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thenia's review against another edition
4.0
Unappreciated Gifts - Patricia Briggs:
Asil gets dared to go on five dates that some concerned packmates of his have arranged, and he is determined to win.
This story focuses on the first date of his that is a lot more fun than Asil thought it would be, for very unexpected reasons -
Asil, who proves that nothing fazes him and he can roll with anything coming his way, goes through with the date as if nothing is wrong, from the initial dinner to the vampire costume ball.
He doesn't expect an actual vampire to show up to the ball, knowing that there are none so close to the Marrok's territory, when one appears, and he has also been snacking on Asil's date without his knowledge.
Asil deals with the vampire, helping his date get rid or his bully at the same time, and showing him a pretty great time overall, winning the first bet, before he receives an email about the next one that is bound to be as ridiculous, since it was set up through a dating site called mustlovemycat.
A light and fun story that shows a whole different side of the dangerous Asil that made me like him even more.
The series continues with an Alpha and Omega story next, [b:Dead Heat|22571699|Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)|Patricia Briggs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406232150l/22571699._SY75_.jpg|26949988].
Previous book reviews:
✦ Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Fair Game (Alpha & Omega, #3) ~ ★★★★ (17/08/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ River Marked (Mercy Thompson, #6) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5) ~ ★★★★★ (12/04/2012, 10/03/2014, 22/09/2019)
✦ Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, #3) ~ ★★★★★ (04/11/2010, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2) ~ ★★★★★ (04/09/2010, 08/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) ~ ★★★★ (12/05/2011, 20/09/2019)
✦ Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/09/2010, 20/09/2019)
✦ Alpha and Omega (Alpha & Omega, #0.5) ~ ★★★★ (16/09/2010, 19/09/2019)
✦ Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) ~ ★★★★★ (01/08/2010, 11/03/2014, 20/09/2019)
✦ Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels 0) ~ ★★★ (13/03/2014)
Asil gets dared to go on five dates that some concerned packmates of his have arranged, and he is determined to win.
This story focuses on the first date of his that is a lot more fun than Asil thought it would be, for very unexpected reasons -
Spoiler
his date is not with a woman but a gay man who was also set up on the date by a bully.Asil, who proves that nothing fazes him and he can roll with anything coming his way, goes through with the date as if nothing is wrong, from the initial dinner to the vampire costume ball.
He doesn't expect an actual vampire to show up to the ball, knowing that there are none so close to the Marrok's territory, when one appears, and he has also been snacking on Asil's date without his knowledge.
Asil deals with the vampire, helping his date get rid or his bully at the same time, and showing him a pretty great time overall, winning the first bet, before he receives an email about the next one that is bound to be as ridiculous, since it was set up through a dating site called mustlovemycat
A light and fun story that shows a whole different side of the dangerous Asil that made me like him even more.
The series continues with an Alpha and Omega story next, [b:Dead Heat|22571699|Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)|Patricia Briggs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406232150l/22571699._SY75_.jpg|26949988].
Previous book reviews:
✦ Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Fair Game (Alpha & Omega, #3) ~ ★★★★ (17/08/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ River Marked (Mercy Thompson, #6) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5) ~ ★★★★★ (12/04/2012, 10/03/2014, 22/09/2019)
Spoiler
✦ Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, #4) ~ ★★★★★ (11/01/2011, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)✦ Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, #3) ~ ★★★★★ (04/11/2010, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2) ~ ★★★★★ (04/09/2010, 08/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) ~ ★★★★ (12/05/2011, 20/09/2019)
✦ Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/09/2010, 20/09/2019)
✦ Alpha and Omega (Alpha & Omega, #0.5) ~ ★★★★ (16/09/2010, 19/09/2019)
✦ Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) ~ ★★★★★ (01/08/2010, 11/03/2014, 20/09/2019)
✦ Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels 0) ~ ★★★ (13/03/2014)
thenia's review
4.0
Unappreciated Gifts - Patricia Briggs:
Asil gets dared to go on five dates that some concerned packmates of his have arranged, and he is determined to win.
This story focuses on the first date of his that is a lot more fun than Asil thought it would be, for very unexpected reasons -
Asil, who proves that nothing fazes him and he can roll with anything coming his way, goes through with the date as if nothing is wrong, from the initial dinner to the vampire costume ball.
He doesn't expect an actual vampire to show up to the ball, knowing that there are none so close to the Marrok's territory, when one appears, and he has also been snacking on Asil's date without his knowledge.
Asil deals with the vampire, helping his date get rid or his bully at the same time, and showing him a pretty great time overall, winning the first bet, before he receives an email about the next one that is bound to be as ridiculous, since it was set up through a dating site called mustlovemycat.
A light and fun story that shows a whole different side of the dangerous Asil that made me like him even more.
The series continues with an Alpha and Omega story next, [b:Dead Heat|22571699|Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)|Patricia Briggs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406232150l/22571699._SY75_.jpg|26949988].
Previous book reviews:
✦ Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Fair Game (Alpha & Omega, #3) ~ ★★★★ (17/08/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ River Marked (Mercy Thompson, #6) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5) ~ ★★★★★ (12/04/2012, 10/03/2014, 22/09/2019)
✦ Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, #3) ~ ★★★★★ (04/11/2010, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2) ~ ★★★★★ (04/09/2010, 08/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) ~ ★★★★ (12/05/2011, 20/09/2019)
✦ Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/09/2010, 20/09/2019)
✦ Alpha and Omega (Alpha & Omega, #0.5) ~ ★★★★ (16/09/2010, 19/09/2019)
✦ Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) ~ ★★★★★ (01/08/2010, 11/03/2014, 20/09/2019)
✦ Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels 0) ~ ★★★ (13/03/2014)
Asil gets dared to go on five dates that some concerned packmates of his have arranged, and he is determined to win.
This story focuses on the first date of his that is a lot more fun than Asil thought it would be, for very unexpected reasons -
Spoiler
his date is not with a woman but a gay man who was also set up on the date by a bully.Asil, who proves that nothing fazes him and he can roll with anything coming his way, goes through with the date as if nothing is wrong, from the initial dinner to the vampire costume ball.
He doesn't expect an actual vampire to show up to the ball, knowing that there are none so close to the Marrok's territory, when one appears, and he has also been snacking on Asil's date without his knowledge.
Asil deals with the vampire, helping his date get rid or his bully at the same time, and showing him a pretty great time overall, winning the first bet, before he receives an email about the next one that is bound to be as ridiculous, since it was set up through a dating site called mustlovemycat
A light and fun story that shows a whole different side of the dangerous Asil that made me like him even more.
The series continues with an Alpha and Omega story next, [b:Dead Heat|22571699|Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)|Patricia Briggs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406232150l/22571699._SY75_.jpg|26949988].
Previous book reviews:
✦ Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Fair Game (Alpha & Omega, #3) ~ ★★★★ (17/08/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ River Marked (Mercy Thompson, #6) ~ ★★★★★ (22/03/2013, 22/09/2019)
✦ Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5) ~ ★★★★★ (12/04/2012, 10/03/2014, 22/09/2019)
Spoiler
✦ Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, #4) ~ ★★★★★ (11/01/2011, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)✦ Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, #3) ~ ★★★★★ (04/11/2010, 09/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2) ~ ★★★★★ (04/09/2010, 08/03/2014, 21/09/2019)
✦ Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) ~ ★★★★ (12/05/2011, 20/09/2019)
✦ Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) ~ ★★★★ (08/09/2010, 20/09/2019)
✦ Alpha and Omega (Alpha & Omega, #0.5) ~ ★★★★ (16/09/2010, 19/09/2019)
✦ Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) ~ ★★★★★ (01/08/2010, 11/03/2014, 20/09/2019)
✦ Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels 0) ~ ★★★ (13/03/2014)
marie123's review
5.0
I'm really only rating the Briggs' story. I really love Asil, and I thought it was a cute story that I really hope is continued!!!!
jesshale's review
3.0
I got this for the Patricia Briggs story, Unappreciated Gifts. I enjoyed that story (4 stars) - the overall premise was a bit silly and thin, obviously just to get the plot underway, but it was a fun romp and it's always nice to spend more time with Asil!
I read through the rest of the book, although I skipped stories that were parts of series I wasn't familiar with. They were generally nice reads, although I found myself wondering how well they struck the balance of stories ABOUT children and stories FOR children - given the Christmas theme child protagonists abounded which meant some simple stories.
I read through the rest of the book, although I skipped stories that were parts of series I wasn't familiar with. They were generally nice reads, although I found myself wondering how well they struck the balance of stories ABOUT children and stories FOR children - given the Christmas theme child protagonists abounded which meant some simple stories.
jmshirtz's review
4.0
This review is only for "Underappreciated Gifts" by [a: Patricia Briggs|40563|Patricia Briggs|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1228867484p2/40563.jpg]. While I felt like I needed to suspend my disbelief for the premise of this story, I was very entertained by how everything played out, and the names of the dating websites were hilarious. I would love to see Asil's profiles!
kzeender's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I did not enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. I think mainly because I don't know most of the characters in the short stories and I just had a hard time connecting with the characters before it was time to move on to the next book. I picked up this book specifically because I wanted to read about Asil in Patricia Briggs short story Unappreciative Gifts. I also very much enjoyed the first story in the book called naughty and nice. here we have a detective that is trying to find the stolen naughty and nice list for Santa Claus.
if you know the books or the words that these stories come from then I think you would enjoy the book, but if you don't this might be a book to skip.
if you know the books or the words that these stories come from then I think you would enjoy the book, but if you don't this might be a book to skip.
larisa2021's review
5.0
5 stars for the Briggs story. Now I am dearly hoping for the rest of Asil's dating sfories!
reader44ever's review
4.0
This book should really be given five stars. It was and is a wonderful collection of holiday stories, and I thoroughly enjoyed ALL of them, laughing and crying in a couple. Even the ones that had me shaking my head in a sort of confused fog were fun to read. In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that I want to now find the first volume of A Fantastic Holiday Season ([b:A Fantastic Holiday Season: Volume 1|18707737|A Fantastic Holiday Season Volume 1|Kevin J. Anderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386589077s/18707737.jpg|26563813]) to read/buy, as I hope to buy this book. :-)
But. . . The editing really left a lot to be desired. One story, in particular, read like a story that the author typed out and submitted to editors who never read it before publishing it. . .And none of them proofread it. :-( (This story was "Santa's Mortuary" by [a:Heather Graham|30819|Heather Graham|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1258112542p2/30819.jpg] and it had six (SIX!) errors in it. The worst? These two: "We're you drinking a lot? We're you on any kind of a--substance?" *grrr!*)
My favorites of the stories would probably have to be "Unappreciated Gifts" by [a:Patricia Briggs|40563|Patricia Briggs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464488194p2/40563.jpg] (it's so fun to see more of Asil!) and "Jimmy Krinklepot and the White Rebels of Hayberry" by [a:Quincy J. Allen|1000848|Quincy J. Allen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1382365930p2/1000848.jpg] (this story was really humorous, and it made me laugh and cry at the end). :-)
As I said in the beginning of this review, all of the stories were fun to read, even the confusing ones, but the one that I liked perhaps the least would, arguably, have to be "A Christmas Feast" by [a:Jonathan Maberry|72451|Jonathan Maberry|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442453747p2/72451.jpg]. I'm beginning to notice a disturbing trend to his stories, too. Do all of them have rather ambiguous endings? Even his books? Because this short and the one of his in [b:An Apple for the Creature|13543159|An Apple for the Creature (Kate Daniels, #5.3)|Charlaine Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334181976s/13543159.jpg|19107455] both leave me feeling rather lost. :-(
The one story that I very much hope is part of a series so that I can read more would have to be "A World Done In by Great Granny's Grateful Pie" by [a:Ken Scholes|1325446|Ken Scholes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286557947p2/1325446.jpg]. How could it end, there?! Readers, meaning me!, want to know if Kay Annwill survive her hunt for the "patient zero" pig. And why did her ex-military uncle just hand her his rifle and drive off, leaving her to hunt the pig on her own, without backup of any kind?!
Most of the stories were Urban Fantasy in flavor, with werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and the like in them. At least two, though, were decidedly Science Fiction, and great fun they were, too! ("Astronaut Nick" by [a:Brad R. Torgersen|4413062|Brad R. Torgersen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] and "A Sufficiently Advanced Christmas" by [a:Eric James Stone|2851726|Eric James Stone|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277141800p2/2851726.jpg] being the two, and both of these were delightful. !!!)
One of the stories was definitely sort of Sci-Fi/Fantasy for me: "Yes, Virginia2097c, There is [sic, *grrr*] a Santa Claus" by [a:Sam Knight|4458065|Sam Knight|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430148751p2/4458065.jpg] featured AIs and only AIs, just somewhere in the United States rather than in space. (This story was also one of the ones that left me feeling sort of confused in the end, though if I were to explain the ending to you, it makes sense. Still, though, I don't really understand it.)
So apart from all of the many errors in not-every-but-many of the stories, this was/is a delightful collection of stories and I can totally see myself rereading it many times in the future. But those errors! Oi!
(Eventually, I will probably write a review in which I'll actually review each and every story. But for now, read my status updates if you want "individual story-reviews.")
But. . . The editing really left a lot to be desired. One story, in particular, read like a story that the author typed out and submitted to editors who never read it before publishing it. . .And none of them proofread it. :-( (This story was "Santa's Mortuary" by [a:Heather Graham|30819|Heather Graham|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1258112542p2/30819.jpg] and it had six (SIX!) errors in it. The worst? These two: "We're you drinking a lot? We're you on any kind of a--substance?" *grrr!*)
My favorites of the stories would probably have to be "Unappreciated Gifts" by [a:Patricia Briggs|40563|Patricia Briggs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464488194p2/40563.jpg] (it's so fun to see more of Asil!) and "Jimmy Krinklepot and the White Rebels of Hayberry" by [a:Quincy J. Allen|1000848|Quincy J. Allen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1382365930p2/1000848.jpg] (this story was really humorous, and it made me laugh and cry at the end). :-)
As I said in the beginning of this review, all of the stories were fun to read, even the confusing ones, but the one that I liked perhaps the least would, arguably, have to be "A Christmas Feast" by [a:Jonathan Maberry|72451|Jonathan Maberry|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442453747p2/72451.jpg]. I'm beginning to notice a disturbing trend to his stories, too. Do all of them have rather ambiguous endings? Even his books? Because this short and the one of his in [b:An Apple for the Creature|13543159|An Apple for the Creature (Kate Daniels, #5.3)|Charlaine Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1334181976s/13543159.jpg|19107455] both leave me feeling rather lost. :-(
The one story that I very much hope is part of a series so that I can read more would have to be "A World Done In by Great Granny's Grateful Pie" by [a:Ken Scholes|1325446|Ken Scholes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286557947p2/1325446.jpg]. How could it end, there?! Readers, meaning me!, want to know if Kay Ann
Most of the stories were Urban Fantasy in flavor, with werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and the like in them. At least two, though, were decidedly Science Fiction, and great fun they were, too! ("Astronaut Nick" by [a:Brad R. Torgersen|4413062|Brad R. Torgersen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] and "A Sufficiently Advanced Christmas" by [a:Eric James Stone|2851726|Eric James Stone|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277141800p2/2851726.jpg] being the two, and both of these were delightful. !!!)
One of the stories was definitely sort of Sci-Fi/Fantasy for me: "Yes, Virginia2097c, There is [sic, *grrr*] a Santa Claus" by [a:Sam Knight|4458065|Sam Knight|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1430148751p2/4458065.jpg] featured AIs and only AIs, just somewhere in the United States rather than in space. (This story was also one of the ones that left me feeling sort of confused in the end, though if I were to explain the ending to you, it makes sense. Still, though, I don't really understand it.)
So apart from all of the many errors in not-every-but-many of the stories, this was/is a delightful collection of stories and I can totally see myself rereading it many times in the future. But those errors! Oi!
(Eventually, I will probably write a review in which I'll actually review each and every story. But for now, read my status updates if you want "individual story-reviews.")
reader44ever's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - good
This first volume of A Fantastic Holiday Season was not nearly as good for me as the second one was. You can read my review of that second volume here, if you would like. So many of the stories in this first volume felt unfinished, or were simply just confusing. This resulted in my feeling rather disappointed by this book.
The best stories for me were the two by [a:Nina Kiriki Hoffman|12991|Nina Kiriki Hoffman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1278864412p2/12991.jpg]: "Foreign Exhange" was fun and "LaZelle Family Christmas" just really wowed me. :-)
Also pretty neat were "Jukebox Gifts" by [a:Dean Wesley Smith|43988|Dean Wesley Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314802347p2/43988.jpg] and "The Christmas Noun" by [a:Larry Correia|1136158|Larry Correia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323587082p2/1136158.jpg], which made me laugh. :-)
Special mention should also be made of "Inquiring Minds Want to Snow" by [a:Rebecca Moesta|98411|Rebecca Moesta|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]. I didn't quite understand the reporter in the story, but seeing as how it was told in rhyming verse, it sure was fun to read!
My least favorite stories are, probably, two of the three written by the Oltions. [a:Kathy Oltion|96594|Kathy Oltion|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s "These Halls" and [a:Jerry Oltion|12580|Jerry Oltion|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s "One Last Gift" both numbered among those stories that left me confused or feeling let-down. Thankfully, JO's second story, "The Jolly Old Boyfriend," was the best of the three. It was sort-of good, if a wee bit confusing.
A few words on the book as a whole, most of the stories were error-free in this first volume, but the editing was not perfect on every story, though I did not make notes on mistakes. The one mistake, though, that I do not understand, that drove me nuts, and that I really just despise is that Jerry Oltion's "One Last Gift" was mislabeled as being "Popcorn for Christmas" at the top of the page, where the story's title was printed. So when I came to the next story, which was also/again "Popcorn for Christmas," I was all, "Wait, what?"
So that explained one reason for why "One Last Gift" was confusing for me. While reading it, though it was short (and properly titled on its first page), I was all, "why is this story called 'Popcorn for Christmas'?"
In sum, this book was mostly disappointing for me, despite the few gems I read in it. So I am going to give it just 3.5-good stars. (I was thinking three stars would be a good rating for it, but those few gems inspired me to up my rating to the 3.5-good level.) While I may someday buy volume #2 for rereading purposes, I think this first volume will be best if I can just forget about it. The few gems were too few and really just bogged down by the duds.
Am I glad I read this book? Yes, because I love short story collections and this was a rather fun one. Am I disappointed that I didn't just leave it at having read book two? Also, yes. All of the gems-for-me were originally published elsewhere, so, with one exception, I could probably have read the other collections and been more satisfied. The one exception is Larry Correia's "The Christmas Noun," which was written for and first published in this book. So I guess I am happy to have read this first volume of A Fantastic Holiday Season stories.
;-)
This first volume of A Fantastic Holiday Season was not nearly as good for me as the second one was. You can read my review of that second volume here, if you would like. So many of the stories in this first volume felt unfinished, or were simply just confusing. This resulted in my feeling rather disappointed by this book.
The best stories for me were the two by [a:Nina Kiriki Hoffman|12991|Nina Kiriki Hoffman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1278864412p2/12991.jpg]: "Foreign Exhange" was fun and "LaZelle Family Christmas" just really wowed me. :-)
Also pretty neat were "Jukebox Gifts" by [a:Dean Wesley Smith|43988|Dean Wesley Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314802347p2/43988.jpg] and "The Christmas Noun" by [a:Larry Correia|1136158|Larry Correia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323587082p2/1136158.jpg], which made me laugh. :-)
Special mention should also be made of "Inquiring Minds Want to Snow" by [a:Rebecca Moesta|98411|Rebecca Moesta|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]. I didn't quite understand the reporter in the story, but seeing as how it was told in rhyming verse, it sure was fun to read!
My least favorite stories are, probably, two of the three written by the Oltions. [a:Kathy Oltion|96594|Kathy Oltion|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s "These Halls" and [a:Jerry Oltion|12580|Jerry Oltion|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s "One Last Gift" both numbered among those stories that left me confused or feeling let-down. Thankfully, JO's second story, "The Jolly Old Boyfriend," was the best of the three. It was sort-of good, if a wee bit confusing.
A few words on the book as a whole, most of the stories were error-free in this first volume, but the editing was not perfect on every story, though I did not make notes on mistakes. The one mistake, though, that I do not understand, that drove me nuts, and that I really just despise is that Jerry Oltion's "One Last Gift" was mislabeled as being "Popcorn for Christmas" at the top of the page, where the story's title was printed. So when I came to the next story, which was also/again "Popcorn for Christmas," I was all, "Wait, what?"
So that explained one reason for why "One Last Gift" was confusing for me. While reading it, though it was short (and properly titled on its first page), I was all, "why is this story called 'Popcorn for Christmas'?"
In sum, this book was mostly disappointing for me, despite the few gems I read in it. So I am going to give it just 3.5-good stars. (I was thinking three stars would be a good rating for it, but those few gems inspired me to up my rating to the 3.5-good level.) While I may someday buy volume #2 for rereading purposes, I think this first volume will be best if I can just forget about it. The few gems were too few and really just bogged down by the duds.
Am I glad I read this book? Yes, because I love short story collections and this was a rather fun one. Am I disappointed that I didn't just leave it at having read book two? Also, yes. All of the gems-for-me were originally published elsewhere, so, with one exception, I could probably have read the other collections and been more satisfied. The one exception is Larry Correia's "The Christmas Noun," which was written for and first published in this book. So I guess I am happy to have read this first volume of A Fantastic Holiday Season stories.
;-)