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Courtney Milan (2012), Kindle Edition, 96 pages
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Fiction. Romance. Short Stories. Historical Fiction. HTML: Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can't forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation. Even though the worst of her indiscretion was kept secret, one other person knows the truth of those dark days: the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham. She wants nothing to do with him...or the butterflies that take flight in her stomach every time he looks her way. Jonas Grantham has a secret, too: He's been in love with Lydia for more than a year. This winter, he's determined to conquer her dislike and win her for his own. It all starts with a wager and a kiss... A Kiss for Midwinter is a novella (38,000 words) in the Brothers Sinister series. It follows The Duchess War. Each book stands on its own, but those who prefer to read in order might want to read that book first..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
A Kiss for Midwinter has a lot going for it, and features plenty of what I love about Courtney Milan. The dialogue is sharp and entertaining, and the historical detail is fascinating. So it is still better than many books I have read, but unfortunately I think it is my least favorite of her works.
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The problem is Lydia, who is not stupid, but who suddenly becomes stupid when a man who has made a bet with a kiss as the stakes if he wins says that he has been in love with somebody for over the past year and she does not realize that it's her. There are reasons why Lydia might have come to doubt the prospect of happiness, but I got far too much of a sense that she was making things harder than necessary. Show Less
LibraryThing member ktleyed
An endearing little story about a young physician who can't help but remember the young pregnant girl he met five years earlier and how he didn't do more to help her at the time. Now he suddenly realizes she's the same young woman he is considering marrying - the 11th prettiest girl in Leicester.
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Unfortunately, she remembers him only too well and resents the fact that he knows her secret and thinks he wants her for some sort of unscrupulous design. Little does she know that when he tells her he loves her he really means it and it takes them a few short weeks in mid-winter to realize that they were meant for each other. Lovely little story, I really liked this a lot. Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
This is a lovely novella that takes place between the first and second book in the Brothers Sinister series by Courtney Milan. This follows Lydia Charingford, the best friend of Minnie from book one in the series. Lydia has experienced some hardships in her past that only the closest people to her
I was really glad that this novella followed Lydia because when I read the first book in the series I was really interested in reading more about Lydia's past. Readers get to learn more about her past and get to see why she is the way she is. I also loved getting to read more about Doctor Grantham. I was happy to see both of them have some happiness in their lives finally. I would recommend this book to fans of the first book in the series and I would recommend that it be read after reading the first book.
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know about. There is one other person who knows about it, Doctor Jonas Grantham, and when he comes back into her life he brings with him memories that Lydia doesn't want to remember.I was really glad that this novella followed Lydia because when I read the first book in the series I was really interested in reading more about Lydia's past. Readers get to learn more about her past and get to see why she is the way she is. I also loved getting to read more about Doctor Grantham. I was happy to see both of them have some happiness in their lives finally. I would recommend this book to fans of the first book in the series and I would recommend that it be read after reading the first book.
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LibraryThing member writerbeverly
4.5 stars. Jonas Grantham is, on the surface, a sarcastic and clinical young man. Lydia Charingford appears blithe and carefree, if coldly resistant to the young doctor's attempts at courting.
Inside, both are hoarding guilty secrets; in fact, the mention of physical hoarding in this book came out
This is a very full, well-rounded story with much depth, especially for a novella. I've noticed that some reviewers were taken aback by the blunt language used by Doctor Grantham towards Miss Charingford. I perceived him to be pedantic, to perhaps have a touch of Asperger's Syndrome, and thus lacking the social filter which would prevent a young man from speaking about vaginas and French letters, or from informing her that she is the 11th prettiest young woman in the area.
I liked both characters very much, though Lydia was a little harder to hook into, until her ice began cracking. It was interesting, also, that the odor of pine, in the scenes set near the town Christmas tree, had a great deal to do with the collapsing of her barriers; scent has a great deal to do with unlocking memories, but I rarely see it used in fiction.
Very well-written story, great historical elements, unique characters, and wonderfully steamy consummation.
Inside, both are hoarding guilty secrets; in fact, the mention of physical hoarding in this book came out
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of the blue, but I was delighted to see it treated with intelligence and sensitivity.This is a very full, well-rounded story with much depth, especially for a novella. I've noticed that some reviewers were taken aback by the blunt language used by Doctor Grantham towards Miss Charingford. I perceived him to be pedantic, to perhaps have a touch of Asperger's Syndrome, and thus lacking the social filter which would prevent a young man from speaking about vaginas and French letters, or from informing her that she is the 11th prettiest young woman in the area.
I liked both characters very much, though Lydia was a little harder to hook into, until her ice began cracking. It was interesting, also, that the odor of pine, in the scenes set near the town Christmas tree, had a great deal to do with the collapsing of her barriers; scent has a great deal to do with unlocking memories, but I rarely see it used in fiction.
Very well-written story, great historical elements, unique characters, and wonderfully steamy consummation.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Lydia Charingford sees the bright side of everything and the best in everyone. With the exception of Dr. Jonas Grantham. That Grantham is one of a handful of people who knows the scandal that lays in Lydia's past makes every exchange with the man a painful one. But when Jonas makes a wager with
A lovely Christmas novella that has a great plot for such a short book. I enjoyed Lydia in The Duchess War and was pleased to get more background for the character and see her get her own happy ending. Jonas' bluntness and jokes about STIs also cracked me up, particularly given the setting of the novel in the 1860s when such topics were particularly taboo. Can stand alone if you're just looking for a Christmas romance read, but more enjoyable if read in sequence in the Sinister Brothers series.
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Lydia for the prize of a kiss if he wins and the prize of never speaking to her again if she does, Lydia can't resist.A lovely Christmas novella that has a great plot for such a short book. I enjoyed Lydia in The Duchess War and was pleased to get more background for the character and see her get her own happy ending. Jonas' bluntness and jokes about STIs also cracked me up, particularly given the setting of the novel in the 1860s when such topics were particularly taboo. Can stand alone if you're just looking for a Christmas romance read, but more enjoyable if read in sequence in the Sinister Brothers series.
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LibraryThing member lquilter
Another historical romance in the Brothers Sinister serious, with similarly anachronistic-feeling feel-goodness. A quick and cheerful entry in the "Christmas romance" genre (a genre I really don't get, but okay). I do like the occasional droplet of historic fact, like the point about the change in
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English Christmas traditions due to Prince Albert, or the composition of "Prussic acid" and its use as an abortifacient. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm2bookworm
I actually listened to this story from Audible, and you can too now, because right now this is a FREE Kindle with Whispersync for only $1.99.
This is one of those stories that you either love or you don’t, and I fall in the group of the former.
Ms. Milan never fails to populate her tales with many
We met both of these characters in the earlier books, so it was natural to bring them together, but the way this author does it is interesting and it will have you frustrated, sad and in the end you’ll rejoice in their unique relationship.
Without reviling too much, I have to tell you that this is a romance that deals with some issues that make you appreciate your parents just a bit more.
If you haven’t read the first book in the Brothers Sinister’s series, don’t fret, because this little gem totally stands on its own.
Just loved it.
Melanie for b2b
Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley
This is one of those stories that you either love or you don’t, and I fall in the group of the former.
Ms. Milan never fails to populate her tales with many
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complex characters and this short story had an abundance of them, from our hero and heroine to their parents and friends.We met both of these characters in the earlier books, so it was natural to bring them together, but the way this author does it is interesting and it will have you frustrated, sad and in the end you’ll rejoice in their unique relationship.
Without reviling too much, I have to tell you that this is a romance that deals with some issues that make you appreciate your parents just a bit more.
If you haven’t read the first book in the Brothers Sinister’s series, don’t fret, because this little gem totally stands on its own.
Just loved it.
Melanie for b2b
Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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LibraryThing member PNRList
This belongs on the abused heroine shelf, though Lydia doesn't resemble a lot of the women there. Most of the heroines of my favored trope were violently assaulted and their story is about recovering from the trauma of it. Lydia's tale is less understood to be abuse in society, Victorian or
I liked Lydia, but I adored Jonas. Another beta hero, I loved his lack of social graces and his frankness about medicine, but more than anything, I loved his forward thinking, downright feminist analysis of sexual education and birth control. Milan creates extremely unique, complex and engaging characters, and she is quickly becoming a favorite historical romance author for me. It's a genre I generally read for it's simple, escapist fun, or for it's formulaic plays to smooth my own insecurities; in short, light, easy reading. But everything I have read by Courtney Milan so far has pulled me in and made me invest in characters in a way I rarely do with books I am lazily devouring on a day off. On to the next!
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contemporary. But she was lied to and seduced as a very young girl - practically a child - so in my mind, it is not consensual, given her age and inability to truly make an informed decision. And reading her story and the impact of that experience makes that point well. I liked Lydia, but I adored Jonas. Another beta hero, I loved his lack of social graces and his frankness about medicine, but more than anything, I loved his forward thinking, downright feminist analysis of sexual education and birth control. Milan creates extremely unique, complex and engaging characters, and she is quickly becoming a favorite historical romance author for me. It's a genre I generally read for it's simple, escapist fun, or for it's formulaic plays to smooth my own insecurities; in short, light, easy reading. But everything I have read by Courtney Milan so far has pulled me in and made me invest in characters in a way I rarely do with books I am lazily devouring on a day off. On to the next!
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LibraryThing member Sarielle
I haven't read any other books in this series but this novella is really good.
Undevelopment is a common problem of short stories. But fortunately this is not the case. It is a simple love story but not without some depth, internal conflict and just a good idea behind all this.
Lydia and Jonas are
The romance of Jonas and Lydia is neither too simple nor too complicated. I like when in my books a man is more interested in a relationship than a woman. And you have to admit that Lydia has good reasons to be careful. I also like all the minor side threads that nicely complement this love story. Together they create a very pleasant story.
In fact, this short story is so good that I will certainly read some other works by this author. I haven't read any yet, so there are many possibilities.
Undevelopment is a common problem of short stories. But fortunately this is not the case. It is a simple love story but not without some depth, internal conflict and just a good idea behind all this.
Lydia and Jonas are
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fully developed characters that are easy to like. The author devoted a lot of time to displaying their past, thanks to which we fully understand what motivates them and why they behave and think in a certain way. As a result, they look authentic and it’s easy to get attached to them, which is also a common problem in some other novellas. The author also managed to maintain balance and, as a result, neither Lydia nor Jonas are excessively tortured characters.The romance of Jonas and Lydia is neither too simple nor too complicated. I like when in my books a man is more interested in a relationship than a woman. And you have to admit that Lydia has good reasons to be careful. I also like all the minor side threads that nicely complement this love story. Together they create a very pleasant story.
In fact, this short story is so good that I will certainly read some other works by this author. I haven't read any yet, so there are many possibilities.
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LibraryThing member samnreader
I get so immersed in the conversations in the book, and there's so much to appreciate.
I find it infuriating though that Lydia is slow on the uptake after the three patient visits, though I did understand her inner conflict. Also, I felt Lydia was slightly underdeveloped although I truly love, as
The fathers are what really round this story out, besides the detail and competence of the characters.
I find it infuriating though that Lydia is slow on the uptake after the three patient visits, though I did understand her inner conflict. Also, I felt Lydia was slightly underdeveloped although I truly love, as
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ever, Jonas's continued appreciation for herThe fathers are what really round this story out, besides the detail and competence of the characters.
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LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
My Cannonball Read secret pal loaned me an e-copy to see if I would enjoy this. I have to say: romance is just not my genre, but I get why people at CBR are crazy for Courtney Milan. She's all about female sexual empowerment, and that's (I understand) not so common in the genre.
LibraryThing member ssperson
I loved these two so much. I loved that Jonas was able to make Lydia see how much she was hurting without hurting her any further. And his frank talk about sex and body parts made me laugh.
LibraryThing member thewestwing
4.5 stars - So far these Brother Sinister books are a little odd. They don’t read like other typical historical romances to me. Like I’ve never seen a joke about gonorrhoea in a romance novel before. But I’m kinda loving the quirkiness of it. It makes for a different and memorable read.
LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
2nd read- I have a hard time with the notion of self delusion to any significant degree, and that's a major aspect in this story. I get that it can be a protective mechanism, so I'm not even saying it's improbable, just that it makes me uncomfortable and is off-putting for me in a character. It's
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all the more impressive then, that *overall* I still like this story despite that. I can't even explain how it's possible that so much of the story can be almost painful for me to withstand, and then at the end of it I'm so pleased. lol. Just that the good outweighs the bad. I like that both characters are flawed, and quite different from each other, but that they see the other more clearly as time goes by, and are good for each other. I like the medical history thrown in, and how the subplot of hoarding is handled. I like the peeks into the lives of all the characters, and the discussions of societal standards. The self delusion is unsettling to me, but in the end, it's just a strong piece. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2012-12-16
Local notes
Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can't forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation. Even though the worst of her indiscretion was kept secret, one other person knows the truth of those dark days: the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham. Jonas Grantham has a secret, too: He's been in love with Lydia for more than a year.