A scrumptious delight of Christmas Revels!

Mistletoe Christmas: An Anthology by Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, Erica Ridley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Four novellas about high society’s forgotten women, or those who wanted more, centered around the fabulous annual Duke of Greystoke’s Revelry of 1815

The Revelry is described as, “ a magnificent Christmastide house party featuring every amusement and wonder…there are plays, dancing, a magical grotto . . . His Grace has a genius for bringing together the finest in England: the aristocracy mingles with artists, politicians, commoners—even journalists and opera dancers!“ It occasionally gives rise to “scandalous behavior”.  It’s also known to be a place where a young woman who didn’t shine during the Season might find a partner, given the more informal situation.

Each story gives us a combination of Christmas festivities and a chance at romance either long given up or given away.

A Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James

Lady Cressida, the Duke of Greystoke’s daughter, is the force behind her father’s annual revelries. An invitation to the Revely is something the ton lusts for. The invitees list is published annually. Make the list and you’ve arrived. Marriages and fortunes are made here. The occasion is a wonderland of delight. Not for Cressida though. Her selfish, dying father does everything he can to keep her chained to his side, both now and after his death. He relishes kudos of power at play. And so we come to Cressida’s future. In an instance the bandaid of filial devotion is shattered. Where to for Cressida from here? Tightly written, with the Duke of Greyford such a controlling, dislikeable character, that I throbbed with indignation.

Wishing Under the Mistletoe by Christi Caldwell 

A fairytale of love lost. The past pulls on the present in this second chance Christmas romance. Ten years ago Lady Isabelle Wilkshire left her fiancé and walked off into a future of playwriting. She’s been called back to her grandfather’s Revelry (yes, the Duke of Greystoke) to produce a pantomime for the annual celebrations. Cyrus Hill, the man she was to marry is also present. Let the games begin! A touching story of love regained, of lost chances and misunderstandings. Once again the detestable duke is a hovering presence even if it’s from his deathbed. 

Compromise Under the Mistletoe by Janna MacGregor

Lady Caroline Whitmore had left her husband Lord Stephen exactly one year ago. Not because she didn’t love him, but because he didn’t truly see her. Having started an art gallery for women she needs her inheritance from her uncle, the Duke of Greystoke. That comes with conditions. Caroline and her husband are required to attend the Duke’s Revely and prove that they are still together as man and wife, obliging the cantankerous (my words) old curmudgeon and what he wanted. I love the acknowledgement Caroline gives her cousin Cressida. “ It was Cressie’s work that made the event spectacular.”

An enjoyable story of love regained, but once more we see the ugly power the Duke keeps trying to impose. He is a malignant presence for those caught in his machinations.

Mischief & Mistletoe by Erica Ridley

Miss Louisa Harcourt was damaged by the scandal sheets in her season. A column, “compared her to Almack’s insipid lemonade, and led to her being denied a voucher. The column responsible for the loss of a young man whom she might one day have wed.”

The season just past was to be her last. To please her mother Louisa has acquiesced to her demands to endeavour to attain the hand of a rich and titled husband by the end of the Duke of Greystoke’s Revels. The thing is Louisa just wants to be left alone to write poetry. That has become her world. When she realises society’s darling poet Mr. Ewan Reid is present Louisa dreams of how she might talk to him about her writing. The thing is Ewan is not all that she thinks he is. He’s a cad even if his reasons for being so might appear honorable. A testy tale that tends towards tragedy, but fortunately is resolved.

An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change