Customer Reviews

The One That Got Away

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

 

 

The Trouble With Charlotte by Victoria Alexander: 91 pages. Charlotte has been widowed for 7 years and is about to become engaged to a safe and steady man who is a sharp contrast to the rogue she impetuously married when she was only 18 years old. Imagine her surprise when Hugh returns! He wasn't dead, but merely suffering from amnesia caused by war injuries. He claims to have changed, and so has she. Can they recapture their love, or is it time for them to move on? This is a sweet story, but not very believeable or convincing. Charlotte's two widowed friends are introduced, and it would have been nice to learn what happens to them too.

Much Ado About Twelfth Night by Liz Carlyle: 92 pages. It took me so long to prod through this short story because I had trouble connecting with it and following along with the plot. Although I forced myself to finish it, I can't even summarize the story. It was that confusing and totally boring.

A Fool Again by Eloisa James: 87 pages. My favorite story in the book. At seventeen, Genevieve was on her way to Gretna Green to elope with the wild and passionate Tobias when her father caught up with them, dragged her back home and forced her to marry the much older Erasmus to save her reputation. When shrewd and ruthless Erasmus died seven years later, he stipulated in his will that Genevieve must marry one of his business partners after a two year mourning period in order to inherit his estate. Upon hearing that Genevieve was now a widow, Tobias returned from India, where he had retreated to soothe his wounds and make his fortune after being jilted. Genevieve had her sights set on marrying the snake-like Felton to fulfill her husband's will, however how could she resist the charm and passion of her first and only true lover?

Nightingale by Cathy Maxwell: 73 pages. A cute sexy story. Jemma had always lived her life to please her family, giving up her true love Dane to marry a titled man. Now she was widowed and destitue, and her family was once again dependent upon her to save them. In a drunken stupor, her brother Cris challenges Dane to a duel. After not seeing each other for many years, Jemma approaches Dane, asking him to call off the duel and spare her brother's life. He is agreeable, only if she submits to a night of passionate lovemaking with him. The two fall in love again, and Jemma is torn between following her heart or following the demands of her family obligations.

It's always difficult to rate anthologies when you like some stories but not others. At least 2 of the stories are 4-star; the others are 3.
I bought this book because of Carlyle and James, two of my favourite authors. But it was Alexander's story I enjoyed most: she's funny and I look for that in my romance reading. I've read her before and don't recall it being very witty..perhaps it's time to check again.
Carlyle's story, which hinges on misunderstandings, also sparkled, and while James' story was pretty passionate I couldn't really sympathise with Genevieve's motives. I've mentioned elsewhere that Maxwell isn't a favourite author and I found her story to have an ordinary plot, with predictable progress. People looking for passion will find plenty of it in her story though.

What a charming collection of stories! I haven't read all of these authors before but I'm certainly going to be looking for their books in the future. My absolute favorite was the Eloisa James story "A Fool Again" which was so delightful and romantic that it reminded me of why we should all be "fools for love" at one time in our life. Or in this case, twice! These stories are like delicious appetizers and now I'm starving for a main course. I'm off to the bookstore to find Ms. James' latest and to check out some of the books from the other authors too.

"The Trouble with Charlotte" by Victoria Alexander. Widow Charlotte may have lost her husband at sea, but knows to remain safe she must remarry. However, as she decides who to wed, the reported death of her spouse proves exaggerated as Captain Hugh Robb comes home with a need to be with his wife.

"Much Ado about Twelfth Night" by Liz Carlyle. Just out of the military, Rythorpe is panicking because Grandmama expects him to wed Sophie shortly. He asks Oliver for help as he wants to enjoy some civilian time before marrying. In an ironic comedy of errors, Oliver understands until he meets Sophie and soon wants to be the groom to the woman he loves.

"A Fool Again" by Eloisa James. Widow Genevieve is unhappy because her late husband placed an undesired stipulation in his will. She must remarry in two years or lose everything. The weighty Tobias is beneath her station, but wants her, not her money, while Lord Felton is her equal but could use an influx of pounds. Which muckworm will she choose?

"Nightingale" by Cathy Maxwell. Cris has to be an idiot challenging Dane to a duel, as the latter is the best. Jemma knows she must plead for her brother's life, but she thinks Dane must hate her as she rejected his suit several years ago,

These four novellas are delightful historical romances starring likable protagonists who readers will enjoy as they ponder to be wed or not to be wed for love.

Harriet Klausner

I read all 4 of these authors. James rarely fails; I generally like Carlyle, too. Alexander and Maxwell are a bit more hit or miss for me. These perceptions held true in this anthology.

Alexander's was my least favorite. I remember my gasp when Captain Robb showed up at the end of a previous book. Here's the story, and it's bland and disappointing. It was not helped by Marcus, Earl of Pennington telling the story. Him, I like, just not his telling the story. The device was simply awkward.

Maxwell's wasn't top notch either. It was a pretty ordinary humdrum plot with a less than likeable heroine and a hero who seemed easily duped. Both hers and Alexander's seemed rushed and almost trite. Carlyle's and James' were more complex.

It's hard to decide whether to give the "best liked" label to Carlyle or James, but I think it goes to Carlyle by a hair. Her characters were interesting (lead and secondary), and although the reader could easily figure out what was happening, Carlyle made it fun to watch the characters grasp it piece by piece. James had strong leads as well and included a few unique elements, like the fair and the nature of the other suitor. There was more humor in Carlyle's story, but both sizzled where appropriate.

4 stars for these two, less for Alexander & Maxwell, leading to 3 stars overall.