I was pleased to be chosen to review an ARC of this book because (1) I'm a sucker for a good Christmas story and (2) I recently read and enjoyed the previous book in Ms. Bowman's "Playful Brides" series, "A Duke Like No Other." Happily, I enjoyed "Kiss Me at Christmas" just as much as its predecessor. The main characters, Lady Regina and Daffin Oakleaf, played important roles in the previous book and made for very likeable secondary characters. I found myself rooting for them to get a happy ending of their own during Mark and Nicole's story, so it was wonderful to be able to watch their story play out here. I also enjoyed the chance to check in on Mark and Nicole and meet some of the characters from earlier books in the series, which I haven't yet read.

The central mystery of the book, involving a mysterious assassin's plot to hurt Regina, was well-written and engaging, though things did seem to drag a bit towards the middle of the book. The pace picked up at around 60% on the Kindle edition, and I found myself anxious to discover the culprit. The author dropped a couple of clues as to the identity of the plot's ringleader along the way, but still managed to fool me right up until the big reveal. (That's unusual since I can usually guess the bad guy's identity pretty early on in a story, so good job, Ms. Bowman!)

Overall, this was a relatively light, sweet romance, despite the focus on the assassin's pursuit of Regina. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and look forward to reading more of Ms. Bowman's work myself. In fact, I plan to go back and catch up on the earlier books in the "Playful Brides" series in the near future; the Cavendish twins, in particular, are very intriguing! Also, is it too much to hope that the Duke of Huntley and Delilah will be featured in the next book in the series? (I have a feeling their love story would be quite something, with a number of laughs along the way!)

*ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

We first meet Lady Rachael and Daffin Oakleaf where they met during an investigation into her cousin’s murder and they both enjoyed a little flirtation in A Duke Like No Other. After the murder was solved they both went their separate ways, but neither has forgotten the other. Rachel is quite on the shelf and nearing thirty when her uncle the Duke decides she needs to marry before he dies and informs her of a forthcoming marriage contract unless she can find someone to marry by Christmas. She decides to ask the one man who has ever held her interest to take her virginity and give her one night of passion before she marries, Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf. Daffin is quite surprised and tempted, but he refuses her proposal since he’s such good friends with her cousin, Mark Grimaldi.
Daffin abhors Christmas and his case solved when his good friend Grimaldi asks him to protect his wife and his couisin Lady Rachel. What’s a friend to do but except the duty and challenge to watch his wife and the very sexy Lady Rachel whose proposal he can’t get out of his mind. Rachel is so embarrassed by her proposal to Daffin and offering to pay for his services that all she wants to do is avoid him at all costs. A captivating story I love these two characters they so perfect for each other if only they realize it before it’s too late. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

Lady Regina is the beautiful, wealthy, virginal niece of a duke who has almost reached her thirtieth birthday without ever meeting a man she wants to marry. Finally running out of patience, her uncle gives her an ultimatum. Find an eligible suitor to marry before Christmas or enter a marriage of convenience.

Problem is, the only man who’s ever caught her eye is definitely not eligible. Daffin Oakleaf is a Bow Street Runner. Marriage is out of the question, but one night? That’s a definite possibility.

The story starts with Regina’s hilarious attempt to ask Daffin to relieve her of her virginity, a request he declines. It takes a rather serious turn when an attempt is made on Regina’s life, though, and Daffin winds up engaged to protect her from a mysterious enemy.

The romance is inextricably tied to the subplot of Regina’s enemy and the deadline she’s under to find a husband. I liked Regina a great deal and she and Daffin matched well together, bouncing off each other with humour and mutual concern. They both clearly cared about each other’s feelings and future and I very much believed in them as a couple.

Though this is the tenth book in this series and characters from previous books do appear, most notably Regina’s cousin Mark Grimaldi and his wife Lady Nicole, there is no need to have read the previous books in the series to thoroughly enjoy this one. With a well-written Regency romance combined with an excellent suspense plot, the only thing I can pick on about this one is that the major villain of the piece wasn’t actually dealt with at the end of the book. It’s possible they might be being saved for a future book, but considering how personal the attacks on Regina were, I felt rather let down justice was not served.

Four stars for an engaging read which just missed out on a satisfying ending.

I an avid fan of this author’s historical romance. This is the 10th installment of the playful brides series. Old characters and new romances made me appreciate the stories I already read and hopefully more to come. Mrs. Bowman continues to captive me from start to finish. The author has a great way bring to life some special spiritually ladies. This book is another winner.

If you believe that women’s lib started in the 1960s when feminists burned the bra, think again because some historians say that the movement for women’s rights began during the French Revolution (1789) where thirty-three of the famous lists of grievances presented to the Estates General expressed female demands. https://www.historytoday.com/martin-pugh/womens-movement

With that historical trivia, the premise of “Kiss Me at Christmas” becomes more plausible, i.e., women of the haute ton like our heroine, Lady Regina Haversham, niece of the Duke of Cochester is capable of giving Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf an indecent proposal!

“Kiss Me at Christmas” revolves around that said indecent proposal. With a mystery and bit of police procedural thrown in, this Regency era romance turned into an exciting read. Daffin and company might not be Jack Ryan, but there are enough plot twists to keep you guessing till the end.

“Kiss Me at Christmas is Rated T for Teens. Parental advice strongly advised due to some mature scenes.

Lady Regina is a spinster. She gave up marrying, but she did not give up on an adventure, even if only once. For this she chooses Daffin Oaklef.

Daffin is the perfect honest gentleman who uses a bad experience of the past at Christmas time to help other people.
When he discovers that he was chosen by Regina to be the one who would introduce her to the world of carnal love, he may have been surprised, but the same does not happen when something serious happens, his gentleman side emerges to help.

A novel that mixes a bit of comedy and a lot of espionage, with all the Christmas spirit involved.
3,5 stars

Lady Regina is about to turn thirty and about to be engaged to a peer she doesn't care for, but before she resigns herself to a dutiful marriage she wants to make one choice just for herself: take a lover of her own choosing. Unfortunately, Daffin doesn't go along with her request. And immediately after her rather embarrassing proposition, he moves in to serve as her bodyguard following a series of mysterious accidents. Over the weeks they grow closer while trying to figure out who is trying to hurt Regina.

So, right in the first couple of chapters we find out Daffin is kinky, and I have THINGS TO SAY about that. Which is mostly 1) I want more historical kink, please, yay! and 2) oh, uh, that...uh, was an interesting way to do it. It's mentioned early in the book but nothing comes of it until near the end when the couple have sex at last. Which happens right after Regina was kidnapped. As much as I liked aspects of the scene, it felt really self-contained, like it was dropped in from a different draft, and nothing about it connects to the rather traumatic event she just went through (either positively or negatively) and that just...I guess could be considered rather minor, but it really bothered me.

Outside of that one scene, the two are great together and I really loved their flirting and banter. There were a lot of characters to keep up with since it was #10 in a series, but that's mostly only a factor near the end of the book and by that point I was well engaged with the main characters so the new ones didn't throw me out of things. I really liked the way Regina and Daffin had such frank and open discussions about their situation without coming off as either clinical or losing their interpersonal tension.

I just finished an ARC copy of Valerie Bowman’s Kiss Me at Christmas. It was wonderful! The story follows Regina and Bow Street Runner, Daffin who we met in A Duke Like No Other. One of my favorite things about Ms. Bowman’s books are the friendships she writes between the female characters. Regina and Nicole from ADLNO have a wonderful friendship.
The chemistry between Daffin and Regina starts immediately. Regina is turning 30 and wants to give her virginity to the man of her choosing. This is a book where the h knows exactly what she wants and figures out a way to accomplish her goals. I loved this book!

Fun well written regency

This is the first book in Valerie Bowman's Playful Brides series that I read and it reads well as a stand alone story.
It is evident that Regina and Daffin met in the previous book and the author quickly brings us up to date. Her independent thinking brings us to the beginning of their first awkward meet in this book. A threat of danger throws them together and I enjoyed the banter between Regina and Daffin that is threaded throughout the story. There are some interesting twists and turns before they get their HEA. The supporting characters also added depth to the story.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

Loved the story of Daffin and Regina! Attracted to each other, but knowing Daffin is not in her social class. Regina doesn’t care though and asks Daffin to be her lover before she’s forced to marry an earl. He refuses, but they are forced together as he protects her from an unknown danger.

Loved the romance and the mystery and catching up with Mark and Nicole from the previous book. The author does justice to both romance and mystery and combines them into a very entertaining novel.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Kiss Me at Christmas
by Valerie Bowman

An enjoyable read! . Lady Regina Haversham wants to fall in love, if she’s to marry, but time is running out she’s not a young debutante she’s a woman on the shelf as she approaches her 30th birthday, her uncle is forcing her into mariage. But things get shady when someone seems to be a threat to her. Her cousin Mark hires his friend Daffin Oakleaf who’s a Bow Street Runner to investigate who is threatening her, sparks fly between her and Daffin. Who is trying to hurt Regina and why? Daffin is intrigued with Regina he can’t seem to keep his distance, he knows that engaging his emotions on the case is dangerous. He’s in danger of losing more than just this case and the more time he spends with Regina, he realizes the attraction is mutual. Well written with plenty of intrigue and mystery keep you turning the pages. Plenty of chemistry keep the heat turned up a notch. I loved the mystery aspect, kept me second guessing on who was the villain. Just when I thought I knew there’s twist thrown into the mix, that throws you off. Fans of regency romances will definitely enjoy this story. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

We met Lady Regina Haversham in A Duke Like No Other....she is Mark Grimaldi's cousin. During Mark's story, Regina was very attracted to Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf. So much so that she decides that she wants to lose her virginity to some one of her choosing before her 30th birthday when she will be forced to marry the Earl of Dryden. Of course Daffin turns her down even though he is attracted to her.

Skip forward and it appears that someone is out to harm Lady Regina so Mark calls on his good friend Daffin asking if he would be Regina's bodyguard while he is out of town. Daffin reluctantly agrees even though this means he will be staying under the same roof as Regina.....now the sparks can ignite!

While trying to figure out who is after Regina, Daffin and Regina spend a lot of time together making their chemistry combustible! Just as things heat up, all hell breaks loose. Now they just need a Christmastide miracle to get these two love shy people to open up their eyes and see what is right in front of them. When all the dust settles, Daffin and Regina will finally get their happy ending!

I loved these two characters. They both had such sad events happen in their childhood which had left both of them fairly jaded. Together they brought out the best in each other. Overall I really loved this story!

Book #1 Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon October 2018.


Lady Regina almost 30 and is tired of her family making choices for her. She wants to marry a man of her choosing and that is Bow Street Runner, Daffin Oakleaf. They were drawn to each other straight away, but Daffin knows Regina is not really accessible to him although she has made him a proposal.

Regina has grown up without her parents as they passed away in a carriage accident when she was only 12 and the memory of that still haunts her. I was caught up in the book from the start.

Her uncle wants Regina to wed as he's elderly but Regina wants to finally make a choice for herself in a life where everyone decided everything for her.

Daffin is extremely dedicated to his work and very successful at it. He's Regina's bodyguard of sorts and there's so much passion between them, although it's subtle at first.

I enjoyed this and wasn't sure about the ending. The romance and characterisation is good. Same with the flow, word choices and atmosphere for much of the book, but I just found the story slower towards the end. And also I felt that we were told that Regina did not like the Christmas season too many times which was a little annoying and unnecasary.

4 stars. This is the second novel I've reviewed by Valerie Bowman after A Duke Like No Other (Playful Brides #9). Good continuation to the series and I'm planning to make my way through the earlier books, too.

Regina is being forced to marry but wants one night of passion first. Someone wants to hurt Regina, but why? Will Bow Street Runner Daffin be able to find out? Regina thinks this is the perfect opportunity to ask Daffin to take her virginity. Will he? Plenty of drama and suspense. Entertaining story and steamy chemistry. I liked it.

"I know this is a big mistake. No, it's not a mistake. I know what I want and I want to lose my virginity to Daffin Oakleaf." Lady Regina Haversham's thoughts are swirling crazily in her head as she exits her uncle's coach outside of The Bow Street Runners offices. She is about to turn thirty and her beloved uncle, the ailing Duke of Colchester wants to see her settled so is pressing her to accept the proposal of marriage from the Earl of Dryden. But Regina doesn't love the Earl of Dryden and he doesn't care for her beyond the land her dowry would bring him. Regina met the Bow Street Runner, Daffin Oakleaf the previous summer and greatly enjoyed their flirtation and time together. Too bad they are not of the same social standing. Regina is a very independent young lady and feels she must enjoy her independence while she can. Thus the plan to lose her virginity to someone she likes and admires. Too bad Daffin turns her down. How embarrassing! Unfortunately she won't be able to avoid him much in the future as he is great friends with her cousin Marquess Mark Grimaldi and his wife Nicole.The meeting becomes unavoidable when the Marquess hires Daffin to protect his wife Nicole and Regina after a series of suspicious accidents occur. Will having Daffin as a bodyguard with daily interaction make a diffenerce in their affection for each other? What about these suspicious accidents? Readers will enjoy learning the answers in this fun Christmas romance when they pick up this book. I know I sure did.

Someone is out to kill Lady Regina enter Daffin O'Leary a Bow Street runner, hired to be her bodyguard, attraction sparks between the two, what happens will be revealed when you grab a copy of this wonderful historical romance

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Valerie Bowman does it again. This book was so good I read it all in one day.

It is funny, has a host of charming characters and a very exciting plot full of suspense and drama that kept me turning the pages.

A romantic Regency mystery very worthy of five stars.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This is such a fun series and I love the intrigue and romance mix. It was hard to put this book down as I had to keep reading! Who was trying to follow Regina and why? You can tell that Daffin was keeping secrets and was not proud of his background, so you just want to know what his story is.

Loved the chemistry between Regina and Daffin, and it was fun to watch as Regina kept surprising him - a virgin who is into handcuffs?!!

I loved that we got to see quite a few of the characters from previous books show up in this book and hope that we will see the younger generation get their chance in a future book - Delilah and the Duke of Huntley sound like a fun story!

I loved that when Regina is kidnapped, she figures out what she needs to do and rescues herself! Glad that Regina's uncle finally comes around and they get their HEA.

This book is a delightful holiday story. Engaging with the reader, it takes a person back in history. Well written and a fast read.

I love stories set at Christmas and this one just warmed my heart. Lady Regina is set to become engaged to a man, who she has not choice but to wed. Why is that? Unfortunately it often happened during these times. She decides that even if she has to marry, she will do what she wants before all her decisions are taken away. Her focus turns to Daffin, a renowned bow street runner, who she knows and has flirted with in the previous book in this series. So she goes and offers herself to him because yes, she is a little in love. But what can he say? He is from a totally different class than Regina!
This was a delightful story and I fell in love with these two characters. Truly meant for each other, this was entertaining from beginning to end. The descriptions and detail were inspired and although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. But don't miss out on the other great stories!!