Review: Once Upon a Christmas Eve (Maiden Lane #12.6)

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.