Chocolate Kisses

by Francis Ray, Maryanne Reid, Renee Luke

Inhibitions melt away with these three deliciously erotic romance novellas that have something sweet in tempting chocolate.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Anthologies

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2006

About the author

Francis Ray was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling African-American writer of romance novels. Her literary fiction series – Taggart and Falcon, the Invincible Women, Grayson Family of New Mexico, and Grayson Friends – have consistently made bestseller's lists. She was born in Richland, Texas, and studied nursing, receiving a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1967. She began writing in 1987, while continuing to work as a nurse, and had her first book published in 1992.

AWARDS
Romantic Times Career Achievement
EMMA
The Golden Pen
The Atlantic Choice
Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE Reviewers' Choice Awards – Best Books Not Even If You Begged, St. Martin's Griffin (February 2008)
Borders 2008 Bestselling Multicultural Romance Award for Nobody but You
Written's 2010 Readers Choice Book of the Year for If You Were My Man

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

While these novellas were a quick read, I only liked 2 of the 3, “A Chocolate Affair” and “Chocolate Kisses.” Francis Ray did an excellent job with the lovers reunited plot; Lucien has loved Miranda for years and wonders what it was that made her walk away. Reunited at a wedding event, Lucien is determined to force Miranda to acknowledge their passion. Lucien respected Miranda, and this time Miranda really listened, to her heart and her head. “A Good Man Is Hard To Count” I couldn’t even finish. I didn’t get her as a character, I didn’t like the relationships…I couldn’t even finish the story. “Chocolate Kisses” was a wonderful friends-to-lovers story. Marcus has accepted a new job and is moving, and Nicole is unwilling to let him leave without experiencing some serious romancing. I liked how Luke reveals their daily lives, and how nicely they fit together, while still having some real heat and sexual tension.

[SassyMama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Chocolate Love

I love anything Francis Ray, 'A Chocolate Affair was my favorite story in this book. I enjoyed the rekindled relationship between Miranda and Lucian. They had a love stronger than the time that passed between them, and stronger than her mother's will to intefere. Just a Hot, Sweet, Romance. 'A Good Man Is Hard To Count', a very HEATED story! Only the second story I've read by Maryann Reid...HOT, HOT, HOT. Savannah was definitely a slave to her ways and Clinton was out to prove that he was man enough to fulfill every sweet fantasy. 'Chocolate Kisses' a great debut by Renee Luke. It was sweet, sexy and funny I enjoyed the relationship between Nicole and Marcus. He really knew how to sweep a girl off her feet. The ending was an ending for the true romantic!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I love chocolate but after reading this I wanted more and not the candy. This was an awesome read.

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweetest Temptations

I'll admit, this book has been on my shelf for awhile. After reading some of the reviews, it dropped on my tbr pile. Finally, looking for a book to read between books, I figured a book of short stories would be the best route. I'm glad I chose this book.

True to the chocolate theme, Francis Ray's 'A Chocolate Affair' does not disappoint. It's classic Francis Ray. Lucian and Miranda parted ways in college, much to the dismay of Lucian. Years later, circumstances and chocolate bring them together. Can their love be as sweet as it once was?

Maryann Reid veers from the chocolate theme, but still keeps it sweet in 'A Good Man is Hard to Count.' Sassy and sexy Savannah keeps track of her sexual trysts using a Man Jar. Each man is assigned a colored sour stick candy. As the number of a certain colored sour stick increases, it's time to move on. Clinton, a hot firefighter, enters the picture and only wants her to see the color red. Can one color ever be enough?

Debut author Renee Luke makes her presence known and felt with the title story 'Chocolate Kisses.' Nicole and Marcus are best friends and have been for years. They have been everything to each other from work out partners, movie buddies, confidants, sounding boards to meal companions. But now, Nicole wants to add "lover" to their friendship. Even so, she says he's just a friend. Is Nicole fooling herself?

"Chocolate Kisses" satisfies the sweet tooth. Just which story will be the most satisfying depends on what the reader craves. Questioning any of these authors' talents shouldn't be an issue. The problem, if that is what you want to call it, with this novel is the grouping of these three particular authors together. They should not have been put together. It's like apples and oranges. One isn't better than the other, they're just different. Francis, Maryann and Renee's style, flow and usage of words are very different. Someone looking for romance will love Francis Ray's story, but not necessarily find that element in Maryann's. (ex..."Looking down into Miranda's face, her lips parted, her eyes glazed with desire, he felt himself falling in love.") Someone looking for something hot will find that in Maryann's story, but not necessarily in Francis'. (ex..."In bed at night, she still got wet at the memories of the menage a trios, the hedonistic acts at the 'locked-door' parties, and the quickies in the Red Lobster bathroom, where one guy had an urge to eat her following a dinner of oysters.") While Francis and Maryann may represent both extremes, Renee falls somewhere in the middle. (ex..."She wanted Marcus, and the ache between her legs sure as hell wasn't going away until she had him.") Taking it a step further, to describe what I'll call a man's "state of excitement," Francis may use a word like "arousal," while Maryann may use "hard," and Renee "erection." One term may be too strong for one reader and not strong enough for another. Whatever floats your boat, but it doesn't take away from any of their skills. Each story was good in its own right. Overall, the book was enjoyable. Having read previous works by Francis and Maryann, their stories met my expectations. Renee, however, was a pleasant surprise. I went into her story not sure what to expect from this first timer and ended up liking her story the best.

I will say this, someone needs to consult with someone when it comes to putting these anthologies together. Good stories can make for a not great book because the authors don't mesh or complement each others style. Four Degrees of Heat featuring Crystal Lacey Winslow, Brenda L. Thomas, Rochelle Alers, ReShonda Tate Billingsley is another case in point. Good stories, but these authors had no business being in one book together. In the future I'd like to see Francis Ray with complementary authors like Brenda Jackson, Rochelle Alers and Donna Hill. I'd like to see Maryann Reid with the likes of Crystal Lacey Winslow and Brenda L. Thomas. Renee is versatile enough that she can hang with either group. She has released her debut novel which after reading her short story, I intend to read.

Don't give up on "Chocolate Kisses," just expect three very different stories.

Reviewed by: Toni

[Noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2/3 ONLY:

A chocolate affair, By Francis Ray - 2 STARS
Chocolate Kisses, By Renee Luke - 4.5 STARS

[Michelle M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Kimberly Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved "A Chocolate Affair" and "Chocolate Kisses" both stories were fun, well written and edited. Their characters were also well developed especially for a short story.

I did not like or enjoy "A Good Man is Hard to Count". It felt under developed character and story wise. The characters seemed mismatched and not communicative between one another. And the secondary characters did seem to add much to the story either.

[Jenise Shumaker]

PRETTY GOOD BOOK.

[Sexydrkqueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a fan of books with mini stories but this book was pretty good. Each story was different but I liked how all three had something to do with candy ;-).

[Cf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the first and last story but were enjoyable.