Holly boughs and mistletoe, Yultied carols and holoiday surprises bring together the beauties and their beaux of the ton for msichief most merry and romance most unexpected. In Carola Dunns The Christmas Party a marguis heir meets an actress and proves all the worlds a stage for two mismatched people to fall in love. Karla Hockers Under the Mistletoe has two lovely rivals vying to win a proposal from the handsome Lord of Stenton Castle. But one of them is at a disadvantage, she's a ghost. The Christmas Beau in Joy Reeds story is a rugged Highlander who turns the holidays and the heart of a London debutante upside down when he comes between her and her fashionable suiter.

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This is a trio of original stories (to this volume) around the Christmas season. The book came highly rated.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY (Carola Dunn) --
Lord Garth (a marquis' heir) meets an actress at his home. The theatrical troupe is getting ready to perform a play for the mansion's guests on Twelfth Night. Garth first decides he wants Prudence as his mistress; as he gets to know her, he realizes that he is interested in her personally. In the meantime, Garth's mother has invited three eligible ladies to try to entice Garth to the altar. Oddly enough, I thought I'd read this story before, but Carola Dunn is not on my past reading list.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE (Karla Hocker) --
This story starts with a handicap because there is not one -- but possibly two ghosts inhabiting Cavendish Manor. Ghosts turn me off.

It has been two years since Susan became a widow and she has just removed her widow's weeds. There is a new potential bridegroom hoping to get her attention and agreement, Andrew, cousin to Susan's previous (unmourned husband, Frederick). However, for the last several months, there have been noises at night and Susan hasn't been sleeping. She looks haggard. She has decided that Frederick is not dead and turns to her friend Elizabeth and Andrew for answers.

THE CHRISTMAS BEAU (Joy Reed) --
Melanie is all ready to accept Lord Colby's wedding proposal; Melanie's brother, Charles, brings an old Cambridge pal to their house for Christmas. At their house party when Melanie expected Colby's proposal, Will McCraig (the guest), dumped Colby's brother's head in the punch for something nasty he said about Melanie. The Colbys are furious and leave. This is an interesting plot with plenty of turns and reverses.

**
Favorite to least stories (using author's names) -- Reed, Hocker, Dunn.

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As with some anthologies, one story quickly becomes my favorite. In this one it was Joy Reed's The Christmas Beau. Mr McCraig is thoroughly likeable while Lord Colby is a pompous bore who doesn't appreciate our heroine whatsoever and his brother is even worse. As I don't want to ruin the story I will just say good guys don't always finish last!

They were all feel good Christmas stories that are quick pleasant reads.

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