Mistletoe Christmas
Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry

The setting for each story is the infamous Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry. The first story introduces us to Cressie who has given her whole life to directing her father’s Revelry. Someone makes the offhand comment that the handsome and dashing Lord Elias marry the dowdy Cressie to keep her close so she can continue in her role. But the more Elias observes her, and experiences A Mistletoe Kiss the more he falls in love. As always, Eloisa James does a bang up job making us all fall in love.

In the second story Cyrus and Isabelle had once been betrothed but Isabelle ended the engagement because Cyrus was effectively ignoring her as he grew into a fanatical businessman. But 10 years later they meet at the Revelry and realize they are still in love. While Wishing Under the Mistletoe they are able to realize their love and come back together. Cristi Caldwell brings us alluring protagonists and redemption.

Next, Caroline left her husband Lord Stephen. But to get an inheritance she asks him to pretend to be happily married for the duration of the Revelry. She needs the inheritance to fund a building in London where she can support women artists. When he sees her he realizes just how much he loves her. But he must spend his time at his estate. As the days go by at the Revelry they realize how much they love one another. Is there a possibility for a Compromise under the Mistletoe? Janna MacGregor expertly brings us this sweet but saucy tale.

Last, shy, awkward Louisa has come to the Revelry commanded by her mother to find a match. Secretly a poet, she feels like an Automaton in Society. Ewan is at the Revelry posing as a poet while secretly jotting down info for a scandal sheet. Louisa secretly approaches Ewan because she would like to speak, and be heard, by another poet. Little does she know he was the one who called her insipid in his scandal sheet, thus ruining her prospects years ago. Ewan creates a getaway, a bit of Mischief & Mistletoe, for Louisa to write and they grow closer and closer. Of course the truth about the scandal sheet comes out, making Louisa feel betrayed. Can Ewan gain her forgiveness? Erica Ridley as always, provides a poignant and passionate tale.

I enjoyed how the stories were all set at the same party. My favorite was Eloisa James's story. I was hoping there would be a story about Valentine, but maybe in a future book by one of these authors? Sets of short stories frequently can be uneven, but these were all quality reads.

This is a fun collection of holiday-themed love stories by four talented writers. Anthologies/short stories aren't my favorite, but these authors do it well, and I didn't feel like anything was missing from the character development of any of the tales.

Three stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

This is a sweet and sexy interconnected collection of novellas from some of the best regency authors out there! All the novellas center around a holiday house party called the Revelry that is famous within the ton for its entertainments as well as its exclusive guest list. Each story in the collection involves second chances for relationships or the characters themselves. Two out of the three are true second chance romances.

Even though this is set during the holidays - and there is quite amount of festivities going on - I think you could really read this any time of year!

I especially liked Eloisa James' entry into the collection - for some reason the insta love really worked for me with this one!

I was lucky to receive this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own,

Eloisa James: A Mistletoe Kiss

The Duke of Greystoke's "Christmas Revelry" has begun and his youngest daughter Cressida, who does all the work but receives no credit for the annual event, is ready to be out from under the thumb of her dominating and unfeeling father to begin a life of her own. The duke, however, has other plans.

Elias, Lord Darcy de Royleston's best friend stands to inherit the dukedom when the old codger gives up the ghost and will finally obtain a treasured estate to boot, but only if he agrees to continue hosting the revelry for another decade. When his friend suggests that Elias marry Cressie to, one, save himself the trouble of searching for a bride and two, ensure that as Elias' wife she can continue to help with all the intricate planning for the Revelry, a tentative deal is struck.

Cressie has always been attracted to Elias, but he's never given her the time of day so when he's suddenly popping up everywhere and laying on the charm she knows that he's up to no good. But despite her suspicions, a handsome rogue is hard to resist.

It doesn't take long before Elias original motives for pursuing Cressie are forgotten and he's completely won over by her creativity, wit and understated beauty. Convincing her that the feelings he's suddenly feeling are real are another matter entirely.

This story was simply charming from beginning to end and my ONLY complaint is that because of the short story format their romantic journey goes from Point A to Point Z to quickly. I would have loved to see Cressie and Elias' story play out in a full size novel format, but if wishes were horses...



Christi Caldwell: Wishing Under the Mistletoe

This one was hand's down, my favorite of the four! If you've every wondered how Ebeneezer Scrooge's life might have changed had he been given a second chance to win back the love of his life, then you are in for a real treat.

When a very Scrooge-esque, Cryus Hill becomes more obsessed with making money than finally marrying the woman he loves, said woman takes matters in to her own hands, breaks the engagement and leaves to pursue her own dreams.

Ten years later, Lady Isabella Wilkshire arrives at her uncle's Christmas Revelry and finds herself paired with a ghost from her past that her heart has never been able to forget.

Forced to work together, old feelings that never died and new insights into the past bring hope for a possible future, but is it too late?

Ms. Caldwell did an awesome job at creating a heart warming, second-chance romance, that was perfectly contained inside the short-story format and the Scrooge inspired plot, pure genius!


Janna MacGregor: Compromise Under the Mistletoe

Easily my 2nd favorite in this quartet, Caroline and Stephen's story is another second-chance at love romance but in this case, the couple is already wed...albeit unhappily.

After a year of living apart, the couple must convince the Duke of Greystoke that their marriage is solid in order for Caroline to obtain the money she needs to fund a special project. When her husband, who previously forgot her existence outside the bedroom readily agrees to play the role of the doting husband during the duration of the Christmas Revelry, Caroline is too relieved to ask why.

Determined to win back the wife he loves, Stephen jumps feet first into the arrangement, confident that the passion they shared can be rekindled and their marriage saved. But it takes the two of them finally taking the time to get know each other that finally makes it possible for this couple to reconcile.

I enjoyed their story immensely and although it was also well contained in the shorter format, I still wasn't ready for it to end so quickly.



Erica Ridley: Mischief and Mistletoe

Shunned by society after the scandal sheets declare her dull and uninteresting, the Duke's Christmas Revelry is Louisa's Harcourt's last chance to make a match--at least according to her mother! With a duke's heir and a desolate Viscount sitting on the top of her mother's wish list, the last person that should be drawing her attention is a brooding poet without any prospects.

But the heart wants what the heart wants, and with secret dreams of sharing her own poetry with the world turning to ash, Louisa finds Ewan Reid very hard to resist.

Ewan, however has a secret! He's not exactly as he seems and despite his instant attraction to Louisa he knows a future beyond the two weeks of the Revelry simply isn't possible. Or is it?

Ewan and Louisa's story is about breaking free of everyone else's expectations and finding the courage to follow your own heart and dreams and provides a perfect closing chapter to this wonderfully fun and festive anthology.

There’s nothing better than a Christmas anthology of regency romance favorites, and Mistletoe Christmas is no exception. Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley are giants in the historical romance genre, and this new anthology doesn’t disappoint. Wit, romance, and clever writing all make each story memorable and engaging.

Four charming and sexy Regency Christmas stories by four talented historical romance authors in one book. The old Duke’s famous “Christmas Revelry” is a weeks long house party extradornaire where love and hi-jinx abound. The four unconventional ladies in these stories find love and friendship on their own terms. What a delicious holiday treat!

The stories kept you hooked and they flowed really well from one to the other. A house party anyone would want to attend.

This is an anthology from authors Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley. They take place at the Duke of Greystone’s Christmas Revelry, a 2 week-long celebration with lots of romance.

I am a huge Eloisha fan so I adored her story. The other books are pretty great too but the Eloisha story was my absolute favorite. It stars Cressida and Elias and her father. Essentially her father is on his deathbed and he wants C to marry his heir because every year she puts a production around Christmas but Elias wants to marry her. Her father has kept her single for years because of the production and he wants her to marry the heir so she can continue with the event after he dies but Elias wants to marry her and he tries to convince her in this story.

I really loved the length of the books. They were easy to read as a story before bed that didn't keep me up all night reading and satisfied my zest for romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Harper Voyage for the ARC to read and review.

Ah, the anthology! I love this format.
Mistletoe Christmas brings together four prolific historical romance writers with four novellas involving the Duke of Greystoke’s annual Christmas Revelry. Each story is interconnected with family members and friends.

I read all four and a Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James is by far my favourite of the four.

This collection will put you in the mood for the holidays.

Review (3.5 stars): This is an anthology from Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley. These four stories are set at the Duke of Greystone’s Christmas Revelry, a 2 week-long celebration known all throughout the British Isles.

Each of the four authors has created a wonderfully festive story with overlapping characters to create a realistic world. This is the perfect collection of light romances, with wonderfully upbeat endings, and the festive magic of Christmas. The romance scenes are fairly tame with a focus on the storyline. Plus, the stories are fully developed, and you don’t notice that they’re shorter.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #MistletoeChristmas #NetGalley

This is a fun collection of novellas, all centering around a grand party with overlapping characters. Each is centered on a different couple, from the bustling hostess of the event and the boy next door, to two former lovers reunited ten years post breakup, to an estranged but very much still in love married couple, and finally a lady in her final season and the moody poet she can't stay away from.

I loved the recurring characters, particularly Valentine, though I was a little bummed he didn't find his true love! Each novella felt fully formed, I didn't feel like I was missing backstory or current plot like novellas so often do. It did feel just a little old fashioned, I didn't get the strong vibes from the female characters like I normally do from modern historical romance. Most of the problems in each novella could have been solved by just a little communication.

Overall it was an enjoyable read, not heavily focused on Christmas at all. 3.5 stars

What a lovely set of short stories, perfect for the holidays! Sweet stories with just enough heat, and all connected to each other via a single party. I might have saved Eloise James’s story for last though; that was probably my favourite. Ooh, but I did enjoy the glimpse of the next Revelry.

Mistletoe Christmas is a four story anthology centered around a Christmastide house party at a ducal estate.

A Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James
An overlooked duke’s daughter is noticed for the first time by a future marquess who sees her true worth.

Wishing Under the Mistletoe by Christi Caldwell
Ten years after their broken engagement, a couple reunites for the first time.

Comprise Under the Mistletoe by Janna MacGregor
Estranged spouses must come together at the duke’s estate to claim her trust fund.

Mistletoe & Mischief by Erica Ridley
An awkward spinster (and secret poetess) needs to secure a good match but her heart is set on a brooding poet who has secrets of his own.

I love the house party trope and have read and enjoyed other books by these authors, but Mistletoe Christmas was just okay. The stories all seemed lacking their author’s usual sparkle. If you are looking for a wonderful winter holiday anthology, I'd recommend Seduction on a Snowy Night from 2019.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything you want in a holiday anthology!

With this list of authors I predicted a home run and this collection did not disappoint. Four fabulous HEA stories from four romance greats that all center around the Duke of Greystroke’s Christmas Revelry. The central event provides continuity and great world-building. The cast of gently interconnected characters make for a solid cat of characters and likable protagonists. Each story uses classic tropes giving us wallflowers, long lost loves, friends to lovers, stuck in a storm, secret identities and more, all in four easily devoured tales. Add this one to your holiday TBR list right away.

I love an anthology of short delightful novellas. This was an excellent anthology because all four stories made me happy. All four stories are set at the same setting. It’s a once a year Christmas Revelry put together by the Duke of Greystoke. All four stories were delightful and blended together seamlessly. I’ve read all four authors before and enjoyed these stories. If you have not read the authors previously this is a great way to discover their writing styles. All four heroines were written as complicated characters and their romantic arcs fit beautifully into the setting. I highly recommend this anthology.