Dashing All The Way!Best-selling and critically acclaimed historical romance authors Celeste Bradley, Eva Devon, Elizabeth Essex and Heather Snow heat up this Christmas with four never-before-released novellas guaranteed to make your holiday season merry and bright.“A Rake for Christmas” by Eva DevonLady Evangeline Pennyworth is done with being a wallflower and turns to London’s most notorious … London’s most notorious rake, demanding he teach her how to be desirable. After witnessing the love of his parents devolve into pain and anger, Anthony Basingstoke has vowed never to be swept away by passion, even if he finds himself taken by this wallflower in a way he’s never been before. Only a Christmas miracle will make true love a gift that will last forever.
“Up on the Rooftops” by Elizabeth Essex
Mischievous widow Caledonia Bowmont longs for London’s Christmas cheer, but a string of jewel thefts has brought the festive season to a standstill—and Society accuses the Scottish Wraith, Tobias McTavish. Toby is determined to clear his name and reclaim the life he’s built, so with Cally’s help, he heads up on the rooftops to trap the thief. Will they stop the high-carat crime, or find the hidden gem of lasting love instead?
“The Very Debonair Lady Claire” by Heather Snow
When Claire Barton’s twin is murdered, she takes his place in the War Department to flush out his killer. Her ruse works perfectly—until the man who once broke her heart becomes her new spymaster. The worst mistake of Andrew Sedgewick’s life was walking away from Claire that Christmas six years ago. Now that he’s found her again, he doesn’t intend to let her go—if they both survive this holiday season.
“A Liar Under the Mistletoe” by Celeste Bradley
Fearless Amie Jackham doesn’t attend balls to dance, she’s there for the thrill of robbing the lockboxes of the unscrupulous. With the notorious Vixen still at large, Liar’s Club spy Lord Elliot Hughes is taking the opportunity to clean out a few lockboxes for the good of Crown and Country—and leaving the Vixen’s trademark lacy handkerchief behind.
Thief and spy can’t resist each other in this sexy, catch-me-if-you-can Liar’s Club holiday novella.
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I did love the first story of Anthony and Evangeline. She slowly came out of her shell and realized her love for Anthony. He was fun to watch as he fell in love as well. Together they made an awesome love story!
The story with Callie and Toby was my least favorite. I did enjoy Toby’s part of the story, but Callie just struck me as a mean, cruel and immature girl. She started out by dragging Toby through the crowded ball room and introducing him to everyone even though she knew he was trying to be discreet, was saying his real name out loud and laughing about everything, treating his safety as a lark while she threw herself at him constantly. I couldn’t stand her.
Claire and Andrew’s story was my favorite of the bunch! Everyone thinking she’s a male except Andrew noticed immediately. When they were finding out secrets of their own past while finding the killer kept me reading through dinner!
Amie and Elliot’s story was a close 2nd on favorites. Amie trying desperately to keep her sisters safe and cared for while trying to keep food on the table and bills paid. The ending was where you truly saw Amie’s steel spine!
I enjoyed these Regency Christmas novellas that featured intrigue, spycraft, jewel thieves, and love. The stories seemed a little longer than the usual novellas in an anthology. There was more time to develop the story and the characters, while still moving along quickly. This anthology is great for snuggling in on a cold winter’s night, or any time of year.
In “A Rake for Christmas” by Eva Devon, Lady Evangeline Pennyworth feels that no one has noticed her after several seasons, so she gathers her courage and asks the most honorable rake she knows to teach her to be desirable. Anthony Basingstoke has noticed the lady, and after her bold move, he admires her even more for her intelligence and determination. Even though he knows she’s too decent for a rake like himself, he agrees to help her at a country house party hosted by his sister. She’s sure to find a respectable husband among the guests, won’t she?
“Up on the Rooftops” by Elizabeth Essex is one of three of the stories loosely connected by a series of jewel thefts. Caledonia Bowmont is a young widow looking for some excitement before she has to go back to the country. What better way to pass the time than to help Tobias McTavish, a jewel thief turned naval hero, prove his innocence when a series of thefts seems to point to him? She’s a mad-cap spirit, and he’s just trying to be a respectable farmer, but their combination of talents may be what is needed to catch the thief.
In “The Very Debonair Lady Claire” by Heather Snow, Claire Barton has taken her twin brother’s place as a code-breaker in the War Department to find a killer. Lord Andrew Sedgewick is sent to take over the department and gets a shock when he sees Claire masquerading as Clarence. He left her for the war six years ago, and now they have to work together to find a killer and stop a plot to aid Napoleon. Will they be able to resume their romance, or will the demands of the war tear them apart again?
“A Liar Under the Mistletoe” by Celeste Bradley features Amie Jackham following in her father’s footsteps as a thief to support her younger sisters. One of the the Liar’s Club’s best spies and thieves, Lord Elliot Hughes, clashes with Amie when they both decide to rob the same house. She’s after the jewels and he’s after evidence of treason. The two engage in a battle of wits and skills, all while becoming more attracted to each other. Can a thief and a liar make the perfect pair?
This is a wonderful collection of novellas from some of the best authors of historical romance! What is not to love?
Eva Devon -A Rake for Christmas
My heart is singing. Truly I feel joy after reading this novella. Lady Evangeline has Ben a wallflower and it determined to find happiness and break away from her family. In a surprising move she gets the courage to ask Anthony Basingstoke, a handsome rake ( or so she thought) for his help in making her desirable so that she could find a match. In an insane moment he agrees because he sees in her the deep hurt and left going that he has had in his soul. He invites her to his sisters house party so that she might find her happily ever after. As Evangeline finds herself free of her family she comes into herself and shines. Anthony is transfixed. Be prepared to be transfixed as well with this story. It warmed my heart and made me want to read everything I can by Eva Devon. The feelings are intense coming off of the page.
Up on the Rooftops by Elizabeth Essex
What happens when an adventurous widow tracks down a previous jewel thief to help prove his innocence?
An adventure that will not stop until you turn the last page.
The Very Debonair Lady Claire by Heather Snow
When a twin’s brother is murdered, she is on the case to find out who killed him. Running into a long ago sweetheart puts a twist on her search.
A Liar Under the Mistletoe by Celeste Bradley
A beautiful thief and a handsome spy try to thwart each other. Who do you think will win?
This collection will bring a smile to your heart and have you reaching for each author’s books!!