"Terrific Regency Christmas Tales"

A Soldier's Tale by Elizabeth Rolls -- Dominic, Viscount Alderley had put off going home as long as he could. He wasn't ready to face his family with the consequences of his injuries received at Waterloo. Wallowing in self-pity his cousin and heir Reverend Alex Martindale had come to escort him home to participate in the holiday celebrations. He wasn't terribly surprised by the shocked and stunned silences his sudden appearance made, but what shocked him more was to see his little cousin Pippa all grown up and looking lovelier and more desirable than he'd ever noticed before.

*** This was a very touching and well written story that should bring a smile and a slight mist to most eyes. I loved the characters of both Pippa and Dominic who were both developed beautifully with enough complexity to make them very appealing and endearing. *** Ms. Rolls is a new author for me and whose writing style is very impressive. I will definitely be looking to research this author's back list!

A Winter's Night Tale by Deborah Hale -- Six years earlier Christabel was a foolish young girl who jilted her staid and dull fiancé Jonathan Frost to elope with the dashing Major Wilton. It was an ill thought plan but gave her the one joy in her now widowed and bleak existence, her son Christopher. Hearing of her reduced circumstances, Jonathan came to pay a call and found her extremely ill but as lovely as he remembered. Bundling her up Jonathan brought Christabel and her son to his home at Candlewood to recuperate. Later Jonathan would extend his hospitality to include the Christmas holidays. It was an opportunity for Christable to see Jonathan through more mature eyes and for both to secretly hope the magic of Christmas time would grant them a second chance at love.

*** This was a terrific story that encompassed all the elements of warmth and magic one expects to find during the magical Christmas season. Jonathan was fashioned as more than just a handsome man but one with charm, warmth and honor that the author did an amazing job in creating. Jonathan's loving guardianship and tolerance of caring for his aunt Fanny was beautifully described and added a magnificent layer of compassion to his character that I found to be immensely attractive. It demonstrated for Christabel, more than any of his other kindnesses, what a terrific human being he was. How could anyone NOT fall in love with Jonathan -- I know I certainly did! Beautifully done this is an emotional story that will leave you all warm and fuzzy!

A Twelfth Night Tale by Diane Gaston -- Elizabeth Arrington and Anna, her pregnant charge were desperately trying to reach her parents by Christmas but along the way the stormy weather hampered their progress and to their dismay, there was 'no room in the inn'. Knowing she had to find shelter and remembering that the Earl of Bolton's estate was less than three miles away, Elizabeth borrowed a horse hoping they could expect to find hospitality there and help for both Anna and herself. Elizabeth was stunned when the person who greeted them was none other than Zachery the boy, now grown up whom she'd loved and who had abandoned her ten years before. Seeing him brought back memories of a different Twelfth Night that had forever changed her life. Would they now have a second chance at happiness that each had thought lost forever?

*** Diane Gaston is an author that writes from the heart and in this example it certainly proves that point. Zachary and Elizabeth were beautifully characterized with human emotion and passion making them heart wrenchingly real. The reader is pulled into the story and will experience the anguish of their misgivings and misunderstandings by the pure eloquence of writing that this award winning author is noted for.

This entire trio of Christmas stories is a splendid collection of stories that lovers of the Regency genre should gift to themselves and special friends.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted February 21, 2007