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Jane Nichol runs away from the horrendous match proposed by her step-mother, but is much better prepared for survival than most females of the age would have been. Due to the efforts of her beloved governess, Miss Godwin, Jane is proficient in both French and sewing. What more natural then, to establish herself--in heavy disguise--as Madame Nicolette, seamstress? In Bath, no less, a pleasant change from the busy London of 1819.

Madame's fashions quickly become essential to Fanny Fowler, who has become betrothed to the Duke of Chandrose, and engaged the young dressmaker to produce a wondrous wardrobe in celebration. Except that, when the marriage is called off, Fanny's father refuses to pay, leaving Jane with gorgeous clothing, and monstrous bills.

Greatly daring, Jane decides to broach the young Duke for payment, to keep herself away from financial ruin. Not surprisingly, after initially refusing to consider such reimbursements, he changes his mind, and begins to pursue the dressmaker, for a multitude of reasons. Eventually, all ends up as it should, leaving everyone--reader and characters alike--satisfied.

I think, however, the readers get much the better of this arrangement. Elisabeth Fairchild has a wondrous way with words, and each of the silver sugarplum surprises with which she decorates this confection will create a smile. A book to be savored, year after year.


Vividly detailed   January 21, 2002
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

Loved this book. It was so detailed the characters seemed real and very likable. I recently bought another book by Fairchild which I am halfway through and it also is so "alive" you can picture each scene vividly. Will try to purchase all her books!


A Juicy Christmas Plum of a Romance   December 28, 2001
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I love uplifting, magical stories at Christmas time, and Fairchild delivers. This Cinderella style romance focuses on finding the silver surprises in her hard working heroine and hard-up hero's lives. Regency Bath comes alive in misty, mysterious beauty. Sumptuous detail, unexpected surprises, and a curly twist at the end. I bought copies for all my friends. You will too if you enjoy a lyrical tale drenched in period detail with a magical ending.


an enjoyable Christmas tale   November 24, 2001
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

Why did the duke of Chandrose call off his wedding to the beautiful Miss Fanny Fowler? This is the thread that weaves its way through Elizabeth Fairchild's Christmas fable, "Sugarplum Surprises."

In a fit of honesty, Fanny Fowler tells her future husband something (we're not told what at this point; but this bit of information is tantalizingly waved in front of our noses for much of the novel, and it is not until the last quarter of the book that what Fanny said is divulged). What Fanny doesn't count on is the Duke of Chandrose's (her fiance) reaction. In a fit of anger, disillusionment and hurt, the duke cancels the wedding and jilts Fanny. And now, not only has Fanny's parents decided to remove their disgraced daughter from Bath, but also to refuse payment on the very expensive wedding trousseau that Fanny had ordered. For Madame Nichollet, the dressmaker who had designed and sewn all the dresses, this refusal of payment could mean the end of her dressmaking enterprise. And so, she decides to approach the duke, hoping that he will agree to defray the cost of all these specially designed gowns. However, she decides to do so as her real self: Miss Jane Nichol, the daughter of the late Baron Orday.

Upon her father's death, Jane stepmother had tried to arrange a marriage for Jane with a rather repulsive but rich baron. Rather than give in, Jane ran away from home, came to Bath and donning a disguise as a matronly Frenchwoman, opened a dress-shop. Now however, Jane faces bankruptcy especially if she cannot persuade the duke to pay for Fanny's discarded dresses. And so Jane approaches the duke and successfully shames him into agreeing to pay for the gowns. But when the duke goes to the dress shop to make the payment, he realises that Jane and Madame Nichollet are one and the same. Sure that Jane is up to something shady, he decides to look into her affairs and keep an eye on her. Soon Jane finds that her path and the duke's are constantly crossing, and that try as she might, she cannot deny that she finds this stern-faced duke very appealing. But can she trust him with the truth about her past? As for the duke, he soon finds himself being totally tantalized and intrigued with Jane, and soon realises that he cares a great deal for her. But he is the Duke of Chandrose, and Jane is the disgraced runaway daughter of Baron Orday, as well as in trade. Can he overlook the scandal that is attached to Jane's name? All this however becomes quite moot when Jane's stepmother comes to Bath. Will she recognise that Jane and Madame Nichollet are one and the same? And if so, will she demand that Jane marries the repulsive baron? What will the duke do then?

"Sugarplum Surprises" is exactly right kind of romance novel for the season. Both Jane and the duke have had disappointments handed to them, and the festive Christmas season seems to only add to their feelings of loneliness and alienation. So that, when they both (finally) acknowledge their love for each other, you feel as if the magic of Christmas had a lot to do with the blossoming of their affections. Jane is the kind of heroine that anyone would find easy to empathize with and root for. And the duke is a refreshing change too: a reserved and honourable gentleman, who finds that he has it in him to overlook Jane's unconventional behavior and pursue her for himself. Ms Fairchild did a rather wonderfully in constructing this novel: the manner in which she teases the reader into wondering why the duke jilted Fanny, and the way in which she contrasted the close relationship that the duke had with his mother and sisters with the rather bad one that Jane had with her stepmother and sister, was I thought, extremely well done.

"Sugarplum Surprises" is a heartwarming novel that revels in the magic of Christmas. A rather fun read.