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His Last Christmas Gift by Debra Borchert #Review

    His Last Christmas Gift by Debra Borchert will take you to a different country and season. It was published by Le Vin Press on 1st November 2025. Widowed, fired, and 50, Claire is one hot mess. This later in life romance hits like a snowball packed with grief and hope and mystery and the kind of second-chance that says, “I didn’t think I’d ever feel this again, and now I’m terrified, but… Hi.” Romance that’s frost melting off a windowpane. It’s “I forgot my heart could do this.” It’s love doesn’t have an expiration date. Twinkly lights, mulled wine and flaming crêpes so immerse you in Christmas markets—you’ll book a flight to France before the fares go up. A book club fiction favourite, Claire’s journey of self-discovery is perfect for fans of women’s fiction and stories about strong women over 50 navigating reinvention with inspiration, humour, with a delicious frosting of romance. “Give yourself the gift of a lush, romantic, French adventure and be swept away ...

The Earl's Unlikely Bride by Ella Matthews #Review #TheDashworthBrothersBook1

 

We are back in Regency England for Ella Matthews' historical romance, The Earl's Unlikely Bride. 

 
One summer to make her his…

 

After four failed seasons, Emily Hawkins is tired of following the rules. Aside from crossing swords with her lifelong enemy, Freddie Dashworth, she is an exemplary member of Society. But after all this time, she’s yet to find a husband and life with her over-bearing mother is becoming intolerable.

Freddie returns to his childhood home to help look after his orphaned niece. His neighbour, Emily, has been his nemesis for years. The infuriating miss is the only woman immune to his charms and there’s nothing he enjoys more than her disapproving glares. It’s a shame he can’t stop thinking about her, because she clearly despises him.

One minor indiscretion later and everything in Emily’s ordered world changes. The one person on her side appears to be Freddie but can she trust her former antagonist? And what will happen to her when she does?


 My Thoughts

 Emily is a spirited and independently minded heroine who feels out of place in the marriage market of the Ton. She likes nothing more than to read her books and envies the broader education that aristocratic men  received at the time. She has always sparred with Freddie, the boy next door, but failed to see beneath the sociable veneer that he has always presented to the world. Freddie has vulnerabilities which he wants to hide from society but he also has some amazing talents which he also keeps secret. 

    The easy dialogue between Emily and Freddie shows you how they actually have a lot of common ground which Emily in particular has failed to notice. The strict behaviour codes of the Ton means that often men and women cannot see each other clearly as so much of polite society masks what they are really thinking. This is an enjoyable read with some great characters. All the Dashworth brothers have potential for future stories which I look forward to reading.

In short: true love and firm friendships 

About the Author

Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. She writes historical romances for both Mills & Boon and as an Indie. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).

 You can follow Ella here : facebook   |  Instagram   Threads  |  X Twitter 

  

 

  Book links: Amazon UK  |  Amazon US

 

  Thanks to Ella Matthews of Rachel's Random Resources   for a copy of the book and a place on the event.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

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