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Signet Christmas Anthologies #5
Regency Christmas Spirits
Celebrate the spirit of the season with this delightful collection of holiday tales from five of the most beloved and bestselling authors to pen Regency romances.
Contains:
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
“A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens
Contains:
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
“A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
107 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Butler
62 books71 followersNancy Butler also writes under her real name, Nancy J. Hajeski.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
Nancy Butler has been an Anglophile since she was nineteen, when she traveled to England to see Carnaby Street. (“I blame it on the Beatles!”) Her frequent visits to an American friend living in London have furnished her with enough inspiration to keep writing Regencies well into the new millennium.
Butler resides in northern New Jersey with two cats, Aja and Puck, surrounded by her collection of artwork, funky antiques, and books. When she manages to get away from her computer, she can usually be found riding her quarter horse mare, Ginger, through the scenic wilds of Bergen County.
Butler is the 1998 Golden Leaf Award winner for Best First Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 24, 2019
The Merry Wanderer by Nancy Butler - 3*
When HR meets the mythical, the legendary and the arcane!
This could have so good but the story, the romance gets embroiled with history - Tudor, pre-Norman and folk - druidic and Arthurian (why is he dragged into anything even remotely 'magical'?).
The Wexford Carol by Emma Jensen - 4.15*
This h, here, is Irish and is trying to save her home, an ancient historical place but a veritable pile of stones from being razed by the new owner. Her cousin, the new heir, has sold it even knowing how much it means to her. We have known lots of hs in similar situations and they mostly get annoying but Lizzie here is a true heroine - a sweet, uncomplaining girl who actually loves the place and tries her best to keep it from falling around her ears. She also sees it her duty to prevent it from being torn down by making the new owner aware of the history and (bygone) glory of the place.
The new owner (a Welsh duke) sends his agent, a naval captain who arrives with his nephew, to assess the situation. The h tries her damnedest to present a good picture of the house, quite unsuccessfully and herein lies the angst. Her untiring and unalloyed love for the place. I actually teared up at places.
The captain, the H, is actually the duke's brother. He doesn't let on his relationship with the owner and tries his best to keep a rational and practical approach while making judgements regarding the pile of stones that keeps falling down, around and over his head.
He tries to ignore the very beautiful and valiant girl and her efforts but it's Christmas as his nephew reminds him and loses the battle, day by day. But, still he keeps his heart under control. By the way, her cousin muddies the waters for the H by talking about their (h-cousin) upcoming nuptials.
I have some issues with ending otherwise it's a 5*.
High Spirits by Edith Layton - 3.75*
This is a strange one. But realistic. Sweet, likable h and an (too) easily smitten rake but
I like the ending and the H's way of handling things.
The Christmas Curse by Barbara Metzger - 4*
This one is Metzger sweet! A pair of medieval ghosts - husband and wide - stuck in this world due to a Christmas- time curse (of their own making) try their best to nudge their present day descendant - a grumpy scarred baron - towards matrimony. The h - a neighboring widow - is the descendant of their old enemy.
The whole exercise involves a haunted(!) castle, scared servants and neighbors, a surly uncaring baron, sightings of a naked winking knight, an accident on the nearby road and swooning old ladies who need nursing. The h, a steadfast steady sort, volunteers to venture where no one dares to, during Christmas time. And manages to save more a couple of old biddies.
A Gathering of Gifts by Andrea Pickens - 3*
Could have been so much better. Almost a taming of the shrew. The h starts as a selfish and shallow heiress who twists her ankle and has to take refuge at the home of a newly minted baron - a poor, ex-soldier semi-gentleman. He recognizes her type when he sees her. A cold war ensues that fizzles out pretty fast. I wish some more sparks had flown but then it's a short story.
When HR meets the mythical, the legendary and the arcane!
This could have so good but the story, the romance gets embroiled with history - Tudor, pre-Norman and folk - druidic and Arthurian (why is he dragged into anything even remotely 'magical'?).
The Wexford Carol by Emma Jensen - 4.15*
This h, here, is Irish and is trying to save her home, an ancient historical place but a veritable pile of stones from being razed by the new owner. Her cousin, the new heir, has sold it even knowing how much it means to her. We have known lots of hs in similar situations and they mostly get annoying but Lizzie here is a true heroine - a sweet, uncomplaining girl who actually loves the place and tries her best to keep it from falling around her ears. She also sees it her duty to prevent it from being torn down by making the new owner aware of the history and (bygone) glory of the place.
The new owner (a Welsh duke) sends his agent, a naval captain who arrives with his nephew, to assess the situation. The h tries her damnedest to present a good picture of the house, quite unsuccessfully and herein lies the angst. Her untiring and unalloyed love for the place. I actually teared up at places.
The captain, the H, is actually the duke's brother. He doesn't let on his relationship with the owner and tries his best to keep a rational and practical approach while making judgements regarding the pile of stones that keeps falling down, around and over his head.
He tries to ignore the very beautiful and valiant girl and her efforts but it's Christmas as his nephew reminds him and loses the battle, day by day. But, still he keeps his heart under control. By the way, her cousin muddies the waters for the H by talking about their (h-cousin) upcoming nuptials.
I have some issues with ending otherwise it's a 5*.
High Spirits by Edith Layton - 3.75*
This is a strange one. But realistic. Sweet, likable h and an (too) easily smitten rake but
I like the ending and the H's way of handling things.
The Christmas Curse by Barbara Metzger - 4*
This one is Metzger sweet! A pair of medieval ghosts - husband and wide - stuck in this world due to a Christmas- time curse (of their own making) try their best to nudge their present day descendant - a grumpy scarred baron - towards matrimony. The h - a neighboring widow - is the descendant of their old enemy.
The whole exercise involves a haunted(!) castle, scared servants and neighbors, a surly uncaring baron, sightings of a naked winking knight, an accident on the nearby road and swooning old ladies who need nursing. The h, a steadfast steady sort, volunteers to venture where no one dares to, during Christmas time. And manages to save more a couple of old biddies.
A Gathering of Gifts by Andrea Pickens - 3*
Could have been so much better. Almost a taming of the shrew. The h starts as a selfish and shallow heiress who twists her ankle and has to take refuge at the home of a newly minted baron - a poor, ex-soldier semi-gentleman. He recognizes her type when he sees her. A cold war ensues that fizzles out pretty fast. I wish some more sparks had flown but then it's a short story.
December 3, 2016
3.5 stars
Read this for 12 Tasks of the Festive Season:
Task the Sixth: The Hanukkah:
- Let the dreidel choose a book for you: create a list of four books, and assign a dreidel symbol to each one (Nun=miracle; Gimel=great; He=happened; Shin=there, i.e. Israel). Google "spin the dreidel," and a dreidel comes up for you to spin. Give it a spin and read the book that the dreidel chooses!
Not to sound all "get off my lawn!" but reading older published stories (they have their problems too) is sometimes very refreshing; it's amazing how much story can be created in favor of just hurriedly working to get the leads into bed. I like my sexy times but purpose and dialogue, y'all. These were all short, sweet, and nothing beyond kissing regency holiday stories.
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler
3 stars
But as often as he'd willingly played the fool for his master or his mistress, he had never yet played the fool for love.
This one had a magical feel to it with Robin Goodfellow, Merlin, faeries, and an Arthur sighting. The heroine's family guards a very important faerie book and Robin visits to make sure the heroine is up to the task of guarding it. It was a bit slow moving but fairy tale fun.
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
3.5 stars
"Is that what you will wish for, then? My speedy demise?"
"Goodness. A jest. Very good, Captain."
As he watched, surprised, charmed, and increasingly warm, she removed another sprig of holly from her pocket, tucked it into a buttonhole on his coat, and briskly patted his chest.
"As you could easily guess, I will make a wish for Hollymore."
With that, she stepped back, draped an arm around the cherub, and surveyed her handiwork on Rhys's coat. She gave a satisfied nod. In that brief moment, Rhys was enchanted to his toes.
This was a super sweet and funny story but was little bit lacking in the showing the relationship build between leads (these were all pretty short stories). The hero and heroine spend a week together with the hero's cheeky nephew, mistaken identities, semi-villain relatives and a house with more character than stable walls. It was lovely and being set in Ireland, gave it a beautiful Irish Christmas spirit.
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
4 stars
He'd never be thought of as handsome, except in a certain light and at certain moments, when anyone could see he was much more than that.
My favorite from the series because the author was able to build and create a relationship between the leads in the short amount of time allotted. The heroine is having her season but super nervous so her brother advises her to imbibe a bit for Dutch courage. Hero is sent by his sister and aunt to call on heroine to warn her away from his cousin who they want to marry someone else. Hero is charmed by her and calls on her during the day, falling love. At night he is shocked by her flirty different attitude at balls, figures out she is drinking, takes her to a pub to show her alcoholics, and gives her a come to Jesus talk. It sounds preachy but the heroine's shyness and the hero's melting stoicism makes this a very sweet story.
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
2 stars
" 'Til Death do you part, lad?" he said with a smile and a wink for his own beloved. "That's not the half of it."
This one has ghosts for "spirits" with a medieval couple haunting a castle, able to actually affect things during the week of Christmas, because the husband in a jealous act jousted someone but died and the wife had made curse that if he didn't return her ring to the castle they would never rest. Their heir and hero is a battle scarred war hero and our heroine is a widow with a horrible aunt. There's guilt, shame, anger, fear, and love but the characters and story all felt a bit disjointed. We get great flushed out backstories for the heroine and hero but current scenes with them together were missing, I wanted to see them fall in love.
“A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens
3.5 stars
Indeed, the more they spoke, the more intriguing she became.
This involved a Duke's daughter who started off a total spoiled brat and an ex-soldier who wouldn't give into her whims. Heroine injured her ankle so has to stay at the hero's manor, where they bicker and snark themselves into falling in love. The hero's sister, nephew, heroine's cousin, and others gave this a great fun cast of characters. I really liked how it was shown how the hero and heroine caused each other to grow and become better, very charming story.
Read this for 12 Tasks of the Festive Season:
Task the Sixth: The Hanukkah:
- Let the dreidel choose a book for you: create a list of four books, and assign a dreidel symbol to each one (Nun=miracle; Gimel=great; He=happened; Shin=there, i.e. Israel). Google "spin the dreidel," and a dreidel comes up for you to spin. Give it a spin and read the book that the dreidel chooses!
Not to sound all "get off my lawn!" but reading older published stories (they have their problems too) is sometimes very refreshing; it's amazing how much story can be created in favor of just hurriedly working to get the leads into bed. I like my sexy times but purpose and dialogue, y'all. These were all short, sweet, and nothing beyond kissing regency holiday stories.
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler
3 stars
But as often as he'd willingly played the fool for his master or his mistress, he had never yet played the fool for love.
This one had a magical feel to it with Robin Goodfellow, Merlin, faeries, and an Arthur sighting. The heroine's family guards a very important faerie book and Robin visits to make sure the heroine is up to the task of guarding it. It was a bit slow moving but fairy tale fun.
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
3.5 stars
"Is that what you will wish for, then? My speedy demise?"
"Goodness. A jest. Very good, Captain."
As he watched, surprised, charmed, and increasingly warm, she removed another sprig of holly from her pocket, tucked it into a buttonhole on his coat, and briskly patted his chest.
"As you could easily guess, I will make a wish for Hollymore."
With that, she stepped back, draped an arm around the cherub, and surveyed her handiwork on Rhys's coat. She gave a satisfied nod. In that brief moment, Rhys was enchanted to his toes.
This was a super sweet and funny story but was little bit lacking in the showing the relationship build between leads (these were all pretty short stories). The hero and heroine spend a week together with the hero's cheeky nephew, mistaken identities, semi-villain relatives and a house with more character than stable walls. It was lovely and being set in Ireland, gave it a beautiful Irish Christmas spirit.
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
4 stars
He'd never be thought of as handsome, except in a certain light and at certain moments, when anyone could see he was much more than that.
My favorite from the series because the author was able to build and create a relationship between the leads in the short amount of time allotted. The heroine is having her season but super nervous so her brother advises her to imbibe a bit for Dutch courage. Hero is sent by his sister and aunt to call on heroine to warn her away from his cousin who they want to marry someone else. Hero is charmed by her and calls on her during the day, falling love. At night he is shocked by her flirty different attitude at balls, figures out she is drinking, takes her to a pub to show her alcoholics, and gives her a come to Jesus talk. It sounds preachy but the heroine's shyness and the hero's melting stoicism makes this a very sweet story.
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
2 stars
" 'Til Death do you part, lad?" he said with a smile and a wink for his own beloved. "That's not the half of it."
This one has ghosts for "spirits" with a medieval couple haunting a castle, able to actually affect things during the week of Christmas, because the husband in a jealous act jousted someone but died and the wife had made curse that if he didn't return her ring to the castle they would never rest. Their heir and hero is a battle scarred war hero and our heroine is a widow with a horrible aunt. There's guilt, shame, anger, fear, and love but the characters and story all felt a bit disjointed. We get great flushed out backstories for the heroine and hero but current scenes with them together were missing, I wanted to see them fall in love.
“A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens
3.5 stars
Indeed, the more they spoke, the more intriguing she became.
This involved a Duke's daughter who started off a total spoiled brat and an ex-soldier who wouldn't give into her whims. Heroine injured her ankle so has to stay at the hero's manor, where they bicker and snark themselves into falling in love. The hero's sister, nephew, heroine's cousin, and others gave this a great fun cast of characters. I really liked how it was shown how the hero and heroine caused each other to grow and become better, very charming story.
December 15, 2009
Another Signet Christmas Anthology, the common theme here is Spirits although they can come in various forms:
The Merry Wanderer - Nancy Butler
Julia is the Lady of Islay, after the death of her father she is now the keeper of a special book that is invaluable for the fairy world. Robin is the being sent to see if she will be a good keeper or find her a husband that is. An ok read but not memorable. Grade: 3.5/5
The Wexford Carol - Emma Jensen
This one was a really nice story about a woman who is trying to keep her ancestral home in order and good repair despite the fact that it has been sold by the cousin who inherited it and the man sent by the new owner to oversee the property. Some funny secondary characters helped keeping this a light story. Grade: 4/5
High Spirits - Edith Layton
My favourite. It's not everyday we have a heroine who likes too drink a bit too much. The hero was your common rake with a good heart but the original heroine and plot with the hero trying to make the heroine sober more than made up for it. Grade: 4.5/5
The Christmas Curse - Barbara Metzger
Two ghosts can not find eternal rest while their descendant doesn't put the Lady's wedding ring on his beloved's finger. So they plot to see that happen. The descendant is Lord Worth who returned home with scars from the Peninsular War and the heroine is the widow Amelia Merriot who stays at his home to nurse two old ladies. One of the last scenes, the dinner, is a very funny comedy of errors. Grade: 4/5
A Gathering of Gifts - Andrea Pickens
Although this story was a bit predictable it made me think of Jane Austen's Emma and not only because the heroine is named Emma. She is also wilful and too used to having her own way. When an accident leaves her unable to move in a neighbour's home for a few days she has to do a bit of growing up and realise things can't always go as she wants. Grade: 4/5
Anthology grade: 4/5
The Merry Wanderer - Nancy Butler
Julia is the Lady of Islay, after the death of her father she is now the keeper of a special book that is invaluable for the fairy world. Robin is the being sent to see if she will be a good keeper or find her a husband that is. An ok read but not memorable. Grade: 3.5/5
The Wexford Carol - Emma Jensen
This one was a really nice story about a woman who is trying to keep her ancestral home in order and good repair despite the fact that it has been sold by the cousin who inherited it and the man sent by the new owner to oversee the property. Some funny secondary characters helped keeping this a light story. Grade: 4/5
High Spirits - Edith Layton
My favourite. It's not everyday we have a heroine who likes too drink a bit too much. The hero was your common rake with a good heart but the original heroine and plot with the hero trying to make the heroine sober more than made up for it. Grade: 4.5/5
The Christmas Curse - Barbara Metzger
Two ghosts can not find eternal rest while their descendant doesn't put the Lady's wedding ring on his beloved's finger. So they plot to see that happen. The descendant is Lord Worth who returned home with scars from the Peninsular War and the heroine is the widow Amelia Merriot who stays at his home to nurse two old ladies. One of the last scenes, the dinner, is a very funny comedy of errors. Grade: 4/5
A Gathering of Gifts - Andrea Pickens
Although this story was a bit predictable it made me think of Jane Austen's Emma and not only because the heroine is named Emma. She is also wilful and too used to having her own way. When an accident leaves her unable to move in a neighbour's home for a few days she has to do a bit of growing up and realise things can't always go as she wants. Grade: 4/5
Anthology grade: 4/5
December 18, 2018
Yawn! These chaste regency romances can be so boring! Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t make the snooty English class of the Jane Austen period anymore exciting, especially when dealing with “good girl” virgin-types. Ugh!
June 14, 2018
Hello, this is me, reading a Christmas anthology in June. That's just how I roll.
Best to worst:
High Spirits - ★★★½ - most likely to reread #1
The Wexford Carol - ★★★½ - most likely to reread #2
A Gathering of Gifts - ★★★
The Merry Wanderer - ★★★
The Christmas Curse - ★★★
Best to worst:
High Spirits - ★★★½ - most likely to reread #1
The Wexford Carol - ★★★½ - most likely to reread #2
A Gathering of Gifts - ★★★
The Merry Wanderer - ★★★
The Christmas Curse - ★★★
December 30, 2016
I liked some of the stories better than others. I like reading anthologies when I am in search of new authors. It gives me a glimpse of their style and character development.
March 27, 2022
A mixed bag but mostly pretty clever and fun.
September 7, 2016
I must first say, I ABSOLUTELY HATED “A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens, and it's because of that one I'm giving this anthology two stars which otherwise would have been three or four.
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler : 3 stars. Enjoyable, especially liked how it combined old myths with regency setting. An okay read.
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
If it weren't for how the story ended, I'd give it three stars, but the unexpected discovery was a nice touch. 4 stars.
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
Written by Edith Layton. Need I explain more? Lovely, with an unusual heroine who had too much spirit. 5 stars
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
We've got two spirits, and I love how Barbar Metzger incorporates these non-human helpers(usually animals, but ghosts aren't bad either) into her novellas. 4 stars.
And now, “A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens.
Well maybe the novella itself might not have been that bad, I didn't really finish it so I don't know. BUT I HATED EMMA , the oh so pretty, blonde, clever, funny, good natured, loyal, etc, etc Emma so much that I had to stop reading it or either throw the book against the wall.
She's just a bitch. And I hated how everyone(even those who are aware of her faults) tries to cover up her utter selfishness, disregard for others, meanness as "having opinion of her own" "show of spunk" "mere stubornness" "she didn't mean it", etc, etc. You know what? A bitch is someone who has opinion of her own (mostly mean ones about others), has enough backbone to fling insults at others, and has to be stubborn to lead her clique. They are good to their friends and people they like, even to the point of loyalness. And they are often so obnoxious that they never fully realize the impact of what they've done.
And just like every heroines who needs to be excused, Emma later feels regret. The thing is, even murderers sometimes repent what they've done. Just because she shows a bit of remorse doesn't mean she can so easily erase away how she hurt others. And what's more annoying is her contrition is more focued on what a bad girl she is, what the others must think of her, not on how people she had hurt might feel. Does she feel the burden of guilt of what she has done? No. If she did, it must have been very brief, because as I skimmed through the rest of the story I couldn't find it.
I JUST F**KING HATED how her nastiness is so easily excused. For similar reasons, to me Emma is the least favorite Jane Austen book, but at least she got a full length novel to make me appreciate her better sides (And well, actually, Romola Garai did it all). With this very short novella I don't see much of her repeatedly attested numerous charms. I just see a bitch you meet everywhere from schools to workplaces, and it makes me sick how everyone jumps to defend her.
“The Merry Wanderer” by Nancy Butler : 3 stars. Enjoyable, especially liked how it combined old myths with regency setting. An okay read.
“The Wexford Carol” by Emma Jensen
If it weren't for how the story ended, I'd give it three stars, but the unexpected discovery was a nice touch. 4 stars.
“High Spirits” by Edith Layton
Written by Edith Layton. Need I explain more? Lovely, with an unusual heroine who had too much spirit. 5 stars
“The Christmas Curse” by Barbara Metzger
We've got two spirits, and I love how Barbar Metzger incorporates these non-human helpers(usually animals, but ghosts aren't bad either) into her novellas. 4 stars.
And now, “A Gathering of Gifts” by Andrea Pickens.
Well maybe the novella itself might not have been that bad, I didn't really finish it so I don't know. BUT I HATED EMMA , the oh so pretty, blonde, clever, funny, good natured, loyal, etc, etc Emma so much that I had to stop reading it or either throw the book against the wall.
She's just a bitch. And I hated how everyone(even those who are aware of her faults) tries to cover up her utter selfishness, disregard for others, meanness as "having opinion of her own" "show of spunk" "mere stubornness" "she didn't mean it", etc, etc. You know what? A bitch is someone who has opinion of her own (mostly mean ones about others), has enough backbone to fling insults at others, and has to be stubborn to lead her clique. They are good to their friends and people they like, even to the point of loyalness. And they are often so obnoxious that they never fully realize the impact of what they've done.
And just like every heroines who needs to be excused, Emma later feels regret. The thing is, even murderers sometimes repent what they've done. Just because she shows a bit of remorse doesn't mean she can so easily erase away how she hurt others. And what's more annoying is her contrition is more focued on what a bad girl she is, what the others must think of her, not on how people she had hurt might feel. Does she feel the burden of guilt of what she has done? No. If she did, it must have been very brief, because as I skimmed through the rest of the story I couldn't find it.
I JUST F**KING HATED how her nastiness is so easily excused. For similar reasons, to me Emma is the least favorite Jane Austen book, but at least she got a full length novel to make me appreciate her better sides (And well, actually, Romola Garai did it all). With this very short novella I don't see much of her repeatedly attested numerous charms. I just see a bitch you meet everywhere from schools to workplaces, and it makes me sick how everyone jumps to defend her.
September 14, 2014
Five Regency-era short stories with a different understanding regarding 'spirits'.
Nancy Butler's The Merry Wanderer refers to Robin Goodfellow, a fairy in human form, whom meets Julia Fitzwalter and her brother Harry several days before Christmas. He is visiting their home to make sure a special book that was left in their now-deceased father's safekeeping is still being taken care of. A scheming cousin plans to own the ancient cache, possibly to use for darker purposes. Robin is determined to find a husband for Julia so the Fitzwalters can continue to safeguard the treasure but not every goes as planned. References to Shakespeare and King Arthur's Court are included in this story. 2 stars
The Wexford Carol by Emma Jensen describes a song that is whistled by various characters in this romantic take on a money-pit. If you enjoy seeing a starched hero unstuffed by a down-to-earth lovable heroine, this is the story for you. 4 stars
High Spirits by Edith Layton concerns a young lady who lacks personal fortitude when it comes to the marriage mart. Arabella Danton's brother Pace started her off, innocently, with a brandy to get her through an evening of dancing, dining and flirting. Soon, it became a crutch.
Rupert Aldridge went to various functions as a means of amusement. He was persuaded by family members to meet Arabella. He found an Arabella of the day and a different Arabella of the night. Logic finally told him what it was that gave her courage. 3 stars
Barbara Metzger's The Christmas Curse was all about Sir Olnic's and Lady Edryth's tempers. If only he hadn't lost his wife's ring; they were left to wander the castle until it could be found and placed on the rightful finger. They have another chance with 'Nick', Baron Worth, and a childhood friend. 3 stars
Andrea Picken's A Gathering of Gifts has two unlikely people forced to spend time with each other. Emma had an accident and was taken to her neighbor's estate; the doctor gave instructions that she was to stay put until her ankle had mended. She was the daughter of a duke and was use to having her own way. Noel Trumbull, Lord Kirtland, would not put up with her nonsense. I am still not sure why they fell in love. 2 stars
I have read books by all of these authors and was expecting much more with this anthology. Emma Jensen's short story was by far the best.
Nancy Butler's The Merry Wanderer refers to Robin Goodfellow, a fairy in human form, whom meets Julia Fitzwalter and her brother Harry several days before Christmas. He is visiting their home to make sure a special book that was left in their now-deceased father's safekeeping is still being taken care of. A scheming cousin plans to own the ancient cache, possibly to use for darker purposes. Robin is determined to find a husband for Julia so the Fitzwalters can continue to safeguard the treasure but not every goes as planned. References to Shakespeare and King Arthur's Court are included in this story. 2 stars
The Wexford Carol by Emma Jensen describes a song that is whistled by various characters in this romantic take on a money-pit. If you enjoy seeing a starched hero unstuffed by a down-to-earth lovable heroine, this is the story for you. 4 stars
High Spirits by Edith Layton concerns a young lady who lacks personal fortitude when it comes to the marriage mart. Arabella Danton's brother Pace started her off, innocently, with a brandy to get her through an evening of dancing, dining and flirting. Soon, it became a crutch.
Rupert Aldridge went to various functions as a means of amusement. He was persuaded by family members to meet Arabella. He found an Arabella of the day and a different Arabella of the night. Logic finally told him what it was that gave her courage. 3 stars
Barbara Metzger's The Christmas Curse was all about Sir Olnic's and Lady Edryth's tempers. If only he hadn't lost his wife's ring; they were left to wander the castle until it could be found and placed on the rightful finger. They have another chance with 'Nick', Baron Worth, and a childhood friend. 3 stars
Andrea Picken's A Gathering of Gifts has two unlikely people forced to spend time with each other. Emma had an accident and was taken to her neighbor's estate; the doctor gave instructions that she was to stay put until her ankle had mended. She was the daughter of a duke and was use to having her own way. Noel Trumbull, Lord Kirtland, would not put up with her nonsense. I am still not sure why they fell in love. 2 stars
I have read books by all of these authors and was expecting much more with this anthology. Emma Jensen's short story was by far the best.
March 24, 2015
Collections are my favorite things to read when I'm lazier than usual and I wanted to read something. The first story, The Merry Wanderer, I liked because of the characters from Arthur and Midsummer Night's Dream. Otherwise, it was blah. But that's probably because I was annoyed with the heroine for not loving the books (more like library) she inherited. I'd die of happiness if I inherited a library. LOLOLOL.
The second story, The Wexford Carol, I liked because of the heroine and all the history attached to her house. That letter at the end was fun too. The third story, High Spirits, was may favorite of the bunch. I love how the relationship of the protagonists progressed and I love the premise.
The fourth story, The Christmas Curse, was a bit of a disappointment largely because I was expecting a lot more fun story from this author. The premise though, was fun. The last story, A Gathering of Gifts, [I] least liked. The heroine was annoying. 'Nuff said. I liked the schemers though.
The second story, The Wexford Carol, I liked because of the heroine and all the history attached to her house. That letter at the end was fun too. The third story, High Spirits, was may favorite of the bunch. I love how the relationship of the protagonists progressed and I love the premise.
The fourth story, The Christmas Curse, was a bit of a disappointment largely because I was expecting a lot more fun story from this author. The premise though, was fun. The last story, A Gathering of Gifts, [I] least liked. The heroine was annoying. 'Nuff said. I liked the schemers though.
December 17, 2016
I am keeping this one because three of the stories were really good and I have made note of the two I didn't like so that next Christmas I will not bother reading them.
October 3, 2012
Good `ol Christmas fluff.
August 8, 2013
good and safe
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