| Title | : | A Christmas Affair to Remember (Longhope Abbey, #3.5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 202 |
| Publication | : | First published November 17, 2022 |
Warm lessons in love on cold winter nights…
Isaac DeWitt—former sailor, respected investigator, and notorious flirt—wants a wife, and where better to find one than the winter house party at Longhope Abbey? But for all his rakish charm, Isaac doesn’t even know how to kiss a woman, let alone what to do with her in the marriage bed.
Sylvia Ray—impoverished widow, expert distiller, and safely betrothed—means to enjoy every minute at the house party before she settles into a dreary but secure marriage. She’s too old to believe in exciting futures, but she’s too young to bury herself in the country just yet.
When Sylvia discovers Isaac’s dilemma, she shocks them both with a proposition: She’ll give him experience if he’ll give her excitement, during a winter they’ll never forget.
Warm, touching, and fun, this short historical romance tells the story of a young widow and younger man who start a holiday affair but end up with so much more.
A Christmas Affair to Remember (Longhope Abbey, #3.5) Reviews
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Is it too late for Christmas fun? I don’t think so, it’s too cold out here anyways.
33 year old widow Sylvia, who lives in poverty, made plans for an arranged marriage with an older hypochondriac, the idea being she’ll become his caretaker and free psychotherapist and he’ll make it so she won’t starve. At the same time, 26 year old Isaac spent his life in the Navy where he got his injury, and now he’s trying to settle on land and get himself a wife. But he's very awkward and inexperienced and worries that his new bride will be disappointed with his lack of knowledge she would expect from the 26 year old husband. They meet at a Christmas gathering in the countryside and have an instant attraction. So Sylvia decides to live one last time and experience desire before departing to her tomb, believing that as an old woman it is the only thing she can expect from life. And Isaac, well, what free young man would not want to get a bunch of sexual experience from the willing experienced beautiful old woman? (She’s 33)
Mia Vincy is a delight as always. She always tries for the variety in her characters and she succeeds so far. This story has the least angst there can be, they are both incredible communicators and they feel instant kinship and trust to tell their worst secrets to each other. And then of course have a great sexy times. But as you can expect, feelings get in the way!
This is a rare combo of characters - an older experienced woman and a younger virgin, I personally haven’t read this dynamic in historical romance. And gorgeous Adonis-like 26 year old virgins are the unicorns of the romance genre. Seriously, I take them whenever I can get them. I think Vincy did a fine job giving him reasons enough.
I am personally the type who loves conflict and angst, but the lack of them didn’t bother me here, since this is a novella, the couple just didn’t have time to bore me with their sweetness. And oh my god, they are so sweet and lovely humans!
Wholesome sweet fun that left a huge grin on my face with smart writing because it’s Mia Vincy. She continues to be my auto-buy author. -
I would read a few more historical romance novellas like this one. Sweet, well written, likable characters, just a dash of melodrama, and some consensual smut. Perfect length too. Maybe Vincy should lean into novellas more as some of her novels are too long.
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Takes deep breath. *Screams* "THIS IS A NOVELLA?!"
Either my brain is broken from my recent reads (which haven't been bad exactly) or I just love Mia Vincy that much. And it's probably that. I actually savored this, how unlike me.
Joshua is still a scene-stealer but Isaac is so endearing and tender while being his own, it's wonderful. It's funny, and the heroine is pragmatic and wonderful.
Anyway, I really want to revisit this world and I'm going for a reread a month, so I'll do just that somewhere along the way. -
2022 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Messy
Very enjoyable Christmas novella (around 50K word count). Exclusively available via author’s newsletter (for now). -
This was so cute 🥰
A novella that didn’t lack in anything. I do love inexperienced heroes who turn all passionate and obsessed. And Sylvie our heroine was the initiating force. She was such a great female character aware of who she is supposed to be in the eyes of society (33-year old widow) and at the same time diving deep into passionate love affair.
What I love the most were all the stolen glances, secretive hand and leg touching and kisses in the shrubbery. So cute.
This was definitely sexier than the previous novel I read by Mia Vincy plus it was just straightforward love story, no access drama.
Whole hearted 5 stars.
I might as well reread it right now. -
3.5 stars
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Isaac DeWitt, with all the charm of a rake and none of the experience, makes the acquaintance of widowed Sylvia Ray.
There's definitely a too-quick road to declarations of love here, but whether it's the author or the holiday magic of this novella, this was a fun and cozy enough read to gloss over that. -
I really liked this. I need to read more Mia Vincy. I love her writing style—it’s crisp with an edge of softness, humor, and just enough wink-wink-nudge-nudges to the dedicated romance reader to feel welcoming without being snobby. Sylvia is “old” for a histrom heroine (33, lol) and we actually spend a fair amount of time in Isaac’s POV seeing such an age perceived as “old” being gently challenged. Isaac, for his part, is the sweetest, most adorable, earnestest baby angel and must be protected at all costs!
Besides all that, I love how sex-positive the book is and how it models the importance of two-way communication (i.e. listening, not just talking).
Overall rating: 4.5
Hannah Angst Scale rating: 2
Content notes: FMC’s first husband died of unspecified cause, passing reference to FMC being unable to have children, MMC broke his leg in the Navy and has persistent pain/limp, ableism, cheating (FMC is engaged when she starts sexual relationship with MMC, ), on page alcohol use, open door sex scenes -
Extremely cute and heartfelt, with a dynamic I wish was more explored - inexperienced young golden retriever and impoverished older widow. A dream. Also v v hot chemistry.
Also, 80% of romances should really be this length. -
A delicious Christmas sugar plum!!! 🍑
The story begins at Longhope Abbey, the country house central to this series, where everyone has gathered to celebrate Christmas. While out collecting greens to deck the halls, Sylvia, a young widow gets stuck up a tree trying to reach mistletoe, and is rescued by Isaac, recently returned from the navy. She’s 6 years older than him! He’s a virgin. Heavens!!
I’m not giving away the plot … just know this is an amazing gift of a novella …. warm, sexy, tasty… to be savored with each bite (page). Exquisite writing on par with Julie Anne Long and Tessa Dare etc. Beautifully constructed story. Sheer Perfection!! 🎄🔥🥂🥰 -
This was a good sized novella. Long enough not to feel rushed. The writing was superb, as usual. (Well, this is my second book by this author, but I have hopes this trend will continue).
I’m glad Isaac got his lady and that she’s not “conventional.” I like the premise of the story. On to the next! -
That was a breath of fresh air! A pleasant break from the usual stereotyped couple.
I only wished for a bit more ssspiceee, but lovely reading nonetheless! -
Sylvia Ray was married to a charming, persuasive man, who died and left her destitute. Because he lied to his family, they believed she was the reason he had ended up with massive debts, so they refused to give her any financial assistance after his death. After years of trying to support herself and keep herself from starvation, she's found a man who wants to marry her, and who can give her a secure future.
Isaac DeWitt went to see as a young boy and was forced to leave his career in the navy when he damaged his leg. Now he works as an investigator and would like to settle down with a wife - but having grown up surrounded solely by men, women are a complete mystery to him. He enjoys flirting, but has absolutely no idea how to go about actually kissing or wooing a woman - what if he turns out to be disappointing?
Sylvia discovers Isaac's dilemma, and though she knows she shouldn't, she makes him a wicked proposal. The man she is marrying is sickly and her future union is unlikely to be passionate. Having one final fling before she marries again may be irresponsible, but she can't help herself. Isaac is more than happy to take her up on her offer, he'll get experience and confidence enough to find himself a wife, and she'll get some pleasant memories to think back on once she's married in the countryside, taking care of a hypochondriac.
It's been a few years since I read any romances by
Mia Vincy, but she always writes her characters so well. In this holiday novella, which was free on her website, we meet the younger brother of Joshua DeWitt, the erstwhile grouchy hero of
A Wicked Kind of Husband. Here he is an affectionate older brother and dotes on his wife and children.
Several of my reading challenges for December asked for books set around winter and/or holiday time. This seemed like a good fit (and made me realise I probably want to re-read some of Vincy's novels). The older, experienced partner who offers to tutor the younger, virginal character in the amorous arts isn't an unusual trope, but the gender reversal where the woman is the experienced one and the man is the virgin is not one I can remember coming across very often. Of course, Sylvia is a widow and all of 33 years old. That's an OLDER woman in historical romance. I'm basically a crone now.
Isaac and Sylvia have excellent chemistry and of course, start to fall for one another. The main conflict in the story is Isaac's inability to understand why Sylvia is determined to go through with her marriage to a sickly man who will never appreciate her, and why lust, and even love, isn't going to be enough to make her change her mind.
If you haven't read any
Mia Vincy, this is a nice place to start. While there are cameos from other couples from her books, you don't need to have read any of their stories to enjoy this one.
Judging a book by its cover: Mia Vincy's covers always seem to be done in gentle watercolours, with one specific colour dominating. On her other covers, there's pink, yellow, purple, and blue, while here the dominant colour seems to be a sepia-tinted orange. The covers always seem to suggest much more gentle stories than Vincy often delivers, but they are pretty. -
What a pleasure to be back in Mia Vincy’s world! A Christmas house party is the perfect vehicle to bring Sylvia and Isaac together. At first, Isaac reminds Sylvia of her ne’er do well deceased husband what with his rakish charm and flirting. But then she sees beneath the surface and realizes he’s actually a virgin who is exceptionally terrible at trying to follow through on any flirtation. Obviously she’s going to have to give him sex lessons! This was such a pure distillation of that trope, right down to Vincy’s realistic choice to have him prematurely ejaculate the first time they become more intimate.
Isaac was a treasure. While he does make a hash of things at one point, he more than makes up for it by the story’s end. I admired Sylvia’s ability to stay true to herself and her needs—some people may not agree with some of her choices but it all made complete sense to me. The two of them together should have a lovely life together and I look forward to them popping up in other Longhope Abbey stories in the future.
Characters: Sylvia is a 33 year old white widow and herbalist. Isaac is a 26 year old disabled ex-Navy and a virgin. This is set in regency England.
Content notes: infidelity (FMC is engaged but it’s an arrangement and they don’t care for each other. , FMC’s fiancé is a hypochondriac (details in his letters), MMC’s leg broke when he was in the Navy (mostly recovered but sometimes needs a cane), ableism (present and past, including the Navy firing him due to injury), internalized ableism (countered), poverty, past death of FMC’s husband, FMC’s husband was in debtors’ prison, MMC’s father was a bigamist, family planning discussion (FMC not sure if she’s able to have kids), premature ejaculation, on page sex, gender essentialism, ableist language, mention of past shipwreck -
3.5. One thing Mia Vincy is gonna do is give you a surprising depth of character and development amidst the banter and hijinks. And that was definitely the highlight here - both characters felt incredibly fleshed out, especially in the space of a novella, and understandably don't really drastically change so much as learn new things in the span of the two weeks this takes place over.
I also thought the holiday season was utilized so well and uniquely here. Vincy really nails how the two weeks around Christmas and New Years feel so hazy and unreal, like we are all just hangin' out til real life starts back up again. Perfect for an affair that the participants set up as an interlude from real life, always meant to be brief before they return to the lives they had planned before this holiday break. Holiday stories love to use the setting to talk about family, coziness, etc and this just felt like an inventive take on it but also so right I can't believe I haven't really stumbled across it before.
That said, the banter wasn't bantering as high as I have come to expect from Vincy. I think that fits the characters somewhat, but can't deny the highlights in the regard came mostly from the past characters of Joshua and Arabella making appearances. Any time those past couples were on-page I was having such a good time, and it threw into relief that I found Isaac and Sylvia charming, but not on the same level. This probably is more about me and what kind of characters I like than anything (although I will say I found Isaac's endless curiosity, wonder, and enthusiasm for the small details of intimacy very charming).
Lovely little Christmas novella all around, just not quite up to my love for Vincy's other works. -
Cute.
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3.5/5
This was a fast and easy read. It was the sorta book you enjoy during the holidays. Light, uncomplicated with a happy ending. -
2 star DNF due to boredom at 22%.
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Beautiful! ❤️
A sweet and charming story of two people who initially don’t realise how compatible they are, despite the age difference, and how well they work together.
Although this book is part of a series, it can also be read as a standalone. It is a well written novella that is sweet, sexy and easy to read.
Both Sylvia and Isaac are delightful characters, honest and direct. The chemistry between them builds slowly and is believable. Sylvia is older than Isaac, she is determined, capable and understanding. Isaac is strong and kind. He realises he has limited knowledge, and needs to acquire some experience in male/female relationships. They are both candid and truthful about what they want; however, their feelings change and deepen although it takes Isaac a little while to recognise his true feelings for Sylvia.
A beautiful short story that is satisfying, entertaining and easy to read. I love Mia Vincy’s books. -
Rare gem right here! I'm glad I stumbled upon this on a post somewhere and didn't hesitate adding to my TBR. Short but fun read novella. I like reading HR books lately despite being clueless over some phrases and words—which was most of the time, embarrassingly so.
Anyhow, Sylvia and Isaac owned my heart.Sylvia kept her eyes on the flames dancing over the brandy-sodden raisins. Without knowing her own intention, she curled her little finger around his. A tiny smile snagged the corner of his lips; she fought her own smile of absurd satisfaction.
Alexa, play Dress by Taylor Swift. 🎶Our secret moments in your crowded room. They got no idea about me and you.🎶“I can’t stop thinking about it, what we did together. How wonderful it was. How
wonderful you were.”"When I came to meet you this morning, I hardly even noticed who you were with. All I could see was you."
“Don’t marry him,” he said to her profile.
Her chin came up. She didn’t turn. “I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t marry him. Marry me.”“Dance with me,” he said softly, so softly she felt the words rather than heard them. “Dance with me.”
“You wanted something to remember,” he said. “Will you remember me?”
“Always.”
“I’ll never forget you.”
“We never forget our first.”
“Not because you were my first, but because you are you. You changed
my life, you changed me, you—”"I’m not asking you to marry me out of charity or gratitude, or because it’s easier than finding and courting someone else, or even to have you in my bed, though that’s very nice too. I’m asking you to marry me because I love you, and I think you might love me, and we’ve got a life ahead of us, and damn it all, Sylvia, you and me, we fit."
SMITTEN ISAAC. WRAPPED AROUND DEAR SYLVIA'S FINGERS. I LOVE THEM. -
4 Stars
The best surprise was recently missing this series only to find out there was a Christmas novella published this year and so I dropped any books I had planned to start to read it! So good to return to the characters of this series and meet some new ones! This book has everything I've come to love about this series like the witty dialogue, sizzling chemistry, and incredible characters. I'm not a huge historical romance fan but discovering this series and finding out I do enjoy some books in this genre has been a wonderful surprise.
Every book in this series has given me a new couple to love over Issac and Sylvia is no exception and I felt their chemistry and connection immediately. Issac as the hero character was so pleasant to read because he comes by his struggles honestly and the fact he is this charming good looking guy on the outside, but on the inside is this very insecure, overthinking, but a very thoughtful guy. I really loved the dichotomy of his character and that Sylvia was the one to pick up on it and that's what endeared him to her.
They had one of the most refreshing and open communications with each other and I was LIVING for it!! This was a thoroughly enjoyable 200 page Christmas novella and I only wish it was longer so I could spend more time with everyone! I really wish too we got more time while they were having their affair because those small secretive glances and brushing of hands was great but needed more of it. I really thought the build up was well done but the ending where they finally got together felt rushed. I also love how healthy their relationship was when they were together, while still having that hint of a forbidden aspect. We even got some more time with Joshua&Cassandra, and a little bit of Arabella&Guy! The perfect holiday read for fans of this series imo! -
🌟 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐⭐⭐💫 3.5/5
A cute story about a virgin hero and an older widow. Recommended for Longhope Abbey fans - feels like an extended epilogue. Not a fan of the miscommunication conflict though 😅
💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This is a short and cute novella about Christmastime in Longhope Abbey. We see cameos from Cassandra, Joshua, Arabella, and Hardbury. I really like seeing the other couples to see what they're up to. Sadly no Leo & Juno 😢
❄
This is the story of a virgin hero and older, wiser widow. I really like Sylvia - she's quite self assured with herself and is very gentle with Isaac. Isaac is also very sweet - he's such a cinnamon roll to every one! I wish we have more tensions though.
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The writing is quite cozy and Christmas-y with all the usual traditions mentioned here (mistletoe, Christmas Ball, etc.). The affair scene is quite nice actually! It went as well as how a first time should go - quite endearing 😊
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I really enjoyed the first parts of the story, alas it went downhill for me in the last 20% or so. Both her and Isaac had a wonderful communication and connection throughout the story, so to have the main conflict pretty much relegated to miscommunication (or rather, lack of communication) is disappointing.
✨
lilan ♥ | 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒇 |
Bookstagram |
Goodreads -
A delightful romance about starting over and second chances.
Isaac has lived a lot in his nearly 27 years, but there are still a few things he hasn't yet experienced. Sylvia has had enough of her own experiences, and being on the wrong side of thirty has narrowed her options down to just what she needs to survive. Anything else is gambling with disaster.
I loved how Isaac was immediately enthralled with her, despite her determined unavailability, and I could totally see how the age difference wasn't much of a difference at all. I loved their intelligent banter, the way they saw right through to each other's hearts, and I thought the "lessons" part of the story was exquisitely developed.
As I've come to expect from this author, the writing is splendid, filled with nuanced and deeply thought-provoking witticisms. Her characters are always multilayered and vividly depicted. If you're looking for a steamy holiday romance to keep you warm this winter, they don't come any better than this one. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. -
I was always a fan of Isaac. Sylvia was perfect for him, as was he for her! He definitely needed a woman and not a girl (not just b/c of “lessons”😉) and she needed a true partner and caregiver. Hopefully we’ll see them again in future Longhope Abbey stories.
Also, I don’t know why she wasn’t in the story, but I did not miss Lucy. I suspect I’ll borrow A Sinful Kind of Scot rather than preorder, b/c I’m wary of how much I will enjoy Lucy’s story. -
They were cute, it's just that I couldn't connect very much with them. I felt we barely knew them and bam! affair was happening and we were supposed to believe they were super in love.
I do wish this novella was about the past couples spending Christmass together because I loved the Joshua/Cassandra scenes and would appreciated A LOT to see some Arabella/Guy scenes. -
Ah god. So much angst. The plot is different from your average historical romance, with an older woman, a younger man, she is experienced, he is a virgin. It’s really good.
Freebie from author (from newsletter subscription) -
Impoverished widow's last hurrah. This was relatively mediocre, but also suffers from comparison, as every Christmas historical romance novella to the end of time will, to Cecelia Grant's A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong, truly the zenith of the genre.
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It's been a while since I read any of Mia Vincy's book, I forgot how good they are..!!
I love the virgin hero & experience woman trope.
And the length of the book is perfect. not too short and not too long.. -
Meh. Not nearly so enjoyable as the main books in the series.
