The Last Chance Christmas Ball

by Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne

"Each author's unique style and storytelling talents are at their best, gifting readers one scrumptious treat after another...glowing with the joy and romance of the yuletide." —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Christmas 1815. Upstairs and downstairs, Holbourne Abbey is abuzz with preparations for a grand ball to celebrate the year's most festive—and romantic—holiday. For at the top of each guest's wish list is a last chance to find true love before the New Year...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Christmas, Historical, Anthologies, Holiday, Historical Fiction

455 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

She writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.

Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.

While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.

Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.

A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.

Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.

Reviews

[Mary - Buried Under Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed review to come.

Looovely Christmas anthology by some of my favorite authors.

Joanna Bourne's My True Love Hath My Heart is an intrigued-filled tale of two people who've met, sparred, and danced with each other from Europe to the household of Lady Holly. 4.5 stars

Patricia Rice's Christmas Larks is a tale of a baron who came back from war, wounded (highwaymen, not war), and in need of the warmth of a house that is soon to be used for his childhood friend's orphanage. On his road to recovery he discovers that the place doesn't matter as much as the person who is with him. I feel that more space could have been devoted to this couple rather than the greater focus on myriad of other events. 4 stars

Mary Jo Putney's In the Bleak Midwinter features the salvation of a hero greatly wounded from war, by his childhood sweetheart with whom he was to marry. He became a recluse and she was determined to let her love show him the way to live again. 5 stars

Cara Elliott's Old Flames Dance...is more or less self-explanatory

Nicole Cornick's A Season for Marriage reunites an estranged couple...

Jo Beverley's Miss Finch and the Angel has a wealthy aristocrat who is more than his reputation woo Lady Holly's companion.

Anne Gracie's Mistletoe Kisses is a wonderful Cinderella tale of an impoverished spinster of good birth being given a final Christmas present in the form of two stranded travelers, a lord and his younger sister. This is incredibly sweet and touching - I even shed tears at a point! 5 stars

Detailed review to come, but I think this is a worthwhile anthology to read.

[Ursula · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok read- nothing special. Maybe I am expecting too much from several very short novellas. And I am not a HUGE fan of second-chance romances, tbh.
Joanna Bourne: had to be about "spies" and very international, of course! I liked this one- interested in the heroine's character (she was a jeweller based in Switzerland) and the hero was very likeable.
Susan King: Did not like this one so much. The hero too easily forgot about the heroine (he did not fight for her) and she still loved him after so many years and a husband later. And he was a grumpy bastard. Blah.
Patricia Rice: This was cute and clever. But again, hero gets on with his life, pretty shallow in his youth. (If he didn't want her to marry someone else, he should have got in first.) Good dialogue.
Mary Jo Putney: A scarred and very damaged soldier returns to hide in a tower and plans to watch his love marry his brother. The MCs are only together towards the end.
Cara Elliot: Twice widowed heroine goes back to her first love. Hmm.... Husband number 3? If I were him, I wouldn't bother :)
Nicola Cornick: The old Hero-afraid-to-love-cos-his-dad-never-got-over-his-wife's-death trope. So let's just punish the woman we - reluctantly - love by rejecting HER love, so that we keep ourselves safe. That's just mean and selfish. He should never have married her in the first place. And why was she so busy trying to change herself to please him? God save me from politicians! (Except my all-time favourite hero Crispin in A Lady's Code of Misconduct)
Jo Beverley: Sweet MCs until the hero started worrying too much about the scandal attached to her and how it wouldn't work well with him being the son of a duke. Coward, I say! This is Romancelandia- you can make it work!
Anne Gracie: A sweet story without particularly memorable characters. No real angst or drama. Skim-read it.
Sorry, but I was a bit bored.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Chance Christmas Ball was just that. It was the opportunity for Lady Holly, the Dowager Countess of Holbourne, to act as a matchmaker and bring couples together. There is a prologue; be sure and not skip it.

The romances were pleasant, some better than others. It gave me the opportunity to discover a few new-to-me authors. I have read so many positive comments about Joanna Bourne's Spymaster series and found myself enjoying her style of writing with My True Love Hath My Heart. I liked Patricia Rice's heart-wrenching Christmas Larks and Anne Gracie's Mistletoe Kisses. Susan King's, A Scottish Carol, leaned to the dry side and was probably my least favorite.

As in most anthologies, the stories were short and the MCs are not fleshed out enough. The difference with The Last Chance Christmas Ball was many of the characters were mentioned among the different plots. You were given hints why certain people favored others. And of course, there was the interfering if not likable Lady Holly. None of short stories were movers or shakers but try them if you want to taste the flavor of a different writer.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of Christmas stories by different authors linked together by a Christmas ball. Most of the stories are lovely a inject lots of Christmas spirit.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Chance Christmas Ball is a 2015 Kensington Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every year, countless new Christmas and holiday themed romance novels are released, and a good portion of them are anthologies. I always enjoy these short, heartwarming tales, and the sampling of stories from various authors. But, it has been a very long time since I've seen an anthology packed with stories written by so many talented and seasoned authors!

Jo Beverly, Mary Jo Putney, Patrica Rice, Nicola Cornick, Annie Gracie and many more!

As I mentioned before, I always enjoy these holiday themed collections, but with anthologies, there are often one or two stories in the group that are sub-par. But, every single story in this book was wonderful! There is a common thread that links the stories together, with the last chance for love Christmas ball, providing the opportunity to find love before the New Year.

Since all of the stories were so good, I had a hard time picking one stand out to review.

But, I managed to narrow it down to two:

I have a huge soft spot in my heart for the tortured and scarred hero. So, this story naturally stood out for me.

Kim and Roxie grew up around each other, but didn't always see eye to eye as children. But, of course they fell in love and planned to marry, until Kim has to leave to fight the war. All their plans are squashed when Kim returns home scarred physically and shuts himself away in his Medieval castle refusing to see anyone, especially Roxie.

When his family begins to lose all hope for Kim, it is suggested his brother Edward step up and ask for Roxie's hand, an idea that starts to appeal to them both. But, before Roxie settles for companionship, she wants to attempt to approach Kim one more time….

This is a wonderful story, proving love can conquer anything, restore faith, ignite hope, and heal all manner of wounds. 4.5 stars


The second story I chose to highlight is “ A Season for Marriage” by Nicola Cornick.

Caroline's marriage to Piers is in trouble. Piers avoids her completely, even in the bed-chamber, which prompts Caroline to take desperate measures by running away. Piers will have to finally explain why he is pushing his wife away.

This is a heartbreaking story about an emotionally scarred hero who needs the help of his loving wife to help him overcome his fears and inhibitions. Caroline finally gets rid of her pent up guilt and Piers finally stops holding back and becomes the husband Caroline has been waiting for. This is a sensual little holiday tale that sends this couple off on their long overdue happily ever after. 4 stars
This is one of the best Christmas anthologies I've read in a very long time.

4.5 stars

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Holly's 50th "Last Chance" Christmas Ball is upon us! She invites anyone with 2 legs and a willingness for drama, and frequently mentions that for many, this ball is the "last chance" they'll get for happy ever after. ...except, not really, since only 2 of these stories have anything to do with 'spinster-esque' women. Everyone else is reuniting with former paramours, or already married. THIS IS DISAPPOINTING FOR ME.

Another thing that bothered me in retrospect is that Bourne's My True Love Hath My Heart seems to exist in a vacuum: no mention is made of Miss Gower's elopement or the staged theft anywhere else in the book: it's all focused on Kim's return from the Tower. Which--fine. But advertising this as an interwoven collection of short stories and then treating the first short story like it didn't happen kind of exposes the underpinnings. And the connections that did exist felt extremely clumsy and ham-handed in the middle there.


My True Love Hath My Heart, Joanna Bourne
Jeweler Claire is undercover at the home of Lady Holly, angling for revenge against the scoundrel who cheated her, not realizing it's a love-trap set by ex-boyfriend Nick Lafford. He helps her destroy said scoundral while prepping the his own Trap: MARRIAGE PROPOSAL.

BOURNE YOU DAMNED MONSTER. She is so good. Claire is competent and loves Nick but refuses to see him ~lowered to her level. He just wants to marry the crap out of her because he LURVES her and it's just gooey and sneaky and perfect. 4.5 stars


A Scottish Carol, Susan King
Clary Douglas is undercover as a boy to attend lecture given by Dr. Henry Seton, Viscount Cranshaw. He figures it out. This is setup for: Clary getting stranded at Henry's house on the way to Lady Holly's ball, where they revisit their past and acknowledge Missed Opportunities for Love.

This was fine. The whole in-disguise premise really comes to naught, which was just strange in a short story. It serves to show that Henry's kind of an asshole and that Clary is brilliant. Except then, once they're stranded good and proper, it's obvious that their differences are really dumb and a solid conversation will solve things. Which it does. Eventually. But not until after plot contortions to make sure they stay good and stranded. 2.75 stars.


Christmas Larks, Patricia Rice
Sarah Jane Langsdale stops in at her future orphanage to find the prodigal son Ivo Whitney-Harris, Baron, squatting. Except he doesn't realize he's squatting because of the head wound, so secrets abound.

Eh, this was weak. At least King's story had the former lovers reconnect before confessing their love; this one has one recovering from a significant head wound while the other keeps a major secret. And while known-each-other-forever is a trope, I need some development for a sibling-like relationship to turn into more. And one night and some dress doesn't do it for me. 1.5 stars.


In the Bleak Midwinter, Mary Jo Putney
Captain the Honorable Kimball Stretton the Mouthful can't marry Roxie Hayward because of War Wounds. Roxie thinks this is bullshit so storms his tower and seduces his ass.

This would have been better if it didn't feel like racing downhill while on fire. It was fast, and even with the relationship having existed prior to the story starting up, I barely felt rooted in the world before it was over. Also that dress sounds like a wardrobe malfunction just waiting to happen. 2.5 stars.


Old Flames Dance, Cara Elliott
Lily Tremaine is back from India having buried two husbands. Edward Stretton missed out on being the first husband and could settle for being the third as long as he doesn't find himself with a different fiancee before the party is over.

First--and this is stupidly picky--I didn't like that this didn't snap neatly into line with In the Bleak Midwinter. There were a few extra lines and whatnot added that made me make a sour face. Moving it a few stories back could have distracted me. I did like this, though, although both Lily and Edward felt very one dimensional and flat. Wanted just a little bit more to understand why they loved each other, and why Lily returned from India, and why she married another man before returning to England, and... The more I question, the less I like it. 2.75 stars.


A Season for Marriage, Nicola Cornick
Caroline Camden nee Stetton was 'compromised' by Piers Camden a few months back and things are strained between them because Caro ~loves Piers and Piers is a Real Man. So when Caro hares off for the Christmas Ball, Piers follows with a bag full of emotion.

I wanted to like this more than I did. I like the premise--estranged couple finds love!--but the execution left something wanting. Piers is afraid of love because his father loved too much which is just: use your eyes, idiot. And rather than any actual addressing of their concerns, they have sex which fixes everything, allegedly. I wanted some more of their coming together and figuring each other out. Also, could have done without the "I've loved you FOREVER" confession from Piers. But I was into it, so... 3.5 stars.


Miss Finch and the Angel, Jo Beverly
Lord Gabriel Quinfroy shows up to schmooze the masses at the bequest of Lady Holly and finds himself poking at her companion, the dour Miss Clio Finch. Except his poking turns into sexual poking if you know what I mean.

THIS WAS SO AWKWARD AND BAD. Gabriel is a big nothing of a character, and Clio is completely anonymous until suddenly she's in love. And it was as if Beverly felt she had to recite all the summaries for the preceding stories. And not gracefully, either: just lumping them all together in huge dollops of exposition. And since these are all in the same collection, it's even more egregious because it's so heavy-handed and clumsy. And I think Clio's fiance goes from Michael Partington to Will?? KIND OF A BIG OVERSIGHT? And a huge part of the reason I'm frustrated by this is because I was super pumped for the-companion-gets-hers story! 1 star, except really .5 stars.


Mistletoe Kisses, Anne Gracie
For Alice Fenton, Lady Holly's ball really is her last chance to hang with the neighborhood before she takes on employment. Except then a handsome gentleman, Lord John Kelsey, and his sister have a carriage accident right outside her door--time for emotional bonding over Christmas!!

I liked this, but there were just a few things that left me cold. Namely: having almost nothing from John's POV; the fact that John said NOTHING of his intentions; the unnecessary drama-llamas that descend in the last 2 chapters. It was a cute little story that didn't stick the landing. 3 stars.



Overall, the collection was fun but doesn't hold together nearly as well as I would have like. Add in my complaints about the actual 'connections' between the stories and I was a very disappointed reader. 2.5 stars.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique anthology for me in that the stories are all written by different authors, but they are all connected by time and place, a Christmas Ball in the Regency Period. Most of the stories parallel each other and some even weave in connected story lines. I look forward to these which are mostly new to me writers and look to offer delicious holiday historical romance. I'll do a mini-review on each story separately.

Prologue by Jo Beverley
A nice little intro to Lady Holly and her companion, Clio as they work on the invitations for the ball discussing who is coming and Clio listening to Lady Holly reminiscing about the balls of the past and planning out her campaign to help some lonely ladies and gentlemen have a memorable, romantic Christmas. Definitely left me with a sense of anticipation.

My True Love Hath Heart by Joanna Bourne 4 Stars
Claire, a beautiful jewelry maker, is impersonating a maid at Holbourne Hall. Nick, an agent of the crown and family favorite, has his own reasons for being there. Between the two, they assist in an elopement, exact a revenge, and maybe get a second chance at Christmas. Delightful and quick. First time with her writing and will be going back for more.

A Scottish Carol by Susan King 4.5 Stars
Henry Seton, a doctor and Viscount, war hero and now teacher, gets a little shock for his Scottish Yule-tide treat. Clary never understood why Henry left and now with the help of a scheming friend and a snow storm, she might have a reunion with the man she still loves. Adorable, heartwarming, and a lovely holiday read.

Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice 4 Stars
A battered and still tortured, Ivo returns from the war to what promises a cold, lonesome Christmas. Sarah has loved her childhood friend all her life, but knows he never saw her as anything beyond his friend. His return brings warring feelings. This one was a good story of what it is like for the men who are haunted by war and the folks back home who will struggle to understand. I did struggle to connect to either character though I thought the story engaging.

In the Bleak Mid-Winter by Mary Jo Putney 4.5 Stars
Oh, the feels! This was a lovely childhood friends to lovers tale. Kim came back from the war broken and has hidden away in the tower refusing to see family, friends, and particularly Roxie. He must take his useless, broken self away. Roxie has different plans and will use the Holbourne Hall Christmas ball to achieve her ends. A most engaging Holiday read. I need more from this author.

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott 4 Stars
Young love was crushed under a parent's expediency for Edward and Lily, but now they meet again. Dare they hope that this time it will happen for them. I felt for this pair and really wanted them to have their slice of Christmas happiness.

A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick 4 Stars
A reconciliation romance is a tough one, but this pair of sad and mixed up married lovers needed some Christmas cheer. Caro was very young and inexperienced and Piers only wanted a marriage of convenience. I was really rooting for this couple, but I didn't closely engage with them as I needed more page time with this story. The author did a wonderful job of painting a truer picture of what couples struggled through in arranged marriages.

Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley 4.5 Stars
Oh my stars! Gabriel is a riot. What a splendid hero this author has created. Lord Gabriel is called to Holbourne Hall to assist his godmother in giving some of her wallflower guests a nice Christmas. Instead he takes on the challenge of drawing out her companion from her drab little invisible world. A poignant story, but with a frolicking atmosphere.

Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie 4.5 Stars
And to wrap up this book there just had to be an adorable heroine who is in desperate need of Christmas magic and cheer. Allie was a lovely heart and a giver and her outer and inner beauty do not go unnoticed by her unexpected guest, Lord Kelsey.
This was a sweet story with a little spice that left me sighing and smiling.

All in all, this was a delicious collection of stories. It was like a multi-faceted gem with the way each author brought something unique and special to make a sparkling whole. There was variety in the circumstances even while the connectedness between stories was clear and I enjoyed that. They are mostly sweet romances though a couple dip into the spices a little. I would definitely read more from each of these writers when I am in the mood for engaging Historical Romance.

My thanks to Kensington Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Janga · Rating 5 out of 5]

About this time every year since 2005, I have mourned the fact that no new Signet Regency Christmas anthology would be added to my collection to read and reread. This year that mourning was lightened by The Last Chance Christmas Ball, a collection of connected Christmas novellas that includes stories from some of the authors who wrote for those anthologies-- Jo Beverley, Andrea Pickens (aka Cara Elliott), Mary Jo Putney, and Patricia Rice—and their Word Wench sisters—Joanna Bourne, Nicola Cornick, Susan King, and Anne Gracie. This is the second Christmas anthology from this talented group, and I think it is even better than the first, Mischief and Mistletoe (2012).

The prologue (by Beverley) opens with the Dowager Countess of Holbourne, familiarly known as Lady Holly, reminiscing about past Christmas balls as her companion writes invitations to the fiftieth such ball. Lady Holly, who takes pride in the matches made at her balls, has carefully included on her guest list those she deems most in need of a match. In fact, some might say that the Christmas ball is their last chance for an HEA. Each of the eight stories that follow focuses on one couple.

I enjoyed all the stories, and one reason was that the voice of each author comes through clearly. Indeed, I think I could have matched authors and stories had the novellas not been identified by author. The hero and heroine in Joanna Bourne’s “My True Love Hath My Heart” are intelligent characters with a history of shared intrigue who win their HEA against the odds. Susan King’s “A Scottish Carol” is set in Scotland and features a doctor hero and his lost love in a melding of tropes. “Christmas Larks” by Patricia Rice offers another pair of reunited lovers in a tale that manages to be rich in humor but with characters who are not at all light weights. “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Mary Jo Putney pairs a wounded warrior hero with a heroine who is anything but passive in an emotionally intense reunion story.

Cara Elliott’s “Old Flames Dance,” another second-chance-at-love tale, as the title suggests, is packed with sexual tension and possesses an atypical, twice-widowed, sari-wearing heroine. “A Season for Marriage” by Nicola Cornick is a marriage-in-trouble tale with a runaway heroine and a pursuing hero. Jo Beverley’s “Miss Finch and the Angel” focuses on an unlikely pair, Lady Holly’s companion Clio, who prefers to stay in the background, and the dowager countess’s charming grandson who tries to assist his godmother with her matchmaking--with surprising results. “Mistletoe Kisses” by Anne Gracie combines a touch of Cinderella with a snowbound, magical Christmas plot in a richly emotional story that evokes a tear and a smile.

With so many of my auto-buy authors contributing to the anthology, I expected to like the book, but it exceeded my expectations. Each story has something special to offer, and readers who share my love for reunited lovers’ tales will be especially happy with this Christmas gift since six of the stories employ this trope in some fashion. I highly recommend The Last Chance Christmas Ball. It is wholly delightful, a collection as delicious as choice chocolates but without the calories.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne - This is a second chance romance involving a jewelry maker and a nobleman. She doesn't think she is worthy but when he aids her in seeking revenge he may just get a second chance. A sweet story that offered interesting side stories as well.
A Scottish Carol by Susan King-offered a  second chance romance between a widowed woman and a wounded college professor.  Henry was a student to Clary's father the doctor. When he asked permission for her hand, her father refused. Clary was forced to wed another but fate has brought them together again.
Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice - a man returning home injured discovers his home has been sold to an old childhood friend. The romance was fast paced and not a favorite but I must say I loved the mice.
In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney - This was one of my favorites about a young couple who were in love. Kim goes off to war but returns injured and refuses to see Roxie, until she decides she must see him.
Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott- This tale involves Lily, returned from India who hopes to see Edward her childhood crush. Edward is Kim's brother and it was nice to see him find happiness.
A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick- Another sibling, Caroline sister to Edward and Kim and her marriage to Piers. Can they rekindle the flames after she forced him into marriage?
Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley- After meeting Clio in the prologue I was hoping she would find her happy. She is the companion to Lady Howard and has caught the eye of a handsome Duke.
Mistletoe and Kisses by Anne Gracie -Allie's financial situation is dire. She will be forced to stay at home as a servant or find work outside the home. The Ball offers her escape before she begins work as a teacher, but it seems fate has other plans when she finds herself traveling in the company of Lord Kelsey and his sister.

All of the tales in The Last Chance Christmas Ball were delightful, some like In the Bleak of Winter were five cups of coffee worthy and others were sold threes, making this collection a winner. I loved the idea of the Second Chance Ball and seeing all the characters find their chance at happiness.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading and really enjoying Christmas Roses, which was a shorter anthology with Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, and Susan King, I was ecstatic when the details for this was released. Sadly, this was disappointing.

The Last Chance Christmas Ball suffered from too much of a good thing. There were so many authors included that the page count allotted for each was too small to allow any of the authors to develop a compelling story. In most cases (6 of the 8), the authors recognized they had limited page space and had the hero and heroine already in love, but in need of some Christmas magic to finally come together. I enjoyed this for the first three stories, but then I couldn't seem to give the other authors a fair shake because each tale started sounding identical.

It was a shame because many of these authors are very talented and have a way with words, but because of the limited page count and the constricted theme (all take place around a ball), the freshness and depth of the stories suffered.

This would have benefited greatly from being split into two volumes and allowing the authors more pages and a longer time span to develop their characters and their plot. There is nothing wrong with the stories, they just weren't outstanding.

Other reviewers have given nice plot synopses so I won't do that here. I will add a note for readers that these stories did not include sex scenes. There was kissing and implied intimacies, but nothing graphic. Some people may enjoy that since most of the authors here typically do write sex scenes which aren't for everyone. This is a great way to try out new authors' writing styles, but do not judge any of the authors based on the stories they have here because every author in this book can work magic with more pages.

[Andree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. So, I really quite liked a lot of these. I mean, it's not spectacular, but I admit, I really like the conceit of this - multiple people falling in love at/on the way to the same ball, one organized by the matchmaking Lady Holly. I kind of wonder if the people who wrote ones where they make it to the ball had some sort of storyboard of events and details, because I was impressed by how many details were consistent (e.g. the decoration in Lady Holly's rooms). Surprisingly, the short story length worked surprisingly well. It also meant, that if one didn't work, there wasn't too much of it, so I didn't get annoyed. The shorter length is helped out by the fact that in many cases, the couples had known each other for ages. There are a few staggering cases of insta-love though.

My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne
I was super into this one, about a woman who is also a jeweler, getting back at a jerkface aristocrat who essentially cheated her by going undercover as a maid, and getting an assist by a former lover who happens to be attending the ball. I think I'll look at more of this author's books.

A Scottish Carol by Susan King
Also fun. It is essentially "OH DEAR. I have somehow managed to get snowed in alone at a country house with my one true love. But surely they no longer love me... With bonus, also now I am a curmudgeonly, responsible doctor."

Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice
Did not work for me at all. I think I tried to read a Patricia Rice novel once, and DNF'd because I basically hated it. I wouldn't say I *hated* this, but there's way too much drama going on for the length. And the characters aren't developed. Also, I did not buy the resolution at all, given the dude was super angry, and then just... changes his mind? I mean, I get they've known each other since childhood, but this needed to be expanded to work at all.

In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney
Also quite liked this. Dude comes back from the war, horribly injured. Hides himself up in a tower and refuses to see anyone, including his fiance, who he breaks it off with. She schemes to see him, to have one last try at convincing him she still loves him, otherwise she's going to marry his brother (in a sort of, we know we're not in love, but we could make it work, and we're friends). What makes this work is the relationships are really well done, especially the family ones. Also, this is one of the ones where people actually make it to the ball (unlike two and three).

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliot
About the brother from the one prior. The only woman he's ever loved shows up at his house for a ball, she's widowed, and he's just agreed to announce a marriage of convenience that evening to his neighbour. OOPS. Seriously, the relationship between the brothers in this one and the one prior works, and with their neighour. Didn't like it as well as the one previous, but it's not bad.

A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick
Possibly my favourite in the collection, about the sister of the two brothers. She married because the dude accidentally comprised her; she's been in love with him forever (he's a friend of her brother's), but she feels hideously guilty because she thinks she essentially forced him to marry her. So she tries to be the perfect political wife. He barely seems to speak to her now, and is all caught up in his political work. So she goes to her parent's ball, hoping he'll chase after her. SPOILER ALERT: He does. As always, am super into reconciling spouses.

Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley
This one is just sort of there for me. It's solid. I enjoy that it's one of the ones where you get to see the actual ball (this one and the two prior show chunks of it). I enjoy Gabriel, the essentially kind, but really charming ladies man. I mean, this is basically rich, charming man falls for apparently plain woman, with scandalous past. One of the cases of super-instalove, because unlike all of the others, they'd never met before the ball. And this ends with a proposal.

Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie
The second case of super-instalove. This is again WE HAVE GOTTEN TRAPPED IN A HOUSE TOGETHER DUE TO A SNOWSTORM (with bonus carriage accident). Also, his sister is there. I liked this one right up until the end, when there was a large dollop of essentially pointless drama. It kind of soured it for me. Basically, dude falls in love with the woman who takes him and his sister in for a few days, after their carriage has an accident in a storm. She lends her sister a gown, so the sister can go to the ball. Dude doesn't realize until later, that it's her only gown, and she can't go. So he goes back with food and dances with her in her livingroom, before heading out a midnight and promising to come see her the next day. Except his grandmother gets seriously ill, so he has to rush there, and the note of explanation he writes her goes astray, so she thinks he's abandoned her. OH NO. Except that he finds her a couple of weeks later, explains, and proposes, and she excepts. Here's the thing, this is a short story. That all happened over 2-3 pages. There was no point. There was no payoff of any kind to the added drama. Would have so much preferred it if he'd just gone and proposed. This didn't need underdeveloped drama that was only there to be dramatic.

But yeah, this is fun.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much. Such a sweet, fun series of Christmas stories. I really enjoyed how all the individual stories worked together and built upon one another. So much fun.

[Luli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro es una selección de 8 novelas todas con el denominador común del baile navideño de la “Última Oportunidad”.
Soy fan de las historias cortas o novelas, me encantan porque tienen todo lo bueno de las novelas pero van al grano y me ahorran la angustia y todos los rodeos que hacen dar a los protagonistas antes de acabar juntos. Pero en este caso no ha sido así.
He encontrado, en general, todas las historias demasiado apresuradas. Se pierde tiempo (que no tienen) en detalles banales en vez de centrarse en los protagonistas, con lo cual, todo sucede muuuy rápido y de una forma desapasionada…una pena porque todas las historias prometían.
Hay de todo… segundas oportunidades, no mi tema favorito porque casi siempre se necesitan por ausencia de diálogo en un primer momento, encuentros maravillosos, solteronas…de todo un poco.

My True Love Hath my Heart by Joanna Bourne: 3 Stars.
En esta historia se le da más importancia a la ocupación de los protagonistas que al romance principal. Incluso hay un romance secundario…demasiados temas para un relato tan corto.

A Scottish Carol by Susan King: 3 stars.
Todo muy precipitado, muy rápido y eso que el principio fue genial.

Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice: 4 stars.
Uno de mis favoritos. Una pena no haberse centrado de lleno en el romance y dejar de lado todas las historias secundarias.

In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney: 3 stars.
Hay una especie de triángulo amoroso ( por llamarlo de alguna manera) que me separó de la historia…

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliot: 2 stars.
No soy fan de las segundas oportunidades, como ya he dicho anteriormente, pero en este caso es incluso peor porque la protagonista se había casado 2 veces antes del reencuentro…para mí no tiene ningún tipo de emoción…

A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick: 2 stars.
Esta historia podría haber estado bien si hubiesen explicado porqué el marido hace lo que hace…no me ha quedado claro…y ese cambio de actitud en 5 segundos ni lo entiendo ni está justificado…

Miss Finch and the Angel: 3 stars.
Al ser tan corta no es creíble el cambio de actitud de la protagonista con lo traumático que había sido su pasado…

Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie: 4 stars.
Mi otra favorita. Preciosa la historia tipo Cenicienta…debería haber sido más larga para que tuviese más sentimiento, hubiese sido increíble…

ARC provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley.

This book is a selection of 8 novellas, all of them with the common denominator of the ”Last Chance Christmas Ball”. I'm a fan of short stories or novellas; I love them because they have all the novel´s good stuff but they get right to the point and save me the angst and all the nonsense that the MC´s suffer before they get together. But in this case it was not so. I have found, in general, all the stories had been rushed. They lost time they haven´t in banal details rather than focusing on the main characters, this makes everything happens so fast and in a unfeeling way... a pity, because all the stories promised. There is a bit of everything... second chances, not my favorite topics because they almost always are need for the absence of dialogue in the first place, wonderful encounters, spinsters... and more.

My True Love Hath my heart by Joanna Bourne: 3 Stars.
This story gives more importance to the occupation of the MC´s that their romance. There is a secondary romance as well…the story is too short for so many things happening.

A Scottish Carol by Susan King: 3 stars.
The beginning was promising but the story is rushed to the end.

Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice: 4 stars.
This is one of my favorites. But the story is too short and there is a lot of other stuff happening.

In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney: 3 stars.
I´m not a fan of love triangles (is not a triangle at all but I can´t stand it! The beginning ruined the story for me.)

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliot: 2 stars.
I´m not a big fan of second chances but this case is worse because the heroine is twice a widow! So…for me, it have not a lot of sense this supposedly love. I can´t relate with that…

A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick: 2 stars.
I do not understand why the husband does what he did and neither his so fast change of heart…I can believe it…

Miss Finch and the Angel: 3 stars.
After we learn about the heroine´s traumatic past I cannot believe her sudden trust on the hero and her change of heart…

Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie: 4 stars.
My other favorite one. It is a beautiful Cinderella ´s story. A pity it was so short!

[Lyuda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas anthology with stories loosely linked together into a single narrative. Although not all of the same quality, the overall effect is quite charming.

It is almost Christmas of 1815 and Holbourne Abbey’s hostess in keeping up with 50 year old tradition is busy organizing a Christmas ball. The ball is to provide a last chance to find true love before the New Year…

Prolog written by Joe Beverly gives us an opportunity to meet the hostess of the upcoming event and her companion. The ladies are busy writing invitations to guests who will appear in the novellas.

And now it’s Christmas Eve and in Joanne Bourne’s My True Love hath My Heart , the story switches to Holbourne “downstairs”. Two former lovers with unequal social standing (he's a gentleman, she's a jewelry designer and a shop owner) rekindled their love again during their "not-so-much chance" meeting at the Abbey. The plot featured some undercover work and intrigue. 2.5 stars

During the same time in Scotland, Susan King in A Scottish Carol, waves another love-lost/love –reunited tale. The characters felt in love when the hero was studying medicine under the heroine’s father tutelage. But their first chance in love was abruptly ended by her father. Now, stranded in a snowstorm, they have their second chance.3 stars

We are transported to the village not too far from Holbourne Abbey where Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice continues with a story of a wounded gentleman reluctantly coming home. He doesn’t know that his deceased father sold the house and now his childhood friend converting it to the orphanage. This is another story of a reunion during the holiday season. 2.5 stars

It's almost time for the Christmas ball. Mary Jo Putney In the Bleak Midwinter tells a story of the Houlbourne’s family youngest son who came injured from the war and barricaded himself in a tower refusing to see anyone. The only person who succeeded in storming a barrier of his isolation is his childhood friend whose love conquered it all. 4.5 stars

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott is a companion story about the older brother and a woman who he met and loved long time ago. The match didn’t meant to be as the woman, due to her family’s pressure, married another and moved to India. Now, ten years later, they met again and discovered that time changed them but their love remains. 4 stars

And now it’s their sister turn. A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick is the story of what can happen to marriage when two people are afraid to express their fears and desires. The Christmas ball provides a needed jolt for the married couple. 3 stars

Jo Beverly in Miss Finch and the Angel continues with another member of the household - a companion who was first introduced in the prologue. This is the first story where the characters haven't known each other previously. A wealthy charming aristocrat is surprisingly intrigued by a near-invisible and, aptly nicknamed, "gray ghost" woman. 2.5 stars

And finally, in Anne Grace’s Mistletoe Kisses we meet a neighbor of Holbourne Abbey, an impoverish spinster, who is quietly saying good bye to her house. Her father passed away and a cousin is coming to take over the house. This would be her last Christmas in a place she grew up. The planned melancholy celebration turned into a merry one when two stranded travelers, a gentleman and his sister, joined her. 4 stars

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When they work well, I love shared anthologies where each author writes about the same event or time period from a different perspective. Unfortunately, The Last Chance Christmas Ball struggles with internal consistency, enough so that I found myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion.

Individually, many of the stories are charming. Several of them are very good indeed, which is why I added the half-star. A few contain historical inaccuracies (a pet peeve of mine), but my biggest complaint is that although the stories all center around the same house party and ball, there are quite glaring inconsistencies between the tales. For instance, a jewel “theft” and elopement in Joanna Bourne’s excellent opening story go completely unmentioned by any of the other authors, as do all four of Bourne’s important characters — something that certainly would not occur in real life, given the events in question. Several more closely interrelated stories do refer to events that happen at the ball, showing that those writers communicated with each other at least occasionally — but the descriptions don’t match in minor and sometimes significant ways. Even two of the strongest stories in this volume — Kim & Roxie’s romance, and Edward and Lily’s tale (by Mary Jo Putney and Cara Elliot, respectively) — include a scene in the latter showing tension between Roxie and Edward that simply isn’t there in the former.

As a result, it was difficult for me to simply lose myself in the stories. Perhaps my standards are too high, but I’ve read other interrelated anthologies that coordinate their stories far better. (Both of the Lady Whistledown anthologies by Julia Quinn et al., for instance.) The number of authors included also means that some of the stories are too short for much development of character or relationship. (Several are second-chance romances, which solves that problem to some extent.)

Those issues aside, The Last Chance Christmas Ball is still worth reading for some of the individual tales, particularly if you’re already a fan of any of the authors. In addition to the three I mentioned by Bourne, Putney, and Elliot, I was charmed by Jo Beverly’s tale of a frumpy companion and the duke who finds her irresistible. If you can overlook the inconsistencies and take each story on its own merits, I think you’ll find more than a few to enjoy.

Review originally published on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne

A longtime love is rekindled, with a chance to strike at injustice, a future to determine and jewelry theft thrown in for good measure.

Claire, daughter of a Swiss jeweler and talented jeweler in her own right, is masquerading as a maid at a Christmas house party. She is determined to get revenge on a man who cheated her and damaged her reputation as an artisan. Nick is an English nobleman who spends his time traveling throughout Europe, doing work for the English government. Nick has followed Claire, determined to make her see that they can have a life together. Claire loves him too much to allow him to marry someone as far beneath him as she is.

I enjoyed this story, as Nick helps Claire carry out her revenge, while at the same time wearing down her objections to their love. I liked the way that he loved her for who she was, and wasn't worried about the social niceties. I liked the ending, as he revealed the depth of his feelings for her. His visit to her family was a sweet touch.

I liked the revenge story and Claire's plans to carry it out. I also enjoyed the adjustment to the plan, which involved helping the daughter of her target. The scene in the library with Claire and Mary was terrific.


A Scottish Carol by Susan King

A doctor fresh from the horrors of Waterloo is reacquainted with his mentor's daughter.

Henry is a doctor and viscount who served in the army during the war. Since his return to Scotland six months ago he has been filling in as a lecturer at the university. At the beginning of the story he speaks with the most talented of his students about an assignment, only to discover that the young man is actually the daughter of his former mentor. She is also the woman he had loved and lost. He is haunted by the things he saw during the war and has buried his emotions as a way to protect himself.

Clary is a widow after the husband forced on her by an arranged marriage dies in an accident. After moving back with her father and losing him recently, she needs something to occupy her time. When she discovers that Henry is back, she sneaks into his lectures, just to be near the man she always loved. She never understood why he had left so abruptly those years ago.

A series of events ends up stranding Clary at Henry's country home during a blizzard. Alone together, Clary senses Henry's turmoil and wants to help him learn to feel again. I enjoyed seeing her open his heart to the joys of the holiday again. After so many years apart, they also rediscover all the things they have in common, including a love that never died. The dog, Max, was a great addition to the story.


Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice

Returning home from war, damaged and disoriented Ivor Whitney-Harris hears mice in the walls and rekindles his childhood acquaintance with Sarah Jane Langsdale.

A reunion story. Ivo has returned to England months after the war ended. First he was recovering from an injury, then avoiding seeing his father again. After receiving word of his father's death, he heads home. He's attacked by footpads not far from his childhood home, and arrives to find an empty house before he collapses. Sarah Jane grew up with Ivo. The house was willed by Ivo's father to soon become an orphanage. While checking on the house, she discovers Ivo injured and babbling of talking mice. With no one else to do it, she stays to nurse him back to health.

I ached for Ivo, who is haunted by the things he saw during the war. A talented artist, even in his illness he is compelled to put what he sees on canvas. Being in his childhood home brings him comfort, as he has dreamed of settling there after the war. He doesn't know that he no longer owns the house. Seeing Sarah again, he begins to see her as more than his childhood friend. Sarah has always loved Ivo, but he never saw her as more than a friend. Seeing how happy he is to be back in the house, she dreads telling him the truth.

I liked seeing them get to know each other again. Sarah's love for him is obvious in the way she takes care of him and worries about him. Ivo had a little more trouble realizing what it was he felt for her. His anger when he finds out about the house is understandable, but he says some terrible things to her. I ached for Sarah and her belief that Ivo hates her now. I liked his big moment at the end, as he finally finds the words to tell her how he feels.

The talking mice were an interesting addition to the story. I really wondered what kind of hallucinations Ivo was having, until Sarah heard them too. I liked the truth behind it, as it was another insight into the effects of the war on more than just the men who fought it.


In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney

A wounded soldier's final return to those who love him is ensnarled by his wounded anguish.

I loved this story. Kimball and Roxie had grown up together, and moved from friends to a couple. But Kim felt as though he'd had things too easy all his life, and was compelled to join the army and fight against Napoleon. Roxie wasn't happy with his decision, but had no choice but to accept it. Then Kim was badly injured, his life seriously altered. The doctor who saved him (Henry, from The Scottish Carol) made it clear that Kim would improve only if he made a determined effort to do so. So Kim went home, but he locked himself away, refusing to see anyone but his servant, including Roxie. No matter how many times she tried, he always turned her away.

I really liked Roxie. She is fun and she is kind, but she is also stubborn. When Kim's brother Edward offers to marry her instead, since Kim is refusing to follow through, Roxie agrees that it might be a workable solution. They are friends, after all, and have always gotten along. But Roxie is determined to see Kim face to face before she will commit to Edward. She still loves him.

I liked Kim, but certainly wanted to shake him. I loved that he wanted to do something worthwhile with his life, which is what sent him to war. I even understood his desire to hide himself away at the beginning, but I felt that he should have been working through his fears by that time. He still loves Roxie, but wants to protect her from being tied to a "cripple".

I loved Roxie's conversation with Kim's servant, and how it set things up for her confrontation. I really enjoyed seeing her knock down all his arguments, with her ballgown being the icing on that particular cake. I loved their big moment at the end, as she brings him out of darkness back into the light of love.


Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott

A long lost love returns from a far flung place. Too late or can all be set right?

Good second chance story. Lily and Edward had been in love ten years earlier, but his parents thought he was too young to marry and refused to allow the match. Lily's father was in financial difficulties, so Lily agreed to marry a much older man who agreed to help. She went to India with him, where he died, and she married yet another man. After his death, Lily came back to England, and arrived in time to attend her godmother's Christmas ball. There she ran into Edward again. Her love for him had never died, but it is rumored that he is about to announce his engagement.

I liked Lily. She's smart, beautiful and honorable. She doesn't want to come between Edward and his potential fiancée. I also liked Edward, who is now caught in a tangle.

I liked the rekindling of their relationship. The scene in the library, where they first saw each other again, was great. I loved that he knew her right away, even though she had changed a lot. Every time they were together, the attraction between them grew. I loved the advice that Lily got from the dowager duchess, though she was undecided about taking it. I liked her method of choosing, though I suspect she had some assistance in the outcome. The final scene in the library, then the ballroom was fantastic. I especially enjoyed how well it blended with the previous story.


A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick

What can you do when your husband spurns you? Why flee to the arms of your loving family and hope!

Very emotional story. Caro has been married to Piers for six months. He is her brother Edward's best friend and used to visit when they were younger. He was always nice to her and she's been in love with him for years, though he never seemed to notice her that way. They were forced into marriage because he had accidentally compromised her, and she has been trying to make it up to him ever since. She's gone overboard in shopping, trying to buy herself a boost in confidence, so that she can be the political wife he needs.

After a disastrous wedding night, Piers has avoided her, spending all his time on his political work. He is fascinated by her wit and kindness, and fears that he's falling in love with her. His experience with love was that of seeing his parents' obsession with each other to the exclusion of everything else, and he wants no part of that loss of control.

After a confrontation regarding her spending, Caro knows she has to do something to rescue her marriage. While he is away from the house, she leaves for her family home and the Christmas ball, hoping that he will follow, and fearing that he won't. I loved his reaction and what he did, and ached for him and the turmoil of his feelings.

I loved seeing Caro stand up to him and let him know why she has been so unhappy. He was so oblivious to the effects his actions had had on her that it was quite a shock. He was still having trouble dealing with his feelings and managed to hurt her yet again with his words (or lack of them). It took an unexpected bit of jealousy and a waltz to drive him to finally admit his feelings to her and himself. I loved Caro's understanding and willingness to forgive.


Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley

A lowly companion captures the gaze of a well-intentioned rake.

Good story. Clio was introduced in the prologue as the companion of Lady Holly. She's very quiet, content to stay in the background. Gabriel is Lady Holly's godson, the second son of a duke, and something of a rogue and a rake. She has summoned him to the ball to help her make the wallflowers look good. He is more than willing, but also finds himself intrigued by Clio.

Clio is a young woman who was deceived by a man and spurned by her family afterward. She has settled on a life of service, knowing that marriage is no longer an option for her. She does her best to blend into the background, though it isn't really her nature.

I loved Gabriel's determination to help Clio find a man, even though she was reluctant. What was even more fun was how personal it became for him. It was great to see him start thinking of her as his, though he resisted at first because of what might be her reputation. They had a couple encounters where they got to know each other a little, and Gabriel was more entranced by her. I loved seeing them at the ball together, and how he brought her out of the background.

The ending was great, with the unexpected appearance of Clio's father. I loved Gabriel's immediate protectiveness. I especially enjoyed Gabriel's conversation with Mr. Finch. I liked seeing Gabriel get what he didn't know he wanted until it was right in front of him.


Mistletoe Kisses by Annie Grace

French verbs and mistletoe kisses. Life for Allie Fenton was set upon a oath that seemed unlikely to waiver.

Another good story. Allie is a young woman whose father has died and whose cousin has inherited the house she grew up in. Rather than stay and become an unpaid servant in his household, she plans to become a teacher. But Lady Holly isn't going to let her get away before attending the Christmas ball, and has even provided a beautiful dress for her. Allie agrees to attend.

For the few days before the ball, Allie has given her servants the time off and is staying alone in her home. Two travelers have a carriage accident near her home and she takes them in. Lord Kelsey and his sister Lucilla are also headed to Lady Holly's for the ball.

I liked both Allie and John. She is kind, pretty and practical. She has been running the estate for years and has the confidence of someone who is used to being in charge. It was fun to see her bossing John and Lucilla around. John changed his own holiday plans so that he could take his sister to Lady Holly's, which I found very sweet.

I enjoyed the development of their romance. Snowed in over the next several days, the three become good friends, sharing meals, chores, cards games and even a little dancing. Sister Lucilla is a bit mischievous and has a heavy hand with the mistletoe, leading to several passionate encounters. Allie comes to Lucilla's rescue, when her ball gown is discovered to have gotten ruined in the accident, and gives up her own and her chance to attend the ball herself. I loved John's reaction to her absence, and the assistance he received from Lady Holly to bring the ball to Allie. Those hours together were sweet, and he promised to be back the next day.

But an emergency at home had him otherwise occupied, and his note of explanation goes astray. I ached for Allie and her belief that she'd been forgotten. I loved John's big moment at the end, and the assistance he received from an unexpected source.

[Megzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this as my phone read. Something to pick up when I'm waiting in doctors and orthodontists waiting rooms or picking up kids. It worked well because of the short format of each of the stories but it took several weeks so I have to think hard about the earlier ones.

The stories are:
(Prologue by Jo Beverley)
This was a nice setup for the stories and an introduction to the Dowager Countess of Holbourne who has been holding this Christmas Ball for fifty years. We also meet Clio Finch who appears in one of the later stories. They are writing the invitations to the ball so we get snapshots of the significant people who will appear at the ball. Or not. I particularly liked the little moment when we see Clio's first reaction on hearing about a man who will be significant later.

My True Love Hath My heart by Joanna Bourne

This is, in part, a downstairs romance, though the hero Nick is not a servant and Claire is masquerading as one. This is a reunion romance with a little intrigue. The heroine is not a servant, but she is not a lady either which makes for interest in this romance.

A Scottish Carol by Susan King

Henry Seton, Viscount Cranshaw is a medical man. He studied under a distinguished professor in Edinburgh. As you do. Now he is teaching and discovers one of his brighter pupils is the daughter of that distinguished professor. Once upon a time they were in love until Clary was sent to an arranged marriage with a cousin and he went to war. As you do.

This was a sweetish reunion romance with the pair ending up snowbound instead of going to the ball.

Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice

This was a rather odd but sweet romance. Another reunion as they grew up together. Logical in this short format as it's hard to fall in love in a satisfactory manner in so few pages. Ivo has returned from the wars after a traumatic time, only to be attacked a few miles from home by footpads. He manages to get to one of his houses and collapses there. When he hears mice chattering he thinks it might be his head injury.

Sarah is one of the last chance spinsters intended for the ball. She is preparing Ivo's house to be turned into an orphanage, something Ivo doesn't realise as he hasn't studied the documents sent after his father's death.

Thrown together as he needs nursing, they rebuild their connection.

In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney

This the story of the Dowager's youngest grandson, Kim Stretton, and neighbour Roxie, the little girl he grew up with. They were destined for each other until Kim came home from the war maimed and, in his opinion, unfit for human consumption. So yes, we have beauty and the beast. Roxie is a bright and worthwhile heroine but Kim's defection hit her hard. It's possible that she might look elsewhere at the ball if Kim wont come to the party.

Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott

Lily Tremaine has been twice widowed in the years since she was parted from Edward Stretton. Years spent in India. Edward has never felt anything for a woman since Lily chose another man under instructions from her father. Conscious of his responsibilities, especially with his brother hiding from the world, he has determined on a marriage of convenience. Until he sees Lily and his decision comes back to haunt him.

A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick

Caro is the young sister of Edward and Kim. She's been married some months to Piers Camden, a good friend of her brothers. In love with him forever, his hand was forced when they were found in a compromising position. Ever since then, things have not gone well, culminating in Piers disclaiming his extravagant wife's debts.

Now she is returning home to attend the ball not knowing if Piers will follow.

Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley

Finally we get Clio's story. Along with the angelically handsome Lord Gabriel. He is exactly the kind of man she despises, with good reason. Lord Gabriel is intrigued by her but it looks like his pursuit could only bring disaster to her.

Mistletoe and Kisses by Anne Gracie.

Alice Fenton is the last of the spinsters, aside from Lucilla Kelsey. Lucilla and her brother John end up stranded on Allie's doorstep while on their way to the ball. Snow keeps them confined and the three become fast friends, especially John and Allie with the help of some mistletoe.

This was a very sweet story with a thoroughly nice hero and a heroine with a kind heart who is willing to sacrifice her last chance for the sake of a friend.

[Obsidian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can usually power through an anthology, but stopped reading this at 25 percent. The first story was boring beyond belief and then I skipped around and realized that none of the other stories looked interesting either. It didn't help that I had to keep going back to the intro in the book to look up people that were appearing in the other stories. I tried really hard to get into them, but just said forget it, and moved on at 25 percent.

The only thing I thought was a smart idea is that all of the stories are occurring at an annual Christmas ball being thrown by at a character's home in this one. So technically the stories should all be connected, but I think the first one wasn't that interesting that it just didn't bode well for the other stories.

The only story I started and finished was My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne. Sorry, but this was tedious. The two main characters are Claire and Nick. Sorry, but not rooting for people stealing. The whole storyline is that Claire and Nick are on the outs because of reasons and then Nick shows up to this ball/house party because he knows Claire will be there to steal a necklace. The backstory into this two barely hangs together and the dialogue was tedious.

I did start A Scottish Carol by Susan King but just gave up partially through the story.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love/hate relationship with novellas. I enjoy the quicker-paced stories but I loathe the abruptness of the endings, especially when they are really good and leave you wanting more. There were eight stories in this book and to squeeze that many into one book you know they are really short stories. All of them center around Lady Holly's grand Christmas ball which has historically brought many couples together, and while the stories weave together with characters popping up across some of the other stories in the book, the standout story, and my favorite, was the very last story Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie, and ironically her heroine didn't even attend the Christmas ball. Go figure. I loved her story, (stranded together is my favorite trope) but of course wished it had been longer. All the other stories were ok, but nothing especially memorable.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a group of novellas that are all related to each other in that each romance has Lady Holly's Christmas Ball as the background for each. Each novella stands on its own but also includes interactions between characters of the others. I'm trying to decide on a favorite but just can't. These are seasoned romance writers and the quality of the novellas reflects their experience as each romance is developed and believable.

Well done!

November 2021: This is a good collection. The writer's are top notch and it shows.

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 2 out of 5]

These short stories were pretty boring. I was surprised at how long they felt even though the stories were "short". It lacked energy, drama and intensity. It was a long 13 hrs on audio.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75 stars average rating. This anthology surprised me. Not only were there no intimate scenes (any were fade to black), which I️ really appreciated since shorts don’t have space to waste on those, but many of the stories themselves were interesting and well developed. I’ve discovered some new to me HR authors and am eager to dig into the back logs.

My True Love Hath My Heart (Joanna Bourne)- 2.5 stars. This was surprisingly interesting for a short. Decent background story equals no eye roll inducing insta-love/ list. Both MCs seemed like adults and the physical relationship happened before the short takes place and never again during. I️ don’t like intimate scenes in my HR so I️ appreciated that. There also wasn’t any mention of the H’s previous rake ways or any previous mistresses, so I’m just going to believe that he’s not that kind of MC. However I️ do wish that the resolution of it was longer. The angst was a little too suddenly resolved.

A Scottish Carol ( Susan King)- 2 stars. A short and sweet second chance story. There were no intimate scenes and that was nice. No mention of details, intimate or otherwise, with OP. The H didn't seem like a rake and the slow resurrection of buried feelings felt natural and lovely.

Christmas Larks (Patricia Rice)- 1.5 stars. This was well written, I️ didn’t really like the H who didn’t fight for anything and ran away from his problems. The resolution was rushed and not believable. Again, no mention of OP or previous rake lifestyle. And there were no intimate scenes. Once again, it’s appreciated.

In the Bleak Midwinter (Mary Jo Putney)- 1.5 stars. The story was sweet, but the writing style was not for me. There was too much telling, not enough showing, and the stilted dialogue made this a little hard to enjoy. Still safe, and the H wasn’t a rake, with one fade to black scene.

Old Flames Dance (Cara Elliott)- 2 stars. Surprisingly not annoying despite the fact that the H proposed marriage to another woman in a previous short. With a well developed back story, this one would have been even better with more character development. As they were, they were a little cardboard-y.

A Season for Marriage (Nicola Cornick)- 2.5 stars. Well written and engaging, this was an angsty portrayal of ton marriage. It was sad and the H was a emotionally ill-equipped, but the telling of the story made me not care. With only fade to black scenes, I enjoyed the implied intimacy instead of the bodice ripper-y scenes most HR seems to have as a requirement these days.

Miss Finch and the Angel (Jo Beverley)- 1 star. I️ didn’t like this one. A short is not long enough to counteract an H who judges the h as a ghost or a mouse and who dismisses her as boring and easy to forget. Sure, that attitude of his doesn’t last long, but it’s not a nice feeling. Then there’s the fact that I’m bored and grossed out by rakes. And lastly, the ending was too sudden and then unsubstantiated for me to enjoy.

Mistletoe Kisses (Anne Gracie)- 2 stars. A nice and easy read- not overly sad or insta anything. I️ liked that the MCs had a chance to get to know one another. They had conversations, performed mundane tasks together, and still liked each other. I didn’t like how the H asked to go to the h’s room, however, without having any kind of understanding of with her. He recognized her as a gently bred woman but didn’t think that taking her to bed was ungentlemanlike? Hm... This was a minor quibble but it did bother me. I would have given it another half star had it not been for that detail. Otherwise , I enjoyed this short. It could have easily been turned into a full length novel.

[Stephanie (Jump) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this set, but after reading them I have a lukewarm feeling at best for most of the stories. The Last Chance Christmas Ball stories are about characters who are invited to this ball for supposedly a last chance at love, or perhaps a chance of redemption of love, set over Christmas period. Not a bad premise for a theme, but when the first 6 of 8 stories are all set with main characters who already know each other from the past, and have already fallen in love before with each other before the story begins, it starts to feel rather repetitive. We don't get to see them fall in love and experience the first rush of interest or attraction because that already has happened in the past. Although with creative flair perhaps all 6 could all have been equally enjoyable but at this rate I felt that many of the times the reason they have not achieved their HEA in the past is trivial or silly, and suddenly overcome in the end.

For a short story, I also felt that some of the stories spend a lot of precious words on conversations where characters share in much detail about their Christmas traditions, it's not exactly the most stintilating and emotional conversation, does not add to the story, and it's not done for building character depth. There were (especially that last novella) paragraphs describing Christmas decor and what not. I have nothing against a holiday backdrop for these stories but I wish it was done with more subtlety in some cases. It felt like it was trying just a little too hard.

This is an arc review.

My True Love Hath My Heart 3 stars
About a merchant lady and her aristocratic former lover trying to reconcile at the manor. This should have been an exciting story, it's set up with a little intrigue and mystery as the 2 characters obviously have a past and the heroine is clearly plotting something. The story was moving along well, but towards the end, it felt sudden how the class difference between the hero and heroine, the reason that the heroine has ignored our dear hero for 3 months, is set aside quickly by her after a conversation. We learn that they have not spoken since then not because of family interference, or some misunderstanding, but because he proposed, and she feels the class difference is too great. One would think she would at least speak to him about her reasons immediately after he proposes and she rejects him? To refuse to see him for 3 months after they have been lovers and then change her mind after they finally have a discussion, well, speaks to her maturity and makes this plot seems a little silly.

A Scottish Carol 3 stars
Again, I felt this was ruined by a story that seems silly. Dr Seton, who happens to be a viscount, proposed to the lady he loves, a lady whose father is non-titled, and her father refuses him because he has debts and marries her to another man to settle debts? Did he not think a viscount could have settled his debts for him?

Christmas Larks 4 stars
One of my favourite from this set. I love how the story started out from the confused and dazed viewpoint of Ivo, recovering from highwaymen inflicted injury.

In The Bleak Midwinter 3 stars
Kimball is an injured veteran who refuses to see his old childhood sweetheart Roxanne after sustaining injury during the war, telling her to move on.
The story set up was good but again all it took for things to be resolved was for the two MCs to meet. So everything again got resolved quickly and there really was not much of a plot. We spend very little time seeing them interact. Also this story totally ruined the next one - since it involved the main MC of the next story. I am not sure why they did that.

Old Flames Dance 2.5 stars
Edward is the older brother of Kimball (from the previous story). His story is vastly similar to Dr Seton's (the second story in this book/compilation). He offers for the lady (Lily)'s hand in marriage. He asked his parents for funds to help his offer as Lily's father needed money, and in this case Edward's parents (thinking he was too young to know his mind) refuses. The two meet after she has been twice widowed. You see both character's point of view and so it's no mystery they both want each other. They talk and finally she wows him in a sari and he finallh drums up the courage to propose.. It just seems to be a little drawn out considering both character both knew how they felt about each other.


A Season for Marriage 3.5 stars
About a lady and her husband struggling to save their marriage. This was one of the more enjoyable reads, however that the hero is afraid to love (yes we have seen this character before)

Miss Finch and the Angel
I will admit at this point I really started to lose interest in the stories and skimmed this one quickly. I cannot give it a rating. However from what I did gleam of the plot I really did not want to give it a fair go. our hero falls for this lady during the story but cannot wed her due to her scandal. Then we discover it is a non issue after all for the reason that not many people know the scandal and it can be contained. Really??


Mistletoe Kisses 1 star
This story was my least favourite. I will forgive plausibility and realism a little for the sake of humour but if you set to write a serious novel then I expect it to be realistic for the period. I am not too picky about particular phrases being accurate just general behaviour. The heroine Allie rescues the hero John and his sister during a storm. The sister encourages her brother to kiss the woman because, well there is mistletoe. He kisses her on the lips in front of his sister. This in an era where it's consider scandalous to kiss an ungloved hand, and they have known each other but a day. Then he kisses her repeatedly each day due to this tradition -without offering for her hand or any promises. Right. And there was a part where the autbor spent paragraphs describing the heroine's nativity scene christmas decorations which was unnecessary. I felt like I was getting Christmas shoved in without any subtlety. Lucilla the sister was also annoying, I didn't find her endearing from the way she babbles on. Moreover, she was the one to instigate the kissing and then later she tells Allie not to misunderstand or get her hopes up because there is an understanding that her brother John is actually about to propose to some lady at the ball in a few days. He was not, but again this illustates how unrealistic the characters were acting for this period. A lady would not encourage kissing of that sort especially if she believes her brother was about to propose to another.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this has vaulted me right into the Christmas spirit…at the beginning of October (not a minute too soon). A collection of stories tied to the 50th anniversary of Lady Holly’s famous Christmas ball, almost all were surprisingly satisfying, considering the limits of the short story format. The opening and closing stories were my favorites, penned by Joanna Bourne and Anne Gracie, respectively. Among the stories sandwiched between, I most enjoyed Henry and Lily’s story “Old Flames Dance,” by new-to-me author Cara Elliott, whose work I will be sampling soon. The only discordant note in this feast was Piers and Caroline’s story, which featured a self-absorbed jerk and a spoiled brat and swung insanely from “never love” to “deep love forever” in a nanosecond.

Overall, a successful investment of time with a good return of holiday cheer.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book of short stories, Lady Holly is throwing her 50th annual Christmas ball. Her hope is to help some young people find their last chance of romance. Each of these stories takes place both during the ball and during the days leading up to it, as couples find new love, rediscover old love, and learn to treasure the love that maybe lay within their reach this whole time. While I liked all of the stories, I definitely found that the later ones were more engaging than the first few, and it was fun to see how they all intersected.

[Thereadingbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has many short novella's stuffed into on volume. It is a good way to learn about some authors that I have not read before. This had some really good Christmas stories in it. The down side it that many of the stories did not develop as well as they could have because so many authors participated and so much space is alloted for them to spin a tale.

It is almost Christmas of 1815 and Holbourne Abbey’s hostess in keeping up with 50 year old tradition is busy organizing a Christmas ball. The ball is to provide a last chance to find true love before the New Year. This is the place where all the stories take place. Some of the stories are not last chance some are a rekindling of love. Anyways the concept of these types of books are great but do not pack so many authors into one so that there is room for the story to be fleshed out.

[Aoi · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a wonder how so many accomplished authors could end up making so underwhelming a book. That's precisely the problem it suffers from- too many stars, too limited a space and therefore, a revert to formulaic ways. None of the authors were given enough breadth to bring any of the stories to life. There's no romance, no magic in these Christmas-time tales, just a picking-up-where-they-left-off scenario that wearies the reader.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three and the last story I liked the most!

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 estrellas

Última lectura navideña y llego por los pelos. ¡La terminé justo el día 5! 🤣
Por si no lo sabéis, para mí la Navidad no termina hasta el día de Reyes, o Epifanía, que es el día 6 de enero 😜 Lo siento pero es lo que hay...

Me ha gustado mucho esta antología. Voy a hacer una reseña relato por relato aunque no voy a detallar demasiado las tramas porque son cortos y están todos entrelazados. Ambientados en las Navidades del 1815 al 1816, las Guerra Napoleónicas y más concretamente la Campaña peninsular, o sea, España (Guerra de Independencia) y Portugal, tienen bastantes peso en estas historias. Creo recordar que en todo los relatos hay algún detalle o personaje relacionado con la guerra.
Los relatos son:

*My True Love Hath my Heart, de Joanna Bourne: 3 estrellas
Diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada a leer en Histórica. Me ha gustado.

*A Scottish Carol, de Susan King: 3 estrellas
Me ha parecido una historia diferente. Me han gustado ambos protagonistas y la proximidad forzosa ha estado bien.

*Christmas Larks, de Patricia Rice: 2 estrellas
Meh. Es la típica historia de segundas oportunidades que no me termina de convencer. Ella enamorada perpetuamente de él y esperándole, por así decirlo. Y él no está casado con otra por el azar o gracias a la otra mujer. Por este tipo de premisas me echa tanto para atrás este cliché.

*In the Bleak Midwinter, de Mary Jo Putney: 3 estrellas
A esta historia la salva, sobre todo, la protagonista femenina. Por que la verdad es que el cliché usado por Putney en este relato no es de mis favoritos. Por decirlo de una manera suave. Esta historia enlaza, directamente, con la siguiente.

*Old Flames Dance, de Cara Elliot: 3 estrellas
Original. Un relato que habla de la historia del hermano del protagonista del relato anterior.

*A Season for Marriage, de Nicola Cornick: 1.5 estrellas
No, no, no. Lo siento pero el protagonista masculino me cae como una patada en el culo. Qué tío más desagradable. No me termina de convencer...

*Miss Finch and the Angel, de Jo Beverley: 3 estrellas
Me ha costado meterme en esta historia...
Pero al final me ha gustado. Sobre todo por el protagonista masculino que es muy gracioso.

*Mistletoe Kisses ,de Anne Gracie: 3 estrellas
Me ha gustado pero hubo un momento en el que los malentendidos casi me amargan la lectura.

El ambiente navideño muy conseguido, como la ambientación de época. Además, todas las historias desembocan en la fiesta de fin de año que es la que se conoce como el baile de la última oportunidad. Una premisa interesante.