Mistletoe Kisses: An Anthology

A Soldier's Tale by Elizabeth Rolls Dominic James Martindale has come home from the war with some disfiguring injuries. Before he left, his betrothed, Lady Hermione Lancelyn-Greene, broke off their engagement but now that he has returned she seems to have set her sights on him again. Recently though, Dominic is becoming more aware of his quiet second cousin Miss Philippa Wintercombe. In A Soldier's Tale Pippa is endearingly lovely, and Dominic is strong and handsome. This is a very romantic and heartwarming story; I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it! A Winter Night's Tale by Deborah Hale Christabel Wilton is struggling to keep her and her son Nicholas warm one December night when Jonathan Frost appears at her doorstep. Christabel is shocked to see Frost after so many years. Frost doesn't intend to stay long, considering what Christabel did to him years ago, but when she nearly faints from fever, he ends up taking her and Nicholas to his home. Frost's intention is to care for her until she can leave but the more time he spends with Christabel the less he wants her to leave. A Winter Night's Tale is a tender story about rediscovering love. Frost is a wonderful man and Christabel is both strong and sweet. Frost's aunt suffers from an odd illness, but A Winter Night's Tale is still a charming story. A Twelfth Night Tale by Diane Gaston Elizabeth Arrington is desperate to find a room for her herself and the young and very pregnant Annie. When they are turned down at an inn, Elizabeth heads to Bolting House. Elizabeth prays the Earl remembers her and that Zachary is not there. Zachary has had too much to drink, so when he answers the door and sees two cloaked women standing there he slams the door on them. When a stable worker informs Zachary that there are screams coming from the stables, Zachary soon realizes his mistake. Elizabeth and Zachary are slowly getting reacquainted but another woman wants Zach. Elizabeth will have to trust Zach if they are to have any future together. A Twelfth Night Tale is a romantic story about rekindling lost love. Zach and Elizabeth are clearly made for each other. The sparks that fly between them whenever they are near each other is proof enough. With its touching ending A Twelfth Night Tale is a lovely, heartwarming story. The spirit of Christmas is blended with three tender romances in Mistletoe Kisses. This lovely anthology will warm your heart and have you believing in the magic of love. Nannette Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A Soldier's Tale by Elizabeth Rolls - Dominic, Viscount Alderley had put off going home as long as he could. He wasn't ready to face his family with the consequences of his injuries received at Waterloo. Wallowing in self-pity his cousin and heir Reverend Alex Martindale had come to escort him home to participate in the holiday celebrations. He wasn't terribly surprised by the shocked and stunned silences his sudden appearance made, but what shocked him more was to see his little cousin Pippa all grown up and looking lovelier and more desirable than he'd ever noticed before. *** This was a very touching and well written story that should bring a smile and a slight mist to most eyes. I loved the characters of both Pippa and Dominic who were both developed beautifully with enough complexity to make them very appealing and endearing. *** Ms. Rolls is a new author for me and whose writing style is very impressive. I will definitely be looking to research this author's back list! A Winter's Night Tale by Deborah Hale - Six years earlier Christabel was a foolish young girl who jilted her staid and dull fiancé Jonathan Frost to elope with the dashing Major Wilton. It was an ill thought plan but gave her the one joy in her now widowed and bleak existence, her son Christopher. Hearing of her reduced circumstances, Jonathan came to pay a call and found her extremely ill but as lovely as he remembered. Bundling her up Jonathan brought Christabel and her son to his home at Candlewood to recuperate. Later Jonathan would extend his hospitality to include the Christmas holidays. It was an opportunity for Christable to see Jonathan through more mature eyes and for both to secretly hope the magic of Christmas time would grant them a second chance at love. *** This was a terrific story that encompassed all the elements of warmth and magic one expects to find during the magical Christmas season. Jonathan was fashioned as more than just a handsome man but one with charm, warmth and honor that the author did an amazing job in creating. Jonathan's loving guardianship and tolerance of caring for his aunt Fanny was beautifully described and added a magnificent layer of compassion to his character that I found to be immensely attractive. It demonstrated for Christabel, more than any of his other kindnesses, what a terrific human being he was. How could anyone NOT fall in love with Jonathan - I know I certainly did! Beautifully done this is an emotional story that will leave you all warm and fuzzy! A Twelfth Night Tale by Diane Gaston - Elizabeth Arrington and Anna, her pregnant charge were desperately trying to reach her parents by Christmas but along the way the stormy weather hampered their progress and to their dismay, there was `no room in the inn'. Knowing she had to find shelter and remembering that the Earl of Bolton's estate was less than three miles away, Elizabeth borrowed a horse hoping they could expect to find hospitality there and

Christmas is the time of year when the days are (sigh) a bit overwhelming and dreadfully hurried. So what's the remedy? Grab a cup of cocoa, drag the lazy-boy chair by the fire, and drift away to wintry Regency England with MISTLETOE KISSES. This seasonal anthology is a great diversion, for all three stories are romantic, touching, and wonderfully joyful. Book 1 - "A Soldier's Tale" by Elizabeth Rolls - He could no longer avoid the inevitability. Dominic Martindale had to go home. His older brother was dead and he was the new Viscount Alderley. It was time to claim the title, start the duties, and show his family the ruthlessness of war. Certainly, his appearance would shock them . . . save for Pippa. Little sensible Pippa was she still at Alderley Hall? If she were, a tiny ray of sunlight would remain in his heart. *** Comments: Elizabeth Rolls delivers a seasonal winner. A SOLDIER'S TALE is a lovely story filled with the warmth, the magic, and the happily-ever-afters every Christmas story needs. Truly, I must hunt down more from this author! Book 2 - "A Winter Night's Tale" by Deborah Hale - Six years ago, Christabel was an utterly foolish young woman! She had chosen another man over the steadfast Jonathan Frost! Now, the shadows of Christmas loomed, for Christabel and her young son did not have much to celebrate. Then Jonathan Frost knocked on her cottage door and a slim flicker of hope took form. Or was Christabel being foolish again . . . was there more to Jonathan's concern than simple generosity? *** Comments: A WINTER NIGHT'S TALE is very sweet and very romantic. The heroine's regret was palpable, the hero's forgiveness was acceptable, and the secondary characters were "capital." Deborah Hale creates two very likeable characters in Jonathan and Christabel and this reader cheered for their continual happiness. Book 3 - "A Twelfth Night Tale" by Diane Gaston - After ten years, Elizabeth Arrington still strived to put Captain Zachary Weston out of her heart. Yet, fate intervened. A second chance is a rare and priceless gift and this time Zachary vowed he would not fail Elizabeth. This time he would be worthy . . . yet could he earn Elizabeth's respect and love? *** Comments: Her fantastic "The Mysterious Miss M" placed me in Diana Gaston's corner some time ago. In A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE Ms. Gaston grants two lovers a second chance. And although, overheard conversations and misinterpreted situations created the notorious "misunderstanding," the criticism remains minor. MaryGrace Meloche.

And I'm so glad it did! In other anthologies I've read, at least one story was weak, but not this one! They are all delightful and worth rereading over and over again. I wanted it first for Diane Gaston's story, since I discovered her writing earlier this year and have collected all her books. Now I've added two new authors to my favorites list! A Soldier's Tale is filled with wonderful characters of depth and personality. There were some enchanting twists and turns. I reread it again as soon as I finished it. A Winter Night's Tale's exploration of second chances and the difficulty of being a caretaker is enchanting and heartwarming. What a delight. A Twelfth Night Tale was the perfect ending to the trio. The pain of regrets and misunderstandings is so gently explored. The courage to accept the future and face the past and still have hope is magical. Brava!!

"Mistletoe Kisses" holds three of the loveliest short stories/novellas I have ever had the pleasure to read. Stories like these, authors as wonderful as these three, make me glad all over again that a few years ago I picked up a historical romance on a whim, and read it... These stories make me feel the same magic I felt then. They are, quite simply, marvelous. Diane Gaston's "A Twelfth Night Tale" is my favorite of the three, although the other two authors run a very close second. Ms. Gaston's characters are drawn in such a realistic way, and with such love, that you can *feel* the genuine affection she has for the people she is writing about. It's an amazing quality. She wants the best for them -- she wants happiness for them -- in a palpable way, and the reader feels it too. It's hard to explain this quality, but that's the best I can do at this moment. I fell in love with them too, and I want the best for them -- with literally every page you are WILLING the hero and heroine to be able to be together... in this case, to be able to love each other again after being apart for 10 years, each blaming himself/herself for what it was that drove them apart. Elizabeth has suffered a great loss in those years which she is afraid to share with Zach -- but I cannot say more on that line without spoiling the plot. Zach has lost so many loved ones of his own, and most of his friends died at Waterloo, while he lived; and he cannot understand why he was allowed to live. We can all relate to how we would feel, in his situation. Gaston brings in a familiar Christmastide theme of "no room at the inn" at the opening moments. but she doesn't hit the reader over the head with it. It's gently done , and the storyline flows from it so naturally that it's a very welcome parallel. I simply LOVED these people -- I loved Zachary and Elizabeth (and Anna, Kirby, and the others!) and I love this story. I've already read it several times, and it is most definitely a KEEPER. It gets inside you and doesn't let go. The other two tales by Elizabeth Rolls and Deborah Hale are also MARVELOUS. There is not a weak story in the trio, as I had assumed there'd be. All three are stories so full of deep, lasting love, and so infused with the graciousness and hope for the future, all set at Christmastide, that the reader is left shaking her(or his) head in wonder. I marvel at the imaginations of the authors and in their ability to get such deep emotion down onto paper, and to communicate that emotion to us. And boy, do they ever! I look forward to more from all three of them. I knew Ms. Gaston's wonderful writing from her previous BEAUTIFUL Regencies ( some written as Diane Perkins) --it's what made me buy this book -- but now I have two more authors whose writing I truly admire, as well. What a wonderful gift to true romantics everywhere!