Upon a Midnight Clear : A Delightful Collection of Heartwarming Holiday Stories

Rating:
Summary: good
Review: Even though every story in that book is good and delightful, i personally like Ms. Howard's work the best. I didn't know how two people can fall in love in one night! Now i can. And i just wanna say thank you for her work.

Rating:
Summary: just skip this
Review: I agree quite thoroughly with the reviewers who expressed extreme dislike for Linda Howard's "White Out." It was sickening. Some of us read romance for the romance, not for explicit descriptions of sexual relationships which begin before the hero (and I use the term loosely) is even conscious.

As for the rest, Jude Deveraux's hero is a paternalistic town despot. Margaret Allison and Mariah Stewart tell fairly ho-hum stories about creative, artsy types going home and falling in love, one with a (supposedly) unconventional doctor and the other with her first love, with whom she had lost touch through a lame misunderstanding--don't you just hate it when these people don't TALK to each other?

The star goes to Stef Ann Holm for "Jolly Holly"; though not a total classic, this story does introduce a handful of very memorable minor characters, especially an intriguing couple of "elves" named Yule and Tide.

Rating:
Summary: For "White Out" only
Review: I only read the Linda Howard story "White Out," so I can't give a review of the others. But, that one alone is great. Yes, the premise of the Price's and Hope's relationship--and fabulous sex--is not something that can be applied to reality. But, so what? The story is still cute, fun, and very sexy. Plus, Howard has a true talent for making almost any scenario plausible with her skilled writing (e.g. anyone read "Son of the Morning"?). If you don't want to buy the anthology, I recommend settling in at Borders with a cup of coffee and reading "White Out" right there. Very Entertaining!

Rating:
Summary: For "White Out" only
Review: I only read the Linda Howard story "White Out," so I can't give a review of the others. But, that one alone is great. Yes, the premise of the Price's and Hope's relationship--and fabulous sex--is not something that can be applied to reality. But, so what? The story is still cute, fun, and very sexy. Plus, Howard has a true talent for making almost any scenario plausible with her skilled writing (e.g. anyone read "Son of the Morning"?). If you don't want to buy the anthology, I recommend settling in at Borders with a cup of coffee and reading "White Out" right there. Very Entertaining!

Rating:
Summary: For "White Out" only
Review: I only read the Linda Howard story "White Out," so I can't give a review of the others. But, that one alone is great. Yes, the premise of the Price's and Hope's relationship--and fabulous sex--is not something that can be applied to reality. But, so what? The story is still cute, fun, and very sexy. Plus, Howard has a true talent for making almost any scenario plausible with her skilled writing (e.g. anyone read "Son of the Morning"?). If you don't want to buy the anthology, I recommend settling in at Borders with a cup of coffee and reading "White Out" right there. Very Entertaining!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent story that follows up Legend.
Review: If you were a little disappointed with Legend read it again and read Upon a Midnight Clear as soon as you finish it. You should be as eager as I am to here more about the Jordan family in "Legend" through the wild Wendell. Jude, if you read this I anxiously await for each new publication. Donna Green

Rating:
Summary: Linda and Jude carry it all....
Review: Ok, first of all, I personally love Jude and just about everything she writes (notable exceptions would be High Tide and Legend- both of which were poorly written) but, this short story just doesn't make me go "hmmmm.." Maybe because I didn't like Legend I was a tad biased against this story since it picks up where Legend left off. Again, it wasn't as poorly written, but there was just no magic. Likeable, but not memorable. However, I REALLY liked Linda's little tale. Her tale starts out like so many dates that we have and just choose not to talk about..but, this time, instead of showing the guy the door, we show a little more. The chemistry in this is just phenomenal. And, hey, let's face it..this is why we women read romance novels and especially why we read Linda Howard..THE SEX!! I have never wanted to be a character as bad as I wanted to be that girl. One word describes this tale...GRRRRR. The rest of the stories are fluffy and sweet, but if you want REALLY good dreams, ditch the rest and just read Linda.

Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: The first four stories in this anthology are great. I especially loved "If Only in My Dreams" by Mariah Stewart. Because the majority of the stories are exceptional, I gave this book two stars even though the last story was bad enough that I was tempted to give just one.

"White Out" by Linda Howard was the major disappointment. The story is so raunchy that I couldn't finish it. When the first "meeting" between the "hero" and "heroine" is sexual intercourse, you know the story isn't worth finishing. I really tried to continue, but when Price and Hope were right back at it as soon as Price regained full consciousness, I gave up. Pass the air sickness bag, please. There's nothing romantic about casual sex.

Rating:
Summary: A truly heartwarming anthology
Review: UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is a fun to read Christmas anthology by five of Pocket's top writers. All five short stories are quite good and fans who enjoy Yuletide tales will love this collection.

Kathryn de Longe is "The Teacher" in Legend, Colorado. Her worst student is Zachary Jordan, son of the arrogant Cole, who decides that he wants to be the teacher's pet. However, she and her son are in hiding and a relationship is not what she needs, even if love is the prize. This is a great tale from one of the greats, Jude Devereaux.

Artist Kim Risson and her father have barely talked to each other over the years. However, when he becomes ill, she runs home to see him. Soon, Kim finds herself being pulled between a father she never had and his handsome doctor. Margaret Allison gifts her fans with a magical Christmas present with her story, "Christmas Magic".

John Wolcott and Isabel Burche are two lonely people, who are down on their luck. Both enter a holly berry collecting contest in dire need of winning the first prize of cash. Working together, they can win more than just a contest. Readers will have a "Jolly Holly" time reading Stef Ann Holm's piece of fabulous fiction.

Quinn Hollister and Cale McKenzie were once sweethearts. Now a blizzard forces the lonely pair to share a close proximity to each other. "If Only In My Dreams" is a lovely holiday story by the marvelous Mariah Stewart.

Hope Bradshaw saves the life of Price Tanner when he is caught in a blizzard near her isolated cabin. Price insists that he is a law enforcement official even if it appears that he is not. Still, love grows during their "White Out". Now, if trust could only quickly follow, a relationship could bloom. Linda Howard completes this masterly anthology with a wonderful story.

Great Yuletide fare that fans of holiday short story collections will want to read and keep as a treasure to be reread next Christmas.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: I think the last one is stupid as heck
Review: White Out annoyed me so much they were having sex before they knew each others names that is disgusting.Quite frankly Tanner Price was not a likeable character.Hope was stupid having sex with a man you don't know with no protection is as tupid as a person can get. I loved The Teacher it was another wonderful read from Jude Deveraux.If you want more from her then try Twin of Ice and Twin of Fire they are her best. I like Jolly Holly that was cute and the ending was wonderful. I liked the one with Caleb and Quinn that was very good because you don't have to wonder about how the love came about.In most of them they seem to just fall in love however they had known each other for a long time and they had been in love for a long time.I liked the one with KIm and Tony they were perfectly mathced I also loved the way that she forgave her father.

<< 1 >>