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Rating: 
Summary: Two & 1/2 stars, really
Review: Cedric's eccentric family is really at the heart of this story, and they're a terrific bunch of characters. Cedric is a fine leading man--humorous, attractive, caring, if not particularly exciting. He's just a good man. Emma starts out very stiff and dour as she tries to be wholly unremarkable. But Cedric sees past that facade. In fairly short order, Emma comes to care about the eccentrics who surround her. We don't get to see enough of this change, however. In fact, she almost loses Cedric because of her stubbornness.
The really annoying thing about the book, which was perhaps explained in the first title, A Christmas wish, which I have not read, is why Emma is not received in society but her sisters are. If the sole rationale for Emma is her highwayman father, then it should apply to the other two ladies as well. This so irritated me that my true rating is 2 & 1/2 stars, when it might otherwise be three.
Rating: 
Summary: Just what a Regency romance should be!
Review: Okay, I admit to having a personal prejudice against reluctant heroes, heroes with mistresses, and debauched and cruel heroes, no matter how skillfully they have been rehabilitated by their authors. And maybe the reason these unsatisfactory types of heroes are so often dished up to Regency fans is that so many women are drawn to roguish men and truly wish to believe that such men are redeemable. Hah! I may be a sucker for a good romance, but I've listened to Dr. Laura far too long to be taken in by such drivel!That said, I have to say that the hero in "The Valentine Wish" is my idea of the ideal Regency hero. Cedric is a man who cares for his family, looks out for the needy, and cares nothing for the formality and hypocrisy of London society. He is strong and sincere and cultivates roses as a hobby. The fact that he is also good looking and well-spoken is icing on the cake. Emma's background as the daughter of a scandalous jewel thief makes her reluctant to trust people. She is determined to hide her passionate nature under a facade of propriety. The last thing she is looking for is a slightly loony employer who treats her as an honored guest, whose charming nephew sweeps her off her feet with compliments, roses, and romantic picnics. While most young ladies would swoon to be in her situation, Emma knows from past experience that fairy tales rarely come true and that all roses have thorns. Debbie Raleigh has outdone herself in this delightful story of a Renaissance man and how he convinces a wary woman to risk her heart for the promise of true love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read "The Christmas Wish"--the prequel to this book--next, even if it is the wrong order.
Rating: 
Summary: Unusually cute Valentine romance
Review: To give you an idea of how much I liked this book, I went and ordered the first book in this series, which is The Christmas Wish. I really wasn't expecting much from this book because Debbie Raleigh isn't one of my favorite authors. She surprised me by keeping my attention through the whole book. The story is the typical story of a girl who is running away from her world because of her father and the Lord who takes the time to bring her back to where she belongs. But Ms. Raleigh doesn't end there. She makes you like Emma and Cedric, Cedric's wacky aunt Cassie and Cassie's brother Bart, the pirate. I didn't care much for Emma (hence only four stars), but I really liked the way the secondary characters came alive. Cedric likes Emma from the first and does his best to know her better. Of course, Emma doesn't want to get close to anybody because of her father, but even though Cedric doesn't have a clue who her father is, he falls in love with her anyway, and when he realizes who her father is and the crimes he has done, he doesn't even stop to think, he helps Emma's father to get away. Cedric's aunt Cassie is also really a lovely character. Talking to her husband, who's dead, and her seemingly absent mindedness just makes you want to take her to your heart. The addition of the "pirate" Bart just adds to the story. I wish she could have had more about those two. The Valentine Wish is very predictable and consistent with most romances that are available, but Ms. Raleigh makes you like the characters and care about the characters you are reading. I just hope in the next book, Rachel's story, she has more about the Father. Since I haven't read the first book yet, I don't know much about the Father in the stories, but it seems, Ms. Raleigh is getting you to like him, like you do with all her characters. Sit back, read and enjoy this book. Just read the first one first. You don't need to, it just might help in the long run.
Rating:
Summary: Unusually cute Valentine romance
Review: To give you an idea of how much I liked this book, I went and ordered the first book in this series, which is The Christmas Wish. I really wasn't expecting much from this book because Debbie Raleigh isn't one of my favorite authors. She surprised me by keeping my attention through the whole book. The story is the typical story of a girl who is running away from her world because of her father and the Lord who takes the time to bring her back to where she belongs. But Ms. Raleigh doesn't end there. She makes you like Emma and Cedric, Cedric's wacky aunt Cassie and Cassie's brother Bart, the pirate. I didn't care much for Emma (hence only four stars), but I really liked the way the secondary characters came alive. Cedric likes Emma from the first and does his best to know her better. Of course, Emma doesn't want to get close to anybody because of her father, but even though Cedric doesn't have a clue who her father is, he falls in love with her anyway, and when he realizes who her father is and the crimes he has done, he doesn't even stop to think, he helps Emma's father to get away. Cedric's aunt Cassie is also really a lovely character. Talking to her husband, who's dead, and her seemingly absent mindedness just makes you want to take her to your heart. The addition of the "pirate" Bart just adds to the story. I wish she could have had more about those two. The Valentine Wish is very predictable and consistent with most romances that are available, but Ms. Raleigh makes you like the characters and care about the characters you are reading. I just hope in the next book, Rachel's story, she has more about the Father. Since I haven't read the first book yet, I don't know much about the Father in the stories, but it seems, Ms. Raleigh is getting you to like him, like you do with all her characters. Sit back, read and enjoy this book. Just read the first one first. You don't need to, it just might help in the long run.
Rating: 
Summary: a goodish read in spite of heroine's initial stiffness
Review: Unfortunately "The Valentine Wish" is not quite as interesting a read as the first book in the Creswell sisters trilogy. Part of the problem for me was that while I could intellectually appreciate the reason why Emma holds so rigidly to the need for propriety and control, I still found myself still becoming a little impatient with her inability to accept the fortunate circumstance she suddenly finds herself in (even if it is a highly unconventional one) and go with the flow. Unable to cope with the notoriety of being the Devilish Dandy's daughter (he is an audacious jewel thief that happens to be on the run) and the censure that the London ton, Emma Creswell has opted instead to take a job as the companion to Lady Hartshore, in deepest Kent. What Emma doesn't know however is that while Lady Hartshore is a kindly older woman, she is a mite unconventional, and that her household has the reputation of being a highly eccentric one. To begin with, there is Lady Hartshore readily admits to conversing regularly with her long dead husband; and then there is Lady Hartshore's brother with whom she resides -- because of a war wound, the once valiant general now believes that he is the pirate Black Bart. And then there is Lady Hartshore's gypsy housekeeper who dabbles in reading tea leaves... But none of these good people try Emma's peace of mind as much as Lady Hartshore's roguish nephew, Cedric Morelane, who seems intent on teasing and flirting with her. And Emma, who had hoped to find solace in working for a proper and respectable household, only to find herself in the middle of an eccentric one instead, (esp since Lady Hartshore is intent in treating Emma like a valued guest instead of an employee), now must contend with the uncomfortable possibility that she may forget her firm resolve and succumb to Cedric's charm. And then just as Emma is beginning to let her guard down, her rascally father turns up at the village, pretending to be someone else. What is the Devilish Dandy up to? And what will happen if someone recognises him? Torn between wanting to help her father, and wanting to have noting to do with him, Emma must make some hard decision and soon. I think that Debbie Raleigh did a rather good job of charting the blossoming romance between Emma and Cedric. I do wish however that she had given us a little more of Emma's gradual loosening of her stiff manners and shown us more of how Emma comes to accept and enjoy being part of Lady Hartshore's eccentric household -- esp since everyone in that household is really nice. I also liked the manner in which Raleigh allowed for Emma and her father to resolve certain issues that lay between them. "The Valentine Wish" is not a bad read, in fact it is far more romantic read than the first book in this series, "The Christmas Wish." It's just the nature of expectations: having enjoyed the first book so very much, I naturally expected that I would "The Valentine Wish" as much. And this is not really fair to the book or authour. "The Valentine Wish" is a goodish read, and if you can get past Emma's initial stiffness and reservations, then you will enjoy this novel a lot more than I have led you to expect.
Rating:
Summary: a goodish read in spite of heroine's initial stiffness
Review: Unfortunately "The Valentine Wish" is not quite as interesting a read as the first book in the Creswell sisters trilogy. Part of the problem for me was that while I could intellectually appreciate the reason why Emma holds so rigidly to the need for propriety and control, I still found myself still becoming a little impatient with her inability to accept the fortunate circumstance she suddenly finds herself in (even if it is a highly unconventional one) and go with the flow. Unable to cope with the notoriety of being the Devilish Dandy's daughter (he is an audacious jewel thief that happens to be on the run) and the censure that the London ton, Emma Creswell has opted instead to take a job as the companion to Lady Hartshore, in deepest Kent. What Emma doesn't know however is that while Lady Hartshore is a kindly older woman, she is a mite unconventional, and that her household has the reputation of being a highly eccentric one. To begin with, there is Lady Hartshore readily admits to conversing regularly with her long dead husband; and then there is Lady Hartshore's brother with whom she resides -- because of a war wound, the once valiant general now believes that he is the pirate Black Bart. And then there is Lady Hartshore's gypsy housekeeper who dabbles in reading tea leaves... But none of these good people try Emma's peace of mind as much as Lady Hartshore's roguish nephew, Cedric Morelane, who seems intent on teasing and flirting with her. And Emma, who had hoped to find solace in working for a proper and respectable household, only to find herself in the middle of an eccentric one instead, (esp since Lady Hartshore is intent in treating Emma like a valued guest instead of an employee), now must contend with the uncomfortable possibility that she may forget her firm resolve and succumb to Cedric's charm. And then just as Emma is beginning to let her guard down, her rascally father turns up at the village, pretending to be someone else. What is the Devilish Dandy up to? And what will happen if someone recognises him? Torn between wanting to help her father, and wanting to have noting to do with him, Emma must make some hard decision and soon. I think that Debbie Raleigh did a rather good job of charting the blossoming romance between Emma and Cedric. I do wish however that she had given us a little more of Emma's gradual loosening of her stiff manners and shown us more of how Emma comes to accept and enjoy being part of Lady Hartshore's eccentric household -- esp since everyone in that household is really nice. I also liked the manner in which Raleigh allowed for Emma and her father to resolve certain issues that lay between them. "The Valentine Wish" is not a bad read, in fact it is far more romantic read than the first book in this series, "The Christmas Wish." It's just the nature of expectations: having enjoyed the first book so very much, I naturally expected that I would "The Valentine Wish" as much. And this is not really fair to the book or authour. "The Valentine Wish" is a goodish read, and if you can get past Emma's initial stiffness and reservations, then you will enjoy this novel a lot more than I have led you to expect.
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