Beth Maybury has a past she’d rather forget. This past earned her the nickname Mistletoe Maybury. Never comfortable in elite Victorian society, she escaped London as soon as she could finish her training as a nurse, seeking refuge working in the Crimea. When she returned, she hid at the Bethnal Green clinic where she nursed many poor souls, including one former military man who had seen better days. When Teddy goes missing, and she finds him in the poor hospital, she agrees to care for him at the home of one upstart young man, Nate, who happens to be Teddy’s nephew. Off to a rocky start, a romance blossoms, but her past still haunts her, and it eventually catches up. Will Nate be able to overlook the travesty that haunts Beth?

His Lady of Mistletoe, Charlotte Jardine’s Victorian romance novel, is the third book of the Ladies of the Lamp series. It’s a heart-warming romance set in the post-Crimean War Victorian era. The plot follows the two protagonists, Beth and Maybury, who come together under rather unusual circumstances. Teddy, the patient and nephew who brings them together, is a character to adore and cheer on as he fights to overcome the infection he sustained from a dog bite. The plot is well developed and moves quickly with ample and era-suitable dialogue. This is a clean story, which is a pleasant change from the usual romances on the market, following the Victorian adage to leave the reader at the bedroom door and not take things any further. Settings are well described so that the reader instantly feels a part of the story—a very enjoyable read.

In this heartwarming Victorian romance, Charlotte Jardine's His Lady of Mistletoe, Beth Maybury comes from a very wealthy family but is happier when working at a soup kitchen and using her nursing skills to help those in need. Nate Hillier has a rags-to-riches story because he and his family made their quick fortune selling sweets made in their confectionery factory. Nate and Beth met when they were both looking for Nate's uncle, but for very different reasons. The two did not like each other from the start but were thrown together when Uncle Teddy refused to go home with Nate unless Beth was the nurse to care for him. Could Beth and Nate get along long enough for Beth to properly care for Uncle Teddy?

His Lady of Mistletoe is my first book by Charlotte Jardine, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were thoughtfully crafted, and it was interesting and fun following each one because they develop so well as the story unfolds. Beth was such a strong and feisty character and didn't mind putting Nate in his place, even though he was used to having his say. I had to smile several times as she set him straight about issues. The storyline was sweet and intriguing, and Ms. Jardine had no trouble keeping my attention until the last page. Charlotte Jardine's writing style is pleasant and easy to read, and she does a fantastic job researching the details. I love books with a Victorian setting. This one has a really nice historical setting, a sweet romance, two very different wealthy families, and a main character who cares more about helping people in need than the riches of her family. There's much more to love about this book when you read Charlotte Jardine's His Lady of Mistletoe.