Review: An Improper Holiday
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 26, 2010
Ian Stanton, second son of the Earl of Rayne, has always done what was proper.  His one and only highly improper secret is his love for Nicholas Chatham, Lord Amherst, eldest son of the Marquess of Carleigh.  Five years ago, Ian and Nicky fully fulfilled their physical desire for one another, but the experience left Ian certain that it could never be repeated.  Now Ian has returned home, an ex-military captain who was badly wounded during the Peninsular War.  Forced to escort his sister to the Twelve Night gathering at Carleigh Castle, the last person Ian wants to encounter is Nicky.Nicky doesn't care that society would deem his feelings for Ian wrong.  Still, he knows getting and keeping Ian in his life will take more strategizing than a military campaign.  He has twelve nights to convince Ian that the kind of life they could have is worth risking everything for.  And Nicky will definitely need every night.A wounded soldier and his determined soul mate can definitely heat up the holidays; they definitely do in this sexy story by K.A. Mitchell.  An Improper Holiday puts its two heroes love and willingness to nearly put their lives on the line to stay together to the test.  One of the things I particularly enjoyed about An Improper Holiday is that Ian didn't take the social and legal ramifications of his and Nicky's relationship lightly.  It takes a lot of maneuvering to make an "unconventional" relationship work for these men, but Ms. Mitchell handles their road to happily ever after in a very interesting way.On a lighter note, I adored both heroes.  Ian is the darker one of the pair, more serious and still suffering the aftereffects of a fighting in a war.  Nicky is the perfect complement to Ian.  He's light where Ian is dark, bringing joy to the man he loves and to me as a reader.  It's impossible not to fall head over heels for him; Nicky's just that irresistible.An Improper Holiday is the first story I've read by Ms. Mitchell and it definitely won't be the last.  I enjoyed Ian and Nicky's "improper" romance and think back on these two handsome heroes with a smile.ShaynaReviewed for Joyfully Reviewed