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digitlchic's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
For what it is, so sweet! (Based on the Bond Street Carolers, which was why I purchased this)
writer595's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nelsonseye's review
3.0
I liked the first two stories the best. The third had s good concept, but the paranormal/angelic elements didn't really work for me.
bookwyrm_lark's review
4.0
These three stories/novellas by Mary Balogh (long out of print) combine the joy and hope of Christmas with Regency romance.
“The Wassail Bowl” is the only one I had read before; it’s also my favorite of the three, in part because the character development and emotional growth are surprisingly deep for a novella. The pain and anger of John, Earl of Wyndham, and his estranged wife Antonia contrasts well with the innocence and happiness of the two children, Jeffrey and Jane. Often the quarrel between a fictional couple seems contrived or blown out of proportion, but in this story it is both believable and heartbreaking. Their eventual reconciliation is as heartfelt and as believable, making “The Wassail Bowl” one of Balogh’s best novellas, Christmas or otherwise.
“The Bond Street Carolers” is the weakest of the three stories. Lord Heath, a music patron, overhears a young boy soprano caroling on the street, and is determined to have him sing at Heath’s annual musicale, but Fanny, the boy’s mother, does not want to exploit him. The story advances the relationship between Heath and Fanny much too quickly, though the two children, Matthew and Katie, are adorable.
I am tempted to say that “Guarded by Angels” is the most overtly religious of the three tales. It’s certainly the only one to include angels as characters! But there are more than a few religious/spiritual references and themes in “The Wassail Bowl” as well — though no angels. The beings in “Guarded by Angels” owes more to angels like Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life) or Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle than to the awesome messengers of the Bible, making the story a comforting, charming tale of estranged lovers brought together.
If you’re looking for heartwarming historical romance set at Christmas-time, you don’t have to look much further than this collection; all three stories are enjoyable, and “The Wassail Bowl” is excellent.
Review originally published on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
“The Wassail Bowl” is the only one I had read before; it’s also my favorite of the three, in part because the character development and emotional growth are surprisingly deep for a novella. The pain and anger of John, Earl of Wyndham, and his estranged wife Antonia contrasts well with the innocence and happiness of the two children, Jeffrey and Jane. Often the quarrel between a fictional couple seems contrived or blown out of proportion, but in this story it is both believable and heartbreaking. Their eventual reconciliation is as heartfelt and as believable, making “The Wassail Bowl” one of Balogh’s best novellas, Christmas or otherwise.
“The Bond Street Carolers” is the weakest of the three stories. Lord Heath, a music patron, overhears a young boy soprano caroling on the street, and is determined to have him sing at Heath’s annual musicale, but Fanny, the boy’s mother, does not want to exploit him. The story advances the relationship between Heath and Fanny much too quickly, though the two children, Matthew and Katie, are adorable.
I am tempted to say that “Guarded by Angels” is the most overtly religious of the three tales. It’s certainly the only one to include angels as characters! But there are more than a few religious/spiritual references and themes in “The Wassail Bowl” as well — though no angels. The beings in “Guarded by Angels” owes more to angels like Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life) or Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle than to the awesome messengers of the Bible, making the story a comforting, charming tale of estranged lovers brought together.
If you’re looking for heartwarming historical romance set at Christmas-time, you don’t have to look much further than this collection; all three stories are enjoyable, and “The Wassail Bowl” is excellent.
Review originally published on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
mdfn's review
2.0
I do like the holiday anthologies. Really - I'm on my first of four that I have read so far this holiday season.
In this anthology, the stories were decent. There were three and had to do more with misunderstandings and marrying out of class boundaries than anything.
I may read again, but I may not.
In this anthology, the stories were decent. There were three and had to do more with misunderstandings and marrying out of class boundaries than anything.
I may read again, but I may not.
reader_fictions's review
1.0
"The Wassail Bowl"
Man, i hated this bleak and unromantic second chance romance. A formerly blissfully married couple meets up again for the father's annual time with his son and heir at Christmas. Though she was not invited, the mother comes along with the daughter as well, and she greets her husband by dumping the wassail bowl over his head. They had a falling out over his infidelity and her resultant infidelity. In the end,it turns out that neither was unfaithful, except for him one time during their separation, but you don't learn it until you already hate them as a ship . Besides, they split up and treated each other like shit for years due to a miscommunication. Absolutely not my kind of romance.
"The Bond Street Carolers"
Also not a good one. This story's heavily reminiscent of one from Balogh's other Christmas anthology. In that one, a young girl wished for a new mama for Christmas and picked someone out for her father; in this one, a young girl wishes for a new papa for Christmas and picks someone out for her mother. The couple has no chemistry, the children lack charm, and the instalove does not a Christmas miracle make.
"Guarded by Angels"
What the hell was this? I was so unprepared for the title to be so literal. This second chance romance has an estranged couple brought together when kidnapped off the road by creepy ass angels. Their reconciliation is rushed, even if it weren't all completely ruined by the fact that these strange and upsetting people have clearly set them up. A whole bowl full of nope.
Man, i hated this bleak and unromantic second chance romance. A formerly blissfully married couple meets up again for the father's annual time with his son and heir at Christmas. Though she was not invited, the mother comes along with the daughter as well, and she greets her husband by dumping the wassail bowl over his head. They had a falling out over his infidelity and her resultant infidelity. In the end,
"The Bond Street Carolers"
Also not a good one. This story's heavily reminiscent of one from Balogh's other Christmas anthology. In that one, a young girl wished for a new mama for Christmas and picked someone out for her father; in this one, a young girl wishes for a new papa for Christmas and picks someone out for her mother. The couple has no chemistry, the children lack charm, and the instalove does not a Christmas miracle make.
"Guarded by Angels"
What the hell was this? I was so unprepared for the title to be so literal. This second chance romance has an estranged couple brought together when kidnapped off the road by creepy ass angels. Their reconciliation is rushed, even if it weren't all completely ruined by the fact that these strange and upsetting people have clearly set them up. A whole bowl full of nope.
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