Erotica, Christmas, Anthology
TBR Reviewer: Shyla

Once again I had the privilege of reviewing another Sextet by the fantastic authors:  Elizabeth Raines, Cheryl Brooks, Mellanie Szereto, Bethany Michaels, and Niki Hayes. As always the ladies bring the heat, and provide variety, presenting a story for ever yromance reader. 

Home for Christmas by  Elizabeth Raines
Janynie , Steve and Matt have been best friends since they were children. When both men admit to being head over heels for her, she’s forced to choose one or the other; but not before one incredible night of passion, decadence, and self-discovery. Who will Jaynie chose? Can the three musketeers survive this new test? This really opens your eyes to the
possibilities that are out there right under your nose!

 Elizabeth Raines approached this threesome from a completely different angle! I loved the background, build up and realistic feel of this ménage. I found the hopping from the past to the present to be a bit disconcerting. But overall I found it to be a good read. 

Angel on Broadway by Cheryl Brooks
Ariel is a widow still reeling from the loss of her husband five years previous. Living a half life she’s shocked when she forms an instant connection with a drummer during a set in a bar. When the drummer whose name is Nico tracks her down after she flees, Ariel discovers she knows him and his cousin Alexei from her past. They were both a part of the music scene at the same time as her husband Todd. She can’t pin-point what makes them special but they make her feel alive in a way she hasn’t’ experienced since Todd passed. Does she dare take the next step and listen to her instincts?

This story mixed two of my favorite things, music and romance! With its setting steeped in the music scene in Nashville, Angel on Broadway is a contemporary tale with a twist.  Ms. Brooks added just a dash of the otherworldly aspect in, along with amusing banter, and amazing sex.  I was a fan of the concept. This, however, thew threw me off: The main character Ariel went from suffering from severe depression due to the tragic loss of her husband to coveting two men too fast. 

Ariel still wasn’t ready to let go of her husband after five years, so it’s a hard pill for me to swallow when she finds herself ready to move on in one night. For me that abrupt change of gears kept me from being able to immerse myself in the story and enjoy the journey the characters took, but admittedly that could just be me. There are plenty of other reasons for a reader to enjoy with this one.

Thrice Upon Yuletide by Bethany Michaels 
Stephen, Anna, and Phillip have an arrangement that is scandalous to most people in their time. Friends since they were young the three can’t imagine life without one another. So, the two men who were once both brothers in arms in the military agree to share the brunette beauty. Though an inheritance leads to marriage between Anna and Stephen it changes nothing in this polyamourous relationship.

When whispers began to circulate about their odd relationship, Phillip takes it upon himself to protect the two people he loves most in the world. If Stephan and Anna become social pariahs it would be a death blow to their social standing, and wealth. Phillip believes he’s doing the right thing by cutting ties with his lovers, and getting engaged to someone else; but can he really marry a woman he doesn’t love?

Ménage meets historical in this saucy short.There’s something extra naughty about their open foreplay in the time of the buttoned up Victorian Era.  It made the story feel that more erotic to me. Of course some say the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. ;)  Ms. Michaels is a master of character development. I really felt the camaraderie between the male heroes and their love for the heroine was a bright beacon that shone through the ups and downs that the three went through.  Thrice Upon Yuletide is a hidden jewel I highly recommend. Especially to those who love a good historical. 

A Little Elfin Magic by Mellanie Szereto 
Close since they were children Noelle, Chris, and Nick have always had each other’s back. But we learn very quickly part of the reason Noelle is so easily coerced is her well hidden desire for the two men.  They ask her to step in and be Ms. Claus at a gift give away. Chris and Nick assure her the event it strictly PG rated, and she agrees to play the role with one condition. They need to be elves. That means, tights, curly shoes, pointy hats, the works. Things take an erotic turn when she promises to take care of their penis’s after their imprisonment in tights. This lands her in a situation that excites and terrifies. Will living out her fantasies ruin their life long friendship?

Once again Ms. Szereto has delivered another fabulous story full of humor, heat and kink. I laughed aloud at the ridiculous situations Nick and Chris manage to land their best friend Noelle in. No really! The boys still owe her for the time she ended up doing a show girl style dance for a bachelor party at a retirement home. Where does Ms. Szereto come up with this stuff! This story is a must read and perfect for the holiday season. If I knew Santa was delivering these kind of elves I might have gotten in line at the mall. ;) Even if kink isn’t your thing, this is a nice intro into the world of more than vanilla. 

Two Kisses Under the Mistletoe by Niki Hayes 
Julie left town after her senior year with a broken heart, and never looked back. With the exception of her beloved grandmother’s funeral she hasn’t set foot back in Irish Hills until now. Ten years later the tenant Julie has been renting too has moved out after getting married and she’s brought back to deal with her past. It was no secret Julie’s ex John hurt her badly. When you base a character on someone and decapitate them, it makes one hell of a statement. Julie writes under a pseudonym but everyone knows there’s no such thing as privacy in a small town. Being back in town brings back good memories, and a run in with her best friend Keith leads to an explosive rendezvous under the mistletoe. Julie realizes she has more reasons to stay then she thought. An equally satisfying encounter with her ex John opens her eyes further, and possibly her heart.

 This is the perfect read for the season. Full of love, loss, and forgiveness, Two Kisses Under The Mistletoe gets you in the mood for the holidays and delivers enough passion to get you past what I refer to as the Christmas Crazy.  The sex was yummy, and the message behind it warmed my heart.  Ms. Hayes wrote a fantastic short. 

Ms. Raines is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner. Comment below to enter. Contest ends January 1st.

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.

Vampire, paranormal, Romance - novella
TBR reviewer: Nat

Aimee was lucky to save a vampire's life by killing another. Now Brenda is her best friend and they'll spend Christmas with her vampire 'family'. This is where she meets the real saint Nic.

The plot isn't something new but it had good characters. This was interesting and different. This was quick and fast paced read could be compared to Twilight, a much more adult version, and even has some scenes that resemble it. I didn't enjoy how the Christmas theme was approached. It lacked a family involvement in such a family oriented holiday and I thought that really put a damper on the plot.

It's a fun read before bed with some unexpected moments and likable characters. A light read for the holiday.

Christmas, Romance - Novella
TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf

To Dr. Aidan Keegan, who has lost a wife and child in a careless accident and seen his
career as a heart surgeon come to a blistering halt, Christmas marks the end of a year of loneliness and the beginning of another. Aidan fears not even the delicate stirrings of longing and desire, his young receptionist Liya Emerson incites within him, can thaw the ice around his shattered heart.

Hoping to get away and clear her mind of Dr. Keegan, Liya finds herself up in the mountains at an isolated cabin belonging to none other than Aidan. Determined to break through the layers around his heart, Liya offers herself for three passionate days, without a promise of the future.

But will Aidan be able to see beyond his own pain to the love Liya has to offer and realize that their passion doesn’t have to last for one Christmas only?

Liya Emerson has known loss but she chooses to live life and not let it pass her by. Dr. Aidan Keegan has known more loss than most and can’t seem to move out of the past. Can Liya help Aidan to let go and move forward or is three nights of passion all they will ever know. Warning: Age Gap of more than ten years. 
 
This was amazingly well written with tons of emotional pull. The passion of the characters kept me entranced. Aidan is truly a wounded soul that’s barely making it but right from the start you see the potential through Liya’s eyes. Liya has been through so much and yet she still looks at life with joy, add to that her caring disposition and it’s no surprise that as a reader we love her.

I personally don’t like an age gap over ten and so it was hard for me to really believe that these characters had any true connection other than that they had both experienced loss in their lives. However, that’s my personal feelings and I put them aside but I felt the need to voice them for other readers such as myself. I also felt that this was too heavy on the angst for a holiday read, especially a short one at 97 pages. Despite those complaints, I found that I did enjoy the book. The author gave intense descriptions and really brought me into the book. I don’t recommend it for a light holiday read but I do recommend it for a good read on the emotional rollercoaster.

Erotica - short
TBR reviewer: B.H.

This holiday themed story is meant as an enhancement to the OF WAR Series. Join Ares, Alena, and Raven as she bring Christmas and Yuletide to Olympus. This bit of romantic happiness contains graphic adult material.

I admit, what first grabbed my attention was the cover. It is smoking hot. The blurb further intrigued me and I picked Christmas Eve on Olympus to review.

The beginning was such a contradiction to the ending, well the second half. It was rushed with lots of telling. I felt like I was reading an outline for a book rather than a story. There were no surrounding details, I had no idea what the ‘fortress’ looked like. There were scenes with head hopping and words missing from sentences.
 
Despite all that I read on. As Ares, God of War, and Alena, his wife, put their child to bed in preparation for Santa’s arrival everything changes. The pace slows (A good thing), the dialogue becomes crisp and I can really see the love between Ares and Alena. There’s no more telling, head hopping or rushing. The second half of this story was really well written. I love the candy cane sucking line, ha! I will also be purchasing some peppermint oil.
 
Christmas Eve on Olympus was a cute story and shows a lot of promise for the authors other
publications. This isn’t some mind blowing story that will change your life but it will get you hot and smiling for the season. I will be checking out Ms. Darling’s other books based on this read. I for one have them on my to-read list and look forward to delving deeper into her worlds.

+Giveaway

Romance, Christmas - novel
TBR reviewer: Luta Wolf

Abbie Taylor has a thousand things to do before Christmas: help the vicar with needy families, organize the nativity, and give time she can hardly spare for a toddler and a distraught baby at the orphanage. Falling into a coma while her spirit resides inside a prickly, big-shot businessman doesn’t work for her at all...until she falls in love.

 How could Marcus Chapman be so unlucky? No sooner is he saddled with his newly widowed mother than his mind is invaded by an annoying spirit—a spirit who’s instantly aware Marcus is not nearly as tough as he makes out. Between these two manipulating women, the man doesn’t stand a chance, especially when the season is Christmas, and love is all around.

Marcus Chapman has been running himself ragged at work, mostly to keep from going home to the mother he has taken in. So it was no surprise, when he stops to take a rest on a bench that he falls asleep. He is awakened by a young sprite of a woman trying to cover the rose bushes before the snow freezes them. When he steps in to help they are both poked by the rose bush. Abbie Taylor finds herself looking down at her unconscious self through Marcus’s eyes.

This should be one interesting Christmas.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was put in mind of a Lifetime Movie and I’ll admit there is a similarity. Despite the sickly sweetness of it all with it’s magical backdrop of a small town outside of London and it’s charismatic townsfolk, it completely captivated me. As if all that wasn’t enough the main characters are some of the best I’ve ever read.
 
Marcus isn’t the usual hero. He has a rough and gruff exterior used to hide his mushy heart but all the women who he holds dear are aware of this and use it to wrap him around their little finger’s. Abbie is this sweet soul who does everything she can for others to the point of exhaustion, her motto really is “do unto others”. She isn’t goody-goody though because she has a witty almost wicked sense of humor that drives Marcus crazy and kept me laughing. Just as I was sinking into the sappiness the author brought on the angst and it took me by complete surprise! 

This plot was simply amazing and I felt an array of emotions of happiness, sadness, surprise, and many more. I highly recommend Together For Christmas, especially for those that enjoy a good holiday book.

 As soon as she’d opened the door, the dog had done his duty and retuned to her side like a
gentleman who didn’t want to keep his lady waiting in the cold. She whispered to him. “No noise now. We’ll hide you in the kitchen again, but this time you must stay there, you hear me?”
 
His low growling agreement made her smile. Turning sneakily, she saw Marcus leaning against the doorway, arms and legs crossed. Her smiles turned to giggles.

“My mate here saved my life, Marcus. I can’t turn my back on him and put him out in this storm. You wouldn’t ask that of me, would you?”
 
He grinned back and without a word, he cocked his eyebrow. “If he goes, I’ll have to go with
him.”

His sigh of acceptance had her patting his cheek. “I’ll put him in the kitchen. I don’t believe the swinging door barricaded him the last time you hid him in there. I have a better idea. We need to talk, and I don’t want this big lug interrupting.” So saying, he quickly grabbed up the half-empty bottle of Drambuie and a couple glasses and linked her fingers with his. He led
her up the curving stairs, and she meekly followed, the black furry shadow at their heels. 

When they got to his room, he opened the door just enough to steer her inside, and then stepped in himself and closed the door quickly, leaving the distraught dog in the hallway. Satisfaction glowed in his eyes until he heard the animal complain.

“Quiet,” he yelled, and peace reigned.    
 
Surprised and pleased, Abbie nodded to him purposefully. She hoped he registered her new friend’s intelligence. “See how smart he is?”

Shrugging, Marcus went to start a fire in the grate. Then he moved two easy chairs close together near the warmth.

Hang on here! She wasn’t about to settle in separate chairs when there was a perfectly good bed nearby. Not after what he’d started earlier. She wanted more, a lot more—she wanted it all. Purposely she went over the bed and folded down the brown coverlet, uncovering warm woollen blankets. She lay on her side and propped her head in her hand, then waited for him to notice her.  Lurking humour resulted when she glimpsed his shock after turning from his chores. 

“Abbie, I do think it would be safer for us to sit over here, near the fire. It’s much warmer here, you see?”  
 
“On the contrary, Marcus. I’d much rather lay here. I do believe we’d be more comfortable. We can keep each other warm.” That’s if I have anything to do about it. “Come,” she gestured. “I have so many things to tell you.” 

Ms Barbour is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! Comment below to enter. Contest ends December 6th.