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kathydavie's review
4.0
An anthology of two stories about vampires and Christmas.
Series:
"The Gift" (Argeneau, 15.5)
"Home for the Holidays" (Night Huntress, 6.5)
The Stories
Lynsay Sands' "Gift" is a cute story of two individuals, Teddy Brunswick and Katricia Argeneau, escaping the pity of family and friends at Christmas and just happening to rent cottages side by side. It takes a blizzard snowing them in without electricity or food to push Katricia and Ted outside their comfort zones and into each others' arms.
Jeaniene Frost's "Home for the Holidays" is much more desperate with Cat, Ian, and Dierdre forced to bargain with a demon to save the friends who have gathered to celebrate Bones' birthday. Family. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a peaceful snowy landscape...with tombstones and a circular peekaboo window as Bones holds Cat closely to him looking up at us tauntingly, gathering her long blonde hair to one side just as he is about to nuzzle her neck.
The title is all about vampire holidays with The Bite Before Christmas.
Series:
"The Gift" (Argeneau, 15.5)
"Home for the Holidays" (Night Huntress, 6.5)
The Stories
Lynsay Sands' "Gift" is a cute story of two individuals, Teddy Brunswick and Katricia Argeneau, escaping the pity of family and friends at Christmas and just happening to rent cottages side by side. It takes a blizzard snowing them in without electricity or food to push Katricia and Ted outside their comfort zones and into each others' arms.
Jeaniene Frost's "Home for the Holidays" is much more desperate with Cat, Ian, and Dierdre forced to bargain with a demon to save the friends who have gathered to celebrate Bones' birthday. Family. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a peaceful snowy landscape...with tombstones and a circular peekaboo window as Bones holds Cat closely to him looking up at us tauntingly, gathering her long blonde hair to one side just as he is about to nuzzle her neck.
The title is all about vampire holidays with The Bite Before Christmas.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Jeanine Frost's story was a treat- Bones find himself sweep away with a possible real family member. Not everything is as it seems, something is changing. Bones is changing.
Lynsay Sands- predictable PNR, cheesy, love fest. To be fair I am not a fan of this style of writing.
Lynsay Sands- predictable PNR, cheesy, love fest. To be fair I am not a fan of this style of writing.
kerithesmutslut's review against another edition
3.0
I had previously read the night huntress novella, so I only read the gift. I was so looking forward to Teddy finally getting a lifemates. I was a big fan of Teddy from the get go, however this seemed half put together, and rushed. I hated that I didn't get the feels like I typically do. disappointed in this novella. ** this rating and review does not have anything to do with Jeaniene Frost novella Cat and Bones story was a 5* story that I throughly enjoyed!
witchylevy's review against another edition
5.0
(Only read The Gift so far) This was really cute and I have to say that I love the characters from previous books getting life mates. One thing that makes me cringe in every book in this series - why must there be an emphasis on naming each man's penis little their first name?! Honestly that gives me second hand embarrassment.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
I only read this book for Jeanine Frost's Cat and Bones story. I am not familar with Lynsay Sands' work unfortunately.
I will say that Frost's book is wonderful. I'm almost liking this story more than the recently released full-length books in the series. I would have been interested in this short fleshed out into a full-length.
Fans get a sneak peek at Vlad's book which will be released I believe in Summer 2012.
I will say that Frost's book is wonderful. I'm almost liking this story more than the recently released full-length books in the series. I would have been interested in this short fleshed out into a full-length.
Fans get a sneak peek at Vlad's book which will be released I believe in Summer 2012.
natejohansen's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
divapitbull's review against another edition
3.0
I loved one story and hated the other.
The Gift by Lynsay Sands:
I give this story 1 star but this is based purely on a matter of preference and not a reflection on the work itself. I had intentionally avoided the Argeneau series after a cursory glance at reviews told me I would find it too tame, bland and boring for my tastes. I prefer morally ambiguous characters with a side of violence, kinky sex and foul language, ergo The Gift most definitely was not something I would gravitate towards. It was however a wonderful story if your thing is sweet and heartwarming with two really nice people finding love and enjoying a dollop of vanilla sex with G rated language.
Not being familiar with the series it did take me a little while to figure out that when one is "turned" one reverts to their "prime" in terms of youth. Therefore I spent at least half the story thinking I stumbled upon an AARP romance (not that there's anything wrong with that); however the "shared sex dream" between Katricia and the 64 year old Teddy was a bit...disconcerting.
I also have to note that the Argeneau vampires don't take their sustenance straight from the tap, they subsist solely on bagged blood. What sort of self respecting vampire would do that? Seems to me that biting people has to be half the fun. These vamps are one step away from sparkling.
Home For the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost:
This is the story I bought the book for and it - 5 star - did not disappoint. When a demon possesses Bones and the rest of his vampy crew; only Cat, Dennise and Ian are left unaffected and charged with saving the day. There is lots of thoroughly enjoyable, humorous vintage Ian; his "show and tell" of his strategically placed warding tattoo was classic. Vlad was unavailable to lend assistance this time as he was not answering his cell phone and no doubt was wrapped up in the events of whatever was happening in the Night Prince spin off series. Home For the Holidays seemed to capture some of the "what's going to happen next"? tension that was present in the beginning of the series but that was missing from the last 2 installments, and was lots of fun.
The Gift by Lynsay Sands:
I give this story 1 star but this is based purely on a matter of preference and not a reflection on the work itself. I had intentionally avoided the Argeneau series after a cursory glance at reviews told me I would find it too tame, bland and boring for my tastes. I prefer morally ambiguous characters with a side of violence, kinky sex and foul language, ergo The Gift most definitely was not something I would gravitate towards. It was however a wonderful story if your thing is sweet and heartwarming with two really nice people finding love and enjoying a dollop of vanilla sex with G rated language.
Not being familiar with the series it did take me a little while to figure out that when one is "turned" one reverts to their "prime" in terms of youth. Therefore I spent at least half the story thinking I stumbled upon an AARP romance (not that there's anything wrong with that); however the "shared sex dream" between Katricia and the 64 year old Teddy was a bit...disconcerting.
I also have to note that the Argeneau vampires don't take their sustenance straight from the tap, they subsist solely on bagged blood. What sort of self respecting vampire would do that? Seems to me that biting people has to be half the fun. These vamps are one step away from sparkling.
Home For the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost:
This is the story I bought the book for and it - 5 star - did not disappoint. When a demon possesses Bones and the rest of his vampy crew; only Cat, Dennise and Ian are left unaffected and charged with saving the day. There is lots of thoroughly enjoyable, humorous vintage Ian; his "show and tell" of his strategically placed warding tattoo was classic. Vlad was unavailable to lend assistance this time as he was not answering his cell phone and no doubt was wrapped up in the events of whatever was happening in the Night Prince spin off series. Home For the Holidays seemed to capture some of the "what's going to happen next"? tension that was present in the beginning of the series but that was missing from the last 2 installments, and was lots of fun.