All He Wants for Christmas

Holly, NC #1-6 & 7 (Series Epilogue

by Elisabeth Naughton, Alexandra Ivy, Cynthia Eden

From six of your favorite New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors…

Here’s to finding spies, cops, rockers, SEALs, professional hockey players and billionaires under the Christmas tree this year!

MELT FOR ME by Elisabeth Naughton

Yuletide Spirits pub owner Ella McKinley doesn’t do holidays. Not after everything she lost on a cold, snowy night long ago. In fact, she’d be perfectly happy if the calendar jumped from November to January, bypassing December all together. Then rock’s latest “it” guy, Tate Kendrick, rolls into town, and though Ella tries to resist his wicked charm, the heat they once shared flares hotter than ever. When trouble linked to the rock star strikes at her pub, Ella suddenly starts to wonder if the return of her first love is a holiday miracle or nothing more than her nightmare before Christmas.

SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy

Meg Anderson has returned to her home in Holly, North Carolina after she discovered her relationship with Dylan Cain was nothing more than a lie. The last thing she expects is for Dylan to be her new tenant. Or the realization that he might be the only thing standing between her and a killer…

THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden

Everyone in town thinks that Jemma White is as sweet as the delicious treats she makes at her chocolate shop—but they’re wrong. Jemma is ready to let her wild side out, and she’s just found the perfect man to make all of her fantasies come true. Grayson Cole is a too-sexy-to-be-true stranger who has escaped to Holly for the holidays. He is her perfect temptation, and Jemma can’t wait to steam up the cold winter nights with him. But when danger from Grayson’s past follows him to town, she realizes that the man she is falling for has been keeping some very dark secrets…secrets that may just get them both killed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Katie Reus

After unexpectedly inheriting a bookstore, Nora and her younger sister settled in Holly, NC, a place where it’s Christmas year-round. As the legal guardian for her sister the past few years, romance has been the last thing on Nora’s mind. But she broke her rules for the town’s golden boy—former SEAL Jackson O’Connor. When Jackson does something stupid and almost loses Nora for good, he realizes just how far he’s willing to go for the woman who’s stolen his heart. But it might take a Christmas miracle to get Nora to give him a second chance.

SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright

Billionaire Back In Town: Gabriel Fox is a ruthless, heartless, soulless grinch. His only goal in coming to Holly, North Carolina is to ruin Carol Cardini's Christmas. Like she ruined his—and his life—ten years ago. Now that her business is in trouble, he's finally found the way. But the beautiful owner of Christmas Carol's Shop and Crafts won't allow her dream to be destroyed. Not by revenge, and certainly not by the sexiest man she's ever known. She can, however offer an apology, and a chair at her holiday table. But can a grinch’s cold heart be warmed and healed by the love of a good woman—and the magic of Christmas spirit?

HOME ADVANTAGE by Skye Jordan

NHL super star, Meier Grant, finds himself sidelined for a bum shoulder and sentenced to three weeks recovery—in his hometown of Holly, North Carolina. But an extended family stay isn’t on his holiday wish list, especially when his parents are more interested in capitalizing on his fame than much needed family bonding. So when he learns the high school beauty and so out-of-his-league Faith Nicholas is suddenly single, and even sexier ten years later, home doesn’t seem so bad. Not when it includes spending some quality bonding time with Faith. Meier may have some of the best moves in the league, but will they be enough to win a woman deserving of forever?

Collection: 150,000 words

Genres: Anthologies, Christmas, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Novella

450 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—award winning author Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Elisabeth now writes full-time.

Though primarily known for her romantic suspense work, Elisabeth has penned over thirty books and continues to write in multiple genres, including paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have earned several award nominations, including three prestigious RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America. In 2017, REPRESSED, the first book in her Deadly Secrets series, won the RITA® for best romantic suspense.

Elisabeth's work has been praised by the Chicago Tribune as being filled with "deadly intrigue, high adrenaline action, and scorchingly hot passion.” Kirkus calls her "a writer talented enough at weaving a yarn to get her readers ensnared in it.” When not dreaming up new stories, Elisabeth can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home, wrangling two cats, or chasing after one very rambunctious Dalmatian.

Learn more about Elisabeth and her books at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.

Reviews

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author in Exchange for an Honest Review}
(BR with Mel)


MELT FOR ME by Elizabeth Naughton





This anthology centers around 6 different couples and each story takes place in a small town called Holly in North Carolina. The little town is very big on Christmas and has a holiday theme all year round.

In the first novella, Melt For Me, we get a second-chance romance with a bit of suspense thrown in as well. Ella McKinley owns a pub called Yuletide Spirits, that belonged to her late husband. He was killed in car accident on Christmas Eve and Ella has felt so much guilt because she was driving that night. All she wants is to be able to sell the pub and move to the Florida Keys. To be away from this town that holds so many painful memories.

Now, a year later, Tate Kendrick, her first love from High School, and currently big time rock star, has shown up in her Pub. She has no idea that he has come to win back her heart, nine years after they said their goodbyes. They are each other's ONE TRUE LOVE. In high school, Tate was on the baseball team. He had scholarships lined up for colleges and a sure fire path to the Major Leagues, but Ella knew his true talent was in music. She encouraged him to pursue his love of music and she thought the best thing for him would be to let him go. So Ella broke things off with Tate but her heart still belonged to him and Tate had always hoped she'd show up on his doorstep some day.


Ella is resistant at first, but Tate has no intention of losing her a second time. He ends up staying at her pub since a bad storm arrives and he has no other place to stay. Meanwhile someone seems to be out to harm Ella. Strange things have happened at her pub lately and Tate has come at the right time to save his girl from danger.

Will these two find their HEA??


SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy




Meg Anderson owns a cute little flower/gift shop in the town of Holly. She inherited her late grandmother's house and has been the victim of vandals recently. Her best friend, who lives in Vegas, and her uncle, who is a lawyer in Holly, ask Dylan Cain to come to Meg's rescue. They fear for her safety because of the recent incidents at her home. Dylan is the man who recently broke Meg's heart and the reason why she left Vegas to come back home to Holly.


Dylan Cain is an FBI agent who befriended Meg while undercover on a case to catch a serial killer. Her roommate in Vegas was the serial killer's sister. What Dylan didn't expect was to fall madly in love with Meg. But when his cover is blown, Meg thinks their entire relationship was a lie. Dylan has come back into her life to prove his love for her was real and to save her from whatever threats may be imminent. He's going to have to pull out all the stops because Meg isn't welcoming him with open arms.


THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden



Jemma White is a 26 yr. old woman living in a small town in Holly, North Carolina. She owns a chocolate shop called Holly Jolly Chocolatier. One evening a gorgeous stranger comes in her shop, & she can't take her eyes off of him. Jemma hasn't had good experiences with men in the past, so she hasn't been with a man in a while. This man excites her & makes her want to be more spontaneous. She's a loner & doesn't have a social life other than work. This beautiful man is former CIA spy Grayson Cole. He's in town for a few days to visit an old friend & get some rest. He hopes to escape from his stressful life & recharge. He gets a welcome surprise when he crosses paths with the stunning Jemma White. He wants her from the moment he see's her. Constantly always living where he has to change his identity, Gray suddenly just wants to be himself & explore what could be with Jemma, but danger seems to follow Gray wherever he goes.


MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY by Katie Reus



Nora Cassidy moved to Holly, NC after she inherited a bookstore/coffee shop. She stays busy running the bookstore & raising her younger sister. She doesn't have much time for dating, but becomes friends with a former SEAL named Jackson O'Connor. They share a real connection, so when he asks her on a date she accepts. They share one of the hottest nights she's ever experienced & then he says he will call her. When Nora doesn't hear from him for three weeks, she is crushed. When he turns up at her bookstore wanting another chance she is still angry & hurt. Jackson is scared of how intense & real his feelings are for Nora, but now after almost losing her, he decides he will do anything for a second chance with her.

SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright




Carol Cardini grew up in a small town in North Carolina. She had wonderful parents & a great life. Now she owns a craft store in town. When her business is in trouble, a man she knew from her past decides he wants to use her misfortune to get revenge against her because he feels she wronged him ten years ago. Gabriel Fox is a former foster kid who had a bad childhood. He's now a billionaire & he's back in town to cause trouble for Carol. He's an angry person & a bit of a Grinch. Can kindness & love make him change his ways?


HOME ADVANTAGE by Skye Jordan


"I'm yours right here, right now," he said, breathing hard from the restraint he used to remain still. "Own me, Faith."





This was my FAVE out of the anthology. I knew it would be because out of all the authors, I have only read Skye's books and loved them. PLUS this one was about a HOT Hockey Player, ONE OF MY FAVE TYPES OF BOOK BOYFRIENDS!!!


Meier Grant is a professional hockey player for the New York Rangers. He has been out of commission for a little while due to a shoulder injury. He's come home during the Christmas holiday to the town of Holly to spend some time with his family. He's not very close with them but was guilted into coming home by his mother.


During his first night back, he runs into the beautiful hardware shop owner, Faith Nicholas. He remembers her from High School but at the time he was not considered one of the popular kids and she was dating the HS quarterback. What he doesn't know is that she ended up dropping out of college after her first year because her father became ill and her boyfriend quickly dumped her after that. It's been about a year since her father passed away and she's been running the family hardware store.


Meier tries to put the moves on her but Faith is not biting. This throws him for a loop. He's used to getting his way and any woman he wants. He finds Faith intoxicating and refreshing. Meier pursues Faith relentlessly. Will she be able to resist or will she fall into a puddle of goo over this Hottie? Can Faith get the Playboy to change his ways??



You'll just have to pick this one up to find out!!
It's LIVE and 99 cents on AMAZON!!


http://amzn.to/1PYka9r

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 - "Welcome to Holly." Stars!

IT's LIVE!!!

If you sat me down and gave me the opportunity to pick six of my favorite authors to get together and write a Christmas anthology of novellas focusing on different couples, but set in the same town, four of the authors involved in All He Wants For Christmas would certainly be on that list.



Reasons as to why… basically because I haven’t read a bad book by Cynthia Eden, Katie Reus, Skye Jordan and Alexandra Ivy. And although authors new to me Elizabeth Naughton and Laura Wright fitted into the mix perfectly.

I am not going to write a specific review for each and every novella contained in the collection, I think my rating speaks for itself in relation to the quality writing that is on offer in this anthology. The one thing that really stood out for me is the fact that every novella offers up something a little different from the rest.

”You’re never going to get rid of me now.”

You have some suspense, reconnection, second-chance, friends-to-lovers, and love at first sight romances in the mix, but the other great thing is that each and every one of these novellas can be read on its own independently of the others, so if you are looking for something seasonal too read you can dip in and out of the offerings as and when you have some time, any and all of them make for a great couple of hours reading.

”This is the perfect place to be for Christmas.”

With businesses with names like Yuletide Spirits, Silver Bells, Holly Jolly Chocolatier, Christmas Carols Shop & Crafts and St. Nicholas Hardware, Holly, North Carolina is certainly the place you want to spend some time visiting around this time of year, and town the is ready for Christmas 365 days a year.

I really can’t separate theses novellas in order of preference, as I really would be happy to read each and every one of them again. Ella & Tate, Meg & Dylan, Jemma & Gray, Nora & Jackson, Carol & Gabriel and Faith and Meier’s stories all offer up really great romances and plenty of sexy-times to keep things moving along. Each and every one offered up their own individual sprinkle of Christmas Magic.

”You burn… It’s like there’s a fire in you, lighting you up from the inside. There’s nothing cold about you.”

This series is up for pre-order on Amazon, and for such a low price I urge you to hit that one-click button, this is one Christmas collection you will go back to year after year.

Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/All-Wants-Chris...

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Wants-Chr...

Thatsaid, I think there is scope to revisit the town and the rest of its single residents again so here hoping this stellar group of authors get together again in 2016.

”This is right, it’s perfect.”

ARC generously provided by Skye Jordan, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
(BR & joint review with Patty)

ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS (Six holiday novellas by six different authors set in the small Christmas town of Holly, North Carolina.)

MELT FOR ME by: Elisabeth Naughton

In the first novella, Melt For Me, we get a second-chance romance with a bit of suspense thrown in as well. Ella McKinley owns a pub called Yuletide Spirits, that belonged to her late husband. He was killed in car accident on Christmas Eve and Ella has felt so much guilt because she was driving that night. All she wants is to be able to sell the pub and move to the Florida Keys. To be away from this town that holds so many painful memories.

Now, a year later, Tate Kendrick, her first love from High School, and currently big time rock star, has shown up in her Pub. She has no idea that he has come to win back her heart, nine years after they said their goodbyes. They are each other's ONE TRUE LOVE. In high school, Tate was on the baseball team. He had scholarships lined up for colleges and a sure fire path to the Major Leagues, but Ella knew his true talent was in music. She encouraged him to pursue his love of music and she thought the best thing for him would be to let him go. So Ella broke things off with Tate but her heart still belonged to him and Tate had always hoped she'd show up on his doorstep some day.


Ella is resistant at first, but Tate has no intention of losing her a second time. He ends up staying at her pub since a bad storm arrives and he has no other place to stay. Meanwhile someone seems to be out to harm Ella. Strange things have happened at her pub lately and Tate has come at the right time to save his girl from danger.

Will these two find their HEA??

SWEET RAPTURE by: Alexandra Ivy

Meg Anderson owns a cute little flower/gift shop in the town of Holly. She inherited her late grandmother's house and has been the victim of vandals recently. Her best friend, who lives in Vegas, and her uncle, who is a lawyer in Holly, ask Dylan Cain to come to Meg's rescue. They fear for her safety because of the recent incidents at her home. Dylan is the man who recently broke Meg's heart and the reason why she left Vegas to come back home to Holly.


Dylan Cain is an FBI agent who befriended Meg while undercover on a case to catch a serial killer. Her roommate in Vegas was the serial killer's sister. What Dylan didn't expect was to fall madly in love with Meg. But when his cover is blown, Meg thinks their entire relationship was a lie. Dylan has come back into her life to prove his love for her was real and to save her from whatever threats may be imminent. He's going to have to pull out all the stops because Meg isn't welcoming him with open arms.


THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by: Cynthia Eden

Jemma White is a 26 yr. old woman living in a small town in Holly, North Carolina. She owns a chocolate shop called Holly Jolly Chocolatier. One evening a gorgeous stranger comes in her shop, & she can't take her eyes off of him. Jemma hasn't had good experiences with men in the past, so she hasn't been with a man in a while. This man excites her & makes her want to be more spontaneous. She's a loner & doesn't have a social life other than work. This beautiful man is former CIA spy Grayson Cole. He's in town for a few days to visit an old friend & get some rest. He hopes to escape from his stressful life & recharge. He gets a welcome surprise when he crosses paths with the stunning Jemma White. He wants her from the moment he see's her. Constantly always living where he has to change his identity, Gray suddenly just wants to be himself & explore what could be with Jemma, but danger seems to follow Gray wherever he goes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by: Katie Reus

Nora Cassidy moved to Holly, NC after she inherited a bookstore/coffee shop. She stays busy running the bookstore & raising her younger sister. She doesn't have much time for dating, but becomes friends with a former SEAL named Jackson O'Connor. They share a real connection, so when he asks her on a date she accepts. They share one of the hottest nights she's ever experienced & then he says he will call her. When Nora doesn't hear from him for three weeks, she is crushed. When he turns up at her bookstore wanting another chance she is still angry & hurt. Jackson is scared of how intense & real his feelings are for Nora, but now after almost losing her, he decides he will do anything for a second chance with her.

SINFUL IN SNOW by: Laura Wright

Carol Cardini grew up in a small town in North Carolina. She had wonderful parents & a great life. Now she owns a craft store in town. When her business is in trouble, a man she knew from her past decides he wants to use her misfortune to get revenge against her because he feels she wronged him ten years ago. Gabriel Fox is a former foster kid who had a bad childhood. He's now a billionaire & he's back in town to cause trouble for Carol. He's an angry person & a bit of a Grinch. Can kindness & love make him change his ways?

HOME ADVANTAGE by: Skye Jordan

Meier Grant lives in New York & plays hockey for the NHL for the New York Rangers. He grew up in a small town called Holly in North Carolina. After he injures his shoulder & is put on medical leave, he decides to go home for the holidays. When his mom sends him out for a Christmas tree he crosses paths with a girl he went to high school with named Faith Nicholas. Faith was always the beautiful, blonde girl next door type, but she is now even more breathtaking. Since her dad passed away she has taken over the family hardware store. Meier gives it his all flirting with Faith, & his usual charm doesn't seem to work. Faith could care less about his celebrity status, but eventually she can't resist him anymore & things heat up between them. They both start to have feelings for one another but live such different lives. She's a small town girl, & he's a high profile guy, but when you find love you will do anything to hold onto it!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful anthology. Normally when I read an anthology I like 1 or 2 of the novellas and the rest are usually just meh. BUT not with this anthology. I enjoyed every single one. Especially the surprise epilogue at the very end.

★ 4 Stars Melt for me – Elisabeth Naughton
A sweet second-chance love story. Nine years ago Tate and Ella was very much in love, until Ella pushed Tate away. Now their paths cross paths, and both have to decide whether they will fight for their love this time around. I really liked Ella and Tate, and I enjoyed the addition of suspense created by trouble from Tate’s past.

★ 4.5 Stars Sweet rapture – Alexandra Ivy
My favorite of this anthology. I’ve always been a huge fan of this author’s PNR books, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well she writes RS.
This novella starts with Meg who recently moved back to her hometown Holly, after having suffered heart-break in Vegas. Then she realises that Dylan, the man responsible for her heartache, is her new tenant. But did Dylan lie to her on purpose, or was there perhaps more to his lies. Dylan has come to Holly to protect Meg from an unknown danger, and to try to win back the woman he fell for in Vegas.

★ 4 Stars The Spy who came for Christmas – Cynthia Eden
A sweet romance between Jemma, who owns a chocolate shop, and Grayson, a man with many secrets, and a dangerous past that has followed him to Holly. I really liked Grayson, and Jemma was sweet.

★ 4 Stars Merry Christmas, Baby – Katie Reus
Three weeks ago Nora and Jackson shared one very memorable night after being friends for months. Then suddenly she didn’t hear from him for weeks. Now Jackson is back to fight for Nora, the woman who stole his heart. This was another sweet romance. I’ve always been a fan of Katie Reus, and I really liked her addition to this anthology.

★ 4 Stars Sinful in snow – Laura Wright
Gabriel Fox is ruthless and cold, the perfect Grinch. He blames Carol for ruining his life ten years ago, and is determined to ruin hers. But he’s forgotten how sweet and beautiful Carol is, and how attracted he was to her laughter and her joy. And just after he set his evil plan in motion, he realises that he had the past all wrong. And now he has to convince Carol that he really has a heart, and that it belongs to her. This is my first time reading this author, and I was really impressed. Definitely the hottest novella in this anthology, and one I really enjoyed.

★ 3.5 Stars Home Advantage – Skye Jordan
Meier Grant, a NHL super star, finds himself in his hometown for Christmas after being sidelined for a shoulder injury. He’s counting down the days until he can return to his life. But then he sees Faith Nicholas, the girl from high school who was out of his league, and life in Holly suddenly didn’t seem like such a bad place to be. He’s a super star now, and there’s no way that she will be able to resist him, right? Faith hasn’t had it easy. Just after school her dad got sick and she placed everything on hold to care for him. She doesn’t have time for Meier, who is too confident for his own good. I must say this was probably my least favorite, but I still enjoyed the sweet romance. Faith was great, and I was glad that she didn’t just fall at Meier’s feet like he expected her to do. I loved Meier’s relentless pursuit of Faith, even though I didn’t appreciate his cockiness in the beginning. But I really started to like him as the story progressed.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it's November and I really wanted to get in the mood for Christmas and seeing this anthology I just couldn't resist. I confess all except one of the authors are writers whose work I love so the thought of curling up with old favourites and someone new felt like a great idea. What I hadn't expected though was that each individual story is set in the same town and what a special place it is.
The first story features a widow whose feelings of guilt prevent her from enjoying Christmas and some even refer to her as Mrs Scrooge! Now as she runs a bar in Holly a town that is devoted to Christmas all year that's a huge problem. Her first true love Tate arrives like a blast from the past leaving Ella shaken but even as they reconnect outside forces are determined to come between the couple.
The second story is about Meg a woman who has returned to Holly following a harsh break up but she has no idea what really was going on. Meg has inherited a house but strangely it seems that there are things happening that are frankly just a little odd. So when Dylan the source of her heartache turns up looking to make amends Meg is just a little distracted but she soon finds out just how important to Dylan she really is.
Ms Edens offering sees a good girl taking a walk on the wild side with a very dangerous man. Jemma might just be the sweet treat that Grayson finds totally irresistible but his rather murky former life hasn't quite finished with him yet! This is a mouth watering romance to warm the coldest heart.
Nora is doing the best she can raising her sister and frankly has no time for love. However there's a certain Jackson who pushes all her buttons and then some! Ok one date and he avoids her leaving Nora feeling more than a little miffed but what will she do when Jackson decides on a full on charm offensive and trust me when this guy goes to battle he intends to win!
Of course no Christmas collection and is complete without a salute to the Grinch and Ms Wright's story does just that. Ten years ago Carol told her parents about an abusive foster family and always wondered what happened to the boy she remembers. Gabriel never understood why Carol betrayed his secret and now he's back in Holly a cold hearted man looking for revenge. What Gabriel hadn't expected though was to see the world through Carols loving eyes and she slowly brings him back to life.
The last offering is by a new author to me. There are some people who seem to have the world at their feet and Meier is one of them. He is a very successful hockey player home to recover after a recent injury. He can have any woman he wants usually but Faith is far too busy running her shop to dally with Meier. Once he saw Faith as out of his league but Meier has grown up and fully intends to pursue her because boy is she worth the effort.
So I think I'd love to move to the town of Holly! Oh I know it's not real but the warm feeling these stories generate just makes me want to hop on a plane and visit. Yes I do have one or two favourites and Ms Naughton's story that connects with her Aegis series was a well paced romance. I should also mention that the twist on the Grinch by Ms Wright had such vivid dialogue that it pulled me in and I loved it. Definitely a wonderful way to get in the mood for what some call the holiday season so why not give this a try and discover a new author or two yourself.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted on /Got Fiction?

This was a fantastic box set! Each story is interconnected and set in the same town of Holly, NC. This all takes place over Christmas, and the characters all show up in other stories. I loved it. Every single story was great. At the end, there's an epilogue for everyone, and it was sweet and cute.

The only thing is I wish we'd seen a happy ending for Brad, the town sheriff. He definitely deserves one. And since there was an epilogue, I'm really disappointed he didn't even get the hint of his own HEA.

EDIT: He gets his own story! It's in Katie Reus' Tease Me, Baby

Melt for Me by Elisabeth Naughton-3.5 stars

Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy-5 stars

The Spy Who Came for Christmas by Cynthia Eden- 5 stars

Merry Christmas Baby by Katie Reus-4 stars

Sinful in Snow by Laura Wright- 5 stars

Home Advantage by Sky Jordan- 4.5 stars

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slick and Rosalie's reviews are posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 stars overall

This anthology all takes places in the fictional town of Holly, North Carolina where it is Christmas 365 days a year, but these books all take place right around the Christmas holidays. Happy couples, a bit of intrigue and mystery and a whole lot of holiday loving made this one very enjoyable anthology.

Melt for Me by Elisabeth Naughton (review by Slick Reads) 4 stars

Teenage lovers are reunited when now famous rock star Tate Kendrick blows into town hoping to find and win the heart of the woman he always considered the one who got away. Bar owner Ella McKinley can't believe Tate found her in this town, but she is certain she won't put her heart on the line again for him. I really loved the way Tate pursued Ella and tried to make her understand he wanted to spend some time getting to know her again and learning about her life in the time they'd been apart. Ella was a hard sell; she not only still harbored feelings of abandonment from her father leaving but having just lost her husband in a car accident 2 years ago she is gun shy. I had a hard time really liking Ella for a lot of this book; she was very closed off, blamed Tate for her broken heart and didn't seem to even want to give him a chance. There was no doubt Tate was out to prove his worthiness, earn Ella's trust and her heart again and while her body was doing a conga line, her head and heart were slow to join the party. While I was happy with the ending this is one of those books that I would have liked more time with the characters to really get a chance to see Ella's change of heart.

Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy (reviewed by Rosalie Belle) 5 stars

This novella had me hooked from the beginning. Every girl goes through heartbreak, and for Meg Anderson, this holds very true. Falling for Dylan Cain, who she finds out is an FBI agent “using” her to catch a murderer, ended up with heartache. Knowing she can’t trust him, she moves from Vegas back home to Holly, North Carolina. Meg, needing a roommate to help pay bills, finds one through her best friend. However, the one tall, dark and gorgeous man that winds up in her apartment is the very same Dylan Cain she tries to forget daily. Dylan moves in to help catch someone who is obviously after something Meg has, or Meg himself. Having the inside Intel helped him to move in and act as the white knight he is. This read was over way too quickly for me. The characters were amazing and easy to fall in love with. The plot had twists and turns around every corner. This was definitely a novella that I would have loved to have as a full book! First work from this author, but finding there is a spinoff series excites me to no end!

The Spy Who Came for Christmas by Cynthia Eden (review by Rosalie Belle) 4.5 stars

Jemma White managed the local chocolate shop in Holly, North Carolina, a town known for their Christmas cheer and festivities. Grayson Cole needed a place to be himself, after working for the CIA and just needing a break from that life. Staying in his best friend’s/Sherriff of Holly’s town seemed like the perfect solution. Nothing ever happens in Holly…nothing bad will ever take place there. Little did Grayson know that meeting Jemma would stir feelings in him that he never thought he would have. Something deep down sparked between them, and in them both, and this novella takes us on a joy ride through their relationship. This novella has healing, love, Christmas and even quite a bit of suspense thrown in. Great quick read that will keep you on your toes!

Merry Christmas, Baby by Katie Reus (review by Slick Reads) 4.5 stars

I loved this story about second chances; Nora the owner of Nora's Books and Brew hasn't dated much since moving her and her teenaged sister to Holly, North Carolina to take over the book store her late aunt willed to her. When ex-SEAL and woodworker Jackson O'Connor asks her out after months of texts, phone calls and casual friendship Nora was happy to say yes but afterwards it was radio silence for three weeks. I have to give Jackson credit for knowing he screwed up, admitting to it and even sharing why with Nora and I give her a lot of credit for not just jumping right back into his arms and insisting they can be friends. While that doesn't last long because the heat between them is so strong at least she made him think hard about how he messed up and made him realize what he wanted. There was a bit of mystery with some crazy happenings in her bookstore that he assisted her with, but mostly it was these two figuring out their relationship and how to move forward despite the hurt feelings, gossip and speculation. Nora and Jackson made me smile in their mutual attraction and love for each other. I enjoyed the fact that she didn't rake him over the coals for his cold feet and let him woo her back with his steady presence. Merry Christmas, Baby is a perfect feel good holiday story.

Sinful In Snow by Laura Wright (review by Rosalie Belle) 4 stars

Carol, at a young age, had only one thing in her mind coming home from baby sitting on Christmas Eve; the ever coveted Victorian House figurine that would complete her Christmas collection. On the way, however, she runs into an abused Gabriel, living with foster parents. Upon spotting the bruises, she knows she has to do something to help him, even though he begs her to leave it alone. Returning to quaint Holly, North Carolina 10 years later, a very successful Gabriel immediately seeks out Carol and her Christmas Shop. Ten years after the two last saw each other on Christmas Eve, the spark is still there. However, Gabriel does not want to allow the feelings he so intensely, and immediately feels, derail his plans for the one person that took him away from the only family he ever had and knew. This tear jerker is a feel good read. Everything was wrapped up neatly, in a bow, like the perfect Christmas present!

Home Advantage by Skye Jordan (reviewed by Slick Reads) 4.5 stars

Meier Grant returns home to Holly when an injury sidelines his pro Hockey career and being home has brought up all the feelings of inferiority his family has made him feel his whole life and the fact his mother wants to use his celebrity to help out her pet project infuriates him, but running into Faith Nicholas gives him a pleasure he never expected. I absolutely loved the way these two played off of each other and the way that Meier really had to work to spend time with Faith who was unimpressed by his celebrity status. Their interactions were flirty and fun, but most of all I enjoyed the way they supported each other. This book was an entertaining and sexy romance from beginning to end.

Review copy provided fr an honest review.

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Loved all of these sweet Christmas stories! All of these great authors deserve some love. Give the anthology a try and meet a new author you may not have read before.

Melt for me

Elisabeth Naughton tells the story of bar owner Ella and her dislike of the memories Christmas brings to her each year. I really thought the story was going to be a retelling of the Christmas Carol. That would have been great, too. What the reader gets is a wonderful second chance love story with the back drop of the 365 Christmas town, Holly, North Carolina. The hero is Ella’s lost true love Tate Kendrick. He is very determined to get her to realize she is the girl that got away. The story is also a good introduction to the town and some of the characters. A little bit of suspense adds some spice to the story. Tate is a well known musician and calls on his manager to help with protection for Ella. The manager ties in Elisabeth’s other series by using the Aegis team as security. Well written story!

Sweet Rapture

This story brings together Meg Anderson and her ex Dylan Cain. Dylan was undercover in Las Vegas the last time they were together. Meg left and went home to Holly to lick her wounds after she found out Dylan had been lying to her about his job. Dylan realizes quickly what he had with Meg was golden and wraps up his undercover work and quits the FBI to move to Holly. Alexandra Ivy also brings some intrigue into her story. It looks as though Dylan may be a consultant and show up in her new Ares series as well. I liked that Meg admits pretty quickly her mistake in letting Dylan go and they can get down to getting down.

Merry Christmas Baby

Love a good friends to lovers story and Katie Reuss doesn’t disappoint. Nora and Jackson have been dancing around each other for a long while. I loved how Jackson was all shy and unsure of himself around Nora. He almost messes everything up because he can’t tell her how much he likes her. Hot ex-military and a bookstore owner. Yum!

Sinful in Snow

Probably one of my favorites of the whole anthology. Laura Wright introduces us to Carol Cardini. Carol and her family are just the perfect representation of good people. They take care of each other and look out for others less fortunate. They have holiday traditions and welcome others with open arms into their midst. Gabriel is a dark brooding alpha type. He thinks he has an ax to grind with Carol. What he finds is that she is able to melt the ice around his heart and show him what family is all about. Really helps that he is hot and cranks Carol up with just his steamy look!

Home Advantage

And rounding out the book is a hockey romance by Skye Jordan. I’m hoping we see more of Meier’s team in future books! Meier Grant is a hometown boy who has made it big in the NHL. He comes home for Christmas and meets the one woman in the world he actually has to chase. Faith Nicholas runs her father’s hardware store and has not had time in years for any type of romance much less a relationship. Meier pulls out all the stops to make her see that she is worth the effort.

The book concludes with an epilogue written by all the authors. New Year’s Eve sees all the couples ringing in the year very much in love. Love the holiday anthologies. Guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself bookless and with a few hours before the Christmas Dinner horde descended December, 2015. So, I decided to loose myself in some sweet Christmas romance stories. I read the first three that day, and came back December, 2018 to read the rest. All the stories have an element of suspense and a smoking hot romance. They also all take place in Holly, North Carolina and very loosely share characters. This is a really fantastic Christmas read by a group of authors known for their romantic-suspense books.

Melt For Me - Elisabeth Naughton: Great short romantic-suspense novella. This is a second chance love story about Ella and Kyle, the rocker she left behind nine years ago. When He shows up, trouble does too.

Sweet Rapture - Alexandra Ivy: FBI agent Dylan was on assignment when he met and fell head over heels for Meg. When the sudden end to his case happened right in front of Meg, she did not take his deception well. Dylan follows as soon as he can and is determined to win Meg back and keep her safe from the mysterious break-ins she has been experiencing.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas - Cynthia Eden: Jemma had a tragic experience and has hidden in her small town and not let anyone come close to her. Grayson has left a life of death and distrust and just wants to heal. These two smack up against each other and it is a whole new world for each of them. Only problem, someone's past is making a nasty comeback.

Merry Christmas, Baby - Katie Reus: Nora inherited a bookstore which she turned into a hip coffee/book shop. Taking care of her 17 year old sister to take care of and running the business hasn't left Nora any time for romance. Her friendship with former Navy SEAL, Jackson, is about to catch fire which scared to bejesus out of the hunky heartthrob. He messed up, he knows it, now all he wants is a chance to make it right.

Sinful in Snow - Laura Wright: Carol Cardini's business is important to her. She has built a shop that she is proud of and the town and tourists love. Back in town is Gabriel Fox, a boy Carol knew 10 years ago, now he's rich and he has a vendetta against Carol. All that changes when they come face to face and he finds that the woman he wants to destroy is not the girl he thinks wronged him.

Home Advantage - Skye Jordan: NHL super star, Meier Grant, is home in Holly recovering from a shoulder injury when he finds a woman who is not susceptible to his charms. That makes former high school beauty queen, Faith Nicholas, all the more alluring, especially when she doesn't remember him. Faith has a lot on her plate with the recent passing of her father and trying to keep the family hardware store in business. She isn't interested in the hunky, egotistical hockey player, but he sure is hot and nice and thoughtful . . .

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this collection of short holiday stories! They revolve around a group of women, all small business owners in the year-round Christmas town of Holly, NC...I want to live there and be friends with these gals!
Lost loves, second-chances, lust-at-first-sight, friends-to-lovers and back again, there's a little bit of something for everyone in this wonderful collection and I enjoyed every single one of them!

Melt For Me- A sweet, sexy, and heartfelt story of lost love. Ella and Tate reconnect after 9 long years, and try as she might to resist the feelings he reawakens in her, she can't deny the love she still has for him.

Sweet Rapture- An intense, engaging, sexy second chance romance. Meg moves back home to recover from heartbreak, but the man who broke her heart is set on making it up to her, and keeping her safe from harm.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas- Smart and sexy with a side of wild. For Jemma and Grayson it's lust at first sight, but as their connection deepens danger appears, threatening everything they have been building.

Merry Christmas Baby- Endearing, sweet, and sexy. Who knew a tough Navy Seal could get a case of cold feet when it came to a woman! Luckily for Jackson Nora was willing to take another chance on him, and he did not disappoint.

Sinful in Snow- Emotional, touching, and sexy. 10 years after he left town as a foster child, Gabriel is back to exact revenge on Carol, the one person he blames for tearing him from the only "family" he ever knew. But as they spend the holiday together he comes to realize getting back at Carol is not what he wants, he wants her and the life she can offer him.

Home Advantage- Hot, sweet, and sexy. Faith and Meier couldn't be more opposite- she's the small town girl, content with her life, he's the famous hockey star home to recover, wishing he was anywhere but. She doesn't fall for his charms easily, and he's determined to break through her resistance.

All He Wants for Christmas is a lovely holiday read, perfect for when you need a break from the hustle and bustle. The authors melded these stories so seamlessly together, you'd never know they were written by 6 different people. I loved the epilogue, as we got one last look at all the couples as they celebrated New Year's Eve together. I was sad to see this collection come to an end, I hope we get to visit Holly, NC in the future!

***Arc received for an honest review, although I have this book on preorder as well!

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:

This is an entertaining book with stories from some of my favorite romantic suspense writers. I enjoyed each story separately by reading only one story a day. All the stories take place in Holly, NC. Holly is a small, Christmas-themed, town celebrating the holiday all year long. For such a small town, it is amazing how many beautiful, single women reside here – all primed for relationships with strong, alpha heroes.

Within this anthology, you recognize an author’s signature style, but also similarities between authors. Several authors employ the death of a family member, specifically a car accident, to explain their characters fears and anxieties. Several authors introduce suspense elements with mixed results. Some stories could’ve benefitted from a longer format to develop the tension and the anticipation. My favorite narratives are the pure contemporary romances. I like the deeper delve into the relationship better.

The story that best exemplifies the holiday spirit is Laura Wright’s contribution, Sinful in Snow. Gabriel Fox is scrooge that comes back to exact revenge on the person he thinks ruined his life as teenager. However, when he encounters his “enemy”, he is confronted by her true generosity and her family’s loving spirit. Now it’s up to him to decide on whether to let go of his past or more forward and ruin her future.

I like Gabriel’s struggle to let go of this past. He moves from a narrow interpretation of what happened and was able to see the “bigger picture.” I think this is a universal struggle and Ms. Wright does I nice job detailing her characters’ struggles. It moves me to see the couple have their happy ending.

In a Nutshell:
Getting “extra” stories from some of my favorite authors is a nice start to the holiday season. Well worth reading.

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a break from a rather intense thriller; and decided to look into an anthology I got on sale for .99 about 6 months ago. The stories are rather short, about 70 pages each. I read 3 of the stories, and was rather pleased with all of them. I'll probably get to the other three at some point.

'Sweet Rapture' by Alexandra Ivy is a nice second-chance story with an element of suspense and danger. 4 Stars

'The Spy Who Came for Christmas' by Cynthia Eden. The title pretty much says it all. CIA agent Grayson came to town, he liked, and he went after Jemma. This one also had an element of danger. 3.5 Stars

'Home Advantage' by Skye Jordan. This is a straight up love story about a famous hockey player come home for Christmas, and finding a small town girl who catches his eye. Steamy, but not nearly as graphic sex as in some of Jordan's other stories; there was actually something left to the readers imagination. This was the best of the bunch. 4 Stars

[Terri Wino · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A collection of six short stories that all take place in Holly, North Carolina where Christmas is celebrated 365 days of the year. I enjoyed some of these stories more than others, but they were all good in their own way. Christmas, sexy hunks, and hot holiday sex...good combo, right?!?
I especially enjoyed the extra epilogue at the end that revisited all of the couples from each story and connected them to each other.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 I-Want-One-of-These-Guys-for-Christmas Stars

The town of Holly, North Carolina, is a perpetual shrine to Christmas. It’s decorated and pretty much everything in it is Christmas themed 24/7, 365 days a year. Apparently this is charming or its inhabitants would go bonkers and also apparently Holly is a magnet for hot guys, here we’ll meet an ex FBI agent, a former Navy SEAL, a rock star, a famous hockey player, a self made millionaire and a former CIA agent, and all the lucky ladies who’ll get under these tough guy’s skins and conquer their hearts.

MELT FOR ME by Elisabeth Naughton

As I’m not a fan of the second chance love romances I struggled to get into Melt for Me. This story is about Ella, who runs the town’s pub and Tate a famous rock star who after nine years comes back into Ella’s life.

Ella’s been running the pub by herself since her husband passed in an accident two years ago. It’s certainly not the work she wants to be doing and she only stayed in this town because of him, so she is counting down the days until she can leave for good.

Tate is passing through and decided to go check on Ella, the one who got away. When they were young, they spent a summer together, she was the one who encouraged him into a music career, but then pushed him away and sent him on his way to fame. But he didn’t fight for her either, he just went.

Ella has severe daddy and abandonment issues, trust issues, too-quick-to-judge issues… you get where I’m going, I didn’t like Ella all that much, and I didn’t get the type of devotion she inspired in Tate.

Tate… oh Tate, by your name alone you should have been awesomeness impersonated… alas! You were not. Yes, Tate the rock star was hot, yummy, nice, and sweet, but he was also a bit wishy-washy, I mean, in a novella you don’t have that much time to be wishy-washy, yet he accomplished that.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this story, the writing is good, their chemistry is fantastic. It’s just I’m not really into this kind of plot line. I’m absolutely positive others will really enjoy this story.

This one: 3 Second chance (yew) Stars


SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy

Meg has been back home for six months since getting her heart broken and stomped on in Vegas by Dylan the Bastard. Now living alone in her Grandmother’s house, she’s been getting some disturbing calls, pranks and even vandalism in her shop.

Now a new tenant is renting her garage apartment which will help her finally start fixing up her home, starting with the boiler in the basement. Imagine her surprise when her new tenant shows up and is none other than Dylan the lying jerk. You see, Dylan was working undercover with the FBI when he approached Meg and started dating her… so when she learned in the worst possible way why he was with her she did n0t take it too well and fled.

Now Dylan is back and is set on winning Meg back, no matter what. He has resigned from the Bureau and is ready to set down roots and Meg is the only woman he wants to settle down with.

As the situation with Meg’s vandalizing starts to escalate, Dylan might be the only one who can keep her safe.

I rather enjoyed Sweet Rapture. I connected to both main characters and was rooting for Dylan to win Meg back. I liked that Meg, once she stopped being angry, was strong enough to accept the reasons behind Dylan’s actions and gave him a second chance. There was steam, suspense and sweet love. While I liked the story it did feel like it ended rather abruptly, but then again it is short. I’m happy I’ve been introduced to a new author to me in Ms. Ivy.

This one: 3.5 Stars


THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden

I’m a Cynthia Eden fan. Be it her romantic suspense or her paranormal stories I find she always gets me to connect with her characters and gives me enough suspense, action and hot loving to keep me satisfied on every front.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas was no different: Grayson is a (just) retired CIA agent (AKA a spy). He goes to Holly to relax, recharge, and to ultimately decide what he’s going to do with his life now. On his first day there he meets Jemma, owner of the Chocolate shop in town and is immediately taken by her. Jemma has been keeping mostly to herself for the last couple of years, but one look at Gray is all she needs to want to throw her quiet and careful life out the window.

Mere minutes after their first encounter they are planning a date and from that moment onward they’ll spend every second together. Well, mostly because from the first moment they meet, strange and suspect things start to happen around Jemma, and Grayson will do everything in his power to keep her safe.

Both Jemma and Grayson are keeping secrets about their pasts and it seems some of it is catching up to them.

Grayson was the typical alpha, bossy, possessive type who went into protective mode when he realized what Jemma was to him. Jemma had suffered a traumatic event in her past and has never really gotten over it, or talked about it really. But with Gray she found the strength to open up.

Filled with suspense, action, and enough hot scenes to melt the North Pole this was a great read. It was perfectly timed and it gave a complete feel in spite of its length. I loved it.

This one: 4 be my spy Stars


MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Katie Reus

Now this one was a very sweet story. Nora and her baby sister moved to Holly only nine months ago when they inherited a bookstore from a distant relative. Being her sister’s guardian for the last 4 years, and before that caring for the girl and her sick mother, she never really had much time to date, especially after her first and only boyfriend turned out to be a freaking a-hole.

Jackson a former SEAL turned carpenter noticed Nora right away, but they started as friends until he got the nerve to ask her out romantically. He was unnerved by the intensity of his feelings for her, realizing she was it for him, so of course after that first date he “pussied out” (his words) and didn’t call her for three weeks. Considering words were shared to indicate they were on relationship building mode, when Jackson not only goes radio silent but it becomes known that he went out with another woman shortly after her… Major jerk move, yes and Nora was understandably pissed.

Now Jackson seems to have pulled on his big boy undies, and is set on getting Nora’s forgiveness and winning her back. He finally accepted she is the one for him and he can’t be happy without her.

Nora at first is reticent to Jackson’s plight, but they have been close friends for a long time before going out so maybe they can go back to that… and you know how that’ll turn out.

A bit of suspense, mystery break-ins into her shop, surveillance stints, and the sweetest SEAL you’ve ever met, Merry Christmas, Baby was a great read and I’m ecstatic about finding a new author to me that I enjoyed so much.

This one: 4 SEALed Stars


SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright

Gabriel and his foster siblings lived in Holly with a very neglectful foster couple. Though many times the authorities had been called, nothing ever came of it, until one Christmas Eve Carol found him sitting outside his house with a fresh bruise on his face. Unable to let it go even at Gabriel’s insistence Carol went home and told her parents, hoping that someone could help him and his brother and sister.

Fast forward 10 years, Carol is struggling to keep her beloved shop alive, but is still as cheerful and nice as ever. Gabriel has spent the last 10 years amassing a fortune, is now a business mogul and has properties everywhere, including Holly. He has also spent the last 10 years hating that nosy girl who made him lose the only kind of family he’d ever had.

Now he is back in Holly to carry out a revenge on the girl who ruined everything, he just didn’t count on Carol being so… well, Carol. She is sweet, caring and simply lovely.

Carol herself had always been interested in the scary cute guy from her youth and now that he is all this grown up yumminess? Ok, so he needs to chill a bit and lose the detached businessman persona, but she is the right girl for the job. Or is she? Secrets have a way of ruining everything, even if it’s something you never imagined you could have.

While I liked and enjoyed reading Sinful in Snow I felt everything worked out just too seamlessly, maybe it was the length of the story that gave me that impression but as I said, everything worked itself out way too easily and apparently effortlessly. Still it was a great story and I’m definitely checking out Ms. Wright’s work.

/his one: 3.5 Snow Playing Stars


HOME ADVANTAGE by Skye Jordan

Skye Jordan is another author whose style I really enjoy. In Home Advantage we meet Meier, hockey star and hot shot, back home for the holidays. Sent to retrieve the family Christmas tree he finds himself having to hunt down the hardware store owner, who turns out to be the sweet and lovely Faith, cheerleader and girlfriend to the football captain… he hadn’t been back for quite some time as you can see.

Faith had given up everything to stay home and take care of her dad when he became seriously ill, but now that he has passed she is trying to work through her loss while keeping her store alive… which is not turning out to be so easy. With all she’s had on her plate, she hasn’t had any time for dating, and her high school sweetheart turning out to be a selfish prick didn’t help matters.

Meier is captivated by the down to earth, girl next door who seems to be completely impervious to his charm, fame and general hotness, and starts to do every and any house repair he can come up with just to spend time with Faith, and ask her out.

Well, there’s just so much a girl can resist a charming, hot and unexpectedly sweet hockey player, and soon Meier and Faith can’t resist their chemistry anymore. But what happens when the hockey star needs to go back to his life in New York, and the store owner and small town girl is left behind?

Sweet, steamy and just charming, I loved Home Advantage. Faith was a total sweetheart, selfless, caring but with a quirky sense of humor. Meier was dreamy… so he was kind of cocky and over confident at the start but he is soon changing his view on things when he realizes what he’s found in Faith.

Definitely a great addition to this collection.

This one: 4 Stars

After all six stories finish we get a bonus epilogue where we get to see all the happy couples a few days later, this I enjoyed immensely.


*I received a complimentary copy from one of the Authors in exchange for an honest review*

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

All He Wants for Christmas is a brilliant holiday anthology with six different authors all writing books set in the same festive town called Holly where there is a Christmas atmosphere all year around but they make an extra special effort around the holidays. I don't think the anthology is available to purchase anymore (I bought it over a year ago) you can buy all of the stories separately. You don't need to read these books in any specific order although you will recognise a few names and places if you read them all.

These stories are all fun little Christmas reads and they were just what I wanted at this time of year. The anthology also includes an extended little epilogue that shows how all six couples spent their first new years eve together.

Melt for Me by Elisabeth Naughton

Ella may live in one of the most festive towns in America and she may be the owner of the Yuletide Spirits pub but she hasn't celebrated the holidays since her husband died on Christmas eve two years ago. Instead she is focused on making the money she needs to pay off her debts so she can sell up and move away from her memories as quickly as possible. Tate is a member of a very popular rock band but he has never forgotten the woman who broke his heart nine years ago. He's decided it's long past time for him to do something about it and he's tracked Ella down in the hope of picking things back u where they left off.

The last thing Ella is looking for is love, she had her heart broken by Tate once already and losing her husband has just made her even more wary of letting anyone get close to her. Can he get past her hard outer shell and convince her to give them another chance? I love a good second chance romance so Melt for Me was right up my street, the Christmas atmosphere combined with two really sweet characters and a hind of danger when someone starts trying to sabotage Yuletide Spirits added up to a really fun read.

Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy

Meg returned to her hometown to lick her wounds after getting her heart broken by her ex-boyfriend Dylan when she found out he was actually an undercover FBI agent who only started dating her to get insider information on her roommate. The last thing she was expecting was for Dylan to come chasing after her, or for him to end up having to protect her when she starts being targeted by a stalker.

Sweet Rapture is a sweet second chance romance with Dylan desperate to do whatever it takes to prove how much Meg really means to him. She's wary about giving him a second chance but it's hard to deny how much she cares about him and as danger draws them closer together she realises she doesn't want to be without him.

The Spy Who Came For Christmas by Cynthia Eden
Republished as Christmas with a Spy

Jemma is the owner of Holly's chocolate store and she's well known for the delicious treats she creates. The locals consider her as sweet as her creations but most of them don't realise she has a wild side that she's been desperate to let out for a long time. A wild side that she is able to let loose when Grayson comes to town looking for a fresh start. Grayson spent years working undercover as a spy for the CIA and is desperate for some normality but he may just have brought danger with him to Holly and it could cost Jemma her life.

This story was originally titled The Spy who came for Christmas in the anthology but was renamed Christmas with a Spy when it was rereleased as a standalone title. Jemma and Grayson's relationship develops quite quickly but that is expected when you're reading a novella and I still found it completely believable. This was sugary sweet but also hot and spicy and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Merry Christmas, Baby by Katie Reus

Nora has spent the last few years focused on raising her teenage sister and running the bookstore she inherited from her aunt. She's turned the business into a success but it hasn't left her much time for romance until her best friend Jackson made a move. Jackson was persistent and spent months worming his way into Nora's affections but just when things started going really well between them and she thought they were going to have a future together he spooked and did a disappearing act. Now several weeks later Nora has totally given up on the idea of a relationship and has gone back to focusing on her work and her sister but Jackson regrets his actions and will do whatever it takes to get Nora to give him another chance.

I think this was my favourite story in the anthology, it's incredibly sweet and I just loved both Nora and Jackson. They make a great couple but add in the Christmas setting and the antics of Nora's younger sister and this was a perfect fun holiday read. Jackson was a bit of an idiot when he panicked and bailed on Nora but he was pretty irresistible so I couldn't blame Nora for forgiving him.

Sinful in Snow by Laura Wright

Gabriel has never forgiven Carol for costing him the only home he ever had and now he's come back to Holly looking for revenge. He has bought the building she rents for her beloved shop and is planning on knocking it down to turn into a hotel just to spite her. Carol never forgot Gabriel and often wondered what happened to him after he left Holly. She broke a promise to him when she told her parents about the way his foster family abused him but she did it with the best intentions and has always hoped he moved on to somewhere better. She's thrilled when he comes back to town and there is no denying the spark between them but what will happen when she finds out his plan for revenge?

I have to admit I was a bit worried about the premise of this story, I didn't think someone looking for revenge would be very Christmasy but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly Gabriel realised he was in the wrong. He starts the story as a bit of a grinch but Carol loves the holidays and her exuberance quickly gets him into the Christmas spirit. This was probably the story that had the most holiday atmosphere in the anthology, I enjoyed seeing them spending time together doing things like sledding and I was really pleased that Gabriel took time to think about things from Carol's point of view before he put his revenge plan into action.

Home Advantage by Skye Jordan
Republished as Quick Trick

Hockey superstar Grant is off the ice recovering from a shoulder injury and he had planned to spend his time surrounded by hot women. Unfortunately family obligations have him spending Christmas back in his hometown Holly, pretty much the last place he wants to be. Until he runs into his high school crush Faith and realises that she's currently single that is. Now he has one goal in sight - getting Faith to spend a night with him.

The last thing Faith has time for is a playboy hockey star, it's only been a few months since her father died and she's facing her first christmas alone while struggling to keep the family hardware store open and trying to turn a profit. She's not interested in a one night stand no matter how hot Grant is or how weak he makes her knees. Grant isn't willing to take no for an answer though and it's not long before he realises that one taste of Faith will never be enough, if he can only convince her to give him a chance to prove it.

This story was originally titled Home Advantage in the anthology but was renamed Quick Trick when it was rereleased as a standalone title. I believe there has been extra material added in the newly published version (there was definitely a name change for a major character) but I've only read the original version. I actually loved this story as it was so the fact that it's been extended just makes me think the new version will be even better, I might have to read that one too at some point but I definitely want to continue the series.

This was my first story by Skye Jordan but definitely won't be the last, it was funny, sweet, sexy and just all out fun to read. I loved Grant and Faith, they're both brilliant characters and I really enjoyed the slow build relationship between them. This was just everything I want from a holiday romance!

[Ruckasaurus Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy 4.5 rating!

*advance reader copy received for honest review*

I am not a huge reader of anthologies or seasonal stories, but this anthology was a great mix of authors and tales and is an absolutely adorable Christmas-themed read. These six stories take place on or near the Christmas holidays and are all set in the same small holiday-themed town of Holly, North Carolina. While the characters and stories were fun to follow, it was just as interesting to see each author step in and drop her writing style into the overall mix. The combined epilogue at the end of the book was a treat too! While the anthology is 450 pages, the stories were broken up at such great intervals that this would be an awesome holiday break or afternoon read. You can read before bed or on your commute, and then pick up the next day or night with a new story. It is definitely a steal at the current price – be on the lookout for the release the first of December!

Melt for Me – Elizabeth Naughton

“Yeah, there was nowhere in the world like Holly, North Carolina. Too bad it was decked out like a Charles Dickens novel three hundred and sixty-five days per year and not just during the holidays.”

The first story in All He Wants for Christmas is Melt for Me by Elizabeth Naughton. This is the story of Ella the pub owner who has lost a lot, almost an unbearable amount, and is just struggling toward a light at the end of the tunnel. When a ghost from her past and happier times bursts back onto the scene, her whole life is suddenly spun around. A sexy and popular rock icon, Tate is in town searching for Ella and the spark they shared in their youth. It’s hard for Ella to trust Tate, and things start to get deadly serious when suspicious vandalism begins occurring. Will they even survive to find out what they might have together?

Sweet Rapture – Alexandra Ivy

“But the truth is that I was willing to do whatever I had to do to keep you in my life,” he confessed, his raw tones striking deep inside Meg. “Even if it meant lying to you. I was terrified at the thought of losing you.”

Meg returns to Holly to lick her emotional wounds and take over the home inherited from her grandmother. Strange things start happening around the house, and everyone seems to be worried about the incidents except Meg. When a friend calls for help and the source of her pain shows up on her doorstep, it looks like fate is starting to align against her in the cruelest way. Dylan is determined to show Meg that he had no choice but to hurt her before…now he is ready to play for keeps. If they can just stay alive long enough to stake a claim.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas – Cynthia Eden

“His gaze drifted up the tree and then, slowly, his stare turned toward the hallway. If I could have anything I wanted for Christmas…I would want her.”

Jemma is Holly’s sole chocolatier and all around good girl, but when the smoking hot stranger rolls up for some last minute sweets, she is ready to take a walk on the wild side. Grayson retreated to small town America to lay low and relax, but all he can think about is the sexy little chocolate shop owner. As they gravitate toward one another, his past catches up with him in the worst way and suddenly he isn’t the only one looking hard at Jemma. Will he be able to save the woman he loves in time?

Merry Christmas, Baby – Katie Reus

“She should not be happy to see him, but yeah, her body didn’t listen to reason. It was screaming that he must be sincere if he was here again, that she should give him another chance. Stupid hormones.”

Nora has been focused solely on raising her younger sister, and the single mom thing doesn’t exactly leave a lot of time for romance. When the town cutie Jackson pursues her for almost six months she finally gives in to her impulses. In return, she doesn’t hear from him for weeks. By the time Jackson strolls back into her little book shop, she is pretty done and not that interested in whatever excuses he can make. What possible reason could a former Navy Seal have for ditching a girl like that? Now that Jackson has come to his senses and worked up his courage, will he be able to talk Nora into a second chance, or is she done for good?

Sinful in Snow – Laura Wright

“Gabriel felt like a raw nerve as he stood up again and began to undress. As she watched him, her eyes dancing to each flash of skin he uncovered, he watched her.”

Gabriel is back in town to play the role of avenging angel…well, not exactly. He is here for vengeance against the girl who ruined his teen life, but the problem is she is not a teen girl anymore…she is definitely a woman. Carol always has a smile on her face and works hard to keep her tiny Christmas shop open; she loves her family’s hometown. When Gabriel returns, she is amazed by his transformation from angry teen to cold businessman. As they interact, Gabriel seems to thaw just before igniting with Carol at the center of the inferno. Just when things seem to reach peak happiness, Carol finds out exactly what brought Gabriel to town. Crushed, she leaves the man she thought she cared for to be with her family. Will Gabriel be able to save Christmas for both of them?

Home Advantage – Skye Jordan

“His eyes were heavy-lidded and hot, his expression tight with desire, and Faith had never seen a man look as sexy as Meier looked right then.”

The final tale in All He Wants for Christmas is about the small town sports star coming home for the holidays. Meier is just planning to recover at home before jumping right back into the hockey rink once he gets clearance from the doctors. Emotionally detached from his parents, Meier happens across former high school hottie Faith who is now running her family’s hardware store. Faith doesn’t have time to play around with Mr. Bigshot Meier, but he is not taking no for an answer. When they finally come together, it is scorching hot, but reality rears its ugly head. Between girls who are actually in his league and the demands of his job, there doesn’t seem to be much room for Faith. By the time Meier realizes that he needs her more than anything else, it may be too late for both of them.

Check out my full review here: https://romancereviewsbyruckie.wordpr...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall = 4 stars!

All of the stories in this anthology take place in the year-round Christmas town of Holly, NC. And these six authors make sure there's something hot for everyone... spies, cops, rockers, SEALs, professional hockey players and billionaires. I mean, who wouldn't want one (or more!) of those?

***********************
1) MELT FOR ME - 3 stars!
Holly, NC pub owner Ella McKinley has too many bad memories of past holiday seasons so she wants to quietly get through her busiest time with enough sales to be able to pay down debt and sell her bar. Pasting on her best "happy" smile, Ella hears a voice from her past; Tate Kendrick, lead singer of the hottest band and former love of her life, is in her pub... singing! Tate has never forgotten Ella or how much he loved her when she walked away. Tired of denying his feelings, he's in Holly to convince her they were meant to be together and hope for a second chance. Loved the rock star connection to the story, but I couldn't connect with the heroine; she was a bit tiresome with the constant accusations and insecurities.

************************
2) SWEET RAPTURE - 4 stars!
I loved Meg and Dylan. Meg has moved back to Holly after her grandmother passed, to take over the house she grew up in and start her business. Tight on funds, with an old house that needs repairs, she decides to rent out the apartment over her garage. Little does she know the person who's rented the space is the guy who broke her heart 6 months ago. Dylan, former FBI agent, was undercover on assignment when he met Meg. Determined to "get-the-bad-guy" and finish the job, Dylan hoped he could still be with Meg. But finding out that Dylan wasn't the guy she thought he was, she walked away. Now Dylan is back in her life, in her apartment, and he may be the only person who can keep her safe and figure out who's trying to scare Meg out of town. Sweet Rapture is packs a sexy punch! Recommended!

**************************
3) THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS - 5 stars!
Grayson Cole, former CIA, is desperate for a relaxing escape and according to his friend and sheriff, the town of Holly is just the out-of-the-way place. Walking into the local chocolate shop for a treat, gives Gray more than he thought. Blue-eyed beauty Jemma White, store owner, takes one look at Gray and wants to get to know him better. As Gray and Jemma enjoy spending time together and getting to know each other, a sinister plot is being hatched against them. Can Gray discover who is targeting them before it's too late? The Spy who Came for Christmas is full of suspense, romance, and fun! Definitely one of my favorites in this anthology. Highly recommended!

*********************************
4) MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY - 4 stars!
Local bookstore & coffee shop owner Nora thought she and Jackson might have had a chance at a HEA. After months of friendly flirting, then a date, former SEAL Jackson O'Connor realizes Nora is the one for him, gets scared and does the one thing he should not... he avoids Nora and doesn't call as promised. Brokenhearted and disappointed, Nora is determined to forget Jackson and focus on growing her business and her 17 year old sister and ward.

Jackson realizes what a huge mistake he's made and now he's on his newest mission to win Nora back and hope for a second chance at happiness. But, as much as Jackson still holds Nora's heart, can she open up and risk the possibility of being hurt again? Recommended!

*************************
5) SINFUL IN SNOW - 5+ stars!
Ten years ago a young Carol Cardini bumped into a boy who was bruised and emotionally hurt so she intervened, but never heard from him again. Ten years later, owning her dream shop, Christmas Carol's Shop and Crafts in the picturesque town of Holly, NC, and in walks the boy from her past. Gabriel Fox is now a very well-established, attractive man who wants to reconnect.

The more time they spend together, Gabe finds he's enjoying the holiday season for the first time, thanks to Carol's infectious spirit and laughter. But can Gabe overcome the ghosts of his past and accept that his biggest Christmas wish has just come true?

Gabe and Carol's chemistry is undeniable. Their story took me through a roller-coaster of emotion in the journey to an HEA. And I loved every moment of it! Highly recommended!

*************************
6) HOME ADVANTAGE - 4 stars!
Professional hockey player Meier Grant is back home in Holly now that he's on the mend from a shoulder injury. Jaded from his former small town life, Meier is not completely enjoying his time at home, that is until he see local hardware store owner Faith Nicholas. Meier is determined to get Faith to take him up on his many dinner invitations so he can get to know her better. But, keeping the family store up and running has been Faith's sole focus since her father passed away. As their attraction grows and the days get closer to Meier's return to hockey and his big city life, can Meier be happy in his old life, or will find a way to be with the woman who stole his heart?

Meier and Faith are a fun, funny couple who have helped each other open their hearts to love and acceptance. Great chemistry and super smexy scenes make this one hot Christmas read! Highly recommended.

*************************

For sexy, romantic romps filled with suspense, laughter and fun, Holly, NC is where you want to be. All He Wants for Christmas is a wonderful addition to your holiday reads list.

Highly recommended anthology!

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating/review for Christmas With a Spy novella by Cynthia Eden.

[T.M. Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: All He Wants for Christmas
Author: Elisabeth Naughton , Alexandra Ivy , Cynthia Eden , Katie Reus , Laura Wright , Skye Jordan
Publication Date: 12/1/2015
Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
My Rating: 5 Stars


REVIEW
Every single one of these stories are truly romantic and all bring the couples together in Holly, NC a magical place where true hearts desires can come true.

Melt For Me by Elisabeth Naughton
Ella lives in Holly, NC but she doesn't want to. She wants to sell her pub and move to the keys. One night in her pub, they were having Karaoke night and who else would show none other than Tate Kendrick. Ella didn't want to remember her time with Tate but he insists on trying. Tate was a huge rock star now and Ella wanted no parts of him. Can they find each other again? Fantastic love story.


Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy
Meg moves to Holly to take over her grandmother’s home after she passes away. Her good friend is worried about her and conspiring with Dylan who loves Meg but made a huge mistake when they were last together come up with a way for Dylan to try to make amends. Dylan was / is a PI and he finally decides there are more important things in life. He heads to Holly and hopes to get the woman he can't forget. When he gets there all kinds of things are going wrong. Someone is trying to get Meg to move out of her home but whom? We get a bit of mystery in this one and a whole lot of passion. Loved it!!

The Spy Who Came For Christmas by Cynthia Eden
We are in Holly, NC and in sweet eats store owned by Jemma. In waltzes a tall, dark and handsome man right before she closes for the evening. Jemma learns his name is Grayson Cole but who the stranger is she has no idea. All Jemma knows is for the first time in a very long time she wants/ needs someone. Jemma has always been the good girl but maybe it's time to live a bit? Can Jemma let go of the past? The sheriff knows Grayson so Jemma feels like she can at least go out with the man. What is the mystery behind Cole and Brad? And just who is after Cole and now Jemma? Another wonderful mystery and romance all wrapped in one story.

Merry Christmas Baby by Katie Reus
Nora owns the bookstore in Holly and she really hasn't let a man in to her life in a very long time. The one time she did was to Jackson who basically took her out once and that was it. It left her angry to say the least. Well now, he walks back into her store and expects her to just drop all for him. Nora and Jackson have been good friends and she allowed it to step across that line but not that far. Jackson comes clean with Nora about why he vanished but can she forgive him? First, they need to figure out who is breaking into the bookstore.
Sweet, Romantic and such as Holly, NC dreams can come true.




Sinful In Snow by Laura Wright
Carol was on her way to buy a item for her Christmas town when she spots Gabriel. Gabriel is one of a few foster kids living in a horrible home and Carol’s heartbreaks for him. But he tells her to go away. Many years have passed and Gabriel is now back and he seems to have done good for himself there is just one thing missing from his life. Carol. This was a true rags to riches and love at first sight romance. Yet again Holly NC brings good things to those who most need it.


Home Advantage by Skye Jordan
Faith has taken over the shop her father owned and although she thinks, things are going good well maybe they are not? Meier Grant the towns star hockey player is back in town after a shoulder injury and he runs into Faith and thinks he wants more in life then what he has. Hockey is not everything anymore and although his family life sucked, he wants family and he wants Faith but does she want him? A very cute romance story.

And it's not finished with that last story make sure you read to the very end and read all about every couple we have read about here in the epilogue. Fantastic truly a wonderful book.


I was gifted a copy of this book for my honest review and I also purchased the box set.

All He Wants for Christmas

[Book Gannet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of six Christmas romances are all set in the same town – Holly, North Carolina – where it might be Christmas 365 days a year, but this December brings an extra sprinkle of magic to six of the towns hardest working business women.

MELT FOR ME by Elisabeth Naughton is a cute second chance romance tale about a woman who hasn’t had much luck in recent years, and the sexy rock star she once let go from her life. Tate is sweet and gorgeous right from the beginning, while Ella is stressed and full of worries. Much as I enjoyed this tale, it was kind of spoilt by Ella’s habit of running away from everything. I kept expecting a big reason for why she sent Tate away all those years ago, but I didn’t get it. Overall this is nice, but Ella needed a good shake. (3.5 stars)

SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy is another second chance tale, this time pitching the nice local florist against the man who broke her heart six months before – with an added touch of stalker/crime plot. I enjoyed this one too, even if I think Meg forgave Dylan far too quickly. (3.5 stars)

THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden was adorable with a side-order of danger. Jemma is sweet and nice, but extremely wary around men. Grayson is too sexy to resist. The pair of them are very sweet together and I liked how gentle Gray was with Jemma, without ever undermining her strength. The danger plot was okay, but given the short length of this book it did the best it could. (4 stars)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Katie Reus is a tale of two nice people getting together and finding happiness. It’s cute and fun and there isn’t really much else to say – except Jackson needed to grovel more after his foolish reaction to their first date. (4 stars)

SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright was probably my least favourite of the whole bunch, because of Gabriel and his stupid revenge plot. It might have been nice to have actually found out what actually happened to him after he left Holly, because it never actually comes out. Carol is lovely and she deserves so much better than the way Gabriel treats her. It does have lots of sweet moments, but I never learned to like Gabriel. (3 stars)

HOME ADVANTAGE by Skye Jordan was the whole reason why I picked up this collection, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. At first I wasn’t all that keen on Faith and her attitude, but I liked Meier and the way he wormed his way into her heart. The pair of them are adorable together and I loved how their romance unfolded. It’s cute and enjoyable and everything I’d expect from a Skye Jordan story. (4 stars)

The collection finished with a joint Epilogue that revisited each of the couples as they celebrate New Years Eve at the pub, rounding everything off with a lovely, feel-good touch.

So overall this was cute and Christmassy, sexy and sweet, with a few moments of suspense and danger to spice things up. The setting of Holly brought everything together really nicely (even if I was sad that the sheriff didn’t get his own tale – I kept hoping), and the whole thing was charming and enjoyable. A fine escape to help get you in the seasonal mood, complete with snow, sleighing and sinful chocolates. A real festive treat.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a delight to read filled with delicious treats with a different perspective for a change-hence title what he wants. It also could not have had a better bunch of authors either all set in a place called Holly-Elizabeth's Melt For Me-Ella owns the pub but is considered the scrooge, but she will get a chance at the spirit rather she wants it not in the form of Tate one hot singer that will do more than melt the room with his singing.
Alexandra's Sweet Rapture- Meg has a new tenant coming that she really needs especially since a new boiler will not pay for its self. Also being the target of some sneaky business does not help either. Will she be in for a surprise when her new tenant isn't quite unknown but thank goodness for his FBI training because it will also help her with the key of solving her mystery. He though is looking for permanent and might just find it.
Cynthia's The Spy Who Came For Christmas-Running a shop that keeps her on her toes but in walks one oh my kind of guy. She has chocolate that even the smell will send you into a orgasm. Friend of the Sheriff's Grayson has come to escape tired, looking for something else has come to the right place because he will never be the same after his night out with her. Trouble is someone is not ready for him to leave his life behind and when danger comes with him almost look in the wrong place.
Katie's Merry Christmas Baby-This is our kind of store haha book store that is . In front of others in walks her one night date after 3 weeks no word, brave I would say. Jackson wants a second chance so he has his work cut out for him with her sister telling him so. Funny thing about that sister she will be the cause of helping them along when there will be trouble at her shop and will be to the front and center I will protect you kind of guy.
Laura's Sinful In Snow-This one will melt anyone's heart after you finish it. Carol runs a delightful shop but she is also saving to buy it but word will come that it has already been bought. Gabriel will walk in and the memories will come rushing in because of one night that she witnessed what had been done to him and turned made a phone call. Set on one path he thinks but thanks to love and Carol she will show him what it really means to live and love and melts his heart, but he might have ruined it all when she finds out.
Skye's Home Advantage- When Meier is kinda forced to come home for the holidays thanks to a injury from hockey he runs into his stiffest opponent yet in the form of Faith who runs the hardware store. Needing the tree his mother ordered he must sweet talk her into going back to give it to him thinking to play on his knowness will not get it though.Thing is that will also start the path for them especially since he must come daily to the store to win her over.
Anyways I really enjoyed this because of the setting in this town with each one bringing the two people that fit together with a good solid story with for a change the man being the lost one needing the rescue. Romance satisfies also will be on a scale of 1-10 being 11.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited when I heard about this anthology, all but one author is auto-buy for me and that is only because I haven't read much from Elisabeth yet. All the novella's take place in the same small town.

Melt for Me by Elisabeth Naughton

A heartwarming second chance romance set in a small town with a rock star hero and a sprinkling of suspense.

Sweet Rapture by Alexandra Ivy

A disillusioned Meg returns to Holly after discovering her relationship was a sham. Unfortunately more than a persistant ex follows her home.

The Spy Who Came for Christmas by Cynthia Eden

A sweet girl next door with a hidden wild streak meets a mysterious alpha male bad boy type and the sparks fly! Will they survive?

Merry Christmas, Baby by Katie Reus

A friends to lovers tale that is not all smooth sailing!

Sinful in Snow by Laura Wright

Coldhearted billionaire returns to the town where his life turned for the worse, only to be faced with his past in an adorable package. A story of revenge and self discovery.

Home Advantage by Skye Jordan

A sports hero alpha male meets his match in a girl who loves to play hard to get, while attempting to keep her business afloat.


The town of Holly is somewhere I would like to visit, they celebrate Christmas year round and the people are warm and friendly (for the most part). I would love to revisit the town next year!

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start by saying this was really an enjoyable anthology. The stories all worked well together and the various places to be found in this Christmas little town were consistent throughout. Holly, North Carolina saw its fair share of suspense and love this year for the holidays.

Each story while working towards the whole were also individual snippets of time and complete individual tales. I have read most of the contributing authors before but interestingly, I have read their paranormal books. So this book was different from what I, personally, have come to know of some of these authors.

We have suspense, second chances, heat, first-time romance, athletes, former military, spies, revenge and some women who ruled the show. It really had a bit of everything. The only issues I have with books like this is the length, there is a lot of story in not a lot of pages and there are times that I felt the stories were rushed. There is not a lot of time for angst and forgiveness to have each story end on a high note.

[Tara Dorough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elisabeth Naughton's Melt For Me, in All He Wants For Christmas, is perfect for the Christmas season. We finally get Tate's happily ever after story. Nine years ago, before Tate was a famous rock star he was a simple baseball player and the love of Ella's life. But young love has a way of getting away from us all. After a perfect summer they go their separate ways.
While Tate was building his fame and fortune Ella was struggling through life. She married, lost her husband and inherited a Christmas themed bar that was in debt. She closed herself off from everything. She just wants to make enough money to move to the beach and start over.
Can true love last through heartache? Can two people find their way back to each other? If you believe in Christmas miracles then anything is possible. I received an ARC for my honest review. I've started with this story and can't wait to read the rest. I'll update my review as I get through the other stories.

[Paulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of sweet romances, a touch of suspense, hot and heavy sex scenes then this book is for you. This book was set in a fictitious town, called Holly, in North Carolina that is decorated for Christmas 365 days a year (I live in NC and wanted to go see if it was near me. Was disappointed that it didn't exist. :) The book revolves around various main characters that are all interconnected in some way written by various authors. I have read books by a few authors before, others were new to me. I liked the way each author handled their story lines and the epilogue at the end pulling it all together.

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed everyone of the stories in this bundle but my favorite was Home Advantage by Skye Jordan. I liked Faith from the first interaction between her and Meier. Meier was so sure of himself and Faith had him second guessing all his moves, it was great to read. The way Faith just treated him like he had spent his whole life in Holly instead of being a successful NHL hockey player was wonderful. I enjoyed their banter back and forth as well as the instant connection between the two of them.

I also enjoyed the stories by Elisabeth Naughton, Alexandra Ivy, Katie Reus, and Laura Wright. I will be recommending this bundle to my bookworm friends.

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of six Christmas-themed novellas all set in the same town of Holly, North Carolina, and I must admit I really loved them all, which is surprising for me in anthologies! I also hadn't read any of the authors before so it was a great way to learn about their writing styles and whether I wanted to read the rest of the series that some of them were all linked to.

​MELT FOR ME by Elisabeth Naughton (from the 'Against All Odds' series)
Very enjoyable story about a bit of a Grinch about Christmas, Ella, which is madness really as she owns and works in a Christmas themed bar in a year round Christmas themed town! But she is trying to earn enough to pay off bills left by her late husband and get out of town to somewhere warmer. In the meantime an old flame and love of her life breezes into town and completely throws her. He's a big time music star now and of course everyone else loves him. There's a bit of drama involved, but all in all a very enjoyable story. Short-ish, but not too short to enjoy.

SWEET RAPTURE by Alexandra Ivy (from 'The Rapture' series)
This story was about Meg, who had come back to Holly after living in Vegas, and is now struggling with the upkeep of the old Victorian house her grandmother had left her in her will. She takes in a lodger, who she thinks is a female friend of a friend, but actually turns out to be her ex-boyfriend Dylan who worked for the FBI but had used her to get used to her flatmate.

Dylan was coming to Holly anyway to get Meg back, but had come back earlier than planned because someone had been vandalising Meg's property for some unknown reason and her friend had asked him to help her, without Meg's knowledge.

I really enjoyed this story as there was an element of suspense throughout, not knowing who was targeting Meg, even though I had my suspicions of who, but not why.

THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by Cynthia Eden
Oh I liked this one! Nice bit of suspense and some great characters. Jemma owns the chocolate shop in Holly and is quite nervous around guys, she only seems to go on one date and then backs off, so something obviously happened, which becomes clearer later. Grayson arrives in town for a break, trying to figure out what to do with his life now, as he has just left the CIA.

Unfortunately someone is out to get Grayson and follows him to town, and Jemma gets caught up in it too as the 'bad guy' targets Jemma trying to hurt Grayson. Really good story, my favourite so far in this anthology.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Katie Reus (from the 'O'Connor Family' series)
I've had Katie Reus books on my 'to read' list for a while now, but never seemed to get around to reading one, so I was really looking forward to reading this one, and it didn't disappoint.

Nora runs the local bookstore/coffee shop and has guardianship of her sister, who is now 17. They were left the bookstore by a relative and have turned it around into a profitable business. Nora recently had a date with Jackson, a local favourite and ex-SEAL, but then he didn't contact her again for weeks, even though they'd been friends beforehand. So Nora was hurt and determined not to get close to him again. But it turned out he realised his feelings ran really deep for Nora and he panicked. But then he came back to make amends and Nora started softening towards him, because he did really make an effort.

I really enjoyed this story, Jackson's family sound like great characters. I would definitely follow up on the rest of this series and as this book is the first in the O'Connor series it's just perfect!

SINFUL IN SNOW by Laura Wright (from the 'Spurs & Stripes' series)
Yet another lovely, if too short(!), story. This one is between Carol and Gabriel. Carol owns the gift shop in Holly and works hard to keep her business going. She has lived in the town forever and has had a very loving upbringing with her family. Gabriel was a foster kid and had a very hard life, but he's turned it around and is now extremely wealthy with homes everywhere, including one on the outskirts of Holly. He has come back to town though to take over Carol's business as he blames her for the fact that she reported his foster carers were abusing the children in their care and so he was moved on yet again. Stupid reason if you ask me as she helped him out and stopped him being beaten! Still, he soon changed his mind once he connected with Carol again as she was such a good, happy person, he couldn't resist her.

HOME ADVANTAGE by Skye Jordan (from the 'Rough Riders Hockey' series)
Another very enjoyable story. Meier is a well known hockey player, but back home in Holly while he recovers from an injury. He meets Faith, who owns the local hardware store, when he's sent out to get a Christmas tree by his Mum. Faith has taken over the hardware store after her Father died and is struggling a bit trying to make the store more profitable. Faith knows who he is, but pretends she doesn't realise at first, as Meier thinks his celebrity status will make her more interested in him, when in actual fact she couldn't care less - nice to see him taken down a peg! But they get closer as the story progresses and he actually turns out to be a good guy and they're a lovely couple.

I think this is probably the best anthology I have read as I loved all the books. Usually there's one or two that are just OK, but not that great, but they were all great in this book. And there's a lovely epilogue that brings all the stories together. Highly recommended.

[Jennifer Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

These authors blow me away. There isn't a bad story in the bunch. There all heart warming and show you the meaning of the Christmas spirit. I was given this book for an honest review. Laura Wrights was amazing all about a young girl who thought she was helping someone out. All he wanted was everything she had. Then the spirit of Christmas finally gave him the perfect wish her. I loved every book and they all made sure of a happy ending. Great read and would recommend to anyone.

[Karla Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this set of books. I enjoyed and fell in love all over again. I love Christmas. I enjoyed that most of them had an added mystery with the romance. Danger. Highly recommend this!!
But I wanted Brad the sheriff to have a story! He was in most of the books but no love interest.

[Jodi Ciorciari-marinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Skye Jordan's story Home Advantage. I really enjoyed it. The story was short and sweet and found myself chuckling at Meier's expense.
Faith was a sweet character and I liked her alot. Great job Skye