A good holiday book with quick reads.

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Anything with Carla Kelly AND Barbara Metzger has got to be great. Although I'd already read Carla Kelly's story a few years ago, it was so good, I enjoyed it again. I've also enjoyed stories by Edith Layton; she's often showcased in anthologies.

Heart's Desire (Allison Lane) -- Widow Emma Fairlawn is on her way home (to see her unwelcoming parents) and then to find a governess position. While on a mail coach, she meets the other rider, Captain Craig Curtiss. He has serious scars and injuries from his time in Spain (1813). He has been named the new earl and is returning home to take his position. However, he has a grandmother (from hell) who controls everybody and everything. Craig is not looking forward to wresting the control of his earldom from his controlling grandmother.

When Emma is not horrified by his disfigurement, he convinces her to come to his home for Christmas. Emma helps Craig reframe his worries and disappointments and he wants her close while he challenges his grandmother.

Emma is too strong and Craig is too weak. It makes it look like Craig didn't have enough gumption to fight his grandmother without Emma's help.

Christmas Wish List (Barbara Metzger) -- With her trademark humor, Metzger manages a wild story with cats (instead of her usual dog). This is a merry romp; everyone wants something they don't have. The Seldens are a brother and sister who only want a present for the other sibling (nothing for themselves). This is a wonderful, witty tale that you will long remember.

An Object of Charity (Carla Kelly) -- This is another extraordinarily superb tale. Captain Michael Lynch is waiting for his ship (in dry dock) when he meets the niece and nephew of his recently deceased first mate (Michael was extremely fond of David Partlow). He soon finds that Tom and Sally Partlow are destitute and he decides to take him with him to his family home. He has not been home for 22-years (when he was thrown out for having a duel with his older brother).

Going back is very hard on Michael and Sally Partlow helps him address the anger and complex emotions about his family. This is a very charming story that I have enjoyed several times.

A Christmas Canvas (Elisabeth Fairchild) -- After 2 delightful stories, this one was a disappointment. It is about an accomplished artist going to Savage Manor to paint a Christmas portrait of a lovely young woman (Dorothea) for a Christmas wedding between the Dorothea Savage and Lord Lovell.

The story dragged and the setting was dismal. I had a hard time finishing the story, although the twist at the end was cleverly done.

The Last Gift (Edith Layton) -- Why do authors think that adult readers want to read a retelling of Sleeping Beauty? This was so awful I couldn't even finish it.

Metzger and Kelly offered the best of the stories, followed by Lane. Fairchild's story was too dark for a Christmas story and Layton's effort was unreadable.

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Fairchild's story is unusual but heartwarming, about a disfigured war veteran and Emma, a paragon of virtue and patience. She may be too patient and wise to be believed, and he nearly too weak, but they do get on well together. His dragon of an aunt is thoroughly conceived. All in all, a pleasant and diverting tale. 3 stars.

Metzger's spoof is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. A delightfully convoluted "wish list" holds this witty and quirky tale together. Metzger's clever "trick" of viewing the story from multiple viewpoints with similar phrasing is delightful, is occasionally taken a bit too far. Her characters are finely drawn, especially the secondary ones. Metzger delivers. 4 stars.

Kelly's offering is only so-so. It's a fairly interesting situation for the hero but is otherwise blah. There's nothing really special here, and the story is not firmly resolved. The author's style is nice, but the story is not particularly engaging, and there is a sense of it being unfinished. 1 & 1/2 stars.

Fairchild's piece is also less-than-wonderful. It involves a thoroughly dastardly brother and a twist of sorts. This tale is more sensual than most in such anthologies. There's some nice imagery, but it's only middling overall. 2 stars.

Layton's contribution is a take on Sleeping Beauty--one that is fairly obvious and straightforward. The tale is mildly diverting, but Layton, as usual, is overly wordy, relying too much on description and on "telling" the story. 2 stars.

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