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MY NEW RELEASE REVIEW of

The Red Hot Earl

Love is All Around, Book #1

by Darcy Burke

File Size: 2832 KB

Print Length: 133 pages

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Publisher: Darcy Burke Publishing

Publication Date: September 24, 2019

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

ASIN: B07XKWDRB9

Buy Now:

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Kobo

Read an Excerpt

 

Synopsis:

The Earl of Buckleigh was once an untitled misfit, tormented at Oxford. Now, he’s overcome his challenges and is eager for the future, especially when his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca, needs help to save the annual holiday party. Ash has a plan to rescue the event, but when the bullies from his youth are up to their old tricks, he must risk everything to put the past behind him and find true love.

Furious when her brother refuses to host the St. Stephen’s Day party, Lady Bianca Stafford is committed to giving the villagers their celebration. In Ash, she sees salvation for their local tradition, and perhaps a future she never expected. But her brother has other plans for her—a Season and marriage, and not to Ash. When disaster strikes, everything she cares about is threatened and it will take a miracle—or a hero—to save the day.

The Red Hot Earl is inspired by the song and story, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Be sure to check out the Red Hot Earl version of the song on my website at darcyburke.com!

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables comes a Christmas Regency series! Don’t miss these holiday classics retold with love, passion, and heart.

Book One: The Red Hot Earl
Book Two: The Gift of the Marquess
Book Three: Joy to the Duke

My Thoughts:

Lady Bianca Stafford is furious when her brother refuses to host the St. Stephen’s Day party. This is a family tradition after all and she must convince him to continue to sponsor the event for their friends and neighbors.

Ash, Earl of Buckleigh was once an untitled misfit. Tormented at Oxford, now he’s overcome his challenges and is eager for the future with the girl who was his best friend during his time of agony.
When his oldest and dearest friend, Bianca, needs help to save the annual holiday party. Ash has a plan to rescue the event, but can he overcome the tricks of the bullies from his childhood.

In Ash, Bianca sees salvation for their local tradition, and perhaps a future she never expected. Except her brother has other plans which do not include her happily ever after with Ash.

This short read is very well written but although it is surrounded by the Christmas season and all of it’s revelries it just doesn’t feel like a Christmas tale. 
I read it in one sitting and loved the hero and heroine. I also developed a dislike for most of the other characters.

I didn’t get the Rudolph the red nosed reindeer inspiration though. It just didn’t resonate that way to me.
I gave this first book in this series 4 of 5 stars for story line and character development.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to read.
This in no way affected my opinion of this story which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

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MY NEW RELEASE REVIEW of

The Merry Viscount

Widow’s Brew #2

by Sally MacKenzie

File Size: 2064 KB

Print Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Zebra Books

Publication Date: September 24, 2019

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

Language: English

ASIN: B07MRD4BGD

BUY THE E-BOOK

    

The “fallen” ladies of Puddledon Manor’s Benevolent Home are determined to rise above scandal—and forge a sparkling new future operating their own brewery and alehouse…

With Christmas around the corner, Miss Caroline Anderson hoped to persuade a London tavern owner to carry the Home’s Widow’s Brew—only to discover the dastard was more interested in her ankles than her ale! To her further annoyance, her stagecoach back to Little Puddledon is waylaid by louts and a snow-covered ditch. Amid a nasty storm, Caro seeks shelter at a nearby estate—only to be greeted by Viscount Oakland, aka Nick, her brother’s childhood friend—and her schoolgirl crush. Now he’s the half-dressed host of what is clearly a holiday bacchanal. Still, his house is irresistibly warm.

Ever the free spirit, Nick has invited the wilder gentleman of the ton, and an assortment of London’s lightskirts, to celebrate Christmas in a more traditional, pagan fashion. So he’s surprised to find Caro at his door. Now, with a blizzard raging, he must take her in—despite his fear she won’t take to his guests, and worse, upend his party. But she may surprise him—and upend his life. 

My Thoughts:

With Christmas around the corner, Miss Caroline Anderson hoped to persuade a London tavern owner to carry the Home’s Widow’s Brew—only to discover the dastard was more interested in her ankles than her ale! To her further annoyance, her stagecoach back to Little Puddledon is waylaid by louts and a snow-covered ditch. Amid a nasty storm, Caro seeks shelter at a nearby estate—only to be greeted by Viscount Oakland, aka Nick, her brother’s childhood friend—and her schoolgirl crush. 

Ever the free spirit, Nick has invited the wilder gentlemen of the ton, and an assortment of London’s light skirts, to celebrate Christmas in a more traditional, pagan fashion. He’s surprised to find a young lady at his door who seems familiar but he can’t seem to place where he knows her from. Caro knows right away who Nick is and with a blizzard raging, she hopes he will take her and her fellow passengers in, in spite of his fears they won’t take to his other guests, and worse, upend his party. 
However Caro may surprise him—and upend his life instead.

This is another delightful Sally MacKenzie novel. The Merry Viscount (The Widow’s Brew Series Book 2) like all of the books situated in Little Puddleton is an excellent and humorous read. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

This book has an unusual assortment of characters that blend together to make this book a joy to read.

I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for story line and characterization. 
I received a complimentary digital ARC to read from Zebra Books via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

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