A Gypsy's Christmas Kiss

Scandal Meets Love (Connected by a Kiss, Book 6)

By: Dawn Brower

Narrated by: Megan Green

Lulia Vasile is a gypsy and proud of it. She's a master fencer and skilled at fortune-telling. She grew up playing roles in a traveling theater and performing at county fairs. Her life changed when she became friends with an earl's daughter and became involved in an exclusive ladies-only gaming den. She's successful but misses her family. She travels to their last known location to spend Christmastide with them. While there, she must decide what she wants for her future.

Finley Prescott, the duke of Clare, doesn't leave his estate unless it's necessary. His injuries at Waterloo have left him bitter, and he never expected to inherit the dukedom. That was supposed to be his brother's duty. Now, he has responsibilities and people who depend on him when all he wants is to disappear from the world. For him, all hope is gone, and he's not the hero England believes him to be.

After a chance meeting and a magical kiss, Lulia and Finley discover that sometimes, the one thing a person needs is the last thing they expect.

©2018 Dawn Brower (P)2018 Dawn Brower

English Gypsy Romance

This is the first book I listened to in this series, so all the characters were brand new to me. I thought the story was a little underdeveloped. Things moved quicker than I would have expected for the time period. They just met and suddenly Lulia was trying to figure out their relationship and desperate to see him again.
I also wasn't fond of the accent the narrator used for Lulia. She brought a strange lilt to the story that was difficult to follow.
I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Quick Happily ever after

This is a happily ever after book, but parts of it seemed cheesy. And I didn’t really like Lulia’s condescension towards the Ton that she was trying to be a part of. Definitely a “love at first sight” short story, so not a lot of character development, but it made me want to read another of her more-developed books, so that’s a win. Overall, it was a cute listen.

Narrator did a great job with her different voices. It was easy to keep track of who was talking. Love the exotic flair she put on Lulia’s voice.

Cute short listen

I prefer more in depth stories but this is a cute quick listen, kind of like a Hallmark movie. The reader did well also.

Second change love.....

I love second chance romances they always get me right in the heart, to have lost and found your true love is a dream of a lifetime. As always this is a short sweet story with wonderful characters and a delightful plot. Lulia is more than she seem, at the time of their first meeting she was a gypsy girl and he was a duke, young and filled with guilty he takes off but he never forgets the gypsy that touched his soul. Neither had forgotten about the other and the dreams that both felt. What follows is a touching story of their love.

The narrator did a really good job, she bring a lot to the audio with her touch of exotic in her voice she really brings the characters to life. Her character voice fit the characters, you always know who was talking, her male and female voice work well, her normal voice is very pleasant to listen to. There are no background noises, no volume changes and no breaks in the audio. I thought she did a great job pulling me in taking me away and giving me an audio I couldn’t put down.

Great PG Regency Romance

Over the holidays we did a lot of driving. I was able to play this book in the car with my kids 16,17,10 and not worry one bit that they would get a sex Ed class ☺️ I love my steamy historical romances but they aren’t appropriate for kids. This one even had my teen boys asking questions about courting. So it was great to have that conversation starter and get them interested in finding a true love in a world that is so fast paced them wanting to not jump straight into the dating scene because of a sweet book brings me joy. My only complaint is the narrator. Was not able to adjust to her reading but that’s a personal preference. #audiobookobsessionsreviewer

A Gypsy's. Christmas Kiss

This is about being raised by a Gyspy mother and a Aristocrat father who was disowned by his father for marriage to a Gyspy. There daughter wasn't allowed to reconnect to her grandparents. She meet a Duke .I loved the story and characters. I was given a ARC of this story and I highly recommend listening to the story.

Short, Sweet, and Clean

Finley, the Duke of Clare, isn't the warm and fuzzy type. The Battle of Waterloo and a few personal tragedy hasn't exactly made him open to love and everything that goes with it. But while out feeling sorry for himself, he comes upon a shop and meets a mysterious young woman.

Lulia is the daughter of a Romany princess and a disgraced English nobleman's son. Her mixed heritage means she doesn't fit anywhere, and when she's left orphaned, she relies on her few friends to keep her company. Teaching fencing lessons pays her bills, as does telling fortunes. When a sad young man with a chip on his shoulder comes into her shop, she might see more than she plans.

Years later, Lulia has slipped into English high society, spending time with her pupil turned friend, Diana. But she carries many secrets, even from those closest to her. One secret is the strange bond she felt with the young man she met so many years ago. And when the same young man steps back into her life, will her hidden past ruin everything or will the pieces fall into place just in time for Christmas?

This instalove story is what I like to call "Grammy Safe." I can listen to it with my grandmother in the car on my way to drop her off at mass with no worries. I can also listen to it on my way to drop my daughter at ballet class. The sweet story is driven mainly by emotions and unexplainable ties that draw Finley and Lulia together. Of course they're both very attractive, but a few chaste kisses are all this late Georgian era couple share on their way to happily ever after.

I do wish this book was longer and a little deeper where the story was concerned. When I say it was instalove, I mean they were completely fixed on each other after ten minutes to the point where even after ten years, they were still mad for each other. I would have liked to see why they loved each other without the vague "he's perfect" and "she's strong." Lulia is such a vivid character with such different parents and Finley has such an interesting past that I'm sure has many stories, that I'm left wanting more.
But the story was short and sweet and great for a little feel-good diversion that makes audiobooks so special. It certainly helped that while listening, it was snowing in my area, mimicking the flurries Lulia and Finley saw in England.

This is my first listen to a piece Megan Green lends her voice to. She has a certain inflection to her tone that really gave an exotic feel to the book. Lulia's accent was distinct, making it clear who was speaking when she was sharing a moment with Diana. Even the men had a slightly different tone and everyone's voice was consistent throughout the work. While consistency doesn't sound like something to be applauded, I have listened to some audiobooks where a character loses their accent midway through!

Overall, I enjoyed the story and wished that the rest of the series delved into it more, particularly where Lulia is concerned. How did her parents meet and fall in love? What's it like being a Romany princess? Did she have to give up fencing? Will she try for the Romany throne? Dawn Brower, if you read this, I would like more Lulia, please and thank you.

A Gypsy princess and a reluctant Earl

I started this book on my lunch hour, after the first paragraph I stopped listening so I could wait till I got home, could grab a glass of wine and snuggle up in front of the fire. I loved the storyline Lucia is the daughter of a Romany Princess and the son of an Earl. Her gypsys roots run strong making her independent and carefree. And then there’s Fin. Losing his father and becoming a Duke at such a young age takes such a toll on him. I loved the story, the secondary characters such as Diana Katherine and madame Debroux. Sweet romance with some surprises, I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

I wasn’t a fan of the narrator which is the result of the 4 stars. The story is easily a 5. Narrators is a personal preference so don’t let my rating dissuade you. The story is adorable

A Gypsy’s Christmas Kiss

A short sweet historical romance. When two people, from different backgrounds, are brought back together, there’s a chance that those long lost feelings can resurface. Will Fin and Lucia get their happily ever after?

An enjoyable listen with a great narration.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Second Chance Love Story

At first I was not a big fan of the narrator's voice and it did distract from my enjoyment of the book itself. I felt the narrator over emoted, was too dramatic in her presentation and trying to distinguish different characters for each persona.
Once she settled into the book this did improve, but I was already a bit distracted from the story.
Lulia Vasile is proud of her gypsy heritage yet she has secrets to keep, even from her closest friend.
Finley Prescott, the Duke of Clare, was not responsible for his father's death, but feels responsible. Afraid to get close to anyone else, he limits his relationships and prefers to spend time alone.
When, as a young man, he happens across a young gypsy girl and has his fortune told, he can't get her or her message out of his mind and heart. They meet again many years later. The initial attraction is still there.
I found him to be cold and distant, with nothing attractive about him. It was difficult to be sympathetic to his situation. I knew they would get together eventually but hoped he would show more depth and growth.