Leander, Earl of Charrington, has huge problems. Every woman he meets is madly in love with him. Thing is, he's bummed about it since what wants is a loveless marriage. Judith Rossiter is the widow of a popular poet, who slept in curlers (yes he did)…and wrote all his odes to her, including the perennial favorite, Angel Bride. She scrapes by with her young son and daughter, as her husband’s annuity ended with his death. It’s only the small charity sent by her brother-in-law that keeps the wolves from the door. Judith is known as the Weeping Widow, because she’s never stopped wearing black (mostly because she can’t afford new clothes). Leander hears about her from Lucien, Marquess of Arden, and his wife Beth, and thinks that a woman who's still grieving her dead hubby might just be the loveless wife he wants. So he goes to have a look. He likes what he sees, so after a two-second conversation, he proposes. She reacts favorably. Ah, the perfect woman. But Lee is relentless and eventually she succumbs to his blandishments (whatever that means). The happy new family sets out for Temple Knollis, Leander’s primary estate. The mausoleum elegant mansion was Leander's grandfather’s obsession, and his father’s bête noire. Leander's father fled the place and warned Leander that if he returned, he might never be allowed to leave. When Leander returned to England for school, his grandfather's increasingly forceful demands that he visit made him nervous; he feared that if he ever acquiesced he would be kept captive there. His father's warnings took an even more ominous meaning when Lee became the earl, and the urgent summons now came from his uncle, loaded with dire words that sounded a bit like threats. A careful examination of the earldom's books revealed that vast sums were being siphoned off. Would his uncle kill for the earldom—or to hide the misappropriation of funds? And when they meet his cousin, who claims he's fleeing the Temple, which is stricken with ebolathe clap diphtheria, what does that mean? After years all but dragging Leander there, why are they suddenly warning him off? The new family diverts to London, where the kidlets explore the town, and Lee does some digging into this newest mystery. Judith uses the time to buy some non-black gowns and settle up her husband's debts with his publisher. That's when things get spooky. Judith sees her dead husband's ghost—and he looks pissed. And someone gives the kids some poisoned candy, when they aren't trying to push the boy off a bridge. Which sets off a string of mistaken assumptions, a mystery that isn't all that hard to figure out, and a lot of "I love him but I can't tell him because he wants a loveless marriage"/"I love her but I can't tell her because she still loves her dead ex hubby" angst which got on my nerves a bit. It all happens around the holiday season so there's talk woven in about family Christmas traditions, etc. Hence the title. Another "not her best work" book, IMO. But three stars. Best line: "Why are you scowling at the pudding, mama?"
Author: Jo BeverleyFirst published: 1992Length: 4792 locations, 351 pagesSetting: England, 1815Sex: Not frequent. Explicit but not raunchy.Hero: Diplomat, soldier. Returning to an England he doesn't know. Wants to put down roots. 25 years old.Heroine: Widow with two children. Married at 16. Not a comfortable marriage, but not abusive. Poor. 29 years old.Series: Book 3Includes: Excerpts from Forbidden and Dangerous Joy by Jo Beverley.A book about grief and second chances. About parenting. And about Love - accepting and giving.Overall, it's another solid Regency from Beverley. Like Books 1 and 2, it isn't the easiest book. The characters aren't as appealing as one would expect of the genre. And the story is a bot of a mishmash. It works... mostly.I find myself wanting to read the series, but not exactly enjoying them. There are some odd concepts and Beverley seems to be promoting some personal crusades - partly as character motivation, partly as "this was how it was during Regency period" but I am also thinking they may be her personal opinions.An example. In "Christmas Angel", Beverley spent many paragraphs expounding on corporal punishment and it's value in turning boys into men. A reader could take this two ways: changing times and opinions, particularly with society's changing views on the role of woman and wife, made the discipline and expectation of youth an important turning point, or Beverley feels society has lost something (control? discipline? responsibility?) in removing corporal punishment from homes and schools. In terms of character motivation, the punishment and discipline of Judith's son was critical in the two recognising a need for partnership, but also Judith denouncing her role as sole carer and Bastian moving forward into a male dominated, sometimes brutal society.Ultimately, what I am finding with Beverley's "Company of Rogues" are how thoughtful they are. I may not agree with them - and find myself cranky with characters and author - but they stay with me. Beverley puts forward some challenging viewpoints. Not particularly subtly, but they are there.There's something to be gained in that.From the World of The Company of Rogues:An Arranged Marriage - Nicholas DelaneyAn Unwilling Bride - Lucien de Vaux, Marquess of ArdenChristmas Angel - Leander Knollis, Earl of CharringtonForbidden - Francis Haile, Lord MiddlethorpeDangerous Joy - Miles CavanaghThe Dragon's Bride - Con Somerford, Viscount AmleighThe Devil's Heiress - Clarissa Greystone"The Demon's Mistress' in In Praise of Younger Men - Lord VandeimenHazard - Lady Anne Peckworth and Race de VereSt. Raven - Tristan Tregallows, Duke of St. RavenSkylark - Sir Stephen BallThe Rogue's Return - Simon St. BrideTo Rescue A Rogue - Lord Darius Debenham (also Major Hal Beaumont)Lady Beware - Lady Thea Debenham and Viscount DarienA Shocking Delight - David KerslakeReferences:Author's website: http://www.jobev.com/rogues.html(ISBN 978-1-61417-447-9)-CR-
What do You think about Christmas Angel (2001)?
This is a lovely story about an impoverished widow and slightly younger nobleman who is tired of both the life he was trained to (diplomacy) and the life he chose (the military). Both have secrets and assumptions to deal with and I enjoyed watching them work things out.The book is the third in a series -- I didn't know that when I started -- and it is easy to tell who the first two books in the series were about, but the book stands alone. I hope to read other books by the author, including the other books in the series.
—JoAnn
I seem to be averaging two romances a month. My mom would be horrified. She does not read for escape, she reads for learning, for improving her mind. Mostly, I am over her condemnation of my reading habits, because I know that there is only so much reading time left. I have decided life is too short to read only for improving my mind. I want to enjoy what I am reading and there are fewer calories in romance books than in a box of chocolates.I read some of Jo Beverley's books before I started keeping track on this website. I like her writing style, her characters and the way she links this series together with the male characters. All in all, this was a fun read.
—Patty
This is an atypical Regency romance for Beverley or so I've read. I was really happy to find that the whole woman as possession was tone down to a whisper in this book. Both Leander and Judith are longing for a marriage based on honesty, friendship and the desire to make a home. Judith has been nicknamed the Weeping Widow by the villagers, Leander is looking to marry without the foolish emotion of love and wants friendship and a solid honest relationship instead. He finds a ready made family with Judith and her two children. No real villains in this story, such two persons learning to love each other without realizing it. I found it an agreeable read, something like a nice cup of tea with with your favorite cookies on a Sunday afternoon.
—Writerlibrarian
