Love Is Magic

by Grae Bryan, Kai Butler, Kiki Clark

Love Is Magic!

Fifteen authors, fifteen chances to fall in love this holiday season…

In this enchanting, out-of-this-world MM paranormal and urban fantasy collection, you’ll find unexpected demons, gallant vampires, pining alphas, shifty ravens, magic galore, and so much more, with a satisfying happy ending to every love story.

Read original, exclusive stories by:
Grae Bryan
Kai Butler
Kiki Clark
MM Farmer
Eliot Grayson
Alessandra Hazard
Sheena Jolie
Lissa Kasey
L.A. Lambert
Ashlynn Mills
Mere Rain
Colette Rivera
Cora Rose
Spencer Spears
Remi Varlow

This limited-time anthology will only be available for three months, from November 27, 2025 through February 24, 2026.

All profits will benefit SantaCan, a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts to foster children in the Los Angeles area. Thank you for spreading some holiday cheer this season!

Genres: M M Romance, Anthologies, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Holiday, Christmas

806 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2025

About the author

Grae Bryan has been reading romance since she was far too young to know any better. Her love for love stories spans all genres, and while her current series is of the paranormal variety, she knows she’ll be exploring other worlds further down the line.

She lives in Arizona with her husband, who graciously shares space with all the imaginary men in her head. When not writing, she can generally be found reading more than is healthy, walking her monster-dog, or cuddling her demon-cat. She loves anything and everything gothic, strange, lovely, or cozy.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these charity anthologies and this one is stacked with authors I like! The cover is great as well.
Updating as I read:
The Wrong Doorstep Grae Bryan super cute story about a lonely accountant who is crushing on his basilisk neighbour. All the Christmas feels
A Gift for Winter’s Eve Kai Butler might circle back but the blurb sounds very dull
The Mistaken Courting Gift Kiki Clark I won't be reading this because I have no interest whatsoever in a panda shifter 😵‍💫
A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas MM Farmer basically a geriatric epilogue about existing characters (thirty years later!!) so I'll be skipping this one. I haven't read the previous book so it seems pointless to jump in when the characters are old
Spellbound Eliot Grayson I'm sensing a theme here about lonely boys finding love, this time with the aid of a magical sex toy and reconnecting with a childhood love. I'm mostly glad to finally know what happened to this character, who featured in an earlier book of Eliot's.
A Professor for Christmas Alessandra Hazard Yet another lonely boy finding love. Cute but felt half finished, not very memorable.
The Duelist’s Heart: An Infinite Arcana Short Story Sheena Jolie DNF- a lot of buildup and boring detail which doesn’t suit the novella format, in my opinion. I didn’t find either character interesting; the security guard we heard about ad nauseam was the most interesting of the bunch
Grave Tides Lissa Kasey A typo in the blurb… not off to the best start but it’s about a mermaid so I’ll give it a shot. One of the best in the anthology so far, I liked the premise (this time, it's two lonely boys!) and the world building.
Meadow in the Snow L.A. Lambert A super cute story about a lonely boy and a wandering fae who doesn't realize how lonely he is until he meets his guy 🥰. One of my fave in the anthology
Up in the Air: A Monster Match Spin-Off Ashlynn Mills I tried, just not for me.
What the Demon Brought Mere Rain I genuinely forgot about this one and had to go back and refresh my memory… from yesterday. I’m pretty sure I finished it. Wasn’t my favourite but it wasn’t memorably terrible. Interesting idea but the execution is where it fell short for me.
When Fate Gives You a Demon Colette Rivera DNF about 2/3 of the way through; I didn’t like either character or the writing style at all.
Bite of Opportunity Cora Rose Very underwhelming… I have no idea why these two like each other. Poor lonely dude meets rich vampire and starts jerking off in his living room. Must be true love? 🫩
Slay Bells Spencer Spears I hate to skip this one because I generally like Spencer Spears's books, but a prequel about one MC and some random dude is a strange choice. I might be misreading the blurb but I don't want to read about a previous hookup.
The Gift of the Mage Remi Varlow no, for several reasons. Just overly complicated in a way I'm not inclined to pay attention to, with an MC who's a bit of a dope. I hope he figures it where his loyalty should lie by the end!

5 stars for this charity anthology. I hope a ton of money is raised for the kids!

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming collection, but most romance short story collections are IMO.

The Wrong Doorstep 2.5 stars
Ehh, not my fav concept, but it was fine. Basilisk playboy and shy guy. 

A gift for winters eve 1.5 stars 
This was one of the author's I read the collection for and was pretty disappointed. Takes place in San Amaro universe with some cameos, but the main relationship was bland and ends with them having their first kiss. Underwhelming 

The mistaken courting gift DNF
Clearly in an established universe. Hunter courts panda. Not that interesting.
 
A very bangers and mash Christmas DNF
Omega verse in a way that is not for me and meh writing.

Spellbound 1 star
Really fucking weird and ends pretty abruptly.

Professor for Christmas 4 stars
Too short, and the justifications at the end were silly, but classic Hazard hotness

The duelist heart 2.5 stars
This was... fine? Idk, kind of boring. Vampire and antique dealer

Grave tides 3 stars
Intrigues by the concept but I just don't think a short story was the best way to tell this one and it felt too rushed 

Meadow DNF
Concept was so stupid and unbelievable. Lonely guy sees hot, scantily dressed fae and brings him home to save him from the cold.

Up in the air DNF
Didn't even attempt this one. Knew it wouldn't be for me.

What the demon brought 4 stars
A little rushed, but overall I liked this one with a professor and demon hunter. 

When fate gives you lemons 2.5 stars
Ehh. Not offensive, but not great either. Wrapping station fated mates.

Bite of opportunity DNF
Bad writing and stupid concept of sexy telegram during a storm

Slay bells 4 stars
Very short, not romantic at all, no hea, but I enjoyed!

Gift of the Mage 3 stars
Fine. Raven shifter and mage

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included)]

I'm not sure if I'm going to read every novella in this anthology, there's a lot of authors in it that are new to me. But I'm going to add on to this review as I read.


Spellbound by Eliot Grayson
Tropes: second chance, paranormal, friends to lovers
Other person drama: nothing happened between them when they were teenagers. They both been with others since. There are some references to Finian's ex hookups. No cheating.
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Finian is 32. He is a werewolf shifter with shaman magic. He creates magic imbued sex toys for a living. He has a massive scar on his face that turns off potential suitors. When he was a kid, he grew up with Rob who was 4 years older than him. They were close friends and he crushed on Rob. But Rob left town when he turns 17 to find answers about what happened to his parents, and he hasn't seen Rob until now. Rob shows up at his place and ties him up with one of his own creations and f**** him. Then he leaves. Finian manages to lure him back though and get him to f*** him again and talk.

I know this is a novella and I can't have too big of expectations, but this novella was basically focused on their sexual connection and the fondness from the past. And it ends very abruptly without Rob sharing any details about what's happened to him since with the readers. He just tells Finian he's going to stay but can't make any promises. So it ends without satisfying the reader's curiosity, without building a sense of love in the present, and more of a cliffhanger than even a happy for now. So it felt like a good start but it was really disappointing that it didn't deliver more. I enjoyed it for what it was though and I won't judge it too harshly.


A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard

Tropes: magical do-over, age gap, professor/student
Other person drama: there are vague references to other hook up / relationships.
Rating: 3.5 stars

At age 36, Kit has no one. He's got no relationship, no close friends, he's not close to his parents, and he's working in a disappointing mid-management job. Christmas is upon him and he's feeling like he doesn't matter, that life is empty. He runs into a witch and she offers him a chance to undo his biggest regret. That takes him back in the past to when he was 21 and he didn't make a move on the professor that he had a crush on for 3 years. Mark Lawson, who was 12 years older than him. When he returns to his past, he makes a move, and his feelings are reciprocated, he just has to convince Mark that he is serious and not just looking for a hook up.

This was a nice enough little novella. It wasn't long enough to really develop deep connections, but I do enjoy this author. This reminded me a little bit of Derek and Shawn from one of her past books.


Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose

Tropes: stripper/vampire, rich/poor, age gap
Other person drama: there's one brief mention of an ex
Rating: 3.25 stars

Jamie is 25 and poor, facing eviction and working as a stripper. He's been sent as a sexy gift to give a birthday boy a lap dance. Evander is a 400-year-old vampire who is not impressed by his birthday joke of a gift from his friends. But Evander is attracted to Jamie and hungry for a taste of his blood. Jamie is a curious and horny guy. When the weather's s*** and he has to stay for a bit, his horniness gets the better of him and they end up hooking up. It's a good hookup, and they both want to extend it, so Jamie stays for a while, and that's the end.

This was promising. I liked the characterization of Jamie. His nosiness and curiosity was funny and charming. We didn't really get to see much of Evander's personality, other than that he's a bit stiff. There was humor and there was steam. But there really wasn't love in this book, they've just met, and we don't really know where they're going to go with this, if it's going to become a relationship. I'm really not a big fan of novellas if they don't have some depth to them.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charity anthology features loads of paranormal holiday reads and include stories with a variety of lengths. They stories are cute and I liked that I could pick some out based on how much time I had to read too. I love charity anthologies and I especially love the variety of shorter works included because they always make for nice palette cleansers between longer books or as nice story that I can finish right before I go to sleep. All profits will benefit SantaCan, a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts to foster children in the Los Angeles area. Thank you for spreading some holiday cheer this season! Available through Feb 24, 2026.

Some include:

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan - I adored this longer story! It was smexy and sweet and I loved how Atlas' interest in Ben just grew and grew the more he got to know him.

*f*ckboy shifter + mousy accountant
*gift left on the wrong doorstep
*lingerie
*fated mates
*size difference

A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard - pretty cute with hot spice

*(former) student + college professor
*forbidden
*time travel
*physical age gap (not emotional)
*spelled book
*short and spicy

Up in the Air: A Monster Match Spin-Off by Ashlynn Mills - this one was one of the longer ones, adorable, and really stuck with me after. Need to go back and read the series from which it spins-off now

*owl humanoid + human
*one MC rescues the other
*portal between worlds
*lots of bird spice!!!!
*strict roles
*cameos from the series
*language instruction

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose - cute, short and sexy!

*vampire + singing gram/lap dancer
*birthday "gift box"
*lingerie
*forced proximity
*stormed in
*just the right blood type
*HFN

[anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.

Omg, I absolutely devoured this! I enjoyed every single story. I also got to discover new authors I hadn’t read before, and I completely loved that! Fated mates is one of my all-time favorite tropes, and these stories delivered it perfectly.

My favorites were:
- The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan
- Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
- When Fate Gives You a Demon by Collete Rivera

Don't forget to order it, all profits will benefit SantaCan, a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts to foster children in the Los Angeles area.

[S.S. Genesee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read L.A. Lambert's story MEADOW IN THE SNOW, so my review will be just for that!

This was such a sweet Christmas story! Lonely and sweet Miles happens to stumble upon a faerie who flips his world upside-down, turning his monotonous life into something magical in the span of a single night. Their interactions were absolutely adorable, with Miles being shy and Meadow being so dang lovable, with the perfect sprinkling of Christmas (or in this case faerie) magic. Loved it!! 💕

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read 4 stories and gave up another.
Three of them are nice and sweet, one of them is boring.

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all anthologies, I did find this one a bit hit or miss! I really picked it up for Grae Bryan’s novella (which was the first one!) and I was not disappointed! This was easily a 5* for me - monster romance with a basilisk? Say no more.

The rest were a fun mix which I did enjoy, with a few standouts and some which I enjoyed less!

Either way a very fun festive collection and proceeds going to charity - perfect!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

I didn’t read the entire collection of stories in the Love is Magic anthology, but I honestly did read more than half of the book. Some are shorter vignettes, most are novella length, and two felt like entire books. I’m just going to give an overview of some of them–and tell you I was absolutely delighted by everything I read. The books’ focus is on “magic” in various forms, as the authors connect to their own published work, or begin something very new. A lot of the magic lies in fated mates finding one another, but sometimes shifter magic or actual sorcery was included in the story. I’m a goner for good magical realism, shifter stories, and omegaverse, and I wasn’t disappointed. For me, I only recognized a few as authors I’d read before, and now I have a whole list of new-to-me authors whose work I’d like to explore further.

Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous paranormal anthology for the holidays. I started with my favourite authors, so this is out of order. I really loved some of the stories, others not so much, but overall a really enjoyable read. I've had fun visiting some of the worlds I already love and found new authors to read. Overall score 4.25*

The Duelists Heart - Sheena Jolie - 5*
I love Sheena's Infinite Arcana world and it was great to spend some time with the Boston Blood Clan again - this is a complete standalone, so you don't have to have read the stories, although you should!
Cam, a practitioner, works in an enchanted antique shop and meets Nicolo when he comes into the shop to purchase a gift for his sire. Jolie manages to cram a full story into this short, with an interesting plot, a little spice and a HEA. I'm hoping they may expand this into a full story in future.

When Fate Gives You a Demon - Colette Rivera - 4.5*
A standalone short set in the Lovers of the Damned universe. Poor Milo loses his job due to a magical mishap, but finds work at Santa's Village at the local mall where he meets Zeke, a clueless demon desperately trying to fit in. Zeke was adorably clumsy in his courting and Milo surprisingly accepting of magic.

The Wrong Doorstep - Grae Bryan - 4*
A heartwarming tale of a lonely accountant and the hot paranormal creature who lives upstairs. This was a fun story with plenty of heat and a HEA.

Spellbound - Eliot Grayson - 3.75*
I have so many unanswered questions after this. Just one more chapter and it would have been great, but I'm left feeling frustrated and a little unsure of the dub con.

A Mistaken Courting Gift - Kiki Clark - 4*
Aww, time with the Kincaid Pack is never wasted. I loved the misunderstanding of the ill thought out courting gift and the happily ever after with the ex hunter and the adorable red panda.

A Very Bangers and Mash Christmas - MM Farmer - Did not read.
I'm not a fan of omegaverse, so I gave this one a miss

A Gift for Winter's Eve - Kai Butler - 4.5*
I've had the San Amaro Investigations series on my tbr for a while and now I have moved it to the top of the list! I really enjoyed this story with the high school teacher trying to free his students for the fae court.

A Professor for Xmas - Alessandra Hazard - 2.5*
Good premise, but I didn't enjoy the execution

Grave Tides - Lissa Kasey - 5*
A new author to me, but I loved this story of pain and curses and the redemption of finally believing in yourself. This the the prequel to a new series that I will definitely be reading.

Meadow - LA Lambert - 3.5*
Another new author. Miles and Meadow were sweet, but I didn't get the warm fuzzy feeling I was hoping for.

Up in the Air - Ashlynn Mills - DNF
I've not read Ashlynn Mills before and this book is set in an established universe I know nothing about, so I was confused and didn't really understand what was going on. I'm also not a of creatures that don't fully shift. I got about halfway, but this one really wasn't for me.

What The Demon Brought - Mere Rain - 3*
A demon hunter and an uptight professor. It was ok

Bite of Opportunity- Cora Rose - 3*
I'm not a big Cora Rose fan, but this was ok.

Slay Bells - Spencer Spears - 3*
Demons and hook ups

The Gift of the Mage - Remi Varlow - 5*
I loved this story of the oppressed Mage and the exuberant raven shifter. I'd love for it to be expanded into a full book.

[Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall 3.23 ⭐️. There were a couple great stories I recommend in this one.

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A Gift for Winter’s Eve by Kai Butler
⭐️⭐️.5

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas by MM Farmer
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Spellbound by Eliot Grayson
⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard
⭐️

The Duelist’s Heart by Sheena Jolie
DNF

Grave Tides by Lissa Kasey
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meadow by LA Lambert
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Up in the Air by Ashlynn Mills
DNF

What the Demon Brought by Mere Rain
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Fate Gives You a Demon by Colette Rivera
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
⭐️.5

Slay Bells by Spencer Spears
⭐️⭐️

The Gift of the Mage by Remi Varlow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up for the Grae Bryan story and it absolutely did not disappoint. Best story from the bunch imo.
The rest… some were alright, I think I gave up on 2 and skimmed a few others. I just didn’t click with some of the stories or the writers’ styles. But I think the first 2 or 3 stories might have been the best.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked these short stories, more than I thought I would. This was the perfect book for the holidays. You can read a short story and then visit with family, and pick it up again to read another short story. There was a couple that I didn’t like but the majority I did.

[Chanti Jardines Meza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que adorable regalo para navidad nos dieron estás autoras, con este libro empiezo mis lecturas navideñas !!

[Mere Rain]

I'm really looking forward to this anthology!

Although I have a story in it, I haven't read anyone else's contributions yet, and it has some favorite authors, including Eliot Grayson, who put the project together.

This is a fundraiser for SantaCan, a charity that provides gifts for kids in foster care.

UPDATE Nov 26 I have the book now! Starting!

THE WRONG DOORSTEP by Grae Bryan 🐭🐍

A GIFT FOR WINTER'S EVE by Kai Butler 🐺🌳
This is set in San Amaro but worked as a stand-alone.

SPELLBOUND by Eliot Grayson ⛓ 🍆 <- for once anatomically accurate

A PROFESSOR FOR XMAS by Alessandra Hazard ⌛ 👨‍🏫

DUELIST'S HEART Sheena Jolie ⚔ 🧛‍♂️
I haven't read this series, but I think same world (Boston) as her Necromancer series.

MISTAKEN COURTING GIFT Kiki Clark [no red panda emoji?!]

A VERY BANGS & MASH CHRISTMAS Merry Farmer

GRAVE TIDES by Lissa Kasey 🧜‍♂️🖼 I definitely want more of this series!

MEADOW by LA Lambert 🧝‍♂️ 🤓

Up in the Air Ashlynn Mills
Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
When Fate Gives You a Demon by Collete Rivera

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good anthology! Let’s jump into Love is Magic.

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan
4 out of 5 stars

This anthology started out strong with a story by Grae. Benjamin, accountant and quiet neighbor, receives a gift meant for his upstairs neighbor, Atlas. I love the set-up, the pursuit, and the way that Atlas fell head over heels for quiet mouse Ben, even though he was a worldly playboy. I would adore more about them. Such a great story!


A Gift for Winter’s Eve by Kai Butler
3 out of 5 stars

The next story is about August, werewolf teacher who moves to a new town for a fresh start. His mysterious neighbor, Rowan, helps him solve a mystery about August’s missing students. I liked this one but it was lacking in the romance department. I needed a little more of August and Rowan together.

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark
4. 5 out of 5 stars

LOVED this one! Theo, retired hunter and member of the Kincaid pack, is ready to woo his mate, Rowan, a cute red panda shifter. I adored everything about this one and it’s always nice to revisit the Kincaid pack. My one little niggle is we never solved the mystery of how Theo was able to determine that Rowan was his mate (and why his eyes glowed during claiming). I certainly hope to see more of them in the future!

A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas by MM Farmer
3 out of 5 stars

Nick and Sal have been together for over 30 years and raised five children. They are struggling to adjust to changes in their relationship. I liked this one okay, but it was super short (even for a short story) and I was missing some of the connections that I like to see in relationships. The first few chapters seemed like their relationship was in serious jeopardy, but it was easily solved. Cute, quick story.

Spellbound by Eliot Grayson
2 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite of the anthology. I just felt like I was missing something between Finian and Rob. There was too much going on in such a short story. Perhaps if I had read more of this author’s series, I wouldn’t have been lost. I think it would be excellent developed further if that is the author’s intention.


A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard
4.5 out of 5 stars

I mean, let’s be honest, I love anything that Alessandra writes. This one was right up my alley. Kit, a 36 year old man, is reflecting on his lonely life. Given a chance to return to the moment of his biggest regret and right that wrong, he chooses to return in time to college and confess his feelings for his professor. I loved it so much. The perfect holiday story!

The Duelist’s Heart: An Infinite Arcana Story by Sheena Jolie
4 out of 5 stars

Another amazing addition to this anthology. Camden, earth mage, and Nicolo, vampire, meet when Camden sells Nicolo a gift for his maker’s party. I loved these two together. The chemistry was palpable, and I never once felt lost (even though I have not read all of the books in the Infinite Arcana series). Such a good story!


Grave Tides by Lissa Kasey
3.5 out of 5 stars

Luca, a recently turned shifter, works for immortal, Xavier, cataloguing magical artifacts. Xavier gives Luca a fae-cursed painting. Luca soon realizes a siren is trapped in the painting. I liked the mysterious moments of this story. I love the moments that Skye and Luca spent together. I didn’t enjoy Luca’s family or how mysterious Xavier and the other workers were. I wanted them to just help him out- lol.

Meadow by L.A. Lambert
3.5 out of 5 stars

Cute story about Miles and Meadow. Miles is lonely and looking for someone to fill the void. He finds Meadow, a faerie, out in the park and takes him thinking he is unhoused. I love the premise and wanted to love this one. I just wasn’t sure why Meadow was so attracted to Miles. However, I did love the last scene with them bonding. So sweet.

Up in the Air: A Monster Match Spin-Off by Ashlynn Mills
2 out of 5 stars

I did not like this one very much. I was so lost. I have not read too many of the Monster Match stories, and I could tell when I attempted to read this one. I was unfamiliar with the world and was unclear as to why Edgar and Pollux were into each other. I think for other people who are more familiar with the world, they would really like this one.

What the Demon Brought by Mere Rain
3.5 out of 5 stars

A new author for me and I was so into this one. I loved Reason and Siyavash! The whole story was fascinating, but then it just sorta ended. I definitely needed more. I hope this maybe gets expanded into a longer story.


When Fate Gives You a Demon by Colette Rivera
4.5 out of 5 stars

This was everything I love about the Lovers of the Damned series! Fated mates Zeke and Milo work together wrapping gifts at Santa’s Village. I really enjoyed this one! Made me miss all the demons and their mates!


Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
3 out of 5 stars

This was shaping up to be a great story until it again just ended. Do Evander and Jamie end up together? Kit is just for a day? I felt really let down by the lack of closure at the end. Hope this gets expanded one day.


Slay Bells by Spencer Spears
1 out of 5 stars

Ummm….not really sure what this was. A prologue to another story? Where one of the MCs of that book is hooking up with some random person? Not for me.

Gift of the Magi by Remi Varlow
4 out of 5 stars

This was great! I loved Dom and Ari so much! I really hope there are books about the Durrand Pack. I’m invested in their lives already. Great way to end this anthology!!



I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so overall I had a good time reading this! I generally liked most of the stories, so many had good vibes and were perfect for a Christmas!! Got some favourites (cough…Grae Bryan…cough) 😂. I’m so happy to have gotten stories from authors I already like and introduced to some authors I want to look into more! Below are my reviews for each story in this book ☺️

The Wrong Doorstep: LOVEDD LIKE SO MUCH. THE BANTER AND CHEMISTRY WAS FANTASTIC. Honestly I wish we had a full book featuring these two. I loved the supernatural creature that was used here too! 5/5 ⭐️

A Gift For Winter’s Eve: It was an interesting story! And I liked the characters. I wasn’t totally sold on the relationship tho. 2/5 ⭐️

The Mistaken Courting Gift: This was sooo cute and like almost cheesy! I loved every bit. I kind of wish we got more stalking and odd gifts 😂 3/4 ⭐️

A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas: This gave me all the feels!! It was so cute reading a couple who had already had a wonderful life together and showing how it can just keep getting better even with a few bumps 🥹 ‘Twas ADORABLE 4/5 ⭐️

Spellbound: WELL DAMN that was spicy!! I really enjoyed this story. The writing style wasn’t fully for me, felt like a lot of inner monologue was happening and I just wanted actual dialogue to happen. But I still really enjoyed the characters. Two people who feel ugly and unwanted finding each other UGH love it. It left me curious too about the alpha character. I wanted to know more about what happened to him 3.5/5 ⭐️

A Professor for Christmas: I don’t know how I feel about this one. I was certainly hooked when I read the blurb! I liked the second chance plot and the time traveling aspect, that was different and fun. I feel like it was a pretty ok story tho. 3/5 ⭐️

The Duelist’s Heart: So this was a cute story. I don’t know what else to say about it. I don’t know if the writing was for me or I just wasn’t fully vibing with it but still a sweet story! 3/5⭐️

Grave Tides: So this was super interesting. It took me a second but I did really get into this story. It was such a different premise and I loved how explored the world we were introduced to was. I do wish the romance was a little more built up and we got to see it more. And the story didn’t always flow nicely, some things I’m still confused about but regardless interesting read 3.5/5 ⭐️

Meadow: THIS WAS SO CUTE AND SWEET!!! It had such a cozy atmosphere to it. I immediately latched onto Meadow and Miles as characters and their story. I like how it was written and how the pace felt, so much so that I didn’t mind the insta-love thing happening 4/5⭐️

Up In the Air: I liked this a lot! I liked the world, it was very interesting no matter how sudden the start of the story was to me. The tying up scene was actually quite funny. The writing and pace was sometimes kind of weird but I enjoyed Pollux and Edgar, they were cute 3/5⭐️

What the Demon Brought: So I really liked the set up of this story, I liked the characters and the dynamic. But I don’t think the writing was for me. It felt kind of jarring at times. Fun story tho!! 2.5/5 ⭐️

When Fate Gives You a Demon: I really really liked this story!!! It was so cute and festive!! I already like this author so I was excited and the story and the characters did not disappoint. I like that both Miles and Zeke were like matching each other’s grumpiness at beginning and it all really stemmed from both just liking and being attracted to each other 😂 4/5 ⭐️

Bite of Opportunity: This is just so fun, spicy and a good ol’ vampire story. I’m a sucker for those 😂 The chemistry and build up was good, it was short and sweet but I enjoyed the characters quite a lot 4/5 ⭐️

Slay Bells: That short but so fun. I liked all the Xmas songs that were said to be playing in the background. It also gave me Supernatural vibes with the whole being on the road, hunting things, you know the family business😂 seriously this was a good festive demon filled short story with a nice spicy end for our two characters but no HEA 4/5 ⭐️

The Gift of the Mage: Well that was a good story to end on!! It has fantastic magical vibes and I really liked the characters. They had cute banter! It’s definitely a type of story I’ve read/watched before but I still had a good time reading about the world we were introduced to 3/5 ⭐️

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, rounded up!

I chose a select few stories to read from this anthology for the purpose of this review. I may go back and read the others at a later date. The overall rating is the average of my ratings for the following stories:

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan: 4.5 stars
I always love Grae’s stories, and this one was no different. It’s a short, sweet and utterly enchanting story with beautiful, almost lyrical writing that is definitely some of Grae’s best so far. The romance between Benjamin (the accountant) and Atlas (the … you know what? You should read it to find out what Atlas is) is beautiful and I honestly wouldn’t have minded a full novel with these two. Is this a sneak peak into the world of a new upcoming series? One can only hope. Definitely check this story out if you managed to get your hands on a copy of this anthology!

A Gift for Winter’s Eve by Kai Butler: 2.5 stars
While I enjoyed August as a protagonist, I have a feeling this plot/story would work better as a full-length novel instead. I felt like I was missing a whole chunk of the story and the ending is rather abrupt. It also doesn't really have a romance, as 99% of the story is a frankly half-assed mystery and Fae court politics that gave me a headache. Overall: not super bad or anything, somewhat entertaining for August’s inner musings and when it’s not dealing with politics.

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark: 4 stars
Oh gosh, this is adorable haha. They're both so soft really. Theo may come across as a grump, but he is the softest cinnamon roll for Rowan. Love it. I really need to read more of this author's work. Mental note to make that a resolution for 2026. Short, sweet and spicy story that made my heart melt a little.

Spellbound by Eliot Grayson: 3 stars
Okay, so, my first story by this author as well. I really liked Finian as a character. He’s so soft and lonely and I ached for him. The spice was the kind of hot that I would definitely not be into in real life, but in fiction I be like “GIMME!”. I wasn’t sure about Rob, though and that brings me to my biggest issue. There are some painfully necessary answers that need to be given, but aren’t. There is no HEA feeling because it ends so abruptly that it just left me a bit frustrated. Just a chapter or two more would’ve been enough. Hopefully the author will expand on it and re-release it at some point? I’ll definitely check out the author’s other work!

A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard: 4 stars
This was delightfully sweet and what a wonderful premise! I really liked this one.

The Duelist’s Heart by Sheena Jolie: 4,5 stars
Oh, Sheena Jolie never disappoints. Their stories are always so swoon-worthy and beautiful, and this one is no different. I loved Camden and Nicolo so much! A beautiful, romantic story that captured my heart right from the start.

When Fate Gives You a Demon by Colette Rivera: 3 stars
It was… fine? Not bad, not great, just… fine. Not much else I can say about it, really.

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose: 4 stars
As expected of Cora Rose, this one was a lot of fun. I’d have liked it if it’d been a bit longer, like maybe one extra chapter, but that’s a minor issue. I would love to see Cora write more vampires in the future, though!

The Gift of the Mage by Remi Varlow: 4 stars
This one was so sweet and cute. I really liked it. Ari and Dom are adorable together and I loved their story. Wouldn’t have minded if it had been longer so I’d have more time to get to know them better.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars overall. It was a bit of a mixed bag of stories, but I was glad to have read it and to support the charity.

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan - 4.5 stars
Opposites attract, human X shifter, mates. I loved the chemistry between these characters. Short and spicy, with a perfect pace for a short story.

A Gift for Winter's Eve by Kai Butler - 3 stars
Fae, werewolf, suspense. While this probably would've made an interesting full-length story, as a short, it ended up skimming a lot, and cut the romance plot out almost entirely. It had a hint of flirting, but that was about it.

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark - 5 stars
Awkward first impressions, fated mates, human X shifter, with some light hurt/comfort. No notes, wouldn't change a thing. I will absolutely be checking out the series.

A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas by MM Farmer - 3.5 stars
Established couple, omegaverse. It was an important nod to the changes our body goes through as we get older, and the way our relationships change right along with it.

Spellbound by Eliot Grayson - 3 stars
This one is spicy as hell, with bondage kink and dubcon. Overall, I kinda liked the premise and the chemistry between the characters, but there were so many plot gaps that the smut totally took over the story.

A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard - 1.5 stars
Hoo boy, there were some problematic moments in this one. I was curious about how changing the past could unfold, but when the MC questions his harassment of his love interest when he continues to say no? Ick. Also, the love interest has a family in the future, a husband and adopted kids, but there seems to be no moral dilemma over whether he has the right to take that away from him.

The Duelist's Heart by Sheena Jolie - DNF for now
This one has tons of intricate detail, but I was more in the mood for something a little lighter.

Grave Tides by Lissa Kasey - 3.5 stars
Fated mates, all manner of supernatural creatures. This one is a really intriguing set-up for a future series, and I would definitely be tempted to check it out. There's a lot of worldbuilding without the heavy info dump. We have a cursed oceanid and a cat shifter new to the world of magic.

Meadow by LA Lambert - 4 stars
This one was cute all the way through. I appreciated that the author didn't try to cram more into the story than what was needed. It was an "accidental" relationship of sorts between a human and 200yo fae. Exploring their physical chemistry and meeting friends and family. Sweet and simple.

Up in the Air by Ashlynn Mills - DNF
I ended up skimming this one mostly because it's heavily tied to a series I haven't read, and I felt like I was missing a lot of pertinent information on the worldbuilding.

What the Demon Brought by Mere Rain - 4 stars
I really quite liked this one! There was a fair bit of detail for a short story, but I got a really good sense of the worldbuilding without an info dump. The romance unfolded naturally between the characters, and overall, it kept me interested the entire time.

When Fate Gives You a Demon by Colette Rivera - 4.5 stars
Demon X human, fated mates, heavy on the xmas vibe. This was soooo cute. This was another case of good worldbuilding without leaving me drowning in it. I will absolutely be checking out the series.

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose - DNF
This one unfortunately read a bit like a cheesy porno. It's more lust and sex than any kind of romance.

Slay Bells by Spencer Spears - 2 stars
I have complicated thoughts on this one. A monster hunter walks into a bar then proceeds to save the day. That part was actually kinda interesting, if we ignore the plot holes. The problem I had was to do with the "romance." In a collection called "Love is Magic," it was out of place as a casual hookup, and a seemingly reluctant one at that. It was a lot more awkward that I would've liked, with a couple bits that made me cringe.

The Gift of the Mage by Remi Varlow - 4 stars
I really liked this one. A crow shifter thief and a non-practicing mage go on an adventure to steal a magical orb. It was good fun, with a couple intimate scenes and lots of character growth for a short story, but I was mostly curious about the potential for a series for the wolf pack. Please?

[369Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
A collection of spicy, swoony and magical short stories from some of your favourite authors! All of these stories have a fun twist of fantasy that make them really enjoyable to read.

I didn’t read every story, but here are a few reviews about the stories I read!:

A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard
3.25⭐️
A quick and spicy story about a man who regrets his life, who gets the opportunity to travel back into his college-age body to shoot his shot with the professor he’s never been able to get off his mind. In regular Hazard fashion, it’s scandalous, steamy, and fun!

The Duelist’s Heart: An Infinite Arcana Short Story by Sheena Jolie
2.75⭐️
A vampire walks in to a jewelry store run by a human. Both let instant curiosity and interest take hold! This story features sweet gift giving, instant attraction, a couple encounters with thieves, and a magical bond.

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
4.5⭐️
Chaotic human tries to convince grumpy vampire to keep him as his gift. And I mean that literally because he was hired by said vampire’s friend to jump out of a box in a thong and surprise the vampire. This one was so much fun! The vampire is totally grumpy, and the human is hilariously chaotic. I was straight up giggling with this one!

The Wrong Doorstep - Grae Bryan
3.75⭐️
Benjamin is a boring guy, ready for a boring holiday. But a gift turns up on his front door that changes everything. This story features a sexy and frustrating upstairs neighbour, a pair of panties, and a scaly surprise 👀 (Monster anatomy!!)

A Gift for Winter’s Eve by Kai Butler
3.75⭐️
A werewolf highschool teacher called August has a very grumpy neighbour, and he’s determined to get the neighbour to like him. Though his neighbour is interesting, he has bigger fish to fry: something’s going on with his students at school, and he’s willing to do anything to help them out. His grumpy neighbour becomes a surprising ally as August solves the mystery.
This one was actually really interesting, and even had some good world building and intrigue! I found myself invested in the story, despite it being short. It actually had a plot that wasn’t central to the romance. It made it really fun, though I think there was maybe a little too much plot packed in to such a short story. I get the feeling maybe some of these characters that appear in the story are from other works by the author. From the perspective of someone who has not read other works by them, it’s kind of a lot. But I can tell that if we had more background on some of the side characters, the story would be so much fun! This one also has no spice!

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark
3.5⭐️
Ex-Hunter Theo accidentally gives a very unwelcome courting gift to a red panda shifter. 😂 Maybe Theo should have done some more research before going for Rowan. This one was fun and cute. This book is in the Kincaid pack universe (I’ve read the first book in the series), so that helped give me context with this one. This story has super-insta-mates and is very spice-centric.

This anthology has something for everyone, and I definitely enjoyed reading the stories. I might revisit it again to read the other half of the stories I didn’t read yet! 🥰

[Aleja · Rating 4 out of 5]

{English below}

✨ ARC Review ✨
Bien, tengo que admitir que no leí todas las historias. Cada una de las historias cortas tiene un toque de fantasía y, sinceramente, las encontré entrañables. Me gustaron mucho.

The Wrong Doorstep - Grae Bryan | 3,5 ⭐
Un basilisco y un humano, ¿qué podría salir mal? ¡Esa es una buena pregunta, jaja! Me gustó mucho Benjamin; al ser una historia tan cortita, logré empatizar con su personaje. ¡Y ni qué decir de Atlas! Es tan atrevido que me tuvo enganchada desde el principio.

The Mistaken Courting Gift - Kiki Clark | 3,5 ⭐
Esta historia fue tan linda. Me gustaron muchísimo Theo y Rowan; me hubiera encantado leer un poquito más de su historia, pero, aun así, me encantaron.

A Professor for Christmas - Alessandra Hazard | 4 ⭐
¿Una vieja bruja ayudando a un pobre alma solitaria a no perder a quien sería su mayor amor en la universidad volviendo 15 años en el tiempo? Okey, estoy dentro. ¡Este es el tipo de historias que quiero leer! Me hubiese encantado leer más sobre estos personajes; Kit y Mark tienen mucho potencial juntos.

Bite of Opportunity - Cora Rose | 3,5 ⭐
Esta historia fue muy cortita, ¡necesito más de ellos! Evander me pareció un personaje muy intrigante como vampiro, y quiero saber más de su mundo. Jamie me pareció bastante atrevido y pícaro, jajaj, y cómo tenía a Evander a sus pies desde el principio me encantó.

~~~~~~~~~

✨ ARC Review ✨
Well, I have to admit I didn't read all the stories. Each of the short stories has a touch of fantasy, and honestly, I found them endearing. I really liked them.

The Wrong Doorstep - Grae Bryan | 3.5 ⭐
A basilisk and a human, what could go wrong? That's a great question, haha! I really liked Benjamin; since it's such a short story, I managed to empathize with his character. And don't even get me started on Atlas! He is so daring that he had me hooked from the beginning.

The Mistaken Courting Gift - Kiki Clark | 3.5 ⭐
This story was so sweet/cute. I liked Theo and Rowan so much; I would have loved to read a little more of their story, but I loved them nonetheless.

A Professor for Christmas - Alessandra Hazard | 4 ⭐
An old witch helping a poor lonely soul not lose who would be their greatest love at college by going back 15 years in time? Okay, I'm in. This is the type of story I want to read! I would have loved to read more about these characters; Kit and Mark have a lot of potential together.

Bite of Opportunity - Cora Rose | 3.5 ⭐
This story was very short—I need more of them! Evander struck me as a very intriguing character as a vampire, and I want to know more about his world. Jamie seemed quite daring and mischievous/cheeky, haha, and how he had Evander wrapped around his finger from the beginning—I loved it.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Is Magic! is a limited‑time holiday anthology featuring fifteen original MM paranormal and urban fantasy romances. From demons and vampires to shifters, alphas, and magical mischief, each story delivers its own enchanting world and a guaranteed happy ending. With contributions from fifteen popular authors, this collection offers a wide range of supernatural love stories perfect for the season. All proceeds support SantaCan, helping provide holiday gifts to foster children in Los Angeles.

I loved that this was a wide‑ranging collection of MM paranormal holiday romances, offering everything from sweet and whimsical to darkly magical. With fifteen authors contributing original stories, the anthology is a true mixed bag — some tales absolutely charmed me, others weren’t my style, but that’s part of the fun with a multi‑author collection. There are some real gems here: Grae Bryan’s adorable basilisk‑next‑door romance, Lissa Kasey’s atmospheric mermaid tale, and L.A. Lambert’s tender fae love story all stood out with their warmth and emotional pull. Several entries follow a recurring theme of lonely men finding unexpected love, which gives the anthology a surprisingly cohesive emotional thread despite the variety of worlds and creatures. Not every story worked for me — a few plots, pairings, or writing styles just didn’t click — but the overall experience is still a festive, magical celebration of MM romance in all its paranormal forms. If you enjoy supernatural love stories with guaranteed HEAs and a holiday twist, this anthology offers plenty of opportunities to fall in love. These were MM stories with mature content.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grateful for blurbs!!

The Wrong Doorstep - Grae Bryan. 4 ⭐️ I enjoyed the cocky/arrogant character being enamored with someone more quiet.

A Gift for Winter’s Eve - Kai Butler. DNF. Not really a romance and I didn’t find it very interesting.

The Mistaken Courting Gift - Kiki Clark. 4.5 ⭐️ My favorite. ❤️

A Very Bangers and Mash Christmas - MM Farmer. 2.5 ⭐️Meh for me.

Spellbound - Eliot Grayson. 3 ⭐️ In the author’s newsletter it sounds like this one is going to be expanded. It definitely feels incomplete as is.

A Professor for Christmas - Alessandra Hazard. DNF. I didn’t like the aggressive, nonconsensual tone.

The Duelist’s Heart - Sheena Jolie. 4 ⭐️ I’m impressed by the unique take on vampires and I could totally read more of these characters. It feels like this story could be expanded.

Grave Tides - Lissa Kasey. DNF. I wasn’t following it very well.

Meadow - LA Lambert. 3 ⭐️ Hidden identity and secrets aren’t my favorite plots but I guess it makes sense for fae.

Up in the Air - Ashlynn Mills. DNF. A bit odd and connected to a larger world I don’t know about.

What the Demon Brought - Mere Rain. 4 ⭐️ This was charming and funny but also violent. 😆 Weird combo but it totally works.

When Fate Gives You a Demon - Collette Rivera. 3 ⭐️ From the blurb, I mistakenly thought this took place at actual Santa Village, not the mall. 😂

Bite of Opportunity - Cora Rose. 3.5 ⭐️ Sexy vampire but a bit of a HFN ending.

Slay Bells - Spencer Spears. 3 ⭐️ Impressive world building for such a short story. No HEA though.

The Gift of the Mage - Remi Varlow. 3 ⭐️ Cute romance with a raven shifter plus magic.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all these stories but my review is about three that really stood out to me.

Up In The Air A Monster Match Spin Off
By Ashlynn Mills

Pollux is a humanoid owl who lives in the monster realm.
He's traded before with Nova, a monster who is Franky's boyfriend.
Edgar is Franky's friend and is a bit jealous.
Edgar ends up continously in danger in the monster realm and Pollux rescues him.
He's immediately smitten with his pretty bird and Pollux is also attracted to him.
I really enjoyed their relationship.
It was cute, sweet, and both instantly knew they belonged together.

What The Demon Bought
By Mere Rain
Reason is an archeology student who was raised to only believe the practical and deals in facts.
When his nemesis gifts him an ancient pottery artifact, he's immediately suspicious and with good reason.
Siya is an Iranian demon hunter who informs him he was almost possessed.
Reason isn't very believing until Siya has to fight off a demon to protect him.
I loved how immediately Reason was instantly concerned for Siya's safety and Siya was so protective of Reason.
As they fight demons, they fall in love and realize they want something permanent between them.

Meadow by L.A. Lambert

This was a really cute, sweet, instant love between Miles and Meadow.
Miles is a really sweet, awkward, young gay guy who hasn't been able to start a relationship.
He encounters Meadow alone, seemingly unhoused, and immediately offers to let him stay with him for the night.
Meadow is a very old fae who's very amused by Miles's offer.
Immediately they both feel a connection towards one another and while Miles feels inadequate, once he knows the truth, he's aware that Meadow truly does feel the same about him.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's the Love is Magic MM Holiday Gift Anthology (All profits will benefit SantaCan, a non-profit organization that provides holiday gifts to foster children in the Los Angeles area!).

["Love Is Magic!

Fifteen authors, fifteen chances to fall in love this holiday season…

In this enchanting, out-of-this-world MM paranormal and urban fantasy collection, you’ll find unexpected demons, gallant vampires, pining alphas, shifty ravens, magic galore, and so much more, with a satisfying happy ending to every love story."]

I haven't read the entirety of either anthology, instead choosing to focus on the authors I've read in the past; when I have time (ha!), I hope to go back and read the rest of the short stories from these anthologies! I read 70% of this book, including: "The Mistaken Courting Gift," "A Very Bangers & Mash Christmas," "Meadow," "Up In the Air," "When Fate Gives You a Demon," and "Bite of Opportunity."


Favorite Story: "Meadow"

Favorite Relationship: Theo and Rowan from "The Mistaken Courting Gift" (though I'm a suuucker for the Kincaid Pack series)

I Want More Of: Zeke and Milo from "When Fate Gives You a Demon



#loveismagic #anmmholidaygiftanthology #loveismagicanmmholidaygiftanthology #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[♥ Rebecca ♥]

I’m DNFing this at 35%, after the 6th story, A Professor for Christmas by Alessandra Hazard. The problem is that the stories are all so similar and they’re all just 2-3 stars.

They’re all paranormal, mostly with guys falling for the stranger in the apartment next door. Or above. A guy that is probably a werewolf, or some sort of shifter, or a warlock. There were 1 or 2 stories that were omegaverse, which was fine, it changed things up. But they were still meh.

My favourite one was probably Spellbound by Eliot Grayson. That one was bit darker. There was dub-con, and stalking, bondage, and B&E. But it ended abruptly and we never learned Rob’s secrets or where he had been for the past 20 years.

Another one worth mentioning is the very first story, The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan. It had the formula of a boring and plain guy getting the attention of the hot guy in the apartment above him. But the hot guy ends up being a basilisk shifter, or some sort of naga. But it was hot. He had the pocket. 😂

[Resch Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wrong Doorstep by Grae Bryan
This was a cute, quick little romance. I loved the shifter aspect except Atlas shifts into an animal I can honestly say I have never seen in a shifter book before. And I was here for it! The contrast between Benjamin and Atlas was delicious, add in a sprinkle of insta-love and its fluffy, steamy, holiday goodness.

The Mistaken Courting Gift by Kiki Clark
Fated mates, insta-love and a super cute quick little read. I adored this story for none-other-than all the cameos of characters from the Kincaid Pack Series. Add in a little red panda shifter who was positively adorable and I found myself smiling and escaping back into this world for a brief time.

Bite of Opportunity by Cora Rose
Oh this was a fun little teaser. Evander and Jamie were a great contrast, the read was sizzling, and there was just a happy-for-now, which I prefer on these types of quick novellas. No love-proclamations, just steamy chemistry, sexy vampires, and a down-on-his-luck human. I hope Cora Rose writes a whole PNR novel someday.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I read 4 of the stories. I read Grae Bryan’s (obviously), Kiki Clark’s, Eliot Grayson’s, and Alessandra Hazard’s.

Grae Bryan was phenomenal as usual. I’m upset that she’s written a story of dragons and now a basilisk for anthologies but has yet to write a book for either cause damn. I want it. I NEED it. I loved it.

Kiki Clark’s was vvv cute. I enjoyed it. And it has made me realize that I need to continue reading her series. Why I stopped? I dunno. I just did. And now I need to go back to it.

Eliot Grayson’s was enjoyable. I really love her Mismatched Mates series and this really felt like a small addition to that series. I need a longer story for Finian and Rob.

Alessandra Hazard (FOR 1, was this her first anthology story or am I missing something?) wrote a really sentimental and sweet story about a dude needing to rewrite his history cause of one major regret and there was a fuckton of smut involved. I enjoyed it.

[Liseth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have only read 2 stories so far but I'll be updating till I finish the ones that aren't insta-love 😊

A professor for christmas ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one was an entertaining read, though its focus lies less in relationship development than in psychological introspection. What makes the book work is not the romantic outcome (which feels somewhat forced and rushed), but the author's skillful exploration of the protagonist's psyche and his profound sense of regret. Alessandra excels at crafting this internal monologue; the MC emotional turmoil is compelling, ultimately becoming the story's true strength, even if the romantic feelings themselves feel underdeveloped and underexplored.

The gift of the mage ⭐️⭐️
In theory, I should have found this one enjoyable. Still, everything happens too quickly for my liking, with the stakes feeling more decorative than consequential. It's a narrative that attempted to cover too much ground for its length, resulting in a romance that jumps from initial longing to established lovers, omitting emotional milestones. The external conflict (retrieving a magical object) feels wasted, as the resolution suggests it could have been easily abandoned altogether. Besides, it's a case of romantic progression without the necessary foundational depth.

Grave Tides
What the demon brought
Up in the air

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy getting my hands on a multi-author anthology. I know many of the authors in this one but I always manage to find at least one that I am not familiar with…and add to my TBR.

A Gift for Winter’s Eve: I love the San Amaro series by Kai Butler. I am so going to need to go back and read it again now. This story was so good! August is just trying to start over in a new town, when he finds out his students are trouble and his neighbor might not be a bigot after all. Rowan knows what is going on and is determined to help him.

The Mistaken Courting Gift: Of course I am going to read a short story about a red panda shifter!! It’s also set in one of my favorite packs, the Kincaid Pack. I love this series. Theo might not be the best at courting, but the former Hunter doesn’t have anything to worry about. Rowan may be small, but he is fierce when it comes to his mate.

What the Demon Brought: I didn’t know Mere Rain so I didn’t know what to expect. I enjoyed the story of the archeology professor finding out that the myths and demons of the ancient civilizations he studies might be real after all. And demon hunters can be kind of hot.