Regency Christmas Magic (Signet Regency Romance)
Author:
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Amanda McCabe is the only author of these five that I haven't read before now. I initially picked up this book because one of my favorites (Barbara Metzger) was offering a story. I would like to comment on the print font -- I've never commented on a book's font before. I found it hard to read with my older eyes. Fortunately, they only used this font in a few places; I wish they didn't use it at all. I found it really hard to read. This font seems to be often used in medieval stories -- which is why I avoid those books/stories.
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (Amanda McCabe) -- 2 stars
This is an awful story; I restarted it innumerable times. It just dragged to nowhere. I finally gave up on page 54; I couldn't stand it anymore. Essentially, it is about a lovely Jamaican woman who moved to Cornwell years before with her childhood friend. The friend has married and has children; they have all gone to Bath for Christmas. Antoinette stayed home because she has an herbal book to complete for her publisher. She meets a severely damaged naval Captain Payne, who avoids folks because of his burn scars.
THE ULTIMATE MAGIC (Allison Lane) -- 4 stars
Diana Russell is drop-dead beautiful and is used to having men fall all over her. She is engaged to Giles Merrimont, a Foreign Office diplomat, who is not paying proper attention (according to Diana's mind). She is considering canceling her wedding -- but it is only 4 days ahead. Edith Knowles has been hired to keep her young charge in line until young Diana can marry. Things are not going well. Lord Charles Beaumont has problems of his own. Everyone is gathered at the Russell home for Christmas and the wedding. However, Giles and Charles are trying to conduct some diplomatic work at the same time with a recalcitrant diplomat. It seems as if everyone is in a dither except Edith. Edith offers calm assurance and firm guidance (that so many of them need) to be successful. This story was more interesting than my feeble explanation.
THE TWO DANCING DAUGHTERS (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
A frustrated father hires Major Gabriel Blanchard (a wounded ex-soldier) to keep his two daughters from going out dancing every night (on the sly). They are meeting a man who promises to propose to Sylvia for Christmas. Major Blanchard promises to end the nightly flights by Christmas, at which time he will leave. However, he is instantly interested in the older sister, Rosamund. I thought this was going to be a great story -- and then it fell apart at the end. The way the author tied up Gabriel's problems (physical and monetary) was ridiculous.
THE ENCHANTED EARL (Barbara Metzger) -- 4 stars
Lady Laurel Haddington is tired of mourning. She married at 18 and was widowed after 7 years. Christmas is nigh and she's ready to celebrate the season and her newly-found freedom. She plans to invite everyone in the vicinity. She felt that everyone deserved some happiness after the terrible time they had endured under her late husband. The only oil-in-the-ointment was her difficult sister-in-law, who ranted over every expenditure. Something unique happens when Laurel advertises for a magician. Spinrod arrives and promises to protect her, her guests, and the Christmas celebration. And he does.
I was disappointed that I'd read this story in another anthology years ago. It's a lovely story.
THE GREEN GAUZE GOWN (Sandra Heath) -- 4 stars
Rosalind Harwood is a widow with two boys and has moved back to England so her older son can assume his role as sixth Marquess of Southdown. But Rosalind's second son, Jake, is having a fun time telling ghost stories, which Rosalind doesn't believe. Rosalind was in love, 10 years ago, with a man who quoted Shakespeare and wrote wonderful letters, Sir Henry Trafford. By some dubious chicanery, one of his friends copied his letters as love letters to Rosalind and she married him (Oliver Harwood).
Explaining the significance of the green gauze gown is too complicated for this brief review, but it is integral to the story. Overall score: 3.5 stars
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (Amanda McCabe) -- 2 stars
This is an awful story; I restarted it innumerable times. It just dragged to nowhere. I finally gave up on page 54; I couldn't stand it anymore. Essentially, it is about a lovely Jamaican woman who moved to Cornwell years before with her childhood friend. The friend has married and has children; they have all gone to Bath for Christmas. Antoinette stayed home because she has an herbal book to complete for her publisher. She meets a severely damaged naval Captain Payne, who avoids folks because of his burn scars.
THE ULTIMATE MAGIC (Allison Lane) -- 4 stars
Diana Russell is drop-dead beautiful and is used to having men fall all over her. She is engaged to Giles Merrimont, a Foreign Office diplomat, who is not paying proper attention (according to Diana's mind). She is considering canceling her wedding -- but it is only 4 days ahead. Edith Knowles has been hired to keep her young charge in line until young Diana can marry. Things are not going well. Lord Charles Beaumont has problems of his own. Everyone is gathered at the Russell home for Christmas and the wedding. However, Giles and Charles are trying to conduct some diplomatic work at the same time with a recalcitrant diplomat. It seems as if everyone is in a dither except Edith. Edith offers calm assurance and firm guidance (that so many of them need) to be successful. This story was more interesting than my feeble explanation.
THE TWO DANCING DAUGHTERS (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
A frustrated father hires Major Gabriel Blanchard (a wounded ex-soldier) to keep his two daughters from going out dancing every night (on the sly). They are meeting a man who promises to propose to Sylvia for Christmas. Major Blanchard promises to end the nightly flights by Christmas, at which time he will leave. However, he is instantly interested in the older sister, Rosamund. I thought this was going to be a great story -- and then it fell apart at the end. The way the author tied up Gabriel's problems (physical and monetary) was ridiculous.
THE ENCHANTED EARL (Barbara Metzger) -- 4 stars
Lady Laurel Haddington is tired of mourning. She married at 18 and was widowed after 7 years. Christmas is nigh and she's ready to celebrate the season and her newly-found freedom. She plans to invite everyone in the vicinity. She felt that everyone deserved some happiness after the terrible time they had endured under her late husband. The only oil-in-the-ointment was her difficult sister-in-law, who ranted over every expenditure. Something unique happens when Laurel advertises for a magician. Spinrod arrives and promises to protect her, her guests, and the Christmas celebration. And he does.
I was disappointed that I'd read this story in another anthology years ago. It's a lovely story.
THE GREEN GAUZE GOWN (Sandra Heath) -- 4 stars
Rosalind Harwood is a widow with two boys and has moved back to England so her older son can assume his role as sixth Marquess of Southdown. But Rosalind's second son, Jake, is having a fun time telling ghost stories, which Rosalind doesn't believe. Rosalind was in love, 10 years ago, with a man who quoted Shakespeare and wrote wonderful letters, Sir Henry Trafford. By some dubious chicanery, one of his friends copied his letters as love letters to Rosalind and she married him (Oliver Harwood).
Explaining the significance of the green gauze gown is too complicated for this brief review, but it is integral to the story. Overall score: 3.5 stars
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