A Yuletide Kiss

Written by Sabrina Jeffries, Madeline Hunter and Mary Jo Putney

Narrated by Beverley A. Crick

The reigning queens of Regency Romance return with another delightful Christmas collection of three sparkling holiday romances, as stranded travelers find merriment, mistletoe, and holiday romance awaiting at a quaint country inn …

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS GIFT by Madeline Hunter
Jenna Waverly has closed her inn, anticipating a blissfully quiet Christmas, until a snowstorm brings the first of several strangers to her property. Lucas Avonwood, as charming as he is secretive, is on a mission to track down a scoundrel, but the inn’s lovely
owner is giving him a more compelling reason to stay …

WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOODNIGHT by Sabrina Jeffries
When Flora Younger first met Konrad Juncker, she thought she’d found her match, only to have her hopes dashed. Konrad is now a famous playwright whose plays Flora has secretly panned in reviews. But a chance meeting in a secluded inn may help them rewrite this starcrossed romance …

WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo Putney
Kate McLeod is shocked to find that her fellow guest in the snowbound inn is the dashing soldier who may or may not be her husband. Daniel Faringdon barely remembers that longago night when he rescued her from disaster, but the desire they discover now will be
impossible to forget, or to ignore …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705027431

Sabrina Jeffries

Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of several Regency-set historical romance series, including the Royal Brotherhood, the School for Heiresses, the Hellions of Halstead Hall, the Duke’s Men, and the Sinful Suitors. When she’s not writing in a coffee-fueled haze, she’s traveling with her husband, caring for her adult autistic son, or indulging in one of her passions: jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, music, and costume parties. With more than nine million books in print in twenty languages, the North Carolina author never regrets tossing aside a budding career in academics for the sheer joy of writing fun fiction and hopes that one day a book of hers will end up saving the world. She always dreams big.

Reviews for A Yuletide Kiss

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, but my opinions are entirely truthful and my own. I had read multiple books from each of these authors previously and enjoyed them, so this book was a good fit for me.

Sabrina Jeffries- I've liked the previous books in the Duke Dynasty series average or better, but this one didn't work for me.  Often holiday novellas require a little more slack cut to them, allowing them to be extra convenient due to their short length, and a bit sappier due to the holiday, but this seemed even a bit more flimsy than that.  I didn't buy the events as plausible, and I didn't grow all that fond of the characters, AND I wasn't that very engaged by the rest.  It wasn't absolute rubbish, but it was below average enough (for me) that I couldn't justify rounding up.  2 stars.

Madeline Hunter- This had a fairly slow start between rehashing some scene-setting events we already learned in the previous story (the story should be able to stand decently on its own, so I understand why these were repeated, it just contributed to the feeling of waiting for things to get going), and an illness that takes up quite a bit of page time in the beginning and obviously limits the potential of the chapters from that point of view.  After that though it had pretty good pacing, and hooked my interest in the characters.  The steam isn't 'fade to black', but it does stay pretty short and vague.  So it felt a bit like a missed opportunity to me, who enjoys steam, but is probably fairly inoffensive to those put off by it.  Overall I liked the characters and things wrapped up well.  4 stars.  

Mary Jo Putney-  I have read 6 prior books by this author, and enjoyed every one of them above average.  But for whatever reason, I thought this one was terrible.  I rarely give single stars, and all throughout the last half I was hoping I would be able to at least round up to a 2, but I just can't.  I was bored, annoyed, AND disbelieving.  I'm really kind of astonished.  Not much happens, it's nearly entirely a series of conversations broken up by some menial tasks, and then some lines or a scene we've already seen earlier (some of them twice by this point) sprinkled in here and there.  I actually don't mind conversation-heavy stories, but the dialogue was so stilted and basic that I felt like rolling my eyes.  It seemed kind of like the dialogue in a less than mediocre play.  Tons of things were spelled out to a simpleton degree in case the reader was incapable of putting two pieces of information together. And I usually enjoy animals in stories, but this one was so anthropomorphized that I would almost sooner believe a human somehow traded bodies with the cat than I would that this is reasonable animal behavior. lol.  And then, to add insult to injury, there's hardly even a romance (vague spoiler) when one character basically sits on the fence til the 11th hour when there's a miraculous change of heart. I don't buy it.  I really am very disappointed.  This won't stop me from ever reading other stories by this author, because I quite enjoyed those previous ones, but if this had been my first from her I would have a low opinion of her writing potential.  If you are in that boat, do consider giving her work another shot.  6 books to 1 makes this the anomaly rather than the norm.  

For the collection as a whole, 2.5 stars rounded up.

[cathygeha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Yuletide KissThree historical holiday romances that occur at an inn when unexpected guests are snowed in and must spend time together see three couples find their happily ever afters. There were surprises, kisses, Christmas trees, mistletoe, baking, cooking, meals enjoyed, songs written then sung, secrets exposed, second chances for some and new love for others. This was a varied and fun holiday collection. THE UNEXPECTED GIFT by Madeline HunterJenna is a lovely woman dedicated to her inn and unwilling to see anyone turned away during a snowstorm. I enjoyed watching her and Lucas find one another as Lucas searched for the scoundrel and made things right. WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD NIGHT by Sabrina JeffriesWhat a tangled web this story had to untangle. I enjoyed watching Flora get to the bottom of what happened eight years before and seeing how she and Konrad were able to find a way to be together. WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo PutneyKate and Daniel had a very interesting story. How they met, what happened afterward and whether or not they might have a future together was fun reading. I am glad it worked out as it eventually did. Did I enjoy this book? YesWould I read more by these authors? YesThank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.4 Stars

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this trio of novellas, centered around a group of stranded travelers. Each author provides the story of a different couple and alternate viewpoints of the same events. I liked seeing the diverse group come together to create a unique holiday experience. I especially liked the various Christmas traditions included. Funny moments go side-by-side with heartwarming ones and results in a lovely Christmas tale. WHEN WE FINALLY KISS GOOD NIGHT by Sabrina Jeffries Series: Duke Dynasty (Book 4.5)When Flora Younger first met Konrad Juncker, she thought she'd found her match, only to have her hopes dashed. Konrad is now a famous playwright whose plays Flora has secretly panned in reviews. But a chance meeting in a secluded inn may help them rewrite this star-crossed romance… I loved this follow-on to the Duke Dynasty series. On his journey to spend Christmas with friends, a sudden snowstorm strands him at a closed-for-the-holidays inn. When more travelers arrive, he umps in to help the innkeeper and is pleasantly surprised when one of those travelers is Flora Younger, the woman he loved and lost. Years earlier, they met and fell in love, but he bailed on her when he realized he couldn't support her as she deserved. Since then, he has become a famous playwright who is now at a crossroads in his career. Flora became a paid companion for Lady Whitmarsh and anonymously writes reviews for London plays and consistently bashes his. The feelings between Konrad and Flora remain strong, but can they overcome their pasts to have a future together? Stuck together as they are, Konrad and Flora use the time to clear the air between them. I enjoyed Konrad's determined pursuit of Flora, even as he fears that he still can't give her what she deserves. At a crossroads in his career, Konrad's future depends on the secrets involving his plays. Flora finds herself falling for Konrad all over again but fears the same heartbreak. I loved seeing Konrad finally trust her with the truth and Flora's protectiveness for the man she loved. The ending was funny and sweet. THE UNEXPECTED GIFT by Madeline HunterJenna Waverly has closed her inn, anticipating a blissfully quiet Christmas, until a snowstorm brings the first of several strangers to her property. Lucas Avonwood, as charming as he is secretive, is on a mission to track down a scoundrel, but the inn's lovely owner is giving him a more compelling reason to stay… Jenna closes her inn every year at Christmas to give her staff the time with their families and herself a chance to spend some quiet time. But when her stableman stumbles across an injured and feverish man, she can't turn him away. His arrival precedes that of several more stranded travelers whom she makes room for. Jenna spends her time going back and forth between nursing the stranger and taking care of her unplanned guests. I loved how she got the diverse group to work together, freeing her to spend more time with her patient. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Lucas and Jenna. She's a practical woman but also one with a caring heart, and she's determined to pull him through his illness. Once he begins to recover, the sparks between them start to burn brighter. With the fate of her inn uncertain, her growing relationship with Lucas induces dreams of more. But Lucas is a man on a mission, and that mission may have unexpected ties to Jenna. When Lucas finds what he's looking for, he must find a way to solve the problem without hurting Jenna. Though I found the solution a little improbable, it worked to give them the future they wanted. WHEN STRANGERS MEET by Mary Jo PutneyKate Mcleod is shocked to find that her fellow guest in the snowbound inn is the dashing soldier who may or may not be her husband. Daniel Faringdon barely remembers that long-ago night when he rescued her from disaster, but the desire they discover now will be impossible to forget, or to ignore . . . When Daniel returned to England to claim his inheritance after many years in India, he never expected to encounter the young woman he rescued. He barely remembers that night, just the fear of the young woman being auctioned off by her uncle. He remembers the drunk preacher who "married" them before Daniel turned her over to a friend who helped her return to England and her family. He gets the shock of his life when one of the other stranded guests is none other than the woman he rescued. Kate MacLeod never forgot the handsome soldier who saved her from disaster, though she hasn't heard from him since then. Once she recovers from the shock of seeing him, she informs him that she was about to have him declared dead so that she can marry again. Stunned to discover that their marriage was valid, Daniel finds he's in no hurry to end their connection. I liked the development of the relationship between Daniel and Kate. Kate is practical and competent in many areas and fits in well with the rest of the stranded travelers. Daniel worries about his return home after all these years, having left under trying circumstances. His time in India transformed him from a heedless boy to a mature and honorable man. Within a short time of talking to Kate, Daniel realizes that Kate touches something in him. He proposes that they consider remaining married. Kate is wary but willing to get to know him before deciding. I loved watching Kate and Daniel spend time together. Kate is upfront about her life and plans for the future, including continuing to work. She hunts (loved that scene!) and willingly pitches in around the inn. Impressed by her abilities, Daniel makes it clear that he fully supports her while asking pointed questions about her almost fiancé. At the same time, Kate finds herself questioning her feelings for Edmund and considering staying with Daniel. Besides the fun encounters, they also spend some time sharing the less pleasant memories of their pasts. But when it's time to leave the inn, Kate isn't quite ready to commit until she can talk to Edmund. I ached for Daniel, who left wondering if he'd see Kate again. I loved the ending. Kate gets her concerns addressed unexpectedly, freeing her to follow her heart. Daniel receives the loving support he needs to face his past in a heartwarming scene at the family home.

[victoriagd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We Wish You a Merry ChristmasThree wonderful romance authors Sabrina Jeffries, Madeline Hunter, and Mary Jo Putney, team up to add some Christmas spirit to the holidays. All of these short stories feel like a full romance book. Filled with interesting characters, misunderstandings, deep conversations, Christmas cheer, and a lot of romance. There are some overlapping, as all three stories happen at the same time. For example, the dialog in the beginning of the first two stories are the same, but told in two different perspectives. Despite this, all three stories are refreshingly different, with their own backstories and romantic conflict. Sabrina Jeffries adds to her previous book, Who Wants to Marry a Duke, by introducing Konrad Juncker to the snowy White Rose Inn, reuniting with the lovely Flora Younger. It doesn’t take long for confessions of past hurt to dissolve into improper kissing. Konrad is kind and patient as he struggles with reveling his secret, while taking responsibility for his actions toward Flora. Flora struggles to find the truth and whether she can trust him again. The conversations create a great light drama to this story, accumulating into a passionate Christmas Eve night. Madeline Hunter continues the underlining narrative with The White Rose Inn’s owner Jenna Waverly. Jenna is used to managing the inn on her own, and this Christmas she wanted some time to rest. When an unexpected snow storm brings unexpected guests, she finds Christmas doesn’t have to be spent alone. Jenna is serious, and deeply needs the kindness she often shares with others. When not being a poor patient, Lucas is charming and wants nothing more than to protect the good women he knows. This story is a bit melancholy, with a bit of a mystery, but Jenna and Lucas really do deserve the happiness they find in each other. Mary Jo Putney ends the trio of stories with the firecracker Kate McLeod who is shocked to find her long missing husband in the very inn she is snowbound. Realizing that the girl he met so long ago in India is now a woman, Daniel proposes to give marriage a chance. They are both quick witted, terrible at lying, and equally matched in honest conversation. With plenty of charming shenanigans, Kate and Daniel measure each other up before their light flirtations becomes light kissing. They are true equals in all ways, and their happiness is a satisfying romantic ending to this collection of short stories.