Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance by Sophie Barnes – Blog Tour and Review Menu Skip to content Home About Review Policy and Contact Form December 19, 2018 Rose Blue Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance by Sophie Barnes – Blog Tour and Review Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance Blurb: Sometimes playing pretend can lead to the perfect romance… When Miss Leonora Compton decides to go to Sheffield and spend Christmas with her sister, she finds herself travelling with a man she cannot afford to like. But as their journey progresses she enters an unexpected partnership with him and realizes that things aren’t what they seem. Because Mr. Dalton is not only tempting. He may in fact be precisely what she needs. When Philip believes his travel companion requires protection, he immediately steps in to help by pretending to be her husband. For although the last thing he wants is to form an attachment, Philip is irrevocably drawn to the stunning red-head. And as they become better acquainted and their paths increasingly intertwined, he must decide if risking heartache again is worth the chance of finding true love. Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KGDR9FP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-comptons-christmas-romance-sophie-barnes/1129868541?ean=2940156352814 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/miss-compton-s-christmas-romance iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1442118819 Read an Excerpt: The Bull and Mouth coaching house was bustling with travelers buying tickets and preparing for departure while others climbed out of newly arrived coaches. Horses neighed and people shouted, pushing and shoving their way past each other, the loud noise occasionally drowned out by the sound of a horn. Her mother would likely have a fit if she ever found out that her daughter had chosen to travel alone on public transportation. In the past, Leonora had always taken a hired carriage, but that was before she’d become aware of the need to save every penny – back when her parents had paid the expense. In hindsight, she should perhaps have asked one of her parents’ maids to accompany her as chaperone. Except she’d been leading an independent life for the past eight months and had little desire to suffer the constant presence of someone insistent on making her follow a long list of rules. So Leonora clasped her belongings and wove her way through the crowd on her own. She’d purchased her ticket a week earlier just to be sure she would get one. “Where’s the coach for Sheffield?” she asked a team of hostlers who were in the process of switching out horses. One of the men pointed toward a coach on the opposite side of the courtyard, and Leonora thanked him before hurrying toward it. Her breath misted in the chill morning air as she stepped around the vehicle and prepared to show the coachman her ticket. But then she spotted him, and her entire body froze in place. Mr. Becker was here, and he was standing next to her coach, which only made Leonora’s heart beat harder. Because if there was one person she did not wish to spend one more second with, it was him. Least of all if they were to be confined to a place from which there could be no escape. Her chest tightened and she realized then that she was holding her breath. She inhaled sharply, the frigid air rushed down her throat and into her lungs where it started to burn. She hesitated briefly, torn between choosing to face him and walking away. He was speaking with a younger and much taller gentleman with dark brown hair. Mr. Becker smiled, his countenance far more pleasant than when he’d come to call on her earlier. The younger gentleman nodded politely and offered his hand which Mr. Becker promptly shook before tipping his hat, adding a comment, and walking away. The younger man watched him go before turning toward the coachman. The two exchanged a few words, and the younger man pulled out his pocket watch to check on the time. Leonora stepped forward. Thankfully, it did not seem as though she would have to endure Mr. Becker’s company. Just that of his friend. Determined to ignore him, she walked straight past the spot where he stood, her entire focus on the coachman. Reaching him, she set down her valise and retrieved her ticket from her reticule. “Thank you, miss,” the coachman said when she handed it to him. He glanced at her luggage. “That will have to go on top of the carriage or in the boot. Which do you prefer?” “I’ll put it in the boot,” Leonora told him. She picked up her valise and turned, only to find her path blocked by what had to be over six feet of solid masculinity. Leonora looked up and immediately bristled upon realizing not only that the man was Mr. Becker’s friend, but that he, upon further inspection, had eyes that weakened her knees and lips that quickened her pulse. He was, as it were, impossibly handsome, and that was almost more annoying than anything else that had happened that morning. “May I help you with that?” he inquired. Oh Lord, his voice was lovely too – like plush velvet sliding over her skin. Leonora squared her shoulders. “No thank you. I can manage perfectly well on my own.” She stepped around him quickly, before his angular jaw and broad shoulders could cause her to change her mind, and went to the boot. It already contained a trunk and a couple of other valises, which meant she would have to heft her own up and over in order to secure it. She glanced around. Surely there must be some Bull and Mouth employee available to help? If they were, none came to offer assistance. Leonora blew out a breath and proceeded to lift her valise, bringing her other hand underneath it while her reticule dangled back and forth from her wrist. Feeling the weight in her arms, she steadied herself against the carriage, bracing her body while struggling to push the darn thing toward the top of the boot. “Are you sure you don’t need help?” the handsomest man in the world inquired. “Absolutely,” Leonora panted. She was now holding her valise at shoulder level, supporting it against another valise that was in her way. Just a few more inches… “Have you always been this stubborn?” “I am not stubborn…just…” Ugh! She managed to wedge her shoulder underneath the valise, but its size and shape made it unstable, and before she could manage to steady herself properly, she felt the entire thing lean to one side. Oh no. She reached up attempting to grab it, but that only quickened the inevitable outcome. Her valise slipped from her shoulder and started to fall, until it was caught by a pair of large hands. Like Thor wielding his mighty hammer with seemingly little effort, Mr. Becker’s friend lifted the piece of luggage with infuriating ease and placed it securely in the boot. He stepped back and turned to face her, his toffee-colored eyes catching a ray of rare winter sunshine in the process. The effect was dazzling. More so when the edge of his mouth lifted to form a crooked smile with a perfect dimple placed right at the corner. Leonora swallowed. For heaven’s sake, her hands were trembling, though she quickly decided that this was from her recent exertion and not at all because of this handsome man’s attentions. She had no interest in him, she reminded herself. Not when he kept company with the sort of man who would happily force a woman from her home and place of business during Christmas. Deciding she would not allow him to divest her of her manners, she raised her chin and met his gaze boldly. “Thank you, sir.” His smile broadened. “Mr. Dalton.” He glanced aside for a second before returning his attention to her. “Mr. Philip Dalton. How do you do?” About the Author: Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses. While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing. She currently lives on the East Coast. Social Media Links: Website: http://www.sophiebarnes.com Newsletter: http://www.sophiebarnes.com/sb1/?page_id=2538 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophieBarnes/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarnesSophie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiebarnesromancewriter/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sophiebarnes/ Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sophie-barnes Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400052.Sophie_Barnes My Review: I received a complimentary copy of this book. At age twenty-four, Miss Leonora Compton has decided that she’ll never marry, and begins her campaign to convince her father to give her dowry directly to her so that she may open a shop. At first, Mr. Compton is opposed, feeling that a gentleman’s daughter doesn’t belong in trade. Leonora’s arguments eventually win him over, and she opens a flower and plant shop. She is just getting her business started when her new Scroogelike landlord doubles her rent, leaving her in a quandary as to how she should proceed. She is about to cancel her planned Christmas holiday at her sister’s home, when her employees urge her to take the break, assuring her they can run the shop in her absence. Leonora relents, and proceeds to catch the stage and head off for a brief holiday. Philip Dalton is a very successful businessman who can well afford to travel in luxury, but chooses to make use of the public stage for his occasional journeys. He is off to visit an old friend for Christmas, and notices that the lovely lady next to him is being harassed by the man on her other side. When Philip’s requests that he stop have no effect, Philip rashly declares that the lady, who happens to be Leonora, is his wife. Though Philip and Leonora get off to a bit of a rocky start, they begin to enjoy each other’s company very much over the two day journey, and regret that their time together is at an end. As fate would have it, the friend Philip is going to visit is none other than Leonora’s brother-in-law, and their acquaintance can continue for the next two weeks in a cozy and casual setting. It’s obvious that Sophie’s sister and brother-in-law are playing matchmakers, though the couple seems well on their way to romance without any help. Leonora is an independent woman, who would need a man strong enough to let her continue her business endeavor. Philip had a disastrous first marriage and resolved never to marry again, but Leonora is nothing like his deceitful deceased wife. It becomes clear that this couple belongs together as they grow closer every day. MISS COMPTON’S CHRISTMAS ROMANCE is a short, warm, and very sweet story of two people not expecting to find love, but who do find it in the unlikeliest of places in the season of miracles. Share this: Tweet Email Share on Tumblr Like this: Like Loading... Related Christmas Historical Romance Promotions Review Rose Sophie Barnes Published by Rose Blue Rose is an avid reader and reviewer, especially of historical romance. Her blog, Rosesareblue.net also features occasional guest or shared reviews. Please see contact information (on blog) to send a request by email. View all posts by Rose Blue Post navigation Previous Review – The Governess’s Convenient Marriage by Amanda McCabe Next Review – The Duke’s Suspicion by Susanna Craig 8 comments conniefischer says: December 19, 2018 at 10:34 AM Lucky you! I usually get ARCs from Sophie Barnes too but not this time. It sounds like a terrific story and I love your review! LikeLiked by 1 person Reply Rose Blue says: December 19, 2018 at 10:38 AM Hi, Connie. Thanks so much. It’s a delightful story – made for a nice break during the hectic holiday season. LikeLike Reply silvatrend8553 says: December 19, 2018 at 11:18 AM Reblogged this on Dog Eared Pages and commented: Featured yesterday on my blog, Sophie Barnes always seems to hit just the right note be it a novella like this one or a full length Historical romance. LikeLiked by 1 person Reply Rose Blue says: December 19, 2018 at 11:42 AM Thanks so much for sharing the blog post! LikeLike Reply Mary says: December 19, 2018 at 11:38 AM Just bought it! Thanks for blogging about it because I hadn’t heard of it. LikeLiked by 1 person Reply Rose Blue says: December 19, 2018 at 11:43 AM Hi, Mary. Hope you enjoy! LikeLike Reply Sophie Barnes says: December 20, 2018 at 8:21 AM Thank you so much for participating in the tour and for taking the time to read and review! LikeLiked by 1 person Reply Rose Blue says: December 20, 2018 at 8:23 AM My pleasure, Sophie. I enjoyed the story! LikeLike Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here... Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Website You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change ) You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change ) You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change ) Cancel Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Δ Follow Blog via Email Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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