A madcap plan to avoid marriages they do not desire, leads two women to romance and passion they don’t expect in a duet of novellas by bestselling authors Jess Michaels and Elizabeth Essex. A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess MichaelsLady Evangeline is a Diamond of the First Water, but she fears her father will match her to his own advantage, not hers. She decides marrying a biddable groom is the … biddable groom is the only way to salvage her future and chooses her old friend, astronomer Henry Killam. But she soon realizes Henry isn’t quite as manageable as she first believed and her feelings for him are stronger than she ever imagined.
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
Miss Tamsin Lesley desires above all else to be a bluestocking and lead an intellectual life. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s heir, who wants her along with her father’s estate. To foil him, Tamsin enlists the services of masculine wallflower Simon Cathcart to ruin her. But the road to ruination leads to far more pleasurable places than Tamsin could ever imagine, and her charming wallflower proves to have secrets of his own.
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I love Jess Michaels and I love Elizabeth Essex so a book with BOTH of them? UGH. Can NOT click fast enough. These stories are so wonderful and they’re glorious holiday fodder.
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction – Jess Michaels
This is a very different story for Jess with the hero being a bit of a wallflower and the heroine being a Diamond. It took me a little while to get into the short story but once I got the hang of a different type of story, I really enjoyed reading it. Evangeline has trouble not managing everyone to Henry’s discontent. I love the astronomer angle. These two learn to live their lives (and Evangeline learns to let go) the way they really want and I thought the story was beautiful.
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal – Elizabeth Essex
It has been a while since I have read an Elizabeth Essex story and I found this one to be an endearing story. I loved the story of Simon and Tamsin and their strange little courtship. I thought it was wonderfully lovely. So girls, do not discount a man who claims to be dodgy in the brain. You never know what he is really like.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Betrothed by Christmas
A Holiday Duet
Jess Michaels/Elizabeth Essex
Release date 10/15/2019
Publisher The Passionate Pen
A madcap plan to avoid marriages they do not desire, leads two women to romance and passion they don’t expect in a duet of novellas by bestselling authors Jess Michaels and Elizabeth Essex.
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction
Jess Michaels
https://www.facebook.com/JessMichaelsBks/
Blurb :
Lady Evangeline is a Diamond of the First Water, but she fears her father will match her to his own advantage, not hers. She decides marrying a biddable groom is the only way to salvage her future and chooses her old friend, astronomer Henry Killam. But she soon realizes Henry isn’t quite as manageable as she first believed and her feelings for him are stronger than she ever imagined.
My review :
What a woman to do when she wants to have control of her own destiny…
Oh how I loved this idea of Society Diamonds going after men Wallflowers!
It is such an enjoyable twist of the classic rakes and wallflowers meet.
My heart aches for Henry, because of his birth, he is subject to the will of everyone. He had little choice in life, and few freedom, especially when he is longing for other goals than gambling and whoring as he is expected.
He knows he is nothing in the society scale, a disposable being at the beck and call of others more powerful over him.
Why he is overlooked by everyone, no wealth, no title to expect and no interest for socialite entertainments.
So he watches from afar the one woman whom has caught his heart.
But he is not without failure, I adored his analytical view of things, he weighs and balances everything around him
Even his own reactions, until he himself misses the one point he shouldn’t have.
When Evangeline is in the same situation, she shuns her feelings to only retain control. Loosing her focus would put her in a similar situation as the women of her family, and she refuses to be a casualty. So much, she appears icy when it is about sentiments, with only one focus, to reach her own goal, why she will wager Henry’s own dreams.
I confess I had problems with Evangeline at first, but then the story unfolded and she had every right, to be wary of others. She knows her kin cares for her in their own way, but she is expendable if necessary. Never had she ever come first, other’s needs always override hers.
I loved the grand gesture of Henry to win Evangeline trust, it is no groveling, it is proof of his indefectible affection for her.
Mrs Jess Michaels has done an astonishing job with these two characters, they are so flawed they truly step out of the paper pages like blood and flesh persons.
A must read, 5 stars
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal
Elizabeth Essex
https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.essex.37/
Blurb :
Miss Tamsin Lesley desires above all else to be a bluestocking and lead an intellectual life. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s heir, who wants her along with her father’s estate. To foil him, Tamsin enlists the services of masculine wallflower Simon Cathcart to ruin her. But the road to ruination leads to far more pleasurable places than Tamsin could ever imagine, and her charming wallflower proves to have secrets of his own.
My review :
When looking for ruin, a young miss finds herself drawn to a man supposed so wrong for her…
What a delightful read it was, Mrs Elizabeth Essex has delivery a witty exquisite tale of seing beyond the appearance.
It was a perfect plea for the conditions and rights of those considered undeserving.
For Tamsin, it is certain, she has very few choice except comply to her family’s will and secure a future for them through her marriage or risk everything a choose a more scandalous path which may cost her everything too.
I do understood her conflicts, why she tiptoes with her « ruination », at time very unsure of what she is really looking for.
Simon has seen too much and survived, but he came back from war, a changed man. So much, he wants in his own way to retire from ton’s entertainments. Why he presents himself as a simpleton.
He does his duty for his family but avoid to engage in the usual society’s plays. Preferring the quiet places until a miss barges in and disrupts his rest.
They are two conflicted persons, Tamsin as she oscillates between her dreams and her duties until she decides to take her destiny in her sole hands, well with a little outside help too.
Simon is a mystery, at time I thought I knew why he chooses to hide his true self but when his real motives were exposed, I was taken aback and with surprise enchanted.
This bewitching tale had me entranced, it was just impossible to put it down until the very end.
5 well deserved stars for these two captivating novellas.
I was granted through Netgalley an advance copy by the publisher, I purchased also my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Continuing with my holiday book reading kick… I highly recommend Betrothed by Christmas. The “novel duet” contains two wonderfully inventive, sensual holiday stories. Both heroines are intent on taking charge of their future, and are paired with heros who are much more than what they seem. The two stories start with the same scene and branch off in different directions. And both have swoon-worthy scenes warm enough to melt the most wintery heart.
This was a loosely interconnected novella duo by Jess Michaels and Elizabeth Essex, featuring two ladies who don’t want to marry finding their HEAs – my average rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up.
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels – 5 stars – Lady Evangeline & Thomasina “Tamsin” Lesley meet at a ball, both worry that if they don’t find a husband, their fathers will choose for them. When Tamsin says she doesn’t want to marry, Evangeline has a suggestion, they should consider “male wallflowers” and she chooses Henry Killam, aspiring astronomer and younger son of Viscount Killam. Henry like Evangeline – always has – but she is out of his league. She is the daughter of a duke and he is the second son, whose father threatens to cut off if he doesn’t give up his “work”. But Evangeline offers a solution – marry her. What follows is a steamy and delightful tale of a woman who erroneously believes she has fallen for a man she can manipulate.
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex – 4 stars – Miss Thomasina “Tamsin” Lesley has until Christmas to find a husband or she will be married off to her father’s heir, her cousin Edward, an odious man who only wants her because she is beautiful. But in reality Tamsin doesn’t want to marry at all, she wants to live in London with her Aunt Dahlia and write, but her mother refuses to consider that option. So when Evangeline suggests being “lightly ruined” so her mother will reconsider and introduces her to Simon Cathcart, the second son of a second son and a former soldier who has been dubbed “Simple Simon”. She immediately likes him, he is handsome and very agreeable. She explains that she doesn’t want to marry and asks for his help in convincing her mother that she is no longer marriageable. Simon agrees mostly to alleviate his boredom and because he likes her too. But as time passes and she gets to know Simon and learns his secrets, maybe being ruined isn’t the way to finding her HEA or is it?
Both stories where well written and entertaining, I thought all the characters were likeable and that the stories were paced well. Jess Michaels’ offering was a bit steamier, but they were both had love scenes that were on the warm side. Personally, I thought the whole “lightly ruined” ploy was a bit unbelievable and complete ridiculous, but it was a very entertaining read regardless. I enjoyed this book and would be happy to recommend it.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
Here we have two very different Christmas short stories set at the same time, they both feature some of the same characters even though they are written by two very different authors. Both books are set around two young ladies that come to the same conclusion that they would rather be ruined than be married off to a man not of their own choosing. They both form a plan to find a man each, a wallflower to be precise that will help them become gently ruined in the eyes of society so that they can live their own life on their own terms.
I really enjoyed both of these stories even though they were written in entirely different styles, they were both very engaging, and the plots were interesting. I do wish that there had been a little more of an emphasis on it being the Christmas season in both stories as I thought that it was only really mentioned briefly and not part of the focus of the story which I expected to read a lot more about, but other than that they were really good.
Two great heartwarming stories to read if you have a couple of hours spare on a cold winter afternoon.
Betrothed by Christmas contains two novellas, A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels and A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex. Two ladies have a plan to avoid marriages to men they don’t want and to find a husband among the “masculine wallflowers.” The idea of two ladies hunting for “masculine wallflowers” like the men who hunt for biddable wives amongst the wallflowers was brilliant! A spin on the normal way to find a husband. The wallflowers turn out to be not as biddable as the ladies think they will be, and the ladies are in for some fun. These stories were delightful to read and had wonderful characters and plots.
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels
Lady Evangeline hides behind her cool, controlling façade and allows no one close. She can’t be hurt by others if she doesn’t let them in her heart. She wanted to control her future and find a man who would allow her to live her life the way she wants. Henry Killam life is dedicated to his studies. He has always admired Evangeline but knew he didn’t have a chance as a third son. He knew something was up when Evangeline starts to pay him attention. Can the scheme Evangeline has come up with give her what she wants plus more?
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
Miss Tamsin Lesley wants to be a spinster and pursue intellectual activities. She has no interest in marry any gentleman of society. She plots to be “lightly ruined.” Society has nicknamed Simon Cathcart as “Simple Simon” after his return from the war. He was content with the name because it game him peace and quiet and a reason to avoid society. The idea of “lightly ruining” Tamsin delighted Simon, who had lately become bored. How can Tamsin not fall in love with his sunny smile?
A wonderful duology of independent women who seek control over their own lives rather than being forced into marriage and being ruled by a husband. Jess Michaels’ A Lady’s Gift of Seduction is about a Diamond of the First Water, Lady Evangeline, a Duke’s daughter, and a scientist. Elizabeth Essex’s A Lady’s Gift of Scandal is about a bluestocking miss who wants independence and Simple Simon Cathcart, former Lieutenant Colonel under the Duke of Wellington. These stories are closely tied and both heroines pop in and out of each story. It was nice reading such an interlaced book.
The two heroines meet when Lady Evangeline hears Miss Thomasina’s muttered comment about the stupidity gentlemen playing Snapdragon at a ball. A plan is made to solve both their problems. They decide they need to be judged ruined by society so they won’t be forced to marry who the family arranges. Lady Evangeline introduces her to her friend, Simon Cathcart, one of the male wallflowers hanging out in the library during the ball. He’s known in society as Simple Simon since he came home from the war after a saber injury. We later find out he’s not really simple but pretends to be so he’s left alone.
Meanwhile Lady Evangeline renews her friendship with Henry Killam, an astronomer and son of a Viscount. Henry is a member of The Society of Astronomical Studies an thinks he’s discovered a new planet. When his paper is published with his name on it, not a made up name, his father explodes because his son is working. Horror of horrors to his social ambitious father. In the meantime he’s agreed to ruin in the eyes of society, his friend Evie . Their love story is so much fun to read.
Thomasina’s story of becoming lightly ruined is enchanting. Simon agrees to her proposal of finding them in a suggestive embrace by her mother as something of an entertainment. Each situation doesn’t turn out the way Tamsin wanted so situations become more and more heated. Simon on the other hand finds himself becoming enchanted by this pert, intelligent, scheming young woman. Soon the ruination becomes all to real and exciting. This was a delightful story of finding one’s true self and the perfect partner to share it with.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Betrothed by Christmas A Holiday Duet by Jess Michaels & Elizabeth Essex.
There are two Christmas Themed Romance stories in the set to put us in the Christmas Romance mode. Both authors are ones that I love so I was excited to read them, but if you are not familiar with these authors then it is a good way to find them. Besides, who doesn’t love a Christmas Romance Story. This set has about 400 hundred pages and these are the stories that you will be getting:
1. A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels
Lady Evangeline is a Diamond of the First Water, but she fears her father will match her to his own advantage, not hers. She decides marrying a biddable groom is the only way to salvage her future and chooses her old friend, astronomer Henry Killam. But she soon realizes Henry isn’t quite as manageable as she first believed and her feelings for him are stronger than she ever imagined.
2. A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
Miss Tamsin Lesley desires above all else to be a bluestocking and lead an intellectual life. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s heir, who wants her along with her father’s estate. To foil him, Tamsin enlists the services of masculine wallflower Simon Cathcart to ruin her. But the road to ruination leads to far more pleasurable places than Tamsin could ever imagine, and her charming wallflower proves to have secrets of his own.
Two novellas about heroines whom have no desire to marry, yet are feeling pressured to do so. Evangeline decides to seduce her friend Henry because she believes she can manage him. Tamsin decides to have a wallflower Simon ruin her so she is safe from her cousin and can lead a bluestocking life. Both women underestimate their men and the intensity of feelings these men invoke. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction- Duke’s daughter Lady Evangeline is much sought after and expected to marry well. Fearing her father is preparing to marry her off to his own advantage, she seeks to take matters into her own hands and decides to find herself a biddable husband. Her friend and avid astronomer Henry Killam seems the perfect choice, though she soon finds he’s not so easily managed as she believed and her feelings for him are much deeper than she believed herself capable of.
Evangeline drove me crazy with her blatant manipulations, rigid control, and high standards and expectations for forgiveness, though I did understand her need to protect herself from hurt. I really liked Henry and was happy to see him get what he wanted for a change after everyone was so quick to write him off and try to belittle his feelings and his research. It was good to see both characters gain confidence and learn to lean on each other.
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal- Tamsin Lesley simply wants the freedom to pursue her intellectual interests away from the pressure to marry. She especially doesn’t want to marry her cousin Edward, her father’s heir, though that is exactly what will happy if she doesn’t find someone else during the little Christmas season. To take control of her own life, Tamsin seeks out a little light ruination from a masculine wallflower and Colonel Simon Cathcart is just the man for the job. But there is more to Simon than meets the eye and he soon has Tamsin rethinking what it is she wants.
I liked Tamsin as a heroine even if she was much more naive than I’d expect from a supposed bluestocking. It was funny to me that Tamsin’s mother was so bent on avoiding scandal and yet she ultimately was the one who wound up causing it. Simon was an adorable, almost tragic hero and I’m glad he got to have his happy ending.
Both heroines were desperate to choose their own lives in a time in which women had few options. Overall, I enjoyed these two festive linked stories, but I did find the heroes much more likable than the heroines.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As I adore both of these authors, I knew this would be fabulous. Was I right? Oh yes because I could not put it down until I had read both stories. What was a surprise was the different twist of the “male wallflower”! What a great concept and one I’d like to see explored more.
When two ladies get together and decide they need to avoid having their fathers choose a husband for them, their lives change forever!
Lady Evangeline has known Henry for a long time and thinks he will be a husband she can control. He is an astronomer and seems harmless. But Henry surprises her and has her seeing “stars” when she see the other side to him that awakens her feelings! Loved this unexpected romance that was steamy but also sweet.
Our second lady, Miss Tamsin Lesley is a bluestocking and wants nothing more to use her intellect and not be contained by a man. But when she thinks up a scheme and turns to Simon Cathcart, known as “Simple Simon”, she is in for a big surprise! He is anything but simple unless you consider Simply marvelous!!
I highly recommend this duo of novellas that will keep you entertained with their humor and romance!! Loved them!
A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels
Lady Evangeline is a duke’s daughter & fears her father will match her to his own advantage, not hers. So she sets about trying to seduce her friend, astronomer Henry Killam. Two well matched people who lay down the stipulations for their marriage of convenience, with benefits.
A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
Miss Tamsin Lesley desires above all else to be a bluestocking and lead an intellectual life. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s heir, who wants her along with her father’s estate. To foil him, Tamsin enlists the services of masculine wallflower Simon Cathcart to ruin her.
Evangeline & Tamsin meet at a social gathering & whilst talking Evangeline tells Tamsin the way to avoid her father’s heir is to be compromised. They head off to the library where Henry & Simon are keeping out of sight. I loved both short stories which shared the same time frame. Well portrayed characters with depth & the pace of each story was very good & didn’t lag in fact I read them each in a sitting. Two lovely novellas that complimented each other
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Betrothed by Christmas by Jess Michaels & Elizabeth Essex
A Holiday Duet
This delightful duology provided me with escape, fun and holiday cheer as I read about two women who meet and form a plan to provide for their future. One wants nothing to do with marriage though she has been chosen as most beautiful of her sisters and thus more likely to land a wealthy husband so given a month to find him and the other knows her father will soon marry her off if she doesn’t find someone she prefers to marry who will live according to her own rules and regulations. Neither woman ends up with what she thought she wanted when the story began but both did end up with just what they wanted by the end of their stories. It was interesting that the male leads in both books were not the first sons of titled men. The two men were much more than what they appeared to be on the surface and brilliant even if others might not realize it. I really liked both Henry and Simon for some of the same and completely different reasons. Jess Michaels is one of my favorite authors and I believe, having just read my first book by Elizabeth Essex, that she very well could become a favorite, too.
Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more by these authors? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and The Passionate Pen for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Betrothed by Christmas is a lovely pair of Regency romances by Jess Michaels and Elizabeth Essex that take place during the Christmas season. It’s a fun setup that the stories are related, as the heroines meet at a ball and plot to avoid marriages they don’t want. Also, both heroes, attractive as they are, appear to be “masculine wallflowers”, which just adds to the fun.
First up is A Lady’s Gift for Seduction by Jess Michaels. Lady Evangeline doesn’t want her father to choose a husband for her; she prefers to pick her own “biddable” husband so she can manage him. Evangeline is all about managing others. Her sights settle on Henry Killam, a handsome astronomer with whom she has a casual friendship. Henry’s father is enraged by him…how dare his son publish a paper on astronomy and appear to be in trade! His father is going to cut him off if he doesn’t find a woman to marry and stop his scientific work. Hmmmm. Could Evangeline and Henry help each other out by marrying? This is a charming friends to lovers story, with some steamy sexy time added to the mix. Evangeline learns that life cannot be managed as easily as she thought…and neither can Henry!
Next we have A Lady’s Gift for Scandal by Elizabeth Essex. Though I really enjoyed both stories, this was my favorite due to charming hero Simon. Miss Tamsin Lesley will be forced to marry her father’s odious heir unless she finds her own suitable husband. However, she doesn’t want to marry; she wants to be a bluestocking who enjoys intellectual pursuits. She decides being “lightly ruined” will get her what she wants, so she enlists the aid of Simon Cathcart to ruin her. Simon is a former military officer who appears to be a bit dimwitted and cheerful; however, there is much more to Simon beneath the surface, and he has secrets. I just loved their romance! It was obvious that Simon had hidden depths. I was charmed by his attraction to the beautiful and bookish Tamsin, and how he found her governess-y spectacles sexy. He let Tamsin take charge of her ruination so she wouldn’t be frightened of their intimacies. Their time in a carriage? Totally steamy goodness! Don’t let this entertaining Christmas duet pass you by!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.