He jilted her sister. She will never forgive him for it. Can her anger survive a snowing in and a Christmas truce? Emma Caldwell doesn’t hate anyone—except for Hugh Warrilow, the man who jilted her older sister and left like a coward to join the army. Men are clearly not to be trusted, and Emma is determined not to give her heart to one. No, a marriage of convenience is the very thing to suit … is the very thing to suit her.
Hugh Warrilow has been secretly in love with Emma Caldwell for years, so when the time comes to live up to both families’ expectations and marry her sister, he can’t find it in himself to do it. Disgraced and misunderstood, he joins to fight Napoleon on the Continent, hoping he will forget Emma and be forgotten by everyone he has disappointed.
An injury brings Hugh home—just in time for Christmas and the snowstorm that leaves him trapped under the same roof as Emma. How will he explain that his unforgivable act was motivated by how desperately he loved her? Her icy reception doesn’t leave him the chance, nor does it offer much hope for the season’s expectation of peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Book 2 in the Belles of Christmas series, Goodwill for the Gentleman is a standalone Regency holiday romance. The series can be enjoyed in any order:
Unmasking Lady Caroline by Mindy Burbridge Strunk, Book 1
Goodwill for the Gentleman by Martha Keyes, Book 2
The Earl’s Mistletoe Match by Ashtyn Newbold, Book 3
Nine Ladies Dancing by Deborah M. Hathaway, Book 4
A Duke for Lady Eve by Kasey Stockton, Book 5
more
Goodwill for the Gentleman had several great moments in it. I enjoyed the humor and the concepts of redemption and forgiveness. This is a fun series of books! More to add to my TBR.
The author holds true to wonderful characters and well developed settings and plot.
A sweet story of a man (Hugh) who struggles to right some wrongs in his life but feels inept at accomplishing that very deed.
A strong willed lady who struggles to see what others see in that very man who, in her eyes, wronged a beloved sister.
This tale is of hope and Christmas magic and love.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Joyously entertaining!
Love unrequited…my heart hurt for the lieutenant, at Emma’s disdain for him at the way she believed her sister Lucy was wronged. However, the lieutenant proved himself to be nothing but a gentleman at every turn. He had very good reasons for walking away from Lucy those many years ago. Emma’s disdain was palpable until it wasn’t. Lucy’s humiliation was almost palpable until it wasn’t. Lieutenant Warrilow’s love for Emma was very painful to watch until it wasn’t. And when it wasn’t, the tide turned to joy and a very satisfying HEA. I appreciated the characters as Ms Keyes wrote them. Many true to life so much so you could most likely find similar ones among your own acquaintances. And the feelings she wrote on these pages were truly heartfelt, a sign of talented writing skills. I have adored each book I have read from Ms Keyes and know that when I pick up a book written by her I will be mesmerized and joyously entertained.
Such a fun book!
I absolutely loved this book. It made me cry at multiple locations as Hugh’s character is one that is easy to relate to. Thankfully we end the book with smiles and Hugh in a much better place!
What a lovely story! I recently discovered Martha Keyes books and I’ve read three more since. This story was sweet and a pleasure to read. Emma and Hugh’s love story is unique and quite different from other historical romance novels.
What better setting for a romance than two “enemies” snowed in together at Christmastime? Hugh has loved Emma for years but she respires him for jilting her sister and running off to join the army. Now that Emma is stuck with Hugh and his family at Christmas, it is the perfect time for him to show her that he is not the horrible person she thinks he is. Snowball fights, mistletoe, and lights on the Christmas tree help to set the holiday mood in this delightful regency romance.
I had access to an advance copy of this book but am voluntarily leaving a review of my own opinions.
Goodwill for the Gentleman by Martha Keyes is s sweet story about two sisters, Lucy and Emma and their lives and loves. Emma is devoted to Lucy and holds a grudge against Hugh, who left Lucy and joined the army rather than propose marriage to Lucy, so Emma thinks. Can Hugh gain Emma’s respect and dissolve the grudge? Can Emma ever forgive Hugh for the pain that he caused her sister?
This is a wonderful story about love and decisions and forgiveness. The plot and characters are well developed. I enjoyed reading this book that I received as an advance reader copy. I thought Hugh was wonderful and I was rooting for him from the start of the book. I recommend this book especially if you enjoy clean, sweet romance stories. I read it and I always review every book that I read.
This is a sweet Christmas romance. Hanging onto bitter resentment will make your life sad and miserable. Emma couldn’t let go of the past. Hugh was running away from his past. Forced together over the holidays, brought on a truce between the two. The characters were strong and the story good. The beginning was a little slow, but worth continuing on. The ending came on abruptly, but again still worth waiting for! Overall it was a good read!!
I really enjoyed this wonderful Christmas romance. The characters were well-written and I enjoyed their story. The story was sweet and clean with a perfect ending. I definitely recommend it and will look for more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
Good clean Christmas regency romance. I really enjoyed Emma and Hugh’s story and found myself anxious for a few minutes to read a chapter between my daily tasks. I have read many books by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I would definitely recommend it to a friend! It also really put me in the mood for Christmas!
This was a story about resentment, revelations, and regrets. Such a great lesson about the importance of honest communication to prevent unnecessary heartache. I appreciated that what turned out to be well-deserved admiration was not instantly granted, but instead had to be learned through others’ perspectives. The hero could not convince the heroine of his virtues; he wouldn’t have dared to try even if he had believed that he possessed them. Her mind could only be changed by the testimonials of those around him. This was a realistic portrayal of prejudice. There were also some delightfully lighthearted scenes that had me chuckling, and I always love a conclusion that involves glimpses into the future. A satisfying read for the Christmas season and beyond!
*I received an ARC of this book, and this voluntary review is my honest opinion.*
Goodwill for the Gentleman is a sweet regency romance set during the Christmas season. Hugh has loved his friend Emma for years, but was unofficially promised to her sister Lucy. After breaking things with Lucy knowing his heart lay with Emma, Emma holds a grudge for years against Hugh and refuses to see anything good about him. Brought back together years later and forced to spend time in each others company due to a snow storm, Emma’s eyes and heart are opened as their previous friendship and something more grows between the two. A fun twist of friends to lovers and enemies to lovers, this is a well written regency romance readers are sure to enjoy.
Book two in the Belles of Christmas Book series I will be reading book one. I like the last chapter when Francine is told that she should “Have a little goodwill for the gentleman,”who is Johnny. I enjoyed reading this story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This sweet read was very well written with very likable characters that made this book a very enjoyable and entertaining read!
Do dreams come true at Christmas time?
Emma Caldwell hates Hugh Warrilow he jilted her sister and that is something she cannot forget. Now he is back from fighting against Napoleon. He had a secret it was Emma he wanted not her sister that is why he left. Now after a series of events they are trapped under the same roof. Will they come to an understanding? I enjoyed the book it is a lovely one to read at this time of year. I highly recommend it from the cover (which is delightful) to the epilogue you will find it a very entertaining piece. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I loved that this book started at the same masquerade ball as the first book in the series. I don’t know if all the books will do that, but I thought it was a fun way to tie them together. Hugh is sure in a hard spot, both before the war and after. I don’t know what I would do in his shoes and may have really been tempted to disapear. Emma is a sweet person with a big heart and you can’t blame her for being mad at Hugh and defending her sister. Their story is sweet and definitely pulled at my heartstrings for them and the secondary characters. Luckily there is a HEA and some wonderful and magical moments in between.
A heartwarming story of heartbreak, second chances, family and love at Christmas time. An enjoyable, clean book. I was fully engaged and felt like I was living the story with the characters – feeling the change in temperature with them. And I would love to read more from this author, especially regency holiday books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a wonderful, magical Christmas for a man with unrequited love facing the enmity of his affection. The story brings the enchanted wonder of the holiday season. As these two young people call a truce and face their fears. They learn not all is as it seems and a lot of good can come out of bad. Others are blessed by their self-awareness and all ends with a happily ever after. An enjoyable read. I do recommend it. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What’s worse than being snowed in at an acquaintances house right before Christmas? How about being held under house arrest with your sworn enemy? That’s where Emma Caldwell find herself during the holidays in 1813, imprisoned with Hugh Warrilow, the man that broke her sisters heart before leaving to go fight in the war. What Emma doesn’t realize is Hugh’s reason for his actions, and it takes a snowstorm to finally reveal the truth.
With well-developed characters amiss a picturesque backdrop, Goodwill for the Gentleman is a Christmas delight. This is my first read for the holiday season and I must say it was a great start, getting me excited for the upcoming season. I have always adored stories where enemies have a change of heart and though predictable, it is a sweet story with a satisfying ending.
Though this is apart of the Belles of Christmas series, this easily can be read as a standalone, and I am excited to read the rest of the books in the series.
*I have reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All opinions are completely honest, and my own.