The Rebellious Daughter

Katarina is rebelling. She has had it with her mundane life, so when the attractive coachman of a friend shows up, she does the unthinkable. She falls in love, or is it lust, with the coachman. There is something about Isaac that pulls her. Does Katarina truly fall in love with the coachman in defiance because doing so would get her out of her dull life, or does she really fall in love? If it is true love, how will it go for them? After all, they are not from the same class. Rebellion, mischief, and seduction ensue, but how will it all end? There is much more to Isaac than meets the eye, and Catarina finds herself uncertain about the man with whom she fell in love. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance novellas.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Katarina Fitzroy is sick of the usual humdrum Christmas at Chalcroft. Her entire family seems to think that spending their time worrying about their dress, their decorations, and their prospective husbands, is what they should be doing, but Katarina wants more. She'd rather spend her time in the milking shed, helping the maids with their milking, and being actually useful for once. When family friend Luke Kingsley arrives, with his handsome driver Isaac Emmett, Katarina starts to consider her privilege, and whether she is willing to give up her life to be with Isaac. I liked seeing Katarina's tale, as when her story was running parallel with the previous book, she seemed very angry, and hurtful, and not a character I warmed to. However, she had a softer side, and the relationship which blossomed with Isaac was sweet. I will say it was extremely clear that Isaac was not who he seemed to be, but that didn't detract from the enjoyment. Another good book in the series.

Another Fitzroy finds her match in this charming fifth installment of The Twelve Days of Christmas series. Katarina is tired of the same old Christmas traditions of her family. She wants something different, more excitement for the holidays. While in the previous book, Olivia was busy avoiding Luke, in this one, Katarina occupies herself with Luke's coachman, Isaac. No matter that he is not a titled gentleman, Katarina is drawn to him like no other. Her father surely would not approve, but she does not care. She can't seem to stay away from him. There are immediate sparks between them, but Isaac tries to keep her at a distance, keeping in mind the difference in their stations. But with Isaac, all is not as it seems. His secrets could break hearts, once they are out.
Though you do not need to read these in order, I would definitely recommend doing so, as the stories are all intertwined and in my opinion you will get more out of it if read in order.
A lovely addition to the series!
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Cute little story to pass the time. I like the idea of using the 12 Days of Christmas song as the basis of this holiday set of stories (even if inserting the milking maids was a little contrite at times).

Instant love, hidden identity, large family, and engaging characters. There was a lot going in a small package, so the characters weren't fully fleshed out, but it still was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

Thank you NetGalley. The Fitzroy family is all together. Katarina is not happy though as it is the same old thing. Luke is not a member of the family but is treated like family. Katarina is a attracted to his coachman. She doesn't know why but she is and he is a good looking man. She sneaks out to the milk shed to meet him. he tries to discourage her but the attraction is mutual. Then the family finds out he is a son of a Duke and has been out on his own for years. But now he is accepted by the family. Can they been happy that he is found out?

This time it’s Katarina’s turn to fall in love over the Christmas period. The second youngest of the Chalcroft Fitzroys, Katarina longs for something other than the life she’s currently living. She loves her family but feels like she doesn’t belong. When they’re all thrilled to be living the lives expected of well bred ladies, Kat wants so much more. Or maybe she just wants someone more. There are sparks the moment she meets the handsome carriage driver Isaac Emmett. He’s not like the gentlemen she has danced with at balls and in society. And the life they could have together might just be what Kat needs for herself.

These Christmas novellas are fun to read. They’re romantic with plenty of steaminess along with a dash of angst but deliver a complete story with no cliffhangers. At only just over a hundred pages they are the perfect way to spend an hour. And their short length is both fantastic but can leave you wanting a little more. These characters are so quick to fall in love, quick to distress but equally as rapid to forgive. I am enjoying the journey I’ve been on but so far I’ve found the resolution to be just a little too fast.

Kat’s story was a great addition to the series. And I loved getting to see other characters from her point of view. I think it takes a special author to be able to step into the shoes of her characters and the other characters they have created from multiple perspectives. Isaac is a good match for Kat but the resolution of this story left me a little wanting regarding how Kat’s life was going to turn out <spoiler> because basically as the wife of a Viscount isn’t she going to be straight into the life she was trying to flee as the daughter of the Fitzroys? I wasn’t surprised Isaac turned out to be more than a humble carriage driver but I wanted him to be less gentry and more self made man </spoiler>

Can’t wait to continue following the Fitzroy cousins as they fall in love and to see how the author incorporates the Twelve Days into their stories.

There are three Fitzroy brothers, each with different interests, each the father of daughters, twelve in total. The fifth story in the series takes place during the Christmas festivities at the family seat, Chalcroft. Most of the Fitzroys are present, so it is noisy, chaotic, and festive. Katarina is bored with the same people at the same celebration every year. On one of her escapes outside, she meets Luke’s coachman Isaac. They talk and begin to spend time together. Even though they are obviously falling for each other, Isaac, who has an interesting secret, tries to keep distance between them. Is there a happily ever after waiting for them? Might be time for a Christmas wish. This is another delightfully entertaining visit with the Fitzroys, a large, loving, happy family. This one unfolds right in front of the eight maids a milking. Lovely holiday story and great characters.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 5 and occurs during the same timeframe as book 4, which is during the family Christmas houseparty at Chalcroft, the family estate of the eldest of the Fitzroys. Katarina, aka Kitty, is one of the younger sisters and is in a state of ennui over Christmas and their traditions. She is sick and bored of the same expected traditions and routines, and is obviously longing for some excitement and something new. She is not afraid to demonstrate this either, and to me she sounds like she is behaving like an ill mannered spoiled brat.

Maybe she is just at that point of life as a teenager where she is not sure what she wants... she seems to want change, showing contempt and boredom over the same old family expectations and traditions, but then wanting the comfort and solitude of the home farm, seeking out refuge amongst the milking sheds, cows and maids (leaning into the 12 days theme again). Regardless, she wanted something to change, some excitement and something different and she finds that when their childhood friend Luke Kingsley arrives. Because he brought something unexpected and exciting with him; Isaac, his coachman.

Kitty is attracted to Isaac and seems to like their interactions, and ends up seeking him out. It almost feels like it is the attraction of the forbidden as he is a coachman/servant, and treats her with a certain degree of contempt and disrespect, as a lady of the house who does not understand the working class.

Their relationship was not one that I connected with as it felt that there was a lot of angst, a sense of the attraction to the new and forbidden and a lack of truth and authenticity, and respect on his part, towards both Kitty and her family. This story, to me, felt like he was taking advantage of a confused young teenager, and lacking in warmth in his character.

2.5 stars out of 5.

4.5 stars

Katerina sees a coachman and dissolves in lust for the working man. Issac is very handsome and seems equally interested in Kat. He makes a comment about their different stations in life and we think he'reminding Kat that he's a lowly servant.; Luke, from the previous book warns Kitty that Issac should really have a talk with her before events go any further. This story spans both books and is delightfully comedic in how the family react to Kat's downfall.

Good series.

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

So far this series has been a lot of fun. It's been really interesting meeting all the different Fitzroy ladies. My favorite is still Jemima's story - even though all the other ladies seem to not like her (or maybe because they don't). The connection to the 12 days of Christmas song was pretty clever (once again) and played an important part without beating you over the head with it. I liked Katarina and understood her exhaustion over the family Christmas traditions and desire to experience something new. I wish we had gotten to know more of what happened during Katarina and Emmett's conversations because it would have added more to understanding how they fell in love (or at least prove it was more than just the physical attraction). I liked that Katarina was allowed to be angry with Emmett for keeping a pretty big and important secret from her - no one told her she was overreacting or had nothing to be upset about. Although, her father's reaction to events was a bit of an overreaction - albeit a humorous one. Luckily for Emmett Katarina is the kind of woman willing to hear him out. I haven't read Nine Ladies Dancing, but I'm assuming it occurs simultaneously to this story.

The fifth entry in Emily EK Murdoch's Twelve Days of Christmas series of novellas, this particular novella's timeline overlaps completely with the timeline of the previous novella, Nine Ladies Dancing. Having read that novella, much of what happens in this one is not a surprise. Here, Katarina, daughter of the oldest Fitzroy brother, is resentful of her monotonous life and chafing at the expectations around the large family Christmas. Everything changes when she meets family friend Luke's coachman, Isaac Emmett (and she refers to him by both of these names over and over and over again), He returns her interest but is convinced nothing real can be between them due to their difference in stations. Katarina, of course, disagrees.

This novella felt rushed to me. Instalove happens a lot in romance, especially historicals, but this was over the course of approximately 3 days. There was so much left unexplained - Isaac's relationship with his family being the biggest question mark. I also really did not like how prior to learning Isaac's true identity, Katarina's father was ready to duel Isaac and no one else in the family questioned that impulse. Yet once we learn that the servant is not really a servant, then all is well. The level of hypocrisy is off the charts, and none of the characters ever really address it, not even Isaac Emmett. Instead we get the couple happily planning to re-embrace the aristocratic life in a way that feels more than a little disingenuous.

All that said, I feel invested in the Fitzroys now and will continue to read this series. This particular entry is 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. Thank you to Dragonblade and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Katarina's story, while happening simultaneously, was only lightly touched upon in Nine. I love how each book hints at future story lines. It heightens the anticipation for the next. Katarina, while a bit odd at times, was still very likable. Emmett, though not your typical hero, was the perfect fit for Kat! Hip, Hip HorEight!!! Looking forward to Seven!!!!
Thank you Emily EK Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

What a roll in the hay! The last book left us wondering what Katarina was up to during the Chalcroft Christmas Ball and this book explains all.

The characters are definitely brash and bold in this book. Kat falls for Luke's coachman Issac and they spend a lot of time in the stables near the milkmaids. Issac has a complicated past, but Kat wants him no matter his station and he sure is handsome, smart, and witty.

As I get further into this series, I love the variety of romances and it's easier and easier to focus on the main characters due to knowing most of the Fitzroy family already. I'm excited to see what the next book entails.

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

You will probably want to read Nine ladies Dancing. Because these books are intertwined. However you dont needs to in order to enjoy the book. Two sisters realize they are falling in love. But they don't necessarily communicate well. With each other or with their man. This is a steamy book but you can skip over those scenes if you wish, just catch them on the back side. Emily Murdock is really making this series so entrenched I just can't help myself!
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book

Another quick read with engaging character's. I really liked both Isaac & Kit , they both fell hard and fast into what looks like an impossible relationship. However, Isaac is keeping secrets and all will be revealed. I did love that Kit was prepared to give everything up for Isaac. A well written novella, which I read in a day. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable, but I’m not a fan of aristocrat in disguise/servant that’s not a servant trope.

I love a good Christmas themed romance, and I read this one in an afternoon. Katarina is impulsive and a bit rash, and her desire to live a life independent the trappings of the manor make the twist all the more interesting. I found the story to be a bit predictable, but also fresh at the same time, and the element of predictability in no way took away from my investment in Katarina and Isaac's love story. If you're looking for a fairly quick, steamy, Christmas read, look no further.

A lovely regency holiday story, Katarina falls in love with a dashing coachman who's much more than a servant. Refreshing and engaging characters, I liked Katarina and Isaac. Lots of stolen kisses and revelations leads to a wonderful happily ever after.

Katarina is bored with the same old Christmas traditions and the general dullness of her life. But when a distraction arrives in the form of a handsome coachman, both of them get more than they bargained for.

I was interested to read this novella after the hints of its plot appeared in Nine Ladies Dancing, the previous one in the series. However, once I finished it, I was... disappointed. Nothing wrong with the writing, or characters, or descriptions; they all flowed nicely. But. Some plots, like the aforementioned Nine Ladies Dancing, fit perfectly into the novella format. This one, however, felt like an entire novel struggling to get out of the restrictions it had been placed under. From the first moment of instant attraction to the miraculous 'oh well that's all right then' happy-ever-after mere days later, it sped along in too much of a rush. There are so many other facets that could be explored: Katarina's development, Isaac's background and motivations, the Fitzroys' position in society (landed gentry but not titled) and the sheer hypocrisy that merits just a paragraph or two in this version. It makes for an intriguing addition to this series, but feels like it skims the surface of something even more intriguing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

She finds something wanting in her life. And when she met him, she knew he was the answer to what she is missing.. But they are from different worlds and so their problems seem insurmountable. But when things make sense when you are together, everything else seems insignificant. A short, steamy love story to read for an excellent HEA.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.