Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

My mom loves this author so she has me buy them for her, she loved it.

This was an amazing anthology! I had read the previous outing of Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner, Many Bloody Returns and liked it. While Many Bloody Returns had the premise that all the stories were about vampires and birthdays, this one is about Christmas and werewolves. So I was happy to receive Wolfsbane and Mistletoe. But I had no idea how fabulous these stories would be. Ranging from creepy to funny, to touching and romantic, there is not an average story in the bunch. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Some of the authors I had never read before but I will be looking for them in the future. First up is a Sookie Stackhouse story, Gift Wrap, from Ms. Harris. What a joy to read just a little tale about Sookie's Christmas that will hold me till a new book comes out sometime next year. Next up was The Haire of the Beast by Donna Andrews. This is one author that I will be looking for her backlist as I was very tickled by this tale. Ooops, no pun intended. Simon R. Green gifted us with a tale from his Nightside world; Lucy at Christmas. While I have been intimidated by his backlist, this story made me think that it will be worth the effort. Haunting is the best word to sum up this shortest of the stories. The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron was an interesting tale with a well thought out world. Ms. Cameron gave us an intriguing tale with a great hero. I will be looking for more from this author as well. One of my favorite authors, Kat Richardson, wrote The Werewolf Before Christmas. I had high expectations and she didn't disappoint! This was a funny, creepy, delightful tale that had me glued to my seat. Fresh Meat by Alan Gordon was a delightful surprise. I didn't know where the story was going but I loved every minute of it. I hope his other work is as good! Il Est Ne' by Carrie Vaughn was one I didn't look forward to reading since I don't read her Kitty series, which this story takes place in. But I was pleased that I could easily step into her world and follow this hopeful story. Dana Stabenow is a well-known, award winning writer and boy, did it show in The Perfect Gift. This had a tight plot and compelling characters. Christmas Past by Keri Arthur was a cute and romantic read. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Brodie and Hannah. Then we come to one of my favorite stories; SA by J.A. Konrath. This was hysterical! I was laughing so much that my husband commented on it. I have already ordered the first book in his mystery series! Then we come to Patricia Briggs' The Star of David; another of my favorites. This was fabulous, giving us a closer look at a minor character from her Mercy Thompson series. You'd Better Not Pyout by Nancy Pickard was very amusing. I enjoyed this one; very unique. Karen Chance brings Rogue Elements to the table. This is the second short story by Ms. Chance that I have read. It is also one I enjoyed. I really need to read her series since I like her short stories so well. I real

I was looking for a good book to curl up in bed with on Christmas Eve, to read by the light of my small Christmas tree, and what could be better for a fantasy fan than a holiday-themed werewolf anthology, especially when one factors in some of the lore surrounding weres and Christmas (ie. a person born on Christmas eve or Christmas day may become a werewolf). Like any good Christmas bag of goodies, this is a mix of all kinds of stories: heart-warming, clever, horrific, and amusing -- "Gift Wrap" -- Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse was expecting a blue Christmas, until an injured werewolf turns up on her land. "The Haire of the Beast" -- A meddler in magic gets himself into a hairy situation despite his sister's warnings -- probably the first story I've ever seen featuring ...a were-lhasa apso (You read that right!) "Lucy at Christmastime" -- As other denizens of Simon Green's Nightside gather in a local bar, an aging werewolf meets with a lost love. "The Night Things Changed" -- A werewolf and a vampire have a hair-raising holiday taking down a werewolf gone bad that's now rampaging in spooky Salem, Massachusetts. "The Werewolf Before Christmas" -- Just how can a naughty werewolf get back on St. Nick's good list after he's gobbled up Rudolf? "Fresh Meat" -- A guardian dog trainer's unlikely pack rescues their Alpha when a werewolf hunter threatens to spoil their festivities. "Il Est Ne" -- Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville helps a recently-turned werewolf find his way home for the holidays. "The Perfect Gift" -- A detective, born the seventh son of a seventh son, discovers a whole new kind of family while investigating a string of savage murders. "Christmas Past" -- A psychic rekindles the flames with her werewolf ex-boyfriend while they hunt a vampire bent on wrecking the holidays. "SA" -- After finding out what's the real cause of his nocturnal blackouts, a young hotshot helps a band of shapeshifters fend off a psychotic gang of hunters in Santa suits. "The Star of David" -- In this offering by Patricia Briggs, an older werewolf rebuilds bridges with his daughter and helps her protect the troubled young man in her care. "You'd Better Not Pyout" -- Two gadabout vampires and a werewolf turned wildlife defender discover just why Santa wears a red suit... "Rogue Elements" -- A mage with were ancestry hunts for a kidnapper targeting young female shapeshifters during the holidays. "Milk and Cookies" -- This shivery gem by Rob Thurman, author of the Cal Leandros series, is so subtle, I don't dare give it away. Think "A Christmas Story" with fangs and fur... "Keeping Watch over their Flock" -- A recently turned misfit were finds his place in his pack after helping protect the most important gift of Christmas...

A collection of Christmas tales with werewolves as central characters? Count me in. I'm a self-proclaimed Halloween freak. I look forward to it all year. But there's just something appealing about the idea of werewolves and Christmas stirred together. What's next from the clever editors though? They've done vampires and birthdays and now werewolves and Christmas... maybe witches and Valentine's or ghosts and graduations? Whatever Harris and Kelner come up with let's hope they can find authors with contributions as good as most of these turned out to be! But let me break each short story down for you individually: [GIFT WRAP] by Charlaine Harris, A Sookie Stackhouse tie-in this short story must take place pretty deep into the series. On the outs with her brother and just having met her great-grandfather she's spending her holiday alone until a hunky injured werewolf pops up on her property. Though rather short and a little anticlimatic it has a cute twist very suitable to Christmas surprises. (I'd also like to note that if you've not read the series and are currently watching True Blood it is a bit spoilery). 4/5 stars [THE HAIRE OF THE BEAST] by Donna Andrews, When a brother's Christmas wish to become a werewolf gets his sister to translate a magical werewolf spell things get a little hairy. This one surprised me. I didn't really like it at first but I couldn't help but appreciate the hilarious ending. 4/5 stars [LUCY, AT CHRISTMAS TIME] by Simon R. Green, A Nightside tale of love lost. Most likely the shortest in the book and actually one of my favorites. Highly romantic but tragic. 5/5 stars [THE NIGHT THINGS CHANGED] by Dana Cameron, Claudia and Gerry are Fangborn, a vampire sister and a werewolf brother. It's their job to protect the world from bad guys but what if one of them turns out to be a fellow Fangborn? This story was okay but didn't really feel like a Christmas tale. It felt like it belonged in a full length novel. 3/5 stars [THE WEREWOLF BEFORE CHRISTMAS] by Kat Richardson, Matt's been a bad little werewolf and eaten a certain red-nosed member of Santa's team. Where will Santa find a new guide for his sleigh on such short notice? This story has every great element I could have asked for and was the PERFECT story for this anthology. I LOVED it! 5/5 stars [FRESH MEAT] by Alan Gordan, Sam Lehrmann trains guard dogs but this Christmas Eve he may need some guarding himself. This one will definitely appeal to dog lovers! It was an enjoyable short story that could have happened any time of year but was better for being set at the holiday. 4/5 stars [IL EST NÉ] by Carrie Vaughn, A Kitty Norville story set before Kitty Takes a Holiday. Spending her Christmas at a Waffle House, Kitty meets a newly turned werewolf with no pack of his own and no idea how to control what he has become. This one really dissappointed me as a Kitty fan. It felt kind of forced and no one questioned she and David's odd behavior considering there was a murdere

A fun collection of short stories with only 2 common elements: werewolves and Christmas. Even though they all have those 2 things in common, the stories are really varied in tone and subject, from the humorous (J. A. Konrath's SA about a support group for shapechangers facing an ancient yuletide enemy) to the haunted (Simon R. Green's Lucy, at Christmastime.) This is a great sampler of mystery and urban fantasy authors. I couldn't find a complete listing of all the contributors online, so here goes: Donna Andrews Keri Arthur Patricia Briggs Dana Cameron Karen Chance Alan Gordon Simon R. Green Charlaine Harris Toni L. P. Kelner J. A. Konrath Nancy Pickard Kat Richardson Dana Stabenow Rob Thurman Carrie Vaughn