Miss Davenport's Christmas

I can't add much more than E. Lynch stated below. I have to agree-for such a small (167 pages)book this regency is chock full of fun, romance and drama. The book is highly readable and the whole storyline about the girls puritan upbringing fascinating and tragic. With such cruel parents as well as two hateful haute monde belles trying to ruin the girls happiness-the book was fast paced and highly enjoyable. If you love traditional regencies and are looking for something with a bit of a difference-you will love this book:) 5 stars!

This was a rather interesting book about a pair of sisters (Gillian and Amanda Davenport) who were raised rather isolated from society and even each other by strict Puritan parents. Because of a smallpox epidemic in London and fear that the girls would be corrupted by the army in Yorkshire, the two Davenport sisters are given a short reprieve from their cloistered life. They are sent to distant relatives, Sir John and Lady Harrington. It happens to be Christmastime and though Jilly and Amanda's parents don't celebrate it, they do not realize the Harrington's do! Lady Harrington welcomes the sisters with open arms, giving them a holiday full of liveliness and spirit! She assists in making them fashionable by updating their dull clothes and buys them new gowns! Of course during this holiday in the country, there are plenty of young people and love is in the air. This book contains a great deal of conversation much like Barbara Cartland's style of writing. You had to read closely to understand the story fully. I disliked that the sisters were raised with such cruelty and felt they "forgave" their parents much too quickly in the end, but I guess those times were different and parents used drastic, corporal punishments to control their children. I loved the explanation of Regency Christmas rituals and celebrations many of which survive until today. Some of these celebrations were mentioned in other novels but I never understood fully before. If you read a lot of Regency novels, this is a great way to learn all about the traditions. This is a quick reading novel with just enough tension to make it interesting. Marion Chesney books are often full of surprises and she styles each book differently.