One disappointing apple doesn't spoil this bunch, but it does bring down the overall star rating.

The Captain's Christmas Journey - Carla Kelly - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ms. Kelly is an icon in traditional Regency romance, and she doesn't disappoint with this story. Captain Everard makes the difficult journey to deliver one of his crew member's final moments to his family at Christmastime. The good Captain has no family of his own, and feels adrift during the holidays, so when he finds Davey Newsome's family as wonderful as the impish man himself was, he allows himself to be persuaded to stay for the holiday season. Verity Newsome, Davey's sister, is destined for a governess position on a faraway estate, and when she's called over early, Captain Evarard agrees to escort her. Everyone they encounter on the journey assumes that they are married, and they begin to wonder if there's something to that...

Though a bit contrived (and with very obvious matchmaking family members meddling in due course), this was a lovely, warm story about a man who realizes what he doesn't have, and a woman daring to wonder about what she could. It made me feel ooey-gooey on the inside, exactly what I want when reading holiday-set stories.

The Viscount's Yuletide Betrothal - Louise Allen - ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Captain Andrew Pagett Stanton, the 'Vagabond Viscount,' is at a loss. He has just inherited a wholly unwanted and impoverished title and he has no idea how he's going to come up with the money to restore the estate. Having no other family, he's staying with his friend in London when he comes across an interesting advertisement: a lady advertising for a holiday-season betrothed, complete with room, board, and payment in full at the end. Eleanor Jordan is the oldest of a set of siblings and is doing her best to wind their way through Society. Her younger twin sisters are due to come out next year, but more pressing is the matter of her younger brother, Theo. He has accepted a position at university against his guardian's wishes, and Ellie is hoping to find a man to pretend to be her betrothed who can help convince said guardian that university is the right path for Theo, instead of the Navy.

Drew leaves off the fact that he's just inherited a title when he interviews with Ellie; otherwise, they seem to fit each others' bill rather perfectly. Ellie has been burned by fortune hunters in the past and has no allusions about actually finding a husband. Drew moves into the Jordan household temporarily and plays his part to perfection for the various relatives, all the while falling in love with Ellie herself. All that's left is to convince her that their feelings for each other aren't merely a dream.

I knocked a couple of stars off of this because there was some unnecessary drama at the end. Said drama would've been more fitting if this was a full-length novel, but it was too much for the constraints of a novella. If not for that, it would've gotten at least 4 stars. Ms. Allen is a strong writer and I've enjoyed her work in the past because she pens the perfect blend of authentic historical detail and simmering passions.

One Night Under the Mistletoe - Laurie Benson - ⭐
This one was the stinker for me. I should've known I was in for a rough ride with the author's note, which was basically, "what would've happened if Romeo & Juliet hadn't run away together immediately?" I'm no fan of R&J as some sort of all-fired tragic romance, and unfortunately, I was not a fan of this story. Our heroine, Juliet, was a completely immature, petulant, childish wretch. She hates the hero, Monty, for romancing her for a week four years ago and then, when his proposal is shot down by her guardian, not agreeing to run off and elope with her 18-year-old self. Four years later, they are locked into a library at a ball together and compromised, thus completely ruining her reputation. Of course they must marry. (Of course!) No matter that her sister is married to his brother already, Society dictates, and whatnot. Juliet hangs on to her hatred and mistrust of Monty even though he's given her no reason that I can see for those hard feelings.

This novella is part of a series, and maybe if you're coming into it with that backstory, this will resonate for you. For me, it just fell flat. Most of the story is spent trying to get these two in the sack, but if they don't trust or even like each other, what is the point of that? Unless you're writing erotica, a novella of nothing but sexytimes just leaves me cold.

I skimmed this story, rolled my eyes at Juliet's antics after the sex, and decided that this author is not for me. ( )

This set of Novellas starts out well with The Captain's Christmas Journey where Captain Everard is escorting Verity to her job as governess only to discover that her prospective employers are terrible people that he wouldn't let mind his coat never mind a human.

Eleanor advertises for a suitable gentleman to pose as her bethrothed over Christmas, Captain Andrew Padgett Stanton is waiting for the paperwork to declare him Lord Ravenscroft and meanwhile he's at a loose end. On half pay from the Armed Forces he's getting tired of relying on friends to help. Sparks fly and it's a fun read.

Lord Montague Pearse and Lady Juliet Sommersby are caught in a compromising position and have to find out if they compatable. An opportunity to know each other happens when they're retrieving mistletoe in the estate.

All the stories are well done and enjoyable but I really enjoyed the first story by Carla Kelly and wanted more. ( )