Countess by Christmas

Cheryl Bolen

May 2021 · Harper & Appleton

About this ebook

Inheriting Darnley Lodge from old Lord Paxton is the best thing that’s happened to lovely widow Mary Milne, whose fondest desire is to remove her ailing little boy from London’s noxious air.

Why in the devil did his dead father request that Lord Paxton spend Christmas at Darnley with the scheming woman who’s deprived him of his family’s old hunting lodge? 

Ratings and reviews

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Countess by Christmas by Cheryl Bolen. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating. Countess by Christmas is a well written novella with charming characters and a lovely Christmas story. The tale drew me in from the first page and held my attention until the last. The heroine’s delightful little son stole my heart. Mary is the female lead, and I enjoyed her character quite a bit. She is a nurturer which come through as she cares for her son and the others around her. She wants to give her heart to the hero but fears that it is too soon, yet she is drawn to him and can’t resist his appeal. David is the hero, and at first, I wasn’t sure if I would like him, but his anger toward Mary quickly dissipates as he sees her gentle kindness to her son and the care she shows to others. I could feel his anguish when he realizes his early actions hurt Mary. I loved his contrite apologize for his previous mistakes. The romance between the couple progresses extremely fast, and it is difficult to imagine how they can be so in love, but alas, it’s a very short novella. I also do believe in love at first sight, so I overlooked the speed of their romance and just enjoyed their happy ending! If you enjoy traditional Regency romances with just a slight touch of spice, then you will love Countess by Christmas as much as I did. I’ve read many of Ms. Bolen’s novels and always find them delightful. I do apologize that I didn’t get my review posted prior to publication, but I was on my own adventure and didn’t have access to my computer on my vacation. Happy reading!

This tender-hearted romance touched me and made me feel quite emotional. David Arlington, Earl of Paxton, feels betrayed when he discovers that his father has left Darnley Lodge to an unknown woman, and furthermore, he is required to spend Christmas with her. He sets out with preconceived ideas only to find that Mary Milne and her sweet son Stevie are not at all as he envisaged. Mary is quite blown away when she learns that not only had the elderly Lord Paxton left her a small bequest to live on, but Darnley Lodge as well, where her son's health is so much better than in the city. David's arrival at the lodge affects both of them at an emotional level, but it is Stevie who first creeps into David's heart, making him realize just how loved he was by his late father. This sweet romance may be fairly short, in that it can be read in an evening, but left me with a warm feeling when I closed my kindle. I received a copy of this novelle as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

How could his father leave their beloved hunting lodge to a conniving woman and then make his last request that David spend Christmas there? When he arrives ready to set things straight, he discovers Mary Milne and her eight-year-old son. As they get to know each other, David realizes that his opinion of her is all wrong. Mary is a sweet, kind, and caring woman who is happy to be in the country where her son Stevie can thrive. Stevie is an absolute delight, and wins David’s heart. As Christmas nears, it appears love is in the air between David and Mary. Then one letter arrives that just might tear them apart. Now would be a good time for a Christmas miracle. A delightfully heartwarming tale with lovely characters. A feel-good read. Enjoy. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

About the author

Cheryl Bolen is a former journalist and English teacher turned author with her first book in 1997, A Duke Deceived. Since then she has published over 20 books. She has made the New York Times and USA Today Best Seller Lists several times. She has earned several awards for her writing such as: Second Place Best Short Historical Novel 2015 International Digital Awards, Winner Best Historical Novel 2012 International Digital Awards, and First Place Best Short Historical, Holt Medallion Contest 2006.