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violet_catte's review against another edition
This was far more melancholic than I expected for a Christmas novel, with our leads grappling with emotional and sexual abuse in their pasts. It does manage to keep some of the heartwarming emotion one expects in a Christmas work. There's just a lot more sadness in the mix, as well.
melxdy_may's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
An easy listen. I enjoyed the first in the series more than this. I didn’t dislike The Merry Viscount. It was good, just not great.
It didn’t have as much of a Christmas vibe as I expected it to and hoped it would. I had purposely delayed reading this until December, with the intention of it getting me in the Christmas spirit. I don’t feel like this was achieved though. The plot could have easily worked outside of the Christmas aspect.
Definitely has the instalove trope. I don’t know if I am a fan of that trope outside of this book. I rather enjoyed it in this though. The story takes place over two-ish days, but it doesn’t feel like it does. I guess it helps that the main characters knew each other from childhood.
I think the one thing that held it from being a 4 star book was the repetition of certain facts, words, and phrases. It was overdone.
Overall, an enjoyable read, just not rave worthy.
An easy listen. I enjoyed the first in the series more than this. I didn’t dislike The Merry Viscount. It was good, just not great.
It didn’t have as much of a Christmas vibe as I expected it to and hoped it would. I had purposely delayed reading this until December, with the intention of it getting me in the Christmas spirit. I don’t feel like this was achieved though. The plot could have easily worked outside of the Christmas aspect.
Definitely has the instalove trope. I don’t know if I am a fan of that trope outside of this book. I rather enjoyed it in this though. The story takes place over two-ish days, but it doesn’t feel like it does. I guess it helps that the main characters knew each other from childhood.
I think the one thing that held it from being a 4 star book was the repetition of certain facts, words, and phrases. It was overdone.
Overall, an enjoyable read, just not rave worthy.
max_pink's review against another edition
4.0
Tropes: Snowed In, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Fake Relationship
CW: Referenced SA, Sexual Harrassment
When a wayward carriage results in Caro and her carriage mates being stranded at Nick's estate, she asks him to pretend to have an affair with her so that she can fend off leery men. Nick obliges, and their fake relationship turns all too real.
This was a very sweet historical romance with two very traumatized people working through their issues. Caro has some real trauma around physical intimacy, and Nick is still reeling from an emotionally abusive uncle. The way that they both supported each other through their problems was quite endearing, and their growth into better versions of themselves was nice.
As for the content note, Nick and Caro have a very consensual relationship. She had a bad experience in the past that causes most of the friction in their romance. But it also adds a level of sadness to the book that butts heads against the cozy Christmas vibes. The result is a lot more melancholic than I would have expected of a Christmas novel. I guess I'm in a melancholic mood, because this one worked pretty well for me, and I'm going to keep a look out for the other Widow's Brew books.
Shoutout to Justine Eyre for excellent audio narration.
CW: Referenced SA, Sexual Harrassment
When a wayward carriage results in Caro and her carriage mates being stranded at Nick's estate, she asks him to pretend to have an affair with her so that she can fend off leery men. Nick obliges, and their fake relationship turns all too real.
This was a very sweet historical romance with two very traumatized people working through their issues. Caro has some real trauma around physical intimacy, and Nick is still reeling from an emotionally abusive uncle. The way that they both supported each other through their problems was quite endearing, and their growth into better versions of themselves was nice.
As for the content note, Nick and Caro have a very consensual relationship. She had a bad experience in the past that causes most of the friction in their romance. But it also adds a level of sadness to the book that butts heads against the cozy Christmas vibes. The result is a lot more melancholic than I would have expected of a Christmas novel. I guess I'm in a melancholic mood, because this one worked pretty well for me, and I'm going to keep a look out for the other Widow's Brew books.
Shoutout to Justine Eyre for excellent audio narration.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment
ithinktfiam's review
3.0
Far, far too much inner dialogue. The first book was a pleasant surprise, a breezy book. This one has to be at least 2/3 inner dialogue with out much plot or action. Caro, from the first, is on the way back to the Home (great, long name) from a failed business trip to London. The coach has an accident, just by chance by the mansion of a childhood friend of her brother. A Christmas tale not to heavy on xmas but much do heavy on what I've already mentioned too often.
kalynau's review
3.0
This book is a solid addition to MacKenzie's Widow's Brew series. It hits all the right notes for a Christmas romance, although the character development seems a little rushed. Definitely a cozy romance for a chilly day.
captainz's review
4.0
I've never been so updated on what a cock is thinking, feeling, and doing. It really got to the point that if we went too long without an update I started to wonder: is it scowling, puckering, standing, leaping, jumping, pointing, excited, eager, growing, or sleeping?
Aside from all that it was a well told romance with very audible sex scenes. Very different from most romances I've read, but the healthy boundaries and conversation sold it for me.
Aside from all that it was a well told romance with very audible sex scenes. Very different from most romances I've read, but the healthy boundaries and conversation sold it for me.
webbsusa's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this Christmas story. I had read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, and I’m glad Caro’s story was equally enjoyable. She is a great character, and her chemistry with Nick was fantastic. I liked how the author explored their history together as children and how that history resulted in their reunion. Fun read!