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26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 great, 1 pretty good, 2 just alright, October 6, 2008
This review is from: It Happened One Night (Mass Market Paperback)
I bought this group of short stories only for the incomparable Mary Balogh, and I was not disappointed. Her story is absolutely marvelous as I knew it would be and, by far, the best of the bunch. I actually saved it for last because in other anthologies, I've read her story first and was bored to tears with the rest. This time, I read the other stories first. Stephanie Laurens and Jacquie D'Alessandro's bits were pretty average. They both start off fine but then whimper to the end filling pages and pages with sex scenes.....boring and unimaginative. That's the sign of an author who is on auto-pilot and not creative enough to plan a well-thought out story. Candice Hern, on the other hand, is a very good writer. I was involved with her story to the bitter end. But, as in almost every other book I've read of hers, I am repeatedly disappointed in her heroines. Why does every single heroine Hern creates have to be promiscuous? Without fail, her heroines have indiscriminate sex with a wide variety of men. Those heroines must appeal to a large group of women, but I am personally turned off by them. Hern is a good enough writer, however, to keep the reader glued to her story. I was drawn in and involved with the story even though I didn't really care for one of the main characters. That takes talent in a writer. So, while I was tempted to give this book three stars, I felt I had to go with four. I find it very hard to rate any Mary Balogh effort lower than four stars. My advice, however, is to read Laurens and D'Alessandro first, then Hern, and finish with Balogh, the main attraction in this anthology.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four auhors, four different stories with the same plot premise -interesting results, October 8, 2008
This review is from: It Happened One Night (Mass Market Paperback)
From the inside cover-
The Fall of Rogue Gerrard by Stephanie Laurens
Robert Gerrard is London's most notorious rake. But he once did everything in his power to protect Lydia Makepeace, igniting a yearning that persists to the day they are trapped alone at an inn. Fueled by desire, Lydia is determined to finally have Robert for her own and delight in The Fall of Rogue Gerrard
4 1/2 stars -Best of the bunch IMHO. More lighthearted than the others, Laurens tells a tale of a young 22 yr old rake who kissed a girl (16) and shockingly realized that he'd found his soul mate. Of course this scares the hell out of him and he makes a run for it. Fast forward ten years and a chance meeting ..and well...he's tired of running from his heart. Bold/assertive heroine and wickedly dashing hero make this a fun read. Lighthearted romance with plenty of love scenes.
Spellbound by Mary Balogh
Bound for London, Nora Rider might have died in the terrible stagecoach accident were it not for the man who risked his life to save her. He is Richard Kemp, Lord Bourne, her husband -and she had no idea his ador could still hold her Spellbound.*note*-this is an error by publishers, Richard didn't actually save Nora from an accident but the incident did fuel their chance meeting.
4 1/2 stars -Great writing from Balogh's reversal of fortunes novella. Nora and Richard were in love once but were pulled apart rather brutally. Neither realized the other wasn't at fault. This was a slightly bittersweet deeply emotional read for me. I felt the ending didn't make up for all that previous turmoil the characters were originally put through -sort of left me hanging and begging for more. I would have liked to see what the future held for them.
Only You by Jacquie D'Alessandro
Casandra Heywood and Ethan Baxter were once cherished childhood friends. Now after ten long years apart. Ethan is determined to win Cassandra for his own. But Cassandra has her own ideas.
3 stars -Hero formally worked for Cassandra's family. They were friends as children and perhaps felt more but Lady's don't marry the stable master's son. Recently widowed, Cassie returns to see if she still feels something for Ethan. Although I generally enjoy these kinds of opposite in social stature parings, this one was sadly predictable all the way through. Tons of cliche's down to the abusive husband. A good read but nothing out of the ordinary.
From This Moment On by Candice Hern
He left her to defend His Majesty's honor. But Captain Sam Pellow never stopped fantasizing about Wilhelmina, Duchess of Hertford -and nothing she said or one will keep him away from her bed.
4 stars -Last story from Hern's Merry Widow series. I'm not fond of much older couples and the fact that the heroine was once a courtesan -thats already two strikes against this novella in my mind. But I found the novella to be very good even if its only for originality sake. Sam is a lovable and ardent suitor and who wouldn't cave under his *persuasions* even if they thought themselves to be unworthy? Enjoyable.
Good anthology with four very different but similar stories. Recommended.
Other anthologies I've enjoyed-
A Gift of Love -fantastic
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well done indeed., November 21, 2008
This review is from: It Happened One Night (Mass Market Paperback)
The Fall of Rogue Gerrard by Stephanie Laurens
Lydia Makepeace needs to infiltrate the home of Lord Alconbury in order to retrieve a letter her sister had written. Problem is that Lord Alconbury has several guests and nightly orgies that do not end until past dawn. After scoping out Alconbury's home one evening, Lydia returns to the inn and is shocked to see Lord Gerrard "Ro". Perhaps Lydia can get a bit of help. **** A bit of adventure with this romance - and who would not enjoy that? ****
Spellbound by Mary Balogh
Long ago Nora Ryder had been the daughter of a gentleman of vast wealth and political influence. Richard had been her father's secretary. Now their situation has reversed. Richard Kemp is a baron and Nora is penniless. Having recently left a position, unpaid, she has no choice but to return to her brother's home until she can find new employment. Unfortunately, the stagecoach she was to travel on has collided with a gentleman's vehicle. Richard's. Will her heart survive seeing him again? **** To tell more of the couple's background would spoil the fun. Rest assured that the story is well done with an interesting twist or two. ****
Only You by Jacquie D'Alessandro
Ten years ago Cassie became Countess Westmore. In doing so she left her only friend, Ethan, behind and entered purgatory. Now a widow, Cassie returns to Cornwall. Ethan now owns and operates the Blue Seas Inn in St. Ives. Before returning to her parents, Cassie decides to spend one evening at the inn. Perhaps he will be there. **** Pure romance that left me with a warm glow. The story is spiced in a way that only Jacquie D'Alessandro can do. ****
From This Moment On by Candice Hern
She had been plain Wilma Jepp at one time. He had been plain Samuel Pellow. She thought he was dead. Instead Sam had gone into the navy - unwillingly. When her mother tossed her out, Wilma did the only thing she could do to survive. She became a mistress. Today she is the Duchess of Herford, widowed for over three years. Samuel is a retired blockade captain. Fate brings them together at an inn one stormy day and Destiny will do her best to keep them that way. **** This romance moves at a slower pace than the previous ones. It is mostly two people reminiscing about the hard choices each made in their past. The author has added some humor to keep things light and she has done it in a very sneaky way. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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