Mistletoe & Mayhem

by Sharon Sobel, Virginia Brown, Karen Frisch

This Christmas, Miss Lily Jardine is getting something any girl would want – a betrothal offer. Too bad she’s falling for her soon-to-be fiancé’s brother instead . . .Merrily Mismatched by Virginia BrownLady Lucia Crossclyffe can’t resist the charms of Marquess of Rillington, a holiday visitor to her isolated island home. Little does she guess that he’s come there to ruin her . . .The Snow Princess by Jo Ann FergusonAfter years of being presumed dead, Major Jeremy Stanhope has come home from the war. His first order of business – to propose to Lady Rosalie Partington, the woman who’s waited for him all these years. Only Rosalie is already betrothed . . . to the traitor who left him for dead!Christmas Truce by Karen FrischCharles Hudson, the Earl of Westerly, has come to Windermere for Christmas with one intention – to offer for the woman whose letters have captivated him for the last year. But is the letter-writer the woman he thinks she is?Miss Montague’s Mistletoe Match by Sharon Sobel Virginia Brown has written over 50 novels since her first romance came out in 1984. Many of her books have been nominated for Romantic Times’ Reviewer’s Choice, Career Achievement Award for Love and Laughter, Career Achievement Award for Adventure, EPIC eBook nomination for Historical Romance, and she received the RT Career Achievement Award for Historical Adventure, as well as the EPIC eBook Award for Mainstream Fiction. Her works have regularly appeared on national bestseller lists. She lives near her children in North Mississippi, surrounded by a menagerie of beloved dogs and cats while she writes.Jo Ann Ferguson has been creating characters and stories for as long as she can remember. She sold her first book in 1987. Since then, she has sold over 100 titles and has become a best-selling and award-winning author. She writes romance, mystery, and paranormal under a variety of pen names. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages and are sold on every continent except Antarctica. You can reach her at her www.joannferguson.com or by . Karen Frisch writes Regency romances for ImaJinn Books. She is the winner of the 2007 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards, Mystery/Crime Category. An amateur genealogist, she also has two nonfiction genealogy books in print on tracing family history and identifying old family photographs. While tracing her family history as a teenager, she discovered she is a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe (removed by six generations). A lifelong resident of New England where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs, she is also a portrait artist. Follow Karen on her website at KarenFrisch.weebly.com.Sharon Sobel is the author of eight historical and two contemporary romance novels, and served as Secretary and Chapter Liaison of Romance Writers of America. She has a PhD in English Language and Literature from Brandeis University and is an English professor at a Connecticut college, where she co-chaired the Connecticut Writers’ Conference for five years. An eighteenth century New England farmhouse, where Sharon and her husband raised their three children, has provided inspiration for either the period or the setting for all of her books.

Genres: Christmas, Regency

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2016

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two stories were very enjoyable quick reads. The first one had a lot of Christmas cheer. After reading the first two, I put this one down to read other stuff, so it wasn’t exactly gripping. Just pleasant Christmas fluff.

Once I got back to it, the third story seemed promising. There was a bit of mystery involving the hero that was intriguing. The parts with the Heroine, however, had little substance and a lot of insipid inner monologue. The mystery was enough to keep me reading and see how it all unfolded.

I ADORED the fourth story. I loved the main characters, and perhaps was sucked in due to all the science/star gazing interest. ;) I had a few “awww” moments with the romance, and it had a good amount of Christmas activity. This story alone brought it up to 4 stars from 3.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these stories of Regency Christmas mismatches. All were delightfully set away from the townhouse and ballroom scene. Several included the holiday celebrations unique to the region in which they took place. Three out of four stories gave me the joy of seeing both members of a couple work to achieve their happy ending. These are all components that are important to me and I heartily recommend this collection for those with similar tastes.
I voluntary read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and offer my honest opinion in response.

[HistoricalHussy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobel’s story (the final one) is the only one I recommend (and HIGHLY! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).

The first isn’t very romantic, the second had potential but had an absolutely ridiculous (and not haha entertaining ridiculous) solution to the dilema faced by H/h, and I found the third unbearably boring with its insipid heroine.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed bag

I was distressed to see, in the very first paragraph, a historical mistake. It was followed by others. Luckily the other stories were an improvement, the last in particular.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four seasonal short stories, which are ideal to while away those cold winter days.

Merrily Mismatched by Virginia Brown

This Christmas, Miss Lily Jardine the middle sister of five is getting something any girl would want – a betrothal offer. The Jardine sisters are orphaned poor cousins to Roderick the Earl of Lockridge. They live with their Aunt Iris in Somerset. Aunt Iris has been plotting with her friend Mrs Lucy Crandall & announces that she has found two possibly three husbands for the eldest sisters. Too bad she’s falling for her soon-to-be fiancé’s brother instead. A sweet short story that was very charming. Alex & Lucy are likeable. Things of course don’t go to plan but the three sisters do get their HEA but just not as planned

The Snow Princess by Jo Ann Ferguson

Lady Lucia Crossclyffe is losing her sight & because of rumours has a tarnished reputation. Julian Riley, Marquis of Rillington is paying a debt to his cousin Lady Eloisa, Lolo & trying to stop Lucia’s arranged marriage to Martin Fleming. Julian arrives to meet Lolo but she’s not there & Julian gets caught on the causeway to Lucia’s isolated island home & is nearly swept away. Julian recovers but is loathed to leave because of his growing attraction to Lucia. Lucia is also attracted to Julian & no way does she want to marry Martin. Another short sweet story with likeable main characters, the secondary characters were annoying but were meant to be.

Christmas Truce by Karen Frisch

Lady Rosalie Partington has at last begun to ‘get on with her life’. It has been almost two years since Major Jeremy Stanhope, Earl of Debenham had been reported killed in the Peninsular wars. Her engagement to Richard Prescott is announced at the family gathering. Then Jeremy appears, he has come home from the war, he was badly injured & for months had lost his memory but he had to see Rosalie so that he could propose. Only Rosalie is already betrothed & to Richard Prescott the traitor who left him for dead. A short story full of intrigue & a heroine who wants to be honourable but still loves her first love. The pace was very good until the ending, which I thought, was rushed but that was probably due to the fact this was a novella not a full-length book.

Miss Montague’s Mistletoe Match by Sharon Sobel

Charles Hudson, the Earl of Westerly, was injured whilst serving in the Peninsular Wars & now wears the facial scars to prove it. His close friend physician Gregory Armstrong persuades him to write to Gregory ‘s cousin Lady Alys Tremaine. The pair correspond for a year & then Charles & Gregory are invited to Windermere for Christmas with the intention of offering for the woman whose letters have captivated him for the last year. Roselynn Montague is secretary to Lord Tremaine & was in fact the letter writer. A lovely heart warming story. The characters are well rounded & likeable, there’s the added humour of the pageant & of course Arthur. Ideal for a winter’s afternoon curled up in the warmth
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

These four sweet stories are the perfect choice to get in the mood for christmas and the holiday season. They are charming, well written and every one of them is just the perfect mixture of sweetness and some suspense. The problems "our" heroes and heroines encounter are not insurmountable and even though those problems arise the reader never fears that something really bad would happen.

Of course this may sound a bit …well, boring…but it isn't because this is exactly the kind of story that you want to read when you're sitting in front of a cozy fire in your most comfortable armchair with a cup of tea or hot chocolate at your side while the snow keeps falling outside. Something light and sweet, dependably positive and charming that reminds you of the spirit of christmas. No need for the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present or Future - you just need those stories to remind you what christmas feels like or at least what it should feel like -cozy, sweet and peaceful with the certainty that you can overcome all obstacles.

At least that's what I expect when I read a christmas story and that's definitely what I got when I read these stories!

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Mistletoe and Mayhem was an enjoyable, quick read. All of the stories had something different to offer; although, by far, my favourite was Merrily Mismatched. I loved the characters and story idea in this one. I was a little put off Miss Montague's Mistletoe Match due to one scene in which the characters acted in a way that I did not feel was appropriate for the period. I don't want to spoil anything for readers by saying what happened, but I simply didn't believe someone in Miss Montague's position would do what she did. Otherwise, though, this is a pleasant read for fans of historical romances, and the stories are of a perfect size to read one per evening.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars...

Four sweet, romantic Christmas tales set in the regency period. I especially liked the first 2, "Merrily Mismatched" and "Snow Princess." Likable characters with fun personalities, they were quick and easy to read and caused this reader no stress. The perfect relaxing historical holiday reads. Recommended!

**Many thanks to NetGalley and ImaJinn Books for a copy to read and review!**

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of holiday stories set in the regency era. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy these or not, especially when the heroine of the first story is obsessed with one of my absolute favorite stories. However, I found that I actually liked the stories. They were quick but fun. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[poppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collections of short christmas reads perfect for a lazy weekend and to get you in the holiday spirit