Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guardian Angels at Christmastime - arranging a little romance, November 20, 2005
From the back cover:
An Angel's touch: Celebrate the magic of Christmas with these four stories of heaven-sent love.
"The Trouble With Hannah" by Debra Dier
Leicestershire, 1887. A mysterious governess uses her heavenly powers to help a lovely spinster reform her mishievous niece and win the heart of the peer she has always desired.
"Tryst With An Angel" by Eugenia Riley
London, 1855. A Yuletide miracle teaches a coldhearted businessman and his wife that, even though their marriage was arranged on earth, their love was made in paradise.
"A Time For Joy" by Amy Elizabeth Saunders
Seattle, 1995. A social-climbing beauty has no interest in a blue-collar Adonis until a blizzard--and her guardian angel--trap them together on Christmas Eve.
"Chrissy's Wish" by Trana Mae Simmons
Dalls, 1860. A pair of heavenly messengers ansewrs a young girl's Christmas prayer and brings her lonely aunt the one man who can fill her life with joy.
And my review.
I love Christmas romance, paranormal romance, and angels, so this collection seemed like something I would like. I was not dissapointed!
"The Trouble With Hannah" was okay. Not a story I would re-read, but good for a one-time read. The heroine's klutzy ways was quite endearing, and I really felt sorry for the poor, neglected child who acted out because she wanted love so badly. I also really admired the heroine's resolve to marry only for love, and to risk social ruin rather than accept a marriage based on logic instead of true love. The angel part of this story was not done as well as I would have liked, though. Three stars.
"Tryst With An Angel" was absolutely WONDERFUL! I didn't have high hopes for this novella, as I hadn't liked this author's story in the "A Time-Travel Christmas" collection. But I was amazed by this story. It captured my attention immediately, and I could not put it down! I love stories of estranged spouses reconciling, and this was one of the best of these I have ever read. I cried my eyes out at the end - not just a few tears - I was sobbing. Seriously - I had to keep stopping because I couldn't see the words to read anymore. Usually in novellas, you can see the ending coming, but in this one, it left you guessing until the very end. I can not say enough good about this story - only that it made it worth buying this book. If you only read one story this Christmas - read this one! It's one I know I'll be re-reading in the years to come! (More than) Five stars.
"A Time For Joy" was also very, very well done. The guardian angel stole center stage. She was hilarious! I laughed out loud at least ten times while reading this story. I loved the idea that the more beautiful you are on the inside, the more beautiful your guardian angel will be (and visa versa!). The little girl in this story was so sweet, and all the characters just captured my heart. I loved watching the heroine rediscover the things that really matter in life. Though this story was less than 100 pages, it didn't feel at all rushed. This will be a re-read story. Five stars.
"Chrissy's Wish" was a bit of a let-down after the last two fabulous stories. There was not much character development, so I had a hard time caring about them. I found her quite childish and annoying and him a bit too "I'm the man of the house, so what I say goes". The angel aspect of this story was fairly weak as well. The little girl was pretty much a flat plot device, and not a full character. I had to force myself to finish this story, and I didn't feel that their turn-around from "I hate you" to "I love you" was very believable. Not a re-read. Three stars.
I normally don't give a five-star rating to an anthology unless all the stories are five stars. But the two middle stories are SOOOOO good that giving the book less than five stars would be an injustice to them. Anyone who likes the show "Touched By An Angel" (which I love) will probably like this book. I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this anthology - you will not regret it!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute Stories where Everything Works Out, December 16, 2000
My aren't these angels precious. They are sent to earth to help individuals fall in love and get their lives "back on track". Whatever your religion you will love how these angels break some of the rules (for good reasons) and manage to get some of the most stubborn people to realize thier hearts desire. I have to say that my favorite story was "The Trouble with Hannah" (it coudl be the name). I found so many similaries to todays world where parents don't take enough time for their children and the children get angry. All it takes is a little love, some turn about is fair play, and yes some discipline to bring not only Hannah around, but also her guardians. The other three stories are cute too.....Bottom line, a good book for quick reads.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 & 1/2 stars, Very good reading, December 30, 2004
I read this around Christmas, and I enjoyed all 4 stories.
My favorite was probably the 2nd one, about the couple who
adopts 3 kids. My 2nd favorite would be the 3rd story,
the only contemporary one in the book, where the heroine
gets taken down a few pegs and is a better person for it.
I found the 1st & 4th stories to be very similar. Each
had a little girl whos father & mother were no longer among
the living, who lives with her aunt (mother's sister), only
to have her uncle (father's brother) come along later in order
for love to get a foothold. The main difference between these
2 stories is the little girls themselves. One acted spoiled
(but was actually neglected) and the other was a truly sweet
person. All in all, I thought the book was near excellent.
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by Debra Dier
by Connie Brockway
by Linda Jones
by Lori Foster
by Debra Dier
