I'm a devoted fan of anthologies as they provide a fantastic avenue to explore diverse authors and themes. I was drawn to this particular book, featuring seven distinct stories by seven different authors. Despite the variety, the stories harmonize seamlessly. Discovering new authors through this collection has made me an instant fan, and I can't pick a favorite among the steamy, stormy, and sizzling tales. Each author showcased impressive storytelling skills, creating a delightful blend that made for a fun holiday read. The spice in the narratives added an extra layer of enjoyment, making this anthology a satisfying exploration of romance.

NAUGHTY OR NICE was the perfect title for when you aren't sure what you want or need something quick. With it being an anthology, it is full of bite-sized stories. Perfect for a quick read or to dip your toe into new authors' writing style. Personally, I felt it was good year-round. even though the title has an over-arcing holiday theme. I didn't enjoy it any less because it wasn't always the holiday season when I was reading the stories.

I am a big fan of anthologies. I’ve said it before, these books are a great way to discover a variety of different authors and different themes. I’ve been diving into romance novels lately and I was intrigued by this book. I discovered authors I never heard of before and I am a new fan. Seven different stories and seven different authors. Although they vary, they mesh well together. I enjoyed each story. I can’t pick which one favored more. Steamy, stormy and sizzling stories. I like a little spice, all the author are impressive and are great storytellers.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and WOLF Publishing for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fun and engaging holiday collection. Many are part of existing series, which actually didn’t prove challenging at all. Fun romp through some short and sweet holiday love stories.

Thank you to WOLF Publishing for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley. Views, as always, remain my own.

This was a nice collection of Regency Romance Christmas novellas by some talented writers. If you’re a fan of this subgenre, there’s a lot to get out of this one, and it makes for perfect reading over Christmas. It’s amazing how many different stories can be found here, though admittedly it would have been nice to see perhaps a little more diversity.

If you are planning to read this, as a whole book it is quite long, which made it just a little bit of a struggle at times. None of these stories were disappointing, and all had some elements that were enjoyable and made me interested in reading more from these authors and characters. Quite a few of these serve as prequels to existing series, and I will hopefully be able to check these out at some point.

The Countess’ Christmas Groom was the stand out story for me, with Fenna Edgewood doing something different in a Regency setting, giving us a slightly older woman who already has a son, as opposed to the usual late teens/early twenties female characters. Overall, I think the first three novellas in this collection – Edgewood’s novella, Once Upon an Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss by Bree Wolf and A Diamond for Christmas by Sydney Jayne Baily – were the strongest of the stories.

Gentleman of Christmas Past from Jennifer Monroe was also a fun tale, with some great characters to follow and a really nice premise.

The others were still enjoyable enough, but the last two suffered from some more obvious flaws than the first few, often introducing complications there wasn’t room to explore in the novella or suffering from pacing issues.

This is a good collection for Christmas, and there’s nothing here that would make me reluctant to recommend it to those who enjoy Regency Romances. It’s also a good opportunity to discover some writers and series within the genre.

I never turn down an anthology, especially one based around the holidays!

It delivered on all levels, small snippets from each author which were perfect to read in between other books or when short on time. They were good blends of tropes that I love to see.

I tend to find anthologies the perfect way to meet new authors! Give it a chance, you might find one you fancy.

These novellas ranged from truly delightful (Sumner's, Edgewood's, and Lane's offerings) to dull to dreadful (I won't call those out by name, but I gave each story a separate star rating on Goodreads if you're really curious). Good holiday fun, and I'm excited to have a few new authors to check out! Many thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

As someone who hasn't ever been a Christmas person, I was really pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this read! I have also very rarely dove into the world of anthologies, and yet again I was pleasantly surprised by the format. I feel like every story was well fleshed out, and I wasn't left hanging by the time the next author's work rolled around, and there was a good variety of plots and characters that wasn't a copy and paste of each other, like some anthologies turn out to be. Per my tastes, I did prefer some more than others, and I have to count Bree Wolf's story as my favorite, since I love a good matchmaker plot thread. Charlie Lane had a close second with a class separation and an unlikely love story, more of my favorite elements!. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and it will absolutely lead me to check out more work from the authors!

This is a great collection….. This wintery holiday collection of seven never before published Regency romances by seven favorite historical romance authors will bring you dreamy gentlemen and fierce ladies to life!

Ebook received free through NetGalley

I absolutely adored this collection of short regency romances. Simple to read in smaller bit and just as grand.

Quick confession, I had read some of these short stories / novellas before, direct from the authors, which of course means my review is biased.
This is a mixed bag and gives you an opportunity to read authors new to you, which I like, as it expands my reading base.. You may not like all the stories, but If you like this genre, then you willl like most, as I did.
All of them feature heroines who fall for people they least expect to, and all have some humour. Bree Wolf, Tracy Sumner and Meredith Bond are authors I've read before and like. I shall certainly follow up others.

This was a brilliant book. I loved every single second of it. It contains 7 brilliant novellas from different authors. Every story was just as amazing as the next. There wasn't one story that I didn't like each story definitely deserved full marks. I just couldn't put this book down it was hours of fun. Whisked away on a magical journey with each story. Each story was engaging and so very interesting. Each and everyone was well wrote and flowed seamlessly. In most of the stories there was a bit more spice than I would of liked in a regency romance book but it didn't take away from my reading experience. I definitely recommend reading this wonderful collection of novellas. At 744 pages there is hours of enjoyment.

Only the highest of praise goes out to each and every author and publishers for creating such amazing stories that I became wonderfully lost in. I will definitely be looking out for more books by these fantastic authors.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/naughty-or-nice-by-bree-wolf-et-al-wolf-publishing-buzznet-books-5-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

"Naughty or Nice: A Holiday Regency Anthology" is a collection of Christmas-based novellas written by a variety of authors, most of whom I've never heard of before. The stories made a quick, fun read. While the length of a novella makes it difficult to have a very thorough storyline, some of these stories were almost implausible to be realistic. Regardless, I enjoyed several of these stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved reading the engaging and enthralling seven regency stories by amazing and awesome authors. Each story filled with captivating characters, romance, and passion. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and riveting must read love stories.

Naughty or Nice
A Holiday Regency Anthology
by Bree Wolf, Sydney Jane Baily, Tracy Sumner, Fenna Edgewood, Charlie Lane, Jennifer Monroe, Meredith Bond

A variety of well written historical story’s to while away a lazy afternoon.

A mix of fun, interesting characters with the odd cross class regency romance. Dare I even say there is the odd spicy bits in a few of the novels.

Very enjoyable read by a few of my favourite historical authors. 4.5/5

Once Upon an Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss by Bree Wolf (1%-15% of novel)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (only kisses)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): only kisses
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person perspective from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This novella is the prequel to Wolf’s The Whickerton’s in Love series.

Basic plot:
Lady Edith plays matchmaker to make sure her friend finds true love.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian time period (1749)
- Matchmaking theme
- House party
- Georgian time period
- Low to no steam (only a kiss scene)
- Love at first sight
- Earl hero/lady heroine

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this playful novella. It’s a sweet love story where the hero sees the heroine across the room and feels...things. And it’s a fun journey to their happily ever after as our heroine tries to match everyone up so they are happy. There’s not a ton of character development (which I know is hard anyway in a novella) but in this book it’s very present tense in following the events of the house party. There’s not too much reflection on prior life experiences.

I had heard Bree Wolf doesn’t write sex scenes, and I was a bit nervous about not having any feels. But they were still there with feelings of longing and wanting that I love, the nervousness of love, wondering if they feel the same. And the kiss was great. I would definitely read Bree Wolf again. I also appreciated the mini titles of the chapters (For example – Chapter Three Unbecoming of a Gentleman)

Quotes/thoughts:
I am not one that usually likes instalust but I loved this scene:

“What is her name?” Jasper growled under his breath so not to be overheard by his sister. Once or twice, their mother had managed to elicit information from her regarding his whereabouts, pastimes and whatnot.
Andrew chuckled, watching him with interest. “Indeed, this is serious! I have to say I’ve never seen you so -”
“Her name!” Jasper hissed, grasping his friends arm.

A Diamond for Christmas by Sydney Jane Baily (14%-31% of the book)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes! Quite a bit of delightful humor
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
I am thinking this is a prequel novella to Baily’s Diamonds of the First Water series.

Basic plot:
The Chimes and Diamonds do not get along….but when their children fall in love at first collision during a ball, what can they do?

Give this a try if you want:
- Later Georgian time period (1824)
- Rival families feel (Romeo and Juliet-ish)
- Irish hero
- A bit of instalove feel
- Compromised heroine
- Lots of balls and social activities
- Vauxhall
- Gretna green run
- Average novella steam – 2 full scenes but they are on the short side

Ages:
- Hero is 26, heroine is 20

My thoughts:
This was my first by Baily and ohhhhh I just fell into this story. The humor was wonderful, the writing engaging. I am really eager to seek out more from her after reading this fun novella!

I enjoyed the rival families and forbidden love here. I also really enjoyed the family members and loved the bit of a twist at the end from where the whole feud started between them. Super enjoyable novella!

Quotes/thoughts:

“Maybe at first, but only when mixed with the essence of you. I kissed your skin, too, you may recall. I thought all of you to be exquisite.”
She shook her head and touched her gloved palm to her face, dropping it quickly in case she was scene.
“You speak like a lover,” she said.
“Or like a man falling in love

The Governess Gamble by Tracy Sumner (31%-44% of the book)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (A lovely developed scene for a novella!)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person perspective from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This novella is a part of Sumner’s The Duchess Society series. I couldn’t quite place where it is, it’s after book 1 but before book 3, so perhaps #2.5? Either way the whole series is fabulous and you should read them all! The heroine from book 0.5 has minimal page time and the heroine from book 1 has a bit more. The hero from book 3 is here too but he hasn’t had his HEA yet.

Basic plot:
Franny is forced to leave America due to a bad decision. Here in England, she’s looking for a marriage agreement that will give her freedom. As an heiress she can buy a title. But Chance has caught her eye numerous times and when an opportunity to become a governess for his ward, she accepts.

Give this a try if you want:
- Later Georgian time period (1823)
- Country estate setting
- Viscount/furniture designer hero
- Artist/governess heroine
- American/English pairing (heroine is American, from Pennsylvania, hero is English but has Scottish heritage on his mother’s side)
- Unrequited love – heroine has watched the hero at a number of occasions and he’s never noticed her
- Heroine is an heiress working as a servant
- Child in the story/governess – hero has become ward to his third cousin (child’s mother was his mother’s second cousin ;))
- Curvy heroine
- Average novella steam – 1 wonderful developed full scene

My thoughts:
Can I just say every time I read about Hildie I just want to reread her and Tobias’ story???? Ughhhhh I love them so, so much. Anyway, this novella is equally as fabulous and a lovely addition to this truly amazing series by Sumner. I have really been loving all these novels.

Sumner has a wonderful talent for creating that longing even in a short amount of page time. I have really adored a number of her novellas, which I think can be a true challenge to make feel whole, steamy and emotional. I love that her characters are unique and they have their own interests and goals. Our hero here has a passion for making furniture and our heroine is an artist. Secluded together at a country home is enough to ignite some breathtaking passion that I just ate up between these two characters. Loved what Chance and Fanny bring to The Duchess Society series.

Quotes/thoughts:
Oh. Oh.

“I think you’d better go,” he whispered, his voice ragged. If she continued to gaze at him like this, her desire his for the taking, he was going to drag her to the door, lock it, and shove her against it. He loved tupping standing up.

Ugh and here comes Sumner again just wrecking me with these hot romantic lines

“However, either you’re leaving this room right now, or I’m coming around the desk to kiss the blessed breath from you. Push you against the wall and show you what the heat of my regard really feels like. My desire to erase every thought from your mind is blindingly compelling. Draw the air from your lungs into mine. Send you into a molten puddle at my feet, one I’ll happily follow. It’s your choice of course. Completely. Your. Choice. But I’m shaky. And close to making it for you.”

The Countess’s Christmas Groom by Fenna Edgewood (44%-57% of the book)

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person perspective from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Edgewood’s Blakeley Manor series (Lady Briar Weds the Scot is book 1)

Basic plot:
Kat is recovering from the abuse of her marriage and dealing with society calling her a murderess. When Ash bursts into her room one night on a prank, she begins a bargain with him that leads to healing everyone in her family.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1816)
- Tall heroine – she’s as tall as her brother but the hero is still taller and looms over her
- Footman hero/Lady heroine
- Child in the story – heroine has a son
- Widow heroine, recovering from an abusive relationship
- “older” heroine – heroine is 31 and hero is 25
- average novella steam – 1 full scene

My thoughts:
This was another lovely novella! I enjoyed the class difference aspect here – the hero is a footman/groom and the heroine is the sister of a duke. I’d love to see more servant hero/nobility heroine pairings as it usually seems to be the opposite.

I could have used a touch more time with them together. But I appreciated the character depth here and the well deserved happily ever after for the heroine and her son

A Very Daring Christmas by Charlie Lane (57% - 71%)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person perspective from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is book #5.5 in Lane’s The Debutante Dares series but was fine for me to pick up alone. (Not sure if these characters have some character depth in prior books)

Basic plot:
After getting caught in a kiss, Pippa is banished back to London and told to deal with her fear of crowds and find an ELIGIBLE gentleman to marry. Bram is thankful he didn’t lose his position in that debacle because keeping a steady job is the only way he’s going to get his inheritance, Blar Hall. These two come together again in a competition to give the best Christmas gift.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1819)
- Second chance-ish feel – they met in Scotland, were caught in a compromising position and removed from each other’s presence. Not too much time has passed since that encounter though (A few months?)
- Class difference feel – this heroine is the daughter of a marquess and sister of a duke, the hero is a solicitor
- Average novella steam – 1 full scene and some kisses
- A loved yet interfering elderly relative

My thoughts:
Welllllll second chance is not my favorite. I feel like I miss all the good stuff. And there was a lot of pining for each other in this one and remembering what was I’m sure a lovely kiss that happened prior to this story. But I missed it. And I’m nosy AF and wanted to be there watching them when it happened. So that did put a bit of a damper on this one for me (just personal preference!)

But! This was my first Charlie Lane and I quite loved the writing. The characters were fun, the banter enjoyable. I enjoyed the tension she built even with their relationship already started. It has made me way more eager to pick up a full length novel from her.

Quotes/thoughts:


He curved his arm around her waist and swung her around, pressed her back against the door, and dipped his head until his lips hovered just over hers. He kissed her with a grin.
She deepened it, arching against his body, hard and warm and hers. She pulled away, panting. “Why are you here?”
“To claim you.” A growl that earned him another kiss, this one hard and fast

Gentleman of Christmas Past by Jennifer Monroe (71%-85% of the book)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋
Sex Scene Length: only kisses and they are 1-2 sentences
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): only kisses
Humor: A touch.
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is the prequel to Monroe’s The Sisterhood of Secrets series

Basic plot:
Agnes knows she will marry Phillip one day. As she plans for this eventuality, Phillip gets his financial ducks in a row after a long string of bad luck.

Give this a try if you want:
- Mid Georgian time period (1777)
- a bit of unrequited love on both sides
- low steam – only kisses and they are quite short
- a touch of other man issues/light villain

Ages:
- Hero is 21, heroine is 18

My thoughts:
Unfortunately this one was a bit of a flop for me. There were a few things in the story that I think left me feeling like I needed more information. I know this is a struggle in novellas because the word count is short so you can’t spend as much time on back history without having the main characters suffer.

Agnes was rescued from the streets as a teenager and brought up as a lady. You do find out a bit more of why this happened towards the end, but I found myself wanting a fuller novel to explain her history and life prior to this novella starting.

There’s a previous love interest for Agnes that we walk in having already soured and he becomes a bit of a light villain – again I found myself wanting to know more of their story and how it fell apart and why this man even cared for Agnes.

And we also come into the story with both characters basically in love with each other. I get unrequited love, and I did enjoy watching them gain confidence and reveal it to each other over the course of the book...but I also found myself feeling like I had missed the best parts of their attraction and didn’t get any of the butterflies I adore in romance.

So overall this one just had a few things that I don’t personally prefer in romance. I know I have a few other other books but haven’t tried them yet. Hoping to enjoy those more as they are full length!

Christmas Intrigue by Meredith Bond (85% of the book)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: only kisses
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): only kisses
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine

Should I read in order?
This is the prequel to Bond’s Royal Hearts series

Basic plot:
Alexander is visiting England for negotiations with his country, but keeps getting distracted by Prudence during the holiday festivities.

Give this a try if you want:
- Georgian time period (1791)
- Royalty-ish – the hero is not a prince but the Prince of Aachen-Duren’s brother (He’s a markgraf which is said to be similar to a marquess status)
- Hero is a military man


My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the beginning of this novel and had some high hopes for it! Unfortunately I was a bit let down.

The characters are really likable and fun in this story. I did like the plot. I could have really loved it! But, about halfway through when I was wanting their relationship (or friendship) to progress more, it kind of stalled. And the hero says some things that are just really hurtful, I think. And instead of making it better, they avoid each other. And in a novella I just REALLY felt this. They needed to be together. I barely knew them and they had barely started forming an attachment. So when they do come back together I just didn’t find it believable and found it rushed at the end. I think others will like it though, I am really, really picky about how much time my mains spend together haha.

This book hits all the right notes. These authors already excel in the historical romance genre, and when they all contribute to one holiday collection, there really is nothing but joy from an avid reader.
I am a huge fan of Fenna Edgewood so I jumped to her story first. Lady Katherine is a force of a woman who has no cares left to give in her new found widowhood. She goes home for Christmas, a choice that changes her fate. Sir Ashley comes along, her opposite in many ways. What unfolds, as only author Edgewood can do, is a slow build of lust and friendship. WITHOUT having the female MC lose her identity. Add in the magic of Christmas and you get warm and fuzzy inside.
Then I moved along to the other authors in the collection and found myself wanting more of their heroines and then dashing men who wooed them.
This book is huge, I read the ebook and bought the paperback. and love having it for my collection.

What's not to love about a holiday themed anthology by seven fabulous authors? You are right. You will adore each one!!

Bree Wolf's Once Upon An Aggravatingly Heroic Kiss, is part of the Whickerton stories and is delightful to see Edith determined to follow in her Grandma Edie's footsteps as a matchmaker. She is going to make sure her friend gets her man... But you never know what will happen when she finds her own match!!

When the heart knows what it wants, even a family feud cannot keep them apart in Sydney Jane Baily's A Diamond for Christmas! Lord Geoffrey Diamond knows there is not woman out of his reach, except the one he is determined to woo. Can these two find happiness? At Christmas anything is possible!!

In Tracy Sumner's The Governess Gamble ....Fleeing America to get away from Scandal, heiress Franny Shaw goes to London to find a nobleman who needs money, which she has. Setting herself up as a "governess", she encounters Chance, a lonely rake. Can they find true love despite their pasts? Charming!

More to come!

I loved reading these stories! While not all were my favorite, my 5 stars go to the whole anthology as it made me add almost more than half of the authors featured on my radar.

My favorite was The Governess Gamble as I chose this anthology because of Tracy Sumner's wonderful writing. I also liked a lot Bree Wolf's story, and, despite the fact that I don't usually read older woman / younger man trope, these stories featured here were so lovely. I adored how bold and free most of the heroines acted despite the times they were leaving.

I am a fan of anthologies, I find it impossible not to discover at least one new author, series and stories to enjoy so this is a total win.

I received a copy of this in order to offer my view on it.

I requested this mainly to read Tracy Sumner's novella, so this review and rating will only cover said novella.

And let me tell you, she is slowly but surely making me rethink my statement that novellas just aren't my cup of tea.

This novella fulfills everything you may want from a historical romance. We've got a wallflower albeit strong willed American with a large dowry falling in love with a viscount who wouldn't know love if it stood right in front of him. We get two weeks of sizzling sexual tension before being treated with a very *hot* chapter.

The best part of this book (for me at least)? Lots of Macauley, ripping his friends a new one for being in love, infatuated, married and/or having kids. It's even funnier to think that he will, soon after this novella takes place, fall to his knees even harder than all in the Leighton cluster combined (read the Wicked Wallflower to see that deliciousness happening!). That said, I now need a scene where his friends all take (good natured) revenge on him for his skeptical ways!

So, if I enjoyed this so much, why only 4 stars? I think a few extra scenes to develop their intimacy a bit more were needed. It would've helped to make the big "revelation" sting a bit more, and really make you feel it alongside Chance as a reader, because right now it fell kind of flat because their intimacy wasn't built up enough to make it sting. I also would've liked to have seen a bit more scenes between Franny and Kat, and Kat and Chance. I think it would've made the story a lot richer, and deeper than just a fierce sexual attraction that quickly turns into love.

What I also loved but felt like it could've been explored a lot more, was Chance becoming a father figure to Kat when he's still nursing his own childhood wounds. They say becoming a parent brings those to the forefront and that was certainly the case for Chance, and I would've liked to see him work through that just a little bit more.