The Present

Rating:
Summary: Johanna is so great and the Mallory's are my favorite
Review: I was so excited to see a new book by Johanna Lindsey that it didn't matter the story but seeing the Mallory's again got me so beyond excited. Well although this one wasn't as heart stopping as the others I do see as a nice intro to the story of Jeremy. I hope Ms Lindsey continues with the Mallory's and then to the Andersons. I figured since she added their family tree she intends to fill it in as well. My only disappointment is that she doesn't write as fast as I read.

Rating:
Summary: A Nice story about the Malory ancestors
Review: This book was a nice quick read. I enjoyed the update on the Malory family( who had children, etc.)However, the story did lack the depth of Christopher's pursuit of Anna. It all seemed to come too easily. I have enjoyed all the Malory novels especially "The Magic of You" and "Say you Love Me". I hope their will be one for Jeremy and some of the children--such as Tony's daughters.

Rating:
Summary: worst book i ever read! it made no sense at all.
Review: i have to say that i am very disappointed in ms. lindsey. i've been a fan of hers for a lot of years now. and of all her books this has to be the worst. the present: a mallory holiday novel, in my opinion was a huge waist of time and anticipation.

Rating:
Summary: Not the best Malory book I've read, but a necessary one
Review: I read this book in one sitting last night. It's only 192 pages and a lot of that is the ever-lengthening recaps that we Malory fans have to endure as the family gets bigger. Since the last installment (Derek and Kelsey's story), the Malorys have been procreating like mad and are meeting at Haverston for the holidays. The plot in this one revolves around the first Marquis of Haverston and his (gasp!) Gypsy wife. Of course, it's a flashback, but not a bad one, although the story is not well-developed. The story of the first Marquis has its effects on Jason and Molly the Maid, as well as James and Georgianna, who are in the midst of a totally unconvincing spat. I like the Malorys, I really do, but as the family gets bigger and bigger the repeating of the pertinent facts (presumably for those who have never picked up a Malory novel) gets more and more tedious. Read this one because you have to.

Rating:
Summary: Lindsey's The Present a Gift to her Malory Fans
Review: The Malory and Anderson families have gathered for Christmas and a mysterious gift appears that reveals family secrets and chaznges lives of the present day Malory's. Family trees for the Malory's and the Anderson's are a treat. Johanna spends quite a bit of time bringing the reader up to speed on the various Malory's/ I think this book would appeal more to a current fan rather than a new reader.

Rating:
Summary: great way to spend an afternoon,but not her best
Review: As a Malory story "The Present" isn't up to the standards of Lindsey's other novels. The lustful interplay between characters, the passion and the general verbal and sexual zip are missing. Instead this chapter in the Malory story is rather tame. The flash back to an ancestor is a rather dull means of story telling. From an author of Johanna Lindsey's talent her readers expect more. The interaction between known characters is left for the first and last chapters. The story of Jason and Molly deserved more passion. Hopefully in the future Jeremy Malory will bring back the fire and passion we have come to admire in the Malory chronicles. Then again there is always the Anderson side of the family to delve into. This Malory tale was a great way to pass a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea, seated in the sun room on a fall afternoon. Perhaps the next installment will warrent a robust red wine and a less placid atmosphere.

Rating:
Summary: This book was a BIG let down!
Review: I love all the Malory books and I had high hopes for this book but they were not fufilled. This book is set six years after the last book in the Malory series so there are alot of new children, lucky for the reader, Johanna Lindsey provides the reader with a family tree. The present turns out to be an old journal that appears at Christmas , the family reads it and learns about their past. Ms. Lindsey talks about the old clan in this book but there are no new loves added in the book, so sorry for all of you people who thought this would be a book about Jeremy. Jeremy is now 25 but is still unattached. This book is not centered anyone in the family that we know, it is about past Malorys, which is all fine and dandy but there are so many living Malory's she could have used to create a story and she didn't. Also, I thought it was stupid to make Georgina mad at James because she thought he was going to flip out because she is pregnant. He flipped out when she had twins and she was afraid of a repeat performance. The the only thing good about this book is that Jason finally gets Molly to marry him. My recommendation is to wait until is comes out if paperback if you want to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Exciting,suspenseful,wonderful and full of love
Review: I enjoy all of the Malory series and hope to see more of them. The part in the book of the girls going to Knighton Hall and the language they heard was so like a moment when my son heard something and repeated it. Ms. Lindsey is a wonnderful story writer and keeps her books full of action, love, humor and suspense. I recommend all her books to anyone that likes a good love story. Well done Johanna!!!!!! Trisha

Rating:
Summary: A MUST read for Johanna Lindsey fans
Review: Malory lovers who have been longing for another escape into the lives of the enchanting Malory clan shouldn't miss "The Present." This enthralling tale features the whole brood together under one roof. The repartee between James and Anthony is scintillating, as always -- it was one of my favorite things about this book. And the way the gypsy's story was woven into the plot was a stroke of sheer genius. I devoured this book. Couldn't put it down. P.S. "The Present" provides some insight into where some of the rowdy family members inherited their wild streaks and untamed natures!

Rating:
Summary: Not as exciting as the first five books (Malory# 6)
Review: It's Christmas time and once again the whole Malory clan are gathered at Haverston as per family tradition. And as they start to pour into the parlor, a mysterious present catches everyone's attention, including the baby Malory's. Unmarked and beautifully wrapped, everyone in the family wonders whom the present is for. Unable to contain their curiosity, they soon unwrap the package and were surprised to find out that it is a diary, which tells the love story of their ancestors, Christopher and Anastasia Malory.

As they read the diary, they learn about how those two got together, how Anastasia was a gypsy (although of noble birth), whose beauty so captivated the Marquis that he wanted her the moment he laid eyes on her. I won't waste my time expounding on their story because I would rather share my thoughts on the whole novel.

Although Christopher and Anastasia's story was interesting, I didn't really find it captivating. I can appreciate that the author's main point in telling us their story is to highlight the problems that Jason and Molly are having - the fact that Molly isn't part of the gentry and therefore continually turns down Jason's marriage proposal for fear of bringing more scandal to the family name. Basically, the diary is supposed to open up Molly's eyes and to tell her that once upon a time, a Malory also married a commoner and came to live happily ever after. Sorry but I just didn't buy the whole thing. I mean we're talking about a family who has been laden with scandal for so long that what's another one? And also, if they only told Regina about their love affair ages ago then she would have come up with a brilliant idea already to cover up the whole thing and make sure that Molly is accepted by the ton. As noble as Molly's reasons were, it didn't really endear her to me. Quite the opposite actually, for it left me thinking that she was quite weak in comparison to Amy, Regina and Georgina.

If you haven't read the first five Malory novels (Love Only Once, Tender Rebel, Gentle Rogue, The Magic of You, Say You Love Me), you would still be able to follow up on the story as the relationships of the main characters in those books are recounted in The Present. Now if you have read those books, you would probably share my sentiment in that you will think that half the book is wasted on such repetitions. I mean, how many more times do we need to read about how the hero and heroine came together? I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but in comparison to the other Malory novels, I found this one quite dull. I did enjoy catching up with every one of them and it was good to meet the new additions to the family and, as with all Malory novels, it always delights me to read about James and Anthony. And in this book, the confrontation between the two was hilarious. Uncle Tony's in trouble because Georgina heard little Jack swear and she thinks it was all James' fault when in truth Anthony was indirectly responsible. When you read about it you can't help but laugh. Got to love James and Tony!

Overall, this book isn't all that bad, just not as exciting as its predecessors. The Present is my least favorite of the first six Malory books. I'm yet to read A Loving Scoundrel, which features Jeremy, but looking forward to it.