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Kent Brothers #1
Naughty and Nice
'Tis the Season for Romance
A famous singer reunites with an old flame. A couple explores their desire to be truly bound together. Newlyweds heat things up when they're trapped indoors. And sparks fly when the lights go out. Whether you are naughty or nice, you can still get what you really want for Christmas in this collection of four seasonal shorts.
Anthology includes nice novellas:
•Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
•All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
And naughty novellas:
•Unwrapped by Megan Hart
•Believe by Lauren Dane
A famous singer reunites with an old flame. A couple explores their desire to be truly bound together. Newlyweds heat things up when they're trapped indoors. And sparks fly when the lights go out. Whether you are naughty or nice, you can still get what you really want for Christmas in this collection of four seasonal shorts.
Anthology includes nice novellas:
•Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
•All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
And naughty novellas:
•Unwrapped by Megan Hart
•Believe by Lauren Dane
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2010
About the author
Angela James
3 books61.2k followersFreelance editor and publishing strategy consultant, Angela James is a veteran of and long-time advocate for digital publishing. She has enjoyed seventeen years of experience in her field, including successfully launching, building and serving as editorial director for first Samhain Publishing and then Harlequin’s Carina Press for a combined 15 years of editorial lead experience.
She has edited bestselling books and authors, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Paper Princess by Erin Watt, as well as a variety of authors such as Alexa Riley, Shannon Stacey, Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Ilona Andrews, Lilith Saintcrow, Shelly Laurenston, Jen Frederick, Lucy Monroe and more. She was profiled in Fast Company magazine as a digital pioneer in the romance publishing industry, has been named New York Romance Writers of America’s Golden Apple Editor of the Year, and is the creator of Before You Hit Send, the popular online self-editing and writing workshop for authors.
For more information about Angela’s freelance editorial and consulting services, or Before You Hit Send, visit angelajames.co. You can also find Angela on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
She has edited bestselling books and authors, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Paper Princess by Erin Watt, as well as a variety of authors such as Alexa Riley, Shannon Stacey, Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Ilona Andrews, Lilith Saintcrow, Shelly Laurenston, Jen Frederick, Lucy Monroe and more. She was profiled in Fast Company magazine as a digital pioneer in the romance publishing industry, has been named New York Romance Writers of America’s Golden Apple Editor of the Year, and is the creator of Before You Hit Send, the popular online self-editing and writing workshop for authors.
For more information about Angela’s freelance editorial and consulting services, or Before You Hit Send, visit angelajames.co. You can also find Angela on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 3, 2010
‘Naughty and Nice’ is an anthology collection of four very different steamy holiday stories. (BTW, the stories are also sold separately at Carina Press and Amazon.)
>>Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey – 5++ stars
Web designer Chloe Burke returns to her small hometown in Main to house sit while her parents take a long cruise. Master electrician Scott Quinn is thrilled to get a call from his high school fantasy girl to help fix electrical problems at her parent’s old house. Chloe does not remember Scott, but the attraction sizzles between these two quickly. With Chloe going back to Boston in only a few weeks they both realize that it’s a temporary affair, but the connection between these two is undeniably hot.
Holiday Sparks was a wonderful steamy hot holiday romance that had me grinning ear-to-ear through the entire story. I absolutely love great dialog and teasing banter between the H/h, and this one had some of the best I have read in a long while. The pacing was so believable that I never once doubted that these two could really fall in love (and lust!) with each other in only a few short weeks. I only wish this were a full-length novel, as I would have enjoyed spending a lot more time reading about these two. I loved it!
>>All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton – 2 stars
Riley Jensen, a famous country western singer, returns to her small hometown against her wishes and reconnects with her ex Ethen Kent, who once broke her heart and later married her backstabbing best friend. Ethen feels terrible for all the wrongs he did Riley years ago. Now a widow with a young child, he finds himself reluctantly hanging with Riley again to please his daughter who is a big fan. Riley’s stage manager does some matchmaking by tempting Ethen and Zoey with backstage passes and front row access to her concerts. Riley would rather not be around Ethen, but sees this as an opportunity to finally ask the questions she should have asked ten years ago.
The story had its good moments, especially the cute little girl Zoey, but mostly it was a somber story that focused on the H/h’s past issues of hurt, betrayal, broken trust, lying, and dishonesty. It was an implausible story with very little romance, a few quick love scenes, and an ending that was less than convincing. I could not imagine that these two could forgive and forget all their problems in just a few days.
>>Unwrapped by Megan Hart – 3.5 stars
I realized afterwards that this is an epilogue story for a couple in her book ‘No Reservations’ (which I have not read), so fans of that book may enjoy this one even more. Despite not reading the original book, I had no problem following along. This is the delayed honeymoon for Brandon and Leah Long set in a Vail Colorado ski resort. While there are several hot love scenes, the couple was already in love by the time the story starts so this is not a typical romance. There was also no real story for these two either. It is just their day-to-day honeymoon adventures of skiing, eating out, sleigh rides and sitting by a warm fire with intermission breaks for sex. Megan Hart has a great writing voice so I did enjoy this even though it was not a romance per se, and despite not knowing the characters back-story.
>>Believe by Lauren Dane – DNF (Not because it was bad, just 'not my kind of kink’)
‘Believe’ in the epilogue story for Lauren Dane’s book ‘Second Chances’. As with ‘Unwrapped’ by Megan Hart, the couple already had their romance story told in a previous publication so this story is just more sex play moments for the happy couple. Unfortunately for me, this one stars a couple who are really into BSDM -- and not just lightly. When he brings out a crop and anticipates how the red marks are going to look covering her ass, I called it quits. This isn’t my kind of kink.
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This is an ARC copy review provided by Netgalley.com
>>Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey – 5++ stars
Web designer Chloe Burke returns to her small hometown in Main to house sit while her parents take a long cruise. Master electrician Scott Quinn is thrilled to get a call from his high school fantasy girl to help fix electrical problems at her parent’s old house. Chloe does not remember Scott, but the attraction sizzles between these two quickly. With Chloe going back to Boston in only a few weeks they both realize that it’s a temporary affair, but the connection between these two is undeniably hot.
Holiday Sparks was a wonderful steamy hot holiday romance that had me grinning ear-to-ear through the entire story. I absolutely love great dialog and teasing banter between the H/h, and this one had some of the best I have read in a long while. The pacing was so believable that I never once doubted that these two could really fall in love (and lust!) with each other in only a few short weeks. I only wish this were a full-length novel, as I would have enjoyed spending a lot more time reading about these two. I loved it!
>>All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton – 2 stars
Riley Jensen, a famous country western singer, returns to her small hometown against her wishes and reconnects with her ex Ethen Kent, who once broke her heart and later married her backstabbing best friend. Ethen feels terrible for all the wrongs he did Riley years ago. Now a widow with a young child, he finds himself reluctantly hanging with Riley again to please his daughter who is a big fan. Riley’s stage manager does some matchmaking by tempting Ethen and Zoey with backstage passes and front row access to her concerts. Riley would rather not be around Ethen, but sees this as an opportunity to finally ask the questions she should have asked ten years ago.
The story had its good moments, especially the cute little girl Zoey, but mostly it was a somber story that focused on the H/h’s past issues of hurt, betrayal, broken trust, lying, and dishonesty. It was an implausible story with very little romance, a few quick love scenes, and an ending that was less than convincing. I could not imagine that these two could forgive and forget all their problems in just a few days.
>>Unwrapped by Megan Hart – 3.5 stars
I realized afterwards that this is an epilogue story for a couple in her book ‘No Reservations’ (which I have not read), so fans of that book may enjoy this one even more. Despite not reading the original book, I had no problem following along. This is the delayed honeymoon for Brandon and Leah Long set in a Vail Colorado ski resort. While there are several hot love scenes, the couple was already in love by the time the story starts so this is not a typical romance. There was also no real story for these two either. It is just their day-to-day honeymoon adventures of skiing, eating out, sleigh rides and sitting by a warm fire with intermission breaks for sex. Megan Hart has a great writing voice so I did enjoy this even though it was not a romance per se, and despite not knowing the characters back-story.
>>Believe by Lauren Dane – DNF (Not because it was bad, just 'not my kind of kink’)
‘Believe’ in the epilogue story for Lauren Dane’s book ‘Second Chances’. As with ‘Unwrapped’ by Megan Hart, the couple already had their romance story told in a previous publication so this story is just more sex play moments for the happy couple. Unfortunately for me, this one stars a couple who are really into BSDM -- and not just lightly. When he brings out a crop and anticipates how the red marks are going to look covering her ass, I called it quits. This isn’t my kind of kink.
---------
This is an ARC copy review provided by Netgalley.com
March 27, 2011
This was one of the most uneven anthologies I've ever read. One big winner + one DNR + two stories that didn't stand on its own = a messy final rating.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey (5 stars)
I loved it! It was such a cute and sexy Christmas story!
Web designer Chloe Burke leaves the comfort of her condo in Boston to spend the Holidays in her small hometown in Maine so she can house-sit her childhood home while her parents are on vacation. Not every old house comes with ancient, round, screw-in things instead of a neat row of circuit breakers, but Chloe's parents' does. So when the microwave blows up and the lights go out, it's time to call a professional.
Scott Quinn, Chloe's parents's electrician, is more than happy to help her, despite the fact it's past regular business hours. They went to school together and he's never forgotten her, even though she doesn't really remember him. Back in high school, she was the beautiful and popular cheerleader with no shortage of hot guys to keep her distracted and he was the skinny guy with crooked bowl haircut and Coke-bottle glasses who had a crush on her but was too shy to even say "hi". Ten years later, she's still as cute and sexy as he remembers, but he's changed. Time at the gym and working for a living have given him some muscle tone and provided him with the money for a real barber, and Lasik surgery has rid him of the hated thick glasses that made him look bug-eyed.
As Chloe is only in town temporarily and will go back to Boston after the Holidays, they agree on indulging in a no-strings, no-expectations affair. When they realize they enjoy each other's company out of bed just as much as on it, can they find a way to turn their holiday fling into the real thing?
I adored Scott and Chloe! They were funny - their thoughts made me LOL a couple of times - and had great chemistry together. Even though the time frame of this story is rather short (around three weeks), the development of their relationship didn't feel rushed and I had no problem believing they were in love when all was said and done. Why? Because their "fling" wasn't just about sex and they actually spend time enjoying each other's company and doing couple's stuff, even though they weren't aware of it at the time.
If I have one "complaint" about this story is that it was too short. Not because I felt there was something missing, but because I wanted to spend more time with Scott and Chloe. Overall, this was an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton (Did Not Read)
The "hero" cheats on the heroine. 'Nuff Said!
Unwrapped by Megan Hart (3 stars)
I knew beforehand that this story is kind of a sequel to Taking Care of Business and No Reservations, which I haven't read, but I decided to go ahead and read it anyway because I like stories featuring married couples.
This was a nice quick read, but I think I should have waited and read the previous books beforehand. I didn't feel lost and I understood the dynamics of Brandon and Leah's relationship without a problem, but I didn't connect with them. They were likable enough and their love scenes were hot - or would have been if I had formed a true connection with them - but that was it.
All in all, this was an okay read and it got me interested in reading the previous books. I'll probably revisit this story after I read them, and we shall see how I feel about it then.
Believe by Lauren Dane (2 stars)
This story felt like an epilogue to Second Chances, which I haven't read, and I don't think it stood on its own. Jude and Rori spend a lot of time dwelling on their history and I felt like an outsider, not knowing how I was supposed to feel about it. In addition, their love scenes were out of my comfort zone - I am not into crops and floggers! - and I found myself skimming through them. As a result, there was little else to read.
Note: I received this eARC from Carina Press via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey (5 stars)
I loved it! It was such a cute and sexy Christmas story!
Web designer Chloe Burke leaves the comfort of her condo in Boston to spend the Holidays in her small hometown in Maine so she can house-sit her childhood home while her parents are on vacation. Not every old house comes with ancient, round, screw-in things instead of a neat row of circuit breakers, but Chloe's parents' does. So when the microwave blows up and the lights go out, it's time to call a professional.
Scott Quinn, Chloe's parents's electrician, is more than happy to help her, despite the fact it's past regular business hours. They went to school together and he's never forgotten her, even though she doesn't really remember him. Back in high school, she was the beautiful and popular cheerleader with no shortage of hot guys to keep her distracted and he was the skinny guy with crooked bowl haircut and Coke-bottle glasses who had a crush on her but was too shy to even say "hi". Ten years later, she's still as cute and sexy as he remembers, but he's changed. Time at the gym and working for a living have given him some muscle tone and provided him with the money for a real barber, and Lasik surgery has rid him of the hated thick glasses that made him look bug-eyed.
As Chloe is only in town temporarily and will go back to Boston after the Holidays, they agree on indulging in a no-strings, no-expectations affair. When they realize they enjoy each other's company out of bed just as much as on it, can they find a way to turn their holiday fling into the real thing?
I adored Scott and Chloe! They were funny - their thoughts made me LOL a couple of times - and had great chemistry together. Even though the time frame of this story is rather short (around three weeks), the development of their relationship didn't feel rushed and I had no problem believing they were in love when all was said and done. Why? Because their "fling" wasn't just about sex and they actually spend time enjoying each other's company and doing couple's stuff, even though they weren't aware of it at the time.
If I have one "complaint" about this story is that it was too short. Not because I felt there was something missing, but because I wanted to spend more time with Scott and Chloe. Overall, this was an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton (Did Not Read)
The "hero" cheats on the heroine. 'Nuff Said!
Unwrapped by Megan Hart (3 stars)
I knew beforehand that this story is kind of a sequel to Taking Care of Business and No Reservations, which I haven't read, but I decided to go ahead and read it anyway because I like stories featuring married couples.
This was a nice quick read, but I think I should have waited and read the previous books beforehand. I didn't feel lost and I understood the dynamics of Brandon and Leah's relationship without a problem, but I didn't connect with them. They were likable enough and their love scenes were hot - or would have been if I had formed a true connection with them - but that was it.
All in all, this was an okay read and it got me interested in reading the previous books. I'll probably revisit this story after I read them, and we shall see how I feel about it then.
Believe by Lauren Dane (2 stars)
This story felt like an epilogue to Second Chances, which I haven't read, and I don't think it stood on its own. Jude and Rori spend a lot of time dwelling on their history and I felt like an outsider, not knowing how I was supposed to feel about it. In addition, their love scenes were out of my comfort zone - I am not into crops and floggers! - and I found myself skimming through them. As a result, there was little else to read.
Note: I received this eARC from Carina Press via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.
October 16, 2012
I reviewed and rated each story individually since they are sold that way, but because this is published as an anthology as well, I'm reviewing and rating it as a whole.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey - 3.5/5 Stars
Chloe Burke has come home to house sit for her parents who have taken a holiday cruise. It’s been a long time since Chloe has been here, and much to her surprise the house is an accident waiting to happen. She learns this the hard way when she tries use the microwave and loses electricity to half the house. Had she found the note her mother left explaining that she shouldn’t use the microwave while the light over the sink was on, she wouldn’t have had the problem. This note listed several other things she shouldn’t do - such as blow dry her hair in the bathroom with the light on. Concerned for her parent’s safety, she decides that for Christmas she’ll have her parent’s house rewired and puts in a call to the town’s electrician who, unbeknownst to her, is very happy to hear from Chloe.
Scott Quinn has had a crazy secret crush on Chloe Burke ever since high school, but when she moved away to Boston, he moved on with his own life, too – not that she’d ever noticed him anyway. Now she’s back and in need of his electrical skills, and he can’t help but imagine his other “skills” he’d like to impress her with.
Holiday Sparks is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it. This was a sweet, romantic story with enough sizzle to heat things up and make this a sexy holiday read.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton - 4 Stars
A deep hurt and betrayal sent Riley Jensen running from her home in Deer Lake, from Amanda, who she thought was her best friend, and from Ethan, who she thought was her boyfriend. But catching them in bed together told her she’d been wrong about all that. She wasn’t about to stick around and ask questions – she didn’t need to – the answers were right there in front of her eyes. Now, 10 years later Riley is a huge Nashville star and she’s come back to her hometown, strictly for business. She doesn’t want to see Ethan or Amanda, who married after she left, and plans to do anything she can to avoid them. But what she doesn’t know is that Amanda has passed away, and fate—and her agent—takes matters into their own hands, and bring Ethan and Riley face to face again. Can they work things out and let go of all the hurt they’ve known these past 10 years? Well, it’s Christmas time in Deer Lake and anything is possible.
I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. When I learned that Ethan had slept with his girlfriend’s best friend, I was tempted to skip the story, but since I’m reading/reviewing this for Netgalley, I thought it only fair that I stick it out. I’m glad I did. It turned out to be an awesome story of understanding and forgiveness, and a steamy holiday read.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - 3 Stars
Leah and Brandon Long are spending their first Christmas together as newlyweds skiing in Vail, but a twisted ankle has Leah off the slopes with nothing but time on her hands. So what are the newlyweds to do? Well, skiing is out of the question, but they manage to fill their days with some easy going sightseeing and lots of sex. I liked the message of the story, about letting go of the past and learning to trust, learning to give and take, but I wish it had been a bigger focus of the story and not just there at the end.
Unwrapped is an epilogue type short connected to Taking Care of Business and No Reservations, and while I wasn’t confused at all by having not read those two books, I didn’t have much of an emotional investment in the couple. The sex was plentiful and would have probably been very erotic had I cared more about Leah and Brandon. I was also disappointed that this story didn’t have that same holiday magic that the first two in this anthology did.
Believe – by Lauren Dane – 5 Stars.
I loved this story! Believe is another epilogue type short in this anthology, this time connected to the novel Second Chances, which I haven’t read yet. I wasn’t at all lost while reading Believe and was actually surprised to learn this wasn’t a standalone because it was so well written and I felt completely invested in and connected to Rori Helm and Jude Callahan, not only as a couple, but as people trying to heal from a rocky past and the death of Rori’s husband, Zach. However, that said, I always feel that books are most enjoyed when read in order, but that's up to the preferences of the reader. Believe works well all on its own.
Years after Zach’s death, Rori and Jude are a couple, trying to make their own history together, a life without Zach’s memory influencing them. They both love and miss him, but now is their time together and they want to move forward instead of living in the shadow of the past. Jude decides that a Christmas getaway together is just what they need and arranges a secluded cabin where they can devote themselves to one another and not have to worry about friends and relatives dropping by while he’s got his beautiful woman naked, tied up, and screaming for…well…you get the idea
This is a very hot, sexy story, with some light BDSM and I will definitely be getting my hands on Second Chances.
December 19, 2012
31/2 to 4 stars Christmas anthology
December 19, 2010
I picked up this book because it had short stories by three of my favorite authors and it's Holiday themed, gotta have at least one of those in December.
I will give this book an overall 3.5 Stars. It was a pretty light read for the most part. 2 stories are stand-alone and 2 stories you really should read the previous books or you won't enjoy where they are going as much as you should.
And I actually ended up finding an author I wouldn't mind reading more of (Shannon Stacey). So onto my individual reviews.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - 3 Stars
I was a bit disappointed after reading this story. You definitely have to read Taking Care of Business andNo Reservations in order to understand where this story is coming from. However, even after reading those two stories, and I enjoyed them and liked the characters, I couldn't get into this story.
There's the drama of the fall which seem to take up extra pages and was unnecessary, the fact that she didn't want to spend Christmas with family but all of a sudden she did. And I just didn't like how Leah was taking Brandon for granted a bit.
I guess I had expectations from this story that I didn't see here.
Believe by Lauren Dane - 4 Stars
You need to read Second Chances before you read this story. Only then will you be able to really appreciate it.
This is the perfect ending to the story between Jude and Rori. Definitely the connection I thought was missing at the ending of Second Chances.
Very sexy, still manages to be very emotional, and even in just a few pages we get to be inside the heads and hearts of so many people.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
Cute stand-alone story. Small town girl who grew up in foster homes runs away at 18 after finding her boyfriend in bed with her best friend. She goes on to becoming a successful country singer. After 10 years she comes back to her hometown as part of a biography video. She comes back to finding her ex-boyfriend had married her best friend, had a kid with her who was now 7 years old and her best friend had died 4 years ago. After the story goes about half way we realize how she found them in bed together was all a setup by her best friend, who had always been jealous of her, and he may or may not have slept with her then, but now they can have a second chance to have a life together. I just couldn't get past the fact her name was Riley Jensen, LOL Just too close to the vampire/werewolf Guardian in Keri Arhur's series.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
Cute story. Stand-alone. Hot electrician, used to be the school's geek back in high school. The cheerleader he used to drool over is back in town to spend Christmas with her parents, and is waiting at their house for them to come home from vacation. While there she discovers their house needs a major electrical upgrade and calls Scott in from the phone book. She can't remember him, because obviously he has changed and is now a hottie. He still drools over her. They decide to have a holiday fling while he's fixing her parents wiring and end up wanting a relationship (after just three weeks).
I will give this book an overall 3.5 Stars. It was a pretty light read for the most part. 2 stories are stand-alone and 2 stories you really should read the previous books or you won't enjoy where they are going as much as you should.
And I actually ended up finding an author I wouldn't mind reading more of (Shannon Stacey). So onto my individual reviews.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - 3 Stars
I was a bit disappointed after reading this story. You definitely have to read Taking Care of Business andNo Reservations in order to understand where this story is coming from. However, even after reading those two stories, and I enjoyed them and liked the characters, I couldn't get into this story.
There's the drama of the fall which seem to take up extra pages and was unnecessary, the fact that she didn't want to spend Christmas with family but all of a sudden she did. And I just didn't like how Leah was taking Brandon for granted a bit.
I guess I had expectations from this story that I didn't see here.
Believe by Lauren Dane - 4 Stars
You need to read Second Chances before you read this story. Only then will you be able to really appreciate it.
This is the perfect ending to the story between Jude and Rori. Definitely the connection I thought was missing at the ending of Second Chances.
Very sexy, still manages to be very emotional, and even in just a few pages we get to be inside the heads and hearts of so many people.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
Cute stand-alone story. Small town girl who grew up in foster homes runs away at 18 after finding her boyfriend in bed with her best friend. She goes on to becoming a successful country singer. After 10 years she comes back to her hometown as part of a biography video. She comes back to finding her ex-boyfriend had married her best friend, had a kid with her who was now 7 years old and her best friend had died 4 years ago. After the story goes about half way we realize how she found them in bed together was all a setup by her best friend, who had always been jealous of her, and he may or may not have slept with her then, but now they can have a second chance to have a life together. I just couldn't get past the fact her name was Riley Jensen, LOL Just too close to the vampire/werewolf Guardian in Keri Arhur's series.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
Cute story. Stand-alone. Hot electrician, used to be the school's geek back in high school. The cheerleader he used to drool over is back in town to spend Christmas with her parents, and is waiting at their house for them to come home from vacation. While there she discovers their house needs a major electrical upgrade and calls Scott in from the phone book. She can't remember him, because obviously he has changed and is now a hottie. He still drools over her. They decide to have a holiday fling while he's fixing her parents wiring and end up wanting a relationship (after just three weeks).
January 24, 2011
I was so excited to read the continuing stories of Leah (Megan Hart) and Rori (Lauren Dane), but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Jaci Burton and Shannon Stacey’s stories. I loved Leah and Brandon trying to fit their lives together; it felt very real, but that reality didn’t detract from the steaminess. Rori and Jude are working hard to move forward together, but often they feel haunted by Jude’s best friend/Rori’s deceased husband, Zack. My only complaint is that this novella is not a standalone. If you jumped into their story without having the background, it might be difficult to really understand their love because there is a lot of kink, and it’s hard to imagine what these two have struggled to move forward from and what their sexual desires are grounded in. I liked Riley and Ethan; Riley struggled with making a decision about career versus love, and Ethan genuinely wanted what’s best for his daughter (and there’s nothing hotter than a man who loves his family – in a healthy way). And as to Chloe and Scott…I don’t normally like the geek guy plot, but they were too cute together. She wasn’t the stereotypical cheerleader, and he isn’t the typical geek either, and I think that is what made it work. I loved Naughty and Nice; they were fun, fresh, and each story fit well together without being repetitive. All the authors have strong voices that were very distinct but fit nicely into the “naughty” and “nice” categories.
January 3, 2011
I enjoyed "Holiday Sparks" by Shannon Stacey and "Unwrapped" by Megan Hart. Both were "feel good" romantic stories that just served to remind me why I enjoy everything both of these authors put out there. "All She Wants for Christmas" by Jaci Burton was my first read by this author; and even though I didn't care for the story, I liked JB's style and plan to try something else she has written. "Believe" by Lauren Dane was the reason I purchased this audio book in the first place. It is the sequel to "Second Chances" which I recently read and thought was excellent. Unfortunately, someone other than Gabra Zachman (who narrated SC) narrated Believe and it was all wrong. Light BDSM is an integral part of the sexual relationship between the H/h in this story and while it worked so well in SC, it sounded way too kinky and borderline creepy in Believe. Perhaps I would feel differently if I had actually read both books rather than listen to the audio versions, but switching narrators midstream was IMHO a big mistake. It was a dnf for me.
November 29, 2010
I wanted to give this book more than 3 stars because I really loved the two "Nice" stories by Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton. But the "Naughty" stories... not so much. One of them I rushed through and only read about every other line, and the other I didn't finish. I don't think it's fair of me to give the "Naughty" authors a bad review, necessarily... I just think that the more erotic stuff is not my cup o' tea!
I think it's also highly possible that reading the "Naughty" stories right after the "Nice" ones was a bad idea. The contrast between the two was not a good thing for me, as a reader, and not a transition that I made easily.
But, I absolutely adore everything Shannon Stacey puts her name on, and I would recommend this book if for nothing more than "Holiday Sparks." Also, this is the first I've read of Jaci Burton's, but I'm looking forward to finding more of her stuff now, too! The "Nice" stories are very nice, and definitely put me in a Holiday state of mind!
I think it's also highly possible that reading the "Naughty" stories right after the "Nice" ones was a bad idea. The contrast between the two was not a good thing for me, as a reader, and not a transition that I made easily.
But, I absolutely adore everything Shannon Stacey puts her name on, and I would recommend this book if for nothing more than "Holiday Sparks." Also, this is the first I've read of Jaci Burton's, but I'm looking forward to finding more of her stuff now, too! The "Nice" stories are very nice, and definitely put me in a Holiday state of mind!
December 3, 2010
I loved loved loved 2/4 of these short stories. "Holiday Sparks" by Shannon Stacey and "All She Wants For Christmas" by Jaci Burton. Holiday Sparks was my hands-down favourite, I wished it was a longer book. I'll definately be reading more Shannon Stacey in the future.
The other two stories were shorter stories related to other larger stories by the author, so they were like add-ons. I felt at a disadvantage with Hart's story because I hadn't read the other story with the characters. For Dane's story, I had read the book that it's an epilogue for, and did not care to continue on with the story or the characters.
My overall feeling about this book are that it's a must read for Holiday Sparks. If you are a fan of Hart and Dane and the stories for which they provide an epilogue in this book, then, by all means I bet you'll love those contributions. But if for nothing else, Holiday Sparks is worth the purchase!
The other two stories were shorter stories related to other larger stories by the author, so they were like add-ons. I felt at a disadvantage with Hart's story because I hadn't read the other story with the characters. For Dane's story, I had read the book that it's an epilogue for, and did not care to continue on with the story or the characters.
My overall feeling about this book are that it's a must read for Holiday Sparks. If you are a fan of Hart and Dane and the stories for which they provide an epilogue in this book, then, by all means I bet you'll love those contributions. But if for nothing else, Holiday Sparks is worth the purchase!
December 25, 2010
Holiday Spark by Shannon Stacey
From Goodreads
“House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out.
Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.
Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s.
But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?”
Now this is the kind of Christmas story I like! Light, fun and sexy with adorable characters. Chloe and Scott are two people who went to the same high school but who ran in very different social circles. When they meet up again years after graduating, Chloe doesn’t remember him, but he remembers her…*sigh* There is no denying the sparks between them though. I liked the chemistry between these two. It was hot without being over the top. There were three scenes in this story that particularly stood out for me. I really liked how Scott deals with his loser friend when he talks about Chloe. I love how, when Chloe finally remembers Scott, it’s not the obvious things she remembers. And I love how it all comes together in the end. The sweetness of the moment. Really, this was a wonderful light-hearted story that made me smile.
4.5 stars
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
From Goodreads
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?
A story of loss love, All She Wants for Christmas was a tender and touching tale. And there was a little girl dressed all in pink! How would this story not be cute? Ethan and Riley were madly in love when they were younger, but a misunderstanding caused Riley to leave town and run off to follow her dreams in Nashville. Now, years later as a famous country singer, she returns to her home town to film a documentary. Once she runs into Ethan again, all the pain and confusion comes back. Really tough, it never really left. And Ethan is still struggling with his feelings for Riley and is still carrying a very heavy load of guilt on his shoulders. You can really feel the pain in this couple’s past. Jaci really wrote the characters well. You can really feel the pain that these two have endured. Unfortunately, I just didn’t really click with either of them. The daughter was cute. Really sweet actually. The story reads well, flows well. It’s just that since I didn’t mesh with the players in this story, my overall experience with this one was a little flat. Good story, good premise, sweet and heartfelt…just not my favorite.
3 stars
Unwrapped by Megan Hart
From Goodreads
Newlyweds Leah and Brandon Long are finally taking a honeymoon. But just a few days into their Christmas-in-Vail vacation, Leah takes a tumble on the slopes, severely spraining her ankle. Being stuck indoors isn’t so bad though: the luxurious chalet boasts a hot tub and cozy fireplace. Besides, sitting with her feet up while Brandon serves her in every way a man can serve a woman is exactly how both of them like to spend their time.
Leah would be in heaven, if only Brandon didn’t insist on playing with the dynamic of their relationship. With kinky sex and deep conversation the only things on the agenda, Leah can’t avoid the discussion of how things might change. Will she be ready to take their marriage to the next level in the New Year?
I learned something about my reading self while reading this story. Unwrapped starts the ‘naughty’ part of this anthology with a bang! Steaming right from line one! No build up or anything. Just “here I am nice and sweaty” bang! I wouldn’t have thought that would be an unfavourable thing, but I was wondering if I’d downloaded this correctly. I felt like I was missing a couple of pages. I was thinking “I’m very glad you two are having some really really hot sex right now, but who are you?” It didn’t take long for me to get over that….I got a little distracted *wink* and eventually received all the info I craved. Then the story was pretty good. Leah and Brandon make a hot couple. When they started talking about sexual fantasies, I got a little concerned, but I didn’t need to be. The baby talk sort of felt like it came out of the blue…then it went to the side…then it came back. That part threw me for a little loop. But overall, the couple was hot and the lovin’ was steamy. Especially the opening scene (once you realize that that is how it is supposed to start…silly Julie).
3 stars
Believe by Lauren Dane
From Goodreads
Their First Christmas, Bound Together…
All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit.
Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…
Believe is the continuing story of a couple you first meet in Lauren Dane’s Second Chance. I haven’t read it, but from what I gather from this book is that it was a strong love story full of tragedy and rebuilding. Jude is Rori’s second chance. They are good together…a strong match. As you are reading this you can’t help but feel how much these two love each other and feel fortunate to be in each other’s lives. But after a while I was feeling it a little too much. I love a gushy love story as much as the next gal, but I have a limit. I guess the best way to explain it would be like this: You remember back in High School when your best friend had her first boyfriend and how they would make out in front of you all the time? At their locker, at your locker…it didn’t matter. You just kept thinking to yourself “how on earth is she still breathing?” You were very happy for her but after a while, you just wanted to tell your friend to go suck face someplace else. That’s how I was feeling while reading this. I liked Jude and Rori quite a bit. And the depth of their feelings was touching. But I just didn’t feel the need to be reminded of it every second. I may have felt a little differently if I had read Second Chance though…maybe.
One aspect of this story I really did like a lot was the D/s parts and how Jude saw Rori as not only his sub but also a very strong woman who was honoring him with her submission. I thought how Lauren worded this was fantastic.
“He took his responsibility…his role as the top in their relationship seriously. And not in an ALL CAPS I’M YOUR MASTER way, but because she chose to submit and he should always be worthy of it. Which meant putting her needs first and being aware of what she was thinking and feeling on a whole new level.”
The smexin’ was hot. The relationship was strong. I felt how much they loved each other. I just didn’t need to be reminded of it so often…but that’s just me.
3 stars
Naughty and Nice was a cute Christmas anthology. I did enjoy reading it and I might re-read the first story next Christmas to put me in a Christmas-y mood, but I don’t see myself perusing the rest of the book. Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars.
From Goodreads
“House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out.
Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.
Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s.
But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?”
Now this is the kind of Christmas story I like! Light, fun and sexy with adorable characters. Chloe and Scott are two people who went to the same high school but who ran in very different social circles. When they meet up again years after graduating, Chloe doesn’t remember him, but he remembers her…*sigh* There is no denying the sparks between them though. I liked the chemistry between these two. It was hot without being over the top. There were three scenes in this story that particularly stood out for me. I really liked how Scott deals with his loser friend when he talks about Chloe. I love how, when Chloe finally remembers Scott, it’s not the obvious things she remembers. And I love how it all comes together in the end. The sweetness of the moment. Really, this was a wonderful light-hearted story that made me smile.
4.5 stars
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
From Goodreads
Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…
Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…
But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?
A story of loss love, All She Wants for Christmas was a tender and touching tale. And there was a little girl dressed all in pink! How would this story not be cute? Ethan and Riley were madly in love when they were younger, but a misunderstanding caused Riley to leave town and run off to follow her dreams in Nashville. Now, years later as a famous country singer, she returns to her home town to film a documentary. Once she runs into Ethan again, all the pain and confusion comes back. Really tough, it never really left. And Ethan is still struggling with his feelings for Riley and is still carrying a very heavy load of guilt on his shoulders. You can really feel the pain in this couple’s past. Jaci really wrote the characters well. You can really feel the pain that these two have endured. Unfortunately, I just didn’t really click with either of them. The daughter was cute. Really sweet actually. The story reads well, flows well. It’s just that since I didn’t mesh with the players in this story, my overall experience with this one was a little flat. Good story, good premise, sweet and heartfelt…just not my favorite.
3 stars
Unwrapped by Megan Hart
From Goodreads
Newlyweds Leah and Brandon Long are finally taking a honeymoon. But just a few days into their Christmas-in-Vail vacation, Leah takes a tumble on the slopes, severely spraining her ankle. Being stuck indoors isn’t so bad though: the luxurious chalet boasts a hot tub and cozy fireplace. Besides, sitting with her feet up while Brandon serves her in every way a man can serve a woman is exactly how both of them like to spend their time.
Leah would be in heaven, if only Brandon didn’t insist on playing with the dynamic of their relationship. With kinky sex and deep conversation the only things on the agenda, Leah can’t avoid the discussion of how things might change. Will she be ready to take their marriage to the next level in the New Year?
I learned something about my reading self while reading this story. Unwrapped starts the ‘naughty’ part of this anthology with a bang! Steaming right from line one! No build up or anything. Just “here I am nice and sweaty” bang! I wouldn’t have thought that would be an unfavourable thing, but I was wondering if I’d downloaded this correctly. I felt like I was missing a couple of pages. I was thinking “I’m very glad you two are having some really really hot sex right now, but who are you?” It didn’t take long for me to get over that….I got a little distracted *wink* and eventually received all the info I craved. Then the story was pretty good. Leah and Brandon make a hot couple. When they started talking about sexual fantasies, I got a little concerned, but I didn’t need to be. The baby talk sort of felt like it came out of the blue…then it went to the side…then it came back. That part threw me for a little loop. But overall, the couple was hot and the lovin’ was steamy. Especially the opening scene (once you realize that that is how it is supposed to start…silly Julie).
3 stars
Believe by Lauren Dane
From Goodreads
Their First Christmas, Bound Together…
All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit.
Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…
Believe is the continuing story of a couple you first meet in Lauren Dane’s Second Chance. I haven’t read it, but from what I gather from this book is that it was a strong love story full of tragedy and rebuilding. Jude is Rori’s second chance. They are good together…a strong match. As you are reading this you can’t help but feel how much these two love each other and feel fortunate to be in each other’s lives. But after a while I was feeling it a little too much. I love a gushy love story as much as the next gal, but I have a limit. I guess the best way to explain it would be like this: You remember back in High School when your best friend had her first boyfriend and how they would make out in front of you all the time? At their locker, at your locker…it didn’t matter. You just kept thinking to yourself “how on earth is she still breathing?” You were very happy for her but after a while, you just wanted to tell your friend to go suck face someplace else. That’s how I was feeling while reading this. I liked Jude and Rori quite a bit. And the depth of their feelings was touching. But I just didn’t feel the need to be reminded of it every second. I may have felt a little differently if I had read Second Chance though…maybe.
One aspect of this story I really did like a lot was the D/s parts and how Jude saw Rori as not only his sub but also a very strong woman who was honoring him with her submission. I thought how Lauren worded this was fantastic.
“He took his responsibility…his role as the top in their relationship seriously. And not in an ALL CAPS I’M YOUR MASTER way, but because she chose to submit and he should always be worthy of it. Which meant putting her needs first and being aware of what she was thinking and feeling on a whole new level.”
The smexin’ was hot. The relationship was strong. I felt how much they loved each other. I just didn’t need to be reminded of it so often…but that’s just me.
3 stars
Naughty and Nice was a cute Christmas anthology. I did enjoy reading it and I might re-read the first story next Christmas to put me in a Christmas-y mood, but I don’t see myself perusing the rest of the book. Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars.
November 28, 2010
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
When Chloe Burke blows the fuse at her parent’s old house while housesitting, she calls electrician Scott Quinn to come turn the lights back on. Scott has had a crush on Chloe since high school, but running in different circles, Chloe doesn’t remember him. Now working in Boston, Chloe is enjoying being back at home for a few weeks, and enjoying the sight of Scott. When Chloe decides to get her parent’s house rewired for a Christmas present, she is able to see Scott every day for a few weeks. Their fast friendship soon turns to a very sexy romance.
This is an absolutely adorable story. It is a very simple love story really, without a lot of conflict. Just two people who meet, dance around each other for a few days, and have a wonderful romance blossom between them. They are both easy going, casual people. Scott has been lusting after Chloe for years, and can’t believe he actually has a chance to do wicked things with her now. Chloe doesn’t remember Scott at first, but can’t get over how nice and sexy he is. With her living in Boston, and him living in her small hometown of Maine, they start their fling with the intention of keeping it casual. But by the end, there is true love, and a story that will have you smiling. Super cute!!
Rating: B+
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
Country music star Riley Jenson returns to her hometown after leaving ten years ago to film a biography. She left a young adult those ten years ago not only searching for a big music career, but running from heartbreak. She caught her best friend Amanda and her boyfriend Ethan in bed together.
Now ten years later, Ethan is a single parent after Amanda’s death. When he sees Riley that flare of passion ignites within him again. Riley has been singing about the betrayal and her eventual forgiveness in her songs. Can the man from small town, make it with the big star?
This story packs an emotional punch. First Riley must come to terms with the betrayal that happened ten years ago, but in a sense, she is also coming to terms with her fame. She doesn’t feel comfortable back in her own town, not having a lot of confidence. She feels more unsteady when she realizes how much she has missed, by not being in contact with anyone the entire time she has been gone.
With the amount of drama in this one, Ethan and Riley act mature throughout which is very appealing to me. I do think it is odd that it was such a big deal that Riley runs out of town because of Amanda and Ethan’s betrayal, yet no one contacts her to let her know when Amanda dies? That made me scratch my head a bit.
However, I really enjoyed this one! Ethan and Riley have great chemistry and I really hope Jaci Burton writes the stories for Ethan’s two brothers who are very intriguing.
Rating: B
Holiday Spice by Megan Hart
Leah and Brandon are in Vail, CO celebrating their first Christmas married. Leah may not be the best skier, but most of their fun happens inside the bedroom. Having a good rhythm in bed, Leah knows she likes to be in control, and Brandon is more than happy to follow her lead. As they enjoy one another, Leah gets a bit heartsick thinking of having kids. Afraid children would cramp Brandon’s style, she is unsure how to bring the subject up, but she can’t get it out of her head.
Holiday Spice is an erotic short story with some very spicy love scenes. I like Leah as a dominant and Brandon “forced” to do her bidding. I have no complaints with the love scenes. I did kind of feel like I didn’t know this couple very well. We kind of get dumped into this week of their lives, and I felt like we were missing important things about who this couple is. So, while it was nice just for the sex scenes, I missed having a connection to these characters.
Rating: C+
Believe by Lauren Dane
Jude and Rori want to make their own Christmas tradition. Now in love, they have overcome much in their life, including the murder of Rori’s husband who was also Jude’s good friend. Together they made it out of that terrible time, and found love with each other. Jude is a dominant, and Rori loves to be topped by him. As a gift, Jude takes Rori to a resort, where they will have days of uninterrupted naughty play, and a time to make a Christmas memory of their own.
Believe is the most naughtiest of the stories in this anthology. Lauren Dane has such a way with words. Her descriptions are so vivid and raw. It makes for an extremely sensual book. This is an excellent erotic story of two people in love, who have moved past horror in their lives and just enjoy the time spent with one another. There isn’t conflict, just the two of them experiencing the love they share for one another. It is very sexy, and I loved both Jude and Rori. It is an epilogue to her previous book, Second Chances, which I have not read and had no problems following this short story.
Rating: B+
I am very impressed with this anthology! Even for those who shy away from anthology books, I definitely recommend this one.
Overall Rating: B
When Chloe Burke blows the fuse at her parent’s old house while housesitting, she calls electrician Scott Quinn to come turn the lights back on. Scott has had a crush on Chloe since high school, but running in different circles, Chloe doesn’t remember him. Now working in Boston, Chloe is enjoying being back at home for a few weeks, and enjoying the sight of Scott. When Chloe decides to get her parent’s house rewired for a Christmas present, she is able to see Scott every day for a few weeks. Their fast friendship soon turns to a very sexy romance.
This is an absolutely adorable story. It is a very simple love story really, without a lot of conflict. Just two people who meet, dance around each other for a few days, and have a wonderful romance blossom between them. They are both easy going, casual people. Scott has been lusting after Chloe for years, and can’t believe he actually has a chance to do wicked things with her now. Chloe doesn’t remember Scott at first, but can’t get over how nice and sexy he is. With her living in Boston, and him living in her small hometown of Maine, they start their fling with the intention of keeping it casual. But by the end, there is true love, and a story that will have you smiling. Super cute!!
Rating: B+
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
Country music star Riley Jenson returns to her hometown after leaving ten years ago to film a biography. She left a young adult those ten years ago not only searching for a big music career, but running from heartbreak. She caught her best friend Amanda and her boyfriend Ethan in bed together.
Now ten years later, Ethan is a single parent after Amanda’s death. When he sees Riley that flare of passion ignites within him again. Riley has been singing about the betrayal and her eventual forgiveness in her songs. Can the man from small town, make it with the big star?
This story packs an emotional punch. First Riley must come to terms with the betrayal that happened ten years ago, but in a sense, she is also coming to terms with her fame. She doesn’t feel comfortable back in her own town, not having a lot of confidence. She feels more unsteady when she realizes how much she has missed, by not being in contact with anyone the entire time she has been gone.
With the amount of drama in this one, Ethan and Riley act mature throughout which is very appealing to me. I do think it is odd that it was such a big deal that Riley runs out of town because of Amanda and Ethan’s betrayal, yet no one contacts her to let her know when Amanda dies? That made me scratch my head a bit.
However, I really enjoyed this one! Ethan and Riley have great chemistry and I really hope Jaci Burton writes the stories for Ethan’s two brothers who are very intriguing.
Rating: B
Holiday Spice by Megan Hart
Leah and Brandon are in Vail, CO celebrating their first Christmas married. Leah may not be the best skier, but most of their fun happens inside the bedroom. Having a good rhythm in bed, Leah knows she likes to be in control, and Brandon is more than happy to follow her lead. As they enjoy one another, Leah gets a bit heartsick thinking of having kids. Afraid children would cramp Brandon’s style, she is unsure how to bring the subject up, but she can’t get it out of her head.
Holiday Spice is an erotic short story with some very spicy love scenes. I like Leah as a dominant and Brandon “forced” to do her bidding. I have no complaints with the love scenes. I did kind of feel like I didn’t know this couple very well. We kind of get dumped into this week of their lives, and I felt like we were missing important things about who this couple is. So, while it was nice just for the sex scenes, I missed having a connection to these characters.
Rating: C+
Believe by Lauren Dane
Jude and Rori want to make their own Christmas tradition. Now in love, they have overcome much in their life, including the murder of Rori’s husband who was also Jude’s good friend. Together they made it out of that terrible time, and found love with each other. Jude is a dominant, and Rori loves to be topped by him. As a gift, Jude takes Rori to a resort, where they will have days of uninterrupted naughty play, and a time to make a Christmas memory of their own.
Believe is the most naughtiest of the stories in this anthology. Lauren Dane has such a way with words. Her descriptions are so vivid and raw. It makes for an extremely sensual book. This is an excellent erotic story of two people in love, who have moved past horror in their lives and just enjoy the time spent with one another. There isn’t conflict, just the two of them experiencing the love they share for one another. It is very sexy, and I loved both Jude and Rori. It is an epilogue to her previous book, Second Chances, which I have not read and had no problems following this short story.
Rating: B+
I am very impressed with this anthology! Even for those who shy away from anthology books, I definitely recommend this one.
Overall Rating: B
December 29, 2011
Naughty and Nice is a collection of holiday themed short stories; two stories nice and two stories naughty. Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton start out the collection with two romantic, warm fuzzy stories, while, not surprisingly, Megan Hart and Lauren Dane finish it up with some serious sizzle!!
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacy – 4 stars
Chloe Burke comes back to town after leaving years before to pursue a career in web development in Boston. When her parents head out of town for a Christmas cruise, Chloe decides to come home and house sit. To her dismay, she finds that her parent’s house is in need a major electrical work and she therefore decides to hire a local electrician to come in a rewire the entire house as a surprise for her parent’s.
Scott Quinn comes to Chloe’s aide. Having had a major crush on Chloe in high school, Scott is only too eager to help out the former object of his affection. He’s prepared for her to not recognize him, as he’s made a major transformation since high school, but it doesn’t take long before sparks start flying that have absolutely nothing to do with the faulty electricity!!
This was my first read by Shannon Stacy and I enjoyed it. I tend to like my romance more on the steamy side, but the author did a great job of holding my attention with great characters, witty dialogue, and truly romantic moments.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton – 2.5 stars
Riley Jensen’s coming home to Missouri for a big biography special about her birth home. After fleeing her town years ago, Riley has become a big time country music singer, making it big after writing songs about what drove her away years before,
Ethan has no desire to see Riley, especially considering his actions are what drove her away in the first place. It doesn’t help that his young daughter is one of Riley’s biggest fans. Within moments of seeing her, all the old buried feelings he had supposedly put to rest, resurface and are possibly stronger than ever.
I think I am just about ready to give up on Jaci Burton. This will be the fourth thing that I’ve read by her, and I’ve yet to be impressed by anything that she’s done. I have read both books in the Play By Play series, mostly due to the drool-worthy covers¸ and I’ve also read a recent romantic suspense by her. Yes, the author can write some steamy sex scenes, but other than that, in my opinion, the rest of the books just fall flat, and this short was no exception. This was the longest story in the collection, and was by far, the most difficult for me to get through.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart – 4 stars
Leah and Brandon are newlyweds and finally getting a chance to take an overdue honeymoon. They decide to go away for Christmas for a snow filled week at a romantic ski lodge. After Leah takes a tumble on one of the slopes, the couple finds themselves cooped up inside with nothing to do but each other.
I am a huge fan of Megan Hart’s and already had a vested interest in Leah and Brandon after having read about them in Taking Care of Business and No Reservations. Megan writes some of the steamiest scenes ever and this short was no exception. I can see where someone who may not have had an opportunity to read the two predecessor’s may be a bit lost, but overall, I enjoyed this one the best!!
Believe by Lauren Dane – 2.5 stars
Rori and Jude are finally getting away for the holidays together. Going away to a cozy cabin in the mountains will help them escape the memory of Rori’s deceased husband, Zach and help them focus on the foundation of theirs. Rori is all too eager to submit to Jude’s dominant nature and together, they discover pleasure at new levels.
First off, D/S just ain’t my thing. I’ve tried numerous BDSM books and, for the most part, I just cannot get into them. I went ahead and read through this as Lauren Dane is one of my fav’s. Just didn’t buy it. One thing I love about Lauren’s writing is her character work. She makes the H/H in her books so believable that you instantly feel like these people could live next door to you. I didn’t get that same vibe in this story being that everything was just slightly too good to be true. The steam factor is almost too much, if that’s even possible.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me and I was left wanting more than what I got. Some definite steamy moments, but nothing major to write home about. Overall, 3 lukewarm stars.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacy – 4 stars
Chloe Burke comes back to town after leaving years before to pursue a career in web development in Boston. When her parents head out of town for a Christmas cruise, Chloe decides to come home and house sit. To her dismay, she finds that her parent’s house is in need a major electrical work and she therefore decides to hire a local electrician to come in a rewire the entire house as a surprise for her parent’s.
Scott Quinn comes to Chloe’s aide. Having had a major crush on Chloe in high school, Scott is only too eager to help out the former object of his affection. He’s prepared for her to not recognize him, as he’s made a major transformation since high school, but it doesn’t take long before sparks start flying that have absolutely nothing to do with the faulty electricity!!
This was my first read by Shannon Stacy and I enjoyed it. I tend to like my romance more on the steamy side, but the author did a great job of holding my attention with great characters, witty dialogue, and truly romantic moments.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton – 2.5 stars
Riley Jensen’s coming home to Missouri for a big biography special about her birth home. After fleeing her town years ago, Riley has become a big time country music singer, making it big after writing songs about what drove her away years before,
Ethan has no desire to see Riley, especially considering his actions are what drove her away in the first place. It doesn’t help that his young daughter is one of Riley’s biggest fans. Within moments of seeing her, all the old buried feelings he had supposedly put to rest, resurface and are possibly stronger than ever.
I think I am just about ready to give up on Jaci Burton. This will be the fourth thing that I’ve read by her, and I’ve yet to be impressed by anything that she’s done. I have read both books in the Play By Play series, mostly due to the drool-worthy covers¸ and I’ve also read a recent romantic suspense by her. Yes, the author can write some steamy sex scenes, but other than that, in my opinion, the rest of the books just fall flat, and this short was no exception. This was the longest story in the collection, and was by far, the most difficult for me to get through.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart – 4 stars
Leah and Brandon are newlyweds and finally getting a chance to take an overdue honeymoon. They decide to go away for Christmas for a snow filled week at a romantic ski lodge. After Leah takes a tumble on one of the slopes, the couple finds themselves cooped up inside with nothing to do but each other.
I am a huge fan of Megan Hart’s and already had a vested interest in Leah and Brandon after having read about them in Taking Care of Business and No Reservations. Megan writes some of the steamiest scenes ever and this short was no exception. I can see where someone who may not have had an opportunity to read the two predecessor’s may be a bit lost, but overall, I enjoyed this one the best!!
Believe by Lauren Dane – 2.5 stars
Rori and Jude are finally getting away for the holidays together. Going away to a cozy cabin in the mountains will help them escape the memory of Rori’s deceased husband, Zach and help them focus on the foundation of theirs. Rori is all too eager to submit to Jude’s dominant nature and together, they discover pleasure at new levels.
First off, D/S just ain’t my thing. I’ve tried numerous BDSM books and, for the most part, I just cannot get into them. I went ahead and read through this as Lauren Dane is one of my fav’s. Just didn’t buy it. One thing I love about Lauren’s writing is her character work. She makes the H/H in her books so believable that you instantly feel like these people could live next door to you. I didn’t get that same vibe in this story being that everything was just slightly too good to be true. The steam factor is almost too much, if that’s even possible.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me and I was left wanting more than what I got. Some definite steamy moments, but nothing major to write home about. Overall, 3 lukewarm stars.
November 19, 2012
Blaming this on Jess even though it's only a little bit her fault.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey - 3.5/5 stars
Very enjoyable but too short. I would have liked the characters and the relationship explored a lot more,
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton - 2/5 stars
I don't know if it's the way Jaci Burton writes/tells a story or the tropes she's used or just the lack of length, but I haven't been impressed with her entries so far. I suspect tropes have a lot to do with it, although there were a few dialogue things in this one that made me raise an eyebrow.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - ?
I'm not sure what to do with this one in terms of rating. It wasn't bad, but there really wasn't a lot to it in the way of plot. This is apparently an epilogue story for a couple from another one of Megan Hart's books, which probably explains the general lack of plot. I think reading the previous story would have helped with my enjoyment of this, as it reads mostly as PWP with some discussion of having children as it was.
Believe by Lauren Dane - ?
Like Unwrapped, this is an epilogue story. Even more so than Unwrapped, I think the previous story would have helped.
TW: BDSM
Going with three stars overall based on how much I really did enjoy the Shannon Stacey novella (in spite of it being too short), but that's probably the only one I'd come back to. Kind of wish the Shannon Stacey had been the entire anthology.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey - 3.5/5 stars
Very enjoyable but too short. I would have liked the characters and the relationship explored a lot more,
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton - 2/5 stars
I don't know if it's the way Jaci Burton writes/tells a story or the tropes she's used or just the lack of length, but I haven't been impressed with her entries so far. I suspect tropes have a lot to do with it, although there were a few dialogue things in this one that made me raise an eyebrow.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - ?
I'm not sure what to do with this one in terms of rating. It wasn't bad, but there really wasn't a lot to it in the way of plot. This is apparently an epilogue story for a couple from another one of Megan Hart's books, which probably explains the general lack of plot. I think reading the previous story would have helped with my enjoyment of this, as it reads mostly as PWP with some discussion of having children as it was.
Believe by Lauren Dane - ?
Like Unwrapped, this is an epilogue story. Even more so than Unwrapped, I think the previous story would have helped.
TW: BDSM
Going with three stars overall based on how much I really did enjoy the Shannon Stacey novella (in spite of it being too short), but that's probably the only one I'd come back to. Kind of wish the Shannon Stacey had been the entire anthology.
October 18, 2014
This collection of stories was fun to read, you had 2 of them on the nice, romancy side, then 2 on the naughty, erotica side.
I hadn't ever read anything by Shannon Stacey before, so was pleasantly surprised by this one and will be checking out more by her. This story was the typical nerd/popular kids in high school all grown up, the nerd not a nerd anymore, but a hot hunk, really throwing Chloe off. 4 stars
Jaci Burton is a favorite author of mine, but I have to say that I didn't care for this story at all, due to the hero. This story was about high school sweethearts, where one screwed over the other, then one comes back years later and learns what really happened. I really thought that Riley could have done better and was mad at her for going back to Ethan. 2 stars
Megan Hart is another favorite author of mine, and I was happy to see another story with Leah and Brandon. It has been fun watching this couple really come to trust each other within their unconventional relationship. I loved that Leah was strong enough to do what she really didn't want to just to please Brandon. I also think the choice they made at the end of their trip was just what they needed to happen. 4 stars
I haven't read much by Lauren Dane, but she is one that I keep meaning to pick up. While I liked this story, I felt like maybe there was more to it in a previous book that I haven't gotten to. I did like that Jude and Rori, while in a newer relationship, still took the time to understand what was bothering the other. 3 stars
I hadn't ever read anything by Shannon Stacey before, so was pleasantly surprised by this one and will be checking out more by her. This story was the typical nerd/popular kids in high school all grown up, the nerd not a nerd anymore, but a hot hunk, really throwing Chloe off. 4 stars
Jaci Burton is a favorite author of mine, but I have to say that I didn't care for this story at all, due to the hero. This story was about high school sweethearts, where one screwed over the other, then one comes back years later and learns what really happened. I really thought that Riley could have done better and was mad at her for going back to Ethan. 2 stars
Megan Hart is another favorite author of mine, and I was happy to see another story with Leah and Brandon. It has been fun watching this couple really come to trust each other within their unconventional relationship. I loved that Leah was strong enough to do what she really didn't want to just to please Brandon. I also think the choice they made at the end of their trip was just what they needed to happen. 4 stars
I haven't read much by Lauren Dane, but she is one that I keep meaning to pick up. While I liked this story, I felt like maybe there was more to it in a previous book that I haven't gotten to. I did like that Jude and Rori, while in a newer relationship, still took the time to understand what was bothering the other. 3 stars
October 17, 2012
I just read the first two stories...the others are DNF for me
the first one Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey I would give 5 stars
very nice story both sweet and hot and believable..I do believe they could fall in love that quickly....and that she remembered him form school aaawwww ♥
the second one
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton 2 stars
well...eh..noo..would you forgive something like that so easily? I don't think anyone could and the overall idea of what he did and why was so stupid omg
the first one Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey I would give 5 stars
very nice story both sweet and hot and believable..I do believe they could fall in love that quickly....and that she remembered him form school aaawwww ♥
the second one
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton 2 stars
well...eh..noo..would you forgive something like that so easily? I don't think anyone could and the overall idea of what he did and why was so stupid omg
December 26, 2010
Both Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton pens sexy and hot love stories. In Shannon Stacey’s story I liked that Scott was the reformed geek and he finally got the hot girl. There story made the most sense in my opinion. Jaci Burton’s story was really intense. I liked it and disliked it equally. I liked that the storyline was real but I felt that it would have been better in a longer book. The two main characters had a lot to work on and it should have been fleshed out in a longer book. I was disappointed in Megan Hart’s story. Overall, the story fell flat and I was not interested. Out of all the stories, I had looked forward to Lauren Dane’s story the most because I read about Rory in the previous book. However, I felt that it was a little to late for this story and Zach’s memory was still lurking around.
December 6, 2022
A famous singer reunites with an old flame. A couple explores their desire to be truly bound together. Newlyweds heat things up when they're trapped indoors. And sparks fly when the lights go out. Whether you are naughty or nice, you can still get what you really want for Christmas in this collection of four seasonal shorts.
Heather's Notes
Review of books in updates. That being said I really disliked "All She Wants for Christmas". In fact it kind of soured the entire book. I did not rate it as low as I would have the one story, because it really isn't fair to the other writers, but I will probably try and still clear of that author from now on.
Heather's Notes
Review of books in updates. That being said I really disliked "All She Wants for Christmas". In fact it kind of soured the entire book. I did not rate it as low as I would have the one story, because it really isn't fair to the other writers, but I will probably try and still clear of that author from now on.
December 10, 2010
I love to read holiday themed stories so I took the chance to read this anthology ASAP. and it was a real joy to read this one.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
This was the first of Shannon Stacey's stories I ever read and I'm sure it won't be the last. It is my favorite in this anthology- Holiday Sparks makes just everything right. It's a very funny and easy reading novella with wonderful characters who will make you smile like a maniac. The writing flows just right and drew me in from the start- addicting from the start. The story is about a girl that comes home, after years of staying away, to house-sit her parents' home. When she arrives she accidentally short circuits the wiring and has to call the local electrician to fix it. When she realizes that the wiring is so old that it's just a catastrophe waiting to happen she decides to get it redone- and her electrician is one nice man to watch while he works.
I loved the banter between the characters and how easy they interacted with each other. The whole setting in this wonderful charming small town with the dog that is always at your side- everything makes you feel like home. The love story is so sweet and heartwarming. *le sigh*
This a wonderful story to get into the holiday feeling- I'm ready for Christmas now.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
I really wish I could say how much I loved this story but I can't. I didn't really much like it but only because the story itself just wasn't right for me. Let me explain: We have Riley, a very famous country singer, coming back to her hometown after a ten year absence. She doesn't want to do it and she has every reason for this. The reason she left is that she found her boyfriend, the love of her life, in bed with her best friend. When she saw this she packed her things and run- and never looked back. Now 10 years later she is back and meets him again. He has a 7 year old child and her best friend died a few years back. Perhaps some may say she should forgive him but I'm not one of those. I would have been okay with forgiving a one-night stand but not something that lasted so long. In the story he tries to explain that he stayed with the best-friend because he felt honor bound to stay with her but only did so reluctantly and he never really loved her. So my question is how did he get her pregnant after those 3 years if he didn't really love her? But nevermind, I know I'm overreacting. The rest was good and as long as I could ignore this I enjoyed the story. I love the way Ms Burton writes her stories. Very heartfelt and compelling on an emotional level. Just wished the story would have been different.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart
In Unwrapped we meet Leah and Brandon from Taking Care of Business/No Reservations. I admit that this couple isn't my favorite and it's even more shameful when I tell you why. It seems I'm not much the woman being dominant and yes all my feministic genes are crying out loud too but still it is the way it is. So I surprised myself with liking the story so much. Okay there is probably a reason for this but I won't share that tidbit. I still really love Brandon- he is so cute and sweet. Just makes you want to take him in your arms. I also really like that Leah is getting more and more assured about herself and what she likes. It really suits her to be a bit more confident and it also added more strength to their relationship. The pace of the story is wonderful and the sex scenes are mighty hot. I think the story works best if you read the previous ones but I already read some other reviews who enjoyed even though they haven't. A novella that changes the usual D/s roles in romance novels but still makes you yearn.
Believe by Lauren Dane
In Believe we meet Rory and Jude from Second Chances again. They just decided to spend there first Christmas as a couple in a holiday resort to celebrate their love with some privacy and undisturbed time for the two of them. Believe is probably the "kinkiest" story in Naughty and Nice but also very romantic. I always love how complex and real Ms Dane makes the relationships in her books. Believe is mostly about being honest and open even though you think the topic could be uncomfortable for your partner. I believe this is very important in a relationship not being afraid of telling the other what's on your mind. She handles the whole burden of Zach's death really good and enjoyed reading about these 2 finding their own way in life and leaving the past behind them. Very erotic and even more emotional story.
Naughty and Nice is again a Carina winner for me. This anthology is a nice mix of sexy and sweet and exactly the right thing you need in December- preparing yourself for Christmas while staying warm even though it snows all the time. recommended to all romance lovers.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
This was the first of Shannon Stacey's stories I ever read and I'm sure it won't be the last. It is my favorite in this anthology- Holiday Sparks makes just everything right. It's a very funny and easy reading novella with wonderful characters who will make you smile like a maniac. The writing flows just right and drew me in from the start- addicting from the start. The story is about a girl that comes home, after years of staying away, to house-sit her parents' home. When she arrives she accidentally short circuits the wiring and has to call the local electrician to fix it. When she realizes that the wiring is so old that it's just a catastrophe waiting to happen she decides to get it redone- and her electrician is one nice man to watch while he works.
I loved the banter between the characters and how easy they interacted with each other. The whole setting in this wonderful charming small town with the dog that is always at your side- everything makes you feel like home. The love story is so sweet and heartwarming. *le sigh*
This a wonderful story to get into the holiday feeling- I'm ready for Christmas now.
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton
I really wish I could say how much I loved this story but I can't. I didn't really much like it but only because the story itself just wasn't right for me. Let me explain: We have Riley, a very famous country singer, coming back to her hometown after a ten year absence. She doesn't want to do it and she has every reason for this. The reason she left is that she found her boyfriend, the love of her life, in bed with her best friend. When she saw this she packed her things and run- and never looked back. Now 10 years later she is back and meets him again. He has a 7 year old child and her best friend died a few years back. Perhaps some may say she should forgive him but I'm not one of those. I would have been okay with forgiving a one-night stand but not something that lasted so long. In the story he tries to explain that he stayed with the best-friend because he felt honor bound to stay with her but only did so reluctantly and he never really loved her. So my question is how did he get her pregnant after those 3 years if he didn't really love her? But nevermind, I know I'm overreacting. The rest was good and as long as I could ignore this I enjoyed the story. I love the way Ms Burton writes her stories. Very heartfelt and compelling on an emotional level. Just wished the story would have been different.
Unwrapped by Megan Hart
In Unwrapped we meet Leah and Brandon from Taking Care of Business/No Reservations. I admit that this couple isn't my favorite and it's even more shameful when I tell you why. It seems I'm not much the woman being dominant and yes all my feministic genes are crying out loud too but still it is the way it is. So I surprised myself with liking the story so much. Okay there is probably a reason for this but I won't share that tidbit. I still really love Brandon- he is so cute and sweet. Just makes you want to take him in your arms. I also really like that Leah is getting more and more assured about herself and what she likes. It really suits her to be a bit more confident and it also added more strength to their relationship. The pace of the story is wonderful and the sex scenes are mighty hot. I think the story works best if you read the previous ones but I already read some other reviews who enjoyed even though they haven't. A novella that changes the usual D/s roles in romance novels but still makes you yearn.
Believe by Lauren Dane
In Believe we meet Rory and Jude from Second Chances again. They just decided to spend there first Christmas as a couple in a holiday resort to celebrate their love with some privacy and undisturbed time for the two of them. Believe is probably the "kinkiest" story in Naughty and Nice but also very romantic. I always love how complex and real Ms Dane makes the relationships in her books. Believe is mostly about being honest and open even though you think the topic could be uncomfortable for your partner. I believe this is very important in a relationship not being afraid of telling the other what's on your mind. She handles the whole burden of Zach's death really good and enjoyed reading about these 2 finding their own way in life and leaving the past behind them. Very erotic and even more emotional story.
Naughty and Nice is again a Carina winner for me. This anthology is a nice mix of sexy and sweet and exactly the right thing you need in December- preparing yourself for Christmas while staying warm even though it snows all the time. recommended to all romance lovers.
January 11, 2011
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey: Chloe is back in Maine house sitting for her parents while they are on a cruise. She grew up in this small town but moved away as fast as she could to the city of Boston. When she starts the microwave in the house is blows a fuse and she is forced to call an electrician. Scott went to high school with Chloe, she was the beautiful popular girl he was an awkward looking loser. But Scott has grown up into a hot electrician, and once he sees Chloe again all his high school fantasies come back. Through their mutual attraction they decide to have a holiday fling but when it turns to more, can they overcome the distance between their respective homes. I really liked this story it was cute and very brief. I also loved the dog Kojak and how Scott would actually talk to him, and the dog was his assistant. It was a great quick story and you could definitely see the twos conflicting emotions about what was suppose to be a fling developing into something more.
**5 stars**
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton: Riley Jensen was a small town girl in love with Ethan Kent. Until the morning she finds her best friend Amanda naked in bed with Ethan, and she runs away from the small town and never looks back. Riley is now a famous country singer and is being forced to go back to her hometown which she hasn't been to since she left. She's hoping to avoid Amanda and Ethan and just get this concert and biography done as fast as possible. But then she finds out Amanda has passed away and Ethan was married to her and they had a daughter Zoey. Riley and Ethan start to reconnect and forgive each other for the past but it might be too late, and too much history for them to be together again. I thought this story was okay, it was a little hard to believe that she forgave Ethan after about 3 days together when he had hurt her so much. I think if there had been more time for them to develop a new relationship than the story would have been better.
**3 stars**
Unwrapped by Megan Hart: Leah and Brandon are staying at a ski in ski out resort for their first Christmas as a married couple. Everything is going great until Leah sprains her ankle while night skiing. She feels awkward having Brandon constantly taking care of her even though she enjoys it it feels like she doesn't want to. Brandon loves taking care of his wife, but knows she has a fiercely independent streak, he wants her to relax and relinquish control every once in awhile. This story is the epilogue to a book about these two characters. Since I hadn't read the book I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters and I found their story kind of boring. They were already in love and didn't have any problems to overcome, they were just enjoying each other. It felt kind of bland to me.
**2 stars**
Believe by Lauren Dane: This was another story that had it's own book before the story. Rori was married once but her husband Zack was murdered. It's two years later and Jude and Rori are finally together. He took care of her when she was severely depressed after loosing her husband. They had begun to date and are in love with each other and want to spend their first Christmas together away from their family. Jude fears that Zack will always have a place in his relationship with Rori and that he won't be enough for her. Rori is past moving on from Zack and wants to fully embrace her life with Jude, she just has to find the perfect way to show him. This story was enjoyable, and I felt that it was okay that I didn't read the other book before hand. This book was also into BSDM, which I kind of glossed over but the love story was good.
**3 stars**
**5 stars**
All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton: Riley Jensen was a small town girl in love with Ethan Kent. Until the morning she finds her best friend Amanda naked in bed with Ethan, and she runs away from the small town and never looks back. Riley is now a famous country singer and is being forced to go back to her hometown which she hasn't been to since she left. She's hoping to avoid Amanda and Ethan and just get this concert and biography done as fast as possible. But then she finds out Amanda has passed away and Ethan was married to her and they had a daughter Zoey. Riley and Ethan start to reconnect and forgive each other for the past but it might be too late, and too much history for them to be together again. I thought this story was okay, it was a little hard to believe that she forgave Ethan after about 3 days together when he had hurt her so much. I think if there had been more time for them to develop a new relationship than the story would have been better.
**3 stars**
Unwrapped by Megan Hart: Leah and Brandon are staying at a ski in ski out resort for their first Christmas as a married couple. Everything is going great until Leah sprains her ankle while night skiing. She feels awkward having Brandon constantly taking care of her even though she enjoys it it feels like she doesn't want to. Brandon loves taking care of his wife, but knows she has a fiercely independent streak, he wants her to relax and relinquish control every once in awhile. This story is the epilogue to a book about these two characters. Since I hadn't read the book I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters and I found their story kind of boring. They were already in love and didn't have any problems to overcome, they were just enjoying each other. It felt kind of bland to me.
**2 stars**
Believe by Lauren Dane: This was another story that had it's own book before the story. Rori was married once but her husband Zack was murdered. It's two years later and Jude and Rori are finally together. He took care of her when she was severely depressed after loosing her husband. They had begun to date and are in love with each other and want to spend their first Christmas together away from their family. Jude fears that Zack will always have a place in his relationship with Rori and that he won't be enough for her. Rori is past moving on from Zack and wants to fully embrace her life with Jude, she just has to find the perfect way to show him. This story was enjoyable, and I felt that it was okay that I didn't read the other book before hand. This book was also into BSDM, which I kind of glossed over but the love story was good.
**3 stars**
November 30, 2012
Review-
Holiday Sparks (Nice) by Shannon Stacey
Sparks start flying when Chloe returns home for the Christmas holidays to watch over her parent’s house only to blow up the electrical panel and call in electrician, Scott Quinn. Scott is none other than the guy that pined for Chloe Burke all through high school. But things have changed since then; Scott is now a successful business owner and one hot guy. The added muscle and sex appeal are hard to ignore as Chloe tries to work while Scott re-wires her folk’s home and her heart. This is one romantic and heart warming story that will have you wanting to pack Chloe’s bags to move her back to old home town.
4 hoots
All She Wants for Christmas (Nice) by Jaci Burton
Can you ever really go home again? Riley didn’t think she would ever have to, but when her management team organizes a Christmas event, she returns to find her ex-boyfriend now a widower and a father. Bitter and angry for so many years, Riley became both famous and rich singing the heartbreak caused by Ethen and her former best friend. Now, the country singer must dig deep to forgive; to forgive the friend she has lost forever, the only man she will ever love and the innocent child she already loves beyond measure. While this novella was very different from other Jaci Burton stories I have read, it was a wonderful change of pace. I cried and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed it.
5 hoots
Unwrapped (Naughty) by Megan Hart
Just to be up front, I don’t enjoy the dominant woman/submissive male. For anyone who knows my 5Hoots in books, you will know that I like the big, bad alpha male that dominates everyone, even the narrator! Also, this story is the epilogue to ‘No Reservations’, Hart’s back story of Brandon and Leah. That said the story was interesting and heart felt. As a newly married couple, Brandon and Leah are learning about each other and about themselves as a unit. Brandon and Leah decide to spend Christmas in Vail, away from family and friends. Their trip away shows them what they are missing and the pair realizes that they are ready to take the next step: to become a family.
3 hoots
Believe (Really Naughty…so naughty it was nice) by Lauren Dane
While I had not read the previous book, ‘Second Chances’, in which this couple “realize” their friendship went a lot deeper, I thoroughly enjoyed their epilogue. After suffering the death and loss of her husband, Rori learns to love again in the arms of the one man she actually never stopped loving: her first love Jude. Losing Rori the first time had been because of stupidity on his part, but now this tall cool drink of water has proven that he is not only one hunky cowboy, but one generous and dominant lover. Together, they spend their fist Christmas holed up in a remote cabin where anything can and does happen. Be warned, this has some steamy kink that some may not enjoy and others may require their HEA to relieve.
January 26, 2011
3.5 stars overall.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey - B. I really liked this one. Chloe Burke goes to her hometown to house-sit for her parents and, after an electrical incident, decides to get their wiring upgraded for Christmas. Enter Scott Quinn, electrician who's had a crush on Chloe since High School. But Chloe is a Boston girl and Scott is a hometown boy. Can a holiday fling become something more? Fun. Sexy. Good.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Buron - B-. Small town girl made big country music star Riley Jenson comes home to film a biography for one of the entertainment channels. There she meets up with ex Ethan Kent (who has 2 sexy brothers I'm hoping to read about one of these days), a widower with a young daughter who's a big Riley Jensen fan. Riley left town after finding Ethan in bed with former BFF Amanda (mother of Zoey - the daughter). The attraction is still there, can they get over what happened in the past? I enjoyed this quite a bit, even thought it was a little saccharine at the end. I would have liked just a little more detail on exactly how they were going to organise their lives (it's not a spoiler to let you know they end up happy ever after is it?) and I was serious about wanting Brody and Wyatt's stories. I can so imagine the movie of the week of this one!
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - C+. This one is about newlyweds Leah and Brandon taking a holiday away from the family for Christmas. It was definitely sexy but I thought the conflict about babies was a bit contrived. I probably would have enjoyed it better if I had read the earlier story involving this couple (- in other Goodreads reviews there is mention of Taking Care of Business and No Reservations which feature Leah and Brandon.)
Believe by Lauren Dane - C+/B- Sadly *kicks self* this is a sequel novella to Second Chances - which I have on my reader but I haven't read it yet. I would probably have enjoyed the story quite a bit more had I read Second Chances first... *kicks self again*. However, it was a cute sexy short and I plan on revisting it when I read SC.
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey - B. I really liked this one. Chloe Burke goes to her hometown to house-sit for her parents and, after an electrical incident, decides to get their wiring upgraded for Christmas. Enter Scott Quinn, electrician who's had a crush on Chloe since High School. But Chloe is a Boston girl and Scott is a hometown boy. Can a holiday fling become something more? Fun. Sexy. Good.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Buron - B-. Small town girl made big country music star Riley Jenson comes home to film a biography for one of the entertainment channels. There she meets up with ex Ethan Kent (who has 2 sexy brothers I'm hoping to read about one of these days), a widower with a young daughter who's a big Riley Jensen fan. Riley left town after finding Ethan in bed with former BFF Amanda (mother of Zoey - the daughter). The attraction is still there, can they get over what happened in the past? I enjoyed this quite a bit, even thought it was a little saccharine at the end. I would have liked just a little more detail on exactly how they were going to organise their lives (it's not a spoiler to let you know they end up happy ever after is it?) and I was serious about wanting Brody and Wyatt's stories. I can so imagine the movie of the week of this one!
Unwrapped by Megan Hart - C+. This one is about newlyweds Leah and Brandon taking a holiday away from the family for Christmas. It was definitely sexy but I thought the conflict about babies was a bit contrived. I probably would have enjoyed it better if I had read the earlier story involving this couple (- in other Goodreads reviews there is mention of Taking Care of Business and No Reservations which feature Leah and Brandon.)
Believe by Lauren Dane - C+/B- Sadly *kicks self* this is a sequel novella to Second Chances - which I have on my reader but I haven't read it yet. I would probably have enjoyed the story quite a bit more had I read Second Chances first... *kicks self again*. However, it was a cute sexy short and I plan on revisting it when I read SC.
December 24, 2015
4.0 Stars Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
This was my favourite story in the collection. This novella was cute, funny, with a touch of steaminess. Despite the short page length, the characters were well fleshed out. My only complaint was that I wanted the story to be longer, which is a good indicator of how much I enjoyed it.
2.5 Stars All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
As a fan of country music, I liked the premise of this novel with a Nashville star returning to her hometown. However, I didn't love the story itself. The issue with this novella was that the page length didn't give nearly enough time to properly resolve the the characters' complicated past and arrive at a happy ending. The romance between the characters just didn't feel authentic. As for steaminess, it was lukewarm as best.
4.0 Stars Unwrapped by Megan Hart
In the "naughty" section, this novella had more sexy times than the first two stories in this collection. There wasn't much conflict or plot, since the characters were already together. Regardless, it was an enjoyable read, with some mild kink.
3.0 Stars Believe by Lauren Dane
This novella was the most out of my comfort zone. Centered around a BDSM couple, this wasn't my personal reading tastes. However, the domination aspects were relatively tame.
Overall, this was a fun, sexy romance collection. The stories were all set around the holidays without becoming too sappy. I want to read more by Shannon Stacey & Megan Hart.
This was my favourite story in the collection. This novella was cute, funny, with a touch of steaminess. Despite the short page length, the characters were well fleshed out. My only complaint was that I wanted the story to be longer, which is a good indicator of how much I enjoyed it.
2.5 Stars All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
As a fan of country music, I liked the premise of this novel with a Nashville star returning to her hometown. However, I didn't love the story itself. The issue with this novella was that the page length didn't give nearly enough time to properly resolve the the characters' complicated past and arrive at a happy ending. The romance between the characters just didn't feel authentic. As for steaminess, it was lukewarm as best.
4.0 Stars Unwrapped by Megan Hart
In the "naughty" section, this novella had more sexy times than the first two stories in this collection. There wasn't much conflict or plot, since the characters were already together. Regardless, it was an enjoyable read, with some mild kink.
3.0 Stars Believe by Lauren Dane
This novella was the most out of my comfort zone. Centered around a BDSM couple, this wasn't my personal reading tastes. However, the domination aspects were relatively tame.
Overall, this was a fun, sexy romance collection. The stories were all set around the holidays without becoming too sappy. I want to read more by Shannon Stacey & Megan Hart.
February 27, 2011
Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey
Rating: 4 stars
I just read the first story in this anthology, and I have to say that it's really good for a short story (and especially considering that this is more of an erotica than romance novel). I don't like erotica all that much as a main focus of the book, and this story really balanced it - there were a few (non-gross) sex scenes, but there was enough background to the characters and it was planned ahead that is turned out like a perfectly normal love story with perfectly healthy sex appetites. I really liked it.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
Rating: 2 stars
I expected more from Burton. This just turned out to be a sappy story with a lit of romantic gibberish that really has no standing, and feels very unrealistic. Fairy tales with happy endings are nice and all, but sometimes a bit of real life in the mix does more good to the stories than not.
I don't like the summaries for the next two stories in this book, Unwrapped and Believe, so I am going to skip on them in order not to give them a lousy grade. I do love romance stories, but the characters in these are a little too unrealistic, and while I loved fairy tales with happy endings when I was a kid, I just need more action in my books (meaning plot-wise) to make it appeal more to me.
This ARC was received via NetGalley.
Rating: 4 stars
I just read the first story in this anthology, and I have to say that it's really good for a short story (and especially considering that this is more of an erotica than romance novel). I don't like erotica all that much as a main focus of the book, and this story really balanced it - there were a few (non-gross) sex scenes, but there was enough background to the characters and it was planned ahead that is turned out like a perfectly normal love story with perfectly healthy sex appetites. I really liked it.
All She Wants For Christmas by Jaci Burton
Rating: 2 stars
I expected more from Burton. This just turned out to be a sappy story with a lit of romantic gibberish that really has no standing, and feels very unrealistic. Fairy tales with happy endings are nice and all, but sometimes a bit of real life in the mix does more good to the stories than not.
I don't like the summaries for the next two stories in this book, Unwrapped and Believe, so I am going to skip on them in order not to give them a lousy grade. I do love romance stories, but the characters in these are a little too unrealistic, and while I loved fairy tales with happy endings when I was a kid, I just need more action in my books (meaning plot-wise) to make it appeal more to me.
This ARC was received via NetGalley.
December 9, 2010
There are four stories in this holiday themed anthology, which I asked to review. The first two by Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton were wonderful romances with humor and just enough steam. I really enjoyed both stories, which can be bought as novellas as well from Carina Press. I have to say, in both stories the side characters, which were neighbors, friends and family of the main characters added SO much humor and fun to the stories. They were a joy to read.
The second two stories by Magan Hart and Lauren Dane ended up not being my cup of tea. This is no reflection on the writing, which was great in both stories. The first one involved a couple who used submission to enchance their sexual relationship. Though there wasn't nothing extremely kinky I could not relate to the couple at all, and it fell flat for me.
Lauren Dane's story had wonderful characters, but delved into which made me uncomfortable personally. I wil say though that if you are comfortable with that theme, it truly was well written, and the story of their struggles as they got over the past were touching.
The second two stories by Magan Hart and Lauren Dane ended up not being my cup of tea. This is no reflection on the writing, which was great in both stories. The first one involved a couple who used submission to enchance their sexual relationship. Though there wasn't nothing extremely kinky I could not relate to the couple at all, and it fell flat for me.
Lauren Dane's story had wonderful characters, but delved into which made me uncomfortable personally. I wil say though that if you are comfortable with that theme, it truly was well written, and the story of their struggles as they got over the past were touching.
January 24, 2011
Out of the four short stories, only Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey did it for me.
It was about Chloe who was house-sitting for her parents needed an electrician's help when she accidentally fried the microwave oven. And surprise, surprise the town's electrician was one hot Scott.. Chloe and Scott were hilarious together.
The other three stories failed to grab my interest..
It was about Chloe who was house-sitting for her parents needed an electrician's help when she accidentally fried the microwave oven. And surprise, surprise the town's electrician was one hot Scott.. Chloe and Scott were hilarious together.
The other three stories failed to grab my interest..
December 30, 2010
I've read the first three stories so far and will finish the last once I read Lauren Dane's Second Chances.
The first story is great!
The second is okay....
The third I didn't like....
I'll let you know how I feel about the fourth once I get back to it.
The first story is great!
The second is okay....
The third I didn't like....
I'll let you know how I feel about the fourth once I get back to it.
August 4, 2016
Free audiobook from Audible. I am not a fan of romance and it wasn't bad so I give it my top rating for romance--2 stars!. If you are a romance junkie you will probably love it! Cheesey comments, six pack abs, lusty thoughts, flaming loins and, the all important, happy ever after!!
October 4, 2016
Nice Christmas Present! (Audiobook)
I want someone like Scott Quinn for Christmas!
Great narration by Savannah Richards and a fun story by Shannon Stacey. A guilty pleasure without going into the R rated category.
I want someone like Scott Quinn for Christmas!
Great narration by Savannah Richards and a fun story by Shannon Stacey. A guilty pleasure without going into the R rated category.
November 26, 2017
#1, Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey: the best, I guess, of the lot but that's a pretty low bar. I was kinda bored reading it: it's just two more-or-less uninteresting people hot for each other who have a bunch of sex over a couple weeks then make major life-changing decisions about moving and marriage and stuff. Pleasant enough but forgettable. 3/5, and that's being generous
#2, All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton: I hate country music, I hated Riley for continuously apologizing for the way she felt after Ethan cheated on her, and I hated that Ethan had cheated on her (I DON'T CARE if ). Didn't much care for Zoey either. I don't tend to like kids in romance novels. Bah, humbug. 1/5
#3, Unwrapped by Megan Hart: Boring, and stupid. You're telling me a guy that complains that much about kids will be thrilled with his own? #sideeye oooookay. 1/5
#4, Believe by Lauren Dane: I didn't enjoy the dynamics of this relationship. The sex wasn't even sexy. I guess I'm not into bdsm, because I just skimmed those parts. Which were... uh, basically most of it. I haven't read the book where these characters are introduced and I doubt I would, having read this novella. 0/5
Glad I did not pay for this as I would have been MAJORLY disappointed.
#2, All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton: I hate country music, I hated Riley for continuously apologizing for the way she felt after Ethan cheated on her, and I hated that Ethan had cheated on her (I DON'T CARE if ). Didn't much care for Zoey either. I don't tend to like kids in romance novels. Bah, humbug. 1/5
#3, Unwrapped by Megan Hart: Boring, and stupid. You're telling me a guy that complains that much about kids will be thrilled with his own? #sideeye oooookay. 1/5
#4, Believe by Lauren Dane: I didn't enjoy the dynamics of this relationship. The sex wasn't even sexy. I guess I'm not into bdsm, because I just skimmed those parts. Which were... uh, basically most of it. I haven't read the book where these characters are introduced and I doubt I would, having read this novella. 0/5
Glad I did not pay for this as I would have been MAJORLY disappointed.
March 30, 2021
I don't know why it took me so long to finish this book but there was just to much happening in the real world to get lost in romance! Most of the stories were pretty decent but nothing that would make me say, "I just have to read this again"! One story does stand out, the last one. That story was nothing but soft porn! I couldn't believe the author thought this would turn on a normal person unless they loved 50 shades of gray. S&M is just not my cup of tea. I was finally glad when I finished it.
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