Review: A Christmas story for any season!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2013
It's Christmastime in London in the year 1818, and when handsome Scottish shipbuilder William Stephen enters the famed Berry's wine shop to purchase a bottle of  cognac, he never imagines that the beautiful but disheveled young woman (Lady Emily Picton, who has ducked into the shop from out of the driving rain to purchase a bottle of Madeira for the Dowager Countess of Claremont's Christmas affair), is destined to win his heart. He mistakes her for a charwoman . . . she mistakes him for a shop clerk . . . and when the two meet up at that very same Christmas affair, shortly thereafter, neither one could be more surprised at the other's true identity.But the matchmaking Lady Claremont has plans for these two, despite the fact that the widowed Emily, who has rejected a whole line of suitors, has no intention of ever taking a husband again after a cold and loveless marriage. Emily intends to send the persistent William away, telling herself she's not interested in him . . . but her heart has other ideas as the handsome and brawny Scot launches an all out pursuit for her affections -- and her hand in marriage.As one who lived in England for some years and whose husband is English, I really appreciated the rich detail about both English and Scottish Christmas traditions, and it wasn't hard, while reading this delightful story, to imagine myself living back in that beautiful country once again. Deliciously flavored with holiday spirit, Regency ambience, and two lively and determined characters, this short but satisfying Christmas read is one that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Thumbs up!!