusing, it left me wondering how that one got past editors.
I rounded up from 3.5 stars.
My biggest complaint with this book was that it largely felt like a contemporary romance set in regency England. Lady Caroline and Lord Brockwell's relationship left them largely alone because "he is an old family friend!". Well, no,.he was a 31 year old bachelor and she is a 23 year old daughter of title. But, her inattentive mother didn't seem to care about that. Thankfully her brother did, though, so that added some realism.
The suspense didn't really seem real, either. I do know that the Earl was trying to convince himself he wasn't interested, but he'd been away for 10 years, and his first thought was, "Let me go see if Lady Caroline is home." And then he doubts his affection for the rest of the book.
But....it was very cute and sweet. Just kisses and readings in this one. The Earl makes it very clear that his ten years abroad were spent in study, not trifling with women. There was at least one typographical error that was so confusing, it left me wondering how that one got past editors.
December 27, 2021
I've historically steered clear of Hallmark movies or anything holiday RomCom-esque because I can't stand the inevitable cheese. But I decided to give this one a chance (because when you have an unread Christmasy book and it happens to be Christmas, you may as well read it). It was blessedly low on cheese. The romance was sweet and understated, with the appropriate amount of longing between the couple to make it plausible. The secondary characters, while definitely secondary, had enough variety to serve their purpose in the plot points. I will say that it bugged me how often both Caroline and Peter second-guessed themselves. I wanted them to just have an open conversation and get the facts straight without all the misunderstanding or guesswork. But that would have made for a very short story and probably gone against cultural norms for the time period, so I'll accept it. Overall, this is a quick and enjoyably fluffy read if you need a cozy winter tale. I'll probably look into the other books in this collection when I'm ready for more Christmas romance.
July 21, 2021
Always and surely not!
Caroline has always loved her brother's best friend, Peter. The last time they saw one another, she was a skinny freckle faced girl and he was magnificent. But that was before he decided to abruptly leave home and not return for years!
Growing up, Peter spent most of his time at the neighboring estate, riding and helping his best friend fabricate plans. He's been back in London for a while and has been intrigued by a young lady, Miss Tree, at a masquerade. Unfortunately, she hinted that they knew each other and refused to give her name. Even on his way back to the family home, now his family seat, he can't get the captivating lady output of his mind.
Arriving at home to an all too quiet house, he almost immediately heads over to see his friends. What a shock to see a young Lady Caroline in the place of the little sister! Even with the masked lady in his thoughts, Peter may have more than one beauty occupying his mind.
Caroline has always loved her brother's best friend, Peter. The last time they saw one another, she was a skinny freckle faced girl and he was magnificent. But that was before he decided to abruptly leave home and not return for years!
Growing up, Peter spent most of his time at the neighboring estate, riding and helping his best friend fabricate plans. He's been back in London for a while and has been intrigued by a young lady, Miss Tree, at a masquerade. Unfortunately, she hinted that they knew each other and refused to give her name. Even on his way back to the family home, now his family seat, he can't get the captivating lady output of his mind.
Arriving at home to an all too quiet house, he almost immediately heads over to see his friends. What a shock to see a young Lady Caroline in the place of the little sister! Even with the masked lady in his thoughts, Peter may have more than one beauty occupying his mind.
December 4, 2023
Predictable
This book was mediocre. The storyline was unbelievable pretty much from the beginning. The premise of this story is that our hero, Lord Rockwell (Peter) does not recognize our heroine, Lady Caroline Trowbridge, during a masked ball although they’ve known each other since childhood but haven’t seen each other in 9-10 years. Now it’s possible that her voice and mannerisms have changed over time. But when he sees her a few weeks later, he doesn’t recognize the voice of the women he met and was attracted to? I find that rather difficult to believe.
The writing is awkward and unpolished and often requires rereading to understand “She seemed quite at ease with all the lady this and lord that which Caroline’s mother insisted upon”.
“He walked several rods down the walk”. I noticed the writer used this word a few times. What are “rods”?
The characters were likeable, albeit not very realistic. All in all, a very forgettable read.
This book was mediocre. The storyline was unbelievable pretty much from the beginning. The premise of this story is that our hero, Lord Rockwell (Peter) does not recognize our heroine, Lady Caroline Trowbridge, during a masked ball although they’ve known each other since childhood but haven’t seen each other in 9-10 years. Now it’s possible that her voice and mannerisms have changed over time. But when he sees her a few weeks later, he doesn’t recognize the voice of the women he met and was attracted to? I find that rather difficult to believe.
The writing is awkward and unpolished and often requires rereading to understand “She seemed quite at ease with all the lady this and lord that which Caroline’s mother insisted upon”.
“He walked several rods down the walk”. I noticed the writer used this word a few times. What are “rods”?
The characters were likeable, albeit not very realistic. All in all, a very forgettable read.
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