Customer Reviews

A Christmas Ball (Leisure Historical Romance)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

and was pleasantly surprised to enjoy all three offerings. So often in anthologies, there's one really good story, and one that's not worth finishing, and one in between, but this threesome were all more than readable. Emily Bryan is one of my favorite authors, so I'm always on the lookout for anything by her, and I enjoyed her story very much -- her usual wonderful characters, zingy dialog, and bits of humor. I don't think I've read either of the other two authors, but will seek out more by both, as their contributions here show definite talent. All in all, a pleasant read as we race toward the holiday season.

I often buy Anthologies for one Author and usually the other stories included are not up to par. This is NOT the case with this book! I bought it for Jennifer Ashley's 4th installment of her Nvegarian series. Loved that story but thought Emily Bryan's story was even better. I will definitely be ordering more of her books. She made me laugh out loud, cry and thoroughly enjoy myself in 100 short pages but when the story was over I felt the story was well told and satisfying! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK for all 3 stories!

"The Longest Night" by Jennifer Ashley. Nvengarian shapeshift Baron Valentin arrives at the ball to continue his pursuit of his beloved Mary Cameron, who has run away from love.

"My Lady Below Stairs" by Emily Bryan. Being a bastard means to Jane collecting the eggs from the henhouse when it is cold or impersonating your legitimate half-sister Sybil when she apparently elopes with a painter.

"Traditions" by Alissa Johnson. Prim and proper Casslebury plans to court Miss Caroline Meldrin, but to his chagrin is attracted to her wild friend Miss Patience Byerly.

Readers will enjoy attending the Hartwell holiday ball as sponsored by these three fine Regency romance authors.

Harriet Klausner

The first story is by far the best! I loved everything about it and could not get enough! I was sad to read the last page. I plan on reading it every year...like I would watch my favorite Christmas movie! Love, Love, Love it!!!!

The other two stories are very good, as well! This book made my Christmas season!!!!!

I always like to get a Christmas Regency Anthology (they used to be more common), but since I had already read the story by Mary Balogh in the only other Anthology I found and I didn't care for the synopsis of the other stories in that book, I thought I'd try a book with three authors that were completely new to me. This wasn't a particularly good idea. It was also not particularly Christmas-y, it could just as well been published for Easter or Groundhog Day. Nevertheless, I found the book improved as I trotted along. I disliked the first story. I enjoyed the second. I liked the third. I intend to look up more books by Alyssa Johnson as I had never read this author before, so hopefully I've discovered a new author in the process. (No such plans for the other two).

This is collection of Christmas stories is not too bad - I have read worse. The story "Traditions" by Alissa Johnson is great, and follows the tradition of the old favourite regency romances. "My Lady downstairs" by Emily Byron is ridiculous but I could not help but like it. And "The longest night" by Jennifer Ashley is fine if you follow the Nvengaria saga. Quick and easy to read but not a keeper.

For the last fifteen years or so I've purchased a Christmas themed Regency anthology. For the last few years, they've been hard to come by. This one DID NOT FIT THE BILL. I don't particularly care for gratuitous sex within the first three pages...especially at Christmas....but there it was. Not romantic, just raunchy. I'd swear a man wrote the first story. The third story in the anthology was the only one I enjoyed. I miss the old regency books. They were filled with romance and the Christmas traditions of old. This was not worth the money I spent.

I try to buy an historical holiday anthology every year, although admittedly I have not done so in the past couple of years. However, because I had a little free time before Christmas, I bought this anthology. The first story seemed promising - it is about a young woman born on the wrong side of the blanket, and the hero is a groom. Sounds good - not the usual subjects for a romance novel. Anyway, halfway through the story, I jumped to the next story in disgust. The plot twists are WILDLY unbelievable - I won't say why, but suffice it to say that a scullery maid cannot masquerade as a lady as easily as the story asserts. Add to that a tryst in a MOST unlikely (and, were you the owner of the bed that the characters romped in, cringe worthy) place, and you have the makings of a very subpar romance short story.

The next story interested me not one whit, being about a woman in love with some sort of changeling who has a stilting command of the English language (the hero, not the author). So, on to the next novella, about a woman with a father gone "mad."

Again, it started in a promising manner, although, for the life of me, I cannot understand why the hero is so immediately attracted to a woman who is not described by the author as having any exceptional traits, other than being able to shove a large piece of cake in her mouth in one bite.

Then, to add insult to injury (mine), they become intimate at the same ball as the couple in the first story (it is the ball that ties all of these stories together)! Were I the host and hostess of this ball, I would review my guest list more carefully next time - or at least hire more security.

If I seem harsh, perhaps I am. However, I have read and own several REALLY excellent holiday anthologies, so I feel able to identify those sorts of stories. Unfortunately, none of the stories in this anthology qualify.