Lady Sophie Windham is soon to join her family for Christmas in Kent. However, she decides to take a few days for herself. In so doing, she runs across an abandoned baby and finds herself assisted by Vim Charpentier. Vim is also headed to Kent, and he is none too pleased about it. When Vim realizes that Sophie has no idea how to care for the baby, he offers his assistance.

Vim is quite drawn to Sophie, but he thinks she must be a cook or a maid so he focuses on the baby, Kit. It does not take long for both Sophie and Vim to fall in love with the little fellow. There are several problems, however. For starters, they should not be alone in the mansion where they are currently staying. Furthermore, neither Vim nor Sophie know of each other's true identity. During their time together they engage in serious conversations and Vim slowly begins to share painful memories with Sophie.

Meanwhile, Sophie knows that her three brothers will be arriving soon, and, for reasons that are very important to her, she is keeping secrets from Vim. Sophie finds herself in a sensitive predicament. Not only has she fallen in love with Kit, she may just have fallen in love with Vim. Sophie is holding out for true love, nothing less, so she struggles to hide her feelings from Vim.

I love that this story centered around Kit. He was a a delight and proved to be the catalyst behind what happens for Sophie and Vim. How wonderful for the author to use such a young character in such an influential way. This book started off remarkably well and shaped into a warm and affecting romance.

Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish is a re-release and that makes me quite happy. Otherwise, I am not sure that I would have known of this book or this series. I have read books by Grace Burrowes before and I definitely enjoy her writing. Being able to grab this book, all while anticipating the rest of the series, was truly wonderful.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lady Sophie Windham is soon to join her family for Christmas in Kent. However, she decides to take a few days for herself. In so doing, she runs across an abandoned baby and finds herself assisted by Vim Charpentier. Vim is also headed to Kent, and he is none too pleased about it. When Vim realizes that Sophie has no idea how to care for the baby, he offers his assistance.

Vim is quite drawn to Sophie, but he thinks she must be a cook or a maid so he focuses on the baby, Kit. It does not take long for both Sophie and Vim to fall in love with the little fellow. There are several problems, however. For starters, they should not be alone in the mansion where they are currently staying. Furthermore, neither Vim nor Sophie know of each other's true identity. During their time together they engage in serious conversations and Vim slowly begins to share painful memories with Sophie.

Meanwhile, Sophie knows that her three brothers will be arriving soon, and, for reasons that are very important to her, she is keeping secrets from Vim. Sophie finds herself in a sensitive predicament. Not only has she fallen in love with Kit, she may just have fallen in love with Vim. Sophie is holding out for true love, nothing less, so she struggles to hide her feelings from Vim.

I love that this story centered around Kit. He was a a delight and proved to be the catalyst behind what happens for Sophie and Vim. How wonderful for the author to use such a young character in such an influential way. This book started off remarkably well and shaped into a warm and affecting romance.

Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish is a re-release and that makes me quite happy. Otherwise, I am not sure that I would have known of this book or this series. I have read books by Grace Burrowes before and I definitely enjoy her writing. Being able to grab this book, all while anticipating the rest of the series, was truly wonderful.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

 Charlotte Windham is a fierce protector of women who have found themselves in a delicate situation. She has no interest in getting married and she is the very last Windham cousin not married. However, she does need to be ruined so the men stop proposing and cornering her at various social functions. She wants to be left alone to pursue her goals of continuing her work. Lucas is the wealthy commoner who is the neighbor to the Duke of Haverford (Elizabeth Windham’s book, No Other Duke Will Do).  In that book, we met Lucas and for a good portion of the book he came across as the villain when in truth he wasn’t. He is a successful businessman who has a colliery in the process of being built. He is in town to find a business partner when he rescues Charlotte from an aggressive suitor. It doesn’t take them long before he proposes marriage, though both of them only see it as a business transaction. She is attracted to him but is worried he will try and stop her work, so initially she refuses him, but is later caught kissing him by none other than the Duke and Duchess of Windham, the scheming and matchmaking masterminds of the Windham family. Lucas and Charlotte find themselves married and on the way to Wales shortly after that. They don’t know each other and don’t know how to start. Their marriage reminded me of what marriages were actually like back then, which is sad, though theirs had a happily ever after. They grow close very slowly, but when it comes out that Lucas’ business partner is the same man who ruined Charlotte's best friend a rift arises. It seems hopeless for a few weeks but Charlotte has come to realize she really loves her husband and misses him, and he comes to realize how he wants his marriage to be and they both come to a very tentative understanding. He sets off to seek justice for Charlotte’s dead friend and the son she left behind, and in doing so, discovers he has friends in high places and not all aristocracy is evil and spoiled. I loved Charlotte’s confrontation at the end with her friend’s lover and I love that Lucas overheard it all. Priceless. Perfect. Romantic. And sweet.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Charlotte Windham is tough and brash but she still is turning down offers of aristocrats looking to get in good with the Windham clan. With new debutantes wanting her out of the way, Charlotte decides it is time to do just that and decides a little ruination could go a long way to freeing her. 
Lucas Sherbourne has had a lifetime of dealing with the arrogant aristocracy but he still can't help but be drawn to Charlotte. 
A little scandal, a rushed trip to the altar, and rainy days in Wales soon becomes the best recipe for a marriage. 
 
“I like you,” she said. “Somewhat. A little. I don’t dislike you.” 
 
The fourth and last book in the Windham brides series, focuses on Charlotte with her sister and husband (heroine and hero of book three) playing big roles too. Lucas and Charlotte do appear in book three, you'd get the understanding why Lucas and Charlotte's brother-in-law have some animosity, but if focusing solely on Charlotte and Lucas' relationship, you could comfortably dive in here. 
 
Lucas is a commoner but a fairly rich one, so he went to schools with titled boys who punished him various ways for being "lesser" than them and he never really had a sense of family or friends. I thought the author did a wonderful job showcasing how Lucas' personality was formed because of how he grew up and why he strives for achievement, is very self-contained, and wanting to do best by his home and the surrounding people. Charlotte, on the other hand, grew up in a very large family but also got a little bit lost in it, especially as everyone gets married. At first glance, these two may seem opposites attract but their desires, fears, and wants are very similar once you see below their surfaces. Burrowes is a master at nuances and subtleties, whether it's emotion or humor. 
 
This is very much a story of marriage, how jobs, money, relationships, and two individual personalities come together and love. The tone is mild and you'd want to look elsewhere for drama or escapades but a stripped to its bones of marriage and love journey are found in the pages. Burrowes' artful use of secondary characters can also be found with previously introduced characters and even a simple relationship between the hero and his valet, enrich the depth of the hero and heroine. The villain of the piece provides a bit of a crescendo moment throughout the story, but makes our heroine seem a bit too stubborn for angst sake. 
 
“You torrid very well, Mr. Sherbourne. May I prevail on you to ruin me?” 
 
If looking for a mellower read with a thoroughly delved into look at marriage and relationships or just wanting to visit the Windhams again, Burrowes provides an endearing story.

“You are naughty.”

Fatigue made his features sharper, and his smile more piratical. “Not naughty, married. Come be married with me, Charlotte Sherbourne.”