I received this book from Netgalley and the author for an honest review. This does not in any way affect my opinion of the book and it's characters.

So, overall this book is an enjoyable quick read. This has been published before in 2011 and I really don't know why it was published again.

The story is simple - a widow with an ailing son inherits a lodge from an Earl she was hired during his dying days. His son loved the lodge and was angered when the lodge was given to a woman he didn't know, or know what her relation with his father was. The story then follows as they meet and eventually fall in love.

The story is sweet, simple and very very swift. I enjoyed the book, however it felt too short and everything moved forward too fast.

If you're looking for a quick simple read give this a shot.

Mary Milne finds herself the new owner of Darnley Lodge, when Lord Paxton leaves her the lodge in his will. Having been nearly destitute and with her son, Stevie, ill from the noxious air of London, Mary cannot believe her good fortune. Yet when she meets Lord Paxton’s son, David Arlington, she finds herself drawn to him. Likewise, David was intent on believing Mary to be a schemer, stealing his inheritance from him, but as he spends time with Mary and Stevie, he is soon captivated.
This was a sweet novella, that was easy to read. I must admit that Mary seemed a bit too good, never having a bad thought but the romance between her and David was enjoyable. I did so love Stevie’s character and found him to be the making of this story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Will he be able to part with his misconceptions...

Such a lovely read of a man misguided who finds much more than he expected when he went on a quest to unmask the woman he is so certain had bewitched and swindled his late father.
And to reconcile with the idea the kind and caring woman he is bewildered with is this woman.
David is mourning and can’t believe his father let go of a place dear to his heart.
Mary, a widow, has found a home better suited for her sick child.
When they meet sparks fly and doubts resurface, Mary’s kindness is the best clue to kill them in the egg.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 sweet

There is nothing wrong with this book. It is just so darn predictable that I could not give it a higher rating. It is a quick, novella read and if you are in the mood for some warm and fuzzes then go ahead. It is certainly not offensive. It may seem a bit early for a Christmas theme but it is never too early for me.

This was a cute little novella with a little Christmas cheer to go with the romance. The main female character is a kind and generous type that has fallen on very hard times as a widow with a son. The main male character is an Earl who lost his father shortly before this holiday. Together they make a lovely couple, giving comfort and love, not to mention family. #netgalley #countessbychristmas

I generally like Cheryl Bolen's books, but the story in this one was just too rushed. I felt there was little character development between the H and h, so there was no depth to the attraction. They were there "in place," they fell in love. The end. #CountessbyChristmas #NetGalley

This book was lovely, easy to read and absolutely sweet.
Inheriting Darnley Lodge from old Lord Paxton is the best thing that’s happened to lovely widow Mary Milne, whose fondest desire is to remove her ailing little boy from London’s noxious air.
But David, the new Lord Paxton is not happy about his father dying wish. Why in the devil did he request that he spend Christmas at Darnley with the scheming woman who’s deprived him of his family’s old hunting lodge?
These three are just too cute. Mary is so sweet and generous. Stevie, her son, is adorably and David…ok David is too perfect to be true but I like that a lot. This story is short (It took me an hour more or less to finished it) and I enjoy every minute of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mary Milne is a struggling widow with an ailing eight year old son Stevie so she’s both relieved & thrilled when she inherits Darnley Lodge from Lord Paxton. David Arlington is mourning his father & can't believe that their hunting lodge has been left to a woman who must be a schemer & he’s amazed that his father has requested that he spend Christmas at Darnley with her.
A short delightful & charmer novella, which I read in a sitting. I liked both Mary & David. She’s almost too good to be true & he has his eyes opened as things aren't what he's imagined. Stevie was a delight. There’s misunderstandings & a bumbling, boastful neighbour to add to this entertaining read.
The novella was first published in the Mistletoe & Mayhem anthology

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I would read this anytime not just Christmas 🎄. Great story and oh so spicy 🔥

Mary Milne is a young widow with a son who suffers from bad lungs, Barely surviving on her widow's pension, an unexpected gift will give them a home in the country away from the bad air in London. David, the new Lord Paxton, is bitter that his father left Danley Hall to a stranger. In a letter left by his father, his last request is for David to go to Danley Hall for Christmas. Can Divine intervention bring love to a couple who need each other? A short uplifting romance at Christmas.

This was almost too short to even review.

I guess it's a cute story. But the characters are flat and didn't feel like real people. The David is manipulative.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

This was a charming story that is part of a series, but I don't think the stories are related because there was no obvious references to other stories. It was just a group of friends drinking. But I liked this story so much. The heroine is a war widow with an 8 year old son who is so cute. He has bad lungs from catching lung fever in previous years. So the heroine has to take her son and walk for an hour in the freezing cold to go to a lawyer's office. She is told that a man she was hired to be a reader for left her a home. The hunting lodge of the estate that he left to his son. Him and his son spent their happiest times there and the son (the hero) was heart-broken when he learned the lodge was left to this widow. So he started proceedings to contest the will to get it back. But there was a letter from the father to say that the son had to stay Christmas at the lodge, since that was their custom.
This story had it all, romance, romantic setting, cute kids and kind servants and neighbors, a small village to shop.in....and it was Christmas. There were no spelling or grammatical errors in this book. The author was so descriptive that the reader felt transported to the story. It was a smooth continuous read from start to end. I liked the character development and how they grew over the chapters. And the child character was so sweet and not annoying at all. I give this story 5stars and recommend reading at anytime, not just Christmas!

A nice quick read, about 35 mins, with a guaranteed happy ending; perfect for reading on the commute. Easy reading, and a clean romance

Beautifully sweet love story! Countess by Christmas has every aspect needed for the love story between David and Mary, interesting way to meet, charming son, handsome heir and female lead who has a good and giving heart, and finally a challenging want to be husband.

About halfway through I went back to research Ms. Bolen and realized this novella was well into the House of Haverstock series. I was enjoying it so much that I decided to find the rest of the series to read, too.

There is a bit of a caveat to the enjoyment of Countess by Christmas. So, I apologize for this mini spoiler. *** I was a bit taken by surprise when I read the words ‘manly hunger’ about 75% into the romance -- just an odd, maybe old-fashioned, phrasing. And, I did not see the need for the sensual scene that followed. This was not an overtly sensual book and would have been just as enjoyable without that section. Do not misunderstand, I like sexual scenes and tension in books I read; it just seemed contrived and out of place.

Back to our H/h as I found them to be a perfect fit. David is quite understandably mistrustful as he meets Mary. It does not take long for her to win him over. This is an enjoyable read at Christmas or any other time.

Sweet novella about a widow, Mary, who inherits a much beloved country manor. The son who hoped to inherit the manor can’t figure out why his father left this stranger the manor and requested he spend Christmas there. Sparks fly and David realizes just what his father saw in this woman. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for my honest review.

This was such a beautiful and heartwarming Christmas novella, so well written and with characters that will melt your heart.

Mary and her son Stevie are a pure delight, I couldn't help smiling at their interactions with each other, such a loving relationship between a mother and her young son. David is such a kind and loving man as well and even though at first he's angry that his father left his beloved cottage to Mary, it doesn't take him long to realize and understand why his father did such a thing.

A clean romance that will make you smile and wanting to go get some mistletoe:)

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This Christmas tale was a sweet short book. A holiday pick me up on a grey day. The happily ever after was a little too quick. I would have preferred a little more time for the couple to spend together. I have read Cheryl Bolen books before and was happy to read another. In the end father did know best! Thank you Netgalley!

What a sweet story for David and Mary. Even though it was short, Ms. Bolen gave the reader a peek into their feelings and how they came to love each other. Very enjoyable especially with Mary's son playing a role in the book. David's interactions with him was so heartwarming.