Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of THE MERRY VISCOUNT, a Widow's Brew novel by Sally MacKenzie

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of THE MERRY VISCOUNT, a Widow’s Brew novel by Sally MacKenzie, published September 24, 2019.



Blurb for THE MERRY VISCOUNT:

The “fallen” ladies of Puddledon Manor’s Benevolent Home are determined to rise above scandal—and forge a sparkling new future operating their own brewery and alehouse…

With Christmas around the corner, Miss Caroline Anderson hoped to persuade a London tavern owner to carry the Home’s Widow’s Brew—only to discover the dastard was more interested in her ankles than her ale! To her further annoyance, her stagecoach back to Little Puddledon is waylaid by louts and a snow-covered ditch. Amid a nasty storm, Caro seeks shelter at a nearby estate—only to be greeted by Viscount Oakland, aka Nick, her brother’s childhood friend—and her schoolgirl crush. Now he’s the half-dressed host of what is clearly a holiday bacchanal. Still, his house is irresistibly warm.

Ever the free spirit, Nick has invited the wilder gentleman of the ton, and an assortment of London’s lightskirts, to celebrate Christmas in a more traditional, pagan fashion. So he’s surprised to find Caro at his door. Now, with a blizzard raging, he must take her in—despite his fear she won’t take to his guests, and worse, upend his party. But she may surprise him—and upend his life.

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Connie’s Review:

Caroline (Caro) Anderson is traveling in the snow on a stagecoach heading back to the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows, and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children located in Little Puddledon. She had traveled to London hoping to encourage Mr. Harris, owner of the Drunken Sheep to purchase Widow’s Brew which she and the other residents of the Home produce. It has been well-received and if she can send more of it, they will not be under the threat of their patron, the Duke of Grainger. It is difficult to be a woman in business as so many men try to put their hands on her.

On the drive, they pick up another couple of passengers, a mother and her young son. Once onboard, the mother shows she also has a newborn daughter with her. But a broken axle brings the coach to a halt.

Luckily, it happens near the home of Nicholas (Nick) St. John, Viscount Oakland, age 32, and sometimes called Lord Devil. It just so happens he is hosting a Christmas orgy for some of his friends, which has quickly become a bore to him. When Caro and the others knock on the door, Nick is shock to see a young woman with a baby requesting help for the people in the disabled coach.

Nick had inherited his title and home from his uncle whom he despised. The man had been mean and cold to him. Now, Nick doesn’t really know where things are in the large mansion he has inherited as he was never allowed in certain areas.

Nick and Caro had been childhood friends as he played with her brothers. However, she no longer has contact with her family. At one time, Caro had had a crush on Nick, but she has since put all that aside to concentrate on selling the ale they brew. Now that she realizes that trying to supply ale to far away London would be impossible, she asks for Nick’s help.

As they spend more days together, they want to give in to their attraction to one another, until Nick learns that Cleo had been violated as a young woman and along with being skittish of men, is afraid of sex. Ah, but Nick is a good teacher, so will he be able to guide her to happiness for both of them?

As always, Sally MacKenzie has written a thoughtful, sexy, and humorous novel that readers will enjoy. Well done!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

THE MERRY VISCOUNT, a Widow’s Brew novel by Sally MacKenzie, Zebra Books, available now in ebook, print, and audio at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks

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