Set at Castle Keyvnor KISSED AT CHRISTMAS includes three holiday love stories. Bound by a Christmastide Moon sees Silas Anson unexpectedly becoming the eighth Earl of Lichfield. Finding his estate in debt he takes his solicitor's advice and arranges a marriage with Lady Mallory Hughes, the daughter of a Marquess with a substantial dowry. He travels to Bocka Morrow to meet his betrothed, and as they start to form a mutual attraction, and attend a Yule ball, Silas' family matters and Mallory's unusual gift will either see them pulled together or torn apart. Once Upon a Midnight Clear sees Michael Beck, a younger son, in need of his own income traveling to Castel Keyvnor to settle some bets. He finds Lady Ivy Dallimore, a woman determined to marry only a man with a title. However, their attraction is instant, and as terrible mischief making starts being played on Ivy and Michael it may take a Christmas miracle to keep them alive and in love. The Sweetest Christmas sees Lady Marjorie Hambly matchmaking for her cousin who's desperate to find her own husband. While Marjorie never wants to marry she understands her cousin's need to and tries to make a match with Sir William Crandall. However, after being snowed into a maze, terrorized by ghosts, and kissing under Christmas mistletoe Marjorie realizes William might be her perfect match after all.

KISSED AT CHRISTMAS is a delightful historical romance anthology with three charming holiday stories with unique elements of ghosts and a haunted castle. The setting of Castle Keyvnor is eerie, and the garden maze, and surrounding areas help to bring the setting to life. Bound by a Christmastide Moon by Christina McKnight is the first story in the anthology. Silas is a charismatic hero readers will enjoy from the first chapter. He has an unusual backstory, and this helps to add some complexity to his character. Mallory is a heroine with the unique gift of seeing into the future, which will cause conflict and create the climax of the story. She is vulnerable but determined making her a heroine romance readers will love. Mallory's Aunt Hettie is an entertaining secondary character as is Peabody, and McKnight's plot moves along at a quick and easy pace. With a Yule ball, Christmas confessions, a rakish twin, and unreliable visions of the future Bound by a Christmastide Moon will be a favorite holiday read for romance lovers.

Once Upon a Midnight Clear by Ava Stone is the second story in the anthology. Michael is a determined and witty hero, and his desire to go into trade gives him a unique quality readers will find endearing. Ivy is a stubborn heroine who, at times seem rather stuck up, but unbends throughout the story making her well-rounded and an enjoyable heroine. The chemistry between Michael and Ivy is undeniable and makes for a wonderfully magical Christmas story. The pirate ghost and Beck's relations help to paint a fuller picture of Michael and Ivy's story, and Stone adds some unexpected plot twists to liven up the story. Once Upon a Midnight Clear is a successfully written Christmas jaunt.

The Sweetest Christmas by Michelle Willingham finishes this holiday anthology. While a short story, Willingham is able to give William a full, and well-rounded personality that readers will find irresistible. His caring nature and good humor will easily win any romance reader over. Marjorie is compassionate and kind to her family making her an endearing heroine, and she is also strong-willed with the unique character trait of loving desserts. The ghosts play a larger role in this story, as Marjorie is acquainted with many of them, and the Tudor ghost becomes a witty and amusing secondary character. Adding in some mistletoe, a matchmaking scheme gone awry, meddling ghosts, and a mischief-making ghost who overcooks gingerbread will have readers smiling and laughing throughout this Christmas adventure. My favorite of the three stories, The Sweetest Christmas, has the right balance of romance and amusement that perfectly finishes this holiday collection, and romance readers won't want to miss KISSED AT CHRISTMAS.

Book Summary

The Earl and Countess of Banfield cordially request your attendance at the wedding for their daughters: Lady Tamsyn Hambly to Mr. Gryffyn Cardew, & Lady Morgan Hambly to Harold Mort, Viscount Blackwater, on the 24th day of December, 1811, at Castle Keyvnor, Bocka Morrow, Cornwall.

KISSED AT CHRISTMAS includes:

Christina McKnight's Bound By the Christmastide Moon
Silas Anson has spent his life dealing with other people’s mistakes. Now, as the Earl of Lichfield, he has a plan that will protect his siblings, and give him a chance at a normal life. His arranged marriage to Mallory Hughes should be perfect—except for one thing: she sees visions of the future. When a man determined to free himself from the shackles of the past marries a woman with precognition, happiness in the present may be just a kiss under the Christmastide moon away.

Ava Stone's Once Upon a Midnight Clear
Only a duke will do for Lady Ivy Dallimore. If her unhappily married sisters have taught her anything, it’s that love is fleeting but a title lasts forever, which is all well and good in theory until she finds herself falling for the scandalous third son of a marquess who is bound and determined to make his fortune in trade! Lord Michael Beck courts scandal, living life to the fullest and dabbling in games of chance. Unfortunately, he’s neither heir nor spare to his father’s title, and the time has come to enter a profession. Michael is no soldier, and he certainly isn’t cut out for the cloth, so he embarks on the most scandalous and risky venture of his life. He will need capital, however, and collecting a number of outstanding gambling debts at a Christmas Eve wedding at Castle Keyvnor seems like the perfect place to start, at least until he stumbles across the lady of his dreams. But what are the odds the practiced gambler can win the girl without losing everything he's worked for?

Michelle Willingham's The Sweetest Christmas
Lady Marjorie despises the idea of marriage. After being engaged to a man who tried to command every aspect of her life, from what she wore to what she ate, she refuses to consider matrimony again. Though she isn’t at all opposed to playing matchmaker for her cousin… Sir William Crandall is startled when Lady Marjorie believes he is a shy, withdrawn knight in need of a wife. He has nothing at all in common with her bluestocking cousin, but he is fascinated by the spirited Lady Marjorie. Despite her attempts at matchmaking, he intends to avoid marriage at all costs, after being abandoned at the altar. But a stolen kiss, a feast of gingerbread, and two unexpected friends find that there is magic in the Christmas holiday and a match that neither of them expected…