A Christmas Collection

by Stella Cameron, Loretta Chase, Joan Hohl

"The Greatest Gift" / Stella Cameron
With Christmas approaching, a kindly nanny and an impish little boy conspire to help a gentle Cornish maid win the heart of a lonely widower.

"Falling Stars" / Loretta Chase
'Tis the season for forgiveness, as a gallant gentleman renews his acquaintance with the enchanting lady who spurned him ten years before—and rekindles Yuletide fires of love and longing.

"The Scent of Snow" / Linda Lael Miller
In America's West, a desperate woman trapped in a web of lies discovers new hope for romance at Christmastime through an act of faith...and the steadfast devotion of a handsome farmer.

"Footsteps in the Snow" / Joan Hohl
A Christmas Eve miracle transports a sad and beautiful innkeeper two hundred years into the past—to discover the glorious ecstasy of true and timeless love in the arms of a dashing colonial spy.

A collection of romance stories features the tale of a Cornish maid who finds love with the help of a kindly nanny; a gallant gentleman begins anew with the woman who spurned him years before; and others.

Genres: Anthologies, Christmas, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Holiday, Contemporary Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

About the author

Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.

Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.

Reviews

[Cindy]

The Greatest Gift - 4 star (My first read by this author. I especially liked the pair of matchmakers in the story, a young boy and an old nanny, so sweet and cute. I also liked how the author portrayed the different classes' accents convincingly, unlike many of the younger HR authors.)
Falling Stars - 2 star (Not what I had expected from Loretta Chase. Perhaps because I don't particularly like second-chance romance. In this one, the romance wasn't convincing, both the first time and the second time. Also, it's somehow felt like a contemporary, instead of a historical.)
The Scent of Snow - 3 star (My first read by this author. I didn't like it at first: insta-lust, plot rushed and cheesy; but it got better towards the end.)
Footsteps in the Snow - 4 star (My first read by this author. An implausible but captivating story. Perhaps because I hadn't read any time travel romance before, I wasn't sure what to expect and so wanting to know what would happen next.)

[Yani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not read the last book.

[Hilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. For L.Chase's Falling Stars. Just reread it. Rounded up for:

...Christina lay stunned and breathless, blinking at the vivid blue sky. In the next instant, she was staring into the very white, rigid countenance of Marcus Greyson.

Before she could utter a syllable, he caught her in his arms and pulled her tight against him. His chest heaved as though he'd been running for his life. She could have told him she was quite uninjured, and the only damage she was like to suffer was if he crushed her ribs. But she held her tongue. She wasn't in any hurry to be released.

"Me, too," Delia demanded.

Marcus's ferocious grip relaxed. He gave Delia a hug, then helped Christina to her feet. "That was well done," he said in a muffled voice. "I was congratulating your mama on her fine handling of the sled."

He briskly brushed snow from the back of Christina's coat. "Why don't you go to the house and change into something dry?" he said. His voice was not altogether steady. "I'll look after the children."

"I'm all right," she said. "A little snow won't hurt me."

"You're soaked to the skin," he whispered fiercely. "You nearly broke your neck. In another moment, I shall shake you until your teeth rattle. Go away, Christina."

She turned away, her eyes widening in astonishment. He was very agitated, more than she'd guessed. Very likely he would shake her.

[elstaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two stories: relatively normal romance novellas. Charming, 90s vintage, normally paced novellas. The second two...I need to get independent confirmation of this, because I might just have been sleep deprived while finishing this collection, but initial impression is that they were cracked the F out. Once I realized this, though, I was able to continue reading without too much smiting of my brow. Mostly. Plus, the utter ridiculousness of the last story has left me in a good mood. I don't know if it was worth the epic search I undertook to find this collection (because I'm a completionist and wanted to read that Loretta Chase story), but it was a pleasant interlude.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book rating (average of four stories)= 2.75 stars

The Greatest Gift by Stella Cameron
2.5 stars

Falling Stars by Loretta Chase
3 stars

The Scent of Snow by Linda Lael Miller
3.5 stars

Footsteps in the Snow Joan Hohl
2 stars

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow unremarkable. I've already forgotten what the novellas were about.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Christmas fluff for the heat.

[abi rafon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest gift by Stella Cameron - ★★★★★
Falling stars by Loretta Chase - ★★★★☆
The scent of snow by Linda Lael Miller - ★★★★☆
Footsteps in the snow by Joan Hohl - ★★☆☆☆

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Greatest Gift by Stella Cameron
3 stars

Falling Stars by Loretta Chase
3 stars

[Scott Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book cover has a nice christmas feel to the book. I give the book 5 stars.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

One good story, by Chase, could not save this book.