His Christmas Pleasure (Avon) [Mass Market Paperback]

STORY BRIEF:
Abby's grandmother left her a fortune to be hers upon marriage. Abby's father is also wealthy. He arranges a marriage for her to a repulsive, older man. Andres is a handsome younger man who has affairs with married women. Dobbins' wife had an affair with Andres. Dobbins offered Andres land in Northern England in return for Andres leaving London and never returning. The land is Andres' dream - to breed and raise horses. But he needs to marry someone with money (to buy horses, feed, building materials, living expenses, etc). He recently met and befriended Abby. He is honest with her about his financial need and asks her to marry him. She agrees as a way to avoid her father's arranged marriage. They elope. Abby's father is furious and chases them. When he finds them already married, he tells Abby she can't get her inheritance for three years.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I was moved watching Andres and Abby survive being poor. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. There is conflict provided by the father and Abby's former boyfriend which added interest. I think the title should not use the word "Christmas." It doesn't relate to the story other than a couple of parties being held during the Christmas season. They could have been held at any time of the year with the same effect on the story.

I liked and agree with Jacqueline Jacobson's comment (a Goodreads reviewer). "the book would have been stronger if more time was spent shown them working together renovating Stonemore...showing him using his ingenuity to build a home for them."

The book has 374 pages but it's large print, so it's shorter than a typical romance novel.

CAUTION SPOILER:
One part didn't sit well with me. Abby goes to London to visit her parents. She intends to stay there until Andres comes to her to prove his love. Well, he goes to her to tell her he loves her, but Dobbins sees him which means Andres will lose the land. It was awful to me that he threw away his dream. The author wanted to show that he loved her more than his land, but it didn't feel good to me. I think he should have at least TRIED something else like come to the edge of the city and send her a message. I love seeing a "grand gesture" to prove one's love - but this gesture had an irrational and/or foolish feeling to it. I won't say more about what happened regarding the land - to leave some surprise for readers.

DATA:
Story length: 374 pages large print. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 5 ½. Setting: 1810 England. Copyright: 2010. Genre: historical romance.

I am conflicted on scoring Cathy Maxwell's latest novel, I thought I would enjoy it more than I did based on the first chapter; it's exciting and humorous but this read has its weak moments (the heroine is a little immature). Overall I liked the book but realize it will probably not be going on my keeper shelf. The hero is so memorable though that it bumps this up to a four star read.

Abigail Montross is in love with someone who is selfish, spoiled and vain but she just does not see these faults. She is twenty-five and has been jilted by her titled fiancé (a character in a previous novel) but hopes her true love Freddie, will make an offer, he does but for her cousin. Abigail's father is a rich banker and he sets up a possible match for Abby, to a man with thirteen children, she is not happy about her father's choice.

Spanish adonis, Viscount Andres de Vasconia knows that Abby loves Freddy, he overheard their conversation at a ball and he also knows that Abby is very wealthy. Andres is cash poor and also stinging from a love affair gone wrong. He is offered a great opportunity; a jealous husband wants him out of London and entices him with landed property in Northern England complete with a stable, all Andre's if he promises never to return to London again. This is absolutely appealing to Andres who has always longed to own a horse farm. He needs cash quickly and his thoughts turn to Abby. The two form a business agreement in the form of a marriage with both sides getting what they want, Andres has his money and Abby gets a husband of her own choosing and neither one is in love with the other.

Andres is a dashing completely romantic and dreamy character, I fell in love with him from the start. He is misunderstood and mocked by the ton, he has been dogged his whole life by feelings of inadequacy and this farm finally brings him a chance of redemption. He is hardworking, surprising for a man in his position and for the most part honest too; some of the best scenes are when he reveals his subterfuge and his hidden past with Abby.

Abby is not as dynamic as her male lead. She can be demanding and is much more self-centered than her husband. With the exception of her jilted fiancé, her life has been pretty easy, unlike Andre's and she has the expectation that Andres should be willing to sacrifice everything for her when she is not as willing to do the same for him. She does have some fine scenes with Andres though, especially ones where they are working together for a common goal, here Abby is focused, unselfish and above all understanding.

This novel has its high and low moments The beginning was especially good and the couple's journey north was too; Andre's romantic side comes through because Ms Maxwell does an excellent job of letting these leads discover their best qualities through conversation and unselfish deeds on this long road trip. Other sections slowed the story and I admit the ending was a little too melodramatic and the dialogue too syrupy sweet. This novel though is entertaining and it's mostly because of Andres who might just be one of the best heroes that Cathy Maxwell has ever created.

If you like hero that is gorgeous, a little mysterious, but is sweet and kind; you'll love Andres. I love the how the relationship of these two leads develops and how they slowly change and begin to fall in love. The heroine grows up and matures, the hero realizes that he's not the worthless person that his father made him feel like. Like one reviewer said, the ending WAS a bit melodramatic, but honestly who cares since I was still sighing over how sweet Andres was to Abby. Hey that's what we read romance novels for, isnt it? The happy ending? After just reading another novel where the hero and heroine was so hardened and bitter and difficult to like, it was a welcome change. Trust me, read it and you'll be sighing over gorgeous Andres too!