When Lord Vandover leaves for London, he promises his grandmother he will return with a bride, for she is quite right that it is high time for him to wed. Unfortunately, with each simpering debutante he meets he regrets that promise more—until he encounters the lovely Miss Holly Paxton. Her directness and unbridled zest for life draw him like a moth to a flame, making his choice clear. Though … undeniably smitten, Holly finds the handsome Marquess far too serious for her taste—and for his own good. She therefore makes a Christmas promise of her own: to bring into Lord Vandover’s life the joy and laughter he so clearly needs. If both of them make good on their promises, they can look forward to a rapturous life together and possibly the best Christmas ever.
All of her life, Holly has dreamed of adventure and heroics. Indeed, she would far rather be a spy for the British against Napoleon, like her twin brother, Noel, than make her London debut. That is, until she meets Hunt, the handsome Marquess of Vandover. After a whirlwind courtship, they are married on Christmas Eve—Holly’s (and Noel’s) birthday. Holly is deeply in love, and her new husband’s career in the Foreign Office allows her to rub shoulders with diplomats and ambassadors, feeding her love of adventure. The future seems full of promise until her inept attempts to assist her husband in his career—and become a heroine in her own right—leads her to trust the wrong person. Suddenly Holly is plunged into a terrible conflict of loyalties, where she must choose between saving her nearly-broken marriage–and her beloved brother’s life!
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Very goof lost myself in the book
Light and fun
Had a twist that I didn’t see coming. Wonderful story about trust, commitment, and what happens when secrets are kept instead of shared.
The Christmas novella and novel found within this book is a classic Regency romance. Hooly and Hunt meet at a ton event on London in 1812. Hunt has promised his grandmama to find a bride and marry soon. Enter Holly, a slightly older debutante due to her father’s death making her come out in the Little season in London. Holly and Hunt meet and fall for each other but even as they become closer neither mentions how they feel about the other. Spies and misunderstandings make for an interesting plot as the couple tries to honor the vows that they have made.
Relaxing read
Errors sometimes distracting
Loved it!
I would have enjoyed a little more character development. Also it was a little rushed in the last few chapters. Overall it was a good read. Thanks
A wonderful story about love, misconceptions, suspense, & spying. Lots of manipulation of Holly from a spy. So glad she finally turned him over to the authorities but wish she had trusted her husband more. Made women seem to be Nieve when they are anything but. But a good story nevertheless.
I enjoyed reading a book about the efforts to defeat Napoleon using spies.
Holly’s twin brother was an “independent” spy serving in Paris To protect him she almost completely ruins her marriage. There is a happy ending but the sad plot left me a little droopy.
Slow moving, predictable
Very charming and entertaining read
Had to buy the next book in the series immediately. Loved it.
Good story with realistic outcomes
Hated that it just ended. Liked the heroine.