As the holidays descend, three single women take a thoroughly modern approach to good old-fashioned romance, and wonder if the best—and most complicated—gift of all is just a click, tap, or swipe away…

MADE UP
Like a Christmas miracle, the Build a Boyfriend App lets you simply input the stats of your dream man, and witty texts, passionate emails, and hot Instagram pics start flooding in. No more awkward questions or pitying looks as you face the holidays alone!

MIXED UP
But even the best technology has its glitches. When real-life emotions come into play, this trio of
twenty-somethings find themselves in a tangle of crossed signals, flying wrapping paper, disastrous Christmas parties…and surprising kisses.

MATCHED UP
Yet despite the confusion of their mistletoe misadventures, when the New Year dawns, these very satisfied women just may find themselves waking up with true love beside them.

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Okay, okay - I’ll admit that it’s the hottest day of the year (at least here in Scotland) and I’m sitting here reading Christmas stories and dreaming of chilly snow, roaring fires and hot chocolate. And I’m loving every minute of it.

I’m a card carrying member of the ‘I love Christmas’ club which, I’ll admit, does make it a little bit more difficult to impress me with festive stories. I keep trying nonetheless, hoping that I’ll find a wee gem that fills you with the spirit of Christmas no matter the time of year.

These three stories are connected by one thing: The Build-a-Boyfriend mobile app which allows you to pretend to have a boyfriend, especially handy over Christmas when you’re avoiding that ‘are you still single?’ question.



A Boyfriend by Christmas by Cat Johnson
Noelle decides being alone is better than staying with her long time boyfriend who is definitely Mr. Wrong, but there’s no way she’s attending the annual holiday party alone knowing her ex will be there. She needs a new boyfriend by Christmas Eve. Good thing there’s an app for that and the perfect mate—or the illusion of one—is only a text away.

—

There is normally one great story in any anthology and as soon as I started reading, I had this tale pegged as having that honour. Noelle is a great character, in a long term relationship but really only because they’ve both fallen into it. She and Nathan have such an adorable ‘meet cute’ as well as a great chemistry together. Nicki - Noelle’s sister - is also a great character and I had to laugh at the banter between the siblings as Nicki forces Noelle to make up a boyfriend to save face after just being dumped.

I was a bit surprised by the quickness of the declaration and proposal but that’s more based on the length of the story as opposed to the quality of the tale. I could have done with the story being longer but that’s the mark of a really good short story.

A sprinkling of festive touches, enjoyable characters and a nice smattering of sexiness makes this a really great tale. I’m now on the lookout for some longer stories by Cat Johnson - her writing style and storytelling could make her a future favourite.



All I Want for Christmas Is… by Kate Angell

It’s Christmas and Riley Tyler is desperate to land the job as personal shopper to CEO Daniel Hayes. Not only has she to find the perfect gift for the uptight businessman, she has to find herself the perfect boyfriend at the same time so she looks like the perfect candidate. The Build-a-Boyfriend app is a lifesaver, until it’s standing in the way of happily ever after.

—

Kate Angell is the only of the three authors in this anthology that I have read before but seeing as that was a long time ago, I’m as unfamiliar with her newer works as I am the others. I had already pegged Cat Johnson’s story as the great story in this collection so imagine my surprise when this story managed to delight me as much as the first.

The story is not new - straight laced CEO meets free-spirited, quirky girl and finds love as well as the joy of the season. The way that this story stands out is that it’s so subtley done and the characters written so true to life that it never feels the same as others or too standard.

Daniel was great character - I especially loved the way he was baffled and intrigued by Riley. Riley herself was fun, likeable and while quirky, was probably more like your average girl than many other heroines.

The Christmas present challenge, snowstorm and Christmas decorations really gave this tale a touch of Christmas but the descriptions of the ornaments really gave it a some festive magic. Lovely.

If I did have a very minor criticism (I admit I started to feel like I had to find something so I wouldn’t be waxing lyrical about all the stories!) then it would be that the sexual tension that built up between Daniel and Riley when they were being kept apart by Riley’s ‘boyfriend’, slightly dissipated when the pair finally got together. Again, I would have loved to read more about this pair and their story.



Her Favorite Present by Allyson Charles

Gabe Harrison is determined to make himself and his company - Build-A-Boyfriend - a success. Too bad that he seems to be losing the respect of his co-founder and best friend for labelling his app users as losers. So a bet is born. All he needs to do is prove that the women using the Build-A-Boyfriend app are pathetic and he wins. It’s also too bad that Rachel Sanders is the furthest thing from pathetic and while he’s still all about winning - the prize is now Rachel’s heart.

—

Okay, this story must be especially rubbish in order to make up for the first two, excellent stories, right? Wrong. So, so wrong. This tale was also amazing - this time going for a different spin on the Build-a-Boyfriend theme. Sure Rachel was a user of the app but, unknown to her, Gabe is the CEO and developer of the company.

The way this tale worked so well was because at the start, Gabe wasn’t a particularly nice guy. Oh, he wasn’t terrible but he was a bit of a dick to be honest. The fact that by the end of the story I was not only liking him but rooting for him, just shows what a good job the author did.

There’s plenty of heat in this tale - definitely a story to revisit on a cold winter’s night. Delicious! Rachel and Gabe were just perfect for each other and I especially liked their teasing banter and the fact that Rachel wouldn’t give an inch and didn’t fawn all over the handsome Gabe.

I could have done with a wee bit more grovelling from Gabe at the conclusion of the story but there was still a satisfying conclusion.





I really can’t quite believe that I’ve found an anthology where I really enjoyed all the stories. All three authors have delivered with a great, contemporary tale that will warm your cockles and get you into that festive Christmas mood. I would highly recommend this anthology and recommend that you get your hands on a copy, get yourself settled in and ready for Christmas no matter what month it is.

------------------------

320 pages

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Click to see other Christmas books

Stunned by the heat of an unexpected kiss on a cold winter's eve, two strangers from vastly different worlds turn hotheaded principles into burning passion in Sabrina Jeffries's delightful yuletide story, "The Heiress and the Hothead."

In the snowy Scottish countryside, Karen Hawkins's rakish duke has an unforgettable holiday encounter in "Twelve Kisses" when the alluring lady he surprises under the mistletoe is not who he expected, but a long-lost love with a score to settle.

In "By Any Other Name," Edinburgh is aglitter for Christmastime as Candace Camp sends a curious gentleman in hot pursuit of an intriguing lady in disguise--one who refuses to reveal her true identity, though she fears he has already stolen her heart with his kiss.

In "Sweet Ruin," will the festive spirit of the season sweep Meredith Duran's feisty heroine beneath the mistletoe--and back into the arms of the dashing rogue whose carelessness soiled her reputation and sent her into exile in London?

In this all-new story collection sparkling with sexy charm and heartwarming wit, four beloved bestselling authors reveal the mix-ups and make-ups, the missed chances and golden opportunities that come but once a year.

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The Heiress and the Hothead - Sabrina Jeffries - 5 stars

Stunned by the heat of an unexpected kiss on a cold winter’s eve, two strangers from vastly different worlds turn hotheaded principles into burning passion.

Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favourite authors and this story doesn’t disappoint. It’s part of the Sinful Suitors series but stands nicely on its own. As usual, lively characters, strong emotion and an unusual premise give this tale something more than most. Stephen and Amanda were made to work hard to win their happily ever after but it was worth it.

—

Twelve Kisses to Midnight - Karen Hawkins - 1 star

In the snowy Scottish countryside a rakish duke has an unforgettable holiday encounter when the alluring lady her surprises under the mistletoe is not who he expected, but a long-lost love with a score to settle.

Hoots mon! Och, aye, if you’re looking for a cringeworthy attempt at a Scottish romance then dinnae look any further than this book. Ye hear me, aye? Life is far too short to force yourself to read such embarrassing tripe.

—

By Any Other Name - Candace Camp - 4 stars

Edinburgh is aglitter for Christmastime as a curious gentleman is in hot pursuit of an intriguing lady in disguise - one who refuses to reveal her true identity, but fears he has already stole her heart with his kisses.

Aaargh - this story was as cute as a button! Both Gregory and Rylla were fun, well-rounded characters and their romance was so sweet. This felt different from other ‘girl dresses as boy’ stories and Edinburgh felt authentic. The story was let down slightly by a few too many Americanisms but still a good read all round.

—

Sweetest Regret - Meredith Duran - 5 stars

Will the festive spirit of the season sweep feisty Georgiana beneath the mistletoe and back into the arms of dashing rogue, Lucas, who broke her heart two years ago?

I love a second chance at love story and I love a story where the hero and heroine are initially at odds. This had both. Packed with a great blend of fun, emotion and sweetness - Georgie and Lucas really stood out for me. Loved it.

—

Three great stories make this Christmas anthology a keeper. A definite read for those cosy nights in the run up to Christmas. 4 stars.

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400 pages

She had long, gorgeous hair

Summer Tomlinson always had a thing for Andrew Macmillan. Now that they're business partners--as well as bed partners!--Summer wonders if letting her hair down will catch him for good....

He sought a sleeping beauty

Historian Ashlynn Scott is seeking the fabled castle of Sleeping Beauty. But with just one kiss, she finds herself tangled up--and tangled in the sheets!--with a rogue adventurer. She might never want to wake up!

She was being chased by every man

Ginger Redman wanted to be irresistible, so she made a wish on a magic cookie. And the baked treat delivers--sending her sexy best friend, Stephen Fox, right into her bed!

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All Tangled Up by Stephanie Bond
Andrew is back in his small town after the death of his estranged father. He finds his father's estate in turmoil but can gorgeous neighbour, Summer, with long flowing hair, lead him back to find a happily ever after.

I swear I've read this story a hundred times before - man back in home town, estranged father, girl who loved him when younger etc etc etc. This really didn't excite or interest me and apart from Summer's hair I could see little resemblance to the fairy tale.

Sleeping with a Beauty by Leslie Kelly
Historian, Ashlynn is searching for Sleeping Beauty's castle when she finds herself accosted by rogue adventurer, Raine. With one kiss Ashlynn realises that even though she hasn't found her castle perhaps she has found her Prince Charming.

In this cute and unique story we travel back to the fairytale land of Elatyria which featured in a few of Kelly's previous short stories. Both Raine and Ashlynn are lovely characters and their love story is cute and satisfying.

Catch Me by Michelle Rowen
All Ginger wants for Valentine's Day is for men to want her so that she can have her pick rather than being stood up on the most romantic night of the year. But when a magic cookie makes her dream come true she takes refuge in the arms of her best friend, Stephen, the one man she dreams of having a happily ever after with.

I couldn't remember much about the tale of the Gingerbread Man but when I read this story I definitely saw the clever similarities. I loved both Ginger and Stephen and their relationship was so sweet. I've never read Michelle Rowen before but I'll look out for other Blaze books by her in the future. Good fun.

--

I didn't like the first story at all but the other two certainly made up for it. If you're looking for light, sweet and romantic stories then even with the bad apple at the start I would still recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

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224 pages

The Thanksgiving Fix by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Finding Mr. Right is the furthest thing from Beth Davis's mind when the Reno professor takes Thanksgiving break at a colleague's Lake Tahoe cabin. Until Coinneach McFarland arrives to fix a suspicious leak. It looks like somebody's playing matchmaker for two people sworn to stay single. But as things heat up, Beth is astonished to find she has discovered her soul mate just as she'd given up looking.



The Christmas Set-Up by Jill Shalvis
Competing architects Zoe and Jason have two weeks to come up with the design to win a coveted new project. But when a snowstorm strands them together at a secluded cabin, Zoe sees her chance to show Jason how she really feels. With romance blooming under the mistletoe, can she get the gorgeous Scrooge into the true Christmas spirit?

 
The New Year's Deal by Julie Kenner
Five years ago, Cleo Daire and Josh Goodson said goodbye and went their separate ways. But first they made a promise to reunite. Now the ex-lovers are spending New Year's Eve in a romantic cabin, where passion takes them by surprise and long-wished-for dreams can sometimes come true.

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This anthology pulls together three festive stories that all focus around one particular cabin that's known to bring luck in love for all those who stay there. Perfect for warming up the cold winter evenings.



The Thanksgiving Fix by Vicki Lewis Thompson
This was a sweet story that worked even with the short time frame of the couple. I liked the setting that was built up in the story and as short stories goes I really enjoyed the story and the romance.

--

The Christmas Set-Up by Jill Shalvis
I love a story of a couple that hide desire behind bickering and this one was great. It was funny, sweet and I very much enjoyed it. Would say that this was the best story of the three.

--
 
The New Year's Deal by Julie Kenner
This was only so-so for me. I easily read it through but didn't really care for either Josh or Cleo. Josh was a little too spineless when standing up for what he wanted and Cleo seemed a little fickle and lacking emotion. It just didn't really do it for me, unfortunately.

--
 
Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable anthology. It wasn't overly festive or filled with holiday cheer but you did get the sense of a nice cosy cottage on a dark winter night and that was enough to make my reading experience an enjoyable one. 4 stars. 

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381 pages

Who will you find under your Christmas tree?
A cowboy?
Ranch hand Tucker Rankin isn't crazy about the holidays...until a wintry night before Christmas, when Lacey Evans shows him how much fun it is to be nestled all snug in her bed....

A wealthy New Yorker?
Stockbroker Jared Martin needs to get away, and Alaska's the perfect place to unwind. Especially once actress Theodora "Teddy" Monroe gets him to loosen his tie--and take it all off!

Or maybe even a man in uniform?
Soldier Silas Davenport is on Christmas leave. But when he arrives at his parents' home, no one is there...except for the irresistible Delphie Moreau. And she's one gift he won't be exchanging!

------------------------

Harlequin Blaze always bring out an anthology near to Christmas and this year's offering has stories from Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jennifer LaBrecque and Rhonda Nelson.


It's Christmas, Cowboy! by Vicki Lewis Thompson
This was a nice tale that definitely felt the most festive of the three stories. Having said that, Lacey seemed slightly fickle in her affections and Tucker wasn't exactly the ambitious or hard-working type that I would prefer to swoon over. Still a sweet enough tale.

--

Northern Fantasy by Jennifer LaBrecque
This story forms part of LaBrecque's Alaskan Heat series and while other characters appear it does stand alone just fine. I didn't really get why you would write a series about a small town when all the characters hate it and want to leave. Couple that with the fact that neither Jared nor Teddy were particularly interesting and I didn't much care for this story. The fact that all the heroines in these stories also appear to have unusual names that shorten into men's names was the final irritation for me.

--

He'll Be Home For Christmas by Rhonda Nelson
This was a pleasant enough story even if it was fairly forgettable. I liked Delphie and could empathise with her and Silas was likeable too. It was realistic which is fine but in a Christmas anthology I was looking for something a little more `happily ever after' or even a little cheesy.



All in all this was an average anthology that didn't really delight and just didn't feel festive enough or put me in the Christmas mood. Not bad but really not great. 3 stars.

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219 pages

Texas Tycoon J. D. Maynard Jr. and famous actress Holly Addison are getting married on exotic Rapture Island. And you're invited!


Exclusively Yours by Lori Wilde
In order to scoop the wedding story, journalist Olivia Carmichael feigns an engagement with infuriating writer Nick Greer. But getting-under-his-skin turns into getting-under-the-sheets....


Private Party by Wendy Etherington
Non-hired caterer Tara Lindsey crashes the wedding to get a taste of the food, but drop-dead-sexy security chief Wade Cooper catches her in the act! Fortunately, Tara is about to be the guest of honor at a much more exclusive party...for two.


Secret Encounter by Jillian Burns
Though a disguise gets Dr. Peyton Monahan into the celebration, it doesn't help her find the elusive philanthropist she's seeking to fund her latest research project. But she does find one hot gorgeous guy. Too bad Quinn Smith's hiding a few things of his own.... 

------------------------

A wedding between famous actress Holly Addison and Texas Tycoon J.D. Maynard on exotic Rapture Island is the celebrity event of the season. Everyone wants an invitation which is the basis for these three short stories.

Exclusively Yours by Lori Wilde
This was a fun story with great characters. I was able to suspend belief and just enjoy the story although the editing mistakes were quite irritating. Overall a good story that I enjoyed reading!

--

Private Party by Wendy Etherington

For being a short story this was surprisingly sweet and you really felt the relationship build. I liked the characters and was happy for them together as a pair.

--

Secret Encounter by Jillian Burns
I liked this story but if I'm honest it didn't completely entertain me. I couldn't understand why Peyton was so angry at Quinn's "deception" and their whole relationship was a little unbelievable. But I did still enjoy the story and the characters were likeable enough.

Overall this is a good collection of short stories all centred around a theme but without much connection other than that. They are short, fun and sexy and worth a read if you enjoy Blaze romances. 4 stars.

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218 pages

No fooling: hot sex is on the way!


Cam’s Catastrophe
A reckless adventurer, Cam is about to take the wildest April Fool’s Day risk ever: jumping into bed with Dr Jenna! But it’s her recklessness that amazes them both…


Darcy’s Dark Day
The clouds lift when Darcy has a sudden opportunity to reel in her long-time fantasy man, Evan! Who’d have guessed that a silly curse could set up this amazing sex…


Devon’s Dilemma
She’s about to take a sexy Chance…a sexy pilot called Chance? It’s a gamble. But it could transform Devon’s devilish dilemma into a delicious one!


Reg’s Rescue
Anne desperately wants Reg back in her life – for good! So she intends to help him break the family curse – just as soon as they get out of bed. . .

------------------------

This is a set of 4 short stories (or encounters) all based around April Fool's Day and the Franklin siblings who are all cursed to receive bad luck on this one day each year.

CAM'S CATASTROPHE by Kathleen O'Reilly
The oldest of the Franklin siblings, Cam refuses to be laid low by a curse. So each April Fool's Day he does something outrageous and laughs in the face of the curse that plagues his family. And each year he finds himself in the E.R. being cared for by Dr. Jenna Ferrar.

This story spanned about 4 years with the relationship building up over the space of a couple of hours over one day in each of those years. With that in mind, the fact that these two people could discover feelings for each other (or probably even remember each other) after such a teeny tiny amount of interaction made the story unbelievable and a little frustrating.

--

DARCY'S DARK DAY by Julie Kenner
Darcy Franklin is determined to visit New York on April Fool's Day to show the curse can't hurt her. Determined to save her from the curse, Cam asks his best friend, Evan, to make sure no harm befalls Darcy. But what Cam doesn't know is that Evan has always had a crush on Darcy and this is the perfect opportunity for him to make his move.

Curse aside - this was a sweet story if a little unsatisfying in terms of romance. Not bad though and easily the best story of the four.

--

DEVON'S DILEMMA by Kathleen O'Reilly
In order to hide from the curse, Devon holes herself up in a fortress of a house in a remote town. On April Fool's night she receives a visit from airman, Chance, who's happy to take her mind off the bad events that are sure to follow.

It wasn't the story that was ridiculous with this effort but the fact that Devon lived in such a state of fear from a curse that only struck one day a year. Regardless, Chance didn't seem like long-term material and I didn't believe in the romance.

--

REG'S RESCUE by Julie Kenner
Reg Franklin is the one sibling determined to find the cause of and break the curse. Because of the curse he let go of the only woman he'd ever loved to keep her safe. But now she's back and the curse just might be ready to be broken.

While I liked this story and the two characters - to my mind Reg didn't love Anne enough to be with her and it was only his lust driving him to get back with her. Disappointing.

I feel I could really have got behind the premise of a curse that inflicts a whole family for one day a year if it had been handled a little less clumsily and with a little bit more reality - as strange as that may sound. As it was, the whole book was fantastical, a bit baffling and utterly ridiculous. Shame, really. 2 stars and the extra one is only because I finished all the stories and didn't mind Julie Kenner's attempts.

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217 pages

Take Everything by Shannon McKenna
All Jane Duvall wants is to bag another big account for her headhunting firm, even if it means stealing a key employee from sexy hotel CEO Michael "Mac" MacNamara. But once Mac gets a good look at the luscious, elusive Jane, he's more than willing to let her take everything ... body, heart and soul.

Exposed by Donna Kauffman
Christmas Eve and two strangers on a train stranded in a blizzard--well, Austin Morgan and Delilah Hudson couldn't have picked a less likely place to experience passion and love.

Pure Ginger by E. C. Sheedy
Ginger Cameron has wasted too much time on the hey-baby, great-sex, see-ya kind of guy--sand her PR business is suffering. From now on, she's a beige woman, a serious woman, and a woman who sleeps alone. Enter Cal Beaumann who wants to hire Ginger. But when his male radar kicks in, he bets himself there's more to Ginger than coiled hair, orthopedic shoes-and industrial strength underwear.

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MELTDOWN by Shannon McKenna
Jane Duvall is a great headhunter and she's determined to snag her next client even if it means stealing him away from hotel CEO, Michael "Mac" Mcnamara. Mac plans to find out what Jane's really up to even if that means he has to seduce it out of her.

This story started of well but pretty soon turned into absolute trash. Mac was such a bully that it was uncomfortable to read. I like an alpha male as much as the next girl but Mac's treatment of Jane was emotionally abusive and I was horrified that anyone would class this as romance. Dreadful.

--

EXPOSED by Donna Kauffman
All Delilah Hudson wants is to get home for Christmas - too bad she's stranded on a train in the middle of a blizzard. As soon as photographer, Austin Morgan, spies Delilah he's interested in capturing her in more than just a shot. Perhaps they can heat up the holidays together.

This was a fairly bland story with characters I didn't empathise with, identify with or particularly care for. The sex within five minutes of meeting each other seemed seedy rather than sexy and the thought of a stranger taking naked pictures of me gave me the creeps rather than turned me on!

--

PURE GINGER by E.C. Sheedy
Ginger Cameron is fed up with being judged solely on her looks. So she decides to change her look to something a little more dowdy. Cal Beaumann needs to hire Ginger to do PR work but he doesn't believe that this girl is as straight laced as she appears. So he sets out to uncover her secrets one by one.

Easily the best story of this anthology, I still couldn't identify much with Ginger. It was all a bit ridiculous and the silly conflict at the end of the story was a bit high school for my tastes. Still the best but still not so great.



This book has been sitting on my shelf for years waiting to be read. I'm actually beginning to wish I'd left it there to gather dust because I really didn't enjoy it. I've previously read other books in the 'Bad Boys' series and by these authors and enjoyed them so this book was a little bit of a waste. There are much (much) better romantic anthologies out there and I would recommend you give this one a miss and try one of them. 2 stars and the extra star is only for E.C. Sheedy's tale which wasn't too bad.

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384 pages

Deck the halls with white-hot passion!

Naughty But Nice by Donna Kauffman
Businessman Griffin's never believed in luck...until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there's a catch: There's no way he'll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new "lucky charm" could destroy all his dreams... or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible...


 
All I Want for Christmas by Cynthia Eden
Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa--actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new "bad girl" persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known "love 'em and leave 'em" ladies man...


 
Tattoos and Mistletoe by Susan Fox
Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt's B&B, but she doesn't count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he's grown into the town's hottest bachelor. Charlie's been burned before and won't let him get close. But LJ's determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.

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This is Brava's annual Christmas story anthology featuring three authors and three different stories all focussing on romance, heat and Christmas time.


NAUGHTY BUT NICE - Donna Kauffman
Irishman, Griff, is in small town Hamilton to head up a corporate town-wide makeover. Baker Melody has given up her high flying career and now simply wants a quiet life so the pair are bound to cause sparks when they meet up.

This must be part of a series by Kauffman and I remember having similar problems with another of her stories in a previous anthology. It was so bogged down in detail about other people and back story that I got very bored very quickly. And Griff's "Irish" accent was cringe-worthy in the extreme. Not good.

--

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS - Cynthia Eden
Christie Tate is fed up with always being the good girl. So at the office Christmas party she decides to ask Santa for what she really wants - a really good time. But that's before she realises that Santa is Jonas, her brother's best friend and the guy she's had a crush on since childhood.

This was a sweet, enjoyable and romantic story that's perfect for this kind of anthology. It's light and frothy with enough heat to keep you warm on a winter night. I liked both Jonas and Christie and it had a sweet happy ending.

--

TATTOOS AND MISTLETOE - Susan Fox
Charlotte "Charlie" Coltrane is back in Whistler after promising herself she would never return. She's immediately captivated by hot contractor, LJ, and is surprised to discover he's the geeky kid she remembers from high school.

This was a sweet and slow paced story about a couple of misfits that find love. It wasn't earth shattering but I enjoyed it and was happy at the outcome.



This book had, for me, one great story, one good and one bad. It's a good read for a cold winter night or just for taking a break from things but nothing extraordinarily special or romantic. Only the middle story was the light, fluffy romance that I was expecting but the last story was still enjoyable while the first was just bad. Still, worth a look if you like Christmas romance despite the festive content being at a minimum. 3 stars.

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352 pages

These Valentine's Day dates have all the markings of blind-date disaster! Or do they?


Skin Deep by Janelle Denison
Who says nice girls can't have fun? Jayne does¿dirty dancing and a lot more!¿with a hot bad boy one night. Still, it was a onetime thing. Really! But when she's set up on a blind date with her sexy stranger, she realizes Cupid must have other ideas...


Hold On by Leslie Kelly
Shy Sarah Holt has a bad case of unrequited lust. She's hopelessly enamored with a client¿sexy Steve Wilshire. So, when she gets the chance to impersonate the doctor's blind date, she takes it...and has the most torrid night of her life. But will Steve still be "holding on" when the truth comes out?


Ex Marks the Spot by Jo Leigh
Paige Callahan just got set up on a blind date¿arranged by her ex-boyfriend! But potential catastrophe turns into flirty fun - and then some! - when she meets sexy, very wealthy Noah Hastings. 

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This is Blaze's annual collection of stories for Valentine's Day all focusing on blind dates and what they can lead to.


SKIN DEEP by Janelle Denison
At a fancy dress party, good girl Jayne decides to give herself one night of craziness with a hot, bad boy. Jayne's never enjoyed sex so hot but it was a one-time thing. Or so she thinks. When Jayne gets set up on a blind date with Brian she realises the Cupid has other ideas.

I really enjoyed this story as it was sweet and cute with some good heat running through it. Definitely the best of the book.

--

HOLD ON by Leslie Kelly
Shy Sarah Holt is enamoured with sexy Doctor Steve Wilshire but he doesn't know she exists. So when a twist of fate allows Sarah to step in as Steve's blind date she jumps at the chance and has the best night of her life. But will it last?

This was a good story if a little far-fetched. I liked the romance but I was surprised Steve wasn't a little more angry when it came out who Sarah actually was which made the conclusion a little unbelievable for me.

--

EX MARKS THE SPOT by Jo Leigh
Paige Callahan has just lost a big break for her job so it's the icing on her crappy week when her ex-boyfriend sets her up for a blind date on Valentine's Day. But things start to look up when she meets sexy, wealthy, Noah.

I could barely finish this story as it was ridiculous - what ex-boyfriend, described as careless and thoughtless, would set his ex up on a Valentine's date and what girl would accept? It was also boring and the ending was forced and unbelievable.



Overall, there are two good stories in this anthology and one that didn't do it for me at all. Despite the bad story I'm still going to go with 4 stars as even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day this anthology is worth a read if you get the chance.

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218 pages

A land of legend and wild beauty - of clans, lairds, honour, and passion - Scotland forever stirs the soul of romance. Now, in one incomparable volume, four of Avon Romance′s bestselling authors present stirring tales of hearts won and weddings to be, featuring a quartet of unforgettable heroines about to discover the rapture of love in a world as untamed as the men they will one day marry.

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The problem I often find with Scottish stories is that the writers often have no knowledge of Scotland except the belief that everyone wears kilts and screams "och aye the noo" at every opportunity. Granted the mythical idea of Scotland is probably more appealing than the reality so I can understand why both authors and the readers prefer it this way. However, it shouldn't be assumed that a Scottish story is good just because of the inclusion of a kilt and the surname prefix 'mac'.

Personally I can live with a few inaccuracies for the sake of a good story however I found in this collection that there were no particularly good stories let alone great ones.

Karen Ranney came out on top with the sweet story 'Bride of Glenlyon' but Christina Dodd's 'Under the Kilt' and Stephanie Laurens' 'Rose in Bloom' were stereotypical stories that provided nothing new or exciting. Lastly, Julia Quinn's story 'Gretna Greene' was by far the worst of the lot. It was contrived, unrealistic and the characters exceedingly annoying. Luckily Julia Quinn has gone on to be a fabulous author despite this dreadful beginning!

Overall, this book wasn't completely terrible but I do feel that it didn't do justice to the authors or show off their writing talents to any great length. My recommendation would be to give this book a miss and buy one of the full-length stories by any of these authors, as they're more likely to be a satisfying read.

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384 pages