Five of the most beloved and highly-acclaimed Regency authors present this collection of delightful tales that captures all the romance and intrigue of the most passionate of holidays--St. Valentine's Day. This anthology of spirited ladies, dashing gentlemen, notorious rakes, and scandalous lovers will be savored all year long.
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Five of the most beloved and highly-acclaimed Regency authors present this collection of delightful tales that captures all the romance and intrigue of the most passionate of holidays--St. Valentine's Day. This anthology of spirited ladies, dashing gentlemen, notorious rakes, and scandalous lovers will be savored all year long.
Read Less
This is a pleasant compilation of short Regency stories by some of the best names in this genre. This book was first published in 1992.
A TASK FOR CUPID (Carol Proctor)
Denzil Huntingford has two problems: He is in love with Miss Amabel Penworth and he has no idea how to woo her. Worse than that, he is shy and is socially inept (can't maintain social chatter). Denzil's Grand-mama, the Marchioness of Witley, decides to take him in hand and teach him what he needs to know. There ensues a tiresome number of pages in which Grand-mama tries various approaches with her grandson. This was a tedious story.
A WALTZ AMONG THE STARS (Mary Balogh)
The Duke of Durham has two daughters; the elder one, Lady Barbara Hanover , is barred from society because she had a child (Zachary) out-of-wedlock. She lives in the dower house on the duke's property but stays out of the main house. The younger one is Eve and she is expecting Lord Caleb White, a lonely widower, to pay her address and ask for her hand in marriage. Things do not go as planned; this is a story rich in emotion and grace.
THE LIGHT WITHIN (Carla Kelly)
American-born Quaker Blessing Whittier is in England searching for answers regarding her husband's maritime death. The British admiralty is ignoring her day after day. Lord Thomas Waggoner is trying to reel in his spend-thrift older brother before he spends his entire inheritance. He decides to kidnap his brother's paramour, hoping to let her know that his brother is almost bankrupt. He gets the next-door American Quaker instead and things evolve from there.
This is a well-written story that seems a bit silly.
THE MIDSUMMER VALENTINE (Sandra Heath)
A mysterious masked stranger danced with Georgina Hartford at a midsummer ball and suddenly disappeared immediately thereafter. Georgina has never forgotten him and often dreams of the enchanting night. While visiting her sister, she decides to crash the betrothal party of a neighbor: Sir Richard Marriot. At his ball, he recognizes Georgina. There seemed to be too many coincidences to make this a realistic and satisfying plot.
THE LEGACY (Edith Layton)
Ex-Captain in His Majesty's Light Hussars, Valerian Blackwood, and his cousin Bolton Blackwood have come to visit their old uncle who has one interest in life -- hunting antiquities. Bolton is convinced that the manor (he will eventually inherit) is being systematically stripped of its valuables (and replaced with reproductions). Aghast, Bolton wants Valerian to help him investigate. Bolton gets his comeuppance at the end. However the story was dull.
