A Gift of Love

Anthology by Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Kimberley Cates, Andrea Kane and Judith O'Brien

Rating: 4.0
Copyright: 1996
Reviewed: 11/23/97 by Isolde Wehr

Anthology

Double Exposure by Judith McNaught

From the first moment Corey saw Spencer she falls in love with him. But Spencer is six years older than her and he can't imagine to love a teenager. Corey loves photographing and in her room she has lots of photos, all with Spencer on them. However, one day he hurts her feelings for all time and they never met again.

Now, years later, Corey should make the photos at the wedding of Spencer's niece. This could be a possibility for both to come together again. Only Spencer is using the false words to show Corey how much he loves her. And a feign wedding seems to be also the wrong way for Spencer to get Corey back.

Karen is 30 and a widow. There are two dreams she has: first to own a shop and the second is to have a baby. The first wish is one she lets come true with the years, but the second wish is difficult. Karen does not want to have a new husband. She only needs a man who donate her his sperm.

What is easier than to ask her boss for this when he wants a favor from her? McAllister Taggert accepts. He will donate his sperm if Karen plays his fiancé over Christmas. But a lot of things can happen on this Christmas.

Christmas is the time when people dream about miracles. Alaina decides to let such a miracle happen. She plays the Christmas angel for a lonely little boy and his embittered father who had given up in believing in his dreams.

Gabriel, the little boy, wants that his father starts to smile again. And he wants to stay with him. But Tristan, Gabriel's father, is sure that he had made the right decision. After Christmas he wants to give his son to his sister.

Alaina brings joy and laughter back into their life. Will there also be a dream coming true for her?

Noelle is four years old and a real brat. Her uncle Eric, Lord Farrington, is a hermit and he gives her from one family to another. Now the last honorable family gave Noelle back. Eric decides that he needs a governess for his niece. So he ask the vicar for help.

Meanwhile, Noelle is playing on the street and only the courage of a young woman prevents the little girl from being run over by a coach. Brigitte Curan is the granddaughter of the vicar and she accepts Eric's offer to be the governess for Noelle.

His conditions: she has to marry him, she does not leave this estate, and she does not allowed visitors (her grandfather is an exception). This is tolerable for her because Brigitte still believes that Eric is in his heart a loving and good man. And with her love she will melt the ice around his heart.

Emma Graham is a first-grade teacher. She loves children and her job but she hasn't found the right man. Her problem child at school is Asa, a little boy who is too serious and too well-behaved for a six year old boy.

One day Asa has forgotten a bag at school which contains a golden ring in it. Emma takes the bag with her and puts on the golden ring. WThen she wakes up in the night she isn't anymore in Brooklyn. Emma traveled over 150 years back in time to Indiana - to her dream man. Michael is his name. He is working as a lawyer and "this" Emma is his wife. A few months ago their little son had died.

Because Emma feels like this is her real life she has no problems in this time. It is only important for her to be together with Michael. But when she takes off the golden ring her "dream" is over. Was it only a dream or does fate show her something else? Emma will know it when she meets Asa's father.