Men Under the Mistletoe

Men Under the Mistletoe

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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06  ·  rating details  ·  392 ratings  ·  80 reviews
Baby it's Cold Outside

A man receives the gift of pleasure at the hands of two expert lovers. Boyhood sweethearts get a second chance at romance. Two very proper gentlemen indulge their forbidden desires. And a Christmas tree farmer has an epiphany. It may be cold outside but these four holiday novellas will warm you up.

Anthology includes:

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava Ma

...more
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Published December 5th 2011 by Carina Press (first published January 1st 2011)

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Community Reviews

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UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish

Men Under the Mistletoe is an awesome collection of very hot, very heartwarming stories penned by some of the most talented writers of the male/male genre out there. These authors; Ava March, Harper Fox, Josh Lanyon, and K. A. Mitchell, have struck the perfect balance between sweet and edgy, making all of these stories so perfectly sexy, that they could be considered erotica if they weren’t also so romantic, too.

This anthology includes:

1. My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March – 4 stars! This wa...more
Heather C
Dec 28, 2011 Heather C marked it as to-be-continued  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: anthology, m-m, ebook, pdoc
My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March


Winter Knights by Harper Fox
I'm not sure if I will read this story (view spoiler)[There is menage (hide spoiler)]


Lone Star by Josh Lanyon ★★★☆☆
I really wanted to love this, but I just couldn't.

My Rant:
♦ The odd use of "y'all" as a singular pronoun kept pulling me out of the story. Each time I read it I was looking for a 3rd person in the scene. I'm sure there are people out there that use it that way but I've never in my life heard it, and I live in the South...more
Breann
My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March ★★★★☆

At the start of Thomas and Alexander’s relationship Thomas is scared of the idea of loving another man. Because of this he flees to America and is gone for 4 years. During his absence he came to terms with the fact that he prefers men and that Alexander is the man for him. When he returns, Alexander, understandably, wants nothing to do with him. I appreciated that not all was forgiven and forgotten immediately. Thomas suffered during his attempts to get...more
Jennifer
"My True Love Gave to Me"

by Ava March

Ava March is a popular m/m romance novelist who specializes in historicals particulary Regency England. This novella follows this pattern. The main characters are Thomas Bennett and Alexander Norton who meet as young men at Oxford University. They are attracted to each other immediately, but, when it comes time to really show Alexander his feelings, Thomas leaves the country for four years. In this story, he arrives back in London to convince Alexander that...more
Vio
A highly enjoyable Anthology with gorgeous characters and intriguing stories. A nice mix of the unusual and interesting a recommended Christmas read with a few twists, I really liked it!
Octobercountry
I’ve started sorting through the holiday-themed stories that I have on my Kindle, and was surprised to see that I have a greater number at hand than I remembered---and equally surprised to note that there were a few there that I hadn’t read yet. Since Christmas is only a few weeks away, why don’t I get into the spirit of the season and mention some of them here.

First up is a collection of four novellas titled Men Under the Mistletoe; each story runs about 85 pages and the contents are as follows...more
Ken
I really liked this year’s Christmas anthology by Carina Press. You’ve got four very different stories of gay men during the holiday season.

The first story is:

My True Love Gave to Me
By
Ava March

This is the story of Alexander and Thomas, two early 19th century boys that are trying to have an affair and finding that convention and family obligations are quite the hurdle to overcome. If you're like me, you've probably wondered what it was truly like for gay men "back in the day" and how they carried...more
Sonia Lal
I don’t normally like regency romances, but My True Love Gave to Me is pretty good. A lot better than I expected. The characters drive the story. Thomas left Sasha when they were both 17 because his desires scared him. The second part of the story is pretty damn emotional. I liked it a lot. The characters are special. They can’t exactly be open about their relationship, but they get a HEA anyway. And the way they do the HEA isn’t too unrealistic!

Winter Knights is probably the best story in the w...more
Montana
I enjoyed all four stories in this anthology, but the one that's really stayed with me is Harper Fox's Winter Knights (~35,000 words). The protagonist, Gavin Lowden, is flawed but sympathetic, and his Christmas Eve adventures are harrowing, sexy, and haunting by turns. Winter Knights engaged my mind, my imagination, and my heart, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a regular holiday re-read.

As always, Josh Lanyon doesn't disappoint. Lone Star (~26,000 words) is a gorgeous tale of first loves an...more
Lena Grey
Men Under the Mistletoe (Anthology) by Josh Lanyon, K.A. Mitchell, Ava March, and Harper Fox

'Men Under the Mistletoe' is one of the best holiday anthologies I've ever read. A Christmas story, by any of these authors, would be great, but a book with their talents combined creates real holiday magic. Although it's an eclectic collection, I found each story quite moving as I followed the characters through their trials and tribulations, all hoping for a second chance at love.


'My True Love Gave to M...more
Mackenzie
This is a general review for the entire collection of short stories. I will (probably) review the individual stories later because each one deserves more than a measly paragraph of appreciation from me.

I spent one whole week savoring the stories in this anthology because I didn't want to run out of good stories too fast. This collection has all of my favorite m/m authors so I absolutely refused to read it in a rush. Besides, after weeks of anticipation, I just didn't think it was appropriate to...more
Rebecca
You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance

This is the first m/m book I’ve reviewed for the blog, and I really enjoyed the novellas. I requested the book for review because I am a huge fan of Josh Lanyon’s writing, but the other authors were all new to me. While the novellas differ in quality, Harper Fox and Josh Lanyon’s pieces were outstanding.


As with Carina Press’s other Christmas themed anthology, A Clockwork Christmas, the novellas in this m/m anthology are available fo...more
SueM
There is considerable variety of genres and styles found in this collection of Christmas-themed stories, and sadly, there is a range in quality too.

For me, the outstanding story was Harper Fox's Winter Knights. In a contemporary story mixed with Arthurian legends and supernatural elements, two lovers come to terms with themselves and each other. Despite its shorter than novel length, this reads like a full length novel, with complex character development, surprising emotional depth and threaded...more
Mel
I liked this book.A lot. The one good thing about a compilation is that typically if you have one story you aren't too fond of, the next one will more than likely be more to your liking. This is true for this book.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE, Ava March. I do indeed. I discovered her a couple months back, and she surged to the top of my "MUST READ AUTHORS LIST". I think I have most everything of hers in Kindle format and on audio book. (Yes, I am a dork. Sue me.) Ava has this uncanny ability to draw her rea...more
LenaLena
Only the last story in this collection had a real connection to Christmas. And no mistletoe in sight....


My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March 2.5 stars

Okay Regency romance. I tend to like regency and I think it has great potential as a setting for m/m, it being a hanging offense back then and all, but I have not often seen it done well. The problem I had with this story is that Alexander's change of heart came about really abrupt and the story ended abrupt too.

Winter Knights by Harper Fox 4.5 s...more
willaful

Although all the lovers are male, in many ways this is a typical Christmas romance anthology: it features a Regency, a ghost story, a Western, and a humorous first-person contemporary, and though the sex scenes are explicit, the emphasis is mostly on the romance. All of the stories are also available as separate ebooks.

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March.

A simple, but emotionally charged historical romance. Alex and Thomas fell in love as students at Oxford, but Thomas was too frightened to co...more
Colleen Coover
All four stories are highly enjoyable, but Harper Fox's White Knights stands out!
Tracy
With These Guys, Who Needs a Fireplace?
The fourth of the four holiday novellas I picked out was another fully satisfying read, and looking back - both over this holiday season and the sequence of anthologies - I can't help but wonder anew at the power of this time of year. Regardless of personal faith, beliefs, religion, race, gender, sexuality, or any of the other myriad divisive elements in the world that separate and segregate people from one another, there's something special about this time...more
rameau
Overall rating: 3,5 stars.

My True Love Gave to Me
By Ava March
2 stars

In 1817 a nineteen year old Thomas fled when it was time for him and Alexander to commit the crime of buggery for the first time. Four years he's finally overcome his qualms and of the mind that love conquers all. Too bad it seems Sasha has changed his mind and doesn't want Thomas anymore.

The novella starts from when the boys were young, naive, head over heels in love, and living in the age of stifling pretences. It then jumps...more
Hannah

I was a little dismayed when I realized that every story in this anthology involves protagonists who have prior history with each other. I tend to prefer stories in which the protagonists meet for the first time and develop their relationship from there. That said, two out of the four stories handled the "old flame" story line pretty well.

My True Love Gave To Me
Ava March
2.5 stars

I've heard some good things about Ava March's writing, but this story was just okay. There was a little too much melod...more
Tana
Men Under the Mistletoe
By Josh Lanyon, Harper Fox, Ava March, K.A. Mitchell.
Anthology includes:

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March

Is a historical romance about getting a second chance at love. This short story is very good and I enjoyed it.

Winter Knights by Harper Fox

Is unique story that has a supernatural twist it was an excellent short story.

Lone Star by Josh Lanyon

Lone Star is a great story and I have to admit I read this story first. Mitch returns to Texas after being gone for 12 years....more
Chris
Summary courtesy of Goodreads:



Baby it's Cold Outside

A man receives the gift of pleasure at the hands of two expert lovers. Boyhood sweethearts get a second chance at romance. Two very proper gentlemen indulge their forbidden desires. And a Christmas tree farmer has an epiphany. It may be cold outside but these four holiday novellas will warm you up.



Anthology includes:

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March

Winter Knights by Harper Fox

Lone Star by Josh Lanyon

The Christmas Proposition by K.A. Mi...more
Brie C.
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

I'm not a huge fan of anthologies but I enjoy them when I get great quality and the opportunity to read new stories by some of my favorite authors. That’s exactly the case with Men Under the Mistletoe, a book filled with interesting novellas that have a common theme of second chance at love.

The first story is My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March. Set in 1821 this is the only historical romance in the book. Alexander and Thomas met in Oxford when they...more
Marissa Culp
My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March
This is a sad, sweet tale of two men who loved each other as young men, were torn apart, and then met again as four years later as grown men. It is a story of fear – Thomas fears what he wants, fears who he should be but doesn’t want to be and, most of all, fears who he really is. Alexander fears his long-buried feelings for and his anger toward Thomas.

There is so much emotion in this story – from the love the two share early on, to Andrew’s hurt when he gets...more
Megan
I really enjoyed this anthology. It's so full or love and warmth that you can't help but enjoy it. Every story was beautifully crafted and different from the others in the anthology. There is truly something for everyone. My True Love Gave to Me is a beautiful M/M historical short story about young love that stands the test of time, separation and heart break. Winter Knights is an interesting ghost story about lovers who need to re-evaluate their relationship. Lone Star is a heart warming contem...more
Melanie
Baby it's Cold Outside
A man receives the gift of pleasure at the hands of two expert lovers. Boyhood sweethearts get a second chance at romance. Two very proper gentlemen indulge their forbidden desires. And a Christmas tree farmer has an epiphany. It may be cold outside but these four holiday novellas will warm you up.

Anthology includes:

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March

Winter Knights by Harper Fox

Lone Star by Josh Lanyon

The Christmas Proposition by K.A. Mitchell


What a lovely smorgasbord of t...more
Ann
Men Under the Mistletoe was an enjoyable anthology even if I had a few problems with some of the stories. I’m going to review each story separately in this review but I have a small critique point in regards to the complete anthology.

I was a bit disappointed that all stories featured lovers who had a fight and broke up (view spoiler)[only to get back together on or around Christmas (hide spoiler)]. I’m not sure if this was in the guidelines for the anthology but I would have wished for a bit mor...more
Judith
4,5 out of 5. An anthology of holiday M/M love novellas that are delightfully connected to the holiday season but can be read and enjoyed at any time. Written by some of the finest authors in the M/M romance field, they are set in different times and different places, all are beautifully told, and the characters are all serious about what they do and especially about who they are, about their right to be themselves, and about expressing their personhood in relationship with another individual wh...more
Becky
ARC won on twitter.

Lone Star- Liked it a lot. Three of the four stories in this anthology are lovers reuniting stories. These are always bittersweet for me, because I always wish they hadn't wasted all that time apart. (Usually over stupid misunderstandings.) This is the only one of the three that had a really good reason for them to separate. There were less worthy reasons as well, but the bottom like is that Mitch and Web have goals that require them to live thousands of miles apart. Which als...more
Lillian Francis
Quite easily the best anthology I've read. I'd happy revisit each of these pairings again. And I'm sure I will...I might not even wait until next Christmas.
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Men Under the Mistletoe (Kindle Edition)
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Executive editor of Carina Press, Harlequin's digital-first imprint, and veteran of the digital publishing industry, Angela James is a long-time advocate for digital publishing. She has enjoyed nearly a decade of experience in digital publishing, including successfully launching, building and serving as executive editor for two digital-first presses. Angela frequently travels to regional, national...more
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