A Christmas Bride/Christmas Beau: Two Novels in One Volume

If you want the comfortable refined romp of a Regency romance, then this book is not for you. The heroine, Helena, is troubled and like many people who feel guilty and unworthy, she pushes away those who would be close to her, out of a combined fear of hurting someone else, and the fear of having her own shame uncovered. I lived for a long time with a family member who did just this sort of thing, so I found Helena's behavior highly credible. Nevertheless, Helena IS capable of loving and being loved, she understands that her past behavior was wrong and she wants to be forgiven for it--she just doesn't believe that forgiveness is possible. Edgar is a headstrong and rather blunt and yet patient and compassionate man who helps her to find peace. The story suggests he would behave just as honorably and compassionately toward a near-stranger: for instance, the subplot involves a young girl whose parents hope to marry her to the wealthy Edgar; she, of course, has an "ineligible attachment." (Helena implies that her own marriage to the older man was a similar arrangement, which was not uncommon for her time and social status.) Edgar takes steps to help the young couple be together, partly because it's the right thing to do, but partly just because he can. He takes similar steps to help Helena, despite her protestations, because again, it's the right thing to do. For Edgar, "love" is a verb, as well as a noun. He comes from a loving and supportive family very different from Helena's experience. Because he has committed to caring for Helena and comes to love her, his help and support are tremendously moving and dare I say, heartwarming. Their relationship isn't perfect, and Edgar acknowledges that it may not be an easy marriage, but he comes to believe he has made the right marriage, for various reasons that are clearly explained in the text, if you pay attention. It's pretty much a cliche in romance novels, action movies and sitcoms that the two characters who bicker and snipe at each other are going to sleep together during the February sweeps. The thing I like about this book is that the characters don't spend all their time bickering and fighting. They have their on and off moments together. They are fiercely attracted to each other, physically and mentally, although it is acknowledged that they are both used to being independent and stubborn. They're just REAL. I'll admit, it's a bit of a roller-coaster ride, as Helena keeps lashing out and Edgar keeps elbowing his way into her psyche--in this as in many Balough's better books I found myself wondering whether she'd manage to patch these two together or not. But she always does, and I still get misty-eyed when Helena finally lets down her defenses. She finds the grace to say "I'm sorry," and the courage to say, "I love you." Balough doesn't usually leave the reader with happily ever after, but she always leaves the impression that the characters will be better off for the trials they went through

If you check out Mary Balogh's Web site, you will find that she has written an end to the great story. This is a follow up to A Precious Jewel which is also a great book. I recommend it highly.

This is my first book by this author, and I'm hooked. My heart went out to Lady Helena, whose torment was heartbreaking. Its unusual for the heroine to carry such torment with the hero as the mender. A must read. In Helena's own words--Damm you Edgar.

I really,really loved this book.This is a sequel to "A Precious Jewel".I really liked the way Ms.Balogh made Lady Helena Stapleton very un- lovable so that her reconciliation with her step son and his wife was all the more believable.Hel- ena Stapleton reminded me of Lord Edmond Waite of "The Notorious Rake" in his hard shell of cynicism that hid a very wounded heart and soul.

This is the Lady Helena Stapleton from a Precious Jewel. Worth reading if only to get her side of that story.