A Regency Christmas Eve (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

by Nancy Butler (Author), Diane Farr (Author), Allison Lane (Author), Barbara Metzger (Author), Edith Layton (Author) "They were as poor as church mice..." (more)
Key Phrases: marriage stakes, Miss Ripley, Lord Whittendale, Lady Farnham (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Celebrate the most joyous of seasons with these delightful stories of holiday romance from five of today's best-loved Regency authors. Each tale is set on Christmas Eve, capturing the season's true spirit of charity and goodwill-and proving time and again why love is the greatest gift of all...

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451201671
• ISBN-13: 978-0451201676
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #781,314 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Five Keepers, October 18, 2000

By	Jane Bowers (romrevtoday.com) - See all my reviews

One rarely encounters an anthology such as this where all the novellas are equally appealing, though this should be no surprise considering the five Signet stars represented here. Nothing more need be added to the abundance of warmth, love, humor and poignancy found between the covers of A REGENCY CHRISTMAS EVE.

LITTLE MIRACLES, Barbara Metzger On the night before Christmas, the creatures were stirring--stirring up a bit of trouble. Well, actually, on two successive Christmas Eves they fail in communicating a secret to man; a secret only the resident rodents remember. Once again, their intent for the approaching season is to bring prosperity to themselves, to the Village of Lower Winfrey and to the Church of St. Cecelia's in the Trees. If they are instrumental in bringing lovers together as well, that is surely in the spirit of the season.

Beware of Barbara Metzger; she'll put smile lines on your face. Her way with words is as delightful as the meanings they convey.

THE MARRIAGE STAKES, Allison Lane After Miss Sophie Landiss rescues her very young, widowed and nearly to term half-sister Caroline from a possessive aunt-in-law, a broken carriage wheel halts their long flight home to Cumberland. Their chance rescuer seeks a temporary respite from Westlake Abbey and a large houseparty that includes all his relations, two dozen eligible young ladies and their hopeful papas and mamas. All await Christmas Eve, when Damon must name his intended bride, the next Countess of Westlake.

While suspense builds, a moving friendship develops between Sophie and Damon, two intelligent, decent and mature individuals. Read this endearing story to find out if Damon will recognize the treasure under his nose when Allison Lane treats readers to a lively expose of a 'marriage mart' taken to extremes.

THE GIFT OF THE SPOONS, Nancy Butler Desperate to help his son recover from a wasting disease, Christopher Herne's last hope sends him to a cottage in Chatham Wood to find the wisewoman healer, Pippa Spoon. Expecting a crone, he finds a young woman instead. Pippa hasn't the healing powers of her mother, but what power she has may well prove sufficient to heal both wounded spirits, Christopher's and his son's.

THE GIFT OF THE SPOONS will warm your hearts as the magic of Christmas joins forces with older mysteries under Nancy Butler's masterful touch.

THE RECKLESS MISS RIPLEY, Diane Farr Glad of the warmth and the passable accommodations to be had at the Coaches and Horses Inn on such a nasty night, Fred Bates takes his ease before continuing down the coaching road to Bath on his journey home for Christmas. At least, that's his plan before a lone female stumbles in from the snow and the cold--before Miss Claudia Ripley turns her beguiling smile his way.

With a lovable hoyden for a heroine, a thoroughly nice hero, and all the humorous banter that Diane Farr does so well, THE RECKLESS MISS RIPLEY becomes a delightful road romance.

THE CHRISTMAS THIEF, Edith Layton When his brother dies, Lt. Major Maxwell Evers leaves war behind to take up civilian life and his responsibilities toward his new barony and his orphaned niece, Gwenn. He also plans, at long last, to spend the rest of his life with his great love, Lizabeth. On his way home, however, he chances upon a newspaper article describing the failure of the venture in which all his funds are invested. Max hits bottom so hard that he must toil at hard labor, earning barely enough to settle himself and Gwenn in the country. Christmas is coming, and Max is determined to have a gift for Gwenn, even if he must steal it.

Max may be a bumbler as a thief, but he's a wonderful character--a true hero. The trials this honorable man goes through when pressed to do a wrong will tickle your funny bone while tugging on your heartstrings. Edith Layton's tale is a fittingly emotional conclusion to a collection of delightful Christmas stories.

Romance Reviews Today

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas cheered, November 2, 2000

By	dizzheart "dizzheart" (Los Angeles CA) - See all my reviews

Every year I look forward to the Signet Christmas regency anthology, and so far I've never been disappointed. This year's is no exception. The Barbara Metzger story about the mice is truly charming, and the Edith Layton story is a classic I know I will reread again and again. The Diane Farr, Allison Lane and Nancy Butler stories are all very enjoyable as well. I won't go into detail about them because a previous reviewer did it so thoroughly -- I will just say that this collection got me out of a really bad mood and into a really good one, and I surely got my money's worth! (I don't know what book "a reader from Rochester NY" read, but it can't have been the same one I read!) Hey, Merry Christmas, everybody!!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely delightful!, November 4, 2000

By	"rosemary748" (Midlothian, VA USA) - See all my reviews

What a treat for the holidays, or if you cannot wait (like me) for right now. One expects the very best from Barbara Metzger and Edith Layton, and that is exactly what these two favorite authors deliver in this endearing collection of stories. A charming book sure to please any romance fan. Happy holidays!