This got an extra half star just because it kept my attention the whole way through, something hard to do with my stressful and busy job/life. Too much a heroine-chases-hero book and lacking any of my favored tropes for me to be really enamored, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

Also, the book description is inaccurate, the heroine is not “a spirited lady facing spinsterhood,” she is a rich, beautiful lady who has refused several offers while waiting on a love match, and now her uncle has given her a month to pick a husband, or marry the man she’s been expected to (she’s basically engaged). None of what I love in spinster books apply here, and the heroine is confident and only has a brief moment of concern that the hero might not be interested in her before she recovers and continues to chase him Despite a great set-up for one of my favorite tropes, this book doesn’t fall into the spinster unrequited love and angst category. ( )

I really enjoyed “Kiss Me at Christmas.” Sometimes romances can be cookie cutter or corny and this was decidedly not the case with this book, I’m happy to say!

A note at the end of the book said the author had fallen in love with Regina & Daffin’s story and hoped we had to. I definitely did, they are great characters that I found myself rooting for. It’s always great to read about a strong female character and an honorable, respectful man.

The only thing I’d change is something authors don’t typically have control over: The woman on the cover didn’t have the same color hair mentioned in the books! Yup, I dig the little details. :)

I also appreciated the way sexual content was written. Overly descriptive sex scenes or constant referencing of physical body parts take me out of the story and often are like reeds in a river, slowing me down as I go. The scenes in this book were well written and sexy without being gratuitous. Seduction is subtle and equals sexiness.

Incoming high praise: I want to read this book again and that’s not always a given, so I’m super excited by that!

(I received this book as an ARC via a Goodreads giveaway and this is my unbiased opinion.) ( )

What a wonderful addition to the Playful Brides series! I love that Daffin Oakleaf finally gets his own story. Regina is perfect for him! Quick read, I just couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened. I'm bummed that the next story isn't out until May 2019, but I will definitely be reading it!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own. ( )

A bruised heart and a raging libido make for an enchanting Christmas. Bowman puts the temptation back in romance with these two lonely hearts. Kiss Me at Christmas brings the heart full circle with a meeting of souls. Regina and Daffin are in a class all their own. Between arranged marriages, social prejudice and hidden danger, the odds are slim to none that love can win, but Christmas is the season of miracles. When the hearts involved anything is possible. An intriguing dance of charming emotion. ( )

For more quotes and comments - Buddy Read

The past twenty-four hours with him had been unbelievable. Not only had he nearly been killed, but when she’d treated the man for a pistol wound, of all things, she’d been lusting after him like a common street doxy.

The leads, Daffin and Regina started off cute and sweet. I really liked Regina as she was a wonderful combination of vulnerable and courageous. When she is talking with Daffin you could feel how much she liked him and how nervous that would make her but then she would charge on bravely, such a great character. Daffin was interesting as a Bow Street Runner but towards the end he started to get a bit redundant with the "I'm not good enough for her" old stand-by.

The first half was a really good beginning but the second half didn't expand on it enough for me with growing depth in their relationship, the murder mystery had a villain seemingly out of nowhere and a very rushed ending, past and future hero/heroines clogged up the ending, and I was wanting a little bit more of a holiday feel.

Overall though, I liked it as it had some cute moments, humor popping in, and a heartfelt heroine. ( )