Customer Reviews

The Christmas Carrolls (Regency Romance)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why it's like a Christmas anthology with four stories - Lord Carroll has three marriageable daughters and due to his own meddling, there are three romances to read about. Three? What is the fourth story? Why his own romance with his lovely wife Bess.

You will enjoy a wonderful afternoon of reading with this book. Very light, not too much tension. The girls are lovely and the romances all are sweet. Not a lot of worry over finances and marriage settlements. The men are all gentlemen - except maybe the very mildly villainous Oliver, Lord Carroll's heir. But even Oliver's story doesn't end too badly.

The references to Christmas are throughout the book and of course being a Metzger - there are animals galore. There are also helpful, watchful servants who shake their heads at the ton's escapades.

Delightful escape.

I really enjoyed this novel, but couldn't give it a 5 because some of the characters were a bit shallow and not as drawn out as I would have liked. Also, the sudden romance emerging between the Carroll sisters and their respective suitors felt somewhat premature. However, as a light romp, this book was very much worth the read, and in fact I could not put it down.

What I particularly enjoyed was the differences between the 3 sisters, Joia, Holly and Merry. Though all 3 were independent and intelligent, each had her own personality. Joia, the beautiful, serene, sensible type. Holly, the bookish intellectual who dreamed of adventure in faraway lands. And Merry, the tomboy.

The one thing that absolutely "made" the story for me however was the relationship between Lord and Lady Carroll. While Metzger rather skimped on the development of the romances of the three daughters, she portrayed the love and need between their parents in such a way that touched my heart. The love between them seemed real and alive, and their story at the end was the most touching of all.

I really enjoyed this novel, but couldn't give it a 5 because some of the characters were a bit shallow and not as drawn out as I would have liked. Also, the sudden romance emerging between the Carroll sisters and their respective suitors felt somewhat premature. However, as a light romp, this book was very much worth the read, and in fact I could not put it down.

What I particularly enjoyed was the differences between the 3 sisters, Joia, Holly and Merry. Though all 3 were independent and intelligent, each had her own personality. Joia, the beautiful, serene, sensible type. Holly, the bookish intellectual who dreamed of adventure in faraway lands. And Merry, the tomboy.

The one thing that absolutely "made" the story for me however was the relationship between Lord and Lady Carroll. While Metzger rather skimped on the development of the romances of the three daughters, she portrayed the love and need between their parents in such a way that touched my heart. The love between them seemed real and alive, and their story at the end was the most touching of all.

This book is extremely excellent except for some parts in Adeste Infidelis, which I found rather hard to swallow (maybe it's just me) and the ending makes up for it. The other sections in this book were well-written. For regency fans of romance this is a definate must-buy. I've re-read it several times and still enjoy it. The characters are very real and the emotions well-written. There is a lot of by-play and interaction between the characters which gives them a depth several other romance novels I've read are lacking. I especially loved the story of the middle sister.

What's an Earl to do when he has three daughters of marriageable age, but no sons -- to speak of, that is? Lord Carroll and his lady are the happily-wed, proud parents of Joia, Hollice and Meredyth. What goes with Joy, especially at the Christmas Holiday time? Why Lord Comfort, that's who! It doesn't hurt any that the about-to-be-former rake is the son of a Duke, and we just won't pay any attention to the fact that he and Joia get along like, well, oil and water. But a good father knows his own child.

Unfortunately, Mr. Rendell hardly knows his son Evan, having gone to India to make his fortune, leaving the babe behind with his mother and her parents. It's the Squire and his wife who end up raising the boy, after their daughter dies suddenly. Evan has always been like the son the Earl never had, and a father can't be blamed for hoping that his Holly might someday -- but, then again, sometimes it's the older and wiser heads that prevail.

And Merry? Hers is a Silent Knight. Well, Sir Max can speak, but hesistantly. His bravery was never in question, until he met up with the red-haired, green-eyed elf. And that son? Well Noel might have been -- but then, as the earl read from the good book during his Christmas lesson, "And lo, unto them that day a son was born . . ." What matter that the son was already some ten years old, and born on the wrong side of the blanket?

THE CHRISTMAS CARROLLS is Barbara Metzger at her very best. And that is very good, indeed!

I am a big fan of the author. But this is the worst book ever.... If you like to waste money and time, buy it. I really don't understand how people can rate it so high...

Disclaimer: I am a sucker for Christmas Regencies. They are a Christmas tradition for me and I will read them even if they aren't good. That is why it is such a special added treat to find one that is really good.

The Christmas Carrolls is wonderful. It doesn't need the underpinning of Christmas to be good, it would have been a very enjoyable read staged at any time of the year. Christmas is just the mistletoe.

It is the story of a close family whose members love each other and accept each other, faults & mistakes & all. It is four charming love stories rolled up in one. It has charm, humor, and just a touch of heart-wrenching humanity that is touching and moving and leaves you happy and hopeful--just like Christmas.

The Christmas Carrolls is actually three novellas in one book. Each of the three Carroll daughters have their own separate short story, of her own romance, before their shared triple wedding day. Actually, their father was hoping to marry off at least one of his daughter's to save the travel and expense of taking each of them to London for the ever recurring "Season," and for that reason, 'helps' along budding romances.