Lady Patrina Tidemore gave up on the ridiculous notion of true love after having her heart shattered and her trust destroyed by a black-hearted cad. Used as a pawn in a game of revenge against her brother, Patrina returns to London from a failed elopement with a tattered reputation and little hope for a respectable match. The only peace she finds is in her solitude on the cold winter days at Hyde … Hyde Park. And even that is yanked from her by two little hellions who just happen to have a devastatingly handsome, but coldly aloof father, the Marquess of Beaufort. Something about the lord stirs the dreams she’d once carried for an honorable gentleman’s love.
Weston Aldridge, the 4th Marquess of Beaufort was deceived and betrayed by his late wife. In her faithlessness, he’s come to view women as self-serving, indulgent creatures. Except, after a series of chance encounters with Patrina, he comes to appreciate how uniquely different she is than all women he’s ever known.
At the Christmastide season, a time of hope and new beginnings, Patrina and Weston, unexpectedly learn true love in one another. However, as Patrina’s scandalous past threatens their future and the happiness of his children, they are both left to determine if love is enough.
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This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas novellas. I reread it every year. The emotion of two lonely people finding each other and falling in love just makes my heart sigh. If you’re looking for a quick, beautiful Christmas story, then this is one I hope you’ll read.
I loved this little story. It is short but satisfying. It’s the second book that I’ve read in this series. The first was Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride, which is also the first book in the series. I enjoyed that book just about as much as I did this one. Ms. Caldwell did a fantastic job developing the characters, especially the H and h. I loved everything about them, individually and as a couple.
After being ruined by an evil wretch in a revenge plot against her brother, society shuns Patrina, while Weston is deeply mistrustful of women after his late wife betrayed him. I loved how Ms. Caldwell handled the emotional side of the story, and I thought both Weston and Patrina’s reactions in light of their experiences were very believable.
I highly recommend this book. FYI it is a reasonably clean romance. There is no sex and only a couple of heated kisses. Happy reading!
One of the Best!
Patrina Weston
This story is one of my favorites! I’ve read it over and over, and every time I savor the beauty and tenderness of it, and so will you. Can definitely be read and enjoyed any time of the year.
A cold and aloof lord and a ruined young lady, his precocious children, past hurts, wintry scenes and the meeting of two wounded souls. As always with this author, a mix of emotions and a deep and tender love story. I highly encourage all to read this stunning, romantic novella that will touch and warm your heart.
This short novel concerns the consequences of the revenge of Sir Albert Marshville, Juliet’s cruel brother, from the previous book. In the spring he convinces the young and lonely Lady Patrina Tidemore to elope. Rescued by Juliet and without even a kiss, Patrina, thanks to the gossip of a servant, is socially ruined. She has become an outcast of society for falling into a malicious trap while Sir Albert continues to enjoy himself. Now close to Christmas Patrina at age 20 is more lonely than ever in spite of her lively 3 younger sisters and the protective care of her brother, Earl of Sinclair. During her solitary walk in the park with thoughts of all her dreams gone and the harm done to her sisters’ futures, she is hit by snowballs by a pair of young children. True to her nature, Patrina returns the gestures. Until the angry father turns up to scold her. Weston, Marquess of Beaufort, handsome and cold, is also living in a prison of hurt and betrayal, even though his faithless wife is dead. Can these two wounded souls learn to trust again? Destiny has brought them the worse of life. Now they are offered the best gift of all – if they have the courage to take it! An enchanting story of not only romantic love, but the deep love of family! And with the Tidemore family, many laughs and tears!