Stocking Stuffers

"A Cache of Magical Kittens," by Judith Lansdowne Rebecca, Lady Wraithstone, had almost given up hope that her ailing young son would ever be restored to his former self. Neither she nore her son's new tutor, eccentric peer C. Archibald Pope, ever expected that a mysterious cat and her litter might prove a holiday char for her son - and for Rebecca and Archie's own lonely hearts. "Mistletoe Kisses," by Jeanne Savery Between her indifferent relatives and an overbearing suitor, Grace Cheviot sadly concludes that this will be the worst Christmas she's ever had. But when her tabby Purrmew's antics result in handsome soldier Morgan St. Austell giving Grace an unexpected kiss under the mistletoe, she finds that it's never too late to discover the real joys of the holiday. "Noel's Christmas Wish," by Donna Simpson When her carriage breaks down outside of Bath, Landry Ann Beechha-Brooke, famously reserved beauty of the ton, had no choice but to take refuge at the home of strangers. But it isn't long before she finds Russetshire Manor's five-year-old lady of the house and her energetic kitten, Noel, thawing her frozen heart - and introducting her and Russetshire's owner, Lord Charles Montrose, to true love for all seasons.

I opened this book absolutely confident that I would absolutely love at least one of the stories. I closed it, delightfully surprised by the discovery that I truly enjoyed all three of them. With varying degrees of enjoyment, to be sure, but nevertheless I did like them all. Leading off this 'stockingful of love and joy. . .' (as it says on the cover) is "A Cache of Magical Kittens" by Judith A. Lansdowne, the one I knew I would greatly enjoy. Which I did. No one--absolutely no one--does cats or kittens better than Ms. Lansdowne, and, once you've made the acquaintance of Mrs. Oakwood, I'm sure you'll agree. C. Archibald Pope with his trusty mare, Feather, is on his way to becoming the tutor for the son of an old friend, when Feather stumbles, and the severe winter cold and snow almost does them both in. It's only the discovery of a litter of forlorn, nearly frozen kittens and their exceedingly bedraggled mother in a hollow tree that provides the inspiration and fortitude for Archie to continue his journey. Once he reaches Wyndhover, he meets his young charge, the six-year-old Viscount Wraithstone, who has not spoken nor allowed himself to be touched since the death of his father, some eighteen months prior. And, of course, the lad's mother, at her wit's end in the struggle to solve the puzzle of her young son. A Cache of Magical Kittens is indeed magical in every respect, and you'll feel a warm wonderful glow when you've finished reading it. No matter when you read it. I'm sure the magic will work just as well in mid-summer as it would in mid-winter. It certainly worked for me on Valentine's Day!Mistletoe Kisses by Jeanne Savery was a major delight. A touch of Gothic, a hint of mystery, a lost heiress, a soon-to-be Baron and a small kitten all combine to lead the reader through hidden passages in an old castle to hidden caves in the cliffs off Cornwall, fighting off smugglers and other difficulties in order to find true love. It all works wonderfully well, and you'll enjoy the trip as the two lonely souls, Grace Cheviot and Morgan St. Austell, fight off adversaries to gain each other, with the able assistance of Purrmew, of course. Noël 's Christmas Wish by Donna Simpson, although the weakest of the three novellas (in my own opinion, that is) is still enjoyable. One could wish for a slighter emphasis on the stereotypical behavior of the characters, and also for slightly more archaic speech patterns in what is, after all, a historical story. (Late 20th century phrases pop out in the strangest places--a habit I've noticed in other books by this author.) The six-year-old Mossy is a tad too precocious, but charming and winsome in her longing for a real family--something she's never known, for her mother died in childbirth. When her father, Charles Montrose, brings her a kitten he's rescued, the tyke is overjoyed that he's remembered his promise, when in reality he doesn't remember any such thing. Mossy and the kitten, who she's named Noël, wish o

The three of my favorite authors give us wonderful stories. Out of the three, however, my favorite would have to be the second with all its delicious intrigue (hidden passages, odd relatives). "Mistletoe Kisses" just does not stay put. The other stories are still not to be passed over. Archibald, who thinks he is not worthy and yet gives a mother a most precious gift, and Lady Ann, who refuses to deal with any more gossip, find themselves in interesting and difficult situations. They manage to find the courage to overcome their difficulties with a smile on their face.