This is such a sweet historical fiction Christmastime story! A touch of mystery to go with a forbidden love and a reverse age gap that has so much heart, and some very rewarding spice!

I am writing this review after receiving this ARC through NetGalley!

This is my first time reading anything by the author and I fell in love. I loved the characters and the gentleness in which the story was written. Kat is a broken soul, a widow to an abusive husband and a mother to a very frightened but sweet boy, Oliver. She accidentally bumps into Ash a groom in her brother’s stable. He becomes her confidant, friend, and soon her love. He helps her bring out Oliver from the shadows of his father’s abuse and made him more comfortable so that he could face his fears.

Totally recommend !!!!

I haven't read a historical romance in a while and this ticked a bunch of boxes for me. I loved Kat and Ashley's chemistry and how she was the older one rather than the other way round as seems to be the usual case. It was short, sweet and very easy to read as a little pick me up for December. The interactions with her son were nice and it was good when there was a bit of background added in to explain certain things.

I just wish I could have had a few more pages. Really build up the relationship rather than have it all so quick and bits of it off the page. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and it's definitely sent me back into the world of historical romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful novella with its Christmas house party, class difference, reverse age difference and reverse grumpy-sunshine tropes. The plot is heart-warming and has a touch of suspense, a few steamy love scenes and very likeable characters. Kat is grumpy and a jaded heroine and Ash is a sweet cinnamon roll hero and perfect for her. I also liked the other unconventional Blakeley family members.

Lady Katherine „Kat“ Colworth, née Blakeley, is wrongly suspected of murdering her abusive husband. To facilitate her return to society, her brother Edmund, the Duke of Dareford, organises a Christmas house party, which she tries to avoid as she would rather spend her stay in seclusion.
Handsome Ash enjoys being a groom and loves his work with horses. Unfortunately, however, he has to stand in as temporary footman during the house party due to a lack of staff and is put in a compromising position by his colleagues through pranks.
But instead of getting him fired, Lady Katherine, to whom he is attracted, asks him to help with her son, who is afraid of riding, and Kat is also drawn to the younger groom...

If you like quick to read romances with a happy ending against all odds, you will certainly enjoy this novella.

This was a super cute concept for a book however I didn't really feel connected to the characters nor did I like them very much. I loved the writing and would definitely read more from this author but I don't really think I would read anything else about these characters specifically.

The Countess’s Christmas Groom
Fenna Edgewood
Lady Katherine Colworth returns home to Blakely Manor, her brother’s estate for the Christmas Party. Katherine is recently widowed; rumors and gossip surrounds her, suggesting she was responsible for the death of her husband. Her husband was cruel and abusive. She is broken and beatdown; she is content to stay in the background as she raises her son.
Ashley Spencer is temporarily a stable hand at the estate. He is very good with horses. He is reassigned from stable hand to footman, placing he and Katherine closer together. He agreed to work a certain amount of time to work off his debt. All it takes is one look and this couple are drawn together. Neither were looking for a mate, for love but love found them.
The Countess’s Christmas Groom is a fast pleasant read. The romance is straight forward, there is no pretending they do not like each other. The plot is fun!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Fast and enjoyable read with extremely easy ride to HEA. I wish it would be a little bit more christmasy. I’m also having a hard time accepting how easy it was for this class difference couple to end up together, but that is my personal opinion, nothing against the story.

4.5/5 stars!

Fenna Edgewood does the near impossible: makes a novella feel like a novel...never rushed...fully formed...and a beautiful and satisfying experience!

Kat is disgraced and returns home to her family after a tragedy befalls her elderly husband. Speculation is that she ended his life. Ash is a groom, most comfortable and confident in the stables of Kat's family's sprawling estate. He's best known as the man who can comfort and create trust with horses who have suffered emotional distress. Kat and Ash should never have met, but a Christmas house party requires one more footman, and Ash is enlisted to help. The chance encounter that follows begins the kind of magic and romance that every historical romance reader adores!

I LOVED this novella! My common complaint with novellas is that they didn't feel long enough. I don't know how Edgewood did it, but this felt like such a fully fleshed out, complete story! I fell HARD for Ash (AKA Ashley Spencer), the handsome cinnamon roll who is six years Kat's junior. The love scene was so tender and emotional. The way that Kat's son Oliver is incorporated into the story was fantastic. And there were exciting scenes as well! This novella has it ALL!!

The glimpses we saw of the people who exist downstairs versus upstairs reminded me of Downton Abbey, which I loved. It's so refreshing and unusual in the realm of historical romance! In fact, the rest of the Blakely Manor series promises more stories that explore romances between the two families of different classes. This was book one, and it has most definitely me got me hooked for the rest of the series!

Trigger warning: physical abuse (before story begins), child abuse (before story begins)

I'd like to thank Starwater Press and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

THE COUNTESS’S CHRISTMAS GROOM had me at the blurb! I was immediately intrigued by the idea of Lady Katherine falling for ( not only) a younger man, but a groom (to boot) and was immediately drawn into their story. I enjoyed watching Kat and Ash develop feelings for each other and the role little Oliver played.

Fenna Edgewood, did not disappoint. She provided an interesting backdrop for this unlikely match and even though this was a novella, it still was very satisfying. I definitely recommend this read in one sitting holiday romance. TBR & Enjoy!

Historical romance holiday novellas in general are my cryptonite!!! And at this time of the season, they are everywhere and I can’t resist them!!! And you know what else??? Just like a good chip, you can’t devour, just one!😂

Recently, I got the chance to saviour The Countess’s Christmas Groom by Fenna Edgewood - and it literally checked off all my boxes!!!

✅ Reverse age gap
✅ opposites attract
✅ Horse/ child/ widow whisperer
✅ Holiday house party

Ashlee is usually a groom and outside with the horses when a house party at the Mance requires him to step into footman attire- inside he happens to meet Lady Katherine, a beautiful young widow and sister of the Duke that he works for.

Nothing would ever come from their mutual attraction until a prank finds him in her room and in her debt…

Lady Kat needs someone to heal the rift between her son and horses and their appears to be no one better suited than Ashley… as he works with her son- lady cat soon finds that he’s not the only one who needs relationship help and he healing…

Oh my gosh! Ashley , the groom was such a cinnamon roll, sweetheart! You can’t help but love him. I especially appreciated the relationship and healing that was done for Kat’s son. Children in romance can sometimes feel like an accessory, but he was a good child representation and made this relationship come together.

This book gave me all the feels and plenty of heat- pretty much a prerequisite for a holiday romance novella- definitely worth adding to your holiday TBR!!!

A Steamy, Festive Romance

Fenna Edgewood's *The Countess’s Christmas Groom* is a quick and delightful holiday romance that I devoured in under three hours. Fast-paced and brimming with passion, this novella weaves a forbidden love story that’s equal parts heartwarming and spicy.

Lady Katherine and Ashley’s connection is captivating, built on mutual understanding and a simmering tension that feels both intimate and daring. The upstairs-downstairs dynamic, combined with an age gap and class difference, brings just the right touch of intrigue and scandal. It’s perfect for fans of Regency romance looking for a light read with a bit of heat.

While the story is steamy and satisfying, the novella format left me wishing for a little more time to explore the characters and their backstories in greater depth. Still, it delivers on its promise to warm more than just your heart this holiday season. A perfect pick for romance readers!

“Arrived. Survived. Already regret coming.”

Possibly one of my favourite quotes ever. Kat is the ultimate introvert.

Widowed and mother of a small boy, Kat has returned to her family home for a holiday house party. Here she meets Ash, a kind and gentle groom.

Fenna Edgewood’s decriptive writing is beautiful and this is a sweet story. This is a quick read, perfect for the holidays.

4.5🌟.

A sweet novella with depth, passion and love.

Newly widowed and freed from an abusive marriage, Lady Kat doesn’t have any plans to entangle in a relationship. But as they say fate, Ash happens! He was a hero with golden heart. Such a cinnamon roll hero! Kat was kinda opposite to him but they fit. Loved their connection.

I also enjoyed the sibling bond so much. They were an unusual bunch but so loyal towards each other.

Recommended and safe.

-Reverse age gap.
-Holiday novella.
-Single parent.

This was a first for me - a widowed countess falling for her brother’s groom - and it was perfectly dazzling! A splendid class-difference romance with a minor reverse age-gap, a grand knight-in-shining-armour moment and a very very steamy bathtub!

~ Katherine & Ashley ~
She’s a striking beauty recovering from an abusive marriage and nasty gossip surrounding her husband’s demise at her brother’s Christmas house party.
He’s a prime specimen of youthful male perfection, and that’s probably why he was recruited as an interim footman for the party.
They meet under less then ideal circumstances, but when he finally finds her to apologise, she has another plan for him... He has the magic touch when it comes to horses; maybe that same touch could do wonders for humans as well?

I love how simple and straightforward this romance is. No dancing around their mutual attraction - not that they immediately fall into each other’s arms, but they don’t fight it either, and as a single mom myself, I especially loved how naturally he takes to her young son.
It’s also not your standard sticky sweet romance; both Kat and her son were abused, and they’re both still struggling with the past, but Ash’s no pressure, no expectations approach works wonders.
The high-speed carriage chase scene was the perfect bit of thrill for this short story, and the cherry on top was most definitely Kat’s unique “thank you” - a scrumptious cherry indeed!

A brilliant little Christmas novella!

Kat is a widowed countess still affected by her abusive marriage. Ash is a groom in her brother’s stables known for his gentle way with horses. You can imagine how this all works itself out, class difference and all. Good story.

A very enjoyable novella. The Countess's Christmas Groom is the beginning of the new series Blakeley Manor. Fenna Edgewoo are always interesting with unconventional characters with diversity personalities who manage to grow and yet retain their individualities which captivates you from the beginning until the very end. It's emotional ride that keeps you turning the pages.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Cute little Novella that hits all the right notes in a 30 minute read, PROVIDED that you suspend disbelief. I’m all here for this unconventional relationship between a 31-yr old widowed countess and a 25-year groom, even if book feels too modern (eg the countess says “liquid courage” before taking a shot), and their relationship unfolds in the blink of an eye. If real life were like this story, I’d take it! Thanks for the ARC.

A nice little read before bed. The characters were well rounded for a shorter story and Kat’s backstory woven in well. Ash was a delight to imagine!

I liked this book. The characters were nicely done for a short book. Ash is scrumptious in and out. Oliver is a sweetie and Kat is resilient. The stewy, steamy tension starts off right from the start. The storyline was decent and I liked that the protagonists shared their thoughts and feelings too.

#BlakeleyManorFennaEdgewood #NetGalley

I ATE THIS UP.

I am very new to regency type books or I guess historical romance maybe? I don’t know but all I know is that I couldn’t get enough of this one, nor the second. I devoured them so fast.