All I Ever Wanted: An Abbott Springs Anthology

Abbott Springs

by Marilyn Brant, Rhonda Helms, Caisey Quinn

Winterfest is heating up in Abbott Springs...

As the town’s yearly festival kicks off, cold days turn into steamy nights, new flames will be ignited, and old romances will be rekindled.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant—All Sami Abbott ever wanted was permission to be herself. At home, she aims to be the perfect daughter but never measures up. At college, she’s the bold girl who had a one-night stand with sexy musician, Alex Hamilton. When he arrives unexpectedly in Abbott Springs, her worlds collide and she must reconcile the girl she tries to be with the person she really is.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn–All pink-haired rocker chick Everly Abbott thought she wanted was acceptance in her straight-laced hometown. But her best friend and bandmate Justin Cohen is about to show her that what she thinks she wants isn’t necessarily what she needs.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms–All Maya Monterey ever wanted was to belong. Happiest with the Abbott family, Maya’s been secretly in love with sexy pastry chef Oliver Abbott for years. With a flirty new look, she’ll pull out all the stops to get him to notice her. And if her plan fails, she’ll walk away from the only home she’s ever known–and Oliver–for good.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan—After years of placing the wrong bets, all Aubree Baxter wanted was someone to take a chance on her. Golden boy Kennedy Hale plays it safe in life and love, but to keep Bree in Abbott Springs, he’ll have to go all in.

Genres: New Adult, Anthologies, Contemporary, Romance

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2014

About the author

Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel won RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award® in 2007 and she was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She wrote ACCORDING TO JANE, the story of a modern woman who receives dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen, FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE, and A SUMMER IN EUROPE, all women's fiction releases from Kensington Books.

She's also a #1 Kindle & #1 Nook Bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty contemporary romantic comedies, such as ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH, along with a bestselling coming-of-age romantic mystery (THE ROAD TO YOU), a sweet holiday romance (THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS), and the 7-book "Mirabelle Harbor" contemporary romance series. Look for her latest releases, THE SECRET LIFE OF MAGGIE BLAKE, a modern romantic spy comedy inspired by the Scarlet Pimpernel (May 2022), and NOT ANOTHER ROMAN HOLIDAY, a rom-com novella set in Italy (November 2023)!

Marilyn lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with her family, analyzing novels for the storytelling website Save the Cat! and working on her own writing projects. When she isn't rereading Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her author friends, she's daydreaming plot ideas for her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.

Reviews

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The story description is clear about this being a tale about a small town and some of its citizens who moved away and come back for the big town festival or stayed put. Each pairing had its own misunderstanding and there was sexual hookups so know that going in. I enjoyed reading each tale in this anthology.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Edition
review **Received an ARC for an honest review**
All I Ever WANTED is an Abbot Springs Anthology. Its 4 short stories by 4 amazing authors that happens at the Winterfest in Abbot Springs..

Book 1-All About Us by Marilyn Brant
This story focuses around Samantha Abbot aka:Amanda and Alexander Hamilton. They meet one night after a concert and enjoy one another's company all night. Amanda hides her true self from him durning this night and disappears as quickly as she came.
Sami's family owns a dessert shop "Abbots Sweet Confections" and have a table at the annual Winterfest in Abbot Springs. Alex goes to college in Cleveland and he is in a band called White Knights. He comes to Abbot Springs with his band to help the fundraising at the Winterfest. As soon as he gets to Abbot Springs, he sees "Amanda", 3 months later from the night they shared.
Their chemistry is still evident when they come face to face. But can Alex forgive and understand her lies from that one night? This story is basically a person living 2 different lives, small town girl and/or the big city girl, but can she emerge the two into one and be happy? Can Alex and Sami have the future together that they both deserve?

Book 2-All I Need by Casey Quinn.
Justin "Jubby" Cohen and Everly Abbot are members in the same band. These two have been friends for years. Everly views Justin has a best friend and nothing more. After Justin has an encounter with one of the locales, this makes him decide he needs to suck it up and just tell Everly how he feels. Can Everly see him more than a friend? Can she see this boy as the man he has become?
Let me tell ya, this story gets H-O-T!

Book 3-All for Love by Rhonda Helms
This story is the story of Oilver Abbot, Samantha's older brother and her best friend Maya. Oliver helps runs the family bakery and unlike his sister, he is an amazing pastry chef.
One day Samantha points out that Maya is in love with him and he needs to wake up before he loses her. Oliver has only seen Maya as his sisters best friend. Maya slowly gets Oliver to see her for her durning the Winterfest. Problem is, Maya finally gets what she has yearned for all these years to only find out Oliver is going to Paris to continue his studies. Has Maya lost her chance with the guy she has loved for so long? Is it too late? Is Oliver willing to give up Maya now that he realizes his feeling for her?

Book 4-All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan
This story evolves around Kennedy and Aubree.
Kennedy's family is involved in politics and that is where they see Kennedy's future. All Kennedy wants to do is play in the NFL but his father views the NFL as a pipe dream and thinks Kennedy needs to carry the politics legacy.
Kennedy has always had Aubree in his life as a friend but deep down he always wanted more with her. Aubree has always saw him as a strong shoulder to lean on. Can these two deserving people come together? Can they start living their lives the way they want and not let their pasts become the outcome of their future? Can their dreams become their reality?

I love how these 4 Authors wrote 4 short stories about a Winterfest celebration in one little town that all had interlacing characters. They were all beautifully written.

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbott Springs, Ohio is having its yearly Winterfest involving the entire town. A group of friends both near and far is coming to attend the festivities. New relationships will be made from old as it heats up in the cold temperatures.

There are four stories, each one written beautifully. There's an overlap of all four stories, yet they're told in a way that allows them to stand out on their own as well as cohesively. This anthology is so well written that doesn't even come into question. Another aspect of this anthology that I really loved and applaud both the writers and the editor(s) for is how they managed to overlap yet not reveal anything that would spoil another story.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant centers around Sami Abbott whose home to keep up her "perfect daughter" image. She's shaken when she runs into Alex Hamilton whom she met when she was in her "wild college" persona and had a one night stand with before she left him with the wrong phone number.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn stars Everly (love the name!) Abbott coming home with her band to perform at Winterfest. She's afraid to perform having not forgotten what's happened to her in the past. Her best friend and band mate Justin Cohen hopes to show her she's stronger than she thinks and what she needs is something else.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms has Maya Monterrey going big. She's been in love with Oliver Abbott for a long time. She's going to try one last time to get his attention and hopefully have him see her as something other than "little sister's best friend/like my little sister". If he doesn't she's ready to leave the only place and family that as has felt like home.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan features best friends Aubree Baxter and Kennedy Hale. Aubree is looking for something in all the wrong places and Kennedy is avoiding taking control of his own future. Something happened three months ago that's made things awkward between them and Bree is ready to bail. Kennedy has to change things if he doesn't want to lose her.

I can't tell you which story I loved best because that would be unfair and really hard to do. I enjoyed visiting Abbott Springs and Winterfest and would've loved a cup of hot cider or Sami's Mexican hot chocolate. I was loathe to leave everyone on that covered bridge. I sincerely hope to read more collaborations written as well as this one.

I'd like to thank the authors for sharing a review copy with me. I loved it so much I went out and bought my self a finished copy from a retailer. I will also be adding the paperback to my library shortly.

[Gretchen Kannarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.**

Very enjoyable collection of stories told from different authors.

All About Us
Small town Samantha Abbott has always felt like she needed to hide part of herself from her family. She showed the Abbott Springs townspeople one person and while away at school she transformed into big city Amanda. Alexander Hamilton is a history major and musician. He meets and shares an unforgettable evening with "Amanda" after a concert and she disappears from his life. Imagine his surprise when he stumbles upon her three months later in the small town of Abbott Springs while doing a favor for a friend. The sparks fly when they reconnect, but do they have a future?
This was a story about how to merge the person that you are and the person you want to be. As well as finally finding the love you lost that could be the love of a lifetime.

All I Need
As members of the same band, Everly Abbott and Justin Cohen have been stuck in the friend zone for years. Justin's tired of hiding his feelings and after an encounter with a local decides to tell Everly how he feels. Justin's been Everly's best friend for years but since he slimmed down and buffed up she's wondering if she's missing out on something more. When Justin confesses his feelings she's thrown for a loop. When she realizes she feels the same, it gets hot.

All For Love
Oliver Abbott's family owns the bakery in town and he makes wonderful pastries. His sisters best friend Maya has always been around but he treats her like a second sister. When Samantha tells him Maya's had feelings for him for years, he starts to see her in a different light. Throughout Winter Fest she tries to get him to notice her and when he finally does, she's on cloud nine. When Oliver tells her of his plans to study in Paris, Maya's afraid she's lost her chance.

All Or Nothing
Is the story of Kennedy and Aubree. Kennedy is expected to follow in his families footsteps and go into politics instead of following his dream of trying out for the NFL. Like most people, he's made mistakes but he wants to start living his life for himself. Growing up, he was always a source of comfort to Aubree but in the back of his mind he wanted something more. This is a beautiful story about two individuals trying to make their dreams reality and not letting the past determine their future.

[Nila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest four short romances I have read in awhile, really enjoyed!! Felt a strong connection with this little town mainly I think it reminds me of my own small town, I know the struggles that go with living in the same town as you grew up in. Lots of great characters to love!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read by four different authors! I loved that I was able to enjoy each authors' unique style and how they all meshed their stories together. Definitely a fun read!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

When I first saw Lexi and Caisey were included in this anthology I knew I had to pick it up because I have so much love for their books! This was my first time reading anything by Rhonda and Marilyn and it will NOT be my last! It was so cool how each author took a different couple, but took the same background and spun it as their own. I loved the Winterfest setting in Abbott Springs! I also really enjoyed reading about all the characters I was introduced to in the first novella by Marilyn. These ladies did a fantastic job of making their novellas flow seamlessly with one another and creating characters you couldn't get enough of!

All About Us by Marilyn Brant was the first one up and it was adorable! I instantly fell for Alex Hamilton! He finds himself in the small town of Abbott Springs as a favor to a friend. The last person he ever expected to see was a girl he met while playing a show. Especially since she told him she'd be in Switzerland. Turns out Sami Abbott told Alex a lot of untrue things and that really stings him. The two connected that night and to find out most everything she told him was false really hurts.

Sami has her reasons for doing so, however. Living in a small town is not the easiest for her. Having everyone see you grow up and form this image of you can be quite suffocating. Sami doesn't want to be 'Sami' anymore. She wants to be Samantha- she wants to be different than the person everyone in Abbott Springs knows. Away at school she can do that. When she meets Alex it was natural to be that other person and not worry about their paths crossing again. Alex is definitely seen as an outsider in Abbott Springs and is met with some hostility, as he's not one of their own. Sami is shocked to see him there again, but all the feelings she had for him come rushing back as she sees him again.

I liked Sami and Alex, but definitely felt for him as Sami lets her insecurities and fears win out, leaving him behind once again. He knows this girl has the power to break his heart and I like that he confronts her and puts that out there for her. He was a good guy and I really liked him.

We got to meet a lot of the other characters in this story so we could be familiar with them in the later books which was really helpful.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn was next and it detailed the story of Justin (Jubb) and Everly. We met them in the last book briefly, as Justin was the friend Alex went to help. Justin and Everly are in a band together and have been best friends forever. Justin has feelings for Everly, but feels she has friend-zoned him a long time ago. Justin has the reached point where he literally cannot take it anymore. He can't continue on with the way things have been between them and is determined to make her his.

Everly was a bit of a stubborn one. She had a hard time accepting what Justin was telling her. Sure she's wondered what it would be like to be with him, but she's afraid of what crossing the line will do to their friendship and their band. Everly, like Sami, has her own set of insecurities. She hates being back in Abbott Springs and especially after how hurt she was after what happened last year with Kennedy Hale. She is desperate to play their gig and get the heck out of Dodge. After Justin puts it all out there for her, he is beyond devastated when she agrees to meet with Kennedy again to talk about what happened between them. Justin doesn't understand why she would feel the need to, especially when he's been a jerk to her. Justin mistakes what's going on with Everly and Kennedy and really makes some rash decisions. I'm glad Everly finally realized what Justin really meant to her, but I hated how hurt he was while she was figuring that out.

All For Love by Rhonda Helms is about Sami's older brother, Oliver, and her best friend Maya. This was a really sweet story, even though Oliver drove me a little crazy! Maya is incredibly sweet and is probably one of my favorite characters. She has been crushing on Oliver hardcore for years, but he's always seen as her as his sister's best friend. This year, Maya is determined to make Oliver notice her. I felt for Maya. She is crazy in love with her best friend's older brother, her parents are never around, her best friend has gone away to school, and she always feels so alone. Yet, Maya has always been the one to smile through the pain and she does her best not to show how much that affects her. Maya has a difficult decision to make in this novella, as she knows her heart can't take things staying the same much longer. She knows she needs to make her feelings for Oliver known and if he doesn't reciprocate, then it's time for her to move on.

Oliver, Oliver, Oliver! He's a great guy, but wow he can be dense! He starts to notice subtle things about Maya early on (like how warm her eyes are and how good she looks in her sweater) but just blames these things on his lack of sleep. Oliver is an important asset to his family's bakery and is a pretty busy guy with Winterfest rolling around. When he finally learns the true nature of Maya's feelings, he's in disbelief. He doesn't know how to act around her and he's afraid of misconstruing his own feelings- thinking that maybe he's only noticing these things about her because of how she feels about him. Maya definitely took him by surprise and it took him awhile to see what had always been right in front of him. He definitely gets stuck on the whole "we're friends" business and that definitely made me mad. Maya seriously is one of the sweetest characters I've read about in a long time and she doesn't deserve to continuously be hurt by the one person she cares about most. Thankfully, Oliver realizes his feelings for her, but will he be too late?

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan is the last novella in the anthology and wow. I absolutely loved it! I didn't think I would like Kennedy very much, especially after how he treated Everly, but I ended up falling for that boy hook, line, and sinker! I also really liked Bree, Everly's best friend. We have another best friends turned more story, which is cool because that's one of my favorite tropes. Bree and Kennedy have been best friends since they were teens. Bree comes from another important family in the town of Abbott Springs, but has always spent a lot of time at the Hale's and is really considered a part of Kennedy's family.

Bree has been in love with Kennedy since sophomore year in high school and this past October she decided to act on it- in the wrong way. Alcohol was involved and well- it wasn't pretty. Coming back for Winterfest is hard on Bree because she knows she'll have to face the music.

Kennedy isn't blind to Bree. He knows he's attracted to her, but he, like the others, is afraid to ruin their friendship. He knows he handled what happened in October badly and he wishes he could go back and change things. He is angry when he finds out she is moving to Paris and he doesn't understand how she could keep letting her mom let her down time and time again with her false promises. He doesn't understand that for Bree it's easier to go after the people who you know will let you down, rather than place your trust in someone (like him) whose rejection would shatter her.

Kennedy has his own set of issues to deal with though. Being the mayor's son and having all these expectations placed on you isn't easy. His father has his life planned out without taking into account what he really wants. Instead of standing up to him and telling him what HE wants, Kennedy takes the submissive road and that infuriates Bree. She pushes him to be better and to make a stand for what he wants and in turn he pushes her to stop running and realize that she run as much as she wants, but she won't find her happiness that way.

I loved Kennedy and Bree's chemistry. It was probably my favorite in the anthology. They complement each other really well and once Kennedy was able to get over his fear of ruining their friendship and take stock in what an incredible woman he has standing right in front of him, there was no going back for him.

Overall- I thought this was a great anthology! The only disappointment I had was that each novella ended with the MC's making their way to the Winterfest toast they have every year on the Hale bridge. I was really hoping to see them all reunite with one another and toast to new relationships, friendships, and love or something like that, but we didn't. Even then that's a minor thing in the grand scheme of things. This is definitely a treat for New Adult readers and I highly encourage you pick it up!

*Received a copy of this book via the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

This is the first time I have read this type of anthology, one in which each story is related to the other through the use of shared characters. I read series books by the same authors all the time, but this is the first time I have read anything with four different authors participating.

That said, All I Ever Wanted was an excellent read. Just as each relationship in each novella was different, each author had a different spin on how the relationships in their stories developed and it really made for an excellent read. My only issue with a book of this type though, is that I like a LOT of depth. That is why I like series books. Once the relationship is established, I want to hear how that relationship plays out, the good and the bad, every up and down. Unfortunately in a novella format, there just isn’t the space to do that. It would be interesting to see another volume with stories from each of the novellas, or even stand alone novels based on these stories.

The first story, All About Us by Marilyn Brant sets the stage for us and we are introduced to Sami Abbot and Alex Hamilton. They meet up again after meeting at a concert three months prior. Sami is a college student who is home in Abbot Springs for the holiday season and runs into Alex at Winterfest, the town’s yearly festival. Their first meeting was fraught with one lie after another by Sami, who is struggling with her identity. There’s Sami the Abbot Springs good girl who is expected to follow in the footsteps of her family and work in their business, a bakery; and there is college girl Sami, (or Amanda, depending on who you ask) whose life is far more interesting than that of the girl from the small town in Ohio. There’s not doubt though that Alex and Sami felt a bond that night, but can Alex forgive Sami for her lies? And can Sami finally decide who she really wants to be? Will her family accept that decision? This was a fun read and meeting all of the characters that we would later learn much more about felt natural. I didn’t feel like there was too much info we needed to digest in order for the whole book to come together, and by the end, I really wanted to learn more about their relationship.

In All I Need by Casey Quinn we meet Everly Abbot and Justin Cohen. Longtime best friends and band mates, Everly and Justin are returning home with their band Internal Insurrection to perform at Winterfest. Everly has no desire to return to Abbot Springs, having been an outcast her entire life. She’s different than the others, and after a quick hookup the previous year with an old friend, she’s hesitant to not only see him again, but to confront all of the feelings that go along with that. Justin however had only had eyes for Everly. Can he convince her to take a chance on becoming more than friends? Or will he remain in the friendship zone and finally get fed up leaving Everly, and the band, behind? I think this was my favorite of the four stories as I really felt for both Everly and Justin. Their relationship just seemed so real to me and I was rooting for them every step of the way.

In All For Love by Rhonda Helms we meet Maya and Oliver. Maya is the good friend and co-worker of Sami, whom we meet in the first story; and Oliver is Sami’s brother. Oliver is a pastry chef at his parent’s baker and Maya has been secretly in love with him for years. Oliver is so focused on his work though that he’s blind to Maya’s infatuation. Not to mention, she’s his little sister’s friend. Maya has gotten to the point where it is just too painful to be around Oliver if she can’t have more with him and is ready to leave Abbot Springs for good. Her parents are constantly off traveling for work so there is little left for her in Abbot Springs, especially considering Sami is off to college. Can Maya finally make Oliver see her as the woman she is, and no longer the school girl friend of her little sister? Does Oliver already harbor his own feelings however he has other plans in the works? In each of these stories we see the trials and tribulations of small town living. Where everyone knows your business. The good and the bad, the support for you when you need it, the gossip about you when you fail, everyone knowing every little bit of your business. There really isn’t the opportunity to keep a whole lot of things really secret, is there?

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan is the final story and we meet Aubree and Kennedy. I really liked this story as well because like others, it touches on issues such as bullying that can be especially devastating in small towns. Not only does everyone know your business, but they know generations of your business and there are some people who are all too quick to use that info to hurt you. I also really liked this story because it showed that we shouldn’t always pigeonhole people by their looks or interests. Aubree is a free-spirited artist who has lived all over the country, moving from city to city, depending on which boyfriend she’s chasing at the time. Kennedy is the straight-laced, son of the mayor, jock golden boy whom is expected to follow his in his dad’s footsteps, both by joining him in his business, then entering politics. This story shows the important lesson that we can’t let others dictate what or who should make us happy.

I give All I Ever Wanted five stars, as it was a fun, easy read and each author helped to create and develop characters there were likeable and relatable. So much of this book really is real life small town drama so it was easy to empathize with the characters and feel their heartbreak and triumphs. I would definitely be interested in reading more on each and every one of these characters!

[✨Cassie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Abbott Springs Anthology By: Marilyn Brant, Casey Quinn, Rhonda Helms and Lexi Ryan

Welcome to Abbott Springs, a small town in Ohio. This weekend of the annual Winterfest will have friends turning into lovers, heartaches finally healed, secrets revealed, and love found.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant:

One encounter, one night three months ago, and a chance meeting will bring these two strangers together again

Alex has come to the small town of Abbott Springs to help his friends who are playing at the Winterfest, but the last thing he thought he would see was the girl who he spent one night with and left him a number that wasn’t hers. He hasn’t forgot her

Samantha is in town helping her family during the Winterfest, but she get’s much more then she bargained for. She never knew that the one night she lied to a beautiful stranger about her self would come back to haunt her. Can she explain herself to him, and will he accept her for the real person she is, not the “Amanda” he thought he knew?

One weekend could change their lives, but for the best or the worst?

All I Need by Caisey Quinn:

A secret crush, best friends, and in a band together. Could admitting their feelings ruin it all?

Everlyn coming back to Abbott Springs to play at the Winterfest is the last thing she thought she would do. This time last year she made the worst mistake she could have made and hasn’t got over it. But keeping with her and her friends’ traditions of drinking spiked cocoa on the bridge has her coming back home.

Justin “Jubby,” Ev’s best friend and bandmate, hates this town as much as she does. How could he say no to the girl he has a crush on? He never can. He’s secretly in love with Ev and has been for a long time. Will getting up the nerve to tell Ev the truth of his feelings ruin it all?

Can they make it work out, take a leap of faith for love? Or will they take a leap off the deep end?

All For Love by: Rhonda Helms

Can a life of friendship turn into something more?

Maya, the unofficial adoptive daughter of the Abbott’s and best friend of Samantha, has a huge crush on her best friend’s brother, Oliver. She has done everything to get his attention, but will it finally all pay off and will he stop seeing the young girl she once was?

Oliver, the first born and golden child of the Abbott’s, is finally seeing his sister’s best friend in a different light after all these years. Has his cluelessness over her attraction to him ruined what could have been?

Could friendship turn into love, or is it all too late?

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan:

Can revealing the truth of their feelings for each other be just what they need?

Bree and Kennedy have been best friends since forever, but one night in October, finding Bree naked in his dorm room, has strained their friendship.

Bree has had feeling for Kennedy for the last few years, but coming to Abbott Springs will make them face that October night and the feelings they both have for each other.

Can they make the right choice, or will their friendship be forever jeopardized? Is it worth the chance at love?

Overall Review

This anthology follows a set of friends who have came back to their hometown for the town’s annual Winterfest. While there, they all face tough decisions about the crushes, loves, and relationships they have kept secret. I enjoyed how every story flows right into the other. It’s all intertwined, and they did an amazing job at it. Each story is different in its own way, none the same as the previous. I fell in love with the town, I want to go there! Can I? I have my favorite story, it’s All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan, but they were all amazing in their own ways. I give this anthology 5 stars for how amazing, loving, and creative it is.

[Amber Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl
#NerdGirlAmbz

These are separate novellas that intertwine with each other very beautifully. Although you could read each one by itself with no problem.

This was my first time reading anything from each of these authors and it will not be my last!

All About Us by Marilyn Brant was the first story up. It's a very intriguing tale about the good girl with the bad boy rock and roller. Although it happens to be that good girl Samantha is the one doing all the damage, while bad boy Alex is playing the good boy in this scenario. Alexander Hamilton is a good guy underneath that bad boy rockstar exterior. The chemistry between Alex and Samantha is unmistakeable. The story itself is captivating and the author does a very good job of making a short story exhilarating and interesting. While also leaving you satisfied with the ending. The steamy sex scenes help as well.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn was next and it detailed the story of Justin (Jubb) and Everly. We met them in the last book briefly. This story is all about breaking free from the notion of what a town thinks you are. Everly and Justin have changed a lot over the past several months after leaving Abbot Springs. All they both want more than anything is for the town to see them as they are and not as they were. Well that and Justin wants more than friendship from Everly. Will they cross the line or is friendship and self discovery just to important? The author did a great job with this story. Everyone has a little love/friendship story of their own and can relate to this spectacular little novella.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms is next. This particular story was my favorite. The writing style of Rhonda Helms is one I relate to very easily. She is very good at what she does. Taking this short story and putting so much into it. This sweet little story is about Samantha's older brother Oliver and her best friend Maya. Maya has had a huge crush on Oliver forever. But Oliver is just a dense, clueless guy. This story centers around Maya trying to find a way to make her feelings known to Oliver. Trying hard to get out of the "friend phase". Oliver dismisses his little thoughts about Maya until he realizes what his true feelings are. Will he be to late? Will they forever be stuck in the "friend phase"? Guess you will have to read it to find out!

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan is the last story. After reading the previous three novellas I (like a lot of other people) was not a fan of Kennedy Hale. It seemed as if he were nothing but a spoiled rich kid that had no trouble manipulating people. Girls in particular. Although I have to give it to Author Lexi Ryan. She did the impossible. She took a character that I completely loathed and actually made me fall in love with him. In this story you begin to understand Kennedy's personal struggle with all the pressure he is put under by his father. I mean come on we can ALL relate to parental pressures now can't we? He did not want to take over the company business. He would rather take a chance at trying out for a pro-9football team. Aubree has been his best friend since they were kids. She was the type of friend that he
could confide anything to. Things become estranged between the two after something Bree pulls. Bree is an artist who does what she wants when she wants. Consequences be damned and she has the gotta for Kennedy. The steamy and sultry sex scenes in this story will definitely keep you warm at night. To find out how things end up for Kennedy and Bree, you will just have to read and find out for yourself!

Overall I found the anthology very interesting. All these novellas were very good reads and I would read another from any of the authors in the future.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing set of Novellas. Each one is intertwined with the other and yet could be read completely separately. I really enjoyed Winterfest in Abbott Springs. These sexy novellas are sure to warm you up on a cold winters night.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant-This tempting tale will warm you up on a cold winter night. I love a good girl meets bad boy match-up. This one has a twist in that the bad boy is not the heart breaker but the good girl does lots of damage. Samantha is a sexy, sweet storyteller with a very active imagination. Alexander Hamilton is a good guy underneath that bad boy rockstar exterior. The chemistry between Alex and Samantha is smokin hot. These two in the kitchen could burn some biscuits. The author does an excellent job creating a short story that is complete, unrushed, and leaved you with a solid happily ever after.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn-What happens when the small town you are from only remembers who you were and refuses to see you as who you are now? Everly and Justin have changed a lot over the past several months after leaving Abbot Springs. Justin does not appreciate the nickname Jubby that was given to him because he is not longer chubby, but more like a hot alpha male with a six pack. Everly is not the girl that got booed off the stage in 9th grade. She is beautiful, confident, and super talented. What happens with Justin wants Everly to be more than just his friend? They can't go there can they? It could break up the band. I loved this story about finding contentment with who you are. Everly and Justin are the cutest two peas in a pod.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms–Oh Oliver you clueless man. He has no clue that Maya has the hots for him until his sister gives him a swift kick in the butt. Stupid boy that he is does not know how to handle this intel. All of the sudden he is looking at Maya in a different light and realizes what he has been missing. Maya will not settle for anything less then all of Oliver. I love her spunk and bold attitude towards him. She knows what she wants and Oliver does not stand a chance.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan-After reading the previous three novellas I was not a fan of Kennedy Hale. It seemed as if he were nothing but a spoiled rich kid that had no trouble where the ladies were concerned. He broke Everly's heart and I liked Everly so again not a fan. Well here is the reason why I read everything Lexi Ryan writes. She has a talent for taking a character you could care less about and making you fall in love with them. Kennedy was battling his inner demons dealing with the expectations set forth by his father. He did not want to take over the company business. He would rather take a chance at trying out for a pro-football team. Aubree has been his best friend since they were kids. He could tell her anything. But things were weird between them because of a stunt Bree pulled when he was back at school. Bree was wild and free and went wherever she wanted to go and did whatever she wanted to do and damn the consequences. She is an artist. All Bree wants is for Kennedy to see her as a sexy woman instead of his buddy. She can't take it anymore and when she puts herself out there again he almost destroys her. Will Kennedy get his head out of his ass in time or will Bree get on a flight to Paris and leave him for the last time? If you like scorching sex scenes that will steam up your windows on a cold winter day then you will love All or Nothing.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Arc was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**

“Welcome to Abbott Springs: A Friendly Family Community. Population 3,564”

The collection of novellas in All I Ever Wanted focus on a group of college aged residents of Abbott Springs who come back for the town’s Winterfest. Throughout the festivities, truths are revealed and the real versions of themselves are finally embraced.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant

Alex and Samantha aka Amanda spent one hot night in a hotel room after one of Alex’s concerts. The connection was there, but Samantha didn’t show Alex her real self…he only got a fake name, a bunch of lies, and a pizza place phone number; Samantha never thought she would see Alex again. Little did she know that he would show up in her small town to help another band and her lies would come back to haunt her.

Alex needs to get past the lies and finally see the Samantha that she hides from everyone else, and Samantha must finally understand that all that matters is what they see in each other not how other people see them.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn

Justin and Everly have been best friends since they were young; they’ve also hidden their true feelings from each other for quite some time. Justin’s need to break out from the small town and be someone more than “Jubby” weighs heavily on him; Everly’s need to have everyone’s approval prevents her from being who she needs to be to move forward. Expectations are high for both, but before they can be together, past hurts need to be let go, and Justin and Everly need to understand that as long as they have each other, they are good to go.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms

Maya has loved Oliver for far too long without even the slightest amount of interest on his part. She is finally ready to make one last ditch effort to get Oliver to notice her before she throws in the towel and walks away from him and the town forever. It takes his sister, Sami, to force Oliver to look past his friendship with Maya and see who she truly is and what she truly means to him before it’s too late.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan

Kennedy and Aubree shared one passionate night together but then it was over. Both try to be too many things to too many people, which force them both to live lives that don’t quite feel like their own. High expectations cause big let downs, so Kennedy and Bree need to decide what’s most important to them – the wrong decision can leave them with nothing, but the right one – the one where they put themselves first – can leave them with everything.

All four stories in this collection are sweet reads with a bit of steam. They are great tales about looking below the surface to see who people truly are. People will always make judgments without truly knowing someone, especially if they are considered “different” or an “outsider”; it is up to those who are judged unfairly to not give in to those perceptions and continue to be who they want to be and go after who and what they want regardless of what anyone says about it. These four texts allow this idea to be brought out, which makes for enjoyable reading.

4 poison apples! (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads .

I love a good novella and I’m a total sucker for stories set in the winter or holidays. The idea behind this anthology was right up my alley: holidays, small town USA, friends-to-more and/or second chance romances, all written by authors whose writing I enjoy. (Full disclosure: I’ve read and loved books by Marilyn, Caisey and Lexi previously. Now I can honestly say I enjoy Rhonda’s work as well.)

These four stories fit so seamlessly with each other, while still allowing each author’s voice to shine through. The characters and timelines were interwoven and worked so well together. Each story was wonderfully-written with characters I found myself caring about and rooting for. The female characters were smart and strong, the men sexy and sweet and I liked all of them. Each story was believable, swoony and sexy. Whether it was finding Sam finding herself and love in an unexpected place (and person!), Everly giving in to the possibility of more with her best friend and bandmate in All I Need, Maya finally taking steps to make her crush notice her in All For Love, or Bree taking a chance at love with Kennedy in All or Nothing, I was completely hooked on the story and wanted more when it was all finished.

It probably goes without saying, but I want to go to Winterfest! It made an absolutely perfect backdrop for these stories. It was Smalltown USA at its finest and I was absolutely enamored with it. The authors vividly painted the picture of the town and activities and it was completely charming.

If you like your romances a bit sexy, a lot sweet and with wonderful HEAs, All I Ever Wanted should definitely be on your TBR. :)

I received a copy of this book from the author(s) in exchange for an honest review.

[Stina Lindenblatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been a fan of novellas or anthologies. I prefer novels. But the concept behind ALL I EVER WANTED intrigued me and curiosity had me bouncing this book to the top of my very large TBR pile. I'm glad I did.

We have four great New Adult authors each writing the story of two characters whose lives and story interconnect with the characters from the other stories. The anthology takes place during Winterfest, which brings home a number of characters from whatever adventures their lives are currently taking them. Each story is unique and is told in a dual point of view. And each story has a steamy romance. In a few cases, a very steamy romance. The best part is it didn't feel like I'd read any of the stories in the countless of NA books I've read. This is especially important since so many NA books seem to be a repetition to what's already out there. These four stories are fresh and hard to put down. I found myself sneaking off to read the book instead of doing what I needed to do.

Do I have a favorite? No. I loved them all. And while you don't need to read all the stories, I recommend that you do. It was cool seeing how one scene played on in one novella from one point of view's eyes, only to be viewed differently from another character in a different story (for example Caisey Quinn's and Lexi Ryan's stories). I think that was one of the things I loved most about the book. That, and how intricately woven the four stories were with each other.

[Karen Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight to come upon a collection of novellas written by four authors with such distinctly individual styles that manage to flow so seamlessly that you don't realize that you are actually reading four "little" books written by four different people.  The individuality of each of the four ladies' writing styles came out, in the unique personalities of the four couples that they each chose to write about in this delightful collection.
It all came together to tell the story of a Winter Festival in a small town. The stories were masterfully entwined with each other so that you felt the oneness of the event and the great bond of the group of people who had grown up together and gone their own ways as young adults, but allowed the Winter Festival to bring them back together each year.
  Pile on the additional fun of love and romance and you have a great read for a snowy weekend or ski vacation, as you enjoy the evening by the fire.  I do love the added bonus that because they book is divided into four distinct novellas, I was able to sit down and read it in small chunks with my busy schedule and not lose anything in the process.

[Karen Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight to come upon a collection of novellas written by four authors with such distinctly individual styles that manage to flow so seamlessly that you don't realize that you are actually reading four "little" books written by four different people.
The individuality of each of the four ladies' writing styles came out as the unique personalities of the four couples that they each chose to write about in this delightful collection, that came together to tell the story of a Winter Festival in a small town. The stories were masterfully entwined with each other so that you felt the oneness of the event and the great bond of the group of people who had grown up together and gone their own ways as young adults, but allowed the Winter Festival to bring them back each year.
Pile on the additional fun of love and romance and you have a great read for a snowy weekend or ski vacation, as you enjoy the evening by the fire. I do love the added bonus that because they book is divided into four distinct novellas, I was able to sit down in read it in small chunks with my busy schedule and not lose anything in the process.

[Yvonne (vonnie_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and heartwarming collection of novellas. I loved how they all interconnected and that we got to see little bits of the others characters in each story. Each story was packed full of so many cute moments. But there were also many heart-wrenching moments. I don't know how many times I felt like someone had a vise grip on my heart and could feel the threat of tears. Each story moved me in different ways but they all left me with a final sense of happiness.
Each authors individual style shined through in the characters personalities. The stories blended together so well though that you forget they were written by four different authors. Each story is told in dual POV which I loved. And because each story has a definitive end, you have the ease of knowing that you can sit down and read one story at a time and not feel the need or pressure to read the whole thing in one sitting. You can take your time, savor each little story.
So overall this was a sweet, fun, and extremely enjoyable read. Perfect for a cold winter night, sitting in front of the fire, with a nice cup of hot chocolate.

[Gloria Herrera for As You Wish Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winterfest at Abbott Springs, Ohio brings in tourists and sightseers together with the town's people. It is a celebration to traditions and closely held ideals.

Our anthology is a collection of four related stories about friends on the brink to adulthood. This year, Winterfest comes at a pivotal point in their lives when they are branching out to new experiences. while old feelings linger unresolved. New influences will forever shape the lives of this group of friends with hope for new beginnings.

These authors share a wonderful gift of storytelling. Although the stories are connected by theme, their individual styles complement each other, making this entire anthology a favorite read.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given an arc in exchange for a true review.I really enjoyed this book it was something I have never seen before and I was intrigued to see how and if it would work.four fabulous author's have wrote their own stories with their own characters and they have all joined together it really is great how it all goes together.I would definitely recommend this book as it is something different and enjoyable I had my favourite characters in the book but I'm not going to say and spoil it.Thanks ladies for letting me read this book.

[Danielle Schaaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful holiday read of four interlinked stories. This anthology contains four stories of friendship, love and acceptance. I loved how events and questions from one story were carried over and answered by another author. My favorite story was the final one about Kennedy. Thank you to the amazing women who brought these characters and town to life.

[Daniale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I love each story in this book. I think that it was brilliant for each author to write a different story about the same group of characters in one small town. Considering that the perspectives of each individual were represented in each story, having different authors tell each story really made it an interesting read. I loved it.

[Jen McConnel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, charming anthology (and hooray for NA with SAFE sex!). I loved the four different love stories, but I found myself craving a few more twists and turns on the road to romance. Still, a sweet, satisfying read. A perfect way to turn up the heat on a cold winter's night.

[Michele A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting reading this book. All of the authors did a great job of working their stories together to create one big view of the Winterfest that takes place during the time period of this book. It flowed well together and I was surprised at how much I liked it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little set of stories centered around one sleepy little town and a group of friends. I really enjoyed ever single one of these stories, they are well worth the read. As always with shorts I want more but the endings to each were lovely.

[Denise Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I enjoyed the mini stories all in one book I wasn't expecting that.

[Diann · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book Now I have 4 authors to read 2 I've read before and 2 are new. Highly recommend this book

[Andrea Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute Anthology!! Every book was great and the authors worked so well with each other. It flows perfect. A great good read!!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet collection that left me wanting just a bit more for each story.

[Amber Proud · Rating 5 out of 5]

**This book was provided by the publisher/author to Nerd Girl in exchange for an honest review**

These are separate novellas that intertwine with each other very beautifully. Although you could read each one by itself with no problem.

This was my first time reading anything from each of these authors and it will not be my last!

All About Us by Marilyn Brant was the first story up. It's a very intriguing tale about the good girl with the bad boy rock and roller. Although it happens to be that good girl Samantha is the one doing all the damage, while bad boy Alex is playing the good boy in this scenario. Alexander Hamilton is a good guy underneath that bad boy rockstar exterior. The chemistry between Alex and Samantha is unmistakeable. The story itself is captivating and the author does a very good job of making a short story exhilarating and interesting. While also leaving you satisfied with the ending. The steamy sex scenes help as well.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn was next and it detailed the story of Justin (Jubb) and Everly. We met them in the last book briefly. This story is all about breaking free from the notion of what a town thinks you are. Everly and Justin have changed a lot over the past several months after leaving Abbot Springs. All they both want more than anything is for the town to see them as they are and not as they were. Well that and Justin wants more than friendship from Everly. Will they cross the line or is friendship and self discovery just to important? The author did a great job with this story. Everyone has a little love/friendship story of their own and can relate to this spectacular little novella.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms is next. This particular story was my favorite. The writing style of Rhonda Helms is one I relate to very easily. She is very good at what she does. Taking this short story and putting so much into it. This sweet little story is about Samantha's older brother Oliver and her best friend Maya. Maya has had a huge crush on Oliver forever. But Oliver is just a dense, clueless guy. This story centers around Maya trying to find a way to make her feelings known to Oliver. Trying hard to get out of the "friend phase". Oliver dismisses his little thoughts about Maya until he realizes what his true feelings are. Will he be to late? Will they forever be stuck in the "friend phase"? Guess you will have to read it to find out!

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan is the last story. After reading the previous three novellas I (like a lot of other people) was not a fan of Kennedy Hale. It seemed as if he were nothing but a spoiled rich kid that had no trouble manipulating people. Girls in particular. Although I have to give it to Author Lexi Ryan. She did the impossible. She took a character that I completely loathed and actually made me fall in love with him. In this story you begin to understand Kennedy's personal struggle with all the pressure he is put under by his father. I mean come on we can ALL relate to parental pressures now can't we? He did not want to take over the company business. He would rather take a chance at trying out for a pro-9football team. Aubree has been his best friend since they were kids. She was the type of friend that he
could confide anything to. Things become estranged between the two after something Bree pulls. Bree is an artist who does what she wants when she wants. Consequences be damned and she has the gotta for Kennedy. The steamy and sultry sex scenes in this story will definitely keep you warm at night. To find out how things end up for Kennedy and Bree, you will just have to read and find out for yourself!

Overall I found the anthology very interesting. All these novellas were very good reads and I would read another from any of the authors in the future.

[Lynn]

Genre: Interconnected novellas by different authors. All contemporary romance.
Standalone/series: Yes
Cliffhanger?: No
Cursing?: Yes
Descriptive Sex?: Yes
Descriptive Sex Between H/h With OW/OM?:No
Contains Cheating?: No
HEA/HFN/etc Ending: All are as close to an HEA as novellas can get
1st/2nd/3rd Person: 1rst
Character(s)POV Spoken: dual for every story.

Any Triggers/Warnings: One story the girl talks about being bullied.

Overall Rating: Some were better than others.
Would You Read More Books By This Author: Perhaps one
Safety Gang approved? Yes

This is a series of novellas that are all interconnected but written by different authors. Honestly, it seems like some authors were more invested in making sure their stories fit in with the rest. Or else the ones that seemed to connect the best with the other stories were written after and those authors got to read the others first. I don't know for sure. At any rate, some of the stories seemed to take what was happening in the other stories seriously and incorporated that correctly. Others seemed to give small nods that there were others connected stories but got the details wrong and one felt disconnected from the rest.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant The best of the bunch. While the heroine was lukewarm for me the Hero made up for it. One of the better heroes I've read. I think that is part of the problem I had with the heroine is that she keeps making bone headed decisions and the Hero is left cleaning up the problems she makes. This story does a good job of connecting to the rest.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn Very typical New adult. Not a great fit for me. I also felt like this story didn't connect at all well with the others. Even the characters felt different here and the past events.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms Well connected to the other stories. Pretty focused on lusty thoughts as is typical for New Adult. It was the second best but still a bit too typical NA for my tastes.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan Again,very typical New Adult. This was probably the biggest miss for me. I couldn't really get behind Kennedy after reading about him in All I need. I think these 2 authors needed to coordinate better because this one seemed more disconnected from the others roo. The timeline seemed to have issues as well. Bree seemed pretty content to drink her problems away and make poor impulsive choices, but all was saved when Kennedy admits his feelings for her.


All in all, I would try more by Marilyn Brant for sure and possibly would try another by Rhonda Helms but I think the other two authors styles are just not good fit for my tastes.