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A Christmas Courtship
The Strong-Minded Miss
Beautiful Blanche Amberley knew whom she loved. The lucky gentleman was Antony Mortimer, a banker's son who offered her not only his heart and hand, but also a life of wealth and ease.
Miss Amberley also knew whom she thoroughly disliked. That object of her instant aversion was Sir Edmund Brandon. Blanche was quite immune to the good looks and gallantry that made this arrogant blueblood the most eligible lord in the realm.
But then, as Christmas approached, Cupid gave Miss Blanche Amberley a gift that came as a most shocking surprise....
Beautiful Blanche Amberley knew whom she loved. The lucky gentleman was Antony Mortimer, a banker's son who offered her not only his heart and hand, but also a life of wealth and ease.
Miss Amberley also knew whom she thoroughly disliked. That object of her instant aversion was Sir Edmund Brandon. Blanche was quite immune to the good looks and gallantry that made this arrogant blueblood the most eligible lord in the realm.
But then, as Christmas approached, Cupid gave Miss Blanche Amberley a gift that came as a most shocking surprise....
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 4, 1990
24 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Heath
87 books24 followersSandra Heath is the ever-popular author of numerous Regencies, historical romances, novellas, and short stories. Among other honors, she has won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards for Best Regency Author and for Best Regency Romance. She lives in Gloucester, England, and can be contacted at sandraheath@bluey onder.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 22, 2014
When Blanche Amberley first met Sir Edmund Brandon it was loathe-at-first-sight. Sir Edmund had bought the Amberley family estate when her father had capitulated to dire financial issues. Somewhat unfairly, Blanche considered Brandon the enemy.
Sir Edmund was a wounded soldier and had been searching for peace in his life. He had recently considered marriage and was seeing Lady Hetherington. She was lovely to look at but had a nasty and vicious temperament. Up to this point, she had done a wonderful job of keeping it under cover.
Blanche was also considering marriage but to the local banker's son. Antony Mortimer was good-looking and a smooth talker but I sensed he was a shady character. Blanche was initially unaware of his many deals that were under the table.
This traditional regency had a fair amount of suspense. Blanche and Edmund went full-circle with their feelings. When push came to shove, Edmund was both judicious and fair. Deprived of his assistance, Blanche would have been up the creek without a paddle.
A CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP was a clean romance that shared a villain and a villainess. These nasty reprobates did a decent job causing chaotic disorder to the Amberley household. With a brother on the run, the military giving chase and various characters with no redeeming qualities, this historical fiction had something for everyone.
Sir Edmund was a wounded soldier and had been searching for peace in his life. He had recently considered marriage and was seeing Lady Hetherington. She was lovely to look at but had a nasty and vicious temperament. Up to this point, she had done a wonderful job of keeping it under cover.
Blanche was also considering marriage but to the local banker's son. Antony Mortimer was good-looking and a smooth talker but I sensed he was a shady character. Blanche was initially unaware of his many deals that were under the table.
This traditional regency had a fair amount of suspense. Blanche and Edmund went full-circle with their feelings. When push came to shove, Edmund was both judicious and fair. Deprived of his assistance, Blanche would have been up the creek without a paddle.
A CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP was a clean romance that shared a villain and a villainess. These nasty reprobates did a decent job causing chaotic disorder to the Amberley household. With a brother on the run, the military giving chase and various characters with no redeeming qualities, this historical fiction had something for everyone.
December 28, 2008
Beautiful Blanche Amberley knew whom she loved. The lucky gentleman was Antony Mortimer, a banker's son who offered her not only his heart and hand, but also a life of wealth and ease.
Miss Amberley also knew whom she thoroughly disliked. That object of her instant aversion was Sir Edmund Brandon. Blanche was quite immune to the good looks and gallantry that made this arrogant blueblood the most eligible lord in the realm.
But then, as Christmas approached, Cupid gave Miss Blanche Amberley a gift that came as a most shocking surprise...
A really nice story with sensible characters that reads almost more as a mystery with strong romantic elements than a true romance but it perfectly suited my tastes.
I did find the back blurb a bit misleading. Although Miss Amberley doesn’t particularly like Sir Edmund Brandon (the why is never fully explained), all their meetings are perfectly civil. In the beginning she is love with Antony Mortimer yes and disposed to convince her father to agree to a match between them when everyone warns her that the match won’t be a good one. We are introduced early also to Sir Edmund’s betrothed who reveals herself as a very nasty woman and surely not a potential good wife.
But what moves the plot forward is the fact that Blanche Amberley’s brother will be wrongfully accused of a theft and Blanche tries to discover how to clear her brother’s name. Mortimer starts to reveal his true colours when he demands that Blanche repudiates her brother and their relationship ends. At the same time Sir Edmund keeps showing his respect and appreciation for Blanche and her father and she can’t help but start to develop some feelings for him.
It’s soon apparent that Jonathan Amberley is being set up by none other than a fellow officer and that all is not what it seems and Sir Edmund will play a part in solving her brother’s situation.
Although I enjoyed it very much there were two details that that could have made it a better book – Blanche and Sir Edmund don’t spend all that much time together and I think that could have made their connection stronger and the ending just wraps up too quickly. I wanted more time with them assuming their feelings and speaking of their past and future.
Grade: 4/5
Miss Amberley also knew whom she thoroughly disliked. That object of her instant aversion was Sir Edmund Brandon. Blanche was quite immune to the good looks and gallantry that made this arrogant blueblood the most eligible lord in the realm.
But then, as Christmas approached, Cupid gave Miss Blanche Amberley a gift that came as a most shocking surprise...
A really nice story with sensible characters that reads almost more as a mystery with strong romantic elements than a true romance but it perfectly suited my tastes.
I did find the back blurb a bit misleading. Although Miss Amberley doesn’t particularly like Sir Edmund Brandon (the why is never fully explained), all their meetings are perfectly civil. In the beginning she is love with Antony Mortimer yes and disposed to convince her father to agree to a match between them when everyone warns her that the match won’t be a good one. We are introduced early also to Sir Edmund’s betrothed who reveals herself as a very nasty woman and surely not a potential good wife.
But what moves the plot forward is the fact that Blanche Amberley’s brother will be wrongfully accused of a theft and Blanche tries to discover how to clear her brother’s name. Mortimer starts to reveal his true colours when he demands that Blanche repudiates her brother and their relationship ends. At the same time Sir Edmund keeps showing his respect and appreciation for Blanche and her father and she can’t help but start to develop some feelings for him.
It’s soon apparent that Jonathan Amberley is being set up by none other than a fellow officer and that all is not what it seems and Sir Edmund will play a part in solving her brother’s situation.
Although I enjoyed it very much there were two details that that could have made it a better book – Blanche and Sir Edmund don’t spend all that much time together and I think that could have made their connection stronger and the ending just wraps up too quickly. I wanted more time with them assuming their feelings and speaking of their past and future.
Grade: 4/5
January 24, 2025
Romantic intrigue of changing feelings, partners and balckmail and manipulation in the days leading to Christmas near Amberly Court.
November 15, 2010
I have to admit,"Christmas themed" historical romances are a guilty pleasure of mine.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews