This was a fun collection of short holiday stories by different authors. I did enjoy each of these reads but the first was my favorite!

𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

This was such a sweet story and the only one in the series that I was wishing was longer! I loved the forced proximity, best friends brother and childhood friends themes that made this such a fun read. I loved that the two characters were snowed in and had to face their reality with on another.

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

This cute story of a single mom who stumbles across a big burly man who is in need of some pants that fit and she just happens to be able to make him the perfect pair. I thought the way they met and the story line was sweet, I enjoyed the desire each character had for each other but the characters and some of the things that occurred made the story a little hard to feel believable.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐲 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐞
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

This was a fun story of two colleagues who are stranded in a blizzard together. I did enjoy this novella overall but unfortunately the miscommunication and rush to wrap all the story cut things a bit short for me. It wasn’t my favorite of the series.

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

I love the overall theme of this story. A damsel in distress and a hot firefighter at her rescue for each instance. I enjoyed the characters connection and chemistry. Many of the stories events that took place and things that happened again were just so far fetched so it was hard to really connect with the story.

𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

This novella was a great way to end this series. I loved that the relationship took place between two neighbors. I also enjoyed the fun between the other neighbors. I found some of the moments that were meant to be funny a bit awkward and landed a bit wrong. But overall this was a sweet holiday read to wrap up this series.

I will update this after I complete each story.

Cruel Winter With You
the setup…
Jamie Malek has returned home to northern Illinois spend Christmas with her father after having completing her pediatric residency in San Francisco. He’s sent her on a mission in the middle of a blizzard to borrow a copper pan from the family home of her childhood best friend (Tabitha) but it’s her younger brother Marc Compton who greets her at the door. He’s a tech billionaire who’s also home for the holidays…the one who got away because <I>she</i> sent him packing and not very nicely. Jamie really wants forgiveness and Marc just wants Jamie.

the heart of the story…
It begins with present day and then backs up to provide all the right context. Talk about the most adorable meet cute! She was 2 1/2 years old when he was born and placed in her toddler arms. It just gets better from there.

the narration…
Vivienne LaRue made this story even more delightful with her voices for Jamie & Marc and her excellent storytelling.

the bottom line…
It’s a short story but the character and story development felt like a novel experience. There was even time for a little spice. This is a great lead off for the collection with plenty of Christmas spirit and romance. Treat yourself to the audio version if you want to elevate the experience even more. 4stars

Evie Crowe is a single mother with an infant son, trying to forge a new life in Texas. She’s working at a thrift store but has a corner for her own designs, hoping to launch her own fledgling business. In walks Luke Ward, a physically imposing man with a shy, quiet nature. He’s a farmer who struggles to find jeans that fit. She’s secretly attracted to him but isn’t interested in a relationship; he’s looking for much, much more.

the heart of the story…
It’s almost Christmas Eve and these two lonely people are destined to be together. I liked the promise of Evie and Luke who’s obviously a good man and was looking forward to a sweet romance. But it turns hot and steamy in a nanosecond and the coarseness of it was off putting and the sex talk was a turnoff.

the narration…
I loved the performances, especially Connor Crais whose voice is absolutely dreamy.

the bottom line…
Without the steamy scenes, this is a lovely romance with a wonderful little epilogue. Two great characters who you can’t help but root for to find their way to each other. 3 stars

This was such a fun Christmas short story anthology!

I loved all of the different short stories. I'm excited that I listened to some new to me authors that I will now regularly check out.

Even though each audiobook was different, they all had a running theme of holiday cheer and left me laughing, smiling and really looking forward to Christmas.

My favorite was probably Tessa Bailey's story. I love all of her dirty talking heroes with their everyman appeal.

I enjoyed the narration for all of the audiobooks and felt the narrators tone matched the characters quite well.

All and all this is a wonderful little collection of Christmas love that I would listen to every year.

Oh my gosh all of these were just absolutely adorable! I loved every single one of them, and what a way to get in the holiday spirit!

These are all quick and spicy stories with a sprinkle of festive fun for the holidays. It’s a fun way to get a little sample of 5 different authors. Because these are short just know they don’t have a lot of story to them, so I think if expectations are right going in they will be enjoyed.

Listed below ⬇️ in order of my preference:

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: Merriment and Mayhem
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Alexandria Bellefleur
𝘼𝘽 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Amelie Griffin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This Christmas, a hot fireman makes a holiday rescue and sparks fly in this funny, sexy holiday short story.
______
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: Only Santas in the Building
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Alexis Daria
𝘼𝘽 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Ruby Corazon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially for a comic book illustrator whose late-night fantasies become real in a festive and flirty short story
______
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: Cruel Winter with You
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Ali Hazelwood
𝘼𝘽 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Vivienne LaRue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories.
______
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: Allison By My Elf
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Olivia Dade
𝘼𝘽 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Andi Arndt
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Secret crushes, spicy Christmas treats, heinous holiday traffic, and a fateful snowstorm bring good friends together in a funny, heartfelt short story.
______
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠: Merry Ever After
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Tessa Bailey
𝘼𝘽 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨: Summer Morton & Connor Crais
⭐️⭐️💫

A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one.

⭐️🎄⛄️🎅⭐️🎄⛄️🎅⭐️🎄⛄️🎅⭐️🎄⛄️🎅⭐️

This is a fantastic collection of holiday romance shorts from some of my favorite authors. I especially enjoyed the stories from Ali Hazelwood and Olivia Dade. I hadn’t read any Alexis Daria yet and plan to now because her short story was such a delight!

I love all this stories so much! They were cozy and fun and spicy, some more than others of course and some ideas were better developed during the short space they had than others but every single one was a great Christmas read!!! My favorite though are probably Ali’s or Alexandra’s but I truly enjoyed them all!

This was not the best collection, I only truly enjoyed book 1 from Ali and book 4 from Alexandria, the others were truly not it. Tessa was absolutely horrible, there was nothing good about it. Thank god for those 2 authors that actually had good stories and characters.

The *Under the Mistletoe* collection is a holiday treat for romance fans, bringing together stories by some of today's hottest authors with charming seasonal backdrops. I love that Amazon has created these seasonal collections—it started with the Valentine's Day Meet Cute Collection, and now they’re gifting us with this festive holiday set. It’s a brilliant way to sample each author’s style to see if it works for you. I listened to all the audiobooks and thoroughly enjoyed the immersive narration and cozy holiday vibes throughout. And yes, I definitely have a favorite!

Individual Story Highlights:

1. Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
Narrated by Vivienne LaRue

Ali Hazelwood delivers a sweet and sexy story of unrequited love finally blossoming between childhood friends. Marc, now a successful tech millionaire, has held a torch for Jamie, his older sister's best friend, since they were kids. Jamie, a pediatrician, lets her guard down to admit her feelings have grown too. The chemistry is genuine, making for a swoon-worthy winter romance.

2. Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
Narrated by Summer Morton & Connor Crais

True to Tessa Bailey’s style, this one is packed with her classic pairing: a smol, single-mom heroine and a tall, gentle giant of a hero. Evie and Luke make an endearing duo, with Luke’s caretaking nature shining through. The only downside? The frequent mentions of Luke’s impressive stature were a bit repetitive, but their warmth and chemistry made it a cozy read.

3. All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
Narrated by Andi Arndt

Olivia Dade brings her humor and heart to this quirky forced-proximity story between two adjunct college professors working on a holiday side gig—aboard a “mincemeat mobile.” William, the soft-hearted hero, has quietly pined for Nina, who happens to feel the same way. Dade’s knack for balancing humor with emotional depth makes this one a standout.

4. Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
Narrated by Amelie Griffin

With a touch of Christmas chaos, Everleigh tries to keep her grandmother’s traditions alive while selling the family home. From kitchen fires to rescue missions, her plans unravel hilariously until firefighter Griffin Brantley steps in. This story is super fun, delightfully sexy, and captures a cozy holiday spirit. If only it had been a few pages longer!

5. Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
Narrated by Ruby Corazon*

Evie, a comic book illustrator, is on deadline but finds herself navigating an adorable crush on her upstairs neighbor, Theo. This sweet and slow-burn romance is filled with mutual pining and respect. Both dealing with the loss of their grandmothers, they connect over shared grief, making for a heartfelt and festive love story.

Overall Thoughts:
Each story in Under the Mistletoe brought its own holiday magic and swoon-worthy moments, offering readers a delightful escape into the season of joy, second chances, and love. Whether you’re a longtime fan of these authors or trying them for the first time, this collection is a perfect holiday treat! I did not love the Tessa Bailey offering it was so-so. I do think Olivia Dade and Alexia Daria steal the show. Both of those books were outstanding!

Short, sweet, and spicy ! If you are looking for a holiday audiobook that’s going to make you happy and blush, this is the book for you. All the stories keep you entertained and the jollyness of Christmas just tied everything together.

Under the Mistletoe was a cute collection of holiday novellas. I enjoyed the narration of each story. I will recommend this audiobook to my bookstagram account so people will listen to it this holiday season.

Thank you for the advance listening copy!

This was such a fun collection of holiday romance short stories! Many of these authors are some of my favorite romance authors, and I loved seeing their talent come to life in these short audio stories. I admire how these authors are able to build character backstories, tension, and chemistry in a matter of a few chapters. The narrators also all did an excellent job of invoking so much emotion and heat between the characters. I genuinely loved all of the narrators equally, whether they were single or dual narrators. I highly recommend picking up these shorts for a quick holiday romance(s)!

This was such a fun and cute compilation of holiday short stories. It was also a great way to read a snippet for some new to me authors!

Several different "tropes" and spice levels. Some stories were better than others, but overall it was a great way to get some holiday spirit in early. Thank you for the chance to listen to the ALC and I look forward to sharing these stories with others once it is released!

Cute holiday fun!

I loved how short and sweet each of these stories were! The narration for each story was excellent and the different tropes and storylines kept my little holiday heart happy. I will be posting these on my page and sharing!

Under The Mistletoe is absolute holiday perfection!

I cannot emphasis enough how much I enjoyed this series. I loved the narrators for each story. I thought each added to the characters and whimsy. I loved Ali Hazelwood's novella. I thought it has her classic writing style and amazing dynamic chemistry. One thing I needed was more! More of each story. I thought it would've been perfect as full length books and I devoured them. Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, etc each novella was fun, sweet, short and perfect to get in the holiday spirit. I loved the audiobooks and listening to them as I worked out or driving. They have so much charm and swoony goodness that is much loved. I cannot wait to listen to this again. A must listen and read!

Loved this collection of short stories from my fave romance authors. Great for when you need a spicy little snack of a read.

Cruel Winter with You: CUTE. ADORABLE. comedic timing. years of yearning. she’s his older sister’s best friend, he knows he’s gonna marry her since he was six. she broke his heart but he wasn't giving up on her. I LOVE IT. 5 stars
Merry Ever After: that was flaming hot lol. single mother, giant farmer, he never found a pair of jeans in the thrift shop that fit him, she gifted him a custom made jeans that fit him even without measurements, she's not looking for relationships, but he's ready for the long haul and good with her kid. i love that this has an epilog! 4.5 stars
All by My Elf: my least favorite. two professors trapped in a blizzard traffic, secretly have a crush for each other, but she thought he's in relationship with her best friend. closed proximity forced them to talk about it through Never Have I Ever game. 3 stars
Merriment and Mayhem: she just visited to make arrangements for her late grandma's house, but in the high of christmas spirit she got caught in several emergencies. he's a firefighter who's always on call. she's not looking for casual hookups since she's going out of town soon, but the circumstance has another plan for her. damsel in distress but make it fun and flirty. it was okay. 3.5 stars
Only Santas in the Building: actually this ties with the 3rd story on the lowest rank for this collection. it was okay but i didn't care enough about it.

all the narrators are exceptional. i have no notes. they did a good job with the audiobook!

5 short novellas by some great romance authors. There’s a little something for everyone to get you in the holiday spirit!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!