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Reviews
A Gift of Love by Jude Deveraux, Andrea Kane, Kimberly Cates, Judith McNaught, Judith O'Brien
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Jude Deveraux's Change of Heart was not quite. Great storyline with a unique approach that was rather tritely written.
Judith McNaught's Miracles (Westmoreland, 4) was sweet although its title's pertinence was stuck on at the very end...could have done better by incorporating the miracle concept somewhere else in the story as well.
Jill Barnett's Daniel and the Angel was a treat! Novel concept that was handled very well. I must check out more of her books!
Arnette Lamb's Hark! The Herald was good with a unique heroine with a matching hero although there was a subtle underlayer of cliche. Still, I want to explore more of Lamb's writing.
Judith McNaught's Miracles (Westmoreland, 4) was sweet although its title's pertinence was stuck on at the very end...could have done better by incorporating the miracle concept somewhere else in the story as well.
Jill Barnett's Daniel and the Angel was a treat! Novel concept that was handled very well. I must check out more of her books!
Arnette Lamb's Hark! The Herald was good with a unique heroine with a matching hero although there was a subtle underlayer of cliche. Still, I want to explore more of Lamb's writing.
ameve2's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
readinginbliss's review
5.0
The rating is purely on Judith McNaught's Double Exposures. I have yet to read the other SS in the book. I love Corey and Spence! They both have a great chemistry that gives me goosebumps! :) It's the perfect light read if you have nothing to do!
jacks623's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
simplyparticular's review against another edition
3.0
I actually enjoyed the Deveraux story the most in this book - McNaught's Double Exposure, the long-awaited story of Corey and Spencer, felt under-developed. I really think they deserved a book, moreso than Donna and Cole did.
fictionophile's review against another edition
4.0
In "Yuletide Treasure", the reader travels back in time to late autumn of the year 1860. We visit a grand manor house that has been closed off to the world for years, Farrington Manor, in Dorsetshire, makes for an atmospheric holiday read.
A traditional styled historical romance, "Yuletide Treasure" features Lord Eric Farrington, and Brigitte, the woman he marries in order to care for Noelle, his orphaned four-year-old niece.
Since his niece's birth the wealthy Lord Farrington has become a very solitary recluse. He left his little niece with well-meaning villagers and shut himself away in the manor. He takes care of himself as he let all the staff go. After being shunted from family to family, Noelle's behavior has become incorrigible. The last family, at their wit's end, return Noelle to her volatile uncle. Desperate, he tries to hire a governess for the girl, but as he lives alone at the manor, society dictates that he must offer marriage to the governess.
It would seem that the vicar's granddaughter is the answer to his quest. She is not unattractive and she has a charming yet firm grasp on how to handle the naughty Noelle and her constant companion, the stuffed cat she has named "Fuzzy".
Because she has never known parental love, Noelle is a very unhappy little girl. She acts out, striving for attention. With Brigitte, the high-spirited and precocious Noelle has finally met her match.
As the Christmas season approaches, and the weather outside gets colder, things inside Farrington Manor are warming up...
This charming novella is a 'feel-good' historical romance that will be appreciated by all who are fans of the genre.
I purchased the Kindle edition of this novella, guessing that it would be a nice change of pace from my usual diet of thrillers and mysteries.
A traditional styled historical romance, "Yuletide Treasure" features Lord Eric Farrington, and Brigitte, the woman he marries in order to care for Noelle, his orphaned four-year-old niece.
Since his niece's birth the wealthy Lord Farrington has become a very solitary recluse. He left his little niece with well-meaning villagers and shut himself away in the manor. He takes care of himself as he let all the staff go. After being shunted from family to family, Noelle's behavior has become incorrigible. The last family, at their wit's end, return Noelle to her volatile uncle. Desperate, he tries to hire a governess for the girl, but as he lives alone at the manor, society dictates that he must offer marriage to the governess.
It would seem that the vicar's granddaughter is the answer to his quest. She is not unattractive and she has a charming yet firm grasp on how to handle the naughty Noelle and her constant companion, the stuffed cat she has named "Fuzzy".
Because she has never known parental love, Noelle is a very unhappy little girl. She acts out, striving for attention. With Brigitte, the high-spirited and precocious Noelle has finally met her match.
As the Christmas season approaches, and the weather outside gets colder, things inside Farrington Manor are warming up...
This charming novella is a 'feel-good' historical romance that will be appreciated by all who are fans of the genre.
I purchased the Kindle edition of this novella, guessing that it would be a nice change of pace from my usual diet of thrillers and mysteries.
ashleyh's review against another edition
4.0
A friend gave me this book as a young teenager and I reread it multiple times over the next few years, but this is the first time I've read it in probably a decade. There's a few things that notably mark the book as a product of the '90s and a couple problematic points, but overall I still really enjoyed it. Each story had a nice dose of angst, maybe a little humour, and ended with love triumphing. Plus each is a holiday tale, which prompted this reread.
prationality's review against another edition
3.0
Day five of holiday cheer brings a novella that was originally part of the anthology "A Gift of Love", which came out in 1996 from Pocket Books. Its entirely possible I read this when I was younger, since I loved Christmas themed historical romance anthologies, but its equally possible I didn't since I avoided books with 'Judith McKnaught in the credits. In any case, "Yuletide Treasure" has been released as its own e-novella for $0.99, which is totally worth it. Kane's historicals have intriguing characters, if often predictable in plot.
I think this would have been better served as a full length novel. Time passed really quickly so we didn't get to see Eric's change of heart. I'm not sure 90 or so pages is enough to really convince me that after 4 years of being the biggest tyrant this side of grieving he could become as giving as Scrooge after the visit from the Ghosts. The power of True Love indeed.
Despite this, or in spite of that, I enjoyed the antics of Noelle, Fuzzy and the unrelenting patience of Brigitte was not annoying. I was briefly shocked by a revelation from Brigitte in regards to Liza (Noelle's mom and Eric's deceased younger sister), but I shouldn't have been since I guessed at Liza's issues long before they came out in the open.
For the price you can't beat this however. Its heart warming and sweet, with a little heat and a whole lot of humorous moments. Just kind of wink and nod at some of the disbelief moments.
I think this would have been better served as a full length novel. Time passed really quickly so we didn't get to see Eric's change of heart. I'm not sure 90 or so pages is enough to really convince me that after 4 years of being the biggest tyrant this side of grieving he could become as giving as Scrooge after the visit from the Ghosts. The power of True Love indeed.
Despite this, or in spite of that, I enjoyed the antics of Noelle, Fuzzy and the unrelenting patience of Brigitte was not annoying. I was briefly shocked by a revelation from Brigitte in regards to Liza (Noelle's mom and Eric's deceased younger sister), but I shouldn't have been since I guessed at Liza's issues long before they came out in the open.
For the price you can't beat this however. Its heart warming and sweet, with a little heat and a whole lot of humorous moments. Just kind of wink and nod at some of the disbelief moments.
shewhoreads's review against another edition
4.0
Super quick, fun read. Classic Deveraux, with all of her hallmark tropes (the true love being able to tell the twins apart, wealthy hero, heroine who takes no crap from anyone, etc) and lots of delightful banter. I loved the twist at the end (which I will not spoil here)...as well as the fact that it wasn't really that big a deal. Fun!
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