This is a great read! The road to true love, never runs smooth. In this case Merry, whose father is a Baronet, scholar of antiquities, she is his unsung assistant. She had been happily engaged five years prior to Alex, Viscount Wrotham. His grandmother had caused the destruction of her engagement, only Merry would not tell Alex why she left him. Five years later, her best friend Charlotte dies, giving birth to a baby girl, Lottie. Merry was there, because Charlotte's parents never believed that she had married, and that the baby was legitimate. Incensed, after her friends death, Merry had promised to deliver the baby to her father. The father being William, Alex's cousin, there she must go, to ask for his help in finding the man, who deserted her friend in her desperate time of need. This brings her back in contact with Alex, who has never stopped loving her, he also has come to realize, his grandmother had something to do with their breakup. There is conflict in the family, the grandmother who ran off his Mother when he was nine, now she is determined to run Merry off again! Will she be successful? How determined is Alex to have her? Will William, father of little Lottie accept his responsibility? Great Read!
I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

After the death of her friends Merry promises to take the orphaned baby to the father. Unfortunately for her Merry has to go to Alex the man she left 5 years ago when they had meant to marry. Now she has to make sure the child goes where she belong at the risk of breaking her own heart getting help from the man she once loves.

Historical romances are not my thing, if I had knew that before going into this book I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Being that I had already started I figured what the heck and continued through this book. I surprisingly found this book more enjoyable then I thought I would. I loved a bit of drama and that there was a few mishaps to keep things interesting. I loved seeing that passion between Merry and Alex. Overall this was a pretty good book and I found it enjoyable, a quick and easy holiday read.

Merry Parks had been engaged to Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wratham, five years earlier but his grandmother had threatened Merry and convinced her that she could not make Alex a good wife and she had jilted him. She still loved him but that was in her past and she needed to move forward with her life.

Unfortunately, her dear friend, Charlotte, had given birth to a beautiful baby girl, Lottie, and had died shortly after the birth. She had asked Merry to make sure that Lottie was taken to her father, William Ponsonby. Charlotte had married William and then he had left her promising to return for her but he had never returned. The only way that Merry knew to find him was to go to his cousin, Alex, and ask for his help. She was concerned that he would refuse to help her considering their history together, but she had promised Charlotte on her deathbed that she would find her Lottie's father so she had to try.

Alex had never gotten over his love for Merry and he wanted her back in his life but he didn't want to spook her since she had suddenly shown up at his doorstep. Would they ever be able to find their way back to each other? Could they trust one another?

I enjoyed this book. My one criticism is the one and only sex scene in the book. I felt that it was unnecessary and detracted from the story. The chemistry between Alex and Merry was already there. I didn't need it is such detail.

I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not request this book. I received it in error therefor I didn't review it .

I've never been disappointed when I pick up a Manda Collins book. I have enjoyed all of Manda's books and this one is no exception. The storyline was fresh and unique. I enjoy second chance romances, there's always that hope that two cross stared lovers will be reunited and have the HEA they deserve. There was a bit of a twist in the book that added to the storyline. I was hoping g to hear how the secondary romance that was between Will and Katherine turned out, if I had to write it , they both found their forever together as well.

This is a delightful short Christmas read. The past collides with the present and brings with it a second chance.

Alex, Viscount Wrotham has just returned from France where he unearthed some truth about his childhood. He is now wandering what else in his life might be based on lies.

Merry in not a titled lady and helps her father in his literary work. Not something that other ladies would do, but she likes helping and it takes her mind off what could have been.

Merry makes a promise to her best friend on her death bed. To find the father of her new born daughter. A promise, she intends to keep no matter the cost. To do so, she has to face Alex, her jilted ex fiancé and the cousin of the estranged father. He is surprised to see her with the baby, but assures her that he will help. The catch is that they have to go to his mansion to meet his cousin. That's not the only thing that he has in mind. He is being given a second chance and he will use this opportunity to win her back. He has to get through his domineering grandmother who is choosy about who carries on their bloodline. As far as she is concerned, Merry is not suitable. Can she keep them apart, now that they have found each other once again?

The difference in status plays a major role and jealousy turns ugly. There is a lot going on in this novella, but it's beautifully portrayed and everything falls nicely into place. Delightful!

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Miss Merry Parks has just brought a baby into her family’s home, Parks House. The child’s mother and Merry’s friend, Charlotte Smithson, has just passed away from a fever. The baby’s name is Lottie and now Merry must find her a wet nurse. Merry had promised Charlotte that she would find the baby’s father, William. Of course. Merry realizes that her own father, Thomas Parks, a classics scholar may surely object to the baby being in the house.

Chalotte had eloped with the baby’s father who then left and didn’t return. He told her before he left to call at Wrotham House in Berkley Square, but they had turned her away. William is a cousin to Alexander Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham.

Alexander and Merry had once been engaged but Merry broke it off. That was five years ago. Alexander is still hurting from it. So, when Merry brings Lottie to his home asking him to find William, the baby’s father, Alexander agrees.

William is at the Wrotham family home, called Wrotham Keep, for the Christmas holidays. Their grandmother is the matriarch of the family. At Alexander’s request, Merry agrees to take Lottie to the Keep for the holidays.

How will Merry and Lottie be treated at the Keep? We meet William and learn about his past and why he left Charlotte. We also learn why Merry broke off her engagement to Alexander. Could there possible by a chance for them yet?

This is a cleverly written story with some twists and turns that I found very well written. I don’t want to give out any more clues due to spoilers. Suffice to say, I think readers will enjoy this book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This story is a second chance love story. Five years ago Miss Merry Parks was betrothed to Alex Ponsonby, the Viscount Wrotham but because of some manipulating by Alex's grandmother, the Dowager Viscountess Wrotham, Merry called it off and left Alex. Now, Merry has promised her friend Charlotte Smithson, on her deathbed, that she would take care of her daughter Lottie and find the baby's father. Charlotte was secretly married to William Ponsonby, cousin of Alex. Merry had heard that Alex was back in London and decides to go see him and ask for help in finding William.

One look at Merry and it is obvious that Alex is still in love with her and he decides right there and then that he is going to win her heart again and what a better time to do that then during Christmas.

It was a sweet and fun story seeing these two get to their happy ending. Five years of time didn't dim their feelings at all. I enjoyed the time that was spent at the Keep, the Wrotham family home, during the Christmas season. It was fun seeing how they spent their holidays and the ending of it was just perfect. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

A wallflower determined to fulfill a dying promise, the rogue she jilted years ago, and an orphaned baby are all brought together amidst the magic of Christmas in this new novella from Manda Collins.

Miss Merry Parks makes a deathbed promise to a schoolfriend that her infant daughter will be taken to her absent father. There’s only one problem—to find the baby’s father, she’ll have to consult his cousin, Viscount Wrotham, the man she jilted five years ago. The man she couldn’t forget.

Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, is stunned to find Merry Parks—looking more lovely than ever--on his doorstep with an infant in her arms. His shock soon turns to dismay when he learns his own cousin William is the man who abandoned his wife and child. As head of the family he’s duty bound to see right is done. But he can't let this opportunity pass. He’ll take Merry and the baby to his cousin, but he’ll woo her back in the process.

Merry agrees to travel with Alex and the baby to Wrotham Castle, where the entire Ponsonby family has gathered for Christmas, but her plans to see the baby settled then leave are ruined by a snowstorm. After five years apart, Alex and Merry will spend the week getting reacquainted. Perhaps it’s the spirit of the holiday, or the magic of the season, but there could be something else in the air this Yuletide…A Christmas Reunion.

Review:

This is a very happy, holiday, historical romances.

It was a quick read and it was very satisfying also. At the heart of the story we have a couple who were torn apart by interfering relatives 5 years ago. They are brought back together by an unexpected baby and a snow storm. Alex and Merry are extremely likable and are very strong people. There is a little tension in the form of Alex's grandmother and a scorned lady after Alex's attention. Perfect read for the pre-Christmas season.

This story was full of heart and will leave you happy after reading it.

4Stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

The cover blurb on this one is a bit misleading. Miss Merry Parks isn't exactly a wallflower. After all, she was once engaged to Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham. That was, admittedly five years ago and she hasn't gone out much in society since but she's about to come face-to-face with the man again because of a deathbed promise.

Alex is delighted to see Merry. He never understood why she left him so many years ago. He might have been happier had she not shown up with a baby in tow. But when he finds out it is his cousin's child and her mother is dead, his disappointment knows no ends. As the head of the family, he is duty-bound to make sure that the child is well cared for. If that means he can wrangle some extra time with Merry... well, okay.

It's always nice to have novellas where the two main characters already know each other. It means an author can skip the meet cute and head straight to the HEA. The ending was a little TOO happy, happy, joy, joy it-was-actually-misunderstandings all around for me but a nice enough read anyway.



Three stars

This novella came out October 3

When Merry’s friend, Charlotte, gives birth she asks Merry to find the father for her right before she dies. Charlotte had eloped but then her fiancé left her at her parents’ house and never returned. The father is the cousin of Viscount Wrotham. Merry had been engaged to Viscount Wrotham five years ago but had ended the engagement despite her love for him. She still loved him and it certainly made her anxious to have to go to his house to find baby Lottie’s father.

Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, never stopped loving Merry Parks. The note she’d left him ending their engagement was so vague he never truly figured out why she ended it. He’s been in Paris but now that he’s back in London he’s determined to find Merry and see if he can win her back. He certainly doesn’t think she’ll knock on his door with a newborn asking for his cousin! Alex is relieved when he finds out that the baby isn’t Merry’s, that’s for sure. They determine that the cousin, Will, is at the family estate as it’s right before Christmas and Merry and Alex end up traveling together to deliver the baby.

Merry gets snowed in at Alex’s estate and can’t make it home for Christmas. Alex is thrilled as this just means he gets to spend more time with Merry and he takes his chances with winning her back.

With This Christmas Ring turned out to be a lovely little Christmas surprise for me. It was a sweet story that didn’t throw a lot drama into the story just for drama’s sake (although there was once part…). I enjoyed Merry and her character as well as Alex’s. The pair truly never stopped loving each other so it wasn’t all that difficult to get back together. Family interference had sent Merry away once and it looked for a bit like it would happen again but it all turned out well in the end.

The story of Charlotte and Alex’ cousin, Will, was quite sad and made my heart break a little. The situation was a tad distressing but had Charlotte not died then we wouldn’t have had a story so I had to keep reminding myself of that – despite the tragedy of it all.

In the end the story was a sweet, fast read and one I definitely enjoyed

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
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One reviewer called this story charming and it simply was! This book was lovely with heartwarming characters, a straightforward plot, and with very likable side characters. I don't usually read historical romance novels but this one was a short read and I enjoyed it!

✔ Second-chance romance
✔ Grandma drama
✔ Upper class versus lower class foolery

Unfortunately this book is not in a genre of romance that I prefer. That being said I did like this book even though I found it difficult to understand at times. I did enjoy the reunion & rekindled love of Merry & Alex. They're story was one of sadness until brought back together by an innocent infant needing to be reunited with her father after the death of her mother. This story showed me that even entitled families are disfunctional, at least that's my take on it. I'm not sure if I'll ever read another historical romance book again but I'm sure for some who enjoy it this book would be wonderful.

With This Christmas Ring
by Manda Collins
What a wonderful novella. Such a very different story than expected! I so enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns. I like the romance the characters and the plotline. It was a truly enjoyable read! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna

Wrotham has recently returned from a year in France. The next item on his agenda is to learn if his suspicions as to his grandmother's part in Merry's abrupt departure are true. However, he not need look too far for Merry as she appears at his doorstep with the baby Lottie in arms. Wrotham vows to help Merry, but it is necessary for her to come with him to Wrotham Keep in these days just before Christmas as his cousin, Lottie's father, will be in attendance for the holiday festivities. Merry is torn as she must fulfill her promise to the dying Charlotte but had vowed as she left the Keep before that she would never return.

Putting her own feelings aside, Merry, her maid Effie, Lottie and the wet nurse they have employed for the baby embark by carriage to Kent. Soon after their arrival, snowstorms set in and Merry is stranded at the Keep. The viscount has sworn that he will win Merry back and bucks his manipulative grandmother as well as some other sharp tongued relatives and visitors.

As the story unfolds, the intricate plot reveals itself with touches of gothic mystery and budding romance. Although this is not my favorite genre of fiction, I did enjoy the story and do recommend it.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like with many novellas, I wished that Ms. Collins had made this into a full length novel instead of a short story. Despite this, you are still able to enjoy the story without it feeling rushed or incomplete.

Merry is a sweet and caring heroine who doesn't want to be anywhere near the hero because she still loves him but feels that she can no longer but with him after jilting him five years ago. Alex, is also an enjoyable hero who immediately know that he wants Merry back in his life and as his wife and doesn't hesitate to let everyone, including her and his meddling grandmother know.

The side plot that was added towards the end <spoiler> One of women invited for Christmas locks Merry and another guest, Katherine, in a cold barn with newborn Lottie</spoiler> seems out of place, especially with how quickly it was resolved and the strange fallout, or lack thereof did not seem as if it fit and would have played out much better in a longer story.

The reason why Merry jilted Alex was kept a mystery until the end of the book but when it is finally revealed it was a pretty weak reason for it. <spoiler>How quickly Alex's cousin was redeemed and found love irritated me. He began to fall in love with another woman while he was still married to his now dead wife. Merry's quick approval of his and Katherine's love for each other seemed a bit disloyal to me.</spoiler>

This book does not tie into the current two Studies in Scandal books other than Merry briefly mentioning Ivy from Ready Set Rogue. Alex is mentioned to be in the Lords of Anarchy so it is most likely that this book serves as a small bridge between the two series or to show that they all take place in the same world. I haven't read any of the Lords of Anarchy so I'm not sure if another connection has already been made.

I give this book four stars for being a short but sweet story of lost and then found love.

This is just the right story to get you into the Christmas spirit early. These characters are likable and easy to cheer on toward a happy ending. The plot is filled with warmth and depth and so much love. It was an all around feel good type of read.

*I received a complimentary copy of this story from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

This is the first book (albeit a shorter one) that I have read by author Manda Collins. I was impressed with her ability to convey the characters depth in a shorter form book as well as laying out a plot that made sense.

The story is set at Christmas time and Merry Parks has just left the deathbed of her best friend Charlotte. Charlotte has tasked Merry with uniting Lotte (her newborn and now motherless daughter) with the William, the husband who abandoned her months before.

Merry agrees even though finding William means having to confront her own past love, Alex, who is William’s cousin. Alex is the Viscount of Wrotham and Merry jilted him five years before.

That Alex and Merry never stopped loving one another is what adds the conflicting emotions to this story. They are both learning to move beyond their pain (his from being jilted and hers from what led to her running away from him.) It is that which is the basis of this book though there are other plot devices, points and characters to meet and understand along the way. I will certainly be looking for other books by this author in the future.

For those who are interested, there is one sexual scene in the book which is handled fairly discretely by the author. I didn’t feel it needed to be there for the storyline, especially given that these individuals had been engaged previously without having had sex. However, it was handled fairly delicately rather than a detailed and graphic sex scene.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I read this in a few hours as it's quite a short book. I found that it flowed easily and had a Christmas theme to it.
It was set in the lovely era when horses were used as modes of transport and houses were grand. The author described the setting well.
I found that the story was simple and not a book that i had to concentrate on reading, except maybe for the language which was old fashioned and sometimes I found myself looking for the meaning of the words, which I am more than happy to do.
A cosy weekend read.

This was a delightful book! Perfect to start the Holidays season! Quick and fun! Can't wait to this more books of this author.