What Happens Under the Mistletoe is definitely a must-read if you're in the mood for a good and quick holiday read. All of the novellas in this anthology are well-written, nicely paced and pleasantly executed. There were some that shined more than others, but all of them were really very enjoyable. 
 (I guess it goes without saying that I have different parameters for judging novellas than a full-length novel. I'm more lenient to the lack of character development, and the lack of proper build-up in the romance. If you're bothered by these, or if these are your pet peeves, then maybe anthologies are not for you.) 
 THE HEIRESS AND THE HOTHEAD (SABRINA JEFFRIES): 3.5 STARS 
 Fans of Sabrina Jeffries who have read her Sinful Suitor series will be delighted to witness Lord Stephen finally meeting his match in the form of Amanda Keane, an American heiress. She's also the sister of Jeremy, the hero from book one. (Don't worry, though; you don't need to read the other books to enjoy this novella.) 
 I loved Amanda. She was strong and fearless without being bitchy and insensitive. And while I never really fell for Stephen--he was too stubborn and narrow-minded for me--I've come to appreciate him by the end of the story. Their arguments were very amusing, and I particularly liked seeing Amanda give Stephen the setdown he deserved. 
 The sexual tension was obvious from the start. But I do have one complain, though: The climax and subsequent resolution was a bit ridiculous for me. I think that the dramatic and over-the-top devices should be better saved for a full-length novel, where there is more space for its proper execution. But in any case, this was a really enjoyable read. It made me want to read more from the series, and I can't wait for the next Sinful Suitor book. 
 TWELVE KISSES TO MIDNIGHT (KAREN HAWKINS): 3 STARS 
 This was a novella about second chances. We have Marcus and Kenna who were drawn by fate to meet again after a devastating break-up several years ago. 
 As a big Karen Hawkins fan, I have to admit, I was really disappointed by this. I had a really difficult time liking the heroine and hero. To be honest, I never warmed up to Marcus (he was too pig-headed and immature), but I learned to respect Kenna by the end, especially when she actually grew a spine and fought for herself. 
 The angst was rather overplayed, though, and there were several times that I just wanted to bang their heads together and force them to JUST FUCKING TALK ABOUT IT LIKE ADULTS. Sigh. 
 The silver lining here was actually Tata Natasha, the grandmother of Marcus' best friend. She was so damn funny and amusing that she singlehandedly elevated this from a 2-star to a 3-star rating. I'm definitely going to read the writer's The Oxenburg Princes series after this. 
 BY ANY OTHER NAME (CANDACE CAMP): 5 STARS 
 Oh, damn. This was priceless. Amazing. 
 This was just perfect for me. 
 Mind you, I had reservations about this writer. The last book I read from her was Enraptured, and I did not particularly enjoy that. So when I realised that this novella was actually part of that series (Secrets of the Loch), I had second thoughts. But wow. I'm really happy I read this. 
 Rylla masqueraded as a man one night, in search for her brother. She met Gregory who eventually saved her from a dangerous situation. And then he found out about her identity. 
 He stopped short, gaping. "You have breasts!" 
 "Ohhhh . . ." The girl moaned, covering her face with her hands. "I'm sorry." 
 "Don't be sorry." Gregory grinned, sitting back on his heels. "They are lovely breasts." 
 OH GOD I LOVE YOU, GREGORY. HAHAHAHAHA. 
 Gosh, I can't even tell you how much I laughed while reading this. Gregory was so funny and adorable, especially when he was obsessing over finding Rylla's true identity. (Rylla never gave him her real name, so our hero here had to go through so much trouble to be with her.) 
 He made me melt. Big time. 
 "You do not find me scandalous? Shameful?" 
 He reached out and took her hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss each finger. "I find you utterly beguiling." 
 SWEETEST REGRET (MEREDITH DURAN): 4 STARS 
 This is another novella about second chances. The hero and heroine were too snarky at each other at first--so much so that I had to question if they were truly in love in the first place. But as the chapters dragged on, I got to understand them and the circumstances that led to their current situation. 
 I got to give it to Meredith Duran. She writes really well. I could really sense Georgie's longing through her words, and the sexual tension was really palpable. 
 But in her dreams, she had tasted his tongue. She had felt the hard planes of his belly, the brawn of his thighs. He had lain with her in dreams countless times by now--but never vividly enough to satisfy her. 
 And Lucas' confession, later? Wow. That was powerful. I totally had Casablanca feels over it, man. 
 "It was love, in Munich." 
 Lucas and Georgie were not perfect characters, and I'm okay with that. I think they had their own reasons, and that they were justified in their actions. 
 Overall, this anthology is highly recommended. It's by far one of the most enjoyable set of novellas I've read this year.