She’ll never wed so she catches crooks instead!Belinda Craymore, shamed by her father’s gambling, believes herself unworthy of marrying the one man she’s always loved. While he is off to war, she seeks to improve her family’s reputation and earn a reward for it, too. She’s caught smugglers hauling contraband up the coast. For her sleuthing, she can earn hundreds of pounds¿if and when officials … officials catch the culprits. She hopes they do soon¿before those crooks come after her! Wounded, this war hero wants only two gifts this Christmas. Peace. And the love of his life.Lost on the battlefield, Captain Alastair Demerest suffers loss of memory. Except for the one woman whose name he calls. Recovered some of his faculties, he returns home with his friend to claim the one woman whom he knows waits for him. She’s adventurous, impetuous and he has no wish to tame her. Only marry her. Yet she refuses. Can he help her regain her pride? Or will she condemn them both to live a life without each other?
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This was such a delightful story to read and I now find myself wanting to read all the other books in the series. I’ve checked and I have them all so I’ll be going on a Cerise DeLand marathon:) This one is Belinda and Alastair’s story….
Belinda and her sisters do not want to keep living on their aunt’s charity and would love nothing better than to be able to make money of their own and clear their family name after their late father had dragged it through the mud with his gambling. When their aunt plans a Christmas house party in the hopes that each sister finds a suitor, Belinda’s heart isn’t into it because it belongs to Alastair, even though he has been presumed dead in the war. Beyond shocked when he appears at the party, wounded but alive, she is in a quandary when he asks her to marry him but she refuses because she doesn’t think she’s good enough for him. It’s up to Alastair to change her mind! With passions flaring, there’s also the danger of the smugglers Belinda had come upon and reported to Customs!!
Well written with characters that are strong, loyal and make their way in your heart:)
“Promise me,” Alistar insisted as he faced the young woman he had loved since he was twelve. “I must hear you say it.” Of course that beginning line pulled me right into the story. Off to war and leaving Bee behind to promise she would be careful, he asked her to wait for him so they could marry when he returned. But when that wonderful day came, he was a changed man in so many ways. Wounded in body and spirit, in his darkest days he had only thought of Bee, even when he knew nothing else. Could Bee love him, wounded as he was? But she was determined to clear her family name and bring honor back that had been lost by her father.
My romantic heart was fully engaged in this story with Cerise Deland’s amazing prose and detail combined with her gift of making you feel the character’s emotions. A bit of mystery, danger and of course romance, I cannot recommend this story enough that kept me captivated until the end.
The Duke’s Impetuous Darling by Cerise DeLand is the third book in her Christmas Brides series. This is the oldest sister, Belinda’s story. It is with great joy that the love of Belinda’s life, Alaistair Demarest returns from the Napoleonic War just in time for her Aunt Gertrude’s Christmas party. Alastair had been missing for months following the defeat of Napoleon. Alastair, now Duke of Kingston asks Belinda to marry him but she doesn’t accept. The story of how they achieve their HEA is full of fun, a scare and a happy understanding at last. I really enjoyed this book and I am sure Historical Romance readers will too.
A war hero with memory loss comes home to his former sweetheart, who is struggling to keep her family afloat. Good story. I received an ARC of this book.
Another scarred hero – I cannot stay away from them. Alastair’s malady is horrific and I cannot imagine what it felt like going through what he went through. Fortunately he has a wonderful woman who loves him and sees that he is not broken, but a beautiful wonderful man. There are ups and downs and back and forth with “will you marry me” and when Belinda stays with him during one of his episodes, it is heartwarming. While reading the first book in this series, I wondered if I could really love all of the stories. Yes, they are all sweet and lovely.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
The third book in the Christmas Belles series is a romantically charged read with a touch of danger and laughter mixed in. Aunt Gertrude, the Countess of Marsden, is wanting to host a holiday celebration. Of course, Belinda Craymore has more important things on her mind. Belinda and her two sisters, Marjorie and Delphine, were left penniless by their father whose penchant for drinking and gambling also ruined their reputation. Determined to improve their reputation and finances, Belinda is working to discover who is smuggling contraband. If Belinda has her way, the Craymore sisters will once again have the finances and reputation to have their own home and not have to depend on their Aunt’s charity. Their cousin Griffith arrives with a couple of surprises of his own. Will Belinda have a Merry Christmas or will her hopes and dreams be dashed once again? Will there be danger present at Aunt Gertrude’s house party? Will the new year bring a big change to the Craymore sister’s lives? Author Cerise DeLand has a magical touch when writing her awesome books! I anxiously await more releases from this talented author!
How long time sweethearts, torn apart by life’s issues when reunited will overcome the changes they get through.
I discovered Cerise Deland’s work with her Dudley Crescent series with is a delight to read.
But I have not read the two previous installments in the series and I will for sure, as I want to see more about the different characters presented in this third book.
While Belinda shortened to Bee deals with smugglers, trying to clean her family name, Alastair has just wake up from the dead and is back with only one thing in mind, win back his childhood love and convince her to accept his suit.
My heart broke for Alastair and everything he went through, I can’t imagine the horrors he lived, probably why his mind tried to erase them.
And sole the image of the woman he loves saved him from madness.
Why I was upset at Bee, her too high pride might cost her the love of her life. I’m not sure I agreed with her need to clear her name and in the way refusing Alastair’s proposal.
Hopefully it was just a lapse in judgment. And each will come to their sense and see self-esteem will not warm their bed at night.
A lively and lovely 4.5 stars for this short read.
I was granted an advance copy by the author and I had previously preordered own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
Bee is determined to restore her family’s honour, Alastair has loved her all her life, a conflict of pride and desire. Alastair went off to fight Napoleon, intending to ask Bee to marry him on his return. Following the battle of Waterloo Alastair is reported as wounded, then nothing. Bee & her two sisters are now out of mourning for their father & brother, their Aunt intends to hold a house party. The party begins & three gentlemen appear, one being Alastair who was badly wounded.
I first read this lovely story in the Nine Lords for Christmas anthology I’d read the first two stories in the series & couldn’t wait to read this a lovely engaging story of two childhood friends who grew to love each other & are then torn apart only to be reunited but there are obstacles in their way, inheritances & smugglers all impede he road to their HEA. Believable characters with depth & a very well paced story all add to the enjoyment & I read the book in a sitting
The Countess of Marsden is hosting a house party, a week of fun and games, conversation, entertainment, and a bit of matchmaking for her three nieces, the Misses Craymore.
I like Belinda and Alastair’s story. The two of them have been in love for a long time. When he leaves for the war, her begs her to curtail her search for the leader of a smuggling ring. When he returns, he hopes they will be married. She loves him, but before she will say yes, she needs to restore her family’s name. Alastair will try to help her and at the same time protect her. It won’t be easy. Bee and Alastair are wonderful characters. They are honorable, caring, and dedicated to those they love. Their story is complicated by her insistence on finding the answer to the smuggling ring, his traumatic injury and its lingering effects, and, believe it or not, his inheritance of a dukedom. Theirs is an interesting story with a few surprises to keep your attention right up to the end. The Duke’s Impetuous Darling is a heartwarming addition to the Christmas Belles. I recommend this story and the series.