Mary Balogh had an idea.  What if four authors each wrote a short story with the same basic premise – a man and woman are reunited after ten years, and spend a twenty-four hour period together at an inn.  The following is the result of that idea. 

The Fall of Rogue Gerrard by Stephanie Laurens 

When Robert “Rogue” Gerrard took shelter from the weather at an inn, he never expected to find his childhood friend Lydia Makepeace.  Learning that she intended to sneak into someone’s estate, while they were hosting an infamous house party, Ro knows he must save her.   

Lydia had heard the stories of Ro, he was legendary in his womanizing ways.  But there was never a question of his not being her friend, even though he had left ten years earlier.  He was the one person she could trust to help her in her quest. 

The Fall of Rogue Gerrard was a touching love story.  Ro’s reputation, though well earned, had turned into a shield.  He no longer led such a life, but the rumors helped keep the matchmaking mothers away.  I simply adored Ro, and his devotion to Lydia. 

Spellbound by Mary Balogh 

Nora Ryder was without a job, and even worse, she hadn’t even been paid her past earnings.  On her way to her brother’s home, Nora learned there had been an accident with the stagecoach and they would have to stay the night at the inn.  Unfortunately, Nora didn’t have money to pay for a room.  Then her husband came to the rescue. 

Richard Kemp hadn’t seen his wife in a decade.  Not that she was necessarily his wife, or maybe she still was.  The problem was, he didn’t know.  What was certain, though, was that their situations had changed.  As they spend May Day together, they realize that their attraction to one another hadn’t abated.  Perhaps now, they could have a different ending. 

Spellbound was a touching story of reconciliation.  Neither Nora nor Richard fully comprehends the events of ten years earlier that had separated them.  I loved watching them reconcile, and rediscover their love for one another.

Only You by Jacquie D’Alessandro

Cassandra Heywood was returning to her childhood home, but she needed to stop somewhere first.  Knowing that her childhood friend now owned an inn, she chose to stay there the night, hoping to see Ethan Baxter.   

Ethan couldn’t believe Cassandra was at his inn.  He had never forgotten her, couldn’t even start a relationship because of her.  He had always been infatuated with her, but knew that nothing could ever come of it.  Even now, a widow, he was too far below her. 

Only You was a touching romance of healing.  Cassandra had endured a terrible marriage, and Ethan was the perfect hero to heal her.  In fact, Ethan was simply an ideal hero – one who had always loved his heroine. 

From This Moment On by Candice Hern  

Captain Samuel Pellow knew it was unlikely that the duchess who had just arrived at the inn was “his” duchess, but it was she.  His Willie.  The girl he had grown up with, but had transformed from a village girl Wilma Jepp, to courtesan Wilhelmina Grant, and finally to the widow Wilhelmina, Duchess of Hertford.   

Wilhelmina was happy to have this time with Sam.  He had been her first love, but believing him lost at sea, and thrown out of her home, Willie had needed to transform herself.  She had been exclusive, but there was no denying that she had allowed men to pay for her favors.  Still, she had managed to find respectability with the love of the Duke of Hertford, and had been happy, and honored him, in her marriage. 

From This Moment On was a story of two people reminiscing and learning of their time apart.  I had a hard time with this story, probably because I could not identify with the characters.  So many years had passed, and they had met a few times since they had been children.  Also, Wilhelmina was just too accepting of her past.  There was no contrition to the life she had chosen.   

What a unique concept that Mary Balogh had which resulted in It Happened One Night.  I enjoyed reading this anthology, and would be interested to see such an endeavor again. 

Reviewed by Kathy Andrico for The Road To Romance