Patience Friendly keeps her household afloat by her work writing an advice column for one of the London broadsheets. When her publisher, Dougal MacHugh, comes up with the idea of doing twelve days of columns leading up to Christmas in competition with another advice column Patience is unsure. But as she dives into the work she finds herself thriving and also finds herself looking at Dougal with a whole new appreciation.

A charming holiday romance set in the writing world. Despite suffering from an atrocious case of book name, Patience is a sympathetic character and while the whole plot is pretty predictable, it's still enjoyable. Like some of other Burrowes's work that I've read, her transitions between thoughts feel a bit rough and I often feel like I've missed something in the reading but I think some of that is her style. But not even that flaw is going to keep me from reading a holiday romance just days before Christmas. ( )

“Someday, Dougal wanted her to look at him the way she regarded that last half crumpet.”

It’s December and that means I crave holiday/winter wonderland reads and this delivered on those feels I wanted :) A 4 star read that had snowflakes falling, sexual tension, and mistletoe lurking!

Full review can be read at Historical Romance Magazine

I enjoyed this story with some Easy Turtle Cheesecake Fudge ( )

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at https://www.robinlovesreading.com.

What a delightful story. Patience Friendly is an advice columnist and steps up to the challenge against a rival columnist per the advice of her boss Douglas McHugh. Can they create more columns than ever before without tearing each other’s throats out?

During that era, it was not common for most women to have to work to support themselves, but that is what Patience must do. What is wonderful is that she excels at her job. Douglas loves the incredible talent that Patience has. How far can her push her, however?

Although hard work is key, the two share a mutual attraction. This brief regency romance has emotion, passion and humor. Crumpets anyone? 🙂

This novella was a bonus story in Not the Duke’s Darling by Elizabeth Hoyt.

Many thanks to Forever for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. ( )

Patience For Christmas by Grace Burrows is being released today, 12-18-18, in e-book form. This novella was previously included in The Virtues Of Christmas in 2016. This was my first read and I found it witty and well written. At times the lead characters are amazingly close to the repartee of Nick and Norah Charles. They play off each other well. As a person owned by a cat, I think King George is inspired and to be adored (my cat made me say that).

Our heroine is Patience Friendly, a fiery-haired, and tempered, advice columnist. This spinster has found a way to apply her talents to a job that pays the rent. Using her nom de plume has allowed Patience to live independently, not on the charity of distant relatives. Unfortunately the struggle for survival has left her a little isolated and lonely too. A dog would be a good companion (my dog made me say that).

Our hero is Dougal MacHenry, handsome, Scottish owner and publisher of the circulation that carries Patience's popular column. He's handsome, Scottish, and has a burr, that's really all you need to know (sigh). He thinks about, and enjoys meeting with, Patience a little more than an employer should. He thinks she's pretty and smells good. When he manages to get a kiss under the mistletoe the romance race is started.

To increase sales, and intrigue Patience, Dougal proposes a pen-to-pen contest with her popular rival. It's a he said, she said competition over the 12 days of Christmas. This requires the couple to spend lots and lots of time together. It's fun to keep up with the number of sweet treats mentioned and consumed during a mere eight chapters. It's astounding.

As this is a romance book there is a happy ending. We'd be up in arms if there wasn't. Receiving an ARC is a privilege, and one I enjoy. Being able to share my opinion is a pleasure. Both are free and without obligation. Happy reading. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Patience For Christmas is a lovely holiday novella by Grace Burrowes. It was originally published in the holiday collection The Virtues of Christmas. I adored the heroine Patience Friendly jilted by a suitor she is now considered to be quite on the shelf. Patience supports herself by writing an advice column for publisher Dougal MacHugh. With the holiday season fast approaching Patience enters into a battle of the columns with a rival advice columnist and in order to do so spends quite a bit of time with Dougal. Sparks fly but Dougal is keeping a secret and Patience is not sure she wants to give up her independence. The perfect story to curl up somewhere cozy with a cup of tea and while away a chilly afternoon. Medium Steam. Publishing Date December 18, 2018
#NetGalley #PatienceForChristmas #GraceBurrowes #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing ( )