Review: A Christmas Promise

Warning! This review is high praise on this book and praise only. Keep on reading if you don't mind. *g*

Title: A Christmas Promise

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell Books

Pages: 272

Genre: Historical

Plot: Randolph Pierce, Earl of Falloden, and Eleanor Transome are being married for the wrong reasons. Randolph needs Ellie's money, whereas Ellie wants to keep a promise she gave her late father. But when Christmas arrives and with it a whole bunch of Ellie's family, the season's magic lets Randolph and Ellie forget about money and duty and leaves them as a man and a woman, who are just right for each other.

I think ... I am deeply in love. So far, I have read about fifteen Christmas romances and reviewed about nine of them. None was a good as this one. First of all, it is a full-length novel. Not novella or short story or whatever. The author has enough time to develop characters and storyline. No rushing here, which is very refreshing after reading all these fast and shallow romances these last weeks. I immediately had the feeling, that I was reading a Christmas story of an experienced writer. Mary Balogh has a huge talent and specials skills to make her characters come alive and believable.

The storyline is great. I like how the characters get together, see each other in the beginning and then get closer, although there are so many obstacles in their way. There are some wonderful, wonderful scenes in this book, which made me feel the butterflies dancing in my tummy, because I was so involved in the story. I like that in a book. When you lay the book aside and need some moments to come back into reality. Totally what happened with me here.  The Christmas theme is present on every page and it was fun to see how the Earl develops a feeling for the season, which wasn't there before.

Honestly, please read this. I am not really a fan of historicals. I read them, but usually prefer contemporary romance. But this one is special. Now, go to your local bookstore or shop here. Curl up with a cup of coffee or tea, make sure you got cookies around and start reading. I'll see you after page 272. Let me know, how you liked it. I am deeply in love. (Oh, I already said that)

Happy Reading!