What do you think?
Rate this book
Gingerbread Hearts
The anthology consists of four new and two republished, re-edited short stories.
Holiday Outing - Alison Grey
As if spending Christmas with her parents, siblings, grandparents, and the rest of the extended family wasn’t nerve-racking enough, Susanne has decided to come out to her family on Christmas Eve. Or she at least tries to, because saying the three words “I’m a lesbian” is not as easy as it seems.
It’s in the Pudding - Emma Weimann
As Christmas approaches, Ida vows to make a fresh start and open her heart to new possibilities. Her mother's old Danish tradition gives her just the chance she is looking for: the person who finds the almond in the Christmas pudding has one wish. However, a trip to the dentist wasn't what Ida had in mind.
Devgo - Corinna Behrens
Even during the holiday season, Rebecca, a successful business woman, continues to chase after the things that matters least. Instead of spending Christmas with family and friends, her only concern is making more money. Will that change when a strange creature appears in her bedroom a few nights before Christmas and challenges her view of life?
A Magical Christmas - RJ Nolan
A week before Christmas, Erin’s ex once again breaks a promise and disappoints their children. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he also ruined the romantic getaway Kris had planned for Erin. Kris is determined to make it up to Erin and the children. What better place to do that than the happiest place on earth?
The Christmas Grump - Jae
For Rachel Lewis, a security guard at the mall, the Christmas holiday season is one big headache. She wants nothing to do with the celebration of love, peace, and family harmony. Her disenchantment with the holiday slowly begins to change when she meets seven-year-old Tyler and his mother.
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus - Jae
Rachel is counting the days until she and Lillian celebrate their first Christmas together as a couple. She is filled with longing for only one thing to make her holiday complete: a long-term commitment from Lillian. She sets out to find the perfect gift that will reflect her love and devotion.
Holiday Outing - Alison Grey
As if spending Christmas with her parents, siblings, grandparents, and the rest of the extended family wasn’t nerve-racking enough, Susanne has decided to come out to her family on Christmas Eve. Or she at least tries to, because saying the three words “I’m a lesbian” is not as easy as it seems.
It’s in the Pudding - Emma Weimann
As Christmas approaches, Ida vows to make a fresh start and open her heart to new possibilities. Her mother's old Danish tradition gives her just the chance she is looking for: the person who finds the almond in the Christmas pudding has one wish. However, a trip to the dentist wasn't what Ida had in mind.
Devgo - Corinna Behrens
Even during the holiday season, Rebecca, a successful business woman, continues to chase after the things that matters least. Instead of spending Christmas with family and friends, her only concern is making more money. Will that change when a strange creature appears in her bedroom a few nights before Christmas and challenges her view of life?
A Magical Christmas - RJ Nolan
A week before Christmas, Erin’s ex once again breaks a promise and disappoints their children. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he also ruined the romantic getaway Kris had planned for Erin. Kris is determined to make it up to Erin and the children. What better place to do that than the happiest place on earth?
The Christmas Grump - Jae
For Rachel Lewis, a security guard at the mall, the Christmas holiday season is one big headache. She wants nothing to do with the celebration of love, peace, and family harmony. Her disenchantment with the holiday slowly begins to change when she meets seven-year-old Tyler and his mother.
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus - Jae
Rachel is counting the days until she and Lillian celebrate their first Christmas together as a couple. She is filled with longing for only one thing to make her holiday complete: a long-term commitment from Lillian. She sets out to find the perfect gift that will reflect her love and devotion.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 12, 2015
This is a book of six sweet and wonderful lesbian winter holiday stories by five different and excellent writers. All of them will melt your heart.
Holiday Outing by Alison Grey. A woman struggles to come out at Xmas time. With the help of a few relatives she finds its not as hard as she feared.
Its in the Pudding by Emma Weimann. A woman's Xmas wish comes true after needing an emergency dental appointment on Christmas day.
Devgo by Corinna Behrens. A power hungry woman driven by wealth gets a midnight visitor sent by both Forces of Heaven and Hell.
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan. A super sweet tale involving a mother whose girlfriend comes to the rescue after the children's father lets them down once again.
The Christmas Grump by Jae. This one brought tears to my eyes. It was tender and gentle. A security guard who hates Christmas learns its not so bad with the help of a single mom and her son.
Kissing Mrs. Claus by Jae. This is a continuation of The Christmas Grump ten months later. Really beautiful and mushy.
Holiday Outing by Alison Grey. A woman struggles to come out at Xmas time. With the help of a few relatives she finds its not as hard as she feared.
Its in the Pudding by Emma Weimann. A woman's Xmas wish comes true after needing an emergency dental appointment on Christmas day.
Devgo by Corinna Behrens. A power hungry woman driven by wealth gets a midnight visitor sent by both Forces of Heaven and Hell.
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan. A super sweet tale involving a mother whose girlfriend comes to the rescue after the children's father lets them down once again.
The Christmas Grump by Jae. This one brought tears to my eyes. It was tender and gentle. A security guard who hates Christmas learns its not so bad with the help of a single mom and her son.
Kissing Mrs. Claus by Jae. This is a continuation of The Christmas Grump ten months later. Really beautiful and mushy.
November 4, 2016
Holiday Outing
by Alison Grey
Coming Out, Family, Slice of Life, no romance
A woman of 25 has known for a while that she's a lesbian, has even had two girlfriends by this point, but has yet to come out to her family. Her sister talks her into doing so.
Certain amount of humor. Certain amount of . . . timing.
Rating: 3.5
November 3 2016
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann
Family, Dentist, 'Romance'
A woman hasn't had a relationship in 2 years. She thinks she might want one now. It's Christmas time and it's traditional that the person who finds the almond in the almond pudding can make a wish and 'it will come true'. So, the woman wants that almond. There's this wish she's going to make (involving finding someone for herself). She finds the almond. And breaks her tooth on the almond. And so has to go to the dentist on Christmas day (or is it the day before? I forget now).
Rating: 4.12
November 3 2016
Devgo by Corinna Behrens
Dog, Scrooge, bisexual, no romance
Businesswoman tosses and turns in her bed Christmas Eve. Bells ring that it's midnight. Brightness fills room. Businesswoman blinks. Looks over, sees mini devil on her window sill. *reader thinks to self: ah yes, so this is a Scrooge story*
hehe. Woman barks questions at the tiny devil. Devil just blink at her lazily. Woman becomes annoyed by the non-response. heh.
Ah, the title of the story corresponds to the mini-devil's name (*reader in thought: new thought, not scrooge retelling*).
This is confusing. The woman is acting like it's just normal to have a tiny devil appear. And to yell at it. Then be confused when it doesn't make an appointment instead of just show up. Yes, confused is right word. Confusing.
Okay, so - Devgo works for both God and the Devil when they don't know where to send someone. Of everything I read so far, that's the most confusing part. No, not what you might think - the part where they wouldn't know where to send this specific person. Everything points towards a specific direction. Nothing seems to point the other way. So, what's the confusion for God and the devil? hmms. oooh! heh. Of course. Shesh, I should stop with rambling during stories. Of course, when I do that, my reviews end up being like two words long. Which is probably better, but still. Right, so here the 'confusion' is the part wherein neither God nor the Devil want this woman to be joining them. Ah. heh. Another theme I've heard before.
And . . . the reoccurring problem with this collection of stories continues. These stories are just way too short. They are just snippets for the most part. Not full short stories. Ah well.
Rating: 3.43
November 3 2016
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan
Family, kids, multiple parents, bisexual, dog, romance, Annoying ex(es)
A woman with kids learns that her ex-husband has, once again, bailed on taking the kids for a weekend. And so her plans with her lover have been ruined.
Story from the point of view of both Kris, and Erin (Erin being the 'a woman' above).
It's funny, in its way, but the fact that every story before this one in the collection had nothing even approaching 'erotica' makes the bits here annoying. This is the fourth story and now people are going to start fondling each other and stuff? mmphs. Yeah, I'm actually kind of annoyed. I know I already said that but . . . something.
heh. So, a departure from the earlier stories - a bit of eroticism (very very tiny bit, more visible due to the complete lack in the earlier stories than for any other reason), and a fuller story than the others. Less of 'just a snippet'.
Rating: 3.7
The Christmas Grump by Jae
Security guard - mall, kid
Hmm. Story starting out with a vague feeling of 'I've been here before' (story-wise).
And . . . yes, I've read this before. At least I think I have. Darn. This is at least the second time I've excitedly started in on a Jae story . . . only to realize that I'd already read it - last time it was, I think 'Morning After' which I had read when I read the book 'Depature from the Script' (if I have the titles right). Here the title of the story is the same. Just two different short story collections. This one and 'Love Beneath the Christmas Tree.' And looking at that collection - the next Jae story is also in that collection. So, it's as if there are no Jae stories in this collection - no new ones. I feel annoyed by that fact. I'd be even more annoyed if I hadn't gotten this collection here for free (just like I had gotten that 'Morning After' short story for free as well).
Well, guess I'll have a reread or two then. I mean, it has been 2 years since I read that other collection.
So, since I didn't write anything for that other collection -
This story stars Rachel, a security guard at a mall at Christmas time. She's grumpy because of all the arrests she's been having to make. While she's running around attending to 'incidents' she keeps spotting a specific boy all by himself in a toy store in the exact same spot, day after day. Near lego toys. Starring at them. If this was a story in one of the other collections I read recently, I'd know instantly what was going on (that or if I hadn't read this before) - ghost! But no, this is a Christmas collection, not one of my Halloween collections.
mmphs. How annoying. Apparently I got something in both of my eyes at the same time. They are both wet and stuff. No idea how that could have happened.
Rating: 4.8
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus by Jae
Family, kid
Ah, now I know why both stories are in both collections (as opposed to just one) - the two stories are connected. Rachel and Lilian (who I didn't even mention - mother of that boy who was looking at legos - Tyler) reappear in this story here. A year after the earlier story. And Christmas again.
Rating: 4.6
Overall
Holiday Outing by Alison Grey - 3.5
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.12
Devgo by Corinna Behrens - 3.43
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan - 3.7
The Christmas Grump by Jae - 4.8
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus by Jae - 4.6
Total overall rating: 4.025
Coming Out, Family, Slice of Life, no romance
A woman of 25 has known for a while that she's a lesbian, has even had two girlfriends by this point, but has yet to come out to her family. Her sister talks her into doing so.
Certain amount of humor. Certain amount of . . . timing.
Rating: 3.5
November 3 2016
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann
Family, Dentist, 'Romance'
A woman hasn't had a relationship in 2 years. She thinks she might want one now. It's Christmas time and it's traditional that the person who finds the almond in the almond pudding can make a wish and 'it will come true'. So, the woman wants that almond. There's this wish she's going to make (involving finding someone for herself). She finds the almond. And breaks her tooth on the almond. And so has to go to the dentist on Christmas day (or is it the day before? I forget now).
Rating: 4.12
November 3 2016
Devgo by Corinna Behrens
Dog, Scrooge, bisexual, no romance
Businesswoman tosses and turns in her bed Christmas Eve. Bells ring that it's midnight. Brightness fills room. Businesswoman blinks. Looks over, sees mini devil on her window sill. *reader thinks to self: ah yes, so this is a Scrooge story*
hehe. Woman barks questions at the tiny devil. Devil just blink at her lazily. Woman becomes annoyed by the non-response. heh.
Ah, the title of the story corresponds to the mini-devil's name (*reader in thought: new thought, not scrooge retelling*).
This is confusing. The woman is acting like it's just normal to have a tiny devil appear. And to yell at it. Then be confused when it doesn't make an appointment instead of just show up. Yes, confused is right word. Confusing.
Okay, so - Devgo works for both God and the Devil when they don't know where to send someone. Of everything I read so far, that's the most confusing part. No, not what you might think - the part where they wouldn't know where to send this specific person. Everything points towards a specific direction. Nothing seems to point the other way. So, what's the confusion for God and the devil? hmms. oooh! heh. Of course. Shesh, I should stop with rambling during stories. Of course, when I do that, my reviews end up being like two words long. Which is probably better, but still. Right, so here the 'confusion' is the part wherein neither God nor the Devil want this woman to be joining them. Ah. heh. Another theme I've heard before.
And . . . the reoccurring problem with this collection of stories continues. These stories are just way too short. They are just snippets for the most part. Not full short stories. Ah well.
Rating: 3.43
November 3 2016
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan
Family, kids, multiple parents, bisexual, dog, romance, Annoying ex(es)
A woman with kids learns that her ex-husband has, once again, bailed on taking the kids for a weekend. And so her plans with her lover have been ruined.
Story from the point of view of both Kris, and Erin (Erin being the 'a woman' above).
It's funny, in its way, but the fact that every story before this one in the collection had nothing even approaching 'erotica' makes the bits here annoying. This is the fourth story and now people are going to start fondling each other and stuff? mmphs. Yeah, I'm actually kind of annoyed. I know I already said that but . . . something.
heh. So, a departure from the earlier stories - a bit of eroticism (very very tiny bit, more visible due to the complete lack in the earlier stories than for any other reason), and a fuller story than the others. Less of 'just a snippet'.
Rating: 3.7
The Christmas Grump by Jae
Security guard - mall, kid
Hmm. Story starting out with a vague feeling of 'I've been here before' (story-wise).
And . . . yes, I've read this before. At least I think I have. Darn. This is at least the second time I've excitedly started in on a Jae story . . . only to realize that I'd already read it - last time it was, I think 'Morning After' which I had read when I read the book 'Depature from the Script' (if I have the titles right). Here the title of the story is the same. Just two different short story collections. This one and 'Love Beneath the Christmas Tree.' And looking at that collection - the next Jae story is also in that collection. So, it's as if there are no Jae stories in this collection - no new ones. I feel annoyed by that fact. I'd be even more annoyed if I hadn't gotten this collection here for free (just like I had gotten that 'Morning After' short story for free as well).
Well, guess I'll have a reread or two then. I mean, it has been 2 years since I read that other collection.
So, since I didn't write anything for that other collection -
This story stars Rachel, a security guard at a mall at Christmas time. She's grumpy because of all the arrests she's been having to make. While she's running around attending to 'incidents' she keeps spotting a specific boy all by himself in a toy store in the exact same spot, day after day. Near lego toys. Starring at them. If this was a story in one of the other collections I read recently, I'd know instantly what was going on (that or if I hadn't read this before) - ghost! But no, this is a Christmas collection, not one of my Halloween collections.
mmphs. How annoying. Apparently I got something in both of my eyes at the same time. They are both wet and stuff. No idea how that could have happened.
Rating: 4.8
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus by Jae
Family, kid
Ah, now I know why both stories are in both collections (as opposed to just one) - the two stories are connected. Rachel and Lilian (who I didn't even mention - mother of that boy who was looking at legos - Tyler) reappear in this story here. A year after the earlier story. And Christmas again.
Rating: 4.6
Overall
Holiday Outing by Alison Grey - 3.5
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.12
Devgo by Corinna Behrens - 3.43
A Magical Christmas by RJ Nolan - 3.7
The Christmas Grump by Jae - 4.8
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus by Jae - 4.6
Total overall rating: 4.025
January 2, 2015
A collection of six short stories, all on the theme of Christmas and the festive holidays. A light and easy read for the holidays.
August 8, 2017
Excellent book. Some very witty and amusing stories. Some very moving stories.
I laughed at the description Emma Weimann gave of visiting the dentist! in It’s in the Pudding.
Authors featured in this book are;
Alison Grey, Emma Weimann, Corinna Behrens, RJ Nolan, Jae
Brilliant book. Its free at the moment at https://www.ylva-publishing.com
I laughed at the description Emma Weimann gave of visiting the dentist! in It’s in the Pudding.
Authors featured in this book are;
Alison Grey, Emma Weimann, Corinna Behrens, RJ Nolan, Jae
Brilliant book. Its free at the moment at https://www.ylva-publishing.com
December 9, 2018
3 stars |
Holiday Outing - Alison Grey : ⭐️⭐️
It’s in the Pudding - Emma Weimann ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Devgo - Corinna Behrens ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Magical Christmas - RJ Nolan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Christmas Grump - Jae ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus - Jae ⭐️⭐️
Holiday Outing - Alison Grey : ⭐️⭐️
It’s in the Pudding - Emma Weimann ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Devgo - Corinna Behrens ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Magical Christmas - RJ Nolan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Christmas Grump - Jae ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kissing Ms. Santa Claus - Jae ⭐️⭐️
November 13, 2022
This collection of short stories is really nice and filled with the holiday spirit. I enjoyed getting to find some authors I did not know before, and look forward to seeing what else they have written. I especially like Alison Grey, Emma Weimann, and Jae.
December 13, 2024
3 stars. The only story worth reading was Jae’s ’The Christmas Grump / Kissing Ms. Santa Claus’. It’s two stories but they follow the same characters Rachel and Lillian and it is absolutely lovely. Jae never lets me down. Everything else was extremely forgettable.
May 8, 2017
I'm always grateful to authors (and publishers) who put out free collections. Some sweet stories in here for a pleasurable short read.
January 25, 2017
A good and sweet anthology. I think everyone should give this a go, whether it is to get into christmas spirit or not.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews