The “fallen” ladies of Puddledon Manor’s Benevolent Home are determined to rise above scandal—and forge a sparkling new future operating their own brewery and alehouse…

With Christmas around the corner, Miss Caroline Anderson hoped to persuade a London tavern owner to carry the Home’s Widow’s Brew—only to discover the dastard was more interested in her ankles than her ale! To her further annoyance, her stagecoach back to Little Puddledon is waylaid by louts and a snow-covered ditch. Amid a nasty storm, Caro seeks shelter at a nearby estate—only to be greeted by Viscount Oakland, aka Nick, her brother’s childhood friend—and her schoolgirl crush. Now he’s the half-dressed host of what is clearly a holiday bacchanal. Still, his house is irresistibly warm.

Ever the free spirit, Nick has invited the wilder gentleman of the ton, and an assortment of London’s lightskirts, to celebrate Christmas in a more traditional, pagan fashion. So he’s surprised to find Caro at his door. Now, with a blizzard raging, he must take her in—despite his fear she won’t take to his guests, and worse, upend his party. But she may surprise him—and upend his life.

Titles in The Widow’s Brew series include – What Ales the Earl – The Merry Viscount –

Title:  The Merry Viscount
Series:  The Widow’s Brew #2
Author:  Sally MacKenzie
Genre:  Historical Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  September 24, 2019
Publisher:  Kensington Books – Zebra
My Rating:  4 stars

THE MERRY VISCOUNT is the second story in the Widow’s Brew series, although I will always suggest starting at the beginning of a series –  if you cannot this one can stand on its own very well.  I somehow missed the beginning book in this series so I’ll be going back for that soon.

The Cover Description tells you what you really need to know before picking up Caro’s and Nick’s story, but what it can’t tell you is how quickly these characters (and several secondary characters) are about to entertain you with an unusual story between two rather unique people.  I liked them both, for different reasons, but they fit together well.  Each is a wounded soul in their own ways, Caro from an incident she feels ‘ruined’ her good name and standing so never has tried to find love or marriage.  Nick from the oftentimes cruel upbringing by his uncle who he had to live with during his formative years.  I understood them both, but also wished that they could see themselves through someone else’s eyes – and that is how they eventually are seen, the real people, as they seem to be healing each other as they are falling in love.

I had several good laughs, some anger at characters’ actions, discovered a couple to root for a happy ending and met several secondary characters who eventually charmed me as the tone of Nick’s home (and party) changed into something far different.  I had fun, and that’s the point.  If you enjoy a good Christmas Historical Romance with engaging characters then you’ll want to check out THE MERRY VISCOUNT.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in a variety of formats including the Kindle