These stories were just so-so in that most of the plot was based on lack of communication resolvable by open and honest discussion. Hooper - Antonia breaks off engagement to Duke Richard. Kleypas - Irishman Jason is attracted to friends sister Laura.
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Two nice Christmas romances. The first is Kay Hoopers' Holiday Spirit where a matchmaking Grandmother is helped by some friendly ghosts. Lady Antonia broke off her engagement with Richard, Duke of Lyonshall several years ago. She never told him why and a chunk of the story is him finding out the why. If it wasn't for her grandmother and a snowstorm they wouldn't have this opportunity.

The second is the story of a newly rich Irishman married to a Boston socialite. She loves him but has to find a way of creating a real relationship with him. He has no idea how to treat her, whether or not he can treat her as a person or as a trophy.

The two stories are interesting. Completely different stories with different character. I found the Kleypas story very interesting and it made me curious about more of her books. The other was also interesting and a fun read. ( )

Holiday Spirit by Kay Hooper – Although Holiday Spirit had the well-worn romance novel cliché of a misunderstanding coupled with a lack of communication as it's main premise, there was the added uniqueness of some ghostly characters and the intrigue of the ill-fated love affair of Antonia's ancestors to help enliven the plot. Sometimes in a novella, it can be difficult for the author to fully capture the essence of their characters, but Kay Hooper made good use of the short story format to make me care about her characters, both human and ghost. I enjoyed finding out the history of the ghostly lovers right along with the heroine. While their story was both romantic and tragic, they, with a little help from Antonia's grandmother, were able to bring about a reconciliation between Antonia and Richard, which I also enjoyed reading. I tend to like stories about lost love that is found again. The Christmas theme was secondary to the rest of the story, but I think there is no greater gift one can give or receive during the holidays besides love. Overall, I found Holiday Spirit to be a quick and easy read that held my attention well with it's light mystery surrounding the tragic lovers, while at the same time being very romantic and sensuous. This was the first time I had read anything by Kay Hooper, and I will definitely be checking out other works by her in the future. Rating: ****

Surrender by Lisa Kleypas – For a short story, I thought that Surrender was quite well written. It can be difficult in the novella format for an author to fully develop the characters and plot, but Lisa Kleypas has done a masterful job. I found both Jason and Laura to be likable characters. For all his brooding cynicism on the outside, Jason was kind and sensitive on the inside, and for all her, tension and fearfulness on the outside, Laura was spirited and passionate on the inside. I enjoyed reading the story of a couple, who even after two months of marriage really don't know each other at all, but were able to discover new levels of intimacy in their relationship. Being part Irish, I also liked reading about the Irish immigrants of that era, including all the prejudices and poverty that they suffered. This element just made the story seem more realistic. The “opposite sides of the tracks” aspect of the story was very appealing, and I found the Victorian Boston setting to be rather unique, as I haven't read any other romance stories in that setting. The story is also infused with plenty of Ms. Kleypas' trademark loving sensuality, which I personally find very beautiful. Overall, I thought that Surrender was a wonderfully romantic novella that is on par with Ms. Kleypas' full-length novels, and one that I highly enjoyed reading. It reminded me in many ways of her book, Again the Magic. Surrender has earned a spot on my keeper shelf alongside several of Ms. Kleypas' other works. Rating: ****1/2

Both of these stories are reissues that were previously seen in other holiday-themed anthologies. Each novella has been summarized and reviewed separately. The overall rating for the book is the average of the ratings for each individual story. ( )