Previously found in KISSED AT CHRISTMAS *Only a duke will do for Lady Ivy Dallimore. If her unhappily married sisters have taught her anything, it’s that love is fleeting but a title lasts forever, which is all well and good in theory until she finds herself falling for the scandalous third son of a marquess who is bound and determined to make his fortune in trade! Lord Michael Beck courts … Michael Beck courts scandal, living life to the fullest and dabbling in games of chance. Unfortunately, he’s neither heir nor spare to his father’s title, and the time has come to enter a profession. Michael is no soldier, and he certainly isn’t cut out for the cloth, so he embarks on the most scandalous and risky venture of his life. He will need capital, however, and collecting a number of outstanding gambling debts at a Christmas Eve wedding at Castle Keyvnor seems like the perfect place to start, at least until he stumbles across the lady of his dreams. But what are the odds the practiced gambler can win the girl without losing everything he’s worked for?
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Due to her sisters’ bad luck in love, Lady Ivy is determined to marry a duke. Surely a duke is the epitome of what a husband should be. The only reason she wants to go to the creepy haunted Castle Keyvnor is to snag the most eligible duke on the marriage mart. However, circumstances keep throwing her together with Lord Michael Beck, one of the younger sons of a marquess. He’s handsome and kind, but Ivy just doesn’t want to make the same mistake as her sisters.
Michael Beck has led a wild bachelor lifestyle but he knows it is time to start making his own way in the world. He’s done his homework and is convinced that mining could provide a profitable future, if only he can scrape together the funds to buy a mine that’s come up for sale. The only reason he wants to go to the creepy haunted Castle Keyvnor is to try to collect some of the gambling debts owed him. However, he is delighted to run into Lady Ivy. With assistance from some helpful spirits, maybe Michael and Ivy can find that they have a future together!
This is a fun Regency novella in the Castle Keyvnor series that takes place at Christmas time as family and friends are gathered for a double wedding. It’s a romantic tale for Christmas or any time of year.
Only a duke will do for Lady Ivy Dallimore. If her unhappily married sisters have taught her anything, it’s that love is fleeting but a title lasts forever, which is all well and good in theory until she finds herself falling for the scandalous third son of a marquis who is bound and determined to make his fortune in trade! Lord Michael Beck courts scandal, living life to the fullest and dabbling in games of chance. However he’s now decided to make his fortune by buying a welsh copper mine so he needs capital, collecting a number of outstanding gambling debts at the Keyvnor wedding seems like the perfect place to start, at least until he stumbles across the lady of his dreams. Another well written endearing, riveting novella the verbal spats between Michael & Ivy are brilliant. The story is well paced, I read it in two sessions, only sleep keeping me from reading it in a single reading. The characters are very well developed for a novella. I originally read it in Kissed at Christmas
Do you believe in ghosts? Well Lady Cassandra Priske does because she has seen them most of her life! When her family is summoned to Keyvnor Castle for the reading of her great uncle’s will, she knows the tales are true it being haunted when she sees an aberration in the window upon arrival. What she doesn’t expect to find is Lord Jack St Giles, a notorious rake who she has spent a year avoiding. But Jack came expressly to see her and try to win her over because she is all he has been able to think about. When ghosts start appearing that only Cassy can see and her family are trying to keep it secret in case she is thought mad, Jack begins to wonder what is really going on. As Jack spends time with Cassy and her adorable poodle Oscar (yes he steals the show at times!) his feelings only strength. But what is really happening to Cassy? Are there really spirits only she can see?
This is a delightful novella that kept my attention with the development between the main characters and all the wonderful secondary characters. I could not keep from smiling and wondering what was gong to happen! You will really enjoy this tale and will want to read more by Ava Stone.