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A Holiday of Love
written by Jude Deveraux, Arnette Lamb, Jill Barnett, Judith McNaught
Studio : Pocket Star
by Pocket Star
Publisher : Pocket Star
Released : 2005-10-25
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781416517214
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 33 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $6.50
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Product Description |
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In New York City in the late 1800s, a beautiful but clumsy angel turns a lonely man's life around.... In medieval Scotland, the intrigues of a Christmas Mass imperil two Highland lovers....In Regency London, a world-weary lord receives an outrageous proposal....And in modern-day Colorado, a clever twelve-year-old plays matchmaker for his bighearted but impractical mother. |
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Disappointing |
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I bought this book to read J.M. story about Nicholas but was very disappointed, this could have been a great book. I would have really enjoyed reading a whole novel about him. I hope she one day writes the whole book I would totally buy it! |
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Jill Barnett's story is the best |
I originally bought this book for Judith McNaught's short story about Nicholas DuVille. It's actually one of my least favorites, but I don't mind because it led me to two of the most delightful stories I've ever read.
The first story is Jude Deveraux's story, Change of Heart. It's was my first Jude Deveraux book, and my introduction to the Taggert family. It's just a beautiful, heartwarming story. I'll agree with other reviewers that it wasn't long enough. This could have been a great book, but I'll settle for what we got. Within the confines of a short story, Jude Deveraux was able to create warm, rich characters that I love to revisit time and time again. She was even able to portray likable preteens, a rare feat since teenagers are usually portrayed as adorable, helpless children, or sullen, emotional headcases. Everyone has such great attitudes in this story, well, except for the broody, tortured hero (lol) but he gets over it fairly quickly and sees the light with his heroine, Randy. I don't know if it's because this was released during the holidays, but it was so nice to read. Jude Deveraux is kind of hit and miss with me but this one was a winner.
Second story is Judith McNaught's book, Miracles. I bought this anthology for this book alone and well, I was disappointed. This didn't seem like the Nicholas DuVille I knew from previous books. Judith McNaught does the same flip with Nicki's character as she had done with Stephen Westmoreland's character in Until You. Completely changed his personality. I didn't care for that. I liked the meddling, charismatic frenchman and unfortunately, in his own book, Nicki came across as a cruel boar. It uses one of my most hated plot contrivances. The hero, who knows better, seduces the lady he knows despite how she dresses, is really an innocent, virginal young girl that he should be a million miles away from. He just can't help himself and when he gets caught, he blames the girl for tricking him. Well, keep it in your pants next time, you dumba**. He's forced to marry her, dumps her in one of his countryhouses, then proceeds to ignore her and get on with his life. For a moment I thought Julianna would succeed with her plan to leave him and become an authoress but unfortunately Nicki comes to his senses and returns Julianna's love. Pity.
The third story is Jill Barnett's, Daniel and the Angel. *sigh* My favorite of the short stories and one of my favorite stories all around. This is just a beautiful, rich story, that makes you cry and laugh and smile. Even after all these years, the story of Daniel and his angel can still make me cry. The actual outline of the story doesn't matter. It only matters that the emotion that comes off the pages will blow you away. This story is better then chicken soup when your feelings are down. I would have loved for Jill to have made this into a full length book but that would have been just a scoop of ice cream next to an already perfect slice of cake. This short story really is perfection just the way it is.
The fourth story is Arnette Lamb's Hark! The Herald. Can't review this one as I've never really finished it or else I just can't remember it. This short story never grabbed me. Also the whole chastity belt thing squicked me out. I'll try it again some day since it's gotten good reviews.
Overall, this was the best anthology I've ever picked up. I've never liked another one since. I rate them opposite A Holiday of Love and so far nothing has come close. Sure I like a story here and there from various anthologies but nothing as magical as Daniel and the Angel and Change of Heart. Get this for Jill Barnett's short story alone and then see how you feel about the other three. You won't be disappointed!! |
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3 Out Of 4 Ain't Bad |
Thought they were all short stories there were really only 3 that kept my interest enough to complete the story. Jude Deveraux's Change of Heart was a touching story about love and accepting people for who they are and finding happiness in the strangest places.
Jill Barnett's - Daniel and the Angel was a very touching story about persistance, courage and faith in life. The characters were very likeable and interesting. It was after reading these two stories that I became more active in reading more of each of these author's work. Judith McNaught's - Miracles was funny and a pleasant read for the most part, though I was not to fond of the way things happened after the forced marraige. The whole story had it's ups and downs and overall it was a decent read. |
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lite reading for the season, a mixed bag |
A collection of holiday-theme trash novellas. The first two stories (about a middle aged woman set-up by her son and a romance in regency England) are much stronger and better than the second two (a corny tale about a fallen angel and a convoluted yet boring story about medieval Scotland). Nice lite reading for the season. Grade (first two): B+ Grade (second two) C-
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A Holiday of Love |
Every year I look forward to getting a few of the Christmas Story books to read. The 4 short stories in each book are put together with a talented hand, and it goes without saying that during the Christmas season, I get quite busy. We host the dinner for the family with our 4 children, 13 grand children and 6 great grand children.
While my husband is at work it is marvelously peaceful and my favorite time of the day actually because I can get my current book out and read to my hearts content without interruptions.
This years "A Holiday of Love" was the best of all that I have read before. Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Jill Barnett and Arnette Lamb really complimented each other, and I will no doubt go back and read this particular book many times. The romance, the flair for fun and a bit of comedy put in for good measure was really the best of the best.
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