This book contains the following four stories.

5 stars for THIRTY-SIX VALENTINES by Julia Quinn.
Excellent story. I loved the characters Susannah and David. Their honesty was refreshing. There was also some wonderful and thoughtful conversation.
During the summer of 1813, Clive courted Susannah. Then, he publicly humiliated her by announcing that he was going to marry Harriet. Susannah became the subject of gossip, lies and ostracism. In January, 1814, Susannah was a wallflower at a part...

This book contains the following four stories.

5 stars for THIRTY-SIX VALENTINES by Julia Quinn.
Excellent story. I loved the characters Susannah and David. Their honesty was refreshing. There was also some wonderful and thoughtful conversation.
During the summer of 1813, Clive courted Susannah. Then, he publicly humiliated her by announcing that he was going to marry Harriet. Susannah became the subject of gossip, lies and ostracism. In January, 1814, Susannah was a wallflower at a party when Clive's older brother David asked her to dance. His purpose was to apologize for Clive's behavior. But, he ended up intrigued and enjoyed the conversation with her. They accidentally met again at the theater with interesting conversation. After that, David invited her to go ice skating. The rest of the story was wonderful.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
I loved the conversation on page 318. Susannah asked David why he didn't want Clive to marry her the previous summer. David said "I love my brother, but he has his flaws, and he required a wife who would need him and depend upon him. Someone who would force him to become the man I know he can be. If Clive had married you he would have no need to be strong. You would have been strong for the both of you. Clive would never have had any reason to grow."

I also loved the following thoughtful conversation, starting on page 340. David asked Susannah what she saw in Clive. Her answer was "Clive always seemed so happy and free. It was contagious. Somehow it was exciting to be on his arm. When you're with Clive everything seems brighter. It's almost as if he has a glow to him, and everything that comes into contact with it seems somehow better than it really is. Everyone seems more beautiful, the food tastes better, the flowers smell sweeter. But at the same time, I've come to realize that he shone so brightly, everything shone so brightly, that I missed things. I didn't notice things I should have done." She continues with an example. Then David said "So it wasn't the man himself you loved, so much as the way he made you feel."

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one. Setting: 1813 and 1814 London. Copyright: 2003. Genre: regency romance.

For a listing of my reviews of other Julia Quinn books, see my 3 star review of "The Duke and I" posted on 6/28/08.

3 stars for ONE TRUE LOVE by Suzanne Enoch.
Nice story. Pretty good. The hero is madly in love with the heroine.
When Anne was born, she was promised in marriage to Max by agreement of the two sets of parents. Other than as an infant, she never met Max until she was 19. Max lived in Yorkshire. Anne lived in London. Max comes to London to marry her and take her back to Yorkshire. He falls in love with her immediately upon seeing her. She is mad that he never corresponded with her over the years. She does not want to marry him or leave London. Max wants her to love him back so he stays for awhile and woos her. Max's intense love-at-first-sight for her was a little unbelievable, but it made the story more interesting.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2003. Genre: regency romance.

2 stars for TWO HEARTS by Karen Hawkins.
Ok, but it didn't grab me. At times I wanted it to be over.
Liza has been best friends with Royce for years. Liza is wealthy, smart about business, and wears garish, colorful clothes. She loves living in the city and shopping. At age 31 she decides she wants to get married and is willing to settle for someone less than ideal. She has selected Durham who raises cows and lives in the country. Her friend Royce is against the marriage and realizes he feels more for her than he thought. For much of the story, both Liza and Royce have feelings for each other that they don't want to admit to themselves.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2003. Genre: regency romance.

2 stars for A DOZEN KISSES by Mia Ryan.
It was ok. It was different. Terrance was shot in the head while in the military. It caused a speech impediment. His brain was sound, but frequently he couldn't get his mouth to communicate his thoughts accurately. As a result, there was miscommunication. Caroline was a little odd. She was sensitive and cried easily. At times she would say or do odd or inappropriate things. The story did have a sweet ending.

Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one partial scene. Setting: 1814 London. Copyright: 2003. Genre: regency romance.

I read this anthology in just 4 hours, it was that good (well, I speed read, unfortunately). I have loved the mysterious Lady Whistledown all through the Bridgerton series. I was so disappointed with the loss of this wittiest of columnists society's foibles when she 'retired'. Then she popped back up to narrate these 4 stories - each with it's own flavor and just enough sensuality. Using Lady Whistledown to introduce chapters of stories by Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mia Ryan and Julia Quin...

I read this anthology in just 4 hours, it was that good (well, I speed read, unfortunately). I have loved the mysterious Lady Whistledown all through the Bridgerton series. I was so disappointed with the loss of this wittiest of columnists society's foibles when she 'retired'. Then she popped back up to narrate these 4 stories - each with it's own flavor and just enough sensuality. Using Lady Whistledown to introduce chapters of stories by Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mia Ryan and Julia Quinn was genious. Each story is centered around Valentine's Day - the best time of year for romantics. The stories have intriguing characters who appear in each story briefly; their own stories entertwined. Suzanne Enoch has a betrothed-from-birth groom rushing to London to claim his bride when Lady Whistledown's column reports some rather indiscreet behaviour on the lady's part - I can only say that the story was very romantic. Karen Hawkins adds to the humor with her story of a rogue who begins to be disturbed when his life-long friend decides to marry, well, according to Lady Whistledown, someone comfortable. Mia Ryan's heroine kept me laughing with her habit of blurting out really odd observations - obviously says exactly what she is thinking at any given time. And her thoughts are chaotic as it is! But, finally, we have Julia Quinn's story, which can only be the best of the book. I can't spoil the surprise in this one, but it is one of my absolute favorite story lines, done in the way that only Julia Quinn can do to make it new, fresh and funny. This book is a must for your collection of keepers of the observations of Lady Whistledown and the 5* books she has narrated.