Review: Intriguing and Funny Christmas Romance Hits all the Marks
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 6, 2013
This was a serendipitous purchase. I thought I was downloading Pamela Clare's new Christmas novella "Upon a Winter's Night" and I was in a rush to catch a plane and I downloaded this one by accident. When I loaded it up later I was initially disappointed. I've never tried Tessa Dare and I REALLY wanted to read Pamela Clare. However I was on a plane to NYC so I thought, what the heck... let's go with it. Boy was I in for a surprise! I have found a new author to adore and I'm adding Tessa Dare to my read list.This is a historic romance which tell the story of Violet Winterbottom - a young lady who is nearly a spinster. She was a wonderful delight to spend time with. She's intelligent, speaks multiple languages, and she knows who she is. She's loved her neighbor, Christian, nearly her whole life and to prove it to him she gave him her virtue the year before. Alas, he penned her a note and took off with the army. Despite his abandonment, she loves him still and refuses to court other men. Her parents are losing patience with her and have given her a time limit in which to marry. She's resolved to give into them but is spending Christmas at Spindle Cove when suddenly a dirty stranger falls into the ballroom and literally at her feet throwing her life plans into disarray.Violet recognizes a familiarity with this man and instantly shows him kindness. Her unique ability to speak languages gives them the opportunity to speak since she is the only one who can. Violet is an intelligent girl and she quickly realizes that there is more to this man than meets the eye. What follows is a quirky, funny, charming and sensual escapade as the two sneak about the country house and beyond. I found both the hero and heroine to be memorable and interesting and their chemistry was adorable. Violet was particularly memorable with her spunk and quick wit. I devoured their story!I absolutely loved the Christmas setting and it definitely got me in the mood to land in NYC and spend Thanksgiving with my family. The miracles of the holidays are always an uplifting read.  I highly recommend this short - it was well worth the cost and I couldn't think of a single thing wrong with it. Well... except that I think it could have been developed into a full book! =)