The Last Chance Christmas Ball
Written by Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverly, Joanna Bourne and
Narrated by Elaine Claxton
4/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
Mary Jo Putney
Mary Jo Putney was born in upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she became a ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, has published over forty books, and was the recipient of the 2013 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Reviews for The Last Chance Christmas Ball
43 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Liked the Putney and Beverley stories best. I didn't really care for the Joanna Bourne story. Very long and more than slightly ridiculous. The Susan King story was OK. The Patricia Rice story was silly and sentimental but I liked it. The Cara Elliott story was nice. The Cornick story was kind of an old trope and nothing fresh about it. The Ann Gracie story was very nice.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Christmas hopes and romances revealed.An enjoyable mix of stories wound around a common thread. Some more than others. Overall they threaded together admirably, giving cohesion and expressing the hope of the Christmas season.Jo Beverley sets the scene. It's post the French wars in regency England. Napoleon has been routed at Waterloo. For those returning, that coming home is a harrowing undertaking. Fate has cast more than a few nettles across the path of true love but it's Christmas time and perhaps more than Yuletide longings and good cheer are at work. The Dowager Countess of Holbourne has decided to give her Last Chance Ball (for spinsters to seize the moment) at Holbourne House. The stories are centred around those would be guests. My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne.A longtime love is rekindled, with a chance to strike at injustice, a future to determine and jewelry theft thrown in for good measure.A Scottish Carol by Susan King.A doctor fresh from the horrors of Waterloo is reacquainted with his mentor's daughter. Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice.Returning home from war, damaged and disoriented Ivor Whitney-Harris hears mice in the walls and rekindles his childhood acquaintance with Sara Jane Langsdale.In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney.A wounded soldier's final return to those who love him is ensnarled by his wounded anguish.Old Flames dance by Cara Elliott.A long lost love returns from a far flung place. Too late or can all be set right?A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick.What can you do when your husband spurns you? Why flee to the arms of your loving family and hope!Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo BeverleyA lowly companion captures the gaze of a well intentioned rake.Mistletoe Kisses by Annie GraceFrench verbs and mistletoe kisses. Life for Allie Fenton was set upon a oath that seemed unlikely to waiver.A NetGalley ARC
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A sweet Christmas anthology. (And there actually wasn't a terrible one in the bunch, which is quite a feat!) I rate them thusly-
Prologue by Jo Beverley - This basically just lists the main players, with some tiny snippets as introduction. 3 stars.
My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne - This was a fun little spy story. What was really great about it though, was that the couple's history together felt so genuine. I'm a little amazed at how well it worked actually. Often when past events are referenced they don't carry much weight, because the reader wasn't "there" for any of it. But somehow Bourne was able to create a feeling of their history together just from little reminices between them and in their thoughts. So this story really felt like it was building on a previous solid foundation of their history and feelings. And in at least one of the references I thought 'I would definitely like to read that story!' lol. I hadn't gotten around to reading anything by Bourne before this, but I'm looking forward to doing so now. 5 stars.
A Scottish Carol by Susan King - The first scene started off with a bit of a preposterous premise, which really wasn't even entirely necessary to be included, but it was at least acknowledged as very unlikely, and the rest of the story was grounded and made sense. A new to me author, and I would read more. This was quite sweet and enjoyable, so I'm still giving it 5 stars.
Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice - This felt like it might have been a bit hindered by the short length. I felt like I didn't quite have enough of the story for everything to work together as it should. If more of the details and side stories could have been filled out it might have been a 4, but overall it was 3 stars.
In the Bleak Midwinter by Mary Jo Putney - It felt like there wasn't a whole lot to this one really, but it still had some sweet moments and the characters were likable, so 4 stars.
Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott - I liked both of the characters fine in this, but I just wasn't particularly grabbed by it. 3 stars.
A Season for Marriage by Nicola Cornick - The hurdle to their relationship felt a little flimsy, and the characters were just 'fine', so 3 stars.
Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverley - This was sweet and felt like it would end in sort of a flirtatious marriage of convenience with plenty of potential for more in the future, which I would have been plenty happy with, but at the last moment it seemed like they were suddenly already deeply in love, and I just didn't feel that the story had supported that level of feeling at that point. It had been a nice building to their relationship and then felt like a sudden leap at the end. 3 stars.
Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie - This one was very sweet and a lovely note for the book to end on. It caught me up in the story and was quite enjoyable, and I felt pleased at the end of it. 5 stars. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Last Chance Christmas Ball by 8 AuthorsEight Authors managed to write seamlessly creating this wonderful Christmas anthology! One ball but eight different couples who have been invited will find their happily ever after whether or not they manage to attend. My True Love Hath My Heart by Joanna Bourne: Nick and Claire find themselves in Holbourne Abbey after some time apart but that time apart has not seen them lose their edge and ability to work together for a common purpose. A Scottish Carol by Susan King: Henry and Clarinda were once more than acquaintances – a snowstorm allows them to rekindle their friendship and possibly more. Christmas Larks by Patricia Rice: Patricia Rice I one of my favorite authors and this short story was everything that I hoped it would be. Ivo has returned to his childhood home with a bad case of PTSD and a concussion. His old friend Sarah Jane finds him in need and provides nursing care for him. Talking mice – maybe – more than one person hears them through the walls. This story had me smiling and happy and might have been my favorite.In the Bleak Winter by Mary Jo Putney: Kim and Roxie were once betrothed but Kim feels his wounds have made him unable to marry after all. Will Roxie be able to counter his objections and find a way back into his arms?Old Flames Dance by Cara Elliott: Lily and Edward were separated ten years before but never have forgotten one another. They will meet again at the ball. How will the years have changed them? Might they have a future together?A Season of Marriage by Nicola Cornick: Caroline and Piers have been married less than a year and are facing marital difficulties. Will they be able to deal with their issues and do so in a positive manner?Miss Finch and the Angel by Jo Beverly: Miss Finch was introduced in the Prologue and I knew her story would eventually be told. The telling of Clio and Gabrielle’s story is somewhat deeper than the rest but oh so much fun! Mistletoe Kisses by Anne Gracie: Last but not least is the story of a carriage crash and the stranding of Lucilla and John at Alice’s home. The fun they have, the time they share and the ultimate ending of their story were a great way to tie all of these stories up in a pretty bow.Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the copy of this book to read and review.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have a huge soft spot in my heart for the tortured and scarred hero. So, this story naturally stood out for me. Kim and Roxie grew up around each other, but didn't always see eye to eye as children. But, of course they fell in love and planned to marry, until Kim has to leave to fight the war. All their plans are squashed when Kim returns home scarred physically and shuts himself away in his Medieval castle refusing to see anyone, especially Roxie. When his family begins to lose all hope for Kim, it is suggested his brother Edward step up and ask for Roxie's hand, an idea that starts to appeal to them both. But, before Roxie settles for companionship, she wants to attempt to approach Kim one more time….This is a wonderful story, proving love can conquer anything, restore faith, ignite hope, and heal all manner of wounds. 4.5 starsThe second story I chose to highlight is “ A Season for Marriage” by Nicola Cornick.Caroline's marriage to Piers is in trouble. Piers avoids her completely, even in the bed-chamber, which prompts Caroline to take desperate measures by running away. Piers will have to finally explain why he is pushing his wife away. This is a heartbreaking story about an emotionally scarred hero who needs the help of his loving wife to help him overcome his fears and inhibitions. Caroline finally gets rid of her pent up guilt and Piers finally stops holding back and becomes the husband Caroline has been waiting for. This is a sensual little holiday tale that sends this couple off on their long overdue happily ever after. 4 stars This is one of the best Christmas anthologies I've read in a very long time. 4.5 stars