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carolinelfetzer's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“Merriment and Mayhem” by Alexandria Bellefleur was absolutely adorable! The latter half of the Under the Mistletoe Collection is really doing it for me, and this story delivered exactly what I was looking for. I loved both main characters: Everleigh was funny and quirky without leaning into the “I’m not like other girls” trope, and Griffin was a dreamy knight in shining armor who didn’t make me cringe by laying it on too thick. The Christmas vibes were immaculate—festive without being cornball—and felt like the perfect balance for a holiday novella. This was short, sweet, spicy, and everything I hoped for in a cozy Christmas short story. Merriment and Mayhem gave me the holiday magic I was looking for!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
crystalisreading's review
lighthearted
relaxing
3.5
Another cute short story from the Amazon Christmas collection. This wasn't my favorite though. It felt underdeveloped. Conflict that turned out to be nothing was not really worth including as part of the story. Griffin could be sweet, and I loved his job as a firefighter, but he was also frequently very cocky and a little harsh with his humor. (And who asks to do doggy style the first time?!) And while he self identifie as bi/ pan, he came across as very stereotypically "masculine". At least this was a short read. I think I'll stick with Bellefleur's Sapphic romances instead.
Also this is the second story in this collection that I've read that prominently features grief over the recent loss of a grandparent. Proceed accordingly.
Also this is the second story in this collection that I've read that prominently features grief over the recent loss of a grandparent. Proceed accordingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Death and Death of parent
infjkiki's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
isabelvegga's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
My favourite one!☺️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
beckyyreadss's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
When Amazon announced this short series of books by some of my favourite authors, I was all for it. This is the second book that I've read out of the five and this is by an author I've not read before. This is how a short festive story is supposed to be, all about Christmas and ends with smut and an ending that could be left alone or could be extended if the author wants to.
This book is based on Everleigh Dangerfield, and she has had a baking disaster which resolves in her neighbour calling 9-1-1. Firefighter Griffin Brantley comes to save the day and douses the flames in the kitchen, but the ones he stokes in Everleigh are an entirely different story. Unfortunately, Everleigh’s only visiting and doesn’t do casual hookups, no matter how smoldering the temptation. But Everleigh’s holiday mishaps have just begun. And Griffin is seemingly always on call. If Everleigh is game for a change of plans, he can give her the merriest Christmas of her life.
I liked that this one was surrounding Christmas, it started with a disaster from cooking and then she gets stuck trying to put up Christmas lights, all whilst dealing with her own grief at Christmas. It just reminded me of an episode of 9-1-1 and yes, I was thinking that Oliver Stark was Griffin Brantley. Just because it would be a season 1 Evan Buckley thing to do, fall in love with a woman on a case, not getting her details and then calling her trouble and then seeing her multiple times and calling it fate. I just loved that there was some chemistry then and it wasn't just all smut.
Even though it was a short story, and I knew what I was getting into, I wanted more. This could have been a whole 200–300-page book and I probably would have devoured it. I wanted the background of the town. I wanted dual POV, I wanted to know more about Brantley and why he became a firefighter. I wanted to see more of the firehouse and Everleigh being there more often, maybe even learning how to cook so she brings more treats over.
As stated, I liked that it could be left alone or that the author could carry this on. I am hoping that the author carries it on, even if it’s a case of the small-town and different members of the fire department because I would love to see Miller get his happy ending. This was my first time reading this author and I am going to make sure, it’s not the last time I read this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
mels_reading_log's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Being a clumsy girl, all of the disasters in this book seem totally relatable to me. My only issue is how many MFC are having sex raw after knowing this person a week. Like, what! An IUD or the pill isn’t 100% and if you aren’t going to look at the test results then how do you know he is clean? Just because he is hot doesn’t mean he doesn’t have herpes or something worse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
_jordon's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
imcalledzoe's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
sdupont's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
While I know this is a short story the pacing was extremely fast, with a very instalove feel. I love the concept of this and wish it was a little longer to be able to flesh things out slightly. I enjoyed the story it was fun and lighthearted but honestly did not feel very christmassy. I’m a big fan of Alexandria though so I am ready for when she releases her next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death and Death of parent
kbairbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
What a delightful premise! I enjoyed this delightful Christmas novella and ooooh do i love a man in uniform *drool*. Delicious and it got smutty at the end which is always fun lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent