A Christmas Charade by Karla Hocker

Read For:

1000 Regency Challenge

RYOB Challenge

The Christmas Reading Challenge

ROR Winter Challenge

2nds Challenge

Synopsis:

Elizabeth Gore-Langton was hardly in a position to refuse to accompany Lady Astley to the Christmas party at Stenton Castle. After all, a paid companion must follow her employer's wishes. It scarcely signified that Elizabeth would be forced to face the man who had unknowingly broken her heart years ago during her first season. Most likely, the Duke of Stenton wouldn't even recognize her. But once she looked up into his dark piercing eyes, she knew this was a man who forgot very little..and forgave even less. Well, she was no longer a blushing schoolgirl, and the dashing duke would soon find that a broken heart, once mended, could be formidable, indeed! Clive Rowland, Fifth Duke of Stenton, was in no mood for a holiday gathering. But the Christmas gala would provide the perfect cover as he investigated reports that French agents were doing a brisk trade in stolen documents along the Sussex coast. It would be devilishly difficult to play the host while tracking down traitors, but Clive was up to the task--provided he kept his wits about him and didn't get distracted by yule logs and Chirstmas folderol..or the delightful charms of the disturbingly familiar Elizabeth. The little minx was hiding something, to be sure, and she was about to learn that he liked nothing better than unveiling a lady's secrets!

My Review:
A cute Christmas Regency set in the "house party" storyline that involved several couples and characters stories (hence the larger than normal 350 pages for a traditional Regency).
The love story was about a C+, the mystery about a C-, and the "ghost story" a B+. All together the book rates about 3.5 stars. Recommended if you like a book that covers multiple characters. Cute read.