Author: Grace Burrowes
Series: Windham #4, The Duke's Daughters #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Print ARC
No. of Pages: 391
No. of Pages: 391
Date of Publication: April 2, 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.
BUT SOPHIE'S HOLIDAY IS ABOUT TO HEAT UP...
With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits--but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened.
It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true...
MY THOUGHTS:
Lady Sophie Windham is soon to join her family for Christmas in Kent. However, she decides to take a few days for herself. In so doing, she runs across an abandoned baby and finds herself assisted by Vim Charpentier. Vim is also headed to Kent, and he is none too pleased about it. When Vim realizes that Sophie has no idea how to care for the baby, he offers his assistance.
Vim is quite drawn to Sophie, but he thinks she must be a cook or a maid so he focuses on the baby, Kit. It does not take long for both Sophie and Vim to fall in love with the little fellow. There are several problems, however. For starters, they should not be alone in the mansion where they are currently staying. Furthermore, neither Vim nor Sophie know of each other's true identity. During their time together they engage in serious conversations and Vim slowly begins to share painful memories with Sophie.
Meanwhile, Sophie knows that her three brothers will be arriving soon, and, for reasons that are very important to her, she is keeping secrets from Vim. Sophie finds herself in a sensitive predicament. Not only has she fallen in love with Kit, she may just have fallen in love with Vim. Sophie is holding out for true love, nothing less, so she struggles to hide her feelings from Vim.
I love that this story centered around Kit. He was a a delight and proved to be the catalyst behind what happens for Sophie and Vim. How wonderful for the author to use such a young character in such an influential way. This book started off remarkably well and shaped into a warm and affecting romance.
Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish is a re-release and that makes me quite happy. Otherwise, I am not sure that I would have known of this book or this series. I have read books by Grace Burrowes before and I definitely enjoy her writing. Being able to grab this book, all while anticipating the rest of the series, was truly wonderful.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Then I became a mom—much to my surprise—and small town lawyering seemed like a better fit with a single parent’s priorities. Through all of my ups and downs, detours and speedbumps, I’d been a relentless reader of romance. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Judith Ivory, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James… I could fill this page with the authors I’ve read and enjoyed. I consider them the fairy godmothers who’ve guarded my single-working-mom sanity.
Late one night, I was cramming on a lawyer-deadline, drafting some Motion to Do Something Or Other Right Now Please Your Honor, when I recalled that in my briefcase was a book I’d been saving to read on a hard day.
“One chapter,” I muttered. “I’ll read just one chapter, and then knock out this motion…” But another thought kept intruding as I read that one chapter, “I bet I could…”
So… I wrote a romance novel. That book became Gareth: Lord of Rakes, and opened the door to the sheer bliss of writing historical romance. I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote… my writing chair became my happy place, though I still had no thought that I might someday become a published author. My Beloved Offspring flew the coop, and the writing only picked up speed.
I am the sixth out of seven children, and from all sides (my four brothers in particular), I heard, “When are you going to get that stuff published?” As if publishing contracts droppeth from the heavens like the gentle rain? And yet… I’m a child welfare attorney. That’s a tough gig, and I could see the day when I might want an alternative.
I joined RWA, like dipping a casual toe in the waters of authordom when nobody was looking. I went to a chapter conference and felt completely out of place. Nonetheless, I bumped into an editor there, and the query letter resulting from that encounter began: “I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing—and if that doesn’t narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought.” (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
We started with the Windham family, eventually doubled back and picked up Gareth and his successors in the Lonely Lords series, scooted over to the Victorian Highlands for the MacGregor quartet… whole lotta authordom going on!
Somewhere along the way, I realized that I am a writer. That chair before my computer is still very much my happy place, and the professional version of “once upon a time,” is every bit as alluring and enjoyable as the childhood version. I owe my reader so many hours of joy, and the only way I can think to repay that gift is by writing more stories!
Please feel free to contact me. I love reader mail!
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