Book Description:Lady Pippa Godfrey has suffered the most ruinous London Season. She escapes to her Somerset estate for a quiet Christmastide holiday with her family, away from society’s prying eyes. But before her parents can join her, a storm crashes down on Somerset to destroy any hope of Pippa’s white Christmas dream. The roads have flooded and travel is impossible, leaving her stranded and alone. But a muddied, angry and devilishly handsome lord appears at her door demanding shelter.
Lucas Hartfeld, the Earl of Maddox, has been summoned by his parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Bowmont, to attend a holiday party in the wilds of the country, far from his London townhouse. He suspects they command his attendance for far different reasons than a simple country party. When a storm strands his carriage, he’s forced to seek shelter at the only home for miles around, a local manor called Helton House.
When Lady Pippa is reluctant to admit him, he does what he’s been raised to do—demand she provide him and his servants with shelter until the storm passes. But the beautiful woman draws his interest far more than he’s willing to admit. Can Lucas find a way out of the predicament his parents are planning?
As Lady Pippa scrutinizes another arrogant, demanding lord, she is bombarded with memories of betrayals in her past. Can she forget those difficult life lessons to claim a Christmastide kiss from a perfect stranger?
My Thoughts:
This is a sweet Christmas novella. Pippa is home alone, awaiting the return of her parents during a horrible storm when Lucas appears at her door. The Earl is on his way to a Christmas celebration but his carriage got stuck in the mud and he needed a place to stay until the storm passed. It doesn't hurt that Lucas is on the way to Pippa's former friend's Christmas celebration. She feels a bit happy about making her one guest short as her 'friend' was horrid to her during her first season and made everyone think she and her music teacher had an inappropriate relationship. Even so, in the short time he is there, Lucas and Pippa become enthralled with each other and maybe Christmas time is the time for romance.
I honestly didn't like Lucas at all to begin with. He was rude and knowingly put Pippa's virtue in question by staying at her house knowing her family was not home. Pippa was a sweet girl. Way too forgiving of her 'friend' and what had happened. I did like the contrast between the families. Pippa grew up loved and cherished as a child. Lucas and even Lady Natalie grew up more as pawns in society. Pippa and Lucas didn't spend much time together and the novel happens over just a few days. Still, there was a good, quick listen/read.
It was a 3/5 for me. An enjoyable novella but not really a 'stand out'.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
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