THEMES

What's The Appeal?

The old adage states that "good things come in small packages." The same can be said for romances. Fulfilling stories of a hero and heroine finding each other and true love are not limited to novel-length books. Short stories offer us quick tales of romance, but they contain the same warmth, intrigue and emotion we come to expect from our favorite authors. And the anthologies of these stories give us the added bonus of getting to read several of our much-loved writers in one book, and perhaps find a new favorite author too.

Holiday anthologies present an interesting twist. All the stories are set with a particular holiday as a key element to the romance. Perhaps it is the heroine's Christmas wish for help with her rundown house, which comes in the form of a hunky carpenter. Or maybe the hero declares he's through with dating as his New Year's resolution, only to meet the woman of his dreams later that evening. The holiday adds a different spin to the plot.

Often the anthologies not only revolve around the same holiday, but they may also include other plot similarities. Maybe it's a mischievous Christmas kitten who helps get the hero and heroine together, or holidays in the Scottish Highlands. There is even an anthology with all the stories written in gothic style, adding mystery--and maybe a touch of the paranormal--to holiday romance. The combinations are abundant and give the reader a whole new outlook on love during the most festive season of the year.

We're looking at the holiday anthologies because it's that time of the year. However, there are others based on different themes, such as summer romance, the trials and tribulations of true opposites, the dark world of vampires or the reuniting of long-lost loves. Every anthology has its own charm and its own brand of romance.

But perhaps the best benefit of these anthologies is that during all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you can still sneak in a little time for yourself and read a great, complete tale of romance enhanced by the magic and joy of the season.

Authors' Thoughts...

Mary Balogh
"There can be no reading gem more precious than a novella weaving a love story against the magic backdrop of Christmas--except an anthology of such stories! Historical lovers will find 'The Earl's Nightingale' by Edith Layton (from A Regency Christmas Carol) a must read."

Gwynne Forster
"At Christmas time, love is always in the air. We smile at strangers and extend ourselves to those in need. If I could, I would bring Christmas joy to every child and everyone who is alone. And that's what most authors set out to give when writing holiday tales."

Jo Beverley
"I enjoy doing novellas to a theme, but Christmas stories are my favorite because this holiday has such pageantry and magic. No matter what the period of history, Christmas has ceremonies and traditions that bring people and communities together in joy and hope for the future--and that's romance, isn't it?"

HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGIES

The weather outside may be frightful, but inside, it's time to lose yourself in the magical stories of holiday anthologies. Even with all the shopping, cooking and traveling you have planned over this hectic time of the year; you can take a quick break to escape into the world of romance. Happy Holidays! May your holidays be full of love and good cheer... and lots of good books!

Historical

• HOLIDAY OF LOVE
  Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Jill Barnett, Arnette Lamb
  Pocket '94
• CHRISTMAS ANGELS
  Debra Dier, Eugenia Riley, Amy Elizabeth Saunders, Trana Mae Simmons
  Love Spell '95
• CHRISTMAS EVE KITTENS
  Cathleen Clare, Wilma Counts, Debbie Raleigh
  Zebra '01
• HOLIDAY INN
  Debra Dier, Linda Jones, Ruth Ryan Langan, Linda Madl
  Leisure '96
• A REGENCY CHRISTMAS CAROL
  Mary Balogh, Anne Barbour, Elisabeth Fairchild, Carla Kelly, Edith Layton
  Signet '97
• A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS QUILT
  Ginny Aiken, Catherine Palmer, Debra White Smith, Peggy Stoks
  Tyndale House '98
• THE BRIDES OF CHRISTMAS
  Jo Beverley, Margaret Moore, Deborah Simmons
  Harlequin Historical '99
• STAR OF WONDER
  Jo Beverley, Alice Alfonsi, Tess Farraday, Kate Freiman
  Jove '99
• CHRISTMAS KISSES
  Christine Cameron, Jill Henry, Tracy Sumner
  Zebra '99
• A REGENCY CHRISTMAS EVE
  Nancy Butler, Diane Farr, Allison Lane, Edith Layton, Barbara Metzger
  Signet '00
• SNOW ANGELS
  Cherie Claire, Phoebe Conn, Victoria Dark
  Leisure '99
• ONE CHRISTMAS WISH
  Caroline Davidson, Judith Stacy, Theresa Michaels
  Harlequin '00
• A SEASON IN THE HIGHLANDS
  Jude Deveraux, Jill Barnett, Geralyn Dawson, Pamela Binder, Patricia Cabot
  Pocket '00
• A WESTERN FAMILY CHRISTMAS
  Millie Criswell, Mary McBride, Liz Ireland
  Harlequin '01

Contemporary

• HOLIDAY CHEER
  Shirley Hailstock, Rochelle Alers, Angela Benson, Shirley Hailstock
  BET/Arabesque '95
• SILENT NIGHT
  Claire Cross, Dee Holmes, Susan Plunkett, J.D. Robb
  Berkley '98
• THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
  Sandra Hill, Dara Joy, Victoria Alexander, Nellie McFather
  Love Spell '96
• UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
  Jude Deveraux, Linda Howard, Margaret Allison, Stef Ann Holm, Mariah Stewart
  Pocket '97
• THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
  Emma Craig, Annie Kimberlin, Kathleen Nance, Stobie Piel
  Love Spell '98
• BLUE CHRISTMAS
  Sandra Hill, Linda Jones, Amy Sharon Pisacreta, Elizabeth Saunders
  Leisure '98
• ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
  Suzanne Forster, Thea Devine, Lori Foster, Shannon McKenna
  Kensington Brava '01
• WINTER WONDERLAND
  Emma Craig, Leigh Greenwood, Amanda Harte, Linda O. Johnston
  Love Spell '99
• ONCE UPON A STAR
  Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, Nora Roberts, Marianne Willman
  Jove '99
• MISTLETOE AND MAGIC
  Lisa Cach, Lynsay Sands, Amy Elizabeth Saunders, Stobie Piel
  Leisure '00
• UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
  Leslie Esdaile, Gwynne Forster, Carmen Green, Monica Jackson
  Genesis '00
• ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
  Lori Foster, Dee Holmes, Kinley MacGregor, Eileen Wilks
  St. Martin's '00
• HOLIDAY BLESSINGS
  Irene Hannon, Debbie Macomber, Jane Peart
  Steeple Hill '00
• ROMANCING THE HOLIDAYS
  Belmont Delange, Trudy Doolittle, Pamela Johnson, Christine Eaton Jones, Su Kopil, Cathy McDavid, Barbara White-Rayczek, Deborah Shelley, Carrie Weaver, Karen L. Williams
  Elan Press '01
• MIDNIGHT CLEAR
  Debbie Macomber, Lindsay, McKenna, Stella Bagwell
  Silhouette '01
• HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
  Sandra Hill, Kate Holmes, Trish Jensen
  Leisure '01