Skip to main content

Member Reviews

This anthology has three stories of people who are caught in a winter storm and seek shelter at an Inn. They were all sweet and short

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this anthology, especially as it introduced me to Madeline Hunter. Thank you for the opportunity to read this! She's a new author I love.

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful collection! I normally don't read books like this one as i feel the stories are too short. This was a breath of fresh air as they are really just a continuous part of one story. Will be reading more from these authors soon.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book! These are three short stories, Regency romance style. The awesome thing about these is that they are all set at the same time at the same inn. Several different travelers are stranded in an ice and snow storm just before Christmas. A few are headed to a house party, one traveler is headed to her fiancee, one is headed to his new estate, and the innkeeper is just trying to manage an inn full of unexpected guests while her staff is off for the holidays.

It was a perfect read for the holiday season.

Was this review helpful?

Such a fun read! Loved this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Thought I left a review for this some time ago, but it seems it didn't save.

I enjoyed the three different yet intersecting stories, and although it's branded as a Christmas anthology, it wasn't over the top with holiday stuff. The authors all have different styles and levels of suspense and steaminess, so there's something for everyone.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

Three fun holiday themed romances from three excellent authors. I was definitely missing some backstory having not read all of the three authors' previous works, but still enjoyable reads.

Three stars

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

Was this review helpful?

This is a very intriguing book with three short stories that take place in the same location at the same time. A group of people is stranded at a inn by the snow a few days before Christmas and three love stories are born or renewed by the forced close proximity…
I loved all three novellas: the character building is gorgeous and the writing even more so.
The steam level varies, though, from the wonderfully hot scenes of Sabrina Jeffries’s novella (that I count as a plus) to the less detailed and flowery lovemaking scenes of Madeline Hunter to the few kisses of Mary Jo Putney’s novella.
Jeffries pens a beautiful love story with her unique brand of witty conversation, a touch of angst and two lovable characters, while Hunter and Putney, despite the lack of steam (that for me would have been the icing on the cake) convey all the feelings that are born between their characters with their gorgeous writing and attention to details.
A truly beautiful book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Three delightful stories from three amazing authors. Each was enjoyable with wonderful characters and fun stories!

Was this review helpful?

A very nice Christmas collection, I recommend it to all who enjoy seasonal stories with the "snowed in at the inn " vibe. These are three of my auto-buy authors, and they did not disappoint this time either. My personal favorite was Sabrina Jeffries' story as I am a long-time fan of the Duke Dynasty series. If you have not read it, I recommend that as well.

Was this review helpful?

This is an absolutely wonderful Holiday Collection!
Three individual stories all in one by 3 great authors. All the romantic stories are stand alone but taking place at the same inn, with different couples. A holiday treat you won’t want to miss

Was this review helpful?

Loved this collection, thought they were nicely interwoven while still be solid stand apart stories. Fun and easy holiday read!

Was this review helpful?

Am I reading Christmas books in April? Yes. Did I mean to read them in December? Yes. But here we are. This book is a short story anthology by some of my favorite romance authors. If you are looking for a holiday romance or need a TBR pile for December, consider this book. I did love seeing secondary characters from other books pop up in this anthology. It’s always so fun to remember them. But it’s ok if you did not read the previous stories.

The setting was at an inn run by Jenna Waverly. You will be able to tell right away that she was ready for a break and some unwinding from her job. However, a bad storm rolls in and some unexpected travelers show up at her place needing to stay there. There is a second chance romance, there is a romance between the innkeeper and an injured traveler, and finally a couple who was pretend married…but were accidentally really married.

The Christmas spirit comes through in all these stories. Since these are short stories, you can expect a quick read with a happy ending. The characters are likeable, the setting is different (not at a lavish residence) and the writing style of each author comes through in their story. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

A Yuletide Kiss. By Madeline Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries, Mary Jo Putney. 2021. Kensington Books (ARC eBook).

A trio of heartwarming stories fitting for the holiday season. All stories take place at the White Rose Inn that has closed for the Christmas holiday, but takes in the travelers who are stranded on the road due to inclement weather. Jeffries story, When We Finally Kiss Good Night, is first; with a returning character from her Duke Dynasty series, Konrad Juncker. When Konrad is snowed in at an inn, he is presented the opportunity to reconnect with Flora Younger, a women he fell in love with years ago, but who he hurt because he did not believe he was of equal station to her. It was nice to see Konrad again, and for him to get a happy ending that included both his love for Flora and his passion for the theater.

The second story, The Unexpected Gift, by Madeline Hunter, was my favorite. We get bits and pieces of the events that occur when an ill Lucas Avonwood is taken in at the inn under the care of innkeeper, Jenna Waverly, in the first story. The full story blossoms with romance as Jenna nurses Lucas back to health, and also involves a bit of intrigue as Lucas is investigating a thief and smuggler with suspected ties to the inn.

When Strangers Meet indeed. Kate MacLeod recognized Daniel Faringdon when they meet on the icy road. Not only did he save her life years ago in Bombay, he’s her husband! Daniel asks that they get to know each other and truly consider a life together, but Kate is unsure as there is another man in the picture and there is little time before her and Daniel will have to continue their respective journeys. I enjoyed Kate and Daniel remembering the harrowing event that originally brought them together and what has happened since. My only issue with the anthology is that this last story seemed a little less invested with the rest of the people at the inn. I don’t think there was one mention of Lucas Avonwood, for example.

Was this review helpful?

I was excited to read this book. I have read quite a bit of the authors' previous works so I was very disappointed with this collection and found them to be so boring. These stories were so bland that I couldn't believe it. I can't say that I liked any of the three stories in this book.

Was this review helpful?

This is the best type of book- 3 in 1!! And by some of the best historical romance writers of our time! Each story is filled with such detail you feel like your reading a full novel. And you get to read each authors style in a single book! Couldn’t recommend enough!

Was this review helpful?

When I thought this is a three stories to welcome Christmas and wintertime, I was wrong. The stories indeed intertwined and surely interesting. About a long lost lovers, a newfound love, and an old promise not to be broken. Not always about title and riches, when you are all stranded together by a storm. In conclusion: an interesting romance novel to keep your heart aflutter.

Was this review helpful?

Another fabulous holiday collection from three of my all-time favorite historical romance authors! Madeline's lush prose, Sabrina's touch of lightheartedness and MaryJo's tale of second chances were all great reads!

Was this review helpful?

This book was the perfect addition to the holiday season or any time to visit some of my favorite authors.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for the opportunity to review this collection.

Was this review helpful?

When We Finally Kiss Goodnight- Sabrina Jeffries

Flora Younger met Konrad Juncker before he was a well-known playwright. They spent time together in Bath and she thought he was her future, until he left without so much as a goodbye. Now she secretly writes critical reviews of his plays and moves in a different circle than he does, but when they’re stranded at the same inn over Christmas, things may just end differently this time.

This story is the entire reason I wanted to read this anthology as Konrad is a side character in the Duke Dynasty series, which I quite enjoyed, so I wanted to read his story. I was not disappointed by Flora and Konrad’s reunion despite the fact that lately I’ve gone off second chance stories. The openness and honesty between these two made them work for me as a couple and I also appreciated the steam provided in this story as it was lacking elsewhere.

The Unexpected Gift- Madeline Hunter

Jenna Waverly has closed her inn for a quiet holiday, as she does every year, but this year a snowstorm has her inundated with stranded travelers seeking shelter. The first such guest, Lucas Avonwood, is also frightfully ill and in need of care which Jenna can’t help but provide. But as his health improves, Jenna finds herself unwittingly charmed by the gentleman, though she suspects he harbors secrets and knows he is leaving soon, even as she makes him want to stay.

I am absolute trash for the sick/comfort trope and the Christmas setting with the inn and the snow just made this the perfect example. I loved the building tension between Jenna and Lucas and found their love believable despite their short acquaintance. I think it was really nice that they were both able to rescue each other in a way and that made their partnership more solid. I think this was my favorite trope represented in this anthology, and I praise the frequent sex scenes, I only wish they hadn’t been so brief and vague as they were, otherwise I really enjoyed this story.

When Strangers Meet- Mary Jo Putney

Kate MacLeod is another of the travelers stranded by the snow and she’s shocked to recognize one of inn’s other guests as Captain Daniel Faringdon, the man she married to escape her treacherous uncle in Bombay, just before being sent back to the safety of her family in England. Daniel was not at his best that night and doesn’t remember much of it, but Kate is hard to forget, and he soon decides to try his hand at convincing her to stay married to him.

This was a cute concept that gets bonus points from me for being unique. Daniel was a really good example of a redeemed hero but for some reason Kate and her exaggeratedly cute cat got to be a bit much for me. Her protestations were a bit nonsensical in some instances and had me questioning her intelligence, but fortunately it didn’t take her long to come to her senses given that this was a short novella. I was also disappointed by the lack of steam here since, with this being the only couple that was already married, I did kind of expect more.

This is a great collection of Christmassy stories overall, and though I prefer more heat in my holidays, I absolutely adored the snowy inn setting of this one and consider it definitely worth the read.

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

Was this review helpful?