This was a very good premise for a story. A spinster Regina who is about to get engaged proposition a Bow street runner Daffin. But the story was not just about that, there is a bit of mystery in there too. The writing was fantastic and the chemistry between the two leads electric. I thouroughly enjoyed this book.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC and all the thoughts and opinions are all mine.

Love love love this one!

Daffin is too sexy for his shirt, and I want to be best friends with Regina.

Full review to come.

All the premises in this book are farfetched. We have a 29-year-old virgin propositioning a sexy Bow Street Runner. He turns her down because he is an illegitimate son of a duke and she’s the niece of a duke. Then there are threats on her life and he must protect her. So then he gives in and they do make love.

When we find out who hired the hit on her, it’s totally unbelievable that the person involved would know how to contact a hitman and that the hitman would turn out to be the same person who killed the Bow Street Runner’s mother when he was a child. And this child grew up to investigate and figure out who the hitman was when there was no evidence at all and get him put away.

I just didn’t buy anyone’s behavior in this book and it became rather irritating after a while.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

4.5 Stars - I have never found disappointment at the end of a Valerie Bowman romance, and I doubt I ever will. I could stop right there and that should be all you need to know, but I’ll elaborate.

In Kiss me at Christmas, the hero, a bow street runner ashamed of his origins, is smart, hard working, a fierce protector and sexy. The heroine is beautiful, well-liked, but lonelier than one might imagine and filled with passion and gumption that even surprises her. The attraction was instant and still lingers even though they haven’t seen each other for some time. There’s a proposition, refusal, scheme, danger, rescue and reckoning before we get our HEA, and it’s all quite good.

Just read it already. It’s worth it.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So sehr ich Christi Caldwells Bücher liebe, dieses hat mich auf Deutsch leider gar nicht verzaubert, zudem muss ich leider sagen, dass mir in etwa ab der Hälfte des Buches die Protagonistin so richtig auf den Keks gegangen ist. Die Dialoge waren monoton - dank der Übersetzung - und auch die Handlung teilweise etwas platt.

Eine nette Sache, aber nicht das, was ich sonst von Caldwell gewöhnt bin!

*I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Kiss Me At Christmas was an amazing read featuring a woman determined to make decisions for herself for once and the man who tempts her as no other has.

Lady Regina is a month away from her thirtieth birthday and is considered firmly on the shelf. While Regina has given up on finding a love match, she does want to experience pleasure at the hands of a man of her choosing and she knows just the man for the job. Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf has been captivated by Regina since the moment he met her, but he knows she’s out of his reach in spite of the tempting offer she makes him. When a threat against Regina places Daffin in the role of bodyguard, sparks instantly fly enticing them to throw caution to the wind and give in to the passion between them.

Regina lost her parents in a carriage accident when she was twelve and was cared for by her uncle and grandmother from then on. Now that her uncle is reaching the end of his life, he’s insistent that Regina finally wed and he’s picked out a man Regina knows only wants the land and money that comes with her dowry. I admired how Regina was determined to experience some joy for herself before being forced to marry a man she didn’t like let alone love.

Daffin has become one of the most well known Bow Street Runners due his dedication to his work and some high profile cases he’s solved landing him in the papers. Daffin however never wanted to be well known, he simply wants to do his job and help those who cannot help themselves. I loved Daffin’s devotion to his work even if at times he was willing to risk everything, including his life, to get his man. It was nice to see he had morals when it came to his work and that he stuck to them.

Regina and Daffin’s relationship builds very slowly due to her almost engagement to another man and his hesitation due to his friendship with Regina’s cousin. I enjoyed watching their relationship progress from an easy flirtation into something more. It’s clear both of them admire and respect each other which I was happy to see as that’s not always the case. The chemistry between them is fantastic and I found myself really enjoying the buildup to their physical relationship when normally I like it to start sooner in the book.

In this book Mark and Nicole, the couple from A Duke Like No Other, feature heavily as Regina is staying with them and Mark is one of Daffin’s best friends. I loved getting to see the couple again as I adored their romance and I was happy to get more scenes of them. A few couples from other books also make appearances and we get to see the setup for the next couple in the eleventh book in the series, No Other Duke But You. I love how interconnected these books are and how we get little glimpses of past couples.

Kiss Me At Christmas is my favorite of the Playful Brides books I’ve read thus far and I can’t wait to read more books in this series in the future. I highly recommend this book and the series if you’re looking for some great historical romance.

Publisher's Description:

A spirited lady facing spinsterhood. A common man with a noble mission. And a surprise that just might be waiting for them under the mistletoe in Kiss Me At Christmas by Valerie Bowman.

Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Carol singing and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become bodyguard to the captivating woman...

Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention…and when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his way into Regina’s noble heart?

My Thoughts:

We have another winner!
Valerie Bowman never disappoints this reader. This newest book in the wonderful Playful Brides series is full of mystery, action, romance and risks taken.
I love this hero and heroine.
Who is Daffin, the Bow Street Runner really? Will the truth be the end to Regina's attraction to him when the secret is outed?
Regina and Daffin were meant for each other. We met them in a previous book in this series and now they get their own story.
Regina wants to have things her way and asks Daffin to be her lover for a night. She will be thirty years old on her next birthday and is considered to be firmly on the shelf.
Daffin is so taken aback by this request that he immediately refuses. Fate has other ideas and throws the two of them together when Regina's life is threatened. Together they must find where this threat is coming from.
This book is a page turner with cameo appearances by characters from previous books. This is book ten of eleven and although that sounds like a lot of books for one series none have been a disappointment.
I gave this book 4.9 of 5.0 stars (rounded up to 5) for story line and character development. The sensual rating gets 4.0 of 5.0 flames with sizzling intimacy that burns up the pages.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book by invitation from the publisher to read.
This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman is full of action, mystery, risks, and romance. It was easy to fall in love with the characters. The bow street runner, is born in a position where most of society deems him unfit. But before that secret was let out, he was welcomed by all. That same man found his mom dead as a kid and knew his father and his wife were behind it. Daffin has proved himself in more ways than expected. Still felt like he has failed...only his heart's attention still thinks the world of him. And that is what mattered all along. Love for the young couple featured in this story was a rough journey. Both were determined, strong, and clever. Their attraction was hot and sent sparks flying everywhere. I enjoyed the humor and the fun banters between both characters. Their friends were great to follow along as well. Overall, I became an addict when I started the first chapter. Now, I highly recommend this tale and beg for more by Valerie Bowman.

This is a lovely romance set during winter. Regina and Daffin have met in a previous book and were instantly attracted to each other. Regina approaches Daffin Oakleaf, the famous Bow Street Runner and asks him to be her lover. Daffin turns her down but then gets recruited to protect Regina when someone starts making attempts to kill her. I found that the characters are well written and the romance is oh so sweet. The only part of the novel that I didn't like was the mystery behind the murder attempts. It wasn't as entertaining and felt mediocre. This is book number ten in the Playful Brides series but can be read as a standalone. If you do wish to read a little about Regina and Daffin's history, I would recommend reading the previous book, A Duke Like No Other.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I am so very torn…

On the one hand, I absolutely adored the romance between these two extraordinary people! To begin with, I love that Daffin and Regina had already met and flirted in the book before, so already had an established relationship. It was nice to see them again and to have their story unfurl. I loved that Regina knew what she wanted - i.e. to not have to marry the boring aristocrat her family picked out for her just because she is almost thirty, but be cherished, and just ONCE get to make a choice for herself in a life that has been mapped out for her every step of the way by someone else. I loved that she was independent and strong without coming across as willful, selfish, or just immature. She was an amazing lead. And Daffin was, ok maybe not just as wonderful, but close. He's a Good Guy, a Bow Street Runner with a terrible past, but not just a clichéd hurt idiot who pushes the heroine away because he doesn't believe in love because of his tragic past. There was so much more to him, and I loved how they slowly got to know each other, peeling away the layers, and seeing the other person how they really are. It was such a wonderful story!!!

But then, there was the drama. Ok, I figure that kind of comes with this author's books, but this time, even the hero remarked that the bad guy's scheme just made absolutely no sense! And he was not wrong… The last few chapters were just one crazy thing after an other, and it was too much for me. I felt like the romance just fell short because things had to happen. And it didn't even bring them closer together or anything. I could have lived without all of it. Especially the explanation of the bad guy's motives. That was just too far-fetched for me, bordering on ridiculous.

So. Wonderful romance with truly amazing characters, but a second half that I just didn't enjoy. 3.5 stars! For anyone who needs some spy drama with their romance, go check this out. You will not be disappointed!

Another book where love is found out of the ton, so another good plot from one of my favorite author in one of my favorite series. Regina and Daffin are two good people and together they seem to be a good couple, but sparks are hidden under the ash and between the handcuffs ;)

Un altro libro regency dove l'amore si trova al di fuori dell'alta società e questo porta ad una storia in un certo senso innovativa, da parte di una delle mie scrittrici preferite. Regina e Daffin sono una bella coppia, ma le scintille si nascondono sotto la cenere e tra le manette ;)

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

4.5 Stars
Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Carol singing and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, he’s to become bodyguard to the captivating woman. Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriage—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attention and when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite.
Another very enjoyable book in the series of which this is the tenth. It could easily be read on its own, the books do feature characters from earlier books & there is always a link. Another well written well paced book that had me hooked from page one. In fact the opening of this book was so entertaining & unusual, a Lady offering herself to the gorgeous Runner & the knots she verbally tied herself in had me chuckling out loud. The characters have plenty of depth, Daffin & Regina are delightful & perfect for each other, their attraction to each other is very apparent but there are obstacles in their way. The road to their HEA wasn’t smooth but it made for a very good read.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lady Regina wants to have a lover of her choice before her 30th birthday and a possible arranged marriage, and she chooses Daffin, a handsome Bow Street Runner. He tries to rebuff her gently, but then they're drawn together again when she requires protection. This is part of a series, but I was able to enjoy the story without having read the preceding books. The story between Regina and Daffin was great, and I enjoyed the side characters. The weak point for me was the source of the danger for them and how that was eventually resolved. It felt lacking and a bit anticlimactic.

What a delightful romance! Kiss Me at Christmas has all the great Valerie Bowman elements and a few of her former characters to aid Daffin Oakleaf attain his HEA. The fun, witty, lovely Lady Regina charms him into loving her. Their instant connection and flirtation from the previous A Duke Like No Other continues here with her brash request for Daffin to help her rid herself of her virginity. Like any gentleman, he politely turns her down.

As we find out quickly, someone is trying to hurt Lady Regina. Add in a very pregnant Nicole, an absent husband Mark to bring Daffin into the household for protection and you have a romance to stir. Ms. Bowman continually hints that something is not right in the ‘who is causing problems’ scenario. We just have to keep read to find out.

This will be a great Christmas holiday read to add your list. You will not want to put it down as the next in the Playful Brides series.

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.

such a great quick light read. made me laugh. such a fun play on words and love the Christmas theme.

I absolutely, positively loved KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS!! It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite books this year and one of my all-time favorite historicals.

A historical mixed with a little suspense, I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen.

The characters - this cast of characters is definitely one of my favorites. It's refreshing to see smart females in historicals and males that support them rather than thinking they're frivolous and flighty.

And the attraction between Daffin and Regina is so strong I swear my Kindle was overheating from the sparks striking off the pages.

Kudos to Miss Bowman for an impeccably crafted story that has everything that I love in a book - an engaging storyline, lovable characters, and sweet and spicy sexual tension.

This is a love story of two characters who have must overcome societial expectations in order to have their happily ever after. . Daffin, a Bow Street Runner, and Lady Regina meet and flirt in an earlier book by Valerie Bowman and Kiss Me at Christmas is their story. Both main characters are fully drawn and very likeable. In spite of their class differences, they have a great deal in common. My only complaint really with the story line is that the manufactured ‘danger’ that is used to get the characters together is just too contrived and unbelievable. It didn’t hurt my overall enjoyment of the book; it just didn’t really add anything to the plot line and easily could have been eliminated.

I didn't realize this was book 10/10 in a series, but that didn't take away from the great story! I could tell a few times that there was probably some assumed knowledge, but as I said, it didn't take anything away from the story. It just made me want to go back and read the other books!

I really enjoyed this book! It was fun, interesting, exciting and kept me reading! The heroine was a great character with spunk, spine and spirit! And the hero was quite enjoyable and charming!

Valerie Bowman does a really great job of painting pictures with her words. I love when I feel like I've watched a movie after I've finished a book! I'm really looking forward to reading the previous books in the series now!

This is my first foray into the Playful Brides series and, well, I liked it. I might have gotten a teeny bit more out of the interactions between the background characters if I'd read the previous books, but I kept up. For the most part, at least. That said, seeing as how this is book 10, there's a pretty big cast of supporting characters and it took a little brainpower to keep them straight. Again, though, it wasn't insurmountable.

So. Lady Regina and Mr. Daffin Oakleaf. On paper, they don't necessarily sound like a perfect match, but they kinda are. She's determined to do things her way (up to a point) and he's pretty much the epitome of a successful rebel. While Regina want to spend at least one night with someone of her choosing and she takes steps to make that happen, she's also resigned to the fate she sees looming on the horizon.

Frankly, she's not enthused with the prospect her uncle has chosen for her. Especially not once she begins spending even more time with Daffin.

On his end, Daffin is attracted to Regina, but he doesn't think anything can come of it. It takes a pinch of danger and the risk of nearly losing the woman he's come to admire before he dares to take the leap and go all in.

Danger, intrigue and a wide cast of characters to keep things moving, I was thoroughly entertained.