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Stocking Stuffers
Three of today's leading Regency authors treat readers to stories set during the holiday season, in which mischievous kittens play matchmakers for lords and ladies of the ton.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
28 people want to read
About the author
Judith A. Lansdowne
31 books22 followersSince the publication of Amelia's Intrigue in 1995, Judith A. Lansdowne's Regency romances have received critical acclaim, garnered awards and entertained thousands of romance readers. Ms. Lansdowne began writing full-time in 1992, but it was only after her daughter introduced her to Regency romances that her work was published.
She grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Following graduation from St. Joseph High School, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, then spent several years touring the country as an actress and puppeteer with Nicolo Marionettes and the Sid and Marty Krofft organization.
Tiring of the constant travel, she returned to Kenosha to attend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where she met her husband Al, a retired submariner, and graduated with highest distinction. Following graduation she worked variously as a journalist, instructional television writer/producer, textbook production editor, college instructor, and television news videographer. When her husband finally got a real job, she settled down to writing full time, producing a horror novel, a vampire novel and a Restoration historical novel, all still unpublished, before finally "making it" with Regency romance. When her husband retired (he didn't like the real job) they moved to the shores of Lake Guntersville, Alabama, where she is pursuing a career in fishing and he moves dirt around the yard. They write when the weather is bad.
She grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Following graduation from St. Joseph High School, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, then spent several years touring the country as an actress and puppeteer with Nicolo Marionettes and the Sid and Marty Krofft organization.
Tiring of the constant travel, she returned to Kenosha to attend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where she met her husband Al, a retired submariner, and graduated with highest distinction. Following graduation she worked variously as a journalist, instructional television writer/producer, textbook production editor, college instructor, and television news videographer. When her husband finally got a real job, she settled down to writing full time, producing a horror novel, a vampire novel and a Restoration historical novel, all still unpublished, before finally "making it" with Regency romance. When her husband retired (he didn't like the real job) they moved to the shores of Lake Guntersville, Alabama, where she is pursuing a career in fishing and he moves dirt around the yard. They write when the weather is bad.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 17, 2019
2019 bk 156. This is a trio of novellas written by Judith A. Lansdowne, Jean Savery, and Donna Simpson. I love the first two authors, the third was new to me. The common theme is a kitten as a Christmas present. I particularly wanted to read this for the 2nd story by Jean Savery. While it is not a White Tiger series story, the last of the characters in the White Tiger series makes an appearance in this novella. Miles has a friend Morgan St. Antstill, the two knew each other from the peninsula wars. When evidence of smuggling appears at a Christmas House party Morgan is attending and the life of the lady he is growing to love is put into danger, Morgan remembers Miles and sends for him. This is a little more edgy than some of the White Tiger series, but all ends to the satisfaction of the romantic heart. A keeper.
February 20, 2019
2.45 stars overall - pg13/heavy pg13/r-lite (A secular “clean” traditional Regency --- there
might be
use of: mild cursing/profanity, innuendo, mention of mistresses, gambling, drinking, etc. -- see specific details below)
A Cache of Magical Kittens by Judith A. Lansdowne - 4.35 stars - rated pg13 (things like “My gawd”, “gawd forsaken”, “damned rambunctious kitten”, and just a touch of mild, slightly uncomfortable, innuendo) - There were a few odd or far-fetched things, but, overall, this was a very cute and unique story with good writing style. I loved the cat (“Mrs. Oakwood”) and her kittens.
Mistletoe Kisses by Jeanne Savery - 2.00 stars - rated pg13/heavy pg13 (use of “damn”, mildly tacky innuendo and a slight feeling of tawdriness – things like her gown pulling tight and him recognizing “other”, “far from chivalrous”, feelings - and lines like this, “One chose some chit, bedded her, and acquired the much-to-be-desired heir” < - at the very least, why not just say wedded instead of bedded to make it less tacky?) - By the second page of this story I realized it was, in many ways, just a less-polished writing style than the first story, including some poor word choices and a lot of details that just weren’t adequately thought out and ended up seeming rather ridiculous. It often felt like the author was trying too hard to be creative, and, in my opinion, not succeeding. “Stygian darkness of the stairwell”. Seriously?! Who puts “stygian” in a Regency-fluff, Christmas short story? And “the long-legged, half-grown animal oozed down onto one of the massive beams and moved out over the room” Oozed?!???? Say what?!?!! I have been surrounded by cats all my life and I have never known one to “ooze” anywhere (unless it got into a fight and its wound was oozing!). Halfway through I decided to just skim to the end. Some smuggling excitement in the second half, but even parts of that are just ridiculous. And the cat stuff didn’t feel entirely natural, just seemed injected in story, as needed, simply because it was supposed to be a cat-themed collection of short stories. Overall, it wasn’t horrible but it also wasn’t all that great, nor was it very Christmassy.
Noel’s Christmas Wish by Donna Simpson - 1.00 star - rated r-lite (God’s name used in vain; lots of inappropriate innuendo and sensuality; talk of mistresses, lovers, bedding, brothels, arousals, etc.; one later chapter includes a scene that’s pretty much the beginnings of a sex scene with clothing on instead of being naked – eww!, not what I want in a traditional, “clean” Regency story!) - About halfway through I decided I was done reading (although I did continue to skim the second half and found it to have the same issues as first half). The storyline had great potential and the author is a good story teller, but she wastes her talents writing tawdry stuff, not to mention all the stuff that was just plain ridiculous. Everything would be going along nicely and then author would throw in a word or paragraph that just didn’t fit or was tarnished or awkward. It’s as if she couldn’t decide whether to write a clean, traditional, old-school Regency or a bodice-ripper so we got a mishmash of both. Plus, there was quite a bit that was completely inaccurate and inappropriate for that era, not to mention awkward and unbelievable and melodramatic (my eyes rolled a few times!). Noel and Mossy – kitten and little girl – were both quite cute and pretty much the best part of the story.
A Cache of Magical Kittens by Judith A. Lansdowne - 4.35 stars - rated pg13 (things like “My gawd”, “gawd forsaken”, “damned rambunctious kitten”, and just a touch of mild, slightly uncomfortable, innuendo) - There were a few odd or far-fetched things, but, overall, this was a very cute and unique story with good writing style. I loved the cat (“Mrs. Oakwood”) and her kittens.
Mistletoe Kisses by Jeanne Savery - 2.00 stars - rated pg13/heavy pg13 (use of “damn”, mildly tacky innuendo and a slight feeling of tawdriness – things like her gown pulling tight and him recognizing “other”, “far from chivalrous”, feelings - and lines like this, “One chose some chit, bedded her, and acquired the much-to-be-desired heir” < - at the very least, why not just say wedded instead of bedded to make it less tacky?) - By the second page of this story I realized it was, in many ways, just a less-polished writing style than the first story, including some poor word choices and a lot of details that just weren’t adequately thought out and ended up seeming rather ridiculous. It often felt like the author was trying too hard to be creative, and, in my opinion, not succeeding. “Stygian darkness of the stairwell”. Seriously?! Who puts “stygian” in a Regency-fluff, Christmas short story? And “the long-legged, half-grown animal oozed down onto one of the massive beams and moved out over the room” Oozed?!???? Say what?!?!! I have been surrounded by cats all my life and I have never known one to “ooze” anywhere (unless it got into a fight and its wound was oozing!). Halfway through I decided to just skim to the end. Some smuggling excitement in the second half, but even parts of that are just ridiculous. And the cat stuff didn’t feel entirely natural, just seemed injected in story, as needed, simply because it was supposed to be a cat-themed collection of short stories. Overall, it wasn’t horrible but it also wasn’t all that great, nor was it very Christmassy.
Noel’s Christmas Wish by Donna Simpson - 1.00 star - rated r-lite (God’s name used in vain; lots of inappropriate innuendo and sensuality; talk of mistresses, lovers, bedding, brothels, arousals, etc.; one later chapter includes a scene that’s pretty much the beginnings of a sex scene with clothing on instead of being naked – eww!, not what I want in a traditional, “clean” Regency story!) - About halfway through I decided I was done reading (although I did continue to skim the second half and found it to have the same issues as first half). The storyline had great potential and the author is a good story teller, but she wastes her talents writing tawdry stuff, not to mention all the stuff that was just plain ridiculous. Everything would be going along nicely and then author would throw in a word or paragraph that just didn’t fit or was tarnished or awkward. It’s as if she couldn’t decide whether to write a clean, traditional, old-school Regency or a bodice-ripper so we got a mishmash of both. Plus, there was quite a bit that was completely inaccurate and inappropriate for that era, not to mention awkward and unbelievable and melodramatic (my eyes rolled a few times!). Noel and Mossy – kitten and little girl – were both quite cute and pretty much the best part of the story.
July 26, 2016
Book rating (average of three stories)= 3.17 stars
A Cache of Magical Kittens by Judith A. Lansdowne
3 stars
Mistletoe Kisses by Jeanne Savery
2.5 stars
Noel's Christmas Wish by Donna Simpson
4 stars
A Cache of Magical Kittens by Judith A. Lansdowne
3 stars
Mistletoe Kisses by Jeanne Savery
2.5 stars
Noel's Christmas Wish by Donna Simpson
4 stars
December 11, 2011
These three short Victorian Christmas novellas are enjoyable quick reads all featuring cats who play a large role in completing the Christmas magic.
January 26, 2012
Short holiday-themed stories involving cats. So cute, how could I not love it?
December 29, 2013
Well, it's now after Christmas and I've lost my motivation to read the second two stories. O well, maybe next year.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews