1: A Bargain Bin Prize.
FROM THE HEART, is a five-story anthology I found on the discard table, at the local used bookstore. I paid a paltry sum - .35 cents! Did I luck out? Oh yea!
Mary Balogh: "The Anniversary." -- Rating: A+
This type of tale is a Mary Balogh specialty, a well-written, short story set in Regency England. THE ANNIVERSARY is a gentle romance with intense sensuality, yet the author does not rely on powerful bed scenes to draw that sensuality. Amy Richmond, the Countess of Reardon, exists on the country estate belonging to her estranged husband, Hugh. They have never spent one married day or night together. However, on this the eve of St. Valentine's Day, the earl is returning to Reardon Park to attend to his wife and THEIR son. If I have one complaint, with this short story, it is exactly that . . . too short!
Anne Barbour: "The Wooing of Lord Walford." -- Rating: B+
Charles Darracot and Sarah `Sally' Berners have always been friends. To win a contest, Charlie asks his old friend to set her sights on the very available Sedge Horne, Lord Walford. Is money that important to Charlie when his long time friend takes him up on his request? THE WOOING OF LORD WALFORD is a tranquil, yet amusing love story written with Barbour's smooth pen.
Melinda McRae: "Cupid's Dart." -- Rating: B
Now this was charming. CUPID'S DART is a fun little valentine's story about two friends, who unknowingly have loved each other through the years. Everyone is enjoying the Valentine's party set in the English countryside. A party energized by games, merriment, and romance. Suddenly, confirmed bachelor, Sebastian Cole, comes to his senses and asks his long time friend Wilhelmina, the widowed Lady Taunton, to marry him. Melinda McRae pens an easy, delightful short story.
Anita Mills: "Devil's Luck." -- Rating: B-
Anita Mills' strong suit is her ability to thrust a reader into a scene. Again, in DEVIL'S LUCK, Mills' untouchable ability shines through. From the opening words, Mills moves her reader to The Red Ram Inn, in February 1795. Gentlemen are gambling in a smoky, deserted taproom. One gentleman wins; the others lose - one so greatly his daughter is forfeited. Garth Rowland, Viscount Trevaney, has won Melisande Merriweather in a card game! Although the story's idea held great promise, it gets only a 7 rating - there just wasn't enough tingle in the delivery.
Sandra Heath: "The Imposter." -- Rating: A-
As an author, what Sandra Heath does brilliantly is to offer historical facts, yet still manages to keep the romance front and center. This is not a simple task and as a reader I am most appreciative. After all, this is the nature of the genre - romance. THE IMPOSTER is simply a tale of what can happen when we try to deceive. A debt of honor has obliged Felix Vestey, the future Viscount of Northwood, to fib for a foolish `friend.' The victim of the deceit is his `friend's' betrothed, Miss Jane Martin. However, upon meeting Miss Martin, Felix finds he cannot lie to her; instead, Felix finds himself very much in love. Sandra Heath delivers a fine story, holding her reader's interest from start to finish.
A word of advice: check out that discard table, you never know what you'll find . . .
MaryGrace Meloche.
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