The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance

Title: The Mammoth Book of Regency Romance

Edited By: Trisha Telep

Publisher: Running Press 2010

Genre: Regency Romance

Pages: 512

Rating:  4/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

From some of the biggest names in Regency historical romance, over twenty witty, romantic, and sensual short stories. The collection will include stories from Mary Balogh, Julia Templeton, Sara Bennett, Jo Beverley, and Amanda Grange.

Overall, this collection was good, but not great.  After finishing this book, I realized that I have some definite likes and dislikes about Regency era romances.  Likes: strong characters, good storylines (no tired cliches), interesting circumstances or events.  Dislikes: long drawn out sex scenes, damsels in distress, constant miscommunications.  Unforunately, many of the stories in this collection fell into my dislike category.  I am giving this four stars because of the 9 stories I really enjoyed.  Here are the highlights:

1. Elizabeth Boyle's "Cynders and Ashe" -- Classic Cinderella story redone for the Regency Era.  I loved the female lead and how she played off of the others.  Great little story.
2. Patricia Rice's "Lady Invisible" -- A widower with small daughter looking for a wife.  Verity was just adorable and I was really rooting for all parties involved.
3. Caroline Linden's "Like None Other" -- Next door neighbors fall in love.  I really enjoyed the characters and the set of a moonlit garden.  To die for!
4. Shirley Kennedy's "The Catch of the Season" -- A classic arrange marriage but then she meets a man who sweeps her off her feet.  Somehow Kennedy makes this cliched story feel new and fresh.