I received "Kissing Under the Mistletoe" from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book has three of my favorite authors, and each is an out of this world, wonderful author entertaining us with a romantic love story.
"Great Scot!" by Suzanne Enoch
Jane Bansil is paid companion to Lady Aldriss; Brennan Andrews is cousin to the MacTaggert brothers. Their attraction to each other as well as their love of architecture brings these two lonely souls together.
"Christmas at Dewberry Hollow" by Amelia Grey
Isabelle Reed is an Inn's owner's daughter .John Cabot Gatestone is a Duke's grandson. John visits the inn with his grandfather whose dying wish is to find the tree that he and his grandmother had carved a heart in with their initials. In a vast forest all around the inn, it seems like a daunting task. Together, John and Isabelle try to locate the tree while developing a strong attraction for each other.
"My Mistletoe Beau" by Anna Bennett
Miss Eva Tiding and John Hardwick. Earl of Frostbough, make a deal that they will pretend to be engaged as they have both lied to their family members about being interested in someone. However,  this pretense turns into something neither expected. Sparks fly and attractions grow the closer they are.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

This is an enjoyable read and didn't take that long. I must admit that my favorite is by Anna Bennett. Strong female character and I really enjoyed her. If you're looking for a light read that's not incredibly time consuming nor filled with "high drama and angst", then I would strongly suggest this collection of stories.

This book is a delightful collection of Christmas novellas that get you in the Christmas spirit of romance. Each story kept me captivated and cheering for the characters. They also made me laugh and sigh and feel like the characters were friends.

Mini Review: All three of these short stories were fun and festive! I love Christmas books, and these stories were entertaining reads. My favorite of them was Great Scot, but I liked all of them! Overall, if you're looking for a festive Christmas short story collection, I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

4 stars

A christmas Anthology. I'd read some of the other books in Syzanne Enoch's series so this was meeting old friends. I enjoyed Amelia's story but thought Anna's was a bit too modern.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an remarkable anthology this is. This anthology is filled with heartwarming, romantic stories.. I enjoyed each and every story.. I highly recommend this book. These romances will warm you as you await the holidays.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe is a steamy holiday anthology from St. Martin's press that is a great read for people looking for a sensual holiday read. As I always do, I'll be reviewing the individual stories.

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch
Lady's companion Jane has resigned herself to a spinster's life. Feeling a third wheel at the MacTaggert family Christmas, she faces a decision. A decision which suddenly has new options when she meets architect and MacTaggert cousin. The one-eyed architect sets her heart racing and her blood pumping. But can she follow her heart? Of should she play it safe?

Set in the same universe with all of the characters from her Wild Wicked Highlander series, this novella focuses on a poor relation of the heroine of the first book of the series, and this story is a great addition to that series. I really liked Jane's dilemma and I appreciated that we got a hero who wasn't perfect. My biggest complaints were the very extreme instalove and the fact that I didn't feel that the novella could stand on its own. Still I loved the banter and characters and I am a fan of this series. So this story gets:
Four Stars.

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Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey
Years ago, Gate's grandfather, the Duke of Notsgrave, stayed at the Dewberry Hollow Inn with his new wife, carving a heart onto a tree in the nearby woods. Now as his grandfather lays dying, Gate races to find the tree so that his grandfather can fulfill a promise to his dead wife. He expects to find a tree. He doesn't expect one of his servants to be shot by the most perfectly enchanting creature he's ever met. Miss Isabelle Reed has long eschewed the idea of love. She's seen what it's done and she wants nothing to do with it. But when Gate appears at her family's inn she begins to change her mind. Can this unlikely pair find the tree and fall in love?

This is a standalone novella and I feel the weakest of the stories in this anthology. I found the writing a bit too purple and the stakes really really low. The heat level of this entry is also really low, there's "door ajar" sex but it's not really on the page. I wasn't a fan of how perfect the heroine was and how "Not Like Other Women" she was. Literally, the hero states in an internal monologue that she is "not like other women" and it really landed poorly for me. The story isn't completely horrible, I liked a few of the side characters as well as the idea of the grandson doing this as a favor to his grandfather. This Story would be for fans of sweet romance who want a little more heat with their low stakes sweet. For me, it was too cloying.
Two stars

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My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett
Determined to retrieve the watch her mother gave her father, Miss Eva Tiding is willing to do anything get it. Even stooping to robbing the scoundrel who tricked the watch away from her father oneJack Hardwick, the Earl of Frostbough. Unfortunately, she's caught in the act by the Earl himself. In return for his silence as well as the watch, she has to agree to be his intended for the next few weeks to placate his grandmother. It's the perfect arrangement. The only problem, falling in love.

This was far and away the best entry in the collection. This is a standalone novella that is utterly charming and lovely and fun. The banter was on point. The romance steamy. The conflict and the tension was there. I was rooting for Jack and Eva. (Which I also appreciated the punny names that weren't overtly punny (no Chris/Kris or Hollys to be seen).). The plot was engaging and I also really liked the side characters. This novella made me smile and happy and it was the perfect Christmas romance.
Five stars.

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In all this was a solid anthology. I liked two of the three entries and the entry that I didn't like was more due to my personal dislikes (I like more conflict and imperfect characters) rather than anything too egregious. This is a fun anthology and it's a great way to get in the mood for Christmas.

So if I average everything together it's 3.67 stars which I'm going to round up.

Four stars.

I requested to read and review this book from St. Martin Publishing Company. I love 3 book in one. They all have the coming home feeling where you belong. This makes you feel all warm and cozy reading this! Yes of course there is romance but there is also drama, mystery and comedy. This will be a book you don't want to put it down! The women characters are strong resilient women. That came make their own minds They each take place in great setting during Christmas time. But these amazing stories can be read anytime of the year!

This is a delightful collection of three entertaining, well-written, steamy, holiday, historical romance novellas. Suzanne Enoch's entry is a heartwarming story of a shy, awkward spinster finding love with a quiet hero, and has a happily ever after ending. It is an excellent addition to Ms. Enoch's outstanding "Wild Wicked Highlanders" series, and can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The glimpses of characters and past events have piqued my interest in reading their stories in the other novels of this series.
Amelia Grey's entry has likable, engaging characters, a strong and capable female protagonist, a heartwarming romance, the sentimental quest to fulfill a promise, a special guest, the sadness of memory loss, Christmas magic, and a happily ever after ending.
Anna Bennett's novella is a tie-in to her "Rogues to Lovers" series and has wit, humor, wonderful characters, a beautiful setting, a heartwarming enemies to lovers romance, and a happily ever after ending. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation.
Net Galley kindly provided me with an ARC of this anthology, and this is my honest opinion.

Three Christmas romances are included this collection. In "Great Scot", Jane feels that she is invisible and too old for love. But Brennan offers her a lot more than a drawing of her dream library. In "Christmas at Dewberry Hollow", Isabelle refuses to believe that this time a man will stay in Dewberry Hollow for her. But she will enjoy her time with Gate while she can. In "My Mistletoe Beau", Eva must begin a fake courtship with Jack in order to rescue her father's watch.

I read this book during winter in Sydney. It certainly helped to warm me up! I adored every story and every couple - though their romances were short, it all felt very believable to me. And all three authors knew perfectly well how to use the shorter length to their advantage - not once did I feel like the stories were missing anything. I've actually just gone and bought the other MacTaggert stories, because I really quite enjoyed "Great Scot".

What a great collections of yummies for this winter break.
Frirst up...
Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch
Our heroine is Jane. No good deed goes unpunished. This is so true with her. She does a good deed and is cast out. Now, she works as a companion. As such, she accompanies her employer to Scotland, and is immersed in the MacTagger family. Well now, we need a decidedly Scottish hero for her, don't we? Enter, Brennan. He is a cousin and an architect. He's been alone for a while since his wife's death, and ok to stay that way. When these 2 meet, sparks ignite. Loved it!

Next, Amelia Grey's Christmas at Dewberry Hollow

Scene 1... some man is shot.... by our heroine! We love her right away and cringe as she tries to clean up the mess she just made. Isabelle then meets Gate. He happens to be on his way to stay in her inn, and the victim is his man. He mistakes Isabell for a servant and you know.... folks this man is going down hard. He's there to help his Grandpa, the Duke, find the love tree he marked with his late wife. Heartwarming!

Last but not least... My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett

Oh our heroine.... she's Eva. She thinks it's a great idea to do a little breaking-and-entering to retrieve that watch her late Mom gave her Dad. Dad... ugh... he lost it gambling with the homeowner, Jack, Earl of Frostbough, That name says something about his demeanor. Only he can't stay all frigid when he catches Eva He has no idea what to do with her, but he figures it out quick. This turns into a fake fiancé storyline, but with a fresh, new telling

All 3 stories will be so warm and cozy with a glass of your fav and a blanket. Enjoy them!

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch (4/5)
Jane Bansil is determined to be a spinster and live a nice quiet life with just her books. After being fired for helping her cousin elope, she has taken a job as a companion and is currently stuck in Scotland spending time with her new lady and her cousin’s husband’s family. Brennan Andrews, a cousin to Jane Ansil’s Cousin’s husband, is an architect who is still reeling from the death of his wife and is spending time with the MacTaggerts in order to help them design homes. Jane and Brennan run into each other at the library and soon find that they share a connection that neither of them can walk away from.


Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey (2/5)
Isabelle Reed has sworn off love and is determined to remain single and help her mother run their in. However wtih the arrival of Gate, the Duke of Notsgrave’s grandson, things might not be going according to her plan. Gate is determined to get Isabelle to acknowledge their connection and act on it while Isabelle is determined to deny it because, whats the point of starting something with someone who is leaving in a few days and has made no promises to actually come back?


My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett (3/5)

Eva Tiding wants one thing for Christmas... and its to get back her father’s beloved pocket watch that was gifted to him from her deceased mother.... and then taken from him by the Earl of Frostbough. Eva decides the only way to obtain it is to break into his home and steal it back, too bad for her mid-heist Jack Hardwick catches her in the act and proposes a deal, if she pretends to be his fiancee so that his grandmother will be happy as she is coming to visit him, he will gibe her back the pocket watch. Jack and Eva can’t stand each other and the chances of catching feelings for one another is slim... or so they think. Soon Jack realizes that there is more here and now he has to convince Eva, a woman who can’t stand him, that there is something real between them.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I’m not always a fan of a novella collection but this wasn’t bad. Maybe it was the Christmas setting that helped me ignore some of the more cheesy parts. I’ve decided novella collections are only good when they’re Christmas themed ha!

I don’t usually go for novella collections but when I saw there was a new wicked highlander’s book in here I had to read it, and honestly I ended up enjoying all three a great deal. My only complaint is that they didn’t all get longer books because I would have loved to spend more time with these characters.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review

An enjoyable trio of novellas about unexpected love. I especially loved seeing the old characters from Suzanne Enoch’s past novels. A quick holiday read. I received an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my honest review.

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE - Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, and Anna Bennett
St. Martin's Paperbacks
ASIN: ‎B08R2KVRN3
ISBN-10: 1-25079-744-6
ISBN-13: ‎978-1-25079-744-5
September 28, 2021
Historical Romance Anthology

England - 19th Century

"Great Scot!" by Suzanne Enoch -- based on the Wild Wicked Highlanders series.
Jane Bansil's aunt kicked her out of her job and house when she helped her cousin Amy marry a Scottish MacTaggert. Because of this, the MacTaggert brothers' English mother, Lady Aldriss, hired her as a companion. Now Jane is with the entire loud and boisterous MacTaggert family at their home in Scotland for Christmas. Being quiet and withdrawn, she doesn't fit in, at least not until she meets a cousin of the MacTaggert brothers. Brennan Andrews is an architect and his cousin Coll MacTaggart, the Viscount Glendarril, wants him to design a new manor for him and his wife so that they can acquire some privacy from his boisterous family. Upon their first encounter, the widower Brennan is immediately drawn to Jane, but can he inveigle her into his life?

"Christmas at Dewberry Hollow" by Amelia Grey
Isabelle Reed comes from a noble family, but she is no ordinary lady. She knows how to take care of herself, her mother, and their livelihood as owners of the Dewberry Hollow Inn. While hunting (yes, she knows how to shoot a rifle) she accidentally wounds one of the Duke of Notsgrave’s guards and meets his grandson, Gates. Someone who instantly stirs her desires. While the duke's health is failing, he has one last desire-- to find the carved heart and his and his deceased wife's initials which they etched into a tree trunk near the inn. His grandson Gates was the only family member willing to help him in this endeavor. Gates has a very short time to accomplish this goal as he promised to have the Duke home on Christmas Day, and while he convinces bewitching Isabelle to help him, he wonders how he can keep her in his life.

"My Mistletoe Beau" by Anna Bennett
Eva Tiding breaks into Jack Hardwick's, the Earl of Frostbough, apartment to steal back her father's watch. She believes Frostbough cheated in the card game to win the watch because Eva's mother was originally engaged to Jack's father, the Duke, before she eloped with Eva's father, causing the Duke to become a recluse. Eva knows the watch means everything to her father, for it was a gift from his now-deceased wife the year after they were married. Jack returns to his apartment earlier than expected and catches Eva. He agrees to give her back the watch if she helps him deceive his grandmother into believing they are engaged. Just three encounters as a besotted couple before Christmas, then they will break up. However, things don't go as planned for either Eva or Jack.

4 Stars! This is 3 novella’s from 3 different authors all rolled into one enjoyable read! This book is from the ‘Wild Wicked Highlanders’ series, book 3.5.
The first story “Great Scot!” by Suzanne Enoch, I’d give 3.5 stars. Brennen & Jane are both quiet and enjoy sitting home and reading to being social.
The second story was “Christmas at Dewberry Hollow” by Amelia Grey & I’d give that 4 stars. Isabelle and Gate meet in such an unforgettable way!
The third and final story “My Mistletoe Beau” by Anna Bennett, 3.5-4 stars. This story was a tad unbelievable but I still enjoyed Eva and Jacks banter.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book and I’d definitely recommend it!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

This is a very light, fun read! Each of the three stories has likable characters as well as plenty of humor and spice. It's the literary equivalent of a big plate of Christmas cookies--sweet, enjoyable, and very hard to stop devouring!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I rarely rate a collection of short stories higher than 3, but this was an excellent offering! Three great stories with great characters and a fun back story for each. In fact, I liked them so much that I was sad each one didn't get a bigger book!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Each story in this anthology takes place around Christmas. I found it interesting to read how differently the regency era, and the Highlands, celebrated the holiday. I generally do not read holiday-themed stories or anthologies. However, I made an exception because of Suzanne Enoch. She is a favorite author of mine, and I adore the series her novella belongs to.

GREAT SCOT! By Suzanne Enoch
Jane Bansil is the impoverished, spinster niece of a blue-blooded family. She is also Lady Aldriss’ paid companion. Jane accompanies her employer to the Highlands for Christmas. She meets the MacTaggert’s older cousin. The man not only notices her, but Brennan opens her eyes to new possibilities. Can Jane muster the bravado to be with Brennan? Or will she chicken out?
Brennan Andrews is the older cousin to the MacTaggert brothers. His is also a widower and an architect. Brennan agrees to design Lord Glendarril’s dream house. He encounters an intriguing Sassenach female in his cousin’s library. Jane is the first woman to stir Brennan’s interest since his wife died. Can Brennan convince Jane to remain in Scotland? Or will he lose her too?
I am so happy that Jane received her happily-ever-after. She is one woman who deserves it. At one time, I wanted Jane to end up with Gavin, the MacTaggert’s groom. However, I will admit that Brennan is the better man for her. What I adore the most about Jane is the sacrifice she willingly made for her younger cousin. She would rather have Amy happy than stuck in a loveless marriage, even at the price of her job.
Brennan is an absolute love. Honestly, he is every bookworm’s dream man. Who in their right mind would not fall for a man with the capability of designing their dream library? What I adore the most about Brennan is his patience with Jane. He found a kindred spirit in her, especially one who shared his scholarly interests. So, Brennan took the time to coax the true Jane from her shy shell.
GREAT SCOT is book 3.5 in Suzanne Enoch’s historical romance series, WILD WICKED HIGHLANDERS. I recommend reading the prior three books before starting this one, especially book one, since that is where Jane is first introduced.
I still hope Gavin gets a story, even if it is another novella. I just think he needs a lass to tame him.

CHRISTMAS AT DEWBERRY HOLLOW by Amelia Grey
John “Gate” Gatestone is the grandson of a quarrelsome duke. He offers to help his ailing grandfather find a particular tree that bears his and his late wife’s initials. Gate crosses paths with a saucy female in the forest. Isabelle makes him want to abandon his family’s code of conduct. He asks for her assistance in finding his grandfather’s special tree. Will Gate find the tree before Christmas? And will he be able to leave Isabelle behind after?
Isabelle Reed is the great-granddaughter of a viscount. She helps her mother run their family inn. On the side, Isabelle teaches the local village girls how to read and write. She has one rule: never to fall for any of the men who stay at her inn. However, Gate tempts Isabelle to break that rule. She agrees to help him in his search for a certain tree. Can Isabelle give Gate up once he accomplishes his mission? Or will she risk heartbreak?
Gate charmed me from the start of the story. He had this mischievous air about him that made him fun. I love how Gate wanted to have the kind of love that his grandparents shared. He refused to marry out of duty, instead he waited until he found the right woman who stirred his heart. What I adore the most about Gate is his willingness to help his grandfather achieve his last wish. He understood how important this was to his grandfather, so he defied their family to give the old Duke peace.
Isabelle steadily grew on me. She may be related to nobility, but she never put on airs. Isabelle prefers her provincial lifestyle than the active social life of the ton. I love how Isabelle is no stranger to menial labor. She does not make the inn’s staff do all the work. Instead, Isabelle can be found doing some of the chores to help the inn run smoothly. What I like the most about Isabelle is the care she gives to their permanent borders. She treats them as family.
This is my first foray with Amelia Grey’s works. CHRISTMAS AT DEWBERRY HOLLOW is a standalone novella. While reading, I never got the sense it belonged to a series. I am tempted to explore the author’s other stories.

MY MISTLETOE BEAU
by Anna Bennett

Jack Hardwick, Earl of Frostbough, is the heir to a dukedom. He has a reputation of being cynical and cold-hearted amongst his peers. Jack happens upon a mysterious lady pawing through his underwear drawer. Eva proves to be the answer to his vexing problem. Jack promises to return her father’s watch if she agrees to a fake courtship. Will Jack and Eva’s fake courtship turn into the real deal?
Miss Eva Tiding is the only child of a widowed viscount. She plans to get back her father’s pocket watch from the earl who swindled him. Eva reluctantly agrees to pretend to a fake engagement to the Earl of Frostbough, a man she detests. Or does she really? The infuriating man brings out the worst, and the best, out of Eva. Can Eva resist Jack’s temptation? Or will she fall madly in love with the jaded earl?
Jack is simply swoon worthy! I never could resist a broody, sardonic man. Jack is a man who let a childhood disappointment twist his outlook on life. He starts off indifferent and aloof. However, Jack begins to soften around the edges the more he interacts with Eva. What I love the most about Jack is his verbal spars with Eva. He never says anything outright cruel; he just knows the right things to get a rise out of her.
I liked Eva from the start. She is not a simpering, timid miss. Eva toes the line of the limitations set to her sex and station. What I love the most about Eva is her ability to stand up to Jack. She refuses to allow the man to intimidate her. Eva continues to prove that she is an even match for the detached gentleman.
Anna Bennett is a new-to-me author. MY MISTLETOE BEAU is a standalone novella. This story made me smile (hugely) at the end. I could not help but be swept up in the wonderful storytelling.

KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a series of delightful and warm-hearted stories. I like how each author focuses on the characters and the storyline over the festive season. The holiday is more of a backdrop, like a setting.