Sweet Christmas Secrets: A Regency Holiday Anthology
Joanne Austen Brown, Susanne Bellamy, Catherine Bilson, Erin Grace, Isabella Hargreaves, Stephen Hart, Fiona M Marsden, Clyve Rose, Ebony Oaten, Heidi Wessman Kneale
Reviewed by Helen
Kidnapping Lord Blaymire
Catherin Bilson
This was a really lovely story, Persephone’s ward has recently died and now she has a new ward Lord Blaymire Samuel whose mother is determined to get her to London and marry her off. When Persephone does not comply and arrive in London Samuel decides to arrive on her doorstep, where things do not go to plan for him.
Neither were looking for love but soon Samuel and Persephone find that they have a common love of music and before long this has bought them together, this really is a delightful story one that I really enjoyed.
The Wallflower’s Christmas Surprise
Isabella Hargreaves
Violet Hambleton is a wallflower but she has a secret admirer who is sending her poems, it is just on Christmas and the Yule ball is about to be held and Violet is going to see if she can discover her admirer.
Sebastian, Viscount Stanworth has been a student of Violet’s father before and he has become friends with Violet but he wants to be more than friends, he knows that here is an age difference and that his parents will not approve but Violet is who he wants and who he is determined to have.
This is another lovely sweet story that shows how love will come through.
I Wrote My Love
Fiona M Marsden
Kitty Wantling has just received two marriage proposals, who would have thought it yes one was from her dear friend and neighbour Johnny and another from Captain Gerard a returning injured soldier, she had a decision to make and letters were written.
I mix up with the letters sees Captain Gerard coming to spend Christmas with the Wantling family and this gives Kitty and Jonathan time to get to know each other and it isn’t long before hearts are bursting with love and a future together is what they both want.
A beautiful romance with a true hero and a strong and beautiful heroine, I did love this one.
The Secret Letter
Joanne Austen Brown
When brothers decide that they want a wife and they devise a plan of secret letters they need their older brothers help, he is a rake and a viscount but the last thing Thomas Wright wanted was a wife but he agreed to help his brothers never realising his life would change.
Cora beautiful but known as cold Cora, she is helping her sister Lillian with her season she keeps to herself because of something that had happened years ago but now it seems that she is receiving love letters from a secret admirer, it has to be a trick.
Thomas is drawn to Cora from the start of this game and it soon becomes all bout convincing Cora of his love, could this really be happening for Cora she has always dreamt of true love and now it has happened.
Another beautiful romance.
The Widow and Mr Cat
Stephen Hart
This is a witty and fun romance that had me laughing so much, Mr Cat is the best character so wise and cheeky, you have to get know him as he plays matchmaker to our hero and heroine along although he wasn’t always inclined that way.
Widowed Anne James is offered the position of companion to young Phoebe sister of Octavius Charles Anthony St Aubin, 7th Earl of Marsby (Tony), she is pushed hard to take the position and is soon ensconced in the Marsby household and listening to MR Cat and his advice.
Tony is a good man really and is engaged to Harriet just because it is time he takes a wife but when Mr Cat arrives and Anne James is in the household this has Tony re-thinking his future. It is not long before Anne is on his mind more often than not.
This really is a great romance, the first I have read from MR Hart and one that I would highly recommend, I look forward to many more from him.
Love’s Sweet Arrow
Clyve Rose
A beautiful story of childhood friends who find love after being through some very tough times.
Captain Lionel Eversfield has returned from the war scared only to find the girl he loved is struggling with life at the moment can he make his Christmas wish come true
Lady Annette Ryehurst said goodbye to Lionel ten years ago and now after five seasons and her mother pushing her to marry her cousin nothing has happened but can it be that Lionel is back and will he be her Knight in shining armour?
When We Were Wallflowers
Heidi Wessman Kneale
A country house party to marry off his daughters is a good idea, Katie the eldest is supposedly a wallflower will she find love?
Lord Francis Rowther and his brother arrive with thoughts of the brother finding a bride but will it be Francis who finds the love of his life?
A romantic, lovely story
Catherin Bilson
This was a really lovely story, Persephone’s ward has recently died and now she has a new ward Lord Blaymire Samuel whose mother is determined to get her to London and marry her off. When Persephone does not comply and arrive in London Samuel decides to arrive on her doorstep, where things do not go to plan for him.
Neither were looking for love but soon Samuel and Persephone find that they have a common love of music and before long this has bought them together, this really is a delightful story one that I really enjoyed.
The Wallflower’s Christmas Surprise
Isabella Hargreaves
Violet Hambleton is a wallflower but she has a secret admirer who is sending her poems, it is just on Christmas and the Yule ball is about to be held and Violet is going to see if she can discover her admirer.
Sebastian, Viscount Stanworth has been a student of Violet’s father before and he has become friends with Violet but he wants to be more than friends, he knows that here is an age difference and that his parents will not approve but Violet is who he wants and who he is determined to have.
This is another lovely sweet story that shows how love will come through.
I Wrote My Love
Fiona M Marsden
Kitty Wantling has just received two marriage proposals, who would have thought it yes one was from her dear friend and neighbour Johnny and another from Captain Gerard a returning injured soldier, she had a decision to make and letters were written.
I mix up with the letters sees Captain Gerard coming to spend Christmas with the Wantling family and this gives Kitty and Jonathan time to get to know each other and it isn’t long before hearts are bursting with love and a future together is what they both want.
A beautiful romance with a true hero and a strong and beautiful heroine, I did love this one.
The Secret Letter
Joanne Austen Brown
When brothers decide that they want a wife and they devise a plan of secret letters they need their older brothers help, he is a rake and a viscount but the last thing Thomas Wright wanted was a wife but he agreed to help his brothers never realising his life would change.
Cora beautiful but known as cold Cora, she is helping her sister Lillian with her season she keeps to herself because of something that had happened years ago but now it seems that she is receiving love letters from a secret admirer, it has to be a trick.
Thomas is drawn to Cora from the start of this game and it soon becomes all bout convincing Cora of his love, could this really be happening for Cora she has always dreamt of true love and now it has happened.
Another beautiful romance.
The Widow and Mr Cat
Stephen Hart
This is a witty and fun romance that had me laughing so much, Mr Cat is the best character so wise and cheeky, you have to get know him as he plays matchmaker to our hero and heroine along although he wasn’t always inclined that way.
Widowed Anne James is offered the position of companion to young Phoebe sister of Octavius Charles Anthony St Aubin, 7th Earl of Marsby (Tony), she is pushed hard to take the position and is soon ensconced in the Marsby household and listening to MR Cat and his advice.
Tony is a good man really and is engaged to Harriet just because it is time he takes a wife but when Mr Cat arrives and Anne James is in the household this has Tony re-thinking his future. It is not long before Anne is on his mind more often than not.
This really is a great romance, the first I have read from MR Hart and one that I would highly recommend, I look forward to many more from him.
Love’s Sweet Arrow
Clyve Rose
A beautiful story of childhood friends who find love after being through some very tough times.
Captain Lionel Eversfield has returned from the war scared only to find the girl he loved is struggling with life at the moment can he make his Christmas wish come true
Lady Annette Ryehurst said goodbye to Lionel ten years ago and now after five seasons and her mother pushing her to marry her cousin nothing has happened but can it be that Lionel is back and will he be her Knight in shining armour?
When We Were Wallflowers
Heidi Wessman Kneale
A country house party to marry off his daughters is a good idea, Katie the eldest is supposedly a wallflower will she find love?
Lord Francis Rowther and his brother arrive with thoughts of the brother finding a bride but will it be Francis who finds the love of his life?
A romantic, lovely story
Spying For the Earl
Susanne Bellamy
Lord Rufus Marsden is a spy and carefully watching Bonaparte in exile on St Helena Island, he is looking for someone to who may be able to help who owns a shipping company, never expecting to find love along the way
Meredith Appleyard is a widowed ship owner and very smart when she meets her cousin’s friend Lord Rufus and is soon playing chess with him and roped into becoming a spy life is filled with danger but her heart is soon filling with love.
A true adventure romance with spies and danger.
The Mysterious Mr J
Erin Grace
Oleander Bassington has lived her life in a small village, she is intelligent and hardworking, marrying wasn’t what she was looking for necessarily but when her close friend married her life is turning in a different direction.
When Darringer, Earl Reinard arrives for the Christmas ball, looking forw love or a wife is far from his mond but when he meets the beautiful Ollenader his heart changes direction.
Another beautiful romance that had me cheering these two on.
Fetch the Earl
Ebony Oaten
The Sloane family from Nettleberry had been living a quiet country life until the fifth Earl of Penge passed away and now they find themselves in London, Earl, Countess, Lord George and Lady Anne, never realizing what will come now with their lives, a whole new world.
Lady Anne receives a marriage proposal and they acquire a new footman Fetch who turns out to be more than he seems.
This is a up and down journey for not only Anne and Fetch but the family and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, Anne is one strong heroine and Fetch a true hero.
Conclusion
These are fabulous stories all involve a letter or two a secret and beautiful romances where we meet some wonderful heroes and heroines. This is an anthology that I would highly recommend.
My thanks to Fiona M Marsden for my copy to read and review
4 stars
Published October 8th 2021
