Audiobook Review: Mistletoe Christmas - An Anthology

Author: Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, Erica Ridley

Narrator: Susan Duerden

Title: Mistletoe Christmas - An Anthology

Genre: Historical Romance, Anthologies, Novella, Short Stories, & holiday

Format: Audiobook

Published: September 28th 2021

Where I got It: Audible 

Summary: 

The Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry is famous throughout the British Isles for its plays, dancing, magical grotto… not to mention scandals leading to the marriage licenses he hands out like confetti.

But not everyone welcomes a visit from Cupid.

Lady Cressida, the duke’s daughter, is too busy managing the entertainments—and besides, her own father has called her dowdy. Her cousin, Lady Isabelle Wilkshire, is directing Cinderella and has no interest in marriage. Lady Caroline Whitmore is already (unhappily) married; the fact that she and her estranged husband have to pretend to be together just makes her dread the party all the more.  But not as much as Miss Louisa Harcourt, whose mother bluntly tells her that this is her last chance to escape the horrors of being an old maid.

A house party so large, that mothers lose track of their charges, leads to a delightful, seductive quartet of stories that you will savor for the Season!

Review:

What a set of authors to all get-together! So exciting!

We have four stories here. All four are connected together because of the Duke of Greystoke's Christmas Revery. This Revery is famous throughout the British Isles for its plays, dancing, magical grotto, scandals, and even sometimes love.

 - A Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James

Here we follow Lady Cressida who is the Duke's daughter. Secretly she has been the brains and the planner behind these parties for the last few years. She is nearly and firmly placed on the shelf because she has been told all her life, by her pops, that she is dowdy and unmarriageable. No one sees her until Elias does. I was with Cressida and I struggled to believe Elias sudden interest. They have known each other for years...and now he is all "I LOVE HER". M'kay. BUT he does prove it and earns it. I liked this one a lot. 

- Wishing Under the Mistletoe by Christi Caldwell

Now we have Lady Cressida's cousin, Lady Isabelle Wilkshire. She walked away from the only man she ever loved years previous because they were almost engaged for 3 years and he had been pretty much ignoring her because of his work. WHICH I totally get both sides of the story. I get why she said eff it and leave....she did give him a chance, but she should've just been honest. I get why he was working so hard. He was a nobody who snagged her a rich lady...he wanted to be able to support her and keep her comfy. Years later they are paired together to direct the play. Of course....talking....making up....and finally loving each other again. Loved this second chance romance! 

- Compromise Under the Mistletoe by Janna MacGregor

Next, we have Lady Caroline Whitmore who is unhappily married. The two have to pretend to be happy and in love in order for Caro to get her trust money. So yesss another second chance romance. This one was good too. It was nice seeing them finally open up and talk. They had the lust part down...but the communication was sadly lacking. They didn't know how to be open with each other. His parents were not happy and she was all alone and no one had cared about her. It was so nice seeing them go from pretending to actually loving each other again. I loved how he tried so hard to win her back. Adorable. 

- Mischief & Mistletoe by Erica Ridley

Lastly, we have Miss Louisa Harcourt. This is her last chance to find a match before she is firmly placed on the shelf in the eyes of the ton. Thanks to the gossip columns....she has struggled to find a match. Ewan was what she needed. She can be herself and be happy....but I hated his secret. Hated it. I really feel like he needed to do more for her to forgive him. This was my least favorite, but I still enjoyed it overall. 

Overall

These were all really good. Even my least favorite was still enjoyable. I loved what brought all these people together. What a great idea! I would love to see more stories of love being formed here in the future. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #83 for Audiobook challenge

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Mistletoe Christmas

 

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

Release date: 09-28-21

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance

To review

Mistletoe Christmas by Eloisa James

Poor Cressida, her father was such an asshole! Put her down her entire life so she could not see her worth. At least she knows she is awesome at organizing the yearly party (that her asshole father takes credit for). She stays in the shadows, until someone finally notices her. Awww Elias, he saw beyond everything and the both deserved their happiness

Wishing Under the Mistletoe by Christi CaldwellI

 get why she left him, he was all about work. Gotta make some money to prove everyone he is worthy..though! I sure would have liked to see how on earth a stableboy ended up engaged to a Duke's granddaughter?!

Anyway a nice second chance romance. They talk it through, they see the light

Compromise Under the Mistletoe by Janna MacGregor 

Another second chance romance. Married couple had lots of hawt sex, but never talked (like hello it takes the both of you.) And now they are pretending to be in love, and will obvi finally talk and be happy again.

Mischief & Mistletoe by Erica Ridley

Lady Louisa is a spinster thanks to gossip columns. Now is her last chance, and she is seen for once, but gives her heart to a poet. And awww, xmas times, they fall for each other and well he does have a bad secret. Grrr

All in all sweet and good stories. It sounds like a fun revelry for sure. And at the end I am left thinking, whose original story is it? When will the viscount find love? He needs love too ;)

Good narrator, since it was 4 stories, I never felt lost, I always knew in which story I was even though some characters walked through them all. Nice distinct voices.

The Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry is famous throughout the British Isles for its plays, dancing, magical grotto… not to mention scandals leading to the marriage licenses he hands out like confetti. But not everyone welcomes a visit from Cupid.

Lady Cressida, the duke’s daughter, is too busy managing the entertainments—and besides, her own father has called her dowdy. Her cousin, Lady Isabelle Wilkshire, is directing Cinderella and has no interest in marriage. Lady Caroline Whitmore is already (unhappily) married; the fact that she and her estranged husband have to pretend to be together just makes her dread the party all the more.  But not as much as Miss Louisa Harcourt, whose mother bluntly tells her that this is her last chance to escape the horrors of being an old maid.

A house party so large, that mothers lose track of their charges, leads to a delightful, seductive quartet of stories that you will savor for the Season!

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Series: Wildes of Lindow Castle, Book 4

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 06-25-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance

I got this book in exchange for an honest review

I tried not to picture them too much, I did like that it was 1780s, but the wigs, ugh, the wigs, lol.

Betsy has done her best to put on the persona of the good girl persona, the perfect society girl, the perfect bride to be. All to wash away the stigma of her mother running away with a Prussian (also her sister's book looks to be really interesting as she is blonde and obviously not a Wilde.)

But yes, Betsy is not really the quiet demure one, she is a Wilde, she rides horse standing up shooting arrows. She plays billiard and she wants to wear breeches. But she also wants to show everyone that she can catch a Duke. She is also really scared that showing passion means that she will run away and leave her kids. She carry her mother's shame in her heart.

Jeremy has ptsd from the revolutionary war. He drinks (and not) and tries to continue a normal life.

They banter, a lot! The things they say, wow, this is not regency. They do say the naughtiest things.

One problem I had was that they talk, a lot! Honestly a bit too much, the whole book was these two talking.

I also wanted more of aunt know? I have no idea how to spell that. But she fun! And the brother's books do sound fun, as those her sisters that will come.

I also felt that she should totally have gone for the Duke. Sure he was stuffy, but I think he would have been great. But then she was wild and he was too. So Betsy and Jeremy will surely continue to banter the rest of their lives.

I did want more of the supportive cast cos they sounded fun!

Narrator

She was great with all voices, she really got Betsy's voice right, the perfect blend of demure and wild.

Lady Betsy Wilde’s first season was triumphant by any measure, and a duke has proposed - but before marriage, she longs for one last adventure.

No gentleman would agree to her scandalous plan - but Lord Jeremy Roden is no gentleman. He offers a wager. If she wins a billiards game, he’ll provide the breeches.

If he wins...she is his, for one wild night.

But what happens when Jeremy realizes that one night will never be enough? 

In the most important battle of his life, he’ll have to convince Betsy to say no to the duke.

Blodeuedd Reviews: A Fool Again by Eloisa James

Blurb:

A Fool Again is the story of Genevieve, who once made a dash to Gretna Greene to marry, but

was caught by her father. Now, a few years later, she attends the funeral of her elderly husband

(not the man she ran away to marry) and who does she see but The One Who Got Away! Can

they make their love work this time around or will Genevieve be A Fool Again?






My thoughts:

This one was kind of boring. I thought about giving up, but eh, it was under 80 pages.

Genevieve ran away, was found and was forced to marry an old guy. Then he dies and she meets

that old flame again.

Yawn. She was kind of annoying in a way, yeah did not really like her. Her old flame was better.

He wanted her, he gets her. The end.

Conclusion:

Meh.

ebook, 74 pages

Published April 26th 2011 by HarperCollins e­books

Duchess Quartet #1.5

Historical romance

Freebie