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cakt1991's review
4.0
This is another Romance Cafe anthology, full of old friends and new faces, that I missed out on originally when it first released, but am now catching up on thanks to Kindle Unlimited. Like most anthologies, there’s a mix of highs and lows, but it perfectly conveys the theme of love and hope during the holidays, with the added benefit that all proceeds go to supporting the noble cause of breast cancer research.
“Her Haven” by Aviva Vaughn
4 stars
This one was cute. Blind date getting off on the wrong foot, and some kitchen fun? Yes please! A bit too short to have a lot of coherent thoughts on, but I am curious to try more from her.
“The Journey Toward Hope” by Tabetha Waite
5 stars
In her first contemporary outing, Tabetha Waite shines in this story about a breast cancer survivor and the head of a support group. The title has the perfect double meaning to represent the characters’ respective journeys with the issues they face, as well as the ultimate HEA that every romance reader expects.
“Merry Misfortune” by Briana Nicols
2 stars
This has a cute premise, but the head-hopping over the course of the short chapters was jarring and made it hard to focus. And while I like headings to tell me whose head I’m in, the fact that it’s written in third person renders it pretty redundant, and more bothersome when combined with the head-hopping issue.
“How to Get a Visa in 40 Days” by T.R. Weatherly
4 stars
This story is cute! I like the idea of a long distance relationship, and working to get back to each other.
“Lake Effect” by Angela Kady
4 stars
This is a delightful forced-proximity/trapped-together-during-a-snowstorm story. The leads are both likable and I enjoyed watching the fall into love. The story also has a fabulous sense of place, transporting you to Duluth, Minnesota.
“Yuletide and Hijinks” by Diana Ferris
4 stars
A little story for the Grinch in all of us that we don’t want to admit exists. I love how it characterizes one person’s reactions to things going wrong in such a relatable way, yet bringing it all together to have it end on an optimistic note.
“Rest” by A.M. Roark
This is a fun and flirty holiday short. With a great mix of sweetness and steam, it is exactly what I wanted from a romance set around that time period.
“Lie to Me” by Anna Volkin
4 stars
I loved the Romanian aspects of this one, especially learning about them from a Romanian author. And the romance is both incredibly timely and engaging, and the characters relatable in their reactions to this viral moment.
“Coming Home” by Guinevere Jordan
4 stars
I enjoyed this one. Second chance romance is a trope I’ve always enjoyed due to the complex emotions between a couple with a shared past, and this one met my expectations. Susie and Simon have grown in the twenty years since they first split up, and can now approach their new chance with each other with the experiences they’ve gained.
“Trapped in Paradise” by Danielle Bellwood
5 stars
I was excited when I saw the premise of this one, as it’s set in Hawaii, and the hero is a fire dancer. And while it’s written with a primarily tourist perspective, the little details conveyed in the text suggest familiarity with the local culture, confirmed by Bellwood’s bio at the end. Clara and Kai have such a cute romance, and it makes a wonderful, original note to end the anthology.
***
So, all in all, this is a pretty good batch of stories, providing some holiday cheer (no matter what time of year you read it). If you love holiday-themed contemporary romance, I would recommend picking this one up.
“Her Haven” by Aviva Vaughn
4 stars
This one was cute. Blind date getting off on the wrong foot, and some kitchen fun? Yes please! A bit too short to have a lot of coherent thoughts on, but I am curious to try more from her.
“The Journey Toward Hope” by Tabetha Waite
5 stars
In her first contemporary outing, Tabetha Waite shines in this story about a breast cancer survivor and the head of a support group. The title has the perfect double meaning to represent the characters’ respective journeys with the issues they face, as well as the ultimate HEA that every romance reader expects.
“Merry Misfortune” by Briana Nicols
2 stars
This has a cute premise, but the head-hopping over the course of the short chapters was jarring and made it hard to focus. And while I like headings to tell me whose head I’m in, the fact that it’s written in third person renders it pretty redundant, and more bothersome when combined with the head-hopping issue.
“How to Get a Visa in 40 Days” by T.R. Weatherly
4 stars
This story is cute! I like the idea of a long distance relationship, and working to get back to each other.
“Lake Effect” by Angela Kady
4 stars
This is a delightful forced-proximity/trapped-together-during-a-snowstorm story. The leads are both likable and I enjoyed watching the fall into love. The story also has a fabulous sense of place, transporting you to Duluth, Minnesota.
“Yuletide and Hijinks” by Diana Ferris
4 stars
A little story for the Grinch in all of us that we don’t want to admit exists. I love how it characterizes one person’s reactions to things going wrong in such a relatable way, yet bringing it all together to have it end on an optimistic note.
“Rest” by A.M. Roark
This is a fun and flirty holiday short. With a great mix of sweetness and steam, it is exactly what I wanted from a romance set around that time period.
“Lie to Me” by Anna Volkin
4 stars
I loved the Romanian aspects of this one, especially learning about them from a Romanian author. And the romance is both incredibly timely and engaging, and the characters relatable in their reactions to this viral moment.
“Coming Home” by Guinevere Jordan
4 stars
I enjoyed this one. Second chance romance is a trope I’ve always enjoyed due to the complex emotions between a couple with a shared past, and this one met my expectations. Susie and Simon have grown in the twenty years since they first split up, and can now approach their new chance with each other with the experiences they’ve gained.
“Trapped in Paradise” by Danielle Bellwood
5 stars
I was excited when I saw the premise of this one, as it’s set in Hawaii, and the hero is a fire dancer. And while it’s written with a primarily tourist perspective, the little details conveyed in the text suggest familiarity with the local culture, confirmed by Bellwood’s bio at the end. Clara and Kai have such a cute romance, and it makes a wonderful, original note to end the anthology.
***
So, all in all, this is a pretty good batch of stories, providing some holiday cheer (no matter what time of year you read it). If you love holiday-themed contemporary romance, I would recommend picking this one up.
dianed's review
4.0
This was a fun and flirty collection of short stories by a collection of authors as a way to help with breast cancer. Some stories revolve around cancer survivors or family members who have had cancer but all the stories are romances. This is a quick witty read.
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