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madamelibrarian's review
3.0
I received this book for free. Thank you very much! I enjoyed how the stories had a similar thread running through them. A couple of the stories were too involved for a short story. Those same stories were a little too heavy on the bedroom scenes. Overall, a fun read.
kspoonerfish's review
4.0
I really like Christmas anthologies. I especially liked the first story by Grace Burrowes, with a wealthy widow that raises rabbits and Sir Levi, her man of affairs. The second story is by Carolyn Jewel and it has a stuffy duke and an h that is a poor relation.
gemmalaszlo's review
3.0
Enjoyed Grace Burrowes "A Knight Before Christmas", as expected. 4 stars.
Carolyn Jewel "In the Duke's Arms" DNF.
Miranda Neville "Licensed to Wed" 3 stars.
Shana Galen "Spy Beneath the Mistletoe" DNF.
Carolyn Jewel "In the Duke's Arms" DNF.
Miranda Neville "Licensed to Wed" 3 stars.
Shana Galen "Spy Beneath the Mistletoe" DNF.
bananatricky's review
3.0
A Knight Before Christmas - Grace Burrows
3* out of five
Meh - the reason I bought the anthology but it took me a long time to read because I couldn't summon the enthusiasm to read this, the first in the book. A virgin widow needs to find a husband before the end of the year or lose her husband's fortune. Her father has lived well beyond his means on the strength of his son-in-law's fortune and squandered his unmarried daughters' dowries. Penelope wants to persuade her husband's man of business, Levi to either marry her or at least show her what married 'love' is all about. there's a sub-plot with a femme fatale who wants marriage and a rabbit whose role is beyond me.
In the Duke's Arms - Carolyn Jewel
3* out of five
An odd story, I felt I had missed something at the start but this novella kind of unfolded the background to their relationship as it went along. Edith had been a poor relation, companion and chaperone to her younger and prettier cousin. She then won £75,000 on the lottery and bought herself a house in Northamptonshire, close to the Duke of Oxthorpe who she fully expects to marry her cousin after his marked attentions whilst she was her cousin's companion. Oxthorpe is a young man who has been brought up very much alone with only tutors and staff. Consequently he is standoffish and shy - as he puts it not much loved. Of course Oxthorpe loves Edith but she seems oblivious to his interest and still believes that he will offer for her cousin. Can Oxthorpe overcome his shyness and convince Edith? I think I would have liked this more if the back story had been explained in the first chapter - instead I spent the whole time wondering what I had missed, I even went back to re-read the first few chapters to see if I had somehow missed the introduction!
Licensed to Wed - Miranda Neville
3.5* out of five
Lord Carbury is a serious man who takes his responsibilities very seriously. He has decided that he needs a wife and his father's old friend's daughter is in financial difficulties so he determines to marry her. For some reason however he seems unable to pop the question. For three months he visits Robina at her aunt and uncle's home yet is tongue-tied and totally unable to ask her to marry him. Eventually Robina despairs and asks him point-blank. Unfortunately Carbury explains how he is looking after her and that she is his responsibility. Outraged, Robina rejects his command to marry him. Robina accepts the post as a lady companion to an elderly lady and takes the stage-coach. She and Carbury run into each other in the Duke's Arms after her stage-coach breaks down and the cart she was travelling in was accosted by a highwayman.
My favourite so far of the novellas, Carbury gradually unwinds and realises how much he truly likes Robina - just in time to see her dance with Othorpe at the Christmas party in the village and kiss him under the mistletoe (I love the way in which the stories are interconnected and recognised that Robina was the mysterious young lady who behaved so nicely to Oxthorpe).
The Spy Beneath the Mistletoe - Shana Galen
3* out of five
I've not read any books by Shana Galen before but I got the impression that this novella featured two minor characters from a series loosely based on the James Bond concept. ELiza Qwillen (Q) and Pierce Moneypence are respectively a weapons specialist and a clerk for the spy organisation called Barbican. Separately they have been instructed to find the person who calls himself the New Sheriff of Nottingham who has been robbing people for the past few months. Eliza and Pierce had been friends and lovers until Pierce spoiled things by proposing marriage after they spent the night together. Now at each others throats can Pierce make things right and can they uncover the identity of the Highwayman?
This was ok - the James Bond spin-off didn't really work for me and I guessed the identity of the Highwayman early on. I think part of the issue for me is that Pierce is in many ways just like Carbury in the novella before this one. He proposes marriage without being in love - only later does he realise that he has loved Eliza all the time.
3* out of five
Meh - the reason I bought the anthology but it took me a long time to read because I couldn't summon the enthusiasm to read this, the first in the book. A virgin widow needs to find a husband before the end of the year or lose her husband's fortune. Her father has lived well beyond his means on the strength of his son-in-law's fortune and squandered his unmarried daughters' dowries. Penelope wants to persuade her husband's man of business, Levi to either marry her or at least show her what married 'love' is all about. there's a sub-plot with a femme fatale who wants marriage and a rabbit whose role is beyond me.
In the Duke's Arms - Carolyn Jewel
3* out of five
An odd story, I felt I had missed something at the start but this novella kind of unfolded the background to their relationship as it went along. Edith had been a poor relation, companion and chaperone to her younger and prettier cousin. She then won £75,000 on the lottery and bought herself a house in Northamptonshire, close to the Duke of Oxthorpe who she fully expects to marry her cousin after his marked attentions whilst she was her cousin's companion. Oxthorpe is a young man who has been brought up very much alone with only tutors and staff. Consequently he is standoffish and shy - as he puts it not much loved. Of course Oxthorpe loves Edith but she seems oblivious to his interest and still believes that he will offer for her cousin. Can Oxthorpe overcome his shyness and convince Edith? I think I would have liked this more if the back story had been explained in the first chapter - instead I spent the whole time wondering what I had missed, I even went back to re-read the first few chapters to see if I had somehow missed the introduction!
Licensed to Wed - Miranda Neville
3.5* out of five
Lord Carbury is a serious man who takes his responsibilities very seriously. He has decided that he needs a wife and his father's old friend's daughter is in financial difficulties so he determines to marry her. For some reason however he seems unable to pop the question. For three months he visits Robina at her aunt and uncle's home yet is tongue-tied and totally unable to ask her to marry him. Eventually Robina despairs and asks him point-blank. Unfortunately Carbury explains how he is looking after her and that she is his responsibility. Outraged, Robina rejects his command to marry him. Robina accepts the post as a lady companion to an elderly lady and takes the stage-coach. She and Carbury run into each other in the Duke's Arms after her stage-coach breaks down and the cart she was travelling in was accosted by a highwayman.
My favourite so far of the novellas, Carbury gradually unwinds and realises how much he truly likes Robina - just in time to see her dance with Othorpe at the Christmas party in the village and kiss him under the mistletoe (I love the way in which the stories are interconnected and recognised that Robina was the mysterious young lady who behaved so nicely to Oxthorpe).
The Spy Beneath the Mistletoe - Shana Galen
3* out of five
I've not read any books by Shana Galen before but I got the impression that this novella featured two minor characters from a series loosely based on the James Bond concept. ELiza Qwillen (Q) and Pierce Moneypence are respectively a weapons specialist and a clerk for the spy organisation called Barbican. Separately they have been instructed to find the person who calls himself the New Sheriff of Nottingham who has been robbing people for the past few months. Eliza and Pierce had been friends and lovers until Pierce spoiled things by proposing marriage after they spent the night together. Now at each others throats can Pierce make things right and can they uncover the identity of the Highwayman?
This was ok - the James Bond spin-off didn't really work for me and I guessed the identity of the Highwayman early on. I think part of the issue for me is that Pierce is in many ways just like Carbury in the novella before this one. He proposes marriage without being in love - only later does he realise that he has loved Eliza all the time.
writer595's review
Read a different edition of Grace Burrowes A Knight Before Christmas
lilyleia78's review
3.0
Overall a good book. No single story wowed me but I didn't hate any of them either.
The final story moved quickly and had an interesting premise. I'm not usually a fan of spy/mystery novels but in this short format it held my interest. I really liked the hero and it was nice to see some of the minor characters from earlier stories in the collection. Now for the cons: The heroine annoyed me a bit. The man she loves compromises her, proposes to her and admits it's because he likes her and believes it could become a love match but she refuses him anyway? It seemed out of character for the time period. I also wish there hadn't been so much time devoted to the sex scenes. In a short story it seemed more than gratuitous to take so much time away from the characters and plot.
My earlier progress updates give my opinion on the other stories. I can't say I have to run out and read more by any of these authors right away but I wouldn't be opposed to giving any of them a second chance.
The final story moved quickly and had an interesting premise. I'm not usually a fan of spy/mystery novels but in this short format it held my interest. I really liked the hero and it was nice to see some of the minor characters from earlier stories in the collection. Now for the cons: The heroine annoyed me a bit. The man she loves compromises her, proposes to her and admits it's because he likes her and believes it could become a love match but she refuses him anyway? It seemed out of character for the time period. I also wish there hadn't been so much time devoted to the sex scenes. In a short story it seemed more than gratuitous to take so much time away from the characters and plot.
My earlier progress updates give my opinion on the other stories. I can't say I have to run out and read more by any of these authors right away but I wouldn't be opposed to giving any of them a second chance.
larisa2021's review
4.0
First two stories by Burrowes & Jewel worth the purchase price! Enjoyed third tale and sadly can't get into Galen's spies...well written, snappy dialog, great meme tie-in, all the components of good stories, and just can't stick with them.
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