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Signet Christmas Anthologies #3
A Regency Christmas Present
The gifts of Christmas are priceless --- good cheer, warm hearts, and happy times with friends. And now five bestselling Regency authors have made a special present to you --- five brand-new stories. High-spirited and humorous, heartwarming and romantic --- and full of the fun and flavor of the holiday season --- they're the perfect present to share with friends and loved ones. And in each delightful story you'll find that there's one Christmas present that lasts all year round --- the gift of true love ...
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 2, 1999
111 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Fairchild
24 books26 followersElisabeth Fairchild is half English and considers the British Isles her second home. With a degree in advertising from North Texas State University, Fairchild worked for ten years in advertising before turning to writing full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 1, 2018
This review just pertains to Heart's Desire by Allison Lane, a RITA finalist.
Heart's Desire is a very pleasant traditional Regency romance novella. Two misfit characters find each other during the Christmas season. I like that Craig and Emma were two parts of a whole; they fit together so nicely. Each had a lot to overcome -- his were physical injuries and family issues, hers were social issues. My only complaint was that their love appeared very quickly and suddenly. I completely believe that they liked each other and felt attraction; it just seemed that deep love would take a lot longer (always a problem in novellas).
Heart's Desire is a very pleasant traditional Regency romance novella. Two misfit characters find each other during the Christmas season. I like that Craig and Emma were two parts of a whole; they fit together so nicely. Each had a lot to overcome -- his were physical injuries and family issues, hers were social issues. My only complaint was that their love appeared very quickly and suddenly. I completely believe that they liked each other and felt attraction; it just seemed that deep love would take a lot longer (always a problem in novellas).
December 20, 2020
I am a huge fan of the old Signet Christmas anthologies. This collection is no exception.
There are 5 authors who have provided stories about Christmas. I have been a fan of Edith Layton, Carla Kelly and Barbara Metzger.since I first read their works. Elisabeth Fairchild and Allison Lane are both new to me authors.
Each story presents the reader with a couple who find love during the holiday season.
There is humor, kindness, attraction and warmth in each story.
The bottom line is if a reader is seeking a group of stories which give a feeling that all is right with the world, this is the book to read.
There are 5 authors who have provided stories about Christmas. I have been a fan of Edith Layton, Carla Kelly and Barbara Metzger.since I first read their works. Elisabeth Fairchild and Allison Lane are both new to me authors.
Each story presents the reader with a couple who find love during the holiday season.
There is humor, kindness, attraction and warmth in each story.
The bottom line is if a reader is seeking a group of stories which give a feeling that all is right with the world, this is the book to read.
December 11, 2024
one of my favorite Holiday romance collections
May 15, 2020
Anything with Carla Kelly AND Barbara Metzger has got to be great. Although I'd already read Carla Kelly's story a few years ago, it was so good, I enjoyed it again. I've also enjoyed stories by Edith Layton; she's often showcased in anthologies.
Heart's Desire (Allison Lane) -- Widow Emma Fairlawn is on her way home (to see her unwelcoming parents) and then to find a governess position. While on a mail coach, she meets the other rider, Captain Craig Curtiss. He has serious scars and injuries from his time in Spain (1813). He has been named the new earl and is returning home to take his position. However, he has a grandmother (from hell) who controls everybody and everything. Craig is not looking forward to wresting the control of his earldom from his controlling grandmother.
When Emma is not horrified by his disfigurement, he convinces her to come to his home for Christmas. Emma helps Craig reframe his worries and disappointments and he wants her close while he challenges his grandmother.
Emma is too strong and Craig is too weak. It makes it look like Craig didn't have enough gumption to fight his grandmother without Emma's help.
Christmas Wish List (Barbara Metzger) -- With her trademark humor, Metzger manages a wild story with cats (instead of her usual dog). This is a merry romp; everyone wants something they don't have. The Seldens are a brother and sister who only want a present for the other sibling (nothing for themselves). This is a wonderful, witty tale that you will long remember.
An Object of Charity (Carla Kelly) -- This is another extraordinarily superb tale. Captain Michael Lynch is waiting for his ship (in dry dock) when he meets the niece and nephew of his recently deceased first mate (Michael was extremely fond of David Partlow). He soon finds that Tom and Sally Partlow are destitute and he decides to take him with him to his family home. He has not been home for 22-years (when he was thrown out for having a duel with his older brother).
Going back is very hard on Michael and Sally Partlow helps him address the anger and complex emotions about his family. This is a very charming story that I have enjoyed several times.
A Christmas Canvas (Elisabeth Fairchild) -- After 2 delightful stories, this one was a disappointment. It is about an accomplished artist going to Savage Manor to paint a Christmas portrait of a lovely young woman (Dorothea) for a Christmas wedding between the Dorothea Savage and Lord Lovell.
The story dragged and the setting was dismal. I had a hard time finishing the story, although the twist at the end was cleverly done.
The Last Gift (Edith Layton) -- Why do authors think that adult readers want to read a retelling of Sleeping Beauty? This was so awful I couldn't even finish it.
Metzger and Kelly offered the best of the stories, followed by Lane. Fairchild's story was too dark for a Christmas story and Layton's effort was unreadable.
Heart's Desire (Allison Lane) -- Widow Emma Fairlawn is on her way home (to see her unwelcoming parents) and then to find a governess position. While on a mail coach, she meets the other rider, Captain Craig Curtiss. He has serious scars and injuries from his time in Spain (1813). He has been named the new earl and is returning home to take his position. However, he has a grandmother (from hell) who controls everybody and everything. Craig is not looking forward to wresting the control of his earldom from his controlling grandmother.
When Emma is not horrified by his disfigurement, he convinces her to come to his home for Christmas. Emma helps Craig reframe his worries and disappointments and he wants her close while he challenges his grandmother.
Emma is too strong and Craig is too weak. It makes it look like Craig didn't have enough gumption to fight his grandmother without Emma's help.
Christmas Wish List (Barbara Metzger) -- With her trademark humor, Metzger manages a wild story with cats (instead of her usual dog). This is a merry romp; everyone wants something they don't have. The Seldens are a brother and sister who only want a present for the other sibling (nothing for themselves). This is a wonderful, witty tale that you will long remember.
An Object of Charity (Carla Kelly) -- This is another extraordinarily superb tale. Captain Michael Lynch is waiting for his ship (in dry dock) when he meets the niece and nephew of his recently deceased first mate (Michael was extremely fond of David Partlow). He soon finds that Tom and Sally Partlow are destitute and he decides to take him with him to his family home. He has not been home for 22-years (when he was thrown out for having a duel with his older brother).
Going back is very hard on Michael and Sally Partlow helps him address the anger and complex emotions about his family. This is a very charming story that I have enjoyed several times.
A Christmas Canvas (Elisabeth Fairchild) -- After 2 delightful stories, this one was a disappointment. It is about an accomplished artist going to Savage Manor to paint a Christmas portrait of a lovely young woman (Dorothea) for a Christmas wedding between the Dorothea Savage and Lord Lovell.
The story dragged and the setting was dismal. I had a hard time finishing the story, although the twist at the end was cleverly done.
The Last Gift (Edith Layton) -- Why do authors think that adult readers want to read a retelling of Sleeping Beauty? This was so awful I couldn't even finish it.
Metzger and Kelly offered the best of the stories, followed by Lane. Fairchild's story was too dark for a Christmas story and Layton's effort was unreadable.
December 20, 2008
The gifts of Christmas are priceless -- good cheer, warm hearts, and happy times with friends. And now five bestselling Regency authors have made a special present to you--five brand-new stories. High-spirited and humorous, heartwarming and romantic and full of the fun and flavor of the holiday season they're the perfect present to share with friends and loved ones. And in each delightful story you'll find that there's one Christmas present that lasts all year round--the gift of true love.…
Heart's Desire - Allison Lane
Emma Fairlawn is a widow and she is travelling back to her father's house when she meets Craig Curtiss, home from the war to inherit the title after the death of his brother. He has a veritable dragon of a grandmother who plans to order his life and Emma gives him the courage he needs to face his grandmother.
Grade: 3/5
Christmas Wish List - Barbara Metzger
A Lord Boughton changes his life for his sick child and does what he can to get a rare breed kitten for her. Unfortunately for him his first encounter with owner of the kittens, Geraldine Selden, didn't go very well and she is determined not to give him one. He thinks of so many plans to get that one kitten that the story almost resembles a farce and misses on the romantic element.
Grade: 3/5
An Object of Charity - Carla Kelly
Captain Lynch unexpectedly finds himself taking charge of his dead first mate niece and nephew. He plans to return home to visit the mother and brother he hasn't speak with in 20 years and develops a fondness the Sally Partlow, the mentioned niece. I found this the best story of the book mainly due to the hero who was wonderful. I have two complaints though, Sally is at first shown as a very young girl when she is in fact 25 years old and as in all of my previous Kelly reads I wanted a bit more emotion.
Grade: 4/5
A Christmas Canvas - Elizabeth Fairchild
This was a strange story. Maitland, a painter is sent by his uncle to paint his fiancée and while there falls in love with the girl himself (I wonder why as she was a rather strange girl) and realises her brother is a villain (I didn't understand his motives but he was a bad apple) and decides to elope with her. Enter the uncle who says he never asked the girl to marry him, he just wanted them both to be together and he just knew they would suit. Say what?
Grade: 2/5
The Last Gift - Edith Layton
Rewriting a classic children's tale is not always easy and Layton attempts here to do that with Sleeping Beauty. Lord Cameron wants an old fashioned bride and when he goes to spend a few days in a Scottish cottage he finds an old house with a sleeping girl he rouses with a kiss. I found it too unbelievable, there were many loose ends regarding Mirabelle's story and little of holiday cheer.
Grade: 2/5
Grade: 3/5
Heart's Desire - Allison Lane
Emma Fairlawn is a widow and she is travelling back to her father's house when she meets Craig Curtiss, home from the war to inherit the title after the death of his brother. He has a veritable dragon of a grandmother who plans to order his life and Emma gives him the courage he needs to face his grandmother.
Grade: 3/5
Christmas Wish List - Barbara Metzger
A Lord Boughton changes his life for his sick child and does what he can to get a rare breed kitten for her. Unfortunately for him his first encounter with owner of the kittens, Geraldine Selden, didn't go very well and she is determined not to give him one. He thinks of so many plans to get that one kitten that the story almost resembles a farce and misses on the romantic element.
Grade: 3/5
An Object of Charity - Carla Kelly
Captain Lynch unexpectedly finds himself taking charge of his dead first mate niece and nephew. He plans to return home to visit the mother and brother he hasn't speak with in 20 years and develops a fondness the Sally Partlow, the mentioned niece. I found this the best story of the book mainly due to the hero who was wonderful. I have two complaints though, Sally is at first shown as a very young girl when she is in fact 25 years old and as in all of my previous Kelly reads I wanted a bit more emotion.
Grade: 4/5
A Christmas Canvas - Elizabeth Fairchild
This was a strange story. Maitland, a painter is sent by his uncle to paint his fiancée and while there falls in love with the girl himself (I wonder why as she was a rather strange girl) and realises her brother is a villain (I didn't understand his motives but he was a bad apple) and decides to elope with her. Enter the uncle who says he never asked the girl to marry him, he just wanted them both to be together and he just knew they would suit. Say what?
Grade: 2/5
The Last Gift - Edith Layton
Rewriting a classic children's tale is not always easy and Layton attempts here to do that with Sleeping Beauty. Lord Cameron wants an old fashioned bride and when he goes to spend a few days in a Scottish cottage he finds an old house with a sleeping girl he rouses with a kiss. I found it too unbelievable, there were many loose ends regarding Mirabelle's story and little of holiday cheer.
Grade: 2/5
Grade: 3/5
September 20, 2025
Five stories, all of which were fun. The fourth one seemed out of place and time in that the characters behaved differently than one would expect of the time period they were in, and the Edith Layton that I had great expectations for was just plain weird. It did point out the differences that occur in a hundred years as far as how people spoke and behaved, which was interesting, but didn't save the story itself.
February 16, 2023
3* because I can't remember it at all!
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December 5, 2023A Object of Charity is contained in Carla Kelly’s Christmas Collection
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April 2, 2020In this heartwarming collection of all-new, original Regency stories, five bestselling authors share the one gift that lasts all year round: the gift of love.
Featuring romantic new Christmas stories by:
Carla Kelly Winner of a Career Achieve-ment Award from Romantic Times and two RITA Awards
Allison Lane Winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award
Edith Layton Winner of numerous awards
Barbara Metzger Winner of a Reviewers' Choice Award and a National Readers' Choice Award About the Author
Elisabeth Fairchild is half English and considers the British Isles her second home. With a degree in advertising from North Texas State University, Fairchild worked for ten years in advertising before writing full-time. She lives just outside Dallas with her best friend and husband, George, and their two dogs.
Carla Kelly is one of the most beloved Regency authors with more than a dozen novels. She lives in Valley City, North Dakota.
Edith Layton, critically acclaimed for her short stories, also writes historicals for HarperCollins and has won numerous awards. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at http://www.edithlayton.com.
Barbara Metzger is the author of more than two dozen Regency romances, and the proud recipient of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Regencies. When not writing Regencies or reading them, she paints, gardens, volunteers at the local library, and goes beachcombing on the beautiful Long Island shore with her little dog, Hero. She loves to hear from her readers, care of Signet or through her Web site.
The gifts of Christmas are priceless -- good cheer, warm hearts, and happy times with friends. And now five bestselling Regency authors have made a special present to you--five brand-new stories. High-spirited and humorous, heartwarming and romantic and full of the fun and flavor of the holiday season they're the perfect present to share with friends and loved ones. And in each delightful story you'll find that there's one Christmas present that lasts all year round--the gift of true love....
December 8, 2010
My favorite novellas in this anthology were Carla Kelly's & Allison Lane's stories. I give it ****1/2 for that reason. Overall, I'd say the anthology was worth picking up.
An Object of Charity - Carla Kelly
LOVED this story of a sea captain & an orphaned young woman & her brother. Earthy, real & moving. Expertly told. *****
Heart's Desire - Allison Lane
A well-told and enjoyable tale of a soldier returning from war, now newly Lord of the manor, and a kind widow fallen on hard times. She helps him gain the confidence to overthrow his domineering grandmother. By the end, I felt the hero & heroine were meant for each other & would have a happy life. ****
An Object of Charity - Carla Kelly
LOVED this story of a sea captain & an orphaned young woman & her brother. Earthy, real & moving. Expertly told. *****
Heart's Desire - Allison Lane
A well-told and enjoyable tale of a soldier returning from war, now newly Lord of the manor, and a kind widow fallen on hard times. She helps him gain the confidence to overthrow his domineering grandmother. By the end, I felt the hero & heroine were meant for each other & would have a happy life. ****
August 13, 2014
Rating this one isn't easy. I'm not a big anthology fan to begin with, but this one went way over the clif on weird. The Fairchild and Layton stories were just plain strange.
The Kelly was, of course, the best; because she's one of the best.
I liked the first story (the Allison Lane) a lot.
The second story, the Metzger, I'm on the fence with that one. Metzger can be really funny and entertaining; sometimes she just doesn't quite hit the mark. Her story, Christmas Wish List, just squeaked by.
The Kelly was, of course, the best; because she's one of the best.
I liked the first story (the Allison Lane) a lot.
The second story, the Metzger, I'm on the fence with that one. Metzger can be really funny and entertaining; sometimes she just doesn't quite hit the mark. Her story, Christmas Wish List, just squeaked by.
December 16, 2011
I have to read one of these every holiday season. I'm just a sucker for these sweet Christmas romance stories. They don't publish them any more :( - so I have a stack and I pull one out each December.
October 28, 2015
Good book, an easy read. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews