Cover Image: A Yuletide Kiss

A Yuletide Kiss

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Each story in this anthology takes place in a certain rural tavern during a bad winter storm at Christmas. I like how all three authors put their own spin on the same scene, yet they wrote it in the view of their own characters.
Sabrina Jeffries is the sole reason why I picked up this anthology. I normally do not read holiday-themed anthologies or stories. However, I am a big fan of the author’s DUKE DYNASTY series.

WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD-NIGHT by Sabrina Jeffries
Konrad Juncker is a well-known playwright. He carries a secret that could blacklist him from the theater community. Bad weather strands Konrad at a secluded inn during Christmas. Fate gives him another chance to make amends to the one woman he never forgot. Can Konrad trust Flora with his biggest secret? Will he find a way to have a future with her?
Flora Younger is a paid companion to a viscountess. She secretly pins reviews on plays for a newspaper. Flora and her employer find themselves stuck at an understaffed inn during the holidays. Even worse, she discovers the blackguard who broke her heart there also. Can Flora trust Konrad with her heart again? Or will she throw caution to the wind to be with him?
Konrad is such a fun and naughty rascal! He made the series enjoyable to read. I like how Konrad never allowed his association with the Duke of Thornstock to turn his head. He enjoyed his brief stint in the limelight; however, a part of him disliked living in a lie. What I adore the most about Konrad is his altruism towards Flora. He did not want to start anything with her because he had no prospects to offer her.
Flora did not disappoint! She cared little about Konrad’s fame. Flora preferred the man beneath the façade. I like Flora’s work relationship with the viscountess. She knows the lady can be candid in her opinions, so she willingly plays mediator on her behalf. What I adore the most about Flora is her thoughtfulness towards the inn’s servants. She refused to subject them to her questionable baking skills, especially during the holidays.
WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD-NIGHT is book 4.5 in Suzanne Enoch’s historical romance series, DUKE DYNASTY. This story is the reason I wanted to read this anthology. I have been intrigued by these two since their interaction in the fourth book, UNDERCOVER DUKE. Now I must get the SEDUCTION ON A SNOWY NIGHT anthology so I can read Heywood’s story.

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS GIFT by Madeline Hunter
Lucas Avonwood is the second son of a viscount. He works as an agent for The Home Office. Lucas follows a lead when he falls victim to bad weather and illness. Lucas comes to and finds himself being cared for by the inn’s attractive proprietress. Does Jenna have ties with Lucas’ suspect? Will that interfere in their budding romance?
Jenna Waverly owns and operates a respectable inn in a remote area. She closes her establishment for Christmas so her employees can enjoy the holidays. Jenna finds her inn bombarded by an assortment of unexpected visitors. She never intended to fall for one of them. Will Jenna give her heart to Lucas? Or will their time together be a pleasant interlude?
Lucas is such a knight-in-shing armor. He may be a viscount’s son, but he never once put on airs. I like how he does not vocalize his suspicions. Lucas prefers to obtain proof before making accusations. What I adore the most about Lucas is his desire to shield and protect Jenna. He did not want to spoil her Christmas with disappointing news.
Jenna steadily grew on me. I admire her decision to become a business owner. Jenna could have led a modest genteel life. Instead, she chose a path most of her peers would snub. What I like the most about Jenna is her consideration for her employees. She could have kept her inn open, but she closed it so they could spend the holidays with their families.

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS GIFT is a novella that can standalone. I did not sense it belongs to a series, though I could be mistaken. I am familiar with Madeline Hunter’s works. However, it has been years since I have read one.

WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo Putney
Daniel Faringdon is a former solider. He returns to England to assume responsibility to the barony he inherited. Daniel is surprised to find a familiar face at an isolated inn during an icy snowstorm. The lady in question claims to be his lawful wife. Daniel proposes they give their marriage a chance. Can Daniel convince Kate away from her suitor? Or will he lose her forever?
Katherine “Kate” Macleod comes from a long line of prosperous Scottish merchants. She takes shelter at a rural inn to escape frigid weather. Kate never imagined she would once again see the solider who saved her. And married her. Now Kate must decide if she wants to stay married to him. Will Kate give Daniel a chance? Who will she choose? Daniel or Edmund?
Daniel is such a wonderful knight-in-tarnished-armor! He is an honorable man who tries to help whomever he can despite their status. I like that Daniel acknowledges and accepts his imperfections. He does not allow his past mistakes to break him. Instead, Daniel learns from them. What I love the most about Daniel is how he openly admires Kate’s eccentricities. He is not intimidated by Kate’s independence, intelligence or business sense but supports them.
Kate is a stubborn and spunky woman who is comfortable in her own skin. She refuses to bow down to society’s expectations on a woman’s place and duty. I admire Kate’s determination to never be a damsel-in-distress again. She took measures to protect herself. What I like the most about Kate is her kindness to animals. She rescued a cat-in-need and selflessly adopted it.
WHEN STRANGERS MEET is a standalone novella by Mary Jo Putney. As with Madeline Hunter’s novella, I did not get the feeling that this story belonged to a series. I could be mistaken. This is my first time reading the author’s works. I have heard her name before, just never got the chance to try her full-length books.

A YULETIDE KISS is a series of sweet and feel-good stories told in three different perspectives. I believe this is the first time I have read an anthology like this. I hope this is a new trend in anthologies because I found it so satisfying.

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I am a big fan of these types of collections in general, but I especially like when there is a common theme through all of them - in this case that they all occur at the same inn and the characters overlap. It left me wondering how much these authors worked together in order to keep everything consistent through all three stories.

When We Finally Kiss Good Night - I was especially looking forward to this story as I had just finished the Duke Dynasty series and really wanted to know more about Juncker. This was a perfect wrap up to that series, but didn't necessarily need a connection to it in order to be enjoyable. Konrad and Flora having known one another before helped both get the story started and keep it moving along. They are so perfect for one another in large part because they understand one another and are willing to work through their problems rather than running when things get too difficult. Him working to make Christmas special for her and her going to Thornstock in order to stand up for him just confirmed that they would make a great couple. And let's be honest, Lady Whitmarsh made for a pretty entertaining matchmaker.

The Unexpected Gift - We get a quick glimpse of Jenna and Lucas, but didn't know fully what was going on. This story was unexpectedly sweet - there are so many "falling in love while nursing/being nursed" has become pretty standard, but the writing really kept it from feeling like something I've read a million times. The mystery surrounding Jenna's brother added another interesting layer to the story. The ending wrapped everything up so well and gave you hope for the future happiness of the characters.

When Strangers Meet - This was pretty classic Mary Jo Putney and, as with many of her novels, was thoroughly enjoyable. The plot is definitely not one you read all the time and the characters don't necessarily act the way you are expecting them to. It was nice to watch Kate and Daniel get to know one another and find out if they could make a marriage work. And even nicer that the deciding factor was that Daniel was the supportive partner someone like Kate would need in her life in order to pursue her own dreams and passions.

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I enjoyed this book but felt like the Juncker story should be second as it is listed on the cover and it would flow better and make more sense. All three stories blend together well and I never felt like the author was rushing to cram in a story like I have felt with some short stories. Fun, interesting, characters in a lovely setting with a unique set of circumstances. Thumbs up for this book.

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When We Finally Kiss Good Night-What a coincidence.

Imagine never seeing a Christmas tree.

Oh, so negus is like a mead type of drink.

That is a good solution.

The Unexpected Gift-I feel bad that her vacation is ruined.

I like the behind-the-scenes perspective.

If he was contagious, her nursing him would make her susceptible, and therefore everybody else.

That is so illegal, or at least immoral.

Why doesn't she want to go to Mr. Beloit's house?

Serves her brother right.

When Strangers Meet-Small world.

He did a very good thing. I am glad her uncle is dead.

Lucky that the rest of her family is so kind.

Ha, "beautiful fluff"!

Eww, a litter box in her room.

Yeah, Edmund is a milksop. Good decision.

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Do you love your Christmas story's with a side of Regency England? Then the newest Christmas collection, A Yuletide Kiss, is the perfect choice for you. Told in a continuous narrative from the vantage point of three main characters, the story unfolds one love story at a time. When a snowstorm brings a group of strangers to innkeeper Jenna Waverly's door, what was intended to be a quiet, uneventful holiday season becomes the exact opposite. Written by three veteran authors, this collection is a delightful dash through the snow one story-line at a time.

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book will put you in the Christmas spirit. I enjoyed reading the short stories by three authors who write historical romance. I enjoyed all three stories.

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Bad weather, stranded travelers, a closed Inn, that opens its doors to those affected by the weather is the setting for the trilogy of stories in this book.
The first one by Sabrina Jeffries is a continuation of her Duke Dynasty series, both characters having been mentioned in her last book. You knew from that book there was a history between Konrad and Flora. This story is their 2nd chance at love. Fate has brought them together and they will take full advantage of it.
The 2nd story is by Madeline Hunter. This story is about the owner of the Inn, Jenna. Her ostler finds a man unconscious in the snow. They take him in and Jenna helps nurse him back to health.
Lucas is on a mission. He is searching for a man who is a threat to his cousin. He collapses on the road. When he wakes up, he finds himself being administered to by an angel. Over the next few days, he comes to realize his angel of mercy may be the woman of his dreams but also maybe related to the man he is searching for.
Will true love prevail?
The last story is by Mary jo Putney. This story was a little different and had me intrigued from the beginning. The two main characters, Daniel and Kate, meet at the Inn for the first time in 7 years. The last time they saw it other was at their wedding in India. Daniel barely remembers the wedding and didn't think it was legal. Kate knows it was legal and has been searching for Daniel so she can get on with her life one way or the other. I really enjoyed these 2 characters and their story.
All on all 3 great authors bringing together 3 different stories in a very good way.
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

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Three Christmas novellas about the same travelers who are snowed in at an inn just before Christmas. Two of the stories are about couples who have a past with each other. The other one is about love at first sight. Just right to start you into the spirit of the holidays! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

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Sooo I'll admit... I wanted this book just for the new one by Mary Jo Putney. I read it first. Then, I realized that I have enjoyed books by both of the other authors. What a gem! I went to the beginning and devoured the whole thing! Lovely! So basically, terrible weather strands our heroes and heroines at Jenna's inn. Single gals, guys, snow, mistletoe.... it's cold outside folks, but it's warm in the inn! Don't miss this trilogy. Grab a glass and a blankey!

THE UNEXPECTED GIFT --Madeline Hunter
Jenna, our heroine, is ready for some "me" time, as she closes her inn for the holiday.. Crazy snow storm, and she has unexpected stowaways that she can't turn down. Among them is a rescue... handsome man unconscious in the snow.... hmmm. A little TLC is what they both need. He has secrets but Lucas knows that Jenna is worth so much more.

WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD NIGHT --Sabrina Jeffries
This one is funny. Flora talks junk in her reviews about Konrad's plays. She might be holding a teensy grudge against him for breaking her heart years before, but really... he could write better. He has written better. The 2 cross paths (of course they do) at the inn. Love watching them work through it!

WHEN STRANGERS MEET --Mary Jo Putney
I waited a long time for a MJP romance. The only disappointment... the duration! But.... this is a holiday mini-novel so I just enjoyed it. Strangers... in an inn... not quite. Unbelievably, they are married. Kate and Daniel have been married for years. It was a marriage in India to save her from a fate worse than death. He didn't even think it was legal in England. Fast forward, she wants to marry someone else and needs to be free from the binding marriage. He says... what? Wait! Can we just talk about this and to each other? What if there's something behind the attraction, and they have a chance to make their marriage a happy reality?

Curl up with this book, a glass and a blankey!

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🎅🌲Hi book friends! 🌲🎅

Am I having the best time reading Christmas books in Summer? YES!

This is a historical anthology by three historical romance queens and it's beautifully put together, all of them take place on the same Inn. There was a bad snow storm and people couldn't reach their destinations ahead of Christmas.


When We Finally Kiss Good-Night by Sabrina Jeffries
🧡 Second Chance Romance
🖋 Poet hero and lady's companion heroine
🥺 Pining hearts
🌲 Hero organises for a Christmas tree to be built to impress the heroine

An Unexpected Christmas Gift by Madeline Hunter
🤧 Sick bed caring, the hero is found unconscious in the storm
🧡 Heroine is the Inn owner and cares for him

When Strangers Meet by Mary Jo Putney
💍 the Hero married the Heroine in India years ago to save her from a terrible fate and sends her back to safety in England
😱 They meet again at the Inn by coincidence where the hero learns the marriage was legal and wants to give things a go
😻 Heroine adopts a kitty cat - lots of wonderful scenes with it

It was so well constructed to have the three stories together and an amazing feel good read

Thank you @Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

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I'm going to be honest - I love a good book of novellas set all in the same timeline. I was interested in the book to round out Sabrina Jeffries's Duke Dynasty series and was not disappointed. I also got a good idea of how Madeline Hunter and Mary Jo Putney write and plan on reading some of their further books.

This is one I'll definitely re-read over the holidays!

Thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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I voluntarily received a advanced copy in exhange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

This was a hard one to review as I had tiny issues with each of the three stories but since they are all so short I do give them some leeway. Like insta-love? That kind of just happens when the story is so short.

All three stories take place during a dangerous snow storm where traveller's are forced to take shelter at an inn that is closed for the holidays. The inns owner and the two employees there intermingle with the traveller's all doing there part to make their stay comfortable and their Christmas joyful.

The authors blend their individual stories wonderfully and even at times retell the same scene but from an entirely new perspective.

Though I enjoyed all three I want to highlight my favourite of the three. The Unexpected Gift by Madeline Hunter. Jenna and Lucas are amazing and I adored how their relationship slowly grew as she helped him recover from illness. That and the plot was kind of wild! Some intrigue, some blackmail... a good amount of steam for a novella!

I definitely reccomend picking it up. Its a nice quick read that definitely made me feel the holiday spirit (despite the fact its July!)

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4.5 stars

A good anthology of three stories.

The one by Sabrina is linked to her Duke's Dynasty series and having read those I wasn't disappointed to find that Konrad gets his HEA. Madeline's story is about an investigating officer trying to retrieve a broach and the Mary's novella is about a woman meeting a man at the Inn who turns out to be her long lost husband.

The stories are well interlinked. I think this is because there are just three of them. I read an anthology of 8 which used the same staging which didn't work quite as well. These are quick reads and delightful.

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

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The novellas in this book tied one overlying arc together very well. I really enjoyed the Sabrina Jeffries entry as it was about 2 characters from her latest series. I was very satisfied with how all the stories wove together and then went their separate ways per each author's vision. A nice, satisfying read.

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AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS GIFT by Madeline Hunter
Jenna Waverly has closed her inn, anticipating a blissfully quiet Christmas, until a snowstorm brings the first of several strangers to her property. Lucas Avonwood, as charming as he is secretive, is on a mission to track down a scoundrel, but the inn’s lovely owner is giving him a more compelling reason to stay…

WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD-NIGHT by Sabrina Jeffries
When Flora Younger first met Konrad Juncker, she thought she’d found her match, only to have her hopes dashed. Konrad is now a famous playwright whose plays Flora has secretly panned in reviews. But a chance meeting in a secluded inn may help them rewrite this star-crossed romance…

WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo Putney
Kate McLeod is shocked to find that a fellow guest in the snowbound inn is the dashing sea captain who may or may not be her husband. Captain Ramesh Langdon barely remembers that night in Bombay, but the desire they discover now will be impossible to forget.

Three interconnected stories all in a one book. It's easy to see why these 3 writers are among the most popular..... The stories are all top-notched. Romantic, sweet and moving all at the same time. I enjoyed all three stories thoroughly.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

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Yuletide Kiss

When We Finally Kiss Goodnight
Sabrina Jeffries
Flora and Konrad
Konrad and Flora are shocked to be stranded together at the White Rose Inn just before Christmas. Years ago Konrad’s failure to come up to snuff after wooing her ruined her chances for marriage and she is now a ladies companion. But Konrad had to back off. He pretends to be a playwright for his friend the duke but that does not provide a dependable income for supporting a wife. Can they find a reason and a way to make a life together?

The Unexpected Gift
Madeline Hunter
Jenna and Lucas
Jenna owns the White Rose Inn and has sent all her servants home for Christmas, save her groom Peter and his granddaughter Alice. She is looking forward to the respite but travelers stuck by the weather start showing up. Peter finds a man delirious in the snow while he is hunting for game and brings him back to the inn where Jenna nurses him. A bond begins to form as she cares for Lucas. It turns out he works for the Home Office, though, and Jenna’s brother, unbeknownst to her, is a thief and a smuggler. Will Lucas expose the brother or work out a deal that allows Jenna and him to marry without scandal hanging over them?

When Strangers Meet
Mary Jo Putney
Kate and Daniel
Imagine Kate’s surprise when her husband, long thought dead, walks into the inn. As they get to know one another Daniel realizes he is in love with her but Kate is not so sure. She has been trying to get Daniel declared dead or at least have the marriage annulled for she is basically betrothed to another man after these seven years. But is the three days stuck at the inn provide enough time for Daniel to win back his wife?

These three tales are blended so nicely and are written by some of the best in the business. I look forward to including this in my Christmas displays, talks and lists.

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