An Icy Christmas Engagement: A Historical Regency Romance Novel (Christmas Matches of Worth Book 1)
You are the Christmas miracle I never believed I deserved.
Caroline Winterbourne’s quiet life as a widow hides her true identity as a secret author, a truth that could ruin her in the eyes of the ton.
A fragile bond forms when she crosses paths with Cedric Hutton, known for his cold resolve.
But a scandalous revelation threatens everything, leaving them to decide if they’ll risk it all for love.
*A Regency Christmas romance novel with dynamic characters, heart-wrenching twists, turns, and lots of romance. This story offers an irresistible escape into the world of the Christmas Regency period.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.
Get this novel and unlock the story of Cedric and Caroline today!
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Customer Reviews
F*******n
The icy Christmas Enggement.
Great plot, great read! Loved Caroline and her strength of character and Cedric mysterious businesses. Knew someone was sabotaging him. I thought it was going to be Ambrose or Isabella and Sinclair. Great red. Thank you Dorothy. PatMay 15, 2025
A*************r
Enjoying Read
I enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to read others books by Dorothy SheldonMay 13, 2025
K*************r
Enjoyable distraction!
I enjoyed the book very much, keep writing!April 24, 2025
P********s
An interesting encounter
Caroline wrote romance novels under a man’s name. Women were forbidden to have this profession. One day, Caroline was struggling with writer’s block. She decided to take a walk. She saw a man along the street who would be a perfect character for her book, so she decided to follow him. She was not being careful and fell. This good-looking gentleman caught her. Caroline was very intrigued by this man and hoped to see him again. Lord Colenhurst found discrepancies in his finances. His steward left abruptly. This was very suspicious. He hired a private detective to find the swindler. Caroline kept writing her novel. While she walked to and from the publisher, she felt someone following her. One day, a carriage splashed her while walking. While at a ball, a man revealed a secret that caused a scandal. People’s opinion of Caroline was ruined. Cedric, the man of Caroline’s dreams, was under attack, and it was causing a threat to his life and shipping business.March 10, 2025
K*************r
Never Say Never When Love is Involved
I absolutely loved this book! The Author knows how to grab hold of your interest from page one to the very last word. I fell in love with Cedric falling in love with Caroline & Caroline falling in love with Cedric. Fantastic storyline & characters were great to follow, allowing the book easy to read to the very end. This is a you don’t set it down & close the cover until the last word is read. Ms Sheldon, I hope you write many more like this one for me to read. I loved it!February 22, 2025
T******.
As a widow, Caroline was living an independent life and that is what attracted Cedric Immediately.
I loved this book. Caroline was living a wonderful life. She lived an independent life, which was unusual for the Regency era. She lived with her friend Louisa and was writing novels. Then her mom showed up trying to force her to marry again. Cedric had lived a hard life. He faced heartbreak and gave up on love. He was having problems with his business bec someone was trying to sabotage it. They had things to work out as Caroline & Cedric grew closer. Loved the ending.February 15, 2025
K*************r
Not dirty with sex
Well written. Just enough mystery and intrigue to keep it interesting. Was so thankful there was no porn I had to skip over. Clean and great story line.February 14, 2025
S******r
Can ice melt?
Anyone who enjoys regency era books should try Dorothy Sheldon. Granted, the editing in some of her shorter stories is not excellent, but you get to read and enjoy a beautiful love story after all is said and done. Unique characters and witty conversations, which are delightful! Ice does melt as we all know. What does it reveal? A hot Duke!January 28, 2025
J*******s
Awful
When reading this silliness, one is almost sickened by its juvenile intellect. Pass this one by; I wish I had.January 20, 2025
K**********************************************************************.
A very good read.
The trouble with a lot of these books are the endings which always seem rushed, no details of what happened to the villains in the story.January 8, 2025
A*************r
An Icy Christmas Engagement
Good book. Loved her roommate sense of humor. The mother was an unusual character in her match making. It never ceases to amaze how jealous can try to destroy people’s lives.January 4, 2025
B*******w
A Widow Finds Love
A touching story that revolves around a widow who was not looking for love but found it and the man who was not looking for love either but found it too. Having been in a loveless marriage Caroline was content with being alone but her meddling mother intruded into her life attempting to force her into meeting men she had no feeling for. Cedric had been betrayed by both the woman he loved and by his best friend so he had withdrawn from interactions, socially with women. Therefore it was a surprise to both of them that they were comfortable with each other and so their feelings for each other began to grow. Many complications were thrown in their path, from her mother to those scheming to ruin Cedric. A very good story with characters you could empathize and relate to so a very worthwhile, clean, read.January 2, 2025
J*********d
Cedric and Caroline
This is an exciting book with flawed but interesting characters. I enjoyed the relationships, including Caroline’s meddling mother. I liked the mystery and suspense. I enjoyed reading as the relationship developed between Carline and Cedric.December 27, 2024
M**V
An Independent Woman in Secret
After writing her first novel in second Caroline then writes a second only to be exposed at a ball where the love of her life waits. Then all for nothing until she finds a conspiracy against herself & her love, and when he is injured she runs & stays by his side until he awakes. Then the truth comes out!!December 26, 2024
B*********A
Good plot
Well developed characters and suspensefulDecember 23, 2024
N********n
Interesting
There isn’t much reference to Christmas as the title might suggest. The FMC is a widow who is enjoying her new independence after a dull marriage. She is writing novels, but is lacking inspiration for her second one which needs to be finished by Twelfth Night. The MMC is recovering from a failed relationship. His business seems to be someone’s target to ruin. There is a little mystery to solve which I find appealing.December 20, 2024
C*******n
Ice-Melting Engagement
Hokkaido A Who doesn’t love a strong heroine who meets her match. Swoon-worthy stares, kismet waltzes, and a hilarious best friend to boot? Must read, laugh, cringe, and delight in this love story!December 12, 2024
c******y
A writer who needs inspiration!
A young and lovely widow has found her calling as a writer. After a successful first novel, her second attempt is not worthy of publication. She needs a muse and finds the Ice Earl by chance. There are two story lines competing… a mother who insists that the heroine marry again, a hero whose first love betrayed him, and a scoundrel who will do anything to destroy him. All handled skillfully by this author.November 25, 2024
C***************g
Romance , intrigue, Happy Ending
Loved the mystery of who done it, the spark between the characters and the Happy Happy ending.November 23, 2024
e***5
An Icy Christmas Engagement!
I really loved the book. The characters were very well developed and the H/h were adorable! The extended epilogue tied everything together.November 21, 2024
K*************r
A Very Enjoyable Story
This is a mystery, an unlikely romance with a happy ending. The characters and their interactions are enjoyable. There is a bit of a unexpected twist as to who was trying to ruin Cedric’s business. Then there are all the machinations of various people trying to align marriages that are unwelcome by Cedric and Caroline. It is a lot of uncomfortable fun on the reader’s part. You will enjoy the characters and all the various intrigues AND the happy ending.November 20, 2024
h**********r
Wonderful story
Short of a classic, but great fun. Plenty of twists and turns, and a wonderful ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this bookNovember 20, 2024
V*****G
An Icy Christmas Engagement
If you like strong women in your stories then you will love this! Caroline is standing on her own two feet as a widow but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have problems. Her story involves hardships, struggles and some victories too along with her acquaintance with the icy Earl. Great characters telling a good story!November 17, 2024
a*******a
If you persist you will win
A very interesting story.She is a widow and a writer.He is heartbroken and in a very bad situation with his business. I liked how determined was Caroline .I liked her friend who was outspoken.I think everyone was well describedNovember 15, 2024
M***********n
woohoo
I loved this story. Thank you Dorothy S it was great fun to read an original storyline!!! Excitement, drama, suspense, revenge and love!!November 14, 2024
B****y
Clean Regency Romance
First time to read one of Ms Sheldon’s book. Very enjoyable and engaging storyline. Will be looking forward to reading more of her books.November 13, 2024
D******n
Love Surprises
Caroline Winterbourne has been free since she has been widowed and loving it. Living with her friend and working on her novels. Yes, she wrote novels but had to do so under a man’s name since this was a no, no by societies standards. She had not intentions of giving up what she found so satisfying to her. Then she accidently bumped into the most intriguing man and could not stop thinking of him. Cedric Hutton, Earl was the man she bumped into, and he felt the same about her. Although, he didn’t know if he could feel again what he had felt. In love once, and betrayed he was jaded. Even though they were finding their way towards their feelings there was more than one working against them, trying to manipulate what they wanted. ARC ReviewNovember 13, 2024
R******************e
Delightful
I recommend this book! It features a great mix of mystery and strong characters, making it really engaging. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I plan to read more books by this author.November 11, 2024
L*********n
Good
I really enjoyed this book. It started out a bit slow but then it took off and I couldn’t put it down. Cedric and Caroline were great together and had good chemistry. The bit of suspense was a great addition to the story.November 11, 2024
B************i
Delightful read
This author writes such delightful stories that are always interesting. One of the things I really like is that the female character is a strong woman for a woman in that time period. This book was no different. It was a sweet story about Caroline as a widow who also is a ghost writer of novels and runs into Cedric Hutton, a very handsome, icy cold man who doesn’t want anything to do with women. The story tells of the relationship the two of them go through during some difficult times and the hit of romance written throughout.November 10, 2024
B***Y
Good story
Liked the plot and characters. Interesting and entertaining.November 10, 2024
C***n
A Delightful Read
Caroline is a widow with no plans to marry. She instead wants to write novels, even though she needs to use a pen name. Cedric is hurting from a failed relationship and is struggling with a saboteur of his shipping business. There wasn’t a lot of Christmas references and I would’ve liked a longer explanation of the saboteur. Otherwise, a good read with likeable characters and a sweet romance.November 10, 2024
M************g
Fast read, light spark, very enjoyable
I highly recommend this book. It has mystery, strong characters and that spark you get when you meet that special person. I love books where the bad guy gets punished in the end.November 8, 2024
G*******h
Romance and mystery combine to make a happy ending!
Loved the independent widow determined to make her own way and only remarry for love. The power of love melted the Icy Earl’s heart. A good regency read!November 8, 2024
S********s
Light hearted clean romance
An Icy Christmas Engagement was a delightful story. Caroline and Cedric’s story was unique and the twists in the plot kept you guessing. I appreciate being able to read clean stories. Regency romance is one of my favorites.November 8, 2024
D*****L
Loved It!
I loved this story. Both Caroline and Cedric were great leads. Good supporting characters make for a very enjoyable read. Although they struggle to get to their HEA, love won’t be denied. I definitely recommend this book.November 7, 2024
V****r
love story
this was a beautiful love story in my opinion.November 6, 2024
E****************y
Loved this novel
Couldn’t put this one down. Plenty of mystery and suspense wrapped up in a beautiful love story.November 6, 2024
A**e
Good Love Story
Caroline is a young widow. She and a friend Louisa live together. Caroline’s mother Elizabeth comes to stay and she keeps trying to push Caroline towards men she has no interest in. Caroline is an author of romance novels but only Louisa and her publisher are aware of it. Caroline meets Cedric who is an Earl. His shipping business is having troubles but Cedric and Caroline are enthralled with each other. Interesting read.November 6, 2024
r**e
Good read
Well written, full of drama, love, chemistry, mystery, secrets, family and friends, society villains and Christmas. Caroline is a widow who is living with her friend, where she is able to write her books. Cedric is an Earl , who seems cold and reserved. But is really hiding from pain and his secrets. As they spend more time together they build a trust and friendship that develops to love. She helps to melt the ice around his heart and they get to have their happily ever after. Good characters some bad and good and a surprise villain to add in some spice. Would recommend to others. I received this book and leave this unbiased, honest review.November 6, 2024
G**********y
Great story and hard to put down
Absolutely loved this story and the characters in it. Had a hard time putting the book down to stop reading it. Great character development and a great endingNovember 5, 2024
Jo
Lovely
A lovely story that can hold your attention. Caroline is a secret author and likes it. Until Cedric comes along and everything changes. Great character interaction, reliable and relatable. Well written and an excellent job keeping the reader engaged.November 5, 2024
W***********r
Nice enjoyable read
I recently read An Icy Christmas Engagement. While it started off slow for me, I really enjoyed the ending, especially the extended epilogue. However, the story didn’t really have a Christmas feel to it other than it was set just before Christmas. There was no mention of any Christmas activities.November 5, 2024
S**************z
Love does not always happen the way you want it to
Caroline is a very determined female Who is trying to be something that males do not allow females to do. She are Cedric Snd is immediately drawn to him and he is drawn to her It takes a lot to let them finally fall in Love with each other. I love the story And the chartersNovember 4, 2024
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.November 4, 2024
S*H
Christmas with a dash of mystery and danger
Cedric and Caroline are a cute couple. I like the chemistry that builds between them, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the evil villain in this story was not exactly as I had expected. There isn’t much of a nod to Christmas, but it is definitely a story set in the winter, holiday season. The added element of mystery and danger are a bonus not normally found in a Christmas story, making it somewhat unique. The side characters are all solid, although it did seem that for a widowed woman, Caroline allowed her mother far too much control in her life for far too long. It would have been nice to know if there was any type of reparation in the end for all of the damage done to Cedric’s business. Overall a clean, sweet story worth the read.November 4, 2024
A**********n
Cool
FunNovember 4, 2024
M***i
Thawing
Caroline successfully thawed the Icy Duke who was really only hiding behind past hurts. Their story was a delight to read and moved at a good pace.November 4, 2024
A*************r
An Enjoyable Read
I throughly enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. First, the characters were relatable and strong. In addition, the storyline had substance. For instance, the idea of women living on their own in a period where this situation is uncommon was intriguing. Finally, the interaction between characters had the reader wanting to know what their outcome would be.November 4, 2024
K*************r
Enjoyable romance with a little mystery
An Icy Christmas Engagement Caroline and Cedric’s story is an entertaining love story challenged by her Mother, who knows best how Caroline should proceed, and his business dealings, thwarted by thieves and a fire. Throw in Caroline’s reluctance to marry due to a dull prior marriage, which left her a widow with freedom she is reluctant to forego and Cedric’s broken heart from a prior relationship and you have quite enough to address. The tale seemed to have little to do with Christmas, except that as a secret authoress, Caroline must finish a novel by Twelfth Night and there is a Christmas family gathering at the close. It would have been nice to have a little bit of Christmas charm, especially when she volunteered with the orphans. Although the impediments to the romance of the H and h are those used in many novels, they still seem unique because the characters are well developed individuals. Caroline and Cedric are warm characters, likeable and a mystery adds a special touch to the plot. Overall, a very enjoyable read.November 4, 2024
T************d
Good character development with interesting tensions
reasonably well edited, cute story with interesting tensions between the various characters.November 4, 2024
