A fake fiancé and a Christmas engagement are a recipe for trouble in this delightful holiday romp featuring New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander’s Lady Travelers Society Miss Anabel Snelling needs a fiancé, and fast. If her father, Sir Archibald, has his way, she’ll be married in time for Christmas–to a man she doesn’t love. That’s why she and her aunt have concocted a … concocted a brilliant plan to hire an American actor to play the role of her suitor. But the charming Wesley Grant is playing the part a little too well, and Anabel is in danger of falling for him. What Anabel doesn’t know is Wesley is not the actor her aunt hired. Still, what kind of a gentleman would he be if he didn’t come to her rescue? He has a new plan of his own–win Anabel’s heart…for real.
“Alexander is now the go-to author for historical romance readers in search of love and laughter.” –Booklist
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When Wesley Grant enters the Explorers Club, he is greeted by a lovely young woman, who has clearly has him confused with someone else. Wesley is the president and chief innovator of the very successful Grant Watch and Clock Company, he has come to England from his home in America to meet Sir Archibald Snelling and hopefully get him to endorse his newest invention – a travelers chronometer, at his uncle’s suggestion, he is attending the Explorers Club Christmas Ball and hopes to find a way to get introduced to Sir Archibald. He is about to tell the young woman she has the wrong man, but he becomes intrigued by her story and when he learns she is Sir Archibald’s daughter and wants him to pretend to be her suitor to prevent her father from pressuring her to marry his friend’s son, he can’t seem to disappoint her with the truth and besides, he wanted to meet her father and it seems like fate has dealt him a winning hand.
Anabel Snelling is almost 21 and her father feels it is time for her to marry. He has decided that the perfect man for her is his best friend’s son Douglas Reed. Douglas has been offered a position in India and will be leaving the day after Christmas, so unless she has another serious suitor by Christmas Eve, her father expects to announce her engagement to Douglas at their annual Christmas Eve Ball. But thanks to her Aunt Lillian, her problems are solved! Her Aunt hired an actor to pretend to be her suitor and he will court her until Christmas and then once Douglas has set sail, she will say he doesn’t suit and will be free to carry on with her life. To ensure that her father will accept the fake beau, they have decided to say he is the son of the very famous, very elusive, very dead (and very much admired by her father), Reginald Everheart. When Anabel informs Wesley of the part he is playing, he readily agrees, but refuses to be called Earnest Everheart, he will keep his own first name.
They enter the ball and dance and talk, Wesley knows he should tell her the truth, but he is smitten and doesn’t want to lose the opportunity to meet her father and talk about his chronometer. Anabel introduces him to her father and he tells him that he wants to marry Anabel, they plan to meet the next day. Wesley is satisfied that he will get to talk to Sir Archibald and decides to leave, but on his way out, he is stopped by Effie Higginbotham and detoured to the library with her friends Poppy and Gwen. Effie overheard him telling her friend Archie that he was Reginald’s son and Effie knows something is up, because she and her friends know for a fact that Reginald didn’t have any children – because they made him up!
When confronted, Wesley tells the truth and of Anabel’s dilemma, the trio of ladies are more than willing to help! What could possibly go wrong?
I absolutely loved this novella, it is well written, fast paced, funny and very sweet. So if you are looking for a quick, feel-good, love at first sight novella, look no further! This book is part of the Lady Travelers Society series, but it is more of a prequel than an actual series installment, it can easily be read as a stand-alone and out of order with no problems at all. I really enjoyed this sweet (kisses only) story and am happy to recommend it.
The Dance Before Christmas, by Victoria Alexander, was originally published in October of 2018. Dance is Christmastime novella in Ms Alexander’s The Lady Travelers Society. My box of gold stars is 5 stars lighter. Ms Alexander has gotten a, rare for me, 5 star review. Another fun & witty romp that kept my interest from beginning to end. As a story of mistaken identity with a touch of a 1930’s screwball comedy thrown in. The characters are engaging, interesting, and think quick on their feet. Lovely people who don’t want to hurt friends & relatives but take a twisty path to get around it. Once again I fell in love with the meddling matchmakers. These ladies are the kind of uber-cool grandmothers I’d liked to have had. The plot is a hoot & I won’t give it away, just be careful you don’t snort coffee out of your nose. Just saying, it’s hard to get off the kindle screen.
#VictoriaAlexander #HQNBooks #TheDanceBeforeChristmas #TheLadyTravelersSociety #HistoricalRomance #Fun&Witty
This was a short, fun story about a mistaken identity that leads to love. Anabel is in a pickle. She will soon be twenty-one, and her father has decided it’s time she was married, and who better than a childhood friend of hers and son of his friend. The problem is, Anabel thinks of Douglas as a friend and a brother, and she wants to marry for love. So she and her aunt have hired an actor to play the part of her suitor.
Wesley came to England to meet with the leaders of the Explorers Club, hoping to interest them in his new chronometer. Instead, he found himself helping out a damsel in distress. He is intrigued by her story and charmed by Anabel herself, and quite willing to pretend to be the actor in question.
Anabel and Wesley’s first encounter was fun. He has sort of crashed the ball, using his uncle’s invitation, to meet the chairman of the Explorers Club. As he is pondering his next move, he is accosted by Anabel, who mistakes him for her actor. She goes on and on about the job, barely letting Wesley get in a word. He is quickly intrigued by Anabel and noting her connection to the man he wants to talk to, figures that helping her would also help him. He did not expect to fall hard and fast for her. Anabel is also taken aback by her reaction to him, not expecting to be attracted to an actor of all people.
I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. Wesley and Anabel have more in common than either suspected, and it wasn’t long before their connection started to grow. It was aided and abetted by Poppy, Gwen, and Effie, who served as chaperones on the couple’s outings. Those who have read The Riseand Fall of Reginald Everheart will recognize the name that Wesley’s alter ego uses. The ladies get involved because of it, and their assistance provides some laugh-out-loud moments. It isn’t long before Wesley feels guilty about the deception and fears Anabel’s reaction to the truth. He wants Anabel for himself, as himself, and isn’t quite sure how to make it happen. Anabel has fallen just as hard for Wesley, who she believes is a penniless actor. I liked her confidence in her feelings and her belief that Wesley’s actor profession is not an insurmountable obstacle. The ending was terrific. The ladies’ creativity is called into service once again as they find a way to resolve all the issues. I was also quite impressed with Anabel’s reaction to all of the revelations.
Anabel Snelling does not want to marry a childhood friend. An American, Wesley Grant, is in London to get funding for his new design in chronometers. Anabel mistakes him for the actor she hired to portray her love interest. Lots of confusion with a HEA!
I do have mixed feelings about this read, for a short one, it took me long to read it.
Not usually a good thing.
Okay it was a novella but things felt rushed in, they come to first meet, then they are in love.
I do liked the premises, the mixed identity but after I had a hard time to believe the story, this insta-Love affair lacked.
The only funny scene was when the truth is revealed.
It is a clean read.
A wasted opportunity, 3 stars for me.