Love in the Country

December 1925.

When the young Annabel Crawford trots back to the manor house on her beloved horse Juno, she is unimpressed by the surprising news her mother greets her with.

Lily Crawford explains that the Viscount Lassiter is unexpectedly joining them for Christmas dinner.

Her father, George Crawford, has extended an invitation to the Viscount who cannot spend Christmas at home due to the scandalous end to his engagement with Lady Lucinda, a woman with royal connections.

Annabel, already distraught at having to engage in ‘drawing room silliness’ over the festive period, is irritated that she will have to entertain this reprobate aristocrat who she has never even met.

On Christmas Eve the headstrong Annabel escapes her Aunt Hester's dreadful carol singing and takes Juno out for a ride.

But while riding, a bird lands on Juno’s head and startles the poor creature.

Annabel is thrown off her horse and into the ditch.

But when a shiny red Bentley turns the corner and two gentlemen come to her rescue, she is eternally grateful.

When she discovers her hero is Lord Lassiter and his servant Ronald Bassett, she resolves to distance herself from the man who jilted his fiancée.

With a swollen ankle putting her out of action for Christmas fun and dancing at their annual party, Annabel spends time with and grows fond of Bassett, who talks only of his master’s good nature.

Bassett kindles another friendship with Phyllis the cook, who appear to have a history of their own...

Meanwhile, Annabel finds her attraction to the Lord most inappropriate considering his scandalous past.

But when she discovers there is more to the broken engagement than meets the eye, she warms to the charming Lawrence Lassiter.

With the snow set to fall heavily, will the Christmas hunt be ruined?

Will Lassiter be forced to spend more time at the Crawford’s house?

And will the two lovers’ social status get in the way of a blossoming romance?

Lovein the Country was originally titled Christmas in the Country.

Praise for Jill Barry:

"An enjoyable romance, sensitively written." Holly Kinsella, author of Uptown Girl.

Jill Barry is the author of The Christmas Getaway, Devilish Delights, Love on the Menu, Suddenly You Know, A Life Less Lonely and Homefront. She is a former airhostess, secretary and guest house owner and now finds inspiration for her contemporary and historical romance novels in her own quiet corner of Wales.