Part of Series
Regency readers were first introduced to Xanthe—an irrepressible fairy godmother and friend to young hearts—in THE CANDLELIGHT WISH. Now she's back to play matchmaker for another unlikely couple. All she needs to commence her spells is the ripple of water in a mirrored bowl and a clever white cat named Titus... When Xanthe glimpses careworn Major Aubrey Kelland's wish upon a glittering Christmas Star —- for a staid, capable wife to manage his dilapidated ancestral home and unruly young sisters —- she vows to assist him in finding such an estimable female. To this end, Lady Xanthe Simms hosts a house party with an array of eligible ladies. Although Aubrey's bewitched by Miss Desdemona Lynton, his military precision is offended by her scapegrace conduct and carefree mirth. Such a flighty chit could never set his household to rights! And Desdemona, though dazzled by this virile officer, despairs of sparking his long-lost joie de vivre. Only by turning the impetuous miss into a damsel in distress can Xanthe and Titus reconcile Aubrey's heroic nature with his disorderly desires —- and a love that's written in the stars.
Author
Janice Bennett never intended to be a writer, but with B.A. degrees in anthropology and classical civilizations and an M.A. in folklore and mythology, what choice did she have? Her first jobs included the usual abc's—archaeologist, bookkeeper and college craft instructor. Then, on a whim, she submitted her first novel, a Regency, and life took on a fascinating new twist. Several books later, she began presenting work-shops, teaching novel writing at a community college, serving as a writing panel member at WorldCons...then became an editor. So far, she has written twenty-six novels and more than twenty novellas and received a number of awards, including two Lifetime Achievement awards from Romantic Times/Rave Reviews. In her spare time, she spins wool (and pet hair), knits, crochets, weaves, and quilts. She lives in a rural town with her husband, never enough cats, a huge dog, an organic garden—and a computer she swears runs on chocolate chips, not silicon ones, which explains a lot about her. www.janicebennettbooks.com
