Anna St Claire provides another great addition to the Wicked Earls Club collection. While the Earl himself is a great character, this book's best character is a donkey named Clarence. Clarence is the smartest animal I've ever read. He seems to know what is happening, he sings, he's smart and he takes care of his family. Thomas, the Earl, finds Clarence tied to a bush on the side of a tree. The previous night he had heard gypsies talking about how the donkey was bad luck. Thomas takes Clarence to a local woman, Elizabeth Newton, who is known for taking in strays. Her 3 children take to the little donkey right away. Clarence is wearing an amulet when they find him - the gypsies think it is bad luck but it seems to cause the person holding it to tell the truth.
Clarence brings Elizabeth and Thomas together and the whole family finds the Happiest Ever After of the Christmas season. ( )