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Christmas Masquerade #2
A Highland Hogmanay
The daughter of an Indian raja and renegade Englishwoman, Sharda Holkar was gifted with a magnificent dowry but little say in her future. Until now. She must endure one more depressing holiday season with her controlling cousins, then she will be free to begin her emancipated life. But her discovery of a plot to marry her off to the preening son of the house has Sharda wondering if her new start should begin at once. When Sharda meets the intriguing owner of a Highland castle at a Christmas Eve masquerade, she wastes no time in forming a plan—she will escape across the Scottish border!
Finella Forbes cannot imagine why a sophisticated heiress like Sharda would even associate with someone who manages a castle for a living, let alone accompany her all the way back to the Highlands in time for the raucous celebration of Hogmanay. But a wealthy buyer is just what Balintore Castle needs. Fin is determined to prove she is just as good an estate manager as her father, but with the negligent lordly owner refusing to do his duty, she needs help fast. When mistaken assumptions jeopardise their initial attraction, Sharda and Fin will need all the mischief and magic of a Highland holiday to discover the true nature of their feelings.
Finella Forbes cannot imagine why a sophisticated heiress like Sharda would even associate with someone who manages a castle for a living, let alone accompany her all the way back to the Highlands in time for the raucous celebration of Hogmanay. But a wealthy buyer is just what Balintore Castle needs. Fin is determined to prove she is just as good an estate manager as her father, but with the negligent lordly owner refusing to do his duty, she needs help fast. When mistaken assumptions jeopardise their initial attraction, Sharda and Fin will need all the mischief and magic of a Highland holiday to discover the true nature of their feelings.
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Published November 23, 2021
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About the author
Meg Mardell
4 books12 followersMeg moved from the US to England because she fell in love with the Victorians' peculiar blend of glamour and grime. After a decade of exploring historical excesses in a prim scholarly fashion, she realized that fiction is the best way to delve into that period's great female-focused and LGBT+ stories. Weaned on the high-seas romances of the 1990s, she's lost none of her love for cross-dressing cabin boys but any tolerance for boorish heroes. Meg's delighted to now have a whole raft of quirky and queer characters to cheer for on their quest for Happily Ever After. She frequently break off writing for an Earl Grey tea (milk not lemon).
You can find her at @megmardell on twitter and facebook.
You can find her at @megmardell on twitter and facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 24, 2021
A historic story of difference, set in the Scottish Highlands over the New Years period of Hogmanay.
Our MC is Sharda, Half Indian heiress of 25, whose distant cousins are desperately trying to set her up in a marriage inside the family, to get at her extensive dowry.
It is at a lush masquerade party, hiding from a suitor - that she meets Miss Finella Forbes, in a humorous way.
Fin 34, is the estate manager of a real life castle and oversees the moneys for the villagers and workers at the estate in Scotland. She is in London seeking the absentee owner, who only comes around once a year. She is trying to source more funds - or possibly a new owner, to enable her to take better care of the crumbling estate and it's strained villagers.
Sharda is quick to accept an invitation to join Finn back at the estate, to experience a Scottish New Years celebration - and get away from her overbearing family. Finn thinks the rich heiress might just be what the village needs. Both have mistaken expectations about the journey and reasons for being there. But still, romance ensues on the trip - and when at the estate.
I was a little disappointed we didn't get more Hogmanay spirit and traditions. We did get some, but it wasn't as extensive as I wanted. The warmth of Fin's mother and other townsfolk was touching, but again I wanted more from that and then, to really get to know the town and it's people and how Sharda could really fit in and make a difference, and them toward her. We do get a resemblance of that, but it just felt a bit too fleeting.
The banter is warm and friendly, Finn is cheeky and yet confident. Sharda finds her banter freeing and sincere. Both find home and a place where they belong, until Sharda's distant family comes knocking. But again, the romance wasn't as fulfilling as I would have liked. I just wanted more passion. It became a little long-winded with the period appropriate conversations and dialogue. But then jarring when a modernism was put in, for instance when Fin is thinking about Sharda and has a thought that "I won't quit you". It seemed like an odd saying choice.
So that's why only 3 stars, while I did enjoy it and it's very well written - I guess I just wanted more, and felt a little let down.
Our MC is Sharda, Half Indian heiress of 25, whose distant cousins are desperately trying to set her up in a marriage inside the family, to get at her extensive dowry.
It is at a lush masquerade party, hiding from a suitor - that she meets Miss Finella Forbes, in a humorous way.
Fin 34, is the estate manager of a real life castle and oversees the moneys for the villagers and workers at the estate in Scotland. She is in London seeking the absentee owner, who only comes around once a year. She is trying to source more funds - or possibly a new owner, to enable her to take better care of the crumbling estate and it's strained villagers.
Sharda is quick to accept an invitation to join Finn back at the estate, to experience a Scottish New Years celebration - and get away from her overbearing family. Finn thinks the rich heiress might just be what the village needs. Both have mistaken expectations about the journey and reasons for being there. But still, romance ensues on the trip - and when at the estate.
I was a little disappointed we didn't get more Hogmanay spirit and traditions. We did get some, but it wasn't as extensive as I wanted. The warmth of Fin's mother and other townsfolk was touching, but again I wanted more from that and then, to really get to know the town and it's people and how Sharda could really fit in and make a difference, and them toward her. We do get a resemblance of that, but it just felt a bit too fleeting.
The banter is warm and friendly, Finn is cheeky and yet confident. Sharda finds her banter freeing and sincere. Both find home and a place where they belong, until Sharda's distant family comes knocking. But again, the romance wasn't as fulfilling as I would have liked. I just wanted more passion. It became a little long-winded with the period appropriate conversations and dialogue. But then jarring when a modernism was put in, for instance when Fin is thinking about Sharda and has a thought that "I won't quit you". It seemed like an odd saying choice.
So that's why only 3 stars, while I did enjoy it and it's very well written - I guess I just wanted more, and felt a little let down.
November 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this sweet sapphic novella. It's a Victorian Christmas delight, a seasonal hug with just a nip of whisky. The two main characters are Sharda, an heiress who is just beginning to realise she is her own person and doesn't have to run around after her terrible relatives; and Finella, a woman who's taken over her father's job as the manager of a Scottish estate. The contrast between them is very marked at the beginning of the story. Sharda has never had any agency and has been content to drift along trapped in the web her family have woven around her in their hopes of getting access to her fortune. Finella has had entirely too much put upon her by her scapegrace employer and is constantly weighted down with the responsibility of looking after the castle, farms and people in her care.
Initially this is a case of mistaken identity; but the two women move through that to cement first a friendship and then a romance. I really liked both of them and wanted them to sort their misunderstanding out. They are well drawn, well rounded characters and the secondary characters are charming, particularly Finella's brothers! The period detail is nicely researched and held up well for me. I felt there was enough dialect speech to give a flavour of the period and the location, but not so much it overwhelmed the pace of the story. Recommend for a comforting holiday read! (Also the cover! It's gorgeous!)
Initially this is a case of mistaken identity; but the two women move through that to cement first a friendship and then a romance. I really liked both of them and wanted them to sort their misunderstanding out. They are well drawn, well rounded characters and the secondary characters are charming, particularly Finella's brothers! The period detail is nicely researched and held up well for me. I felt there was enough dialect speech to give a flavour of the period and the location, but not so much it overwhelmed the pace of the story. Recommend for a comforting holiday read! (Also the cover! It's gorgeous!)
December 26, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I had never heard of the Hogmanay holiday before this — it’s more of a new year’s holiday than a yuletide one — but now that I have, I can see why it inspired this story. Sharda, for all that she’s been surrounded by society, has always had to keep a delicate balance. Of all the people who wanted to be friends, which ones wanted her money, which ones wanted her reputation, and which ones wanted her? When a companion joined her for travel and complained about the lack of a new dress, was it meant to inspire Sharda to give them a new one? With so much calculation around her, and strained relations with her mother’s side of the family, it’s been lonely. So what better holiday than a Hogmanay in Scotland where friends, new and old, and family are celebrated?
Their romance is a bit of a medium burn; they become friends almost instantly, and the flirting is gentle — and the author takes pains to keep it fitting in with the period, while still keeping it fun and joyous. Overall, this is a lovely and heartwarming historical romance with great dialogue, a wonderful cast of side characters, and a loving and supportive pair of main leads. Please do yourself a favor and spend a Hogmanay with this book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I had never heard of the Hogmanay holiday before this — it’s more of a new year’s holiday than a yuletide one — but now that I have, I can see why it inspired this story. Sharda, for all that she’s been surrounded by society, has always had to keep a delicate balance. Of all the people who wanted to be friends, which ones wanted her money, which ones wanted her reputation, and which ones wanted her? When a companion joined her for travel and complained about the lack of a new dress, was it meant to inspire Sharda to give them a new one? With so much calculation around her, and strained relations with her mother’s side of the family, it’s been lonely. So what better holiday than a Hogmanay in Scotland where friends, new and old, and family are celebrated?
Their romance is a bit of a medium burn; they become friends almost instantly, and the flirting is gentle — and the author takes pains to keep it fitting in with the period, while still keeping it fun and joyous. Overall, this is a lovely and heartwarming historical romance with great dialogue, a wonderful cast of side characters, and a loving and supportive pair of main leads. Please do yourself a favor and spend a Hogmanay with this book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 23, 2021
What I appreciated most about this book was the detailed voyage back in time. Thanks to the care the author gave to descriptions, it was easy to visualize in my mind's eye the people, settings and the nature depicted in the story.
Sharda and Fin (Finella) were delightful. They were opposites in most everything: coloring, manners, origins, education. I was happy they found each other, yet, to be completely honest, I didn't feel their romance. They became good friends, but, in my opinion, the author didn't manage to convey perfectly the spark between them, not enough to make me believe in their passion and romantic connection.
Sadly, I also struggled with the language a bit. Some of the wording and phrasing were heavily old English, so to speak, which created some difficulty in fluidity for me. I'm sure that most probably other readers would consider the language a point in favor of the story, though.
As a whole, I enjoyed reading this book, especially being at Balintore Castle and celebrating Hogmanay with its charming inhabitants.
*ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing&Design in exchange for an honest review
Sharda and Fin (Finella) were delightful. They were opposites in most everything: coloring, manners, origins, education. I was happy they found each other, yet, to be completely honest, I didn't feel their romance. They became good friends, but, in my opinion, the author didn't manage to convey perfectly the spark between them, not enough to make me believe in their passion and romantic connection.
Sadly, I also struggled with the language a bit. Some of the wording and phrasing were heavily old English, so to speak, which created some difficulty in fluidity for me. I'm sure that most probably other readers would consider the language a point in favor of the story, though.
As a whole, I enjoyed reading this book, especially being at Balintore Castle and celebrating Hogmanay with its charming inhabitants.
*ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing&Design in exchange for an honest review
December 23, 2021
A heart-warming story of two women finding each other and, despite a conflict, working out a way for a future together.
I love Scotland so having the story set there made it a wonderful read for me. The castles, the views, the traditions, and the food!
A magical story taking place around real events and in real places. Truly lovely holiday read ♥🏴
Bonus points for one of the MCs being a POC in a historical setting 👌
I love Scotland so having the story set there made it a wonderful read for me. The castles, the views, the traditions, and the food!
A magical story taking place around real events and in real places. Truly lovely holiday read ♥🏴
Bonus points for one of the MCs being a POC in a historical setting 👌
April 3, 2022
This is Mardell’s second annual holiday-themed queer historical and I hope it continues to be an annual occasion. (I wouldn’t even mind something more frequent.) A runaway heiress, a mistaken identity, and a Scottish highland estate in desperate need of a more diligent landlord make for a sapphic romance worthy of a Hallmark movie. Mardell’s writing is solid and the delightful characters make one willing to ignore a few petty little plot-holes.
December 21, 2021
*I recieved an ARC of this from the author*
A lovely, slow burn lesbian historical romance. The world needs more of these. Very enjoyable and would read more from this author.
A lovely, slow burn lesbian historical romance. The world needs more of these. Very enjoyable and would read more from this author.
January 4, 2022
This was a cute historical romance. The title and blurb intrigued me enough to want to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. The two main characters meet at a party in a garden at night, hiding out from other folks. They have some misconceptions of each other, but both believe the other is the answer to their problems.
For different reasons and still not knowing the truth about the other, both travel to the castle Fin lives in and manages. There are some interesting historical tidbits and descriptions of the countryside as well as vignettes of life in that time period. It was well done. I enjoyed the scenes at the end, especially during the Hogmanay and the resolution of the story. It was a pleasant way to spend a cold rainy afternoon.
For different reasons and still not knowing the truth about the other, both travel to the castle Fin lives in and manages. There are some interesting historical tidbits and descriptions of the countryside as well as vignettes of life in that time period. It was well done. I enjoyed the scenes at the end, especially during the Hogmanay and the resolution of the story. It was a pleasant way to spend a cold rainy afternoon.
February 18, 2022
Sharda has had enough of her relations and their plans for her, so she needs little convincing to run off to the Highlands with a lovely lass. Finella manages Balintore Castle as much as she can, but it's becoming harder and harder when its owner does so little. A new owner is exactly what the castle needs. But Sharda has something - ahem, someone - else on her mind.
Gosh, this was cute. I had so much fun reading it, especially during the "there was only one bed!" scene. Sharda and Finella are so delightfully perfect for each other. I'd definitely opt to spend a Hogmanay at Balintore Castle, if they were in attendance. I do wish that some scenes were longer - it would have really ramped up my enjoyment of the tale - but ah, that's what you get with novellas.
Gosh, this was cute. I had so much fun reading it, especially during the "there was only one bed!" scene. Sharda and Finella are so delightfully perfect for each other. I'd definitely opt to spend a Hogmanay at Balintore Castle, if they were in attendance. I do wish that some scenes were longer - it would have really ramped up my enjoyment of the tale - but ah, that's what you get with novellas.
January 25, 2022
A solid okay for me. Somewhat warm and quiet in most aspects. A bit overdramatic about others. Definitely very rushed, but expectedly so given its short length. Certainly felt dubiously historically realistic about the ease with which the heiress shakes off the family vultures and about how the estate manager is allowed to even take up that position as a woman, but I don't know enough about history to have been bothered. I'm not sure why they needed an almost 10-year gap but at least the youngest was firmly in her twenties.
December 30, 2021
Sweet, festive, and Scottish! I enjoyed this historical romance a lot, particularly that it didn't shy away from acknowledging British colonialism like some historical fiction tends to do. The romance itself was sweet and the characters were very real. As a bonus I learned about the history of Christmas in Scotland and what Hogmanay is!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2022
I like to set the tone for my reading year by choosing something special to finish on New Year's Day, and this lovely Hogmanay novella feels like the perfect choice (especially following on the heels of my final read of 2021, Love All Year 2021: A Holidays Anthology). I loved Mardell's 2020 holiday novella, The Christmas Chevalier, and have been eagerly anticipating her next release ever since. A Highland Hogmanay has it all -- charming and genuinely witty banter, a vivid cast of supporting characters, and a sweet, yearning romance between two remarkable women, each determined to take charge of her destiny, each realizing that she doesn't have to do so on her own.
Many, many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review!
Many, many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews