SCOTTISH BRIDES
SILENT NIGHT
SCOTTISH BRIDES - by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, Karen Ranney (Avon Historical - 1999) (4)
"Under the Kilt" by Christina Dodd:
Hadden Fairchild knows he's found his soul mate in the person of Miss Andra MacNachton, but after one incredible night, it is soon apparent the lovely lass does not feel the same way about him. After trying to get Andra to accept his proposal of marriage but failing on a grand scale, Hadden takes the proverbial bull by the horns and kidnaps the willful Scottish beauty. Wow, this romance
could melt the wax in the castle's candles! "Under the Kilt" certainly won't disappoint Ms. Dodd's fans; it's a great story.
"Rose in Bloom" by Stephanie Laurens:
Rose Millicent Mackenzie-Craddock has been a thorn in Duncan Roderick Macintyre's side ever since they were children. When she pops up again at Ballynashiel after a long absence, with suitor in tow, Duncan soon discovers her attitude concerning him hasn't changed one little bit. Or has it? Where on earth had the prickly little pest he remembered from the past disappeared to? This alluring new creature is all curves and creamy skin, and he is rather befuddled by his physical response to her. There's just something about the cheeky lass that Duncan can't quite
ignore, and it's enough to make a sober man turn to drink!
"Rose in Bloom" is a delightful story from another author who knows how to turn up the heat.
"Gretna Greene" by Julia Quinn:
Miss Margaret Pennypacker is a "mature" woman on a mission, but this erstwhile English spinster finds herself quite alone and in no little danger as she roams the infamous Scottish town of Gretna Greene. Pursuing an errant brother who is about to make a disastrous marriage, or so she believes, Margaret gets more than she bargained for when she meets Angus Greene. The brash, huge Scotsman is in town to track down his own headstrong sister, but
those plans get rather sidetracked when he finds himself in league with the lovely English woman. "Gretna Greene" is a real gem that sparkles with wit and humor.
"The Glenlyon Bride" by Karen Ranney:
Times are hard for the clans of Scotland, and the Laird of Glenlyon finds himself in a real bind. In order to save his people from ruination, Lachlan Sinclair must wed the English heiress whose identity has been foretold by legend. After he travels across the border to get an advance (and anonymous) peek at his intended, the situation really gets muddled when Lachlan mistakes a beautiful young woman, who is out for a stolen walk in the moonlight, for his future bride. Scottish-born Janet has lived in servitude and misery for years in the home of her English relatives, but suddenly her nights are filled with the stuff of dreams when she has a chance encounter with this handsome reiver. "The Glenlyon Bride" is a terrific story, written with the intensity and ineffable plotting that I've come to expect from Karen Ranney; a fitting end to a wonderful anthology! ~Connie Ramsdell for Bookbug on the Web
SILENT NIGHT - by Claire Cross, Dee Holmes, Susan Plunkett, J.D. Robb (Jove - 1998) (4+)
It is Christmas time, a season when mayhem, murder, and romance all seem to rise. Jove's Christmas anthology, SILENT NIGHT, captures the annual phenomena with a series of stories by four best-selling writers.
On Christmas Eve, futuristic police officer Eve Dallas deals with the off-planet escape of a serial killer whom she put behind bars several years ago. Vengeance has led the killer from the prison planet he called home to New York where a certain officer resides. "Midnight In Death" by J.D. Robb is reason enough to buy this book.
They meet for the first time since she left him without an explanation, years ago. FBI agent Jake Binge expects answers this time from Marie, but is afraid she is going to stonewall him again in "Christmas Promises". It is their mutual search for a runaway that allows her to let him get close enough to find out her secret. This is a great work by the amazing Susan Plunkett.
Rounding out this work are contemporary stories by Dee Holmes and Claire Cross, both of which will warm the hearts of readers who understand the true meaning of the Christmas spirit. By Jove, this collection is one of the best holiday anthologies of the season. ~Harriet Klausner
ANTHOLOGY INDEX
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