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Rating: 
Summary: a really fun read
Review: If you enjoy the kinds of heroes that Patricia Veryan usually writes of -- honourable, dashing, much used and maligned -- then you'll really love Kate Huntington's latest novel dealing with the Whittaker family, "A Rogue for Christmas." Mary Ann Whittaker was 14 when she first meets Lionel St. James. She was on her way to pawn her pearl ring, hoping to get enough money in order to help alleviate her almost penniless family's Christmas woes, when she is assaulted by a thief and almost murdered. Fortunately for her, Lionel St. James, a gentleman who lives on his wits and gambling skills comes upon the scene and rescues her. Realising that Mary Ann would probably not get very much for her ring, he offers to pawn it for her, so that he can surreptitiously augment the measly amount that the ring would garner. He then escorts her home but leaves before Mary Ann can discover the identity of her hero. The next morning, a Christmas goose and Mary Ann's ring arrives at the Whittaker household. For Mary Ann, who has completely fallen under the spell of her splendid rescuer, this act of kindness and good will completely wins her heart. The years go by, and the Whittakers have met with much good fortune, starting with Vanessa's, the eldest Whittaker daughter's marriage to the handsome and rich Lord Blakely. Mary Ann is now 21, and has been 'out' on the London scene for three years now, but she has steadily refused all offers of marriage, (much to her mother's horror) for she is still in love with her splendid stranger, and has great hopes of finding him one day. And her dreams are answered when St. James attends the pre-Christmas ball that Lord Blakely is hosting. Lord Blakely is not all pleased, for St. James has a reputation of being a notorious womanizer and gambler, and who was disinherited by his own father for his attempted abduction of young female relative. However, Mary Ann is over the moon; and in spite of her brother-in-law's disapproval, she inveigles her mother to invite St. James to spend Christmas with them in the country. Blakely is quite miffed at the turn of events, but there is little he can do except keep a sharp eye on St. James. As for Mary Ann, this is her chance to get to know her knight in shinning armor better, and to help him heal. For she senses that St. James is a man much abused and maligned, and she is determined to help him. However things are not going as smoothly as she had hoped. To begin with, St. James is going through great lengths to keep her at arm's length; and to make matters worst, the woman he is reputed to have abducted (Lady Cavenish), turns up, with amorous designs in mind. And then, St. James's estranged family turns up as well. Can Mary Ann persuade St. James to heal the breach with his father before it is too late? And what of Lady Cavenish's designs? But most of all, can she persuade her noble rescuer to take a chance at loving her? I definitely enjoyed this novel. Mary Ann and St. James were splendidly matched in that his extreme noblility (even in the face of ruin) countered her stubborness wonderfully. Mary Ann believes completely in her 'knight' and no one is going to convine her otherwise. Over and over again, esp when things were looking quite bad for St. James, she waits for him to clarify matters, instead of jumping to conclusions. This, of course, could have been dangerous if St. James had been the villain of the piece. But because we all knew that he is the much wronged hero, such unwavering faith on her part is moving. This was a really fun book, and just the right thing as a Christmas sock stuffer: the much maligned hero has his reputation restored to him, reconciles with his family and wins the heart and hand of the heroine. Furthermore the unlikeable characters get their much deserved comeuppance. Great fun, and a really good read.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: Mary Ann's heart harbors love for the golden stranger who saved her family's Christmas when she was fourteen. Seven years later they meet again. His name is Lionel St. James and he is totally unsuitable for her. He is a rogue, a gambler, despoiler of innocents! Through the eyes of love, Mary Ann sees him as her misunderstood hero and sets out to make everything right. After ten years of debauchery, Lionel finds Mary Ann and her large extended family a balm for his wounded heart and soul. The story follows the usual Regency path. Violence against one woman is glossed over - but for most of the characters a happy ending is achieved.
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner by Kate Huntington
Review: This fourth in the series of the Whittaker sisters is another delight. Mary Ann and Lionel are wonderful characters. Her never-ending faith in him and his honored devotion to her are so sweet. It was such fun to read about the Whittaker family again. This is another Kate Huntington book you will love!
Rating:
Summary: The outcast with the heart of gold
Review: When Mary Ann Whittaker was fourteen, her father had died and her family - four sisters and her mother - lived in poverty, without enough money to buy food for Christmas. On the way to pawn her one valuable, a small pearl ring, she was mugged, but rescued by what appeared then to her as a knight in shining armour, a tall, handsome man who escorted her on her errand but also sent the family a Christmas goose and redeemed Mary Ann's ring. Ever since that day, she has been in love with her mystery rescuer. Lionel St James has been disowned by his family as a result of a foolish scandal when he was twenty. Penniless and without expectations, he makes his living as a gambler and is unwelcome in polite society. Seven years after rescuing Mary Ann, however, he gatecrashes a ball given by her now brother-in-law, Lord Blakely, in order to see what his young acquaintance has made of herself. Seeing her again, he falls in love. But, even though Mary Ann and her family make him welcome, Lionel knows that he is completely ineligible. Unable to resist the persuasions of his family, Blakely invites Lionel to spend Christmas with them all at his country estate, but warns Lionel off Mary Ann - not that Lionel intended to make any advances to her anyway, because of his situation. His own family doesn't recognise him, after all, and other members of Society turn their backs on him when he enters a room. But this is Christmas, the time of peace and forgiveness, after all: can miracles happen? This is an interesting tale of a tarnished hero who - as readers guess right from the beginning - is not as evil as he's been painted. The heroine is delightful: sparky, intelligent and compassionate, with a strong streak of determination. There are some interesting secondary characters too, including the heroine's sisters and brother-in-law and the hero's half-siblings. Despite all that, I don't feel that the book is one I'll consider among my favourite Christmas stories. There were a few niggles, such as a sense that Huntington thinks - it was never precisely specified - that disinheriting Lionel also means that he cannot inherit his father's baronetcy, which of course isn't correct. Barbara, the lady Lionel is supposed to have ruined all those years ago, is just a little over the top. And there are rather too many secondary characters in the background to keep track of - characters from earlier books by Huntington, perhaps? It certainly seemed as if the reader should know about them and that therefore Huntington felt that they didn't require introductions. Still, this is considerably better than the average Zebra Regency.
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner by Kate Huntington
Review: While on her way to a pawnshop, fourteen year-old Mary Ann Whittaker is assaulted and very nearly seriously harmed by a would-be thief. Rescue comes in the form of an anonymous golden savior, who quickly beats the thief into submission and escorts Mary Ann on her way. After a severe lecture on the impropriety of a young lady traveling alone, the man offers to conduct Mary Ann's business for her. Knowing the sale of her tiny pearl ring will not raise a quarter of the money she hopes for, the gentleman adds extra to give Mary Ann and her destitute family a happy Christmas. Christmas morning finds a fat Christmas goose and gifts at the Whittaker household, courtesy of Mary Ann's mysterious rescuer. Spellbound for seven years after being rescued on Christmas Eve by the mysterious stranger, Mary Ann refuses all offers of marriage, hoping to again meet her golden rescuer. This seems to be a farfetched idea in her family members' collective minds, but Mary Ann somehow knows he'll return. And he does, crashing the family ball -- only to be thrown out on his arse by Mary Ann's protective brother-in-law. Never wavering in her faith in Lionel St. James, the man who'd come to her aid, she refuses to believe he is a rake and womanizer, despite all the rumors. Mary Ann is determined to get her man -- whether he wishes to be gotten or not! A ROGUE FOR CHRISTMAS is a delightful, warm, refreshing romance. Mary Ann is a singular heroine in that her love and loyalty toward St. James never wavers. There are no trite misunderstandings or jumping to conclusions on the part of either the heroine or hero. Mary Ann even enlists the help of her female relatives to stand by St. James. After being disowned by his own father in favor of his half-brother, St. James gave up on love and trust long ago. Confused and overrun by Mary Ann's determined females relatives, he finally gives in and accompanies them to Mary Ann's brother-in-law's country estate for Christmas. There he learns that loyalty and familial ties are a formidible barrier. Tightly written, with sparkling dialogue and true-to-life characters and plot, A ROGUE FOR CHRISTMAS is a tender love story with a dash of mystery and danger. I highly recommend Kate Huntington as a Regency author to watch. This book is a definite keeper!
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