Lady Mary Dalton fills her time with anything she pleases–and she pleases to do as she likes. With no interest in a husband, Lady Mary is perfectly content to remain in Derbyshire for the rest of her days. However, Mary’s parents have other ideas.For the Christmas festivities at Bran Manor, Mary’s brother brings home the Duke of Carlton, an infamous man known for his many improprieties, as well … improprieties, as well as for his distaste in matrimony. Despite his rakish ways, Mary is drawn to him in the most vexing and exasperating way.
But when Mary stumbles into the Duke of Carlton’s arms one snowy eve, an undeniable attraction is set into motion. Suddenly, marriage no longer seems so horrific–for either of them.
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Lady Mary Dalton is the daughter of an Earl. She is 23 years old and has absolutely no desire to get married. She is outdoorsy, loves her independence and wants to live in the country. She has had to endure 5 unsuccessful (according to others) seasons and her father has just informed her she will have another season and another until she is married. Mary tells her parents she will only marry for love. They agree and her parents decide to host a Christmas ball. They invite some titled eligible gentlemen.
Dale the Duke of Carlton is her brother’s friend. Dale has witnessed first hand what an unhappy marriage can result in. Constant bickering and no happiness was what his home like. He refuses to marry to avoid that as well. When he first meets Mary, she is knee deep in ruffles and bows and maidenly hair style (her mother picks her gowns and share a lady’s maid), he has a hard time believing this is friend’s sister. Mary sees Dale and is instantly smitten.
The two strike up a friendship and Mary shares her wants (in a husband) with Dale. Dale talks Mary into standing firm in picking a husband and enjoys his time with her. When Mary decides to follow his advice, she takes control over her clothes and hairstyles. When a new and improved Mary makes her first appearance every single gentlemen takes notice. EVERY single gentlemen. That one fact turns Dale’s life and thinking upside down. Now he doesn’t feel anyone is good enough. He has to think fast, but will Mary continue to think of Dale as a friend or can she feel anything more for him?
Lady Mary Dalton likes the outdoors, fish and all sorts of things she shouldn’t be doing. She’s almost 23 and her father wants her married by the following year. The family’s annual Mistletoe Ball will be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce her to Society and find her a suitable match. Mary doesn’t want to go to London, she loves Derbyshire and doesn’t want to leave. She really doesn’t want to get married either; would her husband let her do what she likes? She hadn’t expected to meet anyone, but her brother Peter’s friend Dale Ramsay, the Duke of Carlton, is most tempting. But he doesn’t want to get married either. Besides, he’s a rake, not husband material.
A KISS AT MISTLETOE is such a fun novella! A rake, a wallflower, and a best friend’s little sister; you think you know how it will go? Think again! There are plenty of unexpected twists, the best is probably Mary’s clothing. You see, Mary is very unfashionable, and this was handled in a very clever, and amusing manner. I loved how the romance evolved; Dale was a rake, but a really great guy, and at one point, I shouted: “Yes!”. He made me so happy!
Mary is a real bluestocking; she knows what she wants and goes after it. I think what I liked best is that both characters remained true to themselves to the very end. Both had valid reasons not to want to get married, and where there might have been a disastrous misunderstanding, I loved how both characters reacted, and that Mary is willing to listen and trust. Mary and Dale are both very engaging, I loved how they interacted with each other, and how deliciously flirtatious they both were. The atmosphere crackles with sexual tension. The secondary characters were also quite interesting and well developed. A KISS AT MISTLETOE is positively delightful from the beginning to the gorgeous epilogue!
A Kiss at Mistletoe by Tamara Gill is book Two in the Kiss the Wallflower Series. This is the story of Mary Dalton and Dale Ramsey, the Duke of Carlton. I had read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book. Mary has wished to stay away from marriage and has met that goal each time she had to do the marriage mart. But this up and coming season her parents have insisted that she become settled into marriage. So she just has these last few months before the new season is to to start. A Christmas ball is planned until then which she hopes to enjoy. Then her brother brings home his best friend Dale and they both have a instant attraction to each other. But Dale is a rake and when he does settle down he was a wife that will hear to him and not the outspoken women that Mary is. Enjoyed reading how these two made their story. I hope to read more from this author soon!
This is the kind of story I like reading at the holidays. Sweet, fun, flirty and mistletoe thrown in for good measure. I love the angle that Dale thought he was immune to Mary but you know how romances work, he definitely was not. Their interactions were playful and their friendship was a delight to read. When they realize they want more what can they do but accept their fate. A lovely story.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I enjoyed this story of Mary and Dale. Mary is the daughter of an Earl, she has had 5 seasons without catching a husband, she really did not want one. Because of this she never put in any effort to dress nice or go out of her way to meet anyone who she might like. Dale is a Duke and Mary’s brother friend. Dales does not want to get married, but if he does, he wants a quiet, easy going wife, which Mary will not be. As soon as Dale meets Mary, he didn’t know why, but he is interested in her and wondered about her. Dale and Mary become friends at Mary’s family Holiday gathering. From there it grows into more. This is the 2nd book in the Kiss the Wallflower series and it was just as good if not better than the 1st one. You will enjoy this book.
I have to say again, I really enjoy Tamara Gill’s writing style.
I enjoyed this read. I liked Mary and Dale. Watching these two get to know one another and the slow evolution of their relationship was very entertaining and honestly, refreshing. I found it quite fun and sweet that they were both so sure of what they wanted, until they met and then after getting to know each other they began to realise they might want something entirely different. I thought that this was a really wonderful romance.
A Kiss at Mistletoe
Kiss the Wallflower Series #2
Tamara Gill
https://www.facebook.com/tamaragillromance/
Release date 10/15/2019
Publisher Tamara Gill
Blurb
Lady Mary Dalton fills her time with anything she pleases–and she pleases to do as she likes. With no interest in a husband, Lady Mary is perfectly content to remain in Derbyshire for the rest of her days. However, Mary’s parents have other ideas.
For the Christmas festivities at Bran Manor, Mary’s brother brings home the Duke of Carlton, an infamous man known for his many improprieties, as well as for his distaste in matrimony. Despite his rakish ways, Mary is drawn to him in the most vexing and exasperating way.
But when Mary stumbles into the Duke of Carlton’s arms one snowy eve, an undeniable attraction is set into motion. Suddenly, marriage no longer seems so horrific–for either of them.
My review
Do they have a future when one refuses to change for the marriage part and the other wants a demure bride…
I am often a little long to remember about characters from previous books, then the lady’s companion’s name clicked in my head.
So even if this book is the second in the series, the romance in this one occurred before the first book.
I liked both Mary and Carlton, they have their own expectations about their upcoming bride and groom, and each is very faraway for the other.
So when Mary finds herself back to the wall, she at first fights against her parents will, until with some counsels, she decides to follow the lead and by being herself, see if she can attract some suitable lords with the same expectations as hers.
Carlton is living the life of many peers with its excesses, and even if it is not yet in his agenda, he already has listed all the qualities his future duchess might require and Lady Mary is quite the opposite of his bride-to-be.
But projections and reality do not always meet.
And chemistry can derail everything too.
None of them were looking for love in the other, but they were ready to see where their attraction may lead them.
I loved this was no love at first sight nor lust that weakens the knees or migrates the brain between the legs story, they are drawn to one another, but they still are able to make their own choices, and when the context forces them together, there is no insta-revelation of an ever lasting love.
One more hit by the talented Tamara Gill.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author but I preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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