Book Review and ARC Giveaway of Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes

More than a wish - if you like infants and sweet domesticity this is a charmer to read.
Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish

By Grace Burrowes

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402261543
• ISBN-13: 978-1402261541

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 4, 2011

"Grace Burrowes passes 'the hair rose on the back of my neck' test...{her} voice embeds itself in your brain."
-USA Today

A luminous holiday tale of romance, passion, and dreams come true from rising star Grace Burrowes, whose award-winning Regency romances are capturing hearts worldwide.

All she wants is peace and anonymity...
Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

But Sophie's holiday is about to heat up...
With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits-but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened.

It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true...

"Burrowes's sensual love story...rises above the crowd with deft dialogue and delightful characters."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Review:  I loved this book!  I ooohed at the baby and ahhhed at the handsome hero who shows Sophie how to handle an infant - even to changing the nappies! I chuckled and laughed out loud at the warm antics of various characters including the snipping remarks between the big brothers.

Vim has terrible memories that keep him away from his estates. But now his elderly Uncle and Aunt have summoned him home to deal with the infirmities that they have described of each other.  When Vim sees a lovely lady struggling to calm an unhappy infant he is more than willing to offer assistance.

Lady Sophie didn’t realize that her maid has run off leaving the child, Kit, behind. She has no idea how to manage a baby.  When Mr. Charpentier steps in to instantly soothe the boy she is momentarily alarmed that a strange man has spoken to her.  She quickly realizes that she needs his help.

Sophie doesn’t tell Vim that she is the practical daughter of the Duke’s household, but lets him believe that she is merely a competent servant.  The snow keeps Vim from traveling and one day turns into another. Kit charms them both as they begin to fall under the magical spell of sharing simple domestic joys. Then they fall into a sensual pull of passion which they try to resist until Sophie decides that she can have at least part of a Christmas wish if she is bold enough.

The story is expanded with more domesticity in views of Sophie’s brothers and two sets of “parents”.  The brothers, Westhaven, the heir, St. Just, the soldier, and Val, the pianist, are warm jokesters with their different personalities. Sophie’s parents, the Duke and Duchess, are portrayed with their proper, yet warmly caring ways while they await the late arrival of their children. Vim’s Aunt and Uncle are charming with their sweet elderly eccentricities and mischief as they also await the late arrival of their beloved nephew and heir.

An example of the humor can be seen in this scene:
Vim has finally left to travel home. Sophie’s three brothers have arrived to find her in a rather somber mood with an infant on her hands. They are also discovering evidence that someone else has been in the house with Sophie. As Sophie pauses to make an explanation the back door slams and they hear:
“Sophie, love! I’m back. Come here and let me kiss you senseless, and then, by God, we’re going to talk.”
Vim rounds the corner to find her three brothers glowering at him!  Oooops!

Sophie and Vim each think they do not have a future together. Yet they revel in the warm sensual feelings growing between them even knowing they will hurt when they part. Burrowes has another winner with this completely delightful story.  Having enjoyed three of the siblings’ stories in this wonderful series I will have to get Val’s story, The Virtuoso, too.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

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It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 9, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 10. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.