A Regency Christmas story full of romance and intrigue with an ending to melt the heart.An earl keen to avoid marriage.Hugo de Wold, Earl of Denham, made a foolish vow to take a wife by his thirtieth birthday. The fact the event falls on Christmas Day prompts his mother to invite potential brides to Wollaston Hall to celebrate the festive season. Time and the weather are against him. The sudden … celebrate the festive season. Time and the weather are against him. The sudden snowstorm means the roads are impassable, and so all he can do is suffer their intolerable company. That is until a late-night visitor brings a welcome diversion.
A lady desperate to help her grandfather reunite with a lost love.
The plan was simple, or so Miss Lara Bennett thought. With her carriage stuck in the snow, she would take refuge at Wollaston Hall. Her grandfather would battle the bitter conditions to come to her rescue, and in the process reunite with a lost love. Except no one could have predicted she’d become embroiled in a murder investigation. No one warned her of the earl’s handsome countenance, or that a connection would spark between them hot enough to melt the snowdrifts.
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Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow.
When Miss Lara Bennett rapped on the front door of such a grand house, she never suspected that her journey through a snowstorm would forever alter the course of her life.
When a beautiful stranger stepped through his front door in a flurry of snow, Hugo de Wold, Earl of Denham, never suspected that she would forever alter the course of his life.
Before saying why I love this magical Christmas love story, I really must comment on the marvelous book cover. It is just perfect.
Since Adele Clee is one of my top favorite authors, it came as no surprise how much I loved One Winter’s Night. Within the pages of this charming story, Ms. Clee has blended together the right balance of humor, mystery, angst and chemistry. Each character was well developed, with a focus on their unique personalities. Each sensual innuendo or encounter was endearing and believable. Each scene kept me engrossed as it moved the plot forward toward a climatic revelation and a smile-worthy ending.
All in all, this is a fast and easy way to spend a cold afternoon by a cozy fire.
Content alert: Although kept to a minimum, this book does contain some swearing and some mildly described sexual intimacies.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
Adele Clee’s stories never cease to hold my attention so thoroughly that all else seems to fade into the background until I have read the very last word.
This one, in particular, has a pair of main characters in Hugo de Wold, Earl of Denham and Miss Lara Bennett who are simply made for each other and whom I couldn’t help but love.
I also loved the plan she worked out and executed to help her grandfather.
Oh, by the way, there is another love affair being rekindled in this story as well as the new one between the main characters.
Besides all this falling in love, (such a delight) there is also a murder mystery to solve.
The story is really well planned and written so that it reads effortlessly and I can recommend it as an easy and quick read.
I read an Advance Reader Copy of the ebook and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.
The world outside was a snowy blanket as Hugo de Wold gazed through the glass, he thought it was much more interesting than in the drawing room. A promise made to his mother that by his 3oth birthday he would find a bride loomed as that day was near. He was trapped with ladies invited by his mother for him to pick from…. Oh yes and he wanted none of it.
Then his fate knocked on the door. A beautiful lady that got caught in the snow and was stranded. Of course she had planned it that way, and felt guilty not saying. Thus the story begins and what an enthralling one to say the least!
Adele Clee at her best with mystery, murder, an overbearing mother, a little deception to unite two old acquaintances and a slowly developing romance that kept me turning the pages!! She is one of my favorite authors!
Prepare to start reading and not stop as everything comes clear at the end on One Winter’s Night!
Loved it!
This was not my favorite novella by the amazing Adele Clee, but it was still an engaging murder mystery romance. Indeed, the story had me guessing who the murderer was the whole way through, and I was still surprised with the ending. The romance between both couples was sweet and satisfying in their final happiness, and I’m glad Penelope and Montague finally got an opportunity to be giddy in love. There was some mild angst but nothing overly dramatic (thankfully no OW drama). Another satisfying read from Adele!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
This was a fun story to read and with the added murder mystery, it made it even more interesting to read!! Every time I thought I had figured out who the culprit was, there would be a few twists and turns and then I was proven wrong! lol
Lara and Hugo’s story includes love at first sight, secrets, a murder, an old love reignited, etc., all taking place during Christmas! There’s never a dull moment at Wollaston Hall. I thought this was a well written story and the characters very realistic.
I was given an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Just the kind of story I love. A snowed-in house party where everyone has a secret, several romances bloom, and there is a murder to solve. Lots of twists and turns. I received an ARC of this book.
This is an enjoyable story about new love between Hugo and Lara and loss love between Hugo’s mother and Lara’s grandfather. This is also a story with mystery. Once I started this book, I had to finish it. I was so into this book, I lost track of time – to me this is a sign of a good author.
I received a copy of this book for a honest no obligation review.
To appease his mother, Hugo de Wold, the Earl of Denham, conceded to her demands, agreeing to choose a woman to marry by his thirtieth birthday. His birthday happens to coincide with Christmas Day, leaving his mother with the perfect opportunity to invite eligible ladies to celebrate the season. Now Hugo has just two days to uphold the agreement and a snowstorm has rendered travel impossible, leaving Hugo stranded in the ladies’ insufferable company. But other travelers also find themselves stranded and a late, unexpected guest turns Hugo’s household upside down in a not-altogether-unwelcome manner.
Miss Lara Bennett feels awful about the slight deception she’s perpetrating, but she didn’t have the heart to refuse her grandfather’s plea to help him reunite with a lost love. Her carriage is stranded in the snow and she’s taking refuge at Wollaston Hall for her grandfather to come to her gallant rescue and also be reunited with his lady love at the same time. But Lara never expected to become entangled in a murder investigation or to feel such a strong connection to the handsome but wary earl.
I loved this book. It pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. The instant chemistry between Hugo and Lara was great and so was the mystery element. With multiple potential villains lurking about, it was nice to see Hugo and Lara stick together and be logical about everything, thus avoiding some plot devices which I find to be annoying. This was a great festive read and also wound up being very appropriate for my Halloween reading. I’m very much looking forward to the next book from Ms. Clee.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
On one winter’s night you never know what will happen. Adele Clee’s books draw you in with every story she tells. This book took us on a whirlwind of whodunit. Most authors give away the villain but Ms. Clee throws out a lot of red herrings. I love a mystery and throw in a romance – catnip. Hugo and Lara’s romance starts out strong and never lets up. I also thought the second “romance” was a great addition to this story. Second chances are always great to read. There is a lot going on in this story so you have to pay attention to learn whodunit. I also really liked one of the secondary characters. I think this is a one-off Christmas story but I do hope he gets his story told in another thrilling and exciting story from Ms. Clee.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
Adele Clee has other winner, all of her books deliver fun, suspense,love and lots of great characters.
This is a wonderful Christmas romance with Hugo and Lara falling in love at first puddle.
Add a murder, three nasty high society females each trying to get him to propose. A meddling heartless mother (or is she) and a stupid vow. This book is great lots of twist and turns,
with Hugo and Lara trying to learn about each other, secrets that get in the way. Then there is Lara’s
grandfather who also knows Hugo mother a long time ago who shows up in the middle of it all.
You will not be able to put this Holiday romp, I read it in one setting and didn’t care if anything got done…. It was great as I got my copy during a snow storm in Denver… great timing .
I received and ARC from the author and am giving my honest opinion.
Be sure and get your copy…..you will not be disappointed.
Adele Clee consistently puts out interesting stories with a bit of mystery mixed with romance. Just my cup of tea. This one centers around a house party shortly before Christmas; the attendees and host Hugo are trapped by the poor weather. Enter Miss Lara Bennett and things turn rather interesting for Hugo. And not a dull moment for this reader. Good dialogue and well-balanced story.
I read an advanced copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
I loved this book! Not only did I get a wonderful romance but also a well plotted “whodunit” & it really did keep me guessing until the very end. Ms. Clee has a talent for pulling you in to the story & this time it was a murder mystery with a Christmas Party – with invited & uninvited guests.
Hugo de Wold, Earl of Denham is to pick a bride from the 3 single ladies his Mother, Lady Penelope has invited to the party at Wollaston Hall. This was after Hugo promised to be betrothed by his 30th birthday, which is Christmas Day. Now a snow storm will keep all the guests there longer as the roads were impassible & a new lady seeks shelter from the storm.
The lady seeking shelter is Miss Lara Bennett after her carriage becomes stuck in the snow. She is welcomed but will her grandfather’s plan work – he will search for her & find her at Wollaston Hall the next day & in doing that, he will reunite with a past love.
Hugo & Lara instantly feel an attraction but neither expected a romance that could melt all the snow off the roads around Wollaston to follow, or a murder of a friend, or the 40 year rekindling of a old romance. This story was fun, exciting, romantic & you will never guess who the murderer will be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a spicy read with a mysterious murder.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
To be trapped inside by the biggest snow storm ever – with a murderer and a house full of guests to celebrate your birthday. Can anything be worse? Of course it can – if your mother is pushing all the ladies at the party at you so you can pick a bride. This is the story of Earl Hugo’s 30th birthday party! Enters Lara who is scheming with her grandpa to get him together with his 1st love of 41 yrs. ago. Little does she know what she’s walking into. This is a great mystery and will keep your head spinning as you think you have it figured out, but then you don’t, and then you don’t again.
This was a fun story to read. With Hugo and Lara surrounded by a conniving mother and an uncle, murder thrown in to mix things up, secrets for the sake of family, their journey together made the book worth reading. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and I recommend this story.
I received an ARC of this story, and this is my unsolicited review.
One Winter’s Night is a wonderful Christmas romance by Adele Clee. The title and the cover fit the book perfectly because one winter night changed the lives of Lara Bennett and Hugo de Wold, Earl of Denham.
Hugo had promised Penelope, his mother, that he would find a wife by his thirtieth birthday and he had two days until Christmas Day, which was his birthday. To help him along, Penelope invited several suitable women to their house for the Christmas holiday. Hugo didn’t want to pick a wife based on their money and breeding, as Penelope insists is best. Hugo wanted a marriage that was different than what his parents had, he wanted a wife that he was attracted to and who was compatible with him. None of the women invited interested him.
Lara loved her grandfather, Lord Montague Forsyth, and when she learned of him losing the women he loved in his youth, she wanted to help him find love again. Montague and Lara devised a planned where Lara would claim a problem with her carriage and be required to stay at Wollaston Hall, then Montague would arrive to check on his granddaughter. Montague would be reunited with Penelope, the love of his life.
Unfortunately, their plans didn’t proceed as smoothly as they thought. Lara didn’t know that she would be attracted to Hugo and develop such strong feelings for him. They didn’t plan for the mystery of Hugo’s friend, Mr. Bellham, being murdered or the strange behaviors of the guests. Can Lara and Hugo discover which guest killed Mr. Bellham and why? Will Hugo be able to forgive Lara for lying about why she was at the house party? This was a great book full of suspense and romance. The characters were great and the plot was full of mystery. Once I stared reading, I couldn’t stop until I knew which guest was guilty.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
One Winter’s Night
by Adele Clee
Another fantastic story by Adele Clee!
The Earl of Denham, Hugo de World had foolishly given a promise that he’d choose a wife by his 30th birthday has him in a foul mood. Partly because it’s his birthday on Christmas, because the candidates his mother has chosen are not what he’d want in a wife but mostly he wants a partner to at least spark some kind of affection in him. Not the cold calculated marriage his mother is pushing him to make. To make matters worse the blizzard outside has every one snow bound and the roads unsafe for travel.
Miss Laura Bennett is desperate to help her grandfather reconnect with the love of his life, even if she has to brave the storm and make an unannounced appearance at Wollaston Hall. What she never expected was to find herself embroiled in a murder mystery or loose her heart to the handsome Earl.
I honestly have to say that Adele Clee is one gifted author, she seamlessly intertwines mystery, romance and intrigue so well that you’re guessing at who could be the villain, I was really on tenterhooks until the mystery was solved. The romance is tastefully done, not so much angst as per her usual stories, just the right amount.
I enjoyed this latest by Adele Clee, she’s an amazing author that keeps the reader engrossed and engaged in her books. I highly recommend her to anyone that loves romance, intrigue and mystery.
I recieved a complimentary copy from the author. This is my honest unbiased opinion.