joth's review against another edition
5.0
At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy 'A Christmas Promise' as it starts with illness and death, two subjects I avoid in books for personal reasons. I am delighted I carried on with it though as I ended up loving it! Ellie's family are adorable and such fun. The book worked as a reminder to let my inner child come out and play at Christmas. I also loved the way the romance developed through the story. I will definitely be reading it again.
crystald14's review against another edition
3.0
At the outset, I must say that I was excited to read this one after [b:Christmas Beau|1401173|Christmas Beau|Mary Balogh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350421355s/1401173.jpg|1391366] and thought it would be heart warming. In a sense, it was towards the end. But there were a whole lot of facepalms from me before I got there.
Mostly it was because of Eleanor. Granted she knew nothing about Randolph and thought he married her for money, but she doesnt even bother to listen to him and not just be so prickly about everything. Even when Randolph is nice to her, she is mean at times for no reason at all. And she just believes in every cliche of a supposed aristocrat. In the beginning, it is justified, but afterwards she purposely puts up a defence mechanism of it. And thank God Randolph sees through that. He gets better as time goes. And is more open and willing to give his marriage a chance. Only I didnt like the fact that he did
The Christmas with the Transomes, the interactions between Ellie and Randy *sic* are better and the book leaves you happy in the end. It does make me happy for Christmas :)
Takeaway: Work on any relationship you've undertaken and start with a clean slate. Let go of misconceptions and communicate at all times.
Mostly it was because of Eleanor. Granted she knew nothing about Randolph and thought he married her for money, but she doesnt even bother to listen to him and not just be so prickly about everything. Even when Randolph is nice to her, she is mean at times for no reason at all. And she just believes in every cliche of a supposed aristocrat. In the beginning, it is justified, but afterwards she purposely puts up a defence mechanism of it. And thank God Randolph sees through that. He gets better as time goes. And is more open and willing to give his marriage a chance. Only I didnt like the fact that he did
Spoiler
cheat twice with his mistress after marriageThe Christmas with the Transomes, the interactions between Ellie and Randy *sic* are better and the book leaves you happy in the end. It does make me happy for Christmas :)
Takeaway: Work on any relationship you've undertaken and start with a clean slate. Let go of misconceptions and communicate at all times.
katleap's review
4.0
4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas novella. Its an arranged marriage between two strangers from different classes. Randolph Pierce is the impoverish new Earl of Falloden and Eleanor Transome, is a wealthy coal merchant's daughter. They are both blackmailed by Ellie's father into marriage. They don't understand one another and their marriage gets off on the wrong foot. But a Christmas promise to the dying Mr Transome offers some hope and family may solve everything.
I adored this story. Ellie and Randolph both have misconceptions of each other and at first do very little to get over them. Randolph starts to soften first and eventually Ellie catches up. It was sweet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas novella. Its an arranged marriage between two strangers from different classes. Randolph Pierce is the impoverish new Earl of Falloden and Eleanor Transome, is a wealthy coal merchant's daughter. They are both blackmailed by Ellie's father into marriage. They don't understand one another and their marriage gets off on the wrong foot. But a Christmas promise to the dying Mr Transome offers some hope and family may solve everything.
I adored this story. Ellie and Randolph both have misconceptions of each other and at first do very little to get over them. Randolph starts to soften first and eventually Ellie catches up. It was sweet.
attytheresa's review
3.0
This one gets major stars awarded because it really delivered on the whole Regency Christmas at the snowbound family country house theme. Absolutely delighted in all the scenes and descriptions of gathering greens and yule log, decorating the house, sledding, caroling, even a children's Christmas pageant! However, it had other problems.
A bankrupt Earl, inheritor of crippling debt and a decaying family estate from a dissolute cousin, is coerced into marriage with *gasp* a Cit's daughter, sight unseen. Joe, the Cit, is a coal dealer, and has a fortune to rival Midas. He also has a beautiful 19 year old daughter he desires to see settled in marriage to a title, the sooner the better because Joe is dying of cancer. Joe will see his daughter settled before he dies. And so Eleanor, who will not say no to her father especially as the man she loves has 'freed' her because he will not force her to live the impoverished life he can only offer, and the Earl are married after only one meeting with each other. It does not go well.
There are a number of sex scenes, all but one where the Earl forces Eleanor to perform her conjugal duties and Eleanor complies in a manner that brings to mind that old trope 'just lie there and think of England." It was quite distasteful in truth. And the one intimate scene that is provided has our heroine not fully awake! Ugh.
Ultimately the Earl and Eleanor come to realize they had misconceptions about each other and fall in love during the Christmas festivities that actually salvaged this regency romance. As well as did the deftly drawn variety of side characters. Eleanor is no tepid miss either but a very strong personality coping with a great many difficult moments in her life, fighting back as best she can. And the Earl is actually quite likable. I just have a problem with the author's treatment of sex.
A bankrupt Earl, inheritor of crippling debt and a decaying family estate from a dissolute cousin, is coerced into marriage with *gasp* a Cit's daughter, sight unseen. Joe, the Cit, is a coal dealer, and has a fortune to rival Midas. He also has a beautiful 19 year old daughter he desires to see settled in marriage to a title, the sooner the better because Joe is dying of cancer. Joe will see his daughter settled before he dies. And so Eleanor, who will not say no to her father especially as the man she loves has 'freed' her because he will not force her to live the impoverished life he can only offer, and the Earl are married after only one meeting with each other. It does not go well.
There are a number of sex scenes, all but one where the Earl forces Eleanor to perform her conjugal duties and Eleanor complies in a manner that brings to mind that old trope 'just lie there and think of England." It was quite distasteful in truth. And the one intimate scene that is provided has our heroine not fully awake! Ugh.
Ultimately the Earl and Eleanor come to realize they had misconceptions about each other and fall in love during the Christmas festivities that actually salvaged this regency romance. As well as did the deftly drawn variety of side characters. Eleanor is no tepid miss either but a very strong personality coping with a great many difficult moments in her life, fighting back as best she can. And the Earl is actually quite likable. I just have a problem with the author's treatment of sex.
katevaliant's review
4.0
Sweet Christmas romance about a couple learning to love each other despite their different backgrounds and standings.
haewilya's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. It's a marriage of convenience story set during Christmas time. I love the Transome family.
scarr77's review against another edition
3.0
December 2022 Update: after suggesting this book to a bookish friend, who was kind enough to read it and tell me how to feel about it . . . I am settling on 3 - 3.5-ish stars. The issue that made it difficult for me to rate CW for intimate partner assault: this was never made right, in my opinion or my bookish friend's opinion. I needed an apology or an acknowledgement of this being completely terrible. That does not happen.
Original thoughts: I haven't given this book any stars bc I just do not know how to feel about it. Some excellent writing but also some really terrible scenes that I just do not feel were made right by the end of the book. Maybe someday I'll have a conversation with someone who has also read this book and can help me decide how ultimately I feel lol.
(ps. Ellie's family seemed, like, coded Jewish? idunno there were some vibes and maybe I'm just projecting lol)
Spoiler
the FMC has never had p-in-v sex and when she has sex with the MMC for the first time, he is overly rough with her due to their fraught marriage arrangement - which was organized by the FMC's father and totally out of the control of the FMC - leading to the FMC to bleed more than would be normal after a hymen has been torn. This happens on their wedding night. I hated this scene and was seriously close to dnf'ing.Original thoughts: I haven't given this book any stars bc I just do not know how to feel about it. Some excellent writing but also some really terrible scenes that I just do not feel were made right by the end of the book. Maybe someday I'll have a conversation with someone who has also read this book and can help me decide how ultimately I feel lol.
(ps. Ellie's family seemed, like, coded Jewish? idunno there were some vibes and maybe I'm just projecting lol)
ccgwalt's review against another edition
4.0
3.5*
Grade B/B-
This was a mostly enjoyable, sometimes humorous, story of a marriage across the strict social divide of regency England. There are some similarities to Heyer's book, [b:A Civil Contract|311132|A Civil Contract|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370388195l/311132._SY75_.jpg|3228237], although A Christmas Promise is more light-hearted overall and with an HEA solidly planted in Romancelandia. One of the things I like about A Civil Contract is the believability of the emotions and the fact that, in the end there is a comfortable contentedness about the marriage. Here we get all the passion and one usually expects in romance novels.
Balogh is an excellent wordsmith, so reading her books is always a pleasure. A Christmas Promise is entertaining and light, if somewhat forgettable. It's a nice Christmas story, perfect for the season.
Grade B/B-
This was a mostly enjoyable, sometimes humorous, story of a marriage across the strict social divide of regency England. There are some similarities to Heyer's book, [b:A Civil Contract|311132|A Civil Contract|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370388195l/311132._SY75_.jpg|3228237], although A Christmas Promise is more light-hearted overall and with an HEA solidly planted in Romancelandia. One of the things I like about A Civil Contract is the believability of the emotions and the fact that, in the end there is a comfortable contentedness about the marriage. Here we get all the passion and one usually expects in romance novels.
Balogh is an excellent wordsmith, so reading her books is always a pleasure. A Christmas Promise is entertaining and light, if somewhat forgettable. It's a nice Christmas story, perfect for the season.
turophile's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very early story from Ms. Balaogh, repackaged in digital. Though I often enjoy her early signet romances, this one was a little more difficult for me. It’s a marriage of forced convenience. The hero is on the brink of financial ruin and agrees to marry Eleanor, who’s lovely, only to satisfy his debts. He’s kind of a jerk and it takes a while for him to get beyond it. Don’t need to read this one again. 3/5