Product Description

Love Under the Mistletoe 6 stories of the holiday season sure to please. Deborah MacGillivray Leanne Burroughs Amy Blizzard Gerri Bowen Billie Warren Chai Judith Leigh

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #501154 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

Merry Little Christmas and Sensual Tales !
FOREVER LOVE by Leanne Burroughs -
Set in 1880 Kansas, Jessica Ashbury traveled by stagecoach from the East to start a new life by buying a hotel with her beloved brother. Along the way the stage was robbed, her brother killed and she would have been raped if not for the timely arrival of Hank Beaumont. Assuming the man killed was Jessica's husband, Hank had to control his passion for the beauty, but a pair of resident ghosts knew better and made sure Hank would not make the mistakes they'd made in a previous life.

Burroughs opens up this lively romantic anthology with an American western story that starts with an emotional dramatic flourish. Her dialogs are precise and laden with humor and heartfelt sentiment. Hank's ghostly grandparents appearing half-way through the tale were an unexpected pleasure and added another level of enjoyment to an already pleasurable story. Excellent imagery and a nice sensual level made this a quick and enjoyable read.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE by Judith Leigh -
It was a spur of the moment decision for Kacey Michaels to pull up roots leave behind friends after learning that her ex-husband and his new wife were expecting. A travel article describing a magical place in Misteltoe, Tennessee was just the nudge she needed to make her move. Magical or not, Kacey arrived and found a job and a place to stay within an hour of her arrival. All this plus a handsome hunk of a new boss named Nick Klaus, who caused all sorts of fluttering in a heart she thought long dead.

Judith Leigh created a lovely story here that was a perfect blend of magic, forgiveness, and renewal. Kacey had been belittled and crushed by an ex-husband who had left her for another woman. Nick was an incredibly loving man, a widower who had a heart as big as himself, and shared all that love with his own and several adopted children. Leigh turned this into a very emotional and sentimental journey that fits right in to the holiday spirit of love and joy.

GINGERBREAD & MISTLETOE by Amy Blizzard -
Matt Watson's baking assistant took off on an unexpected honeymoon, leaving him in the lurch for someone to help create his entry for the Hoosier Bakery annual gingerbread house competition. Clearly he had to come up with a plan. After helping his wacky free-spirited artist neighbor Riley Callahan put up her pink Christmas tree, he took up her offer of a `favor' by asking if she'd help him with his creation. What they created was more definitely more palatable than either could imagine.

This was definitely a charmer. Somewhere along the way, Matt had lost his zest for life as he worked hard for recognition from a parent who would probably never approve of his life's choices. Matt looked askance at Riley's free-spirited antics and in this way the author was able to let some of Riley's joy of life rub off and do wonders for both Matt's personality and his libido! This was so cute, romantic and heartwarming. Riley's approach to life was as refreshing and joyful as the look of wonder on a child's face at Christmas time.

CALLING HAILEY'S BLUFF by Billie Warren Chai -
Hailey James was a tremendous poker player, but the biggest bluff of all would be when she would inevitably come face to face with, Colonel Todd Coopersmith; the love of her life and deny he was the father of what would be a very pre-mature baby!

I have read several of this author's short stories now and Ms. Chai has managed to charm me again and again. Not only does she tell a very well-rounded and balanced story but her characters are all too real in the scenarios her creative mind envisions. I love the very intelligent, original and fascinating lifestyles her plots convey and look forward to reading more and more from her. The love declarations were beautifully done - genuine and sincere.

A CHORUS SINGING LOVE by Gerri Bowen -
Lady Melody always knew that Trevor Wilde, Earl of Ardmoor was the only man she would ever love. Innocent and naïve, Melody had long ago invoked a spell that backfired when she misunderstood the ramifications. Now, the only glances she got from Trevor were of abhorrence, or were they?

From the very first moment I started reading Ms. Bowen's story, I knew it was going to be something special; one because it was historically set, and two because of the fantasy aspect which I really love. Melody had a special gift that was referred to as "wild blood" by her brother. Whatever it was, Melody had found the other half of her soul, and she had to somehow convince Trevor that what he felt was not a spell she had woven, but his true heart reaching out to touch the other half of himself that was Melody. This was totally sweet as well as a lovely sensual delight.

A VERY SPECIAL MAN by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Lately, Desdemona "Dezzy" Vashon has been having some very erotic and perfectly sultry dreams. The fact that she wakes up each morning with the blankets on the floor and rather exposed has her confiding in her cat Simon. What Dezzy had no way of knowing was that Simon is really a man, trapped inside a cat's body. Simon knows Dezzy is the only one who can break the curse - with just the right amount of persuasion!

Wrapping up this cleverly conceived and positively entertaining anthology of romances Deborah MacGillivray always brings a cat into the forefront of her stories. She always gives the reader sparkling prose, as well as humorous and titillating dialogs, and always puts in some steamy sensual encounters. Using Simon as a man caught in the body of a cat was very original and oh so amusingly sexy. This story was the perfect ending to a very fine collection of holiday tales that would make a perfect gift to readers who love romance, or better yet, gift it to yourself.

Marilyn Rondeau

wonderful compilation of holiday stories - perfect year round!
FOREVER LOVE by Leanne Burrough
Hank Beaumont can't help his attraction to the lovely young woman he rescues after her stagecoach is robbed and the men aboard murdered. He assumes that Jessica had been traveling with her husband, a man to whom Hank had agreed to sell his hotel.

Hank is no stranger to the harsh realities of the West. He doesn't believe that Jessia will really stay but that doesn't stop him from constantly hoping she will. Will he be able to resist her allure and how will he feel when he learns that she isn't a widow after all?

Leanne Burrough brings this story to life on so many levels and gives readers a true sense of pleasure in the fortitude of the characters. I loved being privy to Hank and Jessica's frustration with each other and the underlying sexual tension, but also adored the impact that the secondary characters have throughout this story.


IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE by Judith Leigh
Kacey Michaels's ex-husband's callous attitude has her making a radical decision. After viewing a travel magazine she packs up and moves to Mistletoe, Tennessee, hoping for a new lease on life.

Once in Mistletoe, Kacey takes a delightful job at a toy store working for Nick Klaus. It's just too perfect and after meeting Nick and his children she's convinced that this is exactly where she wants to be, but can she learn to trust her heart and believe that magic and dreams truly can come true - even for her?

What a delightfully fun tale. Judith Leigh brings a great deal of sensitivity into this storyline and really captures Kacey's emotional upheaval over her inability to have children - fortunately Nick has lots of kids and he'd be more than happy to share.


GINGERBREAD AND MISTLETOE by Amy Blizzard
Matt Watson's dreams of winning the annual gingerbread house contest have just met with disaster. His only hope of being able to enter and win lie in the hands of his eternally optimistic artist neighbor.

Matt has a purely practical outlook on the whole project, while Riley sees the beauty behind of it and relishes the challenge. Through her Matt will begin to see the world through less cynical eyes and even view Christmas as a magical time - especially when he's got such a warmhearted giving woman at his side.

Amy Blizzard won me over with this charming tale. There's no doubt Matt is a scrooge but Riley is free spirited and lighthearted enough for both of them. I loved the mixture of seriousness and joy throughout this tale and found myself crossing my fingers as I waited for the outcome of the competition.


CALLING HAILEY'S BLUFF by Billie Warren Chai
Hailey is determined to fix the problem with the lunar rover and leave Houston before Lt. Col. Todd Coppersmith returns from Cape Canaveral. She's a professional poker player and while she's still in love with Todd, she doesn't want him knowing that she's carrying his child because trapping him is the last thing she wants to do.

Todd returns to Houston earlier than expected. Previously unaware of Hailey's pregnancy he's convinced that she's lying about the due date and believes that baby is his... it's just a matter of CALLING HAILEY'S BLUFF.

I absolutely love this story. Billie Warren Chai makes the battle between Hailey and Todd humorous while at the same time poignantly sweet. Hailey's poker face comes into play more than once but Todd doesn't give up easily. I eagerly anticipated the moment that she'd admit the baby is his, but also when they'd admit to their feelings for each other.


A CHORUS SINGING LOVE by Gerri Bowen
Melody's been invited to spend the Christmas holiday with Spode Hall - which means that she'd be spending a great deal of time in Trevor's presence. She knows that he still hasn't forgiven her for the Unfortunate Incident, which ultimately resulted in the loss of his concentration and his leg during battle.

Melody's been in love with Trevor for many years and she's determined to pursue him. If she fails to snag him then her brother intends to marry her off to a match he has in mind. Melody's whole future is riding on her ability to make Trevor see reason before the holiday is over.

Gerri Bowen infuses a great deal of humor into this charming tale filled with determined characters, witty dialogue and a very curious reference to a Unfortunate Incident, which has the reader wondering what could have possibly been so bad to have Trevor furious with Melody for years?


A VERY SPECIAL MAN by Deborah MacGillivray
Simon is much more than Dezzy's very large cat, he's a man who's been in the feline form so long that he's forgotten what it's like to be human or what he has to do to reverse the cause of his infliction. To complicate matters, he's in love with his `owner.'

Dezzy's lonely and while she loves Simon, he's a cat and doesn't stop her from longing for a man in her life. Simon's determined to be the one to fulfill Dezzy's wishes - all she has to do is make her wish and then kiss his nose but how can he convey this to her... and more importantly how is she going to react when her beloved cat disappears and the man of her dreams takes his place?

Deborah MacGillivray brings this humorous story to life by telling it through Simon's eyes. You get a cat's eye view of people, TV, cat toys and human food all while he wins you over with his feelings for Dezzy. This is a story that is sure to win readers hearts and have you viewing cat products in a whole new light.


LOVE UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a fun anthology that infuses the beauty of the season with fun characters and unforgettable situations. This is one of those books that you can read year round and still derive great pleasure from each of the charming stories.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Each story is worth a full five stars.
Forever Love by Leanne Burroughs
Set in Kansas. The year is 1880. Hank Beaumont sold half his hotel to a couple by the last name of Ashbury. When the couple arrived, they would finish purchasing the other half. When Hank learns the stage coach has been set upon by bandits, he springs into action. The men on the stage coach have been murdered and one lady has been kidnapped. Hank catches up with the bandits just before they were about to harm the lady. Sure enough, the lady is named Jessica Ashbury, who has just witnessed the murder of her loved one and a couple of the bandits got away, taking the other half of his hotel payment. Hank and Jessica are now partners. Hank soon finds himself attracted to the grieving lady. If that is not enough, the hotel has two residential ghosts.

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe by Judith Leigh
Set in the present. Kasey Michaels is fed up with her ex-husband humiliating her. Kasey finally decides to start anew. An ad for Mistletoe, a small town near Nashville, Tennessee, catches her eye. The quaint sounding town claims that magic and dreams still come true there. Sure enough, Kasey finds herself falling in love with the town on her very first day there. Nick Klaus owns the toy store and he hires Kasey on-the-spot. It is obvious to Nick that Kasey has been hurt. So he holds hope that she may soon begin looking at him as something other than her boss.

Gingerbread & Mistletoe by Amy Blizzard
Set in the present. The state is Indiana. Matt Watson is a pastry chef. For the last three months he and Bethany, a coworker, have been planning an entry for the Hoosier Bakery's Gingerbread House contest. Should they win, they would get a cash prize and a guaranteed salary increase. However, Bethany drops out at the last minute. At home, Matt helps his upstairs neighbor take up a pink tree. Riley Callahan is an artist. Matt has always thought her pretty, but odd. When Riley offers to step in Bethany's place and help with the contest, Matt is shocked to hear himself agreeing.

Calling Hailey's Bluff by Billie Warren Chai
Set in the present at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. When the lunar rover stops working General West calls in Hailey James, the one that had fixed it last time. Hailey hoped to fix it and return to Vegas before HE could return to the space center. Hailey is eight months pregnant. The father is Lt. Col. Todd Coppersmith, for whom the USAF is his life. To keep the man she loves from resigning his commission and being miserable (and possibly end up hating her for being the cause), Hailey tells everyone she is only six months along and that Todd is NOT the father. Todd shows up before Hailey can finish fixing the rover though. She must now put on her best poker face and bluff.

A Chorus Singing Love by Gerri Bowen
Set in the Regency Era. When the Countess of Spode invites Melody to celebrate the Christmas holiday at Spode Hall, she accepts. The Countess's brother, Trevor Wilde, Earl of Ardmoor, is sure to be there. As much as Melody loves Trevor, he seems to loathe her. It all went back to the "Unfortunate Incident" ten years prior. Obviously Trevor still blames her. Because of her, he now has a peg leg. And thanks to the dratted wood nymphs Melody spoke to back then, anytime she is near Trevor wants to ravish her. Melody hopes to find a moment to explain and sincerely apologize, even if she must hold Trevor at gun point to do it.

A Very Special Man by Deborah MacGillivray
Set in the present. Desdemona "Dezzy" Vashon writes romance. This is hard to do when there is no romance in your life. Her only close friend is Simon, a very large cat often mistaken for a small panther. But unknown to Dezzy, Simon is not really a cat. Yet in order for Simon to change back into what he really is, he needs Dezzy to make a wish and kiss his nose.

***** Past or present, mortal or not, the end of the year holidays always seems to be filled with magic. Even though I received this book in January, I could not help but smile. It does not have to be November or December for me to enjoy an anthology set during the Christmas season. Since I am sure others feel as I do, I urge them to pick up this gem. Hopefully that means you too! Each story is well written, with a strong story line and romance aplenty. Only one or two of the stories have a love scene and they are tastefully done. I honestly could not find fault with any of these tales. Each one is worth five stars. I find that rare in an anthology and is the main reason I urge Romance fans to pick up a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed one bit. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.