When an errant Earl and a feisty schoolteacher are snowed in together over Christmas, mistletoe promises happen…
All alone in a girls’ school in Bath. This is not how Frances Littleworth imagined she’d celebrate Christmas. But when a handsome stranger unexpectedly collapses on the doorstep, the kind-hearted schoolteacher decides to take him in and nurse him back to health. At least it won’t feel quite so lonesome on Christmas, with this fever-garbling stranger to tend to. When the grateful but mysterious convalescent insists she hire him as a drawing master, Frances hesitates. For this man’s flirtatious charm is a dangerous threat to the careful order of her life—and her well-guarded heart.
Mr Percy Tiverton, future Earl of Halsford, disillusioned nobleman and divinely talented artist, has never had to work in his entire life. Yet he is determined to prove that he can fend for himself without relying on his father’s fortune, using solely his artistic talents. If only he can convince this stubborn but enchanting woman that he is serious about his position—and her. For he has never met a woman quite like her. So sweet. So stubborn. So kissable!
As the school’s substitute headmistress, Frances is determined to maintain a professional relationship with the new teacher and keeps the charming stranger at an arm’s length. She cannot afford to lose her position again over a mere flirtation. Yet what should she do when her heart races every time he glances at her?
Then there is this fateful encounter under the mistletoe….
A sweet, heart-warming Christmas Regency romance to fall in love with.
I really loved this series, and listened to all the audiobooks within a short period of time on YouTube. At the time I started A Mistletoe Promise, it was actually slightly past Christmas, but since I listened to books one through four in the last half of December, and I was still in the Christmas spirit, I decided to go ahead and listen to this last one. I'd like to know whether there will be any more in this series. (Note: I just started the first book in The Wishing Well Seminary series, which was created later, so perhaps not).
I will say that although I consider the first four books to be a wonderful envelopment of my ideal - full of heart and yet utterly clean Regency - I was a bit disappointed in this last one. It did not prevent me from enjoying it, but I actually had to start over from the beginning and tell myself to reset my mind and erase prejudices that had been building up - and this time I went into it knowing that it was going to have some elements that I generally dislike to see in the books I read. And once I did that, I enjoyed it very much.
The hero was a very good man, but a little bit immature/imprudent. *One aspect I disliked was revealed very late in the book - I was disappointed in him. *He kissed the heroine, which was, under the circumstances, unwise. *This one isn't much of a spoiler, I think: he doesn't reveal some information about his identity. Even though it was understandable, it was probably not the best idea..... I can forgive this one, but in combination with the other factors, I found his character a bit frustrating. I felt like he was just this wonderful guy except for certain dumb things...
The heroine was a very good lady, but a little bit unwise/quick to judge. *Sometimes I felt like she was inconsistent, but at the same time, I recognized the humanity in her. Very forgivable because even though she frustrated me a little, I could UNDERSTAND it.
So I can say that I LOVED the first few books, and I enjoyed this offering. I just didn't love it as much as the first four. In my book, Sofi Laporte is a very good author. Love this narrator as well. My favorite word spoken by the narrator? Body. I would imagine it's the British way of pronouncing the word. BOH-dee. I got a kick out of it every time.
Happy New Year, and THANK YOU to Ms. Laporte for making these available on YouTube. I'm having great fun listening to her books. I am guessing that I will slow down on the audiobooks pretty soon, so maybe I won't go through all of her offerings this month. (She has playlists on YouTube, by the way, which is very convenient. Beware, though, because The Wishing Well series is NOT listed in order on that playlist. Hopefully she'll fix that.)
I read tons and tons of Regency romances a year, so the characters tend to run together. But Percy stands out in all his quirky, flirtatious, ADHD, verbal diarrhea glory. I missed his more immature version in the second half of the book, but I suppose he had some growing up to do. The book was unique in that it fully acknowledged the mistakes and flaws of its leading man, but it made the reader love him anyway. A nice Christmas read, if a little too tidy and unrealistic.
Sexual: Mild. There are a few kisses, two being just little pecks/light. Others being more intense (though not descriptive) with hands and arms involved.
Triggers: Abandonment. Parental disapproval to an emotionally abusive degree. Specifically: There is a back story of social standing differences in romance and how it can end very poorly.
What drew me in was the trope of nursing a sick/injured character back to health. I'm such a sucker for that one. And I enjoyed that aspect, as it started right off with that trope to introduce our two main characters.
While this was somewhat cute, it left me feeling the 'meh' quite deeply...then the more I sat with it a mild sort of disgust.
Frances has scars. To do with romance and men not following through or being loyal. So what happens? She gets ambush kissed. But what made it worse? She legit is both verbally and physically saying 'no' and yet the guy still kisses her. And she internally says it's her fault. Holy toxic message.
And that's a running theme that never gets addressed as being wrong. It was upsetting to me. Frances has some trauma, but the guy that says he loves her (after knowing her for less than a week) consistently crosses all the boundaries she sets because he's more interested in his own desires and is certain that she isn't indifferent to him. And every time Frances rebukes him for being too forward? He gets hurt, and she feels guilty.
WOW.
The amount of 'this is not okay' message in this, that is never addressed? Concerning. Thankfully it also doesn't outright condone it either...but still. Just because Frances is confused about her feelings, doesn't make it okay for our main male protagonist to 'help' her by continuing to flirt and kiss her when he just promised he'd be more professional.
I didn't enjoy this book because of that aspect. Huge red flags all over the place.
So while the set up was cute, the Christmas setting sweet, and the background stories of the characters interesting...the romance killed it stone dead for me.
Another gem from Sofi Laporte! Frances Littleworth is expecting to spend Christmas alone at Miss Hilversham's Academy where she teaches. But a surprise guest-- a handsome man-- turns up in the middle of a snowstorm. Frances nurses him through his fever, and allows him to stay on as the new art teacher. Percy is smitten with Frances, and despite her resistance, she can't help but like him too. Things begin moving quickly, and beneath the mistletoe, Percy makes a vow. But Percy has secrets, and when Frances learns the truth, she believes the gulf between them is too wide to cross.
Sofi is one of my favorite Regency Romance authors and I couldn't wait to read this new holiday romance in her Wishing Well series. I loved the sweetness between Frances and Percy and their bonding over art, history, and Christmas pudding. Also, Frances' great-aunt Polly is a gem of a character! So funny! You definitely won't want to miss this adorable story
This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be my last. It was so well written! I usually don’t enjoy reading shorter novellas- sometimes they are too rushed but this one didn’t leave me feeling cheated. The plot was fun and original and the characters were all so fun- there really wasn’t a “bad guy” in this story and it was refreshing. I absolutely loved the humor peppered throughout the story (the aunt especially was funny). I will be putting the rest of this series in my need to read pile.
Kind of sweet, not bad, but meh. I liked the beginning better than the end. The first Christmas was sweet. But then the book kinda lost my interest. Especially with the cliche. I think you're a bad person if you do that, and the guy didn't seem to be that sorry about it. Characters didn't seem that fleshed out either, and there were quite a few cliches. Meh. I usually like this author's work more. 2.5 stars.
Another Christmas, another romance at Miss Hillversham's School For Girls. I really like this school and all of its stories. I'm glad that Sofi Laporte has built such a sweet world around this school.
Everyone has either left or is sick except Francis, who has been left in charge. There is a knock on the door, and when she opens it, a very ill man falls through it, saying that he was here for the position. Francis works hard to get him in the house by dragging him on a rug.
On Christmas day, she goes to church, and he is finally feeling well enough that he decided to give her Christmas. He, whose name is Percy, puts up the pine boughs, the holly, and attempts to make a feast. He has no idea what he is doing, though, and Francis giggled at all of his mess ups.
Percy and Francis obviously have chemistry. They find them selves under mistletoe and have to kiss and then a vow? I've never heard that part. Percy whispers a vow that has Francis running away. Sofi Laporte makes you wait till the last sentences to know what he said. Then the scene where they find THE wishing well and Francis bravely goes for what her heart wants
Then the uproar happens when another knock brings a female guest who ends up bringing three shocking truths. Percy is engaged to this woman, Percy 's father has died, and Percy is an Earl.
Now Francis is heartbroken and falling apart. Her long-lost grrat aunt invited her to London, and Miss Hillversham makes her go.
Even when Percy comes to her as a free man, Francis can not trust him. She has reasons from her past that Percy doesn't know. So now they are both heartbroken.
I do wish that when Francis found out through letters that she had been wrong that she would have written her aunt, her brother, or Percy.
I suppose that would have ruined the soft, beautiful Christmas ending. This may have been a novella, but it was so full of romance that it never felt rushed.
Frances Littleworth is a teacher and assistant headmistress at Miss Hilversham's seminary, planning to become headmistress if (more likely when) Miss Hilversham opens another school. Given her distrust of men, caused by abandonment and betrayal, that's clearly the best future for her. As the story opens, she's alone at the school over the Christmas break, except for one maid who is sick in bed.
Percy Tiverton is an aspiring artist, denied the chance to practice his art by his noble father. When he stumbles into the school's front door in a snowstorm, feverish and incoherent, all he can say is that he's there for the position of art and history teacher.
These two come to know and appreciate each other during their unusual, snowed-in Christmas. But will love win the day? Three guesses (and the first two don't count).
Dismissed as a governess, when the employers son returned home from school and became overly aggressive.Frances Littleworth has found a career and security at the school for ladies in Bath. Percy Tiverton has one secret passion. He longs to be an artist. His father thinks that despite his talent, it's foolish. Miss Hilversham's school has posted a position for a teacher for art, history and Latin. However excellent Mr. Tiverton may be at art, he is lacking in Latin and history. He is given a temporary position to see if he has any skill at teaching young, spirited ladies.
A 🎄Mistletoe Promise🎄 is a Christmas cozy novel. Two teachers being snowed in and stuck with each other. Of course, tensions rise and feelings are thrown around. But throughout this, both of the teachers grow in trying to find out what they want to do. Is the current path that they are taking actually the one they want to do. The author does a great job at balancing a serious topic with lighthearted banter, atmosphere, and tone.
True love sees past physical imperfections to make a person beautiful in this entertainingly sweet and heart-touching love story. I am impressed with how Ms. Laporte found a meaningful back-story and romance for Frances Littleworth. I am excited to read how love finds a way for Miss Hilversham in the next installment!
Frances was a fine heroine and Percy the perfect hero. As usual this author delivers a fine story with interesting and relatable characters. The story is believable and entertaining. I was drawn in and read as quickly as I could. Recommend highly.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were so real, their feelings , some expressed, some denied, made them so real. Frances, being left in charge of the school, answering the door, finding a delusional man at her door, was just the beginning of a well written story of love.
Charming historical romance novella with HEA (of course) following Miss Francis Littleworth's bumpy road to love. Author Laporte always provides an intelligent story with nice banter and dialogue, blooming love and characters to enjoy. A bit of angst (see bumpy road above) well overridden by the couple in love.
Four stars, cute storyline. Frances was a teacher and temporary headmistress of a girls school Percy was a nobleman, hiding his title. He was an artist and was out to prove himself. She hired him as a teacher, sparks flared. But his secrets caught up with him. Tragedy occurs, and Frances must learned to take a leap of faith. Good ending.
Sofia Laporte must have a magic pen to write such sweet stories (or just be perfectly brilliant!). A Mistletoe Promise is lovely Christmas story, painted to perfection with lanky artist and an angelic singing muse. I loved this Wishing Well series side story! I hope you read them all!
Enjoyed this book. The storyline was interesting and somewhat original. The characters were likeable and relatable. The dialogue was acceptable, notwithstanding the many Americanisms and modern expressions. There were quite a few typos as well as grammatical errors. But all in all, an entertaining tale.
This is a fluffy holiday story, which doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't overstay it's welcome in terms of length, making it an easy and entertaining read.
My favorite part by far was the discussion of the nature and purpose of proper art education, eating this book an whole extra star.
This one didn’t do it for me. It’s cheesy and shallow. Insta-love with no real relationship building. I understand it’s a novella but… I’m definitely looking for something more in a book.
Content: There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kisses. There is no real mention of faith or God.
Delightful story and goes so well with the first series of the wishing well. Totally worth the time to read and enjoy a great time with Christmas season in Regency times. Very enjoyable story.
Sofi Laporte is definitely an author to watch and read. A Mistletoe Promise is worth reading from beginning to end. No cheap gratutitive sex pages that must be skipped. Well written and planned for the reader's enjoyment 😉
I enjoyed this book. Can’t wait for the next book in series. I have read the other series by Sofi Laporte and really enjoyed them. I am happy to have found this author.
I love how this author puts so much history and comical moments in her stories. I laughed out loud at some of the funny episodes, between looking up words and names of Greek mythology.
This book is the end of the series. Every book in the series is different. They are full of humour, interest, romance with unlikely heroes and altogether enjoyable . Well written and really caught my attention.
When one reads as much as I have it is satisfying to find an author with a new voice (new to me). The dialogue is humorous and the characters are well developed. After reading the entire "Wishing Well" series I can truly say they were all delightful.
I have recently discovered Sofi Laporte's Wishing Well series and I can't get enough. This novella is no different. It is a sweet love story. The characters are well developed and engaging. Looking forward to reading more of Work's writing.
The first 1/2ish was okay. Not incredible or anything but a cute enough Christmas fluff read. But the second 1/2 was sooooo slow and had way too many misunderstandings and almost no interaction between hero and heroine. My book slump continues…
This was a sweet and fun holiday regency read. I enjoyed the book immensely even if the characters did drive me crazy at times. This was well written and I will definitely be reading more books from this author.
I found this Novella to be delightful. It was fun and easy to read. It was sweet, romantic and the characters were very authentic. I loved the Holiday season aspect with the customs. There weren't any villains and it had a very happy ending.