Sandy M’s review of Christmas Brides by Suzanne Enoch, Alexandra Hawkins, Elizabeth Essex & Valerie Bowman
Historical Romance anthology published by St. Martin’s 30 Sep 14
This is one of those rare anthologies in which every novella actually works for me. That doesn’t happen very often, because there’s usually one or two that just aren’t up to par with the rest. But these four historical authors are at the top of their craft and have done everything right with these stories and their characters.
One Hot Scot by Suzanne Enoch
I really like the way this story begins – the heroine on the run and lost in the Highlands of Scotland, where she wanted to visit so much she asked for the trip as a Christmas gift. But things go terribly wrong for Julia when someone she trusts kidnaps her with the intent of marrying her for her dowry. But smart cookie that she is, she escapes his clutches. Being lost in the Highlands is a much better place to be.
The way we meet our sexy hero is also a huge plus. Duncan rises from the loch naked as the day he was born, only to find a pretty lass wrapped in his tartan. Wanting to stay ahead of the coming storm, he leads Julia to his cabin, where they are stranded until the weather clears. She’s wary of him and her current situation, but he has two sisters to protect, so he does his best to ease her worries.
Of course, the villain in our story can’t stay out of things. He thinks he’s totally right in his actions so far and interrupts Duncan’s and Julia’s getting-to-know-each-other time. Intelligence trumps greed any day of the week and Duncan boots the interlopers out after some harsh words to go with the harsh dislike they have of each other. The bad man can’t leave things alone either. I love his comeuppance later in the story.
The love comes on fast, but it always does in a novella. It’s okay this time around, because Ms. Enoch just knows how to make it work. I thoroughly enjoyed Duncan and Julia. And his sisters.
Grade: B
Summary:
Duncan Lenox lives surrounded by enemies, a MacLawry in a land of Campbells. But when an English beauty has nowhere else to turn, he feels obligated to help. Now that they must spend a night together in an abandoned cottage while a storm rages on, will their mutual passion save—or doom—them both?
No excerpt available.
Once Upon a Christmas Scandal by Alexandra Hawkins
I’m glad we get to visit the Lords of Vice in this novella by Alexandra Hawkins. They’re secondary characters behind Lady Ellen, Lord Vanewright’s sister, who is having a devil of a time keeping herself off the marriage mart. Her father, who is quite ill and knows he won’t last much longer, increases Ellen’s dowry so he’ll know she’s taken care of after he’s gone. This makes Ellen one spitting-mad lady. She wants to marry for love just as everyone around her has.
The hero, Derrick Hunt, Earl of Swainsbury, wants an introduction to Lady Ellen. He’s a stranger in town, so it seems they come from far and wide to try to win her hand for her money. But this particular lord has another reason for wanting to get close to her. His sister was killed for her dowry, so he knows once the killer finds out about Ellen’s, she too may lose her life. He decides, however, to keep this information to himself, leading Ellen to think he’s just a fortune hunter too.
So under false pretenses these two get to know each other, and it seems as though they’re perfect for one another. Derrick eventually has to face Ellen’s brother and the other lords of vice, but he doesn’t give a damn about any of them when he’s proven right and Ellen is in danger. A very nice addition to this series, interspersed with mystery and fun.
Grade: A
Summary:
Lady Ellen is outraged when she learns her dowry’s been increased by her dad, eager to draw every bachelor in England to her front door. So when Lord Swainsbury comes knocking, Ellen assumes he’s another dreadful fortune hunter. Little does she know that Swainsbury has completely fallen for her—body, heart, and soul…
Read an excerpt.
A Scandal to Remember by Elizabeth Essex
When I began reading this novella, it sounded familiar. The further I got into it, I knew I’d read it before. I remembered a lot of it, but I forged ahead and I’m very glad I did. While I recall a lot of things these characters go through, there’s those little nuances I needed reminding of.
Ian is a sailor in His Majesty’s Royal Navy, having started his career at the age of twelve when his father foisted him off to the military – more to get him out of the way than anything else. See, Ian is a second son and thus will inherit nothing. But now his father is at Ian’s doorstep, demanding he come back to the castle and marry to begat an heir, because Ross is now paralyzed after a riding accident. Not willing to give in to his father, especially this soon and not knowing what Ross’ future truly holds, Ian tells the old man he’s already married.
Which means he has to produce a wife quickly, before he heads back out to sea. A former shipmate informs Ian he has a daughter who just might fit the bill for Ian, so arrangements are made to bring her to Ian’s home by the ocean. At first he’s thinking it doesn’t matter what the girl is like, as long as she can be on her own during the time Ian is gone, so much the better. But when he meets his intended, Ian isn’t so sure anymore.
See, Ann is plain mouse. A brown wren, as Ian describes her. Not a lady of many words, unlike her mother, who drives Ian crazy with her nattering. When he unintentionally hurts Ann, he wants to start again, and from that wonderful moment between them on the beach, a delightful and beautiful relationship is born. It’s wonderful watching Ian tease Ann – to coax a smile or a string of words from her. And their attraction grows to the point it’s Ann who wants more.
A lovely story that reminds us to look beneath the surface. What we find there makes everything else that much more beautiful.
Grade: B
Summary:
Lieutenant Ian Worth needs a wife by Christmas, and he can’t afford to be choosy. He has to find her, woo her, and wed her before he goes back to sea—all within a matter of days. But when a midwinter storm snows him in with his bride-to-be, they both find they got much more than they bargained for—laughter, light, and and a Christmas filled with honest to goodness true love…
Read an excerpt.
It Happened Under the Misteltoe by Valerie Bowman
This is a fun story that begins in a silver closet. Both Oliver Townsende and Cerian Blake are on the run – from overzealous suitors. They both take refuge in the same place and pour a little bit of their hearts out to one another. Cerian is very taken with Mr. Townsende but knows nothing can come of their new acquaintance, because her mother has loftier ideas for her.
Oliver is definitely one of the loftier folks, as Cerian later discovers. Constantly thinking of one another and a stolen kiss or two has them putting on the brakes and agreeing to pretend to court to keep others at bay. Of course, the plot backfires and feelings begin to grow on both sides. They’re even thrown together through the machinations of the lady who wants to snag Oliver for her own, her mistletoe games also backfiring.
Just when it seems those games have made a winner of the wrong lady and her mother, Oliver, after a swift kick from his hosts, decides to play his own game. Oliver and Cerian are delightful and I enjoyed getting to know them.
Grade: B
Summary:
Oliver Townsende intends to avoid the hordes of marriage-minded misses at a friend’s holiday party. When he meets Miss Cerian Blake, who’s dodging her own unwanted set of admirers, the two decide to join forces and fake an infatuation to keep their suitors at bay. But when mistletoe becomes involved, will their Christmastime prank turn into a love to last all seasons?
Read an excerpt.
I’m not sure why Christmas novels come out so early in the year. While this one doesn’t give a lot of holiday cheer throughout – as in decorations, traditions and the like – and as much as I’d like to have had more of those things closer to Christmas, it’s a quick and entertaining read, each one different than the last so you’re not reading the same thing over again. Pick it up for your holiday fare. I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Overall Grade: B
