| Title | : | Under the Mistletoe Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology, #14) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 362 |
| Publication | : | First published October 15, 2015 |
Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Under the Mistletoe Collection. Six contemporary novellas, all adding sweet romance to the Christmas season.
Under the Mistletoe Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology, #14) Reviews
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As a collection, this wasn't bad. It wasn't great, either, but that's really hard to do when you have multiple authors involved. Still, any collection where half are four stars or above is good enough to get the three stars I'll give the aggregate—even though the other half were 1 star or lower. I'll break them down by story for those interested in skipping the chaff (and who trust my judgement).
Forgotten Kisses by Cindy Roland Anderson - 1 star: Madison is an idiot who lets her experience with her father (an actor) taint her relationship with a really great guy (who is an actor, obviously, because tension). She broke off their engagement and shut down communication for two years for a really stupid reason and I had zero respect for her throughout the story. Caleb was a nice guy but completely forgettable when all is said.
The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon - 1 star: Both protagonists are complete idiots who apparently haven't communicated in 20 years of marriage. So obviously, serving divorce papers out of the blue, without even attempting (or suggesting) marriage counselling or, you know, having a conversation, is the way to get that ball rolling. Right? Seriously, Meredith's self-righteous musings were nearly as offensive as Eric's clueless dithering.
Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon - 5 stars: Friends to lovers is a trope that I love but that is really hard to pull off. I don't think Bellon actually managed because it sounds like they were pretty intimate and caring, so the "didn't want to hurt the friendship" doesn't hold up under scrutiny. But I didn't care. The connection they had was awesome and I loved seeing them grab the courage to share vulnerability and to extend trust and comfort. I loved how strong their relationship proved to be and I love imagining them taking on the challenges of life together.
Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden - 4½ stars: Celeste is a giant negative motivation* with pretty much zero justification and Mike seemed kind of pathetic. And then Eden turned that on its head in a way I had totally been rooting for and hadn't expected at all. The child drama even worked and I loved seeing how intertwined they already were and their realization of their mutual love was pretty outstanding.
Christmas Every Day by Heather B. Moore - 4 stars: I really liked the main characters and how they bore the scars of their pasts realistically. I liked even better how well they fit each other with each complimenting the weak points of the other. There's a bit of a missing faith issue as they skirted weirdly around issues of sex and sleeping together in ways that would totally fit people with religion-based expectations of chastity but didn't sit well with these characters as written. Also, Monica's psycho ex was a weird drama point that was over the top and yet solved way too easily (and off-stage). Still, this felt good/engaging enough for four stars, but I'm a bit wobbly about it.
First (and Last) Christmas Date by Jennifer Griffith - 0 stars: A first for that rating and only happened when I realized that I didn't have to fit the GR star choice aesthetic. Seriously, this was bad on pretty much every level. Tag is a macho idiot with the brains of diseased fungus. He's supposed to be a wish-fulfillment hero (because rich, successful, and totally into heroine) but he's a volatile ditherer who can't even figure out how to rescue a necklace from a squirrel (yeah, that was a really, really stupid plot thing that happened). And it doesn't help that Juliet is one of those instinctual pleasers who is so self-conscious that she not only removes her heels so that some random jerk on stage won't feel too short, she ends up congratulating herself on her foresight during their shared performance. Seriously, woman, have some self-respect! And when she finally gets the courage to ask why he ghosted her for ten years, his answer was the last nail in that rating. These people deserve each other. And an isolation tank so they never affect others with their idiocy.
So yeah. I really liked three. And I hated one with a blinding passion and didn't care for the other two.
A note about Chaste: This is a very chaste romance. Obviously by design.
A note about the Audiobook: The entire thing is narrated by Elizabeth Wiley who does an adequate job. Mostly. I had to re-narrate in my head a few times when her tone was too immature or too overtly playful for the context, and that was annoying.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term.
Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work,
here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story. -
I'm temporarily - I hope - departing from my usual review style while life is crazy and we're in the construction zone. I'm trying this rather than no review at all. I'm basically going to make occasional notes as I read, which is not as satisfactory to me, but hopefully they'll still be helpful.
A favorite quote: ... "I finally decided I deserved better. Even no relationship would be better than one with her."
Excellent advice for toxic relationships. In this particular instance it's referring to a relationship between a married couple, which is a relationship I do feel should be salvaged if possible. Unfortunately, toxic relationships before marriage is something many people feel stuck in!
I didn't enjoy the last story very much. The premise was silly - people pining over each other for ten years after a misunderstanding on their first date. 😩
The rest of the stories if I remember rightly, were fine. My feelings about the collection again reinforce for me that I much prefer the Timeless historicals.
One more random comment. Either I'm getting more used to emails and texts within stories, or they were well done in this collection. I think it's probably both. -
I love the holidays and these sweet Christmas romances each hit the spot. I was pleasantly surprised to find stories that span the ages. Not only are there younger couples, but older ones as well, and each book has a great story to tell. I only wish that each and every story had a kiss under the mistletoe.
Jealousy and second chances are big themes in FORGOTTEN KISSES. The characters work in Hollywood and discover that after two years, the spark is still there. But can the jealousy be dispelled? I love how the feelings and insecurities are accurately portrayed. That tender glance of love made my knees weak.
THE LAST CHRISTMAS is about a couple who are ready to divorce after 25 years of marriage. My heart was completely tugged by this story, as it's so easy to lose sight of the reason why a couple marries in the first place. The emerging glimmers of communication and the responses to the pleas almost brought tears to my eyes and this one really stood out to me.
TRUTH OR DARE brings the reader a second chance romance with a couple who each struggles with pain and injured souls. I love the way they play this simple game to rekindled a friendship and more. Such sweet reactions and tender love.
In a friends-to-love story, CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST brings us two widowed characters who make a list to recreate what their younger selves would have wanted for gifts. An unrequited love just may finally be recognized in the process, in this sweet story. I love their lists and the way it all played out.
Who can resist a knight in shining armor--especially a perfectly flawed one? In CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, Monica is rescued from a bad boyfriend by Jaxon. As they are thrown together and help each other heal over heartaches, they just might realize how perfectly matched they are. I loved the adventure and suspense that was mixed into the romance.
FIRST (AND LAST) CHRISTMAS DATE is a second chance romance. When Juliet gets an email out of the blue ten years after a disastrous first date with Tag, she jumps at the chance to flesh out her former crush. Another disastrous date is in the making, but the results may be different. This story was action-packed and very swoony, which I didn't mind in the least.
This is a great collection that I would love to re-read each year!
Content: each story has mild (kissing) romance. The last one has some innuendo and Christmas Every Day has some mild language. -
Five stars for all the stories except for one!
Most of the stories were charming, and came in every form: long time friends turning into something more, knights in shining armor, old flames reconnecting, and all at Christmas. Adorable!
And then one story was so aggressively bad that I have ranted about it all night. Following up a story where the hero helps the heroine get away from her aggressive, stalkery ex is a story where the guy has pretty much been stalking the girl, and assaults someone on their date for flirting with her. He grabs her and kisses her, then pushes her away and tells her to "cool it." It's also racist: you cannot tell me that someone who has lived in LA all her life has never seen a kimono before, thinks they're bathrobes, and (after stealing one, btw) feels underdressed at a party because she's wearing a bathrobe. I read the whole thing with my mouth hanging open. Ugh.
BUT: Sarah Eden's and Annette Lyon's stories in particular charmed me, and were very different from what I thought they would be! -
These romantic Christmas stories in Under the Mistletoe will warm your heart and curl your toes. (And my novella isn't half bad if I do say so myself!)
The first one is by Cindy Anderson, Forgotten Kisses, where a costume designer comes face to face with her college sweetheart---and he's now a famous movie star. Last time his career came between them, but when her feelings for him are still there, can they have their second chance? Such a fun story.
Annette Lyon introduces us to a couple on the verge of divorce in The Last Christmas. Meredith just wants her almost ex-husband to play nice and give their girls one last family Christmas before they announce the divorce. But can they rekindle the romance before it's too late? Sweet and poignant for sure.
In Truth or Dare, Julie Coulter Bellon shows us that it's never too late to come home. Jonah has been injured in Afghanistan and comes home to finish his recovery, but can his old friends accept him for who he was? When his high school crush comes looking for her dog, she'll test his resolve to keep everyone at arm's length. Five stars for this one. (Because I'm a bit prejudiced.)
The Holiday Bucket List was so cute. Neighbors, Celeste and Mike, who have been longtime single parents and friends cope with being alone for the holidays. But when Celeste's teenage daughter has some trouble at school, they come together to help her. Can there ever be more between them? A little suspense in this one that I loved!
Christmas Every Day had me turning pages as fast as I could to see how it would all turn out! Heather Moore weaves a story of how Monica is saved from a humiliating situation with her boyfriend, then paired as Mrs. Claus to the man who saved her! He has a complicated past to deal with, but she can't help but be attracted to him. Can they find a way to be together?
The last story by Jennifer Griffith, First and Last Christmas Date is so funny about a horrible first date and how ten years later, the second date is something to remember. I think I had a smile the entire time I read this one! A great voice for our heroine.
So, if you're in the mood to get the holidays started, get a fire going in the fireplace and pour a mug of hot chocolate. These stories are perfect for a sweet holiday read. I couldn't choose a favorite and I dare you to try! -
Tis the season for some Christmas romance! This Timeless Romance Collection is so appropriately named "Under the Mistletoe" and all these novellas capture that holiday romance perfectly. I love these novella collections. I have come to know what to expect of them and they just never disappoint.
So many of my favorite authors are represented in this collection. I really can't call out a favorite here because each one of these stories made me happy. In this collection you will find the rekindling of old flames, friends turning into more, and the butterflies of new love. This was such a fun collection and I read straight through them all.
This is the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season. I loved it. -
I really liked all the short stories except for two. Here's the breakdown.
Forgotten Kisses by Cindy Roland Anderson—2.5 stars. This one wasn't great, but also wasn't terrible except that it included the trope "all girls are bad except the main girl." I hate that trope. With all my heart. Girls are cool! We don't have to bash on other girls! So let's stop using it? Sound like a plan? Ok good.
The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon —4 stars. Ok ok ok. I get that not everyone would love this one because the plot has some holes. Like why hasn't this married couple communicated ever before in their marriage? And if the wife was so miserable why did the kids and husband have ZERO idea? BUT despite the plot holes, I thought it was really cute. 1) We don't get a lot of timeless romance short stories with middle-aged people, and I think we need to include people of all ages in romance! Love isn't just for the young! And I also liked it because the husband actually listened to his wife's concerns, she listened to his, and they got their relationship back together. In a really short amount of time, granted, but I'm a SUCKER for stories that center on married people re-falling in love. So sue me.
Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon —3.5 stars. I didn't love this one as much as some of the others, but it was good. I was impressed by how much real conversation happened between the characters. That was basically the whole short story was just them talking to each other. So that was cool. But there was also the fact that a white woman was writing a black female character who grew up with drug addict mother and a pregnant teenage sister... and I don't think that's a stereotype she was qualified to write about.
Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden —4 stars. This one also centered on a romance between two middle aged people!! It was so fun to read! They were really cute together, the premise of the short story was cute (Christmas bucket list), and basically the story was just cute cute cute. It was also so different from what Sarah M. Eden usually writes (as in it was set in modern-day), which made it fun to read too!
Christmas Every Day by Heather B. Moore —4.5 stars. This one started off slow but by the end it was my favorite. Mostly because I LOVED both of the main characters. They were SO SWEET to each other. I especially loved the scene when they were Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause at the shop's Christmas party. *so cute* So yeah this one started off ok but by the end I was in love. Definitely my favorite story from this anthology.
First (and Last) Christmas Date by Jennifer Griffith —1 star. Ugghhh this was bad. The premise had some promise... two kids who had crushes on each other in high school but didn't know meet up 10 years later for a date? Cheesy, yeah, but I can get behind it. What I can't get behind is this nice girl falling for a super misogynistic guy (talk about double standards)... and add in racism (white people STEALING a kimono to wear at a party??? This was written 5 years ago! We should know that's wrong!) So yeah I hated the main guy and both characters being super *hot* does not make me ship them. Period. Never reading that trash again. OH! And it also included the "aLl GiRlS aRe BaD eXcEpT yOu" trope which did I mention I hate? UGH -
The only complaint that I have about this collection is that it ended! I was not prepared for that. I could have kept reading the stories for many more hours.
This book is a perfect for the evenings when you need to cuddle up in a blanket and read a good book. The stories are novellas, so you can read a story at a time or dive in until you finish all of them. (I did the diving in option.) They are all centered around the Christmas season, but can be enjoyed any time of year.
The stories deal with second chances for love. Some are about young characters, but there are other stories with characters in their later years falling in love. I really believe that there is something for everyone in this anthology.
The best part, is that it is clean. You can share it with your mom, grandma, daughter, best friend, etc. -
I enjoyed reading the 6 short stories in A Timeless Romance Anthology: Under the Mistletoe. Even though they were all based on a Christmas theme, no two were alike. I liked the variety in these romances with a returning war vet, older widows and crushes who hadn't seen each other in years. They were all very well written with great characters.
Forgotten Kisses was about Madison who lived with her sister, Jenny, and Jenny's baby who she helped look after. This was a nice, easy read without a lot of drama. It showed that people can be kind to others all year round, not just at Christmas.
The Last Christmas had an unusual setting with Meredith and Eric planning on getting divorced after Christmas. Their problem was that their daughters don't know about it but are coming home for Christmas. The couple have been married for 27 years and want one last Christmas as a family before telling the girls. This was a lovely story that brought me to tears at the end.
Truth or Dare introduced us to Jonah who had just returned from war in Afghanistan where he lost a foot. His neighbour, Cami, had lost her dog and found her visiting Jonah's dog. This pair built a friendship where, for the first time, Jonah found someone who didn't pity him and he could trust. I truly enjoyed this heart-warming story.
Holiday Bucket List was a comical romance about Celeste and Mike who had been neighbours for a very long time. Both were single parents and had no plans for Christmas now that their children were grown and had other plans. They decided to make holiday Bucket Lists of things they wanted to do when they were younger but didn't because the had children. They were going to do the things on their lists now. Some were pretty funny because what they wanted to do at 20 was not what they wanted to do at 45.
This tale had an amazing amount of detail for such a short story. I easily identified wih Celeste and liked both characters.
Christmas Every Day brings us Monica who is the manager of a store called Christmas Around the World. She plans on buying the store from the owners who want to retire. Just before that can happen, the owners' son returns after staying away for many years. His plan is to take over running the store. How are they going to resolve this problem?
First (and Last) Christmas Date is a cute story about Juliet and Tag who loved each other as teenagers but hadn't seen each other for 10 years. While I enjoyed reading all the stories in Under the Mistletoe, this one was my favourite. I loved the story line as well as the couple. The writing was such that I got caught up in the story and felt part of it.
I'm so glad I got a copy of Under the Mistletoe from Inspired Kathy in exchange for an honest review. I liked the novella length of these Christmas romances so I could enjoy a feel good romance in an evening. -
UNDER THE MISTLETOE was such a fun, sweet, and romantic set of novellas! Perfect for holiday reading or anytime of the year when you need a little bit of that feeling of home, family, and love that seems to permeate the holidays. There was plenty of heart here, as well as friendship, family, first romance, and rekindled love.
FORGOTTEN KISSES by Cindy Roland Anderson. This was an all out entertaining and fun story! The guy has an English accent, is rich and handsome, and then charming as well. The girl is feisty, loyal, sweet, and pretty. I loved how they both are both enamored and caring towards the baby, how they don't flaunt, and how deep down they still hope for love.
THE LAST CHRISTMAS by Annette Lyon. This one was so heartbreaking. I loved how the characters came alive, how the situation wasn't perfect, but that the characters had to work things through and put their hopes and fears on the line. It was touching and sweet and beautiful.
TRUTH OR DARE by Julie Coulter Bellon. This story definitely made me want to warm up by my own fire for some cuddling and sweet kisses. I loved how the characters challenged each other. I liked that they had an old friendship and history that was a still there when they see each other after several years that propelled them into something more. It was a quick transition, but I still found it very sweet.
HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST by Sarah M. Eden. This was another really fun story about two next-door neighbors living alone with their kids all grown up, but who have been attracted to each other for some time. I had to laugh at the moments with Celeste's daughter and her comments on the situation. A definite feel-good story.
CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY by Heather B. Moore. I wasn't sure about the heroine in this one until she finally gets smart enough to lose the boyfriend. I loved the hero from the first time we meet him on the page to the very end. They were a great combination and you could definitely feel the chemistry. It had a very sweet ending.
FIRST (AND LAST) CHRISTMAS DATE by Jennifer Griffith. This story was quite hilarious while also filled with chemistry between the two main characters. It was a fun plot with the hero, Tag, trying to create the perfect date for his old best friend, Juliet, who he has secretly loved for years. Nothing goes as planned, but Juliet has secretly loved him just as long. Plenty of sweet moments and laughs.
Overall, I enjoyed every single story in the set. There was a little bit of holiday charm, a little heartbreak, a lot of chemistry, sweet moments, and happily-ever-after endings that left a smile on my face.
Content: Clean
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way. -
When it comes to holiday reading the romance novel is a staple. Let's face it, a horror story or sci-fi just isn't going to capture the magic and wonder of Christmas the way a romance can. But it's also a little like playing Russian Roulette with your brain because lets face it some of them are just terrible. You never know if you're picking up a heart warming story that will tug at your heart strings or a bundled together pile of badly written cliches. With six stories ready to either delight or destroy me Under the Mistletoe was approached with trepidation, but as always with the Timeless Anthologies I needn't have worried.
All of the stories were well written and each author managed to create beautiful characters and settings. Four of them particularly stood out and hit my personal romance criteria - The Last Christmas was a tale of a married couple reconnecting over the Holiday season. I instantly connected with the heroine and think any married woman will relate to some of her woes. Truth or Dare resonated with emotion and steam,even though only a couple of kisses were shared. You could feel the emotional intensity and desire rising off the page. A Holiday Bucket List was about a middle aged couple stuck in the friend zone. It was full of nostalgia and fun. Christmas Every Day was only lacking in the fact that it was a novella. I deeply invested in this couple who only meet for the first time in this story. I was fascinated by them both and their lives. Even though the story is complete in and of itself I would have loved to keep on reading about them and watching their relationship develop.
This is the perfect Christmas read for busy people which each complete story taking 30-40 minutes to read. -
I absolutely loved each and every one of these stories!!! I should know better than to start a Timeless Romance collection at bedtime because I can't read just one story... and then at 3 am my husband rolls over and reminds me that I do need a little sleep to function the next day :) Two of these novellas really stood out to me as the ones I connected with the most. The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon brought tears to my eyes- even though I don't normally go for the struggling marriage theme- it was beautifully written and still realistic while providing a happy ending filled with renewal, forgiveness and hope. Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon featured a physically wounded vet and his emotionally wounded crush/bestie from high school- reunited and stranded in a winter storm, the perfect setting for some angst and attraction. Loved their exchanges! When I finish a book or collection with a happy smile on my face and a sigh of satisfaction, I know it's one I'll be reading again and recommending to my friends!
(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review) -
Under The Mistletoe was a very entertaining anthology of six romance novellas, which were all set during the Christmas holiday season. Even though all the stories were about second chances for love, there was a really good mix here with each story line being totally different and presenting a wide range of characters, from the young to the middle-aged, childhood friends reuniting, a war veteran, a widow and a couple who is about to divorce. There was something there for everybody. Some were funny others were really touching. Each novella was very well written. There was no swearing or anything sexually explicit, just good old clean romances. I don't read a lot of short stories, but this was just right for this time of year for reading in between all the holiday preparations. Thoroughly enjoyable!
I was given a free copy in exchange for my honest review. -
These anthologies just keep getting better. I loved this selection of Christmas/holiday themed stories, and how the authors didn't worry about adding some danger into the romantic tales. It gave these brief reads a dash or reality. Even the one story I found predictable was still thoroughly enjoyable. This is a great curl up on the sofa with a throw and some hot cocoa read.
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I love these:} I loved all these stories, the last one was a little odd, but overall a great set of light fun romantic Christmas stories. All the authors do a great job of writing a very complete believable story that is just perfect for right before bed. The Timeless Romance collections are some of my favorite go to reads, I love them all and love when new ones come out:}
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Cute variety of short stories
I love these romance anthologies and the flexibility I have in reading a short story here and there depending on how much time I have. These were cute and fun to read around Christmas time. Although one thought there would be more mistletoe in the stories, I loved the variety of romances in the collection. -
Another Timeless Romance winner. I read this book when it first came out but when it came out in audiobook I snatched it up. Just what I wanted as we head into the holiday season. So many fun stories. A few were instalove, but others were not.
4.5 stars -
In the enchanting novella FORGOTTEN KISSES by Cindy Roland Anderson, costume designer Madison Taylor has no love lost when the male lead playing Sir Lancelot in a TV series is fired. She couldn’t stand working with him anyway. But when she discovers who his replacement is, her heart nearly stops. Caleb Matthews is one of the hottest male actors ever… and not to mention Madison’s former boyfriend. When things got too serious between them, everything fell apart. And now, Madison must play nice or lose her job. She just has to forget all of the reasons she’d fallen for him in the first place.
I enjoyed this novella a lot. Madison is feisty and holds her own in the treacherous world of Hollywood. It’s nice to get a look at the behind the scenes involved in making a series. I really enjoyed William’s father-figure character, and how he proves that even stars can have morals and normal relationships. Caleb Matthews is British and dreamy, but also had some great depth for an actor. The chemistry between the characters brought out the humor and heart of their journey to figuring out their relationship. A great winter read!
In THE LAST CHRISTMAS, a sweet romance novella by Annette Lyon, Meredith only has to make it through the Christmas holiday pretending that she and her husband Eric aren’t on the verge of divorce. She doesn’t want to ruin the holiday for her two grown daughters and their boyfriends. But when Eric hurries home after weeks of living in a motel to unpack before their daughters arrive, he starts pressing Meredith with questions about why she filed for divorce. The last thing Meredith wants to do it give Eric a second chance, but it seems that Eric is not willing to let her go without trying to win her back.
This gives a view on a different kind of love. Meredith and her husband Eric on are about to get a divorce, yet the tenderness they still feel for each other is obvious. It’s sad to see how years of misunderstandings and miscommunication can tear people apart, but I love how both characters are willing to admit they made mistakes. The holiday dinner fiasco was hilarious. It was very sweet to see the effort put behind the nearly inedible offering. I really enjoyed this unique love story.
In Julie Coulter Bellon’s captivating novella TRUTH OR DARE After a year of recovery, wounded war veteran Jonah Harrison comes home for Christmas. No longer the outgoing high school track star, he just wants to be left alone, away from well-meaning friends and neighbors. But when a blizzard strands him with Cami Jackson—the girl who once knew him best—he can’t hide anything from her, no matter how much he wants to. Cami has a wounded heart of her own, though, and it might take a Christmas miracle for them to find the healing they both long for and the courage to reach for a chance at love.
Bellon never goes easy on her characters, and this book is no exception. Jonah has lost a foot and is dealing with the way this changes his life. The last thing he needs is a friend from the past reminding him of everything he’s lost. But Cami has her own past demons weighing her down. They help each other see the strength each truly has inside. The cute truth or dare is clever, and the doggy romance made me laugh. A great book to remind of us all the blessings we have this holiday season.
In the charming novella HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST by Sarah M. Eden, Celeste Lagorio has officially given up on Christmas. A single mother, with her children grown and unable to return for the holiday, Celeste determines to take a break from everything. When her single neighbor and almost-best-friend, Mike Durham, discovers her non-plans, they discuss things they’ve always wanted to do, but never had time. Mike and Celeste put together a friendly competition of checking off the things on their bucket list, all the while drawing closer and discovering they have more in common than they thought.
Eden’s books always deliver a good dose of cheer. When two single empty-nesters seeks to relive their glory days in a funny competition. The retro outfits and bands bring a hint of nostalgia, but the characters bravery in opening themselves up to a new romance show a hope for the future. It is the perfect blend that everyone feels this time of year. The two embark on a quest to save Celeste’s daughter from a creepy, stalker guy shows their willingness to be there for each other. A cute romance with a hint of adventure.
In CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, a delightful novella by Heather B. Moore, Monica is on the verge of buying her dream store, but when she tells her boyfriend, he turns it into an embarrassing public argument. Heartbroken, but determined to follow her dream, she goes to her employer’s Christmas party to play Mrs. Claus, only to be paired with someone unexpected. A young Mr. Claus who is the complete opposite of her ex-boyfriend in all the most important ways. Yet, Monica is not sure she can risk opening her heart again.
Monica has sacrificed her dreams to help her parents, but now at last her new dream is about to come true. I didn’t like how she was even with her jerk of a boyfriend in the first place, knowing he wasn’t the nicest guy. I cheered when Jaxon tossed him out of that restaurant. I found Jaxson’s character full of surprising depth. His past experiences, rather than make him bitter, worked to humble him. He showed a great deal in courage in coming home to own up to his mistakes. The stalker scenes with Monica’s ex-boyfriend were scary. It was great to see both characters find a way to be stronger after their ordeals. A great tale of forgiveness and hope.
In Jennifer Griffith’s exciting novella FIRST (AND LAST) CHRISTMAS DATE, pilot Juliet Law has been in a holding pattern, dating the wrong guy, until she gets a holiday shake-up: old flame Tag McClintock e-mails her to ask for second date—after ten years. Their first date, back in high school, had been an unmitigated disaster culminating with Pepto Bismol and the police. Still, Juliet would have gone out with Tag again the next day—and the next—had he asked. So now that he’s finally popping up in her in-box again, Juliet must decide whether to say yes to the date, even if it puts her at risk of another decade of carrying a torch for Tag McClintock. Will their second date be their last?
I didn’t really like this novella. The attraction between Juliet and Tag felt completely based on physical attraction. However, the many obstacles and disasters on both their dates were hilarious. The tar pit escapade was pretty great. I also liked how she was a pilot, a fresh and new career choice for a character. I just wished more depth in the characters had been shown and less physical, sexual, tension. That is just my personal preference. An interesting, spicy story for those who like it. -
Forgotten Kisses by Cindy Roland - 2 stars...Caleb was such a good guy, super sweet but ultimately forgettable. Madison, however, had some serious insecurities and daddy issues that resulted in her treating Caleb poorly. Not a fan.
The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon - 1 star....Didn’t like this story or the main characters. Meredith was a self righteous idiot and Eric was an oblivious airhead. It was ridiculous that it took them 20+ years to have an honest conversation. Just for emphasis...IDIOTS!
Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon - 3.5 stars....Sweet ‘friends-to-lovers’ novella. I liked seeing Jonah and Cami rekindle their relationship. So adorable.
Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5 stars....I loved this one. Super sweet, and romantic. I loved Mike and Celeste together, even more so, I loved their relationship with their kids. Hands down my favorite in the collection.
Christmas Every Day by Heather B. Moore - 2 stars....A bit unrealistic and very forgettable in my opinion. Nothing really captivated my attention.
First (and Last) Christmas Date by Jennifer Griffith - 2 stars....Wasn’t really interested in this story. It was too ridiculous. After reading that “Julia’s mouth desiccated” I completely lost it. That line was terrible. (NB. The audio wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. The tone, pitch pace was off at times which, more often than not, gave the wrong impression.) -
1- hmm they ddnt solve the main problem i gave it 2.25 out of 5
2- it doesnt make sense i gave it 0 out of 5
3-it was okay 3.5 out of 5
4-i enjoyed it it was the best story in the book i gave it 3.75 out of 5
5-ive enjoyed reading it i gave it 3.5 out of 5
6-i ddnt connect with them i gave it 0.5 out of 5
So over all i gave the book 2.25 out of 5 -
Fun Collection, Lots of Kisses!
*Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited*
This was a fun"read and listen" to collection.
Each story has a happily ever after and there are lots of kisses "Under the Mistletoe" and other places too😘
This Anthology series is a nice way to meet 'new to me' authors and enjoy shorter stories from a few favorite authors too. -
Forgotten Kisses by Cindy Roland Anderson
When the male lead playing Sir Lancelot is fired, his costume designer Madison Taylor, couldn’t be more thrilled until she hears who his replacement is. Caleb Matthews, aka her ex-fiance is stepping in to take the roll and Madison isn’t too excited to be working closely with the man that she lost her heart to. Trying to pay the bills while helping her sister who is a single mom and her baby niece, Madison doesn’t have an option but to work alongside Caleb with a smile on her face. It doesn’t take long for Madison to realize that the feelings that she had put away a long time ago for him, are coming back and she finds herself falling in love with him all over again.
The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon
Meredith and her husband Eric are just days away from signing the divorce papers, but Meredith doesn’t want to ruin Christmas for her grown children. Meredith wants Eric to pretend that nothing is wrong while they are in town and asks him to play along. Eric is heartbroken and during a night of confessions Meredith and Eric find out what they both need to do to make their marriage work. Eric is bound and determined to show his wife that he’ll do anything to win her back.
Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon
Jonah Harrison is a wounded war veteran and has been hiding from the world in his parent’s home for the last year while recovering. A high school class mate comes to visit while chasing her love struck dog, and the night turns into a game of truth and dare, tears, and a perfect kiss. Through love and understanding Jonah learns that he can live again and find love.
Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden
Celeste Lagorio and Mike Durham are both single parents and have been next door neighbors for years. Mike has stepped in a few times to help the girls when they needed a father figure. This Christmas, Celeste will be on her own now that her kids have grown and are unable to come home for the holidays. Mike steps in and helps makes Celeste a Christmas to remember.
Christmas Every Day by Heather B. Moore
Monica had dreams, but she had to change her plans when her mother became ill and she needed Monica to care for her. In order to pay the bills, she took up a job at a mom and pop store. While on a date with her extremely temperamental boyfriend, she is trying to explain to him that she is on the verge of buying it from the owners, and he explodes. A stranger steps in and shows her the true way a woman should be treated. Little does she know that the gentleman is the long lost prodigal son of the owners and he may change her plans.
First (and Last) Christmas Date by Jennifer Griffith
Juliet Law and Tag McClintock had the worst luck on their first date back in high school and it ended in a promise that there would be a second date....in ten years. What are the chances that Tag McClintock shows up ten years later with a promise of a date and with only their luck could things go just as bad or even worse. Can Tag and Juliet get past their luck and find love?
This wasn’t my favorite anthology that I’ve read, but the stories are quick and easy reads. Couples are learning to trust again, learning to find love and willing to get through challenges for each other. They are sweet romances that show that there can be happily ever after if you only work for it. These are some of my favorite authors and I did enjoy reading some from new authors that I have been introduced to before.
*I Received a Free ECopy of This Book in Exchange for an Honest Review* -
After reading this anthology, I am so ready for the Hallmark Christmas movies to begin!
Forgotten Kisses - by Cindy Roland Anderson
I think this one was my favorite! Madison Taylor is a costume designer for the lead character on the weekly TV series "Forgotten Camelot." When the guy who plays the lead ends up in jail, he is replaced by the British actor Caleb Matthews - the same Caleb Matthews who Madison was engaged to, and who she vowed to never speak to again. The daughter of an actor who was an expert at deception, Madison has trust issues - especially when it comes to actors. Caleb has his work cut out for him to convince her that he is nothing like her father. I thought the secondary characters were well-developed for a novella.
The Last Christmas - by Annette Lyon
Meredith and Eric are two weeks away from being divorced... They are playing the part of a happy couple for one more Christmas before telling their grown daughters that they are divorcing. Sweet Christmas story.
Truth or Dare - by Julie Coulter Bellon
Jonah comes home from Afghanistan with a prosthetic foot and feels like he will never be happy again. Cami, his best friend from his childhood has her own reasons to grieve. One fateful night their two dogs bring them together and once they have a chance to reconnect, they discover they may also have a chance at happiness.
Holiday Bucket List - by Sarah Eden
The widow Celeste has spent the last two decades raising three children as a single mother. This is her first Christmas alone, and her neighbor, the handsome widower Mike (who has been in love with her for 7 years) is determined to help her have the best Christmas ever.
Christmas Every Day - by Heather Moore
Monica is about to buy the Christmas Around the World Store from the Ungritches, who are like second parents to her. Their estranged son, Jaxon, comes home for Christmas and is hoping to get a fresh start running the store for them. Jaxon and Monica can't deny their attraction for each other, but she has a difficult ex-boyfriend to deal with, and if she buys the store then he is without a job.
First (and Last) Christmas Date - by Jennifer Griffith
Juliet and Tag had the worst first date ever 10 years ago. Tag has been working on the East coast and has returned home... Ten years later he is hoping to have the perfect second date with Juliet to get a second chance with her. But everything seems to be going wrong on the second date, too.
Content: Clean
Source: Review copy (opinion is 100% my own) -
~MY REVIEW~
As is the case with most of the Timeless Romance Anthologies, I enjoyed the clean romantic love stories in these 6 novellas. And as a bonus, they all include kisses under the mistletoe! So romantic! :D I enjoyed the 4 middle novellas the most.
The Last Christmas by Annette Lyon is a touching story about a marriage on the verge of divorce and how finally communicating with each other brings about a change that just might bring about a Christmas miracle!
Truth or Dare by Julie Coulter Bellon is a lovely heartwarming story about a wounded war veteran who comes home for Christmas. When a blizzard strands a girl from his past, he slowly opens up to her and finds she has some hurts also. I loved how the interaction between the two played out in this one!
Holiday Bucket List by Sarah M. Eden is a delightful story about an empty-nester, single mother who decides she's taking a break from Christmas. But her single neighbor and almost-best-friend decides that it's about time he seriously pursues this woman he's loved for years. With a little bit of family drama thrown in, this novella was a great Christmas read.
Christmas Every Day by Heather B. Moore is a romantic story about a young woman who is determined to follow her heart and buy her dream store - a year round Christmas store! After ending an up and down relationship with her boyfriend, who publicly humiliated her, she meets the son of the current store owners. Can their unexpected paring in Mr. & Mrs. Claus roles bring about a healing Christmas romance for both of them? A sweet story!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.* -
FORGOTTEN KISSES
I liked this one. It was fluffier than average but still very sweet. I liked that there wasn’t much drama and everyone acts the way you want them to without screaming at the book. That’s no fun.
Why are they always British?? It’s never some great guy from Finland, or something. Ah well.
THE LAST CHRISTMAS
This one was great. Not all love stories are young love stories or new love stories. The only thing I hated about the whole thing was the girls both getting engaged on the same holiday. Come on now, girls. There are sisterly rules here.
TRUTH OR DARE
This story had relatively few characters and wasn’t complicated but dealt with some pretty heavy stuff. I really liked it though. There is no such thing as a magic pill to make things go away but you see progression and depth in these characters. Great story.
HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST
This is a sweet story. Also, another that isn’t about young love and I love that. Sometimes when you come to the table with some life experience, it makes the connection a lot stronger.
CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY
I think this one was my favorite. For a short story, the characters grew on me really fast. When they were first introduced to us, I kept thinking, really?? But I really liked them. A lot of integrity and real life experience. Very likable.
FIRST (AND LAST) CHRISTMAS
This one was SUPER cheesy, but for some reason, I couldn’t stop reading it. I’m not even quite sure how to describe it. It was fun and silly and worth the read. -
I love these anthologies! Under the Mistletoe definitely got me into the holiday spirit! I really loved all of the stories. They were sweet, and funny in turn, and pulled at my heartstrings.
Last Christmas by Annette Lyon was particularly tender. After years of feeling like her needs are not being met, Medith has filed for divorce. She just wants to have one more happy Christmas with their grown daughters first. Eric hadn't realized that Merideth was unhappy, but now he has one more chance to get things right, and show her how loved she really is.
It's been less than a month, and already want to reread this. I think it's settling in with my other annual favorites:
Christmas in Snow Valley
Christmas Kisses
Let It Snow -
So this collection of stories was double the awesomeness for this reader! I love these anthologies and I love Christmas, so I was so excited to read these short stories! I really loved the diversity in the stories; no two were the same, all were unique. I especially loved that they were not your typical romance, they had characters with distinct circumstances, whether they were a single parent, a returned war vet or high school crushes gone wrong. Each one put me in the Christmas spirit and had me itching to break out my hot cocoa! Honestly this collection is perfect for anytime, but especially for the reader who is busy and doesn't have the time to read a full length novel. Each story is its own wonderful present to be opened! I look forward with anticipation to the next anthology to be released! I received a complimentary copy, this is my honest review.
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Under the Mistletoe is the most recent collection from A Timeless Romance Anthology featuring novellas with Christmas themes by Cindy Roland Anderson, Julie Coulter Bellon, Jennifer Griffith, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden and Heather B. Moore. If you enjoy romance mixed with the anticipation of the holiday season, you will like Under the Mistletoe.
Each author creates a unique plot, with plenty of excitement, twists, and turns. From anticipated love to unexpected love, Under the Mistletoe showcases the romantic plights of six women wishing for something out of the ordinary who unexpectedly find their ordinary lives hold extraordinary surprises. My favorite novellas were Forgotten Kisses and Christmas Every Day.
Under the Mistletoe was a fun read to welcome in the Christmas season. Heather B. Moore gave me a complimentary copy of Under the Mistletoe for my candid review.
