Unassuming wife who would be happy to keep house in the country while Ian is busy in the Navy Coincidentally this former shipmate happens to have a daughter who perfectly fits the bill Ian arranges a pseudo engagement sight unseen and invites him and his daughter to his home to see if they might fit Ian asks for a quiet unassuming country mouse and that s exactly what he gets in Anne She s so quiet and shy that he literally doesn t even see her when her family arrives They have an auspicious start when Anne overhears Ian contemplating if he can marry someone so very dull and plain. Ian and Anne have to figure out if they can spend the rest of their lives together after getting to know each other for a few short days This was different from many historicals I ve been reading lately Ian and Anne s romance is very reserved and soft The passion and drama in this novella is toned down to almost non existent There is one short sex scene but nothing to write home about Instead you see a very slow unraveling of Anne s personality and Ian s emerging attraction to her If you re a fan of Mary Balogh s early works then this book may be just what you like an ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review English Wonderfully romantic novella Just loved Anne and Pinky Twas three weeks before Christmas.

When not re reading Jane Austen sipping tea or mucking about her garden Elizabeth Essex can be found at her computer making up wonderful stories about people who live far interesting lives than she. Elizabeth EssexIt wasn t always so Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classical Studies and Art History and then earned her MA from Texas AM University in Nautical Archaeology also known as the archaeology of shipwrecks While Elizabeth loved the life of a working archaeologist after writing and reading all those dry dusty reports on ship construction she would daydream about how lovely it would have been if only someone had fallen in love on just one of those ships And so now she writes stories about just that When not re reading Jane Austen sipping tea or mucking about her garden Elizabeth Essex can be found at her computer making up wonderful stories about people who live far interesting lives than she. Elizabeth EssexIt wasn t always so Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classical Studies and Art History and then earned her MA from Texas AM University in Nautical Archaeology also known as the archaeology of shipwrecks While Elizabeth loved the life of a working archaeologist after writing and reading all those dry dusty reports on ship construction she would daydream about how lovely it would have been if only someone had fallen in love on just one of those ships And so now she writes stories about just that. Elizabeth lives in Texas with her family in a house filled to the brim with books site_link It was not very good it was too instalove and lacked plot development Everything happened too fast though it was kind of cute hence the 3 stars English 4. 5 stars You can never ever go wrong with a book or novella by Elizabeth Essex There is substance to her writing It s seductive and oooh so satisfying I adored this novella It s fast paced well written and fun I love novellas like this Ms Essex writes exquisitely and I found myself lusting after Lieutenant Ian Worth He grabbed ahold of my heart and wouldn t let go Who doesn t love a hard rough tough navy guy Seriously The characters are compelling and the storyline is engaging The passion between Ian and Anne is slap your panties to the wall and let them stick hotness It was a while before I could cool down whew I love when characters in a book realize looks aren t always everything Love is good Trust is even better and when you find someone who makes you be honest with yourself every bit of yourself that s a keeper That s why I loved this novella I read several reviews from readers who didn t like it I think they had given up quicker than a fat cop chasing a teenager Read it all the way through ladies You ll be so glad you did. Find a perfect excuse to immense yourself in this story It won t take you long It s escapism at it s finest Do you really need another reason So huzzah for Anne and Ian It s been one heck of an enjoyable read ARC graciously provided by St Martin s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review English ARC received for reviewWhole bunch of sweetness Ian and Anne were both perfect for each other His dad needs to take a long walk off a very short pier English Originally posted HERE. The cover has people on it who actually look like the characters what a rare achievement How do you do I m Ian Worth And you re Anne And I think you re very shy I m going to admit that it took me a full week to get beyond the first page of this book all because of a little tantrum I had at the editors for Americanising the spelling of a place name in England Portsmouth Harbour to Portsmouth Harbor A silly reason but anyway You cannot change the spelling of proper nouns It s so infuriating Though there were some cringe worthy uses of snuck a modern American word and some missing adverbs the story was nowhere near as Americanised as I initially feared. This is a short read and so the romance moves at a very fast pace I m conflicted about this because the story between the two characters was wonderful and I would have much preferred to read about it in a full length book Essex created a heroine who is genuinely shy Not faux shy as most characters are two seconds before becoming sword wielding smart talkers but someone who had to struggle so hard to get her words out Ian had forgotten what it was to feel pity He couldn t afford such a costly emotion in his professional life But his heart ached for her this girl whose expectations of life were so low that he could have so easily and unthinkingly provided her with her heart s desire. The relationship between hero and heroine gets off to a terrible start with hero first assuming the heroine is the maid and then saying dreadful things about her when he thinks she isn t there Oh the angst I love it Things have to move fast to fit into the word count and so all that delicious set up had to be resolved much faster than I wanted I would have loved for our leading lady to have than three days to come out of her shell and become the love of her man s life I ll be on the lookout for by this author Hopefully something longer next time But I m still trying to figure out how Ian knew Anne s name before they were introduced Review copy provided by NetGalley English A very sweet holiday read The Scandal Before Christmas was a wonderful historical romance novella I really enjoyed reading this sweet book Loved it Anne was shy plain and has been painfully aware of her flaws for her entire life That has made her very self conscious Add to that living with an overbearing mother and far too many siblings and Anne never had a chance to be herself So she starts off the book as very timid But over the course of the story she gained confidence and proved that she had her own quiet brand of strength By the end I really liked her I thought she proved herself as a heroine Ian was also wonderful He came off as a bit callous and shallow at first But then we see that he was really sweet and very devoted to those he cared about be it his brother or his maybe fiance I really liked him as well. The romance was super sweet Anne and Ian were so adorable together The romance between them was just absolutely lovely There was a sprinkle of spice but this was a mostly sweet read I thought these two were a perfect couple. The Scandal Before Christmas was a wonderful historical romance I absolutely loved this holiday novella It was fantastic Lovers of romance this is a novella you don t want to miss I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review English First in an exclusive four part e serial by New York Times bestselling Tis the season for a new holiday novella from acclaimed author Elizabeth Essex Romance so good it s scandalous Lieutenant Ian Worth needs a wife by Christmas and he can t afford to be choosy He has to find her woo her and wed her before he goes back to sea all within a matter of days Anne Lesley is a shy spinster with no prospects and nothing and no one to recommend her but her own self She accepts the lieutenant s hasty offer only for the comfort and security it will bring But when a midwinter storm snows her and Ian in they both find they got much than they bargained for laughter light and a Christmas filled with honest to goodness true love The Scandal Before Christmas The Reckless Brides 3. 5 Instant love they are together only three days and this is one of those shy quiet woman who becomes bold and passionate because she finds kisses and sex kind of novella One thing that made this one enjoyable was Pinky Ian s butler valet cook English 3. 5 starsThis was a nice little surprise by a new to me author Elizabeth Essex Lieutenant Ian Worth has a tyrant of a father who has sudden need for his second son Ian s brother Ross has fallen from a horse and is presumably crippled putting the Viscountcy line in jeopardy He demands that Ian find a wife and start creating new heirs Ian who loves his brother and deservedly hates his dad lies and tells him that he s already married He happens to run into a former shipmate and explains he needs a homebody quiet And all through the houseNothing was stirring not even a mouse. By magic and chance he found his true startA wren by perception an eagle at heartAll browns and greys a shy little doveHidden from light a dark little gloveTransformed to splendour when gifted by loveHis spinster bride Anne Lesley by nameIan Worth s lady really anything but tame. Ok the original was going around in my head and I couldn t help myself A NetGalley ARC English First book by this author Plan to read English Lieutenant Ian Worth needs a wife by Christmas so when a former colleague offers him the chance to marry his eldest Anne Lesley Ian agrees Except then Anne turns out to be plain until his burning loins convince him otherwise Anne meanwhile is shy until her burning loins convince her otherwise Add in an abundance of in laws lots of rum and CHRISTMAS and you ve got this. 1 The blurb misled me I had assumed they were married and content to go their separate ways before the snow strands them but it s kind of the opposite they intend to get married before the snow strands them with Ian s rage y father with no way of officializing the relationship A bit disappointing 2 Also disappointing the handling of Anne Her characterization in the first 6 7 chapters was goddamned heart wrenchingly stunning Shy and uncertain and convinced of her own lack of worth UGH But then she gets kissed looks at some porn and is suddenly a talkative bombshell that has no problem putting herself out there Apparently the Magic Penis Cure extends to rum soaked gropings in greenhouses GOOD TO KNOW 3 Ian was an easy shell of a hero Kind of dickish but willing to apologize and change his mind Overall passable but nothing outstanding. 4 Parts of this felt like a slightly longer framework would have worked better see Ian s feelings toward his career and his family Anne s entire character development arc their relationship Instead of feeling natural it felt harried and semi ridiculous. OH RIGHT I REMEMBER 5 NOW Holy bananas did this need a solid editing to fix the MULTITUDES of consistency errors Like characters getting naked in between paragraphs apparently And boots disappearing into the ether And cyclical feeling plosions Very messy English

The Scandal Before Christmas (The Reckless Brides, #3.5) By Elizabeth Essex

1466843020

9781466843028

English

139

ebook

.

. I ve never read anything by this author before but I thoroughly enjoyed this Regency novella and now realise I really enjoy the way Elizabeth Essex writes: The plot was well paced I was hooked the entire way through I really enjoyed this sweet story and the ending was just lovely, The fire it crackled a comforting soundI grabbed a hot chocolate and a novella I d found. Excitingly romantic a handsome young houndOrdered to marry he circled aroundA navel lieutenant a younger sonSuddenly found he was the one. Viscount in waiting he was to beHe stood his ground wanting to flee: He plotted a near treacherous courseDown a path he was protestingly forced, The answer he puzzled and wrestled and foughtTo do not what he wanted but just what he aught: Assisted by Pinky valet and friendSailed into safe harbour right at the end. A wondrous read a sunshine a rayOf romance and pleasure that lightened my day apologies to Clement Clarke Moore The Night Before Christmas 1822