I have a pile of Romance Anthologies on my bed and am going to knock them out during the holidays. I decided the short stories will be just the thing since my attention span is constantly interrupted with new gift ideas and decorating fiascos.

Do you think there is one that is "not to be missed"?

Hard to say.  What do you enjoy?  Paranormal, contemporary, historicals.....

I miss-big time-the Regency set historicals from Fawcett, Zebra, Signet.  Still have many of them on my keeper shelf, and thanks to PBS, I've been able to add others that I didn't read at the time(and still haven't in many cases) to my TBR shelves. 

A couple that have been re-issued this year and so should be easy to get:  Mary Balogh's "A Christmas Betrothal" and Barbara Metzger's "Father Christmas".  Don't get me wrong-I'm happy for a couple of my favorite authors if they are able to pick up new fans because of these re-issues-but my complaint to the publishers is this-issue NEW ones gosh darn it; the Metzger especially has been re-issued already at least twice that I know of. 

Other favorites-Marian's Christmas Wish-Carla Kelly; and Jo Beverley's "Christmas Angel".  There's also a short story called "A Christmas Cuckoo"-that is either a Putney or a Beverley-it was in one of Signets annual Regency set anthologies. 

As for other genres-Harlequin has done several NASCAR themed ones that I liked-and Catherine Mann(for me) doesn't disappoint if you like contemporary Christmas solider type stories-A Soldier's Christmas.

PS:  thought of another one-again, it's been re-issued several times.  It's a short story by Mary Balogh called "The Wassail Bowl"-which is a completely appropriate title-as you'll see in the very first pages.  Included in Balogh's "Under the Mistletoe" as well as others.....

A favorite Christmas book is http://www.paperbackswap.com/Want-Christmas-Sheila-Rabe/book/0515129259/ - very cute book about a grinchy guy out to knock the Christmas spirit out of the heroine.

Another favorite is Karen Toller Whittenberg's THE SANTA SUIT, Harlequin American #708, about twins who hite the hero to find Santa because their mom says he doesn't exist. The hero is in security and takes on the twins as clients. "Kid Alert" for this one - if one doesn't like kids in romances this isn't for them but the kids are cute but not so cute you can't stand them.

The Signet holiday Regency anthologies are always good, but sometimes those stories are so good you want a full-fledged story instead of the teaser you get.

Gail

Im reading "That Holiday Feeling", it has 3 Christmas stories by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods and Robyn Carr.  Ive also read several

of Debbie Macombers Christmas novels...including Cedar Cove Christmas.

There are also alot of Christmas books with the Love Inspired series.

Ugh. Im not having any luck doing this. I collected a pile of about 20 "holiday" themed romances to get me through the season but most are anthologies, and they are just not working for me.

The Nascar anthologies were just a bit too tame for me, lol. Most of the others that i collected i read and really enjoyed the Lori Foster stories and then moved on. I have the hardest time getting into anthologies. Every now and then I enjoy them but just not back to back i guess. The stories are just too short for me. Not much character developement and such.

I just started Have Yourself A Naughty Little Santa yesterday and so far so good.

I also have The Christmas Box collection that ive not read yet so that will probably be next.

Well, it's true the characters don't get real deep and the character growth is pretty much: a Grinch learns he has a heart after all.

But, I usually go for the hotter, smuttier stuff and with the anthologies, I know it's going to be happening pretty quickly!

Have to say the instant, "You gave me an orgasm, Oh my, I love you." Is wearing thin on my second book now.

No doubt I will be due for some damaged alpha males (ala Black Dagger Brotherhood) come the new year!

It won't be to everyone's taste -- m/m -- and you need an ereader, but I loved "The Dickens with Love" by Josh Lanyon.

One of my favorites is Jane Blackwood's Maybe This Christmas in the Jingle All the Way anthology--that story is stellar.  The rest of the anthology was OK, but that one story is a keeper for me.

I'm also a sucker for those Brava holiday ones, but they can be hit or miss.  

Fedora i think thats one of the anthologies that i read the Lori Foster and skipped the rest, lol. So I'll have to go back and read the one by Jane Blackwood.

Oh and Linda I usually go for the hotter, smuttier stuff too! Thats why the Nascar holiday anthologies just werent cuttin it for me, lol.

Was "The Gift" by Nora Roberts somewhat 3 holiday related stories?  Outside the pure romance stream is "The Christmas Cookie Club" which is an interesting read the North Texas PBS Book Club is doing for this month.

seems like the only one I've read that seemed to focus on the holiday instead of just mentioning a tree in the corner or something was by christie ridgway? forgot the dang title but there' s a new years one too that's a sequel. Not another new years' I think is the title of that one but can't think of the christmas one. the woman's family owns a christmas store seems like...

It's Must Love Mistletoe, Susanna. :-)  It's a decent book.  Not the best but readable. 

thanks Crystal..I liked it ok but felt it at least focused on the holiday theme. I liked one by vicki lewis thompson - a harlequin blaze or might've been temptation whr ethe hero'sthe handyman...nights before christmas or somethinglike that ..pretty hot LOL! one author writes a lot set in the snow aroundchristma I htink - can't think of her name though dangit.

I really liked An Enchanted Season.  It's paranormal, but I love Nalini Singh's story in this one, and I generally dislike anthologies.