An arranged marriage just in time for Christmas. Alice has never felt so lonely. Having lived both a life of poverty and then of riches due to her father making his fortune later in life, Alice finds herself sent from America to England, in order to marry the Charles, the Earl of Allerton.Charles is much too generous. Over the years, he has given his brother too much money to free him from debts … money to free him from debts and is now forced to find a rich bride. Knowing that Miss Jones has a large fortune, Charles prepares to meet his betrothed.
He is horrified by her lack of manners. Mortified by his beautiful yet embarrassing bride to be, Charles tries to keep his distance, whilst still preparing for their Christmas wedding. Alice finds him distant and unfriendly, whilst his aunt, Lady Fossett, is nothing short of cruel. When offensive notes begin to arrive, Alice struggles against the urge to return home, leaving her new life in England behind.
With their Christmas wedding only a few weeks away, Charles and Alice must find a way to come together. Will Alice be able to confront Charles about the notes? Or will Charles continue to push her away, right when she needs him the most?
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I was drawn in most completely to this story of being out of place. The side notes of something being afoot was intriguing as well. I loved these characters.
This is a lovely Regency story which put me in the Christmas Spirit and left me with a good feeling. Once again Rose Pearson has written another fabulous well written Regency Romance. Lady Georgiana and Mr Oliver Lowell make a fascinating couple.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Entertaining characters and story. Hard to put down. There are some intense things happening on the journey to love. Great characters to love and not love! Would recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story is amazing. It has everything you can imagine you want in a regency or any romance. I got pulled right in and I stayed reading until I finished this story. I love most of the characters except two. I loved the heroine right from the start and the hero most of the time.
The story had so much in it with good and bad but a very swoonworthy HEA.
This is a new author for me and I loved her story, every bit of it as a good romance can’t have only the good but you must take the bad to make a great story. I will be reading more of this author’s stories.
I highly recommend this story and the others in this series. This is a good Christmas series.
Although I did get a bit frustrated with Charles over HIS interpretation of how a wife should be(meek almost puppy dog like), it was still a good story! Alice should have pointed out how he was not exactly the way she expected him to be and not just her faults. I know it was not the way of manners back in that time era. However, the storyline is still great especially her having to go to another land not knowing what to expect from him or anyone. The notes are a great twist!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
This story is entertaining, enlightening, heartfelt and lots of emotional conflict and soul searching. With unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises and misunderstandings
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Terrible Hero and Family Makes for Bad Read
I have read a fair number of “18th century” romances written by Joyce Alec, and unfortunately, I have found them to be of variable quality. I think this one, though, is perhaps one of the worst.
Why is that? The heroine seemed to go from a bad situation in America to an even worse one in England. The hero was absolutely abominable. He needs her money because he was stupid and gave enough money to his ne’er-do-well brother that the hero now is on the brink of financial ruin. His brother has done so poorly that he has ruined his own reputation and has begun to drag Charles’s down as well. But the hero and his hideous aunt place excessive demands on the heroine. She is expected to be a proper Englishwoman even though she is American and has, of course, no clue what is truly expected by English society.
(BTW, it’s a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard moment for me when this author refuses to be more specific about the time frame in her books. Why bother to give a whole CENTURY as the timeframe. Pin it down, girl!)
I feel so frustrated with this book right now. It was just awful, awful. Yet I kept reading it, hoping for some redemption of the hero or some bit of kindness toward the heroine from the hero’s family (including him) but it came too little, too late. What he wanted for most of the book was a silent lapdog—proper women should, like children, be seen and not heard—only desired for her wealth… and treated shabbily just because she is naïve. Disgusting. Seriously, he just would have been happy with the money… and she might have been happy if she just left. I so wanted her to. I can’t get behind a book where the hero treats the heroine so badly for most of the book. Just awful, awful. Cannot recommend.
Alice had no choice but to accept an arranged marriage with Charles, Lord Allerton after elite New York society didn’t accept her as the daughter of a newly wealthy man in trade lacking in social skills. Charles is only marrying her for money and he insults her repeatedly over her lack of refinement and wants to spend little time with her even though they will soon be wed. He does change his ways, but I didn’t like him for the self-centered snob he was. His family tries to drive them apart, which adds to the drama.
This is a sweet Regency Christmas romance with strong characters and an entertaining story line. The author does a great job bringing the story to life with her descriptive writing and takes you back to the time period with her detailed scenes. I enjoyed watching the couple come together and reading their story.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Perhaps a miracle for Alice this Christmas.
How horrible it would be to be sent from your home to sail across the ocean to be wed in an arranged marriage. Everywhere Alice turns there is something or someone who disapproved or is downright cruel to this very lonely lady. There is help for her coming and an event that will make everything clear as day for her. This was such an entertaining read your heart just went out to Alice. Joyce Alec has again given the reader an excellent and well-written book that can be enjoyed over and over again. Picking this gem up you will find that you will not be sorry at all. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Lord Allerton needs a wealthy bride to bring his estates up and coffers to full. Alice needs to be somewhere where her brashness isn’t noticed. Her father sends her overseas to marry a Lord. Can he overlook her crude ways? Can she accept their cruel ways?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An arranged marriage over seas. A girl whose family recently came into money. An Earl in need of financial security. Can they overcome prejudice, status, and unkind family members? Will the wedding even happen? Find out in this wonderful regency romance. Set at the blessed Christmas time in England. Fantastic characters and wonderful story line. I highly recommend this book and author! Happy reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story will kept reading until the end…
It is a sweet Regency Christmas story about an arranged marriage between an American heiress and an English earl.
She comes from a family with new wealth and doesn’t know how to behave with the ton…
He is not so hero at the beginning because worried about appearances… but he'll change…
Twists.. villains… and different world… Will love win?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE ENJOYABLE ADVENTURE!!!
Crap on toast! Joyce pulled out all the stops for this drama, suspense filled, Regency Era thrills and spills. She absolutely nailed all of the emotions spinning through this bad boy running rampant unchecked that leaves you reeling and wanting more. She spins this baby with such refreshing realism that catapults this jewel to life effortlessly. Pushing forward with such perfection escalating this baby to staggering heights with this intensely compelling storyline and intertwined plot. Twixt and twined and stretched to unbelievable limits until you feel everything the characters feel. The personalities are well matched and brought together smoothly. The scenes are so graphically detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that feels as though you’re right there with them. Fantastic job Joyce, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
Alice Jones’ family hadn’t always been rich, she hadn’t grown up instilled with the manners of high society but she suddenly found herself amidst the privilege few of N.Y. she didn’t fit too good. Her father and mother had found their way into this group but Alice always felt out of place and the snubs and put-downs proved her right. Her father knew of her problem and so he arranged for her to marry an impoverished Earl she would travel to England with only a paid companion once she arrives she is to live with her betrothed’s aunt and be married in a month. Feeling alone and unsure of herself she is met with a cold reception and rude treatment by the Earl’s aunt while the Earl himself seems very distanced. After going to one ball and despite her errors she makes one friend with a Duchess who understands her problems and offers her help to learn’ Suddenly she is receiving notes telling her to leave, she is an embarrassment to the Earl’s family she begins to believe the Earl is behind the notes and must be getting something from her father if she backs out of the marriage. Time will tell who is doing this and then she must decide if she will stay.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book one in a new series called Home for Christmas a well written story with a very good storyline. This is Alice who is an American that comes to England in order to marry Charles, the Earl of Allerton. They will have so much to overcome before they get their happy ending, trust is one of the things. I would say read this book and if you do I hope you like it as much as I did. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another great story. Awesome characters and storyline. Many twists and turns leading to a great story.
Alice was sent to England from NY to become the bride of an Earl who was in need of money and her father wanted the prestige of a title in the family. Poor Alice had no choice in the matter. Upon her arrival, she was treated so unkind by the Earl and his Aunt. She knew none of the English customs or protocol and was a disgrace to them.
Charles, Lord Allerton needs to marry Alice for the financial gain. He is appalled at her behavior, not realizing or thinking about her not knowing anything about how she was to act.
You will have to read this yourself to find out how things turn out. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Clean read
Alice sweet Alice how my heart ached for her. To have been thrust from one uncaring environment to another not to mention being totally alone. It wasn’t really clear to me whether Alice’s father was truly doing what was best for his daughter or just buying an Earl to further his station in life. Although l did feel sincerity with Charle’s words in the end. I will say it took me most of the book to get past my second opinion of him. First he came across as a man sacrificing himself for the betterment of his family. But it soon became clear to me that when referred to his brother as being arrogant, selfish, and careless he had been calling the kettle black. Every time I thought Charles couldn’t get his foot any further in his mouth he proved me wrong. One of my favorite lines is when the Duke of Sussex says to Charles, “I think you are a little too haughty, Allerton.” The Earl was so full of himself he never took one moment to really consider Alice’s feelings he was too busy worrying about appearances. The true hero of this story is the Duchess of Sussex, who took the time to get to know and reassure Alice and ease her transition and also alleviate her loneliness. And then there’s the nasty Lady Fossett who was no Lady at all. It was a quick and clean read with a very nice happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this Regency romance by Joyce Alec. I loved the female protagonist Alice! I love her outspokenness, her courage and also her gentle heart. The male protagonist I liked less. At the beginning I hated Charles, but when I saw his remorse and shame, was quick to forgive him. Although he starts off as a bit of a cad, he changes, and at the end he is willing to do whatever to confess his love for Alice.
Also really liked the secondary characters, particularly the Duchess! Was great to see her shake some sense into Charles and see her reprimand him!
Overall a great Regency story! Clean and sweet!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
This lovely, family-friendly December tale moves from New York to London and takes a little more than four hours to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.