Halloween has come and gone, and many glance over the feasting day that arrives at the end of the current month, hopefully that's not including any of you, but what's REALLY in the air after all the spooky has cleared out is...well, not to put a punny point on it, but More Than Mistletoe. Yep, I know it's in the title of this post, seeing as it's the title in the spotlight today that I'm about to bring you via Rachel's Random Resources, but it was too good to pass up! If you've a short story fan, this will check your box. If you're a holiday story fan, again...box checked. If you love a good tug on your heartstrings and aren't afraid to smile all goofy like while reading by yourself or in a crowded room, DOUBLE CHECK that box! Take a closer look at today's title and then KEEP READING for a special excerpt from the final story in the book!
More than Mistletoe
by
The Christmas Collective
Cosy up for Christmas with 12 very different tales of love with all the festive feels!
More than Mistletoe, the debut anthology from The Christmas Collective, is an eclectic and inclusive mix of stories, with swoon-worthy characters, second chances and happy endings.
Between the pages, you will discover classic romance, festive thrillers, LGBTQ+ love stories, hilarious romcoms and historical settings, these stories really do span the whole spectrum of festive fiction.
Featuring twelve up and coming new authors, this refreshing, diverse and romantic read, is a must-have read that will leave you reaching for your Christmas jumper, gingerbread cookies and a mug of hot chocolate!
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~~~ EXCERPT ~~~
The extract I’ve chosen to share with you is from the final story in the More Than Mistletoe anthology: The Last Christmas by S.L. Robinson. This story is found at the end of the book, not only due to its apt title, but also because it embodies the power of love at Christmas. This beautiful LGBTQ+ tale cleverly juxtaposes the romance of new love and the soul-deep connection of life-long love. In this extract, we meet Henry as he listens to carol singers on his doorstep with his family, when one unruly-haired, scowling carol singer catches his eye in a way that’s about to change his life forever.
Be warned, this story will tug at your heart strings as much as it will make you smile!
Extract from ’More Than Mistletoe’: The Last Christmas by S.L. Robinson
When the carol finishes, Dad claps loudly and I stick my fingers in my
mouth to whistle loudly in the way Mum disapproves of.
‘What do you think, one more, eh?’ Dad asks me with a wink.
He’s a hopeless sentimentalist, which Mum says is because of the War, and
all those who were lost to it. Displays of togetherness such as this make him
nostalgic for the past, and grateful for the future.
‘It’s me you should be asking,’ mutters Mum behind us, but when she joins
us at the threshold her face is soft, and her eyes misty at his joy; she is happy
to risk our late arrival at Mass – and the poor seats that come with it.
My eyes remain firmly planted on the scowling cherub as he is nudged to
the forefront of the group. He deigns to raise his head, and at this precise
moment, our eyes meet. I have no words that could justly describe this
feeling. I am utterly bewildered by the jolt of electricity that passes from his
eyes to mine. I’m sure he feels it too, because when he opens his mouth to
sing, all that escapes is a strangled yelp of sorts.
I cannot suppress my mirth and a laugh escapes me, though I immediately
feel terrible for it. Nevertheless, it seems to spur him on and with a
contemptuous flick of his nose away from me, he restarts, and I am
mesmerised.
I know from that first note, that I will never again hear a rendition of “O
Holy Night” that could compete with this siren song. His heavenly tones,
supported by the low vibrational humming of the backing ensemble,
bewitch me. I can feel the goosebumps on my arms raise with each
undulation of his voice, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand to
attention in respect when he hits a falsetto note so high I’d swear it rang
out from the skies above. I’m glad my family are just as entranced by him,
as it allows me to hide my fascination behind the intensity of their awe.
The song ends quickly, in that cruel way in which time speeds up when
you want it to slow down. I could stay in this moment forever, but we bid
the merry band farewell and hurry down the street to Mass. Before we
round the corner, I turn around for one last glimpse of him, and butterflies
fill my stomach as our eyes meet once more – he’s looking back at me, too.
As though annoyed that I’ve caught him in this act of voyeurism, he flicks
his head away from me for the second time tonight. The brevity of our
encounter does nothing to dampen my spirits; I have a feeling – some
strange intuition – that this will not be the last I see of him.
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About the authors...
The Christmas Collective is a group of twelve romance authors who came together when shortlisted for a festive romance competition. Together they have created two Christmas Romance anthologies, More Than Mistletoe (2021) and The Mistletoe Mixtape (2022).
The Christmas Collective authors are spread far and wide, across the UK, Ireland, Spain and South Korea, however, one thing connects them despite the distance: a love of romance and Christmas.
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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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