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A review by chroniclesofabookreader
All He Wants for Christmas by Laura Wright, Elisabeth Naughton, Alexandra Ivy, Cynthia Eden, Skye Jordan, Katie Reus
4.0
**4.5 Stars**
Each short story is based in Holly, North Carolina where it’s Christmas 365 days of the year. The small town is festive and cheery, but rife with a little bit of danger, and a whole lot of love. Each author takes a different character, integrates them into the small town, and creates their own spin on the love they find in Holly. We enter in December:
Melt For Me by Elisabeth Naughton: Estranged flames Ella and Tate haven’t seen each other in around 9 years. The amazing summer they spent together ended abruptly, and they parted ways in extreme fashion. Tate is now a huge singer in a band, and Ella, well, she’s a widow who has been stuck running the bar she got when her husband passed. Christmas to her has been a bad memory, and she wants nothing more than to move out of the always-happy town. When Tate arrives back in town, that inner flame reignites, whether she wants it to or not. I loved this hot little story. The second-chance romance element really added an extra bit of tension (heart twinges and stomach flips) that rocked the charts (pun intended) when skin met skin. Sweet and sexy (mixed with some danger), this short story felt like a novel and I didn’t want it to end. –5 Stars
Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy: Things ended badly for Meg back in Vegas; her boyfriend, Dylan, really broke her heart when she found she was a cover for him with his FBI mission. Back in Holly for the last six months to both take care of the estate and flower shop her grandmother left to her when she passed, she’s finding she’s in need of a tenant in order to help pay bills. A friend helps her find someone quickly, but she’s speechless when she finds Dylan arriving to grab the keys. Speechless to find that maybe he’s here for something else…like her. This story was a bit shorter than the others, and left me a bit wanting when it came to their connection, but I still enjoyed the mystery and rekindling of the two. –3.5 stars
The Spy Who Came For Christmas by Cynthia Eden: Sweet Jemma is more than just the tasty, dreamy chocolates she makes. She’s known for being a bit standoffish with the male sort, but she has good reason to be. She’s untrusting, but resilient; she wants to be more, have more, and maybe be a little dirty. When Grayson Cole walks into her shop, in Holly for a vacation, she has a reaction that she’s never had to a man. That instant connection is felt by both, immediately. But Gray is secretive, mysterious, and she isn’t quite sure if she’s willing to hand herself over to someone who might be dangerous. Only danger is going to happen either way. I love the danger that Cynthia Eden can create, and even in a short story she does it so well. Grayson was a completely sexy hero, and Jemma was a fantastic heroine. –4.5 stars
Merry Christmas, Baby by Katie Reus: Nora and Jackson have been friends for awhile. She’s normally very safe and protected due to the responsibilities of being the legal guardian for her younger sister, but she let’s those safeguards down when Jackson, a former Navy SEAL, shows he wants her. When things hit the fan very quickly after, she shuts herself down to him. But Jackson isn’t willing to let the one go, and he’s more than willing to put out all the stops to prove to her that she means everything to him. With this second-chance romance you get just the right amount of grovel and resistance to build up enough sexual tension so that when walls are breached, it creates a hot blend. –4 stars
Sinful in Snow by Laura Wright: Life hasn’t been easy for Gabriel Fox, and he blames the turning point of it on Carol Cardini. He’s back in town to crush her, after 10 long years, but the moment he sees her again…well, something changes. The sweet, loving Christmas shop owner is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen with, still, the kindest heart he’s ever known. Now his plans don’t seem worth it…or do they? Laura Wright managed to write a short story that felt like more. It was hot (YES), but the little bit of heart twinges you get seeing Gabriel slowly soften were so worth it. It was touching while also being incredibly sexy, and I absolutely loved it. –5 stars
Home Advantage by Skye Jordan: Meier Grant hasn’t lacked in female attention, pretty much ever. So when he heads home for Christmas, the first time in many years, he doesn’t expect that he has to work so hard for Faith to succumb to his womanizing ways. Faith has changed her life around both taking care of her ill father and then running his hardware shop after he passed. What she doesn’t need is the lady-loving hockey player trying to use his skills for a night of a good time. When he commits to wearing her down, who really ends up worn down by the end? Ms. Jordan, as always, writes a great romance. It had witty characters, a very strong female, and the perfect amount of sexy. It was far too enjoyable seeing Faith make Meier work for a scrap of her attention, and how she utilized the power she did have when she wanted it. –5 stars
**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**
Each short story is based in Holly, North Carolina where it’s Christmas 365 days of the year. The small town is festive and cheery, but rife with a little bit of danger, and a whole lot of love. Each author takes a different character, integrates them into the small town, and creates their own spin on the love they find in Holly. We enter in December:
Melt For Me by Elisabeth Naughton: Estranged flames Ella and Tate haven’t seen each other in around 9 years. The amazing summer they spent together ended abruptly, and they parted ways in extreme fashion. Tate is now a huge singer in a band, and Ella, well, she’s a widow who has been stuck running the bar she got when her husband passed. Christmas to her has been a bad memory, and she wants nothing more than to move out of the always-happy town. When Tate arrives back in town, that inner flame reignites, whether she wants it to or not. I loved this hot little story. The second-chance romance element really added an extra bit of tension (heart twinges and stomach flips) that rocked the charts (pun intended) when skin met skin. Sweet and sexy (mixed with some danger), this short story felt like a novel and I didn’t want it to end. –5 Stars
Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy: Things ended badly for Meg back in Vegas; her boyfriend, Dylan, really broke her heart when she found she was a cover for him with his FBI mission. Back in Holly for the last six months to both take care of the estate and flower shop her grandmother left to her when she passed, she’s finding she’s in need of a tenant in order to help pay bills. A friend helps her find someone quickly, but she’s speechless when she finds Dylan arriving to grab the keys. Speechless to find that maybe he’s here for something else…like her. This story was a bit shorter than the others, and left me a bit wanting when it came to their connection, but I still enjoyed the mystery and rekindling of the two. –3.5 stars
The Spy Who Came For Christmas by Cynthia Eden: Sweet Jemma is more than just the tasty, dreamy chocolates she makes. She’s known for being a bit standoffish with the male sort, but she has good reason to be. She’s untrusting, but resilient; she wants to be more, have more, and maybe be a little dirty. When Grayson Cole walks into her shop, in Holly for a vacation, she has a reaction that she’s never had to a man. That instant connection is felt by both, immediately. But Gray is secretive, mysterious, and she isn’t quite sure if she’s willing to hand herself over to someone who might be dangerous. Only danger is going to happen either way. I love the danger that Cynthia Eden can create, and even in a short story she does it so well. Grayson was a completely sexy hero, and Jemma was a fantastic heroine. –4.5 stars
Merry Christmas, Baby by Katie Reus: Nora and Jackson have been friends for awhile. She’s normally very safe and protected due to the responsibilities of being the legal guardian for her younger sister, but she let’s those safeguards down when Jackson, a former Navy SEAL, shows he wants her. When things hit the fan very quickly after, she shuts herself down to him. But Jackson isn’t willing to let the one go, and he’s more than willing to put out all the stops to prove to her that she means everything to him. With this second-chance romance you get just the right amount of grovel and resistance to build up enough sexual tension so that when walls are breached, it creates a hot blend. –4 stars
Sinful in Snow by Laura Wright: Life hasn’t been easy for Gabriel Fox, and he blames the turning point of it on Carol Cardini. He’s back in town to crush her, after 10 long years, but the moment he sees her again…well, something changes. The sweet, loving Christmas shop owner is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen with, still, the kindest heart he’s ever known. Now his plans don’t seem worth it…or do they? Laura Wright managed to write a short story that felt like more. It was hot (YES), but the little bit of heart twinges you get seeing Gabriel slowly soften were so worth it. It was touching while also being incredibly sexy, and I absolutely loved it. –5 stars
Home Advantage by Skye Jordan: Meier Grant hasn’t lacked in female attention, pretty much ever. So when he heads home for Christmas, the first time in many years, he doesn’t expect that he has to work so hard for Faith to succumb to his womanizing ways. Faith has changed her life around both taking care of her ill father and then running his hardware shop after he passed. What she doesn’t need is the lady-loving hockey player trying to use his skills for a night of a good time. When he commits to wearing her down, who really ends up worn down by the end? Ms. Jordan, as always, writes a great romance. It had witty characters, a very strong female, and the perfect amount of sexy. It was far too enjoyable seeing Faith make Meier work for a scrap of her attention, and how she utilized the power she did have when she wanted it. –5 stars
**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**