A Valentine Waltz (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: From mediocre to awful; about 1 & 1/2 stars total
Review: Ferguson's story contains some major errors regarding the social mores and customs of the period (like kissing -twice- in front of the maid). The characters, however, are strong & likeable. The plot, while well-used, is all romance and moves swiftly. Ignoring the historical gaffes, it's a 3 star piece. By far, the best of the lot.

Greene's entry is a very mixed bag. Lucien is great; he really changes over the course of the story. Angela starts out well, but is later seen as self-righteous and unforgiving. It's a great idea for a story (the wager and its effects), and the secondary romance is good. BUT Angela's intractable spirit dulls the execution and enjoyment; she doesn't deserve the changed Lucien. She knows what it's like to be treated badly but does it to him mainly because of his reputation; she's quite rude. She seems no different from Lucien's friends (and what he once was). There are also some plot problems. The resolution was way too fast and utterly unbelieveable. I'll give it 1-2 stars, primarily for Lucien.

Huntington's attempt is ... how to put this politely? This is the worst story of the 3. The heroine is generally likeable but needs to be better developed. The hero is charming but wholly vain; he is not a likable romantic hero. And at the end, he seems an entirely different person. The last page refers to his usual expression before Caroline was "haughty and closed," but that was never in evidence in the story. He repeatedly disavows marrige, even to her whom he admits he loves, and then suddenly proposes out of the blue. Even his compliments are sickening -- flowery, overdone, and insincere. Moreover, the reader constantly gets the feeling that she's missing something, that this story was plucked out of another or out of a series to which this story repeatedly refers with a heavy hand. This one rates a zero!

Rating:
Summary: Truely Bad!
Review: Three stories, by three fairly respected authors, and none of them worth even a used book price. My Dearest Daisy, by Jo Ann Ferguson, might possibly earn the one star I am forced to give here, but the plot is not only worn out but has been done so much better - niece (complete with limp) of actress falls in love with young lord but is afraid to tell him who she really is. He, of course, returns her regard, for reasons which remain wholly inexplicable. Maria Greene gives us the story of two thoroughly disagreeable people who behave like immature brats. I could barely read it, it was so bad. And last of all Kate Huntington gives us what may just possibly be the most unlikeable 'hero' ever created in a regency romance. The 'other' man was so much better, I kept waiting for the heroine to realize it, but she was no great prize either, so I guess they were well suited. I really resent having spent money on this book! Awful!