This novella was released as part of an anthology entitled The True Love Wedding Dress, in which Catherine Anderson wrote the prologue, the epilogue, and the final story. Other authors included Connie Brockway, Casey Claybourne, and Barbara Metzger.

Overall Response

Anthologies are really one of my least favorite types of books to buy. Best case scenario, you love all the stories in the books and you might even find a new author to follow. My usual experience has been one or two of the stories are fine, and then there are two more you’d be happy to never read again. This anthology is one of the better ones, somewhere in the middle of those two scenarios.

With respects to Catherine Anderson’s entry, Beautiful Gifts, I’ve always liked this particular novella. Patrick is Caitlyn’s brother and featured heavily in Keegan’s Lady. There was also a tragic air about him, and I couldn’t help but want better for him. He was so young and had had so little opportunity to be a better person — I was glad that he got his own book. Faith is typical of Anderson’s Western heroines: uptight, prissy. She’s a forerunner of Lucky Penny’s Brianna though not nearly as insufferable.

The story is sweet, and the romance is fine. If you like Catherine Anderson’s brand of romance (and I usually do), then the usual tropes here will work, only for once the hero has nearly as much emotional baggage as the heroine. There’s the requisite dog, a cute kid, and dastardly parents, all the good hallmarks. There’s nothing outstanding about this romance, but it’s lovely low-key read that doesn’t demand a lot from you.