"A Regency, a Western, and two contemporaries."

"The Proper Lover" by Eileen Wilks This is a sweet and charming short story set in Regency England, though the set-up is a standard one. The heroine, Emily Smythe, is a poor relation who is going to be forced into marriage by her unimaginative and depressing family. So she decides to ruin herself by climbing into the bed of a visiting rake, James Drake (though she doesn't know what happens in bed). Emily learns to stand up for herself, James learns to value someone more than himself. I usually like a Christmas story to include a miracle. This didn't happen, in fact, the Christmas holiday wasn't even much part of the setting. Sensuality: Kissing and seduction in bed.

"Santa Wears Spurs" by Kinley MacGregor (Sherrilyn Kenyon) A very interesting western with fun dialogue and good interaction between the hero and the heroine. Michael O'Connell was forced by his evil outlaw brother Pete to leave his wife Catherine when he was nineteen. Despite five years apart, he still loves her (and has remained faithful), and she, too, has never forgotten him or his loving. At Christmas time, Pete throws them together again and Michael finally is able to defy Pete, change his life and cherish his wife and daughter. I think the Christmas miracle was Pete finding a bit of love for his brother. The sexual tension and sensuality was great, but I found Michael a bit hard to believe. Also, if Pete was that evil, he wouldn't be hauled away to prison, but hanged... Sensuality: Good. Oral sex, bed sex.

"Christmas Bonus" by Lori Foster My favorite of the stories, in a contemporary setting. Eric Bragg has loved AND lusted after Maggie Carmichael since she was a teenager, but wanted to wait until she was older to take her to bed and love her senseless. The problem? Maggie's father died and now she is no longer the boss's daughter, but the boss. Eric has his pride and doesn't want to be known as the man who got the company by marrying the right woman. Besides, Maggie has changed -- no longer a free spirit but a sophisticated businesswoman. Fabulous sexual tension, as usual, and great sex. I liked the characters and the situation. Eric's motivation was fine for a short story like this, though I thought Maggie's alternate career made things easier on him (though it made his body HARDER) than was necessary. Eric overcomes his pride enough to compromise, Maggie learns she can be respected and loved and both businesswoman/free spirit. No Christmas miracle, but Christmas was integral to Maggie's characterization. Sensuality: Lots. Oral sex, sex in chair, sex in bed.

"A Night With Emily" by Dee Holmes Good contemporary romance with interesting, strong hero and heroine and secondary characters. Johnny Cross left Emily Madden four years ago to build a career in the city. Emily was wise enough then (and now) to let him go, especially since he didn't love her as much as she loved him, and Emily knew her own place was still in the small town. Now Johnny has returned to his old home. Infuriated that he caught his best friend and fiancee in bed together, Johnny is plotting revenge. But Emily is house sitting, and there is no other place for her to go. This story has more plot than the others and less sex, but is still very good. Emily is very down-to-earth, honorable, and will risk taking another chance on Johnny once she knows he's no longer engaged. Johnny is reminded of true values -- loyalty, being true to oneself, generosity. He's forced to admit that his pride was hurt more than anything else by his friend and former fiancee AND that he'd made a mistake in walking away from Emily. Christmas plays a large part in helping Johnny re-evaluate his life. Sensuality: Underlying sexual tension, couch sex.

Review by Robin D. Owens for Sensual Romance.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Posted February 11, 2002