The School for Heiresses Reviews

• a disappointment

  
  By AW24ODXPY9CMI on 2006-12-28
  I am a fan of Sabrina Jeffries, but this anthology was a bit disappointing. There weren't any real big problems, but there wasn't much to remember either.
  Jeffrie's story got this whole thing started. It was a cute little story, but I thought it was sort of shallow. Colin and Eliza lusted after each other right away and ended up together. Nothing to make this go on the keeper shelf.
  Next was Liz Carlyle's story and while it wasn't awful, I just got a depressing feeling after reading it. Not a good thing. The heroine was the daughter of a courtesan and the hero was a beautiful rake and the story was not that appealing.
  Next up was probably my favorite--Julia London's story of a wealthy girl who needed to marry well to improve her family's standing in society. The hero, Barrett Adlaine, was one of the better heroes to come along lately. I really could see his appeal--even though he was in trade!!
  Lastly, there was Renee Bernard's offering and, while it was inoffensive, it was not memorable.
  In all, there were 4 stories here and maybe 1-1/2 were worth the price of the book.
  
  

• Vastly different writing styles of four authors ultimately brings this one down

  
  By A2NICGGIGIFU22 on 2006-12-31
  Ten Reasons to Stay -Sabrina Jeffries
  One night, the newly minted Earl of Montieth, Colin Hunt stumbles upon a horse thief. Eager to defend his property, he captures the thief easily and is shocked to discover that it is in fact a young woman. Desperate not to reveal her circumstances that forced her to 'borrow' his horse in an attempt to flee to London, Miss Eliza Crenshawe commences a battle of wits with the Earl, trying to prevent him from learning the truth of her identity. For surely he would send her back to her drunken uncle. But Colin is not easily swayed by the sharped tongued beauty and when he finally learns her circumstances -he doesn't believe her! Desperate for his aid, Eliza offers him a 'trade' of sorts; getting her to London in exchange for ~pleasuring~ him.
  ****4 STARS- Jeffries story is definitely the best of the bunch. Matching saucy and uninhibited (for a virgin that is) Eliza with the jaded and guarded Colin is a hoot. Eliza matches wits with the Earl and creates a palpable sexual tension, especially when she finds his erotic indian prints ;). And the 'ten reasons to stay'?, well lets just say that fans of Jeffries steamy writing style won't be dissapointed.
  
  After Midnight -Liz Carlyle
  Miss Martinique Neville, resident hellion of the school of heiresses, is given a her last lesson on the day of her departure -learn to value yourself. Her whole world turns upside down when during a simple country furlough, before entering London society, she is caught in a compromising position and is forced into a betrothal with the scandalous Lord St. Vrain. Neither wants marriage. His past still haunts him (as well as shuns him in most of decent society) and her heritage is not exactly one would expect to find in a lady. So they form a pack to pretend to accept the betrothal until the scandal passes. Only then do things take a turn when they fall in love with eachother and neither is willing to let go.
  *1 STAR- Yeah it was that bad! No likeable characters whatsoever. And please, please don't have the hero *canoodling* with someone other than the heroine and then expect me to like him later -UGH! And the heroine? I'm sorry, virgin teenagers don't talk like 40yr old experienced women, even with a french accent. Don't get me started on the cold hearted family (who's explanations didn't pacify me at all). A semi-depressing story that really never recovers. Skip this one.
  
  The Merchant's Gift -Julia London
  Miss Grace Holcomb, a pretty heiress from Leeds, had anything and everything a titled gentleman suitor could want in a wife; poise, grace and training from the exclusive school for heiress, except for the fact that her family attained their wealth from TRADE! And sheep trade unfortunately, which caused a bevy of snide remarks behind the poor girls back and led to several unsuccessful seasons. Now home again with her family until the new season starts, she meets again her childhood crush Mr. Barret Adlaine, who tempts her in ways she'd rather not think about. After all, as a man in trade, he is wholly inappropriate according to her father's (who is determined for a titled match) standards. But that doesn't stop their little run-ins and when Grace returns to London and finds a real titled suitor she must decide between matters of the heart and matters of the family.
  ****4 STARS. Great underdog story. Plenty of sexual tension, Barret really goes out of his way to court Grace and his gifts are very touching. The only part I didn't like was that Grace was a bit too cruel/mean to him. Over and over she reminded him of what his station in life was and what was expected of her. But the author sort of made up for it in the end with a grand romantic gesture -done by the heroine surprisingly!
  
  Mischief's Holiday -Renee Bernard
  Surviving the holidays without incident proved too difficult a task for the accident prone Aylssa Martin. Disaster seemed to follow her everywhere she went, even home to a small gathering of her beloved father's friends for the holidays. Only the sinfully handsome guest Mr. Leland Yates would'nt mock her when she tumbled into the mud or snicker when embarrassing childhood stories where repeated. But what were her chances with him? Especially when her beautiful cousin Violet arrived?
  ****3 stars. I liked this one? Don't know, but its a cute story. Alyssa's bumbling was funny, but some of the guests comments were cruel. The story strangely lacked steamy love scenes compared to the others in this anthology. And the ending was kind of abrupt, your kind of left hanging -with your own imagination to fill in the gaps. Just kind of bland really.
  
  These four stories were supposed to flow well together but didn't. The writing styles of these authors are way too different and ultimately brought down the whole anthology for me. A disappointment really considering that each can write full novels very well. I guess they should just stick to those.
  
  For some really well matched stories in an anthology, check out Lady Whisteldown Strikes Back and The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown.
  
  

• The School for Heiresses

  
  By A1VBEX5BV72GSX on 2007-01-07
  The four stories in this anthology, though written by some of the best authors in the genre, were boring, predictable, formulaic and uninteresting. The heiresses were immature, flighty, and unworthy of the excellent heroes presented. Usually, when I see the authors' names on the cover of a book, I buy it; secure in the knowledge that I am in for a "good read". Maybe the fact that the stories were novellas had something to do with it. I will continue to look forward to the works of these talented writers especially Liz, Sabrina, and Julia. But, please, ladies, more substance is needed.
  
  

• A Good Library Book

  
  By A85IX0J2S4HSG on 2007-01-12
  I like anthologies. It is a good opportunity to explore new authors and get a fix of your old favorites between full-length novels. I must admit that I loathe the work of headliner, Sabrina Jeffries, but, thought, how bad can it be, and there are 3 other authors, one of whom I regularly buy and like. Jeffries did not disappoint. "Ten Reasons to Stay" was as awful as expected. As usual, she gives a 21st century party girl mentality to a supposed 19th century virgin who is happy to get intimate at a moment's notice. Her template that requires a nod to the period every so many words gives us, for example, cabriolet every single time a carriage is mentioned; proof that Colin grew up in India is indicated by his use of the Sanskrit word for female "naughty bits;" and, for a two-fer, she has him dressing in a Banyan -- both more or less period AND Indian. Score. But they all sounded forced. Then, the whole thing wraps up in what seemed like a paragraph, with a modern interpretation of alcohol abuse.
  I like Liz Carlyle. I like her heroes. But, as she said on her website, this story introduces the family that will be featured in her next series. What is with this whole family series business? It is so ubiquitous that it must sell, and you have to assume it is required by the publishers, so you can't perhaps blame the authors. But it seems lazy. You get the sense that authors line up the siblings, hand out the lunchboxes, and say, "okay, (insert name here), your turn." In Carlyle's earlier books, there were connections between the characters, but they weren't forced laundry lists. Additionally, Martinique was just a little too young to act so old, French or not. I will use this story for reference when the series comes out, but didn't get much out of "After Midnight" above and beyond that.
  I had never read the last two authors, and might not bother again. Julia London's "Merchant's Gift" was nice, in its own way. It was refreshing to find main characters who were not aristocrats. However, the whole "hot" scene in the tower sounded physically impossible -- especially in the winter. And, wouldn't her dress have been impossibly dirty afterwards? When one is thinking about issues like that, the story can't be that memorable.
  The last story by Renee Bernard, "Mischief's Holiday" was equally unmemorable, if pleasant -- but Alyssa? There are any number of lists of period names -- Alyssa would probably not be on it. I would try her again -- at the library.
  
  

• Extremely Entertaining Regency Anthology!

  
  By A1EJKQD72ZO2AP on 2007-01-14
  Sabrina Jeffries continues her School for Heiresses Series with the exploits of four students of the Mrs. Charlotte Harris's rich, but untitled school for young ladies. This unique blend of authors keeps the reader's attention with short stories which are well-written and developed with strong characters that blend into moments of heartwarming sweetness, sensuality and humor.
  
  It is a delight to see another story written by the new talent Renee Bernard, who delighted romance fans with her erotic historical debut, The Lady's Pleasure. In her Heiress Story, "Mischief's Holiday, we are treated with her traditional regency writing style when the beautiful, but clumsy Alyssa Martin meets the second son Leland Yates. Sparks fly the moment he sees her lush derriere popping out of her overturned carriage, in the first of many mishaps. He soon discovers it is Alyssa's father who has invited him for a holiday stay at the family estate. Leland finds each mishap of hers as delightful as the lady herself. It is a sweet and touching story with just the right amount of sensuality with an ending that will warm a reader's heart and keep a smile on your face.
  
  In Julia London's "The Merchants Gift" Grace Holcomb, the daughter of a merchant, returns home for the holidays after two unsuccessful seasons in London, disappointing her father once again by not attaining a title for the family. Upon her return to Leeds, the handsome neighbor and sheep farmer, Mr. Barrett Adlaine, is immediately taken by Grace's beauty and loves her for simply being Grace, not for the rich dowry she is able to give him. Grace is drawn to Garrett, but feels she must do well by her family and marry into society. She is continually reminded of her duty to her family and why her father spent the money to send her to Mrs. Harris's school. The passion and desire are too much for Garrett and Grace and the sensuality burns between them at every meeting and touch, culminating in a moment of intense passion. Grace is finally offered a title by Sir William, a young Lord returning from the war in Paris, and as Garrett and William each offer her a gift, she has a decision to make as to which gift she will accept; love or a title? The ending is true romance in the style and talent fans of Julia London enjoy in each of her books.
  
  In Liz Carlyle's "After Midnight," sparks fly in a steamy, erotic, passionate story between the young, beautiful Martinique, the daughter of a Barbados octoroon courtesan and ward of Lord Rothewell, and the scandalous rogue and neighbor, Lord Vrain, who ran away to Paris years ago with his step-mother. He meets Martinique at a family house party and is in immediate lust for her, but knows she is innocent. Later when he has the key to the room of a young widow for the evening, he crawls into the bed and realizes it is the young Martinique he is holding. Their desire ignites and he takes her innocence. They are discovered and with her reputation in ruin, he offers marriage. Although they both feel they are not the correct mate for each other, their passions ignite and culiminate into a steamy ending, which also includes some mystery and intrigue. A story sure to keep the holidays warm! Another truly sensual and delightful read by Liz Carlyle.
  
  Sabrina Jefferies delights her fans with the continuation of her story about Colin Hunt from "Only a Duke Will Do." The new Earl of Monteith, recently arrived from India is moving into his new estate only to hear a rukus in his stables. Expecting to catch a horse thief, he instead finds the beautiful and luscious runaway Eliza Crenshawe. Her uncle is the local magistrate who is down on his luck and is forcing a blackmailed marriage on her. Eliza attempts to simply "borrow" one of Colin's horses to escape the marriage. She hides her identity from him for as long as possible, while he keeps her in his home in order to protect her from running away and into further danger, only to find that he is lusting madly for her. Finally his passion gets the best of him when he finds her in the closet he has locked her in wrapped in his Indian silks and reading his book on the Kama Sutra. As they pleasure each other he gives her "Ten Reasons to Stay." If there would be one criticism of this anthology, it would be that this story should have its own book. Colin and Eliza are passionate and desirable people who cannot get enough of each other and the reader desires more about these two intelligent, sensual characters.
  
  The School for Heiresses is a Regency treat appropriately released for the holiday season, as these four novellas are like getting an extra small gift from the authors. A pleasurable and fun read.
  
  
• Use your library card for this one!
  By ATC2ME2VP2UVO on 2007-01-16
  I have formerly read much of Carlyle and Jeffries' works, and very much enjoyed them. So I was excited about this anthology, only to be disappointed. Jeffries' story was didn't flow very well, probably because it tried to cram too much into a short space, and thus came up as rather unbelievable. Carlyle's was sensual and hot, as usual, but suffered from the same slightly-off unbelievability, which is unsual for both these writers. I had the feeling throughout the story that it should have gone another way. It had too many leftover characters who had no real role- maybe an offshoot is in the works? I was pleasantly surprised by London's story- I had never read her before- sweet and funny, while still incorporating the sensuality needed. I also enjoyed Bernard's tale, which had the humor the others tended to lack. So it's a mixed bag, and I highly recommend using your library for this one.
  
  
• Surprisingly Pleasant
  By A2XVASWEQGEY7V on 2007-01-02
  Every time I encounter an Antology, I run away from it as fast as my feet will take me. They are usually feeble attempts at story writing that end abruptly, so as to leave room for the next tale. Maybe because it was just before Xmas and I needed total distraction, I found the three stories-amply described by other reviewers- light, sweet, witty and vastly entertaining. As there were some characters we had met before, they had the comfortable feel of visiting with good friends. They even held a surprise or two in each. Good little stories to read just before a cozy winter nap.
  
  
• terrific Regency romance anthology
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2007-01-06
  "Ten Reasons to Stay" by Sabrina Jeffries. Students are leaving Mrs. Harris's School for Young Ladies to go home for the Yuletide holidays. However, not all want to go home as Eliza Crenshawe knows awaiting her there is her odious Uncle Silas who plans to wed her to Minyard, a sot like he is. Eliza tries to steal a horse from Earl Colin Hunt, used to the balmy weather of his native India, but he catches her.
  
  "After Midnight" by Liz Carlyle. Out of guilt, her uncle Lord Rothewell sent Martinique, a courtesan's daughter, from her West Indies home to attend Mrs. Harris' school. However, the female hellion knows no one wants her in England or the Caribbean, but goes to the Rothewell home for the holidays. Rakish guest Lord St. Vrain mistakenly enters her room, but instead of screaming, she welcomes the rogue.
  
  "The Merchant's Gift" by Julia London. In Leeds, Grace Holcomb, the daughter of a wealthy wool merchant, has high expectations to marry amongst the bluest of the bluebloods. However, to her chagrin she is attracted to a non titled nobody Barrett Adlaine when she has Lord Middleton in her greedy grasp.
  
  "Mischief's Holiday" by Renee Bernard. No matter how hard she tries to stay out of mischief, Alyssa Martin always ends up in trouble. She vows to end these escapades because she feels if she fails to do so, logical businessman Leland Yates will only notice her as a pest not his loving wife.
  
  The Mrs. Harris' novels (see NEVER SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL) are always fun to read and this four novella anthology affirms that belief, as each entry is a terrific Regency romance starring likable lead characters.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
• Two good stories out of the four
  By A14GEA3EZCYCRK on 2007-01-12
  This anthology is a mixed bag. The stories by Sabrina Jeffries and Liz Carlyle - two authors that I usually like - are nothing special and lack depth and emotion, but those by Julia London and Renee Bernard are quite well done.
  
  Jeffries' "Ten Reasons to Stay" pairs two minor characters from her previous novel: half-caste Colin, now an Earl, and outspoken heiress Eliza from Mrs. Harris' School. Eliza is on the run from her drunken uncle, who is forcing her to marry against her will, and is snagged by Colin when she tries to "borrow" his horse. Colin doubts Eliza's hard-luck story, so he holds her at his house until she tells him the truth. Colin is an attractive hero, but Eliza does not appeal to me. Her unusually blunt sex talk and her immediate intimacy with a stranger are out of place with her background. Although sex-filled, the overall feel of the story is not that romantic.
  
  Carlyle's "After Midnight" gives us another uninhibited miss who immediately becomes intimate with a stranger. Martinique, a mixed-race heiress, no sooner arrives at her relative's country estate than she becomes sexually involved with a handsome neighboring lord with a sketchy past. The lord shows far better behavior and more scruples than our heroine, with whom I just couldn't connect. I am a big fan of Liz Carlyle, but this one does not do it for me.
  
  London's poignant "The Merchant's Gift" is sweet, straightforward and well-told, with two very appealing leads. A wealthy tradesman expects his daughter Grace to marry into a title and move up in society, and this is what Grace wants also - until she meets handsome and provocative mill owner Barrett and starts to question her long-held beliefs. Grace's journey of self-discovery is charming, and Barrett's pursuit of her is particularly touching.
  
  Bernard's "Mischief's Holiday" is very good as well, with an adorable accident-prone heroine. Alyssa's all too frequent mishaps make her wish she could be invisible. Then she meets a business friend of her wealthy father's who appreciates her unique charms and wants her very much in the flesh - yet is oddly hesitant to declare himself. This story is funny and sexy, with straight-man Leland a perfect foil for the unconventional Alyssa.
  
  
• Not what the authors are capable of
  By A2VWE5SGNDS8HW on 2007-01-30
  I looked forward to the publication date of this anthology figuring that, with authors such as Liz Carlyle and Sabrina Jeffries, it was going to be great. It wasn't. The authors were correct in publishing these stories in their "short" versions, because there really would not have been enough substance to build a full-length book from any of them. As it was, they were somewhat entertaining but far from gripping. Not a stretch for them, and not a keeper for me.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By AFIL8ND1OLYXA on 2006-12-29
  I was very excited at first to see this anthology based on Sabrina Jeffries' previous books, but that excitement dwindled within the first fifty pages of opening this book.
  
  The first selection, by Sabrina Jeffries, features Colin Hunt, the widowed, half-Indian Earl of Monteith who is reaquainting himself with England, and Eliza Crenshawe - a damsel in distress seaking an exit from a marriage arranged by her drunk, abusive guardian. Think this sentence has a little too much going on in it? Well, so does this first story. Had Ms. Jeffries dragged this out for an entire book, it may have worked, but jammed into 90-some pages, it lacks much and delivers little.
  
  To be honest, I skimmed the other three stories. I knew going in that I didn't care for Liz Carlyle, and I was proved correct again by her passionate-yet-not-quite romantic story of St. Vrain and Martinique. What I have never understood about Ms. Carlyle is her propensity to make her heroes so tortured. They have all committed some horrible, unconscionable act, and have been wracked with guilt ever since, and yet they seek redemption from young girls on the basis of a few quick tosses. Confusing.
  
  Julia London's story seemed interesting enough, but not quite enough to keep my reading page after page - the way I feel about most of her books that I've read.
  
  Of the three, Renee Bernard's tale of somewhat-jinxed Miss Grace Martin and Leland Yates was the most entertaining, until you realized that Mr. Yates was far to honorable to be tossed in with the other three men of this anthology. I think at times I was more frustrated than Grace.
  
  Overall, this collection is not something I'd advise connoisseur readers - and possibly even newbies to the genre - to pick up.
  
  
• school of heiress
  By A2AV0DTCFK574B on 2007-01-16
  Enjoyed the three different women in the book. They were all excellent as usual.
  
  
• Four novellas about ladies, gallant lords, and love
  By ABXBWSPM6YHAI on 2007-01-25
  One trend that I have noticed lately in publishing, and especially in such genres as science fiction and romance are the rise of anthologies that share a theme or characters. In The School for Heiresses, author Sabrina Jeffries has invited three other writers to join her in four tales of romance set in the Regency period.
  
  Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries
  Colin, the Earl of Monteith, has come to England to build a new future for himself after a lifetime in India. But he has scarcely arrived before finding a trespasser in his stables, seeking to 'borrow' a horse for a while. Eliza has tried to disguise herself as a man, and in the best tradition of gothic heroines, is seeking to escape her dastardly guardian. Colin thinks her story is pure fabrication, and tells her so, despite Eliza's desparate pleas to the contrary. And to keep her from escaping into the night, he locks her in his dressing room. How they manage to overcome their mutual animostity with the help of some of Colin's treasures from India and some daring wit is what makes the story work.
  
  To my surprise, I found it to be a very entertaining story. Both the hero and heroine are adults, with plenty of complications to their pasts, and as the reader discovers, some very unusual twists as well, and humor that doesn't insult the reader. Out of the four stories, this one is the best.
  
  After Midnight by Liz Carlyle
  The second story in the collection takes on the story of Martinque, a young Creole lady who has finished her education in Mrs. Harris' finishing school, and now her guardian, Lord Rothewell, is coming to find her a suitable partner. He seems kindly enough, but he also seems very cold and distant to her as they travel to a house party. There, Martinique encounters Justin St. Vrain, a young, rather dissolute man who seems entirely the wrong sort -- he's already carrying on with one mistress, and rumors of a second in the local village. And when his lady friend, Christine, decides to make him pay for straying, it's poor Martinique who pays the price.
  
  I liked the fact that Carlyle uses some very unusual twists here. For one, Martinique is not the usual style of English miss -- I won't reveal all here, because that's half of the pleasure of this, and St. Vrain does manage to reform himself and grow up.
  
  
  The Merchant's Gift by Julia London
  This one falls into the cute rather than passionate storyline, with the story of a rich merchant's daughter, Grace, who has failed miserably in her London seasons, despite the best efforts of Mrs. Harris. She can never seem to say or do the right thing, and her struggles to find a husband that her family wants her to have is only bringing her misery. But her meeting with a young, self-made man brings Grace to questioning the entire mess of getting married, and when a titled young peer presses his suit, she's the one caught in the middle.
  
  I enjoyed this one as well. Grace is a bit of a ninny, but Barrett Adlaine is one of the most charming and sensible heroes that I have run into. His forthright manner is a lovely change from most heroes who inhabit Regency stories, and this one could have made a credible novel in and of itself, with some work by the author.
  
  Mischief's Holiday by Renee Bernard
  This one, of a hapless young woman who is continually clumsy and socially inept is the clunker of the four. Despite the humourous touches, and the wit, I just could not get into the story of Alyssa and the courteous stranger that she meets. It had a very contrived feeling to it, and try as I might, I didn't feel much by the end.
  
  I was expecting these four stories to be rather standard fare, but I have happy to have been disappointed. Three of the stories take the usual take of a novel set in high society England, and turns them right on their head. The characters have unusual backgrounds, meet suitors who have not quite the right standards for a 'proper' marriage, and in the first two stories, give the heroes -- and heroines -- personal obstacles that they have to conquer and get over before they can have happiness in their own lives.
  
  This is a collection that is perfect for an evening when it's cold outside, and you want to believe in a touch of true love without most of the silliness that is found in this genre of books.
  
  
• Exactly what an anthology should be
  By A2ZH4NZGZUVDAQ on 2007-01-26
  Just like sampling the flavors of the day at the ice cream shop, anthologies are great for giving you a taste of several authors and their individual takes on a theme. This one did just that, and offered a wide variety for an adventurous palate.
  
  We have Sabrina Jeffries' offering for wit and adventure and sheer fun. Liz Carlyle delivers heat, angst and emotional depth.
  Julia London's story is heartfelt and warm.
  And Renee Brenard caps it off with a sweet, antic-filled romp.
  
  Variety and satisfaction. Exactly what I'm looking for in an anthology.
  
  
• Very Fun Read!
  By A3TQ70Y5VN21CU on 2007-01-30
  Full disclosure... I'm kind of picky about anthologies. I feel lucky to find more than one novella in an anthology that holds my interest, so normally I just check them out from the library. Who needs to waste the money, right?
  
  But, I'm a huge Sabrina Jeffries fan. I especially loved "Never Seduce a Scoundrel" and "Only a Duke Will Do", so I bought "The School for Heiresses" as soon as it came out. I knew Sabrina Jeffries' story would be good, and I was thrilled to find it was even better than I expected. The characters were complex and interesting, and the story fitted the shortened length of the novella without leaving me feeling short-changed.
  
  Not expecting much, I pushed on through rest of the book since I'd already paid for it. Wow, was I wrong! Liz Carlyle's story was a delight! Definitely a different tone than Ms. Jeffries' story, but really, really good nonetheless. I've already picked up another of Liz Carlyle's books, "One Little Sin", and I loved it, too. I'm adding her to my `must read' list.
  
  With a little more hope, I proceeded to Julia London's story. I wasn't disappointed. Her novella was excellent. I liked that her characters came from a different background than the other heroines, providing us with a unique perspective on the whole marriage game.
  
  The last story by Renee Bernard was frothy, fun, enjoyable, and, once again, completely different than the other four.
  
  The premise of the anthology is to combine the unique stories of four students of the School of Heiresses into a single book. I found that to be a perfect theme, letting us know immediately the nature of our heroines... rich, educated in the same way, and guided by Mrs. Harris to realize their own worth. Just as real students from a single school would have unique backgrounds and perspectives, so do the heroines of all four novellas.
  
  "The School for Heiresses" is a near-perfect anthology... good stories, the chance to sample new writers, and an opportunity to spend some time with characters that are easy to love.
  
  
• Fun, Flirty, Fast anthology
  By A17KDN05ZD2EW1 on 2007-02-24
  Each story ties into The School for Heiresses world created by Sabrina Jeffries. The heroines have their own personality, which compliments the mix of authors as they have their own style and voice. They tackle a different tried and true theme in romanceland, adding a twist to make it interesting. Two stories worked really well for me, one was okay and one didn't work at all.
  
  Sabrina Jeffries, Ten Reasons to Stay, is a take on the `regency miss trying to escape the evil guardian's plans to make her marry someone not of her choice to pay off his debt'.
  
  Colin is a very interesting character, who is of mixed race and suddenly finds himself the Earl of Monteith. [If you haven't read Only a Duke Will Do, you should and you get more of his backstory here as well] Eliza has a pretty good head on her shoulders. And is trying to do something vs waiting for someone to rescue her. [The Twist: Some naughty books and mixed heritage]
  
  Sabrina Jeffries has a great way of taking historical fact and expanding on it. Her world may not always follow the letter of the law of history but they come across as believable. I always find myself closing her books with a smile on my face. Grade: B
  
  After Midnight by Liz Carlyle does the `regency miss gets caught with a rake so they have to marry'.
  
  Martinique is a beauty. She has a brain to match it and a mysterious past in the West Indies. Justin St. Vrain was a very, very naughty boy. Years ago he ran off to Paris with another man's wife. Now his father is dead and the title is his. [The Twist: Martinique is a courtesan's daughter. The woman Justin ran off with was his stepmother. And the story starts off a new series!]
  
  I love this story and the fact that these people aren't your normal Regency fare. It might have to do with the fact it has made me way excited about the new series. I can't wait to spend more time with these characters. Grade A-
  
  The Merchant's Gift by Julia London tries her hand at the `wealthy merchant daughter's duty is to marry a title'.
  
  Grace, as would be expected, has a hard time trying to mix with the ton. Her duty is to marry a title and little else seems to matter. Barrett Adlaine is nothing more than a merchant and thus she believes not for her.
  [The Twist: The hero is pretty betaish and does the chasing.]
  
  I don't like the 'selling your daughter for a title' plot. And Mr. Holcomb gets way too much screen time, add in this is a novella and it way drops my enjoyment level. I could never see Grace as anything more than a gold digger, regardless of her but it is for my father and expected of me lines. Adlaine should have ran far and fast away from the chit. He was too good of a hero for Grace. Grade D.
  
  Mischief's Holiday is Renee Bernard's tale of `Nice guy falls for clumsy regency miss evil cousin tries to steal him'. (At least I think that is what it was going for....)
  
  Alyssa Martin (regency name?!?) wants to get married, fall in love and live happy ever after. And for once, she would like to stay out of trouble while doing it. [The Twist: The story is more of a `traditional' regency.]
  
  Cute story with a sweet heroine but too slapsticky for my taste. And the tone was completely different from the other three in style. It may have worked better for me if this was the second in the anthology then to end with it. Regardless the story didn't seem to end as much as stop. Grade C-
  
  If you are looking for a meaty historical, keep looking, but if you are looking to lose yourself with some fun characters for a bit, this is just the ticket. Readers of the series will enjoy it and new readers should be able to follow along just fine.
  
  
• I really enjoyed 2 out of 4 books
  By A18FUHNBP90IB4 on 2007-02-27
  The School for Heiresses is four stories of women are finished with school and on their own for the first time.
  
  Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries was very enjoyable. Eliza is running away from her uncle who wants to marry her off and finds herself stealing/borrowing a horse from Colin the new Earl of Monteith. Colin lockes Eliza up in his closet until her finds out the real truth. Very Steamy - a great read....
  
  After Midnight by Liz Carlyle was missing something - no my favorite. Justin crawls into the wrong bed and finds Martinique and not his lover. It has moments but I was glad it was a short story.
  
  The Merchants Gift by Julia London was a very sweet story. I didn't like the Grace the main character she didn't have a back bone.
  
  The final book Mischief Holiday by Renee Bernard was very good. Lots of stolen kisses, humor and great characters.
  
  
  
• 4.5 stars
  By AYSGFQ8IISIZ4 on 2006-12-29
  I am a huge fan of Sabrina Jeffries as well as Renee Bernard and for me they did not disappoint.
  
  The first story is Colin's, whom we read about in, "Only A Duke Will Do". The widowered half English half Indian cousin just returned from his much beloved country of India to claim his title. He discovers a horse thief in his stables and attempts to apprehend the 'lad`. What he discovers is more than each of them bargains for. Eliza is fleeing an arranged marriage and lands herself as a welcome captive in the arms of Colin.
  This was a very steamy read written with Ms. Jeffries' eloquent artistry. They become each other's salvation.
  
  The second story by Liz Carlyle, was my least favorite. Perhaps because it should have been a full-length novel but instead was tied up in a hundred or so pages. Ms. Carlyle writes more on the gothic edge so that did not bother me. It was more because the romance moved so quickly I didn't really care about Martinique or St. Vrain. The love scenes were hot as any Liz Carlyle fan is familiar with, but that wasn't enough to sustain the story for me.
  
  The third story by Julia London was enjoyable. The protagonists are two wealthy commoners from Leeds. Grace Holcombe is headed to London to find a husband, but there is something about Barret Adlaine that stirs her soul. What follows is some exquisite tension and high emotions as Grace feels she must do her duty by her father and marry above her station.
  
  The final installment by newcomer, Renee Bernard rounds out the series on a high note. This author is an auto-buy for me since her debut, 'A Ladys Pleasure`. The last story showcases accident-prone Alyssa Martin and the dashing Leland Yates. These two meet when Alyssa needs rescuing from a rather embarrasing situation. Leland falls instantly in lust with his mysterious little baggage and then they're officially introduced....
  What follows is page after page of taut sexual tension as Alyssa and Leland steal moments alone.
  
  Overall, I loved this book. I encourage the novella reader to understand that the author has only a hundred or so pages from start to finish to create a love story. In that vein, things progress much faster than in a novel.
  
  
• Terrific anthology
  By A33HZVBEM67BOG on 2007-02-10
  Very enjoyable.
  If I had to pick a favorite- a hard thing to do- it would HAVE TO BE Julia London's THE MERCHANTS GIFT. It made me smile, it made me sigh. The heroine had an amazing change by the end of the story, the little Sheep girl from Leeds. LOVED IT!
  MIschief's Holiday was very enjoyable as well. The heroine, a clumbsy misfit, finds someone can look beyond her failings and see the heart of gold inside. I cheered for her the whol story, and for Leland, too.
  I think I liked these two the most because the hero's were just common dudes, who had uncommon goodness. They weren't the *dark-brooding men* (who I also love) but it was a breath of fresh air!
  Thanks for an enjoyable day, ladies!!
  
  
• 2 out of 4 isn't too bad
  By A12TWANJC040VQ on 2007-05-15
  The concept of this anthology is strange to me. You have one author that has a series and then these other authors trying to write stories about the same series? Good in theory perhaps but I'm not sure it was a success. Only one of the authors pulled it off (besides Jefferies of course). I didn't hate it; however I am glad I bought it at a discount store. Two of the stories were really good. Jefferies' and Bernard's - the other two were lacking.
  
  1 - Sabrina Jefferies' Ten Reasons to Stay - this was great. I really like her writing style and besides it was a continuation of characters we've already read about. I love series so it worked for me.
  
  2 - Liz Carlyle's After Midnight. I didn't dislike it so much as I felt like I was missing something important. Like an entire book. I think I was suppose to know who all of those characters were but because I have not read Liz Carlyle (maybe I should?) I didn't. I thought there was too much story trying to be told in a short story format - maybe this was a tie in to one of her series?
  
  3 - Julia London's The Merchants Gift - I don't think I've read any of her books but this story didn't do anything for me. The man I liked, hard working, strong, honest, and sexy - everything likeable in a hero. The woman on the other hand was a spineless silly twit. It was one of those stories where you think, wow he deserves so much better than her. What a shame they ended up together.
  
  4 - Renee Bernard's Mischief's Holiday was a delight and I loved it. She should have had second billing in this book rather than Liz Carlyle. Of course Jefferies gets first, it's her series, but to be honest I think this was my favorite. I love writers that can make me laugh and really feel for the characters in the book and this is one of those, even in a short story format. She did a really good job tying it into the School for Heiresses idea as well. Besides all of that Bernard is a great new writer. If you have not read A Lady's Pleasure by her you are missing out. It's different and a really good read. I'm looking forward to Madame's Deception coming out in August 2007.
  
  
  

• Beware a Scot's Revenge (School for Heiresses, Book 3)
• Never Seduce a Scoundrel (The School for Heiresses, Book 1)
• Only a Duke Will Do (The School for Heiresses, Book 2)
• Let Sleeping Rogues Lie (School for Heiresses)
• A Dangerous Love (Swanlea Spinsters, Book 1)