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The Earl's Mistletoe Bride

by Joanna Maitland

Jonathan has had a lot of trouble readjusting to being an earl after fighting in the war. It doesn't help that since his first wife has died, a wife he didn't really like, his mama is trying to get him leg shackled again to another featherbrained young miss. In an attempt to flee his mothe'rs matchmaking ways he flees to his favorite estate, an estate where, a few months back, he saved a woman from near death. But our hero is so hero-like he barely remembers the incident, so when he meets her again he's shocked to learn that Beth is that woman and that she has amnesia.

At first he doesn't believe Beth, and is sure she is trying to hide something terrible. But the more time he spends with her, the more her realizes that not only is she smart and witty, but that she is kind and generous to a fault. Jonathan finds himself comparing her to the other women in his life and finds that he likes her a good deal. A very good deal, and even not knowing her true background he offers her marriage.

Of course poor Beth has been in love with him from the start. Who wouldn't? He's a handsome a rich lord, nice, and he SAVED HER LIFE. She has serious hero worship, but as they get to know each other better that worship turns into something much deeper, so when he asks her to marry him she has to refuse - right? She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know where she comes from. But most of all she doesn't know if she's married or not. But Jon insists and Beth's in love, so she comes up with a scheme to find out...

Amnesia isn't my favorite storyline, but Maitland does a good job ofselling me a romance where the identity of our heroine is unknown, and her hero worship can turn into real love. Beth is nice and all, but it's Jonathan that really carries this story. He has a lot going on with a dead wife, PTSD from the war, learning to be an earl again, etc. Watching him fall for Beth a little bit against his will is what kept me turning the pages. Beth's background is of course discovered, but I have to admit to not caring much about that part. I just wasn't that into Beth. Still, she and Jonathan are a good couple.

Bottom Line: As I said before, amnesia isn't my favorite, but I enjoyed this book for the fast, light, read it was.