A Regency Christmas Carol

de Mary Balogh, Anne Barbour, Elisabeth Fairchild, Carla Kelly, Edith Layton

Connoisseur of musical talent, Lord Heath, happened upon a group of carolers on Bond Street. He stopped mid-stride when the beautiful soprano voice of a young boy stirred the air in a solo. Wanting the youngster to sing at his winter concert, he immediately looked around for the child's parents. He found the boy's mother, Fanny Berlinton, who is not interested in offering her son as free entertainment for the ton. Four year-old Katie Berlinton wants a new papa for Christmas. When Lord Heath responds to her, Katie sets her heart on him as her Christmas gift. This is a very special Christmas story. The Earl's Nightingale (Edith Layton) A young woman, faced with bills, pawns a musical bird. The bird was left to the young woman by her grandmother, who promised it will bring her happiness. When she goes back to retrieve the bird, it has been sold -- to the Earl of Elliott. The Earl promises to get the bird back, as he has given it to a girlfriend. Layton's surprise ending is lovely. The Mistletoe Kiss (Elisabeth Fairchild) It is five days before Christmas (St. Thomas' Day) and governess Mrs. Constance Conyngham takes her three students for 'a gooding.' They go to the 'Devil's Keep' and meet Lord Deleval. He has become a hermit of sorts; avoiding company and people in town. This is after he was left standing at the altar and his betrothed running away with a German. Constance was married for less than 3 months and has been a penniless widow for 7 years. Constance and Lord Deleval are two wounded souls that meet by chance. Make a Joyful Noise (Carla Kelly) The annual Christmas choir competition between the churches of neighboring shires is drawing near. Although Dowager Lady Wythe was searching for singers in the parish, she was suddenly called away to Leeds to help with her ill grandchildren. Thus, she passes her job onto her son Peter, Lord Wythe. When he hears Rosie Wetherby's beautiful voice in church, he knows he must ask her to join the choir. This is a delightful story that I've re-read several times. Melody (Anne Barbour) An American, named Josh Weston, finding he is the new Earl of Sandborne, goes from Pennsylvania to Sandborne Court in England. His intention is to make sure his lands and tenants are well-tended and return to his life in America. Then he meets Melody Fairfax, companion to the dowager countess (and Josh's aunt), Aunt Helen. Melody has a beautiful voice and Josh used to play the piano so well that he could have become a concert pianist. However, he gave that up when his fiancee died three years earlier. Melody is disfigured by a scar along her face; Josh is disfigured internally by his feelings of never belonging. They help each other move beyond their scars. Read less