Caroline “Caro” Anderson is the brewer of the Widow’s Ale at the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children. She is returning from a disappointing trip to London when the mail coach she is riding in becomes disabled, stranding her and several other passengers, including a small boy and his infant sister in the snow. Knowing the children will not survive the cold, she takes the baby and goes for help at a nearby estate. The estate is owned by a man she knows well, or at least knew well, Nicholas St. John, Viscount Oakland. Nick was friends with her older brother and was a frequent visitor to her home. She has not seen him in 17 years, but hopes he will offer shelter to them.

Nick is at the estate and is hosting an orgy, he however can’t seem to find the enthusiasm to join in, he blames it on being back at the estate. Nick was born in Italy, his father was the younger son of the Viscount and a painter, he fell in love with an Italian woman while on his grand tour and never returned to England. But when they died, his uncle, the new Viscount demanded that Nick come to live with him in England – his uncle was a dour, bitter man who Nick blames for all his unhappiness. Being at the estate, especially at Christmas, brings back all his memories and has him feeling out of sorts. When Caro comes banging on the door, Nick has no idea how much his life is about to change.

This was a sweet story with characters who have some very potent emotional issues. I loved seeing Nick grow as a person and begin to start taking responsibility for his own life and to stop blaming his uncle. I also enjoyed seeing Caro begin to let go of the pain in her past, she was hurt badly by a man and then to add insult to injury, disowned by her family. Watching them help each other to see the truth of their pasts and move on was very well done. I like the story, but there were just some things that didn’t really work for me, I never understood why Caro went into “service”, her family wasn’t poor and she was 17 and the only daughter, why didn’t her father try to find her a husband? It just didn’t make sense. I also felt like the book ended too abruptly, it really needed another chapter or at least an epilogue to show the reader their HEA as well as letting us know what happened with the secondary characters that were also stranded at the estate. This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Was it fate that causes the stage coach to break down near Nick's estate? It sure does seem that way when Caro and Nick end up together. I enjoyed, The Merry Viscount, very much.

Now that's what I call a very different Christmas story! I loved the humor throughout, as well as the Christmas traditions and oh yes, the steamy scenes:)

Caro and Nick knew each other slightly as children but hadn't seen each other since and now, many years later, she's in his home with an assortment of characters who had been in the broken down stagecoach with her....interrupting the Christmas "orgy" that Nick was hosting!!! Caro and Nick each have their own stories to reveal and my heart truly ached for them. They decide to help each other, although falling in love was not supposed to be part of the plan!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Love this series and this new addition does not disappoint! Loved the characters and the story can't wait for the next one.

This book is the second in her Widow’s Brew series. I really liked this book. Nick decides to have a few of his friends to his country estate for a Christmas orgy when a snowstorm strands a coach full of people at his estate. All levels of society mix together for a delightful Christmas story. I do wish the author answered more questions as to Nick and Caro’s married life, does she reconcile with her family? What about little Edward and baby Grace? I am hoping she will tie this all together in her next book. I received an ARC for my honest review.

What a delightful book. I loved Caro and Nick. The dialague was so fun as well as their internal reflections.

I loved this Christmas story. I had read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, and I’m glad Caro’s story was equally enjoyable. She is a great character, and her chemistry with Nick was fantastic. I liked how the author explored their history together as children and how that history resulted in their reunion. Fun read!

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Widow's Brew
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Another enjoyable book from Sally MacKenzie. Though it's the second in a series, it reads as a complete standalone with no confusion. The book was amusing with subtle humour. My only gripe with the story was that it lacked an epilogue. It felt like some threads were left hanging that I think should have been addressed in here (eg his family in Venice and her toady father who disowned her, and ALL her many brothers). Overall, a likable story. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. The dialogue was very funny. I laughed often while reading. I loved the inner monologue that both Nick and Caro had going. Secondary characters were very interesting especially young Edward. I am interested in what happens to him, his sister and his mom. The resolution of the book could have happened a little earlier in the book. I don't like that the book just ended. I would have liked an epilogue. Some interaction with previous characters would also have been nice. The first book was pretty good. I like where this series is going and am very interested in the next book. i really like the authors style of writing. I have read all her previous works. The author's skill with combining humor and steamy romance is one of the things that I enjoy in her stories.

After her scandal in London, Caro Andersen found a home at the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows and Abandoned Women and Their Unfortunate Children, as their brewer and sales lady. Returning home from her unsuccessful trip to London, her coach has an accident during a snow storm. Nick St. John, Viscount Oakland, was forced by circumstances to Oakland, the last place he wants to be for Christmas. What he didn't expect was the young woman who turns up at his door that he remembers with fondess from seventeen years ago. Can the miracle of the season bring two lonely people together?
Complex characters, not just Caro and Nick, give a lot of depth and meaning to the story for the holidays. A sure bet to add to your Christmas TBR. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I don't entirely buy that one of the house party creeps will mend his ways and treat his mistress and his son correctly, but this is a fun holiday roman redemption, as a rake comes to understand his emotionally abusive childhood and becomes the partner that his childhood friend deserves to overcome her own traumas.

Nick, Viscount Oakland, is living the life of a rake and ends up at his country seat for an orgy to celebrate Christmas in the pagan way. When Miss Caroline Anderson bangs at his door during a raging snowstorm, he has no choice but to take in all the passengers of the coach accident. Nick knew Caroline when they were children, but they aren't children anymore. Both are hiding secrets and together can they begin to heal old wounds and make a future together?

I did not read the first book in the series, although I don't think it's necessary to enjoy this book. Miss MacKenzie is a talented writer, squeezing out every emotion from Nick and Caroline. There are no real obstacles in the book besides their own attempts to ignore the growing attraction between them. Ms. MacKenzie rounds out the book with colorful secondary characters and how first impressions can sometimes be so wrong. I'm not a fan of the "insta love" plot device though. This book only covers 2 days and I would have loved for the book to cover more time to fully let Nick and Caroline explore their feelings. In the end, this is a feel good HEA romance.

Caroline and Nick knew each other in childhood. They lost contact and have both struggled with family betrayal and living outside of polite society. They are both lonely and through a stagecoach wreck and being snowed in at Nick’s estate, they begin to reconnect and develop their relationship.

The characters have a lot of internal monologues that often ping pong back and forth. Sometimes that was distracting for me. I didn’t really remember that from the first book, What Ales the Earl.

Still, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC

Brewer Caroline Anderson made the trip to London to try to pick up another tavern for her Widow's Brew, the main support of the home for unfortunate women and children she helps run. It was not only a waste of her time, but she had to fight off the tavern owner as well. To top off the bad trip, her return stagecoach was overcrowded and the weather turned from bad to worse.
An accident brings her to the home of the 'Devil Lord', someone had to find shelter for the mama of two little ones, the other passengers were uncaring. Caroline walked from the coach...right into a party, one she would not have chose, and informed Lord Oakland, Nicholas, of their plight.
The passengers and crew were stuck in his home due to the weather and all made the best of a bad situation. 'Nick' and 'Caro' had childhood memories of friendship...but there was more between them. The attraction grew strong despite both had vowed never to marry, and they eventually did with a happy ever after for two couples.
Ms. MacKenzie writes a tale of angst, humor, redemption and sensuality with vivid descriptors. I have followed this series from the first.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC and offer my honest opinion. I do plan to buy a copy for a friend I know will love it.

Caro is the brewer for the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children! If that lone isn’t the basis for a fun book, she and her fellow mailoach passengers become stranded at Ncik’s property, a viscount no less who is holding a Christmas orgy. The romp to a respectable HEA is fun, funny and quite sexy.

I will recommend this to my patrons and include it on a winter holiday reading list.

When two lonely souls whom have been childhood friends, rekindles after years apart, will they be able to let the ghosts of the past go?

I discovered Mrs Sally MacKenzie with her Naked Nobility series, I loved the humor she infused it her stories.
So when I saw this book pop up on my amazon suggestions list, I preordered it without a thought, it was back in February, plus it was second in a series of a book I loved the blurb but forgot the tittle, so now it shelved in my kindle.

This story reminded me in some way of A Christmas Carol, with for a change the late hero’s uncle as Scrooge.
Plus here, there are two ghosts haunting the hero and the heroine.
Caroline or for short Caro had to rebuilt herself after a sad event when she was only a woman bud. She refused to let it define her. Even if unknowingly it shaped her, she became stronger but also wary of everything male.
Nick after being estranged from his childhood place and maternal family, let hate and fury fill his heart, the little boy in him having never really mourn his loss. So to spite his uncle cold demeanor he plunged without a thought to the consequences in every sins the London society has to offer.
Both similarly were betrayed by those whom should have protected them.
So when a broken wheel carriage accident brings Caro at his front door with a bunch of very disparate travelers, their past pains are reawakened and they question their own attitudes towards them.
When unboxing their shame, grievance and hurt, Caro will needs a healing hand to let go of her fears and accept her past guilt is not of her own doing but someone having abused of his position and her innocence, Nick will have a lot of growing up ahead of him to cut loose his toxic relationship with his uncle and realize he still rules his life from beyond his grave.
The action takes place on a very short span of time, but during those two days, slowly the healing process is undertaken and truth and faith are being part of it.
The Christmas forced retreat becomes a dance of seduction, she making him imagine a far different future he had expected for him and he revealing her to the bedroom pleasures.

Mrs MacKenzie has crafted a lively lovely Christmas tale, where the various protagonists redeem themselves, from the prostitutes looking for a second chance to the profligate settling down and then all helping the hero and heroine to see what was right in front of them.

A 4.5 stars for this charming and sweet story.
My only complain is the lack of epilogue, I would have loved to learn more about how little Edward and baby Grace will fare with a new father, or about the newly appointed girls for the Home or to see Nick and Caro in their married life.

I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Kensington/Zebra. I also had my own copy preordered.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

4 stars

Interesting book. The Heroine works as an Alemaster and met the Hero as a childhood friend of her brother. I'm not that fond of the childhood friend becomes lovers trope but this was a nice story. We learn more about each character as the romance continues. I would have liked the hero to have honeymooned in Venice and met up with his italian family but it wasn't to be. This book is the second in a series and I didn't have to have read the first one to enjoy this edition. I'm not that invested in the story to look out for the third one. A good afternoon read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Miss Caroline Anderson has traveled all the way to London hoping to sell Widow's Brew, an ale her and other women make back home in Little Puddledon. Unfortunately, things go awry from the beginning. First, she is accosted by the owner of the inn, then on her way home, the carriage is wrecked. Luckily, an old friend, resides nearby who can offer shelter.

Nick set out to host a Christmas orgy, and now it looks like he'll be playing host to a big group of weary travelers instead. Nick cannot say he's disappointed as he was bored with the way things were going anyway. Maybe this year, he can have a traditional Christmas. With Caroline by his side, suddenly things are looking up.

Author Sally Mackenzie knows how to pen a good Christmas-inspired romance. THE MERRY VISCOUNT is a continuation of her charming WIDOW'S BREW series. It focuses on women who have banded together to care for themselves, women who no longer have to rely on men to make their way in the world, well mostly. They live in a home where they all have duties and work together selling their Widow's Brew, ale. THE MERRY VISCOUNT is Caroline's story. Caroline has survived a traumatic event and has had to make her way in the world on her own. I admire her courage and strength. I wasn't sure if Nick was right for her at the start, but it's clear there is more to him beneath his carefree, rakish ways. I am so glad Nick helped Caroline realize her past wasn't her fault and that he was able to show her there is more to life. I give THE MERRY VISCOUNT a 3.5 star rating.

I am a fan of Sally MacKenzie and I recommend her often to readers who want a sweet and funny story.

This story was not one of my favorites by Ms MacKenzie. I did not find the usual sense of charm and fun.

Caroline is in a stagecoach on the way back to her position at the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children in Little Puddledon. She brews Widows Brew ale and was hoping to find a pub in London which would buy her ale.

It is a few days before Christmas, very cold and now it is snowing heavily. Everyone in the coach is concerned that the weather will prevent them from completing their journey.

When an axle breaks and the coach ends up in a ditch, Caro is evidently the only passenger who is willing to try to find a safe and warm place for all of them. So, carrying an infant who belongs to one of the passengers, she marches through the snow toward lights at a nearby manor house.

The door is opened by Viscount Oakland. Viscount Oakland happens to be Nick, an old friend of one of her brothers. He spent holidays at Caro's home when they were both children. She had a school girl crush on Nick.

Now, she finds he is hosting a Christmas orgy which includes professional ladies of the evening and some of his friends from London.

When the dust settles, all the passengers are brought into the house, including a new mother, her infant as well as her 9 year old boy. The orgy is apparently called because of too many people in the house.

And then Christmas takes over the entire group of people.

Caro is a very strong minded young woman who has a history which has colored her past as well as her relationship with her family. She considers herself to be a business woman and no longer someone who will have a personal life. I admired most of her finer qualities. But, at times I got tired of her being so very sure she knew the inner thoughts of everyone around her.

Nick is a man who has had his life shredded by an uncle who resented Nick's very existence. He has allowed that dead uncle to continue to control the way he lives his life. Caro is a reminder of joy he felt as a child. She is also a reminder of the happiness a family could offer.

The fact that Caro is beautiful, intelligent and a reminder of former happiness helps Nick look at his life in a new light.

Both of these characters can see the possibilities. That is always a good thing if one is looking for a happily ever after.

There are interesting secondary characters. After all a story which includes a Weasel and a minister who has no shred of Christian charity must be entertaining. And all stories benefit from prostitutes who have hearts of gold.

I enjoyed this book. I had hoped for more laugh out loud moments but I did learn to appreciate the more subtle humor available here.

Ms MacKenzie is a very talented author.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.