ARC Review: A Rogue's Christmas Kiss by Eva Devon (Must Love Rogues)

Title: A Rogue’s Christmas Kiss

          (Must Love Rogues)

Author: Eva Devon

Release Date: November 12, 2017 (ARC)

Publisher: Bard Productions Inc.

Category: Historical Romance

Type: Digital

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Eva Devon Website

Blurb:

Bah and a hum bug: 

Sebatian Rutherford, the new Earl of Gray, has no desire to settle down. Ever. The only thing he dislikes more than the idea of taking over his recently inherited earldom, and all it’s responsibilities, is Christmas. So, when he agrees to an arranged marriage to the former earl’s daughter, he plans on a quick wedding and a quicker return to his adventures abroad. Surely, even a hint of Christmas cheer won’t need to be shared? But when his clever new wife, Lady Marabelle begins to thaw his heart, he finds that not only is family a joy, but Christmas may be the best season to lose one’s heart.

Deck the Halls: 

Lady Marabelle loves Christmas. She loves everything about it. So, when she faces her first Christmas since the death of her beloved father, married to a man she’s never met, she decides to make sure that the Christmas hating new Earl must be taught the spirit of the season. But with each day toward Christmas that comes her way, she begins to find that perhaps a marriage of convenience can be a marriage of the heart and a veritable Christmas miracle.

This was originally included in the Limited Christmas Set 'Twas the Night Before Scandal.

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Favorite Line(s):

She’d wanted adventure and she’d gotten it. The poor man looked like he was some great wild lion, forced into captivity. Now, the only thing he could do was snarl a bit and bat at the bars of his cage.  ~  Marabelle

Dear God, she’d married an arse. An utter arse. A handsome arse. But an arse, none the less. There was really no other way to put it.  ~  Marabelle

Dialogue Highlight:

“May I play your pianoforte?” he asked abruptly.

She blinked then looked to said mentioned instrument. “Of course.”

It was such an odd and sudden request. She felt quite jarred by it. Was conversing with her really so terrible?

Wordlessly, Sebastian strode to the pianoforte. It was displayed prominently near the dark windows at the end of the salon.

Carelessly, he flicked his frock coattails back and sat on the polished bench.

To her astonishment, he paused reverently. His long, strong fingers rested just above the ivory keys before he stroked the keys ever so softly.

Then, he bent slightly, his head tilting to the side. The small movement caused his obsidian hair to fall over his face.

He pressed the keys lightly.

A shiver ran down her spine as notes began to dance in the air.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him as he played. His whole body was engaged in the music.

The song, whatever it was, swept her up in a dark, tantalizing frenzy. For a moment, she felt like she was drifting on some mysterious and magical sea of emotion.

Sebastian seemed totally consumed by the piece.

Her husband, seemingly so distant, so cold, so displeased to be in England at all, was transformed.

He played with a passion she’d not seen in her entire life. A passion she’d never experienced in all her days. It poured out of him into the keys and then those keys struck the metal strings within the pianoforte, which then reverberated into the room and washed over her.

Her breath froze in her throat and, to her astonishment, she realized that his music made her feel utterly alive. Her skin tingled, her heart soared, her whole body felt captivated.

When at last his hands came to rest, the room was engulfed in silence.

He said nothing. He moved not a muscle. But rather, he sat in worshipful quiet before the instrument that he had just awoken to mesmerizing life.

“My God,” she whispered. “I have never heard anything like that before.”

“Herr Beethoven,” he said softly. “There has never been or ever will be a composer like him.”

Words eluded her yet she felt compelled to speak. “I feel. . . I feel…”

“Transported?” Sebastian asked without a hint of mockery, still gazing at the ivory keys.

 “Yes.”

He looked up to her at last. “It is the only time that I am. . . Happy.”

“When you play?”

He nodded. “When I play, I am at one with myself.”

“I can only imagine what it must be like to produce such music.” She smiled, barely able to contain her envy. “You’re fortunate your parents—”

“My parents would be appalled,” he cut in, his voice flat.

“I beg your pardon?”

“My father was a solider,” he replied simply. “My mother a perfect soldier’s wife. They longed to produce someone who would continue and further their lineage. Great soldiers do not play the pianoforte. That is for artists and other fools.”

Other fools.

That’s what his parents had thought of anyone who reveled in such beautiful music?

“How did you learn then?” she asked softly.

“I heard Herr Beethoven’s music in Austria.” He gave a wry smile. “By sheer audacity, I asked him to teach me.”

“Beethoven?” she exclaimed.

He nodded, stroking his fingertips over the polished wood. “Yes. I’m a lord and had the coin. So, he agreed. He’s quite deaf, you know. A veritable bear of a man. Seems very rude. . . He tries to keep his condition secret. But I think he’s very angry that he can no longer hear the music he sends out into the world.”

She attempted to comprehend it. To study music with such a master? Such a thing would only be in her imaginings. It struck her then that she had what he lacked and vice versa. He had traversed the world and engaged in its delights and foibles but had no affection.

She had seen hide nor hair of anything outside of her own small sphere. But she had been lavished with love from the day she was born.

“I hope you will play often,” she said in all honesty.

“If it pleases you.”

Excerpt:

He’d been so certain that, after he’d sold his commission from the King’s Army, he’d never need to set his feet upon England’s damp soil again.

Still, life was full of surprises.

As soon as he could wed, bed, and get his wife with an heir, he’d be gone again.

The world held far too much scope to spend it on a tiny patch of land filled with tiny minded people. Family life was not for him.

Still, it had not been his intention to be late.

So, he spurred his freshly-shod stallion over the icy moor.

He’d had but the barest of directions to the appointed church. At last, he turned down a road lined with a stone fence and urged his horse on.

They raced at breakneck speed. Finally, he spotted the holy building in the distance.

There was a small group of people outside.

No doubt, Lady Marabelle was in the church, cursing his name.

At the sound of the hard-hitting hooves of his ride, the group turned.

He pulled lightly on the reins and his horse reared onto its hind quarters. The animal’s breath was blowing white from its nostrils.

To Sebastian’s amazement, a lady swathed in the folds of a rich crimson cloak looked up at him. She blinked and said, “Terribly glad you could make it, my lord.”

A laugh burst from his lips. He couldn’t stop himself.

“Lady Marabelle?” he queried, barely able to believe that his future wife might have an admirable sense of humor.

“Yes,” she admitted with a surprisingly relieved smile on her lips. “Now, do come down from your horse. We are keeping the poor vicar waiting.”

“Whatever my lady commands,” he said dryly. He then swung down from his saddle and planted his boots onto the unforgiving soil.

“An admirable beginning,” she said lightly.

He arched a brow. “I must admit, you’re taking my tardiness very well.”

“It had not been my intention,” she admitted.

“You planned to scold?” he couldn’t help asking as he adjusted his tricorn with a gloved hand.

“Of course.” Her eyes widened with melodramatic horror before she teased, “The bride shouldn’t arrive before the groom.”

“Then what changed your mind?” he asked in all seriousness.

“If you must know,” she replied honestly, “your entrance was absolutely splendid. One couldn’t ask for a better one, not even in the pages of a novel or an epic poem.”

He gaped at her. Sebastian decided he needed to pause despite her urging and truly take a good look at her.

Everything had transpired so quickly. He hadn’t really allowed himself to take her in.

Lady Marabelle was shorter than he was by a foot.

He’d have to sweep her up into his arms to kiss her.

To kiss her.

He looked to her lips.

In the crisp December cold, her mouth and cheeks shone red. Seductive, glorious red. In contrast, her face was as pale as the gentle snow falling in lacy flakes about them.

Dark hair curled from under her crimson hood. Strangely, he found himself wanting to push back that fabric and see the extent of her curls.

He had a strong feeling that her stunning, black hair would be perfect for winding about his fists.

Lust.

That’s what it was. Abrupt. Powerful. Undeniable.

It had happened in just a few moments. From the teasing tone of her rich voice to her charming person, he’d fallen in lust with Lady Marabelle.

It was almost entirely the opposite of his expectations. He found himself to be without words.

He’d expected an overbred miss, not this witty, laughing, blue-eyed wonder who looked at him with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. She said, “Do you fancy becoming an icicle? I don’t. Besides, our guests are already waiting for us.”

Guests. He grimaced.

How had he forgotten so easily?

Oh yes. He’d been captivated by her.

Duty called.

Sebastian swept an elaborate bow then offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

She nibbled her lower lip then lilted, “Ah. Poor Lord Sebastian, Earl of Gray. To the gallows then?”

He opened his mouth to speak. But, once again, he was unable to reply.

She then winked and whispered, “Never fear. I know you’ve no real wish to marry me.”

She paused and then continued with blatant optimism. “But you’re going to like it. Very much. I promise you that, my lord. Indeed, I do.”

Was he, by God?

And with that, he led Lady Marabelle into the church. He was certain that this was going to be the strangest Christmas he’d ever known.

Review:

Lady Marabelle Danvers is the last surviving heir to the Earl of Grey. Since she cannot assume such a title, it has been passed to the next male heir with the stipulation that he marry Marabelle. She’s ok with the arrangement since she’s been running the estate for years and will continue to do so as the Earl’s wife. But she knows little of her intended and is to marry him on the morning of his arrival. It is the beginning of the Christmas season and this will be her first without any of her family to celebrate with, so she’s determined to make the best Christmas ever with her new husband … except he hates the holiday, and people, and his new title, and England … but he seems to like Marabelle quite a lot. A conundrum indeed.

Sebastian Rutherford, Earl of Grey has been traveling the Indies since selling his commission from the army. He never thought to step foot back in England again – until duty called. He has every intention of claiming the title, getting his new bride with an heir, and then resuming his travels abroad. At least that’s his plan. But the lovely lady entices him with thoughts of a home, a family, a life full of love and traditions. He’s never experienced and thing like it, coming from a hard family with no use for affection or anything so frivolous as holiday celebrations. He’s finding he likes the idea more and more, but settling down will take a bit more convincing and Marabelle is determined to make it happen. If she can’t convince him over the holidays, then she can’t convince him at all – but her kisses are doing a pretty darned good job of it.

This is a super-fast novella read that can be tackled within a couple of hours. For such a short span of pages, I found the characters whimsical and engaging. Sebastian has been groomed for nothing but propriety and has never encountered a woman like Marabelle who adores life; especially the holidays. I enjoyed seeing a side of Sebastian that he kept guarded and hidden from others, but gave to Marabelle as a gift. And Marabelle’s excitement for the holidays and traditions within them is almost contagious. It seems to be for Sebastian, anyway. The two have a few differing ideals to work through, but as an arranged marriage, they ultimately suit to each other well. Sebastian in all his antisocial glory and Marabelle with her welcoming, joyous spirit complement one another; together finding a beautiful balance.

The reader is also treated to another fun couple within the book, the Duke and Duchess of Huntsdown. Olivia is a good friend of Marabelle and James was in the army with Sebastian. The couple is newly married and so they go on outings together and impart advice here and there. They have their own story in book 3 of the series, Duke Goes Rogue, which I’d very much like to read now. Most dialogue is between the couples is humorous with James and Olivia having already been through their “awkward period” and Sebastian and Marabelle new to marriage, muddling their way through becoming acquainted. As a historical romance, I found this novella a satisfying read with entertaining and charming characters. I plan to visit the rest of this series as soon as I get the chance.

Kindle version provided by Dog Eared Publicity/Author in exchange for an honest review.