A refined single-layer thermoelastic model of composite laminated cylindrical shells is presented using a mixed variational approach. The present model accounts for Reissner-Mindlin?s displacement assumptions and continuous stress distributions through the thickness. Therefore the present first-order shell theory recovers the actual interlami nar stress state without losing its simplicity and leads to a consistency with the elasticity theory. Furthermore, the stresses are consistent with surface conditions. So, the rationale for the shear correction factors used in other first-order theories are obviated. Governing equations including thermomechanical effects are deduced with the required boundary conditions. A wide variety of numerical results for cross-ply symmetric and antisymmetric laminated circular cylindrical shells are presented for various boundary conditions. A bending analysis is made to illustrate the influences of orthotropy, the length-to-radius ratio, the radius-to-thickness ratio, the number of layers, and boundary conditions on the thermal responses.