Mistletoe and Mayhem

House of Haverstock #3.6

by Cheryl Bolen, Heather Boyd, Alina K. Field

There’s no Christmas like a Regency Christmas spent under mistletoe! New York Times Bestselling author Cheryl Bolen and friends invite you to discover true love in an all-new collection of steamy holiday romances.

Countess by Christmas by Cheryl Bolen: Newly inherited Lord Paxton is forced to spend Christmas at his family’s old hunting lodge with the woman to whom his father left the house.

Silver Bells by Heather Boyd: On the run from a man determined to take her child, Ruby seeks refuge at her uncle’s estate, only to go from one intolerable situation into another. Should she trust her own flesh and blood? Or rely on someone else, someone from her past, to keep her son safe?

Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field: When a business-minded aristocrat encounters a fetching widow he met years earlier as the bride of a ne’er-do-well earl, temptation steers him along a track that may derail all his plans. Can he convince her to set a course for her future that includes him?

Rescued by a Rake by Wendy Vella: Miss Ivy Redfern’s life is thrown into turmoil when her brother disappears five days before Christmas. Desperate for help she turns to the devilishly charming Mr. Haddon. He agrees but it comes with a price: her heart!

Unwise But Not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem: A spymaster’s beautiful daughter crashes a Christmas house party to steal back a precious medallion, but finds that one of her father’s men is already there on a secret mission. Can they work together to unmask a traitor despite the distraction of falling in love?

Meet Me at the Mistletoe by Donna Cummings: Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union. Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season?

While You Were Roguish by Samantha Grace: When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin’s house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron by Sasha Cottman: With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing Welsh baron Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York’s greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out.

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong by Bree Wolf: Always has Anne looked at her childhood friend Tobias Hawke with love in her heart. Only now, she no longer sees Little Toby when those chocolate-brown eyes meet hers and she cannot help but wonder, what if he kissed her?

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe by Lana Williams: A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas.

The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans: Ignored all season, Lady Harriet Rondell is affronted by Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow’s sudden Christmas visit proffering marriage. Armed with a copy of Blade’s disgustingly traditional list of requirements he is looking for in his wife, Harriet sets about convincing him she is not—and never will be—his Christmas bride.

Publishers note: If you adore steamy Christmas and Regency romance, you’ll love this anthology!

Genres: Historical Romance, Christmas, Romance, Anthologies, Holiday, Regency

760 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

Since being named Notable New Author for 1997, Cheryl Bolen has published more than 35 books with Kensington/Zebra, Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical, Montlake, and independently. She has broken into the top 5 on the New York Times and hit the USA Today bestseller list. Her 2005 One Golden Ring won Best Historical, Holt Medallion, and her 2011 My Lord Wicked was awarded Best Historical in the International Digital Awards, the same year her Christmas novella was chosen as Best Novella. Her books have been finalists for other awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, and have been translated into eight languages. She’s also been the number 1 bestselling historical romance author in Germany.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of Houston. Her favorite pursuits are reading diaries of dead English women, traveling to England, and watching the Texas Longhorns play football and basketball. She and her recently retired professor husband are the parents of two sons. One is an attorney, the other a journalist.

Website: www.CherylBolen.com
Blog: www.cherylsregencyramblings.wordpress.co
Facebook: http://fbl.ink/Facebook

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Countess by Christmas by Cheryl Bolen: Newly inherited Lord Paxton is forced to spend Christmas at his family’s old hunting lodge with the woman to whom his father left the house.

Silver Bells by Heather Boyd: On the run from a man determined to take her child, Ruby seeks refuge at her uncle’s estate, only to go from one intolerable situation into another. Should she trust her own flesh and blood? Or rely on someone else, someone from her past, to keep her son safe?

Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field: When a business-minded aristocrat encounters a fetching widow he met years earlier as the bride of a ne’er-do-well earl, temptation steers him along a track that may derail all his plans. Can he convince her to set a course for her future that includes him?

Rescued By A Rake by Wendy Vella: Miss Ivy Redfern’s life is thrown into turmoil when her brother disappears five days before Christmas. Desperate for help she turns to the devilishly charming Mr. Haddon. He agrees but it comes with a price – her heart!

Unwise but not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem: A spymaster’s beautiful daughter crashes a Christmas house party to steal back a precious medallion, but finds that one of her father’s men is already there on a secret mission. Can they work together to unmask a traitor despite the distraction of falling in love?

Meet Me at the Mistletoe by Donna Cummings: Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union. Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season?

While You Were Roguish by Samantha Grace: When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin’s house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron by Sasha Cottman: With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing, Welsh baron, Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York’s greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out.

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong by Bree Wolf: Always has Anne looked at her childhood friend Tobias Hawke with love in her heart. Only now, she no longer sees Little Toby when those chocolate-brown eyes meet hers and she cannot help but wonder, what if he kissed her?

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe by Lana Williams: A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas.

The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans 5 Stars
Ignored all season, Lady Harriet Rondell is affronted by Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow’s sudden Christmas visit proffering marriage. Armed with a copy of Blade’s disgustingly traditional list of requirements he is looking for in his wife, Harriet sets about convincing him she is not—and never will be—his Christmas bride, so she makes her own list. A delightful entertaining novella, which I read in a sitting. I loved Blade who had wanted to court Harriet but an assignment for the Prince Regent had scuppered his plans & this leads to misunderstandings & assumptions. The lovely Harriet is feisty & although she’s loved Blade for years jumps to the wrong conclusions. I loved the road to their HEA

A lovely anthology of short stories from some of my favourite authors. I’ll be dipping into this whenever I've a couple of hours spare & will update my review as I read each one
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas🎄🎀 Man Candy🐺🍬🍭 Sampler ...YUM!
Anthology of ADULT Historical 💕 Romances Set at Christmas🎄🎀Time.

"Countess By Christmas" by Cheryl Bolen📚..
A young widow's inherited hunting lodge comes with it's very own Lord included!
******* * **
"Silver Bells" by Heather Boyd📚.
Ruby💃💋💔, a runaway widow, takes her young son from Scotland to the Vynes🏰, Her uncle's estate, in the dead of winter. There she meets Lord Hector Stockwick🐺🍆⛲, a rake of a man who only came to the remote estate🏰 to meet his sister, but she hasn't arrived!
Since Ruby💃💋, Her son Pip 👦, and Hector🐺🍆⛲ are alone in the great house, they begin to spend time together. Meanwhile, the taciturn Lord Vynes👺 stays in his rooms and tries to manipulate Ruby💃💋 and Hector🐺🍆⛲.
******** Nine more fascinating Christmas🎄🎀 stories to go!

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
This ebook was $4.99 on Amazon📚 at the time of this review.
Opinions Expressed here are entirely my own.

There are eleven Historical Romance💕 novellas or short stories included in this wonderfully special Christmas🎄🎀 time book. All are by different romance authors📚. I found many many hours of sheer reading enjoyment! This is a book to read again and again!

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Mayhem
A Regency Holiday Romance Anthology
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08FHS...
Release date 11/10/2020
Publisher Heather Boyd

There’s no Christmas like a Regency Christmas spent under mistletoe! New York Times Bestselling author Cheryl Bolen and friends invite you to discover true love in an all-new collection of steamy holiday romances.

Publishers note: If you adore steamy Christmas and Regency romance, you’ll love this anthology!


☀︎︎ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀
House of Haverstock #5
𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻
Newly inherited Lord Paxton is forced to spend Christmas at his family’s old hunting lodge with the woman to whom his father left the house.

☻︎ Such a lovely read of a man misguided who finds much more than he expected when he went on a quest to unmask the woman he is so certain had bewitched and swindled his late father.
And to reconcile with the idea the kind and caring woman he is bewildered with is this woman.
4 stars

☀︎︎ 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀
A Distinguished Rogues Novella
𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗱
On the run from a man determined to take her child, Ruby seeks refuge at her uncle’s estate, only to go from one intolerable situation into another. Should she trust her own flesh and blood? Or rely on someone else, someone from her past, to keep her son safe?

☻︎ A sweet read of a man who never understood the charms of married life until he is seduced by a lovely widow and her lively son.
The more he get to reacquaint with her, the more bachelorhood looses its appeal if it means going on life with her. But first he must help her navigate the muddy waters set by traitorous relatives.
4.5 stars
  
☀︎︎ 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵
An Everly Manor Happily Ever After
𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲
When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin’s house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now. 

☻︎ Oh it had been so long I haven’t read a Mrs Grace’s work, and it was bad form from me.
She often manages unusual encounters for her heroes, and here she does not derogate from it.
Bess is fun and full of life, with Julius she reveals her whole character.
Julius while appalled at first, but he soon falls under his lively host spell and her kind disposition won her his heart, even if she has sometime a wicked sense of humor.
A cute Christmas romance.
5 stars

☀︎︎ 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻
A London Lords Novella
𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗻
With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing, Welsh baron, Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York’s greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out. 

☻︎ A charming romance of two lonely souls. Both have no one left on this earth, yet their status are far different, when he can roam his way, she is stuck with nothing in a bankrupt estate.
Yet, their encounter is an eyes opener moment for Rhys as it maps a different outcome than he first expected, if he is able to set things right for Wister.
Rhys is such a sweetheart but very awkward at declaring his feelings, which leads them so some misunderstandings.
A pleasant story of finding one’s home.
4 stars

☀︎︎ 𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗲
The Rogue Chronicles #5
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀
A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas. 

☻︎ oh what a sweet story.
Lucy had been quite forgotten by her relatives, the poor orphan cousin now companion of the elderly grumbling aunt. And while it is no ideal, it suits her as this way she does not have to engage her feelings. But everything changes when her cousin request her help to determine who might be her best prospective spouse.
Hugh is at the same party, ready to make a match with his host’s daughter as she would bring the cash he needs to pursue his dream.
Yet the more time he spends at the party, the more he is intrigued by the cousin of his eventual fiancée than the woman he should be wooing.
I loved their romance and Hugh is such a sweetheart, as whatever the price he follows his heart when Lucy chose the coward’s path.
Luckily for them, there is no villain, just blinded people when awakened love to meddle in others’ life.
4.5 stars

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver Bells – Heather Boyd
Heather writes stories that no matter how long or short they are they will always pull you into the story. Ruby, Pip and Hector are all so loveable. The writing brings you into the spirit of Christmas and my favorite part was not the hero and heroine but little Pip and Allan playing in the hay. Short but packed a punch.

The Duke’s Christmas List – Bronwen Evans
How dare he make a list of attributes he is looking for in a wife and expect her to just accept his proposal with a by your leave. Well, Blade is in for a big surprise, Harriet will accept nothing more than love. Some misunderstandings and a cute puppy make this a fantastic short story. Oh, and the list….

I received a complimentary copy from Booksprout.

[Smadma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this collection of stories. Below are reviews of the first 5


Countess by Christmas is a lovely story of a widow, Mary, who inherits hunting lodge in the country for herself and her son who has issues with his lungs and has troubles breathing in the city. Mary is surprised and more than a little pleased by this; however, she is confused as to why the old Lord Paxton didn’t leave the lodge to his son, David, who loved it and had numerous fond memories of staying there. David’s father’s final wish was that David spend one last Christmas at the lodge; even if Mary is already there. David assumes the worst about Mary and prepares to take the lodge away from her. As he gets to know Mary and her son, he realizes that he couldn’t be more wrong and that Mary is truly a nice person with a wonderful little boy. As the two spend more time together they develop feelings for each other and soon discover that they have their own Christmas angel.



Silver Bells is another story of a widow and her young son. In this case, Ruby was an English woman who was married to a Scottish man of which neither family approved. Ruby was disowned by her family when she married for love and a year after her husbands death, his father tries to marry her off to an unsuitable widower and to take her son away. She flees to her uncle for help only to agree to marry a man of his choosing. At her uncle’s she encounters a man from her past, Hector, who vows that he will help her. Ruby’s uncle is a manipulative bitter old man whose wife left him with their children, but he is all Ruby has. Hector is attracted to Ruby but not interested in marriage until he spends more time with Ruby and her son. You need to read on to see who gets their Christmas miracle… Ruby? Her uncle? Her son? Hector? Etc.



Convincing the Countess involves yet another widow with 2 sons. In this case, Sophie, an heiress is forced to wed the Earl of Glanford after he ensures that they are caught in an unacceptable situation. He really only wants her for her money and manages to spend all of it and more before his untimely death. Sophie takes her sons to the home of their guardian to beg for his help since he refuses to answer any of her letters and seems to insist on hiding from her. While at his home, she encounters his brother, George, who she is attracted to but not really sure of. Fitz may be the head of the family, but he has made a mess of things and it’s up to George and a couple of his brothers to try and clean things up. While getting to the bottom of things, George and Sophie work together and become more attracted to each other. There is some miscommunication and hurt feelings but this is a Christmas story so of course there will be a HEA for someone(s).



Rescued by a Rake pits a strong-willed, opinionated, feisty woman (Ruby) against some less than scrupulous people who have taken her brother captive. Ruby enlists the aid of her footman and an old acquaintance of her brother’s, Rory Haddon. Rory plans to help Ruby and along the way realizes that she isn’t a typical female of that time and certainly not controllable. She gets herself into situations that cause him concern and as the two of them work together they develop deeper feelings for each other. I enjoy strong female characters and Ruby didn’t disappoint; however, she was a little too headstrong at times.



Unwise but not dishonorable is a fun story of Dorothea and Cecil. Dorothea is the daughter of a spymaster and Cecil is a spy who reports to Dorothea’s father. I like that this story has a strong female character who knows her own mind/opinions/ideals; however, it bothered me that she kept wanting to make her mother happy. Her mother was a horrible dragon of a woman who was prepared and tried to have her daughter forced into marriage with men of her choosing instead of allowing Dorothea to make her own decisions. I would have been a little happier if Dorothea would have shunned her mother and let her see what she was missing by being so horrible to her daughter. Cecil and Dorothea are excellent together and it was fun to see what situation they would end up in as they tried to ferret out a traitor.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and diverse collection of holiday themed short stories that will leave you feeling warm and uplifted. Each of them are clever, well written and have a wide variety of realistic characters. This is a delightful way to sample new authors.

Countess by Christmas - Cheryl Bolen
Such a wonderful story. Mary is a poor war widow with an eight year old son. Surprisingly, David’s recently deceased father bequeathed the hunting lodge, David’s most favorite place, to her. His father also left him a letter asking him to spend Christmas there. Furious, David tried to break the will.....until he met Mary. The characters are fabulous. Mary is selfless, loving and genuine. Stevie, Mary’s son is well behaved, intelligent and enthusiastic. David is an inherently kind and generous man....and Blatherwick is a pompous ass who is appropriately named. This is one of those stories that leaves you feeling warm all over and with happy tears.

Silver Bells - Heather Boyd
Ruby ran away and married Liam in Scotland. After Liam died, her father-in-law decided to marry her off and keep her son. Ruby took her son, Pip, and escaped to her uncle’s home. When she arrived she discovered a childhood friend, Hector, was visiting. The uncle was a devious self-centered man who planned to use Ruby to settle his debts. Well, things got very interesting very quickly. There is a coldness/darkness to this story, making the ending all the more special. It is quick, well written, and enjoyable.

Meet Me at Mistletoe - (Matchmaking Earl Series #4) - Donna Cummings
This is such a fun story! The banter between Lorelei and Desmond is light and clever. The children add a sense of wonder, innocence and energy that livens up the story. Beatrice is the perfect sister, and Desmond’s parents round things out with their sage advice. Oh, and we mustn’t forget Martin, the Matchmaking Earl, who is successful in spite of himself! This is just delightful and leaves you smiling.

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe - (Rogue Chronicals #5) - Lana Williams
Orphaned at sixteen, Lucy went to live a secluded life with her great aunt. Now years later, her cousin, Emma, insists that she and her great aunt come to a Christmas house party, to which Emma has invited several of her suitors. Emma enlists Lucy’s help in deciding which of the gentlemen she should choose to marry. Hugh, one of Emma’s suitors, and a reformed rogue, needs a wealthy wife to fund his dream of breeding horses. Although he tries to spend time getting to know Emma, Hugh finds himself drawn to Lucy. What ensues is two people battling their heart to follow their head. The characters in this book are easy to imagine. Lucy is kind, generous, smart and selfless. Emma is beautiful, egocentric, spoiled, but not mean. Hugh is charming, compassionate and more vulnerable than he would like. This is a quick and wonderful story with endearing characters and a fairytale ending

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver Bells
Heather Boyd

This I a lovely heartwarming story, one that had me turning the pages and loving the words and the characters, Ruby Roper and Hector Stockwick, Ruby is in need of saving and Hector is just the person who can do it even if it takes him a while to realise.

Ruby is widowed with a son and living in Scotland with her in-laws, but when her father in law decides that it is time for Ruby to remarry, Ruby decides that it is time to take off with her son Pip. She hopes that her aunt and uncle will help her, but that is not what she finds it appears that no help will be forthcoming. Lord Hector Stockwick is in residence and he is not someone that Ruby can trust after an incident in her youth, but maybe he can help her and her son.

Hector turns out to be the gentleman not standing up to his reputation at all, it is not long before Hector is being a knight in shining armour and saves the day losing his heart to Ruby along the way, not what he had planned, Ruby discovers that the boy she had no trust in is now the man who saves her and Pip in the best way and a future together as a family it just what she needed.

A beautiful story truly, one that I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend it.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron
Sasha Cottman

Sasha Cottman tells a tale that had me falling into, a ruined castle and an inherited estate and two people who were in need of each other, they just needed a little time to work it out and in such a wonderful way.

Rhys Morgan, Baron Carno is not wealthy by any means but he does have a ruined castle that has been in the family for hundreds of years and now a long lost cousin has left him an estate Kington House in England and with a woman managing the estate and no money in the coffers, he makes the trip there and meets the manager Wister York and is taken by how beautiful she is.

Wister has been stuck here for three years doing the best she can with no money, when Lord Kington passed away Wister was keen to finally get what is owing to her and find a new position, but when Baron Carno arrives he is not what she was expecting and has an instant spark towards him, will he help her or keep her here, it is not long before they are talking and getting closer.

I loved this one Rhys and Wister are so good together, Wister is strong and witty and very smart and Rhys is caring and passionate with his emotions, their journey to a HEA took a little while to go in the right direction but when it did, it sizzled, and such a beautiful proposal had me cheering them on.

A must read story that I highly recommend.

I have read these two stories form this anthology and loved both of them and am looking forward to enjoying the others in the book.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Cheryl Bolen and Others
Love this story as it starts out with Mary and she's on her way to the lawyer. She fears more bad news and is quite happy with the news he does share.
She is to get the lodge where she had been a companion to the Lord Paxton when he was alive. She'd read to him and play card games, etc. She also was able to bring her young son with her and he loved it there especially because his breathing problems were more better there.
When they were sent away due to his illness they returned to the city where she had no income and they lived on the edge of poverty.
Story also follows Lord's son David who was the heir. HE's upset because he loved the lodge where the men would assemble and hunt and ride. He didn't make it back last Christmas and he had a letter from his father to attend this year although he's dead.
He travels there, rescues a woman walking towards the lodge and as she sprained her ankle he helps her. He then learns who she is, the one who will take over the estate and his inheritance will pay the bill.
Love the connection they have to the lesser people in town and how they are able to tend to them.
There are some misunderstandings and you wonder if she will up and leave it all behind......or if he will just give in and give it all to her....
Their bond as they spend time together has grown to more than like one another.
Love this story and how it took me away from my problems for just a few hours. What a treasure.

[Edward Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasant short regency tales just right for the holidays

This is a wonderful collection of short regency romance stories that are really enjoyable. They have somewhat of a holiday theme and the selection of authors in the anthology are some of the best for this genre. They are all written with real characters and engaging plots. Each tale is short enough to be read during an office break of while enjoying you lunch. Don’t miss these.
Wendy Vella’s “Rescued by a Rake” has Miss Ivy Redfern getting help from the charming rakish Rory Haddon in finding and rescuing her brother and falling in love with him as they work together.
“Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong” by Bree Wolf follows Miss Anne Thatcher and her best friend since childhood since childhood, Tobias Hawke, determining their mutual love as they have their first kiss and a meaningful conversation, ending with their betrothal.
The other stories are equally well done and I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole anthology was great , and here are a couple of examples:

Rescued by a Rake

Ivy is a young woman alone in the world except for her brother and her aunt. When her brother inexplicably disappears, she tries everything she can and can’t find him. Desperate, she begs his old friend Rory for help. The quest to figure out where her brother is brings Ivy and Rory together enough for a relationship to blossom. Wendy Vella fits a nice amount of intrigue and a good happy conclusion into this novella.

The Duke’s Christmas List

This short story leaves you wondering about the Duke’s mysterious royal task, but certain that Harriet and Blade make a wonderful couple. An entertaining novella with interesting characters, well-described settings, character development, a touch of suspense, a few laughs, and a bit of steam. Even a cat and a puppy add to the fun. Good HEA, too. Excellent short read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased a copy.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give yourself an early Christmas gift!
What a lovely group of stories eleven authors have come together to bring the reader great entertainment for the holidays. This collection has it all a bit of danger and mystery, wonderful romance, great characters, plus loads of steam. What more could you ask for. I enjoyed each story so much but, Heather Boyd is who offered the book as an arc so want to do a special shout out to her. Ms. Boyd’s tale Silver Bells was outstanding it is the tale of Ruby who will do everything she must to keep a loved one safe. Her challenges are difficult and Ruby has no idea who she can trust. This was a piece that shows just how low a person can go to get what they want. Romance and villains and really good tales await you in this charming anthology. Give yourself an early Christmas gift and pick this one up. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Regency romances, then this is definitely one collection you do not want to miss! A group of eleven wonderful and talented authors have come together to bring us this anthology, and what a collection this is! These are sweet and steamy, entertaining stories, mixed in with danger and mystery that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. The storylines were all artfully crafted with well-defined characters and kept me hooked till the very end. I had to pace myself as I wanted to read all in one sitting! This is truly a gem of a collection that will give you hours of Regency fun. I'm so glad I picked this up because I have so many new authors to follow. This is one collection not to be missed. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alice Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for The Duke's Christmas List - Bronwen Evans

Lady Harriet and Blade (Charles, Duke of Bladestow) are due to be engaged at Christmas - but despite knowing each other for years via her brother, and both being at the London season, he hasn't courted her, and no-one has asked her preferences! Thus the scene is truly set for misunderstandings about love and relationships, with some great humorous touches using lists of desirable qualities.

Harriet and Charles are clearly meant to be together, and I was willing Blade to realise this amongst the Christmas activities, although it takes threat and peril to bring him fully to his senses. However, the resolution of his List was a great surprise, and showed how his love was subconsciously there all along.

I was really intrigued by the use of hot springs in the book (not the only type of steamy episode, wink, wink!), and am now off to research those further.

I have reviewed just this tale as part of an ARC offer, and am really glad its introduced me to a new (to me) writer. I am also looking forward to indulging in the rest of the stories in this set.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Cheryl Bolen and others is an anthology of regency love stories that all take place around Christmas. While not all the stories focus on the holiday, it is the season that is celebrated along with the love stories. While there are way too many stories to summarize in this short review, I enjoyed them all. As a matter of fact, I indulged and read the book slowly anticipating each new story and enjoying the beauty of it. . Each of the eleven stories contain a level of HEAT to each of the stories. Mistletoe and Mayhem is a wonderful group of Christmas stories!

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable boxset of novellas all set in Regency England at Christmas. Each story is by a different author which creates a wide variety of styles, characters and tales. I enjoyed each story and particularly enjoyed the fact that the heroes and heroines were all interesting and diverse characters which created strong storylines, action, chaos, love and romance with the addition of the usual social issues all set against a Christmas backdrop. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silver Bells
Ruby is a widow on the run with her son. Escaping the cruelty of her Scottish father-in-law, she seeks help from her uncle in Derbyshire. Instead of helping her, he intends to use her for his own benefit. Only one man can protect Ruby and her son, Hector Stockwick, a childhood friend. A kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas will give hope and love to Ruby and her son. Gifted a copy of this book by the author.
An uplifting Christmas anthology with each novella containing a hero and heroine overcoming obstacles and discovering love after a kiss under the mistletoe.
Gifted a copy of this novella for an honest review.
4 1/2 STARS for the anthology.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas anthology by eleven talented authors, this book has something for everyone. I have read every story and found them entertaining and enjoyable.

Countess by Christmas by Cheryl Bolen: A surprising inheritance is an answer to Mary Milne's prayers, however, Lord Paxton does not feel the same way. A charming romance buds and blossoms as David learns the truth about Mary and her sweet son.

Silver Bells by Heather Boyd: Betrayed not once but twice, Ruby is horrified to find that the only one she can put her trust in is her childhood nemesis. When the truth emerges, she finds in Hector a knight in shining armour as he rescues both her and her son Pip, whilst solving the mystery of the silver bell from so many years ago.

Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field: A charming story wherein a widow is forced to seek assistance from a man she has little respect for. However, when his younger brother, who had previously observed her humiliation, arrives at the estate for Christmas, Sophie finds herself torn between finding justice for her precious children and the hand of friendship that George offers her.

Rescued By A Rake by Wendy Vella: Ivy knows that Rory Haddon was once her brother's best friend. Thus, when he goes missing the only person she thinks she can turn to is Rory. Fortunately, Jackson has spoken enough about his sister over the years to give Rory some insights into her nature, so when she hares off without stopping to consider the consequences, Rory is one step behind her.

Unwise but not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem: Desperate to save her brother from their father's wrath, Dorothea engineers a breakdown of the carriage she and her mother are traveling in at Restive Manor. She discovers that one of her father's operatives is also in attendance. With her mother's wrath heaped on her head, Dorothea has a hard time achieving her goals but when she encounters Cecil Hale pursuing similar goals to her own, she also finds that they have more than a passing attraction to one another.

Meet Me at the Mistletoe by Donna Cummings: Deciding to put his rakish ways behind him, Desmond calls on his friend to arrange a match for him, one where he will find the love he desperately wants. Fate intervenes when Lorelei is given an invitation meant for someone else, and a charming romance ensues. For the first time in his life Desmond is at the receiving end of the same platitudes that he has delivered to other women, and it takes courage and determination to win Lorelei over.

While You Were Roguish by Samantha Grace: When the thoroughly inebriated Lord Julius Everly bursts into her cousin's kitchen and starts divesting himself of his clothing, Bess has no choice but to take charge of the matter. However, the following morning her impish side emerges and she cannot help but teach him a lesson. Despite his determination to return to his own home post-haste, the weather forces Julius to change his plans and as he falls in with the ladies of the house, Christmas begins to look very interesting indeed.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron by Sasha Cottman: Inheriting a destitute estate, Lord Carno has enough problems on his hands without discovering that his estate manager is a woman. Wister is caught between a rock and a hard place and has no choice but to buckle down and keep the manor running. Rhys has definite ideas about how he will deal with the interloper until he peels back the layers and discovers the hidden truth. A gentle love story emerges as Rhys and Eister find common ground.

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong by Bree Wolf: They were childhood friends and although Anne and Tobias know each other's deepest secrets, it takes some inventive machinations on the part of her friends and his brother to make them see beyond friendship to the love buried in their hearts.

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe by Lana Williams: Orphaned and destitute, Lucy is dependent on the largess of her family and is a companion to her aged and disgruntled aunt. Invited by her entitled cousin to a Christmas house party, Lucy meets Hugh Raybourne who is one of Emma's choices as a prospective husband. Whilst Hugh needs the funds that Emma's dowry will bring him, it is Lucy's gentle, caring nature that draws him. In order to win her over, Hugh has to breach her fear of abandonment before he can win her heart. A sweet romance ensures.

The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans: As far as her family is concerned, it is a foregone conclusion that Lady Harriet will marry Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow. She has loved Blade for years, but Harriet is no shrinking violet. When she discovers the list of attributes he is seeking in a wife, Harriet puts her foot down and Charles has a hard time winning her over. Fortunately, circumstances transpire that force Charles to take action as well as a declaration of his feelings.

Each story in this anthology is a standalone and comes to a delightful and happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good anthology of Christmas stories, with a little heat, some occasional suspense, and plenty of love to go around.

Countess by Christmas - Cheryl Bolen

Sweet story with a little heat. Mary is a widow with a young son who is ill. Her previous employer left her one of his homes when he died. Though happy to get her son Stevie out of the city, she is dismayed that she is depriving Lord Paxton's son of his favorite home. Devastated by the loss of his father, David is hurt and angry that Darnley was given to some unknown woman. Sure that some gold-digger got her hooks into his father, David is determined to fight the will. A letter from his father instructs David to spend Christmas at Darnley. David quickly falls under Mary and Stevie's spell. I liked seeing David's natural kindness and honor emerge as he spent time with them. There are also sparks of attraction that grow between them, as well as unexpected feelings. A misunderstanding creates a small bump in their relationship, but it is easily resolved. I liked the ending and the surprise they received.

Silver Bells - Heather Boyd

Ruby is a widow with a young son. When her father-in-law plans to marry her to an awful man and take her son away from her, she takes Pip and flees to her uncle's estate in England. Lord Vynes is a bitter, manipulative man who only agrees to help if Ruby marries the man he chooses. Hector, an old acquaintance from her childhood, is there also, expecting to visit with his sister and her husband for Christmas. Hector is a confirmed bachelor with a rakish reputation but finds himself intrigued by Ruby and her son. I loved seeing how easy Hector bonded with Pip and the protectiveness he showed to both of them. I liked how Hector took charge of the threat against Pip. His confrontation with Lord Vynes was fantastic. I had to laugh at the unexpected twist it exposed. The epilogue was great.

Convincing the Countess - Alina K. Field

Sophie is a widow with two sons. She goes looking for her sons' guardian, who has not lived up to his responsibilities. While Fitz does everything he can to avoid her, his brother George is drawn to her and her plight. I liked Sophie, who is intelligent, lovely, and determined. She arrived with a plan, and nothing is going to stop her, even George. George remembers Sophie from years earlier and is even more impressed by her now. Aware of his brother's failings, he is determined to help her. I liked seeing them spend time together where their similarities drew them closer together. Some sparks flared between them, though Sophie has no intention of getting involved with another man. Things take a complicated turn when George discovers that Sophie has something he needs. I loved his honesty in revealing that need so that she doesn't doubt his feelings for her. Sophie's reaction was priceless, and I laughed at how she teased him.

Rescued By A Rake - Wendy Vella

When Ivy's brother Jackson goes missing, she tries everything to find him. Ivy is headstrong and determined, and a bit naïve about some of the dangers of the world. One night she approaches her brother's old school friend Rory and asks for his help. I enjoyed this part, as Ivy's recitation of what she has done horrifies Rory and brings out a protective side he didn't know he had. Rory is familiar with Ivy's nature thanks to hearing Jackson talk about her and is somewhat prepared to deal with her actions. As they work together to find Jackson, they grow closer, and sparks of attraction build. Danger comes calling as Jackson's rescue exposes unexpected evil. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved how Ivy's feelings for Rory brought out unsuspected fierceness. I enjoyed the ending and seeing how two very different people found their way to each other.

Unwise but not Dishonorable - Barbara Monajem

A spymaster's beautiful daughter crashes a Christmas house party to steal back a precious medallion, but finds that one of her father's men is already there on a secret mission. Can they work together to unmask a traitor despite the distraction of falling in love?

Dorothea is the daughter of a spymaster and determined to save her brother, who lost a family heirloom gambling, from their father's anger. Complicating her plan is her mother's intention to marry her, by fair means or foul, to any titled gentleman she can snare. Dorothea arranges for the family carriage to break down in front of the estate of the man who won the medallion in hopes of stealing it back. She is dismayed to find Cecil, one of her father's operatives, already there with his own plans.

I liked Dorothea. She is a young woman with definite ideas and beliefs and has no problem sharing them. She is frequently at odds with her mother, a horrible woman who doesn't care about Dorothea's happiness. I also liked Cecil, an honorable man who has carried a torch for Dorothea since he's known her. When he discovers that she is there for the same reason he is, they join forces. Dorothea is also attracted to Cecil, and I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions. However, Cecil is hiding a secret that could change the way she looks at him. I had to laugh at her response when he revealed it.

There is lots of skulking in corners and hiding in closets as Cecil and Dorothea work to find the medallion and unmask a traitor. There was a twist involving the medallion itself that complicated matters. There were several possible suspects, and I enjoyed seeing how each one reacted. The final confrontation was a bit of a nail-biter, and I loved the resolution.

Meet Me at the Mistletoe - Donna Cummings

Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union. Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season?

Lovely bit of reversed roles. Desmond is tired of the rakish life and is ready to find a lasting love like his parents'. He asks his friend Martin, aka the Matchmaking Earl, to help him find the perfect match. He meets Lorelei, an enchanting widow who believes that love does not last. She is happy to enter into a holiday affair, but not anything more.

I loved watching Desmond's campaign to show Lorelei the possibilities. Their attraction is undeniable, but it is her heart he wants to win. There are fantastic scenes of the two of them together, playing with her niece and nephew, decorating for the holidays, and just being together. Lorelei knows that she is falling for Desmond but fears risking her heart only to have him walk away. I loved the advice he received from his father and ached for him as he let her go, hoping she would return. It took some straight talk from her sister to make Lorelei see what she was doing. Her next step was well played, and the epilogue was great.

While You Were Roguish - Samantha Grace

When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin's house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now.

Fun story. Julius is drunk when a thunder snowstorm causes his horse to dump him in a creek. Soaked and freezing, Julius breaks into the nearest house, attempting to get warm. The resulting scene is hilarious as Bess deals with the charming rogue and later tries to teach him a lesson. The sparks between them are immediate and strong. Julius is unexpectedly intrigued by Bess and wants to know her better. Bess has an affinity for rogues but has been burned before and is determined to resist. Julius invites Bess and her family to his family's home for the holiday, where he proceeds to crumble the walls around her heart. Lots of Christmas spirit and fun gave them ample opportunity to get to know each other, and the sparks between them to build. There was a surprise twist at the end, but it all worked out.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron - Sasha Cottman

With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing, Welsh baron, Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York's greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out.

Good story of two lonely people who find love with each other. Rhys has one rundown castle in Wales and recently inherited an equally troubled estate in England. He is suspicious of why the estate is in such bad shape, especially when he finds that a woman is the estate manager. He suspects an improper relationship between her and the previous owner and plans to give her the boot as soon as he arrives. Wister originally came to Kington as a companion to the lady of the house but was unable to leave after her death, thanks to Lord Kington's machinations. She fears losing her place when the new owner arrives.

I liked the first meeting between Rhys and Wister. Rhys is quite awkward in social situations, especially with women. He doesn't make a good first impression on Wister, and she doesn't take his words kindly. I liked watching her stand up to him, then walk away. Fortunately, Rhys comes to his senses and mends fences with Wister. It was great to see them work together on identifying problems on the estate. I liked Rhys's growing respect for her and her abilities. There were also sparks of attraction that flew between them from the start, and those developed into stronger feelings. Thanks to Rhys's difficulties putting his thoughts into words, he creates a rather significant misunderstanding between them. I enjoyed seeing him make it right in a very unusual way. I also liked that Wister stood up for herself and her needs.

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong - Bree Wolf

Always has Anne looked at her childhood friend Tobias Hawke with love in her heart. Only now, she no longer sees Little Toby when those chocolate-brown eyes meet hers and she cannot help but wonder, what if he kissed her?

Fun friends to lovers story. Toby and Anne have been best friends since they were children, but lately, something has changed. Each of them looks at the other differently but are too afraid of ruining their friendship to do anything about it. Fortunately for both, they have others who are more than willing to help Toby and Anne see the truth. Toby's older brother, Phineas, is full of advice on what Toby should do and has no trouble teasing and tormenting Toby to see things his way. Toby is reluctant to push the matter, but another man has his eye on Anne, and jealousy is a mighty motivator. Anne's cousins, Leonora and Louisa, also know that Anne feels more than friendship with Toby. Louisa is especially determined to see Anne get the man that will make her happy. She gets a little carried away and sets Anne and Toby up with a mistletoe kiss that turns out to be a disaster.

I ached for both Toby and Anne after that kiss because each of them misunderstood the other's reaction. Fortunately, when they meet the next morning, Toby does a much better job demonstrating his feelings. There are still some obstacles to overcome, not the least of which is that rather persistent suitor. Louisa redeems herself with some well-timed rescues, enabling Toby and Anne to finally add being in love to the love they already felt for each other.

There were also some intriguing fireworks between Louisa and Phineas, whose antagonism appears to cover up some very different feelings.

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe - Lana Williams

A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas.

Fun story. Lucy is invited to spend Christmas with her cousin. After losing her parents when she was sixteen, Lucy has spent the years caring for her elderly aunt. Though looking forward to the festivities, Lucy is not looking forward to helping her cousin decide which man to marry. Emma comes across as spoiled and selfish, especially when dealing with others at the house party. Lucy, on the other hand, has an innate kindness and ability to make people feel comfortable.

One of the men vying for Emma's hand is Hugh. He needs to marry a wealthy woman to carry out his plans to breed horses, and Emma is suitable. But when he arrives at Waverly, he meets Lucy and is unexpectedly drawn to her. I loved how he saw the differences between her and Emma and knew which one appealed to his heart. There were some sweet scenes of them together as they got to know each other. Sparks flew between them, aided by some judiciously placed mistletoe. But Lucy is wary of giving her heart, afraid of the pain of loss. I ached for them both when Lucy's fears caused her to push him away. Hugh received some well-placed advice that gave him a different way of looking at Lucy's actions. At the same time, Lucy's life took a surprising direction. The ending was great as Hugh decides to fight for what he wants and gets help from an unexpected source.

The Duke's Christmas List - Bronwen Evans

Ignored all season, Lady Harriet Rondell is affronted by Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow's sudden Christmas visit proffering marriage. Armed with a copy of Blade's disgustingly traditional list of requirements he is looking for in his wife, Harriet sets about convincing him she is not—and never will be—his Christmas bride.

Terrific finale to the anthology. Harriet has been in love with her brother's friend for years, and at the beginning of the Season, it looks like he may return her interest. But for the rest of their time in London, Blade completely ignores her. His Christmastime arrival at her family home and his intention of proposing marriage both hurts and angers her. Her fury knows no bounds when she stumbles on a list of his requirements for his bride.

Blade wants Harriet as his wife. He would have courted her during the Season, but a favor for the Prince of Wales prevented it. He arrived at her home ready to propose, only to discover that no one told her of his interest in her. Harriet sets him straight, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she will only marry him if he loves her. Blade had been burned in the past and had closed his heart to love. I liked the effect her words had on him and his determination to make things right.

But Fate wasn't going to make things easy for them. A disgruntled suitor has plans of his own and won't be denied. I was impressed by Harriet's presence of mind and what she did to help herself. Blade's arrival left no doubt in Harriet's mind about his feelings. His expression of those feelings was intense and clearly showed how he had changed. There was a fun resolution to the story of his list.

[Linda J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS - ROUNDED UP - REVIEW FOR ALL 11 NOVELLA'S

The blurb is before each story - love that!

1, COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS by Cheryl Bolen - 5 STARS

What a delightful read and I enjoy this author's work. The little boy in this story was such a darling. The h is widowed and needs to get her son out of London with it's smog because he has lung issues. She accepts a post with the H's father. He passes and leaves his beloved property to her and her son in the Country. Problem is, this property is the H's favorite. He has many fond memories growing up there and can't believe his father would do that to him.

What a joy to see the story unfold - not is all as it appears! The h is such a kind and caring person, to all she meets. This is a sweet story that has the feeling of the Christmas Spirit. No villain, but a man so full of himself he feels he is a prize catch to the h.

Only some fondling above waist once, heat level 1 out of 5 if that. A misunderstanding that was resolved very quickly. No cheating, HEA, romance and tiny tad of spice.

2. SILVER BELLS by Heather Boyd - 4.5 STARS

Another favorite author!

The H at first comes across as cold and aloof, so it took me awhile to warm to him. The h has an adorable child of 4 years old and what she has to endure for the last year of losing her husband is heart breaking.

Loved the surprise of the h's mother in law's actions.

The scenes with the H and the h's son cracked his coldness and warmed my heart.

I wish we found out what happened to the H's best friend and sister. Several nasty villains and one I thought was bad ended up not so bad - love those twists.

Kisses and bedroom scene mostly behind closed doors. Just ogling of the body and that is about it.

No cheating, HEA and some romance.

3. CONVINCING THE COUNTESS by Alina K. Field -4 STARS

The writing is good and I liked how the author weaved the story. This author is new to me and I will be reading more of her work. That is what I enjoy about bundles, you discover new author's.

The h's husband was a nasty hurtful man. The h is embarrassed because her husband demeans her in front of his friends, which included the H. Fast forward 10 years and the H is still bothered that he didn't do more for the h at that time.

The children added to the story and pulled you in. I also liked the secondary character's. The H's brother is acting mysterious and of course the secret he is withholding hurts not only the h but his family.

No real lovemaking, a few kisses and some action though. Heat level 1.5 out of 5. Gift giving and a sweet gift to the h from the H was touching.

I wish the epilogue was more in the future than it was (less than 2 weeks). The h is 5 years older than the H and when that happens, I want to know if she gave him children. We are also left wondering did the H's project take off? I want my stories to be wrapped nicely in a bow when it ends.

No cheating, HEA and some romance.

4. RESCUED BY A RAKE by Wendy Vella -5 STARS

I own 28+ books by this author so she is a favorite of mine.

There was a secret the h was trying to keep from H to protect him and someone else. Thankfully this author didn’t do what many author’s do and not share the secret. Which in turn causes the h to get into all kinds of trouble. So refreshing that she shared it so they could work together.

The banter between the H/h made the story feel like a comedy. I can't explain how much enjoyment I got from reading this story. There is suspense, villains aplenty, twists and intrigue. The h is smart and has intelligence. The H isn't afraid of her smarts and that causes the h to be out of step because he doesn't treat her as dumb.

Lovemaking outside of marriage, heat level 3.5 out of 5 described once. Romance builds slowly and they both realize that they feel more for each other about the same time.

No cheating, great main and secondary character's written with depth, HEA and some spice.

5. UNWISE BUT NOT DISHONORABLE by Barbara Monajem - 4 STARS

Some intrigue and surprises as to who the spy is. Just when you thought you knew, then the author threw a curve ball, made for an enjoyable read.

The h we are told over and over how beautiful she is. The mother wants her to marry for a title and keeps putting her daughter in compromising situation, not once but multiple times. What a "witch" of a human! Near the end of the story after another compromising situation foisted on the h she declares the h is dead to her. What upset me is we are left in the dark how the mother reacted when certain information was presented. One of the men the mother was foisting her on was a traitor. I would love to see how the mother reacted if her schemes were realized.

There is lovemaking, outside of marriage, heat level 1.5 out of 5.

No cheating, HEA, wanted more on the ending, some romance and a small amount of spice.

6. MEET ME AT THE MISTLETOE by Donna Cummings - 4 STARS

The h is a widow with no children and behaves as one in having a couple brief affairs. Not a fan of this type of h. She is only interested in a brief affair with the H but he wants marriage.

Unique how they met. There is lovemaking, outside of marriage, heat level 3 out of 5.

No cheating, HEA, little on romance and some spice.

7. WHILE YOU WERE ROGUISH BY Samantha Grace - 5 STARS

The h had spunk and courage and handled herself in an amazing way. The H is a man who is use to work and being there for his family. The way they came together made me laugh.

There is lovemaking, outside of marriage heat level 2.5 out of 5 and passionate kisses. Enjoyable secondary character's too.

No villains, but just an entertaining story of how two people find their way to each other.

No cheating, HEA, romance, tad of spice and nice epilogue 6 months in the future. Sweet touch at the end with a gesture by the H that will warm your heart. Only regret was I wanted her to announce she was pregnant.

8. WEDDED TO THE WELSH BARON by Sasha Cottman -4.5 STARS

Sad story of how her employer used her to keep her at his estate. Not for sexual favors but to run it. He devises a plan that she is unaware of and causes her to become trapped.

The H owns two run down estates and needs help to make one of the profitable. The H/h for an alliance and their romance builds out of mutual respect. Some misunderstandings because the H has a hard time making what he means to say come out right.

Lovemaking outside of marriage, heat level 4 out of 5 described once.

No cheating, HEA, some romance and spice.

9. ONCE UPON A KISS GONE HORRIBLY WRONG by Bree Wolf - 4.5 STARS

I love when an author gives us a glimpse of when they were younger and how they came to be best friends. Of course that changes when they are older but neither wants to confront the other in fear their feelings aren't reciprocated.

At times it caused the story to drag because it took them forever to figure it out. What saved me from lowering the rating is the secondary character's. The h's cousin and the H's brother had the best banter and actions. Oh, how I wanted more of their story to be told.

This is a clean story with only a few kisses. No villain, but great antics involved trying to get these two together.

No cheating, HEA, friends to something more and clean.

10. A ROGUE AND SOME MISTLETOE by Lana Williams - 5 STARS

Another author I own almost 30 books and her character's come to life.

Our poor h lost her parents 7 years ago and it was decided she should live in the country with her great aunt. The aunt has other family, but they didn't consider they should help out a 16 year old girl who didn't get a season. The h remains kindhearted and loyal even though her great aunt was very difficult.

The H needs to marry for money, which puts the h's cousin in his sights. But, at the house party where the h/H are he starts to see amazing qualities the h has, which her cousin doesn't.

Romance builds slowly and this couple just clicked. Bumpy road to HEA but our H/h finally make it to the finish line.

One lovemaking scene within marriage, heat level 2 out of 5. No cheating, romance and a tad of spice.

11. THE DUKE'S CHRISTMAS LIST by Bronwen Evans - 4 STARS

It's no secret I love blurbs before the actual story, but this blurb was so incorrect I deducted a star. This made me go back and reread because it was confusing. The story itself is 5 stars. Here is what the blurb states. The h's is named Lady CHARLOTTE Dunbar (but the h per story is Lady Harriett Rondell). Per blurb, the H is named Charles Spencer Duke of Bladen (but per H in story his name is Charles Spencer Duke of Bladestow. There is a Princess Charlotte, that is only mentioned in passing.

When the H is known to have lovers in the past, I love it when the h asks if he will continue to have mistresses. It's something I would want to know, if my husband was going to be faithful - big plus for our heroine. The heroine is priceless and knows what she wants in her marriage - love. She finds the list the Duke has for a wife. In the ending, we discover what the list was actually for and made me laugh!

There is a villain the h has to deal with and made an interesting detour.

We have passionate lovemaking, heat level 4.5 out of 5 - I didn't find erotic, but filled with love. Described in one night outside of marriage.

No cheating, suspense, twists, romance and spice. (ljb)

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy this wonderful Regency Christmas spent under the mistletoe! Titles included are: Countess by Christmas (House of Haverstock #5) by Cheryl Bolen; Silver Bells (A Distinguished Rogues Novella) by Heather Boyd; Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field; Rescued By A Rake by Wendy Vella; Unwise but not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem; Meet Me at the Mistletoe (The Matchmaking Earl #4) by Donna Cummings; While You Were Roguish (An Everly Manor Happily Ever After) by Samantha Grace; Wedded to the Welsh Baron (A London Lords Novella) by Sasha Cottman; Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong (A Once Upon a Kiss Series Prequel) by Bree Wolf; A Rogue and Some Mistletoe (The Rogue Chronicles #5) by Lana Williams; and The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans.

The writing will draw readers into the story lines and keeps them involved throughout the entire Anthology. The easy merging of the characters with the world created around them is magical. Vivid descriptions of the characters and how they feel and react to situations are so intense that the readers can actually picture the scenario as it comes to life in front of them.

I loved this collection of sweet romance stories, especially with the Christmas theme intertwined, my favorite time of the year! You will no doubt find authors you already love and I was delighted to find a few new ones to add to my own favorites! You’ll find lots of love, romance, and sometimes a little drama and suspense inside the covers to thrill you! A wonderful variety provides something special for everyone! Below is a review of one of the fabulous books you will find in this treasure.

** Reviewing “THE DUKE’S CHRISTMAS LIST” by Bronwen Evans ***

Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow, sees a ruthless rake targeting his childhood friend, Lady Charlotte Dunbar, for seduction. In order to prevent her ruin, the Duke, with the help of her brother, plans on marrying her himself. But Lady Charlotte Dunbar has her own ideas in regard to her future. The first is that she will not listen to her brother nor society’s conventions by accepting an offer of a marriage of convenience with her old friend. He doesn’t even believe in true love!

So while the Duke is earnestly trying to convince her that he can fulfill all her dreams, she is determined to thwart him at every step, using his boring and traditional list of the attributes he wants in a wife. The battle is on! Which of the headstrong combatants will win? Will there be a marriage, or will the Duke have to walk away in defeat?

This delightful story will amuse you as the two of them work at cross-purposes yet move inexorably toward the same outcome. Grab this anthology and read this story and a ton of others you will love!

[Cheryl Rosenwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Countess By Christmas: Help from beyond the grave. With the death of his father Lord Paxton thought he would inherit all his father's properties, instead his father left the only house he really wanted to a woman and her son. Thinking she coerced his father he was going to try and prove that she was unfit and get the house back.
Silver Bells: After the death of her husband Ruby ran away from her in-laws in Scotland to go back home to England to have her uncle help her. Her father in-law wanted to marry her off and keep her son. Lord Hector Stockwick knew Ruby in their childhood and happened to be at her uncle's home for Christmas awaiting his sister. Unknown to her, her uncle planned the same thing. Hector got to know Ruby and her son in the few days while awaiting his sister. He knew the uncle was a devious man and had an ulterior motive for helping Ruby who just wanted to stay with her son.
Convincing the Countess: Sophie was a commoner whose father was in trade and very wealthy. He gave her a very large dowery. An Earl who needed money comprises her to get her money. After he goes through her money and her son's he dies and leaves her destitute. After trying to contact her son's guardian she goes to see him. Upon arriving at the Guardian's home at Christmas time he still avoids her, but she meets his younger unmarried brother who promises to assist her.
Rescued By A Rake: Ivy's brother disappeared and she went to his friend Lord Rory Haddon for help finding him. When she told Rory what she had done and places she went looking for her brother Rory was distraught. She was a lady and should not have done what she had done because if she had been recognized she would have been disgraced. Rory went to a house of Ill repute and found Ivy's brother tied to a bed and in very bad condition. Getting him out they were caught by the Madam and threatened. Knowing that both families were in danger they went to the ancestral home of Tory's family. On the way there they had an accident with their carriage and were kidnapped by a friend.
Unwise But Not Dishonor: Lady Dorothea was the daughter of the head spy master to England. One of the spies that worked for her father was Cecil Hale who had followed Dorothea several times for her father to keep her safe and came to care for her. Dorothea was attracted to Cecil but her mother wanted her to marry into the aristocracy even though Dorothea told her she didn't want to. Dorothea was looking for a spy but didn't know Cecil was at the same place she decided to stop at.
Meet Me At The Mistletoe: Desmond was a rake who had quite a few affairs but wanted to settle down. Loreli was a widow who had a disappointing marriage and vowed never to remarry. They met at a masquerade ball by mistake and felt an instant attraction. Even though Desmond agreed to an affair only through the holidays he tries to change Lorelei's mind.
While You Were Roguish: Lord Julius was the second son of the Marquess of Seabrook and wanted to start carriage racing club. Lady Bess Hadley was a widow helping her cousin set up housekeeping before Christmas when they heard something in the kitchen amid a severe thunder snowstorm. They found a drunk almost naked Lord Julius in their kitchen. Unable to leave because of the ice Julius had to stay with the cousins, having no servants they all pitched in to set up the house. Bess teased Julius and told him they were betrothed.
Wedded To The Welsh Baron: Wister was left with only one young woman to run an estate in England. When the new Baron came intending to fire her for running his estate into the ground he finds she has had to keep his estate running on no money for over a year. He has two estates one in Wales, which is a castle that had been bombed several hundred years before and the one in England that was slowly falling apart but with careful management could bring in money and infuse some money into the estate in Wales. Wister found a way to keep both estates running even though a woman had never been an estate manager.
Once Upon A Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong: Anne and Tobias had grown up together and were best friends. Now they're grown and things between them have changed. Anne is afraid she will loose her best friend and Tobias is afraid to say anything to Anne about his feelings. With the interference of one of her cousins they eventually get together and tell each other their feelings.
A Rogue And Some Mistletoe: A Rogue who wants to settle down and raise horses and a woman taking care of her aunt get together at a house party. Hugh was invited to a house party over Christmas to see which of three Emma wanted to court her. Lucy was in Aunt Edith when her parents died. None of the other family members wanted to be bothered with her when Lucy went to live with her. Tucked away in the country Lucy and Aunt Edith were left alone until Emma wanted Lucy to help her decide who she should marry so they were invited to the house party. Hugh didn't like the way Lucy was not allowed to participate in some of the games and other events because even with all the other family, Aunt Edith's care was still left to Lucy. He came to care deeply for Lucy but needed Emma's dowery for his horse breeding operations.
The Duke's Christmas List: Lord Bladestow had been in love with Lady Harriet Rondell for as long as he could remember, but had blocked his heart when he was younger and thought he was in love with another. Now when he was free to offer for her he had talked to her father and brother but not to her. Harriet was in love with Blade as long as she could remember but wanted to hear the words. She found a list that fell out of his coat thinking those were his idea of a wife. When she was kidnapped from her home in the middle of a snowstorm Blade was the one to find her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 11 steamy holiday Regency romances with loads of drama, suspense and steam. I enjoyed each of these fast-paced reads which put me in a holiday spirt as they transported me back in time. The characters have great chemistry and the stories are very entertaining. I was hooked from beginning to end. I really liked it.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Countess by Christmas - Cheryl Bolen. When an unknown woman inherits his favourite home, the new Earl of Paxton is both hurt and furious, and not best pleased that his father’s last request is that he spend his Christmas at Darnley Lodge. He is sure that the woman is a scheming doxy but then he meets Mary and her eight year old son and is as captivated as his father before him.

Silver Bells - Heather Boyd. In order not to have her son wrested away by her father-in-law, widow Ruby flees Scotland and seeks the protection of her uncle in Derbyshire. Her childhood nemesis also happens to be a guest and she is not inclined to trust him but perhaps her memories are incorrect and it is her uncle that is not to be trusted.

Convincing the Countess - Alina K. Field. Compromised by a rake after her fortune, Sophie finds herself married to a gambler who quickly goes through her money. Ten years later, now a widow with two young boys, she must find a way to provide for their future. A task not made any easier when the boys guardian evades her at every opportunity and his brother is trying to seduce her!

Rescued by a Rake - Wendy Vella. Ivy’s brother is missing and she has been unable to locate him. Remembering that he had once said that if there was a time he needed someone to turn to it would be Rory Haddon, she determines to ask for his help. Rory has never noticed the mousy Miss Redfern and hasn’t been in contact with his old school friend for years but something about Ivy compels him to help. A great action romance.

Unwise but not Dishonorable - Barbara Monajem. A social climbing and manipulative mother, a beautiful daughter, a spy with secrets, foreign guests and a traitor to be unmasked. This book has it all!

Meet me at the Mistletoe - Donna Cummings. Widow Lorelei Collins enjoys her adventures with the opposite sex as long as they are short lived and has no intention of remarrying. Which is unfortunate for Desmond Mayfield who has fallen for her at first sight; how can he change her mind?

While You Were Roguish - Samantha Grace. When Bess tries to teach Julius a lesson, the tables are turned on her when she finds herself liking the rogue. My least favourite in the collection and I found myself distracted by the typos.

Wedded to the Welsh Baron - Sasha Cottman. Rhys Morgan already has one failing estate and now he is saddled with another. When he arrives to look over the books, he finds in Wister York, a beautiful woman who has been treated shamefully by her former employer. He soon realises that he has feelings for her but his ineptitude in dealing with the fairer sex, nearly leads to him losing her!

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong - Bree Wolf. Long standing friends Anne and Tobias are loath to upset the status quo and risk their friendship. Luckily family push them to acknowledge their feelings and do something about them. A lovely and humorous romance.

A Rogue and some Mistletoe - Lana Williams. Hugh attends a house party hoping to win the hand of an heiress and instead falls for the charms of her penniless cousin. Note: not sure why no monetary provision or guardianship made for Lucy on the death of her parents and I was expecting a neater solution, such as she had money in trust but (for some reason) didn’t know about it.

The Duke’s Christmas List - Bronwen Evans. The Duke of Bladestow’s plans to court Lady Harriet during the Season had to be put on hold due to a mission for the Prince Regent and so when he arrives at her family estate that Christmas ready for a betrothal, Lady Harriet is not of a mind to agree. Even less so when she discovers a list with the attributes the Duke wants. An enjoyable story, just a shame that the preface and story itself, had not been proofread.

I won an ebook of this collection in a Facebook competition. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡️🗡️ONE WICKED ANTHOLOGY🗡️🗡️
Sensational! This is talented, uniquely insightful and immensely impressive group of authors delivers with this tantalizing treat, serving up some fearsome facts, ruthless pursuits and harsh lessons, keeping you riveted on a razors edge, catapulting this jewel to staggering heights. Chicanery and serendipity descend in a flurry of mayhem and mishaps, crushed barriers lines and broken perimeters, limitations are amplified and tested, secrets confessed, revelations unmasked and promises made, exhibiting the arduous struggles and breathtaking triumphs, thrusting this jewel into a tailspin with an astonishing culmination. Every story is full of thrills, suspense and intrigue with all the exuberance and fervent, highlighting the intense encounters and heated situations, each different and unique, with all the vivacity and fervor, testing our characters in ways they could have never imagined, blasting this baby to life brilliantly. The characters, dialogue, interactions and electrified atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits adding depth and diversity, transforming into genuine outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels like you can just reach out and touch it. Remarkable job guys, thanks for sharing this thrilling collection with us.

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read Bree Wolf's submission but it was excellent.
5 stars
I received a free copy of the historical holiday novella Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong: Prequel to the Once Upon a Kiss Series by Bree Wolf in the Mistletoe and Mayhem 11 book collection and this review was given freely.
Boredom,desperation,curiosity and a double dare form the basis of this lively fast paced story filled with slightly unfiltered conversations,plotting and a good bit of interference.
Dissatisfied with the Season's available suitors, Miss Anne Thatcher risks public humiliation and alienating her lifelong best friend and confidant Mr. Tobias Hawke, the brother to Viscount Barrington, when her interfering cousins challenge and prod her into a Christmas kiss test quised in the form of a "friendly innocent" greeting under the mistletoe.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical holiday mostly steamy romance collection had rogues, widows, impulsive headstrong ladies, gentlemen dashing to the rescue, best friends, and second chances at love. Some stories I liked better than others. I liked the first and last stories the best. Countess By Christmas is about cash poor widow Mary Milne, her generous heart and unselfish love for her ailing son and the spoiled son of Lord Paxton, whom she cared for before he died. They are forced to spend Christmas together at his recently deceased father's bequest. In The Duke's Christmas List Lady Charlotte finds a list her suitor wrote that she is assumes is for his perfect bride about good breeding and obedience and she set out to show him how she doesn't match that list. There were several suspenseful moments with dastardly villains and ones that made me shake my head, smile, or laugh out loud.

[Dotty M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Gifts

I enjoyed them all but the one that stood out to me and was my favorite had to be Barbara Monajem’s Unwise But Not Dishonorable. I giggled and smiled from the very beginning and all the way through.
Dorothea’s mother was a hoot with her superior attitude. And Cecil had the right of it when he referred to Lord Restive’s visitors as hodge-podge. Dorothea’s mother, Lady Darsington was truly ghastly. Unbeknownst to Cecil and Dorothea they had came to the party on the same quest. The prize they seeked may have been an imitation but the Love fond was real.

All are quick read that will remind you of the magic of Christmas.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kkhmonrai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of holiday Regency romances, with so much variety, everyone will find something to keep them warn on a cold winter's night. The collection has fair, and often fiesty, maidens, handsome rogues, humor, misunderstandings, villainous relatives, drama, suspense, passion, and lots of HEAs. I really enjoy anthologies because I always find new authors that I want to read more from mixed in with work from authors I already love. I recommend this collection to everyone who enjoys the Regency period, romance, and the holidays.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a wonderful collection of regency and Christmas stories. All of the stories are worth reading. The writing across all the stories is wonderful. All the characters are warm and well written. There is such an assortment of stories and characters and situations. Without writing a book about all of them let me just say this collection is worth it. All the stories captured my attention and I just loved them all. What could be better than regency at Christmas time?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shebb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for Bree Wolf's novella in this compilation (read her connected series!).

I've read one of the books in this compilation which deserves review: 'Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong' by Bree Wolf.

Anne and Tobias's best-friends-turned-lovers story was sweet, "clean" and fun. I thought the introduction to the Whickertons was cleverly done via interacting with a cousin, and enjoyed the insight into Louisa and Leonora, sisters and the leading ladies from books 1 and 2 of this new series. I highly recommend this series by Ms Wolf.