After gentleman Freddie Walton rescued penniless Philomena Nichols at Christmas eight years ago, he never imagined that he would build his empire with her. Yet while they have created a life together as friends, Freddie can’t let their special connection become more than that. But, what happens when the feelings are returned?
I started this story with a lot of expectations, and I was thoroughly disappointed. I couldn’t get into it because there was not enough to get me interested, just inner monologue. I didn’t finish this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Lotte R. James delights her readers with an intense, emotional and enthralling new historical romance, The Gentleman of Holly Street.

Freddie Walton has worked hard for everything he’s got. The self-made gentleman is now wealthy beyond his wildest dreams – and it’s largely thanks to penniless Philomena Nichols. Freddie had rescued Philomena eight years ago at Christmas and the two of them had built a hugely successful empire that has given them financial security and independence that would have otherwise been denied to them. The two of them are grateful towards one another and their friendship means everything to them. Freddie and Philomena will not do anything to jeopardise their platonic relationship – and they will certainly never dream of acting upon the attraction that sizzles between them…

Still haunted by his past, Freddie can never risk putting Philomena in any kind of danger. The best way forward for the two of them is to focus on their business and keep romance off the agenda. However, when giving into temptation proves inevitable and his feelings for Philomena refuse to stay hidden, Freddie realises that he needs to find the courage to tell Philomena how he truly feels about her – or else risk letting the woman who means the world to him slip through his fingers.

The Gentleman of Holly Street is a beautifully written and wonderfully evocative historical romance about old sins, dangerous secrets and everlasting love readers will find hard to resist. Lotte R. James is a very gifted and talented writer who writes powerful historicals infused with heart, heat, wit and drama that hold readers spellbound from beginning to end. In The Gentleman of Holly Street she has written a friends-to-lovers romance that will pluck at the heartstrings and will leave readers with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye.

A gothic set Christmas Historical Romance, what a wonderfully drawing point. Yes, this novel is set at Christmas, yes it is a historical, but the gothic setting is much more on the lighter side than I would have ideally wished for. Lottie R. James also sets up an intriguing self made hero and the heroine he rescued and works closely with. All these items seem to be the perfect mix for what will be a delightful intriguing Christmas read. And while James' writing is well executed and she does a lovely job of creating a delicious atmosphere, the novel because a bit bogged down in the inner workings of our main hero and heroine.

Overall, this book does have some wonderful things going for it, the hero and heroine are both hard workers who support and respect each other. Watching the foundation they have built as co-workers and friends is really lovely and creates a beautiful place for them to expand their relationship to a more intimate level. My desire for them to learn to respect themselves more and to speak their minds starts to wear thin throughout because this novel is very focused on inner dialogue. While this plot is very much character focused there is some intrigue towards the end that ramps the pacing up.

This is the first book I have read from Lottie R. James and I did enjoy it, and I am interested in exploring more of her work further. I think if you are a James fan then you will most likely enjoy this book and if the plot and characters interest you, definitely check it out.

My full review is available at All About Romance at the following link: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-gentleman-of-holly-street-by-lotte-r-james/

Friends to lovers, this book is part of a series but worked fine as a standalone.  It's sold as a gothic romance, but I didn't get that at all; the book is missing some of the fundamental elements of a gothic romance including suspense, mood, and real mystery.

Both MCs have traumatic pasts and there is a fair amount of angst and melodrama at play throughout.  This is amped up by a lot of inner monologue.  As most of it is repetitive (I love x but...) it became tiring and I skimmed a lot of this book after debating whether or not to DNF.

There are some intimate scenes, violence, and mature subject matter.  None of it is super graphic, but the overall tone is fairly down in the mouth. Around the holidays except for the one or two tearjerker movies I watch, I like a bit lighter fare, and this was not that.

I think this book could work for readers who like angsty friends to lovers, enjoy reading about lower/middle class 19th century folks, and like a bit of villainy in their romance.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story of two people who came from nothing and built a successful business together. Freddie was taken in as a youth by a man who educated and mentored him. As the book opens on a cold winter night, Freddie is ready to start his shop of intriguing items from around the world. As he enters his newly acquired building for the first time, he pictures how it will look. When he steps back outside, he encounters an emaciated young woman hiding out in his courtyard. Unable to send her away, he invites her inside for the night for warmth and food, fully intending to send her on her way in the morning. Instead, he asks her to stay, paying forward the help he received.

Philomena, or "Mena," never forgot the night Freddie took a chance on her. Over the past eight years, she has worked hard to be worthy of his confidence. Not only does she run his business when he is away, but she has also branched out on a project of her own. I loved seeing Mena's passion for her vision and pride in how it progresses. The only problem is that she has kept it secret from Freddie and doesn't know how to tell him about it.

I liked watching the relationship develop between Mena and Freddie. They are friends, first and foremost, living and working together. Both are survivors, having come through unpleasant pasts to where they are now. However, neither one talks about what they've been through, afraid of what the other would think if they knew. Over the years, Mena has fallen in love with Freddie but believes she is unworthy of him. She plans to leave, clearing the way for the relationship she thinks he deserves.

Freddie is oblivious to Mena's feelings. He appreciates their friendship and partnership and always looks forward to his return home after his voyages. However, on this return after his final voyage, he suddenly realizes that Mena means much more to him. He fights against naming these new feelings because he knows nothing about love. He also believes that his past makes him unworthy of love.

There are multiple bumps in the road to their happy ending, the greatest of which are their insecurities. While they long for the other's love, they continually try to push the other away. The other big obstacle is Mena's project. She is so proud and happy about its progress and that she has done it on her own using the skills she learned from Freddie. She feels guilty about keeping it from him and wonders the best time to tell him. When Freddie finds out about it on his own, he doesn't react well. I wanted to shake him for his selfish attitude. I could understand being hurt by not knowing about it, but how he lashed out at Mena was uncalled for. I was also frustrated by how Freddie knew he was hurting Mena with some of his actions but did them anyway. It takes Mena stepping in and saving Freddie from his past to finally let go of his insecurities and believe in Mena's love. Meanwhile, Mena gets some advice that helps her past her fears.

My biggest problem with the book is that there was an excessive amount of inner monologue. I skipped pages every time Mena or Freddie started in on how unworthy they were. They were frequently repetitive, and I just wanted to get back to the story. I much preferred seeing them interact with each other and their friends and coworkers.

4 1/2 stars. This book grabbed me from the very beginning, quite unexpectedly, and I read it entirely in one sitting. I always enjoy the "friends to lovers" trope, and Freddie and Mena are such likable MC's. Both are working class, although Freddie has elevated himself to the upper echelons of the merchant class through his own--and Mena's--efforts. The flashbacks to the early days of their relationship, starting at the point when Freddie took Mena in, are effective and compelling. Admittedly, it is rather unrealistic that Freddie would expect society to see Mena as his partner, not his mistress, considering the mores of the time period and the fact that women had very little clout.

I felt sympathy for Mena that Freddie did quite a bit of traveling and hobnobbing that she was never a part of. Because of the trauma she experienced in her early days on the streets of London, she has become what we would call today almost agoraphobic, but she has been working through her fears over time. Freddie has had to contend with his own feelings of guilt about his associations and actions in childhood (there is also a bit of a mention of his feelings of inferiority about his background, which I wish had been explored more).

This author's writing style is frequently lyrical, creating vivid imagery and helping the reader to become more deeply invested in Freddie and Mena's relationship. The steamy scenes are effective as well; you especially get a sense of Mena's longing for a future with Freddie.

My only real caveats: As much as I liked Mary as a character, it is too much to believe that Freddie could get away with having intimate conversations with an unmarried, unescorted woman of the ton and not declare himself.. Also, after everything Mena did for Freddie by the end, I couldn't believe he STILL dragged his feet about marriage.

Overall, this is one of those reads that hit the spot for me emotionally, and I was truly drawn into the main characters' relationship. I am definitely interested in reading more books by this author.

Steam level: 2-3.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Historical romance readers will want to get their hands of Lotte R. James latest book The Gentleman of Holly Street.

I know I will never be disappointed when I read a Lotte R. James book. She is a wonderful storyteller. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she is a master at weaving this spell over her readers. I always get swept away in her stories, and this book is no exception. This book has a lot of meat; it's chock full of lush and vivid descriptions. The characters are complex and add so much richness to the story. The story starts a little slow, but once things start to pick up, it keeps your attention right to the last page. I loved how Lotte blended this mystery of Freddie's past into the overall love story. It added this element of unknown danger, which I found exciting, and I wasn't expecting all the action that went with it.

The story itself weaves between two different timelines. The first is the current timeline leading up to Christmas, and the other touches upon past Christmases that Mena and Freddie experience. Lotte does a great job at going back and forth between these two different timelines in a cohesive, thoughtful way. Through these flashback chapters, readers will learn more about Freddie and Mena's past and what drives them. We also watch as their relationship deepens and see the moment they realize that their feelings for one another are more romantic in nature.

This book is a friends-to-lovers trope love. I don't come across many romances that focus on the friends-to-lovers trope (our book club can confirm this), so I was excited to see how Lotte would use it in her story. Overall, I loved these two, both independently and as a couple. They are strong-willed, intelligent, and care for others around them. Their history is rich, and they have that solid foundation that sometimes romantic couples are missing. There are plenty of hurdles that these two have to overcome (often from their own doing) before they truly become a couple. Freddie doesn't believe that he is deserving of Mena's love and also doesn't believe that she could love him without feeling obliged to do so. Mena thinks she isn't good enough to be in a relationship with Freddie because of her past living on the streets. A lot of this book is spent watching as these two try to deal with these internal struggles. This self-doubt results in a lot of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. But do not fear. They get the happy ending that they deserve. There are also lots of spice parts in this book that will help keep you warm during this wintery season.

The Gentleman of Holly Street is a beautiful gothic romance that you will want to read again and again.

Thank you, Harlequin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book is a quiet read, with a lot of internalizations and little interaction between the characters. The obstacles were mostly in the characters’ minds. I prefer a faster pace. DNF at 62%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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CHRISTMAS BOOK: 7

The Gentleman of Holly Street by Lottie James is a pure Harlequin romance featuring the dashing Freddie, a sea-faring merchant who inherits a house and begins to think of settling down and living in England. He owed it to his benefactor to make a life for himself that wasn’t always traveling and set up a retail shop in London. But first, he meets a poor girl sleeping under rags in his backyard who is nearly dead. Freddie beckons her in and feeds her, and lets her sleep in front of a fire. His kindness has no price…he is a gentleman. These two become the best of friends, and somewhat partners as Philomena (Mena) tries to make a life for herself. I liked the story and found both lead characters to be charming and suitably smitten, but the friend-to-romantic lover takes a long, long, and slooooowww burn to develop. Most of the book is about these two conversing in their head about how inappropriate their relationship was. It was one of my first thoughts, how could a poor, BEAUTIFUL, single girl live under the same roof (even if he was on the high seas most of the time) with a single man and show their faces in good society? I don’t see how they would have been accepted. The romance is timid and not at all gothic. Their relationship is spotty, with that inner dialogue continuing throughout the novel. Set during the Christmas season, so technically, I would consider this a Christmas story. I would also think it to be a cozy romance. #romance #friendToMore #cozy #tame #harlequin @harlequinhistorical #TheGentlemanOfHollyStreet #CHRISTMASread7 @netGalley Publish Date: Nov 29th.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Historical, and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

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2.5 stars

After years of travel, Freddie Walton has finally put down roots and purchased a building to not only open his business but also as a place to live. He is inspecting the property when he comes upon a half-starved, terrified girl. He invites her in to eat and get warm, knowing that he can’t turn her away, but not realizing how this decision will ultimately change his life.

Philomena “Mena” Nichols has come a long way from the ragamuffin that was saved that December night by Freddie. She has worked hard with Freddie to make his business a success and has also worked diligently to improve herself and despite her lingering fears, has managed to do amazing things on her own.

Freddie and Mena have a complicated relationship and are often apart from each other, they are both self-made people, and both feel inferior, even though Freddie has a circle of friends in high society and is welcomed into the ton, they both think they are unworthy. Even after their relationship changes and they become lovers, they still don’t believe they are deserving of a HEA with each other and struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Especially Freddie, whose past is coming back to haunt him.

This was an odd read for me and I wonder if it was because this is the third book in the series and I didn’t read the previous books. While the idea of the book intrigued me when I started reading it, there were things that I found offputting, such as Freddie’s relationship with Lady Mary, they were just a bit too cozy for my liking, and in this era, there is no way they could spend as much time together as they did without controversy or risk to Mary’s reputation. I also wasn’t a fan of Freddie’s resistance to committing to Mena, or the fact that he knowingly hurt her. OK – I guess, I was just not a fan of Freddie in general. Overall, I thought the book had potential but was a bit too repetitive and slow-moving, and I certainly wouldn’t classify it as a “Gothic Romance”.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I was excited to read this one because of the Christmas setting and the main characters. Freddie and Philomena's meet-cute was odd, to say the least. Freddie had just acquired a property to open as a store and a place to live. He surveyed his building including his yard and came across a malnourished Philomena. Freddie then takes his newfound ward inside and cares for her until she is better. This started their working relationship between Freddie and Philomena. I didn't see how they were going to make the dynamic work as lovers. I wanted to love this romance between Philomena and Freddie but their initial meeting set the tone for the rest of the book for me. It was such a slow burn and had so much potential, but it just didn't move enough for me. I did love Philomena's spirit and determination to pass her good spirit to others.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A cute historical romance! There was an element of mystery involved and it was an enjoyable read! I'm appreciative to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC.

Historical romance? Yes. Christmas Romance? Yes. Both? CHECK PLEASE! I was really excited to read this self-proclaimed gothic romance between a successful merchant and his friend/ward/shop assistant. (Note: the book barely qualifies as gothic.) Freddie and Philomena are similar characters in that they both came from nothing and have vast insecurities about it - both characters spend a large, LARGE amount of time ruminating about how neither is good enough for the other and not nearly enough time talking trying to work it out. Even after they inevitably become lovers, they both assume it's just a tryst because they couldn't possibly be good enough for each other. Despite the bedroom scenes, the book comes across very timid and there's a whole lot of repetitive inner monologues and not enough doing and saying.

Still, the setting is great and the work Philomena is doing on the down low without Freddie is absolutely fantastic. The brief bit of action at the end of the book is refreshing and exciting. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

The Gentleman of Holly Street was an enjoyable read. Captain George Weston had been writing Miss Beverly Buttons. He had fallen in love with her letters he one day he would finally get to see her and meet her I'm person. That day finally came when
Captain George Weston had send telegram to Miss Beverly Buttons that he will be arriving the same day. He got the chance to meet Miss Beverly Buttons.

There waa something wrong the woman wearing that hat couldn’t be Beverly. She was elderly. Quite elderly. Captain George Weston was hours g to play along to see what the mystery was all about.. 5 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was provided an arc e-copy by the publisher Harlequin for honest review. thank you so much for sending me a copy.

Happy Reading Lisa 📚