Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss: An Historical Christmas Advent Calendar

by Sophie Barnes

Allow yourself to be swept away as you count down to Christmas with this collection of twenty-four romantic short stories. From friends to lovers and instant romance to secret identities and so much more, these treats are sure to fill you with warmth this holiday season. So grab a hot drink, settle into your favorite spot, and indulge in the magic of happily ever afters.

Story titles:
December 1: A Drunken Christmas Escapade
December 2: A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
December 3: A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
December 4: A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
December 5: Caught in a Snow Storm on Christmas Eve
December 6: Rescued by a Duke before Christmas
December 7: A Kiss for Christmas
December 8: A Christmas House Party
December 9: Underneath the Mistletoe
December 10: Snowed In on Christmas Eve
December 11: An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
December 12: At the Christmas Ball
December 13: Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
December 14: By the Stroke of Midnight
December 15: The Duke Proposes on Christmas
December 16: A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
December 17: A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
December 18: Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
December 19: A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
December 20: Stranded at an Inn during Christmas
December 21: An Unexpected Encounter with a Highlander
December 22: Reunited on Christmas Eve
December 23: Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
December 24: A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry

Genres: Christmas, Historical Romance, Romance, Short Stories, Holiday, Fiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages. With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

For all the latest releases, promotions, and exclusive story updates, subscribe to Sophie Barnes’ newsletter today: www.sophiebarnes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophie...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Barnes/...

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these holiday treats each story was heartwarming and romantic. I loved all the fun characters and the authors ability to bring happiness in a variety of ways. Personally, I usually stay away from anthologies because the stories are to brief for my personal likes. I found myself left wanting more at the conclusion of each story.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ | 4 Flames 🔥

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these December 1st to December 24th short stories. I must admit they were very similar stories. I loved that the ladies got their Christmas husbands. Very entertaining stories. 4☆

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow yourself to be swept away as you count down to Christmas with this collection of twenty-four romantic short stories. From friends to lovers and instant romance to secret identities and so much more, these treats are sure to fill you with warmth this holiday season. So grab a hot drink, settle into your favorite spot, and indulge in the magic of happily ever afters.
This book is a conglomeration of stories about Christmas.
It's good for what it is .
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A buffet of heart-warming Christmastide stories!

I enjoyed these short stories, each of which finds a happy ending, despite various trials and tribulations. That each one tells a complete tale in so few pages, reveals the skill Ms. Barnes has honed to perfection. Usually, in such a large anthology, I find a few offerings that fall short. However, that is not this case with these vignettes.
A variety of situations in which people find themselves in life (some the fault of their own failings or fears, and some forced upon them) are used to evaluate how with love and kindness and a positive attitude, even the most hopeless of situations can be turned into opportunities for a successful relationship. These clean stories bring lessons for living in the guise of romantic Christmastide stories. Enjoy!

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

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Advent calendar style book of short Christmas themed stories. These range from very short, a few pages, to double digits in length and run the gamut from sweet to humour filled to second chance stories to love at first sight tales. I was a few days late starting the anthology but quickly caught up and enjoyed reading each day’s story to end the day with some calm and happy thoughts. This was a perfect read for a hectic season.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-four short and I mean short stories to put you in the mood for the holidays. One story for each day of advent, a couple find their heart's desire and a promise of a happy future with a kiss. I read them all in one afternoon. Well done!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Pandora Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très agréable dans l'ensemble ! Avec le format, parfois un goût de trop peu, mais c'est le jeu de la nouvelle.

[Diana N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides quick romance for each day leading up to Christmas.. These stories are light and bring a little bit of Christmas cheer in each romantic story.

Although each romance brought a smile to my face, I think the short format may have hindered a few things. Since each story was so short, there wasn't a ton of time for character development. That may be why many of the romances involved childhood friends or relationships of the past. Those type of plots helped the romance be more believable instead of a bunch of love at first sight romances.

I really liked this romance collection, but would have liked 12 longer stories just as well to allow more possibilities. Maybe an idea for next Christmas!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this ARC for my honest review.

[Martha B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for the advent of Christmas

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss contains 24 of the sweetest romantic Yuletide short stories. Each one will warm your heart and make you sigh. Read one a day beginning on December 1, and I'm sure each day of your Yuletide will truly be filled with a smile.

I love each unique short story, all with likable and engaging personalities. All are well written by Sophie Barnes, and all capture the wonder and magic of the Season.

Content 411: Although the stories are sex-free, each story does have some enthusiastic kissing as well as some mild secular and religious swearing.

Disclosure: I received a complementary copy of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to come across an advent historical romance anthology that I lept at the first chance to read it. This is actually the first anthology I've read because I tend to shy away from shorter stories, but Sophie Barnes did not disappoint. Each of these stories is the perfect holiday treat during the bustle of the season when you need a pick me up of happiness and cheer. They all have the HAE we love in historical romance, although these stories lack some of the heat and limit that to kissing.
These stories are meant to be read as an advent with 24 of them to start on December 1st. You can read it that way or read it any way you like.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookbuzz.net for an ARC of this book.

[Texastwang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! What a wonderful idea to have a once a day read upto Christmas. All the stories were great and exactly what I'd expect from Sophie Barnes. All stories were different yet good. I dont know that I could have read just one a day. That might be just too much for my self control ;)

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun and cute! It was so nice to have a short romance story to read each evening. Honestly some I wish were full stories!

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss By Sophie Barnes An Historical Romance Advent Calendar. This is a very unique book with its Advent Calendar stories. I thought it was just so cute and a must read for me because I am a big fan of Ms. Barnes.

[Jelke Lenaerts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has content warnings for homophobia, biphobia, and mentions of a miscarriage.
average rating 3,2/5 stars
I have never read a book advent calendar before and I thouroughly enjoyed that experience. Getting to read a christmas-y story every single day was a whole lot of fun. However, I feel like the stories in this collection were often just a bit too short for my liking and I just wanted them to be a couple of pages longer. There are also a lot of the same tropes used throughout the entirety of this collection and that could get a bit boring to read at a certain point. So yeah, I had fun with this collection but it wasn't perfect either. The average rating actually perfectelly expresses my enjoyment of this book truly

A Drunken Christmas Escapade
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really cute start to this collection. I must say I'm a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and this 100% delivered. The only reason this isn't a five star is because I wanted a bit more tension between the two main characters but for the rest this was great.

A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Again, a really cute story. I really liked the chemistry the two main characters had. I liked how she didn't know of his status when they first met, even though it was obvious to me. I thought it caused for some really cute moments. This story also had a very Christmas-y setting.

A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐
Yeah, this one didn't work out for me. I just didn't really feel any chemistry between our two main characters. I think we didn't really get enough time between them to fully see why they like each other. It just didn't really work out for me.

A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
⭐
This started off promising. I mean, a woman standing up for what she wants and clearly communicating that instead of just settling down for what's expected of her. That sounds great. However, then the love interest changed his entire being to fit those standards and I don't know if I liked that. Especially not when we learn our female characters has been regretting her choice for months now, so it basically was for nothing. Yeah, just don't really like the messagges this story sends out.

Caught in a Snowstorm on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐
I love a good childhood friends to lovers. I thought this one was quite cute but I was missing a bit of the chemistry between the two characters. I would have also preferred it if there was a just a bit more explenation as towards why his mother wanted to keep them apart.

Rescued by a Duke Before Christmas
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is by far my favourite story in this collection so far. It just started of so cute with him saving her. Then we get a proper interaction between the two and the chemistry was just off the charts. I really loved the build up of that scene. Ugh, it's just really well done!

A Kiss For Christmas
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really cute story. I could really feel the chemistry between our two leads. On top of that I also quite liked the family aspect in this story. It was small because it's a short story but you still got a good idea of what her family dynamics are like and I really appreciate that.

A Christmas House Party
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a great story. I really liked the complicated history between the two main characters. I liked how that was delved into and didn't feel rushed at all, considering the short story format. So yeah, there was bit of intrigue in here and I think that blended really well with the romance.

Underneath the Mistletoe
⭐⭐⭐
This one was fine, I guess. I just didn't really feel that pulled into it and was a bit bored. But there wasn't anything particularly bad to say about it either. It was just very mediocre and not very memorable.

Snowed in on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I quite liked this one. I really liked how the female main character took matter in her own hands and made the first move. It's something I haven't seen much in historical romance (although I am new to the genre) and I quite like it. I also really liked the male main character and how he was really careful around her because he didn't want to force her to be with him. The only complaint I have is that I wish this story was just a little bit longer.

An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
⭐⭐
This is the first story in which the two main characters have no prior history before the beginning of the story and honestly that's what was the downfall of the this story for me. I did quite like the pairing but I didn't really feel the chemistry between them as they quite literally barely know each other.

At the Christmas Ball
⭐⭐⭐
This one was alright. I liked the marriage of convenience trope in this one. I really liked the moment where both main characters confessed their feelings to each other. I did quite feel the chemistry between them as well. I just felt like this was a little bit too short and I wanted more of it.

Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐
I don't really have a whole lot to say about this story. I thought the settings was cute and the moment where they confessed their feelings was also fantastic. However, I didn't completely feel the chemistry between them either. It just overall felt very 'meh' to me.

By the Stroke of Midnight
⭐⭐⭐
I quite liked this one. I liked that it followed servants rather than titled people for a change. I also liked that they were set up and how they both thought they were going to meet someone else and them stressing about that. Those were all interesting elements to this story. However, I'm just missing the chemistry between these two main characters.

The Duke Proposes on Christmas
⭐⭐
Yeah, this story didn't really work for me. It's a guardian/ward romance and for it really work for me I would have liked more of an explenation as towards how they got into this situation. On top of that I also just felt a bit bored by this story.

A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay, this was a fun story. I really loved the family aspect of this one. Mainly the relationship between the female main character and her sister. There was also some great tension between the two main characters and I loved the moments leading up to their first kiss. Really liked this one!

A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I quite liked this one. It was really cute and it took some turns I wasn't expecting. I also liked how this one didn't end in an engagement, like most stories did, but more so with the promise of a developing romance on the horizon. I really liked that especially considering the circumstances of this story. It would be pretty unrealistic if this ended otherwise, in my opinion.

Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
⭐⭐
This one was interesting as we got to see some Danish Christmas traditions. But that's all I liked about it. I didn't really feel any chemistry between the two characters and I just felt a bit bored while reading.

A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
⭐
You can't get my hopes up for a queer romance and then make it straight. That's all I have to say.

Stranded at an Inn During Christmas
⭐⭐⭐
I really like these stories that are more so the start of a relationship, rather than actually ending in an engagement. It's just because I like seeing people fall in love, I guess, and this one was really cute. I was a bit bored at time but I still quite liked this one.

An Unexpected Encounter With a Highlander
⭐⭐
This was way too insta-lovey. I'm not a fan of these stories where the two main characters meet, I've found. I prefer them to already have a background together before the story. Because honestly, they say 2 sentences to each other and claim to be in love and are sure this is the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. I don't buy it! Also, why was the family drama needed for this story. It didn't really add anything.

Reunited on Christmas Eve
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is incredibly good. It's very bittersweet though. The moments where we reminice over how our two main characters were ripped apart when she got forced into a marriage of convenience by her parents are absolutely heartbreaking. But on top of that we have the hope of happiness and love again now that out two main characters have reunited after her husband's death. Such a beautiful story. I really liked it!

Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
⭐⭐⭐
This was quite a cute story. I really liked how the female main character shemed a way for her to get out of an arranged engagement. I liked the male main character being head over heals for her and her not realizing it. However, I also don't particularly feel strongly one way or the other with this story.

A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you know me you might know that my favourite television trope is the carefully planned huge wedding that goes wrong & the couple ends up marrying in front of only the people that matter the most in their lives. This story is that trope in book form, well short story form. So it should be no surprise that I loved this story. It's also very different from all the other stories and I loved seeing the love between these two characters that have had a long courtship/engagement already. This story was the perfect way to end this collection, in my opinion.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Grab your copy now so you are ready to start on December first. It’s like having a mini Hallmark movie to read each night. I am amazed at how much is packed into so few pages. The stories are quick, uplifting, emotionally satisfying and complete. I think I will make this a collection I read each year.

December 1: A Drunken Christmas Escapade
Amanda and Peter
A bit of brandy. A slip of the tongue and Amanda lets Peter know that he’s the one she wants. Good thing he wants her too!

December 2: A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
Francesca and Prince Ludwig
Too much wine. A walk to the stables and an unexpected meeting with a prince of a groom.

December 3: A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
Melanie and Blake
His childhood nemesis, a lady? Ah yes…..a most irresistable one. From pies to the back of his head, to kisses in search of Mistletoe.

December 4: A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
Rowena and Devon
Influenced by romance novels, Rowena turned down Devon, the man she knew she loved, hoping for someone more exciting. Six months later she found it with her highwayman….Devon.

December 5: Caught in a Snow Storm on Christmas Eve
Serena and Matthew
He, defying his mother. She, being charitable to a friend. A winter storm, two overdue confessions and Matthew and Serena would finally be together.

December 6: Rescued by a Duke before Christmas
Arabella and Flynn
A fall through the ice. A heroic rescue. Getting wet for the third time. A broken fever and a courtship for Arabella and Flynn.

December 7: A Kiss for Christmas
Kathy and Timothy
A three year absence. A flower shop visit. Permission from her brother and father…
and Timothy finally gets to kiss Kathy.



December 8: A Christmas House Party
Madeleine and Robert
A broken heart. A house party reunion. A duel. A confession. A reconcilliation and Madeleine and Robert were finally engaged.

December 9: Underneath the Mistletoe
Jane and Edward
Jane wanted to believe he’d changed in the last couple of years, but could a rogue reform? Edward wanted a permanent relationship with his best friend’s sister and was determined to convince her. A Christmas Eve ball helped.

December 10: Snowed In on Christmas Eve
Rose and Collin
Rose and Collin tip-toed around their attraction until a brief encounter in the library was sealed with a kiss.

December 11: An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
Teresa and Anthony
An horrific storm. A sea captain injured when thrown from his horse. Sanctuary in the home of a duke, and kindness and attention from Teresa, the duke’s daughter, lead to a surprising match.

December 12: At the Christmas Ball
Caroline and Hugh
Forced into marriage to settle a gambling debt, Caroline and Hugh struggled to get along. A surprise revelation at their Christmas ball changed everything.

December 13: Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
Evangeline and James
Besotted, James stayed away from Evangeline because, although he wanted to marry her, he wanted to be her choice, not her assumed. A game of hide and seek on Christmas Eve changed all that.

December 14: By the Stroke of Midnight
Beatrice and Steven
A note to a maid from the butler. A note to a footman from a lady. A meeting at the pavillion finds two people pleasantly surprised.

December 15: The Duke Proposes on Christmas
Duncan and Fiona
A duke with a facial scar. His ward ready to make her come out. Could she feel about him as he felt about her? There was only one way to find out….

December 16: A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
Emma and Benedict
Jane dared her sister Sarah to kiss the man she fancied tonight under the mistletoe. Benedict obliged since he’d been in love with Sarah for years. Now could they finally declare themselves to each other?

December 17: A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
Claire and Michael
Stood up by the brother of an earl, could Claire accept a substitute? She could if Michael, the earl himself, had anything to say about it.

December 18: Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
Eva and Victor
A trip to Denmark. Drawings in the attic suggesting things to come. ‘Nissers’ at work? Perhaps Eva and Victor will find out.

December 19: A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
Edmond and Sam
Could Edmond really be in love with his best friend Sam with whom he had studied medicine? Could they live a duplicitous life? Only one way to find out.

December 20: Stranded at an Inn during Christmas
Beatrice and Alessandro
Trapped at an inn due to a storm, Beatrice and Alessandro engaged in conversation.
They discovered that their siblings were married to each other, and that they wanted that fate too.

December 21: An Unexpected Encounter with a Highlander
Fiona and Logan
Frustrated with her family, Fiona stormed off into the Highlands. Of course she got lost. Night was falling and it was bitterly cold. Luckily Logan saw her and came to her rescue, taking her to his hunting lodge, where they fell for each other.

December 22: Reunited on Christmas Eve
Phoebe and Oliver
Phoebe and Oliver planned to marry, but her parents forced to to marry someone else. Now years later, will a widowed Phoebe find the love she had lost so long ago.

December 23: Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
Laura and Clive
Seeking mistletoe to thwart an unwanted engagement, Laura found herself stuck up in a tree. Thank goodness Clive came along to save her in more ways than one.

December 24: A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry
Lilly and Glen
Every girl dreams of her wedding day, and Lilly envisioned a glistening white winterland. That’s not she got. But marrying Glen was what really mattered…and marry him she did.

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

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

🎄 Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss 🎄
An Historical Romance Advent Calendar
✒️ Sophie Barnes
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophie...
Release Date 11/30/2021
Publisher Sophie Barnes
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KMC2W6X/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

Allow yourself to be swept away as you count down to Christmas with this collection of twenty-four romantic short stories. From friends to lovers and instant romance to secret identities and so much more, these treats are sure to fill you with warmth this holiday season. So grab a hot drink, settle into your favorite spot, and indulge in the magic of happily ever afters.

Story titles:
December 1: A Drunken Christmas Escapade
December 2: A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
December 3: A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
December 4: A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
December 5: Caught in a Snow Storm on Christmas Eve
December 6: Rescued by a Duke before Christmas
December 7: A Kiss for Christmas
December 8: A Christmas House Party
December 9: Underneath the Mistletoe
December 10: Snowed In on Christmas Eve
December 11: An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
December 12: At the Christmas Ball
December 13: Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
December 14: By the Stroke of Midnight
December 15: The Duke Proposes on Christmas
December 16: A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
December 17: A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
December 18: Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
December 19: A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
December 20: Stranded at an Inn during Christmas
December 21: An Unexpected Encounter with a Highlander
December 22: Reunited on Christmas Eve
December 23: Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
December 24: A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Twenty four tales to warm you before Christmas…

Impossible to sum up the many stories, but the titles provided for each of them will help you to determine the main subject of them all.
I learned not so long ago that this style of stories is called flash fiction, and I love it, it might be a read a of a few minutes but when rightly done, it does at any moment feel lacking.
I loved every one of them, I read them in one setting, but I will definitely reread them this December, my very own advent calendar.

I can only thank the author for warming each day before Christmas with a lovely story, a dash of romance to cheer the mood.

My only complaint is there is only 24 days in the advent calendar.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CW04VAro...

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[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Daily Dose of Love for Christmas . . .

In this countdown to Christmas, we get a short story for each day, from friends to lovers and instant romance to secret identities and so much more. Short enough to put you in the mood, and just right to finish each one amid a busy day. So far, I have seen only happy endings, masterfully told in a short-but-sweet manner. Grab your copy and smile through the journey toward Christmas. And you’ll still have time to run out for last-minute shopping if you forgot anything.

Titles included are:

♥ December 1: A Drunken Christmas Escapade
♥ December 2: A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
♥ December 3: A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
♥ December 4: A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
♥ December 5: Caught in a Snow Storm on Christmas Eve
♥ December 6: Rescued by a Duke before Christmas
♥ December 7: A Kiss for Christmas
♥ December 8: A Christmas House Party
♥ December 9: Underneath the Mistletoe
♥ December 10: Snowed In on Christmas Eve
♥ December 11: An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
♥ December 12: At the Christmas Ball
♥ December 13: Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
♥ December 14: By the Stroke of Midnight
♥ December 15: The Duke Proposes on Christmas
♥ December 16: A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
♥ December 17: A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
♥ December 18: Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
♥ December 19: A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
♥ December 20: Stranded at an Inn during Christmas
♥ December 21: An Unexpected Encounter with a Highlander
♥ December 22: Reunited on Christmas Eve
♥ December 23: Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
♥ December 24: A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry

Merry Christmas!! And Love to All!!

[Martine Francois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Barnes fan I thought I’d check out this advent calendar type anthology titled Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss. I won’t say that I expected much but imagine my surprise when the 24 little short stories turned out to be very Hallmark-esque. I won’t fib and say that all the stories developed well and wrap up so good that the reader is not left wanting but Barnes is so skilled that the calendar fulfills the purpose for which it was written. It gives readers a chance to escape each day in December with a short sweet story often filled with insight, wisdom and a HEA that leaves one with a smile on their face and looking forward to the next date and story on the calendar. The cute and quirky titles are:
1: A Drunken Christmas Escapade
2: A Royal Affair on Christmas Eve
3: A Duke Surrenders His Heart on Christmas Eve
4: A Highwayman Proposes on Christmas Eve
5: Caught in a Snow Storm on Christmas Eve
6: Rescued by a Duke before Christmas
7: A Kiss for Christmas
8: A Christmas House Party
9: Underneath the Mistletoe
10: Snowed In on Christmas Eve
11: An Unexpected Guest Arrives for Christmas
12: At the Christmas Ball
13: Trapped in a Carriage on Christmas Eve
14: By the Stroke of Midnight
15: The Duke Proposes on Christmas
16: A Scandalous Dare on Christmas Eve
17: A Secret Christmas Rendezvous
18: Stealing a Yuletide Kiss
19: A Shocking Revelation for Christmas
20: Stranded at an Inn during Christmas
21: An Unexpected Encounter with a Highlander
22: Reunited on Christmas Eve
23: Only a Duke Will Do for Christmas
24: A Christmas Wedding Gone Awry
This review was given on the ARC copy I received from the Publisher via Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Happy reading!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a preview copy from NetGalley and this is my freely given review.

OMG, this is a great little collection. It really is like an Advent Calendar - each little story is a wee little sweet treat. Each one is a sweet, heart twisting little hint of Seasonal love, passion, desire. BUT like each of those wee little chocolates or treat in a real Advent, it is just a wee morsel - not a true stomach filling meal, or soul satisfying love story.

So while I loved how much feeling, detail, background, and character was put into each little day's mental romance morsel... I was also left wanting more! What happened with the two doctors, and how were they able to live together, while hiding her secret? Did that one couple decide to live in Norway or England??? What other nisser pranks were played (I have knit so many of them as ornament gifts!)? Did the couple who married because of their parent's wager overcome their beginnings and begin their marriage anew? So many questions to the endings to so many intriguing beginnings!

This is why we can't live on a wee chocolate a day - and why the full turkey dinner with all the fixings is needed at some point!

Regardless, I found I loved each of the two dozen romance bonbons that were offered in this collection. It did make a great Romance advent calendar... and maybe it says more about my self control than anything else, like an open box of bonbons, it was hard to stick to just one!

Four merrily burning yulelogs out of 5 for me.

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely lovely and charming collection of short stories set around the Yuletide. I absolutely love the idea of having a short romance story advent calendar, and Sophie Barnes has done a wonderful job in the creation of this. Each story is unique and original, they are all well writing and so beautifully sweet in the various romances that help to count down to Christmas Day. Barnes has crafted these stories with a range of character ages, tropes, and stages in the romantic relationship between the heroes and heroines. I think Barnes does a fantastic job of making each story fresh and unique to the other. Each story has an ease and conversational tone that quickly draws you into the romance, and the stories read about 10-15 minutes a piece, which is perfect for right before you fall asleep. It is just so delightful to have a little short love story to read before bed every December night as the perfect way to countdown to the big day.

Definitely pick up with book if you love a short and sweet story that will leave you with a smile. It is such a lovely winter holiday gift from Sophie Barnes to her readers and I think that you will delight in having a sweet short story to read right before bed as a delightful little winter treat!

I received an eARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and am leaving an honest review.

[Nicole Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from both Booksprout and Netgalley; this is my honest review.
General: I'm glad all the stories were from the same author and 66% were made for this advent calendar - the others, which were written before the idea, fit right in there too. All the stories are worth 5 stars except for 2 with a 4 stars only. If I wasn't writing a review it would have been fun to read one story per day; most were read within an hour or less. One thing negative is that many names keep repeating in the stories: Emma, Fiona, Pete - Maybe make a list before starting a collection like this.
1. Brother's BFF 2. Mistaken identity 3. Friend's sister 4. Adventures & passion 5. Friends since youth 6. Trail of mishaps brings an offer 7. The heart grows fonder with time 8. Second chance with drama - least favorite 9. Last resort 10. Under compromise or by choice 11. Instant spark between strangers 12. Time wasted by assumptions 13. The title says it all 14. Matchmaking for the servants 15. More racy 16. Meddling sister 17. Stood up by one brother; loved by the other 18. Nisser's doing 19. Unconventional love match 20. Two countries, two lovers 21. Love away from expectations - best story 22. Second chance at love TRIGGER: conjugal abuse in many forms 23. Coming home in time to save the lady 24. Does the weather predict the outcome? Longer without adding much - second least favorite.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of 24 stories in this Advent collection, I have essentially read 21 of them before, albeit under different titles and by different authors—typical Regency romances that follow the familiar formulaic pattern. There are, however, three that stand out from the rest and display a spark of originality and creativity. For December 14, “By the Stroke of Midnight” tells the tale of how Lady Isabelle, the youngest daughter of the house, plays matchmaker for her maid, Beatrice, and Steven, the handsome (of course) footman of her dreams. “Stealing a Yuletide Kiss,” for December 18, takes place in Denmark where the English family (with daughter, Eva) is spending the holidays with the father’s old expatriate college friend and his family (including Victor, the eldest son). This is probably the best story of the collection, centered as it is on the legendary mischief-making of the “nisser” (Danish gremlins) whose magical or contrived pranks draw Eva and Victor closer and closer together in clever, engaging ways. Finally, for December 19, “A Shocking Revelation for Christmas” is a gender reveal that explains contradictory emotions that have haunted a friendship between two doctors since medical school—unlikely but amusing.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listen… I’m not typically a huge fan of historical fiction or short stories, but this was so cute!!

I’ve never read an advent book before. Essentially, this is a collection of 25 short stories—one for each day of December leading up to Christmas. It’s pretty much the cutest idea ever, right?!

Each of these romance stories managed to pack a punch in only a few pages. Sometimes books seem like they’re dragging on just to meet a word count, but each line of the stories here were purposeful. It was the perfect dose of romance and holiday spirit in each story!

I do wish that the stories would have been just a little longer so that each character could have been more fleshed out. They all kind of melded together in my mind, because many of the stories do fall into the same kinds of tropes/set ups. But I also love each and every Hallmark Christmas movie, so clearly I don’t mind that too terribly much! 😂

[Viper Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet holiday collection!

Like a decadent chocolate advent calendar, there's a delectable treat for each of the first twenty-four days of December. We have quite a collection of Regency tropes - mistaken identities, older brother's best friend, childhood friend, arranged marriage, misunderstandings, and even one that takes place among the service class. Each is a standalone romance with a HEA, and each is just about a chapter long - just enough to satisfy a quick craving.

Like the best candy treat, these stories leave the reader wishing for just a little bit more to savor. It's a marvel that the author can create such compelling characters in such short stories, but anyone familiar with the author's other works will recognize her gift in creating delightful tales. If you're looking for a book that will deliver a series of quick fixes for the romance addict, look no further. This book was written for you. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Stefanie Riepe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An advent calendar, but it’s a book?!? This is one of my favorite ideas ever! Each chapter is a short historical romance story, for a total of 24 stories (December 1-24). The length of each story is perfect for reading one per evening before bed (my preference, but obviously these can be read at any time of day!). There were a variety of tropes represented in the stories. I found myself wanting more of each story – more about the characters, the backstories, etc., although that defeats the purpose of the book – ha ha! Due to a winter break vacation, I got off track with reading one per night, and then ended up reading a bunch of the stories in a row. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that; I think that’s why I was wanting more from each story. Even if you decide to read this outside of the Christmas season (which you totally can and should!), one per night will allow for optimal enjoyment!

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intended as an advent calendar of historical romance reads. There are 24 stories that are all fairly short, about five to ten minute reads. As such, none of them get very deep into the backstory but usually you still manage to get a good idea who the characters are. Some of these stories involve strangers meeting for the first time during Christmas, some describe old friends or frenemies who are inspired to take their relationship to another direction. I thought some of the stories would have been more satisfying if there was a bit more extended angst but I understand the point was to be short and sweet. The steam level is mostly kissing although there was a story or two in which more steam was implied off page.

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

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Allow yourself to be swept away as you count down to Christmas with this collection of twenty-four romantic short stories. From friends to lovers and instant romance to secret identities and so much more, these treats are sure to fill you with warmth this holiday season. So grab a hot drink, settle into your favourite spot, and indulge in the magic of happily ever afters.
I loved these short stories, an advent calendar of romance. What better than settling with a short story each day in December, or any other time of year, a cuppa & a couple of biscuits. There are a variety of tropes & I wanted a few to be longer, always a sign I’m enjoying a read. Of course the characters don’t have the depth as in a full length novel but each couple were likeable & I could relate to most of them
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best gift I'll get this December - I truly love the idea of 24 short stories, one for each day leading up to 12/25. What a great treat to enjoy first thing in the morning with a cup of tea, or snuggled into bed with a cup of cocoa.

While I fully admit to not having read all of the stories - I'm trying to follow as Sophie Barnes suggested and reading only one a day - I love these light little glimpses of Romance. It's just enough to put a lovely smile on your face and remind you of all the warm pieces of Winter holidays.

I highly highly recommend this book - even if just for the novelty of it. It's so very charming and I can't say enough lovely things about it. Pop on some holiday music and take a few minutes to transport yourself.

The hardest part is trying not to cheat and read ahead!

My opinions are my own and freely given.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best gift I'll get this December - I truly love the idea of 24 short stories, one for each day leading up to 12/25. What a great treat to enjoy first thing in the morning with a cup of tea, or snuggled into bed with a cup of cocoa.

While I fully admit to not having read all of the stories - I'm trying to follow as Sophie Barnes suggested and reading only one a day - I love these light little glimpses of Romance. It's just enough to put a lovely smile on your face and remind you of all the warm pieces of Winter holidays.

I highly highly recommend this book - even if just for the novelty of it. It's so very charming and I can't say enough lovely things about it. Pop on some holiday music and take a few minutes to transport yourself.

The hardest part is trying not to cheat and read ahead!

My opinions are my own and freely given.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-four romantic short stories are to be found in this Christmas-themed collection, designed to be read from the 1st to the 24th of December.

This is undoubtedly the best advent calendar I've ever had the pleasure to open. Okay, so it's an ARC which means I had to read and review it beforehand, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to restrict myself to one story a day - they are heart-warming, sweet, and so easy to consume. The advent calendar idea is pretty awesome. It also works really well. And I'm not just saying this as a Sophie Barnes fan! Any reader who dabbles in historical romance will enjoy this.