A heartwarming stand-alone novella from New York Times bestselling 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 … 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.
more
I’ve received a free copy of this book pre-publication in order to provide a unbiased review. I think, as with some other Maiden Lane books, that it works as a stand alone and doesn’t really require a knowledge of previous stories. I will start by confessing that Lord of Darkness was my least favorite Maiden Lane book. Godric St John just didn’t grab me as a hero. I was happy to find out that Godric is only the half brother of Sarah, our heroine. Sarah was hurt and betrayed years ago by an older man. She calls him a rake but cad or just plain bastard works fine. Our hero Adam, Viscount d’Arque, is a proud rake and Sarah can’t stand him. Adam, of course, lust after Sarah. A Christmas house party, too many unmarried men, overbearing brother, and female relatives who think all women must be married to be happy make for an interesting story that I zipped through in two evenings. I had to find out how Adam would work his magic and wondered if the ending would follow through with the Taming of the Shrew feel of the story. Adam got caught in his own trap, I always like that. I liked these people, rooted for them, was sad when the story was over. Non-spoiler, there is always a happily ever after, we know that going in. If you’re looking for a good read or just a last fix of Maiden Lane I would recommend Once Upon A Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays and happy reading.
4.5 stars
This was a sweet (and surprisingly steamy) little Christmas novella.
Adam Rutledge, Viscount d’Arque (Remember him from ML#5 Lord of Darkness?) hates Christmas, but he loves his grandmother, so agrees to travel with her for the holidays. When they are caught in a snowstorm and their carriage is wrecked, Adam sets off to find shelter for them – imagine his surprise and dread when the only house nearby is that of Godric St. John’s mother and that she is hosting a Christmas house party, whose guests include Godric, Megs and his step-sisters.
Adam asks for assistance and is welcomed by the family, by all except Sarah St. John – she hates him, well not him in particular, she hates rakes and Adam is a self-proclaimed, unrepentant rogue.
Sarah and Adam banter back and forth, each is fascinated by the other, but Sarah has no more love for rakes than Adam has for innocents. Forced into each others company, they begin to see there is more to the other than just a label – Sarah has a reason to hate rakes and Adam has reasons to scorn love, but there is a lot more to Sarah than her past and Adam may not be the rogue she thought he was.
This was a sweet story of opposites that turn out to be a matching pair and find a love of a lifetime.
The book was short, but it was well written and fleshed out, the love between them did seem a little out of the blue, but overall it was a very good story with steamy love scenes and delightful cameos by Godric and Megs St. John.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the author’s assistant/publicist*
This is a fun Christmas novella about a charming rake and an independent lady who end up spending the Holiday together due to a traveling coach problem and a storm. They find their attraction to each other inconvenient and yet impossible to ignore.
I have read this audio book before… still a fun read… I read the download from my state library.. it is a quick read… about 3 hours.
I’ve enjoyed the Maiden Lane series
Have read every book she has written. Can’t go wrong with any of them.
Lots of unresolved lose ends.
Adam Rutledge, Viscount d’Arque does not like the holiday season and everything that goes with it but because his Grandmother does, they are making the trek through a snowstorm to a Christmas party. When their carriage breaks down, Adam rides a horse back to a house that they passed to find out it belongs to Godric St. John, whose wife Adam may have flirted with before! Luckily, Margaret St. John welcomed Adam and reluctantly Godric agreed to help rescue Adam’s grandmother.
What Adam was not expecting was Godric’s half sister, Sarah St. John! She was the one woman he always wanted that had no interest in him!
While being snowed in with all of Godric’s other guests, Adam has fun sparring with Sarah and quickly the attraction is off the charts. What a fun and entertaining story these two went on to get to their happy ending! I really enjoyed both Adam and Sarah. If you are looking for a fun, quick Christmas read, give this one a try!
“Sarah St. John should have been utterly forgettable. He’d met the lady only once, and that fleetingly.
Yet he remembered her for two reasons.
The first was that Miss St. John had made it plain she hated him on sight — an occurrence unique in Adam’s experience.
The second was that on that occasion he’d found himself immediately and overwhelmingly attracted to Miss St. John.”
FINAL DECISION: A much anticipated story since the two met in LORD OF DARKNESS, I loved finally reading their tale. The novella is short, but the action works so well between these two that the story left me smiling.
THE STORY: Adam Rutledge, Viscount d’Arque doesn’t like Christmas but he does love his grandmother so he does his duty escorting her to the holiday festivities. An accident strands them at the St. John house where he meets Sarah St. John again. Sarah hates rakes and she is not afraid to let Adam know it. As the two are forced into close proximity, the simmering attraction between them combusts.
OPINION: Readers of the series may recall that Adam and Sarah had a confrontation in LORD OF DARKNESS. Ever since, many fans of the series have wanted these two together. In a final gift to fans, Hoyt gives these two secondary characters their own happy ending.
Adam is such a sweetheart. Although he is a rake, he is always seen as having a heart because of his love for his grandmother. We get to see more of his history here in this novella and it doesn’t disappoint. He is sexy and rakish, but he is also a good person who respects women. (Thankfully all his behavior and history fits nicely with his character as he has appeared through the series).
Sarah is smart and witty and certainly can compete with Adam on all levels. She also hides some hurt in her past that challenges the relationship between her and Adam. This Christmas is set up as an opportunity for her to find a husband, but the only man she had eyes for is Adam.
I love that these two exchange so many cutting snarky comments. There is something entirely comforting about how these two interact on an intellectual level. I loved how their talk contrasts with their essential goodness. These two are both nice people on the fundamental level and their interactions allow them the opportunity to see that in one another and find a way to trust one another.
This is a sexy story, but limited by its length. I loved all the glimpses of other characters and also how the promise of these two that appeared in LORD OF DARKNESS is fulfilled here.
While I was a little sad that there weren’t more appearances by characters in the series, I was so happy that this well done little story was written. A warm little Christmas story that left me with a warm feeling in my heart and a smile.
WORTH MENTIONING: Readers get to see the St. John family.
CONNECTED BOOKS: ONCE UPON A MAIDEN LANE is the 12.6 and final installment of the Maiden Lane series. This novella has the romance of two secondary characters from the series. It is not necessary to read the other books to enjoy this one, but this novella is a treat for those who followed the series and wondered about these two.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS EVE by Elizabeth Hoyt follows Adam Rutledge, Viscount d’Argue, and renowned rogue as he embarks on a seduction of Sarah St. John during the Christmas holidays. ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS EVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Adam and Sarah) ONCE UPON A CHIRSTMAS EVE finds Adam Rutledge and his grandmother accepting the hospitality of Godric St. John following the break down of their carriage as they embarked towards a Christmas celebration with family, out of town. Enter Sarah St. John, Godric’s half-sister and the woman with whom Adam will fall in love. What ensues are Adam’s attempts to prove to Sarah that his prior reputation as a rake is now in the past, and all of his attentions are sighted upon our story line heroine.
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS EVE is a quick read; a novella length historical romance set in the days prior to the Christmas celebrations as one woman struggles with her attraction to a man whose reputation repulses but attracts the curiosity. The premise is impassioned, light-hearted and spirited; the characters are colorful and engaging; the romance is a case of insta-lust/love between two people confident in themselves yet looking for something more.
A really cute short story. I enjoyed the extra little Frog Princess story thrown in with it. As far as everyone knows, Adam is just a rake. He doesn’t take anything seriously. But, he loves his grandmother and has a soft spot for her. As he and his grandmother are traveling, their carriage breaks down in terrible weather. Adam rides for help and happens upon the house of some people that he knows. Sarah was not happy when Adam shows up on their doorstep asking for help. She cannot stand any man who is a rake. She had such an awful experience that she will not put up with that behavior from anyone. When Adam has to extend their stay because his grandmother is sick, Sarah finds that there is more to Adam than what he shows the world. Will it be enough?
I was one of the ones waiting for Sarah St. John and Adam, Viscount D’Arque’s story since that first tiny spark when they met in Lord of Darkness. Elizabeth Hoyt did not disappoint. This novella is so much fun! There is so much humor as Sarah and Adam trade witty barbs, absolutely convinced that the other is the last person they should be attracted to. Adam is a known rake dead set against settling down, and Sarah, once burned, is not going to fall for that type of man again.
The story highlights all the fun Christmas traditions of an English country house party, culminating in a sparkling Christmas-eve ball. This is the perfect holiday read where the sparks fly and Christmas wishes come true!
I received an ARC of this book from the author.
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 & the axle breaks, they’re forced to seek shelter. Sarah St. John really loathes rakes after an incident years ago. But in the spirit of the season, the family welcome this admittedly handsome viscount into her home.
A lovely short story, the characters have lots of depth especially Adam who can change from the society rake to the caring grandson in the blink of an eye. Sarah is envious of her sister in law Meg’s children & would like to find the same happiness. I read it in one sitting & most of the time it brought a smile to my face. Adam shows his true colours when an incident happens with Sarah’s sister & his proposal is tear jerking.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read