An anthology of novellas from three authors, all written with at least one scene where the main couple kiss under the mistletoe, though there are no other links between them and they have no characters or locations in common.
Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch
If you’ve read any of Enoch’s Wild Wicked Highlanders series, you’ll definitely appreciate the glimpse into the happily-ever-afters of the main couples we get here, as well as the romance for Jane, Amy’s companion, who finds happiness with an architect cousin of the MacTaggerts. However, if you’re not familiar with the series, I do think you’ll enjoy this; I’ve only read one of the books and I had no trouble following along with what was happening. I do like ‘ordinary people’ historical romances and Jane and Brennen were both easy to root for. Yes, things happen quickly, but there’s a time crunch and both characters still take the time to seriously consider what they want for their futures. Four stars.
Christmas At Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey
This is where I admit that I have read several Amelia Grey books and not really liked any of them (and actively hated a couple). She writes extremely low-stakes romance - there are no real consequences if the hero and heroine don’t get together - and her characters have a tendency to be pretty flat. She falls into that trap with the hero here, Gate. Literally his main personality trait appears to be ‘would like to be useful’, which is pretty unexciting to say the least. I did, however, like her heroine Isabelle, and I was amused by the opening in which Isabelle accidentally shoots one of Gate’s men. Because it’s a novella format, the lack of a complicated plot actually does Grey’s writing style some favours here. I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of hers, but I didn’t hate this. Three stars.
My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett
I LOVED this one! From the opening where Eva is picking a lock to get into Jack’s room to steal back her father’s watch, I was riveted. There’s terrific banter and a great enemies to lovers storyline where neither of them want to be attracted to the other but are forced into proximity. Jack’s realization that he has made an Enormous Mistake was fabulous and had me laughing out loud. The only thing I quibbled with a bit was Jack’s father never making an apology to Eva’s father, who had definitely wronged, in word if not in deed. The two of them needed to have an honest conversation, but I daresay in the novella format there wasn’t the space for it. Forgivable and not enough to cause me to deduct a star from this story which was clearly the standout. Five stars.
Overall a solid collection: I was trepidacious because I’m not keen on Grey’s writing but that was a decent enough story and the other two definitely made up for it. Four stars on average overall.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.