Comments on: REVIEW: ‘This Wicked Gift’ (2009) by Courtney Milan

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:56:14 +0000

I don’t really read anthologies, although this sounds like a good story.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:13:27 +0000

@Janet W: Yes! Under the Mistletoe is an excellent collection of Mary Balogh's Christmas stories.

By: Janet W

Janet W — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:10:17 +0000

I would agree katiebabs that the Balogh story is not one of her strongest — which makes me stupidly hopeful that HQN will not reissue it YET AGAIN next Christmas! Balogh is the Queen of Magnificent Christmas stories — every holiday season I pull out my collection of Regency Christmas anthologies. Why don’t they try to buy the rights to some of those Baloghs and publish a collection like “Under the Mistletoe” — 4 oldies but goodies and 1 brand new! Instead, they have offered up a weak Balogh Christmas story for what, 3 years running? Is it supposed to be a loss leader?

This entire collection was not much to my taste … I was not convinced by the working class romance. I suppose a better way to put that (nod to Tumperkin’s most recent marvelous blog), I was not inclined to suspend my disbelief.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:07:37 +0000

@Jessica: LOL! It's well worth reading. @Leontine: The love scene was so well done. They're usually done from the heroine's perspective, or occasionally from both. @Marissa: You have Proof? Lucky! I have my copy on order. @katiebabs: This was my favourite of the three novellas. I'd read the Balogh one before. @Maili: I also love scholar heroes!

By: Maili

Maili — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:23:53 +0000

I agree 100% with your review. I also look forward to giving Proof by Seduction a try. I mean, scholar hero? Scholar heroes to me are what catnip is to cats.

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:43:40 +0000

Courtney puts Balogh’s story to shame in this novella. Sarah, I can’t wait to see what you think of Proof by Seduction. It was a wonderful full length debut.

By: Marissa

Marissa — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:55:09 +0000

Sounds good Sarah, but I am a historical romance freak LOL… I have her Proof by Seduction in my tbr pile, have to pick up this one as well now, thanks for the great review!

By: Leontine

Leontine — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:21:06 +0000

Oh a love scene from the hero’s perspective, that sounds very intriguing. I’ve got her full length on the review pile and I’m looking forward to find out if I’ve got a new author in my historical genre to add to auto-buy

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:33:49 +0000

oh, I am cursing myself for not picking this up when I saw it at the pre-read book store store on Saturday!!!