Lady, It's Cold Outside by Deb Marlowe

Miss Glenna Bolton is not having a Happy Christmas. She’s lost her grandfather and the bookshop they ran together. If not for the invitation from the Duke of Danby, she would have no place to go.

No Christmas festivities for Baron Ellesworth this year. His newly inherited estate is in bad shape—and so is his bank account. He’ll spend the holiday travelling to do a bit of business with Lord Danby, in hopes of bringing Christmas to Elleshaven next year.

Travelling during the holiday season doesn’t sound romantic, but a star in the East, an abandoned child and a quest for holiday cheer might just convince these two that love is the best gift of the Season.

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This is a novella associated with Marlowe’s Half Moon House series. The series is linked by the owner of Half Moon House - a former courtesan who helps young women in dire straits. The owner appears briefly in this novella but having never read any other Half Moon House stories myself, I’m happy that this one stands alone quite nicely.

The story itself is quite a simple tale of finding love in the most unexpected places and at the most inconvenient times. Both Glenna and Alex are likeable characters and their romance is as sweet and adorable as could possibly be.

The romance novels that I tend to read normally have a little more passion and a lot more sex and sensuality. This has quite a different tone. It’s very chaste and, well, cute as a button. With that said, it’s still really easy to believe in the love of the main characters and wish them well on the way to their happy ending.

The Christmas theme works really well and the descriptions are very believable. I could really go for some gingerbread and snow right now!

Overall, this is a quick read (68 pages) and one that is sweet, cute and just an enjoyable romance all round. 4 stars.