Customer Reviews

Holiday Kisses: A Rare Gift\Mistletoe and Margaritas\It's Not Christmas Without You\This Time Next Year

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three good stories, one dud...

1) "This Time Next Year" by Alison Kent - Dillon Craig is a mountain doctor, tending his rural patients with the same care he tended his soldiers in Afghanistan. When Brenna Keating is stranded by Christmas snowstorm, Dillon takes her in and they spend the holiday together. Sparks fly, but Brenna is scheduled to leave on an overseas mission trip - can she and Dillon continue their relationship from a distance of several thousand miles?

This story was such a sweet tale, both sincere and romantic and yet the conflict didn't feel at all forced. Dillon and Brenna were both focused adults with live and careers, and their finding each other felt special. It was so obvious that they were meant to be together if time and travel weren't in the way. Plus the love scenes were gorgeous - yum. Lots of Christmas-y details made this story a terrific start to the anthology. Grade: B+

2) "A Rare Gift" by Jaci Burton - Calliope Andrews always had a thing for Wyatt Kent - even when he was married to her sister. Now that Wyatt's single again, and is working on an addition to Calliope's daycare, does the unlikely couple have a chance?

My first question after reading this was, why was this in a Christmas anthology? Other than the fact that the final scene took place at a Christmas party (and it could totally have been a Flag Day party for all the cheer and festivity it engendered), there wasn't anything holiday-ish about it. And that bugged me. As for the romance, it wasn't Burton's best work. I liked that Calliope went after what she wanted, and she made no apologies for being a confident female. Unfortunately, I don't think Wyatt was worth it. Aside from some general irritability, Wyatt didn't have much going on - and without a functioning hero, neither did this story. Grade: D

3) "It's Not Christmas Without You" by HelenKay Dimon - Carrie and Austin were small-town sweethearts back in West Virginia, but when she headed off to D.C. to pursue her career dreams, Austin was left behind. Austin heads to the big city with a plan to stir up some Christmas cheer - and to win back the girl of his dreams.

This story ended well despite some rough patches in the middle. I always love reading about a couple in love that just needs to find a way to make it work, and Austin and Carrie do that. If in the middle they both act a bit goofy and immature, well, I can forgive that as long as I believe they deserve their HEA. And in the end, Carrie and Austin do. Grade: B-

4) "Mistletoe and Margaritas" by Shannon Stacey - It's been two years since Claire Rutledge's husband, Brendan, died unexpectedly, and in that time, no one has been a better friend to her than Brendan's best friend Justin. The Christmas season, though, may bring out feelings that Claire and Justin aren't fully ready to face.

Shannon's story was absolutely fantastic, and made this anthology completely worthwhile - you must read it. With Kleenex, if possible. Unexpected bonus: some serious love scenes in a snow plow! 'Tis the season! Grade: A

Reviewed By~Patti
Review Copy Provided By~NetGalley

This Time Next Year - I really enjoyed this story right from the beginning I was routing for Dillon. He was such a sweet man I really wanted him to find love and happiness. The Grandma side story was wonderful too. It really touched memories of my own Grandma and that pulled me in on such a personal level that it was even more important that they get together. The story was believable with just enough magic. The characters were likable and human. I do have to say that you don't know whether or not they will make it long term until the very end.

A Rare Gift - This was also a great story with wonderful characters. I was so attached to Wyatt I wanted to slap the woman who hurt him in the past and made him so apprehensive about letting someone else get close. Calliope is a great woman with just enough stubborn in her to fight for what she wants. The dynamics were great. The sister thing made it a little odd but it was a new twist that was handled quite well.

It's Not Christmas Without You - This story was a bit more difficult for me. The stubborn went on a little too long for me but in the end it did make sense. Both of the characters had some secrets and insecurities to work out before they could finally be honest with themselves and each other. I did like the idea of the man chasing the woman but he was still a little too caveman for me at least in how he acted and things he said. I love that they are longtime sweethearts who do know each other so well that they are pretty accurate in which buttons they push.

Mistletoe and Margaritas - This one was quite a surprise. I really felt bad for Justin he was struggling so hard to do the right thing. Claire was not in a great position either but she at least was only dealing with current feelings and not having to struggle with feeling guilty about the past. It was a wonderful tale of friendship and family of loss and of hope.

After reading all four stories I would definitely say that this is a book I will be recommending to others and I will most definitely read it again. All of the women are strong and independent and the men are up to the challenge.

This Time Next Year - Alison Kent

Brenna Keating has big plans for her life after Christmas with her grandmother, but after being stranded for 3 days with reclusive doctor Dillon Craig, she's not sure her plans are enough to fulfill her.

Dillon doesn't want emotional entanglements in his life. He knows he's not over the traumas he saw in Afghanistan and doesn't feel right dragging anyone else into his messy psyche.

Together, though, Brenna and Dillon discover that Christmas can bring people together. Enough sparks are struck to torch a Christmas tree. What will it take for Dillon to heal and Brenna to honor her dreams?

This was a nice story. I really liked the characters and that Kent didn't take the easy way out in solving Dillon and Brenna's issues. 4 Stars.

A Rare Gift - Jaci Burton

Wyatt used to be married to Calliope's sister and it didn't end well. There's no way he'd ever get involved with Calliope herself, no matter how hot she grew up to be or how different she seems to be from her sister. Appearances can be deceiving, as he discovered while married to Cassie.

Calliope, on the other hand, has wanted Wyatt ever since she was just an awkward younger sister of the most popular girl in school. Now that she's got a shot at Wyatt herself, she's going for it. If only she can convince him to put the past behind and take a chance with her.

Not so much of a holiday tale as Kent's, Burton's story is about sparks and growing out of the past and taking a chance on the future. I really enjoyed these characters. 4 Stars.

It's Not Christmas Without You - Helen Kay Dimon

I love reunion stories, so off and on again lovers Carrie's and Austin's story had promise from the very beginning. Carrie left Austin to take her dream job at a DC Museum, 2 hours from the small town they grew up in and where Austin's family owns a business. When he can't get her to come home and stay home to be with him, Austin makes a last-ditch effort to make Carrie see how much they belong together by opening a Christmas tree stand across from her DC apartment.

When Carrie sees Austin again, the heat is as hot as ever, but he's no closer to understanding how much she loves her job and takes it seriously than he ever was. And she just can't be with someone who wants her barefoot and pregnant and ignoring her dreams in favor of his.

Truthfully, I started to feel like Austin was just a male chauvinist who would never get it and started to figure Carrie would just give in because she loved him. But Dimon didn't give this story a pat ending just to fulfill the romance at the expense of the characters. She ended up pulling together a highly emotional, romantic -- and satifsfying -- ending. This one really touched me, probably because I really am a sucker for happy reunions. 4.5 Stars

Mistletoes and Margaritas - Shannon Stacey

Stacey is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her stories are always full of humor and lots of love - romantic and family love. I was worried that I wouldn't like this one as much, since it wasn't in the same series as her Kowolski family that I love so much, but I was completely, pleasantly, wrong.

Justin and Claire's late husband were best friends. And since her husband died, Claire and Justin have been nearly inseparable. Both needed a friend to fill the whole, and, well, Justin has been in love with Claire forever. Not that he would ever let her know that.

Lately, though, Claire is starting to feel something for Justin that she's never felt before...like maybe he's more important to her that just her best friend. Like maybe she's ready to get back into dating and...well, sex. Only she knows that would ruin everything.

But at a holiday party one night, a bit too much to drink mixed with the festive holiday spirit, makes Claire take a chance. The next morning, though, both are filled with regrets. Claire because she's worried she completely ruined their relationship and Justin because he "stole" his best friend's girl.

This story was SO emotional. I really felt all the pain the two of them went through trying not to hurt the person they loved, even though he wasn't truly between them anymore. Even with the signature Stacey humor, my heart ached through much of the last third of the story, and there were more than a few tears as they worked to resolve the past so they could embrace the future.

This was, by far, my favorite story of the anthology and I finished it quickly (unlike a couple of the others that seemed to take forever to read because I wasn't nearly as engaged). 5 Stars!

Well, it looks like I'm the odd one out again. Although each story was well written, each one lacked something for me to really get into the story.

HOLIDAY KISSES is a collection of 4 short romantic stories set during the most wonderful time of the year. I haven't always been a fan of short stories nor have I been a big fan of anthologies. I'm starting to understand the benefit of being able to sample a few different authors before spending larger amounts of money on them. Even though I found each story enjoyable, not one really stood out or felt like a full story. I know these are SHORT stories and, therefore, only have so many words the author can use to portray their story. I tried to give each one of them that benefit and not hold it against the story.

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent--3-1/2 Stars

Before Brenna Keating leaves for Africa to help work as nurse, she is determined to spend her last week with her beloved grandmother. On the way, blizzard conditions and a crazy deer cause Brenna to spin out and end up in the snow bank. Dillon Craig, a reclusive doctor, rescues Brenna and brings him home by horseback where Brenna must wait out the storm. Turns out, Dillon knows A LOT about Brenna due to his close association with her grandmother, but Brenna knows nothing about this doctor who gave up his practice to enlist and serve in Afghanistan. Soon, Brenna and Dillon are getting to know each other and both are asking the question: How can you meet the right person at the wrong time?

This story was pretty good and is an example of one that could have been really good had the author had more page time to truly develop the storyline--give us more time to show and not summarize. Brenna was pretty well put together, but Dillon had a lot of demons he needed to exercise in his life. I did enjoy watching Dillon open up to her. Without giving anything away, I really liked how the story ended.

A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton--3 Stars

Wyatt Kent has spent the 3 years since his divorce angry, closed-off, and alone. When his ex-wife's little sister Calliope Andrews hires him to build an addition onto her day care center, Wyatt can't help but notice how completely different she is than her horrible big sister. Calliope has crushed on Wyatt since big sis brought him home to meet the family and sees this as an opportunity to get Wyatt out of her fantasies and into her bed. She's determined to prove that they are perfect for each other. Wyatt is attracted to Calliope but can't get past the fact that she's his ex-wife's sister.

This story is a sequel to last year's Christmas Story All She Wants For Christmas about Wyatt's brother. And in comparison, this one wasn't as rounded as the first.

I had a hard time with this story because Calliope IS the sister of his ex-wife. It just grossed me out. The author did do a good job in helping me get over it and be okay with it for a few minutes until I put it down and thought about it again and was grossed out about it again. Besides that, I really liked Calliope's cheerfulness and stubbornness. She really was a perfect match to Wyatt who we watched as his shell cracked and started to pull away.


It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon--3-1/2 Stars

Carrie Anders officially broke up with Austin Thomas 6 months ago when she accepted her dream job in D.C. She begged him to come with her, but Austin refused to leave their West Virginia hometown. To keep from falling into old habits, Carrie isn't going home for Christmas. When Austin hears this, he decides it's time to bring her home. He sets up a Christmas Tree Lot across the street from her apartment. He's certain daily meetings will remind her she's a country girl and belongs with him and will give all this foolishness up and finally come home.

This story was probably my favorite out of the 4. I always love "lovers reunite" stories, so this was right up my alley. Even though Carrie broke up with Austin, he knows they really aren't broken up because they have been off and on since High School always coming back together. Austin has some major blinders on and is convinced he knows what is right for Carrie, so he doesn't truly listen to what Carrie is saying. And he did come off as a stalker ex-boyfriend at times. I loved the compromise to resolve their issue.

Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey--3 Stars

Finally after losing her husband two years ago, Claire Rutlege takes off the wedding band. She thinks she just might be ready to move on, but is a little freaked out when it's her best friend (and her husband's best friend) Justin McCormick who is starring in her steamy dreams. Justin has loved Claire since the moment he first saw her, but his best friend got to her first so he backed off. He can't stand the idea of betraying his best friend by loving his wife. When a combination of mistletoe and margaritas have them "moving on" both are caught in the emotional turmoil of what that would mean to their deceased husband and friend.

This story had a bit too much angst in it for my taste. There was a lot of pining on both Claire and Justin's part. I don't like pining. It rhymes with whining. I am fan of Ms. Stacey's "Kowalski Family Series of DOOM!" books (i.e.Exclusively Yours, Undeniably Yours) , but this didn't seem to have the same flair and humor. This story was well written and flowed smoothly, which is always a plus.

'Holiday Kisses' is a collection of four novellas that share a theme of couples overcoming obstacles to find true love before Christmas. I found all four stories enjoyable; the last one 'Mistletoe and Margaritas' by Shannon Stacey is my favourite, and in my view the strongest.

Holiday Kissses from Carina Press is another book in their terrific Christmas anthologies. I say terrific because the formula they use isterrific. They publish the four stories together under one theme, and people have the choice to purchase all four together, or, they're available separately. This is a terrific solution to the "your mileage may vary" problem usually found in anthologies.

There's the obvious theme in this collection. Okay, there are two obvious themes. It's a romance anthology. And it's a collection of romances centered around the Christmas holidays. But I noticed that all the stories had the additional theme of second chances. In every story, either one of the couple is getting a second chance at life or love, or they are taking a second chance on their relationship. Or in one case, it may be a fifth, sixth or tenth chance. You'll see.

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent is the story of a woman with a plan for her life, and a man who has given up on all of his. Brenna Keating plans to follow in her family's footsteps. After one last Christmas with her grandmother in the North Carolina mountains, she's off to take her nursing skills to far-flung outposts, just as her grandmother did and just as her parents currently are. Instead, a blizzard wrecks her car, and she is snowbound for three days with Dillon Craig, an ex-Army doctor with PTSD who has practically become a hermit. Sharing the cabin forces Dillon to confront his self-imposed distance from the world, and his familiarity with Brenda from his conversations with her grandmother help him begin to break down the walls he has built between himself and others. The sexual chemistry between them is impossible to ignore, being as they are snowbound in a small cabin. But when the roads are clear, has Brenda build enough of a bridge for Dillon to take a second chance at living a full and real life?
Escape Rating A: There was a lot packed into this story. All the characters are multi-layered, including Brenda's grandmother. Brenda's family history and her need to establish herself also play a big part in this surprisingly meaty tale.

Jaci Burton's A Rare Gift is about a crazy idea that works. Calliope Andrews needs to build an addition onto her day care center. Of course, she wants to hire the best construction firm in town for the job. There's this one problem. The man who owns that firm is her ex-brother-in-law, Wyatt Kent. Not only was his divorce from her sister really nasty, but Calliope has had a crush on Wyatt since the first time he walked into her parents' house. But Calliope's not sixteen anymore, and she wants Wyatt for herself this time. All she has to do is get him to see that she's the right sister for him. And figure out a way to deal with family reunions with his hopefully once and future in-laws.
Escape Rating B+: This was just a fun story. Going after your ex-brother-in-law is a little odd, but it works. Calliope's maneuvering so that everyone gets closure and can move past the very icky past was a tad manipulative, but necessary in context. This one is just good fun.

It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon is about a young couple with very different dreams. Carrie Anders and Austin Thomas have gotten together and broken up over and over (and over) again. But this time Carrie thinks it's for good. She took a job at a big museum in Washington, D.C. because that's her dream. And Austin, well, he just never really listened when she talked about her dreams. He's always been sure that her dreams of arranging major museum exhibitions are something she'll outgrow. Where his dream of working at, and eventually taking over his family tree farm are what's really important. And Austin is certain they are meant to be together. So he rents the corner lot next to her apartment building in DC to sell Christmas Trees and brings a little bit of their West Virginia country to DC to convince her that she's meant to come home with him. But it takes a major event at her museum, one that she arranged, for him to finally start to listen.
Escape Rating C: This was the weakest story in the collection. Austin was too smug for too long for any woman with a spine, which Carrie has, to have forgiven him that easily. It just doesn't quite work.

Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey is a terrific "friends into lovers" story that happens to take place at Christmas. Claire Rutledge has been a widow for two years. She's held her life together with the help of her best friend, Justin McCormick. What Claire doesn't know is that Justin has loved her since the very first moment he saw her, but his best friend Brendan got there first, and married her. But for the last few months, Claire's been having some "extra-friendly" thoughts about Justin, not knowing that Justin would be more than eager to reciprocate. Until, after a holiday party where they both have just enough margaritas to let their drinks do the talking, they cross the boundary from friends to lovers, at least for one night. The question is, can they be be both? And can they build something new and wonderful without Brendan's ghost getting in the way?
Escape Rating B+: Anyone who enjoys a good "friends into lovers" story will love this one.

I love this formula of Carina's, I hope they do this again next Christmas.

This was a great collection of holiday themed romance novellas. I did have a favorite, It's Not Christmas Without You, by HelenKay Dimon. To me this was the most flushed out of the novellas, a great Christmas theme, and a wonderful Happily Ever After. The other stories were well written, This Time Next Year by Alison Kent, A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton, and Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey, all had some cute romantic stories. I didn't feel the Christmas vibe as much in these stories but the sweet romance in each made me forget that they weren't as "Christmasy" as they could have been. I've come to realize I think I prefer full novels to novellas. More often than not I want more conflict, more build up, more sexiness than a novella delivers, but it is a great way to try a new author. Since these are all authors I already love, I wanted more than the novellas delivered but that just means I can go enjoy a full length by any of these authors.

Three of the four of these books were awesome. The other was okay. All in all it's absolutely worth it to grab the bundle instead of purchasing them individually.

A Rare Gift, Mistletoe and Margaritas, It's Not Christmas Without You, and This Time Next Year are all quite steamy quick romances but they're each fun and enthralling in their own way.

Four stories for Christmas in one book. Some better than the others...

Number one: "This Time Next Year" by Alison Kent - Dillon Craig is a mountain doctor, taking care of the mountain patients as he did in Afganistan. He is a troubled man. Ten comes Brenna Keating for her christmas party with her granny, but crashes her car and Dillon takes her to his cabin....Sparks fly, but Brenna is determined to fullfil her dream of an overseas trip, so they meet next year. The story started great, but it something is missing in the middle. ***

NUmber two: "A Rare Gift" by Jaci Burton - Calliope Andrews had always a crush on Wyatt Kent - who was her former brother in law. Divorced already three years ago, she contractred his company to build an extension to her daucare. There are sparks, and Callipe is determined to get what she wants. ****

Number three: "It's Not Christmas Without You" by HelenKay Dimon - Carrie and Austin were small-town sweethearts back in West Virginia, but when she headed off to D.C. to pursue her career dreams, Austin was left behind. He gets drunk, and mourns for two weeks and when he learns (by her brother) that she is dating again, he goes to bring her back. ***

Number four: "Mistletoe and Margaritas" by Shannon Stacey - Claire's husband died two years ago. Her best friend during these years was also his best friend: Justin. But Justin has always been in love with her. And she? I loved this one! ****

Holiday Kisses is my last holiday book. It's an anthology that includes four romantic stories that will warm your heart.

This Time Next Year is a story about Dillon, who is tormented by his past at war, and Breena, a nurse who is going to visit her grandmother for her last Christmas before following her dream. By a snow storm they were stranded at Dillon's cabin, and Breena discovers Dillon need someone who listen to him and love him. This story is very sweet, and I really liked the ending.

A Rare Gift is a story about Wyatt, a divorced man, and Calliope, a sweet woman who is her ex wife sister. I was a little uncomfortable with the idea of Wyatt and Calliope together, because I think it would be weird to be with your sister's ex. (I have sisters!) But still, I liked the story and I'm glad the characters could find a way to be together, because if you really are in love, would you say no because of being afraid about what people will say?.

It's Not Christmas Without You was so sweet and romantic! Carrie left Austin, again, to follow her dream job in a museum in D.C., but Austin isn't going to accept that. So he follows her to make her understand that they should be together. I loved this story because they already loved each other, but it was more about wanting their relationship to work together instead of leaving each other. Both of them made mistakes and were a little bit egoist, but in the end their love was stronger. Also, I really wanted to know more about the secondary characters!

Mistletoe & Margaritas is about Claire, whose husband died two years ago and Justin, a friend of both who has been in love with Claire since forever. I think this one was definitely my favorite, because I loved Claire and Justin's relationship. They were such good friends but their attraction was always there, and it was difficult to forget Claire was Justin's best friend wife. It was so emotional and realistic, I really felt happy for the couple and I think they deserved each other.

Overall, if you want to read sweet romantic and heartwarming holiday stories, Holiday Kisses is a must read.