Romance Novel
TBR Reviewer: Luta Wolf

Sixteen years ago Winter lost the love of her life and learned first hand that even though you might live, you aren’t necessarily living. Then Cayden Cain, the big movie star, comes into her life and she finds herself feeling things that she hadn’t felt since Austin. Now that she has found love again she will do everything to protect it but can true love survive being hidden?
 
The book starts off immediately were the other ended and that is where I have problems but we’ll get to that later. In this book we the reader, do get a deeper looking into the characters and their love for each other. The author left no doubt to the fact that the two characters really do have chemistry together. The plot also grows/twists and we truly start to understand how Austin and Cayden could be so much alike. I won't spoil the story but that in itself was interesting. What I personally loved the most about this book though, was that I felt there was more character development concerning Winter, a little less vulnerable and more individualized. Always before I felt that she almost got lost behind the leading men but not so in this installment. There were so many things going on, including a lot of hot passion but the author did a spot on job of keeping it well balance. 

Honestly, I love how London Saint James writes, there is always an amazing amount of detail with a poetic touch. However, this breaking up of books just isn’t doing it for me, especially with a book that could not and can not stand alone. I saw no reason for it not to be connected with the previous book, making a three hundred page, well rounded book. I was even more baffled to find that once again we don’t have a true ending, it’s another 'to be continued'. This is a romance, plan and simple. While it might have some suspense and paranormal aspect, we as the reader are reading it for the romance and our happily ever after. Done this way, I feel more as though I’m tuning into a Day Time TV episode. I understand that an author has to make a buck but this isn't the way to do it.

Just because you grow up doesn´t mean Santa is not keeping an eye on you. I enjoyed these 10 Holiday themed stories about men and women who definitely made both the nice
and naughty list. 

The proposal by London Saint James

Grace is having one of those days where nothing seems to go right. She oversleeps, her bitch of a boss is in a bad mood and things just seem to tumble downhill as the day goes on. That is until she gets a proposal she just can´t refuse from co-worker Dravin. We have all had those days where everything seems to go wrong. I just wish that my bad days ended as orgasmic as Grace´s.  This story feels like such a teaser, setting up a nice and hot mood between Grace and Dravin. At the end I just feel like I want more, more, more.
 
Chasing Miss Kringle by C.R. Moss

Jack Vorst is not feeling the holiday spirit, and has stopped Believing in his own happiness and love. He spends all his time immersed in his work as a PI. The firm he works for handles not only regular bail jumpers, but paranormal occurrences too. When Jack meets beautiful and mysterious Kristina Cristkindle, the feelings he had long since forgotten resurface. This was a sweet read where Jack finally found the person to make him feel something again and Kristina found someone who liked her for who she is and not just for what she can do. The mystery in the story is of course only a mystery to Jack. The reader definitely knows what is going on from the start. An overall sweet read with some good hot elements.
 
Snow Angel by Jezebel Jorge

Up and coming romance novelist Minerva Madison has lost her inspiration to write. She has been signed on for two more books and is feeling the pressure from both her publisher and fans. When she lands her car in a pile of snow on Christmas Eve she is rescued by a gorgeous Good Samaritan named Brian Carson. Two strangers meet and have one night together. Still I can feel that connection and tenderness between them.  My one complaint about this story is that it was full of spelling mistakes. Take those out and this is a steamy and romantic Holiday story. 
 
Naughty & Nice by Lila Shaw

We all know that Santa has a workshop where toys for kids are made. What few people know though is that the workshop also has a Succubus/Incubus department to cater the needs of the adults on Santa´s nice list. Succubus Chrissy is sent to a remote and isolated island where Captain Marcus Torino and Lieutenant David Ramsey are stationed on a secret spy mission. Chrissy is sent there to deliver a sexy Christmas present to the one of the two men who is on Santa´s nice list. I think this extra department of Santa´s is a fun idea. With a
succubus as a main character one can only expect lots and lots of sex and this story doesn´t fail to deliver that.  The twist in the end was interesting, although it made me a little confused
about  the characters involved. What I am certain of, being on Santa´s naughty list is not such a bad thing.
 
Making the naughty list by Seleste Delaney


When Daisy was a teenager she was rescued from a life on the streets and got an employment with Santa himself.  A job with many perks including an insane retirement package. She is given a special mission from Santa that sends her to a club in a sparkly cocktail dress, high heels and no underwear. The only thing she knows is that she is looking for Gage Thomas, who needs help getting off the naughty list. When she finds Gage she is entranced by the man, but seems to end up with more questions than answers. I really liked this story. It had just the right mix of good and likeable characters, romance, hot sex and a little mystery. There are some side characters that seem to be important, but never really
make it into the story. It´s not really a big thing and didn´t disturb the story that much, but it still sort of left me hanging.

 
A very naughty Christmas by Carolyn Rosewood


Nita has had a tough year. Not only did she find out that her husband has been living a double life with another family, she also lost her job. When she gets lost in a snow storm she sees a house where she hopes to find a phone and some directions.  Never could she know that she would find so much more. She is invited in by the house´s two residents Alex and Cameron, two very attractive, willing and caring men. Lucky for Nita she doesn´t have to chose between the two, as they come as a two for one package deal. This was one of the more erotic stories of the bunch. Even though the story is mainly focused on sex I still feel the deeper connection between Nita and the guys. The story and the relationship between
the characters are based on some strange coincidences and it walks a very fine line between creepy stalker and sweet devoted guys.

Promises by Xondra Day

 Leda James really hates the holiday season. Having no nice childhood memories of the Holidays it is just a stressful time. She just doesn´t do the family thing and declines an invitation to spend Christmas with her very nice and very handsome employee at the bakery, Joey, and his family. She has long tried to ignore her attraction to Joey, but when they are snowed in together, they just can´t resist the temptation of each other. Now it is up to Joey to show Leda that the Christmas Holidays can indeed be a wonderful, happy and sexy
time. This was a decent short story and I am glad that Joey and Leda got caught in the snow storm so they could share some time together.
 
Santa´s little helper by Kelly Yeakle

Miranda Wilson is a spoiled party girl and her father has had enough. If she wants to keep her trust fund she has to find a job, prove that she can be responsible and make something of herself. However, having no experience at all makes it hard to find a job, especially so
close to the Holidays. Luckily Craig Davis, owner of a department store, takes pity on her and gives her a job as a helper in Santa´s photo booth. When Craig and Miranda give in to their mutual attraction, Miranda has to prove not only that she can be responsible and keep a job, she also needs to show Craig that she can be serious in a relationship and plan for a
future. I liked the building romance between Miranda and Craig. Even though Miranda is pretty spoiled and a little naïve, she isn´t mean or stupid, so she is quite likeable to start with. A light and engaging story that really makes me root for Miranda.

Mistletoe Masquerade by Alaska Angelini

Jeanie is tired of being the shy and insecure girl. An invitation to a Holiday Masquerade party from a secret admirer gives Jeanie just the chance she has been waiting for. With the security of hiding behind a mask she gets a chance to reinvent herself and let go of her inhibitions. It turns out that she has not only one, but two secret admirers, Jared and Edward.  The story starts down one path, doesn´t really follow through and then takes a turn and starts down another one. After this rocky start the story gets going and the heat level rises. It ends with sweet and naughty satisfaction.
 
Letter to Santa by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

It all starts with a Christmas wish and a letter to Santa. Elise doesn´t want to be alone for Christmas and hopes that a letter to Santa will help her. When the door bell rings on Christmas Eve and Elise opens the door to a man resonating with sex appeal she is certain he is her Christmas present. When she invites Nicholas in her house and in her bed she never expected to find a man that she wants to keep for more than just the Holidays. The erotic part of the story took off very quickly. The rest of the story and explanations came later. 
This is something that I normally do not like, but the author managed to catch my attention, throw me into the story and I definitely bought it. It is nice to know that a Christmas wish and some good karma can give you what you need.