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A review by bookish_kristina
Mistletoe and Christmas Kisses: Steamy Holiday Romance Collection by Tracy Sumner, Tracy Sumner
2.0
I’m not sure why this anthology exists except as a money grab.
This author has taken a bunch of Christmas-esque novellas from some of her previous series’ and published them together here. I have read none of the previous series and found most of these extremely difficult to connect with.
My advice is to go find The Ice Duchess and read that one and disregard all the rest. That is the only novella in this that was any good. I have broken down my review below, separated for each book, but overall I was not impressed by this and really did not like this author’s writing style. This is contemporary romance dressed up in historical clothes and for the most part the settings were badly done. None of the characters really behaved as they should and society allowed them to with no repercussions. It didn’t make historical sense and none of the Christmas traditions were really well displayed in any of these. I like historical romance set at Christmas for all the traditions and coziness, this had none of that. I’m highly disappointed by this anthology, it was not well thought out.
Book 1 - Chasing the Duke - 3 stars
The writing in this was good but the story was underwhelming. An extremely unoriginal tale of a Duke with PTSD and a lonely childhood, who pushes the heroine away for her own good. She pines for him, she chases him, her relatives connive and manipulate to get them together, and he finally succumbs. Add to that there was very little Christmas in this book and the historical elements were window dressing to a mainly contemporary story.
Big pet peeve : if you are writing historical romance with nobility, learn how the titles work. This heroine was called Lady Bellingham (her last name) and also Lady Camille, she’s an unmarried woman, her last name would not be her title. The same for her spinster aunt. These are the basic things you have to know to write regency, the VERY BASICS. I’m not going to nitpick the rest of it but suffice to say, if you care about some historical accuracy in your HR, this isn’t for you.
This gets three stars because I skimmed a lot of it and it might have had good parts, but I missed them because of boredom.
Book 2 - The Ice Duchess - 4 stars
I honestly don’t have a lot to say about this book. It’s extremely similar in set-up to book one, but was much better.
It was a sweet Christmas-light story (more winter than anything) about childhood friends and best friend’s little sister with another Duke who wasn’t quite as tortured as most.
Couple things I didn’t love: he left the country and abandoned her after her brother died and she was forced to marry a 70 yr old Earl. Kinda gross. He kept thinking he should have run back to save her, but didn’t. So she married a gross grandpa who was mean to her and now she has issues. I guess she had to have conflict somehow but couldn’t she have married an ok guy? Why 70? Gross.
Another thing is the hero is meant to be an academic, slightly nerdy guy but he was not that at all. He was experienced with women and a destroyer in the sack. I love a nerdy hero for his awkwardness. This author wanted us to believe he was awkward and yet nothing he did suggested that he was that in any way. Just don’t pretend he’s awkward if you want him to be a charming beast, just make him charming. Trying to play both sides doesn’t work.
Other than that this is a fairly light novella, with some steam and a well paced romance.
Book 3 - Tides of Desire -DNF 50%
I’m too bored and totally not invested in either of these characters. Maybe we got to know them in an earlier book, but I’m reading this as part of an anthology and didn’t expect to have to have read a previous series.
They are just talking and thinking but nothing is happening . They’ve just jumped into bed together and I couldn’t care less. I can’t read any more.
Book 4 - To Desire A Scoundrel - DNF chapter three.
This is just contemporary romance dressed up in historical curtains. I can’t read any more of this rich society woman, being a bookkeeper for fun and running around having nightly liaisons with men when her mother is a well respected and vigilant chaperone to other women.
This author is on my naughty list now. This book was not good.
Thank you to Booksirens for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This author has taken a bunch of Christmas-esque novellas from some of her previous series’ and published them together here. I have read none of the previous series and found most of these extremely difficult to connect with.
My advice is to go find The Ice Duchess and read that one and disregard all the rest. That is the only novella in this that was any good. I have broken down my review below, separated for each book, but overall I was not impressed by this and really did not like this author’s writing style. This is contemporary romance dressed up in historical clothes and for the most part the settings were badly done. None of the characters really behaved as they should and society allowed them to with no repercussions. It didn’t make historical sense and none of the Christmas traditions were really well displayed in any of these. I like historical romance set at Christmas for all the traditions and coziness, this had none of that. I’m highly disappointed by this anthology, it was not well thought out.
Book 1 - Chasing the Duke - 3 stars
The writing in this was good but the story was underwhelming. An extremely unoriginal tale of a Duke with PTSD and a lonely childhood, who pushes the heroine away for her own good. She pines for him, she chases him, her relatives connive and manipulate to get them together, and he finally succumbs. Add to that there was very little Christmas in this book and the historical elements were window dressing to a mainly contemporary story.
Big pet peeve : if you are writing historical romance with nobility, learn how the titles work. This heroine was called Lady Bellingham (her last name) and also Lady Camille, she’s an unmarried woman, her last name would not be her title. The same for her spinster aunt. These are the basic things you have to know to write regency, the VERY BASICS. I’m not going to nitpick the rest of it but suffice to say, if you care about some historical accuracy in your HR, this isn’t for you.
This gets three stars because I skimmed a lot of it and it might have had good parts, but I missed them because of boredom.
Book 2 - The Ice Duchess - 4 stars
I honestly don’t have a lot to say about this book. It’s extremely similar in set-up to book one, but was much better.
It was a sweet Christmas-light story (more winter than anything) about childhood friends and best friend’s little sister with another Duke who wasn’t quite as tortured as most.
Couple things I didn’t love: he left the country and abandoned her after her brother died and she was forced to marry a 70 yr old Earl. Kinda gross. He kept thinking he should have run back to save her, but didn’t. So she married a gross grandpa who was mean to her and now she has issues. I guess she had to have conflict somehow but couldn’t she have married an ok guy? Why 70? Gross.
Another thing is the hero is meant to be an academic, slightly nerdy guy but he was not that at all. He was experienced with women and a destroyer in the sack. I love a nerdy hero for his awkwardness. This author wanted us to believe he was awkward and yet nothing he did suggested that he was that in any way. Just don’t pretend he’s awkward if you want him to be a charming beast, just make him charming. Trying to play both sides doesn’t work.
Other than that this is a fairly light novella, with some steam and a well paced romance.
Book 3 - Tides of Desire -DNF 50%
I’m too bored and totally not invested in either of these characters. Maybe we got to know them in an earlier book, but I’m reading this as part of an anthology and didn’t expect to have to have read a previous series.
They are just talking and thinking but nothing is happening . They’ve just jumped into bed together and I couldn’t care less. I can’t read any more.
Book 4 - To Desire A Scoundrel - DNF chapter three.
This is just contemporary romance dressed up in historical curtains. I can’t read any more of this rich society woman, being a bookkeeper for fun and running around having nightly liaisons with men when her mother is a well respected and vigilant chaperone to other women.
This author is on my naughty list now. This book was not good.
Thank you to Booksirens for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.