Regency Christmas Wishes

I loved this book. The middle story was a little light on plot and seemed to have a vague ending but the other stories were very enjoyable. The first story "the Lucky Coin" was worth the price of the whole book.

While the Regency genre is on the decline, I ordered this book in advance thinking that at least the Christmas anthology still had a market. Unfortunately, these are all "new" stories from before -- and not too many years before either. If you missed them the first time, you're in for series of well-written treats. If you read them just four years ago and thought you were getting something new, you'll be disappointed. These short stories are well worth reading, but they're certainly not "all new".

Most anthologies are a pretty mixed bag, but this one actually has five good stories! Not all equally good, of course. "Let Nothing You Dismay," by Carla Kelly is the real prize, while the Edith Layton offering is a bit disappointing. But kudos to the editor on this one; I read every word.

The Lucky Coin by Barbara Metzger.Sir Adam Standish was having a very long run of extremely bad luck. But when an elderly man gave him a special coin, things change! Suddenly, any wish Adam made, good or bad, happened! Following Yonder Star by Emma Jensen.Alice Ashe had not seen Gareth Blackwell for eight long years. He only returned to see if his brother's widow (Alice's sister) gives birth to a boy or girl. The feelings that had been between Alice and Gareth when he left were still there. But Alice would have a hard time finding charity in her heart for him. The Merry Magpie by Sandra Heath.Sir Charles Neville cheated on his wife, Juliet, and had been sent packing when she found out. After six years he returns in hope of winning her back. Best Wishes by Edith Layton.Jonathan, Viscount Rexford, wanted to spend the Twelve Days of Christmas with his old friends. His wife, Pamela, wanted to spend them with her large family. They agreed to split the time between the two groups. Neither went as expected. Let Nothing You Dismay by Carla Kelly.Lord Trevor Chase is a barrister in the city, a children's advocate. For eleven years he worked hard to help the most desperate children. This Christmas, he must return to Chase Hall to help his brother's family. Before leaving the city, he made a wish upon a shooting star - for someone to save him from himself. **** Five regency romances set during the magical Christmas season of the 1800's. You'll finish this book with a smile on your lips and warmth in your heart. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

In "The Lucky Coin" by Barbara Metzger, Adam Standish has hit rock bottom. He hasn't a penny in his pocket--until a stranger in a carriage offers him "a penny for his thoughts." With this new penny in his possession, Adam Standish's luck begins to change. He meets lovely Jenna, and starts to believe that wishes come true. This is a fun story, and I've always been a fan of Metzger's humor. My only qualm lies within the tepid heroine. 4 stars.In "Following Yonder Star" by Emma Jensen, Alice Ashe is preparing to have an Irish Christmas--without Gareth, the beau who abandoned her years ago. When he shows up for the Christmas festivies, Alice has mixed feelings about his unexpected arrival. Gareth, who plans to leave after Christmas, starts to wonder if he'll have a reason to stay. He still have feelings for Alice. ...This was an interesting story, aside from the fact that it veered from the plot sometimes. 3 stars.In "Merry Magpie" by Sandra Heath, Charlie Neville blames the downfall of his marriage on his estranged wife's aunt's... bird. It was because of the drunken (yes, drunken) magpie that his infidelity was exposed. 5 years later, he returns as a more mature man, hoping to get a second chance. This story was pleasantly different in the way it consisted of mostly flashbacks, which eventually led up to a 10 page reunion between the couple. In spite of the lack of interaction between the main characters, I still enjoyed it. 4 stars.In "Best Wishes" by Edith Layton, newlyweds Pamela and Jonathan suddenly find themselves at odds with each other. They can't agree on anything, and both spouse and husband end up being miserable during different parts of the holidays. Together, they must search for some common ground. I really wanted to enjoy this story, but I was irritated by Jonathan's controlling behavior, and by Pamela's whininess. 2 1/2 stars.In Carla Kelly's "Let Nothing You Dismay," Miss Cecilia Ambrose finds herself in close quarters with the family of her pupil, Lucinda. She is intrigued by Lucinda's uncle, who is both caring and intelligent. But Uncle Trevor harbors a secret--he blames himself for a tragedy that happened many Christmases ago. Somehow, Cecilia must help him to rid himself of his sorrows. As I would expect of Carla Kelly, the character developement is superb. 4 1/2 stars.To sum things up: This collection of Christmas stories (all written by popular writers of the genre) is pleasant in every way, and does an adequate job of presenting the spirit of the season.