Cathleen Clare’s “Christmas Cattitude” is a pretty standard “snowbound for Christmas” tale. Left almost penniless by her father’s death and forced to leave the dower house by the dissolute behavior of the heir to the entailed estate, Stephanie Blythe and her mother, Lady Blythe, are forced to seek refuge with her younger sister. Many years earlier, Caroline had eloped with a most unsuitable man, to the dismay of her lordly father. Now she and her husband George run a successful inn in Yorkshire, the Horse and Hounds. Lady Blythe accepts their offer of a home with some dismay. What chance now will her lovely daughter have to make a suitable match?

Stephanie accepts her lowered social position with more grace and soon find herself willingly participating in the work of the inn. If she is can no longer hope for a good marriage, perhaps she can be happy running the inn. Then, in the midst of a blizzard, the Marquess of Donnington and his young niece and ward arrive at the inn. Eugenia had lost her parents a year earlier and has become an intractable and difficult child.

While they are stranded at the inn, the company of Stephanie’s cat Fluffy and Stephanie’s no nonsense reaction to the girl’s temper tantrums gives the marquess some hope for the future. He is also much taken by Stephanie’s quiet courage and her lack of pretension. Has he found the woman who is right for him in this unlikely place? Of course, he has. Clare’s tale is a pretty standard romance with pretty standard characters. Nice, if not unique.

Wilma Counts’ entry in the kitten sweepstakes is the most interesting and enjoyable with a more uncommon plot. “Christmas Joy” refers to the three and a half year old daughter of the hero, Justin Wingate. Joy lost her mother over a year ago and the once chatty child has not spoken since. His sister-in-law, Irene suggests that Joy might benefit from spending Christmas at the family home of Everleigh with her and other children. Justin decides to spend some months there with his family.

Another guest is also preparing to attend the house party, Meghan Kenwick, one of Irene’s best friends. Two summers earlier, Meghan had lost both her husband and her eight year old son in a boating accident. They had been swept overboard from Justin’s boat when a sudden squall had come up. At the time, Meghan had had some hard words for Justin, blaming him for the deaths.

Meghan’s marriage had not been very happy but Stephen had been the joy of her life. She had mourned him deeply. But now, Irene has decided it is time for Meghan to come out of her shell. Meghan agrees, but she is concerned both because Justin will be there and she knows she must apologize to him and because she is not sure how she will react to the other children there.

At Eversleigh, Meghan is surprised and then pleased that Joy connects with her. Justin is equally taken with the lovely widow. But Meghan has vowed never again to marry. So the two have some barriers to overcome.

“Christmas Joy” packed a whole lot into the novella form and was a most enjoyable romance.

“Christmas Miracle” by Debbie Raleigh is another story about a Christmas house party. Grace Honeywell and her mother have lived at Chalfried manor, the home of her step-father. But the property had passed to a cousin at his death. Now the new owner is coming for Christmas and the steward orders the two out of the house and into a drafty cottage. Grace is not very well disposed toward Mr. Alexander Dalford.

Alexander has decided to spend Christmas in the country with his friends Lord and Lady Falwell and his enemy Mr. Wallace, one of the ton’s most rabid gossips. His purpose is to quell rumors that he is having an affair with her ladyship. The son of an English father and a Russian mother, Alexander is immensely wealthy and well-connected.

His desire to prevent scandal is threatened by Grace’s cat, Byron. Byron escapes from the cottage and heads to the house. Alexander comes across Grace in his bedroom searching for the kitten and seizes the opportunity to kiss the lovely intruder. Unfortunately, Mr. Wallace witnesses the passionate embrace. To quell a budding scandal, Alexander informs Wallace that Grace is his fiancée.

Grace is incensed, both by the kiss and her response to it, but decides she has no choice but to go along with the masquerade. Of course, propinquity brings love. Both Alexander and Grace are attractive characters and “Christmas Miracle” is an attractive romance.

In sum, Christmas Eve Kittens contains three quite acceptable novellas, with the Counts’ tale clearly above average. Regency and cat fans alike should enjoy this anthology.

--Jean Mason