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Signet Christmas Anthologies #7
Regency Christmas Magic
Now fans can experience the magic of love during the holiday season with five of their favorite authors.
The Green Gauze Gown by Sandra Heath
Just when a widow and her two boys could do with some Christmas magic, signs of it appear in their new home--among them The Green Gauze Gown that materializes in her closet. Then an old flame turns up--and he's even more dashing than she remembered....
The Ultimate Magic by Allison Lane
In The Ultimate Magic, a governess has caught the eye of a sworn bachelor, a man above her station. And at the Yuletide ball, it's clear that she is the one who needs a chaperone....
The Two Dancing Daughters by Edith Layton
A father hires a former soldier to keep his Two Dancing Daughters from creeping out to holiday festivities. But when the handsome hero meets his charges, he'll have to keep up his guard, lest he fall for the darker, more demure beauty....
Upon a Midnight Clear by Amanda McCabe
A once-handsome naval captain has vowed never to show his scarred face again. But when, Upon a Midnight Clear, he encounters a Jamaican beauty rumored to be a witch, something stronger than her potions will draw him to her....
The Enchanted Earl by Barbara Metzger
On the most magical night of the year, a practical young widow makes a wish. When fate sends her an old magician claiming to be The Enchanted Earl of her dreams--and wanting a kiss--she wonders if, just once, she should let herself believe in magic....
The Green Gauze Gown by Sandra Heath
Just when a widow and her two boys could do with some Christmas magic, signs of it appear in their new home--among them The Green Gauze Gown that materializes in her closet. Then an old flame turns up--and he's even more dashing than she remembered....
The Ultimate Magic by Allison Lane
In The Ultimate Magic, a governess has caught the eye of a sworn bachelor, a man above her station. And at the Yuletide ball, it's clear that she is the one who needs a chaperone....
The Two Dancing Daughters by Edith Layton
A father hires a former soldier to keep his Two Dancing Daughters from creeping out to holiday festivities. But when the handsome hero meets his charges, he'll have to keep up his guard, lest he fall for the darker, more demure beauty....
Upon a Midnight Clear by Amanda McCabe
A once-handsome naval captain has vowed never to show his scarred face again. But when, Upon a Midnight Clear, he encounters a Jamaican beauty rumored to be a witch, something stronger than her potions will draw him to her....
The Enchanted Earl by Barbara Metzger
On the most magical night of the year, a practical young widow makes a wish. When fate sends her an old magician claiming to be The Enchanted Earl of her dreams--and wanting a kiss--she wonders if, just once, she should let herself believe in magic....
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 5, 2004
2 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Amanda McCabe
259 books166 followersaka Laurel McKee (Amanda Carmack)
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 27, 2020
Christmas spirit and actual magic are weaved into these stories.
Real magic with little people, spells creating mischief. So, the magic is not christmasy or angelic but 'un-christian' and heathen.
Amanda McCabe's 'Upon a Midnight Clear' - 2.5*
Not sure about this one. Too cheerless and gloomy for me. Only USP is the half-Jamaican half-French h but the hocus pocus, rather than 'magic' and the whole dismal tale of two 'outcasts' living sad and lonely lives on the Cornish coast is too much. The H is a disabled navy captain dumped by his lady love and the h is never been embraced by locals. I felt sad for her but it surely wasn't a wise decision (for the times) to come to live in England.
Allison Lane's 'The Ultimate Magic' - 3*
This is so obviously part of a series of novella that teh author doesn't even bother explaining half the events that have already occurred but just throws them us. Least magical of all. And the travails of a spoiled miss who is bent on sabotaging her own wedding while the h, her companion-governess and the H, a diplomat also invited to the house party preceding the wedding try to nudge her towards sanity and matrimony. Some nice bits but mostly annoying.
Edith Layton's 'Two Dancing Daughters' - 3.5*
This is one is the most 'magical' (along with the BM one) of all. The H, a disabled impoverished ex-soldier is hired by a distressed Papa whose two daughters vanish every night to dance the night away with an unsavory lot. The servants etc all magically fall asleep and never catch them. I loved the H in this - a really sweet, nice, honorable man. His helping some fey people in the park helps him solve the riddle. The girls were annoying - the sister vapid and the h actually an idiot to not stand up to her selfish/swayed sister.
Barbara Metzger's 'The Enchanted Earl' - 4*
My favorite of these. With Ms. Metzger trademark whimsy and wit laced into the story.
An original plot with a wealthy and widowed h determined to party and celebrate the Christmas and her freedom. She plans a big revelry, engaging circus troupe and hoping for a magician. Her advt. for a magician leads to many strange, suspicious people answering and then stranger things start happening around her estate. Her savior? An elderly stooped magician, old enough to be her grandfather, whose smile and charm slowly starts working its magic on her. Sweet and uplifting.
And very magical.
Sandra Heath's 'The Green Gauze Gown' - 4*
I am not an SH fan as she'd let me down a few times but this is a sweet story about two young people who were developing feelings for one another but before they could profess to each other, the H's conniving friend steals (literally) a march on him by treachery and marries the h. I loved this H a lot - a sweet beta who is myopic, lame and a poet. As with SH books, an American connection is present. The h and her husband go away to live in Albany (NY) for 10 years and now she's back, a widow of 2 years, with two sons, as the elder son inherits a marquess-dom. The sweetest thing was the h being attracted to the gentle, retiring poet over his two more vigorous friends (10 years ago).
How could she not adore the gentle poetic man ... and whose disability made him more dear and beloved to her simply because it was his disability.
(SH writes so beautifully and so it maddens me when she ruins most of her books by either adding weird, paranormal and mystical stuff to her stories or outlandishly evil ow/villains.)
Real magic with little people, spells creating mischief. So, the magic is not christmasy or angelic but 'un-christian' and heathen.
Amanda McCabe's 'Upon a Midnight Clear' - 2.5*
Not sure about this one. Too cheerless and gloomy for me. Only USP is the half-Jamaican half-French h but the hocus pocus, rather than 'magic' and the whole dismal tale of two 'outcasts' living sad and lonely lives on the Cornish coast is too much. The H is a disabled navy captain dumped by his lady love and the h is never been embraced by locals. I felt sad for her but it surely wasn't a wise decision (for the times) to come to live in England.
Allison Lane's 'The Ultimate Magic' - 3*
This is so obviously part of a series of novella that teh author doesn't even bother explaining half the events that have already occurred but just throws them us. Least magical of all. And the travails of a spoiled miss who is bent on sabotaging her own wedding while the h, her companion-governess and the H, a diplomat also invited to the house party preceding the wedding try to nudge her towards sanity and matrimony. Some nice bits but mostly annoying.
Edith Layton's 'Two Dancing Daughters' - 3.5*
This is one is the most 'magical' (along with the BM one) of all. The H, a disabled impoverished ex-soldier is hired by a distressed Papa whose two daughters vanish every night to dance the night away with an unsavory lot. The servants etc all magically fall asleep and never catch them. I loved the H in this - a really sweet, nice, honorable man. His helping some fey people in the park helps him solve the riddle. The girls were annoying - the sister vapid and the h actually an idiot to not stand up to her selfish/swayed sister.
Barbara Metzger's 'The Enchanted Earl' - 4*
My favorite of these. With Ms. Metzger trademark whimsy and wit laced into the story.
An original plot with a wealthy and widowed h determined to party and celebrate the Christmas and her freedom. She plans a big revelry, engaging circus troupe and hoping for a magician. Her advt. for a magician leads to many strange, suspicious people answering and then stranger things start happening around her estate. Her savior? An elderly stooped magician, old enough to be her grandfather, whose smile and charm slowly starts working its magic on her. Sweet and uplifting.
And very magical.
Sandra Heath's 'The Green Gauze Gown' - 4*
I am not an SH fan as she'd let me down a few times but this is a sweet story about two young people who were developing feelings for one another but before they could profess to each other, the H's conniving friend steals (literally) a march on him by treachery and marries the h. I loved this H a lot - a sweet beta who is myopic, lame and a poet. As with SH books, an American connection is present. The h and her husband go away to live in Albany (NY) for 10 years and now she's back, a widow of 2 years, with two sons, as the elder son inherits a marquess-dom. The sweetest thing was the h being attracted to the gentle, retiring poet over his two more vigorous friends (10 years ago).
How could she not adore the gentle poetic man ... and whose disability made him more dear and beloved to her simply because it was his disability.
(SH writes so beautifully and so it maddens me when she ruins most of her books by either adding weird, paranormal and mystical stuff to her stories or outlandishly evil ow/villains.)
June 5, 2011
I know it’s early in the year, but I’m already in the mood for a good sappy Christmas read. I love to read at least one Regency Christmas romance during the Christmas season. And, as you can tell by this review, sometimes I need that touch of whimsy during the year -- even in the dead of summer!
This particular book was a mixed bag. I find this often happens with short story anthologies. Overall, I’d say the book was “ok”. I liked it, but speaking generally of the book, it didn’t exactly take my breath away. That said, certain stories within the anthology were great and I really enjoyed them.
My one complaint about this book was that it really took the whole “Christmas Magic” thing to heart. I wasn’t thinking in terms of “real” magic when I picked the book up. I thought the magic in the title referred more to an improbable match that worked out more than the whole concept of magic and fairies, etc. Not generally something that I would associate with the Christmas season.
The first short story in the book was “Upon a Midnight Clear” by Amanda McCabe. Now I truly enjoyed this story about two lonely souls, one far from home and the other suffering the after effects of a major trauma that left him scarred for life. I’m a sucker for sad characters like Captain Payne. And an even bigger sucker for happy endings where the downtrodden find happiness.
The second story was “The Ultimate Magic” by Allison Lane. This story really didn’t appeal to me. The whole story seemed a bit contrived and was rather forced. Throughout the story the leads really didn’t seem to see each other as a love interest. There was no spark. Then suddenly, in an effort to finish the story in the allotted space, they declared their love and found themselves in a passionate embrace. Huh? Where did that come from? It just sort of blindsided me. This story could have been left out of the anthology and it would have been fine.
The third story was “The Two Dancing Daughters” by Edith Layton. This story I liked. Again, we have a wounded male lead who ends up happy by the end of the story. The story itself was a little far fetched. I found the supporting character of the father to be a bit unbelievable and the ending of the story was a bit contrived, but I don’t want to give anything away by discussing that. Truthfully, the things I didn’t like about the story didn’t detract enough from the things I did like to make me give it a low rating.
The fourth story was “The Enchanted Earl” by Barbara Metzger. This story wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. I’m a sucker for any “remake” of the Beauty and the Beast story so I enjoyed this story simply because it was a different take on Beauty and the Beast.
And the last story was “Green Gauze Gown” by Sandra Heath. I really can’t say I liked this story. It was OK, but it really didn’t resonate with me. I found that surprising since there was another wounded male lead in this story as well. I think what detracted from this story was the whole fairy thing. Had that been left out, I think I would have enjoyed the story much more. I just found it much too far fetched. Especially the ending about the dress. That was really the deal breaker for me. Again, I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go into more detail.
All in all, the book is fine for a quick read. However, there are better collections of Christmas short stories out there. I would skip this book and try something else if you’re interested in a truly satisfying holiday read.
This particular book was a mixed bag. I find this often happens with short story anthologies. Overall, I’d say the book was “ok”. I liked it, but speaking generally of the book, it didn’t exactly take my breath away. That said, certain stories within the anthology were great and I really enjoyed them.
My one complaint about this book was that it really took the whole “Christmas Magic” thing to heart. I wasn’t thinking in terms of “real” magic when I picked the book up. I thought the magic in the title referred more to an improbable match that worked out more than the whole concept of magic and fairies, etc. Not generally something that I would associate with the Christmas season.
The first short story in the book was “Upon a Midnight Clear” by Amanda McCabe. Now I truly enjoyed this story about two lonely souls, one far from home and the other suffering the after effects of a major trauma that left him scarred for life. I’m a sucker for sad characters like Captain Payne. And an even bigger sucker for happy endings where the downtrodden find happiness.
The second story was “The Ultimate Magic” by Allison Lane. This story really didn’t appeal to me. The whole story seemed a bit contrived and was rather forced. Throughout the story the leads really didn’t seem to see each other as a love interest. There was no spark. Then suddenly, in an effort to finish the story in the allotted space, they declared their love and found themselves in a passionate embrace. Huh? Where did that come from? It just sort of blindsided me. This story could have been left out of the anthology and it would have been fine.
The third story was “The Two Dancing Daughters” by Edith Layton. This story I liked. Again, we have a wounded male lead who ends up happy by the end of the story. The story itself was a little far fetched. I found the supporting character of the father to be a bit unbelievable and the ending of the story was a bit contrived, but I don’t want to give anything away by discussing that. Truthfully, the things I didn’t like about the story didn’t detract enough from the things I did like to make me give it a low rating.
The fourth story was “The Enchanted Earl” by Barbara Metzger. This story wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. I’m a sucker for any “remake” of the Beauty and the Beast story so I enjoyed this story simply because it was a different take on Beauty and the Beast.
And the last story was “Green Gauze Gown” by Sandra Heath. I really can’t say I liked this story. It was OK, but it really didn’t resonate with me. I found that surprising since there was another wounded male lead in this story as well. I think what detracted from this story was the whole fairy thing. Had that been left out, I think I would have enjoyed the story much more. I just found it much too far fetched. Especially the ending about the dress. That was really the deal breaker for me. Again, I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go into more detail.
All in all, the book is fine for a quick read. However, there are better collections of Christmas short stories out there. I would skip this book and try something else if you’re interested in a truly satisfying holiday read.
November 19, 2020
Amanda McCabe is the only author of these five that I haven't read before now. I initially picked up this book because one of my favorites (Barbara Metzger) was offering a story. I would like to comment on the print font -- I've never commented on a book's font before. I found it hard to read with my older eyes. Fortunately, they only used this font in a few places; I wish they didn't use it at all. I found it really hard to read. This font seems to be often used in medieval stories -- which is why I avoid those books/stories.
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (Amanda McCabe) -- 2 stars
This is an awful story; I restarted it innumerable times. It just dragged to nowhere. I finally gave up on page 54; I couldn't stand it anymore. Essentially, it is about a lovely Jamaican woman who moved to Cornwell years before with her childhood friend. The friend has married and has children; they have all gone to Bath for Christmas. Antoinette stayed home because she has an herbal book to complete for her publisher. She meets a severely damaged naval Captain Payne, who avoids folks because of his burn scars.
THE ULTIMATE MAGIC (Allison Lane) -- 4 stars
Diana Russell is drop-dead beautiful and is used to having men fall all over her. She is engaged to Giles Merrimont, a Foreign Office diplomat, who is not paying proper attention (according to Diana's mind). She is considering canceling her wedding -- but it is only 4 days ahead. Edith Knowles has been hired to keep her young charge in line until young Diana can marry. Things are not going well. Lord Charles Beaumont has problems of his own. Everyone is gathered at the Russell home for Christmas and the wedding. However, Giles and Charles are trying to conduct some diplomatic work at the same time with a recalcitrant diplomat. It seems as if everyone is in a dither except Edith. Edith offers calm assurance and firm guidance (that so many of them need) to be successful. This story was more interesting than my feeble explanation.
THE TWO DANCING DAUGHTERS (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
A frustrated father hires Major Gabriel Blanchard (a wounded ex-soldier) to keep his two daughters from going out dancing every night (on the sly). They are meeting a man who promises to propose to Sylvia for Christmas. Major Blanchard promises to end the nightly flights by Christmas, at which time he will leave. However, he is instantly interested in the older sister, Rosamund. I thought this was going to be a great story -- and then it fell apart at the end. The way the author tied up Gabriel's problems (physical and monetary) was ridiculous.
THE ENCHANTED EARL (Barbara Metzger) -- 4 stars
Lady Laurel Haddington is tired of mourning. She married at 18 and was widowed after 7 years. Christmas is nigh and she's ready to celebrate the season and her newly-found freedom. She plans to invite everyone in the vicinity. She felt that everyone deserved some happiness after the terrible time they had endured under her late husband. The only oil-in-the-ointment was her difficult sister-in-law, who ranted over every expenditure. Something unique happens when Laurel advertises for a magician. Spinrod arrives and promises to protect her, her guests, and the Christmas celebration. And he does.
I was disappointed that I'd read this story in another anthology years ago. It's a lovely story.
THE GREEN GAUZE GOWN (Sandra Heath) -- 4 stars
Rosalind Harwood is a widow with two boys and has moved back to England so her older son can assume his role as sixth Marquess of Southdown. But Rosalind's second son, Jake, is having a fun time telling ghost stories, which Rosalind doesn't believe. Rosalind was in love, 10 years ago, with a man who quoted Shakespeare and wrote wonderful letters, Sir Henry Trafford. By some dubious chicanery, one of his friends copied his letters as love letters to Rosalind and she married him (Oliver Harwood).
Explaining the significance of the green gauze gown is too complicated for this brief review, but it is integral to the story. Overall score: 3.5 stars
UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (Amanda McCabe) -- 2 stars
This is an awful story; I restarted it innumerable times. It just dragged to nowhere. I finally gave up on page 54; I couldn't stand it anymore. Essentially, it is about a lovely Jamaican woman who moved to Cornwell years before with her childhood friend. The friend has married and has children; they have all gone to Bath for Christmas. Antoinette stayed home because she has an herbal book to complete for her publisher. She meets a severely damaged naval Captain Payne, who avoids folks because of his burn scars.
THE ULTIMATE MAGIC (Allison Lane) -- 4 stars
Diana Russell is drop-dead beautiful and is used to having men fall all over her. She is engaged to Giles Merrimont, a Foreign Office diplomat, who is not paying proper attention (according to Diana's mind). She is considering canceling her wedding -- but it is only 4 days ahead. Edith Knowles has been hired to keep her young charge in line until young Diana can marry. Things are not going well. Lord Charles Beaumont has problems of his own. Everyone is gathered at the Russell home for Christmas and the wedding. However, Giles and Charles are trying to conduct some diplomatic work at the same time with a recalcitrant diplomat. It seems as if everyone is in a dither except Edith. Edith offers calm assurance and firm guidance (that so many of them need) to be successful. This story was more interesting than my feeble explanation.
THE TWO DANCING DAUGHTERS (Edith Layton) -- 3 stars
A frustrated father hires Major Gabriel Blanchard (a wounded ex-soldier) to keep his two daughters from going out dancing every night (on the sly). They are meeting a man who promises to propose to Sylvia for Christmas. Major Blanchard promises to end the nightly flights by Christmas, at which time he will leave. However, he is instantly interested in the older sister, Rosamund. I thought this was going to be a great story -- and then it fell apart at the end. The way the author tied up Gabriel's problems (physical and monetary) was ridiculous.
THE ENCHANTED EARL (Barbara Metzger) -- 4 stars
Lady Laurel Haddington is tired of mourning. She married at 18 and was widowed after 7 years. Christmas is nigh and she's ready to celebrate the season and her newly-found freedom. She plans to invite everyone in the vicinity. She felt that everyone deserved some happiness after the terrible time they had endured under her late husband. The only oil-in-the-ointment was her difficult sister-in-law, who ranted over every expenditure. Something unique happens when Laurel advertises for a magician. Spinrod arrives and promises to protect her, her guests, and the Christmas celebration. And he does.
I was disappointed that I'd read this story in another anthology years ago. It's a lovely story.
THE GREEN GAUZE GOWN (Sandra Heath) -- 4 stars
Rosalind Harwood is a widow with two boys and has moved back to England so her older son can assume his role as sixth Marquess of Southdown. But Rosalind's second son, Jake, is having a fun time telling ghost stories, which Rosalind doesn't believe. Rosalind was in love, 10 years ago, with a man who quoted Shakespeare and wrote wonderful letters, Sir Henry Trafford. By some dubious chicanery, one of his friends copied his letters as love letters to Rosalind and she married him (Oliver Harwood).
Explaining the significance of the green gauze gown is too complicated for this brief review, but it is integral to the story. Overall score: 3.5 stars
September 30, 2025
Although most of these stories are cute, the theme is magic and not the transcendental kind as in feelings. None of the stories were gripping, and most were not even believable - as in, unlikely to impossible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2009
5 Regency Christmas short stories with a magical twist, this made for a pleasant afternoon reading.
Amanda McCabe - Upon a Midnight Clear
This story has an original heroine, a Jamaican girl who makes soaps and perfumes. She has come to England to accompany a childhood friend. Then she meets a British naval officer who thinks he is unworthy of love because of his scars and they fall in love with each other. Grade: 3.5/5
Allison Lane - The Ultimate Magic
I was left with the feeling that this was part of a series as the h/h actively dislike each other when the story opens due to events of the past. The heroine is a governess who has to control her charge, a spoiled heiress, till she weds but things are complicated because the heiress keeps flirting with someone other than her fiancé. The hero ends up helping with the charge and looking at the heroine in a new light. Grade: 4/5
Edith Layton - Two Dancing Daughters
This story does have a larger magical element as two girls keep slipping away from their bedrooms at night to meet with a strange character that presents himself as a foreign duke and wants to take them to another world. The worried father hires an ex soldier to investigate and him and one of the daughters fall in love. Grade: 4/5
Barbara Metzger - The Enchanted Earl
I'm not too fond of magic in my regencies and this one has the aggravating problem that the hero is under a spell. The heroine decides to organise a big Christmas party at her late husband home and the hero ends up helping her and protecting her from spells and other magical creatures after she makes a wish for a magician for the party. Grade: 3.5/5
Sandra Heath - The Green Gauze Gown
This one was nice although it included a magical being that could, among other things, change the colors of dresses. It's a second chance story and I actually liked the detail of the letters stolen by the heroine's late husband who wood and proposed with words not his. Of course that if the hero hadn't been so shy the first time around... Grade: 4/5
Amanda McCabe - Upon a Midnight Clear
This story has an original heroine, a Jamaican girl who makes soaps and perfumes. She has come to England to accompany a childhood friend. Then she meets a British naval officer who thinks he is unworthy of love because of his scars and they fall in love with each other. Grade: 3.5/5
Allison Lane - The Ultimate Magic
I was left with the feeling that this was part of a series as the h/h actively dislike each other when the story opens due to events of the past. The heroine is a governess who has to control her charge, a spoiled heiress, till she weds but things are complicated because the heiress keeps flirting with someone other than her fiancé. The hero ends up helping with the charge and looking at the heroine in a new light. Grade: 4/5
Edith Layton - Two Dancing Daughters
This story does have a larger magical element as two girls keep slipping away from their bedrooms at night to meet with a strange character that presents himself as a foreign duke and wants to take them to another world. The worried father hires an ex soldier to investigate and him and one of the daughters fall in love. Grade: 4/5
Barbara Metzger - The Enchanted Earl
I'm not too fond of magic in my regencies and this one has the aggravating problem that the hero is under a spell. The heroine decides to organise a big Christmas party at her late husband home and the hero ends up helping her and protecting her from spells and other magical creatures after she makes a wish for a magician for the party. Grade: 3.5/5
Sandra Heath - The Green Gauze Gown
This one was nice although it included a magical being that could, among other things, change the colors of dresses. It's a second chance story and I actually liked the detail of the letters stolen by the heroine's late husband who wood and proposed with words not his. Of course that if the hero hadn't been so shy the first time around... Grade: 4/5
March 23, 2015
First short story was tolerable, merely average, unusual heroine, but the second, gosh, The Ultimate Magic by Allison Lane was an awful story. Painful to read. I felt like I was being tortured trying to finish it. It was short so I determined to complete it, but my, it was so very, very silly plot-wise and the writing style was immensely awkward and irritating. It was so bad I had to put down the book for an extended break because I had such a clenched feeling in my stomach from reading that tripe that I couldn't read the more traditional authors like Edith Layton and Barbara Metzger who wrote the last two stories in the anthology straight away.
May 9, 2013
I wasn't a big fan of short stories in the past but, in the last couple of years I found that I needed something to fill shorter periods of time and I prefer regencies because they also provide structure.
I picked up this book because I saw the dependable Barbara Metzger on the cover. Some of the stories in this collection were better than others but, overall, it was a satisfying collection on the Christmas theme.
I picked up this book because I saw the dependable Barbara Metzger on the cover. Some of the stories in this collection were better than others but, overall, it was a satisfying collection on the Christmas theme.
December 20, 2013
A little magic at Christmas is always welcome, and these five long short stories are just the thing for a cold winter's evening. All of them are of a high standard as one would expect from the authors represented.
August 19, 2014
A great selection of Regency magical Romance stories. There is a little magic in each story from Fairies to Lost loves. I enjoyed the beauty of the season through the stories to give us a glimpse of the season during the Regency era. The stories are well written and diverse.
January 30, 2011
Amanda McCabe's and Edith Layton's stories were pretty lame. Didn't read any of the others.
January 2, 2013
I was clearing off my ereader and discovered one more book I forgot to list from last year.
December 3, 2014
3.5 stars
Five regency Christmas short stories centered around magic.
Five regency Christmas short stories centered around magic.
December 14, 2016
Just not my thing
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews