Chalice of Roses

November 30, 2009
Four engaging novellas bring romance to the legend of the Holy Grail. In Beverley's “The Raven and the Rose,” set in 1153, cloistered novitiate Gledys must find the literal man of her dreams so they can summon the Grail and ensure peace for the country. Putney's WWII-themed “The White Rose of Scotland” sets a Canadian RAF pilot and a British intelligence officer to track a Nazi spy who steals the chalice. In Harbaugh's “Miss Templar and the Holy Grail,” Regency society's expectations lead to a comedic misunderstanding of the protagonists' roles in the quest. Samuel's atmospheric but uneven “Eternal Rose” finds a modern woman seeking to free her lover from the fairy queen. The authors tie the Grail to pagan roots as well as Christian myth and deftly highlight romance rather than religion, making all four stories broadly accessible.

December 15, 2009
Based on legends surrounding the mystical Holy Grail, this quartet sweeps readers across time periods with emotionally compelling, often lyrically written tales of courage, sacrifice, loveand roses. A young woman of ancient lineage is destined to bring peace to 12th-century England when she finds her protector, and together they call forth the chalice in Beverley's "The Raven and the Rose"; a Guardian must use her powers to keep the Grail safe during World War II in Mary Jo Putney's "The White Rose of Scotland"; a debutante is charged with keeping the Grail out of Napoleon's grasp in Karen Harbaugh's charming "The English Rose: Miss Templar and the Holy Grail"; and an American grad student studying in England becomes involved in a strange fey tale involving the Grail in Barbara Samuel's "Eternal Rose." VERDICT This beautifully crafted anthology by some of the genre's best is graced with flawless writing, touches of humor, and magical, creative plots.

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