3.5 stars
Setting. London and the countryside, England, December 1818-January 1819.

Characters.
Heroine: Lady Regina Haversham (1 month shy of 30th birthday), niece of the Duke of Colchester
Hero: Daffin Oakleaf (30s?), Bow Street Runner

Summary.
Regina is soon going to be 30 years old and she wants to give herself a gift in celebration: one night with a man she desires. She wants to rid herself of her virginity but also give it to a man whom she chooses, because her uncle and grandmother are pushing for her to get married to the dry hum-drum neighbor at home and she's starting to think she needs to give in and finally accept the offer. First though, she wants to take action on the attraction that simmered between her and Daffin Oakleaf when they first met (in Book #9—I haven't read it, but was able to enjoy this one regardless).

Daffin unfortunately does not respond as she hopes (though watching her pitch it to him is hysterical and cute, and you have to admire her bravery and how forthright she is in asking for what she wants). She's embarrassed and hopefully never has to face him again ... yet unfortunately, either she or her cousin may be in danger, and her cousin thinks that Daffin would be the perfect person for them to hire to watch over them (she definitely has matchmaking on the mind). For their parts, Regina and Daffin aren't really sure how to act around each other, given their clear attraction to each other but how things were last left between them.

As whomever is threatening Regina and her family draws closer, Daffin spends more and more time with her and finds himself falling for someone who is so above his station that he can never hope for there to be anything more than friendship between them. Regina is unsure of Daffin's feelings, but unquestioning of her own, and their time spent together only cements what she has suspected—she's fallen for him, and hard.

Review.
So I'm a bit torn here, as my rating clearly indicates. 3.5 stars for me means that I am glad I read it, but it won't be a reread for me. There are so many things about this book that could have made it GREAT, but unfortunately it fell a little flat at times, the pacing wasn't always right, and sometimes it just felt off. It's kind of hard to explain, but ... I don't know—he would grin, when he doesn't seem like the grinning type and the timing isn't really appropriate; or she makes a sexual comment that given where they are at that point in their relationship and their avoidance, isn't the right timing.

Also, Daffin has completely legit reasons for turning Regina down when she approaches him with her offer, yet somehow those reasons seem to disappear and other ones take their place (which are also legitimate, but ... what happened to the first ones??). There were also pieces of the mystery subplot that could have used some work.

It could have been great—I loved the premise, I loved the older-than-normal heroine, I loved how she was brave and confident enough to approach a man and ask for what she wants sexually, I loved the class difference between them, and Daffin could have been a really great stern-upstanding hero-type ... but it just wasn't as tight as it should have been and things felt ... off, sometimes.

Finally, the class difference trope, when done correctly, shouldn't be cavalierly dealt with, because that shit was REAL. One of the best books I've read that deals with this is Lily Maxton's The Improper Bride (my review); there, it's a housekeeper and a lord, and there is always the awareness that a real relationship between them is beyond the pale and what on earth are they thinking. Now, of course, things work out and they deal, but at least leading up to them resolving the issue, they're taking it seriously and are not acting like the real world and society don't exist.

Recommendations.
Other Bow Street Runner or private investigator books:
— Lisa Kleypas's Bow Street Runners series
— Lorraine Heath's Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel (my review)
— Grace Callaway's Her Protector's Pleasure
A book that came to mind right away in comparison is another one where the heroine decides to gift herself sexual experience for her 30th birthday:
— Lisa Kleypas's Suddenly You

*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.

Can the niece of a duke and a Bow Street runner find love and happiness in Regency England? The previous year runner, Daffin Oakleaf and Lady Regina Havensham met unfortunately at her cousin's funeral when Daffin helped to investigate his murder. They seemed to hit it off then, but what can become of such a mismatch in status. This year Regina wants Daffin to be her 30th birthday present. Of course, being a gentleman all but in status, he refuses her. However, when Regina`s life is threatened by an unknown villain, he agrees to protect her, even though he knows he will have trouble resisting her. Who is behind the attempts on Regina`s life? Will time together help or hinter their mutual attraction? Just what can become of it. And lastly, just who is Daffin and why does he hate Christmas? These questions and much more will be answered by reading this delightful Christmas tale. An enjoyable read.

“A man’s kiss is his signature.” –Mae West

Book 10 of 11 in the Playful Brides series. Rating: MA: mature audience, adult themes, mild language, graphic descriptions of sexual encounters.

Maybe I just wasn’t in the right spirit. I started this story and was ticked-off within the first paragraph. So, I put it down and didn’t pick it up until closer to Christmas. That didn’t help one bit. I found myself ticked-off all over again. Here we have a spoiled ‘Lady’ of the ton approaching her thirtieth birthday and lamenting her virginity. I mean seriously? She wanted to get rid of the ‘dratted thing’ and have a night of passion before she was forced to settle. We then had to endure paragraphs and pages while she racked her brain as to whom she could relinquish it. We listened as she constantly complained about her uncle the Duke threatening to betroth her to the handsome Earl that lived next door. We, of course, knew that he not only wanted her dowry but also lusted after the land that would come with her when she married. The fact he was a complete bore was beside the point.

This was like a bad stage performance with actors overacting and quoting dialogue that sounded hollow, and fake. If I had been at a real theater, I would have left at intermission. Actions were unrealistic, strained and stilted and the dialogue kept me asking… REALLY??? The hero was given way too many HERO moments that simply were not realistic. The villain was better portrayed than the hero. I was really looking forward to the final confrontation and was so disappointed with the way things happened. WTC [what-the-crap]?

There were characters visiting from the previous book and we were given a hint as to a possible next book. Well, I suppose there is another. When one of the characters asks the others to help him next… it can only mean in the next book.

“One day you will kiss a man you can’t breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence.” –Karen Marie Moning, Bloodfever

The sex was unnecessary and, in a house full of people and servants. It amazed me how in one scene the Lady approached a door preparing to knock and someone called out for her to come in. When she asked how did they know she was there. They responded, you are in a house full of spies, how could we not know. So, did they know ‘she and he’ were in a room together, alone, and unchaperoned? So many things simply didn’t make sense. Part of the time the text flowed smoothly and was really interesting. Then I’d turn the page and behavior and dialogue would turn juvenile and not plausible. Everything was solved in just a few pages. No epilogue, no resolution to the main problems. Regency etiquette would not have allowed much of this behavior. Comportment was thrown out the window while a serious crime was completely ignored. The reader is left wondering what happened to certain people. While I’m wondering if problems, that I cannot mention, will be solved in the next book?

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” –Ingrid Bergman

I volunteered to read an uncorrected digital galley from the publisher [St. Martin’s Paperbacks] via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own.

This was a delightful Christmas romance story. Daffin and Regina were very good for each other and their story was well written, but did seem to flow a little slowly. Overall, it was a good story.

This is a quick and cute read, with romance right from the start and plenty of drama... some of it too far-fetched. The plot was a little extreme and convoluted even for a romance, and I had to suspend my disbelief a lot, including for some of the conversations between characters (who outright asks someone if they've experienced the death of a relative? And then uses that as a moment of revelation that they have something in common?). But if you're looking for a light-hearted, sort of Christmassy romp then give this a go.

Valerie Bowman's Playful Bride world is one filled with charming characters that make for great romances. Kiss Me at Christmas book ten in this series delivers yet another well deserved happily ever after for Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf and decidedly on the shelf Lady Regina Haversham.

Ms. Bowman's works are full of fun and quirks mixed with just enough sentiment to mist your eye and crack a smile with equal ease. Kiss Me at Christmas bring two of her beloved secondary characters to the forefront and at long last confronts their simmering attraction. This author expertly handled the warring of rational versus emotions, culminating when it became apparent to this couple that all the reasons why they should be together by far outnumbered all the reasons why they should not be together. Daffin and Regina held a special bond in their individual tragic pasts that added even more to their dynamic. Great chemistry and sparkling exchanges as well as an intriguing suspense component keep the pages of this work full of action and added a nice depth to an already captivating story.

Kiss me at Christmas brings a sweetness to the holidays that is exclusively Valerie Bowman and will leave readers with all the good cheer they have come to expect from her Playful Brides!

Greatly enjoyed the story and can't wait until the next book comes out! Bowman never disappoints with her storyline and wonderfully developed characters.

This one wasn't for me. The first chapter started out good but then the POV shifted. This is the 10th book in the series and it's touted as a stand-alone, but, best guess, I think the male POV is a character who was in other books??? It seems so telling and I think it's trying to fill in blanks for readers, like me, who haven't met him yet. It made his character so one dimensional that I just couldn't connect. It just didn't work for me.

I love christmas and historical Romance and so I really liked this story.
I voluntarily reviewed an Reader Copy of this book which I received through
Netgalley.

Daffi and Regina had sizzling chemistry even in the face of society's demands and family expectations. Great and engaging plot, and I loved the book.

Once again Valarie Bowman has blown me away with her impressive writing style and carefully crafted storylines. Would highly recommend this book and author.

A fun holiday frolic, combining your traditional holiday romance with madcap caper. Although the premise is strange and a little awkward, the author recognizes and utilizes this.

The story told here is very readable and involving. As well as being refreshingly to the point. For the most part. Daffin and Regina make a very believable and sensibly paired couple.
Due to the fact that Regina makes her wants and desires, and her reasons for them very clear from the start.
Pair this with the very well done whodunit aspects of this read.
Annnnnnnd voila!
You have a very enjoyable class based Historical Romance.
Of course there is a bit of the "I can't possibly marry you due to my lack of lineage" dither and rot.
On the part of Daffin. But thankfully, it occurs very close to the end of the book, and is ironically quickly dismissed by all of his blue-blooded comrades.
Before it has time to become tedious.
Lastly. The bit of handcuff assisted d\s play provides a very refreshing "first time" scenario for a newly deflowered Regina.

It must also be said that although this read is centered around Christmas. It is not loaded with the customary inundation of superfluous references to the season.
Instead letting it be the innocuous 'raison d'etre' that one needs to fully enjoy the story.
This is the 10th book in a series. But can be read as a standalone.

Kiss Me at Christmas is a delightful Christmas historical romance. Regina is unconventional. She meets Daffin and sparks fly. Plus add in some mystery and you have a winner.

Fairly typical historical romance with interesting characters and a fast paced storyline.Fiesty heroine and handsome hero with enterprising friends.

The Playful Brides series continues with book #10, Kiss Me at Christmas, and it was alright. A perfectly enjoyable romance but it fell apart with the story. Whether that’s the case of this specific book or the fact that it’s the tenth in the series and this particular group of characters is just running out of steam, I’m not sure.

NOW one of the best things about this book was the romance. Which is good because, you know, it’s a romance novel. Regina stood out as a heroine because not only did she know what she wanted but she wasn’t afraid to go after it (and by “it” I mean one hot night with Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf). I see a lot of timid and shy heroines in romance novels so this was a pleasant change and I loved how it was shown in a positive light. Even when Daffin rejected her initially it wasn’t because of her, but emotional baggage of his own. I loved Regina’s attempts to convince Daffin to change his mind because she didn’t harass him. Despite wanting to win him over, she was respectful of his boundaries and emotions.

Daffin has appeared in previous Playful Brides books (as has Regina but I think he’s been in more?) and I’m glad he got his own story. There are so many facets to his character. I felt like I was reading about a real person with how his story unfolds, rather than the carbon copy mysterious gentleman. And his history and hatred of Christmas? Broke my heart! Watching him heal from a lifetime of disliking the holiday was beautiful.

Where Kiss Me at Christmas lost me was the rest of the story. The romance worked. I liked both characters, they had chemistry, plenty of hilarious banter, and an emotional bond beneath all the simmer. But the book just. . . went on. And on. The whole plot with someone trying to kill Regina seemed far-fetched within the realm of this series and this book. More like the author needed a reason for these characters to be together rather than take it in another direction. They had met previously so it wasn’t as though two strangers were coming together. Something just felt off, and at times the story went on a tangent that didn’t entice me to read further.

Did I enjoy Kiss Me at Christmas? Ultimately, yes. I’ve read several books in the Playful Brides series and one day I might go back and read the first few that I missed. And I’ll certainly read more if we get any. If you like lots of action and mystery with your historical romances, this is a good series for you.

Short but sweet. This is what I call this book. If you want a Quick read with a quick romance. This is your book. Very cute!

The book wasn't for me. I felt that the plot was ludicrous and the pacing was off as well as having the protagonist achieve their happily ever after far too easily after the anguish that they supposedly felt was just laughable for me. Although I genuinely enjoyed the first half of the book, it was funny, sassy and entertaining but the same cannot be said about the latter half of the book.

I really liked this story. The characters, conflict and story development were perfect. I would recommend to anyone who likes Christmas stories without them being over the top sickening sweet!

Oof. This was my first and last book by this author. It felt like a juvenile attempt at a grown up HR novel (what I imagine I would have written had I tried writing one when I was in college). Overly descriptive, lots of telling + less showing, immature and one-dimensional characters, flat and somewhat silly plotline. Felt like a Lifetime movie. I couldn't wait to be done!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley for my honest review (my apologies if I sound ungrateful).