I have loved everything that I have read from Covenant Communications and these novelas were so fun! Christmas novels are always enjoyable and I was super excited to read this collection because it had some of my favorite authors. Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough is a collection of Christmast novellas by Josi S Kilpack, Anneka R Walker, and Sarah L McConkie. I have read books by Josi S Kilpack and Anneka R Walker before, but this is the first book that I have read by Sarah L McConkie.
The first novella was Meet Me under the Kissing Bough by Josi S Kilpack. This was a lovely story about finding love after loss. Deborah Winfrey was learning to love again after the death of her husband. This was super cute and I loved reading about Deborah falling in love again. She loved her family and she wanted to be happy but she also wanted to make sure that her family was provided for.
The Second novella was Healing Hearts for the Holidays by Anneka R Walker. This was also amazing! I adored this story about Julia and Esmond as they tried to heal their families' broken relationships. They fell in love unintentionally but they were so cute together and fun to read about. Their conversations were a lot of fun and it was sweet to read about them coming together to help their siblings.
The third novella was A Christmas Correspondence by Sarah L McConkie. This novella was a lot of fun because it was a reimagining of The Christmas Carol. It was a new way of looking at the Christmas Carol and I loved it! The characters were awesome and I found myself cheering for them. Especially the hero of the story, John Charleston. The romance was sweet and it was lovely to read about Caroline changing and growing.
All of these novellas were lovely books. I enjoyed them all immensely and I don’t know if I could pick a favorite, they were all that good. Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough was a sweet book with lovely characters and interesting stories. I would totally recommend this collection of novellas. And I am excited to see what else these authors write!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

This is a great anthology of Christmas love stories. The stories are well written and the characters are well thought out. I lived each of the stories and fell in love with each of the men as they won their women.

Three excellent historical tales set at Christmas in England.

I enjoyed all the traditions and house parties and family gatherings with a cast full of characters that made the stories interesting and varied.
I had a hard time picking a favorite, as I liked each one for different reasons, but if I had to, I'd say the last one on account of the main character's growth. Excellently done.

I highly recommend these to put you in a Christmas mood.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

These short stories were fascinating. I thought I would be hoping for more, but it was written exactly as how it was meant to be. The stories were also unique. The first story by Josi S. Kilpack was especially my favorite. I’m not a fan of love ‘triangles,’ but this was honestly not annoying; it was written perfectly. I also like how all these stories talk about moving forward, forgiveness, and the change of heart. I definitely recommend this book. It’s a 4/5 for me.

Thank you to Covenant Communications for allowing me to give an honest review of this arc. Got this from Netgalley. :)

I enjoyed this collection of novellas. Who doesn't love stories that are set during Christmas?!? I enjoyed the common thread of a kissing bough that was throughout all three novellas. I have experience with works written by Josi Kilpack and Anneka Walker, but I have never read anything by Sarah McConkie and I enjoyed getting to experience her writing style. I will be looking former of her works to read in the future. Reading stories set during the Holiday season always gets me excited for the upcoming season and gets me in the Christmas mood. I cannot wait to read more by all of these wonderful authors!

First up, is Meet me Under the Kissing Booth by Josi S. Kilpack. Widow Deborah Winfrey had a happy first marriage. Her mourning period is over, and she feels ready to find companionship in the form of her late husband's best friend, Mr. Phillip Dempsey. However, her mother has a much different suitor in mind. The author did a lovely job with these characters. I liked that they'd known each other for years and had many interactions, so their attraction had a firm foundation to be built on. Deborah simply had to decide what she wanted. Fun characters with a believable and well-paced plot, made this a five star story for me.

The second novella is healing Hearts for the Holidays by Anneka R. Walker. Julie's sister married to a family their father has a mysterious feud with, and Julie desperately wishes to reunite her family. Esmond Park is smitten with his sister-in-law's sister, and helps in her attempts to reconcile their families. Love blossoms between them, but will the coldness of the past keep them apart? This...was not a favorite;. Attraction at their first meeting is understandable, but after a year apart, it will take more than a handful of meetings for me to believe that turns to love. It did have an interesting side plot regarding their parents that I wish had been the focus of the story. Three stars for this one.

The final tale in our trilogy is the Victorian A Christmas Correspondence by Sarah L. McConkie. Grief made Lady Caroline's father cruel, and now she protects herself from more hurt by looking down on those beneath her station in life. Letters written by her father before he died and delivered by the steward's son break through her cold facade and she must take a hard look at the person she has become. This is a tale that really needed a full novel for it to be believable. Lady Caroline was truly unlikable and a novella length of story was not long enough to believe her change of heart. I still disliked her at the end, and could not have cared less about her happy ending. Mr. Charleston was a fun character, but I felt it impossible to think he fell in love with cold Lady Caroline in the span of a couple weeks. Again, three stars for this one.

Overall, an interesting collection of novellas. No doubt those who enjoy Christmas tales will enjoy this more than I did.

This was such a lovely collection of Christmas regency love stories! This collection had all the things I enjoy most about regency romance- the proper romance, the tricky rules of society to navigate- and added the beauty of the Christmas season! From a widow who is considering opening her heart again, to a woman navigating attempting to please her family through difficult circumstances, to a woman who grew up learning to keep people at a distance getting an opportunity to realize the true meaning of family and love- this collection of stories reiterates our favorite thing about Christmas- that during this season, anything is possible!

"Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough" was a compilation of delightful short reads that would get you into the holiday spirit. As I've read books by Josi Kilpack and Anneka Walker, Sarah McConki was a new author to this reader. It was nice to sit back and enjoy a few comfy reads. The first and last of the anthologies were very nice, however the second did not have a relatable character to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the first two stories in this anthology but the last story had a horrible character that I could not like at all! I found no redeeming qualities in her and when she suddenly recognized her rude behavior, it was far too contrived. Her tale would have done much better as a full novel so the redemption was realistic.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love these anthologies, it gives me a chance to meet new authors and discover writing styles. This one was no different.

Each of these stories were different, two included a traditional kissing bough. Josi Kilpack's story was sweet about a woman starting over after the death of her husband. You felt real emotions in the characters and what they were going through and the decisions they had to make.
Anneka Walker's story had more of a Hatfield and McCoy take of family issues resolved, and Sarah McConkie's felt a bit like a Christmas Carol.

Overall they gave the vibe of Christmas at its best.

Three superb stories that will make you long for Christmas
This book contains three wonderful stories of love sometimes in unexpected places and events.
The first is Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough and is filled with wonderful characters trying to find their way through life. Deborah is a widow and has not entertained since her husband’s death but she now has decided to host a house party for Christmas. Among those invited is Phillip Dempsey a good friend of her husband before his death and a true friend since then. Phillip, a widower himself, checked on Deborah regularly bringing his own sons who joined with Deborah’s in mischief. Now Deborah is beginning to look for new beginnings but what happens when her mother rejects Phillip outright? How important is social standing? How important is love?
The second, Healing Hearts for the Holidays. Julia is forbidden to interact with the people living in the manor house even if one is her sister, Ivy. Ivy is expecting and doing very poorly. Julia is her only solace as she sneaks in and out of both her house and the manor house. Esmond, Ivy’s brother-in-law, catches Julia but only to help her escape. As the visits continue secrets of what has caused the estrangement between the two families come to light. Can the pull of family and the revealing of secrets help all heal from their wounds?
The third is Christmas correspondence and is a new twist on a Christmas Carol. John Charleston has been tasked by his father to carry a letter to Lady Caroline Morleigh. With the death of Caroline’s father and the death of John’s father, the delivery had been delayed but still was required. When John approaches Caroline with his humble appearance she wants to quickly dismiss him but her father’s letter requires they continue on together. Over the course of their travels with her aunt as chaperone, the past reviewed and the present evaluated. Where will the Christmas season fine them? I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

I loved all three stories in this collection. The Kissing Bough by Josi Kilpack was a story about courage to make your own decisions and follow your heart. Healing Hearts for the Holidays was my favorite. I like that it had characters in it front a previous novella. Julia is so kind and caring and Esmond treats her so well. This is a story of forgiveness. A Christmas Correspondence is a Christmas Carol type story. I love John and his sisters. I really enjoyed these stories and highly recommend this book.

I love Regency anthologies, and they’re even better when they center around Christmas! There is something so alluring about cozying up with a blanket and hot chocolate in front of the fire to read a collection of Regency Christmas love stories. Each story in this book was sweet and heart-warming. This one is definitely going on the list of annual Christmas reads for me!

I was generously provided a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher Covenant Communications in exchange for an honest review.

"Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough" is a charming trio of Christmas novellas by talented authors Josi Kilpack, Anneka Walker, and Sarah McConkie.

Josi Kilpack's contribution, for which the book is named, features older characters, one with a meddling mother. As always, Kilpack's prose is beautiful and her characters are compelling. The historical celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas is fascinating, and the kissing bough is sweet.

"Healing Hearts for the Holidays" by Anneka Walker is a delightful tale of misunderstood enemies burying the hatchet after many years. The love story between Julie and Esmond is heartwarming, and one wonders how they'll get their deserved HEA. Walker's writing style is fluid and characters are well-developed.

In a nod to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", the heroine of Sarah McConkie's " A Christmas Correspondence" learns that money does not buy happiness. Dickens' timeless morality tale is re-imagined wonderfully by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an ARC of this engaging collection.

I enjoyed reading this collection of Christmas themed stories. Each one was different from the others.

Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough by Josi S. Kilpack
As much as this was a romance, it was about a woman learning to listen to her own heart/feelings instead of always following her mother's counsel. And thank heavens she did. She chose much better for herself than her mother did for her. The story was a little different in that it was a woman finding love again after losing a beloved husband as opposed to finding her first love.

Healing Hearts for the Holidays by Anneka R Walker
This story was also about listening to your own heart instead of a parent. I can't imagine being forbidden to see my sister. She is placed in a difficult situation as she wants to keep the peace within her family but needs to defy her father's edicts. The romance is sweet and atypical. No ballrooms or visits over a teacup.

A Christmas Correspondence by Sarah L. McConkie
This romance gives an obvious nod to A Christmas Carol. Caroline is really a horrible person. Cruel, in fact. She undergoes a huge transformation from a Scrooge attitude to a caring and loving person. The story shows the difference people make in other's lives. Her father's influence in her youth had a negative effect on her making her the cruel person she is at the beginning of the story. John's patience and her father's repentant letters show her how to find love in her heart again. Not just romantic love but love for everyone.

All the stories are well written and fleshed out. None of them felt like they were too short to tell the story well, despite being novella length. A very enjoyable read.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: an unwanted kiss

This was such an amazing collection of romance stories! Just the right length to be enjoyable and get your happy ending that much quicker ❤️ Loved it!!



I just reviewed Meet Me Under the Kissing Bough by Josi S. Kilpack, Anneka R. Walker, Sarah L. McConkie. #MeetMeUndertheKissingBough #NetGalley