A Regency Summer: 5 Stories

Rating:
Summary: Ordinary Fare! Why Bother? -- ** Overall Grade: C **
Review: Mary Balogh's name, on the cover, convinced me to buy the book, but even Mary Balogh couldn't save A REGENCY SUMMER.

Mary Balogh: "The Treasure Hunt." -- Rating: B+
Again, Mary Balogh writes a page turner, but THE TREASURE HUNT is nothing extraordinary! Jonathan Hayes, Viscount Whitley is going home to his country estate, Esdale. He is going home to see Constance Manning again. Jonathan Hayes has been in love with Constance since they were children. Constance Manning is in love with Jonathan's younger brother, Sidney. Sounds like a winner? Nope, only a page turner, there just wasn't enough sparkle to get past the rating of 8.

Charlotte Louise Dolan: "Summer Escapade." -- Rating: C-
Oh, oh, SUMMER ESCAPADE is troublesome. Terrence Kinderley was a young bachelor, living the good life, until he `inherited' his niece, Marigold. Kinderley so wanted to be the perfect guardian that he drew a bubble around his young ward. He forbid Marigold to experience life. He feared something dreadful would happen to her. His love and concern were literally suffocating her. Today such behavior would be child abuse. Good heavens, but the author created a monster in her hero. Therefore, this reader could not accept the idea that this man spontaneously fell in love and everything turned perfect in the Kinderley world! Not fun.

Sandra Heath: "Brighton Betrothals." -- Rating: C
Sandra Heath may have a smooth pen, but BRIGHTON BETROTHALS is lacking spice. Her aunt has summoned Patricia Fairbourne to Brighton. Why the summons? Her aunt wants to get Patricia out of the country, away from her books, and into THE social mix. After all, the girl must get married. Lord Robert Haldane has a reputation and though her aunt has advised Patricia to avoid his company, she finds herself very attracted to this cordial and courteous gentleman. Sandra Heath can write, but here her story lacked fire.

Melinda McRae: "A Country Wedding." -- Rating: C
Melinda McRae has penned a rather pleasant story. When she was twelve, Cecily Montford declared her undying love for Ainsley Powell. As a twenty-two-year-old, man about town, the declaration appalled him. Cruelly, he lashed out. The rejection crushed and mortified the sensitive twelve-year-old. Ten years later, they meet again at a family wedding. Who should offer the first apology? A COUNTRY WEDDING is pleasant but colorless.

Sheila Walsh: "Midsummer Masquerade." -- Rating: C
Gideon, the Marquess of Grenville has brought his sister, Lucy, to London for her Presentation. He could do without the help of the meddlesome Caroline Maitland. Caroline Maitland, the troublesome woman he finds fascinating. MIDSUMMER MASQUERADE is a pleasant read, but it is also a slow go.

Mary Balogh writes the best of the lot. Would I recommend this anthology? No! There are too many good books out there in romance land -- so why bother with mediocre?

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: To say that this book was disappointing would be an understatement. The only story that was the slightest bit interesting was 'The Treasure Hunt' by Mary Balogh. It is about a young woman, Lady Constance Manning, who realizes too late that she has engaged herself to the younger brother when she is actually in love with the older one. Even that story was somewhat unsatisfying as, in the end, we are left wondering if the younger brother sacrifices his own love so that Connie may be happy or if he is also happy to break the engagement. However, the story itself is very sensitive and touching in the usual Balogh style. I hope she writes a sequel for the younger brother, Sidney. But the other stories are so boring that it is a chore to turn the pages. My recommendation: wait until all short stories by Mary Balogh get published in one volume.