Helpful Score: 2
Mary Jo Putney: "Sunshine For Christmas."
A pleasant read. Impulsively, Lord Randolph Lennox decides to flee England to escape his painful memories. His whimsical plans include Italy and he finds himself in Naples at Christmas. Over a misunderstanding, Miss Elizabeth Walker gladly offers support to a bewildered Lord Lennox. Soon they are fast friends. Friends who discover they can escape life's loneliness together. Mary Jo Putney's SUNSHINE FOR CHRISTMAS is good, but it is the moments of painful tenderness that truly save the story.
Anita Mills: "The Last Wish."
Repeatedly I am amazed at Anita Mills' talent to insert her reader into her story's setting and in THE LAST WISH this adept author once again capitalizes on her extraordinary skill. Sir John Grey is dying; he waits for death while he reflects on his life. His money-grubbing heirs gather for his death; all, but one, are ready to pick over the remains of Sir Grey's prosperous life. What they don't foresee is the arrival of a gentle woman and a small child. An unlikely pair who will forever change their lives. A well-written story, even though some of the slang was a struggle.
Mary Balogh: "Playing House."
PLAYING HOUSE is simply a wonderful story. There is not a drop of sexual activity found among these Balogh's words, but with this author's skill who needs it? Stephen, The Marquess of Bedford returns to his childhood home, the estate of Bedford Hall. He returns, with his small daughter, to relive the happy memories of carefree youth. He will give his child her own joyous memories. Instead he finds his first love, Lilias Angove. How dare poverty-stricken Lilias interfere in his renewal of happiness? Balogh pulls at her reader's heart with this touching and beautifully written story. Well done!
Carla Kelly: "The Three Kings"
As always, Carla Kelly gives us an honest, gritty story that depicts men and women overcoming huge obstacles. The hero and heroine spend a terrible journey together during the war and strangely don't wind up together at the end. I mean, they do, but she isn't physically with him - she still has to travel back to him through dangerous territory, and this is a bit unsettling, especially when you have read of their previous journey. I think Kelly's honesty makes her stories very heart-wrenching, but I wish she would have had the hero and heroine in safe territory before ending the story.
Sheila Walsh: "The Christmas Star."
A CHRISTMAS STAR is definitely a story with a highly improbable plot. Russian Prince Andrei Zarcov beseeches Louise Beresford, a poor country girl, to befriend his childhood love. A lonely young woman who has just given birth to a child. Louise agrees, for Louise is bewitched by Prince Zarcov's fairytale good looks and smooth manners. Almost a Cinderella story.
A pleasant read. Impulsively, Lord Randolph Lennox decides to flee England to escape his painful memories. His whimsical plans include Italy and he finds himself in Naples at Christmas. Over a misunderstanding, Miss Elizabeth Walker gladly offers support to a bewildered Lord Lennox. Soon they are fast friends. Friends who discover they can escape life's loneliness together. Mary Jo Putney's SUNSHINE FOR CHRISTMAS is good, but it is the moments of painful tenderness that truly save the story.
Anita Mills: "The Last Wish."
Repeatedly I am amazed at Anita Mills' talent to insert her reader into her story's setting and in THE LAST WISH this adept author once again capitalizes on her extraordinary skill. Sir John Grey is dying; he waits for death while he reflects on his life. His money-grubbing heirs gather for his death; all, but one, are ready to pick over the remains of Sir Grey's prosperous life. What they don't foresee is the arrival of a gentle woman and a small child. An unlikely pair who will forever change their lives. A well-written story, even though some of the slang was a struggle.
Mary Balogh: "Playing House."
PLAYING HOUSE is simply a wonderful story. There is not a drop of sexual activity found among these Balogh's words, but with this author's skill who needs it? Stephen, The Marquess of Bedford returns to his childhood home, the estate of Bedford Hall. He returns, with his small daughter, to relive the happy memories of carefree youth. He will give his child her own joyous memories. Instead he finds his first love, Lilias Angove. How dare poverty-stricken Lilias interfere in his renewal of happiness? Balogh pulls at her reader's heart with this touching and beautifully written story. Well done!
Carla Kelly: "The Three Kings"
As always, Carla Kelly gives us an honest, gritty story that depicts men and women overcoming huge obstacles. The hero and heroine spend a terrible journey together during the war and strangely don't wind up together at the end. I mean, they do, but she isn't physically with him - she still has to travel back to him through dangerous territory, and this is a bit unsettling, especially when you have read of their previous journey. I think Kelly's honesty makes her stories very heart-wrenching, but I wish she would have had the hero and heroine in safe territory before ending the story.
Sheila Walsh: "The Christmas Star."
A CHRISTMAS STAR is definitely a story with a highly improbable plot. Russian Prince Andrei Zarcov beseeches Louise Beresford, a poor country girl, to befriend his childhood love. A lonely young woman who has just given birth to a child. Louise agrees, for Louise is bewitched by Prince Zarcov's fairytale good looks and smooth manners. Almost a Cinderella story.
