Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise.
Review: "The Background Man" by Carla Kelly. Charles Mortimer had a varied background, son of a vicar who went to India as a clerk, pressed into service as a temporary soldier during uprisings, and home to England as an assistant manager for a line of prestigious hotels. As acting manager for the opening of the Grand Hotel in London, Mortimer discovers love when vicar's daughter, Millicent Carrington, comes to stay while looking for employment. How wonderful to see a romance with working people in Regency London. My favorite in this collection."Love Will Find the Way" by Elisabeth Fairchild. Lt. James Forrester fell in love with Mrs. Annabelle Grant while reading her letters to her dying husband, Captain Archibald Grant. Now he was in London to deliver Archie's belongings to his widow. Forrester worries that Archie may always be between them. Heartrending tale of loss and new love. "The Castaway" by Anne Barbour. Martha Finch had been found on the beach when she was six years old. Raised by a hardworking fishing family, Martha never knew who she really was. She worked at menial jobs, married a man 40 years her senior and, when he died, made her way to London. Having heard of a long-lost heiress still being sought by the child's grandfather, Martha is determined to become that person, craving security and a family. Then she meets her "grandfather" and his younger friend, Gabriel Storm, Earl of Branford. A good story, but no one blinks at Martha's lower class upbringing or how she worked for a living. Still a lovely read, if you can ignore the inconsistencies. "The Management Requests" by Barbara Metzger. Wounded Captain Arthur Hunter, Viscount Huntingdon, had been given the hotel manager's office to avoid the stairs leading to his suite. When Hope Thurstfield sees Huntingdon going into the office, she mistakes him for the manager. Hope is in London to find her almost intended, but "Mr. Arthur" is all she can think about. Slight humor but little depth. "Promises to Keep" by Allison Lane. A deathbed promise to her father has brought American Maggie Adams to London to repair an old family rift. She runs into Marcus Widmer at the Grand, discovering he is her second cousin and a man of many interests. Maggie's attempts to contact her father's family leads to danger. This interesting premise deserved a longer format. The plot was uncomfortably compressed in spots, giving the flow of the story a certain jerkiness.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting premise.
Review: "The Background Man" by Carla Kelly. Charles Mortimer had a varied background, son of a vicar who went to India as a clerk, pressed into service as a temporary soldier during uprisings, and home to England as an assistant manager for a line of prestigious hotels. As acting manager for the opening of the Grand Hotel in London, Mortimer discovers love when vicar's daughter, Millicent Carrington, comes to stay while looking for employment. How wonderful to see a romance with working people in Regency London. My favorite in this collection. "Love Will Find the Way" by Elisabeth Fairchild. Lt. James Forrester fell in love with Mrs. Annabelle Grant while reading her letters to her dying husband, Captain Archibald Grant. Now he was in London to deliver Archie's belongings to his widow. Forrester worries that Archie may always be between them. Heartrending tale of loss and new love. "The Castaway" by Anne Barbour. Martha Finch had been found on the beach when she was six years old. Raised by a hardworking fishing family, Martha never knew who she really was. She worked at menial jobs, married a man 40 years her senior and, when he died, made her way to London. Having heard of a long-lost heiress still being sought by the child's grandfather, Martha is determined to become that person, craving security and a family. Then she meets her "grandfather" and his younger friend, Gabriel Storm, Earl of Branford. A good story, but no one blinks at Martha's lower class upbringing or how she worked for a living. Still a lovely read, if you can ignore the inconsistencies. "The Management Requests" by Barbara Metzger. Wounded Captain Arthur Hunter, Viscount Huntingdon, had been given the hotel manager's office to avoid the stairs leading to his suite. When Hope Thurstfield sees Huntingdon going into the office, she mistakes him for the manager. Hope is in London to find her almost intended, but "Mr. Arthur" is all she can think about. Slight humor but little depth. "Promises to Keep" by Allison Lane. A deathbed promise to her father has brought American Maggie Adams to London to repair an old family rift. She runs into Marcus Widmer at the Grand, discovering he is her second cousin and a man of many interests. Maggie's attempts to contact her father's family leads to danger. This interesting premise deserved a longer format. The plot was uncomfortably compressed in spots, giving the flow of the story a certain jerkiness.
Rating: 
Summary: Five charming romances spring to life at the Grand Hotel.
Review: Although I'm not terribly found of anthologies because the brevity of the format inevitably results in shallow, partially-drawn characters, I found myself enjoying this one more than most. Why? Mostly because it included the romances of some ordinary people, not just those who are rich and titled. Also because it was (for the most part) the heroes who fell in love first and "loved from afar," instead of the women. And because some of the characters and events were intertwined in other stories and gave the impression of a single book instead of an anthology by five different authors. I'd like to see more anthologies like this one!
Rating:
Summary: Five charming romances spring to life at the Grand Hotel.
Review: Although I'm not terribly found of anthologies because the brevity of the format inevitably results in shallow, partially-drawn characters, I found myself enjoying this one more than most. Why? Mostly because it included the romances of some ordinary people, not just those who are rich and titled. Also because it was (for the most part) the heroes who fell in love first and "loved from afar," instead of the women. And because some of the characters and events were intertwined in other stories and gave the impression of a single book instead of an anthology by five different authors. I'd like to see more anthologies like this one!
Rating: 
Summary: A Big Miss all the Way Around
Review: Anthology series are indeed hit or miss and the stories in The Grand Hotel are a miss all the way around. Romance and humor was seriously lacking in this book. There was little to recommend or differentiate one story from the other. If I had to pick one story that was at least semi-enjoyable, I would choose Barbara Metzger's story as there was at least some attraction and humor between the love interests, though not as amusing as amusing as Ms. Metzger can usually be. Why does Carla Kelly always right such somber romances? For me, somber and romance are two adjectives that should not mix in a romance novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Big Miss all the Way Around
Review: Anthology series are indeed hit or miss and the stories in The Grand Hotel are a miss all the way around. Romance and humor was seriously lacking in this book. There was little to recommend or differentiate one story from the other. If I had to pick one story that was at least semi-enjoyable, I would choose Barbara Metzger's story as there was at least some attraction and humor between the love interests, though not as amusing as amusing as Ms. Metzger can usually be. Why does Carla Kelly always right such somber romances? For me, somber and romance are two adjectives that should not mix in a romance novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Cupid in London's Grand Hotel
Review: Cupid comes calling in this anthology with London's luxurious Grand Hotel as the constant setting. Like many anthology series, the stories are hit and miss. But strangely, the only one I enjoyed (and that remained in my memory) was the contribution from the popular Anne Barbour. Her characters were charming and was a very enjoyable read. Other than that I have trouble picking out any one story that stands out in my memory. They all ran together in a blur for me without any notable distinguishing features. I guess I didn't enjoy it very much as a whole, preferring to settle on one story I can sink my teeth into.
Rating:
Summary: Cupid in London's Grand Hotel
Review: Cupid comes calling in this anthology with London's luxurious Grand Hotel as the constant setting. Like many anthology series, the stories are hit and miss. But strangely, the only one I enjoyed (and that remained in my memory) was the contribution from the popular Anne Barbour. Her characters were charming and was a very enjoyable read. Other than that I have trouble picking out any one story that stands out in my memory. They all ran together in a blur for me without any notable distinguishing features. I guess I didn't enjoy it very much as a whole, preferring to settle on one story I can sink my teeth into.
Rating:
Summary: For Dedicated Regency Readers!
Review: I agree that Anne Barbour is the star of the book but I also enjoyed Barbara Metzger, whose wit charms. Carla Kelly surprised me with her humor, including more than usual. And Allison Lanes contribution of an American finding her way in London was very good. All in all I must say I enjoyed the book very much.
Rating:
Summary: The Grand Hotel
Review: I agree that Anne Barbour is the star of the book but I also enjoyed Barbara Metzger, whose wit charms. Carla Kelly surprised me with her humor, including more than usual. And Allison Lanes contribution of an American finding her way in London was very good. All in all I must say I enjoyed the book very much.
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