What do you think?
Rate this book
Scandals and Seductions #4
His Christmas Pleasure
New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell gifts historical romance lovers with a steamy and sensational Christmas His Christmas Pleasure, the fourth book in her popular Scandals and Seductions series. The winter holidays have never been hotter than in this delicious tale of a marriage of convenience that becomes an unexpected gift of passionate love in a season of joy and giving.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2010
102 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Maxwell
72 books2,204 followersCATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.
Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
November 21, 2022
When she is jilted by her fiancé, Abigail Montross finds herself with a damaged reputation and her father eager to see her safely married off to a respectable gentleman. The man he has in mind is titled, has a position in the treasury that would prove helpful to her father in his business as a banker, and he also already has thirteen children. Faced with this pressure and feeling cornered, Abby decides to instead elope with the famously handsome Baron de Vasconia. He has a reputation as the most seductive man in London, but he's clearly a better option so she decides to take a chance on him while keeping her heart safe.
Andres has lost everything he has and a marriage of convenience with a wealthy young woman seems like the best option. As he spends more time with her, however, he develops real feelings for her and soon he finds himself working to earn her love. But when truths about each of them come to light their fragile new feelings are threatened.
I picked this because I'm trying to get myself into the Christmas spirit with some feel good romance and I was super excited when I realized this was Andres' story because I just finished the first book in this series (yes I'm reading out of order) and he was a prominent character and actually a bit of a villain. Sadly, this book just did not turn out to be what I'd hoped. First off, the heroine was a complete airhead. She just came off as a spoiled brat and very much idiotic. I did like that she stood up for herself, making her own choices about eloping when her father proved immovable, but she undid that with all of her foolish actions. For instance, Abby was so determined to elope and get away, yet she did a lot to impede their flight, getting in Andres way while he was trying to get them out of the city.
I think my biggest gripe with her was that she rebuffed Andres and was unwilling to give him anything of herself while also expecting him to tell her every little thing about himself. It also didn't help that this narrator wasn't super great and mispronounced a few words/names, but the heroine was definitely the issue here for me. Also, her parents were awful and inconsiderate of her feelings. Only after her elopement did they say they would've allowed her to avoid the marriage they arranged for her; before she took such drastic measures they were set to force her into it. Abby was selfish and immature, and very callous with regard to Andres' feelings, though at times she seemed to be very aware of his emotions, which really just made her seem that much worse to me. This was just not the feel-good Christmas story I wanted and the only thing it had to do with Christmas at all was a Christmas dinner and the fact that the grand gesture occurred on Christmas Day. The people at said party were also ridiculously mean to Andres and Abby didn't really seem to even notice or care. Another case of her obliviousness to his feelings. In fact, she hurt Andres terribly and thought the resulting turmoil was hs fault. She tells him that her mother is the person she's closest to in the world and then in her inner thoughts she says that Andres is the person she's closest to and uses that to justify her enmity towards him when she's doing nothing to make him feel secure. He literally has no one but her and she's so focused on keeping her feelings from him that she makes him feel like trash then she somehow can't understand why he might think she'd have an affair with a former love. This despite the fact that she's not spoken to Andres at all about her feelings and he has no idea that she now has feelings for him and not for the former love. She was just an idiot.
There was also this weird point that came up sometimes when a justification for this behavior was needed, that Abby was insecure about her looks and lacked self-confidence. Given the description of her and her reception by others I'm not sure why she felt this way, though that's definitely a feeling I can relate to myself. I just didn't care for its being used as a justification for her ill treatment of Andres. I think the final straw for me was her testing his love for her. I found this annoying and immature rather than romantic and I'd rather they had just had a real conversation rather than a separation and some weird emotional gameplaying. Celeste had also clearly demonstrated that she was not qualified to give advice after how she tolerated and brushed aside how awful her relatives were to Andres. She assumes Andres has never had to put himself out for anyone and therefore she must show him how it's going to be by making him put himself out for her. This just made no sense to me. She had zero reason to think this of him when he had confided in her how hard things had been for him and that he had no one but him. Don't get me wrong, I love a good grand gesture but this was not it.
I did really enjoy the little bit of time we got of Andres and Abby working together to make a home out of Stonemore. They were working together and figuring out how to make things work for themselves and their feelings for one another were clearly growing, all of which I really liked. These two both had some growing up to do and that was starting to happen and I was here for it, but then we had that Christmas party and the stupid love testing to bring it down. I did appreciate Abby's parents acknowledging their mistakes, but they really only did this half-heartedly, claiming they wouldn't have forced her to marry the man with thirteen children, though nothing in their behavior made this seem very believable to me. I also don't think her father's manipulation of her and Andres even after their marriage was justified or acceptable, rather it was just another example of Andres being judged by his circumstances and appearance and not given a chance as a person. I just wound up feeling so bad for him enduring that sort of treatment his entire life and then getting this ridiculous love test from the woman he'd fallen in love with. This just was not what I was expecting or looking for.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Andres has lost everything he has and a marriage of convenience with a wealthy young woman seems like the best option. As he spends more time with her, however, he develops real feelings for her and soon he finds himself working to earn her love. But when truths about each of them come to light their fragile new feelings are threatened.
I picked this because I'm trying to get myself into the Christmas spirit with some feel good romance and I was super excited when I realized this was Andres' story because I just finished the first book in this series (yes I'm reading out of order) and he was a prominent character and actually a bit of a villain. Sadly, this book just did not turn out to be what I'd hoped. First off, the heroine was a complete airhead. She just came off as a spoiled brat and very much idiotic. I did like that she stood up for herself, making her own choices about eloping when her father proved immovable, but she undid that with all of her foolish actions. For instance, Abby was so determined to elope and get away, yet she did a lot to impede their flight, getting in Andres way while he was trying to get them out of the city.
I think my biggest gripe with her was that she rebuffed Andres and was unwilling to give him anything of herself while also expecting him to tell her every little thing about himself. It also didn't help that this narrator wasn't super great and mispronounced a few words/names, but the heroine was definitely the issue here for me. Also, her parents were awful and inconsiderate of her feelings. Only after her elopement did they say they would've allowed her to avoid the marriage they arranged for her; before she took such drastic measures they were set to force her into it. Abby was selfish and immature, and very callous with regard to Andres' feelings, though at times she seemed to be very aware of his emotions, which really just made her seem that much worse to me. This was just not the feel-good Christmas story I wanted and the only thing it had to do with Christmas at all was a Christmas dinner and the fact that the grand gesture occurred on Christmas Day. The people at said party were also ridiculously mean to Andres and Abby didn't really seem to even notice or care. Another case of her obliviousness to his feelings. In fact, she hurt Andres terribly and thought the resulting turmoil was hs fault. She tells him that her mother is the person she's closest to in the world and then in her inner thoughts she says that Andres is the person she's closest to and uses that to justify her enmity towards him when she's doing nothing to make him feel secure. He literally has no one but her and she's so focused on keeping her feelings from him that she makes him feel like trash then she somehow can't understand why he might think she'd have an affair with a former love. This despite the fact that she's not spoken to Andres at all about her feelings and he has no idea that she now has feelings for him and not for the former love. She was just an idiot.
There was also this weird point that came up sometimes when a justification for this behavior was needed, that Abby was insecure about her looks and lacked self-confidence. Given the description of her and her reception by others I'm not sure why she felt this way, though that's definitely a feeling I can relate to myself. I just didn't care for its being used as a justification for her ill treatment of Andres. I think the final straw for me was her testing his love for her. I found this annoying and immature rather than romantic and I'd rather they had just had a real conversation rather than a separation and some weird emotional gameplaying. Celeste had also clearly demonstrated that she was not qualified to give advice after how she tolerated and brushed aside how awful her relatives were to Andres. She assumes Andres has never had to put himself out for anyone and therefore she must show him how it's going to be by making him put himself out for her. This just made no sense to me. She had zero reason to think this of him when he had confided in her how hard things had been for him and that he had no one but him. Don't get me wrong, I love a good grand gesture but this was not it.
I did really enjoy the little bit of time we got of Andres and Abby working together to make a home out of Stonemore. They were working together and figuring out how to make things work for themselves and their feelings for one another were clearly growing, all of which I really liked. These two both had some growing up to do and that was starting to happen and I was here for it, but then we had that Christmas party and the stupid love testing to bring it down. I did appreciate Abby's parents acknowledging their mistakes, but they really only did this half-heartedly, claiming they wouldn't have forced her to marry the man with thirteen children, though nothing in their behavior made this seem very believable to me. I also don't think her father's manipulation of her and Andres even after their marriage was justified or acceptable, rather it was just another example of Andres being judged by his circumstances and appearance and not given a chance as a person. I just wound up feeling so bad for him enduring that sort of treatment his entire life and then getting this ridiculous love test from the woman he'd fallen in love with. This just was not what I was expecting or looking for.
Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
April 19, 2022
Abigail Montross's ex-bf is getting hitched to her cousin and the replacement fiance is old and the father of THIRTEEN children. So when the broke-ass Andres Romigio, Baron de Vasconia, proposes marriage, she agrees and they elope. But then they discover that her money and his property are both not as promised, which leads to strife and racism (by some snooty neighbors) before they figure out everything is manageable via (HUEY LEWIS INTRO) The Power of Love.
1. It was cute? Both Abigail and Andres have some growing up to do, which is nice to see in a romance. I must acknowledge that it's not terribly "on page", though: this is a slight book that goes by very quickly, but it was still encouraging that they both realize that they have to change and grow as they establish a new life for themselves.
2. That said, Celeste's advice and the subsequent "big proof" diversion in London was pretty terrible. Just before the denouement and resolution, Abby has a moment where she's like "yeah, this was dumb. I should have just talked to Andres" and I was like "I would believe you and feel better if there was more than 2% of this book left, girl".
3. Also judging Celeste for being the type of friend that lets her racist relatives insult Andres and then cancel her holiday plans because they "wouldn't understand". That kind of white passivity in the face of racism is why we're in the world we're in today. Yikes.
4. I wanted more of Abby and Andres settling into their home and working together and establishing new patterns and habits and whatnot. It was kind of my favorite part of the book that, again, suffered for its brevity.
5. Abby's parents weren't absolute monsters, but they were people who made mistakes and acknowledged those mistakes, so. I appreciate that nuance?
6. However, the fact that Andres and Abby close out the book by planning to bang in every room of her parent's house is....kind of weird???
1. It was cute? Both Abigail and Andres have some growing up to do, which is nice to see in a romance. I must acknowledge that it's not terribly "on page", though: this is a slight book that goes by very quickly, but it was still encouraging that they both realize that they have to change and grow as they establish a new life for themselves.
2. That said, Celeste's advice and the subsequent "big proof" diversion in London was pretty terrible. Just before the denouement and resolution, Abby has a moment where she's like "yeah, this was dumb. I should have just talked to Andres" and I was like "I would believe you and feel better if there was more than 2% of this book left, girl".
3. Also judging Celeste for being the type of friend that lets her racist relatives insult Andres and then cancel her holiday plans because they "wouldn't understand". That kind of white passivity in the face of racism is why we're in the world we're in today. Yikes.
4. I wanted more of Abby and Andres settling into their home and working together and establishing new patterns and habits and whatnot. It was kind of my favorite part of the book that, again, suffered for its brevity.
5. Abby's parents weren't absolute monsters, but they were people who made mistakes and acknowledged those mistakes, so. I appreciate that nuance?
6. However, the fact that Andres and Abby close out the book by planning to bang in every room of her parent's house is....kind of weird???
December 19, 2010
3 ½ stars. This is a pleasant feel good story. It’s a Hallmark Card type of story.
STORY BRIEF:
Abby’s grandmother left her a fortune to be hers upon marriage. Abby’s father is also wealthy. He arranges a marriage for her to a repulsive, older man. Andres is a handsome younger man who has affairs with married women. Dobbins’ wife had an affair with Andres. Dobbins offered Andres land in Northern England in return for Andres leaving London and never returning. The land is Andres’ dream – to breed and raise horses. But he needs to marry someone with money (to buy horses, feed, building materials, living expenses, etc). He recently met and befriended Abby. He is honest with her about his financial need and asks her to marry him. She agrees as a way to avoid her father’s arranged marriage. They elope. Abby’s father is furious and chases them. When he finds them already married, he tells Abby she can’t get her inheritance for three years.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I was moved watching Andres and Abby survive being poor. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. There is conflict provided by the father and Abby’s former boyfriend which added interest. I think the title should not use the word “Christmas.” It doesn’t relate to the story other than a couple of parties being held during the Christmas season. They could have been held at any time of the year with the same effect on the story.
I liked and agree with Jacqueline Jacobson’s comment (a Goodreads reviewer). “the book would have been stronger if more time was spent shown them working together renovating Stonemore…showing him using his ingenuity to build a home for them.”
The book has 374 pages but it’s large print, so it’s shorter than a typical romance novel.
CAUTION SPOILER:
One part didn’t sit well with me. Abby goes to London to visit her parents. She intends to stay there until Andres comes to her to prove his love. Well, he goes to her to tell her he loves her, but Dobbins sees him which means Andres will lose the land. It was awful to me that he threw away his dream. The author wanted to show that he loved her more than his land, but it didn’t feel good to me. I think he should have at least TRIED something else like come to the edge of the city and send her a message. I love seeing a “grand gesture” to prove one’s love – but this gesture had an irrational and/or foolish feeling to it. I won’t say more about what happened regarding the land - to leave some surprise for readers.
DATA:
Story length: 374 pages large print. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 5 ½. Setting: 1810 England. Copyright: 2010. Genre: historical romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Abby’s grandmother left her a fortune to be hers upon marriage. Abby’s father is also wealthy. He arranges a marriage for her to a repulsive, older man. Andres is a handsome younger man who has affairs with married women. Dobbins’ wife had an affair with Andres. Dobbins offered Andres land in Northern England in return for Andres leaving London and never returning. The land is Andres’ dream – to breed and raise horses. But he needs to marry someone with money (to buy horses, feed, building materials, living expenses, etc). He recently met and befriended Abby. He is honest with her about his financial need and asks her to marry him. She agrees as a way to avoid her father’s arranged marriage. They elope. Abby’s father is furious and chases them. When he finds them already married, he tells Abby she can’t get her inheritance for three years.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I was moved watching Andres and Abby survive being poor. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. There is conflict provided by the father and Abby’s former boyfriend which added interest. I think the title should not use the word “Christmas.” It doesn’t relate to the story other than a couple of parties being held during the Christmas season. They could have been held at any time of the year with the same effect on the story.
I liked and agree with Jacqueline Jacobson’s comment (a Goodreads reviewer). “the book would have been stronger if more time was spent shown them working together renovating Stonemore…showing him using his ingenuity to build a home for them.”
The book has 374 pages but it’s large print, so it’s shorter than a typical romance novel.
CAUTION SPOILER:
One part didn’t sit well with me. Abby goes to London to visit her parents. She intends to stay there until Andres comes to her to prove his love. Well, he goes to her to tell her he loves her, but Dobbins sees him which means Andres will lose the land. It was awful to me that he threw away his dream. The author wanted to show that he loved her more than his land, but it didn’t feel good to me. I think he should have at least TRIED something else like come to the edge of the city and send her a message. I love seeing a “grand gesture” to prove one’s love – but this gesture had an irrational and/or foolish feeling to it. I won’t say more about what happened regarding the land - to leave some surprise for readers.
DATA:
Story length: 374 pages large print. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 5 ½. Setting: 1810 England. Copyright: 2010. Genre: historical romance.
November 18, 2018
It was okay. Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting.
First of all, for a book called 'His Christmas Pleasure', there was barely any Christmas - and since that was the whole reason I checked out this book, it made that whole said-aspect of the story pretty disappointing.
The characters were pretty immature in some instances. Maybe I'm much more blunt in my own relationships, but I had moments of wanting to shake the characters and tell them to just be honest with each other. I'm beginning to hate this trope in any type of romance. To me, honest dialogue can be so much more interesting.
The story was totally predictable. Some moments were satisfying, but others were boringly obvious.
I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. Had I known there was so little Christmas in it, I probably would have put it right back on the shelf.
First of all, for a book called 'His Christmas Pleasure', there was barely any Christmas - and since that was the whole reason I checked out this book, it made that whole said-aspect of the story pretty disappointing.
The characters were pretty immature in some instances. Maybe I'm much more blunt in my own relationships, but I had moments of wanting to shake the characters and tell them to just be honest with each other. I'm beginning to hate this trope in any type of romance. To me, honest dialogue can be so much more interesting.
The story was totally predictable. Some moments were satisfying, but others were boringly obvious.
I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. Had I known there was so little Christmas in it, I probably would have put it right back on the shelf.
December 8, 2010
My first time reading this author. I liked it. It felt pretty true to the time period. The characters did not just seem like modern people in period dress.
Pros: The hero and heroing eloped as a convenient arrangement and encountered problems and eventually her father disowns her and they have to make it without money as the hero has only a very run down small estate. Instead of giving up she sticks with him and believes in him and they work together to better themselves. Another good point is that there was not a lot of shall we go to bed together back and forth foolishness. She mentions that she would rather not sleep with him and he says don't be absurd and takes her to bed. He doesn't force her but does make her realize that it is an expected part of marriage and makes it good for her. (He is a handsome Spanish hero after all) It was refreshing to see a realistic portrayal of this aspect of marriage. Instead of false tension achieved through the use of delaying the first sex scene.
The characterizations while not the most indepth I've ever read were good and believable. The plot also was not absurd. The love story was the only focus of the book, no spies or murderers or whatnot.
Cons: I think the book would have been stronger if less time had been spent on the build up to the elopement and more time spent showing them working together renovating Stonemore. Those were the scenes that were of the most interest to me. Showing him using his ingenuity to build a home for them.
A lovely regency and I will look up more of this author's books.
Pros: The hero and heroing eloped as a convenient arrangement and encountered problems and eventually her father disowns her and they have to make it without money as the hero has only a very run down small estate. Instead of giving up she sticks with him and believes in him and they work together to better themselves. Another good point is that there was not a lot of shall we go to bed together back and forth foolishness. She mentions that she would rather not sleep with him and he says don't be absurd and takes her to bed. He doesn't force her but does make her realize that it is an expected part of marriage and makes it good for her. (He is a handsome Spanish hero after all) It was refreshing to see a realistic portrayal of this aspect of marriage. Instead of false tension achieved through the use of delaying the first sex scene.
The characterizations while not the most indepth I've ever read were good and believable. The plot also was not absurd. The love story was the only focus of the book, no spies or murderers or whatnot.
Cons: I think the book would have been stronger if less time had been spent on the build up to the elopement and more time spent showing them working together renovating Stonemore. Those were the scenes that were of the most interest to me. Showing him using his ingenuity to build a home for them.
A lovely regency and I will look up more of this author's books.
December 2, 2010
His Christmas Pleasure was not your typical romance, but I really enjoyed it. Abby was 25, facing spinsterhood, and stuck in the middle of her family’s relationship with the ton. Her mother married down, but her father supplies society with funds, so while they’re accepted into society, they’re not necessarily welcome. Unmarried, with the man she loves about to marry someone else, she meets the Baron. He finds her refreshing, and her innocence reminds him clearly of what he lacks, but she sees in him a future built together. I’m not normally one for the “poor man” storyline, but this just flowed so nicely. Their relationship just has that “it” factor, and their struggle brought some tears to my eyes. The holiday storyline isn’t very strong, so it would make a nice year-round read. A great addition to any personal or library collection.
November 11, 2018
England, then Scotland, October-December 1810.
Abby found a v. handsome Spaniard, Andres, in the
library @a ball contemplating putting "a period to his
existence" so she tackled him to get him to release the
gun. They both landed on the floor. Meanwhile the
superficial man she loved, Freddie, entered the library.
She got up. Freddie professed his love while @ the same
time explaining he must wed her beauteous cous, b/c
having a duke for a dad-in-law "trumped" having a
banker. But Fred assured, once they wed other partners,
they F+A could then become lovers. What a guy! Then
Andres revealed he was also in the room.
Andres too easily told clunkers & fibs & she complained
too much as a dtr of a wealthy banker father would, when
these 2 were en route to Gretna. Her father followed and
at one point acted heartless toward the couple.
Andres, to his credit, became tired of telling his lies and
coasting by on his looks and charm. Abby engaged in
entirely too much self-talk about her looks and the men
who abandoned her (including the H briefly).
Personally I usually dislike when the leads of a romance
profess personal thoughts & info, in announcement form,
at a public venue. TMI. Except news of an engagement.
Abby found a v. handsome Spaniard, Andres, in the
library @a ball contemplating putting "a period to his
existence" so she tackled him to get him to release the
gun. They both landed on the floor. Meanwhile the
superficial man she loved, Freddie, entered the library.
She got up. Freddie professed his love while @ the same
time explaining he must wed her beauteous cous, b/c
having a duke for a dad-in-law "trumped" having a
banker. But Fred assured, once they wed other partners,
they F+A could then become lovers. What a guy! Then
Andres revealed he was also in the room.
Andres too easily told clunkers & fibs & she complained
too much as a dtr of a wealthy banker father would, when
these 2 were en route to Gretna. Her father followed and
at one point acted heartless toward the couple.
Andres, to his credit, became tired of telling his lies and
coasting by on his looks and charm. Abby engaged in
entirely too much self-talk about her looks and the men
who abandoned her (including the H briefly).
Personally I usually dislike when the leads of a romance
profess personal thoughts & info, in announcement form,
at a public venue. TMI. Except news of an engagement.
July 14, 2011
As much as Abigail loves her parents, she is not willing to marry the man they chose for her. Twice her age and thirteen children? No thank you. Luckily, she has a tidy little inheritance and has caught the eye of a man who truly needs it; Andres, the Barón de Vasconia. Andres and Abigail elope, neither one pretending emotions are involved, but both promising to try to make this a real marriage.
That is what I loved about this book. There were no (real, important) lies, neither pretended it was a love match but neither doing that romance cliche of "I love him but we decided it was a marriage of convenience only so now what do I do, woe is me". At every point, they are considerate and caring of each other, eager to back down unselfishly if the other needed it. It is almost surprising how little these things happen in romance novels, often the plot of the book hinges on the hero being hard headed or the heroine too shy to reveal her feelings. While the passion and tension between these two was sizzling, I was mostly enthralled by the amount that the couple acted like basically decent human beings who deserved love and worked for it.
It doesn't hurt that the whole thing was swoonworthy!
That is what I loved about this book. There were no (real, important) lies, neither pretended it was a love match but neither doing that romance cliche of "I love him but we decided it was a marriage of convenience only so now what do I do, woe is me". At every point, they are considerate and caring of each other, eager to back down unselfishly if the other needed it. It is almost surprising how little these things happen in romance novels, often the plot of the book hinges on the hero being hard headed or the heroine too shy to reveal her feelings. While the passion and tension between these two was sizzling, I was mostly enthralled by the amount that the couple acted like basically decent human beings who deserved love and worked for it.
It doesn't hurt that the whole thing was swoonworthy!
December 11, 2010
A 25-year-old woman who's wasted years mooning over a man, only to have him announce an engagment to her cousin, recklessly accepts a proposal from a Spanish baron with a notorious reputation, rather than enter into the marriage her father has arranged for her. Andres takes her up to Scotland to elope, and then to his estate in Northumberland... which, of course, turns out to be nothing like he promised (or, for that matter, like he expected). Seemingly pushed to the brink of disaster, the couple decide to persevere and turn their convenient arrangement into a real marriage...
Cathy Maxwell's characters are engaging and their behavior plausible, although she does tend to push a little hard on explaining the emotional reactions at times (but that's probably just me and it is, after all, a romance novel). Fair warning: Only about 20-25% of this novel actually takes place during the Christmas season, but it's the right 20-25%.
Cathy Maxwell's characters are engaging and their behavior plausible, although she does tend to push a little hard on explaining the emotional reactions at times (but that's probably just me and it is, after all, a romance novel). Fair warning: Only about 20-25% of this novel actually takes place during the Christmas season, but it's the right 20-25%.
December 25, 2018
3.5 stars
This books was adorable, a marriage of convince is always a good set up for me. I read it at Christmas however because the title would make you believe it’s Christmas centric and it isnt. The holiday is in it, mentioned before like it might be an important time but it’s nothing more then a passing thing. Still the story itself was cute and you can really read it anytime because the winter mentions are minimal.
This books was adorable, a marriage of convince is always a good set up for me. I read it at Christmas however because the title would make you believe it’s Christmas centric and it isnt. The holiday is in it, mentioned before like it might be an important time but it’s nothing more then a passing thing. Still the story itself was cute and you can really read it anytime because the winter mentions are minimal.
December 17, 2012
Abigail Montros’s life is complicated, she has been in love with a man forever, but he has not offered for her, even when her father arranged a marriage. Thankfully the man backed out, but her reputation has suffered and yet still she pines for this fop. Things are about to get turned upside down when at a Christmas party the fop announces he is marry her cousin and her father tells her he is about to arrange a marriage for her with an old man who has thirteen children! As if that is not enough she slaps the handsome Baron de Vasconia when he tells her she is beautiful. He is in need of money to secure his dreams and has been forced to leave London within three days, she desperately needs to escape her father’s plan; together they decide to elope and the tale that unfolds was heartwarming.
Maxwell’s characters were certainly lovable and I enjoyed getting to know them and their back-story. Abigail is strong, opinionated and never really fit in among the ton with her fiery red hair and freckles. Andres, is the second son of a Baron and born on the wrong side of the blanket, and he desperately wants to restore his families good name. While he is definitely a rouge he is also vulnerable. Side characters including the fop added to the tale and created tension.
I love tales about marriages of convenience especially when they turn into something more and Maxwell gave me exactly what I wanted. I love how she created tension, allowed the characters to grow and kept me turning the pages at a dizzying speed. The romance that developed began out of mutual respect and felt genuine. The chemistry and heat was delightful while being relatively clean. This is a feel good novel, where you root for the couple and hope they overcome. The tale flowed wonderfully with just enough twists and turns. The characters became real to me and I adore when that happens.
I recommend His Christmas Pleasure to fans of romances. While this is a historical fiction it is very character driven and not laden in historical detail. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Maxwell’s characters were certainly lovable and I enjoyed getting to know them and their back-story. Abigail is strong, opinionated and never really fit in among the ton with her fiery red hair and freckles. Andres, is the second son of a Baron and born on the wrong side of the blanket, and he desperately wants to restore his families good name. While he is definitely a rouge he is also vulnerable. Side characters including the fop added to the tale and created tension.
I love tales about marriages of convenience especially when they turn into something more and Maxwell gave me exactly what I wanted. I love how she created tension, allowed the characters to grow and kept me turning the pages at a dizzying speed. The romance that developed began out of mutual respect and felt genuine. The chemistry and heat was delightful while being relatively clean. This is a feel good novel, where you root for the couple and hope they overcome. The tale flowed wonderfully with just enough twists and turns. The characters became real to me and I adore when that happens.
I recommend His Christmas Pleasure to fans of romances. While this is a historical fiction it is very character driven and not laden in historical detail. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
May 23, 2013
My favorite in the series! I knew I would like Andres from the moment I met him. You couldn't help but want him to find someone great and he did. I thought it was a perfectly executed story. It didn't dwell on their past loves and he didn't show a lot of resentment toward Gillian (much less mention her in passing) Abby was wonderful. I loved reading about her becoming her own person and watching her stand true to Andres. There wasn't an overabundance of conflict but there was enough to keep the pages flying. I also thought it was wonderful how she threw in some very exciting moments like how they kept getting chased on their way to get married. It was a nice twist to the neck-or-nothing-to-Gretna-Green plot that is played so frequently in these historicals.
March 1, 2011
2.5* The story idea was decent until almost to the end of the book, and then the author used a worn-out plot device to separate our lead characters.
The writing was utilitarian at best. The vocabulary was limited, the sentences were choppy, the dialog stilted, and almost the entire book was telling and not showing. The convenient way every detail was wrapped up in the last few pages of the book was contrived. The characters, although very likable, had no real depth.
The writing was utilitarian at best. The vocabulary was limited, the sentences were choppy, the dialog stilted, and almost the entire book was telling and not showing. The convenient way every detail was wrapped up in the last few pages of the book was contrived. The characters, although very likable, had no real depth.
February 5, 2022
To avoid marriage to a man twice her age, Abigail elopes with a handsome, notorious Baron. Not expecting more than a marriage of convenience, surprises are in store for this couple. Selected as a Christmas read, I didn't realize this book was part of a series. This is my first book by Cathy Maxwell, but won't be the last.
January 11, 2022
Hard to put my finger on it. Parts of the plot were rather unique masquerading as a been there-done that MOC story. Andres was a both interesting and frustrating hero, while Abby was a strange mix of reticence and stubbornness. I do think she was too quick to forgive her father. He was a Grade A level jerk to her, manipulative, disrespectful and oblivious to her feelings (as well as a massive hypocrite), yet we are told it’s because he loooves her. Not buying it.
The writing seemed very juvenile at times. In fact, it’s surprising from such an established author. As a result, I didn’t get the depth from the characters I would have preferred, and the plot was unevenly paced. Also, the love scenes didn’t do it for me. I was actually kind of shocked at how quickly they got to the “main event” on their wedding night. That’s not to say there wasn’t romance, though. They had some sweet moments.
Overall feeling was “meh.” I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. It passed the time.
The writing seemed very juvenile at times. In fact, it’s surprising from such an established author. As a result, I didn’t get the depth from the characters I would have preferred, and the plot was unevenly paced. Also, the love scenes didn’t do it for me. I was actually kind of shocked at how quickly they got to the “main event” on their wedding night. That’s not to say there wasn’t romance, though. They had some sweet moments.
Overall feeling was “meh.” I didn’t hate it. I didn’t love it. It passed the time.
September 27, 2017
*I listen to audiobooks while I workout so note taking is impossible, thereby Down & Dirty Quickie Reviews are impossible. Instead, here are some words.*
The romance was a no. The OTP fall in love off page via time jumps. The peeps were cardboard & their internal POV musings got in the way of engaging dialogue.
Book don't suck, but book don't rock, either.
The romance was a no. The OTP fall in love off page via time jumps. The peeps were cardboard & their internal POV musings got in the way of engaging dialogue.
Book don't suck, but book don't rock, either.
October 14, 2019
This was an alright story but it had too many cliches and was too predictable at times for me to like it enough to give it more than three stars. Abby came across as too young at times and Andres seemed too controlling.
December 6, 2019
Meh. Not very romantic, not very Christmasy, not very interesting. Just ok
December 6, 2021
3.5 round up
February 2, 2014
Review from Backchatting Books
Abigail Montross met Andres, Barón de Vasconia under unfortunate circumstances. He heard her begging the man she loved to marry her and he heard her being rejected. When her father arranges to for her to marry a two times widower with thirteen children, Abigail decides to take fate into her own hands. Andres is in dire need of cash and a wealthy wife to go with the property he just scored up north is an attractive prospect.
Andres isn’t really a Baron but rather the illegitimate son of one and arguably the best horse trainer in Europe. His wit, charm and good looks are all that stands between him and ruin. Peasants stole all of his father’s horses in Spain and he has only a part share in a mare from his father’s stable to remind him of his former life. Andres has quite a way with the ladies and one of his former mistresses has become rather…clingy which upsets the lady’s husband. Andres agrees to accept a property unseen from the man in return for leaving London and never returning. He imagines that the property is really fine but reality doesn’t quite meet his expectations.
Abigail has been in love with a man that doesn’t return her affections for an awful long time. She finally realises that he is not worth her affections when he decides to marry her cousin even though she is available. The fiancé that her father found for her is so unsuitable that she decides to take Andres up on his offer of marriage. At least he was the first person to describe her as beautiful and see her as a person. Getting married and leaving her family was incredibly brave for someone who had been relatively cosseted up to that point but I liked her fieriness too.
The plot throws up the usual sort of complications but I was definitely rooting for this couple to succeed against the seemingly insurmountable odds. The pace was fairly quick as the couple escaped up north with Abigail’s father on their heels but settled down a bit as they set about restoring the property. I really could have done with a bit more of this aspect as I enjoyed the two of them working together to make the place their own. The ending didn’t have me swooning as it involved one character sacrificing everything for the other – up until this point they had acted as a team against the world and I didn’t think the change in dynamics was really necessary.
This was a fun albeit quick read. Definitely worth a shot.
Abigail Montross met Andres, Barón de Vasconia under unfortunate circumstances. He heard her begging the man she loved to marry her and he heard her being rejected. When her father arranges to for her to marry a two times widower with thirteen children, Abigail decides to take fate into her own hands. Andres is in dire need of cash and a wealthy wife to go with the property he just scored up north is an attractive prospect.
Andres isn’t really a Baron but rather the illegitimate son of one and arguably the best horse trainer in Europe. His wit, charm and good looks are all that stands between him and ruin. Peasants stole all of his father’s horses in Spain and he has only a part share in a mare from his father’s stable to remind him of his former life. Andres has quite a way with the ladies and one of his former mistresses has become rather…clingy which upsets the lady’s husband. Andres agrees to accept a property unseen from the man in return for leaving London and never returning. He imagines that the property is really fine but reality doesn’t quite meet his expectations.
Abigail has been in love with a man that doesn’t return her affections for an awful long time. She finally realises that he is not worth her affections when he decides to marry her cousin even though she is available. The fiancé that her father found for her is so unsuitable that she decides to take Andres up on his offer of marriage. At least he was the first person to describe her as beautiful and see her as a person. Getting married and leaving her family was incredibly brave for someone who had been relatively cosseted up to that point but I liked her fieriness too.
The plot throws up the usual sort of complications but I was definitely rooting for this couple to succeed against the seemingly insurmountable odds. The pace was fairly quick as the couple escaped up north with Abigail’s father on their heels but settled down a bit as they set about restoring the property. I really could have done with a bit more of this aspect as I enjoyed the two of them working together to make the place their own. The ending didn’t have me swooning as it involved one character sacrificing everything for the other – up until this point they had acted as a team against the world and I didn’t think the change in dynamics was really necessary.
This was a fun albeit quick read. Definitely worth a shot.
February 16, 2024
Well Christmas didn't make an appearance until like the last 30 pages.
Enjoyable light read.
Enjoyable light read.
March 18, 2011
We first met Andres Ramigio in The Earl Claims His Bride as the silver-eyed spaniard who wanted Gillian to run away with him. Now he's back and set on winning the hand of the red-headed beauty who forever changed his life....with her fortune and her amazing heart. Andres was thinking about pulling the trigger when someone slams him down to the ground in order to stop him little does he know that his savior will also be the peron he wants for his wife, with her fortune he can set his dreams into action just as soon as she gives in.
Abby Montross only has one love and he is to marry her cousin, when she waits for him in the library she never thought that she would be saving a man first. When she saw Andres with a gun pointed at his head Abby reacted by slaming him into the ground and later finding out that he wasn't going to pull the trigger, as the love of her life walks in Abby hids Andres and being to talk her love into running away with her but instead her heart is broken and Andres is set on fixing it. When her Parents decide its time for her to marry (a man with 13 children) Abby would have done anything to get out of it and that includes running away with Andres.
This story is filled with adventure, heartbreak, romance, and above all love.
Abby Montross only has one love and he is to marry her cousin, when she waits for him in the library she never thought that she would be saving a man first. When she saw Andres with a gun pointed at his head Abby reacted by slaming him into the ground and later finding out that he wasn't going to pull the trigger, as the love of her life walks in Abby hids Andres and being to talk her love into running away with her but instead her heart is broken and Andres is set on fixing it. When her Parents decide its time for her to marry (a man with 13 children) Abby would have done anything to get out of it and that includes running away with Andres.
This story is filled with adventure, heartbreak, romance, and above all love.
August 14, 2011
I put this ebook down awhile ago. I didn't like the hero at all, because he lied all the way through the first two chapters. The heroine seemed desperate and uninteresting. I didn't even finish this book. I have read some pretty bad stuff the last few months due to sleep deprivation, but this book I couldn't even finish. Do not read there are plenty of romances out there that makes you actually care about the characters.
May 7, 2019
Good story but not a Christmas read.
During the months of November and December I focus all my reading attention on my stash of Christmas books and looking at the cover and title of this book, I would have expected this, my last read of the Christmas season, to be a Christmassy choice. I was very disappointed it was not. The title and even the tagline on the front cover (Will a wedding night be her Christmas gift?) are completely misleading and it ticked me off. For one thing, our hero and heroine are married a few months before Christmastime, so the tagline is a joke. And there is not a hint of anything Christmassy until the middle of the second to the last chapter. Grrrr. I kept waiting for Christmas to kick in or a kiss to be stolen under the mistletoe. Yeah... didn't happen. Had I picked this book up at any other time of the year with a more appropriate non-Christmassy cover, I would have been happier. Instead it turned into a bit of a letdown, Christmas-wise. Let's dive in, shall we?
Abigail Montross first meets Andres Ramigio, the Spanish Baron de Vasconia when she discovers him in their host's library holding a gun to his head. After being tackled to the ground by this girl with red curls, he shows her that the gun was not really loaded but is touched she tried to stop what she thought was happening. But then Freddie, Abby's sweetheart, walks into the room and Andres hides to protect her reputation. However, he also hears their entire conversation which ultimately leaves Abby heartbroken and hurt. When Andres has heard enough, he makes his presence known and escorts Abby to the dance floor to get her out of the situation. But the drama doesn't end there. When a former lover publicly insults Abby by questioning Andres' taste in women, Andres defends his new-found friend. But Andres can't rescue her from the bomb her father drops during the carriage ride home that evening. Or can he?
Andres has problems of his own and when he is run out of town penniless, save for a property in the north, he remembers the heiress who caught his eye earlier in the evening and the incident with Freddie. With her money and his dreams of creating a successful horse breeding business on the property he now owns, he decides to approach Abby the next day. Naturally, all of society is abuzz after the incidents of the previous night and the Montross drawing room is met with many callers. But when Andres shows up with his proposition for Abby, she sees it as a way to be freed from Freddie, freed from spinsterhood and freed from another attempt at an arranged marriage. Set to meet the next day, Abby and Andres flee for Gretna Green and the adventure begins.
I really liked Abby and Andres and their interactions with each other, especially on their trip north to Stonemoor. Abby is a pretty, wallflowerish girl - a bit immature for her 25 years, but she has led a very sheltered life. Running away from the family she loved to avoid an arranged marriage to a man with 13 children was a mature decision and Andres wanted it to be Abby's choice with no regrets. There was definitely an attraction between Andres and Abby but he was very honest about his intentions and she knew what she was getting into. So it was nice to see Abby excitedly rolls up her sleeves and realize she had a purpose and things to keep her busy after she was married. Andres, the stunning Spanish Adonis, is a hard worker and we see that from the start as he tries to restore the good of his family name and strives to provide for his new wife, keeping her happy and making sure she does not regret her choice. But when Freddie suddenly appears, jealousy begins to create problems for Andres and Abby and both are forced to confront their feelings for each other head-on. Will they find love in time for Christmas?
A few things kinda glared at me in this book aside from the lack of Christmassiness. There are times when the author slips into short, little sentences that turned into 'he did this' and 'she did that'. Instead of showing us what happened with description or dialogue, its like the author got lazy and just started telling. The problem for me was that I found the change in storytelling very noticeable and distracting throughout the book. Another thing, which I found almost comical, was when the author would break her storytelling to let the reader know a piece of information. For example, on the bottom of page 182, Andres instructs their driver to continue on to Gretna. The very next sentence is the author explaining to the reader that Gretna Green is a Scottish border village that performs quick weddings. It was just kinda weird and broke the flow of the story. Why not turn it into a thought or recollection, say, from a book or a piece of gossip to convey that information to the uninformed reader? There was actually another time the author did this earlier in the book, but you get my point.
Overall, I did enjoy this story, but there was nothing stellar that really stood out to make this a book that I will reread. Just being honest. I liked it and am rating it as such but its not a keeper for me. Incidentally, this book happens to be book 4 in Ms. Maxwell's the Scandals and Seductions series and I have the other books in the series, plus one other in my TBR pile. The author does note recurring character appearances but emphasizes the books do stand alone. Works for me.
During the months of November and December I focus all my reading attention on my stash of Christmas books and looking at the cover and title of this book, I would have expected this, my last read of the Christmas season, to be a Christmassy choice. I was very disappointed it was not. The title and even the tagline on the front cover (Will a wedding night be her Christmas gift?) are completely misleading and it ticked me off. For one thing, our hero and heroine are married a few months before Christmastime, so the tagline is a joke. And there is not a hint of anything Christmassy until the middle of the second to the last chapter. Grrrr. I kept waiting for Christmas to kick in or a kiss to be stolen under the mistletoe. Yeah... didn't happen. Had I picked this book up at any other time of the year with a more appropriate non-Christmassy cover, I would have been happier. Instead it turned into a bit of a letdown, Christmas-wise. Let's dive in, shall we?
Abigail Montross first meets Andres Ramigio, the Spanish Baron de Vasconia when she discovers him in their host's library holding a gun to his head. After being tackled to the ground by this girl with red curls, he shows her that the gun was not really loaded but is touched she tried to stop what she thought was happening. But then Freddie, Abby's sweetheart, walks into the room and Andres hides to protect her reputation. However, he also hears their entire conversation which ultimately leaves Abby heartbroken and hurt. When Andres has heard enough, he makes his presence known and escorts Abby to the dance floor to get her out of the situation. But the drama doesn't end there. When a former lover publicly insults Abby by questioning Andres' taste in women, Andres defends his new-found friend. But Andres can't rescue her from the bomb her father drops during the carriage ride home that evening. Or can he?
Andres has problems of his own and when he is run out of town penniless, save for a property in the north, he remembers the heiress who caught his eye earlier in the evening and the incident with Freddie. With her money and his dreams of creating a successful horse breeding business on the property he now owns, he decides to approach Abby the next day. Naturally, all of society is abuzz after the incidents of the previous night and the Montross drawing room is met with many callers. But when Andres shows up with his proposition for Abby, she sees it as a way to be freed from Freddie, freed from spinsterhood and freed from another attempt at an arranged marriage. Set to meet the next day, Abby and Andres flee for Gretna Green and the adventure begins.
I really liked Abby and Andres and their interactions with each other, especially on their trip north to Stonemoor. Abby is a pretty, wallflowerish girl - a bit immature for her 25 years, but she has led a very sheltered life. Running away from the family she loved to avoid an arranged marriage to a man with 13 children was a mature decision and Andres wanted it to be Abby's choice with no regrets. There was definitely an attraction between Andres and Abby but he was very honest about his intentions and she knew what she was getting into. So it was nice to see Abby excitedly rolls up her sleeves and realize she had a purpose and things to keep her busy after she was married. Andres, the stunning Spanish Adonis, is a hard worker and we see that from the start as he tries to restore the good of his family name and strives to provide for his new wife, keeping her happy and making sure she does not regret her choice. But when Freddie suddenly appears, jealousy begins to create problems for Andres and Abby and both are forced to confront their feelings for each other head-on. Will they find love in time for Christmas?
A few things kinda glared at me in this book aside from the lack of Christmassiness. There are times when the author slips into short, little sentences that turned into 'he did this' and 'she did that'. Instead of showing us what happened with description or dialogue, its like the author got lazy and just started telling. The problem for me was that I found the change in storytelling very noticeable and distracting throughout the book. Another thing, which I found almost comical, was when the author would break her storytelling to let the reader know a piece of information. For example, on the bottom of page 182, Andres instructs their driver to continue on to Gretna. The very next sentence is the author explaining to the reader that Gretna Green is a Scottish border village that performs quick weddings. It was just kinda weird and broke the flow of the story. Why not turn it into a thought or recollection, say, from a book or a piece of gossip to convey that information to the uninformed reader? There was actually another time the author did this earlier in the book, but you get my point.
Overall, I did enjoy this story, but there was nothing stellar that really stood out to make this a book that I will reread. Just being honest. I liked it and am rating it as such but its not a keeper for me. Incidentally, this book happens to be book 4 in Ms. Maxwell's the Scandals and Seductions series and I have the other books in the series, plus one other in my TBR pile. The author does note recurring character appearances but emphasizes the books do stand alone. Works for me.
December 18, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent Regency romance. The characters are engaging and the plot is intriguing. I listened to the audio version and the narrator brings a delightful and lovely English accent to the character, bringing them to life. If you're looking for a heart-warming tale of love, then you will love this book as much as I did. Happy reading/listening!
December 25, 2020
My expectations were low. This book met them. I’m a little embarrassed I read it and honestly it was more like a slightly steamy version of “love comes softly” than a really hot romance. Oh well. Merry Christmas! 🎁
December 23, 2012
Not too bad at all as these romances go. The sex was okay, but the gut-wrenching romance was exceptionally good. I actually recommend this one for romance lovers. It was well crafted. =)
January 10, 2021
An entertaining, readable romance
4 stars
Abigail Montross has been waiting for the man of her dreams to propose for what seems like forever. But when he finally does propose - it's to her cousin! But things keep getting worse for her as her father threatens to marry her off to a man twice her age with 13 children.
Baron de Vasconia, Andres Ramigio is in desperate need of money. Knowing of Abby's dilemma, the pair hatch a plan to elope so she gets his protection and he gets her money. But the pair soon begin to realise that once they reveal each other's secrets, there is nothing that can stop them from falling in love.
Despite the title, this book isn't Christmassy at all despite the conclusion taking place on Christmas Day. As much as I like Christmas romances, I didn't feel that the book tried to be a festive romance so I didn't feel let down but the lack of Christmas content.
Both Andres and Abby are likeable characters and have a good chemistry together. I liked the way that Abby especially grew into a more confident woman and how the pair shared their dreams together and how they easily fell in love.
There were one or two jarring Americanisms which I am inclined to overlook simply because it's rare to find a book that doesn't have at least one. That said, it's still very annoying in any book supposedly set in Regency England.
This book stands alone but the characters have been featured in previous books by Cathy Maxwell. Despite having read those romances, I couldn't quite remember the back stories of the characters but it really made no difference to my enjoyment of this particular story. [This is actually the fourth book in Maxwell's Scandals and Seductions series.]
Overall, this was a nice story to pass the time. It's well written, enjoyable and the story really kept the pages turning. 4 stars.
December 24, 2021
Two lonely people find love
Andres is a handsome Baron that has come to an affair in London. He found himself in a quiet library in the hosts home. He saw the ornate dueling pistols on the desk. He looked at them. Admiring the exquisite work and then looked in the mirror with the gun pointed at his head. Right at that time Abby Montross walked in and pounced on him and knocked him to the floor. She couldn't let him to that. He was one of the most handsome man she had seen. The Freddie the man she thought she was in love with, came in the library to hit on her. He didn't see Andres laying on the floor behind the desk. Abby was begging him to be with her and Andres was listening to the conversation.
After he got tired of hearing everything. He came from behind the desk and asked Abby to dance.
This was the start of their life. Lady Dobbins was jealous of Abby dancing with Andres, so she started a scene.
Her husband offered Andres a piece of property in Northumberland. A house, stables and average. But to never return to London.
Andres agreed but he needed money to start his stables and he know Abby had her own inheritance from her grandmother. She had told him about it the night at the ball.
He proposed to her and she agreed to elope. They decided to meet up the next day but what a trip and challenge they had to encountered. Abby father chased them down. He didn't want her to marry Andres. So he told if she stayed with him, he would disown her. And she would have to wait 3 years to get her inheritance. They signed papers and her father went back home.
When they got to Stonemoor, it was nothing they expected. Everything was run down or broken. She was determined to make the most of what they had.
They worked together as a team. Until they went to a dinner party and Freddie was there and caused problems between them. A Misunderstanding caused Anders to go back to Stonemoor without Abby and Abby went home to London to check up on her sick Mother.
They both realized how much they loved each other and couldn't live another day without each other. Two people that had been hurt by others and now found their soul mate.
Great love story. Recommend reading
Andres is a handsome Baron that has come to an affair in London. He found himself in a quiet library in the hosts home. He saw the ornate dueling pistols on the desk. He looked at them. Admiring the exquisite work and then looked in the mirror with the gun pointed at his head. Right at that time Abby Montross walked in and pounced on him and knocked him to the floor. She couldn't let him to that. He was one of the most handsome man she had seen. The Freddie the man she thought she was in love with, came in the library to hit on her. He didn't see Andres laying on the floor behind the desk. Abby was begging him to be with her and Andres was listening to the conversation.
After he got tired of hearing everything. He came from behind the desk and asked Abby to dance.
This was the start of their life. Lady Dobbins was jealous of Abby dancing with Andres, so she started a scene.
Her husband offered Andres a piece of property in Northumberland. A house, stables and average. But to never return to London.
Andres agreed but he needed money to start his stables and he know Abby had her own inheritance from her grandmother. She had told him about it the night at the ball.
He proposed to her and she agreed to elope. They decided to meet up the next day but what a trip and challenge they had to encountered. Abby father chased them down. He didn't want her to marry Andres. So he told if she stayed with him, he would disown her. And she would have to wait 3 years to get her inheritance. They signed papers and her father went back home.
When they got to Stonemoor, it was nothing they expected. Everything was run down or broken. She was determined to make the most of what they had.
They worked together as a team. Until they went to a dinner party and Freddie was there and caused problems between them. A Misunderstanding caused Anders to go back to Stonemoor without Abby and Abby went home to London to check up on her sick Mother.
They both realized how much they loved each other and couldn't live another day without each other. Two people that had been hurt by others and now found their soul mate.
Great love story. Recommend reading
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews