Christmas Beau by Mary Balogh

Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh, 1991, Regency Romance

Read For:
ROR Winter Challenge
1000 Regency Challenge

2011 Reading from My Shelves Project

2011 The Buck Stops Here Challenge

Synopsis:
His Vengeance Was Sweet 

Judith Easton knew that even the spirit of Christmas wouldn't stop the Marquess of Denhigh from settling the score with her. For the beautiful young widow had injured Denhigh's rigid pride years ago by jilting him for another man. 

Now that Judith was free from her nightmare marriage to that other man, the bold and handsome Marquess made no secret that he had her in his sights and wanted her in his arms. 

But how could she trust the tender words on his lips when she could sense the hardness of his heart? And after she had made so grievous a mistake in love once, how could she ever trust her own heart's desire again?


My Review:


Christmas Beau is one of Balogh's earlier Regencies with a storyline that normally I dislike: the "revenge" or "enemies" storyline. But, since I had to read a "enemies" storyline for the ROR Challenge, and I already owned this book (a thrift shop score from several years back-a whole 10 cents!) I thought I'd give it a whirl.


Christmas Beau started out slow for me-while the characters are in London the story is very unemotional and frankly, both characters were for the most part unlikable. But then they go to the Marquess' Christmas house party at his estate and the storyline suddenly blossomed. 


All of Balogh's hallmarks are here-internal conflict, passion, vibrant, three dimensional secondary characters that have their own wonderful storyline, and lot's and lot's of conflict with seemingly no resolution.  Max is a terrific hero-a very jaded, dark, brooding man who's lust for revenge of Judith has overpowered his life for eight long years. Now that Judith is a widow with two small children, his vengeance is at hand, or is it?


Judith's spinster sister in law Amy is just lovely and her own story is enough for me to recommend this book. But Judith and Max's story is so very moving and motional-I'll admit that I pretty much cried the last 50 pages of the book:)


A five star book and one of my favorite Balogh's-highly recommended!

2011 The Buck Stops Here Challenge REVIEWS

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2011 The Buck Stops Here Challenge

January 1, 2011-December 31, 2011

I've always been thrifty-what some might call cheap :).

I love to use my bargain detecting skills when it comes to books. Some of my most beloved books actually cost me mere cents to nothing to purchase. I love Library Sales, Thrift Shops and Garage Sales. I've received bargains from swapping sites like www.paperbackswap.com or some small town Used Book Stores. And now with the plethora of cheap to FREE  bargain books on my e-reader? Forget about it-I'm in book Heaven! LOL

If you share my affliction for literature for less then this is the challenge for you. What fantastic books have you purchased for (up to) a mere dollar? Was the book worth it's weight in gold or not worth a plugged nickel?

The Rules:

Read, review (optional) and post where you found your bargain book. The book can be paper or ebook, it can be FREE  or cost you up to ONE DOLLAR maximum.  No loaned books-the book must be yours even if it was a freebie.

Level one -3 bargain books


Level two-6 bargain books


Level three-10 bargain books


*Bonus! Level four "proud cheapskate"-52 bargain books!* 


(those who complete this level will receive a nifty "Proud Cheapskate" blog award from me to post on their blog)

Books can be posted in other challenges and both bloggers and non bloggers welcome. Any and all genres welcome as well.

2011 Buck Stops Here Challenge Reviews HERE

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