THE LAST CHANCE CHRISTMAS BALL is a holiday anthology with many lovely historical romance authors, including Mary Jo Putney, Joanna Bourne, and Jo Beverly. All the short stories are framed by the clever concept of showing different couples who attend a Christmas ball. Jo Beverly writes the prologue, wherein Lady Holly, the Dowager Countess of Holbourne, is planning the ball invitations with her companion Clio. Lady Holly and Clio discuss the different people who are invited, and thus we are introduced to all the characters who will show up in the individual stories that follow. I think this is a brilliant way to make the individual parts into a cohesive whole.

This anthology includes five authors whose works I already know and love, and three authors who are new to me. This is part of the nice thing about anthologies - being introduced to authors who I haven't read a complete book by. I am definitely adding Susan King to my list of Authors I read in the future! I enjoy how well-matched the overall feel of the stories are. These are historical romance authors who can set a scene beautifully and make the reader feel they are truly in Regency England, surrounded by quiet snowfalls and dashing gentleman at balls.

Several of these stories make me cry happy tears, which somehow seems even more appropriate for the sentimental holiday season. Some tales are of old loves reunited, some are of people who assumed love had passed them by. This lovely collection of holiday short stories is perfect for lovers of Regency tales and lovers of romance. THE LAST CHANCE CHRISTMAS BALL will tug your heartstrings and make you sigh in happiness.