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nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
A Christmas Promise had a good premise with interesting main characters and a myriad of secondary characters who, to be honest, I clumped together. I enjoyed, maybe not the best word, Ellie and Randolph's exchanges, even when they were mean to each other, it wasn't gratuitous or toxic. I also liked how Randolph recognized Ellie's "hedgehog" tendencies and adapted to them. I also really enjoyed Ellie's conversation with Randolph's former potential mother-in-law: her comments were delightful. I think there was an overabundance of Christmas elements which is to be expected in a book called A Christmas Promise, and I did skip over some of them. But overall it was a good read.
sarawithoutanh's review
2.0
I read this as part of the Drunk Literacy series on my channel. My roommates and I each read a Christmas-themed romance book and then review them. I ranted about this book quite a lot while I was drunk.
I will soberly tell you here that this book isn't the greatest. The writing style is alright but the plot (and sex scenes!!) leaves more to be desired. The only thing I liked was Eleanor's family.
Watch the crazy drunken rant here: https://youtu.be/IvWTSHMhceA
I will soberly tell you here that this book isn't the greatest. The writing style is alright but the plot (and sex scenes!!) leaves more to be desired. The only thing I liked was Eleanor's family.
Watch the crazy drunken rant here: https://youtu.be/IvWTSHMhceA
phoenixinthecity's review
3.0
Enemies-to-lovers marriage of convenience arranged by Ellie's dying father, a coal merchant and the impoverished Randolph, Earl of Falloden who inherited the title and debts from his wastrel of a cousin.
It was a slow-burn that grew from a misunderstanding that was resolved with the help of Ellie's boisterous family who joined them for a Christmas the likes of which "Randy" and Grenfell, his childhood country estate had never seen before.
It was a slow-burn that grew from a misunderstanding that was resolved with the help of Ellie's boisterous family who joined them for a Christmas the likes of which "Randy" and Grenfell, his childhood country estate had never seen before.
nononanette's review
it was, not surprisingly, well written and had depth. it must be one of her earlier books because there was a distance i felt from the characters despite the good development.
attytheresa's review
3.0
This one gets major stars awarded because it really delivered on the whole Regency Christmas at the snowbound family country house theme. Absolutely delighted in all the scenes and descriptions of gathering greens and yule log, decorating the house, sledding, caroling, even a children's Christmas pageant! However, it had other problems.
A bankrupt Earl, inheritor of crippling debt and a decaying family estate from a dissolute cousin, is coerced into marriage with *gasp* a Cit's daughter, sight unseen. Joe, the Cit, is a coal dealer, and has a fortune to rival Midas. He also has a beautiful 19 year old daughter he desires to see settled in marriage to a title, the sooner the better because Joe is dying of cancer. Joe will see his daughter settled before he dies. And so Eleanor, who will not say no to her father especially as the man she loves has 'freed' her because he will not force her to live the impoverished life he can only offer, and the Earl are married after only one meeting with each other. It does not go well.
There are a number of sex scenes, all but one where the Earl forces Eleanor to perform her conjugal duties and Eleanor complies in a manner that brings to mind that old trope 'just lie there and think of England." It was quite distasteful in truth. And the one intimate scene that is provided has our heroine not fully awake! Ugh.
Ultimately the Earl and Eleanor come to realize they had misconceptions about each other and fall in love during the Christmas festivities that actually salvaged this regency romance. As well as did the deftly drawn variety of side characters. Eleanor is no tepid miss either but a very strong personality coping with a great many difficult moments in her life, fighting back as best she can. And the Earl is actually quite likable. I just have a problem with the author's treatment of sex.
A bankrupt Earl, inheritor of crippling debt and a decaying family estate from a dissolute cousin, is coerced into marriage with *gasp* a Cit's daughter, sight unseen. Joe, the Cit, is a coal dealer, and has a fortune to rival Midas. He also has a beautiful 19 year old daughter he desires to see settled in marriage to a title, the sooner the better because Joe is dying of cancer. Joe will see his daughter settled before he dies. And so Eleanor, who will not say no to her father especially as the man she loves has 'freed' her because he will not force her to live the impoverished life he can only offer, and the Earl are married after only one meeting with each other. It does not go well.
There are a number of sex scenes, all but one where the Earl forces Eleanor to perform her conjugal duties and Eleanor complies in a manner that brings to mind that old trope 'just lie there and think of England." It was quite distasteful in truth. And the one intimate scene that is provided has our heroine not fully awake! Ugh.
Ultimately the Earl and Eleanor come to realize they had misconceptions about each other and fall in love during the Christmas festivities that actually salvaged this regency romance. As well as did the deftly drawn variety of side characters. Eleanor is no tepid miss either but a very strong personality coping with a great many difficult moments in her life, fighting back as best she can. And the Earl is actually quite likable. I just have a problem with the author's treatment of sex.
thrashmasterbex's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
auri_scr1bbl3r's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
virginiaduan's review against another edition
4.0
As a reissue, this book is about 100 pages shorter than current romances. However, despite fewer pages to get us into the story, I never missed them. The narrative voice of this book is lonely, wistful, and somewhat aloof - like both protagonists.
What I loved most about this story is the coming together of two extremely lonely, prickly individuals who start off, due to misunderstanding and desperation, truly detesting one another. But after an arranged marriage and the requisite growth, they come to love one another deeply.
This book made me cry several times (I blame post-pregnancy hormones!) and Balogh's depiction of a loving and boisterous family as well as two people learning to love is sweet and beautifully written.
What I loved most about this story is the coming together of two extremely lonely, prickly individuals who start off, due to misunderstanding and desperation, truly detesting one another. But after an arranged marriage and the requisite growth, they come to love one another deeply.
This book made me cry several times (I blame post-pregnancy hormones!) and Balogh's depiction of a loving and boisterous family as well as two people learning to love is sweet and beautifully written.