Review of 'Twas the Night After Christmas (Hellions of Halstead Hall, #6)

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'Twas the Night After Christmas 
(Hellions of Halstead Hall, #6)
by Sabrina Jeffries
4.5 Stars of 5

Description: 
A heartwarming Christmas romance from a beloved New York Times bestselling author!

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has been estranged from his mother for most of his life. When his mother’s new companion, Mrs. Camilla Stuart, writes to tell him that his mother is seriously ill, he goes home. But when he learns that the lovely widow tricked him in order to effect a holiday reconciliation, he refuses to stay—unless she meets his “terms.” Somewhere between trying to seduce the beautiful Camilla and struggling with the cruel memories of his childhood Christmases, Pierce discovers that not only does forgiveness go two ways, but that love can blossom even in the coldest of winters.
(From Goodreads)

Review: 

I have read every book within the Hellions of Halstead Hall series and this one did not disappoint. 'Twas the Night After Christmas such a sweet, holiday read. 
The leading man, Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, is a tortured soul, which is my favorite kind of hero.
At the tender age of 8, he was abandoned by his parents, shipped off to boarding school, and shunned even after he came of age. After the death of his father, his mother tried to make contact, wanting to be in her son's life, but Pierce is not interested in getting to know the mother he had once been close with. Unfortunately for Pierce, Camilla Stuart, his mother’s hired companion, really wants to bring the estranged mother and son together, especially for Christmas. Camilla reaches out to Pierce and, believing that his mother is gravely ill, he rushes to be by her side. When he arrives and learns he was…kind tricked, he is not happy.
I truly enjoyed Camilla’s character. She was not the stereotypical regency heroine: orphaned, a widow with a child, she has never known love (not even in her first marriage), and she is an average woman, with curves. Also, I must add that I loved Pierce’s reaction when he met Camilla’s son and how he interacted with the boy. Got to love a man that loves kids.
Naturally, Pierce and Camilla know they should keep their relationship professional, but their attraction is immediate while their relationship slowly builds. The only reason I did not score this book 5 of 5 is because I felt it was a bit longer than necessary, some parts did drag. However, Sabrina Jeffries did a wonderful job with tailoring the plot around the holiday theme while keeping her characters interesting and providing a few twists at the end.
Whether you are a historical romance reader or not, you should pick this book up for the holiday season. It is heart warming, sweet, and has a touch of intrigue with a dash of mystery. I love this series and highly recommend it.