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Christmas In The Duke's Arms: A Christmas Anthology (2000)

by Grace Burrowes(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 1

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review 1: What a treat! I don't often come across romance anthologies with such a high, consistent level of quality. The stories are all connected, taking place in a village called Hopewell-on-Lyft in Nottinghamshire, England, and much of the action takes place in the local pub called "The Duke's Arms". There is also a subplot about a highwayman who calls himself the "New Sheriff of Nottingham" and who has been terrorizing the coaches that pass through Hopewell-on-Lyft.Grace Burrowes' story is about a lady called Penelope Carrington (related to Joseph Carrington, the hero of "Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight") and her legal adviser Sir Leviticus Sparrow, or Levi for short. Besides being a widow with an urgent need to be married by Christmas, Penelope also raises Angora rabbits, a cou... moreple of whom almost steal the show from Penelope and Levi.Carolyn Jewel's story is probably the most satisfying of the set, although Grace Burrowes' is very good too. The Duke of Oxthorpe, the highest-ranking person in the area, is hopelessly in love with Miss Edith Cray, who recently moved into a small property next to the Duke's. The story of how the shy but arrogant Duke finally convinces the retiring (but not shy) Edith, who believes that the Duke is actually interested in her cousin, that she is the woman for him, is delightful and just about as good as a story of this length could be. Miranda Neville's story is about the (relatively) poor Robina Weston, who refuses an offer of marriage from the extremely well-organized, wealthy and responsible Lord Carbury even though she loves him, because she feels that his offer is only out of a sense of duty towards her. They both end up in Hopewell-on-Lyft, staying at the home of a relatively youthful but extremely snobbish widow who is the mother of Carbury's wards. The widow has designs on Carbury and the story is about how Carbury comes to realize that his true love is Robina and how he gets himself out of the clutches of the widow. The story has several laugh-out-loud moments but not as much emotional involvement as the first 2 stories in the book.Finally, Shana Galen's story is about a female "weapons designer" and a "clerk to spies" in the Foreign Office, who are both sent to capture the highwayman of Hopewell-on-Lyft. This is the weakest story, mainly because I could not suspend my disbelief about the 2 main characters and their interaction. Grace Burrowes' and Carolyn Jewel's stories get 5 stars, Miranda Neville's gets 4 stars and Shana Galen's gets 3.
review 2: This anthology was enjoyed immensely. Written by four of the best regency romance authors, the stories joined seamlessly. The struggles & triumphs of our lead ladies invoked a variety of emotions. If you enjoy this genre...grab this book. I am afraid to start on individual plots...afraid I'll get carried away and tell you too much & ruin it for you. I enjoyed it that much. A. Chapman less

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