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A Regency Christmas

by Anthology: Kelly, Ranstrom, Stone

reviewed by Valarie Pelissero

November 2009, 280 pages, Publisher: Harlequin, ISBN: 0373295678

Scarlet Ribbons by Lyn Stone

What do you get when you combine a wounded war hero who has been told he will never use his leg again and a young woman who can't walk even though the doctors say she can? You get Captain Alexander Napier and Amalie Harlowe, the hero and heroine of Lyn Stone's sweet Christmas story. Alex went to war after he was unable to save his wife during childbirth. As a doctor Alex feels just beaten by life; first he loses his wife then he loses his son to his mother-in-law. He has nothing left to live for and hopes that he will be killed in battle. But, not only does Alex live he saves the life of another soldier who convinces Alex to join the Harlowe family for Christmas. Alex gets his biggest surprise when he meets Amalie, for she is brash and just a tad rude. Immobile herself, Amalie doesn't pity Alex, instead she confronts him about his injury and then tells her family (without Alex's knowledge mind you) that the two are now engaged. The ensuing reactions from everyone were hilarious and brought just the right touch to the story since the rest of the story packed an emotional punch.

This story made me laugh with Amalie's antics and Alex's reactions to her. It also touched my heart when father and son are reunited. Despite the short length of the story I truly believed that Alex and Amalie fell in love in so quickly. Scarlet Ribbons is a story of miracles that truly fits the Christmas season.

Christmas Promise by Carla Kelly

Of the three stories, this second chance at love story is the most traditional of them all. Jeremiah Faulk and Ianthe Mears grew up together with Ianthe's late husband Jim, a younger son of the local landowner. When Jim's father purchased him a commission in the Navy he also purchased one for Jeremiah, the son of his steward to keep an eye on Jim. Jim and Jeremiah had both fallen in love with Ianthe before they left, but it was Jim who won Ianthe's heart - or was it? When peace finally breaks out Jeremiah is stranded on land wishing for a miracle when an unexpected circumstance reunites Ianthe and Jeremiah and they are finally able to fall in love.

Christmas Promise is part of Carla Kelly's recent series about soldiers returning home from the Napoleonic Wars, and while I haven't read any of those stories I am intrigued enough to find them. For those readers that have missed the Traditional Regency this story will satisfy them.

A Little Christmas by Gail Ranstrom

Sophia Pettibone was orphaned young and sent to live with her mother's relatives, but she missed out on really getting to know her father's family. She has met them of course, but they are not close. Sophia longs for a family to belong to more than anything, but with the recent death of her Uncle Oliver she doesn't see that happening. Oliver Pettibone had been making his fortune in America for the last twenty years, sending annual letters home and the remaining family has gathered at his estate for the reading of his will. Viscount Selwick has been tasked to oversee the disposition of the Oliver's estate as a friend of the family and he tasks Sophia to aid him in cataloging Oliver's belongings. While the two are exploring Oliver's life they also explore their desire and finally find a chance to belong.

Like any true family the Pettibones snip and snipe at each other but put aside all their difference when one small boy goes missing. I liked that the family wasn't perfect; they acted like a true family (actually a lot like my family) and that made the story more interesting for me. Not only did Ms. Ranstrom bring readers a story that reminds us that at Christmas family is all around us, she also managed to catch me off guard. A Little Christmas was my favorite story in this anthology.

Overall A Regency Christmas is worth reading this holiday season.