The Christmas Gift (Zebra Regency Romance)

Description

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Customer Reviews

A sweet, heartwarming romance!
The Christmas Gift is the third book in Jeanne Savery's "The Six" series. The book is a serious tale of one man's battle to overcome his disability, leavened with many bits of humor. All of the characters from the previous two volumes in the series are largely integrated into the story and two plot lines started in the previous two books are continued. Jack Princeton has returned from the Peninsular War a cripple. Severely depressed by his changed circumstances, it takes the intervention of two of his closest friends to drag him from his isolation. However, not even the company of his friends can help him escape the black moods that have taken possession of him. What the men can not do, though, a stubborn widow accomplishes rather quickly. Soon, Jack has a new lease on life, but new circumstances conspire against him and his pursuit of the widow.

There is a lot going in The Christmas Gift. In addition to the main romance, there are three other couples in the book. Story lines from the previous novels are advanced, with foreshadowing of the next volume. This makes for a very fast paced book.

Jack was a well drawn and somewhat endearing character. Patricia, the heroine, was very strong, but vulnerable as well. Both characters complimented the other's strengths and weaknesses very nicely. The interplay between "The Six" friends was, as ever, lively and interesting.

The only criticisms I have are that Patricia's past was not sufficiently explored for my tastes and that the plot was very similar to the first book in this series, Taming Lord Renwick. My problem with Patricia's past is that the author did not use it for anything. She had no hang-ups due to her past, nor did it affect her relationship with Jack in any way. In the beginning of the book, it seemed Patricia would act differently because of her past experiences than she ended up doing. As for my other criticism, Taming Lord Renwick had a very similar plot line: man returns from foreign country wounded, woman helps him get over it. The main difference between the two novels is in tone. Taming Lord Renwick is the more serious story, while The Christmas Gift is much more light-hearted. The Christmas Gift is a lovely, sweet Christmas story, definitely a book to curl up with in front of a fire. This book will remain one of my favorites for sometime to come.

2000-11-02 (So. Cal., USA) | Helpful Votes: 9 | Rating: 5

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The trilogy continues with this charmer.
Jack Princeton has been wounded in the campaign in Portugal. He will never have full use of wounded leg. Riding, one of his passions, is now only a memory for him. When he realizes that Black, a sergeant wounded in the same battle, has lost his arm and will most likely be forced to beg for food. Jack hires Black as his man servant. They soon find themselves in his brother's house in York where everything of any value at all has been taken by his brother George's creditors. The house itself is Jack's; he had bought it from his brother. His friends find him there and decide to take him with them to recuperate further. Patricia Haydon, a widow, has been living in her cousin's house. When Alex Merwin writes to tell her he is coming and bringing Lord Tony Wendover and Jack Princeton with him, she readies herself to face the first man she fell in love with. Jeanne Savery has written another charming story. This is the third in a series, and the story arc will continue in the Spring 01. Each novel is well written enough to stand on its own, but the reader will enjoy the full range of the story in reading the full set.

2000-10-04 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Christmas Scandal-Not!

Description

Eccentric spinster sisters Elf and Ally cannot keep their noses out of the way when someone, anyone, needs help or comfort. Elf, with her sharp mind, and Ally, with her soft heart, will arrive as quickly as horses can get them there.Enjoy more romantic adventures with Elf and Ally in Runaway Scandal and House of Scandal.

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Customer Reviews

What a load of rubbish!
What on earth was the point of this?

There's no story here, and certainly no romance. Just two short chapters, and people we're given no reason to care about. I'm glad I didn't pay anything for it!

2010-07-08 | wmr-uk (Canada) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 1

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Cute Christmas short story
The title of the review is all I will say about this. If I say anything of the story, it will give it away. It was a 5 minute read for me, if that, but it is a complete story in and of itself.

2010-06-25 (Granbury, Tx USA) | Helpful Votes: 7 | Rating: 4

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The Ghost and Jacob Moorhead

Description

Verity Tomlinson, the daughter of the late Earl of Everston's son and his housekeeper's sister, feels as if she is neither fish nor fowl. It certainly would not be proper to wed the late earl's heir and she will not become his mistress.

But it is not certain Jacob Moorhead will inherit. Only if he gives up his rakish life in London and lives for a year on the estate in the wilds of Yorkshire will the Hall become his.

While Jacob does his best to contravene none of the requirements for inheriting, he also has to deal with the sprightly ghost of the deceased earl who has very clear notions on how Jacob should -- or should not -- live his life. To complicate matters further, the earl's eccentric daughter is in great danger as a result of her last adventure overseas.

All in all, a happy outcome for Verity and Jacob, the most fervent wish of the ghostly earl, is not something that can be presumed.

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Taming Lord Renwick (Zebra Regency Romance)

Description

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Customer Reviews

Taming Lord Renwick
Taming Lord Renwick by Jeanne Savery was a recent reread for me. It is a Regency Period Romance novel published under the Zebra Regency label. Eustacia is the daughter of a Vicar who as passed away, leaving her in a precarious financial situation and in the care of her stepmother. Her stepmother, liking the finer things in life, has found the perfect husband for Eustacia, Mr. Weaver, a fat, elderly, smelly man. As Eustacia and her step-mother are discussing (okay, the step-mother is telling Eustacia) the marriage plans, Lord Renwick and his aunt, Lady Blackburn, can't help overhearing the stepmother's strident tones and Eustacia's quietly whispered "no". Lord Renwick, known as Jason to his friends, makes a comment to Lady Blackburn about how he likes the sound of Eustacia's voice before he leaves for bed. Lady Blackburn, willing to do anything for her nephew, interferes and whisks Euastacia off to stay at Tiger's Lair, Jason's ancestral home.

Jason having returned from India nearly a year before the incident at the Inn is nearly blind from a hunting accident where he saved the life of a prince, leaving him needing the assistance of those around him for just about everything. Jason has retreated into his house and his shell, believing that because he can't see he is not a full man and unable to function with others. Jason's only friend is the white tiger Sahib that returned with him and acts as his guide and protector. Eustacia breezes into the Tiger's Lair like a quiet whirlwind, upsetting the status quo and allowing Jason to realize that he is really not that limited after all. Just when things start to heat up between Jason and Eustacia the prince arrives with his entourage to learn English ways, unfortunately the 10 year old prince is there against his will and things start to get interesting.

This is a book is a part of a series about a group of boys who grew up together but all returned from the war and India with their battle scars. I like the book because Eustacia is the quietly determined heroine, who doesn't believe she herself is worth much but sees the value in others, I also like how she is able to be understanding about some of the motives of the other characters. Sahib is also a great addition to the story, how ofter do you read about a white tiger seeing eye dog?! He terrorizes the servants, make everyone to comes to visit Jason nervous and eventually saves the day, in more ways than one. I also like that the hero has self-doubts and an impairment. (I mean really, was everyone in Regency Period England beautiful and perfect! I don't think so!) I recommend the entire series and now need to go dig through my other books to find the rest of the books so I can reread them as well.

2010-02-18 | Read more at Novelreaction(dot)com (Phoenix, AZ) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Not great, only ok
Lord Renwick was blinded in a hunting accident in India, and retires to his country estate, where Eustacia signs on as his secretary to help him write his memoirs, of course they fall in love. She teaches him to adjust to his blindness. There is some awkward humor, especially with his pet tiger which acts like a seeing-eye dog. Not great, but not terrible. The quality of the writing is average for a romance with a light-hearted tone.

2009-04-16 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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honest good romance
Lieutenant Lord Jason Renwick, baron of the Realm, was seriously wounded during a tiger hunt in India and returned to England a bitter man. He lives with his aunt, Lady Blackburne, in a reclusive way in the country. In one of his very rare outings, they meet Eustacia, a girl with the voice of an angel in an inn and Jason is immediately taken with her voice. This angel is no green miss but the disinherited granddaughter of an earl, traveling with her stepmother. In order to avoid the unwanted attentions of a disagreeable suitor and because she was fascinated by the sleek albino tiger that follows Jason, Eustacia agrees to an extended "visit" to Tiger's Lair.

You all know where this will end, but the author still manages to present a very enjoyable story, with the addition of a few other characters, as the spoiled Indian prince whom Jason saved in that hunt when he was blinded, a couple of titled friends and a kidnapping. It was a quick and good reading, most of all because there were no unnecessary sex scenes which would be terribly inappropriate for the time. If you find this book in your local library a I did, give it a try. It will be worth your time.
There is a sequel to this book, "Lady Serena's Surrender", that tells the story of one of Jason's friends, Ian McMurrey.

2006-09-11 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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A lot of fun -- a keeper!
I enjoyed this book a lot. Anyone who has had a life altering injury or desease can learn quite a bit from the 'Taming...' of Lord Rewick. How what we now call "tough love" can give someone with a disability back their life. The description of the dispair one experiences is authentic. The smoothering solicitude of some loved ones is also true-to-life.

PLUS, it _was_ a lot of fun to read!

2000-06-27 | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 5

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A great read
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially due to the fact that the hero was not the perfect physical specimen that appears in so many regencies. The way Sahib(the tiger) bring together two people who each believe they are unworthy of the other is truly touching. I would recommend this book to anyone.

2000-01-08 | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 4

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A Lady's Deception

Description

Tacye Adlington disguises herself as her late twin brother in order to provide a proper escort for her younger sister during Bath's Little Season, but her masquerade is threatened by her attraction to the brooding, reclusive Marquess of Worth. Original.

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Customer Reviews

A Lady's Deception
When I first read this, a decade or so ago, I read it under the mistaken belief that it would be similar to a manga I adore called Basara. All I really read of the synopsis was 'Young girl masquerades as her late twin brother and gets into trouble'--which is Basara's plot at the most simple. So yes I was mighty surprised and learned the valuable lesson to read the blurb before you read the book to avoid such mishaps again.

Regardless this trope--a lady disguising herself as a guy--tickles me pink every time. Whether made seriously or made as a lark, almost invariably the lady in question gets into some situations that are simply outlandish. I especially love it when the hero suspects the lady and purposely makes her squirm to see if she breaks. Lucius is rather like that, pushing buttons to get to the truth.

Tacye (for the record she and her sister win for exotic names in Regency Romances, at least for this month) is capable, intelligent, quick-witted and has the inner strength to make the charade work. I fully believe if Lucius hadn't become a factor nothing would have gone wrong. Admittedly the time that Tacye spends a female in Lucius' company is far shorter then what she spends with as a guy, but Lucius caught on to the guise fairly quick. So while Tacye was falling in love with him, and wondering how to explain that she isn't a guy, he was wondering how to get her not to be a guy long enough for things not to get really scandalous!

2009-12-01 | Poisoned Rationality (hamilton, nj USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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One of the Best Category Regencies Ever Written!
This is one of my all-time favorite books of any kind, and within category regencies ties for second place with Cathleen Clare's 'Clarissa.' (Number one is Jessica Benson's unbelievably good 'Lord Stanhope's Proposal'). You've read the synopsis, so I won't trot that out again, just let me add a few notes. Tayce, our heroine, is absolute perfection. She manages to impersonte a young man and yet be utterly feminine at the same time. She has enormous depth, intelligence and humor, and her feelings of inadequacy about herself as a woman do not seem to be a plot contrivance but rather perfectly understandable given the circumstances. As for our hero, I don't know how he could be any more of a dream come true. This is a hero who genuinely wants his love to be all that she can and wants to be, who is so comfortable in his own skin that he is not intimidated by a woman who is not only frighteningly capable, but dares to defy conventionn out of love for her family. The fact that he is rich, handsome and titled does not detract from his appeal. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. This is what romance is all about.

2004-02-20 | lindsaywhitfield | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 5

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A lot of Fun
It's the girl posing as a boy theme but it's very well done. The story is lovely and interesting all the way through. And the are characters wonderful. I really enjoyed it!

2002-01-03 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Timeless Love (Zebra Regency Romance)

Description

Sent back in time to recover a work of art, Beth Ralston materializes in the cabin of Alexander Knightly, and despite the possibility that she could be swept back to her own era, they pursue their love for each other. Original.

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Customer Reviews

Refreshing Time Travel Romance
I will say this, I remember the first time reading this and being ever so grateful that our heroine, Beth, didn't accidentally stumble on some portal to the past. It is refreshing to read that she meant to go back in time, to that time period. And I think that if the big reveal to the hero, Zander, didn't happen so quickly I would have enjoyed her slip-ups and mental chidings to 'keep with the period' (so to speak).

The start of the book happens very quickly, with several things happening in rapid succession before slowing down to a more sedate pace. I like that the friendship between Zander and Beth is built upon and, despite the fact he falls in too easily with her being from the future, their affection for each other is readily apparent.

I thought the most amusing parts were when Beth would describe the future, or what she considered 'history' and he considered the 'future', and Zander would just object in disbelief. His sister, as well is an odd duck, but it was also refreshing to find a character so assured and comfortable with herself despite not being 'perfect' by the ton's standards.

2009-12-01 | Poisoned Rationality (hamilton, nj USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Better secondary romance
The story was interesting, funny, and romantic, but, even keeping in mind that time-travel is impossible, it was highly unlikely. Say, for instance, we mastered the science of time-travel and went to 1813 for whatever reason. How many of those technologically ignorant beings would actually believe we came from the future? The hero in this tale not only accepts this with hardly a flicker of unease, he actually figures it out for himself without much in the way of evidence. Then he tells his mother...who takes it better than he did and decides all is right with the world now that she knows her perspective daughter-in-law is only a woman from the future rather than, heaven forbid, illegitimate!

There was some hope for the story in the form of Lady Juno, the hero's sister. She is too tall for fashion but not overly upset by this fact since the man she loves is taller. But he doesn't seem to know she exists other than as Zander's (the hero) little pest of a sister. Her quirks are amusing and not too annoying.

2008-11-29 | "Romance, Old School" Book Reviews (Michigan, USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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A DEFINITE PAGE TURNNER!
Alexander Knightly was enjoying a leisurely trip on his ship from Lisbon to England, when Beth Ralston materialized in his cabin--seemingly out of nowhere. Beth had been sent back to 1813 to retrieve a work of art, not to lose her heart. And though Beth could be swept back to the future at any moment, she and Alexander were determined to make a match. A Regency romance original. I personally love stories that deal with time travel to Regency England. The characters were great, I could not put the book down and was sad when I finished it. It had all the elements that makes a good read; adventure, suspense, and of course romance (not the mushy stuff!). If your looking for a great escape definitely get this book!

2000-07-28 (SANTA CLARA, CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 7 | Rating: 5

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