Margaret Fairbanks is due home for the holidays. On her way through the village, a winter storm whips up, and she’s forced to waylay her journey and spend the night at her family’s cottage. When she arrives, she discovers it inhabited by Grayson Rochester, a “gentleman farmer” seeking shelter from the storm.

The two discover they have much in common.

Both are widowers with children who eagerly await their return. They both have a secret they’re unwilling to share. And after several days of being snowbound, they soon share an undeniable desire for one another.

As the storm grows, so does their attraction. The small cabin becomes a cozy, romantic sanctuary. After several days of seclusion and intimacy, they go their separate ways. But the memories and irresistible pull change their holiday plans—and their futures.

This is an enchanting Victorian historical romance by Alyssa Clarke. It is book nine in Those Very Bad Fairbanks series and is faithful to its mates—an open-door steamy romance, yet still modestly charming with a dash of festive spirit. The protagonists are older, which gives this May-December romance a unique twist. The writing is solid, and the details and descriptors are full of luster and the vividity desired in a holiday read.

 Source: Purchased