Helpful Score: 1
A weary war and diplomatic Earl and an emproverished widow with two young children learn to love each other at Christmas time. A really good read
Courtney A. (aggielawyer) -
Helpful Score: 1
This is the 3rd book of the Company of Rogues series. I have enjoyed the entire series, and am on my 2nd reading. Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, was raised traveling Europe with his parents and has inherited his father's diplomatic skills. He also seems to have inherited his father's inability to fall in love. After watching his mother spend her life devoted to a man that did not return her affections, he decides that he will find a woman who is willing to accept a comfortable, yet loveless marriage. He is introduce to Judith Rossiter, the "Weeping Widow" of a well known poet. She seems to be the perfect candidate as her husband has left her penniless, she seems devoted to his memory, and she comes with two children, which Lee believes will help him settle into his life in England quickly. What he doesn't know is that any love she had for her husband died years ago. I felt that this was a sweet story and enjoyed watching this married couple fall in love.
Helpful Score: 1
I love this book. There isn't so much mystery but a great story leading up to love and warmth.
Helpful Score: 1
Not a real christmas story as such--It just takes place prior to the christmas season and culminates there. A good story with a twists and turns. Enjoyable!!!
Helpful Score: 1
Weary of war and wandering Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, wants a home, a wife, and a good old-fashioned English Christmas. As he seems unable to fall in love, however, he will only consider a marriage of convenience to a sensible woman. He is beginning to despair when he encounters the perfect candidate, a woman so devoted to her late husband's memory that no one thinks she could ever love again.
Judith Rossiter is in no position to turn down the astonishing proposal, but it worries her. Why would an earl, and a most attractive one at that, offer marriage to an impoverished widow with two young children? At least his main condition should be easy enough to fulfill. After the folly of Judith's first marriage, a sensible rather than a sentimental union is exactly what she wants. Or so she believes when she says her vows.
Judith Rossiter is in no position to turn down the astonishing proposal, but it worries her. Why would an earl, and a most attractive one at that, offer marriage to an impoverished widow with two young children? At least his main condition should be easy enough to fulfill. After the folly of Judith's first marriage, a sensible rather than a sentimental union is exactly what she wants. Or so she believes when she says her vows.
Leander decides to marry the "Weeping Widow" so he will not have to worry about a wife that will fall helplessly in love with him; unfortunately he falls in love with her. Very cute story, I highly reccommend for fans of regency romance. 3rd in Beverley's Company of Rogues series.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Christmas Angel (Company of Rogues, Bk 3) on + 1713 more book reviews
I enjoyed this storyline and the struggle each to be honest with the other and themselves.
Moved at a great pace, characters are well developed and for the most part likable.
I did think Judith flew off the handle rather quickly and that part drove me nuts. Seriously would you rather live dirt poor or as a Countess?
Leander was a bit unreal in the fact that he wanted to be married so badly that he practically gave her everything that wasn't entailed and free rein to live separate.
Lots of little twists and fun dialogue and over all a great read.
Moved at a great pace, characters are well developed and for the most part likable.
I did think Judith flew off the handle rather quickly and that part drove me nuts. Seriously would you rather live dirt poor or as a Countess?
Leander was a bit unreal in the fact that he wanted to be married so badly that he practically gave her everything that wasn't entailed and free rein to live separate.
Lots of little twists and fun dialogue and over all a great read.
Whitney C. (CollegeKid0010) -
When compared to Jo Beverleys first Company of Rogues book, or even the second, Christmas Angel leaves a lot to be desired. The first few chapters were interesting enough though now that Ive reached the end I think it was somewhat weak, and set the pace for the whole book. Leander has just returned from abroad and is looking to take an English wife to help him settle to his duties as an earl, but finds that every young lady he encounters falls in love with him on site. Thats believable given how ladies were taught to be during that time and that all of the Rogues are devilishly handsome. Then, however, the forced entry of the heroine and Leanders instant decision that shes the one just from one fumbled meeting with her ruined any magic there might have been. So the story progressesand progressesand progresses. Theres a lot of interaction between Judith and Lee, but so many of their assumptions and actions are based on this idea that neither of them wants to love the other, when its obvious that they already do.
The storys climax was also rather anti-climatic. Some stories are written to be what I call meanderingtheyre not so much about an extraordinary set of events as about character development and the world around. Christmas Angel felt like it was trying to be one of those books but didnt quiet grasp it. In retrospect, the climax is easily identifiable but during the read there was little lead up and almost no emotional attachment to what was happening. Frankly, the part that had me most ensnared the whole time was when Bastian goes missing (while under Nicholas care no less!) and is found half frozen at the top of a huge tree.
The closing was a bit hard to swallow, though in keeping with Ms. Beverleys style. I call these smothering happy endings and thus far Beverley is the only writer Ive encountered who qualifies for the label. I had to put the book down several times in the last ten pages because it was just so cheesy I felt somewhat embarrassed to be reading it.
For its lack of plot though, Christmas Angel does have its high points. Leander is a rather unique man; Ive never encountered one quite like him. The way his parents relationship plays into his life is also rather effective and lends weight to his ideas on love and marriage, and his affection for Bastian and Rosie always earned an Aww! moment. As with all of the Company of Rogues books, the weaving-in of other Rogues created highlights throughout and kept the world itself from being flat. When in doubt, go on to another member of that elite circle!
www.whitneycarter.wordpress.com
The storys climax was also rather anti-climatic. Some stories are written to be what I call meanderingtheyre not so much about an extraordinary set of events as about character development and the world around. Christmas Angel felt like it was trying to be one of those books but didnt quiet grasp it. In retrospect, the climax is easily identifiable but during the read there was little lead up and almost no emotional attachment to what was happening. Frankly, the part that had me most ensnared the whole time was when Bastian goes missing (while under Nicholas care no less!) and is found half frozen at the top of a huge tree.
The closing was a bit hard to swallow, though in keeping with Ms. Beverleys style. I call these smothering happy endings and thus far Beverley is the only writer Ive encountered who qualifies for the label. I had to put the book down several times in the last ten pages because it was just so cheesy I felt somewhat embarrassed to be reading it.
For its lack of plot though, Christmas Angel does have its high points. Leander is a rather unique man; Ive never encountered one quite like him. The way his parents relationship plays into his life is also rather effective and lends weight to his ideas on love and marriage, and his affection for Bastian and Rosie always earned an Aww! moment. As with all of the Company of Rogues books, the weaving-in of other Rogues created highlights throughout and kept the world itself from being flat. When in doubt, go on to another member of that elite circle!
www.whitneycarter.wordpress.com
Jennifer G. (jenniethebookworm) reviewed Christmas Angel (Company of Rogues, Bk 3) on + 5 more book reviews
I have not gotten a chance to read this book, but I have always loved Christmas Regency Romances, so I'm sure it's a good one!
A good Regency type Christmas story
Part of The Comapnay of Rogues series.
Searching for a sensible woman to marry, especially since he seems unable to fall in love, Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, finds a suitable candidate in Judith Rossiter, a poor young widow with two small children, and as they embark on a marriage of convenience, unexpected love blossoms between them.
Searching for a sensible woman to marry, especially since he seems unable to fall in love, Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington, finds a suitable candidate in Judith Rossiter, a poor young widow with two small children, and as they embark on a marriage of convenience, unexpected love blossoms between them.
Not my favorite of the rogues series. Ok though since involves the main characters from the series.
The Company of Rogues, Leander's story. Read An Arranged Marriage first, not sure if there are any before that one. Very good book, very good author. None of her works have disappointed me yet.
I took a sabbatical from Beverly, then decided to return to her. Glad I did. A lovely narrative with just a nice flavor of intrigue. Highly recommend.
Pretty good story. Not my favorite, but I never wanted to NOT read it.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Christmas Angel (Company of Rogues, Bk 3) on + 1713 more book reviews
Fun holiday book with great characters and interesting storyline.
I like the series, each is about a Rogue and how he is making is way back into the world of the ton after serving. Lots of fun and tension. Great read.
I like the series, each is about a Rogue and how he is making is way back into the world of the ton after serving. Lots of fun and tension. Great read.
Jo Beverly is a terrific author
Jo Beverley is a great author.
This is Leander Knollis, Earl of Charrington and Judith Rossiter's story.
All the ladies in London were falling in love with Leander (Lee to his friends), so he escaped to Hartwell, Lucien, the Marguess of Arden's cottage in Surrey. He wanted to get married but didn't want the lady to fall in love with him. So Lucien's wife Beth decided to play matchmaker and tell him about the Weeping Widow. She was a lady who was still so much in love with her husband that she was still wearing black after two years. The lady in question, Judith Rossiter, was the wife of a poet who had written all his works about her. After seeing her, Lee decided this was the bride for him. She even came with two children..perfect!!!
I am going to leave the rest of the story up to you to read. I have to say that I loved this story and I think that I would probably have been one of those ladies in London who would have fallen in love with Leaner Knollis! A delightful story. Happy Reading!
All the ladies in London were falling in love with Leander (Lee to his friends), so he escaped to Hartwell, Lucien, the Marguess of Arden's cottage in Surrey. He wanted to get married but didn't want the lady to fall in love with him. So Lucien's wife Beth decided to play matchmaker and tell him about the Weeping Widow. She was a lady who was still so much in love with her husband that she was still wearing black after two years. The lady in question, Judith Rossiter, was the wife of a poet who had written all his works about her. After seeing her, Lee decided this was the bride for him. She even came with two children..perfect!!!
I am going to leave the rest of the story up to you to read. I have to say that I loved this story and I think that I would probably have been one of those ladies in London who would have fallen in love with Leaner Knollis! A delightful story. Happy Reading!
Weary of war and diplomatic wandering,Leander Knollis Earl of Charrington,wants a home,a wife,and a good old fashioned English Christmas. As he seems unable to fall in love,however,he will only consider a marriage of convenience to a sensible woman. He is beginning to despair when he encounters the perfect candidate,awoman so devoted to her late husband's memory that no one thinks she could ever love again...
Great story. Jo Beverley is a very good author. Can always count on her books to be super "can't put down" reading material.
enjoyed it
