I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within this book. The main characters were Jemima Fitzroy and Captain Hugh Rotherham.

Jemima Fitzroy is tired of the things that her family is talking about. She wants them to listen to her. So when the family gathers together to talk about the upcoming wedding that her sister is having. She gets mad and runs out of the house. While walking away from the house, she sees a group of people in the streets. They are marching in a group. The group is the veterans of war. She decided to watch. While watching, she sees a soldier that catches her interest.

Hugh Rotherham is a captain in the Napoleonic war. He was hurt and is back home in England. He has decided to participate in a parade for the soldiers while walking on crutches.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and drama throughout. There was a bit of giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I really struggled with this book, it sat on my to-be-read shelf for quite awhile. i would start it and give up then go back as I had received it for a review. While there are certainly a good story there I struggled with the main character Jemima, she was quite insufferable, she held others to higher standards than she held herself. While I applaud her motivations for helping others she is just a really unlikeable character.

When you don't like the main character it makes it harder to enjoy the overall book as you struggle to care about the outcome.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well Jemina certainly wasn’t happy during the holiday season, was she? The story really did a great job at capturing my attention with all the happiness at the family gathering. The story flow smoothly. The entertainment was calm and enjoyable to read. I would have liked Jemmina’s age to be a little older than twenty one. Perhaps twenty four or older. The writer could give the readers a guesstimate of her age or they could give a small hint of an age range. Jemmina had a lot of growing up to do. The book is a great short story to read over the Christmas Holiday.

Twelve Drummers Drumming by Emily E.K. Murdoch is the first story in her new historical holiday romance series, Twelve Days of Christmas, and as usual she has written a wonderful story. 🎄❤️🔥 If you haven’t enjoyed stories from this author this novella is a wonderful chance to enjoy her work. Also please note that although this is a novella, Murdoch has a way of packing a completely satisfying story even in under 200 pages, you won’t be disappointed! This series The Twelve Days of Christmas is meant to be enjoyed “backwards” starting with twelve, however it can apparently be enjoyed in any order.



I found this introduction story to be highly entertaining, full of wonderful characters, includes a lot of passionate encounters between two characters who set the pages on fire! I loved every word!

The Blurb:
“Meet the Fitzroy family: twelve cousins falling in love over Christmastime!

It’s 1813, and twelve drummers drumming are about to bring love into Jemima's life…

Jemima Fitzroy is tired of being ignored by her loud, rambunctious family - especially as she attempts to campaign for veterans in a world that doesn't appreciate them.

Soldiers are returning home from Napoleonic France, and Captain Hugh Rotherham knows he will never be the same again. Not just because of what he's seen, but because of what he's seeing right now: a startlingly beautiful woman who stirs something so passionate in it, the drumming of his heart matches that of his regiment.

Jemima knows she shouldn't be meeting this soldier without her family's knowledge. Hugh knows he cannot cross the line from respectability to scandal.

It doesn't matter. Twelve drummers drumming will change their lives - and the rhythm that can tease out exquisite pleasure…

Follow each of the Fitzroy women as they cause nothing but scandal and intrigue across the ton and try to keep their exploits quiet.



My Thoughts:
The MCs are Jemima Fitzroy and Captain Hugh Rotherham. Jemima is an intelligent woman, only daughter of her father’s first marriage, who wished to reform the treatment and improve the lives of returning war veterans. Jemima would likely be considered a pacifist or peace monger by today’s standards and in the time of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) when multiple groups were asserting the concepts of freedom, liberty, justice, voting rights, and equality among all men, women were still expected to fall under the jurisdiction of man (father, husband, brother, or guardian) the man had the rights of free thought & actions. Women were expected not to worry their pretty inferior heads about anything other than keeping man’s domain in order, expected to marry and provide children, and always defer to the wishes of the man who controls them. It was very risqué for a woman to concern herself with important matters such as social reform and conditions of veterans. I thought Jemima’s character was very well created and perfect for the era of England and of course, perfect for Captain Hugh Rotherman. 😉

This first story features Jemima, not as loud as her cousins, but an intelligent and strong-minded woman who wants to make conditions better for the veterans returning from the war. The fight becomes all the more personal when she meets and forms a connection with Captain Hugh Rotherham, a returning soldier. They begin a forbidden romance, as Jemima meets with Hugh without her family's knowledge. Hugh is dealing from a lot from what he's seen and experienced in the war, but Jemima stirs a passion within him that he is afraid will end in scandal.
This wounded hero and overlooked heroine made an intriguing couple and I enjoyed the story as they grew closer and got to know each other better. This was a great beginning and I look forward to continuing the series.

she can’t help but by swept up by the intensity of Captain Hugh Rotherham. Home from war, he is drawn to her fierce spirit. The next few weeks of getting to know each other are a whirlwind. In the end love wins out (for it wouldn’t be a true romance story without a HEA). I found their story to truly delve into some deeper aspects for courtship, like understanding that changing your views does not mean changing who you are. That in love one can grow and adapt as they learn. Hugh brings out a softer side of Jemima, where she can come across as somewhat self-cantered, you realize this is simply a way of coping with her feelings of loneliness. A truly beautiful story.

Overall 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥

A wounded captain returns to London and keeps running into a most opinionated young lady. The young lady is not afraid to voice her displeasure in a war she is against, until the captain reveals the reasons for her to understand. Implied sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

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

Jemima Fitzroy may be the eldest of the London daughters, but she's always felt apart from her sisters. Her mother's only child, her relationship with her stepmother and stepsisters is fraught, and her pacifist tendencies are quite different to her family. After the lack of attention or respect gets too much, Jemima blows, and runs out of the home. Running quite literally into the arms of injured soldier Captain Hugh Rotherham, Jemima starts to reconsider all her past views on the war, and she can't keep her mind off the handsome captain. Hugh is drawn to Jemima, and though the conflicting views on the war are difficult, he's willing to put himself out there to be with her, and even dance in public, no matter his injury. I liked that both characters grew as the book progressed, and they fell hard and fast for one another. A great start to the series, setting the scene for the following books!

Thanks NetGalley for this read. Jemima Fitzroy has her views on the war and those who go out to fight. She happens upon a parade with the drummers and servicemen walking with them. She falls into a man in uniform with crutch. As they meet several times they talk about going to war and what that means. Jemima is forth coming with her opinions and though she is attracted to Captain Rotherham. They come to be attracted to each other in spite of everything.

This was one engaging and well put together novella that promises so much more to come!

There is a great fluidity to its flow that kept me reading throughout this character led romance. That had enough drama, character flaws and vulnerabilities, as well as, wit and unexpectedness infused into its pages that when you consider this being a quick read was rather impressive. With a delicious injection of heated intimacy, echoes of festive warmth and sibling rivalry, to add heart and misunderstandings as well as enough promise, in the form of where this new series will go, to keep you intrigued.
I'll admit, Jemima's tendency to bluntly speak her mind  took a little bit of warming too, especially as occasionally she strayed into rudeness. However, the more I read, the more she softened and the more I liked and grew to understand her frustrations, loneliness and feelings of invisibility. Yet, it was the spark of instant attraction between herself and the fascinatingly deep, wounded Captain, Hugh - she literally repeatedly strumbles into - that stole the limelight for me, kept me reading and ultimately awakened my liking and understanding of Jemima as a person and them as a couple.
I loved their chance encounters, especially the subconscious openess and vulnerable intimacy that lay beneath the boldness, sometimes curt and often emotionally revealing interactions.  The chemistry built from a deeply profound recognition of souls, almost hidden beneath a protective need to erect walls, that crumbled into a comfort and spark of kindred spirit understanding, which allowed them to be bold and forthright whilst still leaving room for uncertainity and insecurity to seep through their fascination, to add an element of realism and fear of rejection to their relationship.
Overall, making this a really enjoyable read and not just because I'm always drawn to a wounded hero and Hugo intrigued and held my affection so effortlessly. But because it had warmth, misunderstandings, unexpected revelation but more delightfully the development of a sweetly charming romance that never once fell flat as this well matched couple had the ability to see to the heart and pain that lay hidden in the depth of each others eyes. Manifesting in an addictive cocktail of understanding, deep connection and heated attraction.
Futhermore, I'm intrigued where Murdoch will take us next, as we become so much more deeply acquainted with the Fitzroy ladies/cousins as she develops her unique take on the theme - Twelve Days of Christmas! I will definitely be reading book 2!!

The Wounded Soldier and the Pacifist

I enjoyed Jemima and Hugh’s story. He is a wounded soldier; she is a woman who is against the war with France, and she believes that England is not taking care of its soldier. Jemima also feels disregarded and misunderstood by her family. She runs into her soldier by accident. However, one accident turns into more, and neither she, nor he could resist the pull. I enjoyed this novella and would recommend it to those who like a Regency romance with a wounded hero and a stubborn and willful heroine. I especially enjoyed the novella length. I am always looking for shorter stories I can read in one sitting.

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

I love the idea of this series! I liked that the female mc had opinions on contemporary issues but not the nationalistic bent she ends up going towards.

Twelve Drummers Drumming is a sweet story about two souls finding each other in the weeks before Christmas. Jemima Fitzroy has always felt like she’s a bit of an outsider in her own family. The only one of six daughters not born to her stepmother, she has felt ignored and unappreciated. They don’t understand her at all - especially her desire to stop the Napleonic war. After a chance encounter with an injured soldier, Captain Hugh Rotherham, Jemima has to reassess her thoughts about war and love.

This story is short but sweet. At only 138 pages there wasn’t a whole lot of time to get to know Jemima and Hugh (especially Hugh. I wanted to know more about what made him tick and his hopes for life outside of Jemima) but whenever they were on the page together there were sparks. We got to see a little of Jemima’s family and her multitude of sisters and how they interacted with each other. The steamy scenes were wonderful with the chemistry between Jemima and Hugh being a standout. This is only the first novella in a series of six and I hope we get to see a little more of the couple in the other stories because I didn’t feel things were resolved in a way which satisfied me. But overall this was a lovely little story which brought the romance and the holiday vibes.

2.5 rounded up to 3. This was a short little holiday novella. The pacing was quick and the prompt seemed interesting; Im usually weary of the soldier returning home from war story, it can sometimes be too tedious with the angst and PTSD. But in this particular case it was the heroine who was the problem. She wasn’t very likable and normally I’m willing to give unlikable heroines a shot but in this one I just felt like the hero, Hugh, deserved better. I like the writing style however, and I would be open to reading more from this author in the future. This book introduced a large cast of characters that I would be interested in following in other stories.

Jemima is a strong-willed member of the Fitzroy family. Following an argument, she decides to leave the house. She then witnesses martial music and gets into a confrontation with an officer, who she later apologizes to and then starts walking. The police officer then demands that Jemima be escorted home, and he is invited to a dinner party by her family.

When a young lady showed up at Hugh Rotherham's door, he was surprised by her presence. He later learned that she was a nurse, and he was worried about his injuries, which he was told about in France. The other Fitzroy brothers, who are all related, have varying interests. During the holiday season in 1813, the romance between the cousins begins.

Arthur has six daughters, including Jemima, his eldest. As a pacifist, she advocates for the well-being of soldiers returning from war. She often feels ignored and misunderstood. As she was walking to escape the chaos caused by her sister's engagement, she came across a group of soldiers.

When Jemima saw the parade, she quickly ran into Captain Hugh Rotherham. Both of them are annoyed by how they met, but they soon feel an instant connection. I like the pairing of Hugh and Jemima, as they are both very outspoken and have a good blend of both.

Despite her family's disapproval, she is still able to feel like an outsider due to the number of her contemporaries who have their own nurseries. As she and Hugh plan their future, her father reveals more about her mother. She also believes that her sense of being right about people was correct. The first book in the holiday series, which will feature the Fitzroy cousins, is about Jemima. She finds her hero when she learns that twelve drummers are drumming. The story is charming and entertaining.

This is the first of an all new, captivating, holiday series, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and I think it is off to a brilliant start! The series follows the Fitzroy cousins as they face scandal and find love in the process. This first story features Jemima, not as loud as her cousins, but an intelligent and strong-minded woman who wants to make conditions better for the veterans returning from the war. The fight becomes all the more personal when she meets and forms a connection with Captain Hugh Rotherham, a returning soldier. They begin a forbidden romance, as Jemima meets with Hugh without her family's knowledge. Hugh is dealing from a lot from what he's seen and experienced in the war, but Jemima stirs a passion within him that he is afraid will end in scandal.
This wounded hero and overlooked heroine made an intriguing couple and I enjoyed the story as they grew closer and got to know each other better. This was a great beginning and I look forward to continuing the series.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Twelve Drummers Drumming by Emily EK Murdoch is a little more difficult to get into than most of Murdoch’s books. It is a love-at-first-sight book as well as a spinster-to-bride story. Jemima is the eldest of six sisters. Well, she is her father’s daughter, the others being her step-mother’s, several with her father. She feels like she doesn’t count in the household and now Caroline is engaged and she and her wedding all all that count. She is a radical. Totally against the war, and even more against how the soldiers are treated when they return home. She is at a rally when she is knocked down my one of these soldiers. This one walks with a cane and when she meets his eyes she is in thrall. When can she see him again? Well, she does and their relationship progresses nicely until he decides he is not good enough for her.

This is a very modern book. Jemima is an excellent character, well written by Murdoch, very independent. Captain Hugh Rotherham. She places herself she thinks he is likely to be and there he is. They get on well and establish an actual relationship by talking. She invites him home. All looks to be progressing nicely, until of course, Caroline’s engagement ball. He promised he’d come but she waits and waits. This is a nicely done book, the first of a series, all of which I expect we’ll see by Christmas. Can’t wait!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Twelve Drummers Drumming by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyEKMurdoch #TwelvesDrummersDrumming

This first book in the Twelve Days of Christmas series is a definite must-read. Jemima and Hugh are wonderful leads. Their HEA is not immediate although their chemistry is. However, her family leaves a lot to be desired. Loved the book and look forward to the next installment in the series.
Thank you Emily EK Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

A Regency Romance Holiday series - Yes, Please! When I came across this novella, I was all in! I was intrigued by the premise and couldn’t wait to read the first book. I enjoyed 𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 and the introduction to the family that the series will center on. I found Jemima slightly annoying and immature but got over it and the Captain charming in a rough sort of way. I enjoyed watching them get their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more in this series.

To say a story of a war hero is light seems wrong, and yet it is right. This was a light story full of the holiday warmth of young love. Jemima is the oldest of 6 girls, but the only child of her fathers first marriage. This leaves her to feel somewhat isolated in her own home. Her fathers 2nd wife had two daughters and they had 3 more together. She always felt different than her sisters, She was loud, always voiced her opinions and had a tendency to let her mouth run ahead of her mind. Feeling unseen, she can’t help but by swept up by the intensity of Captain Hugh Rotherham. Home from war, he is drawn to her fierce spirit. The next few weeks of getting to know each other are a whirlwind. In the end love wins out (for it wouldn’t be a true romance story without a HEA). I found their story to truly delve into some deeper aspects for courtship, like understanding that changing your views does not mean changing who you are. That in love one can grow and adapt as they learn. Hugh brings out a softer side of Jemima, where she can come across as somewhat self-cantered, you realize this is simply a way of coping with her feelings of loneliness. A truly beautiful story.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋

Enjoyable and entertaining seasonal read, based loosely on the song.

Very enjoyable story that kept my interest, I loved the characters too, very charismatic and lots of chemistry between them, as well as tense but lighthearted in parts. .

I’m looking forward to reading the others in this series.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Interesting start to a new series by Emily EK Murdoch. There are three Fitzroy brothers, all living in different cities with 12 daughters. This is Jemima's story who is the oldest of six in her family. She feels ignored by her family and that she just doesn't fit.
Captain Hugh Rotherham has returned from the war in France and it is love at first sight as he spies Jemima at a parade for returninIg soldiers. Jemima is a pacifist and advocate for the soldiers returning from the War.
Despite their differences and the insecurities of both main characters, Jemima and Hugh grow strong and confident together.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.