What I Read in June 2016 Part V. . .

What I Read in June 2016 Part V. . . 

A Regency Christmas Feast by Mary Balogh, Patricia Rice, Edith Layton, Barbara Metzger, Sandra Heath--Regency Christmas Short Stories


A compilation of stories by popular Regency romance authors.
In The Gingerbread Man by Edith Layton, Owen Whitley, the Duke of Blackburn keeps dreaming of gingerbread for reasons unknown to him. He doesn't even LIKE gingerbread. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter by consulting his friends. He starts with his best childhood friend's sister, Miss Elizabeth Lloyd who is able to josh him out of his sullens but isn't able to provide an answer. Soon he discovers more than he bargained for when he asks each of his cronies from his club and even his mistress but the one thing he wants to know keeps eluding him.

This is kind of a cute story with some dark moments. I could do without the dirty jokes/double entendres though and the mistresses's sad story is not quite something that belongs in a heartwarming Christmas story. The gingerbread recipe sounds good but it's not a period recipe.

The second story, Sophie's Syllabub by Sandra Heath is about second chances and sweet Christmas memories involving syllabub. I was a little confused about the timeline of the story. It also didn't seem very period correct given what I know about the laws of the time. I suppose it might be possible or possibly plausible. I really liked Sophie and would have liked to know more about her. She's strong, brave and independent- a very modern heroine in a very unmodern society. This story dials up the sensuality a notch but follows a traditional pattern. I wasn't overly fond of Owen and probably would have reacted much like Sophie did but less quick to forgive. Serena is a stereotypical villainess without much motivation except "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" and even then it's not much motivation.

The Christmas Goose by Patricia Rice is a darker tale where the hero, Simon LeMaster, returns from the wars wounded, depressed, with survivor's guilt and PTSD. He worries about the enlisted men who returned injured and the widows and how they will survive. As a younger son he doesn't have much of a voice and thinks of ending it all until a chance encounter with a stray dog brings him to his destiny. I really liked this sweet story though the hero's lust was a little too much. I admired Rebecca for keeping her family solvent in difficult times. Her father is a great bully and that relationship makes the story very unoriginal but it's heartwarming. I liked Simon and his character development was excellent. The actual romance was a bit rushed due to the shorter length of the novella. It could have made a better longer story but I enjoyed it. The animal antics made me laugh and made the story seem more like a Barbara Metzger story than the one she wrote.

Barbara Metzger's story The Proof is in the Pudding centers around beautiful Johna and her younger sister Phillipa. Johna was married off to the odious Captain Sharp Sir Otis Ogden when her gamester father sold her to pay his debts. She's determined to make a better life for her sister any way she can, starting with a Christmas pudding and a wish. Her wish comes true sooner than expected but it also earns her the sobriquet of "black widow" around London. The gentlemen all make bets about whose proposal she will accept and whether it will be proper or improper. The very proper Viscount Spencer, Merle Selcrest has an improper proposal in mind and is surprised when Johna turns to him for help. She needs his eccentric mother's help is smoothing Phillipa's path through the haute mode. Merle despairs of his mother's antics and worries about his harum scarum brother Denton, but he has no choice but to accept the widow's proposal. He has no idea what he's getting himself into- if only his mother and her pet rabbit's were the worst of his concerns!

This was not, in my opinion, Metzger's best story. The rabbits were only mentioned in passing and not part of the action. I kept waiting for a dog or animal companion to be a part of the plot but sadly this story doesn't follow the pattern of her longer novels. I did enjoy the eccentric Lady Selcrest but she was hardly in the story. There were some funny moments but overall, not as funny as some of Metzger's novels. There was also a bit too much about Merle's libido and what he'd like to do with Johna. This story just didn't live up to potential for me.


The Wassail Bowl by Mary Balough is about misunderstandings and second chances. It was not my cup of tea. I skimmed it to see if it was worth my time to read it but found it uninteresting. I can't stand stupid misunderstandings or even valid ones between people who are supposed to love each other. There is one semi-graphic sex scene that seemed too much like a power play move for me. It wasn't romantic at all. The children had potential to possibly save this story but I elected not to even try to finish it.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Peerless Theodosia by Rebecca Baldwin -- Regency Romance

When Lady Southcote learns that her husband's American diplomat friend, Senator Clement's children have been taken prisoners of war she invites them to stay with her family in their country home. The war will surely be over soon and how much trouble can two children be? Senator Clement's children turn out to be fully grown young adults and how much trouble is a matter of opinion! Bookish Jefferson, age 18, finds himself strongly attracted to Lady Cynthia, a beautiful bluestocking while Theo and Lady Southcote look on disapprovingly. As for Theo, she's too bold, too fashionable and too fast for Edwina Morton-West, neighbor and affianced wife of Lord Claremont Southcote. Theo is reunited with her old friend Albert, the new Marquess of Torville and other old friends from her past. Lady Southcote is delighted to be a part of such a fashionable crowd. Edwina, always aware of what's proper and what's not, aided by her new friend Torville's cousin Lieutenant Steyland, sends tales of the goings-on to Clare, who rushes to his family home to put a stop to these adventuring mushrooms. Though Theo fears being put into prison, she is too fiercely proud of her independence to give in to Clare's bullying. When they aren't fighting, they find a good friend in each other, however, Theo can't forget she's a prisoner of war. Soon everyone around them can see what's happening, but Clare's temper and Theo's pride may get in the way of their relationship -whatever form it takes. This story is a remake of Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy. Unlike The Grand Sophy, most of the action takes place off the page. Theo is called "peerless" any number of times and we're told a lot about what she has done, but not much is actually part of the action. Nevertheless, the plot is cute and enjoyable. It has something for almost everyone: a pair of mischievous twins; a parrot; the ton; a young couple; slightly older ladies; an alpha male; a somewhat buffoonish young Lieutenant, and of course, romance. The romance has it's ups and downs. Theo and Clare's relationship is difficult but they understand each other. It ends up being sweet, anyway. I liked Theo for the first 2/3 of the book. She's strong, brave, independent and fearless. In the last third she turns into a missish watering pot and the way she chooses to solve her problem seems out of character. Clare's temper keeps him from being a truly appealing hero. He loses his temper over the most trifling things. My favorite character is Peg. She made me giggle, especially during the romantic scene. I also liked Lady Cynthia and I felt bad for her because she's a young bluestocking and everyone scolds her for it. I enjoyed the plot, for the most part, especially the last chapter, which was so unrealistic but very funny. I think this book is cute though it's not at the level of Georgette Heyer. It's more like a Joan Smith and a lot of the other early Regency writers. It's a good, light, summer read. 

Regency Delights by Patricia Rice -- Regency Romance novellas (Kindle/e-book)

Three previously published stories are compiled in this e-book. 

In Something Borrowed Melanie is a bit envious of her older sister Jane: beautiful and vivacious, a wealthy widow and now about to marry a handsome Earl. What more could a girl ask for? Well, Jane never arrives so Melanie takes matters into her own hands and proposes a fake marriage to Damien. Damien is the only person who doesn't turn away from Melanie's crippled leg. He needs money and she believes he is the best person to help her escape her controlling family and help her live a little. Damien finds Melanie's innocence attractive, but is reluctant to ruin the innocence of a young miss. Hhe needs the money and would marry her legally but he hesitates to burden her with his dark secrets. He takes her to London where she quickly becomes the talk of the ton. Can her fantasy survive a little London gossip? What will happen to Damien when Melanie returns home? This story is a different take on the arranged marriage plot. The tone is rather somber. Melaine has self-esteem issues stemming from her crippled leg and doubts her own worth. Damien has dark secrets that aren't revealed until the end. He's a very noble sort of gentleman and I can see why he would be attracted to the lighter hearted, innocent Melanie. I think many ladies would swoon at his feet given half a chance. The plot is decent. It contains a bit of sensuality which doesn't make sense in the context of the story. There's some interesting issues to think about here. Overall, the story was darker than I usually like but it wasn't bad. 

Father's and Daughters is set around St. Valentine's Day and 18 year old Carolyn Thorogood is in love with the rakish Lord Jack Chatham. Her Papa disapproves and refuses to allow his oldest daughter to wed a penniless spendthrift and live a life of penury. He forces Jack to break Carolyn's heart and leave her to earn his fortune. Five years later Carolyn is still unwed. She's chaperoning her younger sister Blanche in her first season. Blanche is enjoying the delights of town and preparing for St. Valentine's Day. Carolyn is waiting to become officially engaged to a stuffy Marquess when she discovers Jack is back in town. Older, wiser, wealthier and with secrets he would rather not share just yet, Jack is shocked to discover that Carolyn has turned from a loving girl to a cold and heartless shell. Can he find the heart that beats inside her once again and this time hope for better results? If she can't accept his past, he's doomed to bachelorhood forever. This is my favorite story of the three. The plot is paced nicely for this length. The plot elements are realistic (somewhat) and make sense for the story. The hero and heroine are a bit annoying with their constant bickering but the romance is so sweet, I was rooting for them. Blanche adds a bit of comic relief. I really enjoyed this one and I liked learning about Valentine's customs in the Regency era.

Deceiving Appearances is very different from the other two stories. The hero, Peter,  is a self-made man. He was not born of the ton but his money opens doors. The one door his money can't open is the path to finding a wife. Longing for the peace and beauty of his favorite painting, he sets out to find the house and offer to buy it. When his carriage meets with an accident, he's nursed back to health by the lovely Cecily, whom he assumes is a ladies' maid to the home owner, Lady Honora. The mysterious and lovely lady visits him during his convalescence and he is determined to meet and marry her. Cecily and the man servant block his way, however.  Mysterious moonlight happenings confuse everything and Peter finds his carefully laid plans changing. This is the weakest of the three stories. It's strange. I didn't care for the supernatural element. The romance could have been based on friendship and Cecily's loving heart but instead it's based on physical attraction. I didn't like the ending AT ALL and it wasn't what I expected. If you like ghost stories and romances, you might enjoy this one, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

What I've Read Recently Christmas edition

What I've Read Recently ... Christmas Edition . . .

A Regency Christmas (story collection) by Anita Mills, Patricia Rice, Mary Balough, Gayle Buck, Edith Layton -- Regency Romances

Old Acquaintances by Gail Buck is a retelling of Georgette Heyer's Lady of Quality. Miss Judith Graham is traveling from her sister's lively home to her own lonely house for Christmas when she comes upon a serious coach accident. She instantly mothers a young lady, obviously of quality, traveling all on her own.Young Cecily Brown is fleeing her stern guardian's choice of husband. Judith, knowing how the story will end if she doesn't interfere, she invites the girl home with her. When the other guests hear of the invitation, they assume it's an open invitation and soon Judith's home is filled with guests. The guests include Lord Baltor, the young man who caused the coaching accident, a mysterious silent man and a pair of  encroaching "mushrooms" of the most vulgar sort. One guest she doesn't plan on is Sir Peregrine Ashford, Cecily's guardian, and Judith's former fiance! Something went wrong between them years ago and pride has kept them apart. Will the magic of the holiday season and pair of young lovers help them overcome their stubbornness and find their way back to each other? This story is Georgette Heyer light. The new-money couple provide a lot of chuckles, and "Mr. John Smith" makes for a good mystery. The plot is predictable but well-written. There's lots of realistic dialogue and good chemistry between the hero and heroine without it being excessive. They're both proud and stubborn and don't communicate very well. There's lots and lots of dialogue which is both good and bad because it means people are communicating, but we're being told things instead of being shown them, which I didn't like. This is a decent enough story but I didn't feel like it was so very heartwarming. 

In The Duke's Progress by Edith Layton, the Duke of Austell is excited for Christmas. He's bored most of the rest of the year, but at Christmas, he gets to spoil his niece and nephew and treat the servants. His gifts this year meet with less enthusiastic reception and he feels there must be something missing from his life. That something is the magic captured in the scene of a snowglobe his childhood friend's grandfather gave him as a boy. If only he could find that sense of peace and happiness. He hopes to recapture some of the joys of his lost youth when he inherits guardianship of his late friend's son, Randall. He enjoys spending time with young Randall, but upon learning the boy had made plans with best friend Betsy and her older sister Molly back home. When the boy gives Cyril a gift from the heart, Cyril realizes that Christmas magic may be attainable after all and may even lead to true love. I wouldn't call this story a romance. The romance is tacked on at the end and the heroine is never properly introduced.Cyril is a great man and any woman would be proud to marry him if she could hold his interest. I'd like to see the middle of the story filled. There was lots of potential here for a good story but the length prevents it from developing. 

The Kissing Bough by Patricia Rice is another story about second chances. It's Christmas and Diana Carrington is determined to make Christmas merry for her family, despite the fact that they are in mourning for her Papa and her only brother has been on the Peninsula fighting Napoleon. Charles is supposed to be on his way home but no one has heard from him in ages. Diana worries about her brother and she also worries about her old friend and neighbor Jonathan Drummond. Jon and Diana were childhood playmates and sweethearts and Diana can not forgive him for running off to war without telling her he was leaving. When Charles finally returns bringing a wounded Jon, Diana fears the boy she once loved has turned into a proud and angry man. Jon has reason to be bitter. His father has disowned him and his true love is not wearing the ring he secretly left her. Has she chosen to forget him? Surely a woman such as she has many suitors. With some help from a pair of mischievous twins and Diana's casual conversation, Jon begins to piece together the clues to the mystery and begin to plan a way to show Diana how much he cares. Maybe Christmas is a time for miracles after all. This is my favorite story in the collection. I loved the description of country Christmas and domestic life in a minor gentry household. It reminds me a lot of a Louisa May Alcott story, especially since there's sort of a moral to a subplot. The romance between two well-drawn characters develops beautifully. I loved the secondary characters adding comic relief to the plot. This story is very sweet without being too saccharine and the author refrains from hitting her readers over the head with a message.

In A Gift of Fortune by Anita Mills, Susanah Byrnes, an impoverished widow is journeying home with her small daughter and aunt-in-law from seeing her husband's family who refuse to help her. She doesn't know what her future will bring and it certainly isn't a merry Christmas. To make matters worse, the carriage breaks down on an icy road. Justin Marshfield, Marquess of Lynesdale is also traveling that night with his disreputable younger cousin and comes to the aid of the travelers. He is charmed by the child, Katie Byrnes and is determined she shall have whatever will make her happy. Molly Hill, a fellow traveler, is also eager to share her money with those who have been kind to her. While holed up an an inn for Christmas, the travelers conspire to make a happy Christmas for the little girl and for her mother. This story is incredibly unrealistic but it's a good Christmas story full of good cheer and heartwarming moments. The romance plot is a bit lackluster and unconvincing. The characters are rather stereotypical: noble, self-sacrificing mother; prostitute with a heart of gold and the bored Marquess. If you are looking for a good, heartwarming Christmas story then this one is the one that fits the bill. 

The Star of Bethlehem features a married couple Estelle and Alan, Lord and Lady Lisle. They haven't been very close in their short marriage and spend more time fighting and making love than actually talking to each other. When Estelle loses the Star of Bethlehem, as she calls the diamond and sapphire engagement ring Allan gave her, she fears her marriage is over. Allan wonders whether his wife has been unfaithful and feels jealous and possessive. Her loss of the ring is the last straw. He suggests a trial separation after her family visits for the holidays. A surprise appearance by a chimney sweep's boy brings out the maternal instincts in Estelle. She is determined to rescue him from a difficult life while Allan suspects the boy may be more than he seems. The boy soon discovers he has the power to save the Countess's marriage but he's torn between helping his blood family and helping the family that has been kind to him. Is there a way for everyone to have a merry Christmas? I liked this story least of all. I hate stories about marriages of convenience or married couples who don't communicate and this one is not exception. I HATED how they made silent love all the time after fighting. Their lack of communication probably is realistic for the period but for the sake of a story, I prefer couples to speak what is in their hearts. Others may enjoy the story and the development of two wounded souls coming together.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

A Twist of Fate by Susannah Carleton -- Regency Romance 

David Winterbrook, brother of George from A Scandalous Journey, becomes lost in the middle of a snowstorm in unfamiliar territory. He stops to assist a lady whose cart is stuck in a ditch and is struck by the thunderbolt of love that is a family tradition. The lady, Madeline Graves, is a young widow who lives nearby and offers the comfort of her fire to David while he waits out the storm. The storm turns into a blizzard, leaving David stuck at Lynn's house for weeks. At first Lynn is cautious of David. All of her experiences with men have been negative thus far, especially her marriage to a bully who left her hard of hearing and lacking in desire. David is everything a gentleman should be: he's polite, kind, a good listener and he also experienced a troubled marriage. However, all of David's charms may not be enough to convince Lynn to be his wife. First, she must overcome the memories of her past in order to get what she wants most. This is an unusual plot for a Regency. It's quiet and the dramatic tension is all about Lynn's feelings and overcoming her past. Readers may be put off by the subtle sensuality in this book though. Some of it was sweet and made sense for the plot but some of it was unnecessary. My biggest complaint is that there is too much repetitive dialogue revolving around Lynn's issues. If you liked A Scandalous Journey and want to know what happens to Lord David and little Isabelle, then read this book. If you're looking for something different and haven't read A Scandalous Journey, this book provides enough information that it works as a standalone.

Mad Maria's Daughter by Patricia Rice -- Regency Romance
Daphne Templeton's mother was lovely, charming and quite mad. (Maria Templeton seems to have suffered from what we would call bipolar disorder). Several years ago, Daphne's mother drove a carriage off a cliff in a carefully planned suicide. Unfortunately, there was a witness and now the whole of the ton knows about Mad Maria. Daphne has spent the last four years in London, trying to prove she is not like her mother, being dependent on relatives who don't care for her and hoping to find a husband who will love her for herself. After an incident involving throwing a beverage over the head of her unlucky suitor, Daphne is exile from London. She heads to the country to stay with her eccentric old aunt. Along the way, her carriage is held up by a dashing highwayman who kidnaps her. Daphne loses her temper and assaults the kidnapper with her parasol and her tongue! The highwayman is intrigued by this woman who doesn't swoon or run away from him. He leaves her unharmed, taking only a few coins and a valuable ring and helping her find her way to safety. Soon Daphne hears all about the local Robin Hood highwayman and his band of brigands. She's not sure what to think of it all and is even more confused when she meets the handsome viscount Gordon Griffin, who bears a strong resemblance to her highwayman. Daphne becomes involved in a tangle of events involving her highwayman, whom she can't stop thinking about, the viscount, an army captain and a murderous villain. Throw in some family drama and you have one crazy story. My first impression of the book was not favorable, it sounded so silly and I wasn't sure what was going on, but then I got into it. There are a number of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and some I did and a couple of funny scenes too. In the end, I found myself enjoying the story more than I thought I would. Daphne is an all too human heroine. She has her faults and her vulnerabilities but her true self shines through. The gentlemen were rather stereotypical and one was over-the-top annoyingly kind. This is a very modern story with people not behaving according to the proprieties of the day but I like those kinds of stories. My biggest complaint is that there were too many points of view and I kept having to go back and figure out who was thinking. Also the book is too long. The last chapter isn't really necessary. The ending of the previous chapter was cute and made me laugh. This story involves some slightly more than subtle sensuality (make-out scene) but nothing bad and it can be ignored if you really don't like that kind of thing. This is a fun read and worth the effort to unknot the tangle of story lines.

The Genuine Article by Patricia Rice -- Regency Romance
Lady Marian and her sister Jessica are headed to London for the Season to find rich husbands or else they and their mother will lose their home. Determined to be the one to sacrifice herself on the matrimonial alter so that young Jessica will have more time to chose, Marian intends to hide her sharp tongue and independent mind under a mask of simpering femininity. Her resolve is tested during a top at an inn when a rude gentleman mistakes her for a servant and she rebounds with some harsh words of her own. In London, Marian makes a conquest of the young Lord Darley who is tired of his mother and sisters controlling him and is in search of a biddable wife. Marian likes him well enough but then Darley's misogynistic best friend comes to Town and Marian discovers that he is none other than the rude man from the inn. She must convince Richard Monatgue that she's the right woman for his best friend. He is determined to prove that she's the wrong woman and willing to use any means necessary to prove his point. Richard becomes involved in Marian's personal family problems which become his own when his roguish valet steals something of value that belongs to Marian and the quest to help Marian's family leads to a trip to a crumbling old estate, a phantom Marquess and lots of passion. This book is steamier than the other and the make out scenes can not be ignored because what follows is part of the plot. There is not relation to any of the characters or events in Mad Maria's Daughter so I am unsure as to why the publisher chose to include them both in one volume. None of the characters in The Genuine Article are likable. I agree with Marian's initial assessment of Richard and they really don't get to know each other except for making out a lot. Marian is not a very likable heroine either. I understand why she had to find a rich husband and why she felt the need to act like an idiot to do it but I don't agree with her methods. Jessica and Darley are too meek and mild to even be remotely interesting. I didn't care for this story and I'll recommend it to those who prefer the emphasis on making out than actual interesting characters and plot.