April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Better Than A Present, November 2014 Holiday by Cynthia Moore The Wild Rose Press Featuring: Lady Samantha Grayson; Lord Paul Russell 64 pages ISBN: 1628303670 EAN: 9781628303674 Kindle: B00L2IZ69Y e-Book Add to Wish List Purchase Kindle Barnes & Noble

"A country Christmas in the Regency period"

Better Than A Present
Cynthia Moore

Reviewed by Clare O'Beara
Posted November 20, 2014

Romance Historical

Lady Samantha Grayson can't help noticing a gentleman at the ball but this London season she has to mind what people think of herself and her younger sister. She can't introduce herself to a man. In BETTER THAN A PRESENT Lord Paul Russell also heeds the formalities of needing a lady known to both parties to introduce him to the charming young lady. Before he can find one he is summoned to his estate home in Cornwall to instruct his steward; he's a more responsible estate owner than some.

When Samantha next sees the object of her admiration, he is in a lit country cottage and she's out in the snowfall on Christmas Eve, wearing a groom's trousers, cap and heavy coat, having been thrown by her horse when unwisely riding alone. There's no chaperone. What a dilemma!

BETTER THAN A PRESENT is a short story which initially leans on narration rather than interaction. When the main parties strike up conversation, amusingly one of them is a girl pretending to be a boy and the other is a man pretending he doesn't know who she is. This being the case, Paul is able to mention casually that his sister is expecting a child, which he would not normally discuss with a young lady. This scene would be well suited to a stage play.

A Wassail Bowl of spiced wine warmed over roasted apples is a lovely touch for a southwest country drink, and goose is certainly appropriate for Christmas dinner. In draughty stone country houses, good warm food was the order of the day. Other details I did not find usual to the setting or period, but we can accept that not every hostess arranged her household parties in the same way.

Cynthia Moore has packaged an enjoyable tale and gentle romance around the winter season, and BETTER THAN A PRESENT contains an irresistible heroine and her ideal hero.

Learn more about Better Than A Present

SUMMARY

While in London on business during the Season, Lord Paul Russell, attracted by a beautiful woman, fails in securing a place on her dance card. The next morning when he returns to Cornwall, he wonders if this mystery woman will still be available. Bored by all the eligible gentlemen she meets, Lady Samantha Grayson desires more than their meaningless conversations and preoccupation with silly fashion requirements. Only one gentleman catches her eye, but she misses her chance to speak to him, never encountering him again the rest of the Season. A sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve morning catches Samantha alone and unprotected. When she seeks shelter in a nearby cottage, she is astonished when the door opens to the very man who caught her interest in London a few months ago. What was doomed to be an uneventful Christmas, to her pleasant surprise could be better than a present.

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