Customer Reviews

Marian's Christmas Wish (Signet Regency Romance)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This would be their last Christmas in their ancestral home, and Marian Wynswich is determined that it will be a happy one despite the death of her father the previous Christmas Eve and the pressure her elder sister, Ariadne, is undergoing to marry for money to save the family home. Shortly before Christmas her diplomat brother, Percy, comes home with two men: a highly objectionable marital candidate for Ariadne (who is deeply in love with their vicar), and a friend in the diplomatic corps whom he has invited on the spur of the moment. On the same day, Marian's younger brother sneaks home to her having been kicked out of Eton. The prospects for a joyous Christmas are not promising.

Carla Kelly is currently my favorite novelist. Having read her recent stories, I have been tracking down her out-of-print books, like Marian's Christmas Wish. This story contains the qualities I like best about Kelly's work. Her protagonists have physical attraction; but they also have qualities that will wear well over the years: they have a shared integrity, are compassionate, responsible, and have shared interests as well as a genuine concern for one another's welfare. The problem that has to be overcome in her stories often revolves around a difference in age, class, or situation with a dash of past trauma. Her characters are rich and well-drawn, and she always manages to maintain the dramatic tension to the very last. Marian's Christmas Wish is no exception. At the same time, the male protagonist does some things near the end of the story which are nearly unforgivable and which caused this not to be a favorite Carla Kelly work, though it is a very fine story.

A VOW NOT TO LOVE

Miss Marian Wynswich had not been raised to be a proper young lady. Instead she had been educated to be as good as any man in everything from reading Greek to playing chess.

Thus it was with dismay that she saw what falling in love could do to the most sensible of females, as she watched her sister Ariadne turn giddy when a gentleman captured her heart. Never, Marian vowed, would she ever commit that feminine folly.

Then the dashing Lord Gilbert Ingraham came to pay a Christmas visit. And the question was not only if this worldly lord would make Marian break her vow... it was also if this man who could have any woman he wanted would also break her heart...

"Marian's Christmas Wish" was a great read. The supporting characters are so vivid that it's really more of an ensemble cast, where two of the characters happen to fall in love. I laughed out loud in several parts and there's some real suspense at the end. So glad I tracked this one day and bought it - but really, how can you go wrong with anything written by Carla Kelly?

I'm conflicted about this book, because while I found it silly and even irritating at times, I stayed up way past bedtime to read it. That has to count for something.

My main issue with the book was 16-year-old Marian's age and immaturity. (And yes, she was immature, even for a 16-year-old.) Marian manages to engineer the most bizarre situations that no thinking person would ever take part in - like drugging the hero and putting him on his merry, sloppy way to Bath. I think her actions were supposed to make her cute, but I found her completely asinine. And about her age - I know it's historically accurate for a 16-year-old girl of that era to be contemplating marriage, but I'm not comfortable with that, especially when the hero is so much older.

On the other hand, I adored the hero - Gilbert Collinwood, Lord Ingraham. He's intelligent, funny, thoughtful, and wise, and he finds everything about Marian adorable. The main reason I stuck with the book until the end was because of Ingraham. I wanted him to have his own HEA (happily ever after) even if I don't think Marian was quite ready for her own. I was a bit peeved that he frequently called Marian "brat," but he meant it endearingly and well, she was a brat.

There was a subplot involving espionage, and some drama over the Wynswichs' future, but it didn't keep me interested. Marian's family was supposed to be charming and quirky, but they were really rather annoying - apparently it's a family trait.

I can't give this book a full thumbs down, though, because Lord Ingraham really is quite a marvelous hero. Kelly could have improved the book by giving us his perspective and sparing us from Marian's inanities. Glancing over Kelly's published works, I think this book is typical of her style, so Kelly fans may love this book. As for myself, though, without more Ingraham I'd be hesitant to read more.

This book surprised me! I was expecting a nice love story with a Christmas backdrop, and I ended up enjoying rich characters, fun dialogue, and even a little intrigue. Set in the Regency time period, Marian is a spunky girl whose family is nearing financial ruin. Their only hopeful prospect is marrying off her elder sister (who is madly in love with the poor but kind vicar) to a wealthy suitor. Without spoiling anything, I will just say that fans of the Janes (Jane Austen and Jane Eyre) will love this fun and romantic story. Highly recommend it to all clean readers looking for an enjoyable holiday read.

This was a Holiday-tastic (I just LOVE creating my own words!) historical novel! Carla Kelly is superbly talented and her writing skills shine through with each character, each page, each twist in the story. I loved her use of details and the transformation the reader takes on when taken back to a Regency era to follow along side of Miriam. Ms. Kelly blends in the perfect amount of laughs and charm to make this a wonderful, inviting Christmas read.

Miriam. Oh boy. What to say about Miriam? Well, she's a delightful character, that's for sure. She's a 17 year old young woman who's head strong and devoted to standing up for herself and caring for others. Her father died on Christmas the year before, and now her family is a debt that now one knows how to undo.No one that is but Miriam. On top of that her brother Alastair, well he's rather adventurous and can't seem to keep himself enrolled in school. But, he can't tell Percy, their big brother, or they'll be trouble to pay! So, Miriam takes it upon herself to help Alastair out. What happens when Percy brings home two guests, one for sister Ariadne (who's in love with someone else!), and one who sets his eyes on Miriam? What happens when Miriam makes a Christmas wish over the Christmas pudding? Well, you'll have to read the story and find out!

This Christmas story is filled with lovable characters....LOVED Lord Ingraham, or rather Gilbert. His character was humorous! If you are looking for a sweet, laugh-out-loud, fast paced read, then I highly recommend Carla Kelly's regency era Christmas novel. Filled with characters that will make you laugh until you cry, and sweep you off your feet, this laugh til you cry novel is a WONDERFUL! A sweet, high 5 Book worthy novel in my opinion and I will be reading this every Christmas from now on! Carla Kelly is going on my favorite author list and I'll be adding her other novels to my wish list!

'Marian's Christmas Wish' is a book of two halves. The first half has a good Christmassy atmosphere with the main character trying to overcome family hardship and create a wonderful Christmas. It is warm-hearted and humorous. It then becomes more serious and the tone of the book changes becoming more of an adventure story. I really enjoyed the sense of humour throughout the book and am looking forward to reading more of Carla Kelly's work.

MARIAN'S CHRISTMAS WISH by Carla Kelly is an exciting historical romance set in Regency England. It is a fun quick read with witty charming characters. It is written with depth and details. This is the story of Marian Wynswick ,delightful,quick witted,snart,young lady her family and the charming,handsome Lord Ingraham.Their misadventures,passion,danger,love,healing,holiday spirit,mystery,and romance. "Marian's Christmas Wish" is a light hearted that will have you turning pages from beginning to end as you watch young Marian grow into a beautiful women and Lord Ingraham find the love of his life,perhaps,if he can change his ways. I so enjoyed this delightful story of Christmastime miracles,and the coming together of a wild,lovable family who are in dare straits, for the Wynswick's father left them nearly poverty stricken. Marian and her youngest brother Alistair's adventures will have you laughing out loud. A must read for any historical romance,holiday,readers who enjoy a fun read with lovable characters that steal your heart as they try to control their fate and perserve their family's way of life. Received for review from the publisher. Details can be found at Cedar Fort Inc. and My Book Addiction and More.

Wow, I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a while! I think I have another favorite author! This was a clean, sweet, English romance and I fell in love with each character! I was worried that it wouldn't be well developed cause it's a short story but I got everything I wanted with this little book! This will be one I look to buy! I wanted to note that anyone could read this book it has no religion attached to it, I wouldn't even call it Christian fiction. Just a good CLEAN romance! 16 and up!

I loved this book! Marian's Christmas Wish is a delightful combination of historical fiction (1815 England) with a lot of humor, some romance and a little mystery thrown in for fun. 16 year old Marian or "Mare" as she is lovingly called by her family -- sometimes innocently and sometimes not -- constantly gets herself into the funniest predicaments that had me laughing out loud so many times throughout the book. While the book's setting is Christmas, it would be an enjoyable, fun read any time of the year. This was the first book I've read by Carla Kelly and will be definitely looking for more. Easy to give this one 5 Stars.

My full review will be posted on November 21, 2011 at www.ldsretailers.blogspot.com