Christmas Bride

Hiatt Regency Classics #5

by Brenda Hiatt

Alternate cover edition can be found here

A whirlwind courtship, a Christmas wedding

Holly’s life seems full of promise until her attempt to become a heroine in her own right ends in a terrible conflict of loyalties that could wreck her marriage!

To save her marriage, must she risk her brother’s life?

All of her life, Holly has dreamed of adventure and heroics. Indeed, she would far rather be a spy for the British against Napoleon, like her twin brother, Noel, than make her London debut. That is, until she meets Hunt, the handsome Marquess of Vandover. After a whirlwind courtship, they are married on Christmas Eve–Holly’s (and Noel’s) birthday.

Holly is deeply in love, and her new husband’s career in the Foreign Office allows her to rub shoulders with diplomats and ambassadors, feeding her love of adventure. The future seems full of promise until her inept attempts to assist her husband in his career–and become a heroine in her own right–leads her to trust the wrong person. Suddenly Holly is plunged into a terrible conflict of loyalties, where she must choose between saving her nearly-broken marriage–and her beloved brother’s life!

Genres: Christmas, Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Holiday, Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 1993

About the author

Brenda Hiatt is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sparkling romantic adventure. She's written twenty-five novels (so far), including sweet and spicy historical romance, time travel romance, humorous mystery, and her young adult science fiction STARSTRUCK series. Brenda began in traditional publishing with Harlequin, HarperCollins and Avon Books and later made a transition to indie publishing as she began getting rights back to her older books. So far, she hasn't been sorry! She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists, Inc, where she has served as president. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (she has over 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (where she is working toward her 4th degree black belt), hiking, traveling…and reading, of course!
Learn more at http://brendahiatt.com

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this book Holly and Hunt have settled into married life. Or have they? He is mysteriously involved in national affairs with war time espionage and she is curious while hiding secrets of her own. Will their newly minted love survive from one Christmas to the next?

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being the Christmas season I will generously give this book 3 stars (even though it might actually be closer to 2). I typically don’t like books where the h/h have already met and gotten married. Well, in this book, they get married within the first couple of pages. They are not “in love” yet and they have “obstacles” to overcome. Mainly Holly keeping her brother a secret that he has gone to France as an unofficial spy for England. And Holly figuring out who the spy is at her husband’s Foreign Office, unfortunately he knows she knows so he blackmails her not to tell her husband. So, like an idiot she doesn’t. Holly’s husband, Hunt, Marquess of Vandover instead thinks that she is having an affair. And they grow apart. Things get worse before they get better, of course.

This overall was a pretty sad book for most of the time. It’s their own fault of course. Holly is stupid and Hunt is, well, stupid in a different way!!

[Jestice Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though really close to being a three, I did enjoy the book. The problem. it dragged and I just wanted to punch the main characters in the face. I get that it takes place in the 1800' s but shouldn't there be some sort of trust? I'm also wondering how they love each other when they hardly know each other or see each other... it was a happy ending and I'm happy it ended.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly and Noel are twins and both loved adventures. Noel is leaving to fulfill his duties to the county as a spy for the British. Only Holly knows where he is going and what he is doing. Holly is going to London to have her debut, which she is not looking forward to as most young ladies are. Then she meets the very handsome, charming Hunt, the Marquess of Vandover. They fall head over heels for the other. After a fast courtship and wedding on Christmas Eve, her birthday. They set out for his home where she will live while he and his father work at the foreign office helping end the war. His grandmother takes her under her wing, teaching her about her duties. Hunt’s stepmother is another story. She is nasty and mean to her. But Reginald hunts stepbrother is super nice and helpful to her. They are happily in love, and she likes that as his wife she is getting to meet many diplomats and ambassadors too. This helps fill her need for adventure. Wanting to impress her new husband, she trusts the wrong person with information and is then blackmailed to keep quiet. What a mess she has made of her marriage as she can’t tell Hunt, and he thinks the worst. Her Brother is in danger now too. This is a very fast-moving story with tons of twist and turns as all both hunt and holly try to figure out what the other is thinking. They have not known each other for a long time and with him gone so much they have lots to learn from each other. Grab a copy to see how it can all work out, much heartbreak and sadness along with great love and understanding too. There is passion for our newlywed couple but closed doors, so this book is a great read for all ages.

[Irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book called "Christmas Bride" this is very unchristmas-y.
I belive this wanted to be many things at the same time but achieved to do little. It's not fully a christmas story, nor it's fully a spy novel and the romance was kinda scarce. It was set in Regency England, though.

THE GOOD:
I managed to finish it, even if the first 50% felt rather like a chore.
Also, the writing was nice. I liked how Holly was written, even with all her naivety and impulsivnes

THE BAD:
The characters were supposed to be smart people, but they acted quite stupidly.
The FMC and the MMC had very little chemistry and spent most of the book at odds with each other.
The story relies heavily on the miscomunication trope, which is not my cup of tea.
EVERYTHING WAS SOLVED IN LIKE A MINUTE-LONG CONVERSATION

Anyways, not for me. Thank you

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the characters introduced in the novella "Christmas Promises".

Hunt and Holly marry, but soon discover that all is not roses in their bed of love. Hunt works for the Foreign Office and is called away for weeks at a time. Holly wishes to be helpful and sets about to help Hunt uncover the spy in their midst, whether he wants/needs her help or not. Will her meddling help or hinder his efforts? Will she save the day or make things worse for those she loves? Will this Christmas Bride find wedded bliss and a home to call her own or will she forever be dependent upon family members, her and now his?

An enjoyable, quick read that captures the period as I imagine it would be for those well-to-do.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivacious Holly longs for adventure and is disappointed when her twin refuses to take her with him on his spying mission. Instead she attends the Season, falls in love and marries a Marquess who works for the Foreign Office. Again she is disappointed when her spouse treats her like a child, when she just knows with her grasp of languages and ability to get people to talk to her that she could help him. When through her nosy questions she discovers that the Foreign Office has a traitor, she determines to undercover him herself and prove her worth. Unfortunately trusting the wrong individual, finds her being threatened and her marriage torn apart.

[Jeene Hobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extended holiday reading

I read the courtship and wedding story of Holly and Vandover in a novella collection and decided to continue on. They had a quick courtship which coupled with the war in France, Vandover’s work at the Foreign Office, and a promise to keep her twins whereabouts a secret makes for a rocky first year of marriage. Read all about it!

Ch 7:”Still, as he entered his own rooms, it occurred to him that pride and honour made for damned cold companions, especially at night.”

[C Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting and I lost sleep over it.

The prequel was light and I was drawn to the future of Holly and Hunt.

I still put a tag of mystery/suspense because of Holly's brother and her involvement in matters of international concern. She and Hunt became estranged for some reason and Hunt put his walls up.

There's a guaranteed happy ending and I can't help but love the supporting characters and appreciate the antagonists, for they shape the main characters' development.

I also liked that the story happened in a year.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It is actually a novella and another complete book. Both are beautifully written.
The novella is about the courtship and leads up to the marriage and the other tells of the awakening love and the hardships endured by two very likable characters and their family and foe.
It was very easy to read and held my attention throughout.
Brenda Hiatt certainly knows how to spin a tail and entertain one thoroughly and I recommend this as a great read.

[Sue Gosland]

This is an adorable little story about a young lady who falls in love, gets married, and then screws it all up because of a secret she keeps from her husband about her twin brother. It was also a story about miscommunication, past experiences coloring actions of the husband, which leaves him unable to treat his wife as an equal instead of a responsibility. I really enjoyed it.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Christmas Promises. It starts with Hunt and Holly’s wedding, and continues through the London Season and Hunt working long hours for the Foreign Office and Holly feeling left out. She receives coded letters from her brother, Noel, who is working in France. Things go awry, but being a romance . . .

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twin sister promised her twin brother she will not reveal his whereabouts as he goes on a secret assignment during the war with Napoleon. When she marries shortly after her marriage becomes very complicated due to her interest in finding a traitor while also keeping the secret about her brother. In the end all misunderstandings are overcome and their marriage remains a hea

[Billye Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the continuing story of Holly and Hunter! Their story didn’t run smooth but true love can’t be denied. They both were their worst enemies.

If you love books set in historical England, then you will enjoy this one.

This is my honest review.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel!

What a fun novel to read! I enjoyed the characters and the plot which kept me engaged. I had to read it all in one sitting. I will find more books written by Brenda Hiatt.

[Karen Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a delightful read. While the "romance" part had a lot of challenges - mostly self-made; the mystery made it much more enjoyable. And the angst wasn't drawn out for 400 pages, as some regency romances do.

[Frances Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misunderstandings

Pretty clean fun read. Enjoyable afternoon read. Loved the believeable drama, not overdone. Marriage on the rocks. Fun grandma. Little bit of mystery. Likeable characters.

[Margaret Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas joy

A sweet Christmas story with mystery and political intrigue combined. Hunt and Holly’s marriage and the challenges they face afterwards was well worth reading. I am looking forward to reading the entire series but wanted to start with this one due to the holidays.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Holly is my strong woman in Christmas Bride but she causes problems trying to help her husband.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holly in trying to help discover a spy accidentally finds him and he blackmails her into keeping his secret. However her Husband Hunt is arrested as the spy. Short story.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second half of the duet I read. Great clean Christmas read.

[Patricia Schuette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

A Marquees works for the government during the war and his new bride wants to aid him. She ends up in trouble.

[Lindsey DeLost · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of an adventure than some of her other work. Not sure if based on the preview of saint of seven dials that I’ll look into that series, but I might

[Donnalee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Woman childishly blunders into spy crime and willfully forces self into it; people get killed as a result of her ignorant willful selfishness. YUCK

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much anyst in this one.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Christmas story

This story had enough twists to keep me interested. I enjoyed the dynamic between Hunt & Holly. Really enjoyed Reginald! Definitely recommend.

[Jenk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters but found the spy drama exaggerated and some of the characters’ decisions just stupid. Still, it was an enjoyable read with a fun Christmas element.

[DIANE CORBIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Hiatt did an excellent job of weaving mystery, intrigue, and suspense into creating a HEA. Learning to love and learning to trust play a major roll in the plot. Finding one's own priorities and then actually setting those things as priorities was a powerful lesson in creating the HEA.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read. I really enjoyed that it covers the first year of marriage for Hunt and Holly. However, because it is the first year of their marriage, the romance content went to a PG13 level. I'm really glad spies weren't a factor in my first year with my husband. I really enjoyed this book and it's reminder that communication and trust are key ingredients in a happy marriage.

[Jennifer Pie · Rating 5 out of 5]

j'avais lu les premier livres de cet auteure comme ca, mais celui la est beaucoup plus interressant. jai aimer l'idée que ca commence par le mariage au lieu que ce soit à la fin. cest aussi moins cucu la praline et jai eu beaucoup plus des sensations que dans les autres surtout dans le couple des héros que lon suit. ceter super pour noel quand je lai lu.