A Christmas Courtship

by Sandra Heath and Eden O'Neill

Book Overview

Beautiful Blanche Amberley knew whom she loved. The lucky gentleman was Antony Mortimer, a banker's son who offered her not only his heart and hand, but also a life of wealth and ease. Miss Amberley... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451167929
• ISBN13: 9780451167927
• Release Date: December 1990
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Not your usual Christmas story

I agree with the other reviewer, well, most of it. While I thought this was an unusual Christmas story--it was more of a mystery story with holly and ivy as a backdrop, I felt the plot was interesting and writing was very good, but I had to deduct a star for the hastily wrapped-up ending; it left quite a few unexplained answers and a not-completely-satisfied reader. But I still recommend this book.

Magnificent setting, compelling beginning... although

I found that the rest of the story did not somehow live up to the beginning. We begin with observations by a merchant in Gloucester, and wonderful descriptions of the city and its environs. [In fact, this is one argument for reading the book; the author is a local resident and it shows!]. The heroine is young Blanche Amberley whose family has fallen on hard times, and whose lover Antony is not well-regarded by her family and friends. But wait - Blanche runs into the person who has acquired her old home, and whom she naturally hates. Here I do wish that we learned a bit more about their past history together, since we keep getting references to how they loathe each other since that time. This man, a dashing military commander invalided home from the Peninsular campaign, is engaged to a spoiled beauty. [I find some parts of her description and social position less than believable]. There follows a masterful depiction of how a smart but wicked woman can beguile her lover into seeing a different side of her than that she presents to her social inferiors. We learn enough to realize that the two will be wretched together, not that this bothers Blanche.The problem with Blanche's situation is that her lover is pressuring her, and at the same time, her brother has been artfully decoyed into a trap designed to ruin him completely. The rest of the story is taken up with Blanche's efforts to vindicate her brother. One problem naturally is that the hero and heroine spend little time together, although he comes to appreciate both her loyalty to her family and her friends and her independence of spirit. She discovers almost too late that her lover is not what she thought him, and the way the hero disposes of this ex-lover is truly delightful.I did not find the book plot contrived, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of city and country. Nevertheless, somehow the book's first two chapters (which are almost lyrical) did not prepare me for what was more a mystery/thriller than a romance. [Well, it is good to be shocked out of complacency but..]. Why did I give this story only 4 stars? Firstly, because of the sudden shift in mood which really jarred on me. Secondly, because the hero and heroine spend so little time together and the ending feels rather hurried to me. I did not get a sense lastly that the hero and heroine were really in love, even though the heroine is shown rather more with him at the end. That is what makes the difference between a good book and a great book.On the other hand, I tend to read Sandra Heath's books now mainly for her wonderfully lyrical descriptions of landscapes...