Christmas In The Duke's Arms: A Christmas Anthology (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Nice Regency stories set around "The Duke's Arms" Inn in the English countryside. The four authors accepted this assignment with relish, and clearly communicated with each other. Nothing else could explain the presence of bunnies in all four stories. Two were more successful than the other two. I would give at least 3.5 stars to A Knight For Christmas by Grace Burrowes. This is the story of a lovely widow (Burrowes brings in characters from her Windham series) who must remarry by Christmas in order to save an additional inheritance from her late much-loved husband. Of course, in true Regency fashion, sh has sisters who must have dowries in order to marry well. Fortunately, the gentleman who loves her is the only one she wishes to marry. There is, of course a complication....The second story, In The Duke's Arms by Carolyn Jewel, revolves around the Duke of Oxthorpe, single and very reserved. The Duke has been rumored to form an attachment to a young and pretty woman from London. However, the Duke will not be ordered who to love or to marry. The young lady for whom he sets his cap is someone totally unexpected. In my opinion, this is the best of the book - four stars.A License to Wed by Miranda Neville is a fair entry, centering on a young man too reserved and unable to speak of emotions to find the correct way to propose to a young lady. The Spy Beneath the Mistletoe, by Shana Galen contains all sorts of "cute" references, including characters known as "Q", Moneypence, and Bonde. Said spies are really not all that adept at clandestine surveillance, but they manage to acquit themselves well, while falling in love under the (now-wilting) mistletoe. 2-3 stars for each of these. All in all, a good idea, one I wouldn't mind seeing repeated next Christmas. First let me start by saying that I loved all the novellas in this anthology. Grace Burrowes starts it off with Levi and Penelope's story and it was so cute I couldn't put it down. Carolyn Jewel's In the Duke's Arms was about Edith Clay and the Duke of Oxthorpe. Their story kept me turning the pages! Licensed to Wed by Miranda Neville was Wyatt and Robina's story. I liked watching Wyatt come to the realization that he really did love Robina. Shana Galen's story The Spy Beneath the Mistletoe wraps up the antho. with Eliza and Pierce's story. I loved the passion between the two spies and the steamy scenes kept me up late at night reading! Great job ladies!!!
What do You think about Christmas In The Duke's Arms: A Christmas Anthology (2000)?
Only read in the duke's arms by Carolyn Jewel. Like it but not as good as her masterpiece "Scandal"
—mushumushu2014
read the Carolyn Jewel - shy socially inept hero FTW. 4 stars for that one. (read 12 Jan 2015)
—Anne
