ARC Review: With This Christmas Ring by Manda Collins

Title: With This Christmas Ring

Author: Manda Collins

Release Date: October 3, 2017 (ARC)

Publisher: St Martin’s Press

Category: Historical Romance

Type: Digital/Paperback

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Blurb:

A wallflower determined to fulfill a dying promise, the rogue she jilted years ago, and an orphaned baby are all brought together amidst the magic of Christmas in this new novella from Manda Collins.

Miss Merry Parks makes a deathbed promise to a schoolfriend that her infant daughter will be taken to her absent father. There’s only one problem—to find the baby’s father, she’ll have to consult his cousin, Viscount Wrotham, the man she jilted five years ago. The man she couldn’t forget.

Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, is stunned to find Merry Parks—looking more lovely than ever--on his doorstep with an infant in her arms. His shock soon turns to dismay when he learns his own cousin William is the man who abandoned his wife and child. As head of the family he’s duty bound to see right is done. But he can't let this opportunity pass. He’ll take Merry and the baby to his cousin, but he’ll woo her back in the process.

Merry agrees to travel with Alex and the baby to Wrotham Castle, where the entire Ponsonby family has gathered for Christmas, but her plans to see the baby settled then leave are ruined by a snowstorm. After five years apart, Alex and Merry will spend the week getting reacquainted. Perhaps it’s the spirit of the holiday, or the magic of the season, but there could be something else in the air this Yuletide…A Christmas Reunion.

Favorite Line:

“Grandmama looked at her as if she were a gap-toothed guttersnipe,” his cousin said wryly. “So I can only assume that Miss Parks is a wonderful person.”  ~  Will

Dialogue Highlight:

They shared a smile, but after a moment, Alex’s expression turned serious. “Miss Parks—Merry—I know it’s been years, but I never learned, that is to say, I would like to know . . . Was it something I did or said? That made you leave, I mean.”

She knew what he was asking, and though she’d vowed never to reveal to him just how badly his own grandmother had behaved, Merry felt that, at the very least, he should know that he was blameless. “No,” she assured him, her voice low with emotion. “I cannot say more than that. But please rest assured that you were not to blame.”

He took a step toward her, sat beside her on the sofa. Taking her hands, he asked, “Then what was it? What could possibly have induced you to leave? We were happy, I thought. One minute we were happy and the next you were gone. Without explanation. Merry, you owe me some explanation.” She felt the pressure of his hands on hers, and when she dared to look into his green eyes they were shining with emotion.

Both their lives had been ruined when she fell prey to his grandmother’s influence. But Merry couldn’t ruin his relationship with the woman who had all but raised him after his mother had departed for France. “I was a foolish, green girl, Alex,” she said. “I believed someone’s lies, and I thought I was doing the right thing. I knew soon enough that I was wrong. But I thought you would have got over it by now.”

“Whose lies?” he demanded. “Who made you leave me?”

But she couldn’t tell. Pulling her hands away, she shook her head. “I can’t.”

His hand was soft on her face, then. And she turned into it to look at him, like a sunflower drawn to the sun. “Merry.” That one word was all he said before he lowered hs mouth to hers.

Excerpt:

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…Lottie was startled awake and began crying.

She was trying to soothe her when Mr. Vessey appeared at her side and said, “May I?”

Merry frowned, and when she looked to Alex for guidance, he shrugged.

Since the baby was crying even more loudly now, she handed her to Vessey, who settled her into the crook of his arm and began rocking her and crooning nonsense words at her. To Merry’s amazement, Lottie stopped crying at once and blinked up at the man holding her.

“How did you do that?” Merry said. She was no expert on infant care, she knew, but she considered herself competent. Mr. Vessey, however, had some sort of gift.

“Four nieces,” the dark-haired man said with a crooked grin. “And I’m the only boy in a family with five sisters. If I didn’t learn early on how to charm the ladies, I’d have starved to death.”

He turned his gaze back to the baby in his arms and continued murmuring to her in a singsong voice.

“Spoiled rotten is how I’d characterize it.” Alex watched his friend, his eyes narrow with suspicion. “We grew up on neighboring estates,” he said to Merry. “And I can vouch for the truth of his passel of nieces and nephews. Though I was unaware of this particular gift of infant soothing.”

“Oh, I was quite spoiled,”Vessey assured them in his normal voice. “But that’s because I learned to charm them. Only, m’father saw through me. Though we were the only chaps, so there was solidarity there.”

Taking the opportunity to speak to Alex while Lottie was being charmed, Merry said to him, “You were asking about my father’s attitude toward me keeping Lottie in Parks House. I admit I didn’t tell him last night. But I am hardly a green debutante with a reputation to lose. At my age, and with how little I mix with high sticklers, I should think a few more days will not be a problem. And it appears that you are not set up to care for an infant.”

“There is a full nursery here,” he said, not meeting her gaze, and she suddenly remembered the day they’d spent touring those rooms together. They’d talked about their own childhoods and, shyly at first, the future. Most vivid in her mind, however, was how he’d kissed her, with her back pressed against the door, murmuring against her mouth just how much he wanted her.

Her cheeks heated at the memory, and she looked at her hands, unable to risk a glance at his face to see if he, too, remembered that day, or if he’d simply forgotten it all. “Of course. Perhaps in a few days when we know more, then. I have asked my maid to hire a wet nurse. And if my father objects, I will reevaluate the situation at Parks House. In the meantime, I thank you for your assistance.”

Suddenly needing to get out of his home so that she could breathe again, Merry stood.

Alex, perhaps feeling some nerves as well, shot to his feet, and Mr. Vessey, as if sensing the undercurrent between them, carefully handed the baby back to Merry. Lottie fussed a little, but when Merry held her against her shoulder and soothed her with a hand on her back, she calmed.

Wordlessly, she retraced her steps down the stairs and soon found herself back at the front entrance to the townhouse.

“I’ll send word as soon as I know anything,” Alex said as his butler helped her into her cloak. His earlier assured pose had been replaced by a restless energy that had him clasping and unclasping his hands at his sides. “I’ll settle something for her either way. I give you my word.”

She locked eyes with him at that, unable to forget how she’d broken her word to him. At the time, under the persuasive gaze of his grandmother, she’d thought it was the right thing. Now, however, it was impossible not to wonder if she’d made the wrong decision.

Still, there were more grave things to consider at the moment.

“Thank you, my lord.” She offered him her hand and to her relief, he took it. He didn’t bow over it or kiss it as he once would have done, but he did envelop it in his. And that warmth gave her comfort.

“It’s my pleasure,” he said simply.

Review:

Merry Parks made a dreadful mistake 5 years ago when she walked away from the only man she had or would ever love. She allowed someone to influence her, playing on her insecurities,  and she has regretted it ever since. But now, a good friend has died, leaving behind an infant daughter. She has sworn to find the child’s father – and wouldn’t you know – he turns out to be Alexander’s cousin. Her quickest course of action, of course, is going straight to Alex. She resolves to keep her cool, but those old feelings stir up just as soon as she sees him. She’s sure Alex hates her after she rejected him, and she knows she needs to be done with this situation – but there seems to be a connection still there … and maybe a second chance with her one true love. But she’ll also have to confront the woman who played on her weakness 5 years ago if she is to ever have a chance with Alexander – and THAT is easier said than done.

Alexander Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham has recently returned from France and spending quite some time with his estranged mother. He has recently discovered, as suspected, that his mother was not the evil trollop he was made to think she was. Many truths have recently come to light and he now suspects the same marionette master likely had something to do with losing Merry. He contemplates a way to get her back when she unexpectedly appears on his door step. She need his assistance and he’s going to give it to her. He’s also going to launch a relentless campaign to win her back. She’s the only woman he ever loved, and knowing she left under duress, he’s going to get her back for good.

I just love Manda Collins! I have not read a single HR from her that I have not thoroughly enjoyed. She has a gift in her writing that sucks the reader in almost instantaneously – a talent that endears the reader toward the characters quickly – a flair for describing the details in such a way that the reader can easily place him/herself within the story as if on the outside, looking in, watching as it all unfolds. Honestly, my only complaint was that I read the story too darned quick and it ended. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spend with Alex, Merry, and all of the other characters. This book is a part of the Studies in Scandal series, which I have not yet had the opportunity to read, but if this quick Christmas read is any indication of the others, it is well worth your time. In fact, if Ms. Collins isn’t a go-to author for those who love Historical Romance, you are seriously doing yourself an injustice!

This book is set around the Christmas Season, but would be a treasure to read no matter the time of year. Merry is the kind of friend you would want in your corner and Alexander is swoon-worthy in his quest to win back Merry’s heart. Readers are in for some amazing characters and will surely want to read the whole series after this wonderful gem. Even being located in the middle of the series, this book is easy to follow as a stand alone. For a story packed full of endearing characters, gloriously flawed that you’ll love despite their deficiencies, you have definitely come to the right place!

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/St Martins Press in exchange for an honest review.