The Christmas Visit (Historical)

Rating:
Summary: Three English Christmas tales
Review: I love Christmas-themed romances, and I thought that this anthology contained three good stories. I'll review each story separately.

"Comfort and Joy" by Margaret Moore - 5 stars

Griffin Branwynne, Earl of Cwm Rhyss, had been disfigured in a tragic fire years ago. After his fickle fiancee and his "friends" deserted him, he retreated to his home, where he had been rarely seen since. Despite his fearsome reputation, Gwendolyn Davies is determined to see him a few days before Christmas, to beg for money for the orphan's home she runs. But a snowstorm strands her in Griffin's home, and she soon learns that despite Griffin's gruff exterior, he is a remarkable man. Gwen has no illusions - she knows she is the orphaned daughter of paupers and that Griffin is an earl - but she can't help but feel a growing admiration for this man.

I really liked this story, it was in my opinion the best in the book. The author, in less than 100 pages, manages to weave a wonderfully tender romance with interesting characters. I loved Gwen - unlike many romance heroines, she is utterly realistic when it comes to society's reaction if she was involved with an earl. It was a great story about two wounded people learning how to trust one another.

"Love at First Step" by Terri Brisbin - 4 stars

Lord Gavin MacLeod was visiting his foster brother, Orrick, in England for the holidays, which were a bit gloomy since Gavin had lost his wife three years ago. While there, Orrick asks Gavin to try to discover why the village prostitute, Elizabeth, is a prostitute. Elizabeth's well-bred manners show that she was gently reared, and Gavin is intrigued with the task. He soon realizes that he could lose her heart to her - but could he and Elizabeth manage to look over the past and start afresh?

I liked this story once I got into it. The heroine and hero were both atypical - the hero was in his early 40s, and the heroine was a prostitute. I had absolutely no qualms about having the heroine being a prostitute. Why shouldn't she have a happy ending in romanceland, too? The only part I didn't like was when Gavin and Elizabeth were first together...but Gavin eventually redeemed himself a few times over in my eyes. A good, but unusual, story. And for those who are interested - in January 2005, the story of Lord Orrick and Margaret is being released by Harlequin - "The King's Mistress" by the same author.

"A Christmas Secret" by Gail Ranstrom - 4 stars

Miss Charity Wardlow is expecting a proposal from her sweetheart this Christmas. But she has no idea that while she is helping her best friend prepare for her Christmas wedding, her sweetheart is playing her false. When she overhears a conversation that seems to indicate that her best friend's future husband has an illegitimate child that he refuses to tell her about, Charity is convinced that she must tell her friend at once. Only Sir Andrew MacGregor, a friend of the groom, convinces her to investigate further before she tells her friend. As Charity investigates, she learns that everyone has a secret of some sort - and maybe her secret is that she is falling in love with Sir Andrew!

I liked this story. Charity is a member of the Wednesday League, which has appeared in previous books by Ms. Ranstrom. The story was well-written and interesting. Although Charity is a bit naive and immature in the beginning of the story, she grows nicely throughout the story. I'm looking forward to reading more from all three of these authors.

Rating:
Summary: Really enjoyed these
Review: I thought all three of these were good. don't understand the bad review.

Rating:
Summary: One good story, two trashy ones--don't bother!
Review: Margaret Moore, who was given "top-billing" on this trio of stories(her name is in large print, with the other two authors in smaller print), should have refused to have her story in this anthology. Her story was the only good one in the bunch. Moore's story is about a disfigured hero and a poor, virtuous orphanage matron. Typical kind of "beauty and the beast" scenario, but it was well-written and quite touching. I liked the children and the other secondary characters in the story. This would have made an even better full-length novel. However, even with the short length of the story, the author gives us likable, even lovable, characters. She also showed the development of a romance that went beyond sexual attraction, and involved the two main characters discovering things about each other that they could like and admire. The Christmas aspect added to the interest of the story, particularly when it came to music and cooking of the season.
The next two stories were forgettable, in my opinion. Brisban is a good writer, but I didn't like the plot of the hero falling for the heroine while she is working as a prostitute. Maybe in a longer story this could be developed in a sensitive, engaging manner, but in this short story, it just didn't work for me. I didn't like the hero sleeping with her at first just for sex, and her being totally dissociated from the experience. Then, somehow, he falls in love with her and is able to "bring her to life." Of course, she is acting as a prostitute because she had no other choice, theoretically, and that is supposed to make everything ok? I did like the fact that the hero was older and more mature, with grown kids--it is nice to see at least an attempt at showing that love and romance can be ageless. Still, the whole sex for money and out of obligation stuff just turned me off.
Ranstrom's story was the least likable of all. It was set in the regency period, I believe, and the heroine was way too quick to lose her virginity to the hero before even the possibility of a marriage was discussed. This happened, I'm sure, during the Regency to even "nice" young misses, but in that era if you weren't a virgin coming into marriage, you could be ruined as far as your chances for making a good marriage. I don't believe that Charity wouldn't have even considered what her actions might due to her future. This seemed like a modern tale just thrown into a historical background. I also didn't care for the hero--he had a Scottish name, but that was about all. I like Scottish heros, but this one didn't really talk, act or think like a Scotsman, as far as I am concerned. The sex certainly was hot and steamy, if that is all one is looking for in a romance, but I want to see more romance and more showing of what draws the characters together as a couple, not just mindless sex. This book was a big disappointment--I expect more from Harlequin Historicals, particularly their Christmas anthologies. This book was a waste of my money and my time.