More Than Friends

Lucy and Percy were always friends, but things were changing between them. Could it be that romantic love was always there, and Lucy just did not see it? What happened this Christmas to make her feelings come to the surface? Percy did not have to do much convincing. Suddenly, they fell into bed, and they were much more than friends. This is an entertaining, steamy, friends-to-lovers, Regency romance you can finish in one sitting. Sometimes, love comes from the most unexpected places.

This is the ninth addition to The Twelve Days of Christmas series. Each book has been captivating and entertaining and this installment also follows the same trend. You could read this as a standalone, but there is some overlapping within the series, so I would recommend reading them in order.
Lucy and Percy have been good friends since childhood. But now it seems Lucy's feelings for Percy have evolved into something more intimate, but she is not sure Percy feels the same. Percy has been acting a bit strangely lately. Could it be he feels the same about Lucy as she does for him?
This was a sweet friends to lovers story. I liked Percy and Lucy together and the author did a nice job of relaying how strong their connection was and each of them realizing that their bond was more than just friendship. This was a lovely addition to the series. Looking forward to the next one!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

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

Lovely friends to lovers story.

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

Lucy Fitzroy has been friends with Lord Percy Ardingley for as long as she can remember, and she knows she can always rely on him. Where once it might have been her and three of her sisters - the 'four calling birds' as Percy called them - now it's just the pair, and she can't imagine life being any different. But soon she starts to see Percy in a different light, and when her sisters and cousins all start marrying, well there's only one person Lucy could ever think of in that way. I love books like this where the couple have been friends for years and only just realise their feelings. Percy seems to have been aware of his feelings for Lucy for some time, and it's great when the hero is the first to fall. Lucy took a little longer to fully realise it, but once she did, there was no turning back. A great story for this pairing.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book and this is my freely given opinion.

At times the 12 days theme can be used a bit heavily in this series, and that was not so much the case in this one. This was Lucy and Percy's story and it was hinted at previously pretty heavily how close they were and it was pretty obvious a friends to lovers story. Percy has been the Fitzroy's friend for years, but especially close to Lucy, and goodness knows how long he has worn his heart on his sleeve, and loved her, but did not outright tell her. They spend so much time together that Lucy is constantly talking about him, and they have a special call/whistle for each other so they can let the other know when one is nearby to find and meet.

Lucy is clueless initially, and does not realize until Esther speaks about her love for her Duke that what Lucy is feeling for Percy is love. But of course, after so many years as friends, she is not sure that he feels the same way and neither of them likely want to ruin what has been such a wonderful long standing friendship.

This was a sweet and cute story; I have a soft heart for friends to lovers stories (it's a bit of a mirror of my own relationship so that may explain my fondness). My biggest beef, and this is for the whole series, is that we are only getting the female Fitzroy perspective, and it would have added so much more dimension to get a bit from the male main character's perspective too. I would have loved to have read how Percy loved Lucy and how he fretted about exposing his heart versus the fear of tainting or ruining their friendship too.

3.75 stars out of 5

I have enjoyed all the books in this series! As well as being honored to be a part of the ARC team. The stories are original and well-written. Lucy and Percy are great additions to the "family"! The only drawback for me with this series has been that the stories are told from only one perspective.
Thank you Emily EK Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

An enjoyable novella to kick off the holiday season!

Lucy and Percy have been inseparable best friends since childhood. But what will happen when Lucy starts to feel a bit more than friendship for Percy? Will he reciprocate those feelings or is Lucy putting their friendship at risk?

Overall this is a fun and quick Christmas romance read. It does start out a bit slow but quickly picks up to be a lovely best friends to lovers read.

Lucy was a tad immature, and honestly, a bit annoying at times. Percy offsets this as a steady and very patient character. The connection between Lucy and Percy are undeniable with a solid friendship to build upon. Their adventure towards finding out they love each other is sweet to follow.

You could see this couple coming from the previous book. But its still sweet to see how it happens. There are a few cousins left and I am really looking forward to the last few books. She has intertwined all the books so you see glimpses of the previous cousins and what has happened to them and glimpses into the other cousins as well.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

This one was definitely my favorite in the series so far! I loved Lucy and Percy’s friendship as well has the way the fell for each other! I also loved how Esther’s storyline mashed with theirs!

There are three Fitzroy brothers, each with different interests, each the father of daughters, twelve in total. Arthur Fitzroy has six daughters, three of whom have married. It’s the holiday season of 1817. This story is about Lucy and Percy. They have been friends forever, but this Christmas things seem different somehow. After years of being best friends, it appears these two might have fallen in love. Their declarations to each other are sweet and humorous, and their chemistry sizzles. Phooeeee, this is a good story, and I enjoyed the overlap with Esther’s story. The story is charming and the characters are wonderful. It is a delightful addition to the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Lucy and Percy sitting near a Christmas Tree - K.I.S.S.I.NG! This friends to lovers holiday romance was a sweet and sexy, read in one sitting romance! I was looking forward to their story from glimpses of their friendship in earlier books and was not disappointed. It was perfect for them! I’m giving 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗗𝗦 the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

This book lived up to what I was hoping from the sneak peek that I got in the previous book!

As with previous books, some of the beginning events in this book were events from the previous one, buy now from Lucy's perspective instead of Esther's.

Since Lucy and Percy had been best friends forever, they had to overcome the wondering if the other had the same romantic feelings or not. I liked the easy feeling of the romance in this book and I just kept reading and didn't want to put it down.

My favorite part was the special call that Lucy and Percy had for eachother when they went to see eachother. It fit very nicely into the holiday theme.

Since there weren't any sneak peaks in this one, I wonder which cousin is next to fall in love since there are only 3 left!

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

A fun, tender romance with a heady helping of steam!
A touchingly sweet, best friends to lovers tale to add to the series. That's full of charm, good natured fun and the type of deep connection, enjoyable teasing and banter that you can only find when two such devoted childhood friends have been best friends for so long.
I really did enjoy this one. The chemistry radiated off the page and sucked you in as their love expanded in delicious vivid detail from the last book, that hinted at the changing dynamic between, the steadfast and charming, Percy and, the full of energy, Lucy.
The combination of changing feelings, the pining for so much more, the fear of your feelings being one sided and the sudden realisation that you just couldn't live without the other, all added to the 'will they, won't they, confess' tension that charged the air as feelings intensified, started to shift, evolve and become heart poundingly crystal clear.
A real feel good addition to the series that can be enjoyed, so delightfully, in one sitting!

After a conversation with her sister, Lucy Fitzroy’s life is turned upside when she realises her feelings towards her best friend and life long companion Percy might go beyond mere friendship. A night at the opera leaves her feeling even more confused when Percy starts to act strangely around her and in turn Lucy can’t work out what’s happening to her. When did Percy - the boy who uses bird calls to get her attention and be there for her no matter what - cause her heart to beat faster and her imagination to run wild with thoughts never considered before. Is it possible that her best friend might also turn out the be the love of her life?

Friends to lovers is possibly my all time favourite romance trope and I adored being witness to Lucy and Percy’s story. I could feel the life long connection between them and enjoyed seeing Lucy discover just what she felt and what she wanted. Her relationship with Percy was sweet and then it was rather spicy too but no matter what I felt the years of shared experiences and companionship between them making this short story feel richer and fuller.

I also enjoyed the interactions between the sisters. I am loving seeing the characters through different perspectives depending on who is the focus of each story. Esther here is seen through the eyes of her sister and it’s an entirely different perspective of how we got to see her in her own story (Five Gold Rings). This shift in view is one of the things which is making me love and anticipate the opportunity to read each new story in the Twelve Days of Christmas series.

Lucy and Percy’s story was one of my favourites so far and has made me all the most excited for Christmas (and the final three novellas of the series).

I enjoyed this latest installment in Emily EK Murdoch's Twelve Days of Christmas series of novellas. I would recommend reading the stories in order to fully understand what is happening in the later books. This particular book overlaps and expands upon the events in the prior book (Five Golden Rings) and I am not sure i would have liked the book as much had I not read at least that one first.

This is the story of Lucy Fitzroy and her best friend, Percy. A series of events and conversations have her seeing him as possibly more than a friend but terrified of losing him should he not feel the same. The duo are sweet and somewhat amusing together and the reader is fully able to see them building a life together as not only best friends but a married couple. The angst in this story, like the angst in a couple other installments, feels a bit contrived - I don't see Lucy thinking Percy would really love her and leave her - but the overall story works. 4 stars.

Thank you to Dragonblade and NetGalley for an ARC of this novella. The opinions herein are my own.

Such A Perfect Story.

I really loved this story, it was perfect. Percy had loved Lucy for years and although the very best of friends, he was patiently waiting for her to notice him and realise she cared for him.

The story follows on from the romance between Esther and Jack, the Duke of Kendal and how all the family get together for a lovely Christmas showing the warmth and love the family have for each other.

Lucy after listening to her sister’s feelings about the Duke she is set to marry, finally realises that the feelings she’s started to have for Percy are the same as what her sister is describing but does he feel the same way?

A tender and beautiful love story of best friends growing up together with their own special calling! You can feel the emotions within the pages. Emily is such an amazing writer that she manages to portray so many feelings and emotions within her stories that it makes you feel that you are part of the story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Charming Romance Story:
This Fitzroy family story is basically about Lucy and her best childhood friend Percy.
We follow her through the growing stages of realizing that she has fallen deeply in love with her best friend but there are fears that he doesn't feel the same about her.
A short, charming romance develops but just because I say charming does not mean it is without some adult high-level passion.
A very nice addition this holiday series.
Adult Advisory:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy for my honest opinion.
The series has been quite enjoyable.

4.5 stars

A neat little story. Interacts with the previous story.

Lucy starts to realise that she's been taking childhood friend Pery for granted and that if she's not careful some other young lady will run off with him. Actually this isn't likely to happen as Percy has been besotted for years.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lucy Fitzroy has always had one friend to rely on: Lord Percy Ardingley. Childhood friends with a unique call to encourage the other to venture out into London, there’s nothing Lucy likes better than time with him. He’s back after a few months in the country, and though Percy doesn’t look any different, something has definitely altered between the two of them. If only Lucy could keep her heart rate still for five minutes around him and understand what this strange lurch in her stomach means.
Four calling birds may have been his pet name for Lucy and three of her sisters, but it’s just her and Percy now, and she’s not sure what her friend is calling her to do.
Another lovely seasonal novella, whilst it’s easily read on its own events do overlap with the previous book & the author is building a lovely world with the twelve Fitzroy girls. Whilst I liked Lucy I did find her a tad immature but did enjoy her internal musings as she worked out her feelings. Percy was lovely & had the patience of a saint as not only was he head over heels but couldn’t get a word in edgeways! I'm loving these weekly instalments & look forward to the last three.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another great instalment in the Fitzroy family Christmas saga. Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, and I loved Lucy and Percy together. There is a healthy dash of pining in this one as they sort out their feeling for each other making it a really fun and emotional read. One of my favourites of the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.