Set at Castle Keyvnor KISSED AT CHRISTMAS includes three
holiday love stories. Bound by a Christmastide Moon
sees Silas Anson unexpectedly becoming the eighth Earl of
Lichfield. Finding his estate in debt he takes his
solicitor's advice and arranges a marriage with Lady
Mallory Hughes, the daughter of a Marquess with a
substantial dowry. He travels to Bocka Morrow to meet his
betrothed, and as they start to form a mutual attraction,
and attend a Yule ball, Silas' family matters and
Mallory's unusual gift will either see them pulled together
or torn apart. Once Upon a Midnight Clear sees Michael Beck,
a younger son, in need of his own income traveling to Castel
Keyvnor to settle some bets. He finds Lady Ivy Dallimore, a
woman determined to marry only a man with a title. However,
their attraction is instant, and as terrible mischief making
starts being played on Ivy and Michael it may take a
Christmas miracle to keep them alive and in love. The
Sweetest Christmas sees Lady Marjorie Hambly matchmaking
for her cousin who's desperate to find her own husband.
While Marjorie never wants to marry she understands her
cousin's need to and tries to make a match with Sir William
Crandall. However, after being snowed into a maze,
terrorized by ghosts, and kissing under Christmas mistletoe
Marjorie realizes William might be her perfect match after all.
KISSED AT CHRISTMAS is a delightful historical romance
anthology with three charming holiday stories with unique
elements of ghosts and a haunted castle. The setting of
Castle Keyvnor is eerie, and the garden maze, and
surrounding areas help to bring the setting to life. Bound
by a Christmastide Moon by Christina McKnight is the first
story in the anthology. Silas is a charismatic hero readers
will enjoy from the first chapter. He has an unusual
backstory, and this helps to add some complexity to his
character. Mallory is a heroine with the unique gift of
seeing into the future, which will cause conflict and create
the climax of the story. She is vulnerable but determined
making her a heroine romance readers will love. Mallory's
Aunt Hettie is an entertaining secondary character as is
Peabody, and McKnight's plot moves along at a quick and
easy pace. With a Yule ball, Christmas confessions, a rakish
twin, and unreliable visions of the future Bound by a
Christmastide Moon will be a favorite holiday read for
romance lovers.
Once Upon a Midnight Clear by Ava Stone is the second
story in the anthology. Michael is a determined and witty
hero, and his desire to go into trade gives him a unique
quality readers will find endearing. Ivy is a stubborn
heroine who, at times seem rather stuck up, but unbends
throughout the story making her well-rounded and an
enjoyable heroine. The chemistry between Michael and Ivy is
undeniable and makes for a wonderfully magical Christmas
story. The pirate ghost and Beck's relations help to paint
a fuller picture of Michael and Ivy's story, and Stone adds
some unexpected plot twists to liven up the story. Once Upon
a Midnight Clear is a successfully written Christmas jaunt.
The Sweetest Christmas by Michelle Willingham
finishes this holiday anthology. While a short story,
Willingham is able to give William a full, and well-rounded
personality that readers will find irresistible. His caring
nature and good humor will easily win any romance reader
over. Marjorie is compassionate and kind to her family
making her an endearing heroine, and she is also
strong-willed with the unique character trait of loving
desserts. The ghosts play a larger role in this story, as
Marjorie is acquainted with many of them, and the Tudor
ghost becomes a witty and amusing secondary character.
Adding in some mistletoe, a matchmaking scheme gone awry,
meddling ghosts, and a mischief-making ghost who overcooks
gingerbread will have readers smiling and laughing
throughout this Christmas adventure. My favorite of the
three stories, The Sweetest Christmas, has the right balance
of romance and amusement that perfectly finishes this
holiday collection, and romance readers won't want to miss
KISSED AT CHRISTMAS.
The Earl and Countess of Banfield cordially request your
attendance at the wedding for their daughters: Lady Tamsyn
Hambly to Mr. Gryffyn Cardew, & Lady Morgan Hambly to
Harold Mort, Viscount Blackwater, on the 24th day of
December, 1811, at Castle Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall.KISSED AT CHRISTMAS includes:
Christina McKnight's Bound By the Christmastide Moon
Silas Anson has spent his life dealing with other people’s
mistakes. Now, as the Earl of Lichfield, he has a plan that
will protect his siblings, and give him a chance at a normal
life. His arranged marriage to Mallory Hughes should be
perfect—except for one thing: she sees visions of the
future. When a man determined to free himself from the
shackles of the past marries a woman with precognition,
happiness in the present may be just a kiss under the
Christmastide moon away.
Ava Stone's Once Upon a Midnight Clear
Only a duke will do for Lady Ivy Dallimore. If her unhappily
married sisters have taught her anything, it’s that love is
fleeting but a title lasts forever, which is all well and
good in theory until she finds herself falling for the
scandalous third son of a marquess who is bound and
determined to make his fortune in trade! Lord Michael Beck
courts scandal, living life to the fullest and dabbling in
games of chance. Unfortunately, he’s neither heir nor spare
to his father’s title, and the time has come to enter a
profession. Michael is no soldier, and he certainly isn’t
cut out for the cloth, so he embarks on the most scandalous
and risky venture of his life. He will need capital,
however, and collecting a number of outstanding gambling
debts at a Christmas Eve wedding at Castle Keyvnor seems
like the perfect place to start, at least until he stumbles
across the lady of his dreams. But what are the odds the
practiced gambler can win the girl without losing everything
he's worked for?
Michelle Willingham's The Sweetest Christmas
Lady Marjorie despises the idea of marriage. After being
engaged to a man who tried to command every aspect of her
life, from what she wore to what she ate, she refuses to
consider matrimony again. Though she isn’t at all opposed to
playing matchmaker for her cousin… Sir William Crandall is
startled when Lady Marjorie believes he is a shy, withdrawn
knight in need of a wife. He has nothing at all in common
with her bluestocking cousin, but he is fascinated by the
spirited Lady Marjorie. Despite her attempts at matchmaking,
he intends to avoid marriage at all costs, after being
abandoned at the altar. But a stolen kiss, a feast of
gingerbread, and two unexpected friends find that there is
magic in the Christmas holiday and a match that neither of
them expected…