Book Review: Holiday Kisses




Holiday Kisses (novella collection) by Jaci Burton, Shannon Stacey, HelenKay Dimon, Alison Kent
October 29, 2013
Carina Press
400 pages
Genre: Adult Romance
(contains: adult sexual situations)
Source: eARC from publisher for Honest review

Book Blurb:

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!

A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.

Anthology includes:

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

My Review:

This is one of the better Christmas novella collections I have read this year. I enjoyed all of the stories and wished some of them were complete novels, as I really liked the stories and their characters. I look forward to reading more from some of these authors.

This Time Next Year (Alison Kent):
This was a really special story about two people forced together during a snow storm - Dillon, a veteran and a doctor, and Breena, a nurse visiting her grandmother. Each has their own issues they are dealing with, but they find themselves drawn to one another. Though the relationship took a quick turn, the eventual outcome was actually a pleasant surprise. I assumed it would end one way and had mixed feelings on those assumptions. But then the author ended it slightly differently and I loved it that way so much more. This was sexy and sweet, but also touching and heart-warming. Really liked this one, and only wished for more.

A Rare Gift (Jaci Burton):
This was one of those stories that I liked, but because it had to do with a guy and his ex-wife's sister, there was still a bit of discomfort going on. Not that this couple did anything wrong. No cheating or anything. Just a bit awkward. But I still enjoyed the story, how the characters, especially the girl, really helped each other and drew close in this new relationship. But I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a "holiday" story, because outside of a short holiday party, there wasn't anything else holiday about it.

It's Not Christmas Without You (HelenKay Dimon):
I really liked this one. Austin and Carrie are one of those couples that loved each other desperately, but still had a few kinks to work out. These issues were things that had to be dealt with, or they would potentially have dire consequences to this couples future. But I liked how the author addressed these issues through this story, not head-on, but in ways that caused the couple to really take a deeper look at themselves and their relationship. There was humor, there was banter, there was heat, and there were touching moments, blending for a great read. Loved this couple and I'd definitely like to continue this series.

Mistletoe and Margaritas (Shannon Stacey):
I really liked this one, too. I could sympathize with Justin's dilemma. What do you do when you've loved your best friend's wife for as long as he has, but have never acted on it but have felt guilty about it forever? And even though she's been widowed for two years, how do your tamp down on that guilt and try to move forward in a relationship that you both want and risk your friendship? I loved how Shannon Stacey handled Justin and Claire's best friendship first, and budding relationship after that. She handled it realistically and sensitively, and they were really cute together. This was a great, sweet story, and I only wished we could have more of Justin and Claire.

4 STARS

 

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