Once Upon a Christmas Eve (Maiden Lane #12.6)
by Elizabeth Hoyt
Blurb:
A
heartwarming stand-alone novella from New York Times best-selling author
Elizabeth Hoyt!
Adam
Rutledge, Viscount d'Arque, really rather loathes Christmas. The banal
cheerfulness. The asinine party games. And, worst of all, the obligatory trip
to the countryside. His grandmother, however, loves the holiday - and Adam
loves his grandmother, so he'll brave the fiercest snowstorm to please her. But
when their carriage wheel snaps, they're forced to seek shelter at the home of
the most maddening, infuriating, and utterly beguiling woman he's ever met....
Sarah
St. John really rather loathes rakes. The self-satisfied smirks. The sly
predatory gazes. Oh, and the constant witty banter rife with double meaning.
But in the spirit of the season, she'll welcome this admittedly handsome
viscount into her home. But as the snowstorm rages, the Yule log crackles, and
the tension rises, Sarah and Adam find themselves locked in a fiery, passionate
kiss. If love is the true meaning of Christmas, it's the one gift this
mismatched pair can't wait to unwrap.
Themes: Historical,
Christmas, Novella
Rating: 4.25 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
Well I believe it has finally come to an
end. The Maiden Lane Series, which so
many of us have enjoyed for years has ended, not with a bang, but with a sweet
sigh of love and holiday cheer. I knew
going in that this was the last of the series, one that I personally have been
enthralled by from the very beginning when I stumbled across the first book in
a used bookstore and thought it looked promising. Since then I have enjoyed the ups and downs
of society maidens, street urchins, sexy gentlemen with secrets and secret
societies in need of destroying, but always there was the undeniable passion and sensuality that were hidden but never forgotten in the population of
Victorian England. I love Elizabeth Hoyt’s writing and her characters are always so lifelike and full of intrigue
that I have yet to read a single chapter that didn’t have me dreading having to
put the book down to eat or sleep before
I could pick it back up again. This
story is one that was unexpected but no less connected to the series. Sarah St. John is the sister of one of the
previous heroes in another story and played her part in his story well, but now
it is her chance. When Adam Rutledge is
traveling with his grandmother to their country home for the holidays and their
carriage is damaged, he finds himself begging for refuge from the St. John
family in their country home. Sarah and
Adam have always shot sparks when they are in the same room, their differences
of opinion on so many subjects being the smallest issue, the biggest being that
Adam lusts for her while she seems to disdain his very existence. The more time
Adam and Sarah spend time together, though, the more they are unable to deny the
attraction between them and soon find themselves trying to come to terms with
their connection. Adam has obviously
been free with his liaisons in the past, but he regrets it now that Sarah won’t
give him the time of day because of his indiscretions. He has his work cut out for him, but truly as
Sarah gets to know him for herself she comes to know that he is so much more
than just his reputation. I liked the
fact that Sarah is slowly able to see past the fact that Adam has a reputation
with the ladies and gives him a chance to show his true nature. Adam would be a man easily found even in this
day, his reputation as a ladies man hiding the fact that he is just afraid to
commit to a loving relationship, but once he finds a woman that challenges him
he falls and falls hard for her. I
enjoyed seeing these two fall together and find a way to forgive one another’s
pasts and form a strong relationship together.
The passion and lust between these two leads them into a rather quick
physical relationship, but just as quickly the emotional longing between them
comes to the forefront and their hearts connect on the deepest level
possible. I loved seeing this couple
find love as the way to wrap up this series, a soft and sweet way to end a series
that has been packed full of action, drama, and danger. While I am sad to see the end come, I am
looking forward to whatever comes next for Elizabeth and can guarantee that I
will be one of the first in line begging to read whatever it happens to be. Thank
you for the experience and the magic of this series, Ms. Hoyt.
*ebook provided by publisher (via
netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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