Under the Mistletoe: Avon Books Presents

One of the best Christmas anthologies I have read. Unlike other reviewer, I enjoyed Shannon Drake's story as well as the others. If you like paranormal stories, Rebecca Paisley's story is very different and enchanting. Loved it. In a whole, this book is well worth time spent reading it and if you don't have it, look for it.

From the back cover: At Christmastime, Love blooms Under the Mistletoe "One Little Miracle" by Shannon Drake En route to an unwanted wedding across the sea, a noble French beauty's fervent prayer for a Christmas miracle is answered--when she is abducted by a bold and breathtakingly virile pirate. "Gifts of the Heart" by Judith E. French A distraught Tidewater wife facing the devastating prospect of a Christmas alone is strengthened by romantic remembrances of Yultides past--and by an impossible dream of a family reunited. "Love's Gift" by Sara Orwig The marriage of a sassy, gun-toting tomboy to the handsome reluctant son of a neighboring rancher gets off to a riotously rocky start--until the gifts they exchange at Christmas help to bring about a passionate reconciliation. "One Enchanted Christmas" by Rebecca Paisley During an icy New England Christmas, a lovely and mysterious woman in white enters the lives of an embittered, reclusive widower and his invalid son--and heals them with love...and magic. And my review: Shannon Drake's story was the only one in the book that I didn't like. It started off well, but the whole "I'm going to act like I hate you, yet sleep with you because I just can't help myself" wore very thin. The author showed us reasons as to why we should like the hero, but then were never shown to the heroine. She fell in lust more than in love, so I skipped this one. One star. Judith E. French's story was my favorite of the book. Set in medieval times, it was a lovely story of reuinted love, which I really enjoyed. Though the high-born lady with the peasant has been done a lot, this story did not feel contrived or stale at all. A definite re-read, highly recommended. Five stars. Sara Orwig's story was also very enjoyable. My only complaint was that the author made it just a little too easy for blood enemies to marry. Yes, they married out of convenience (at first), but I felt that their fathers seemed to go along with it just a little too easily to be life-long enemies. Still, once I got past that, this was a very enjoyable story, and one I will probably re-read. Four stars. Rebecca Paisley's story was one with a delightful paranormal twist. If you like stories about enchanted females transforming the lives of embittered men, then you will love this one. And the boy in the story was so sweet it made me smile many times. I liked how refreshingly off-beat the heroine was, even for an etheral creature. Five stars. With only one story not worth reading, this is one of the best Christmas anthologies out there, and I highly recommend trying to get your hands on it. It's a keeper!