1: Contemporary Christmas stories from England
As the back cover description is already included on this page, I'll go straight to my review:
"Dearest Eulalia" by Betty Neels: I didn't have high hopes for this story, as I have not been that impressed with this author's work in the past. I often find that her stories just do not engage the emotions, and this was no exception. I've never been a fan of "love at first sight" stories - I think the concept is ridiculous. Sure, you can be strongly attracted at first sight, and the attraction can grow into love. But true love at first sight? Get real. I think that this trite theme is a very lazy way for a writer to cheat on not writing a good love story. This story was so flat and boring, and when the guy declares to the heroine's father that he's fallen in love with her (after speaking maybe twenty words to her) I rolled my eyes, said "Give me a break!" and skipped to the next story. One star.
I expected better of "The Extra-Special Gift" by Catherine George. I enjoyed her story in the anthology "Christmas Journeys" and as this was another reuniting of estranged spouses story (one of my favorite themes) I thought that I would like it. I was wrong. The characters were annoying, and I hated the heroine for running home to Mommy and Daddy when the going got tough in her marriage. Grow up! Unless the guy was beating you up (he wasn't) or cheating on you (he wasn't), or using drugs (he wasn't) or breaking the law, etc (he wasn't), then stay home and stick it out. If you really have to seperate, then seperate. But don't run home to your parents like a little child. I never finished this story either. One star.
"The Doorstep Baby" by Marion Lennox was better (but then it wouldn't have taken much to improve on the last two stories!). Finally, an English woman who actually takes care of her own children! I'm soooooo sick of reading about these 'proper English families' where happily married spouses sleep in seperate bedroom and have housekeepers and nannies when they could easily be doing these things themselves because "that's how it's done". While I did feel that Lia (the heroine) had a good reason for breaking up with Pete (the hero), I also felt that having a big misunderstanding keep them apart for seven years was rather silly. Why not just talk about it in the first place? I think he let her go far too easily without much of a fight.
But the major drawback to this story was the heroine's family. They were HORRIBLE people! And they never got what they deserved. Sure, the hero does politely take them to task every now and then, but it really annoyed me that the heroine never stood up for herself. Lia was a complete doormat around her family. Not only does she let them insult her, compare her to her sisters, where of course, she's found greatly lacking, ("You look pretty" her dad says, "almost as pretty as your sisters", gee - thanks!), but she spends money she can't afford putting on a Christmas feast for them EVERY year without a word of thanks from any of them. Get a backbone!
Did I mention how horrible her family was? Because it got even worse than what I just mentioned above. The Lia's sister once made a play for Lia's fiancee. Not only did the family know about this, they encouraged it! After all, Sally is prettier and deserves him more, they say! OH MY GOSH! If my family ever treated me this way, I'd kick all of their sorry butts to the curb and tell them never to come back into my house or my life again!
All of this would have been okay if they had got what they deserved, and/or Lia had at least stood up for herself, but she didn't. This aspect of the story really detracted from my enjoyment of it, and dragged down a four-star story down to three stars.
If you like the Harlequin Presents line, then you might like this. If your not a fan of those books, and all their inherent silly misunderstands and non-communication, I would suggest skipping this anthology.
|
