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A review by mx_manda
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by M. Robinson
3.0
Leave it to me to decide I was going to read an anthology of shorts that are all connected to existing stories.
This is a pretty normal thing for me to do, honestly. I saw a couple authors' names on there I wanted to for sure read and then didn't bother to understand the framework of the anthology. That's on me and why it took me 3 months to work through this one.
Okay. So herein we have 15 stories—some really solid, some were very EH, and most were decent but not strongly in either category. I will break it down story-by-story, then give an overall rating for the anthology.
1: "Hallelujah" by Skye Warren - 4.5 stars
2: "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Amelia Wilde - 4.5 stars
3: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Giana Darling - 2.5 stars
4: "This Christmas" by Theodora Taylor - 1.5 stars
5: "Wrapped in Red" by Sam Mariano - 5 stars
6: "O Holy Night" by Pam Godwin - 2.5 stars
7: "Santa Baby" by Claire Contreras - 2 stars
8: "Last Christmas" by Katee Robert - 4.5 stars
9: "Little Drummer Boy" by M. O'Keefe - 4 stars
10: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" by Jenika Snow - 2 stars
11: "Carol of the Bells" by Maria Luis - 5 stars
One of my few highlights came from this one:
Every fucking night, I found you in the darkness and let you haunt me.
That is a damn good line. I loved this despite a law enforcement protagonist.
12: "Silent Night" by Sienna Snow - 2 stars
13: "Away in a Manger" by Jade West - 2.5 stars
14: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by M. Robinson - 1.5 stars
15: "Silver Bells" by Alta Hensley - 5 stars
Like the first story in the anthology, this one is a lead in to a book about the couple and, wow, this one seems like it will be a lot of fun. I love off-kilter, somewhat unhinged characters who border into absurd and nonsensical in a White Rabbit sort of way. The description of the MMC's style alone was just fantastic and fun.
Real rating: 3.27 stars
A nice, solid anthology—even for someone who hasn't read any of the source stories before.
This is a pretty normal thing for me to do, honestly. I saw a couple authors' names on there I wanted to for sure read and then didn't bother to understand the framework of the anthology. That's on me and why it took me 3 months to work through this one.
Okay. So herein we have 15 stories—some really solid, some were very EH, and most were decent but not strongly in either category. I will break it down story-by-story, then give an overall rating for the anthology.
1: "Hallelujah" by Skye Warren - 4.5 stars
Spoiler
I need more of this! Teaser for a future book. What is here was really enjoyable. Very tempted to track down the book at a later date. Recall there was delicious tension in this one.2: "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Amelia Wilde - 4.5 stars
Spoiler
Read fine as a stand alone. This wraps up nicely and leaves off in a logical place for a short.3: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Giana Darling - 2.5 stars
Spoiler
Easy enough to follow without having read original material. This one was okay. Lots of serious typos, about 10 I tracked with incorrect words that made me stop to try and figure out what was meant to be said. Story itself was fine, but I wasn't really feeling it.4: "This Christmas" by Theodora Taylor - 1.5 stars
Spoiler
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. This one started off very cute and promising then was weird, rushed, jumped around, information came out of nowhere, and didn't make a lot of sense. Could not tell if it was characters in an existing universe until the end or what. Apparently leads in to a new book. Irritating. Underwhelming. I hate when something starts strong and then fails to launch. This story really needed the full novel treatment to work.5: "Wrapped in Red" by Sam Mariano - 5 stars
Spoiler
A story that seems to be a stand alone or is side characters that require no background story to understand. Georgia has been in love with her married boss for years—through his divorce and other "events"—and they continue as they have. It's the best situation for them both, right? But they can not seem to keep things professional and those lines are pretty blurry. A little dark. Possessive MMC. But...*yawn* Red haired, green eyed, FIERY personality FMC.6: "O Holy Night" by Pam Godwin - 2.5 stars
Spoiler
This one didn't do it for me. Kind of a standalone about existing characters—neither of them that enjoyable to read. Jealous Bitches™ as a plot-point are never not boring and uninspiring. Always blows when a genre darling isn't enjoyable for me.7: "Santa Baby" by Claire Contreras - 2 stars
Spoiler
Side characters from existing story. Attempt at a second chance, BWWM romance, this one didn't work for me. Didn't feel any connection, chemistry, or history. Disliked the MMC and his dating someone else while allegedly pining over the marriage he threw away. (Read this about a week before a very similar Dear Carolyn popped up, but this obviously isn't the fiction referenced there.) Then just threw the other woman he's been dating away—what was even the point of having him in a relationship with someone else?? Contradictions about past events. Needed room to develop. Didn't work as a short.8: "Last Christmas" by Katee Robert - 4.5 stars
Spoiler
The author I bought this anthology for. Another story that looks like side characters from an existing series, this read just fine as a stand alone and was really enjoyable. Very steamy. 20 year age gap (older woman/younger man) with an interesting premise.9: "Little Drummer Boy" by M. O'Keefe - 4 stars
Spoiler
Side characters from an existing story. Easy enough to follow, though maybe not a true standalone, depending...? Darker story. Interesting premise/objective. Frankly, pretty damn hot. Enjoyable.10: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" by Jenika Snow - 2 stars
Spoiler
Continuation of existing story. Not light and silly OTT like I was hoping for from this author. Lots of smut. Not very sexy despite that. Dark but not in a titillating way. Very EH about this one.11: "Carol of the Bells" by Maria Luis - 5 stars
Spoiler
*Fans self* This one is good, and works as a standalone. I'm guessing these are side characters from existing stories...but nothing about this feels throw away or careless. Everything about this is just right. Probably my favorite of the batch so far. And the tie in to the song name? Fun addition, man.One of my few highlights came from this one:
Every fucking night, I found you in the darkness and let you haunt me.
That is a damn good line. I loved this despite a law enforcement protagonist.
12: "Silent Night" by Sienna Snow - 2 stars
Spoiler
Continuation of a past story, looks like? Could not imagine reading a longer book with these two, honestly. EH.13: "Away in a Manger" by Jade West - 2.5 stars
Spoiler
Another, EH. With some "ouch, WHY" thrown in. Some people are into that—enjoy it if you are, no shaming here—but it was a NOPE from me.14: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by M. Robinson - 1.5 stars
Spoiler
...was I supposed to like this main character or find him charming in some way? Very short. Felt awkward. Did not match with the rest of the stories in here. Could not get into it.15: "Silver Bells" by Alta Hensley - 5 stars
Spoiler
Strong finish.Like the first story in the anthology, this one is a lead in to a book about the couple and, wow, this one seems like it will be a lot of fun. I love off-kilter, somewhat unhinged characters who border into absurd and nonsensical in a White Rabbit sort of way. The description of the MMC's style alone was just fantastic and fun.
Real rating: 3.27 stars
A nice, solid anthology—even for someone who hasn't read any of the source stories before.