A Yuletide Kiss - Sabrina Jeffries, Madeline Hunter, Mary Jo Putney (Kensington - Oct 2021)

The reigning legendary queens of Regency Romance, bestselling authors Madeline Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries, and Mary Jo Putney, deck the halls with this delightful Christmas collection of three sparkling holiday interconnected romances, as stranded travelers find merriment, mistletoe, and holiday romance awaiting at a quaint country inn…
 
I enjoyed this trio of novellas, centered around a group of stranded travelers. Each author provides the story of a different couple and alternate viewpoints of the same events. I liked seeing the diverse group come together to create a unique holiday experience. I especially liked the various Christmas traditions included. Funny moments go side-by-side with heartwarming ones and results in a lovely Christmas tale.
 
WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD NIGHT by Sabrina Jeffries 

Series: Duke Dynasty (Book 4.5)

When Flora Younger first met Konrad Juncker, she thought she'd found her match, only to have her hopes dashed. Konrad is now a famous playwright whose plays Flora has secretly panned in reviews. But a chance meeting in a secluded inn may help them rewrite this star-crossed romance…
 
I loved this follow-on to the Duke Dynasty series. On his journey to spend Christmas with friends, a sudden snowstorm strands him at a closed-for-the-holidays inn. When more travelers arrive, he umps in to help the innkeeper and is pleasantly surprised when one of those travelers is Flora Younger, the woman he loved and lost. Years earlier, they met and fell in love, but he bailed on her when he realized he couldn't support her as she deserved. Since then, he has become a famous playwright who is now at a crossroads in his career. Flora became a paid companion for Lady Whitmarsh and anonymously writes reviews for London plays and consistently bashes his.
 
The feelings between Konrad and Flora remain strong, but can they overcome their pasts to have a future together? Stuck together as they are, Konrad and Flora use the time to clear the air between them. I enjoyed Konrad's determined pursuit of Flora, even as he fears that he still can't give her what she deserves. At a crossroads in his career, Konrad's future depends on the secrets involving his plays. Flora finds herself falling for Konrad all over again but fears the same heartbreak. I loved seeing Konrad finally trust her with the truth and Flora's protectiveness for the man she loved. The ending was funny and sweet.

 
THE UNEXPECTED GIFT by Madeline Hunter

Jenna Waverly has closed her inn, anticipating a blissfully quiet Christmas, until a snowstorm brings the first of several strangers to her property. Lucas Avonwood, as charming as he is secretive, is on a mission to track down a scoundrel, but the inn's lovely owner is giving him a more compelling reason to stay…
 
Jenna closes her inn every year at Christmas to give her staff the time with their families and herself a chance to spend some quiet time. But when her stableman stumbles across an injured and feverish man, she can't turn him away. His arrival precedes that of several more stranded travelers whom she makes room for. Jenna spends her time going back and forth between nursing the stranger and taking care of her unplanned guests. I loved how she got the diverse group to work together, freeing her to spend more time with her patient.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Lucas and Jenna. She's a practical woman but also one with a caring heart, and she's determined to pull him through his illness. Once he begins to recover, the sparks between them start to burn brighter. With the fate of her inn uncertain, her growing relationship with Lucas induces dreams of more. But Lucas is a man on a mission, and that mission may have unexpected ties to Jenna. When Lucas finds what he's looking for, he must find a way to solve the problem without hurting Jenna. Though I found the solution a little improbable, it worked to give them the future they wanted.

 
WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo Putney

Kate Mcleod is shocked to find that her fellow guest in the snowbound inn is the dashing soldier who may or may not be her husband. Daniel Faringdon barely remembers that long-ago night when he rescued her from disaster, but the desire they discover now will be impossible to forget, or to ignore . . .
 
When Daniel returned to England to claim his inheritance after many years in India, he never expected to encounter the young woman he rescued. He barely remembers that night, just the fear of the young woman being auctioned off by her uncle. He remembers the drunk preacher who "married" them before Daniel turned her over to a friend who helped her return to England and her family. He gets the shock of his life when one of the other stranded guests is none other than the woman he rescued.
 
Kate MacLeod never forgot the handsome soldier who saved her from disaster, though she hasn't heard from him since then. Once she recovers from the shock of seeing him, she informs him that she was about to have him declared dead so that she can marry again. Stunned to discover that their marriage was valid, Daniel finds he's in no hurry to end their connection.
 
I liked the development of the relationship between Daniel and Kate. Kate is practical and competent in many areas and fits in well with the rest of the stranded travelers. Daniel worries about his return home after all these years, having left under trying circumstances. His time in India transformed him from a heedless boy to a mature and honorable man. Within a short time of talking to Kate, Daniel realizes that Kate touches something in him. He proposes that they consider remaining married. Kate is wary but willing to get to know him before deciding.
 
I loved watching Kate and Daniel spend time together. Kate is upfront about her life and plans for the future, including continuing to work. She hunts (loved that scene!) and willingly pitches in around the inn. Impressed by her abilities, Daniel makes it clear that he fully supports her while asking pointed questions about her almost fiancé. At the same time, Kate finds herself questioning her feelings for Edmund and considering staying with Daniel. Besides the fun encounters, they also spend some time sharing the less pleasant memories of their pasts. But when it's time to leave the inn, Kate isn't quite ready to commit until she can talk to Edmund. I ached for Daniel, who left wondering if he'd see Kate again.
 
I loved the ending. Kate gets her concerns addressed unexpectedly, freeing her to follow her heart. Daniel receives the loving support he needs to face his past in a heartwarming scene at the family home. 

Undercover Duke - Sabrina Jeffries (Zebra - May 2021)

Series: Duke Dynasty (Book 4)

Along with his stepsiblings, Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, is determined to finally solve the mysteries behind the suspicious deaths of their mother's three husbands. Tasked with investigating a possible suspect, Sheridan finds himself in dangerous proximity to her captivating daughter, Vanessa Pryde. But still haunted by a tragically lost love, the duke is resolved to resist the attraction -- and avoid any "scheming" husband-hunters. Besides, lovely Miss Pryde seems utterly smitten with a roguish London playwright . . .
 
Vanessa thinks a little scheming may be in order -- for it's Sheridan she truly has her sights, and her heart, set on. Her theatrical flirtation is intended only to break through his business-like demeanor and guarded emotions. And as Sheridan's jealousy becomes aroused, the two soon find themselves propelled into a scheme of an altogether different kind, involving a pretend engagement, a secret inquiry -- and a perhaps not-so-secret leap into true love . . .
 
Good book. I liked the romance between Vanessa and Sheridan and how it tied into the investigation of the murders. This is the final book in the series, and the family's determination to solve their fathers' murders comes to a satisfactory conclusion. In the first book of the series, Project Duchess, Sheridan is the one who suspects that the deaths were neither natural nor accidental. Eventually, they conclude that three aristocratic ladies had the means and motivation to carry them off. Sheridan finds himself tasked with investigating Lady Eustace, mother of Vanessa Pryde. Sheridan is unwillingly attracted to Vanessa and doesn't look forward to spending time in her company.
 
Vanessa is in love with Sheridan and has been for months. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to see her as a woman instead of his half-brother's cousin, so she sets out to gain his attention. To do so, she fakes an interest in playwright Juncker in hopes of stirring Sheridan's jealousy.
 
I liked both Sheridan and Vanessa. Sheridan never expected to become the duke and trained for a diplomatic career. He is kind, honorable, protective, and a bit on the serious side, which gained him the nickname of "Saint Sheridan" within the family. He spends much of his time trying to figure out how to save the estate from bankruptcy due to his uncle's profligate ways, and he faces greater than usual challenges in doing so. Sheridan also closed himself off to any idea of marriage after the death of his fiancée. Vanessa is intelligent, independent, and willing to go after what she wants. She spent her life watching her parents fight their way through their marriage. Her mother is selfish and cruel in her treatment of Vanessa, currently pushing her toward marriage with an older peer.
 
I liked watching the development of the relationship between Vanessa and Sheridan. Vanessa's interest in Juncker irritates Sheridan though he doesn't know why and he becomes determined to show her what a poor choice he is. While looking for a way to get closer to Lady Eustace, he agrees to pretend to court Vanessa so she can stir Juncker's jealousy (?!) and he can prove to her that Juncker is a cad. The convolutions of their schemes lead to some interesting verbal battles and the growing realization that each has misjudged the other. I loved seeing them engage in their verbal fisticuffs around their families, who can see the truth about their feelings, while Sheridan and Vanessa remain oblivious. I ached for Vanessa when a moment of uncontrolled passion led to a hasty marriage because she never wanted him forced into marriage with her. Her hopes take a hit when she finds out what brought them together. Meanwhile, Sheridan continues to fight his feelings for her until a comment by his half-sister opens his eyes: "You don't choose love; love chooses you. ...resistance is pointless." That revelation nearly comes too late, but in the end, both Sheridan and Vanessa admit their feelings for each other. I loved the epilogue with all of the couples from the series.
 
I felt mysteries were addressed in this book. The first was Sheridan's battle with the estate's finances and how they got to be in such bad shape. My suspicions on that subject focused on one person, and I wasn't surprised to discover I was right. The second mystery dealt with the deaths of the dukes. This was somewhat more convoluted. I was fascinated with how the men focused on the aristocratic women, while Vanessa pointed out that they completely overlooked the servants who also had motive and opportunity. When the truth came out, the link between the two mysteries didn't surprise me, but the motivation did. The final confrontation was intense and had me glued to the pages until it was over.