All is Mary and Bright (2020)

About the Book

Book: All is Mary and Bright

Series: Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair, #2

Author: Kasey Stockton

Release Date: October 24, 2020

Genre: Sweet Regency Romance, Christmas Lit

He’s found the woman he wants to marry—it’s a shame she is already engaged to someone else.

Mary Hatcher traveled to London to procure a trousseau for her upcoming marriage. When she attends the Frost Fair and meets a different man that ignites her interest, she tamps down the unwelcome feelings. But when her host’s son arrives at dinner and she learns he is the man she met at the Frost Fair, she has a new challenge: she must spend the Christmas Season in the same house as him without falling in love. 

Andrew Bright, the Earl of Sanders can never live up to his father’s legacy, so why bother trying? When he runs into a charming woman at the Frost Fair and later learns she is his mother’s guest, he is overjoyed. At least, until he learns of her engagement. But friendship with her is better than nothing, until she threatens to push him into doing what he has long avoided—stepping into his father’s shoes.

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My Thoughts

Kasey Stockton has become my new favorite author. I discovered her excellent writing when I read The Jewels of Halstead Manor. I knew after that read I had to get my hands on more of her novels. When I saw she had a Regency Christmas novel releasing, I rushed to pre-order it immediately. Am I glad I did! All is Mary and Bright is an excellent read. I loved every minute of this story. The storyline is highly engaging, sweet, and satisfying. The characters are well-crafted, realistic, and unique. And the romance is perfect. It begins as a sweet attraction but slowly blossoms into something much more. This story had me smiling from ear to ear and it definitely helped me get into the Christmas spirit.

Andrew Bright is the best part of this story. He is tall, dark, and handsome. He is commanding and powerful when he needs to be, but he is also genuinely sweet and thoughtful. What makes Andrew the best hero is manyfold. First, he may be handsome and commanding as the Earl of Sanders, but he is truly just a book nerd at heart! Yes, I find this particularly swoony … and so does Mary, the heroine of our story. Andrew loves novels, loves visiting bookstores, and longs for a woman he can share his book thoughts with. How perfect is that?! Second, Andrew actually longs to do well by others. He wants to make the lives of others better. He wants to be like his father, whom he believes is the paragon of what it means to be a man. At first, Andrew feels like a failure in comparison to his deceased father, but comes to realize that what really matters is a heart that longs to serve. So, he begins to serve others to the best of his abilities and chooses not to be held back by what he thinks are his shortcomings. Finally, what makes Andrew an excellent hero is his attention to detail. Andrew is a man who watches, who sees things where others might not, and then he acts based on the information he has gathered. The best is how he grows to anticipate Mary and her feelings and needs. He really does become one of the sweetest heroes I’ve ever read. In my humble opinion, Andrew makes this novel a real winner!

There really is so much to love about All is Mary and Bright. This book packs a real punch in just under 250 pages. It’s a well-done Regency Romance that will keep the reader turning pages well into the night and will help get them into the holiday spirit. I highly recommend this wonderful story and look forward to reading more novels by Kasey Stockton.

I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on October 23, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.