Under the Mistletoe

Spice Up the Holidays with Five Short Stories (Under the Mistletoe Collection)

By: Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, Olivia Dade, Alexandria Bellefleur, Alexis Daria

Narrated by: Vivienne LaRue, Summer Morton, Connor Crais, Andi Arndt, Ruby Corazon, Amelie Griffin

Curl up by the fire with some of today’s hottest authors as they serve up enough holiday sweetness and sizzling spice to melt the frostiest heart. As the temperature drops, friends and neighbors might need to turn up the heat, and even old enemies just might get a second chance. Get ready to tingle all the way ...

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood

For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightfully sexy short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey

A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one in this smoking-hot short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

All by My Elf by Olivia Dade

Secret crushes, spicy Christmas treats, heinous holiday traffic, and a fateful snowstorm bring good friends together in a funny, sexy short story by bestselling author Olivia Dade.

Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur

This Christmas, a hot fireman makes a holiday rescue and sparks fly in this sizzling holiday short story by bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially for a comic book illustrator whose late-night naughty fantasies become real in a festive and spicy short story by bestselling author Alexis Daria.

©2024 Cruel Winter with You © 2024 by Ali Hazelwood. Merry Ever After © 2024 by Tessa Bailey. All by My Elf © 2024 by Olivia Dade. Merriment and Mayhem © 2024 by Alexandria Bellefleur. Only Santas in the Building © 2024 by Alexis Daria. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Nothing new here

Formula plots are expected, but no joy in getting there with these. Some of the characters' choices would never happen IRL. I rolled my eyes several times. disappointing listen!

Super cute, spicy, shorts!

These stories were a fun, quick listen. I’m glad that they condense them into one collection. 

3 stars

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

📚 Under the Mistletoe📚 All Short Story

📚 Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
🎤 Narrated by Vivienne LaRue
Tropes:
🎄Billionaire
❄️Childhood friends
🎄 Miscommunication

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎤🎤🎤
🌶️

These are short story’s and this one was a miscommunication which aren’t my favorite but it was so a quick listen it didn’t bug me much. That being said I like the MMC he knows what he wants and he gets it. Not very holidayish
On to the next one.

📚 Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey
🎤 Narrated by Summer Morton & Connor Crais

Tropes:
Single Mom
Farmer
Small town

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🎤🎤🎤🎤
🌶️🌶️

This was a cute fast pace story. Insta-love on the MMC part. She took a little long to protect herself. The epilogue was great! Love that this one has female and male narrators

📚All by My Elf by Olivia Dade
🎤 Narrated by Andi Arndt

Trope:
Coworkers

⭐️⭐️.5
🎤🎤🎤🎤
🌶️🌶️

Review:
They are coworkers doing a side job but extra money, he founds out she doing and he goes alone for the ride. Not sure if this is very holiday but I guess they did mention Christmas Eve.
On to the next

📚 Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
🎤 Narrated by Amelie Griffin

Tropes:
Firefighter
Damsel in distress

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎤🎤🎤
🌶️🌶️

Now this one had a more Christmas than the others, which I was excited about. This couple was cute. She got herself into trouble and he is a rescuer.
On to the next & last.

📚 Only Santa in the Building by Alexis Daria
🎤 Narrated by Ruby Corazon

Tropes:
Secret Santa
FMC is a writer

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🎤🎤🎤
🌶️🌶️

This one had the most Christmas theme. Little Christmas gifts, Christmas party, baking and a pet- done. The MMC is definitely swoon worthy.

Love this idea!

Can we have short stories every year! This was so fun! Some of my favorite authors and Christmas! 🎄💖

Fun Short Stories

Amazing and fun short holiday stories that left me wanting more. The group of performers were incredible. They truly brought the characters to life.

A bridge mix of Christmas novellas

These ran the gamut of holiday novellas for me, from salty nutcracker to coal in my stocking.
The good news is there’s a Table of Contents labeled by title;
the bad news is the author/narrators aren’t labeled.

1. Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood ⭐️⭐️
“More predictable than a quarterly tax deadline”
This was light on holiday and heavy on recapping the entire history of Jamie and Marc’s non-existent romance. Seriously: the first recap starts with her as a toddler holding him as a baby. Then it’s growing up with him pulling her pigtails. Then the high school and college years. All of this would have been okay if Jamie, the supposedly smart and future doctor, wasn’t convinced she’s the sorriest, most unlovable person. I found nothing sexy or fun in him being perfect and having to keep pushing against her walls.

“So grateful for the interruption that I could start a cult
based upon worshipping broadband cellular networks.”
There’s an odd mix of F bombs and an awkwardly sweet sex scene.
Also, the bizarre sayings and dad-level jokes left me scratching my head.

2. Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Snork. This was OTT even for a holiday quickie. He’s telling her he’s gonna make her his and she’s calling him daddy on what I swear was the first day she stepped foot in his house.
This isn’t small town, big farmer romance; this is for anyone shipping a modern day pioneer woman and a dirty talking, self professed possessive “brute” who’s really, really big.
Did I take this remotely seriously? No
But do I regret listening? Heck no.
The dual narration sells this naughty nutcracker.

3. All By My Elf by Olivia Dade ⭐️
“Please know that I’d never take advantage of the
situation or make you feel uncomfortable in anyway.”
Who talks like that? William, that’s who … the gentlest professor ever.
Whether assuring her of his noble intentions or singing her praises, I kept thinking no one talks like that.
The whole novella is them trapped in a vehicle, playing Never Have I Ever, and tiptoeing around their respective crushes because she’s got no self confidence and he’s too timid to make the first move.
And maybe it was because they’re adjunct professors but the sex was very, um, clinical.

4. Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandra Bellefleur ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hoo! The first hour was cute, if hyperbolic.
How many emergencies are we expected to believe will occur in Everleigh’s short stay?
Christmas cookies, lights, backstory … all had me ready for the naughty and nice bits.

The last half hour though … I was not expecting this to get dialed up to naughty nutcracker.
She doesn’t do casual, until she does. She’s never gone without protection, until they do.
He’s never felt so much so soon, until he’s dirty talking and ordering her on her knees.
The sex was detailed, with F bombs and the C word (actually, various C words).
This is not your momma’s Christmas cozy!

“This is so much like my borrow a cup of sugar fantasy, I want to pinch myself.”
A frisky little gingersnap of a holiday novella, this had almost the perfect amount of sugar and spice.
Most importantly, this author clearly understood the holiday (and mistletoe) themed assignment.

5. Only Santa’s in the Building by Alexis Daira ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Is this where I make a joke about wanting to sit on Santa’s lap?”
Sure, things go all the way before Santa can twitch his nose.
And yes, there’s a few unnecessary F bombs.
And sure, this would have been hot chocolate perfection with duet narration.
But all I want for Christmas is a feel good holiday quickie.
Mission accomplished- let the Christmas season begin!

Fun Holiday Short Stories

💛Merriment & Mayhem 5⭐
Short sweet and spicy. Really liked this one and I thought the rescue meet cute and holiday mishaps along with the hot fire fighter were super cute! I would love to get more of their story!

❤️Only Santas in the Building 5⭐
Flirty and fun neighbors to lovers. This MMC has all the skills in more ways than one. Loved the meddling neighbors too!

🩵Cruel Winter with You 4.5⭐
Sweet second chance, it's always been you with the snowed in twist. I always love a romance where they come together at the right time.

💚All By My Elf 4.5⭐
This one had me laughing out loud which I definitely appreciate in a rom com. Cute workplace romance with mutual pining and a fun game of never have I ever.

🩷Merry Ever After 4⭐
Give me a burly dirty mouth farmer every day! Really enjoyed this opposites attract single mom and the fact that she sews like me was a plus. Some of the bedroom talk was little much, but still really enjoyed it!

Didn’t love it

I loved the idea of short Christmas stories, but they were predictable. Also, do not listen to if you have kids in the car.

Good Short Stories

For the most part I enjoyed listening to all the stories. There was one that I really did not like. I was ready to move on to the next, but there wasn't that much time left until the next story. Think it had to do with the narrator.
Overall this was good.

Some highlights

Ali Hazelwood's was a definite highlight for me. I love her! I can see why so many others do, too. This was so exceptionally well done. It had a lot of tropes that can be hard to do well and can be overdone/overplayed, and Ali did them so artfully. I was so in love with the characters and the story. Utterly engrossed. Short stories/novellas don't tend to be my favorites, but Ali did a wonderful job here.

The others ranged from not my cup of tea/favorite to okay but not great to good but not exactly memorable.

But again, Ali's was a highlight for me. Tessa's was a rare miss from her for me.