Sometimes playing pretend can lead to the perfect romance… in fact be precisely what she needs.
When Philip believes his travel companion requires protection, he immediately steps in to help by pretending to be her husband. For although the last thing he wants is to form an attachment, Philip is irrevocably drawn to the stunning red-head. And as they become better acquainted and their paths increasingly intertwined, he must decide if risking heartache again is worth the chance of finding true love.
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This is a delightful, straightforward romance between two lovely people who deserve to find their HEA. You won’t find a dastardly duke or an errant earl here, both the hero and the heroine are working-class commoners – and that is a very refreshing thing.
Leonora Compton has reached the ripe old age of four and twenty without marrying. She’s just never found anyone who stirred her feelings enough to make her want that for herself. So, she’s persuaded her father to allow her to take her dowry and open her own shop on Bond Street.
Philip Dalton is the highly successful owner of ‘The Gentlemen’s Emporium’ which has several locations throughout London. Philip was married when he was nineteen and it was a horrible disaster and he has decided he won’t ever marry again because it is just too painful and he could never trust anyone that much again.
When these two find themselves sitting together on the coach to Sheffield, circumstances cause them to become better acquainted. There is a bit of a letch sharing the coach with them and Philip feels the need to protect Leonora from the letch’s advances. Each brings out a longing and attraction in the other. Their journey has begun and who knows what happy place it will end up.
This is a lovely novella and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. It does feel a bit more modern than Regency, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on which period it belongs in. You’ll also catch a modern phrase or two – such as – ‘ticking the boxes’ – but they didn’t bother me overly much.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
This is a fast, fun read you will enjoy.
Miss Leonora Compton is considered a spinster as she has no prospects for marriage and doesn’t want to be a burden on family. She convinces her parents to let her open a shop to support herself, using her dowry money. With the shop open and staying afloat she agrees to spend Christmas with her sister. Upon the day she is leaving Mr. Benson strolls into the shop announcing he is the new landlord and raising the rent. Not wanting to lose her prime location she agrees.
At the coaching station she spied Mr. Benson talking to a tall, dark, handsome stranger. Thinking as if this is a friend she wants nothing to do with either one. When Mr Philip Dalton is also on the same coach as her she finds herself fighting to rant about what a mean friend he has in Mr. Benson.
As they travel another passenger makes snide advanced towards Leonora which as a surprise to her, Mr Dalton says Leonora is his wife. This keeps the gentleman from further harassing her but gives Philip a reason to takes liberties, which he does not.
When they reach Sheffield it comes as another surprise they are going to the same place.
Leonora and Philip get to know one another and realize the misunderstanding but enjoy the company and season. Her sister plays matchmaker with the help of her husband. When Philip accepts his feeling for Leonora and she for him it gets comical the members the two matchmaker go to. In the end everyone is happy.
Enjoyed reading this and look forward to more by this author
Although a fairly quick read, this novella is a delightful, warm-hearted romance. Leonora is an independent young woman who chose to follow her dreams to open a shop rather than looking for a husband. About to leave on a visit to his sister for Christmas, Leonora is presented with unpleasant news, making it difficult for her to enjoy her adventure. Seeing the source of her problems speaking to Philip Dalton just before departing London, makes Leonora cautious and self-protective. However, when intervention is required on the trip, it is Philip that provides the protection she needs, bringing about a collaboration with unexpected results. In an era where ladies are not encouraged to follow their dreams, Leonora is unusual and to be admired and her determination to stand on her own two feet makes Philip realise that she is exactly the kind of woman he needs. Philip is a delightful hero, one that is protective of Leonora without taking advantage of her. This delightful Christmas romance is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion.
Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance was short and sweet and I really enjoyed it, especially the fact that Leonora and Phillip find themselves in a compromising position, but were both honorable enough to resist temptation, that was refreshing. I loved this Christmas story, there’s no mystery, or conflict, or danger, just two people that meet on a journey and are thrown together through circumstance (and a little match making help) and find that they are tempted to take a chance on happiness.
This is a delightful novella from Sophie Barnes. It’s a quick and easy romance with enjoyable characters and fun plot. As shocking as it was for Miss Leonora Compton to go into trade she managed to convince her parents to let her so she wouldn’t be a burden on them or her younger sister and her brother-in-law in the future. As a result her parents were able to travel the world without having to worry about her. Leonora is given a shock, her landlord lost the property gambling and her new one wants an exorbitant amount of money by the New Year. With nothing she can do she leaves the shop in her best friend’s capable hands and goes to visit her sister for Christmas. Her parents would be shocked that she is taking public transport but it was a frugal thing to do. Mr. Phillip Dalton was immediately captivated by the stunning and stubborn Miss Compton and in order to protect her from the unwanted advances of another gentleman in the coach he claims she’s his wife. It seems they are headed to the same destination Phillip is best friends with Leonora’s brother-in-law and he was also invited to spend Christmas with them. All they needed was a little push for them to meet and fall in love but will they?
Overall this was a really nice read. I really enjoy Sophie Barnes writing and this was a nice little bite to satisfy me until her next book comes out.
Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance by Sophie Barnes is the story of Philip Dalton and Leonora Compton.
Leonora has settled into the life of a spinster and with her dowry money, she opened her own shop. Phillip too is of the working class but he did marry when he was young but it didn’t go well. So for him he is settled into never marrying again. But when Leonora and Philip happen to be traveling together he tries to protect Leonora which leads them into getting to know one another better. This starts them changing how the feel about love and marriage.
I really enjoyed their story and Ms. Barnes writing.
Perfect – this one was just PERFECT! I’m not sure I can muster enough words to describe how happy this “little” book has made me. Philip and Leonora were simply match made in heaven. The story is written effortlessly and showcase how simple love actually is.
Perfect read for a snowy night. I absolutely love Sophie Barnes!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***