Ordering this book because of the high rating, I was only familiar with the writings of authors Jo Goodman, Hannah Howell, and Carol Finch. I've never heard of the other three authors. One great aspect of this book is that all 6 stories are original to this publication (no reprints are included). At the bottom, you will find my best-to-least-story listings.
THE BABY DREAM (Jo Goodman) --
Annie Moses was found in a basket, floating on the Delaware River by actress Ruby Davenport. Before Ruby died, she told Annie about the day she found Annie and gave her the locket with an M on it (that she was wearing when found). The troupe of actors (and quasi-parents of Annie) decided that Annie needed to find her own way and so they separated. Thus begins Annie's quest for her heritage.
This is an enchanting story but the premise that Annie remembered her mother's ring when she was put in the water (she was only a few days old) was preposterous. However, the story was so engaging that I didn't really care.
EDINA AND THE BABY (Hannah Howell) --
This is a medieval tale about a young woman who finds a baby in the forest. Since her own mother dumped her in the forest when she was 5-years-of-age (she is now 20), Edina feels a strong sense of compassion for the baby. When men come upon her, demanding the child, she refuses to release him until she is sure the baby is in good hands. Thus, she follows the laird back to his home.
This was boring and very ho-hum. I forced myself to finish this.
LULLABY OF LOVE (Carol Finch) --
Donnovan Maxwell's younger brother and sister-in-law were lost at sea and Donnovan is now the guardian of his year-old niece. Donnovan is a by-the-book retired Revolutionary War leader who needs a nanny. A brash young woman interrupts his days-long search for the nanny, offering to work for room and board. Against his better judgment, Donnovan hires Hannah and they all travel to his plantation in South Carolina. Before long, Donnovan learns from his men Hannah's backstory. Carol Finch can certainly write action and she does a fine job here.
A DAUGHTER FOR JOHN (Phoebe Conn) --
In 1763 America, John Cochrane meets an auburn-haired woman who is part of the Gilbert Troupe, a group of singers and musicians. They travel around and are hired to provide entertainment at parties and taverns. John, an aristocrat-type of a gentleman, is immediately smitten with Melody. What he doesn't know is that she has a small daughter. They both know that she is not suitable for the Cochrane family. However, John continues in his pursuit of the young woman.
I read these stories out-of-order and found this as pointless as the last story in this book.
WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE (Barbara Benedict) --
Meg McCleary believes in the Little People of Ireland. Penniless and tending to her younger brother, Meg happens upon a baby boy. She definitely does not need another mouth to feed. At about the same time, the 5th Earl of Gravesley, sent his cousin, Kit Forrester, to find his missing wife Joanne. The Earl offers Kit 4000 pounds to find her and bring her back. Kit is an actor and has given up his career by assisting Gerald (the Earl).
Fortunately, the publisher gave this author the pages she needed to tell her story; it is one of the better stories in this book. This story has depth and consequence. However, I thought the author was way too wordy, getting her story written.
WANTED: A HUSBAND AND FATHER (Jane Kidder) --
This story is so stupid, I doubt you want to hear it. A woman and her baby are devastated when the man she claims as her husband is shot in a stagecoach robbery. He's not, he's her brother (a Union soldier on his way to Laramie), but she was married to a Confederate soldier who died and she was planning to live with her brother (claiming him as her husband) because she had no place else to go (no family left).
Then she asks the remaining soldier (on the stage) to claim her as his wife, so she has someplace to stay; he refuses. When they arrive at Laramie, she claims to be Mrs. Grant anyway. People overhear their argument and Capt. Grant is reprimanded. (Is this stupid enough for you yet?)
**Overall scoring (favorite-to-least-favorite): Goodman, Benedict, Finch, Howell, Conn, Kidder.
THE BABY DREAM (Jo Goodman) --
Annie Moses was found in a basket, floating on the Delaware River by actress Ruby Davenport. Before Ruby died, she told Annie about the day she found Annie and gave her the locket with an M on it (that she was wearing when found). The troupe of actors (and quasi-parents of Annie) decided that Annie needed to find her own way and so they separated. Thus begins Annie's quest for her heritage.
This is an enchanting story but the premise that Annie remembered her mother's ring when she was put in the water (she was only a few days old) was preposterous. However, the story was so engaging that I didn't really care.
EDINA AND THE BABY (Hannah Howell) --
This is a medieval tale about a young woman who finds a baby in the forest. Since her own mother dumped her in the forest when she was 5-years-of-age (she is now 20), Edina feels a strong sense of compassion for the baby. When men come upon her, demanding the child, she refuses to release him until she is sure the baby is in good hands. Thus, she follows the laird back to his home.
This was boring and very ho-hum. I forced myself to finish this.
LULLABY OF LOVE (Carol Finch) --
Donnovan Maxwell's younger brother and sister-in-law were lost at sea and Donnovan is now the guardian of his year-old niece. Donnovan is a by-the-book retired Revolutionary War leader who needs a nanny. A brash young woman interrupts his days-long search for the nanny, offering to work for room and board. Against his better judgment, Donnovan hires Hannah and they all travel to his plantation in South Carolina. Before long, Donnovan learns from his men Hannah's backstory. Carol Finch can certainly write action and she does a fine job here.
A DAUGHTER FOR JOHN (Phoebe Conn) --
In 1763 America, John Cochrane meets an auburn-haired woman who is part of the Gilbert Troupe, a group of singers and musicians. They travel around and are hired to provide entertainment at parties and taverns. John, an aristocrat-type of a gentleman, is immediately smitten with Melody. What he doesn't know is that she has a small daughter. They both know that she is not suitable for the Cochrane family. However, John continues in his pursuit of the young woman.
I read these stories out-of-order and found this as pointless as the last story in this book.
WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE (Barbara Benedict) --
Meg McCleary believes in the Little People of Ireland. Penniless and tending to her younger brother, Meg happens upon a baby boy. She definitely does not need another mouth to feed. At about the same time, the 5th Earl of Gravesley, sent his cousin, Kit Forrester, to find his missing wife Joanne. The Earl offers Kit 4000 pounds to find her and bring her back. Kit is an actor and has given up his career by assisting Gerald (the Earl).
Fortunately, the publisher gave this author the pages she needed to tell her story; it is one of the better stories in this book. This story has depth and consequence. However, I thought the author was way too wordy, getting her story written.
WANTED: A HUSBAND AND FATHER (Jane Kidder) --
This story is so stupid, I doubt you want to hear it. A woman and her baby are devastated when the man she claims as her husband is shot in a stagecoach robbery. He's not, he's her brother (a Union soldier on his way to Laramie), but she was married to a Confederate soldier who died and she was planning to live with her brother (claiming him as her husband) because she had no place else to go (no family left).
Then she asks the remaining soldier (on the stage) to claim her as his wife, so she has someplace to stay; he refuses. When they arrive at Laramie, she claims to be Mrs. Grant anyway. People overhear their argument and Capt. Grant is reprimanded. (Is this stupid enough for you yet?)
**Overall scoring (favorite-to-least-favorite): Goodman, Benedict, Finch, Howell, Conn, Kidder.
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