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Rating: 
Summary: The Christmas Charm
Review: An absolutely charming book. The spunky half Italian heroine is a nice change from the usual English miss. Nice hero, too, plus the interesting, well-researched coach trip.A delightful read!
Rating: 
Summary: a charming first installment
Review: This is a charming first installment in a trilogy featuring the Addington siblings, Alexander, Adriana and Amy. The Addington siblings are half Italian, and have spent nearly all their lives in Italy. The French occupation of Florence however causes the Addington family into seclusion and Hugh Addington to send his only son, Alexander, to England, so that he will not be conscripted into the French army. Thus Alexander becomes the first of the Addington siblings to leave the nest. "The Christmas Charm" however is Adriana's story. The death of both her parents, the end of the Napoleanic Wars, and poverty all combine to make it imperative that Adriana and Amy finally leave Italy for England. It is decided by the sisters' relatives that Adriana will live with her godmother, Lady Margaret, while Amy will live with their aunt and cousin and be a companion to her cousin Helen, during Helen's London debut. What Adriana doesn't know is that Lady Margaret has another purpose in mind for her. Lady Margaret has for years been trying to marry off her somewhat bookish grandson, William, the Viscount Borland with no success. And she firmly believes that Adriana with her striking looks will finally prise William away from his library. The first meeting between Adriana and William as a result goes very badly. William, who's had his fill of the empty headed young women that his grandmother has tried to foist on him over the years, is brusque and reserved when he first meets Adriana and is told that he is expected to accompany her to Scotland for Lady Margaret's Christmas party. Adrina, not knowing that she is a pawn in an old scheme, thinks that William is rude and unmannerly. However a series of accidents and adventures -- from rescuing a badly used child apprentice to being held up by a violent highwayman, throw the young people together, and causes both to change their minds about each other. Adriana comes to see the kindly and generous side of the reserved William; and William comes to realise that Adriana is not just another empty headed chit bent on marriage but rather, a very warm-hearted and generous young woman. But can William put aside his misgivings about marriage enough to consider life with Adriana? Will Lady Margaret's plans and hopes come to naught? I enjoyed reading this book -- just the right accompaniment to an afternoon tea -- and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the trilolgy. I just wish I didn't have to wait a couple of months!
Rating:
Summary: The Addingtons:The Christmas Charm
Review: This traditional regency, set 1815 is basically about two people discovering each other, their similar interests, and the peeling back of layers of personality imposed by society and family obligations. The old saying "opposites attract" is apt here. The hero is called "Sir Boring" by his classmates when growing up. As an adult, he is happiest immersed in his estate and his library. He doesn't feel the need to marry. The awakening to what he is missing in companionship and love is what one remembers from this book. The scenes leading up to the first kiss were well thought out. William overprotected by an ailing mother, never had a childhood and is a reserved, withdrawn 32 year old. William's grandmother Lady Margaret, is determined to break him out of his shell. Thus, she helps her goddaughter Adriana Addington to leave Italy and come to London. Her plan is to throw the two together on the trip to her Scottish castle for the Christmas holidays. She tricks William into escort Adriana on the trip. Both hero and heroine are prickly to each other upon meeting; he knows his grandmother is pushing "wife material" at him and she thinks he is stuffy and arrogant with his nose stuck in a book. The chemistry that occurs between two reluctant people keeps the story moving along. Different happenings along the route to Lady Margaret's bring out the best qualities in William. Adriana isn't a simpering miss but courageous to a fault. The robbery scene adds to the plotline. More I can't tell, for fear of giving away the ending. Blossoming love, jealously, fear for loved ones and battling an evil man are like spices in a cake - keeps you wanting to see what's happening next. Lynn has done a good job of characterization; even the secondary characters are well drawn and essential to the plot. Each secondary character has a part of the bringing together of the hero and heroine. They just don't fill the scene. Two in particular - Sir Perrick Kingston and Miss Naomi Lowe struck me as viable enough to have stories of their own!
Rating:
Summary: The Addingtons:The Christmas Charm
Review: This traditional regency, set 1815 is basically about two people discovering each other, their similar interests, and the peeling back of layers of personality imposed by society and family obligations. The old saying "opposites attract" is apt here. The hero is called "Sir Boring" by his classmates when growing up. As an adult, he is happiest immersed in his estate and his library. He doesn't feel the need to marry. The awakening to what he is missing in companionship and love is what one remembers from this book. The scenes leading up to the first kiss were well thought out. William overprotected by an ailing mother, never had a childhood and is a reserved, withdrawn 32 year old. William's grandmother Lady Margaret, is determined to break him out of his shell. Thus, she helps her goddaughter Adriana Addington to leave Italy and come to London. Her plan is to throw the two together on the trip to her Scottish castle for the Christmas holidays. She tricks William into escort Adriana on the trip. Both hero and heroine are prickly to each other upon meeting; he knows his grandmother is pushing "wife material" at him and she thinks he is stuffy and arrogant with his nose stuck in a book. The chemistry that occurs between two reluctant people keeps the story moving along. Different happenings along the route to Lady Margaret's bring out the best qualities in William. Adriana isn't a simpering miss but courageous to a fault. The robbery scene adds to the plotline. More I can't tell, for fear of giving away the ending. Blossoming love, jealously, fear for loved ones and battling an evil man are like spices in a cake - keeps you wanting to see what's happening next. Lynn has done a good job of characterization; even the secondary characters are well drawn and essential to the plot. Each secondary character has a part of the bringing together of the hero and heroine. They just don't fill the scene. Two in particular - Sir Perrick Kingston and Miss Naomi Lowe struck me as viable enough to have stories of their own!
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