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Signet Christmas Anthologies #1
A Regency Christmas Feast
For your holiday pleasure, five star storytellers serve up their most delicious recipes for romance.
MARY BALOGH tells of lost love found when a betrayed beauty and a jealous lord learn how hard it is to resist each other.
SANDRA HEATH stirs up embers of a past passion between a dashing sea captain and a mysterious governess with heartwarming results.
EDITH LAYTON leads a divinely handsome, strangely bedeviled duke by his taste buds to a woman he does not suspect he hungers for.
BARBARA METZGER sets a beautiful young widow free to break all the rules and come out a winner at last in the marriage game.
PATRICIA RICE weaves a glowing tale about a woman who must decide whether to defy her ferocious father and take a second chance at love.
Rich and heady with the spirit of the season, this Yuletide treasury satisfies your appetite for the very best.
MARY BALOGH tells of lost love found when a betrayed beauty and a jealous lord learn how hard it is to resist each other.
SANDRA HEATH stirs up embers of a past passion between a dashing sea captain and a mysterious governess with heartwarming results.
EDITH LAYTON leads a divinely handsome, strangely bedeviled duke by his taste buds to a woman he does not suspect he hungers for.
BARBARA METZGER sets a beautiful young widow free to break all the rules and come out a winner at last in the marriage game.
PATRICIA RICE weaves a glowing tale about a woman who must decide whether to defy her ferocious father and take a second chance at love.
Rich and heady with the spirit of the season, this Yuletide treasury satisfies your appetite for the very best.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
195 books6,369 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 28, 2020
Another charming collection.
--> "The Gingerbread Man" by Edith Layton - 2/3 stars - A (mostly) amusing story, a disclosure at the end - hilarious.
--> "Sophie's Syllabub" by Sandra Heath - 2/3 stars - I rather don't like such misunderstandings but the story had nice moments.
--> "The Christmas Goose" by Patricia Rice - 4 stars - I think it was the best in the collection. There were humour, complex characters and deeper (sadder) issues.
--> "The Proof is in the Pudding" by Barbara Metzger - 3/4 stars - A classical Regency romance. The best part was Merle's mother.
--> "The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balough - 2 stars - Too stupid misunderstanding for too long time, although I admit, the tension was a bit thrilling. Only the kids were charming.
--> "The Gingerbread Man" by Edith Layton - 2/3 stars - A (mostly) amusing story, a disclosure at the end - hilarious.
--> "Sophie's Syllabub" by Sandra Heath - 2/3 stars - I rather don't like such misunderstandings but the story had nice moments.
--> "The Christmas Goose" by Patricia Rice - 4 stars - I think it was the best in the collection. There were humour, complex characters and deeper (sadder) issues.
--> "The Proof is in the Pudding" by Barbara Metzger - 3/4 stars - A classical Regency romance. The best part was Merle's mother.
--> "The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balough - 2 stars - Too stupid misunderstanding for too long time, although I admit, the tension was a bit thrilling. Only the kids were charming.
June 30, 2016
A compilation of stories by popular Regency romance authors.
In The Gingerbread Man by Edith Layton, Owen Whitley, the Duke of Blackburn keeps dreaming of gingerbread for reasons unknown to him. He doesn't even LIKE gingerbread. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter by consulting his friends. He starts with his best childhood friend's sister, Miss Elizabeth Lloyd who is able to josh him out of his sullens but isn't able to provide an answer. Soon he discovers more than he bargained for when he asks each of his cronies from his club and even his mistress but the one thing he wants to know keeps eluding him.
This is kind of a cute story with some dark moments. I could do without the dirty jokes/double entendres though and the mistresses's sad story is not quite something that belongs in a heartwarming Christmas story. The gingerbread recipe sounds good but it's not a period recipe.
The second story, Sophie's Syllabub by Sandra Heath is about second chances and sweet Christmas memories involving syllabub. I was a little confused about the timeline of the story. It also didn't seem very period correct given what I know about the laws of the time. I suppose it might be possible or possibly plausible. I really liked Sophie and would have liked to know more about her. She's strong, brave and independent- a very modern heroine in a very unmodern society. This story dials up the sensuality a notch but follows a traditional pattern. I wasn't overly fond of Owen and probably would have reacted much like Sophie did but less quick to forgive. Serena is a stereotypical villainess without much motivation except "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" and even then it's not much motivation.
The Christmas Goose by Patricia Rice is a darker tale where the hero, Simon LeMaster, returns from the wars wounded, depressed, with survivor's guilt and PTSD. He worries about the enlisted men who returned injured and the widows and how they will survive. As a younger son he doesn't have much of a voice and thinks of ending it all until a chance encounter with a stray dog brings him to his destiny. I really liked this sweet story though the hero's lust was a little too much. I admired Rebecca for keeping her family solvent in difficult times. Her father is a great bully and that relationship makes the story very unoriginal but it's heartwarming. I liked Simon and his character development was excellent. The actual romance was a bit rushed due to the shorter length of the novella. It could have made a better longer story but I enjoyed it. The animal antics made me laugh and made the story seem more like a Barbara Metzger story than the one she wrote.
Barbara Metzger's story The Proof is in the Pudding centers around beautiful Johna and her younger sister Phillipa. Johna was married off to the odious Captain Sharp Sir Otis Ogden when her gamester father sold her to pay his debts. She's determined to make a better life for her sister any way she can, starting with a Christmas pudding and a wish. Her wish comes true sooner than expected but it also earns her the sobriquet of "black widow" around London. The gentlemen all make bets about whose proposal she will accept and whether it will be proper or improper. The very proper Viscount Spencer, Merle Selcrest has an improper proposal in mind and is surprised when Johna turns to him for help. She needs his eccentric mother's help is smoothing Phillipa's path through the haute mode. Merle despairs of his mother's antics and worries about his harum scarum brother Denton, but he has no choice but to accept the widow's proposal. He has no idea what he's getting himself into- if only his mother and her pet rabbit's were the worst of his concerns!
This was not, in my opinion, Metzger's best story. The rabbits were only mentioned in passing and not part of the action. I kept waiting for a dog or animal companion to be a part of the plot but sadly this story doesn't follow the pattern of her longer novels. I did enjoy the eccentric Lady Selcrest but she was hardly in the story. There were some funny moments but overall, not as funny as some of Metzger's novels. There was also a bit too much about Merle's libido and what he'd like to do with Johna. This story just didn't live up to potential for me.
The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balough is about misunderstandings and second chances. It was not my cup of tea. I skimmed it to see if it was worth my time to read it but found it uninteresting. I can't stand stupid misunderstandings or even valid ones between people who are supposed to love each other. There is one semi-graphic sex scene that seemed too much like a power play move for me. It wasn't romantic at all. The children had potential to possibly save this story but I elected not to even try to finish it.
In The Gingerbread Man by Edith Layton, Owen Whitley, the Duke of Blackburn keeps dreaming of gingerbread for reasons unknown to him. He doesn't even LIKE gingerbread. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter by consulting his friends. He starts with his best childhood friend's sister, Miss Elizabeth Lloyd who is able to josh him out of his sullens but isn't able to provide an answer. Soon he discovers more than he bargained for when he asks each of his cronies from his club and even his mistress but the one thing he wants to know keeps eluding him.
This is kind of a cute story with some dark moments. I could do without the dirty jokes/double entendres though and the mistresses's sad story is not quite something that belongs in a heartwarming Christmas story. The gingerbread recipe sounds good but it's not a period recipe.
The second story, Sophie's Syllabub by Sandra Heath is about second chances and sweet Christmas memories involving syllabub. I was a little confused about the timeline of the story. It also didn't seem very period correct given what I know about the laws of the time. I suppose it might be possible or possibly plausible. I really liked Sophie and would have liked to know more about her. She's strong, brave and independent- a very modern heroine in a very unmodern society. This story dials up the sensuality a notch but follows a traditional pattern. I wasn't overly fond of Owen and probably would have reacted much like Sophie did but less quick to forgive. Serena is a stereotypical villainess without much motivation except "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" and even then it's not much motivation.
The Christmas Goose by Patricia Rice is a darker tale where the hero, Simon LeMaster, returns from the wars wounded, depressed, with survivor's guilt and PTSD. He worries about the enlisted men who returned injured and the widows and how they will survive. As a younger son he doesn't have much of a voice and thinks of ending it all until a chance encounter with a stray dog brings him to his destiny. I really liked this sweet story though the hero's lust was a little too much. I admired Rebecca for keeping her family solvent in difficult times. Her father is a great bully and that relationship makes the story very unoriginal but it's heartwarming. I liked Simon and his character development was excellent. The actual romance was a bit rushed due to the shorter length of the novella. It could have made a better longer story but I enjoyed it. The animal antics made me laugh and made the story seem more like a Barbara Metzger story than the one she wrote.
Barbara Metzger's story The Proof is in the Pudding centers around beautiful Johna and her younger sister Phillipa. Johna was married off to the odious Captain Sharp Sir Otis Ogden when her gamester father sold her to pay his debts. She's determined to make a better life for her sister any way she can, starting with a Christmas pudding and a wish. Her wish comes true sooner than expected but it also earns her the sobriquet of "black widow" around London. The gentlemen all make bets about whose proposal she will accept and whether it will be proper or improper. The very proper Viscount Spencer, Merle Selcrest has an improper proposal in mind and is surprised when Johna turns to him for help. She needs his eccentric mother's help is smoothing Phillipa's path through the haute mode. Merle despairs of his mother's antics and worries about his harum scarum brother Denton, but he has no choice but to accept the widow's proposal. He has no idea what he's getting himself into- if only his mother and her pet rabbit's were the worst of his concerns!
This was not, in my opinion, Metzger's best story. The rabbits were only mentioned in passing and not part of the action. I kept waiting for a dog or animal companion to be a part of the plot but sadly this story doesn't follow the pattern of her longer novels. I did enjoy the eccentric Lady Selcrest but she was hardly in the story. There were some funny moments but overall, not as funny as some of Metzger's novels. There was also a bit too much about Merle's libido and what he'd like to do with Johna. This story just didn't live up to potential for me.
The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balough is about misunderstandings and second chances. It was not my cup of tea. I skimmed it to see if it was worth my time to read it but found it uninteresting. I can't stand stupid misunderstandings or even valid ones between people who are supposed to love each other. There is one semi-graphic sex scene that seemed too much like a power play move for me. It wasn't romantic at all. The children had potential to possibly save this story but I elected not to even try to finish it.
November 13, 2014
Like others have said, read Mary Balogh's angsty Christmas story THE WASSAIL BOWL. It was the best: five stars. It was unusual for a Signet Regency anthology story in that there was a little sex (it was mild). Most of these short stories are clean romances.
Barbara Metzger's THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING came in second (four stars) with Edith Layton's The GINGERBREAD MAN in third place (three stars).
I had problems believing the husband and wife would stay married in Sandra Heath's darkly-written SOPHIE'S SYLLABUB. Two stars.
I dropped Patricia Rice's THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE. I just could not become interested.
The stories are tied together by food and recipes. If you can buy this book cheaply get it for 'the Balogh' story. It was actually very good.
Barbara Metzger's THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING came in second (four stars) with Edith Layton's The GINGERBREAD MAN in third place (three stars).
I had problems believing the husband and wife would stay married in Sandra Heath's darkly-written SOPHIE'S SYLLABUB. Two stars.
I dropped Patricia Rice's THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE. I just could not become interested.
The stories are tied together by food and recipes. If you can buy this book cheaply get it for 'the Balogh' story. It was actually very good.
December 11, 2019
I picked up this book to read "The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balogh.
When John Beattie, the Earl of Wyndham, requested that his six-year-old son visit him for Christmas, he didn't think that his estranged wife would tag along bringing her daughter along with her. The last time he spoke to her, John told Antonia he never wanted to see her again. Antonia isn't about to let Jeffrey be separated from her of his little sister during the holidays. She figures she can put up with John for twelve days, then return to her small country estate. But John is having second thoughts about letting his son return home with his mother. Maybe he and Antonia can come to a compromise over the children.
This Christmas story was a little different. John and Antonia haven't seen each other in over three years. He hurt her with his actions and she retaliated by hurting him too. Now they must make their relationship work for the sake of the children. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
When John Beattie, the Earl of Wyndham, requested that his six-year-old son visit him for Christmas, he didn't think that his estranged wife would tag along bringing her daughter along with her. The last time he spoke to her, John told Antonia he never wanted to see her again. Antonia isn't about to let Jeffrey be separated from her of his little sister during the holidays. She figures she can put up with John for twelve days, then return to her small country estate. But John is having second thoughts about letting his son return home with his mother. Maybe he and Antonia can come to a compromise over the children.
This Christmas story was a little different. John and Antonia haven't seen each other in over three years. He hurt her with his actions and she retaliated by hurting him too. Now they must make their relationship work for the sake of the children. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
December 23, 2013
Another strong regency Christmas anthology with memorable stories by Mary Balogh, Barbara Metzger, and Edith Layton. Loved Edith's Layton's "The Gingerbread Man', a psychologically acute tale of how the aroma of baking gingerbread causes a handsome young Duke to examine his childhood memories, emotions, and choices when he is on the verge of making a marriage of convenience. An emotional novella with a very romantic conclusion !
June 27, 2025
I liked them, except for Sophie's Syllabub. What an ass that man is and when he threatened to go back to the mistress Sophie should have said GO!
April 24, 2017
I bought this for Edith Layton, and Layton's The Gingerbread Man had a touch of bittersweet piquancy, albeit the actual romance was more in the vein of Theresa Romain's My Scandalous Duke in a grown duke recognizing that he loved his friend since childhood all this time, but not as convincingly as this duke planned to marry someone else.
I enjoyed the other stories as well, though I'll need to re-read them to remember my exact impressions and their plots.
I enjoyed the other stories as well, though I'll need to re-read them to remember my exact impressions and their plots.
January 24, 2016
This was a heart-warming, funny and at times heartbreaking series of stories from Regency masters. I especially enjoyed Mary Balogh's story that finished out the book. She is so good at pulling at your heartstrings.
December 22, 2020
My rating is based mostly on Mary Balogh's "The Wassail Bowl" which is pure magic. Edith Layton's story about gingerbread is a nice one, too.
May 24, 2019
This is one of my favorite or the regency Christmas anthologies. ALL of the stories are worth reading in one way or another. The Best of the Lot are the Proof is in the Pudding, The Gingerbread Man, and The Christmas Goose, followed closely by Sophie's syllabub, and finally the Wassail Bowl. I just love Lady Selcrest's determination to make the most of her lot in life despite all the many curves life and her family throw at her. The struggle of Owen to see what is right in front of him while Elizabeth waits patiently for him to get a clue is a fun read made even more fun by the story within a story of the spinster sisters! I enjoyed the Christmas Goose also as two strong characters come to terms with their circumstances and choices in life and find a way to make a life together. Sophie's syllabub was not as believable - but if you suspend disbelief at how these characters arrived at their positions in the beginning of the story, you can enjoy the remainder as they find their way back to one another despite some truly unbelievable coincidences. The Wassail Bowl I did enjoy - another pair who are their own worst enemies - but the sex scene was gratuitous - the characters display enough intensity of feeling in other circumstances to make their reconciliation believable without it - and felt rather like a power play on the part of both characters (if that makes any sense) but I love the twist at the end (even if you COULD see it coming). All of these stories I have read multiple times over the years and familiarity makes them even more endearing!
April 10, 2019
Five wonderful stories of love and family and Christmas.
Each of these stories is appealing. The reader finds lost loves which may be rekindled. There are strangers who find that someone they just met is exactly the person they need in life. There is even a friendship which becomes so much more.
There is humor and tenderness and a wonderful sense of comfort in the rituals of Christmas.
I enjoyed this book very much. Each of these authors are women with unquestionable talent.
Although these are five short stories, the character development is complete. The plots hold the reader's interest. The final products are well worth the read.
Each of these stories is appealing. The reader finds lost loves which may be rekindled. There are strangers who find that someone they just met is exactly the person they need in life. There is even a friendship which becomes so much more.
There is humor and tenderness and a wonderful sense of comfort in the rituals of Christmas.
I enjoyed this book very much. Each of these authors are women with unquestionable talent.
Although these are five short stories, the character development is complete. The plots hold the reader's interest. The final products are well worth the read.
December 3, 2025
Some I liked more than others. "Sophie's Syllabub" was my least favourite, not because of the writing, but because of the "hero". My favourite? "The Proof is in the Pudding", because of the duchess. "The Wassail Bowl" was also good - Mary Balogh is the reason I picked up the book in the first place.
reprint
April 12, 2020Balogh The Wassail Bowl re-released in ebook Christmas Micles
"The Gingerbread Man" by Edith Layton
"Sophie's Syllabub" by Sandra Heath
"The Christmas Goose" by Patricia Rice
"The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balough
"The Gingerbread Man" by Edith Layton
"Sophie's Syllabub" by Sandra Heath
"The Christmas Goose" by Patricia Rice
"The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balough
May 8, 2023
Balogh’s story is leagues above the rest. Heath’s is underdeveloped and the H/h completely lacking in chemistry. I enjoyed Layton’s but felt like it was missing a little something and Rice’s could’ve done with a little something more as well.
December 6, 2017
would have been higher but I did not enjoy 'Sophie's Syllabub' at all. this was based on a star per story if enjoyed
December 3, 2022
This was a fun little read for the holiday season! I love these types of books with novellas, because sometimes during the holiday season there isn't enough time to focus on a long book.
January 15, 2025
varied holiday romances; some married and separated, some single
great characters
great characters
August 17, 2025
I generally enjoy Regency anthologies. I really liked only 2 of the 5 stories. So I was a bit disappointed, especially since 2 of the disliked stories were by authors I enjoy a great deal.
April 3, 2020
Balogh - "The Wassail Bowl"
December 20, 2011
The Gingerbread Man by Edith Layton- 4 stars. A very cute and sweet story about Owen (a duke), his long-time friend Elizabeth, and gingerbread. Are Owen's dreams really about gingerbread, or is a metaphor for something else...?
Sophie's Syllabub by Sandra Heath- 4 stars. Another very well written story. I normally don't like the type of romance stories where the hero/heroine already know each other but Ms. Heath makes it work. I liked both characters. However, I'm not sure if I could have forgiven Owen for his . This story involves the drink syllabub.
The Christmas Goose by Patricia Rice- 3.5 stars. I thought this book was a little too melancholy for the Christmas season. However, it does make you think about what the season is all about. Rebecca is a widow and the friend of her deceased husband, Simon, returns from the war and realizes (over time) that he has no more room in his life for self-pity. This story, of course, also involves a goose and a happy ending for all.
The Proof is in the Pudding by Barbara Metzger- 4 stars. The most humorous story so far. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be funny, but I got a good chuckle out of it in several places. Johna, a young widow, must overcome her reputation of being the late wife of a gambling-blackguard if she wants her younger sister (Phillipa) to marry well. So, she enlists the help of Merle, a viscount. The Christmas Pudding was a great theme in this story and really added to the story. Definitely not thrown in as an after-thought.
The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balogh- 4 stars. A very well written story, but of course I wouldn't expect anything less from Ms. Balogh. Again, not a fan of romance stories where the hero/heroine already know each other. In this story the husband and wife are estranged. At the end you learn while the husband was the marriage started unraveling simply because of a lack of communication, pride, and jealousy!
Sophie's Syllabub by Sandra Heath- 4 stars. Another very well written story. I normally don't like the type of romance stories where the hero/heroine already know each other but Ms. Heath makes it work. I liked both characters. However, I'm not sure if I could have forgiven Owen for his . This story involves the drink syllabub.
The Christmas Goose by Patricia Rice- 3.5 stars. I thought this book was a little too melancholy for the Christmas season. However, it does make you think about what the season is all about. Rebecca is a widow and the friend of her deceased husband, Simon, returns from the war and realizes (over time) that he has no more room in his life for self-pity. This story, of course, also involves a goose and a happy ending for all.
The Proof is in the Pudding by Barbara Metzger- 4 stars. The most humorous story so far. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be funny, but I got a good chuckle out of it in several places. Johna, a young widow, must overcome her reputation of being the late wife of a gambling-blackguard if she wants her younger sister (Phillipa) to marry well. So, she enlists the help of Merle, a viscount. The Christmas Pudding was a great theme in this story and really added to the story. Definitely not thrown in as an after-thought.
The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balogh- 4 stars. A very well written story, but of course I wouldn't expect anything less from Ms. Balogh. Again, not a fan of romance stories where the hero/heroine already know each other. In this story the husband and wife are estranged. At the end you learn while the husband was the marriage started unraveling simply because of a lack of communication, pride, and jealousy!
June 14, 2019
his is a collection of mostly forgettable short stories. For example, Mary Balough's story opened with the two main characters, married but separated from each other. It took some time to get from hostility to a more Christmas-like feel in the story. THE WASSAIL BOWL.
My favorite was THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE (Patricia Rice). The story was unique. This is a story about a proud widow and the best friend of the widow's husband meeting for the first time after the husband's death. The wealthy best friend had much to learn about the widow and Christmas.
THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING (Barbara Metzger) Another lovely story by a master of the genre.
SOPHIE'S SYLLABUB (Sandra Heath) - I thought the chance of this coincidence happening (couple meeting again) was very unlikely.
THE GINGERBREAD MAN (Edith Layton) - This story did not speak to me.
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My favorite was THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE (Patricia Rice). The story was unique. This is a story about a proud widow and the best friend of the widow's husband meeting for the first time after the husband's death. The wealthy best friend had much to learn about the widow and Christmas.
THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING (Barbara Metzger) Another lovely story by a master of the genre.
SOPHIE'S SYLLABUB (Sandra Heath) - I thought the chance of this coincidence happening (couple meeting again) was very unlikely.
THE GINGERBREAD MAN (Edith Layton) - This story did not speak to me.
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March 16, 2022
Loved The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balogh, though I do not understand why the Earl of Wyndham’s name changed halfway through the story to the Earl of Wycherly. 🤷♀️ Patricia Rice’s The Christmas Goose was endearing. Edith Layton’s The Gingerbread Man was sweet.
Barabara Metzger’s The Proof Is In The Pudding was a delight. Lady Selcrest was a hoot. Sandra Heath’s Sophie’s Syllabub was just depressing. Nothing Owen said excused his “mistake” (for lack of a better word).
Barabara Metzger’s The Proof Is In The Pudding was a delight. Lady Selcrest was a hoot. Sandra Heath’s Sophie’s Syllabub was just depressing. Nothing Owen said excused his “mistake” (for lack of a better word).
March 22, 2019
My favourite was "The Wassail Bowl" by Mary Balogh, about an estranged couple who come together over Christmas. Very touching, especially from the viewpoint of the two young children who grow closer to a father they have hardly ever known.
January 30, 2013
A rather better-than average collection of Regency Christmas stories that includes a couple of my favorite Regency authors; Mary Balogh and Barbara Metzger. They can always be relied upon to deliver a good story.
December 6, 2011
Mary Balogh's short story was splendid. I just wish it was a full book!!!
February 2, 2012
Five enjoyable Christmas stories. I especially liked the ones by Ms. Balogh, Ms. Metzger, and Ms. Layton. Some off-the beaten path heroines and a couple reunion stories, which I especially enjoyed.
July 19, 2012
Only read The Wassail Bowl. So the 4star rating is for that.
December 30, 2012
Five stories, with recipes. Reading this after Christmas I'm not feeling that hungry, but I do rather fancy a couple of them. The stories are good too.
December 29, 2015
All 5 storey's are good but Patricia Rice's was my favourite , The Christmas Goose is very strong and emotional .
July 15, 2013
Rating for: The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balogh
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