Isaac, Lord Lovell, carries news to Honora that the husband who abandoned her three years ago is dead. Honora expects to receive the farm she has been working in her husband's absence—and her widow's jointure besides. Instead, she finds herself alone and penniless.

With nowhere else to go, Honora seeks shelter from Lord Lovell in a snowstorm. She hates taking charity from the handsome rake who reminds her too much of her ne'er-do-well husband.

Lord Lovell can't ignore his attraction to the beautiful but abrasive widow. A kiss under the mistletoe confirms that she feels the pull between them, too. Plus, she's the only one who can soothe the heartache of his orphaned ward, a sixteen-year-old girl in desperate need of a mother figure. Can love bloom between two people determined not to wed?

This is a well-written story with strong characters and an intriguing plot. It engaged me from the beginning. The pace is steady, never rushed or lagging. A heart-warming holiday romance.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.

[Disclaimer: NetGalley provided me with a review copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.]

Relative newcomer Joanna Johnson—this is her fourth title for Harlequin—has done something interesting in A Mistletoe Vow to Lord Lovell, her Christmas offering in the Harlequin Historical line (a monthly endeavor for the publisher). It’s possible that I’m the only one who thinks so, but here it is: she has given us an American heroine in a novel of Regency England. This is not unheard of, but Honora (Jackson) Blake stands out to me because her Americanness gets out to good use.

To wit: we are told that Honora grew up in some degree of wilderness (in Virginia), and Johnson doesn’t let that information fall by the wayside. Rather, she allows it to come out in moments big and small. We see Honora offering to assist with a Yule log. We see her roughing it, after a fashion, as she lives in a cold, poorly-lit home. We see it when she feels into the woods on the eponymous Lord Lovell’s estate.

In that regard, Johnson gets off to a great start, and her quick, efficient sketch of our lord, Isaac, grabs our attention. He is the kind of character who might do anything once we know he’s willing to show up, unannounced, inside Honora’s home.

Unfortunately, many intriguing avenues regarding Issac and Honora are passed by across the course of the novel. But I want to be clear: this is not the author’s fault. Rather, the limitations of the aforementioned monthly format are to blame.

We see this from the very beginning, when scene-setting is dropped in favor of action. There is no leisurely description of Honora’s surroundings. Even characters’ looks hardly get attention. There is nary a mention of how good Isaac (presumably) looks in his buckskins, and that is the Regency romance equivalent of not having a gun on the wall in a Chekov play; you begin to understand what I mean.

But for all of the restrictions our writer faces, she still manages to tell a good story. Her pacing is incredible; I spent a grand total of zero seconds bored while reading this book, and that is certainly an accomplishment!

I especially appreciated the way Johnson allowed us to see multiple facets of Isaac and Honora’s personalities as they interacted with each other and Charlotte. As far as that young character goes, I would have liked to spend more time with her, but again: I understand why I could not.

Overall, Johnson leaves me with the impression that she could knock a longer romance out of the park, given the chance, and I hope that she is afforded that opportunity soon!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for access to this arc.

When I saw the cover for “A Mistletoe Vow to Lord Lovell” I was thrilled that we would have a biracial heroine in a Harlequin Historical. Once I started reading it I realized, huzzah! the heroine is American and tough as nails. The hero needs a lot of warming up to but I thought that this would give him a chance to grow and change as a character. Alas, though, the melodrama and angst overwhelmed me. Plus there were historical issues that pulled me out of the story several times and made me say, “What? Huh?” However, for readers who don’t want to quibble about those, then this could be a fine book. It’s all in your historical details tolerance level.

Honora Blake truly is a heroine who won’t bend or break. She’s tough because she’s had to be. Her mother angered her plantation owning family by marrying a black freedman. Her father taught Honora to hunt and her mother soothed her when Honora came to her bewildered by the attitudes of those who felt her parent’s marriage was shocking and Honora herself was a bridge, between races, who shouldn’t exist. After traveling to England with her (fortune seeking) husband – who her parents immediately saw through – Honora is abandoned by him when she refuses her blood soaked inheritance from her mother’s family. Now she ekes out an existence in a tumbled down manor house, too ashamed to write her parents and admit they were right.

Honora’s first meeting with Isaac, Lord Lovell is not a good one and her opinion of him doesn’t improve for a long time. I’m glad about that because Lovell was a carouser until someone caroused with a person he cares about. He is there to break the news that her husband is dead but he keeps one important secret from Honora. The secret and Lovell’s initial opinion of Honora are repeated in each chapter lest we forget them. As it is revealed early on, I’ll go ahead and spill the beans that Honora’s no good husband seduced Lovell’s god-daughter and got her pregnant. In anger, Lovell chased the man until Blake’s heart gave out.

Though he wants nothing more to do with her, Lovell brings Honora back with him (on a public coach rather than in his own coach or a hired one and with no valet in sight) so that she can hear the reading of her husband’s will (though why the solicitor didn’t travel to Honora puzzled me). A snowstorm traps her at Lovell’s estate (the door was opened to her by a maid who just let Honora right into the room where Lovell is. They don’t appear to have a butler) where Honora has the tact and ability to reach his god-daughter who has hidden in shame (apparently thinking that if she doesn’t go down to the kitchen to talk with Cook about the Christmas pudding spices, no one in the house will notice her swelling belly).

The relationship between Honora and Charlotte is lovely. Honora knows what it’s like to be stared at and thought less of so she can talk to Charlotte and put the young woman at ease. As Lovell watches this, he quickly reverses his opinion of Honora. She even has the strength to help him move a Yule log that he hauled in by himself (servants? Servants anywhere??) Events happen (yay, the medicine is not magically modern but crappily period) which dictate that Honora and Lovell marry and before long, hey presto they appear to be in love. Way too fast for me. Then Lovell showers Honora and Charlotte with dresses that appear from nowhere seemingly ready-made.

At this point I’m waiting on two potential final act conflicts. One happened but one, which was set up during the travel to Lovell’s estate, just fizzled out and was no more. The melodrama is poured on, angst rears its head, and true love almost doesn’t conquer all. For a man who wanted to keep his business hush, hush, Lovell has no problems letting the whole world – or just the onlookers during the scene – know almost everything. He gets his beloved back but won’t that be some juicy gossip for people to spread.

I enjoyed the relationship Honora and Charlotte have. Lovell does change for the better (though I don’t think Charlotte’s illegitimate baby could have become his heir as he appears to think could happen). Honora finds someone to love and adore her. I want to see more people of color in Harlequin Historicals but man, the historical issues I had drove me batty. C

Good book with an unusual twist. Honora's parents were a freed slave and a plantation owner's daughter who fell in love, married and lived in the mountains of Virginia. Honora fell in love with a visiting Englishman and married him against her parents' advice. Once in England, her husband Frank resumed his rakish ways and, after a couple of years, abandoned Honora. She hadn't seen him in three years when Isaac, Lord Lovell, arrived to tell her that Frank was dead, and she needed to attend the reading of his will.

I enjoyed the first meeting between Isaac and Honora. Isaac broke into her house, not realizing it was occupied, and she confronted him at gunpoint. The antagonism between them is fierce, as Honora believes Isaac was Frank's friend, and Isaac wants nothing to do with Frank's wife. However, when Isaac realizes that Honora doesn't have the money to get to the will reading, Isaac offers to take her with him. During the journey, it becomes evident that underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction.

I liked the development of the relationship between Isaac and Honora. Honora is feisty and independent, thanks to her upbringing. Still under the impression that Isaac was one of Frank's friends, she makes no secret of her dislike and disapproval. Though she doesn't want to admit it, Honora is also attracted to him. Isaac finds Honora intriguing and is attracted to her. His mental chastisements to himself reveal his low opinion of marriage and his determination not to become involved with her. But when the reading of the will reveals that Honora is both penniless and homeless, Isaac steps up and invites her to spend Christmas with him and his ward while exploring her options.

Things begin to change when they are under one roof. Honora meets Charlotte, Isaac's young and pregnant ward. I loved watching the two women connect. Charlotte brings out Honora's mothering instinct, while Honora's practical attitude helps Charlotte adjust to her situation. Meanwhile, the more time they spend together, the more Honora realizes that she misjudged Isaac. Her feelings for him change and grow. At the same time, Isaac can't help thinking about Honora and how well she fits in his life. But he's keeping a huge secret that could ruin anything that they might have together.

Their lives become more complicated when complications of childbirth put Charlotte's life at risk, and she begs them to marry to protect the baby. Isaac's secret weighs on him even more, as he misses several chances to come clean because he's afraid of losing her. I ached for them both when the truth comes out. Honora once again feels betrayed and used. Isaac is heartbroken at losing the woman he loves. I loved how Charlotte gave him the kick in the pants he needed to make things right. Isaac's big moment at the end was sweet and romantic. I would have liked an epilogue, perhaps involving the promised trip to Virginia, to see how their future works out.

Honora Blake has been fending for herself since her husband, Frank left her on her own. Then Lord Isaac Lovell comes into her life to tell her that Frank has died. While she is grappling with that, Honora learns she is broke and without a place to live. Isaac opens his home to her and soon, Honora, finds herself a new family with his pregnant ward, Charlotte.
I loved the interracial romance factor and the fact that the hero and heroine were a little older and more mature. My heart melted at the tenderness between Honora and Charlotte. I loved how Honora was feisty and independent. And, I was glad to see how the author showed Isaac's soft side and how he became a man of honor - overcoming a rakish past.
Here's a quote of Honora's discovery:
"His face was handsome and his title might impress some, but it was the light in his soul that called to Honora and made hers cry out in return."
Honora and Isaac's romance also had passion but their conflict at the end felt...contrived. Honora had a premonition, it appeared, but then was shocked when she learned the truth. But this is a romance and there has to be a black moment, I guess...
Other than that, I enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you #Netgalley and #Harlequin

A love story with protagonists who were different than the usual one and that I didn't even think possible at the time. Not unforgettable anyway.

Una storia d'amore con protagonisti diversi dal solito e che nemmeno pensavo possibili a quei tempi. Non indimenticabile comunque.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

How I appreciate and love the fact that the writer chose an inter-racial relationship during historical times, I was a little sad by the pace and the action of the story. The pace didn’t really pick up until Charlotte had Christopher. I loved the plot and back story to the book. I also loved Issac and Honoria’s character. I think the story dragged out the come to realization moments for all three characters.
I felt that there was no romance that grew between the Issac and Honoria. I read as though it was forced and it was a fast pace to the alter. The book missed all the ideas of a romance novel. The plot was good though. <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/21abbc6d2f62a80d56d9e8ae6c15dff82ebee8dc" width="80" height="80" alt="25 Book Reviews" title="25 Book Reviews"/>