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.