Virtual Book Tour + Review: ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED by Virginia Barlow @Virgini35142126 @pumpupyourbook

 

Easy to read happy ever after holiday romance....

 

Title: On This Christmas, I Thee Wed

Author: Virginia Barlow

Publication Date: December 18, 2024

Pages: 280

Genre: Historical Holiday Romance

Bartered to Viscount Hudson Becker by her father, Lady Lavinia Holbrook escapes her arranged marriage and travels to her Godmother, the Duchess of Chauncy to seek asylum. Determined to put men and marriage behind her, she is unprepared for the duke’s interest or his heated kisses. 

The Duke of Chauncy believes love is a weakness and refuses to take a bride despite his mother's scheming. When the duchess makes a wager he will marry by Christmas, he considers the matter a lark. Until Lavinia gets under his skin, and he rethinks his position on love and happy ever afters.

 On This Christmas I Thee Wed is available through these fine retailers…

Amazon |  Walmart |  Target |  BooksAMillion |  Indie Bound |  Barnes & Noble |  Kobo |  Google Books |  ITunes

 

Book Excerpt

His mother planned his downfall into marriage with meticulous care or she wouldn’t have goaded him with her bet. And he didn’t believe her innocent of sending Lavinia to the wrong chamber last night, despite her feigned innocence.

Nay. His mother had nothing to do but plot his matrimonial demise and design a nursery for his progeny.

God. Though he loved her with all his heart, why wouldn’t she accept his decision to remain a bachelor?

Lavinia’s voice played in his head.

There, neither Papa nor the viscount can order me

to do anything I don’t want to do.

He understood her frustration, but even Scotland wouldn’t save him from his mother. The woman had a tenacious streak to rival Satan’s.

And who the hell was the viscount? He knew of no scandal involving Lavinia. Her voice continued.

I refuse to be some man’s broodmare, impregnated and discarded…

Snorting, he wanted to add his discontent to being a…What would a man forced to sire a child be called, anyway? A brood sire?

He chuckled. Discarded like a settee in the parlor.

Forgotten until the lord required someplace to sit. The girl used amusing analogies, he thought. But if she were his, he wouldn’t be sitting on her. Nay, she would be atop

him. The memory of her soft body in his arms made him rigid.

Shifting in his seat to ease his ardor, he remembered her mentioning being abducted by a Scot and taken to the highlands to ravish. Then her voice went all dreamy and soft as if ravishment by a highlander were every girl’s fantasy.

His lips tightened as he swung his chair around to stare out the window, steepling his fingers in thought.

English lords were much better lovers and far superior in every other avenue. What the devil did she have against them?

Perhaps her parents were the answer. The Earl of Holbrook and his wife were the epitome of a marriage of convenience, and with their history, he could understand her reluctance to join the marital throng. He avoided the marriage noose for much the same reason. Thoughts of being tied to some of the ladies his mother paraded through the castle made him shudder with revulsion.

Good god, what a dreadful thought.

– Excerpted from On This Christmas, I Thee Wed by Virginia Barlow, The Wild Rose Press, 2024. Reprinted with permission.

My Review:

ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED by Virginia Barlow is part of the Christmas in the Castle series, which includes stories by multiple authors. Virginia Barlow’s ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED is not the only book in the Christmas in the Castle series I have read. I have enjoyed every book in the series so far and hope to read more.

I love these Regency romance Christmas stories set in this world. I love the clothes and the time period with the Duchess, Dukes, Kings, and Queens. ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED is a great addition to this wonderful series. The many twists and turns kept me on my toes, racing to the end wanting to know what lay at the end but not wanting it to end.

The world-building is immaculate and so unique with its own style and elegance. The descriptions were well done making me think for just a minute that I was a part of this wonderful world.

ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED opens with a blast as Lady Lavinia Holbrook leaves her groom standing alone at the altar. Lavinia’s father arranged a marriage between her and the Viscount Becker.

Lavinia’s father wants land and the Viscount is happy to provide it for Lavinia’s hand in marriage. But Lavinia didn't want to marry the Viscount because she didn't love him, so she called her best friend to come and whisk her away to a faraway land to stay with her godmother.

Lavinia’s godmother Arabella has a son Oliver, the Duke of Chauncy whom she wishes to marry off. She has been trying her best to find a bride for her son but has no luck until Lavinia arrives at the castle. Right away Arabella puts her match-making skills to work. She hopes to have Lavinia and Oliver married by Christmas. But so far the Duke has refused to marry and Lavinia vows to only marry for love.

I recommend ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED to all romance fans! Grab a copy of ON THIS CHRISTMAS, I THEE WED today! 

About the Author

 

Virginia Barlow has been a dreamer her whole life. She loves reading, traveling, and roses. She will dive headfirst into any romance she can get her hands on in any genre. Although her first love is Regency Romance and always will be.  Something about the era calls to her soul like a siren’s song rising from the depths.

She loves to write steamy romances whether fantasy, historical, or contemporary, all are liberally spiced with adventure and sensual, seductive heroes. Her heroines are just as compelling with equal parts intelligence, sass, and backbone. They give as good as they get whether saving their man’s life or responding to his heated kisses, they’re all in.

The most important thing in Virginia’s life is her family, and spending time with them. When she is not bouncing a grandbaby in her arms or handing out popsicles, she is writing and dreaming up her next love story.  Virginia has published fifteen romance novels with another two on the way and has half a dozen more circling around inside her head eager to make their debut.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜  https://www.virginia-barlow.com/ 

X ➜  https://x.com/Virgini35142126 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19838312.Virginia_Barlow 

 

Sponsored By: