Some lords prefer scandalous affairs over marriage. But can the magic of Christmas and a second chance at romance open an earl’s heart to love? Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore, isn’t in the Christmas spirit. The former ‘Naughty Earl’ would prefer to focus on maintaining his family’s holdings rather than be stuck at his mother’s annual Christmas party, with her endless parade of … endless parade of debutantes. When he escapes for a ride, Julien’s horse gets spooked and throws him off his saddle, leaving him wandering in the snow. Until he happens upon a cozy cottage . . .
Evangeline Breckenridge never thought ‘Lord Scrooge’ would show up at her door. She hasn’t seen her childhood sweetheart in years, and Julien’s since turned into a tyrant, taking away Christmas traditions from the townspeople. Eve is now a widow and a mother, no longer the foolish girl who believed a nobleman could love a physician’s daughter. But the weather outside is frightful, and Eve isn’t one to withhold the warmth of her home, even from a cold heart. And as they reconnect, Eve and Julien may even discover there’s still something merry and bright burning between them, a fire destined to be reignited—just in time for Christmas . . .
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The perfect read to kick off the holiday season!
The Taming of Lord Scrooge is a delightful holiday-themed novella centered on childhood sweethearts Julien Caruthers and Evangeline Breckenridge who meet again 10 years later when Julien gets into an accident and has to seek shelter from a snowstorm at Evangeline’s home. This is a sweet, romantic story with witty dialogue and a Christmas setting guaranteed to put readers in a festive mood. I recommend this short story to anyone looking for a heartwarming Christmas romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very enjoyable book about when you realize you let something good in your life go, you do not let it go again. Evie and Julien were in love when they were teens, but they were not equal in status. Years later they meet again, when he is an Earl and she is a Widow. I enjoyed their chemistry and interaction. I really liked little Mary. This is the first book I have ever read by Renee Ann Miller, and I enjoyed this book so much, I am going to add this author to my want to read list. It might be the first book by her, but it will not be the last. That is how much I have enjoyed her writing style.
I received an ARC copy for my honest opinion.
This was a new to me author that I’m so happy that I took a chance on. I found this novella read very enjoyable. Delivering a entertaining combination of emotion, romance, drama, humor and a bit of heat, Eve and Julien’s story swept me up in a flurry of feels, chuckles and even a couple of aww moments. The storyline is a touch cute and has plenty of holiday charm and sweetness. Honestly, I would have loved to spend more time with these characters and delve deeper their story but that just wasn’t meant to be due to the length of this book. This read is part of a series and there was a time or two when I felt that I was a bit out of the know because I have not read any of the other books. But it wasn’t enough to truly impact my enjoyment of this read. I really liked the main characters and the book had a good selection of secondary characters that were not only appealing but I feel offer future book opportunities. I would love to read books for each of Julien’s sisters or even Eve’s daughter Mary, once she grows up. I will definitely be checking out other books from this author. This is my candid, volitional review.
The Taming of Lord Scrooge was an enjoyable Christmas short story of a second chance romance between Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore and Evie Breckenridge.
This was very well written, Julien and Evie were wonderful characters and I easily got caught up in their story. The scenes in the cottage were lovely, and Evie’s daughter Mary is an absolute delight. A few hours to be swept away to a lovely happily ever after.
Beautiful novella to discover!
The Taming of Lord Scrooge is a charming story, written by Renee Ann Miller! This is the first time that I read a novella by this author. I totally enjoyed it! A delightful story to add to your TBR list! It’s well written with charming characters! We follow Evangeline, a young widow and mom of a daughter named Mary and Julien who doesn’t like Christmas too much! It tells a second chance romance between two best friends from years ago. Their sweet story will surely put you in a festive mood!
The Taming of Lord Scrooge is the 3.5 book in the Infamous Lords Series. It is an amazing story of a second chance romance with a holiday theme. The pace of the story is fast, and it can easily be read in one setting. I loved the characters and was so happy to see Julien get his chance at love again.
Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore, was known as the “Naughty Earl” but his mother has decided it is time he gets married and has an heir. She definitely has ways of ensuring he has plenty of women at her annual Christmas party to choose from. Evangeline “Evie” Beckenridge had fallen in love with Julien at the age of 16, but when he left to return to school and never contacted her, she was devastated. Now that she has moved back to her childhood village, she learns he has cancelled some of the villager’s holidays traditions. She was surprised to see him on her doorstep after he had gotten thrown off his horse during a snowstorm. Julien regretted the decision he made when he was younger and had always loved Evie. Will the snowstorm provide them with the chance to rekindle the love of their youth?
The Taming of Lord Scrooge by Renee Ann Miller is a charming, second chance at love story. Evangeline is a widow raising her daughter, Mary. She and Julien, Earl of Dartmore, had known and fallen for each other in their late teens. Evie was the daughter of a physician, and Julien’s father made him promise to stay away and not contact Evie for two years to earn his consent to their marriage.
When her letters went unanswered, Evie thought he didn’t love her and married someone else. Julien returned after two years, found she had married, and became known as a Scrooge. He was hard and unfeeling as his emotions were in a deep freeze.
Fast forward 10 years, and Julien is thrown from his horse during a snowstorm and fate strands him at Evie’s cottage. The magic of the Christmas season works on Julien, and he doesn’t want to lose Evie again.
Miller has written a clean, winning story, and I recommend it as a wonderful Christmas treat.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A second chance romance.
Julien is the Earl of Dartmore and doesn’t look forward to his mother’s Christmas party. Too many debutantes and their money hungry mommas. He escapes on his horse in the snow. When his horse is spooked by an owl, he is dragged and left in the snow. Freezing, he wanders to a cottage that belongs to the only woman he’s ever loved. The spark between them is still there. The Christmas season, a precocious little girl and a love long denied bring them back together. A delightful short holiday romance.
This was a short and sweet second chance story. I thoroughly enjoyed Evie and Julien’s story. They were childhood friends but family pushed them apart. I love how Julien went from grumpy and unhappy to doing a 180 as soon as he was in Evie’s presence. Evie made Julien so happy and he doesn’t waste any time letting her know.
I loved this story and want to read the rest of the books now.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
To say this was a delightful, humorous, enchanting book, just does not do enough justice to this story! I was laughing out loud from the first page as we are introduced to Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore! He was on his third secretary, who was terribly frightened because his last two had met with their demise and he thought he might be next! It was not as if Julien actually killed them or anything…
With the machinations of his mother, she holds a Christmas party inviting all the young debutantes trying to get him married off… So when he gets a chance to escape, he goes out to ride, even though it is snowing and ends up coming off his horse and almost freezes to death. But luckily he sees smoke coming from somewhere close and at the house of his first love, Evie. Of course he had no idea she lived there with her daughter Mary but injured as he was, while getting snowed in, the adventure begins.
I Loved, Loved, Loved this sweet story!! Mary was an impish delight and kept calling him Mr Earl and with Mr Shingles and Pumpernickel, I could not quit smiling. A romantic story that goes down as one of my very favorite Christmas novellas ever. Ok. I will stop gushing now…
Certainly I will be reading this again!!!
Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore, otherwise known in scandal sheets as the “Naughty Earl” would prefer to focus on managing his holdings and settling into the new role of Earl since his father’s death. He’d certainly rather avoid his mother’s matchmaking machinations at her annual Christmas house party. When Julien sneaks out for a ride, only to be thrown by his spooked horse, he finds himself several miles from his house. Left wandering in the rapidly falling snow, Julien begs shelter at a cottage he stumbles upon.
Evangeline Breckenridge certainly didn’t expect her adolescent love to show up at her front door. She hasn’t seen him in ten years but she can’t leave him to freeze, even if he has ruined several of the village’s Christmas traditions. Now widowed and mother to a young daughter, Eve is a different person than she was when she believed Julien would offer for her. But snowed in together, sparks fly once again between Eve and Julien and their future may be quite bright after all.
This was a cute, quick second chance story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to more of this author’s work.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Taming of Lord Scrooge by Renee Ann Miller is book 3.5 in the Infamous Lords Series. This is the story of Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore and Evangeline Breckenridge. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book. Julien has to attend his mother’s ball but after to many debutantes try to catch his eye he ends up leaving the party. Then he has a accident that leads him to meet his childhood sweetheart. Evangeline is a widower now and a mother when she ends up helping the Julien that leads to rekindling their feelings. This was a Scrooge type main character of Julien who just maybe getting his happy ending.
There was nothing wrong with this novel exactly. It was really a matter of it being just too short. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy novellas from time to time, but throughout this novel things just didn’t add up for me. I couldn’t really get into these characters or the relationship they once shared. Perhaps if we had gotten more of a prologue that showed that aspect things would have felt more connected. Or even just a few more pages of them together when they were stranded. Something that didn’t feel like we were being rushed through the story.
I did enjoy Evie’s outspokenness, as well as her daughter’s open curiosity. It was easy to see where these two people would make a good match with one another, but again, everything felt so rushed that I don’t feel like they got a chance to have their story be heard. As good as the writing was, and as heartfelt as the story ended up, I don’t feel like this is one I will easily remember a few weeks from now.
However, this novella is good for a rainy (or snowy day), and I firmly believe that fans of historical romance will enjoy this story. I would read more from this author!
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore, isn’t in the Christmas spirit. The former ‘Naughty Earl’ would prefer to focus on maintaining his family’s holdings rather than be stuck at his mother’s annual Christmas party, with her endless parade of debutantes. When he escapes for a ride, Julien’s horse gets spooked by an owl and throws him, leaving him wandering in the snow. Until he happens upon a cottage & collapses at the door. Evangeline Breckenridge never thought ‘Lord Scrooge’ would show up at her door. She hasn’t seen her childhood sweetheart in a decade. Evie is now a widow and a mother, no longer the foolish girl who believed a nobleman could love a physician’s daughter.
A lovely second chance novella, which I read in a sitting. Strong characters & a well paced story held my interest all the way through. Mary of course stole the book & she ended up be an unwitting matchmaker. There was plenty of humour as well as an attraction that sizzled whilst they were marooned in a snowstorm.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Love this second chance romance. Not everyone is who they appear to be – Julien. Scrooge, my hinny. He is really still struggling with what happened ten years ago. The dialog is terrific, especially Mary’s and the attraction is dead on. My one wish is that the story was longer. I think the characters were perfect for a regular novel. I think Ms. Miller’s writing is lovely and engaging and I devour her books.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
This is a heartfelt love story of Julien and Evie and how after ten years apart, and Evie now a widow, renew the love they shared as teenagers. The story is beautifully written and entertaining. Mary is the typical five year old and the author did such an outstanding job in writing her part, you can almost hear her asking all the questions and laughing at the responses. It is a beautiful love story and I would recommend it as a great read.
An absolutely delightful second chance story that takes place during Christmas! I very much enjoyed reading this book and I thought it was well written and I adored the humor throughout.
Julien and Eve haven’t seen each other in 10 years and suddenly he’s at her doorstep in a dead faint during a snowstorm. Julien is an Earl who is known to be very Scrooge like and Eve is a widowed mother to a precocious 5 year old girl, Mary. While he recovers from being thrown off and dragged by his horse, he and Eve rekindle the attraction that was between them all those years ago. Misunderstandings are cleared up and heartache turns to joy. I have to say, Mary, Eve’s daughter, steals the show, I just loved her to bits:)
I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The Taming of Lord Scrooge
The Infamous Lords series 3.5
Renee Ann Miller
https://m.facebook.com/Reneeannmillerauthor/
Release date 10/29/2019
Publisher Kensington / Zebra
Blurb :
Some lords prefer scandalous affairs over marriage. But can the magic of Christmas and a second chance at romance open an earl’s heart to love?
Julien Caruthers, the Earl of Dartmore, isn’t in the Christmas spirit. The former ‘Naughty Earl’ would prefer to focus on maintaining his family’s holdings rather than be stuck at his mother’s annual Christmas party, with her endless parade of debutantes. When he escapes for a ride, Julien’s horse gets spooked and throws him off his saddle, leaving him wandering in the snow. Until he happens upon a cozy cottage . . .
Evangeline Breckenridge never thought ‘Lord Scrooge’ would show up at her door. She hasn’t seen her childhood sweetheart in years, and Julien’s since turned into a tyrant, taking away Christmas traditions from the townspeople. Eve is now a widow and a mother, no longer the foolish girl who believed a nobleman could love a physician’s daughter. But the weather outside is frightful, and Eve isn’t one to withhold the warmth of her home, even from a cold heart. And as they reconnect, Eve and Julien may even discover there’s still something merry and bright burning between them, a fire destined to be reignited—just in time for Christmas . . .
My review :
When Christmas spirit strikes, can two childhood sweethearts get a second chance?
This is my first read by Mrs Renee Ann Miller, and thanks to her, I had a goofy smile on my face for the major part of this evening. I just adored this holidays treat.
It is no Scrooge redeeming himself story, it is Ebenezer getting a second chance with the woman he loved and lost tale.
This short read was a delight of witticisms, with internal dialogue full of quips, and clever banters.
You add a magnificent specimen of an earl, with a little imp playing matchmaker angel, some sensual times and hot chocolate, and you have the perfect recipe for a wonderful afternoon by the fireplace, a steaming chocolate cup and some gingerbreads:
The very first chapters had me hooked, from the Christmas party attendees to the human boomerang butler, I had a blissful smile during my whole reading of this short tale.
Evie and Julian are two victims of their circumstances, they were too young to fight conventions nor their wise parents councils.
Evie made a life for herself when she left the memories of her first love behind. Never bitter, she embraced her role as a wife and a mother.
Now widowed, it doesn’t change her status far below from an Earl.
Julian when he realized he has lost the one woman he loved, engaged in a life of licentiousness, until his father’s death made him rethink his propensity for aimless pursuits.
So when he comes face to face with the woman he never forgot, will he let her go a second time?
This full of humour and love tale deserves much more than the classical 5 stars rating. It transported me in a snowed cottage with a lizard and a cat readying this home to be the perfect scenery for a Christmas romance.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Kensington.
I preordered my own and here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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