Looking for a little holiday Reg Rom to help get me in the spirit of the season, I found this compilation of short stories for free download via B&N. (Last I looked also free via Amazon).
Down through the years, enchantment touches a tall gray house in Grosvenor Square. The legend of Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball promises true love and happiness to one lucky couple. Who will feel the magic this winter?
1803 – The Seduction of a Duchess by Shana Galen
Rowena Harcourt, the Duchess of Valère, never forgot the handsome footman who helped her escape the French Revolution. For fourteen years, Gabriel Lamarque has loved Rowena—now at Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball, has fate finally delivered a chance to win her hand?
1818 – One Kiss for Christmas by Vanessa Kelly
Nigel Dash is London’s most reliable gentleman, a reputation he never minded until he fell in love with beautiful Amelia Easton. Unfortunately, Amelia sees Nigel as a dependable friend, not a dashing suitor. At Lady Winterson’s famous Christmas ball, Nigel vows to change Amelia’s mind—by sweeping her off her feet.
1825 – His Christmas Cinderella by Anna Campbell
At the season’s most glittering ball, a girl who has never dared to dream of forever after discovers a Christmas miracle.
1830 – The Last First Kiss by Kate Noble
Susannah Westforth has always loved Sebastian Beckett – but he’s only ever seen her as a friend. When Sebastian takes his Grand Tour, Susannah transforms herself into a woman he’ll notice. Now Sebastian is back, just in time for Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball – but the last thing he expects to see is his little Susie, all grown up…
Lady Winterson’s Christmas ball is reported to match a lucky and sometimes unlikely couple every year. These short stories tell just some of those matches, with diverse H/h’s in different life stages and with different obstacles to overcome in a short word count.
There are no great dramas or significant secondary characters that usually delight, and the funnies are minimal. However, its a quick read, free, and generally the comfortable formula of Reg Rom that will keep you engaged.
I am not sure how dramatically a short story can sweep you in to the holiday season or even the time period. Like other mass markets, the Regency and holiday are more like window dressing and not necessarily plot pivotal. However, I like a lot of cheese with my holiday cheer (thus I am a fan of the over the top Hallmark Holiday Marathon of Movies) and found this a guilty pleasure fest of fun.
There is something for most Reg Rom lovers…friends into lovers, Cinderella/Pygmalion theme, a hint of spies, and even love between the classes. Suprisingly (because I am a sucker for Cinderella theme) I liked Vanessa Kelly’s story the best. Sometimes, there is something so comfortable and comforting in the hero being a nice guy.
4 out of 6 Cute, digestable shorts with a holiday theme…
| Content Rating/Heat Index | |
|---|---|
| Mature Content |   |
| Naughty and suggestive content | |
| Intimacy | |
| Limited intimacy | |
| Violence | |
| Not really | |
| Overall |  |
|---|---|
| Fairly vanilla, may be okay for mature teens. | |
Other books with a similar reviewer score:
[relatedratings=4]
