A Bouquet of Babies

Rating:
Summary: Looking for a romance book... this one is for you
Review: "A Bouquet of Babies" is a wonderful romance book that has three stories in one. Linda Howard opens the book with "The Way Home." In this story Anna and Saxon are very intimate. One day Anna has to make a decision that will, either way, change her life. Saxon, hurt by his past, is determined not to allow Anna too close. Will she succeed? It did not take me very long to become engulfed in this story.
"Family By Fate" is the second story written by Paula Detmer Riggs. I would have to rate this story close to "The Way Home." Liza and Max, total strangers, were on a skiing trip when their paths crossed. They came to know one another better, and fell in love. Later, an event happened that changed Max's life to the unexpected, but Liza knows that she can change him for the better.
In the third story, "Baby On A Doorstep," Caroline finds a baby on her doorstep by mistake. While she is searching for the father of the baby, she finds someone who she falls in love with. The problem is that he is not as willing as Caroline to be a family.
This book, "A Bouquet of Babies," is one that I would recommend to anyone that loves to read good romances.

Rating:
Summary: Howard is incomparable
Review: A BOUQUET OF BABIES is a nicely packaged anthology with stories by Linda Howard, Paula Detmer Riggs and Stella Bagwell. Not that these stories lack poignancy or anything, but Ms Howard's story spears off such emotional powerhoue that the other stories falter in comparison. Linda Howard is amazing with her central characters, Anna and Saxon Malone in "The Way Home" where she explores a woman's heart trapped by Saxon's facade of impassion. Anna loves Saxon much but finds that he has withdrawn with his past as an orphan. Anna's pregnancy and marriage crumbles his assuring identity as a single man, but he knows he loves Anna and is willing to make a compromise. This story will wring heartfelt compassion for Anna and triumph when they succumb all the odds for a happy-ever-after.

The other story by Paula Detmer Riggs is equally heart-wrenching with Lisa and Max embroiled in an unforgettable passion. The other by Ms. Bagwell tells of Caroline Pardee falling in love with the father of a baby she has found.

A BOUQUET OF BABIES is worthwhile for fanatics of Ms. Howard and heart-rendering stories, but for those who have read "The Way Home" in her past books, the appeal of this book will be undermined though.THis is not to say that the other two authors are not good - they are equally credible. BUT with Linda Howard, she is incomparable.

Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Linda Howard of Course, but others Average Read
Review: An older book with three stories by three authors and sold pushing the fact that Linda Howard is one of the authors. pretty much mediocre tales except for Howard's, which are always highly entertaining and leave you wanting more. Worth the price just to check hers out.

Linda Howard- ' The Way Home'--Pregnant and unsure of what to say to her boss and lover, Anna Sharp must risk her heart and everything she is for a baby that Saxon Malone never wanted.
Touching and believable, it picks up right in the middle of their tumultuous affair and sucks you right in with all the intensity and emotion Howard is known for. Anna is no wimp and I found her lovable in spite of her decision to stay with Saxon, who is unfeeling at first and cold. Saxon redeems himself as do all of Howard's most determined heroes in the end....4 Stars

Paula Detmer Riggs- 'Family by Fate'--Eliza Vargas must find a way to save depressed and weary cop Max Savage and inform him he will be a daddy. Max is in no way able to have a normal life now and does NOT want a baby. Can she make him see otherwise and heal his heart before its too late?
This was an 'okay' tale of love lost and found, but the constant 'whining' and 'pity trip' that Max was on the entire story tended to weigh it down immensely. It got tiresome and before I knew it, I was bored and ready for Eliza to move on. The immediate love between the two also didn't wash with me and came off sounding more like a forced romance. There was too much backstory here to make a 'short story', it felt clipped and choppy...2 stars

Stella Bagwell- 'Baby on Her Doorstep'--Caroline Pardee is stunned when she discovers a baby on her doorstep wrapped in a blanket with birth certificate and all. The dad? Unknowing neighbor Joseph Garcia.
The heroine came off as very 'preachy' and unlikeable. Rarely do I find the heroine unlikeable in a story, but here I was hoing the hero would wake up and take his baby and get out before it was too late. They were mismatched and it was clear why she was still unmarried and alone after 'all these years', in her words. She was a nag and preachy and acted 'holier than thou' too many times to count.
I found myself talking out loud during the book and saying things like, 'Who are you to preach?" "You never had a child, get off your high horse!" "Ho was he supposed to know how to take care of an infant?" "At least he is trying you jerk! Leave him alone!" Agh...too 'goody-goody' for my tastes. She came off too pushy and nosey. I think the author was trying for 'strong heroine' here or whatnot, but she just read as a pushy, irritating old-maid. Sorry for the bluntness...1 star

Tracy Talley~@

Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Linda Howard of Course, but others Average Read
Review: An older book with three stories by three authors and sold pushing the fact that Linda Howard is one of the authors. pretty much mediocre tales except for Howard's, which are always highly entertaining and leave you wanting more. Worth the price just to check hers out.

Linda Howard- ' The Way Home'--Pregnant and unsure of what to say to her boss and lover, Anna Sharp must risk her heart and everything she is for a baby that Saxon Malone never wanted.
Touching and believable, it picks up right in the middle of their tumultuous affair and sucks you right in with all the intensity and emotion Howard is known for. Anna is no wimp and I found her lovable in spite of her decision to stay with Saxon, who is unfeeling at first and cold. Saxon redeems himself as do all of Howard's most determined heroes in the end....4 Stars

Paula Detmer Riggs- 'Family by Fate'--Eliza Vargas must find a way to save depressed and weary cop Max Savage and inform him he will be a daddy. Max is in no way able to have a normal life now and does NOT want a baby. Can she make him see otherwise and heal his heart before its too late?
This was an 'okay' tale of love lost and found, but the constant 'whining' and 'pity trip' that Max was on the entire story tended to weigh it down immensely. It got tiresome and before I knew it, I was bored and ready for Eliza to move on. The immediate love between the two also didn't wash with me and came off sounding more like a forced romance. There was too much backstory here to make a 'short story', it felt clipped and choppy...2 stars

Stella Bagwell- 'Baby on Her Doorstep'--Caroline Pardee is stunned when she discovers a baby on her doorstep wrapped in a blanket with birth certificate and all. The dad? Unknowing neighbor Joseph Garcia.
The heroine came off as very 'preachy' and unlikeable. Rarely do I find the heroine unlikeable in a story, but here I was hoing the hero would wake up and take his baby and get out before it was too late. They were mismatched and it was clear why she was still unmarried and alone after 'all these years', in her words. She was a nag and preachy and acted 'holier than thou' too many times to count.
I found myself talking out loud during the book and saying things like, 'Who are you to preach?" "You never had a child, get off your high horse!" "Ho was he supposed to know how to take care of an infant?" "At least he is trying you jerk! Leave him alone!" Agh...too 'goody-goody' for my tastes. She came off too pushy and nosey. I think the author was trying for 'strong heroine' here or whatnot, but she just read as a pushy, irritating old-maid. Sorry for the bluntness...1 star

Tracy Talley~@

Rating:
Summary: great stories, high-voltage dramas, a pleasure...
Review: When this book was delivered to me, I had no intention of reading it immediately since i wanted to reserve it for a more convenient time. But curious what Linda Howard's story would be, I scanned the pages and read the opening line of the prologue of "The Way Home." Just like the rest of her books, the first lines jolted me and caught me reading on an on. Its an extremely absorbing and heart-wrenching story. Saxon Malone came like an iceberg at first but as the story unfolds, i couldn't help a tear. LH never wasted a word or a line. She weaves magic in all her writings. This story is so emotinally-laden. Anna is a remarkable woman with such unconditional love and such an irrisistible force in Malone's life. The plot is perhaps unthinkable for Today's woman and it's albeit unconventional, but having read several of LH's books, i can say that she's a tremendously prolific genius of a writer who hardly puts limits to her writing.

The second story by Paula Detmer Riggs is a heart-tugging, heart-warming, and uplifting story. This is the first time that i encountered this author and i'm heavily impressed. "Family By Fate" is reminiscent of the film "An Affair To Remember." Even the poignancy of the film is carried in this story. You'll surely adore and admire Max Savage as much as i do. He's lucky to have such a formidable heroine like Lisa. The story offers delightful scenes, lots of interesting characters, has a vibrant pacing, steamy, and towards the end, i got the feeling that i was reading a full-length novel. I'll definitely grab other books from this author.

Stella Bagwell's "Baby On A Doorstep" makes an enjoyable read as well. Caroline Pardee finds a baby by mistake and in the search for the baby's father she finds a handsome but unwilling guy.

Three in one- "A Bouquet of Babies" is a book i can recommend to anybody who loves beautiful romance.