Search - An Affair Before Christmas

So many story lines! Yet, they wove together nicely leaving me quite pleased at the end, albeit a bit breathless!

I was more intrigued with the secondary characters than Fletch & Poppy, but Elosia James at her worst (and this certainly is not her worst) is better than many of the "better" works in the genre ... I do look forward to the next installment.

Georgian period. The number of story lines left me waiting for characters' personalities to develop even more than half way through the book. About three thirds of the way through, I found myself fighting whether to give up, or keep reading just to see if there was more to it.

It did develop a bit more from that point and the characters were likeable, but I was a bit disappointed for an Eloisa James book.

The ending was positive so I was appeased, but the overlying theme of the way marriage was looked at disappointed me. I read to see things that aren't like every day - happily ever after marriages, love at first sight, insurmountable obstacles defeated in a blink of an eye, and most of all an attraction between the h/h that charges the air I'm in.

I felt there were too many story lines as well, though I really liked Fletch and Poppy, in spite of Poppy's naivete and that their story really didn't pick up until the last third of the book. Fletch was just precious! Still a very good work by E. James - she's still one of my favorites!

I usually prefer regency stories, but tried this one, since I really like Eloisa James' regency series. I strongly suggest starting with the first book and keeping an open mind - this series tells all the characters' stories concurrently, with each book focusing on once couple's experience. However, the non-leads in each book are very important characters with wonderful stories of their own that you'll not want to miss. My only complaint is Poppy's childish view of her body & sex - it was like reading about an elementary-aged girl experiencing sex sometimes - very uncomfortable & creepy-feeling. However, perhaps that's what Eloisa was aiming for in this character? I wonder if the character's naivety could have been described in a more intelligent way. Thankfully, the book spends very little time on these particular scenes, and I certainly wouldn't want to miss the rest of the story. Now I can't wait for the Duke of Villiers' book!

I really enjoyed this book. There were about 5 story lines going at once. My favorite is the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont. I can't wait for that story line to be completed. Great book.