The Christmas Cat

de Piaget #4.5

by Julie Beard, Jo Beverley, Barbara Bretton

Four heartwarming tales of Christmas cheer--and cats who play Cupid! These stories include:
Julie Beard's "My True Love Gave to Me" in which a woman spends Christmas Eve searching for her black cat and finds a tall dark knight

Jo Beverley's "A Gift of Light" which tells of a tenacious tom courting a fiery feline at Christmas, as his master and her mistress follow suit

Barbara Bretton's "Home for the Holidays" in which college sweethearts almost break up on Christmas Eve, but their wise old cat gets in the way

Lynn Kurland's "The Gift of Christmas Past" in which a feline guardian angel has to pull his mistress back in time to a Christmas Eve long ago where she finds her own true love.

Genres: Romance, Time Travel, Historical Romance, Christmas, Anthologies, Fiction, Paranormal

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

Julie Beard is a former journalist who brings her reporting skills to her award-winning, bestselling novels. Imagine investigating weapons of the Middle Ages, or the importance of reputations in the Victorian era, as she did when writing Midnight Angel (Berkley Sensation, December 2003). Julie has been hailed for her ability to magically recreate the distant past. Now she's busy "world building" in the future.

Julie was one of the launch authors for the Silhouette Bombshell series, a new line of romantic action/adventure novels. She debuted with Kiss of the Blue Dragon (August 2004) featuring 28-year-old Angel Baker, a certified retribution specialist who strives to see justice done in the year 2104. The sequel, Touch of the White Tiger, will be a September 2005 release.

Julie was a reporter and a news writer before turning her writing skills to more creative venues. She worked as the night beat for KSDK-TV, covering everything from murders to visiting politicians to hometown parades. As a news writer at the Fox affiliate in Chicago, she wrote copy for the legendary news anchor Walter Jacobson and Robin Robinson.

Julie also has given dozens of workshops and lectures around the country at community colleges, bookstores and writers conferences. She's conducted seminars and written articles about editing, writing, promotions and journalism. She wrote the popular "how-to" book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Your Romance Published. This comprehensive nonfiction title offers advice on everything from plotting and editing a novel to finding an agent and publisher.

Julie graduated from Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism with a master of science degree in journalism. She graduated with a B.F.A. in theatre arts from Stephens College. She lives with her husband, two children and two incorrigible basenjis in the Midwest.

Sourced from: http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html...

Reviews

[Serena Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10
Ha sido una lectura bonita, la típica navideña pero que solo recordare por el gato

[Terree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only re-read the Kurland book in this anthology. I didn't like the "cat" input at all. I read it because I just finished Miles's sisters book... There were so many inconsistencies in the timelines of these two books. It just drives me crazy. He has only aged a year since his sister's book, yet it is 6 years later... little (HUGE) things like that are unacceptable. Either the author doesn't care enough about us as readers to keep track of dates, times and characters, or she has the worse editor in history!!! She needs new proof readers to go through them (actual fans) to let her know that there are errors!!!

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad I only paid a dollar for the book. It has cute stories with cats, but they aren’t the best. Tolerable for a light Christmas read.

[Monica Emtman · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of these stories were just okay in my opinion. The first story My True Love Gave to Me, made me feel like my intelligence was oozing out. The second story, A Gift of Light, was cute, but took the cat theme to where it had me rolling my eyes. The third story, Home For the Holidays, dealt with misinterpreations in a marriage and so felt long in some parts. The fourth story, The Gift of Christmas Past, was my favorite, but still wasn't up to DePiaget standards. The story felt rushed and the character's personalities barely had time to shine through.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four short stories with Christmas, cats and romance.

[Rose Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a gift. The stories were decent. Changed to four stars since it was a heartwarming read just like it said.

[LilaBird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the Lynn Kurland story in this anthology, so I'm only reviewing that. It was the 5th De Piaget story and was about Miles, the middle brother of the 5 De Piaget boys. First of all, let me just say that I was TOTALLY disappointed that Miles only got a short story! It felt way too rushed. I had really been looking forward to getting a good story about him. :(

Also, it was very apparent that this story was written years before books 3 & 4 of the series. Miles has a sister-in-law (Jennifer, book 4) and a brother-in-law (Jake, book 5) who are BOTH from the future. He knows a lot about future things. I think he would immediately recognize Abigail for what she really is -- a woman from the future. It's clear that Kurland didn't plan out this whole series from the beginning. She obviously had already planned out who all the members of the immediate family were, but had not decided on all of their individual stories or else she would have written Miles' reaction differently.

It's also really hard to cram a time travel romance into a short story. Abby had to time travel, somehow not be too concerned about her weird new surroundings, meet Miles, begin to fall in love (very quickly), tell him that she's from the future, get him to believe her, continue falling in love, decide to get married (like 2 days after meeting), get married, meet and have Christmas with his whole family, and finally, consummate the marriage. That is A LOT for only a handful of pages. I read the whole thing in one, short sitting, and to be thrown through a romance that quickly challenged my ability to suspend my disbelief and just accept the story for what the author was saying it was.

Aside from all of those criticisms, I actually enjoyed the story. I think MOSTLY because I already knew Miles quite well from books 2-4. His personality didn't seem incomplete to me because he had the help of 4 other novels to make me understand him. The same can't be said of Abigail, but whatever. I can accept that since I went into it knowing it was a short story and there's not that much time for character building.

They were a cute couple and I loved being able to know what they were both thinking. Miles was so cute about her and his feelings for her. I loved how he was immediately thinking about marrying her and being the man that she wanted. I just really hope I get to see more of their relationship in future books!!

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read Lynn Kurland's The Gift of Christmas Past

Cute Christmas love story where the idea is that the Cat's purpose is to help his human find love kind of like a feline angel. The story is a little quirky but it was cute and well done, if a trifle short.

Abby has just lost a worthless boyfriend because she lost her job and then the Social Security office seems to have lost her. She's considering throwing herself off a bridge into a lake when she see her lost (possibly dead) cat jump in first. Soon after Abbey has fallen in and finds herself 700 years in the past where she finds a real man.

If that weren't strange enough her cat, Sir Sweetums, talks to her letting her know what the whole plan was so she doesn't try throwing herself into Miles's moot in hopes of returning to her own time.

Not bad but not fantastic.

[Alleluialu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christmas and I loved these stories. They were all Christmas romances with a cat involved in helping the hero and heroine find each other. My favorite was "The Gift of Christmas Past" by Lynn Kurland. Abigail took a plunge in a pond and ended up in 1238 in an English moat! From there it just got better and better. I'm partial to time travel and Lynn Kurland is so good at writing it. This story was about Miles de Piaget, one of the de Piaget brothers who so many of Kurland's stories are about. Her characters are always strong and stubborn and very interesting. Humor abounds and there is always love and a happy ending. These stories will make your Christmas even brighter!

[Jodi · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was so disappointing. I'm sure that Lynn Kurland wishes she could re-do Miles' story now that she wrote When I Fall in Love and Dreams of Stardust. By the time Miles meets Abigale he would already have Jake and Jennifer for in-laws and would have figured out she was from the future pretty quickly. Apart from the story not fitting in with the books that hadn't yet been written, I also thought that Abby was a terrible character and Miles deserved much better. I'm just glad that story was really short.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit, I only read Miles' story. Of coarse, I was disappointed - because I loved Miles' character in When I Fall in Love. I most definitely wanted more. And it is a little weird to go back and read these in the order she actually wrote them, instead of by family. Kendrick makes more sense, but if I hadn't read them by family first I think I would have been extremely confused as to who belonged to whom.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four cat Christmas stories in one volume. "My True Love Gave to Me" The wrong Anne arrives for Robert to marry. "A Gift of Light" Tom and Kitty chaperone Ned and Polly after Rochester, the cat, tries to get to Kitty's Shelly. "Home for the Holidays" Jilly and David have many Christmas Eve memories, including Sebastian, the Maine Coon cat. "The Gift of Christmas Past" Abigail's cat takes her to 1238 for a family Christmas.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

PB-B @ 1996, 12/99. Anthology. Lynn Kurland, The Gift of Christmas Past, DePiaget Book 5, Miles DePiaget meets Abigail, three guardian angel cats. Barbara Bretton, Home for the Holidays, family break up, lost cat. Jo Beverly, A Gift of Light, Tom and Kitty, London 1800's. Julie Beard, My True Love Gave to Me, black cat, tall dark knight.

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was... interesting. I'm not a huge fan but it was ok - I think she could have written this one as a long one and explained things a little more. But it was still good.

Miles De Piaget & Abigail Garrett

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

on advice from my SIL, i only read the story relating to Miles from Kurland's dePiaget books. sadly, it was far too short and way too rushed. i don't feel as though i got to know either Miles or Abigail well enough and that their courtship was unrealistically rushed.

[Wild_irish_rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite is still Lynn Kurland's The Gift of Christmas Past. Sir Sweetums and Bruno are two of my favorite characters. Who doesn't love cats and dogs, especially guardian angel cats and dogs. A cute Christmas romance that starts with a moat...how can you beat that?

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wouldn't love a cat named, "Sir Maximillian Sweetums"?

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading these four escapist tales of felines guiding their mistresses to true love, even if that was found in medieval times. An easy, entertaining read.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book comprised of four short stories regarding Christmas and cats who play matchmaker for their humans. 

My True Love Gave to Me by Julie Beard

Anne Clancy is a freelance painter who has painted twelve beautiful Christmas postcards for a greeting card company. The theme she uses for these postcards is the twelve days of Christmas. Unfortunately, her black cat, Niner, has gone missing on Christmas eve, so she goes outside during a nasty snowstorm to look for him. Regrettably, she slips on the ice and falls down in the middle of the street, and loses consciousness.  Soon after she awakens, Anne realizes she has traveled back in time to the year 1375.  She literally runs into Lord Robert, Earl of Wittingham, who confuses her for Lady Anne Wharton, the woman he has agreed to marry. 

I have to be honest, I usually dislike historical romances, but I did appreciate the author's attention to details. For example, the description of the Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, including the game of Hot Cockles, the hunting of the wild boar, the waissailing procession, and the lighting of the Yule Log.

3 Stars 

A Gift of Light by Jo Beverly 

Kitty Mayhew is alone during the holiday season  mourning the death of both of her parents, and her beautiful white cat, Sherry, is in heat. As a result, Sherry's loud howling is capturing the attention of many tomcats. In particular, one big black tomcat, Rochester, answers with the loudest yowl and fights the other males for dominance. Kitty soon learns that Rochester belongs to Lord Tom Chatterton. Obviously, both Tom and Kitty meet and fall in love. 

I did not care much for this one because the pace was quite slow (which is quite surprising for a short story).  In addition, I did not like either one of the main characters. 

1 Star 

Home For the Holidays by Barbara Bretton

I loved this story!  Sebastián, a beautiful twelve year old Maine Coon, is on a quest to prevent his master, David, and his mistress, Jill, from divorcing. While the guys from the moving company are transporting furniture and boxes from inside the house into the long truck, Sebastián escapes. Jill becomes frantic when she cannot find him and contacts David and requests his help in finding the cat before the twins arrive home after visiting Santa Claus. As a consequence, both Jill and David begin to search the neighborhood looking for him. During their time together they remember the reason they fell in love with each other. Finally, they find Sebastián at their first house with a beautiful tortoise shell cat nursing four kittens (one of which has a strong resemblance to Sebastián).  

5 Stars

The Gift of Christmas Past by Lynn Kurland

Abigail Moira Garrett is fired from her job, evicted from her apartment, and dumped by her fiancé. Furthermore, when she attempts to apply for unemployment, she discovers that her social security number does not exist. Lastly, her cat, Sir Maximilian Sweetums, has been gone for months. Therefore, she is now contemplating jumping into Murphy's Pond but is distracted by the sound of a meow followed by something jumping into the water. Abigail accidentally falls into the small lake and resurfaces on the bank of a moat. Next, she sees Sir Sweetums slip through the gates of a castle. Thus, she begins banging on the gate until finally, Miles wakes up and allows her inside. Both Miles and Abigail end up falling in love and marrying each other. 

I did not like this story for several reasons. First, I thought the name "Sir Maximilian Sweetums" is a stupid name for a cat. Second, the idea that animals are given the gift of talking to humans on Christmas eve, is a little far-fetched. Finally, it is a little hard to believe that a twentieth century female would have no problem adjusting to living in the twelve century. 

1 Star

2.5 Stars overall 

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat collection of 4 short stories. Seems odd that three of the four stories are set in the UK over a hundred years ago and more. Seems a fourth story in a similar story would have fit better and better defined a theme.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

a few of the stories were pretty good, and a few were not, but i enjoyed the kitties

[Carmen Germana Acevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

El regalo de las antiguas navidades

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun romance novel.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all anthologies I like some better than others.

#1 – I really liked: Julie Beard's "My True Love Gave to Me" -time travel and historic romance. I really enjoyed the character development in such a short story.

#2 – I did NOT like at all and did not finish: Jo Beverley's "A Gift of Light" -the sensual nature of the cats were portrayed in a way that just made me uncomfortable and not intrigued.

#3 – Was ok: Barbara Bretton's "Home for the Holidays" –I was caught up in how sad our lives can become when we place importance on things that do not really matter and how many people that reaches. It was well written.

#4 – My FAVORITE-Loved it: Lynn Kurland's "The Gift of Christmas Past" –time travel and historic romance at its best, even in a short story. I think it helped me because I already knew some of the characters from other stories. I did think he should have recognized where Abby was from sooner because of other encounters the family has had from the future.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

:( Not horrible but not the best. After reading the 8th De Piaget I really wanted to read Miles and Abby's story, So short and I honestly don't like the whole talking cat thing. An ok story but not what I was hoping for.

[Joene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Lynn Kurland story in this book of short stories. This one tells the story of Miles and the unusual modern woman he finds at his gate just in time for Christmas, of course.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn is one of the best time travel romance writers out there. I have read everyone of her works...
Great read

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only read Lynn kurlands story I was disappointed because I was looking forward to reading the story about miles... I didn't like it he is a great character and deserved more than this I think

[Sezgi · Rating 3 out of 5]

miles için çok daha farklı bir hikaye bekliyordum bu kadar kısa sürmesi hiç hoşuma gitmedi olayları anlamadan geçti gitti

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this collection because of the De Piaget story(loved it as always but also liked the others. Sometimes you just have to have the happy ending!