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 more variety.

My True Love Gave to Me by Ava March: 3/5 stars
Set in the 19th century it follows the love story of Alexander and Thomas which ended in Thomas running away, because he was scared and frightened by his own feelings and the society which sees their love as a crime. Four years later he comes back to win Alexander back.

What I really liked about My True Love Gave to Me is that I felt an emotional connection to the characters; I really felt their fear, anguish, anger and love. My qualm with the story is a bit too many sex scenes for such a short story.

Winter Knights by Harper Fox: 4/5 stars
Gavin, researching for his doctorate about the legend of King Arthur and Lancelot, is excited, because this will be the first Christmas he gets to spend alone with his boyfriend Piers, a devout Catholic. But things don’t go as they were supposed to; Piers doesn’t come, resulting in the couple breaking up. Gavin is devastated and goes out to Hallow Hill, a place where the round table supposedly appeared before one man’s eyes. Things go awry though and he encounters something supernatural.

Definitely my favourite story of the anthology. It sucked me right in and held my attention throughout. Gavin was not an all-together sympathetic character which I enjoyed. He has his faults and they become clearer as the story progresses and as we find out more about his and Piers’ relationship.

Lone Star by Josh Lanyon: 2/5 stars
Ballet dancer Mitch comes back home to Texas after 12 years, running away from the pain caused in New York and to manage the belongings of his estranged father who has died 6 months prior. He encounters Web, a Texas Ranger who was his boyfriend when he left home. Mitch realizes that he isn’t over Web yet and the same goes for Web.

While the story is fine I found Lone Star very lacking, especially emotionally. I never felt a connection to either of the two main characters nor did I like them very much. It’s not that they’re unlikable but rather very flat and bland. As a friend holds Josh Lanyon in high regards and gives a lot of praise I was rather disappointed.

The Christmas Proposition by K.A. Mitchell: 3/5 stars
Mel manages and works on the family’s Christmas tree farm, being the most responsible in his family. Since the money isn’t enough he works in a diner where he meets Bryce again, a man who pretty much left without a word three years ago after a two-month affair. But things didn’t happen exactly the way Mel remembers them and he isn’t as over Bryce as he thought he was.

The Christmas Proposition made me smirk more than once, because it had some funny parts. I found it enjoyable overall but didn’t find Mel and Bryce that convincing characters. I liked the secondary characters more than the two.


Disclaimer: An ARC has been provided by the publisher through Netgalley for reviewing purposes.