Tis The Season To Be Sinful by Adrienne Basso
HIstorical Romance
October 1, 2011
Paperback
Zebra

Reviewed by May

Favorite Quote:  “It still feels like a ridiculous outing.” Richard grumbled. “It reminds me of my history books, reading about that French queen who would dress up as a dairymaid and play at being a farm girl.”

“Marie Antoinette? What an absurd analogy.”

“Indeed. And just look how well things turned out for her in the end.”

George’s face filled with exaggerated horror. “Only you, dear Richard, could liken a holiday outing to having one’s head chopped off.”

A widow with three children, living in the dowager house on her eldest son’s inherited estate, Juliet is poor and in desperate need of funds to get out from under her awful brother-in-law (the opposite kind of man from her late husband). Trying so hard to get control of her life and secure the future for her children she has been working hard and saving every penny for the last four years since her husband died. To do this, she has been trying to lease out the main (very grand) house on the property, however Richard Harper doesn’t want to lease. He wants to own.

A fight with her brother in law interrupted by this American businessman leads to a marriage of convenience, and one of great distance as after the first night of marriage they spend months apart with him in London and her overseeing renovations to the country estate. Richard knows that having an English lady, one with some connections, as his wife will only further his business and as he has plenty of money he can certainly sustain the expense of keeping her and her children living in comfort.

Of course, the attraction they share from their first meeting as well as the passion of their first and only night together has him dreaming of returning to the country. At last when he is able to leave his interests in London and return for an extended stay the Christmas holiday season had begun. And our story really gets going.

     There were children and adults scurrying in all directions around the large tree that had been erected in the center of the room. Baskets overflowing with various decorations were strewn at various spots around the base.

The anticipation of Christmas was evident everywhere. There were noisy exchanges of instructions among the adults and good-natured debates about the best way to adorn the tree. The children were not shy about offering their opinions as well, though it seemed that their biggest contribution was getting under everyone’s feet…

Cries of delight were heard from several of the younger children when a footman entered with a tea tray, the tantalizing smells of cakes and pastries and fresh made scones wafting around him.

This book is a simple marriage of convenience tale and the outline is quite clear. Yet this book was indeed a gem of the finest type. It balanced the illusive holiday spirit with a story full of emotion, depth, and characters I strongly liked. Better than any other I’ve ever seen – this book gave us a beautiful romance and showed all kinds of traditions from games to gathering greens to making a Christmas dessert.

I really enjoyed the progression of this most satisfying read, and one of the parts that I thought best done was the handling of the (deceased) former spouses. They are remembered with tenderness and love, but their memories are not held up on a pedestal. Nor are they suddenly remembered to be wicked or ‘not a true love’. No, this is quite literally a second change for both of our characters. Richard doesn’t want love though, while Juliet hopes to grow a strong bond with her new husband. He resists her and really doesn’t want to deal with her children due to loss and pain in his past. One of the best surprises about Juliet is that she is very open about her sensuality and adventurous despite only having ever been with her late husband.

Juliet removed her robe, and then without pausing to think, she grasped her nightgown and pulled it off over her head. Tossing it aside, she tilted her chin and gazed into his eyes. “I believe I’m ready. And you?”

Juliet’s openness, her wanting to trust Richard and make the most of their new life together was really fantastic. The lack of plotting against each other, no “big misunderstanding” that turns out to be nothing, and a truly satisfying climax to the tale all added to my enjoyment.

Also adding to my enjoyment was the fact that the book is filled with holiday activity scenes that serve to both add a sense of Christmas spirit and provide opportunities for Juliet to work her magic and tear down the stone walls around Richard’s heart. With many of the activities he is trying these things  for the first time, and his feelings for her can’t help but grow. The author also provides us with a cast of great supporting characters from the children to the wicked businessman, the bickering elderly aunt and uncle and my favorite- Richard’s best friend George.

“You look lovely today” he blurted.

Color rose up her cheeks. “Thank you” she murmured, her expression conveying her confusion. Then with a slight shake of her head, she returned her attention to her plate.

“Very smooth,” a masculine voice whispered. “Your compliment was so original and overwhelming it obviously left her speechless.”

“Not one more word, George,” Richard muttered tightly as he stabbed a piece of chicken with his fork. “Or I’ll push your face in the cake.”

George was hilarious, and it was clear to see how he had become to be such good friends with our hero. While I felt his plot line (a secondary romance) should have been left out or developed better, I still really enjoyed his contributions and comic relief in this story.

Indeed, had this book not been such a great holiday read, I would likely grade this book a B. I would call more into question the brother-in-law that disappeared without a trace after his fight scene.  I’d take to task the entire premise that this man who would not lease is suddenly ok with essentially leasing (by marrying the heir’s mother), as the estate will revert to being controlled by its rightful heir (the eldest son who is about 10 years old at moment) when he comes of age.

Ah but while these things registered in my mind as flaws within the book, it did not affect the overall holiday spirit and balance of the tale. It was an utterly satisfying read, and I add with pleasure that the ending and epilogue were both superbly done.

Grade: A-

Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – B
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