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The Duke's Family for Christmas: A Christmas Historical Romance Novel
A heartwarming Regency romance
He has until Christmas Eve
…To make them a family!
Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
He has until Christmas Eve
…To make them a family!
Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 25, 2022
14 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mallory
210 books117 followersSarah Mallory is the pen name for Melinda Hammond.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
Born in Bristol, England, UK, she grew up telling stories. She would make up adventures to relate to her school friends during break times and lunch hours, and she was once caught scribbling a story instead of listening to the French lesson. As a punishment, her teacher made her translate the story into French! She left school at sixteen and worked in offices as varied as stockbrokers, marine engineers, insurance brokers, biscuit manufacturers and even a quarrying company.
She married at nineteen, but continued to work until the birth of her first child. It was at that time that she decided to try her hand at her first love—writing, and shortly after the birth of her daughter she had her first book, Fortune's Lady, published under the pen name of Melinda Hammond. This was quickly followed by two more historical novels, Summer Charade and Autumn Bride, but with the birth of her twin sons the demands of family life meant that writing had to take a backseat for a few years. A compulsive scribbler, she never stopped writing and continued to work on research for her novels, experimenting with contemporary scenarios as well as writing pantomimes for her children's school. In 1989 the family moved to an isolated Pennine farmhouse in West Yorkshire, not far from Brontë country, where the family expanded to include a dog, two gerbils and a dozen chickens. The growing family needed funding and she went back to work full-time. The writing had to be put on hold.
Then, in March 2000, Sarah stepped off a curb and landed in hospital with one ankle broken and one badly sprained. This laid her up on a sofa for twelve weeks and gave her the time she needed to finish a novel. She wrote as Melinda Hammond and Maid of Honour was published the same year. Since then she has never looked back. She's published more than a dozen books under this pen name and has won the Reviewers' Choice Award in 2005 from Singletitles.com for Dance for a Diamond. Her novel Gentlemen in Question was a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice Title in November 2006. In 2012 her novel The Dangerous Lord Darrington won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is now concentrating on writing romantic historical adventures for Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 18, 2022
Glittering in seasonal romance!
I really, really love the cover for this one, I think it works perfectly with the story even though I would have liked Lily’s cloak to be red like the one she wears when they all go out looking for festive greenery, but hey, that’s just me.
The Duke’s Family For Christmas tells the sweet second chance story of a man whose choices in life have drastic consequences, his life is taken out of his hands and when he becomes the Duke he finds things out that shock him to the very core. In the back blurb, it says that his late wife kept his son secret from him, and in essence, Alice did but there is far more to that side of the story than it appears one which is full of hurt and heartache.
I really liked Leo! We went on quite a journey, I fell for him at the start when he was supposed to be someone he wasn’t, my adoration of him wained slightly with his brusque arrogant manner but he soon wooed me into submission after all he is a decent chap. One who takes his responsibilities of being a Duke and a father seriously. He wants to do what is right for his son, but I do think that to gain what he desires to bring little Toby into the fold of his family he goes about things all wrong. he causes a lot of hurts in his actions and then a lot of mistakes follow on all sides which end in both Leo and Lily making a pact, a fully signed binding contract!
Lily is lovely! I honestly cannot think of another way to describe her, she is passionate, dedicated, determined, sweet-natured and a little unassuming. I loved how devoted she is to that little boy, she has practically raised Toby as her own and is heartbroken when she learns of Leo’s betrayal – my heart broke for her especially when she takes drastic action to keep Toby with her.
Leo….ah, Leo!! He took me on a trek with my emotions, I loved him, I disliked him, I warmed to him and then fell in love with him. A lot like how he made Lily feel. The more his past and his complex relationship with his family are revealed the more I understand him.
I did really like this story, I liked the direction the story was heading as I read, but I do think that it ended rather abruptly and would have preferred a more profound ending, a little more (I’m not sure what the more should have been, I just know that it needed more). Leo and Lily’s relationship progressed slowly and naturally throughout, they went from friends to enemies to tempting lovers and then boom within the blink of an eye we have a Christmas Eve love. I just think a little more would have worked better for Lily and Leo.
Despite my personal thoughts on a certain part (which I have already talked about) I did thoroughly enjoy this one, I liked the way the story flowed, the journey the characters went on, I loved the sizzling ‘bedroom’ scenes….phew, Leo is scorching hot when he is on full seduction mode, I’m a withering wreck after the crumpet scene.
Yes, you read that right; a crumpet scene! 😉
The cast of characters is so varied and each person brings life to the story; from the villagers, the people we meet at the coaching inns, and the residents in Yorkshire. The Dowager Duchess (loved the Duchess, she is a kind and intelligent woman who sees far more than she lets on) Leo’s brother (who I really didn’t like, I felt like hissing at him, talk about a bad un’) right to Toby, my goodness this little boy melted my icy cold heart. What an absolute cutie!
Overall, an utterly heart-warming, wonderfully warm seasonal will-they-won’t-they romance. A must for the colder nights to come, fall into the Christmas season without even putting the tree up.
I really, really love the cover for this one, I think it works perfectly with the story even though I would have liked Lily’s cloak to be red like the one she wears when they all go out looking for festive greenery, but hey, that’s just me.
The Duke’s Family For Christmas tells the sweet second chance story of a man whose choices in life have drastic consequences, his life is taken out of his hands and when he becomes the Duke he finds things out that shock him to the very core. In the back blurb, it says that his late wife kept his son secret from him, and in essence, Alice did but there is far more to that side of the story than it appears one which is full of hurt and heartache.
I really liked Leo! We went on quite a journey, I fell for him at the start when he was supposed to be someone he wasn’t, my adoration of him wained slightly with his brusque arrogant manner but he soon wooed me into submission after all he is a decent chap. One who takes his responsibilities of being a Duke and a father seriously. He wants to do what is right for his son, but I do think that to gain what he desires to bring little Toby into the fold of his family he goes about things all wrong. he causes a lot of hurts in his actions and then a lot of mistakes follow on all sides which end in both Leo and Lily making a pact, a fully signed binding contract!
Lily is lovely! I honestly cannot think of another way to describe her, she is passionate, dedicated, determined, sweet-natured and a little unassuming. I loved how devoted she is to that little boy, she has practically raised Toby as her own and is heartbroken when she learns of Leo’s betrayal – my heart broke for her especially when she takes drastic action to keep Toby with her.
Leo….ah, Leo!! He took me on a trek with my emotions, I loved him, I disliked him, I warmed to him and then fell in love with him. A lot like how he made Lily feel. The more his past and his complex relationship with his family are revealed the more I understand him.
I did really like this story, I liked the direction the story was heading as I read, but I do think that it ended rather abruptly and would have preferred a more profound ending, a little more (I’m not sure what the more should have been, I just know that it needed more). Leo and Lily’s relationship progressed slowly and naturally throughout, they went from friends to enemies to tempting lovers and then boom within the blink of an eye we have a Christmas Eve love. I just think a little more would have worked better for Lily and Leo.
Despite my personal thoughts on a certain part (which I have already talked about) I did thoroughly enjoy this one, I liked the way the story flowed, the journey the characters went on, I loved the sizzling ‘bedroom’ scenes….phew, Leo is scorching hot when he is on full seduction mode, I’m a withering wreck after the crumpet scene.
Yes, you read that right; a crumpet scene! 😉
The cast of characters is so varied and each person brings life to the story; from the villagers, the people we meet at the coaching inns, and the residents in Yorkshire. The Dowager Duchess (loved the Duchess, she is a kind and intelligent woman who sees far more than she lets on) Leo’s brother (who I really didn’t like, I felt like hissing at him, talk about a bad un’) right to Toby, my goodness this little boy melted my icy cold heart. What an absolute cutie!
Overall, an utterly heart-warming, wonderfully warm seasonal will-they-won’t-they romance. A must for the colder nights to come, fall into the Christmas season without even putting the tree up.
December 6, 2022
Lily Wrayford is fiercely protective of her young ward, so when the charismatic Leo Devereux enters her life and offers to be Toby’s tutor Lily accepts with, it must be said, some trepidation. Little does Lily know that Leo has an altogether more important reason for wanting to get to know young Toby.
The Duke's Family for Christmas is a delightful Regency romance which has all the lovely little historical details which this author does so well. I found so much to enjoy in getting to know Lily, she is such a brave and loyal character whose love for Toby shines through and yet it is in her relationship with Leo Devereux where the heart of the story lies. It took me a while to really warm to Leo, he is an enigmatic figure with a brooding presence but this only makes his involvement in the story all the more poignant. However, as the story progresses and as each of the characters start to gel together as a unit so the subtle nuances in the burgeoning relationship between Lily and Leo becomes all the more magical. Whilst the story has a delightful festive edge to it, it’s not so Christmassy that you couldn’t read and enjoy at any time of the year.
Beautifully recreating the Georgian era with all of its complicated social niceties, The Duke's Family for Christmas is a lovely story about opening your heart the possibility of love especially when it comes with all the joy of a ready made family.
The Duke's Family for Christmas is a delightful Regency romance which has all the lovely little historical details which this author does so well. I found so much to enjoy in getting to know Lily, she is such a brave and loyal character whose love for Toby shines through and yet it is in her relationship with Leo Devereux where the heart of the story lies. It took me a while to really warm to Leo, he is an enigmatic figure with a brooding presence but this only makes his involvement in the story all the more poignant. However, as the story progresses and as each of the characters start to gel together as a unit so the subtle nuances in the burgeoning relationship between Lily and Leo becomes all the more magical. Whilst the story has a delightful festive edge to it, it’s not so Christmassy that you couldn’t read and enjoy at any time of the year.
Beautifully recreating the Georgian era with all of its complicated social niceties, The Duke's Family for Christmas is a lovely story about opening your heart the possibility of love especially when it comes with all the joy of a ready made family.
January 2, 2023
Detailed review to come...
November 2, 2022
Sarah Mallory is an author that can always be relied upon for enjoyable historical romances that tug on the reader’s heartstrings and keep you reading from beginning to end of a book, and this latest Christmas story is no different.
Lily leads a contented life looking after her orphaned ward Toby until the mysterious Leo appears in their village and volunteers to by little Toby’s tutor. Unbeknown to Lily, Leo is actually Toby’s father (and a Duke none the less!) and has plans to reclaim his son and heir, and so begins an interesting plot where Lily fights to do what is right for Toby, and Leo finds himself simultaneously annoyed and attracted to his son’s guardian. What was clever about the book was that the prologue has Lily making a late night escape from Leo with Toby, before the story goes back to explain what has led to this moment. Lily and Leo make for compelling characters, although it’s interesting to meet Leo, like him as a partner for Lily, then find yourself firmly on Lily’s side as his true identity is revealed before warming to him once more as the plot progresses. Lily is resourceful and quite able to stand up for herself which leads to an entertaining evening in a coaching inn’s parlour where Leo is somewhat bamboozled into signing an agreement for Lily to stay at his ducal home until Toby has settled in. The pair spark off each other well and their interactions drive the story forward as Leo and Lily begin to fall for each other whilst insisting that there can be nothing between them. Enter Leo’s brother, Maynard, as an excellent villain, and the self imposed deadline for Lily to return home and you have a wonderfully told story where you really do root for a happy ending. Enjoyable, festive and romantic (who knew a pomegranate could make for such a powerful gesture!), the book is sure to delight the readers.
Lily leads a contented life looking after her orphaned ward Toby until the mysterious Leo appears in their village and volunteers to by little Toby’s tutor. Unbeknown to Lily, Leo is actually Toby’s father (and a Duke none the less!) and has plans to reclaim his son and heir, and so begins an interesting plot where Lily fights to do what is right for Toby, and Leo finds himself simultaneously annoyed and attracted to his son’s guardian. What was clever about the book was that the prologue has Lily making a late night escape from Leo with Toby, before the story goes back to explain what has led to this moment. Lily and Leo make for compelling characters, although it’s interesting to meet Leo, like him as a partner for Lily, then find yourself firmly on Lily’s side as his true identity is revealed before warming to him once more as the plot progresses. Lily is resourceful and quite able to stand up for herself which leads to an entertaining evening in a coaching inn’s parlour where Leo is somewhat bamboozled into signing an agreement for Lily to stay at his ducal home until Toby has settled in. The pair spark off each other well and their interactions drive the story forward as Leo and Lily begin to fall for each other whilst insisting that there can be nothing between them. Enter Leo’s brother, Maynard, as an excellent villain, and the self imposed deadline for Lily to return home and you have a wonderfully told story where you really do root for a happy ending. Enjoyable, festive and romantic (who knew a pomegranate could make for such a powerful gesture!), the book is sure to delight the readers.
November 5, 2022
****4.5 stars!****
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
November 30, 2022
Book:The Dukes Family for Christmas
Author: Sarah Mallory
Publisher: Harlequin
Print Length: 283 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags
England, 1314
This regency second chance romance story starts begins with a backstory where the heroine Lily Wrayford is running away with a young boy named Toby. Tragically Toby’s mother and Lily’s childhood best friend Alice died in childbirth. She had been living with them for the past seven months who they assumed was abandoned by the father. Furthermore, the baby’s grandfather, the cold hearted, intimidating and cruel Duke of Tain, had ‘‘discovered this secret about his son and Alice who he feels is way beneath his family, having no title, money, or status! It is not the match he will allow for his son, he forcibly sends his son abroad and when he finds out about the pregnancy he is absolutely furious! He threatens Alice and tries to pay her off to keep he quiet which she absolutely refused! She never told Leo about the baby since she already felt betrayed by Leo! Thinking she was abandoned not knowing the real truth and what the Duke forced on Leo. So after this altercation with her father-in-law she came to live secretly with Lily and her parents in Somerset. She never even mentioned the fathers name to the Wrayford’s, therefore Lily and her parents just assumed she was unmarried. After Alice died in childbirth Lily’s parents adopted Toby, unfortunately her parents also died unexpectedly a couple years ago. Now this left Lily as the only parent that Toby has left who showers this little boy with love each and everyday.
Lily who has been raising Toby as her own son since his birth for the past seven years who she loves dealy. Now a handsome stranger comes into their quaint English villlage of Lyndham using the false name of Leo Devereux. All of Lily’s friends and neighbors welcome him with trusting, open, arms, as he even becomes Toby’s tutor for a short time before they all get knocked down a few pegs learning the truth. As Lily had started to have romantic feelings for this handsome man she is soon in for the shock of her life! Yet the truth will hurt the most is Lily. She feels manipulated and betrayed by Leo, but the one thing that was most important is that Toby not ever feel abandoned so she want to come for at an adjustment period for a few months. She also wante to make sure he adjusted well in his new surroundings and the new people who would be strangers to him.
As time goes on Leo starts to change and develops strong feelings toward Lily seeing the good woman she really is. He had been attracted to her since the first time he saw her but now he sees what a caring and intelligent woman she is so he no longer wanted to go by their original agreement. Even with her love for Toby she could never marry a man who would never love her of be faithful. She knew he would only love Alice forever even though this is the sister of her heart she couldn’t play second fiddle to the man she loves Yet Leo knows they only had until Christmas to prove his heart was true. Could they become a family by Christmas? Read “The Duke’s Family Christmas” by Sarah Mallory and find out,
Another powerful Sarah Mallory read! A book I recommend for all lovers of historical romance and second chances of love to read!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the author publisher in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/product-review...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/produc...
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/...
Author: Sarah Mallory
Publisher: Harlequin
Print Length: 283 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags
England, 1314
This regency second chance romance story starts begins with a backstory where the heroine Lily Wrayford is running away with a young boy named Toby. Tragically Toby’s mother and Lily’s childhood best friend Alice died in childbirth. She had been living with them for the past seven months who they assumed was abandoned by the father. Furthermore, the baby’s grandfather, the cold hearted, intimidating and cruel Duke of Tain, had ‘‘discovered this secret about his son and Alice who he feels is way beneath his family, having no title, money, or status! It is not the match he will allow for his son, he forcibly sends his son abroad and when he finds out about the pregnancy he is absolutely furious! He threatens Alice and tries to pay her off to keep he quiet which she absolutely refused! She never told Leo about the baby since she already felt betrayed by Leo! Thinking she was abandoned not knowing the real truth and what the Duke forced on Leo. So after this altercation with her father-in-law she came to live secretly with Lily and her parents in Somerset. She never even mentioned the fathers name to the Wrayford’s, therefore Lily and her parents just assumed she was unmarried. After Alice died in childbirth Lily’s parents adopted Toby, unfortunately her parents also died unexpectedly a couple years ago. Now this left Lily as the only parent that Toby has left who showers this little boy with love each and everyday.
Lily who has been raising Toby as her own son since his birth for the past seven years who she loves dealy. Now a handsome stranger comes into their quaint English villlage of Lyndham using the false name of Leo Devereux. All of Lily’s friends and neighbors welcome him with trusting, open, arms, as he even becomes Toby’s tutor for a short time before they all get knocked down a few pegs learning the truth. As Lily had started to have romantic feelings for this handsome man she is soon in for the shock of her life! Yet the truth will hurt the most is Lily. She feels manipulated and betrayed by Leo, but the one thing that was most important is that Toby not ever feel abandoned so she want to come for at an adjustment period for a few months. She also wante to make sure he adjusted well in his new surroundings and the new people who would be strangers to him.
As time goes on Leo starts to change and develops strong feelings toward Lily seeing the good woman she really is. He had been attracted to her since the first time he saw her but now he sees what a caring and intelligent woman she is so he no longer wanted to go by their original agreement. Even with her love for Toby she could never marry a man who would never love her of be faithful. She knew he would only love Alice forever even though this is the sister of her heart she couldn’t play second fiddle to the man she loves Yet Leo knows they only had until Christmas to prove his heart was true. Could they become a family by Christmas? Read “The Duke’s Family Christmas” by Sarah Mallory and find out,
Another powerful Sarah Mallory read! A book I recommend for all lovers of historical romance and second chances of love to read!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the author publisher in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/product-review...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/produc...
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/...
October 19, 2022
🎄The Duke’s Family for Christmas 🧒
✒️ Sarah Mallory
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmallory...
Release Date 10/25/2022
Publisher Mills&Boon Historical / Harlequin Historical
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SV8QWYG/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
A heartwarming Regency romance He has until Christmas Eve …To make them a family! Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will his highhandedness come with a price …
I love this time of the year when holidays romances begin to fill my shelves, as days shorten, there is nothing better than to settle on the couch with a warm drink, my cat and a read you know will cheer your mood.
And here we have a lady who gave up many future options to raise a child, a peer looking for his long lost infant and a sweet and cute kid.
As the book opens on Lily running away, I wondered if the story would be a road trip but I was proved wrong as it was just a capsule of their shared history, as it is a slow burn romance.
Lily is a much lovable young woman, she let her chance pass on the marriage mart to help rise her friend’s son, one she thought illegitimate.
Her friend’s history made her in some way wary of men’s attention, why while she is intrigued by her new neighbor, she feels there is more to him and he in some way unsettles her.
I might say I was not a big fan of Leo, from his deceit to his high-handed behavior, he is not very likable and very much haughty and high handed. He never really makes amends for his poor treatment of woman who was seeking to protect the child she reared from his birth. It might be his child so he has every right to retrieve him but there were ways to deal with it with more finesse and less deception and pain.
Can he not understand how hurtful it is to be discarded as no more useful when the child has been the center of her life for many years.
For the most part of this story, Leo was quite the villain with soft edges, until Lily’s stubbornness to accept his feelings as true reverses their roles. She does not become of course a baddy yet her determination to reject his suit went the long way, even if somehow he deserved to be brought down a peg or two.
4.5 stars for lovely holidays romance.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen sweet foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #sarahmallory #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
✒️ Sarah Mallory
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmallory...
Release Date 10/25/2022
Publisher Mills&Boon Historical / Harlequin Historical
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SV8QWYG/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
A heartwarming Regency romance He has until Christmas Eve …To make them a family! Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will his highhandedness come with a price …
I love this time of the year when holidays romances begin to fill my shelves, as days shorten, there is nothing better than to settle on the couch with a warm drink, my cat and a read you know will cheer your mood.
And here we have a lady who gave up many future options to raise a child, a peer looking for his long lost infant and a sweet and cute kid.
As the book opens on Lily running away, I wondered if the story would be a road trip but I was proved wrong as it was just a capsule of their shared history, as it is a slow burn romance.
Lily is a much lovable young woman, she let her chance pass on the marriage mart to help rise her friend’s son, one she thought illegitimate.
Her friend’s history made her in some way wary of men’s attention, why while she is intrigued by her new neighbor, she feels there is more to him and he in some way unsettles her.
I might say I was not a big fan of Leo, from his deceit to his high-handed behavior, he is not very likable and very much haughty and high handed. He never really makes amends for his poor treatment of woman who was seeking to protect the child she reared from his birth. It might be his child so he has every right to retrieve him but there were ways to deal with it with more finesse and less deception and pain.
Can he not understand how hurtful it is to be discarded as no more useful when the child has been the center of her life for many years.
For the most part of this story, Leo was quite the villain with soft edges, until Lily’s stubbornness to accept his feelings as true reverses their roles. She does not become of course a baddy yet her determination to reject his suit went the long way, even if somehow he deserved to be brought down a peg or two.
4.5 stars for lovely holidays romance.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen sweet foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #sarahmallory #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
January 5, 2023
Lily Wrayford is taking care of her young, adopted family member after the death of her parents. Toby is the only family Lily has left. Then, Leo comes into their lives and he is soon tutoring little Toby. But does he have an ulterior motive?
Leo, Duke of Tain, needs to make sure that Toby is his son before he takes him away from Lily forever. Lily is very surprised when the new tutor reveals that he is actually Toby's father. She is heartbroken as she has no real claim to Toby even though she helped raise him from a baby. Not wanting to lose Toby forever, Lily takes Toby away but the Duke soon catches up with her. They make an agreement that Lily can come stay with Toby at the Duke's estate for sixty days, after which she will leave Toby, except for infrequent visits, and go back to her lonely house without him.
Along the way, Lily and Leo start having feelings for one another and by the time Lily's stay at the Duke's estate comes to an end, will he and Lily find a way to stay together, long-term?
I found Leo's character to be somewhat hardened, but that was easily explainable due to his father's harsh treatment of him as a child. He did come around by the end of the story and seemed to ease into being a father fairly well. Lily refusing to speak to Leo was a bit overdone, but one could understand that her integrity and her self-respect made her hold out for the best. This was an enjoyable story.
Leo, Duke of Tain, needs to make sure that Toby is his son before he takes him away from Lily forever. Lily is very surprised when the new tutor reveals that he is actually Toby's father. She is heartbroken as she has no real claim to Toby even though she helped raise him from a baby. Not wanting to lose Toby forever, Lily takes Toby away but the Duke soon catches up with her. They make an agreement that Lily can come stay with Toby at the Duke's estate for sixty days, after which she will leave Toby, except for infrequent visits, and go back to her lonely house without him.
Along the way, Lily and Leo start having feelings for one another and by the time Lily's stay at the Duke's estate comes to an end, will he and Lily find a way to stay together, long-term?
I found Leo's character to be somewhat hardened, but that was easily explainable due to his father's harsh treatment of him as a child. He did come around by the end of the story and seemed to ease into being a father fairly well. Lily refusing to speak to Leo was a bit overdone, but one could understand that her integrity and her self-respect made her hold out for the best. This was an enjoyable story.
November 30, 2022
Book:The Dukes Family for Christmas
Author: Sarah Mallory
Publisher: Harlequin
Print Length: 283 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags
England, 1314
This regency second chance romance story starts begins with a backstory where the heroine Lily Wrayford is running away with a young boy named Toby. Tragically Toby’s mother and Lily’s childhood best friend Alice died in childbirth. She had been living with them for the past seven months who they assumed was abandoned by the father. Furthermore, the baby’s grandfather, the cold hearted, intimidating and cruel Duke of Tain, had ‘‘discovered this secret about his son and Alice who he feels is way beneath his family, having no title, money, or status! It is not the match he will allow for his son, he forcibly sends his son abroad and when he finds out about the pregnancy he is absolutely furious! He threatens Alice and tries to pay her off to keep he quiet which she absolutely refused! She never told Leo about the baby since she already felt betrayed by Leo! Thinking she was abandoned not knowing the real truth and what the Duke forced on Leo. So after this altercation with her father-in-law she came to live secretly with Lily and her parents in Somerset. She never even mentioned the fathers name to the Wrayford’s, therefore Lily and her parents just assumed she was unmarried. After Alice died in childbirth Lily’s parents adopted Toby, unfortunately her parents also died unexpectedly a couple years ago. Now this left Lily as the only parent that Toby has left who showers this little boy with love each and everyday.
Lily who has been raising Toby as her own son since his birth for the past seven years who she loves dealy. Now a handsome stranger comes into their quaint English villlage of Lyndham using the false name of Leo Devereux. All of Lily’s friends and neighbors welcome him with trusting, open, arms, as he even becomes Toby’s tutor for a short time before they all get knocked down a few pegs learning the truth. As Lily had started to have romantic feelings for this handsome man she is soon in for the shock of her life! Yet the truth will hurt the most is Lily. She feels manipulated and betrayed by Leo, but the one thing that was most important is that Toby not ever feel abandoned so she want to come for at an adjustment period for a few months. She also wante to make sure he adjusted well in his new surroundings and the new people who would be strangers to him.
As time goes on Leo starts to change and develops strong feelings toward Lily seeing the good woman she really is. He had been attracted to her since the first time he saw her but now he sees what a caring and intelligent woman she is so he no longer wanted to go by their original agreement. Even with her love for Toby she could never marry a man who would never love her of be faithful. She knew he would only love Alice forever even though this is the sister of her heart she couldn’t play second fiddle to the man she loves Yet Leo knows they only had until Christmas to prove his heart was true. Could they become a family by Christmas? Read “The Duke’s Family Christmas” by Sarah Mallory and find out,
Another powerful Sarah Mallory read! A book I recommend for all lovers of historical romance and second chances of love to read!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the author publisher in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/product-review...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/produc...
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/...
Author: Sarah Mallory
Publisher: Harlequin
Print Length: 283 Pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags
England, 1314
This regency second chance romance story starts begins with a backstory where the heroine Lily Wrayford is running away with a young boy named Toby. Tragically Toby’s mother and Lily’s childhood best friend Alice died in childbirth. She had been living with them for the past seven months who they assumed was abandoned by the father. Furthermore, the baby’s grandfather, the cold hearted, intimidating and cruel Duke of Tain, had ‘‘discovered this secret about his son and Alice who he feels is way beneath his family, having no title, money, or status! It is not the match he will allow for his son, he forcibly sends his son abroad and when he finds out about the pregnancy he is absolutely furious! He threatens Alice and tries to pay her off to keep he quiet which she absolutely refused! She never told Leo about the baby since she already felt betrayed by Leo! Thinking she was abandoned not knowing the real truth and what the Duke forced on Leo. So after this altercation with her father-in-law she came to live secretly with Lily and her parents in Somerset. She never even mentioned the fathers name to the Wrayford’s, therefore Lily and her parents just assumed she was unmarried. After Alice died in childbirth Lily’s parents adopted Toby, unfortunately her parents also died unexpectedly a couple years ago. Now this left Lily as the only parent that Toby has left who showers this little boy with love each and everyday.
Lily who has been raising Toby as her own son since his birth for the past seven years who she loves dealy. Now a handsome stranger comes into their quaint English villlage of Lyndham using the false name of Leo Devereux. All of Lily’s friends and neighbors welcome him with trusting, open, arms, as he even becomes Toby’s tutor for a short time before they all get knocked down a few pegs learning the truth. As Lily had started to have romantic feelings for this handsome man she is soon in for the shock of her life! Yet the truth will hurt the most is Lily. She feels manipulated and betrayed by Leo, but the one thing that was most important is that Toby not ever feel abandoned so she want to come for at an adjustment period for a few months. She also wante to make sure he adjusted well in his new surroundings and the new people who would be strangers to him.
As time goes on Leo starts to change and develops strong feelings toward Lily seeing the good woman she really is. He had been attracted to her since the first time he saw her but now he sees what a caring and intelligent woman she is so he no longer wanted to go by their original agreement. Even with her love for Toby she could never marry a man who would never love her of be faithful. She knew he would only love Alice forever even though this is the sister of her heart she couldn’t play second fiddle to the man she loves Yet Leo knows they only had until Christmas to prove his heart was true. Could they become a family by Christmas? Read “The Duke’s Family Christmas” by Sarah Mallory and find out,
Another powerful Sarah Mallory read! A book I recommend for all lovers of historical romance and second chances of love to read!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy and an advance reader copy from the author publisher in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/product-review...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/produc...
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/...
October 13, 2022
From beginning to end there is a love which seeps out of the book and it pulls you into its embrace.
For me, all the way through I could feel the book. I felt like I was there and I was excited to read past my time to go to sleep. I fell in love with the Duke and his sad story. The strength of the heroine Lily made me want to be as strong as her.
There is no detail that is missed in this book. For a historical novel that is as good as Bridgeton then this is the one that you want to pick up. I haven't been more impressed with a historical fiction piece in a long time. This impressed me from beginning to end. I think the work that was put into this was utterly amazing.
I don't want to put more on here as it will spoil it for you. It's the perfect Christmas read on a rainy or snowy afternoon by the fireplace. I can't be more honoured than I am that I was allowed to review this book for the author. I pray that she will include me in her advance copies in the future.
Really good work.
For me, all the way through I could feel the book. I felt like I was there and I was excited to read past my time to go to sleep. I fell in love with the Duke and his sad story. The strength of the heroine Lily made me want to be as strong as her.
There is no detail that is missed in this book. For a historical novel that is as good as Bridgeton then this is the one that you want to pick up. I haven't been more impressed with a historical fiction piece in a long time. This impressed me from beginning to end. I think the work that was put into this was utterly amazing.
I don't want to put more on here as it will spoil it for you. It's the perfect Christmas read on a rainy or snowy afternoon by the fireplace. I can't be more honoured than I am that I was allowed to review this book for the author. I pray that she will include me in her advance copies in the future.
Really good work.
December 12, 2022
2.75? Lily has been raising her adopted sister's son since birth, when along comes his Duke father who lies about his identity until he can prove that he's Toby's father. Romance ensues.
I struggled with this one because I couldn't really like Leo, the Duke. Yes, he is much better than his brothers and father. But right through the end, he only viewed things through what he wanted for himself and not what Lily or even Toby might want. I wish the book took place over a longer time so we could see him actually evolve. I just got so mad at him and his high handed ways and how he didn't think about how he was devastating Lily or Toby at any point.
I struggled with this one because I couldn't really like Leo, the Duke. Yes, he is much better than his brothers and father. But right through the end, he only viewed things through what he wanted for himself and not what Lily or even Toby might want. I wish the book took place over a longer time so we could see him actually evolve. I just got so mad at him and his high handed ways and how he didn't think about how he was devastating Lily or Toby at any point.
January 5, 2023
Although it starts a little slow and confusing with the explanations as to why Lily Wrayford is the guardian of a boy her cousin bore in secret and how the mysterious visitor to their small community is related and becomes a tutor to that boy.
Too many secrets that come to a head when the tutor, Leo, announces his identity and declares the boy will come with him as his heir. He is the Duke of Tain and used to getting what he wants. He never had to deal with the likes of Lily though who insists he prove his worthiness before she gives up her charge.
Enjoyable ending as the two stubborn leads realize they are meant for each other.
Too many secrets that come to a head when the tutor, Leo, announces his identity and declares the boy will come with him as his heir. He is the Duke of Tain and used to getting what he wants. He never had to deal with the likes of Lily though who insists he prove his worthiness before she gives up her charge.
Enjoyable ending as the two stubborn leads realize they are meant for each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2022
The hero and heroine spend a considerable chunk of the book avoiding each other and by about the last third of the book the heroine started getting on my nerves. I’m usually super into low stakes fluff and newly-discovered offspring is a favorite trope of mine but by the latter half of the book I was struggling to finish it.
December 23, 2022
I just loved this from the start. Lily is the guardian of Toby, after his mother died Lily’s parents adopted him and when they died she took on the role of his mother. But despite his terrible start in life he was such a sweetheart. Leo is Tobys estranged father.
Set on the run up to Christmas this book can easily be enjoyed at any time of year. I loved Lily's strong love and bond for Toby. I chuckled at the way she manipulated Leo with the contract. Lovely enemy's to lovers storyline with a dash of spice.
Set on the run up to Christmas this book can easily be enjoyed at any time of year. I loved Lily's strong love and bond for Toby. I chuckled at the way she manipulated Leo with the contract. Lovely enemy's to lovers storyline with a dash of spice.
December 19, 2024
Very festive and a very realistic and natural growth of love throughout the story. I liked the characters, I just wish there had been another problem which faced their love.
December 15, 2022
I hadn’t read a Mills & Boon novel for years before I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association and started reviewing more books by their members. I used to read my Grandma’s copies when I was younger but hadn’t picked one up since she died. Getting back in to them has been a lovely burst of nostalgia for me, and I’m always happy to be approached by one of their authors for a review. Sarah Mallory is now one of my favourite authors and I was delighted to read her latest, Christmas-themed Regency romance.
The book opens with a dramatic journey, and it really set the tone for the whole novel and had my curiosity piqued for how the characters got to that point. Because then we go back in time to a point several months before and the moment at which Leo Devereux enters the lives of Lily and her ward, Toby. At first he seems benign, and they are warm and welcoming to him, until it becomes clear he has an ulterior motive for trying to get close to them.
I loved the arc of this story, the development of Leo from a friend to the villain of the piece and then on to a completely different relationship with Lily and Toby. It is great when a book has such complete character development for the players. Lily is a wonderful character, strong and independent for a woman in that era and the reader can’t help admire her and wish for her to get everything she desires by the end of the book. Leo goes about things all the wrong way, and there is the mystery of why Alice kept Toby a secret from Leo in the first place to maintain the intrigue and tension throughout. There is a fantastic balance of mystery and romance from beginning to end.
The author creates a lovely, uplifting story here, I adored exploring life at the Duke of Tain’s home over the Christmas period, it gave me the warm fuzzies and put me in the festive move. It made me want to go back and rewatch Bridgerton (which I did), it was the same kind of mood. The perfect book if you are looking for some festive, historical romance during this cold pre-Christmas period!
The book opens with a dramatic journey, and it really set the tone for the whole novel and had my curiosity piqued for how the characters got to that point. Because then we go back in time to a point several months before and the moment at which Leo Devereux enters the lives of Lily and her ward, Toby. At first he seems benign, and they are warm and welcoming to him, until it becomes clear he has an ulterior motive for trying to get close to them.
I loved the arc of this story, the development of Leo from a friend to the villain of the piece and then on to a completely different relationship with Lily and Toby. It is great when a book has such complete character development for the players. Lily is a wonderful character, strong and independent for a woman in that era and the reader can’t help admire her and wish for her to get everything she desires by the end of the book. Leo goes about things all the wrong way, and there is the mystery of why Alice kept Toby a secret from Leo in the first place to maintain the intrigue and tension throughout. There is a fantastic balance of mystery and romance from beginning to end.
The author creates a lovely, uplifting story here, I adored exploring life at the Duke of Tain’s home over the Christmas period, it gave me the warm fuzzies and put me in the festive move. It made me want to go back and rewatch Bridgerton (which I did), it was the same kind of mood. The perfect book if you are looking for some festive, historical romance during this cold pre-Christmas period!
October 19, 2022
🎄The Duke’s Family for Christmas 🧒
✒️ Sarah Mallory
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmallory...
Release Date 10/25/2022
Publisher Mills&Boon Historical / Harlequin Historical
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SV8QWYG/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
A heartwarming Regency romance He has until Christmas Eve …To make them a family! Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will his highhandedness come with a price …
I love this time of the year when holidays romances begin to fill my shelves, as days shorten, there is nothing better than to settle on the couch with a warm drink, my cat and a read you know will cheer your mood.
And here we have a lady who gave up many future options to raise a child, a peer looking for his long lost infant and a sweet and cute kid.
As the book opens on Lily running away, I wondered if the story would be a road trip but I was proved wrong as it was just a capsule of their shared history, as it is a slow burn romance.
Lily is a much lovable young woman, she let her chance pass on the marriage mart to help rise her friend’s son, one she thought illegitimate.
Her friend’s history made her in some way wary of men’s attention, why while she is intrigued by her new neighbor, she feels there is more to him and he in some way unsettles her.
I might say I was not a big fan of Leo, from his deceit to his high-handed behavior, he is not very likable and very much haughty and high handed. He never really makes amends for his poor treatment of woman who was seeking to protect the child she reared from his birth. It might be his child so he has every right to retrieve him but there were ways to deal with it with more finesse and less deception and pain.
Can he not understand how hurtful it is to be discarded as no more useful when the child has been the center of her life for many years.
For the most part of this story, Leo was quite the villain with soft edges, until Lily’s stubbornness to accept his feelings as true reverses their roles. She does not become of course a baddy yet her determination to reject his suit went the long way, even if somehow he deserved to be brought down a peg or two.
4.5 stars for lovely holidays romance.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen sweet foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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✒️ Sarah Mallory
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmallory...
Release Date 10/25/2022
Publisher Mills&Boon Historical / Harlequin Historical
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SV8QWYG/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
A heartwarming Regency romance He has until Christmas Eve …To make them a family! Determined to claim the son his late wife kept secret from him, Leo, Duke of Tain, is working in disguise as his tutor. Until Miss Lily Wrayford, the child’s fiercely protective guardian, discovers Leo’s true identity…and gives him until Christmas to prove she can trust him! All Leo wants is to be a good father, but might this brave, captivating woman be the final missing piece of his family?
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will his highhandedness come with a price …
I love this time of the year when holidays romances begin to fill my shelves, as days shorten, there is nothing better than to settle on the couch with a warm drink, my cat and a read you know will cheer your mood.
And here we have a lady who gave up many future options to raise a child, a peer looking for his long lost infant and a sweet and cute kid.
As the book opens on Lily running away, I wondered if the story would be a road trip but I was proved wrong as it was just a capsule of their shared history, as it is a slow burn romance.
Lily is a much lovable young woman, she let her chance pass on the marriage mart to help rise her friend’s son, one she thought illegitimate.
Her friend’s history made her in some way wary of men’s attention, why while she is intrigued by her new neighbor, she feels there is more to him and he in some way unsettles her.
I might say I was not a big fan of Leo, from his deceit to his high-handed behavior, he is not very likable and very much haughty and high handed. He never really makes amends for his poor treatment of woman who was seeking to protect the child she reared from his birth. It might be his child so he has every right to retrieve him but there were ways to deal with it with more finesse and less deception and pain.
Can he not understand how hurtful it is to be discarded as no more useful when the child has been the center of her life for many years.
For the most part of this story, Leo was quite the villain with soft edges, until Lily’s stubbornness to accept his feelings as true reverses their roles. She does not become of course a baddy yet her determination to reject his suit went the long way, even if somehow he deserved to be brought down a peg or two.
4.5 stars for lovely holidays romance.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen sweet foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?stor...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #sarahmallory #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
October 6, 2022
I received a copy of this book via the author in return for an honest review.
Overall I rate this story as between 3 and 4 stars as I did not enjoy the beginning as much as the second half.
This novel was very much a book of two halves for me and I've thought long and hard about what I'd put in this review. As I said I gave it a 3-4 star rating. Three I think covers the beginning of the story and about halfway through or just a little longer the storyline suddenly felt to me a lot smoother and assured like the writer and heroine and found their path so to speak.
Lily is a fairly well-to-do heroine with a place and resources of her own, though at 27 years old considered an old maid somewhat. Added to this she has an adopted child (or more correctly her parents did) Toby, the son of her friend whose future she worries about. Enter Leo, a visitor to the neighbourhood. He may be the answer to Lily's problem as a temporary tutor for Toby and well...it's no bad thing she likes him too is it?
I don't think I'm giving much away here due to the cover blurb but you might want to look away for this paragraph in case of some spoilers...Leo happens to be a duke and not only that Toby's biological father. This I found problematic. I understand that secret marriages can happen and therefore Toby is legally his child, but even with expensive legal intervention this seemed to be dealt with rather easily and relatively quickly.
The shock of Lily's discovery about Leo causes her to flee and leave her in hot water when Leo catches up with her. I don't think this added much to the story as the awkwardness of Leo's position alone regarding Toby as well as perhaps Lily's neighbours taking an interest and her social position may have had some bearing on his care.
However I did like the move to the Tain estate (though my brain for some reason insisted on thinking it was in Scotland and not England). The now winter and Christmas setting was charming and Leo's mother as well. A place where they could all be close and live like a family was rather heartwarming even though at times I wondered about the chemistry between our hero and heroine even to the end.
The problems were neatly dealt with in time for a happy Christmas however and I did enjoy the conclusion. It was nice to see people who cared about family as well as duty and even when very rich and powerful. It would have been nice to see Lily's borrowed red cloak on the cover though.
Overall I rate this story as between 3 and 4 stars as I did not enjoy the beginning as much as the second half.
This novel was very much a book of two halves for me and I've thought long and hard about what I'd put in this review. As I said I gave it a 3-4 star rating. Three I think covers the beginning of the story and about halfway through or just a little longer the storyline suddenly felt to me a lot smoother and assured like the writer and heroine and found their path so to speak.
Lily is a fairly well-to-do heroine with a place and resources of her own, though at 27 years old considered an old maid somewhat. Added to this she has an adopted child (or more correctly her parents did) Toby, the son of her friend whose future she worries about. Enter Leo, a visitor to the neighbourhood. He may be the answer to Lily's problem as a temporary tutor for Toby and well...it's no bad thing she likes him too is it?
I don't think I'm giving much away here due to the cover blurb but you might want to look away for this paragraph in case of some spoilers...Leo happens to be a duke and not only that Toby's biological father. This I found problematic. I understand that secret marriages can happen and therefore Toby is legally his child, but even with expensive legal intervention this seemed to be dealt with rather easily and relatively quickly.
The shock of Lily's discovery about Leo causes her to flee and leave her in hot water when Leo catches up with her. I don't think this added much to the story as the awkwardness of Leo's position alone regarding Toby as well as perhaps Lily's neighbours taking an interest and her social position may have had some bearing on his care.
However I did like the move to the Tain estate (though my brain for some reason insisted on thinking it was in Scotland and not England). The now winter and Christmas setting was charming and Leo's mother as well. A place where they could all be close and live like a family was rather heartwarming even though at times I wondered about the chemistry between our hero and heroine even to the end.
The problems were neatly dealt with in time for a happy Christmas however and I did enjoy the conclusion. It was nice to see people who cared about family as well as duty and even when very rich and powerful. It would have been nice to see Lily's borrowed red cloak on the cover though.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews