1998 Regecny Christmas [Mass Market Paperback]

I enjoy regency anthologies for those days when I just want to read a quick and fun story. The Christmas ones are usually the most delightful especially since I love the holidays!

As with most anthologies, one or two stories stand out and I tend to read those over and over. In this grouping, Carla Kelly's "The Christmas Ornament," and Elizabeth Fairchild's "Felicity's Forfeit" were the two that captured my heart! Both had unusual and wonderful female lead characters.

"Livy" (Olivia) in "The Christmas Ornament" was intelligent, yet filled with common sense and compassion. She was not only able to express herself well but bring the shy, bookish "Jemmy" (James) out of his shell. The many secondary characters were well fleshed out even in this short story. James father advising him that "I have often suspected she (Olivia) is even more intelligent than you," and "Take her seriously as you would any man ... learned that from your mother." The outrageous comments that came out of James regarding Olivia - "You smell remarkably like a biscuit." I loved his professor ways!!! But will he lose her to another - an Adonis, rich and sophisticated with an eye to changing Olivia. Or will Olivia trust her father (who had a hand at matchmaking) and her own instincts?

Felicity of "Felicity's Forfeit" was a wonderful and different female lead (from America's south) and Bingham Kirby was our equally honorable male lead. Forced by the loss of his father's fortune, he must marry an heiress. Lost fortune is the key - the money was actually hidden for safekeeping by his forgetful father who makes vague references to wood and leaves when telling them where the money is. To choose a bride, Bingham hosts a holiday gathering which includes many wealthy young women. The reader is drawn into the Christmas fun and games. And Bingham's kindness shows as he invites the penniless vicar's daughters and their American cousin to join in the fun. But can there be a happily ever after? Bingham is ever mindful of his duty and a penniless American is not on his bride list!

The other stories were notable, but not standouts to me. I enjoyed "Three Good Deeds" and loved the dog in "The Hounds of Heaven." Allison Lane's "Second Chance" was a dark, disturbing tale, more like a sad pioneer historical then a regency. I found it depressing!

But this book is worth having and re-reading. A keeper for me.

This was an enjoyable Regency anthology built around the Christmas season. However, as is common with anthologies the stories were not all equal. The best story was Carla Kelly's "The Christmas Ornament". Olivia and James, were refreshingly unlike the typical Regency couple, especially James, whose shyness and absent-minded professor personality was truly winning. You could just picture a young Jimmy Stewart or Hugh Grant playing the character. Of the five stories this was the one that I wish had been a full-length novel. My second favorite was Edith Layton's "The Hounds of Heaven", which was full of humor and the true spirit of the Christmas season, despite having the least amount of Christmas "trappings" in the group. Again, a charming hero and a sweet and different plot twist. The only drawback for me was that Helena, the heroine, was not fully drawn-out, probably as a result of the limitations of the short-story format. Barbara Metzger's "Three Good Deeds" and Elisabeth Fairchild's "Felicity's Forfeit" were both pleasant Regency fare. Both stories managed to fit a great deal of detail and some originality into their short frameworks. The only story I didn't enjoy was Allison Lane's "Second Chance". The hero, Jeremy, was actually quite attractive, but I could not warm up to the overly dramatic plot, and found Alice annoyingly self-pitying rather than tragic as she was obviously meant to be. It's hard to enjoy a romance when you only like half of the couple. All five stories featured very charming and well-drawn male leads, and in fact most of the stories were told from their points of view, which I enjoy, since I read romances for the heroes. Overall, a nice group, which Regency fans should enjoy, and which does get you in a pre-holiday spirit.

I could have written both of the above reviews for this book, as I agree with them both. I very much enjoyed four of the five stories, but as mentioned already "Second Chance" by Allison Lane was dreary, depressing and sadly un-Christmasy. The main character, Alice, was not even that likeable. Skip this one story and enjoy the others. Frankly, I wish all four had been written as entire books in themselves, as I found each to be thoroughly charming.