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The Christmas Heiress
A Season To Remember...
For Charlotte Aldridge, Christmas's arrival means anything but warmth and cheer. Only a few holidays ago, she fell in love with handsome Edward Barringer, the peer both their families were hoping she would marry. But Edward not only turned his back on his noble name, he also turned his back on Charlotte. Rejected and heartbroken, she made a new life for herself and vowed to put the past behind her. But now Edward has returned to the English countryside for the holidays. And Charlotte is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her heart forever out of harm's way...
A Love To Reclaim...
Edward Barringer can't believe it... the pretty - but - frivolous Charlotte has grown into a fascinating woman. He never meant to break her heart all those years ago, but he was determined to earn his fortune rather than marry it. But now, he's become completely captivated by the alluring and passionate young woman Charlotte has become. And he's willing to risk all he has to prove the love between them is for now - and all the seasons to come...
For Charlotte Aldridge, Christmas's arrival means anything but warmth and cheer. Only a few holidays ago, she fell in love with handsome Edward Barringer, the peer both their families were hoping she would marry. But Edward not only turned his back on his noble name, he also turned his back on Charlotte. Rejected and heartbroken, she made a new life for herself and vowed to put the past behind her. But now Edward has returned to the English countryside for the holidays. And Charlotte is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her heart forever out of harm's way...
A Love To Reclaim...
Edward Barringer can't believe it... the pretty - but - frivolous Charlotte has grown into a fascinating woman. He never meant to break her heart all those years ago, but he was determined to earn his fortune rather than marry it. But now, he's become completely captivated by the alluring and passionate young woman Charlotte has become. And he's willing to risk all he has to prove the love between them is for now - and all the seasons to come...
380 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
24 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Basso
29 books242 followersBetween stints as a corporate financial analyst, marketing consultant and public librarian, Adrienne Basso has parlayed her vivid imagination and desire to tell romantic stories into a twenty-four-year writing career. She has published contemporary, Regency, Victorian, vampire, and Scottish medieval romance novels. She enjoys the challenge of creating stories that emphasize the everlasting power of love and is truly delighted that her characters always achieve the fantasy of living happily ever after. A native New Yorker, Adrienne, her husband, and their incomparable dog now live in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 25, 2024
This book did not need to be nearly 400 pages.
Despite being overly long, I did enjoy this book. The main couple was cute and I liked them both. There was no dubious consent and the sex scenes weren't too long. I did prefer the secondary couple tho. They were just too sweet. I also loved the main female characters uncle, he's adorable and I want only the best for him.
I'll probably read another Christmas Romance and then return to dark and depressing reads to raise my spirits.
If you like old school Romance than I think you'll enjoy this one.
Despite being overly long, I did enjoy this book. The main couple was cute and I liked them both. There was no dubious consent and the sex scenes weren't too long. I did prefer the secondary couple tho. They were just too sweet. I also loved the main female characters uncle, he's adorable and I want only the best for him.
I'll probably read another Christmas Romance and then return to dark and depressing reads to raise my spirits.
If you like old school Romance than I think you'll enjoy this one.
November 10, 2017
Another win in my HOHOHO readathon. This is a 2nd chance romance that's done really well.
The story starts with Charlotte who's a 17 year old who just had her 1st Season. She and her grandfather are visiting family friends for the winter holidays. Her grandfather hopes she'll like their friend's oldest son and they'll marry. Charlotte is open to the suggestion and when she meets Edward she has nothing against the idea. Unfortunately Edward doesn't want to marry yet, he's 23 and wants to start a business because the family coffers aren't doing well. They spend time together, kiss, and Charlotte is already making plans for a wedding, but Edward is opposed.
Fast-forward 6 years, Edward is jilted a week before his marriage(to another girl) and is coerced into returning home for the holidays. Unknown to both of them, Charlotte is also there. A lovely story of second chances and forgiveness ensures.
It has everything a Christmas book should have: traditions, fun, banter, reconciliations and holiday cheer.
The story starts with Charlotte who's a 17 year old who just had her 1st Season. She and her grandfather are visiting family friends for the winter holidays. Her grandfather hopes she'll like their friend's oldest son and they'll marry. Charlotte is open to the suggestion and when she meets Edward she has nothing against the idea. Unfortunately Edward doesn't want to marry yet, he's 23 and wants to start a business because the family coffers aren't doing well. They spend time together, kiss, and Charlotte is already making plans for a wedding, but Edward is opposed.
Fast-forward 6 years, Edward is jilted a week before his marriage(to another girl) and is coerced into returning home for the holidays. Unknown to both of them, Charlotte is also there. A lovely story of second chances and forgiveness ensures.
It has everything a Christmas book should have: traditions, fun, banter, reconciliations and holiday cheer.
January 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this Christmas read. Hot and steamy. The only real issue I had with the book is that the first three chapters illustrate how spoiled and immature the heroine is, and she really is a willful brat. In my opinion, the author did too good of a job making her unlikeable because I questioned if I even wanted to continue reading. Chapter 4 picks up six years later and I noted on a sticky note to just start there if/when I reread it. I really enjoyed the rest of the book after I shook off the first three chapters, hence the higher rating.
So do I recommend this book? Absolutely. It's great! Just start at chapter 4.
So do I recommend this book? Absolutely. It's great! Just start at chapter 4.
October 14, 2018
03-141018
To be completely honest, it was meh. I was disappointed because Jonathan and Evelyn’s love story overshadowed Edward and Charlotte’s. They are secondary characters and their love story is much enjoyable than the main characters. Edward and Charlotte’s love story? At first it was okay then it turned straight downhill when she decided she wanted Edward to bed her. Ugh.
I know sex before marriage in a common thing in modern days but back then, I know there were some who did it but at least can it be in traditional way? If I wanted to read carnal go kinky naughty I could pick an erotic historical romance yeah.
If it’s true people back then look down upon people were doing commerce, well they were a fool. Only if these people could live till this day they would shocked to boot! Ok done ranting bye.
To be completely honest, it was meh. I was disappointed because Jonathan and Evelyn’s love story overshadowed Edward and Charlotte’s. They are secondary characters and their love story is much enjoyable than the main characters. Edward and Charlotte’s love story? At first it was okay then it turned straight downhill when she decided she wanted Edward to bed her. Ugh.
I know sex before marriage in a common thing in modern days but back then, I know there were some who did it but at least can it be in traditional way? If I wanted to read carnal go kinky naughty I could pick an erotic historical romance yeah.
If it’s true people back then look down upon people were doing commerce, well they were a fool. Only if these people could live till this day they would shocked to boot! Ok done ranting bye.
May 30, 2022
I really enjoy Adrienne Basso’s Christmas themed historical romance novels. They bring past Christmas traditions to life while telling beautiful romance stories. This story in particular grabbed my attention from the get go and kept it. There is steam throughout with a few sex scenes. The authors descriptions paint a beautiful picture in my imagination without being overly descriptive in the way some HR authors tend to do. I definitely recommend this light Christmas themed historical romance.
October 5, 2017
Got through 36% and had to stop. I felt like the plot and characters were poorly developed. It was especially obvious when Miss Montgomery/Jonathan relationship sprung up without any warning. Conversations were stilted and long winded.
May 15, 2019
As dull as dishwater. I think this must truly be the most boring novel I have ever read. I jumped through most of it. Even the end was dull. Sorry Adrienno Basso but I cannot say that this book was even worth opening never mind actually reading.
August 21, 2019
BORING!!!
June 6, 2020
Charlotte's heart was broken once years ago. Now that Edward Barringer has returned, she'll protect herself and not let him break her heart again.
December 31, 2022
Entertaining
November 27, 2010
From the back cover:
A season to remember...
For Charlotte Aldridge, Christmas's arrival means anything but warmth and cheer. Only a few holidays ago, she fell in love with handsome Edward Barringer, the peer both families were hoping she would marry. But Edward not only turned his back on his noble name, he also turned his back on Charlotte. Rejected and heartbroken, she made a new life for herself and vowed to put the past behind her. But now Edward has returned to the English countryside for the holidays. And Charlotte is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her heart forever out of harm's way...
A love to reclaim...
Edward Barringer can't believe it...the pretty-but-frivolous Charlotte had grown into a fascinating woman. He never meant to break her heart all those years ago, but he was determined to earn his fortune rather than marry it. But now, he's completely captivated by the alluring and passionate young woman Charlotte has become. And he's willing to risk all he has to prove the love between them is for now--and all the seasons to come...
And my review:
I love Christmas romance, and I love reconcillation stories, so I thought this book would be a good match for me. It was okay, but nothing stellar.
I really felt that there was no love lost between these two. One passionate kiss and they're in love? It just didn't feel real, especially when it was clear that the hero thought of the heroine as nothing more than a spoiled child (I didn't find her so). The heroine's love for the hero felt like nothing more than a girlish crush. Part of the reason I didn't feel like these two were in love was the author hadn't made it clear why they should be in love with one another, because there was very little character development. I didn't feel like I really knew who Charlotte and Edward were beyond their surface descriptions, and why they should be together besides their mutual good looks and their families' expectations.
So when they were parted, I felt not much sorrow, because I didn't feel these two were really meant to be together. Honestly, I thought that the hero's brother Jonathan was a better match for Charlotte. They had more wit and chemistry together than Charlotte and Edward did. As another reviewer has said, the story lost a lot of momentum after Edward and Charlotte made love and decided to get married, which happened about halfway through the story. The dance of attraction, the "do you love me?" "do I love you?", and the wondering if they will end up together is my favorite part of a romance novel, yet the author really rushed through it.
Also, the reader has to suspend believability a bit that the hero would have willingly gone into trade, something no aristocrat would have done in those days. He would have been completely rejected from society, no matter what spin his mother tried to put on it. I liked that the hero wasn't the spoiled fat cat many people were in those days, but it was still hard to swallow that he would have willingly worked unless he'd had no other option for money.
The secondary romance of Jonathan and Evelyn (the mother's companion) felt a little tacked on and rushed as well. They are already in love by the time their story starts, so the reader never gets to see the falling in love part of their relationship, only the obstacles in the way of their happy ending. I felt a little short-changed that the dance of attraction I mentioned earlier was also missing in the secondary romance. I think it probably deserved its own book so that it could have been properly developed, or should have been left out altogether.
This book had its moments, but it was never a can't-put-it-down read or one for my keeper shelf, as it never engaged my emotions. Borrow this one from the library if you still want to read it, but there are better Christmas romances out there.
A season to remember...
For Charlotte Aldridge, Christmas's arrival means anything but warmth and cheer. Only a few holidays ago, she fell in love with handsome Edward Barringer, the peer both families were hoping she would marry. But Edward not only turned his back on his noble name, he also turned his back on Charlotte. Rejected and heartbroken, she made a new life for herself and vowed to put the past behind her. But now Edward has returned to the English countryside for the holidays. And Charlotte is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her heart forever out of harm's way...
A love to reclaim...
Edward Barringer can't believe it...the pretty-but-frivolous Charlotte had grown into a fascinating woman. He never meant to break her heart all those years ago, but he was determined to earn his fortune rather than marry it. But now, he's completely captivated by the alluring and passionate young woman Charlotte has become. And he's willing to risk all he has to prove the love between them is for now--and all the seasons to come...
And my review:
I love Christmas romance, and I love reconcillation stories, so I thought this book would be a good match for me. It was okay, but nothing stellar.
I really felt that there was no love lost between these two. One passionate kiss and they're in love? It just didn't feel real, especially when it was clear that the hero thought of the heroine as nothing more than a spoiled child (I didn't find her so). The heroine's love for the hero felt like nothing more than a girlish crush. Part of the reason I didn't feel like these two were in love was the author hadn't made it clear why they should be in love with one another, because there was very little character development. I didn't feel like I really knew who Charlotte and Edward were beyond their surface descriptions, and why they should be together besides their mutual good looks and their families' expectations.
So when they were parted, I felt not much sorrow, because I didn't feel these two were really meant to be together. Honestly, I thought that the hero's brother Jonathan was a better match for Charlotte. They had more wit and chemistry together than Charlotte and Edward did. As another reviewer has said, the story lost a lot of momentum after Edward and Charlotte made love and decided to get married, which happened about halfway through the story. The dance of attraction, the "do you love me?" "do I love you?", and the wondering if they will end up together is my favorite part of a romance novel, yet the author really rushed through it.
Also, the reader has to suspend believability a bit that the hero would have willingly gone into trade, something no aristocrat would have done in those days. He would have been completely rejected from society, no matter what spin his mother tried to put on it. I liked that the hero wasn't the spoiled fat cat many people were in those days, but it was still hard to swallow that he would have willingly worked unless he'd had no other option for money.
The secondary romance of Jonathan and Evelyn (the mother's companion) felt a little tacked on and rushed as well. They are already in love by the time their story starts, so the reader never gets to see the falling in love part of their relationship, only the obstacles in the way of their happy ending. I felt a little short-changed that the dance of attraction I mentioned earlier was also missing in the secondary romance. I think it probably deserved its own book so that it could have been properly developed, or should have been left out altogether.
This book had its moments, but it was never a can't-put-it-down read or one for my keeper shelf, as it never engaged my emotions. Borrow this one from the library if you still want to read it, but there are better Christmas romances out there.
December 31, 2008
Love story not that compelling.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews