What a Lady Needs for Christmas

by Grace Burrowes

[Angie]

What a Lady Needs For Christmas was a delightful, if at times confusing, ending to this series. Tye's oldest sister, Joan is fleeing from possible scandal. She's on route to his home for a Christmas house party, but the train is full. Luckily, Dante and his family have space in their personal cars and invited her to join them. It's on the train ride that Joan and Dante get to talking. She's in need of a husband and he's in need of wife. They like each other, so the arrangement seems to fit. Of course, they happen to be heading to the same house party, so the two really get to know each other better during the festivities.

I really liked What a Lady Needs For Christmas for the most part. I adored Joan, and I loved how Dante wasn't a duke or earl or any titled man. He owns textile mills, and is neither rich nor poor. He does okay for himself and his children after being widowed. Joan is a fashion designer! It was fate! They both love fabrics! As for Joan's scandal, she partook in Absinthe and woke up with an engaged man! She fears she's carrying his child and will be utterly ruined. Dante loves children, so he has no problem with raising another man's baby. And Joan doesn't mind "marrying down" since the two can talk and work things out, and I just adored them!

However, Joan's scandal did get a bit confusing. I feel like I had missed something for most of the story, but it's just that not everything had been revealed yet. Edward is the scoundrel who took advantage of Joan, but he also begins blackmailing her. This is where I became puzzled. She has dirt on him with what he did to her, but now he wants her dress sketches or else he'll ruin her husband's businesses? I didn't really get it. I loved the fashion design angle, but things did become a bit muddle because too much was going on between them.

In the end, I found What a Lady Needs For Christmas delightful. It wasn't my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed it a lot. I do wish there had been a bit more Christmas cheer, especially since the entire family was together and seemed like they had things going on, but we don't get to see all of it. Joan and Dante spend a lot of time locked in their bedroom, if you catch my drift. Those scenes were a lot different than most romances that I've read, since Dante isn't this super confident lover. He's nervous and worries about not pleasing Joan, even if she doesn't know much about the act. It was just a nice change of pace.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.