A collection of holiday themed short stories were exactly what the doctor ordered! I had a great time reading them. I am totally in the holiday mood now.

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

4 stars

This story was a quintessential Ali Hazelwood story. I was invested and obsessed in under 100 pages. It was sweet, swoony, and steamy. I need a “best friend’s brother” full-length book by Ali Hazelwood YESTERDAY!

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

2 stars

This was not my favorite short story. I think it tried to fit too much in the 59 pages, and things got a bit rushed. Evie was a very considerate single mother but accepted a ride home from the farm with no car seat for her baby? That small detail kept nagging in the back of my mind. My other issue was that Luke was a super nice guy, but also a caveman when it came to spicy scenes. I’m all for a bit of caveman behavior, but since it was a short story there wasn’t enough space to transition the two sides of Luke. So it ended up feeling very abrupt. Overall, this one was just okay to me. It was definitely hot if that’s what you’re looking for, though!

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

4 stars

I love a shy, nerdy guy. This short story was quick, spicy, and funny. I mean, a repurposed weinermobile is such an out there side job. I couldn’t help but be obsessed with the story!

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

4 stars

Everleigh Dangerfield needing 911 so many times is probably a huge drain on resources, but I was here for the developing love story. I love thoughtful gestures, and Griffin had those down! This story was very sweet.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

4 stars

This story takes the award for most swoony in the entire collection! I was so locked into this story of a Christmas ornament fairy. Are you joking? That is so cute! This short story collection went out with a bang. I had a great time reading.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of the Under the Mistletoe collection with shorties by Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria.

First, this is such a great group of authors to have contribute to a collection. My FAVORITE stories were by Alexandria Bellefleur (Merriment and Mayhem - Firefighter trope) and Alexis Daria (Only Santas in the Building - Neighbors trope)!!! Both of these had me smiling so much and were simply adorable! I also felt these stories had the characters with the best chemistry.

Cruel Winter with You - Friends to lovers
Merry Ever After - Single mom, Farmer
All By My Elf - Workplace romance

The lovely part about these collections is getting to see different authors explore different tropes in their short stories. As a whole, definitely a collection to check out as there’s something for any reader to enjoy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

“I want to give you the world, Jamie. Let me. Just let me, please.”

Whew, this short novella packs a punch. It’s difficult to believe that Hazelwood was able to pour so much into a 70-page holiday romance, making it feel well-rounded and complete. I’m not sure that I’d have enjoyed a full-length story with these characters (personal preference in tropes), but I devoured this novella eagerly. It felt like one of Hazelwood’s books while still managing to maintain its own identity, and I adored the “he falls first” vibes, as well as just how smitten he was. Perfect for fans of “it’s always been you” romances and childhood friends reunited. I think things would’ve gotten a lot angstier and messier in a full-length story, so the page count was just right for me. It’s got just a touch of wintery vibes, so this could be read any time of the year but is probably best appreciated near the holidays. All in all, it’s a tension-filled, swoony little treat, and a satisfying read.

The story follows Jamie, a woman who stumbles upon her estranged childhood friend on a cold winter night. Though Marc made his feelings for Jamie clear years ago, their timing has never been right, and that’s added some tension to their relationship. Stuck together when the power goes out, the Marc and Jamie are forced to work through their issues and decide what they really want from each other.


⭐️⭐️⭐️ Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

“I’ll work my a** off for this tight thing. I’d sweat all day under ten suns for one little hit."

The instalove was strong with this one, and the spice was spicin’. While this 60-page novella definitely had Tessa Bailey vibes, it was stripped down to the bare essentials and wholeheartedly focused on the heat. Our couple has instant attraction, and the giant of a hero wastes no time making his intentions known. I liked the general setup and the gruff, possessive hero, though he was definitely a lot. While I am a fan of Bailey’s spice and some of her over the top heroes, there’s usually a little more breathing room in the stories so that the setups don’t seem quite so ludicrous. Not the case here, as the author is trying to accomplish a lot in a very short page count. I suppose it did make me want more from the couple, and it delivered on the "he falls first" vibes and definitely on the heat. A quick, hot read, if that’s what you’re in the mood for, but it won’t give you those festive feelings.

The story follows Evie, a single mom to a new baby. She’s working at a thrift store while trying to get her own clothing design business off the ground, and it’s there that she meets a shy, mountain of a farmer. Luke has been coming into the shop trying to find pants his size, but the man is just way too big. After a misunderstanding causes some friction, Evie finds herself making the sexy stranger a custom pair of pants. One thing leads to another, and suddenly Luke is staking his claim on Evie - and her little boy.



⭐️⭐️⭐️ All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

“I want you now,” he murmured against her parted lips. “I’m beginning to think I’ll want you always, Nina.”

I was slower to warm up to this cozy novella, but it won me over by the end. It’s only 55 pages long, so spending so much time on a complex setup and a potential love triangle seemed ill-advised. I wasn’t even sure if I was rooting for the correct couple at first, which is less than ideal, lol. However, once our couple is stuck in forced proximity, the story brightened up. I loved the sweet, nerdy hero and how he found his confidence along the way. He’s been crushing on our heroine for a while, and that was pretty adorable. This story also brings the festive vibes, pairing up two professors who have to supplement their income by working on a scandalously-shaped food truck during the holidays. It was cute and a little sexy, just not my personal favorite.

The story follows Nina, a 37-year-old professor working on a hot dog truck turned mincemeat stand for the holiday season. She’s been enjoying sharing the space with her workplace crush, William, until recently. Unfortunately, it looks like William might be interested in another coworker, and that’s got Nina feeling blue. When the two are stuck together during a cold night, they play a game of Never Have I Ever that reveals some hidden truths.



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

“Mark my words, Trouble, I’m gonna win you over yet. You’ll see.”

I had to double check the page count, because this was really well done for a story that’s only 58 pages. We get a sweet and swoony firefighter romance with a bit of spice and a small town feel. The humor had me smiling, and I loved the determined hero. Bellefleur doesn’t try to make this some epic love story in such a short page count - it felt like a real, authentic meet cute, and the start of something great. I definitely wouldn’t have minded a full-length story with these characters, but this was a fun little treat. Festive, too! It wasn’t super holiday-focused or anything, but you get a hint of those vibes, and that was enough to make me happy. A very solid novella, and the perfect introduction to Bellefleur if you haven’t tried her writing yet. Truly, Madly, Deeply remains one of my favorites of the year, and this reminded me why.

The story follows Everleigh, a woman who almost burns her house down while making some gingerbread cookies. One of the firefighters who comes to her rescue is the flirtatious Griffin, a man who is charmed by Everleigh during their first interaction. While Everleigh thinks Griffin is very cute, she’s only in town for a few more weeks. Though she tries to avoid falling for the sexy firefighter’s charms, he doesn’t give up easily - and that might just be what wins her over in the end.



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

“You are a f**king delight, Evie Cruz. Where have you been all my life?”

Neighbors become lovers in this sweet and sexy holiday novella. At 65 pages, it’s long enough to get a feel for the characters without having any dull moments, and was easy to devour in one sitting. I loved getting to know the hero better and realizing how much he was crushing on the heroine, which was pretty cute. This is probably the most festive of this group of novellas too, with the characters finally crossing the line after interacting at their building’s Santa-themed party. It wasn’t a fully developed relationship by any means, but we get to experience those moments when they acknowledge their feelings… plus a little spice to heat things up. It’s a festive and relatable romance that’s sure to brighten up your day.

The story follows Evie, a woman who has had a crush on her neighbor since she moved into her apartment a few months ago. Evie always seems to bump into Theo when she looks like a mess, so she’s confident that her crush is one-sided. Plus, starting up something with a guy who lives in her building is a terrible idea. But a holiday party changes everything, and suddenly Evie isn’t so sure that Theo is immune to her charms.

A very lovely collection of holiday novellas that I would recommend to my colleagues at school or the oldest students. It would not be part of the education but very well a part of our school library and the holiday themed section of the library. It was good and I enjoyed Ali Hazelwoods specifically. Thank you for the opportunity to read this!

Loved this short series of novellas! Each author brought something so cute and unique to the table. What a cosy and perfect read just in time for the holiday season!

Say yes to the Mistletoe.

I can highly recommend this five book collection by five highly talented authors.
It totally got me in the mistletoe mood.
Highly recommend.

As soon as I saw Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey I knew that I had to have these. The other three were new to me authors, and while I still enjoyed them, they didn't come close to the first two for me. These novellas are the perfect short stories to get you in the mood for the holiday season. Also really appreciated that these were spicy!!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Overall, this collection of novellas was super fun, easy to read, and moderately paced! I think there’s a good variety of different stories and protagonists here, so at least one of these short stories is bound to appeal to someone. I also loved that I was able to read something from a few authors I had never tried before, and in doing so I got a glimpse into their writing style all wrapped in a Christmas themed plot. It was a great way to start the holidays. Below are my brief reviews for every individual novella:

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood - 4 stars
Such a strong start for the collection! I loved these characters and thought their story was engaging from beginning to end. Marc did seem a bit strange to me during some parts, but nothing to steer me completely away from his relationship with Jamie. I felt like the Christmas element was the least at the forefront in this novella, but it still captured the winter spirit.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey - 5 stars
I absolutely loved this! Tessa is one of my favorite authors for her fun, flirty, and out-of-pocket-but-still-hilarious dialogue, and none of that was spared here. Both Luke and Evie were likable protagonists with great chemistry and a story that really encapsulated the holiday spirit.

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade - 2 stars
Unfortunately, I didn’t love this novella as much as I hoped I would. The beginning of the story is extremely confusing, because the thought of them driving in a wiener mobile was never going to cross my mind. From then on I was hopeful that the characters would pick up the story for me, but I didn’t find myself connecting or loving either of them. Nina, specifically, had me more frustrated than amused. The ending was also unsatisfying for me as I felt we got a trauma dump of William hating his job and feeling totally stuck, but didn’t find a solution to that problem. I will say that this is the most unique premise in the entire collection, and I think for the right person they could appreciate that enough to overlook some of its flaws.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur - 5 stars
Wow, I can’t say enough good things about this novella! This is the first piece I’ve ever read from Alexandria and it’s totally convinced me to pick up their other books. Everything was so enjoyable - the premise, characters, setting, use of the holidays. I loved it all. I laughed so hard while reading this and truly had the time of my life. Griffin also became one of my top book boyfriends of the year. Crazy, considering he only got 58 pages to shine (I want more!). Seriously, I loved this novella so much and wish it was an entire novel because I couldn’t get enough.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria - 2 stars
I think my review here might come down to personal preference, because the very long use of internal monologue at the beginning of this novella is what really took me out of its story. It was a while before we got any REAL chunk of dialogue, and by that time I was bit bored because I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. Personally I didn’t feel they had much chemistry, although I can admit that there were a few cute moments. Overall, I just don’t think this one was for me.

All things considered, I did have fun reading these novellas, and would give the entire collection 3.75 stars (rounded to four).

The Under the Mistletoe Collection features holiday novellas from romance authors Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Alexis Daria. They are all under 75 pages long and that's really the sweet spot for novellas like these. We are not getting deep here; this are an easy, good time. HEA with some spice!

Cruel Winter with You - Ali Hazelwood

Cruel Winter with You is about Jamie and Marc. Marc is Jamie's best friend's younger brother, and he has been in love with her for forever. He's tried to shoot his shot a few times without success. We learn through some time jumps why she is hesitant and what he thinks he needs to do to get her to take a chance. A winter storm knocks out the 5 they end up in a forced proximity situation that will make them finally communicate. Part of the conflict felt a little silly (check your voicemail!), but it's resolved.

Merry Ever After - Tessa Bailey

This novella is so very Tessa. If you follow her on socials, you know that she occasionally will mention a plot bunny and explain how that insanity would continue. This feels like one of those bunnies. A farmer who is so big he rips pants in the thrift shop, and the employee makes him special pants? I think I actually snorted. Just go for the ride. Also, shout out to a down bad man who isn't afraid of a single mom.

All by My Elf - Olivia Dade

Why are they essentially in a holiday themed repurposed weenie mobile? 🧐 Co-workers, forced proximity, and explicit conversations about consent. Just go with it; it's under 60 pages.

Merriment and Mayhem - Alexandria Bellefleur

Everleigh is legitimately a safety hazard. Griffin literally and figuratively comes to save the day. Shenanigans ensue. Quick and easy!

Only Santas in the Building - Alexis Daria

Only Santas in the Building is about Theo and Evie, who both live in the same building. Someone keeps leaving Evie handmade ornaments, but she doesn't know who. A Santa themed party brings them together. It's another one you kind of have to just go with. We are talking about a holiday romp under 75 pages here. Quick and easy!


Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit with your reading and don’t want to jump into a big novel, try any of these 5 novellas!!!

This collect on Amazon has 5 amazing stories from 5 incredible authors! I can’t pick a favorite out of these because I loved each one so much!

If you haven’t read these authors, I think this collection is a great place to start! These stories are short and sweet with some spice!

Grab your coziest blanket, cuddle up on the couch with your kindle (and your pets!) and read these 5 holiday novellas!

Five sexy & sweet short stories set around Christmas…say less. These were all fun, quick reads and I enjoyed all of them. Perfect little snippets to get in the holiday spirit!

A very cute and heartwarming collection of holiday short stories that definitely made my days brighter. I honestly can’t even choose which one was my favorite!

CRUEL WINTER WITH YOU:

3.00!

I mean it was fine 🙁 nothing special. There was like one cute scene that's why this is a two. Usually when I read Ali Hazelwoods books I enjoy them so much but that feeling wasn't here. Maybe short stories aren't for her. :(

MERRY EVER AFTER:

0.50!

And then Tessa goes and spoils it all by saying something stupid like:

• "I tell him he's daddy and my pussy needs his come."

• "what's this little dress called" "Get the straps down and show me them tits" (its so bad it hurts)

• "Why was I so turned on watching him eat his fourth grilled cheese?" (This isn't acomaf 🙏🏻)

• " 'How hard are you going to make me pump.'

Hard as you want.
Wreck me forever.
Daddy." (Pls stop 👹)

• "They don't make jeans that fit me and they don't make women that fit me" ( 😟)

• "I've never had pants that fit me." (Bitch bffr 😭)

•"Can he see me clenching through this denim. Good gravy, am I attracted to him" (ok Geraldine and second interaction btw)

• "And the fact that she already has a man should make me ashamed that I fucked my fist to the thoughts of her bent over. Yet in my fantasies, I've had her all over town since the first time I saw her."

ALL BY MY ELF:

2.45!

it was like 40 pages and the basic summary would be: The girl thinks the guy is dating her best friend (how she doesn't know that he's not actually the best friends bf I will never know because like?? She's your bestie. So she finds out that he isn't and then they have sex 😭 that's it)

I honestly liked the valentine novellas better 😭 this one was better than the last one but not as cute as the first one. I liked the nerdy MMC but I honestly didn't feel anything 😝 a tad bit cute, I feel it could've been like the Abby Jimenez one without the spice because again just 40 pages.

MERRIMENT AND MAYHEM:

3.75!

This is what I was looking for in these novellas. This was so cute and also steamy at the same time, it's very short but the banter and the chemistry comes to the two main characters so naturally and I overall enjoyed it so much!! I'm happy that after two disappointments this one was better!!

ONLY SANTAS IN THE BUILDING:

2.75!

It was mid ☹️ it could have been wayy better but it wasn't. There were like one or two cute scenes but that was it. This collection was a miss mostly 😔 so yeah not happy.

Rating for the series
• Cruel winter with you: 3.00
• Merry ever after: 0.50
• All by my elf: 2.45
• Merriment and mayhem: 3.75
• Only Santa's in the building: 2.75

Overall rating: 2.49

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

I won't share my real thoughts about this one because I'll be too mean. I don't like Ali Hazelwoods writing.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

Classic Tessa Bailey. That's all I'll say. This book is classic Tessa Bailey.

All by Elf by Olivia Dade

This one had all the Christmas spirit that I love. I thought it was a lovely quick rid novella with all the christmas cheer.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

It was there, it was something. I did not like it and I hated how it ended. It was too quick for me.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

Perfection. I loved this passionately. The tension was there since the moment we meet him. I thought it was so cute and I can't wait for Christmas.

Pub date Nov 12.

Great collection of holidays novella. This was a fun, quick, and cute stories. My favorite is Ali and Tessa's book. Overall rating was 3.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC.

Under the Mistletoe is exactly what you need to get in the mood for the holiday season. These stories are all written by assured romance writers, and their comfort in their craft shows.

They’re also all short stories, so you don’t always get a full HEA (and an HFN is often more believable in these cases). Some are comforting, some are humorous, and some are heartwarming. But there isn’t a bad story in the bunch.

Hazelwood uses the trapped-in-a-storm trope to build a charming romance with—of course—the heroine’s best friend’s brother. I really enjoyed Bailey’s story of a single mom and the huge man who makes her feel safe. All by My Elf has lots of Dade’s trademark humor along with pointed commentary on the role of adjunct professors in education today. Bellefleur creates a grieving heroine who attracts all kinds of trouble, which keeps her running into a very helpful and considerate fireman. And Alexis Daria plays with a New York classic, the apartment building where the neighbors all know what’s happening between a couple before they do.

You can’t lose no matter what story you pick, so go ahead and get ready with these holiday delights!

I love these authors, and the holiday novellas they have written are so great!! All bringing their usual flair to their story, it’s a fun way to try new authors if you haven’t read any of their books before.

Arc review
Under the Mistletoe Collection
Cruel Winter With You @alihazelwood
Merry Ever After @tessabaileyisanauthor
All By My Elf @oliviadade
Merri-ment and Mayhem @a.m.bellefleur
Only Santas in the Building @alexisdaria

These novellas were so fun and cute! All of the MMCs of all sizes and occupations had me absolutely swooning. This was the perfect cozy read to start the holiday season.

You can read and listen to this collection for free on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited on November 12th.

Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars overall. I personally found them each a bit quick to the super spicy, which isn’t 100% my style. I like a little more build up to the moment, but this makes sense for the shorter medium.

Only Santas in The Building was my favourite story in the mix.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cruel Winter with You:
I just know this man took care of her med school debt and it didn't even make a dent in his bank account.
✧ 5 golden rings

Merry Ever After:
I don't need the christ in christmas but I do need there to be some semblance of christmas in a christmas novella.
✧ 3 French hens, the dirty talk was so uncouth and not in a good way

All By My Elf:
why was there a giant phallus and why wasn't it attached to the male love interest?
✧ 2 turtle doves, grown adults don't play never have I ever for fun with their colleagues

Merriment and Mayhem:
ladies, apparently all it takes is baking cookies and hand delivering them to your local fire department. go forth and prosper with this information.
✧ 4 calling birds

Only Santas in the Building:
the jon snow fan fiction I didnt know I needed
✧ 4 (and a half) calling birds