The Art of Kissing Beneath the Mistletoe (Imposters #3) by Tanya Anne Crosby #KissingBeneathTheMistletoe

The Art of Kissing Beneath the Mistletoe

by 

Tanya Anne Crosby

Synopsis

Once upon a time, Alexandra Grace Huntington believed in fairy tales. She oohed and aahed over gowns from Courtauld’s, never wore black unless in mourning, always minded her social graces, and never, ever indulged her inner bluestocking. Now her world has come crashing down like a thousands shards of glass. Her father is a dastard, her mother blames her for taking his side. (Rightly so, considering what Lexie has learned.) She’s home alone for the holidays, all alone, no siblings, no friends, and not a shred of pride remaining. But that’s all well and good, so far as Alexandra is concerned because everything she thought she knew was wrong. Her best friend, Claire Wentworth had it right all along, and the Universe had seen fit to reward Claire with, of all things, a crown (quite literally). However, while Lexie once aspired to the same, she has changed. When she’s unexpectedly invited to celebrate one last holiday with her best friend, she can’t accept quickly enough… only how did one comport oneself after everything that was said and done?

Benjamin W. Wentworth III, the seventh Earl of Highbury, has been through his own travails. He nearly drove his family to ruin, and now, after spending weeks in debtor’s prison because of Alexandra's father, and coming shockingly close to losing his life and endangering his sweet sister, he realizes that all that glitters is simply not gold. The last thing he desires is to saddle himself with a woman like Alexandra Huntington, with whom he once shared a passion for the Season. Now, he’d rather choke himself with a silk cravat than endure an instant with someone so vain, so self-indulgent, so giddy and witless. He only wishes his sister would leave off with the holiday matchmaking—mustn't she realize how much he has changed?  When Lexie arrives to celebrate one final Christmas before his sister leaves for Meridian, it is all he can do to avoid the empty-headed chit. Unfortunately, his sister and her friends have festooned the entire house with mistletoe, and to make matters worse, Lexie is proving to be someone else entirely, and he’s about to remember the art of kissing beneath the mistletoe.



Did you read the other books in this series? If not - go back and do it, they are totally worth it! And if you have...did you ever think about Alexandra, Claire's best friend and the daughter of the one...well, you know?

This brand-new book is about Alexandra's story and it is also about Claire's brother Ben. After everything that happened in A Crown for a Lady, the second book in the Impostor series, I loved to see those two find love and happiness even if their way wasn't straight and it wasn't without the one or the other bump on their road to happiness. I mean, they already knew that the other one is annoying and not exactly their favorite person, don't they?
Well, this would not be a story about kissing and mistletoes on Christmas if life didn't have a big surprise for both of them in store - and maybe even a happy end.

I really enjoyed this charming addition to this series and can recommend it even if it is not Christmas just because it is a wonderful story!

If the other two books sound familiar  - these two books were relaunched last autumn with a new cover and a new title. The original titles were The Impostor's Kiss and The Impostor Prince.

🌲🌲🌲🌲

A Very Regency Christmas by Julie Johnstone #AVeryRegencyChristmas #RegencyChristmas

  A Very Regency Christmas by Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

From the glittering ballrooms of the English nobility to the cozy countryside of Regency lords and ladies, cuddle up this Christmas with three swoon-worthy holiday tales filled with dashing heroes, bold heroines and epic true love from USA Today bestselling author Julie Johnstone!

The Redemption of a Dissolute Earl – Book 1

The day Andrew Whitton, Earl of Hardwick chooses his fortune over the woman he loves, Drew discovers that money makes for a cold bed partner. Now, no matter how far he runs, the memory of his betrayal haunts him, and there’s not enough liquor to dull the past or diminish his disgust.

Charlotte Milne trusted in happily ever after until her knight turned out to be wearing rusty armor. Drew, the scoundrel, seduced her, though she very much enjoyed the seduction by the man she’s loved since childhood. Left scandalously ruined, Char flees her home intent upon forgetting Drew and proving her worth.

Separated by disloyalty and pain, each struggle to bury the memories of the other until a mandatory summons from the Duke of Danby sets them on a path of collision to Danby Castle. With the tides of irrevocable change rising, Drew must find a way to show Char that even the most selfish of rakes can be redeemed by love before the woman of his heart becomes the wife of another.


Season for Surrender – Book 2

Lillian Lancaster would rather catch the plague than a husband. Unfortunately, her abusive, recently deceased father’s will stipulates her inheritance hinges upon her marrying a lord. With time running out, Lillian proposes to the guilt-ridden, marriage-averse Lord Edgeworth after securing his agreement to a marriage in name only.

Edgeworth feels responsible for his former betrothed’s death and believes he doesn’t deserve love, which makes Lillian’s proposal oddly perfect. Commanded by his grandfather to marry by Christmas or become penniless, the obviously perfect choice is a woman who wants nothing to do with him.

When Lillian displays a brave and true heart and Edgeworth reveals his honorable, protective side maintaining a marriage of convenience becomes harder than these two wounded souls imagined. Now, Lillian and Edgeworth must decide if they are courageous enough to risk their hearts and surrender to love.

It's in the Duke’s Kiss – Book 3

Lady Emmaline Radcliffe always knew she never wanted to marry a man who embraced the rules of Society. But when her mother threatens to secure a suitable match for Emma if she cannot make one on her own, Emma sets out to determine if her girlhood infatuation is the love she’s been looking for. Nathaniel did save her life once, after all. But when she finds herself in the arms of the gentleman’s brother—the serious and proper Duke of Blackbourne—she begins to question all she ever thought she desired.

Lucian, the Duke of Blackbourne, is tired of playing keeper to his irresponsible brother. He vows to quit, but when his brother resolves to seduce the impetuous Lady Emmaline, Lucian knows he must save his foolish brother and the innocent debutante from themselves. Yet his plan to intercede goes awry when he finds himself drawn to the woman who is everything he was positive he didn’t want in a wife.

But his brother won’t give up so easily, and soon Lucian’s well-intentioned plans are revealed. Now to keep Lady Emmaline’s heart he must prove that he’s truly not the stuffy, sneaky duke he seems to be.


This is an anthology that includes three novellas that have been previously published separately under the same names. Novellas are always difficult because they often feel rushed or simply too short for a real story with real feeling and developed characters. On the whole these three novellas are really nice to read but I must admit that I like the third one the best and the first one the least.

Even though The Redemption of a Dissolute Earl was a nice story, it was lacking some depth in my opinion. I liked it but I couldn't really lose myself in it. The characters were nice but there were too many conincidences and the story was a bit rushed.
The second story, Season for Surrender, felt also as if it could have done with a couple of more pages but on the whole I really enjoyed reading it. The characters were more complex and the story more convincing.
It's in the Duke’s Kiss, the third of the novellas is the one that I liked best. It's not only the longest but it is also the one that drew me in and made me feel with the characters. The characters were much more complex and authentic than those in the other novellas. I loved Lilian and Nick despite the fact that their union wasn't very likely or realistic in those times, but Lucian and Emmaline are much more convincing and fitting as a couple. I liked to read how Emma realized where her real feelings lay and how she made Lucian realize that this snow fairy was exactly what he needed in his life.  A sweet and warm story, perfect for this time of the year!

I liked the last one best but I also liked the other ones, so, on the whole, I end up with four stars for this heartwarming and charming anthology.

★★★★

 

Christmas at the Chalet by Anita Hughes

 Christmas at the Chalet by Anita Hughes

Blurb:  

A delicious love story about a bridal designer showing her new collection in the Alps during the magical week of Christmas where hijinx of the heart ensue.

It's the day after Christmas, and Felicity Grant is at a gorgeous ski chalet in St. Moritz for the biggest fashion show of her career. Felicity is a rising star on the bridal design scene, and this is her best collection yet. But when her boyfriend gives her a spa day instead of a diamond ring for Christmas, she has to face the possibility that she may never walk down the aisle in one of her own stunning designs.

And then there's Nell, the top model headlining Felicity's show. Nell is planning her dream wedding to her wonderful fiance with one catch: her divorced parents can't stand each other and threaten to no-show if the other is there.

Add to that Felicity's race against the clock to create a special gown for a prestigious bridal salon, and what both girls need is a Christmas miracle. What better place to find one than in the Swiss Alps with its dark forests and sparkling vistas?

But for Felicity it's hard to recognize a miracle even when it's right in front of her, and for Nell one miracle might not be enough to fix the past. Can dreams really come true or is that the stuff of Swiss fairytales?

Anita Hughes's Christmas at the Chalet is full of romance, gorgeous gowns, and the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps. It's about love and forgiveness, and creating one's own miracles during the most festive time of year. 


I must admit that the story couldn*t really convince me. There was simply too much going on at the same time.

If it had just been Nell's story, I might have been more satisfied but Felicity and her story, well. I couldn't understand the way she behaved when it came to Gabriel, it felt as if she was taking advantage of him and a bit more caution would have been nice as well, at least once she had realized that she was watched.

Jumping back and forth and jumping from Nell and the story of her parents and Felicity and Adam now and then and everything else going on, it never really felt intense and I wasn't pulled into the story or felt with the characters. I felt like I was watching from the outside, polite interest and all but never really involved. Apart from some minor details, the story seemed rather predictable. Even in the end, it couldn't convince me because I had been waiting for this development and the only thing I was curious about was how Felicity would justify her decisions. 

It all seemed a bit forced, actually and a bit too much of everything. Too many coincidences, too many problems (okay, scratch that, that's probably the most believable part), too many minor storylines that never went deep enough and left me wanting more. More feelings, more depth, more....well, more of a story. 

★★★

 

Cowboy SEAL Christmas (Navy SEAL Cowboys, #3) by Nicole Helm #CowboySEALChristmas

  Cowboy SEAL Christmas (Navy SEAL Cowboys, #3) by Nicole Helm         

Blurb: 

Three former Navy SEALs
Injured in the line of duty
Desperate for a new beginning...
Searching for a place to call their own.

Single mom and Revival Ranch's on-site therapist Monica Finley has dedicated her life to helping brave servicemen and women, but former Navy SEAL Gabe Cortez is the one man whose shell she just can't crack. Yet with the holidays fast approaching, she may finally have a plan. In a bid to get Gabe to open up, she'll ask for as much help as possible―cutting down the Christmas tree, stringing lights, the whole nine yards.

Who could possibly be a Grinch with so much holiday cheer in the air?

Gabe has always hated Christmas―the holiday never fails to remind him just how alone he truly is. But the more time he spends with Monica and her young son, the more he finds himself drawn to their cozy little family...and the more he begins to realize his long-suppressed Christmas dreams may finally be coming true.


Ohhh, I loved this book! Okay, I loved the other books in this series as well but reading about Gabe, the odd one out, the one who refuses to accept help (oh, well, I know, that's what the others said as well, right?) and who really has a hard time to accept that he is drawn to someone who by her profession represents everything that he hates...I loved it. Monica and Gabe are both amazing characters who are trying to belong, trying to find their place.

This wonderful family-by-choice that opens up to those around them and takes care of their own, is heart-warming and sweet.

Alex and Becca's marriage is approaching and emotions are flying high, especially when Gabe and Monica are trying to fight their growing attraction. Some things are not meant to be suppressed though, and even Gabe might not be able to stifle his feelings much longer... If you've read the other books you know that he is rather good at ignoring his feelings but with their attraction growing and his feelings becoming more intense, well, even a Grinch can learn to love Christmas so Gabe should be able to learn to love and accept it in return, right?

This is another wonderful book in this series that drew me in right from the first page. I really enjoyed reading it!

★★★★★

 

 

Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

Blurb:
 

She'll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle… 

Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi's temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.

Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

Sarah Morgan is back with more love and laughter in her acclaimed series, From Manhattan With Love, which Publishers Weekly calls "engaging…[a] classic sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience."

I loved this book, plain and simple. I laughed and swooned a lot, I felt with our heroine and I really really hoped for this magical HEA - and the author delivered. A wonderful, very christmassy and very amazing and wonderful story that kept me glued to my reader. I just had to know what happened next and if the two of them would fall in love and overcome their obstacles. Those obstacles might not have been that huge from the outside but, as they are rather personal, from the inside it looked very different.

Getting to know Harriet and witnessing her warmth and her loving nature, seeing Ethan rediscover his heart and his feelings, I was so happy to see Harriet grow stronger and more secure of herself. She takes her life into her own hands but she still manages to care for others and to be there for them.
Okay, I might have wanted to kick Ethan the one or the other time but, well, let's just say that he is able to learn rather quickly and - considering his former relationships- I forgave him in the end.
The characters are authentic and real, it is very easy to take them into your heart and to feel with them. Harriet hasn't had an easy childhood but she didn't become bitter or hard but stayed warm and supportive. It is good to see how much she cares for her brother and sister and how close those three are but it is even better to see her spread her wings, gaining confidence and finding her own way.
Family is important to both of them and even though their families and their dynamics are completely different they are a very important part of their lives and a big support.

Warm, witty and very much in the spirit of the season, I really loved this book and will definitely read it again, probably next Christmas.

★★★★★

The Christmas Cowboy Hero (Heart of Texas #1) by Donna Grant #SMPUnwrapped

  The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant

Blurb:

 ’Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays―even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything.

Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit’s end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby―and the inescapable longing in his heart―off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along?



I really loved this book. It was one of those books where you need the hankies for the good parts and not because something bad happened (even though a lot of that happens as well). This is about the spirit of Christmas, about getting together, about helping each other, about belonging together and about love. And it is also about second chances, about moving on from heartbreak and bad choices and the people at your side who are there for you and who help you to get there.

What I really loved about it, is the combination of a story where lots of feelings are involved and people have to deal with their issues and get stronger by fighting them and a brilliant story with lots of action and several twists and turns that just keep you glued to your reader.

Wonderful, warm characters that I'd love to have around and spend time with, a Seal, albeit a former one, on a mission and two families that are still struggling to overcome a past filled with loss and grief that help each other heal and become whole again.

A beautiful story about everything Christmas is really about with a wonderful love story and a lot of action.

★★★★★

You wanted to know more... #SMPUnwrapped

...about these books and their authors?

Christmas at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer 

This book is a sweet and charming Christmas read, where the matchmaker may have met her match and the doubters or rather "the cynics" may fall hard. Very hard. So maybe the wrong woman is exactly the right one? The Forever-one?

Coming to Charleston as a favor to his aunt who has raised him wasn't supposed to turn out as such a turning point in his life but somehow Cupid works his magic and Deacon Banks must realize that there is more to life than working and a revolving bed. But it might not be that easy for the leopard to change his spots...

On the whole, I really enjoyed reading this book with its southern charm and its quirky and sweet characters but it felt a bit drawn out. Things happened and I was smiling and thinking that this was it and now...and off. Another rejection, another "this is not professional, we can't..." and we were back to square, well, maybe not one but two or three at least. That was a bit too much and a bit frustrating but nevertheless it is a book that I enjoyed reading and that I will definitely read again.

Q&A with Kieran Kramer:

When do the holidays officially start for you?

Thanksgiving Day, as soon as I turn on the TV to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade! Can't miss the Rockettes segment, ever!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Inhaling the delicious scent of the Christmas tree, seeing the twinkling lights, hanging out with the family and our friends.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

I always make frosted sugar cookies, and I always try to watch as many Christmas movies as I can. I also try to go to the Holiday Boat Parade in Charleston harbor!

What's your favorite holiday movie?

It's a Wonderful Life; I never get tired of it!

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

Definitely How the Grinch Stole Christmas....

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Away in the Manger sung by Julie Andrews--the UK version of the melody

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

baking bread, using my crockpot, reading cozy books, buying myself winter clothes, going to parties, eating holiday cookies

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

My favorite gift is having my family all together in one place. Nothing matters more. Sometimes we can't all be together, so I cherish the Christmases that we can celebrate under one roof.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Yes, having my own little family together again--the last two years some of us have been overseas. But if I have to mention something from the store, I'd love to have some canvases and paint and painting lessons!

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Yes, to slow down and get centered, to really look around each day and marvel at this beautiful world filled with people who all want to love and be loved. I refuse to let the haters in. Oh, and I have to keep dancing to my Alexa, haha!!

***

 A Season of You by Emma Douglas

I loved this book and this sweet story about the (second) chances in life. 

When Mina lost her beloved husband to a drunken driver, she didn't plan to ever fall in love again. Life had other ideas and with Christmas around and Will, who has been carrying a torch for her ever since he saw her, five years ago, things might change, especially when Will comes to her help in the middle of the night when she has an accident. Fighting this attraction might not help and somehow, this kind of mess might just be the absolutely right kind of mess.
Both of them have to overcome their fears and as hard as that might be, it might be even harder to let the other one go. 

I liked the way things developed between the two and I loved the convincing and likable characters and the way they interact. It was a rather slow but steady read, unhurried but and even when I was getting a bit worried, it did never occur to me that things might not turn out well, I just worried that people might get hurt even more in the process.

This is a book for cozy hours with a cup of tea and your most comfortable armchair, preferably in front of a firplace - or anywhere else.

Q&A with Emma Douglas:

When do the holidays official start for you?

After my mom's birthday which is early December!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Getting together with my family and friends and just having a good time with the people I love.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Making the plum pudding with my mum and watching Carols by Candlelight which is broadcast on TV here in Oz on Christmas Eve.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Die Hard

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R Tolkien. Gorgeous illustrations and funny! They're letters he wrote to his kids (as Father Christmas) each year, telling the stories of what had been happening at the North Pole that year.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

O Holy Night because I love the melody.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I do Christmas in summer here in Oz so that makes it swimming or otherwise avoiding the heat. But in winter I have a weird liking for walking in the cold, as long as I can thaw out with a good book afterward.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

Both my current cats I gave myself for Christmas but that probably doesn't count. I got a membership to the local zoo which was fun as I like to wander around there. Other than that, like a true bookworm, every year I love getting books.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Nothing big but I'm sure I'll come up with a list of books and art supplies that would be great to get.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Both to write more and to have more time for non-writing things. Maybe I need a clone for Christmas?

*****

***

*

 

Holiday Romance Blitz #SMPUnwrapped

Looking for just the right kind of book to get in the mood for Christmas?

Seven wonderful, very christmassy reads are waiting for you:

Deck the Halls by Donna Alward

A beautiful book about second chances, about guilt and about closure. And it is also a book about a young woman who doesn't give up and who may be the one to help George find happiness again. Even though the people of Darling have tried to help George back on his feet when he had lost his way after everything he lived through, happiness and a real life were still out of his reach.

When Amy finds her way into his heart, you feel with them. You can understand his inability to accept everything that has happened, you understand Amy when she tries to find out what exactly happened and why George never came back and it is wonderful to see both of them find closure and see how their lives are going to change.

A short Q&A with Donna Alward:

When do the holidays officially start for you?

December 1 - or the weekend just preceding it. That's when we get out the decorations and go crazy.

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

THE MOVIES. I love sitting with my kids (who are of the nearly-adult variety) and watching holiday movies with a glass of wine or hot cocoa.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Tons! There are certain things we bake. We have a whole bunch of Christmas Eve traditions, including a barbecue (steak!), putting presents under the tree, going for a drive to see the lights, and watching The Polar Express. And even at their age, they still ask me to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

I have too many - my fave depends on my mood. Top contenders: Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, White Christmas, Love Actually, The Polar Express.

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

Hmmm. I don't tend to re-read holiday themed books, but I'll confess that I have a soft spot for any (all) of the Christmas books in the Chesapeake Shores series. Those O'Briens... :)

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song. Simplicity and nostalgia all rolled into one smooth voice.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Cozy nights with a glass of wine and a book. LOL! Seriously though, I miss living near the Rockies, because the skiing there spoiled me for anywhere else.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

One year my sister put together a recipe book with our mom's fave recipes over the years. She added some of her own, too, but if I want something that Mom used to make back in the eighties? It's in that book!

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Yes! Yoga socks, books, and a kindle.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Do better. :)

*****

 With This Christmas Ring by Manda Collins

Oh, I loved this book! And I was upset and furious when I learned what had happened all those years ago when Alex and Merry's betrothal was broken and...well, some other things. I mean...right, it is a very engaging story and I loved to see Christmas (and love) work their magic when those who were in love found each other and when a sweet little baby finds a loving father and maybe even a loving family. Christmas - the time for second chances - and wonderful, heartwarming books that are best read sitting in a cozy armchair, with a cup of tea at your side and a roaring fireplace in front of you.

Another Q&A, this time with Manda Collins:

When do the holidays officially start for you?

The first frosty morning when there's a nip in the air and I can feel that winter is on the way. I love that feeling!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Getting together with family and friends is the best. We don't necessarily see one another all that much during the year, but we all make time during the holidays.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

I listen to carols sung by the King's College Choir every year and spend at least one day boiling cloves and spices on the stove to get the house smelling like Christmas.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

The Thin Man starring Myrna Loy and William Powell as Nick and Nora Charles. (Of course MY favorite holiday movie has witty repartee and murder in it!)

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

That would be Christmas Angel by Jo Beverley. It's one of her early Company of Rogues books and I love the way Lucien and Beth and her children become a family over the course of the story.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

The Holly and the Ivy.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I'm not really the outdoor type (though I have been known to go outdoors) so I like to snuggle up inside with a cup of hot chocolate and read. Or knit.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

My grandmother gave me the gift of the love of reading. It's the best thing I've ever been given.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

I'm at an age now where the things I wish for aren't material (though obviously there are some that I'd like--a new car, for instance) but stuff like health and for my family to be safe and happy. I wouldn't turn down a pretty scarf, though!

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Just to keep writing books that my audience enjoys reading!

Do you want to learn more about the other books in this holiday blitz? 

Come back tomorrow - and believe me, you'll love them all!

Mistletoe & Mayhem (A Regency Yuletide Collection Book 4)

 Mistletoe & Mayhem (A Regency Yuletide Collection Book 4)

Blurb:

Merrily Mismatched by Virginia Brown

This Christmas, Miss Lily Jardine is getting something any girl would want – a betrothal offer. Too bad she’s falling for her soon-to-be fiancé’s brother instead . . .
The Snow Princess by Jo Ann Ferguson

 Lady Lucia Crossclyffe can’t resist the charms of Marquess of Rillington, a holiday visitor to her isolated island home. Little does she guess that he’s come there to ruin her . . .
Christmas Truce by Karen Frisch

After years of being presumed dead, Major Jeremy Stanhope has come home from the war. His first order of business – to propose to Lady Rosalie Partington, the woman who’s waited for him all these years. Only Rosalie is already betrothed . . . to the traitor who left him for dead!
Miss Montague’s Mistletoe Match by Sharon Sobel

Charles Hudson, the Earl of Westerly, has come to Windermere for Christmas with one intention – to offer for the woman whose letters have captivated him for the last year. But is the letter-writer the woman he thinks she is?

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

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

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

 ★★★★

Sweetest Regret by Meredith Duran

  Sweetest Regret by Meredith Duran

Blurb:

At a house party in the countryside, the joyful spirit of the Christmas season threatens to sweep Georgiana Trent under the mistletoe—and back into the arms of the dashing rogue who broke her heart two years ago. Little does she know that Lucas Godwin has no intention of leaving until he has reclaimed her as his own.

Alright, I loved this novella but I must admit that there were times when I was so furious when I was reading it that I almost threw my kindle at the wall. How can somebody be so calculating, ruthless and so mean and so...argh.
Okay, okay, right, I mean, it is a christmas story so I was sure that I'd get my HEA for Georgiana and Lucas but it wasn't that easy to get there, believe me.

Of course it is never easy to meet a former love especially if the parting was rather abrupt and left many questions open and even more if you should just by some umwelcome twist of fate find yourself and said former love as co-hosts to a bunch of very important strangers.
Right, exactly what happened to Georgiana and Lucas one not that very wonderful christmas. At least in the beginning it wasn't that wonderful but fortunately after a rather rough start the two of them start to talk to each other and discover some  answers to those aforementioned questions.

I loved that the hero and the heroine really talk to each other and don't jump from one misunderstanding to the next and I loved that they found their way back to what they had two years ago and that they still care for each other the way they did.
This is a very nice and sweet christmas story, well written with loveable characters that I really enjoyed.

★★★★

The Time Traveler's Christmas (Guardian of Scotland #3) by Amy Jarecki

  

  The Time Traveler's Christmas (Guardian of Scotland #3) by Amy Jarecki

Blurb:

 A man’s life can fall apart in an instant…

Tougher than oxhide, Lachlan Wallace can take about anything except a breakup call from his wife two minutes before competing in the Karate Championship of the World. Arriving home with a loss, he agrees to watch his uncle’s cat over the holidays. Or so he thinks—until he awakes on a fourteenth-century battlefield beside a woman fighting for her life.

Never underestimate a woman’s determination…

Taken from her at the age of two, Lady Christina de Moray hasn’t seen her son in thirteen years. While traveling with Robert the Bruce’s army to exchange an English prisoner for the lad, a battle erupts. Losing the fight, Christina is rescued by a mysterious warrior while the English escape with her son yet again.

And never bet against the potency of passion…

Left with no way back to the twenty-first century, Lachlan agrees to help Christina rescue the lad from his English captors. If the heir is not returned by Christmas next, the Bruce will make his decision whom to grant the de Moray lands, including Lady Christina’s hand. Once his duty is fulfilled, Lachlan hopes to discover a way home—as long as he keeps his mind on the goal and ignores his growing love for the spirited woman who gives him her trust—and her heart.

Well, it is a story about christmas and as christmas has its own magic, I won't think too long about some of the (very rare, admittedly) slightly mystic parts. Considering the fact, that this is a book about timetravel no further thinking is necessary, I guess, especially as the mystic parts make some things right that I have had a big problem with in other books, soooo.... Alright, I won't tell more, you'll just have to read and see for yourself!

I really really liked this book and couldn't put it down. Its story is rather different, well plotted and captivating. The characters are multi-layered and not just intersting but they are also amazing and very authentic. You can see Llachlan, trying to adept to life in the 16th century and somehow fitting in, adapting to it and building a life there. And of course, you can but feel with Lady Christina whose son was taken from her as a wee child of two , growing up far from her among their enemies while she herself was a prisoner in her own home.
I also loved Andrew, her son, dearly who has to fight the devils of his childhood, his feelings of loss and loneliness.

Usually I like Robert the Bruce but I didn't like him that much in this book, I must admit. He is more ruthless and a wonderful example of a male member of a society that had no problem in marrying women of like cattle. At least, in this case, when it comes to kings, the men don't have that much to say either when it comes to marriage. But, back to business or better - back to the book.

Falling asleep while cat-sitting at his Uncle Walter's place, Llachlan never expected to wake up in the middle of a battle in the 14th century. Right in the middle. Right on the battlefield. That's one of those occasions where being a martial arts expert comes in really handy especially when there's a beautiful woman to rescue.
Helping Christina to get her son back, Llachlan never thought that he'd learn so much about himself and his own history in a place or rather a time like this. Actually it all comes down to one question: Who was Eva? Or ist it - "when" was Eva?
Falling in love is never easy when you don't know how much time you have left or who might be granted your hand the other day...

I really enjoyed this beautiful and captivating Yuletide story!

★★★★★