THE HOLLY AND THE THISTLE by Regan Walker-a review

The Holly and the Thistle by Regan Walker

About the book: Release date November 24, 2012

A chance meeting at Berry’s wine shop, a misunderstanding and Christmastide all come together to allow the most handsome Scot in London to give Lady Emily Picton the best Christmas gift ever: a marriage not of convenience, but of love.

Review:

The Holly and the Thistle begins with Lady Emily Picton hurrying along the rain soaked streets of 1818 London, trying to reach Berry’s wine shop in order to procure a favorite wine for a Christmas affair being thrown by the Dowager Countess of Claremont. Upon entering the wine shop, Lady Emily looks less the lady and more the “bedraggled chit” due to unfortunate events involving rain, mud and carriages. She encounters a handsome “store clerk” who fetches the wine for her. She leaves the store in a snit, and, to add insult to injury, is that laughter she hears?

Lady Emily, widowed three years earlier, knows that the Countess will be up to her old tricks: trying to play matchmaker, but the Countess has become a dear friend and Emily would never refuse her invitation. Emily arrives early for the party where the Countess informs her that indeed there is a Scottish gentleman whom will be attending the party the she wants her to meet, Mr. William Stephen.

As the guests arrive, Lord and Lady Ormond, (whom we first meet in Racing With the Wind), are chatting with Emily as the Countess brings a gentleman over to introduce to her. Mr. Stephen and Lord Ormond attended college together and are old friends. When the introductions are made between Emily and William, she is surprised to see the “store clerk” whom she encountered in the wine shop, who obviously, is not a store clerk at all, but a wealthy Scottish businessman who builds ships. They recognize each other immediately and the attraction is instantaneous. But, Lady Emily has vowed to remain a widow. Her first marriage only lasted three years and he was definitely not a gentleman. She has no desire to go through that kind of turmoil again. William knows that he has his work cut out for him and knows that she will be worth the effort. So he sets out to prove that all men are not created equal. Does true love conquer all? Does this Christmas season turn out to be the happiest of all for Lady Emily? You’ll have to read to find out.

The Holly and the Thistle is a short story that had me from the beginning. Emily and William are great together and I loved the strength in each of them. There was a teary moment or two in this for me and I love the small cast of supporting characters. And, of course, I looooved getting to see Lord and Lady Ormond again and see their ever growing family. Truly a great Christmas read. The one problem with this short story? The word SHORT!! I wanted it to go on and on………… Regan Walker has been added to my list of authors that are must reads and I suggest you do the same.

ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.