Anthology - What happens under the Mistletoe

A collection of stories by Candace Camp, Meredith Duran, Karen Hawkins and Sabrina Jeffries, published October 27, 2015.
Genre: historical Christmas romance stories
Cover: lovely, beneath all the letters



New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, and Candace Camp, and USA TODAY bestselling author Meredith Duran come together for a sizzling historical romance holiday anthology. In this all-new story collection sparkling with sexy charm and heartwarming wit, four beloved bestselling authors reveal the mix-ups and make-ups, the missed chances and golden opportunities that come but once a year.

Stunned by the heat of an unexpected kiss on a cold winter's eve, two strangers from vastly different worlds turn hotheaded principles into burning passion in Sabrina Jeffries's delightful yuletide story, The Heiress and the Hothead.

Lord Stephen Corry, a youngest son, is a journalist, determined to expose the brutalities happening in cotton mills all over England, trying to make them a better place, especially for the way too young children employed there for pennies. And now he is at his friends' house party, to confront Miss Amanda Keane, an American mill owner visiting England. He is sure that her mills will be equally badly run, for why else won't she grant him an interview?

But Amanda is not at all as he expected, certainly not the young lady he feels so enormously attracted to! And when he finds out that her mills are run far more humanely, and that both she and her mother are horrified to learn more about the conditions at the local mill, they are on a mission themselves. But Amanda's life and work are in America, can Stephen leave the English country and his cause and continue his fight on American soil? Or does he really expect her to give up her life and her heritage in America?

8 stars.

In the snowy Scottish countryside Karen Hawkins's rakish duke has an unforgettable holiday encounter in Twelve Kisses when the alluring lady he surprises under the mistletoe is not who he expected, but a long-lost love with a score to settle.

I really enjoyed this story about a second chance at love between Marcus Sutherland, the Duke ofRothesay and Kenna Stuard, Lady Montrose. They were engaged once, but when Marcus left to country after a big fight over something unimportant, Kenna married an other man. She is now a wealthy widow, and her domineering father is determined to marry her off again to a man of his choosing, a man she really doesn't like.
She still has feelings for Marcus though, and when she overhears him and his current mistress make an assignment for that evening masked ball, Kenna makes sure she wears the same costume and awaits under the mistletoe herself. And when Marcus finds her, and kisses her, scandal evolves when they are found out. But that is not what Kenna had planned, and she is determined to get her father to solve things. Of course that doesn't work out, and Kenna and Marcus find themselves snowed in, in a tiny little cottage, that happens to be her intended's lovenest …

Marcus is determined not to have his heart broken again by Kenna, and Kenna is equally determined to talk about what went wrong all those years ago, and perhaps to get him back. She never forgot him either, although she was content in her marriage. Who has the strongest will of them both?

Always a good setting, a couple snowed in, with nowhere to escape to, and no one to interfere.

8 stars.

In By Any Other Name, Edinburgh is aglitter for Christmastime as Candace Camp sends a curious gentleman in hot pursuit of an intriguing lady in disguise - one who refuses to reveal her true identity, though she fears he has already stolen her heart with his kiss.

A young girl sets about town to find her brother after he left the house after a big fight with their father. She wants him home for Christmas! But she finds trouble instead, and an unexpected rescuer, who won't leave her alone, especially not when he finally finds out her true identity and sets to courting her.
Together they try to find her brother, and to keep her out of trouble …

Nice story but a bit unbelievable with the antics Rylla got into, and out of again. Still, it was entertaining and I liked mr. Rose a lot. It is just something about the writing style of Candace Camp that I don't really like, and I can't put my finger on it.

7 stars.

In Sweetest Regret, will the festive spirit of the season sweep Meredith Duran's feisty heroine beneath the mistletoe - and back into the arms of the dashing rogue whose carelessness soiled her reputation and sent her into exile in London?

Two years ago Mr. Lucas Godwin broke Miss Georgiana Trent's heart when he left her behind without a word in Munich, to pursue his diplomatic career in a new position in Paris. And now her father has asked him to help her retrieve a stolen letter. A letter probably stolen by one of his diplomatic house guests, while he goes on a mission himself, leaving Georgie behind to take care of his guests.
He is the last man George wants in her house, but she can't refuse him entrance. And he can help her entertain her jaded international guests, by giving them a traditional English Christmas …

But when it comes out that he did not leave her behind without a thought, that someone else was behind it all, what will they do?
Georgie doesn't want to endanger his career and his livelihood, but Lucas' father gave up everything for love and he is willing to do the same …


A story I enjoyed more than I expected. I am glad that they both wanted to talk it out what happened two years ago, and also that it was still a bit of a struggle to decide on the future, that not everything was roses and sunshine from there on.

8 stars.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian