Mistletoe, Mischief, and the Marquis

I really like reading Amelia's books. I grab every one I can find. She writes good story lines and gives us some real characters. This story is set just before Christmas. Seth is still getting over the deaths of his sister and her husband. Spoiler. He now has the care of his two nephews, Fallon and Heron. Spoiler. He comes across Lillian playing with the boys outside in the snow. Seth blows up and yells at her because they were outside. He finds himself falling for her but while she wants him she won't marry a man who is a stiff. He is Power and gets what he wants. He learns a hard lesson. I like the short read here. I would recommend this book to read. Check it out. Don't let it get away! I have volunteered to read and review this book.

A short novella set in the world of the Heirs’ Club is the focus of this story, with a rather outspoken and immature heroine doing her best to shake up Seth’s world.

Guardian of his nephews who lost both parents and governess to illness after exposure to the cold, Seth is hypervigilant that the boys (ages 5 and 7) are not exposed to such dangers. But, the house party brings him face to face (and snowball) with Lillian, as she is playing with the boys outside. The interplay between the two, full of lustful thoughts, harsh words and Lillian’s demanding and often interfering “I Know Best” attitude rankles, and justifiably so.

Seth has his reasons for worry, and he is the children’s’ guardian, so Lilian is stepping far beyond her remit, and her seeming determination to disagree with any of Seth’s choices does, at first, seem a bit cheeky and playful. Unfortunately, that quickly runs to annoying. She’s wholly without foresight or consideration of consequences to the children, or Seth’s wishes. And this back and forth is set as the stage for their attraction and connection.

Oh sure, they are well-suited, and some of Seth’s demands and expectations for the boys’ care and behavior are over the top, but he’s justified in them based on his own fears and grief. While the background of the why was clearly set, there wasn’t much development of Seth and his personality. With Lillian, she is obstreperous and immature, without the ability to empathize with anyone who doesn’t share her view that life should be fun. It was interesting to watch these two, but such a divergence from the earlier books in this series that it never quite seemed to fit.

A read best chosen without expectations of the flair or development from the earlier titles, it’s a simple diversion read, suitable for a quick escape in this busy season.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.