Rating: 
Summary: PERFECT BEDSIDE READER
Review: The title, SECRETS OF A PERFECT NIGHT, gets you from the start. And the names of the three romantic writers involved help it along. The good thing about a book of novellas is that you can read one whole story at one sitting, and get that satisfied, complete feeling.SCANDALOUS LORD DERE, is the tale of a young man who wants to leave his well-deserved rakish reputation as "master seducer" and go back to his quiet country home and the girl he left behind. The problem is that he left eight years ago and all indications are that things have changed dramatically. If winning it all back is even possible, it certainly won't be easy. The "master seducer" will have to use all that he has. THE LAST LOVE LETTER is the story of both selfish and well-intentioned motives gone awry. A couple who've declared their love against the wishes of their parents plan to run away together one night, but they don't make the last-minute connection. Ten years pass before they both receive a letter that lets them know what actually happened that night, and how neither of them was to blame. Now, has too much time passed to rekindle feeling which never really died? NOW AND FOREVER is a modern story of a high school reunion and of seeing the one who got away and how much they've changed. It's the reopening of possibilities. It's the time to aplolgize and get on (or get it on) with their lives.
Rating: 
Summary: All are Good but they Saved the Best for Last!
Review: This is a three-story collection written by various authors. I will give a description of each story below, as well as what rating I would assign if it were possible to rate each separately. The four stars rating awarded this book is the average taken of all three ratings. SCANDALOUS LORD DERE: Adrian Andrew Hawsley, the sixth Viscount Dere, has just sworn off women. His reputation as a rake, combined with highly acclaimed abilities in the bedchamber, has women hunting him in droves. But those women are almost exclusively married, and he's tired of being their prey. While returning home to his principle estate, which he abandoned years ago following his father's death, he encounters a raging snowstorm, and nearly dies of exposure trying to get himself and his servant to safety. He picks a familiar house to collapse at the door of. The house of his childhood playmate, Abigail Woolley, the girl who at the age of sixteen, seduced him. Now they're snowbound together, and the intense desire between them resurfaces. After all this time, can Adrian convince her he wants nothing more than to settle down with the one woman he's always loved? Stephanie Laurens wrote this story, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I've read a few books by her, but after deciding they were all much the same, and became less interesting to me each time I picked up another, I quit reading her work. Her writing style is definitely evident in this story, and it was an enjoyable read with quite erotic love scenes. I would award this selection four stars. THE LAST LOVE LETTER: At the age of seventeen, Rachel Gresham fell hopelessly and passionately in love with Jason Norcross. Her cold and manipulative father was determined she marry someone of power and means, who could further his political aspirations. Jason had neither power nor money. So Rachel and Jason planned an elopement to America, only to have it foiled by her father who made sure they would not marry. Instead, she married George Norcross, the Earl of Lyndhurst and Jason's cousin. George eventually found out the truth behind what had separated Rachel and Jason, but chose to keep it to himself. A few years later, on his deathbed, George penned letters to Rachel and Jason explaining everything, and his wish they reconcile after his passing. Jason was the only living male heir of George, so as the new earl, he's returning to England. Will they be able to put the past behind them, and give love another chance? This second story was penned by Victoria Alexander, and covered a ten-year expanse of time. The story did jump around from present to past, but was not difficult to follow. It was well written, but stories where the couple is separated for years by malevolent outside forces just aren't my favorite. Both main characters were likeable enough, but the love scenes were just okay. I would award three stars to this selection, with the story's premise being the main reason I didn't go higher. I've read one other book by this author, which was quite good, and I won't hesitate to read more of her work. NOW AND FOREVER: Brina McConnell and Thomas Mack had been the best of friends since the first grade. They had dated for a short time their senior year in high school. But Brina ended their relationship by attending a dance with the quarterback of the football team. When her and the quarterback broke up a month later, Thomas had moved on with his life. He eventually started a computer software company, and then sold it for millions. Now Rachel and Thomas are both attending their ten-year high school reunion, at a ski resort during New Year's Eve. They have each changed significantly, and when they set eyes on each other again, the old feelings flame into something more uncontrollable. Will they begin the New Year by starting a new life together? Rachel Gibson is one of my favorite authors, and this was just as wonderful as everything else I've read by her. The characters are well developed, and the story is sweet, warm, funny and sexy. The sexual tension between this couple vibrated from the pages, and the love scenes nearly incinerated those pages! Obviously this was my favorite of the three stories, and a definite five star read. Overall, this is the best collection of stories by different authors, compiled into one book that I've ever read. I believe a large part of the success of this novel, aside from the talent of all three authors, is the fact that the couple in each story had met before, and had some type of relationship in the past. One thing that I believe is difficult to do in eighty to one hundred pages, is to develop the main characters well, and have them fall head over heals forever in love, and do it realistically in so few pages. But since each couple had begun their relationship years ago, it was believable for them to see each other again, and end up in love in so short a time. This book is worth checking out!
Rating:
Summary: What can I say? I loooove anthologies
Review: True, it is hard to judge an anthology the way you would an entire book. I am ill often and sometimes my attention span before I konk out is only enough for one short story so they save my life! This particular set of 3 by Stephanie Laurens, Victoria Alexander and Rachel Gibson I particularly enjoyed, and I have to say I loved Rachel's contempory story the best. She is one of my absolute keepers. Since I have no set ideas about what belongs in an anthology sometimes I buy the book simply for the variety contained. I do love the Regencies also, and Stephanie and Victoria always please. Have I actually read a book lately that I didn't enjoy? Authors are just getting better and better, and my book allowance has hit 5 digits in 2000 - :)
| 
