Customer Reviews

A Regency Christmas Present (Signet Regency Anthology): Heart's Desire/ Christmas Wish List/ An Object of Charity/ A Christmas Canvas/ The Last Gift

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

 

 

I just read this anthology and thought the it was unusual in that all 5 authors contributed good to very good stories. I was very satisfied when I finished it and recommended it to a friend right away. It is hard to find high quality regency writing unless you go to the older writers. All 5 authors are well known and respected and unlike the other reviewers I enjoyed each story very much. I rarely give 5 stars and was least impressed with the final story so held back my 5 star review.

I usually am disappointed in books that are anthologies, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The first three stories were very good and I would have rated them 5 stars but the last two stories were not as good. My favorite story is the one by Alison Lane HEART'S DESIRE and I became interested in an unseen character, Emma's brother-in-law James. I hope she does his story in the future.

I totally agree with Scibarfans review-the first two stories by Allison Lane and Barbara Metzger were very good, I'd give each about 4 stars, but the last three stories quickly go down hill.

Surprisingly, even Carla Kelly's-whom I normally enjoy. Her story was OK-though nothing special to endear it to the reader.

The last two stories by Elizabeth Fairchild and Edith Layton were unreadable, in my opinion. In fact, I'm quickly finding that Layton and Fairchild are going on my "do not read" list as they just don't do it for me.

Of the five stories, like Scibarfan, I enjoyed Barbara Metzgers the best but not enough to recommend this Anthology just for that one story. If you must read this, I'd suggest you get it very cheaply.

2.5 stars.

Fairchild's story is unusual but heartwarming, about a disfigured war veteran and a paragon of virtue and patience. She may be too patient and wise to be believed, and he nearly too weak, but they do get on well together. His dragon of an aunt is thoroughly conceived. All in all, a pleasant and diverting tale. 3 stars.

Metzger's story is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. A delightfully convoluted "wish list" holds this witty and quirky tale together. Metzger's clever "trick" of viewing the story from multiple viewpoints with similar phrasing is delightful, is occasionally taken a bit too far. Her characters are finely drawn, especially the secondary ones. Metzger delivers. 4 stars.

Kelly's offering is only so-so. It's a fairly interesting situation for the hero but is otherwise blah. There's nothing really special here, and the story is not firmly resolved. The author's style is nice, but the story is not particularly engaging, and there is a sense of it being unfinished. 1 & 1/2 stars.

Fairchild's piece is also less-than-wonderful. It involves a thoroughly dastardly brother and a twist of sorts. This tale is more sensual than most in such anthologies. There's some nice imagery, but it's only middling overall. 2 stars.

Layton's contribution is a take on Sleeping Beauty--one that is fairly obvious and straightforward. The tale is mildly diverting, but Layton, as usual, is overly wordy, relying too much on description and on "telling" the story. 1 & 1/2 stars.

Overall, this anthology is a typical mix and few stories are worth the effort. Metzger's near the top of her form here, however, and Lane is also worth a read.