Great Scot by Suzanne Enoch 3 stars

“Aye, here we are. A man with a ruined face who tries to imagine perfect buildings, and a lass who enjoys solitude and reading trying to keep track of a busy countess’s social schedule.”

This novella is set in Enoch's series Wild Wicked Highlanders, three highland brothers go to London and wind up finding wives. If you've read that series, you'll recognize Jane, the cousin and former companion to one of the new wives who ended up being thrown out by her aunt because Jane helped her cousin elope with one of the highlander brothers. Jane was welcomed in by the highlander's mother and works as her companion now, even though she's aware it's more of charity than actual necessity.

I felt this novella was the least rushed, in terms of storytelling and romance, but as this was set in an already established world and one I'm familiar with, the author could play off that established knowledge and reader developed feelings. Jane was a sweet character who at 33 years old felt on the shelf and lost a bit in where she belongs in the world. As the family is spending the holidays at Aldriss Park in Scotland, we get some great seasonal reading, chilly and snowy scenes and a highlander cousin for Jane.

Brennan Andrews is a cousin to the MacTaggert brothers, an architect, and a widower. He lost his wife seven years ago and in a town where everyone knew her, no one wants to insult her memory by developing a romance with him. Coll, the oldest MacTaggert, wants him to build a house for him and his new wife and while searching for papers in the library he meets Jane. They're both a little shy and bumbling, Jane is used to staying to the corners and with so many years removed from when he had to romance anyone, Brennan is out of practice and wary because of the patch he wears over one eye due to losing it in a riding accident. The location brings the snowy atmosphere and Jane and Brennan provide the gentle, loving feels.


Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey 3 stars

Their breaths mingled in the freezing air. Their eyes searched.

Isabelle Reed's family has run the Inn ever since her Viscount ancestor decided to turn one of their home's into a profit inn. Her and her mother have been trying to keep it afloat since her father died and her mother's uncle passed away and the new viscount has cut their allowance. This Christmastime, they are having the Duke of Notsgrove stay and they hope the income of his stay will keep them afloat a little longer. Isabelle has lived her whole life in Dewberry Hollow and can't imagine living anywhere else. She teaches some classes to town's children in exchange for goods to help fill out their meager income. When Isabelle is out hunting, she accidentally shoots a man in the arm, she already feels awful but when she discovers it is the guard of the Duke of Notsgrove's grandson, she is scared she might have jeopardized the inn's income.

While not the heir, John Gatestone still has a close, loving relationship with his cantankerous duke grandfather. His grandfather has been failing lately and the family fears he won't have much longer to live. When his grandfather insists that he must visit the tree he carved his and his late wife's initials in before he dies, John volunteers to take him and promises the family he will have his grandfather back by Christmas dinner. When his guard gets grazed in the arm by a shot, John finds himself drawn to the shooter, Isabelle.

This was snowy and sweet novella that had some quick feeling falling in love. Isabelle has been burnt before by a man her mother loved and Isabelle dearly wanted as a stepfather who promised to return and never did. John has never felt the importance of marrying as he's not the heir. There wasn't too much angsty drama keeping these two apart, John comes up with a deal that he won't tell anyone Isabelle accidentally shot his guard if she helps him look for his grandfather's tree and that plot gives us some scenes of the two together and to help show the attraction between the two.

I thought their love felt quick and I'm not sure I completely bought into the ending in regards to John's decision to upend his life but, like I said, this had sweet vibe and definite winter seasonal atmosphere. It works as a middle story in the anthology to anchor it but also keep up the short burst of romance bargain.


My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett 2.5 stars

Miss Eva Tiding’s hands were surprisingly steady, considering she was on the doorstep of London’s most disreputable rogue. And on the brink of committing a felony.

This one probably had the most story meat to it, Eva sets out to steal a watch that her late mother gave her father and he has now lost in a poker wager. Her father is despondent without it and I kept getting tripped up that he would wager the watch if it meant so much to him. Anyway, she breaks into the Earl of Frostbough's home to steal the watch back and gets caught by him. They do have some fun back and forth, not quite reaching the sizzle of heated by play but the Earl, Jack, says he will not give the watch back for any price. We get some backstory that Eva's late mother was actually to be engaged to Jack's father but she ended up eloping with Eva's eventual father. This left Jack's father hurt and angry and made growing up with him miserable for Jack. He blames Eva's father for this misery.

However, even with this lifetime grudge, Jack thinks of how he has lied to his grandmother that he is in a courtship with a lady, to get her not to worry about him but then she sends him a letter telling him she is going to visit so she can meet the lady. Jack proposes a deal with Eva, if she goes along with the ruse that she is the lady he is in a courtship with and attends three societal functions with him, he will give her the watch back. There's a striptease and then a kiss to see if they can pull off pretending to be courting and this all has Eva scared her heart could be at risk, so she lies to Jack that she could never pretend and refuses the deal. His feelings are hurt but when Eva learns her father is trying to set her up with a marquess, she decides to accept Jack's proposal to keep her own father off her back.

There was just too much in this story that felt off balance to me, the backstory, the setup between Eva and Jack, and Eva deciding that they would act broken up in public but be sleeping with each other behind closed doors later in the story. This was the steamiest of the three reads and while I initially enjoyed the back and forth between these two, it didn't sustain it's chemistry, coming off forced. Jack was pretty much all in and pining (I didn't witness any of the coldhearted/mean reputation he was supposedly known for) for Eva while she is a little more cold shoulder, to wanting him, and then thinking he was playing her for revenge against her father (it doesn't really make sense why she would suddenly think this).

This had more of the snowy atmosphere, a houseparty, and mistletoe to tie it into the holiday collection. While this had more meat to it's story, it felt off balance with it's components not always fitting together right for me.

Loved, loved, loved this collection of historical romance stories that take place around the month leading up to Christmastide.

In Great Scot, Miss Jane Bansil has come to terms with the fact that she will never have a fairy-tale romance or be anyone other than someone that should blend into the background/her surroundings. When she finds herself as a companion to an older woman and is in Scotland for the time leading up to Hogmanay. She is introduced to a local architect and their seems to be a connection. Normally Jane is awkward and tongue-tied around members of the opposite sex; with Brennan Andrews, she is comfortable.

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow finds us meeting Isabelle Reed and Mr. John "Gate" Gatestone. Isabelle and her mother own and run the Inn at Dewberry Hollow. Isabelle and Gate meet by chance when she accidentally shot one of his guards while hunting a buck. When Isabelle finds out that Gate is the grandson to the Duke of Notsgrave; she knows not to get attached to anyone that is staying at the Inn, as that way leads heartache.

My Mistletoe Beau has 2 people butting heads and maybe falling in love in the process. When Eva Tidings breaks into the apartment of the Earl of Frostbough to retrieve her father's pocket watch; that she feels was swindled from him in a game of chance; she gets caught by the Earl. During the course of events they strike a bargain. Eva will get the watch back in time to return it to her father by Christmas and in exchange she'll pretend to be courting with Jack, the Earl of Frostbough while his grandmother is in town for the Christmas season. Perhaps, animosity and wariness will develop into something more romantic?

Seeing how these couples all came together in unique ways and decided to be bold and brave in order to go after what their hearts desired was truly heart-warming. After all this, will these 3 couples feel the magic of Christmas and find their happily ever after?

Christmas novellas mark the season for me and this early addition does not disappoint. How could it with such powerhouse writers? Every story was sigh worthy and filled with all good parts of the season and romance!

I enjoyed the 3 stories told in this book. I was definitely left wanting more of each story, the characters and their world draw you in! I did feel that a the pace of the plot was a little rushed and unrealistic, especially in the last story not it was still entertaining!

Admittedly, I didn’t go into this with high expectations, maybe because I had never read from any of these authors before? But I have to say that I ended up REALLY enjoying all three of these novellas. Anna Bennett’s story was my personal fave because I was obsessed with the fake dating and the fun banter/dynamic between Jack and Eva.

Susanne Enoch’s story is a close second for me bc the romance was just so sweet and the hero was a hot scarred widower who wore an eye patch 🔥

I enjoyed Amelia Grey’s story because of the cozy inn vibes and once again we had a really sweet hero, but it wasn’t quite as strong as the other 2 novellas in this IMO.

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

A wonderful collection of Christmas themed novellas written by three extraordinary authors.
Enjoy the class differences story by Suzanne Enoch where a lady's companion who has given up on love meets a dashing architect who's ready to whisk her off her feet.
Settle into your favorite chair with Amelia Grey's story in which an in-keeper's daughter who has no desire to marry and leave her mother behind finds love with a duke's grandson. After accidentally shooting one of his guards with an arrow.
Enjoy a hot cup of cocoa while reading Anna Bennett's romance in which Miss Eva Tiding gets caught breaking into the Earl of Frostbough's home. The bargain that follows leads to a fake romance that soon becomes far more real than either expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories which stood apart and were all beautifully told.

I have been provided with a copy of Kissing Under the Mistletoe from NetGalley for an impartial review. This box set has the following titles Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch, Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey, and My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett. I’ll be updating my review as I finish each title.

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch

Oh my gosh this novella was just so good. I was just drawn in and I didn’t want it to end it was just too short. I just fell in love with this glimpse with these new characters. I can’t wait to read more wonderful stories from this author.

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey

My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett

3.5/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I will start by saying I think these were really cute short stories/ Novellas. I loved the holiday feeling they all provided. They were cozy and cute. I think personally I wanted more from each story. This is completley personal preference as I still enjoyed them. I think it's perfect for the holiday season, if you're looking for something quick, cozy and swoon worthy!

Kissing Under the Mistletoe contains three Christmas-themed romances set in Scotland. Two of the three were fake dating to romance trope and one was just a sweet romance of an older couple who both wanted love and happiness.

The first novella, Great Scot! spinster Jane falls for a Scottish Architect, Brennen. She is in the Highlands as a ladies companion to one of the members of the MacTaggert family. I have only read one of the books in the Wild Wicked Highlanders series, but I recognized the characters which added to my enjoyment. This was a tame romance for an older couple. I enjoyed the slow pace and the decisions made along the way to a Happily Ever After. The setting of the beautiful Scottish Highlands and the Christmas traditions (I learned a lot about the laws surrounding their celebrations at the time this story is set) added to the romantic atmosphere. I also loved that it was books and architecture that brought them together.

The second novella, Christmas at Dewberry Hollow, started out with a bang and held my attention throughout. Isabelle is the daughter of an inn owner and ends up shooting one of the guards protecting Gates, the Duke of Notsgrave, due to mistaken identity. He convinces her that in order to let the shooting go, he needs her help. He wants her to pretend to be his fiancée when his grandfather comes to town. Isabelle is very self-sufficient and independent, and she doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. She has no intention of ever settling down and getting marries. Gates is immediately smitten with her and wants to show her that they are meant for each other. Of course as they get to know one another, this fake relationship becomes a real one.

The third novella, My Mistletoe Beau is another fake relationship story. Miss Eva Tiding wants to cheer her father up by recovering his prized watch he received from her mother/his wife for Christmas. She breaks into the home of Jack, the earl who won the watch in a card game. He catches her and makes her an offer. If she pretends to be his fiancée while his grandmother is in town, he will give her the watch. I really enjoyed the characters in this one. Their banter was enjoyable and there was a lot of sexual tension. I really enjoyed Jack's grandmother as well. As the story progresses there are some scenes with some heat to them.

I really enjoyed this Historical, Christmas, Romance, Anthology. I think it will appeal to readers who like historical romances with great characters, fun witty dialogue and a ton of holiday spirit. This was the perfect book to get me in the mood for Christmas romances.

I loved this collection of Christmas romances! The stories all stand alone, and are not interconnected.

In Enoch's Great Scot, a woman content with a life she considers full of purpose, discovers unexpected love. At the age of thirty three, Jane has given up on finding happiness and accepts a position as the companion of Lady Aldriss.
Brennan Andrews is the brawny Scottish architect hired by the Aldriss family. He is a man disfigured by a terrible accident, who has known great loss and sorrow. He has given up on finding his own love story. Library sketches, and long walks and deep conversations draw them together.

In Grey's Christmas at Dewberry Hollow, a musket accident brings together and an arrogant earl and an independent innkeeper's daughter. Isabelle only wants her family inn to succeed- but bare cupboards and short staff can't be rectified with underpaying customers. John wants to help his grandfather find reminders of happier times. Both hexand Isabel make assumptions that erupt into fiery banter. They are opposites drawn to each other despite their emnity.

In Bennett's Mistletoe Beau, Eva only wants to recover her father's pocketwatch from the libertine earl who now possesses it. He agrees to relinquish the pocketwatch in exchange for a kiss. The kiss becomes an agreement to pose as the current object of the earl's affections. But the feigned attraction develops into much more as they exchange more kisses and outlandish names.

This is the perfect escape for the holiday season.

What a wonderful Box Set with some totally amazing authors. I am a fan of these authors but if you are a beginner in their writing then this would be a good book to start with. This would make a great Christmas Gift.

"Kissing Under the Mistletoe" was an enjoyable collection of Christmas-themed romances involving unlikely couples who were much better suited for each other than they realized or initially wanted to admit. The first story was my favorite, as I identified most with Jane Bansil -- someone who enjoyed spending a quiet evening lost in a book; someone who had reached an age, while certainly not old, where the likelihood of finding a forever partner seemed unlikely; and someone who had to make a bold move to grasp the unexpected opportunity. However, the other two stories were quite good as well. After reading the third story, you will never think of Christmas carols the same way again.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

These stories will put you in the spirit for love. All authors did a great job with their story and characters.
This is a fun book to read.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this book. I loved every moment, the characters were amazing, the falling in love was spot on (even with them being short), and I even got teary eyed. I would definitely buy a copy of this because I could see myself wanting to reread it. I just loved this book, it’s as simple as that.

Three holiday stories. Great Scot by Suzanne Enoch - Jane has had a lonely life, and at thirty-three, she is at a crossroads. Change the trajectory of loneliness and feeling unneeded by stepping out of her comfort zone or remain a companion, always being in the background. She meets a widower, Brennan, and begins to change her life. I was cheering for her! It was obvious there were previous books in the series with the many couples and references to the past but I still enjoyed the story even though I haven’t read any of them yet. Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey - The sweetest of the three. If you like nothing explicit this is for you. In fact, after the love scene, I wondered if I had missed it. Gate brings his dying grandfather to the inn run by Isabelle and her mother to search for the tree his grandparents carved a heart with their initials in many years ago. My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett - Eva breaks into Jack’s apartment to steal back her father’s watch he lost gambling. When Jack catches her they strike a bargain. Eva is bold and funny. Jack’s cold heart doesn’t stand a chance.

Give this anthology a try if you are in the mood for
- Some novella length holiday themed stories
- Average steam – each story has one full scene
- Sweetness and humor mixed together

TL;DR I know I can be long winded – if you don’t want to read all this I enjoyed the Suzanne Enoch but it’s best in order, I thought the Amelia Grey was just all right, but I really, really REALLY loved the Anna Bennett – so so much. It’s the most perfect novella I’ve read in a long time, if not ever. You should at least read that short review, found at the end.

Great Scot by Suzanne Enoch (Book was 1%-29%)
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes

Should I read in order?
This novella is book 3.5 in the Wild Wicked Highlanders series. I have read books 2 and 3, but I believe this heroine’s story begins in book 1. I haven’t read it to say how much of Jane’s character is on page or developed, but I did feel like I was missing a touch of back story without having read it. Overall this is okay as a stand alone, if you go in knowing you’ll be meeting an entire family of characters that have been developed over the course of the three prior books. You’ll get much more enjoyment reading that whole series first though!

Basic plot
Jane is traveling with the MacTaggerts and debating where the rest of her life should take her. While celebrating Christmastime in Scotland with the family, she meets a widower architect Brennan.

My thoughts:
This was a pleasant read! Having read books 2 and 3 in the series, it was nice seeing those characters again celebrating the holidays. I found Jane and Brennan to be a lovely couple, a bit unique in that they are quiet people and want to just enjoy nights indoors together. Jane is very introverted and prefers spending time quietly, especially with a book. Brennan has been widowed for 7 years, but the townsfolk still treat him gently as though he’s just lost his wife. He is ready to move on and have someone to share life with. I was left believing these two are perfect for each other, and I’m also curious about Jane’s story and would like to go back and read book 1! This couple is a touch ‘older’ with the heroine being 33, hero is an architect, who begins thinking of designing a library for the sweet heroine almost immediately upon meeting her.

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey (Book was 30% - 63%)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit

Should I read in order?
I’m thinking this one is not a part of a series? If it is, it would make a great stand alone novella – the focus is solely on the main couple.

Basic plot
Isabelle runs the inn of Dewberry Hollow with her mother. Her mother has long chided her about hunting, shooting guns, and being more ‘ladylike’. Gate is a man that doesn’t mind any of those characteristics when he comes to visit the inn for Christmas with his grandfather, the duke. The duke has come in search of the lovers heart he carved on a tree there decades ago with his wife, now passed.

My thoughts:
This one was all right. I did like the plot of finding a long lost lover’s heart of his grandfather. That was very sweet. But I think here it was the hero just didn’t do it for me. He pursued the heroine, acknowledges she would be put in an awkward position with him, but continues to pressure because in his case he’s offering no promises. So he came off as a bit of a jerk in that he is okay with ruining the heroine, as long as she knows she’s going to be ruined. (view spoiler) There was a bit of instalust here – they were drawn to each other but didn’t know why. Still, I enjoyed a lot of Grey’s writing and I just adore her kisses. Love them so so much. But when it comes to the sex she definitely loses almost all explicitness and it’s flowery prose. This works for many, so that is fine, I think it was just after the kisses build up and how wonderful they were I was expecting more details? Overall a cute story though, even if I had bit of character disconnect.

My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett (Book is from 64% - 98%)
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes!

Should I read in order?
Again, not sure if this is a part of a series. I think we might have a brief appearance of the the hero of an upcoming book for her (the hero’s friend in this book) in her Rogues to Lovers series. But it was totally fine as a stand alone novella.

Basic plot
Jack Hardwick (Earl of Frostbough) is getting his revenge on Eva Tiding’s father. His most recently success, was winning a sentimental pocket watch during a game of cards. Eva decides to break into his home to steal it back as a Christmas present to her father.

My thoughts:
Gosh I just LOVED this story. So, so much. I think it’s quite hard to pull off a novella that feels complete, full, and a believable romance. And this was it for me. I just adored it from the very beginning when Eva is breaking into Jack’s home. The tension builds, the characters came to life – it was wonderful.

This story had so much heart and humor. I was reading this while trying to walk on the treadmill and I was giggling so much falling off was a real threat. The tension is built over time and with all my favorite type of scenes – the slow build of wanting with little barely there touches. One of the first interactions between our hero and heroine is where the hero basically performs a strip tease to call the heroine’s bluff and get to leave – while she’s sings badly tuned Christmas carols. It’s just perfect.

It has a lot of my favorite things in romance – a dark and misunderstood hero. A hero that wants revenge but sees the error of this ways and repents to the heroine. A fake relationship. A spunky older lady that the hero has a soft spot for (his grandmother). Sex that is a perfect mix of feelings and emotions and what body parts are going where explicitness. I just really, really loved this novella. And I have only read one other Anna Bennett, and I quite loved that one too. So obviously I need to go stalk her book list. Right now! :P The only way this book could have been better for me is if it was a full novel and I got more Eva and Jack time.

I really enjoyed reading all 3 of theses holiday novella’s! All were stand-alone’s and oh so swoon worthy! Each story gave me all the Christmas warm and cozy vibes while giving me my romance fix! I highly recommend reading this book!

I enjoyed this Christmas novella collection! Thank you for the opportunity to read Kissing Under the Mistletoe. A great collection of Christmas romances!

I really do enjoy historical romance books. I loved that this was three short stories in one. Even though they were short you got enough in them to love them. I do have to admit my favorite was the last and would love to see what others think.

Kissing Under the Mistletoe is a beautifully festive romance collection of three heart-warming historical romances which will make you feel all the love and hope for the festive season - plus make you start searching for your own kiss under the Mistletoe ;-).
I have been reading Suzanne Enoch's books for years now, I have always loved her delightfully sexy and adorable romances, so when I saw that she had written a short novella type story as a part of this collection I was super excited.
I have to say that my overall favourite of the three stories has to be Great Scott, I've not read any of Amelia Grey's work before and have only ever read one of Anna Bennett's books. I enjoyed the other two stories but personally I thought that they did lack something, but not enough the put me off this book and definitely one to read to get into the mood for the festive season to come.
This collection isn't perfect but it's still very enjoyable.