A friendly holiday competition turns steamy in this Regency romance novella from the New York Times bestselling author of My One and Only Duke. Previously published in Virtues of Christmas. Advice columnist Patience Friendly’s relationship with her stubborn, overbearing publisher, Dougal MacHugh, is anything but cordial. Dougal challenges Patience to take on a rival columnist in a holiday … take on a rival columnist in a holiday advice-a-thon, and sparks fly clear up to the mistletoe hanging from every rafter. Will Patience follow the practical guidance of her head or the passionate advice of her heart?
“Grace Burrowes is a romance treasure.” — Tessa Dare
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Patience For Christmas by Grace Burrows is being released today, 12-18-18, in e-book form. This novella was previously included in The Virtues Of Christmas in 2016. This was my first read and I found it witty and well written. At times the lead characters are amazingly close to the repartee of Nick and Norah Charles. They play off each other well. As a person owned by a cat, I think King George is inspired and to be adored (my cat made me say that).
Our heroine is Patience Friendly, a fiery-haired, and tempered, advice columnist. This spinster has found a way to apply her talents to a job that pays the rent. Using her nom de plume has allowed Patience to live independently, not on the charity of distant relatives. Unfortunately the struggle for survival has left her a little isolated and lonely too. A dog would be a good companion (my dog made me say that).
Our hero is Dougal MacHenry, handsome, Scottish owner and publisher of the circulation that carries Patience’s popular column. He’s handsome, Scottish, and has a burr, that’s really all you need to know (sigh). He thinks about, and enjoys meeting with, Patience a little more than an employer should. He thinks she’s pretty and smells good. When he manages to get a kiss under the mistletoe the romance race is started.
To increase sales, and intrigue Patience, Dougal proposes a pen-to-pen contest with her popular rival. It’s a he said, she said competition over the 12 days of Christmas. This requires the couple to spend lots and lots of time together. It’s fun to keep up with the number of sweet treats mentioned and consumed during a mere eight chapters. It’s astounding.
As this is a romance book there is a happy ending. We’d be up in arms if there wasn’t. Receiving an ARC is a privilege, and one I enjoy. Being able to share my opinion is a pleasure. Both are free and without obligation. Happy reading.
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I found it charming. Spinster Patience Friendly, having been shunned by society, lives in the home she inherited from her grandmother and supports herself with writing her column, Mrs. Horner’s Corner. As readership rises, her publisher,
Scot Dougal MacHugh sets up a competition between her column, and that of a rival , Professor Pennypacker. As they spend more time together, working on her column, both their lives become livelier and richer, but Dougal is holding something back. Love the back and forth between the principals.
I love Grace Burrowes! Her Regency romance novels never disappoint and this lovely standalone novella is no exception. Complete with an engaging plot, charming characters, enticing banter, and holiday cheer, this story will keep you hooked from beginning to end while transporting you back to a bygone era. A wonderful read that I’d highly recommend.
Spinster Patience relies on the income from writing her advice column for her living and is nothing but annoyed by her overbearing, Scottish employer, Dougal MacHugh. But when competition with a rival publisher leads to a frantic writing and release schedule, and lots of time spent together, Patience begins to see Dougal in a different light and he begins to see more in her than the arrogant spinster he had presumed her to be. The two begin to grow closer and recognize feelings for each other, but both have their own secrets and ambitions that may be enough to keep their relationship strictly professional.
This was a quick, enjoyable read to put you in the festive spirit and I’d recommend it for a holiday diversion.
I received a complimentary ARC via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a fun Christmas novella featuring practical, no-nonsense advice columnist Patience Friendly and her ambitious Scottish editor Dougal MacHugh. Patience’s advice to letter writers has increased the circulation of Dougal’s newspaper greatly, especially since a rival paper is publishing advice from a so-called Professor. Dougal thinks it would be a great stunt for the holidays to publish 12 days of advice columns, which means Patience will have to work practically day and night to read through letters, formulate her advice, and write the responses. Working so closely with Dougal and the other employees at the paper opens up a whole new world to Patience. She usually spends her days alone at home trying to make ends meet as economically as possible, with an occasional visit to her friends for tea, gossip, and baking. Is it the close quarters, the shared goal, or the mistletoe that has her viewing Dougal in a whole new light?
I really enjoyed the insight into the life of a woman trying to make it on her own in the Regency era and the look inside the news sheets of the day. The romance that developed between Dougal and Patience was fun, sweet, and spicy. This was an additional story in with Elizabeth Hoyt’s “Not the Duke’s Darling.”
I received an Advance Reader Copy of the book. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Patience for Christmas was my first book by Grace Burrowes but it won’t be my last. While it’s a bit lower on the heat spectrum than most of the historical romances I’ve read, the story is sweet, engrossing, and heartfelt. Patience and Dougal are such great counterpoints for each other and their chemistry and banter are everything! What really impressed me about this story is the attention and care that was put into every single character featured in the book – even when the side characters where on the page, I was totally engrossed in the story. I can’t wait to read more from Grace Burrowes; she left a great first impression on me with this delightful novella. 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
What I like about Ms. Burrowes’ books is that the heroines are strong and stick together. I also like that her books do not fit the norm of historical romance. This is a sweet story featuring a writer and a publisher who dance around each other. A nice read for a Sunday afternoon with coffee/tea.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Delightful Christmas short story with an O’Henry type twist! For a short story, I found the main characters well developed. Well done Grace Burrowes!
Grace Burrowes brings her singular style of storytelling to another Windham offshoot. Patience and Dougal work together over the Christmas holidays in his printing business. Spending time together in close quarters focuses the senses and brings them close to each other. They fall in love and become each other’s fondest Christmas wish.