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Language of Love - A Flirty, Festive Anthology
From erotic fun and music-filled streets in Jamaica to delicious curries and carols in India, and toasty fireplaces in Wales, Ylva’s festive anthology takes readers on a senses-filled, globetrotting adventure.
Our eleven lesbian fiction authors—many award winners—offer diverse tales of romance, thrills, humor, and whimsy, set against the holiday season in South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, India, Jamaica, and the US.
Bring your secret girlfriend to Christmas lunch before a stern, chicken-breeding Australian matriarch. Run your eye over the accounts—and the sexy, butch trainer—at a horse ranch in Germany while the goose gets stuffed with macaroons. Skid into a cute doctor’s vehicle in the slush-filled lanes of Wales—and stay for charades and mulled wine.
Follow a hapless South African assassin on her hilarious first day on the job when she falls for her target. Scale the cliffs in England’s Lake District for a daring rescue. Join two young Indian women reconnecting over mouthwatering food, song, and family after years apart.
Whisk a feisty Irish gran off to a community Orphans’ Christmas in Melbourne and catch up with her nurse over Frisbeeand bubbly. Wake up in Jamaica in the most sensuous way, before hitting the music-filled Grand Market. Break a tooth on Christmas pudding, and find out what happens when that beautiful German dentist likes more than just your molars.
Tumble back in love with the California girl who kissed you at your Bat Mitzvah before her life turned upside down. Taste jugs of hibiscus-scented bissap before counting down to Hogmannay in Scotland with your sexy new friend.
"Language of Love" is a diverse, festive feast that shows our laughs, loves, and lives are universal.
Our eleven lesbian fiction authors—many award winners—offer diverse tales of romance, thrills, humor, and whimsy, set against the holiday season in South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, India, Jamaica, and the US.
Bring your secret girlfriend to Christmas lunch before a stern, chicken-breeding Australian matriarch. Run your eye over the accounts—and the sexy, butch trainer—at a horse ranch in Germany while the goose gets stuffed with macaroons. Skid into a cute doctor’s vehicle in the slush-filled lanes of Wales—and stay for charades and mulled wine.
Follow a hapless South African assassin on her hilarious first day on the job when she falls for her target. Scale the cliffs in England’s Lake District for a daring rescue. Join two young Indian women reconnecting over mouthwatering food, song, and family after years apart.
Whisk a feisty Irish gran off to a community Orphans’ Christmas in Melbourne and catch up with her nurse over Frisbeeand bubbly. Wake up in Jamaica in the most sensuous way, before hitting the music-filled Grand Market. Break a tooth on Christmas pudding, and find out what happens when that beautiful German dentist likes more than just your molars.
Tumble back in love with the California girl who kissed you at your Bat Mitzvah before her life turned upside down. Taste jugs of hibiscus-scented bissap before counting down to Hogmannay in Scotland with your sexy new friend.
"Language of Love" is a diverse, festive feast that shows our laughs, loves, and lives are universal.
252 pages, Nook
First published October 17, 2018
46 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Astrid Ohletz
17 books38 followersAstrid Ohletz has an education as a library assistant but worked as a legal secretary for one of the partners of a large, international law firm for more than ten years before she became a publisher, establishing Ylva Verlag and its international pendant, Ylva Publishing, in 2011 and 2012. Publishing combines her love of books with her understanding of legal and economic issues. Being able to publish books where subtext is maintext is a dream come true for Astrid.
In her free time, she writes stories under the pseudonym Emma Weimann.
In her free time, she writes stories under the pseudonym Emma Weimann.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 26, 2024
In a Nutshell: An anthology of lesbian romances set around Christmas. A good collection for the right reader. Unfortunately, many of these weren’t my kind of romance stories, so please take this review with a pinch of salt.
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This anthology has eleven stories of Sapphic love connections written by lesbian fiction writers. I never pick up a romance anthology because the genre is a mixed bag for me. What made me opt for this book was one magic phrase in the blurb: “Curries in India.” A lesbian love story set during an Indian Christmas? The curiosity of this Indian Christian was immediately piqued!
What worked for me is the intent and the approach of the collection. The collection is diverse in terms of inclusivity as well as cultural setting, with the stories being set in Australia, England, India, Jamaica, South Africa and Germany amid other locations. Most of the stories, except one (which is about Chanukkah), are set around Christmas time. The themes are also varied, with some stories being lighthearted and other being more sombre. Authenticity of voice is not an issue at all, thanks to the background of the authors. The beautiful cover is the perfect representation of the heterogeneity of the tales.
Where the collection didn’t suit my reading palate is in the writing style and romantic content of a few of the tales. The tagline promises a ‘flirty’ anthology, so I knew there would be oodles of romance herein. But many of the tales had almost insta romances, and one even went too steamy – both of which aren’t what I enjoy reading. Moreover, there is a distinct YA flavour to quite a few tales, again something that isn’t my cup of tea. Because of the YA and insta love factor, the emotions felt somewhat superficial and light-hearted, even when the plot itself was emotionally charged.
As always, I rated the stories individually, but most of the tales ended up on the mid-range of the scale, not because the tales were bad, but because they didn’t suit my reading preferences. My favourite story was Sheryn Munir’s ‘Mask’, which not only was a touching story of closeted lesbian feelings but also had a beautifully representation of an Indian Christmas celebration. I relished the experience of seeing a Christmas tale where holiday food included delicacies like mutton cutlets, fish fry, onion salad, and rose cookies. The traditions of family carol singing and exchanging Christmas sweets with all neighbours – Christians and otherwise – also finds a mention. Indian Christians rarely get a fair representation (if at all we are represented) in fiction, even by Indian writers, so this story made me feel seen.
All in all, this isn’t a bad collection, but I wasn’t the right reader for it. If you enjoy more YA-style romances, and don’t mind insta attraction, you might like this better. I am just going hit the midway rating for this one as the lack of connect was mostly due to my romance-reading tastes.
3 stars.
My thanks to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Language of Love”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This anthology has eleven stories of Sapphic love connections written by lesbian fiction writers. I never pick up a romance anthology because the genre is a mixed bag for me. What made me opt for this book was one magic phrase in the blurb: “Curries in India.” A lesbian love story set during an Indian Christmas? The curiosity of this Indian Christian was immediately piqued!
What worked for me is the intent and the approach of the collection. The collection is diverse in terms of inclusivity as well as cultural setting, with the stories being set in Australia, England, India, Jamaica, South Africa and Germany amid other locations. Most of the stories, except one (which is about Chanukkah), are set around Christmas time. The themes are also varied, with some stories being lighthearted and other being more sombre. Authenticity of voice is not an issue at all, thanks to the background of the authors. The beautiful cover is the perfect representation of the heterogeneity of the tales.
Where the collection didn’t suit my reading palate is in the writing style and romantic content of a few of the tales. The tagline promises a ‘flirty’ anthology, so I knew there would be oodles of romance herein. But many of the tales had almost insta romances, and one even went too steamy – both of which aren’t what I enjoy reading. Moreover, there is a distinct YA flavour to quite a few tales, again something that isn’t my cup of tea. Because of the YA and insta love factor, the emotions felt somewhat superficial and light-hearted, even when the plot itself was emotionally charged.
As always, I rated the stories individually, but most of the tales ended up on the mid-range of the scale, not because the tales were bad, but because they didn’t suit my reading preferences. My favourite story was Sheryn Munir’s ‘Mask’, which not only was a touching story of closeted lesbian feelings but also had a beautifully representation of an Indian Christmas celebration. I relished the experience of seeing a Christmas tale where holiday food included delicacies like mutton cutlets, fish fry, onion salad, and rose cookies. The traditions of family carol singing and exchanging Christmas sweets with all neighbours – Christians and otherwise – also finds a mention. Indian Christians rarely get a fair representation (if at all we are represented) in fiction, even by Indian writers, so this story made me feel seen.
All in all, this isn’t a bad collection, but I wasn’t the right reader for it. If you enjoy more YA-style romances, and don’t mind insta attraction, you might like this better. I am just going hit the midway rating for this one as the lack of connect was mostly due to my romance-reading tastes.
3 stars.
My thanks to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Language of Love”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
October 20, 2018
This was a very good quality collection of eleven Holiday shorts. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by how good most of the stories were. Maybe it was that I’m in a Halloween mood, not even thinking about Christmas yet, I was not as excited to read this. Once I realized I knew ten of the eleven authors, I was starting to get hopeful. There are a lot of good authors in this collection and once I started reading I was hooked.
When it came to the shorts (and when I say shorts they are not that short, they were all a good length) I ended up really enjoying all but two stories. And even those two stories were not lower than 3 stars. My two absolute favorites were by Andrea Bramhall and Lee Winter. Do I really have to say much more than the names Winter and Bramhall? Both these women are amazing authors and they can write short stories as well as their novels. Bramhall’s especially I would love to see turned into a full length book. I hope she takes this short, plops it in the beginning and keeps on writing, I want to read that book! It’s too good of a set-up not to let it mature into a full novel.
I would say the two runners up were Cheyenne Blue and Fiona Zedde. I’m a fan of both these ladies and I really enjoy both of their unique styles. I loved the Jamaica setting of Zedde’s book (which is something we don’t get to read about often) and Blue’s was good enough to want a full length book with her characters.
Lastly I have to give an honorable mention to Sheryn Munir. Her debut book that took place in India was really well written. I was excited to read something else by her. Again, she did a great job of transporting you to another place. Munir has some real talent and I can’t wait to read her sophomore book.
While I would personally recommend waiting until after Halloween to read this holiday collection, it’s well worth the read. The talent of these authors is top notch and it’s a very good quality collection.
When it came to the shorts (and when I say shorts they are not that short, they were all a good length) I ended up really enjoying all but two stories. And even those two stories were not lower than 3 stars. My two absolute favorites were by Andrea Bramhall and Lee Winter. Do I really have to say much more than the names Winter and Bramhall? Both these women are amazing authors and they can write short stories as well as their novels. Bramhall’s especially I would love to see turned into a full length book. I hope she takes this short, plops it in the beginning and keeps on writing, I want to read that book! It’s too good of a set-up not to let it mature into a full novel.
I would say the two runners up were Cheyenne Blue and Fiona Zedde. I’m a fan of both these ladies and I really enjoy both of their unique styles. I loved the Jamaica setting of Zedde’s book (which is something we don’t get to read about often) and Blue’s was good enough to want a full length book with her characters.
Lastly I have to give an honorable mention to Sheryn Munir. Her debut book that took place in India was really well written. I was excited to read something else by her. Again, she did a great job of transporting you to another place. Munir has some real talent and I can’t wait to read her sophomore book.
While I would personally recommend waiting until after Halloween to read this holiday collection, it’s well worth the read. The talent of these authors is top notch and it’s a very good quality collection.
October 15, 2018
This is a collection of short stories with Christmas time, or Chanukah in one case, as the theme. Most also have a little romance in them, some from an established relationship and some from the first connection with a hint of things to come. It is an enjoyable anthology although I enjoyed some stories more than others.
The Friend by Lee Winter
Dani and her girlfriend Ro are spending Christmas day with Dani's family, more specifically, with Great Aunt Jean who decimated Dani's self-esteem as a teen. Ro is confident she'll be able to win over the family but Dani doubts she will get through the day herself. Winter paints a fantastic picture of the dreaded affair with such exacting descriptions that one can feel the air crackle with tension. 4.5 stars
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K Thorne
Lerato has weighed the pros and cons of becoming an assassin. If nothing else, at least there's a three week trial period. Five hours of surveillance on Christmas Eve would definitely be in the cons column. Her mark, gorgeous Shikari Singh, is definitely in the pros column. This fantastic and silly short story made me smile. It's also not often I read stories set in my home country. 4.5 stars
Mask by Sheryn Muir
Kathy has returned home for the first time in two years to celebrate Christmas with her family. Her grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she wants to see her before she no longer recognizes her. The reason she's stayed away is partly the fall out with her best friend, Emma, and partly the university she chose. Set in India, Muir gives a wonderful insight into a different cultural experience of Christmas. Beautifully written. 5 stars
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire
A vicar, two doctors, a surgeon and an actress all spending Christmas together in a snowy village in Wales. Nia arrives home only to have her car rammed into a wall by Sarah, the new doctor in her father's practice. I liked the setting and the humour but I found the writing incredibly disjointed. 3 stars
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde
It's Christmas Eve in Jamaica, and Hunter and Sinclair are hosting. They've been together for over two years, blissfully happy, while tension among their relatives seems to be rising as they make their way to the annual Grand Market. This is a little more explicit than any of the stories so far but incredibly mild for a Zedde story. The focus is more on the interpersonal relationships than the setting and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a stronger impression of Jamaica. 3.5 stars
Orphans Christmas by Cheyenne Blue
Ha! Blue really is a fantastic short story writer. Hannah and her paternal grandmother are left to fend for themselves over Christmas in Melbourne when Hannah's mom has to return Ireland where her mother is dying. Megsie, Hannah's housemate asks her to join her at an orphan's Christmas at a local park. This has great scene setting, wonderful characters and with amazing depth in so few words. 5 stars
And the Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley
Eden host an orphan's Christmas at the pubs she runs in London and then takes a trip up to Edinburgh to spend new year with friends. I didn't really see the point of the first half of the story other than to include Christmas. I quite enjoyed the second half once Eden gets to Edinburgh where there's a little more pace and characters with a connection to her. 3 stars
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn
Set in Germany, Paula arrives a few days before Christmas at the horse ranch her aunt has left her in her will. She has no idea why her aunt left her a failing farm with five employees and a bunch of cart horses and one pregnant mare. Paula is an ice queen well-known for parcelling and selling off failing businesses. This is an enjoyable story where Christmas is in the background to Paula's conflict around her inheritance. 4.5 stars
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo
Amelia kisses Erica at her Bat Mitzvah and Erica is a little taken aback by it and it takes her a little longer to realize she's gay. Amelia and her family live on the west coast and Erica's live in Brooklyn so it's two years before they meet again for Chanukah. Their developing relationship is beautifully described as it unfolds over the years with a lot of emotion packed into a short tale. Great story. 5 stars
The Night Before Christmas - A Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall
This one is quite an adrenaline rush. Samantha King knows this is the last Christmas Eve that she'll be spending with her husband, Tim, and his family and it's not just because they have cheese with their Christmas pudding. While I get the slice-of-life concept of the story it ended too soon for me with not enough of a hint for the future. 4 stars
It's in the Pudding by Emma Weimann
Christmas Eve, a family dinner and pudding with an almond that makes wishes come true. Also set in Germany, Ida and her sister-in-law, Maria, discuss their Christmas wishes. This one has some humour and entertaining family interaction. 4 stars
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
The Friend by Lee Winter
Dani and her girlfriend Ro are spending Christmas day with Dani's family, more specifically, with Great Aunt Jean who decimated Dani's self-esteem as a teen. Ro is confident she'll be able to win over the family but Dani doubts she will get through the day herself. Winter paints a fantastic picture of the dreaded affair with such exacting descriptions that one can feel the air crackle with tension. 4.5 stars
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K Thorne
Lerato has weighed the pros and cons of becoming an assassin. If nothing else, at least there's a three week trial period. Five hours of surveillance on Christmas Eve would definitely be in the cons column. Her mark, gorgeous Shikari Singh, is definitely in the pros column. This fantastic and silly short story made me smile. It's also not often I read stories set in my home country. 4.5 stars
Mask by Sheryn Muir
Kathy has returned home for the first time in two years to celebrate Christmas with her family. Her grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and she wants to see her before she no longer recognizes her. The reason she's stayed away is partly the fall out with her best friend, Emma, and partly the university she chose. Set in India, Muir gives a wonderful insight into a different cultural experience of Christmas. Beautifully written. 5 stars
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire
A vicar, two doctors, a surgeon and an actress all spending Christmas together in a snowy village in Wales. Nia arrives home only to have her car rammed into a wall by Sarah, the new doctor in her father's practice. I liked the setting and the humour but I found the writing incredibly disjointed. 3 stars
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde
It's Christmas Eve in Jamaica, and Hunter and Sinclair are hosting. They've been together for over two years, blissfully happy, while tension among their relatives seems to be rising as they make their way to the annual Grand Market. This is a little more explicit than any of the stories so far but incredibly mild for a Zedde story. The focus is more on the interpersonal relationships than the setting and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a stronger impression of Jamaica. 3.5 stars
Orphans Christmas by Cheyenne Blue
Ha! Blue really is a fantastic short story writer. Hannah and her paternal grandmother are left to fend for themselves over Christmas in Melbourne when Hannah's mom has to return Ireland where her mother is dying. Megsie, Hannah's housemate asks her to join her at an orphan's Christmas at a local park. This has great scene setting, wonderful characters and with amazing depth in so few words. 5 stars
And the Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley
Eden host an orphan's Christmas at the pubs she runs in London and then takes a trip up to Edinburgh to spend new year with friends. I didn't really see the point of the first half of the story other than to include Christmas. I quite enjoyed the second half once Eden gets to Edinburgh where there's a little more pace and characters with a connection to her. 3 stars
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn
Set in Germany, Paula arrives a few days before Christmas at the horse ranch her aunt has left her in her will. She has no idea why her aunt left her a failing farm with five employees and a bunch of cart horses and one pregnant mare. Paula is an ice queen well-known for parcelling and selling off failing businesses. This is an enjoyable story where Christmas is in the background to Paula's conflict around her inheritance. 4.5 stars
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo
Amelia kisses Erica at her Bat Mitzvah and Erica is a little taken aback by it and it takes her a little longer to realize she's gay. Amelia and her family live on the west coast and Erica's live in Brooklyn so it's two years before they meet again for Chanukah. Their developing relationship is beautifully described as it unfolds over the years with a lot of emotion packed into a short tale. Great story. 5 stars
The Night Before Christmas - A Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall
This one is quite an adrenaline rush. Samantha King knows this is the last Christmas Eve that she'll be spending with her husband, Tim, and his family and it's not just because they have cheese with their Christmas pudding. While I get the slice-of-life concept of the story it ended too soon for me with not enough of a hint for the future. 4 stars
It's in the Pudding by Emma Weimann
Christmas Eve, a family dinner and pudding with an almond that makes wishes come true. Also set in Germany, Ida and her sister-in-law, Maria, discuss their Christmas wishes. This one has some humour and entertaining family interaction. 4 stars
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
November 30, 2018
The Friend by Lee Winter - 3.56
Queensland, Australia
Had to reread beginning to remember this one. A young woman takes her girlfriend (who she calls 'her friend') back to the place that her parents (and her) briefly stayed in when her parents were out of work (and she herself was around . . . 6?). The aunt who owns the place praised the sister and constantly berated the young woman.
For reasons that escape me - the young woman (plus various others who might otherwise find something else to do than spend time with this awful woman of no redeeming qualities) finds it necessary to spend Christmas at this specific house with this specific person berating her (still). It's not her mother (who is still alive and stuff), or father (who is dead now), grandparent; lover's relatives; etc. etc. She's related but no one likes this specific Aunt woman. Soo . . . why the fuck is the young woman forcing herself to spend any time at all with this Aunt?
(there's a 'reveal' as to why the aunt was so tough with her, but fuck that reveal. fuck it).
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K. Thorne - 3.98
South Africa
This was an odd about a woman who needs some money and takes a job as an assassin. Her first job has her watching a woman she finds attractive. One thing leads to another and . . . turns out she's not suited to be an assassin - at least not if the target is an attractive woman.
Mask by Sheryn Munir - 4.2
India - Hindu
Two young women grew up together as best friends. They planned to both study to become nurses. One was accepted to a specific school, the other wasn't. The one who was accepted decides to continue on to that school. The one who wasn't decides that this means they are through as friends.
One thing leads to another and a revelation - several - occur that shock and stuff. As a reminder to self -
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire - 4.99
Wales - Doctors, actress (who play doctors on tv)
An actress, Nia, returns home to Wales for Christmas. Gets slammed into (her ancient car gets slammed into, that is) by the other main character. A transplanted doctor (not a transplant doctor, but a doctor from some local outside Wales).
Love the characters in this story. Fun story.
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde - 1.5
Jamaica
It's hard to describe this one without being all spoilery. So I'll just say I disliked every single character in this story and the situation and everything.
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue - 3.33
Australia
A very clingy woman (if I am remembering the stories correctly, one, at least (and I think it is this one) involved a woman that just couldn't stand the idea of being alone, while at the same time couldn't stand the idea of being in a crowd of strangers (especially straight strangers)) is invited to various places for the holidays. Including an 'Orphans' Christmas' party.
hmms. mother is out of country to visit with almost dead granny. Other granny is in a wheel-chair and doing fabulously at her retirement home, though clingy woman feels need to be near grandma 'for grandma'. While vising wheelchair bound grandmother, the clingy woman literally slams into another woman several times (as in walks into in hallway).
Later everyone meets up again at that Orphans party. The end.
And The Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley - 3.55
England then Scotland
A bar manager throws together a secular gathering for staff and a few regulars for Christmas day. A bar manager named Eden from Senegal. Party over super quickly. Then it's off to Scotland for . . . I do not know yet, I'm in the middle of reading (I didn't realize I hadn't read this one before sitting down to write something for it).
Right, so, story is about Eden hosting a party at the bar she manages in London, then watching as she attends another party - this one four hours away in Scotland. While there she meets a lovely red-haired woman. And stuff.
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn - 4.77
Germany
This is the first story I read in this anthology so I really mostly remember that Paula heads to a specific location in Germany to look over a pony ranch that she inherited. She's a top level successful businesswoman. And her connection to the woman who she inherited the ranch from was so close that the woman didn't even want Paula to know she was dying.
I obviously enough liked the story well enough if I gave it a rating of 4.77, right? bah. I do basically remember the rest of the story, I just do not specifically recall the highs and lows of the story.
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo - 2.8
There are several Christian related stories, one Hindu, several 'non-religious' and/or atheist, and this one here is the Judaism contribution to the collection. The story follows one specific girl from the age of 13 to . . I think 18. First at a Bat Mitzvah, then at a bunch of Chanukah's (which sometimes does and sometimes doesn't match up roughly with 'Christmas time'). The reader watches as this young woman learns whether or not she might be a lesbian and might rather fancy another young woman.
The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall - 4.40
England
Story is about an older couple leaving midnight mass and the party that followed it early. The woman is tired of the man. She tells him while they drive on icy roads. They crash. The other main character then takes over and we go into 'action/thriller/rescue' mode. Quite fun story, though only one of the characters in the story fancies women.
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.29
A woman who hasn't been lucky in love is the one who will be first at trying to find the almond in the pudding. She succeeds! This is important because now she can make a wish and it might come true. She attempts to eat the almond and kills her tooth. And has to go to an emergency dentist appointment. Whereupon her wish might actually turn out to come true.
overall
The Friend by Lee Winter - 3.56
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K. Thorne - 3.98
Mask by Sheryn Munir - 4.2
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire - 4.99
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde - 1.5
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue - 3.33
And The Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley - 3.55
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn - 4.77
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo - 2.8
The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall - 4.40
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.29
---------------------------------3.71
Queensland, Australia
Had to reread beginning to remember this one. A young woman takes her girlfriend (who she calls 'her friend') back to the place that her parents (and her) briefly stayed in when her parents were out of work (and she herself was around . . . 6?). The aunt who owns the place praised the sister and constantly berated the young woman.
For reasons that escape me - the young woman (plus various others who might otherwise find something else to do than spend time with this awful woman of no redeeming qualities) finds it necessary to spend Christmas at this specific house with this specific person berating her (still). It's not her mother (who is still alive and stuff), or father (who is dead now), grandparent; lover's relatives; etc. etc. She's related but no one likes this specific Aunt woman. Soo . . . why the fuck is the young woman forcing herself to spend any time at all with this Aunt?
(there's a 'reveal' as to why the aunt was so tough with her, but fuck that reveal. fuck it).
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K. Thorne - 3.98
South Africa
This was an odd about a woman who needs some money and takes a job as an assassin. Her first job has her watching a woman she finds attractive. One thing leads to another and . . . turns out she's not suited to be an assassin - at least not if the target is an attractive woman.
Mask by Sheryn Munir - 4.2
India - Hindu
Two young women grew up together as best friends. They planned to both study to become nurses. One was accepted to a specific school, the other wasn't. The one who was accepted decides to continue on to that school. The one who wasn't decides that this means they are through as friends.
One thing leads to another and a revelation - several - occur that shock and stuff. As a reminder to self -
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire - 4.99
Wales - Doctors, actress (who play doctors on tv)
An actress, Nia, returns home to Wales for Christmas. Gets slammed into (her ancient car gets slammed into, that is) by the other main character. A transplanted doctor (not a transplant doctor, but a doctor from some local outside Wales).
Love the characters in this story. Fun story.
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde - 1.5
Jamaica
It's hard to describe this one without being all spoilery. So I'll just say I disliked every single character in this story and the situation and everything.
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue - 3.33
Australia
A very clingy woman (if I am remembering the stories correctly, one, at least (and I think it is this one) involved a woman that just couldn't stand the idea of being alone, while at the same time couldn't stand the idea of being in a crowd of strangers (especially straight strangers)) is invited to various places for the holidays. Including an 'Orphans' Christmas' party.
hmms. mother is out of country to visit with almost dead granny. Other granny is in a wheel-chair and doing fabulously at her retirement home, though clingy woman feels need to be near grandma 'for grandma'. While vising wheelchair bound grandmother, the clingy woman literally slams into another woman several times (as in walks into in hallway).
Later everyone meets up again at that Orphans party. The end.
And The Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley - 3.55
England then Scotland
A bar manager throws together a secular gathering for staff and a few regulars for Christmas day. A bar manager named Eden from Senegal. Party over super quickly. Then it's off to Scotland for . . . I do not know yet, I'm in the middle of reading (I didn't realize I hadn't read this one before sitting down to write something for it).
Right, so, story is about Eden hosting a party at the bar she manages in London, then watching as she attends another party - this one four hours away in Scotland. While there she meets a lovely red-haired woman. And stuff.
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn - 4.77
Germany
This is the first story I read in this anthology so I really mostly remember that Paula heads to a specific location in Germany to look over a pony ranch that she inherited. She's a top level successful businesswoman. And her connection to the woman who she inherited the ranch from was so close that the woman didn't even want Paula to know she was dying.
I obviously enough liked the story well enough if I gave it a rating of 4.77, right? bah. I do basically remember the rest of the story, I just do not specifically recall the highs and lows of the story.
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo - 2.8
There are several Christian related stories, one Hindu, several 'non-religious' and/or atheist, and this one here is the Judaism contribution to the collection. The story follows one specific girl from the age of 13 to . . I think 18. First at a Bat Mitzvah, then at a bunch of Chanukah's (which sometimes does and sometimes doesn't match up roughly with 'Christmas time'). The reader watches as this young woman learns whether or not she might be a lesbian and might rather fancy another young woman.
The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall - 4.40
England
Story is about an older couple leaving midnight mass and the party that followed it early. The woman is tired of the man. She tells him while they drive on icy roads. They crash. The other main character then takes over and we go into 'action/thriller/rescue' mode. Quite fun story, though only one of the characters in the story fancies women.
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.29
A woman who hasn't been lucky in love is the one who will be first at trying to find the almond in the pudding. She succeeds! This is important because now she can make a wish and it might come true. She attempts to eat the almond and kills her tooth. And has to go to an emergency dentist appointment. Whereupon her wish might actually turn out to come true.
overall
The Friend by Lee Winter - 3.56
Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly by Alex K. Thorne - 3.98
Mask by Sheryn Munir - 4.2
Love Just Is by Jody Klaire - 4.99
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde - 1.5
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue - 3.33
And The Bells Are Ringing Out by Lola Keeley - 3.55
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn - 4.77
Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo - 2.8
The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale by Andrea Bramhall - 4.40
It’s in the Pudding by Emma Weimann - 4.29
---------------------------------3.71
January 8, 2019
My rating can be taken with a grain of salt. I’m generally not too terribly fond of anthologies, but with contributors like Winter, Bramhall, and Keeley, I couldn’t pass it up. If I could sum up my impression of all 11 of these stories in one word, that word would be...cute.
Despite the names that pulled me into reading this, my favorite of these 11 was actually by (an unknown to me) Munir.
Overall, a decent sampling of lesfic writers writing lesfic. The fact that I finished all of these stories when I rarely finish any anthology in its entirety says something, I suppose.
Despite the names that pulled me into reading this, my favorite of these 11 was actually by (an unknown to me) Munir.
Overall, a decent sampling of lesfic writers writing lesfic. The fact that I finished all of these stories when I rarely finish any anthology in its entirety says something, I suppose.
November 11, 2018
'Language of love. A flirty, festive anthology' is a collection of eleven lesfic short stories with the common theme of holiday season traditions around the world. Ylva is a very international and multicultural publishing company and this is reflected in this compilation. The mains characters in these stories includes an ice-queen, a shy lesbian, an allegedly straight woman, young and mature. It is also surprising the mixture of genres like romance, mystery, drama, crime and young adult.
I have to say that normally it's hard to keep a high level of writing quality in a book with so many authors and different types of stories but this one achieved remarkable results. Of course, that doesn't mean that every story will please everyone but they will surely enrich your knowledge of holiday festivities. Here I review my favourite ones.
'The friend' by Lee Winter. Great story about conflicting family dynamics focusing on an Australian Christmas summer celebration inspired by English traditions.
'Deck the halls with bullets and holly' by Alex K. Thorne is a quirky story about a rookie hired assassin and her attractive target. This story is set in South Africa and features an interracial couple.
'Mask' by Sheryn Munir is a fantastic coming-out story between two best friends secretly in love with each other with the background of Christmas celebrations in India. It deals with difficult issues such as Alzheimer's disease and being a lesbian in the present and past.
'Orphans' Christmas' by Cheyenne Blue is a superb story about an Irish family of immigrants in Australia, trying to keep traditions alive, while dealing with bereavement. A great personal bonus for me is to see an authentic portrayal of Irish characters, so often mentioned in lesfic but rarely described accurately.
'And the bells are ringing out' by Lola Keeley is an excellent interracial love story set in Edinburgh for Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) celebrations from the perspective of a Senegalese woman living in London.
'Paula gets a pony ranch' by Patricia Penn is a very original, funny, sarcastic and irreverent Christmas tale set in Germany about a no-nonsense business woman who inherits a pony ranch.
'Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah' by Cindy Rizzo is a great story about Jewish traditional celebrations of Hanukkah in the context of a coming of age story and two young women going through different life stages and finding love.
'It's in the pudding' by Emma Weimann is a great romantic story with the unusual setting of a dentist practice along with a German tradition of hiding an almond in the pudding and granting a wish to whom discovers it.
Overall, a fantastic compilation of holiday season lesfic stories, great to get you in the mood for celebration. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
I have to say that normally it's hard to keep a high level of writing quality in a book with so many authors and different types of stories but this one achieved remarkable results. Of course, that doesn't mean that every story will please everyone but they will surely enrich your knowledge of holiday festivities. Here I review my favourite ones.
'The friend' by Lee Winter. Great story about conflicting family dynamics focusing on an Australian Christmas summer celebration inspired by English traditions.
'Deck the halls with bullets and holly' by Alex K. Thorne is a quirky story about a rookie hired assassin and her attractive target. This story is set in South Africa and features an interracial couple.
'Mask' by Sheryn Munir is a fantastic coming-out story between two best friends secretly in love with each other with the background of Christmas celebrations in India. It deals with difficult issues such as Alzheimer's disease and being a lesbian in the present and past.
'Orphans' Christmas' by Cheyenne Blue is a superb story about an Irish family of immigrants in Australia, trying to keep traditions alive, while dealing with bereavement. A great personal bonus for me is to see an authentic portrayal of Irish characters, so often mentioned in lesfic but rarely described accurately.
'And the bells are ringing out' by Lola Keeley is an excellent interracial love story set in Edinburgh for Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) celebrations from the perspective of a Senegalese woman living in London.
'Paula gets a pony ranch' by Patricia Penn is a very original, funny, sarcastic and irreverent Christmas tale set in Germany about a no-nonsense business woman who inherits a pony ranch.
'Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah' by Cindy Rizzo is a great story about Jewish traditional celebrations of Hanukkah in the context of a coming of age story and two young women going through different life stages and finding love.
'It's in the pudding' by Emma Weimann is a great romantic story with the unusual setting of a dentist practice along with a German tradition of hiding an almond in the pudding and granting a wish to whom discovers it.
Overall, a fantastic compilation of holiday season lesfic stories, great to get you in the mood for celebration. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
December 29, 2018
Enjoyed the majority of these short stories, many written by new and old favourite authors.
Highlights for me were Lee Winter’s peek into a dysfunctional family Christmas dinner and childhood friends meeting when one is home for Christmas in India by Sheryn Muir.
I loved spending time in a wee Wales community with Jody Klaire. I also enjoyed stories by Cheyenne Blue, Lola Keeley, Fiona Zedde and Andrea Bramhall.
Can’t say there is a weak story in the bunch. I especially enjoyed the holidays around the world aspect to this collection. From deep snow to sweltering heat, this was an anthology to remember.
Highlights for me were Lee Winter’s peek into a dysfunctional family Christmas dinner and childhood friends meeting when one is home for Christmas in India by Sheryn Muir.
I loved spending time in a wee Wales community with Jody Klaire. I also enjoyed stories by Cheyenne Blue, Lola Keeley, Fiona Zedde and Andrea Bramhall.
Can’t say there is a weak story in the bunch. I especially enjoyed the holidays around the world aspect to this collection. From deep snow to sweltering heat, this was an anthology to remember.
April 22, 2019
I don’t usually read short stories, but some writers I really enjoy contributed to this anthology so I decided to give it a go. Overall the theme was holidays, but the stories were so different in style and content. I really liked the diversity in location and characters as well.
I’m a picky reader so not all of them agreed with me, but I enjoyed the great majority of the anthology very much.
Here are some highlights:
The Friend by Lee Winter
The anthology starts off with a strong, well-written story that captivated me from the start. Winter excels in giving us a true ice queen with a twist. I admit I looked forward to reading this the most and was not disappointed.
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde
The setting was gorgeous, lush and real. I felt I was walking through the market with Hunter and Sinclair, who have smoking hot, sensuous chemistry. Unfortunately, the story was a bit thin in contrast to the powerhouse double punch of characters and setting.
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue
This is like the start of a lesfic novel I’d like to read! I loved the intergenerational aspect and Hannah is so awkward and sweet at the same time. That last line! Ohhhh! Wonderful and I want to read more!
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn
Another one I can totally see as a full-length novel. The big-business city girl returns to her roots and discovers something she never expected is a favorite storyline of mine. Add horses and a hot soft-butch love interest and I’m there!
None of the stories were very explicit, which was fine with me as I wasn’t expecting erotica. I enjoyed the variation in first meetings to long established couples. It was really interesting to see how such a variety of authors interpreted the holiday story theme. Recommend!
I’m a picky reader so not all of them agreed with me, but I enjoyed the great majority of the anthology very much.
Here are some highlights:
The Friend by Lee Winter
The anthology starts off with a strong, well-written story that captivated me from the start. Winter excels in giving us a true ice queen with a twist. I admit I looked forward to reading this the most and was not disappointed.
Grand Market Bliss by Fiona Zedde
The setting was gorgeous, lush and real. I felt I was walking through the market with Hunter and Sinclair, who have smoking hot, sensuous chemistry. Unfortunately, the story was a bit thin in contrast to the powerhouse double punch of characters and setting.
Orphans’ Christmas by Cheyenne Blue
This is like the start of a lesfic novel I’d like to read! I loved the intergenerational aspect and Hannah is so awkward and sweet at the same time. That last line! Ohhhh! Wonderful and I want to read more!
Paula Gets a Pony Ranch by Patricia Penn
Another one I can totally see as a full-length novel. The big-business city girl returns to her roots and discovers something she never expected is a favorite storyline of mine. Add horses and a hot soft-butch love interest and I’m there!
None of the stories were very explicit, which was fine with me as I wasn’t expecting erotica. I enjoyed the variation in first meetings to long established couples. It was really interesting to see how such a variety of authors interpreted the holiday story theme. Recommend!
December 15, 2023
Best way to start the Holiday reading season was with book of short stories from some of my fav sapphic authors. I'll have to read some stories from the new to me authors who joined in the fun. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
November 22, 2018
I often do not write my thoughts on books I give three or less stars, mostly because I do not like to say negative things in reviews, unless there is something I read that offends me (which is definitely not the case here). I am truly Scrooge when it comes to the holidays so I think that is hugely coloring my views here. I bought _Language of Love_ because Lee Winter is a favorite author of mine and she never disappoints nor does her story in this collection. Nothing within here is a clunker, it is more that very few of the stories jumped out at me and I just did not have my heart in many of them, which is due more to me and my grumpiness about the season than anything else.
October 25, 2018
This was a delightful and diverse collection of winter/ holiday celebration themed short stories to read, especially up here in the great white north where it has snowed a few times already! I always love getting a little taste of my favourite authors work while I wait for their next novels to come out!
I loved Lee Winter's contribution and I really enjoyed Sheryn Munir's as well - I loved her debut novel earlier this ear and I look forward to more from this talented lady!
I received an ARC from YLVA in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Lee Winter's contribution and I really enjoyed Sheryn Munir's as well - I loved her debut novel earlier this ear and I look forward to more from this talented lady!
I received an ARC from YLVA in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2018
.
I enjoyed this anthology since it had stories written by some of my favourite writers, and I enjoyed the diversity of it all but there weren't many stories that really got me invested or made me wish I could read more about the main characters. I think my favourite stories were “Love Just Is” by Jody Klaire, “Paula Gets a Pony Ranch” by Patricia Penn and “The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale” by Andrea Bramhall
I enjoyed this anthology since it had stories written by some of my favourite writers, and I enjoyed the diversity of it all but there weren't many stories that really got me invested or made me wish I could read more about the main characters. I think my favourite stories were “Love Just Is” by Jody Klaire, “Paula Gets a Pony Ranch” by Patricia Penn and “The Night Before Christmas—a Cumbrian Tale” by Andrea Bramhall
December 28, 2021
A beautiful collection of Christmas short stories set in all different places in the world. Was a brilliant read over the holiday period.
December 13, 2023
This is an anthology of holiday themed short stories. The stories are set internationally, taking place in Australia, South Africa, India, England, Wales, Jamaica and Germany. I’m familiar with some authors like Lee Winters, Cheyenne Blue and Fiona Zedde and they didn’t disappoint. Others I was less familiar with. I enjoy reading short stories occasionally and it is one way to find new authors. But shorts can be unsatisfying because when they are really good you wish you had more time to spend with the characters. I would still recommend the book as long as you know what you are getting. The steam factor is very low as often they are having first meetings. This was first published in October 2018 and I was given a digital copy by Ylva Publishing via NetGalley. (3.5 Stars)
November 4, 2018
Festive short stories from a collection of good authors. Each one is themed around Christmas and covers a variety of different settings. Delightful to read, probably best at Christmas when seeking solitude from family invasions.
Arc received from Ylva for honest review.
Arc received from Ylva for honest review.
November 5, 2018
This is a good collection of holiday short stories - some better than others bit overall all were very enjoyable.
October 18, 2018
This is Ylva Publishing’s 2018 anthology of stories for the end of the year holiday season. It contains short stories from some of their most popular authors, including Lee Winter, Andrea Bramhall, Alex K. Thorne, Fiona Zedde and Sheryn Munir – all authors whose work I admire.
I enjoyed the many different settings around the world and reading how the season is celebrated in different cultures and locations – kudos to Ylva for celebrating diversity.
Each story is unique, but all the stories are united in having a happy ending – even if it is sometimes tempered by a dysfunctional family. Most of us can relate to that!
Lee Winter’s story, The Friend, is set in Queensland, Australia where traditional Northern Christmas meets blistering temperatures and the Australian traditional Christmas dessert – pavlova (yum, I love a good pav!). Cue the dysfunctional family, ongoing rivalries and a surprise revelation. This story has everything I’ve come to expect from Winter’s writing and was one of my favourites.
Alex K. Thorne’s story, Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly is set in South Africa and is both amusing and romantic – and a little bit out there. I really liked it.
Sheryn Munin’s story. Mask, is set in India and gives a glimpse into how Indian Christians celebrate Christmas. I loved this story, it’s both moving and romantic and captures the feeling of nostalgia for childhood family Christmases.
Fiona Zedde’s story set in Jamaica, Grand Market Bliss examines what love, family and marriage mean for LGBTQI people in the context of the events of one Christmas Eve afternoon. Brilliant.
Andrea Bramhall’s story, The Night Before Christmas – A Cumbrian Tale is also wonderful. It’s a bit of a thriller and I was unsure how it would turn out. It turned out great and I loved the last sentence in the story.
One other story in the anthology that I particularly enjoyed is Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo. It felt longer than a short story, but it isn’t – it just packs a lot into it. It’s gritty and realistic but no less enjoyable for that.
All of the stories are good – but the ones I’ve singled out above have stayed with me. This is one of the best anthologies of its kind that I’ve read. Highly recommended.
Note: I received an advance copy of this work from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the many different settings around the world and reading how the season is celebrated in different cultures and locations – kudos to Ylva for celebrating diversity.
Each story is unique, but all the stories are united in having a happy ending – even if it is sometimes tempered by a dysfunctional family. Most of us can relate to that!
Lee Winter’s story, The Friend, is set in Queensland, Australia where traditional Northern Christmas meets blistering temperatures and the Australian traditional Christmas dessert – pavlova (yum, I love a good pav!). Cue the dysfunctional family, ongoing rivalries and a surprise revelation. This story has everything I’ve come to expect from Winter’s writing and was one of my favourites.
Alex K. Thorne’s story, Deck the Halls with Bullets and Holly is set in South Africa and is both amusing and romantic – and a little bit out there. I really liked it.
Sheryn Munin’s story. Mask, is set in India and gives a glimpse into how Indian Christians celebrate Christmas. I loved this story, it’s both moving and romantic and captures the feeling of nostalgia for childhood family Christmases.
Fiona Zedde’s story set in Jamaica, Grand Market Bliss examines what love, family and marriage mean for LGBTQI people in the context of the events of one Christmas Eve afternoon. Brilliant.
Andrea Bramhall’s story, The Night Before Christmas – A Cumbrian Tale is also wonderful. It’s a bit of a thriller and I was unsure how it would turn out. It turned out great and I loved the last sentence in the story.
One other story in the anthology that I particularly enjoyed is Four Chanukahs and a Bat Mitzvah by Cindy Rizzo. It felt longer than a short story, but it isn’t – it just packs a lot into it. It’s gritty and realistic but no less enjoyable for that.
All of the stories are good – but the ones I’ve singled out above have stayed with me. This is one of the best anthologies of its kind that I’ve read. Highly recommended.
Note: I received an advance copy of this work from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2018
This anthology really has something for everybody but as a consequence I found I didn't exactly love every story. I won't dwell on the ones that didn't grab me, however, as there were more than a few festive tales that are utterly brilliant (and in very different ways). I'd half expected this to be a collection along the lines of 'mention Christmas/other holiday, have a lesbian meet-cute or a couple under stress, sex scene.' I probably should have known better given the quality of story collections Ylva has produced to date; mea cupla. Instead this is a diverse collection that varies in both the theme and tone of the tales, as well as the cultural context.
My favourite by far was Lee Winter's "The Friend", (although I should state that I started this story in particular expecting to love it as I'm a huge fan of her work.) In this thought provoking short, Winter revels in the chaos of a 'traditional' English family Christmas - in the heat of an Australian summer. The heat of the day and the simmering tension results in layers being peeled back beautifully, while at the same time celebrating how far we have come as a society. A truly incredible story about how we need to look beneath the surface and how failure to understand the past can stymie our future.
My favourite by far was Lee Winter's "The Friend", (although I should state that I started this story in particular expecting to love it as I'm a huge fan of her work.) In this thought provoking short, Winter revels in the chaos of a 'traditional' English family Christmas - in the heat of an Australian summer. The heat of the day and the simmering tension results in layers being peeled back beautifully, while at the same time celebrating how far we have come as a society. A truly incredible story about how we need to look beneath the surface and how failure to understand the past can stymie our future.
October 24, 2018
An enjoyable collection of festive short stories. I enjoyed and would love more from all the authors! To me a great short makes me want more of that couple and not want to see them go so soon! I definitely got that here. I’m looking forward to their future works and I’m hoping for a novel with Andrea Bramhall’s Rescuer Chloe and Doctor Sam from The Night Before Christmas and Emma Weimann’s Ida and Theresa from It’s in the Pudding just to name a couple! Ladies, I’m not above begging! Please, please, please! If you’re miraculously reading this review, just know that I love those stories! I would recommend this anthology. I received an arc.
October 15, 2018
If you're looking for a book of decent short stories to very short novellas that revolve around the holiday season, then this is for you. There were a lot of stories that just ran together, but a couple of the memorable entrees were from Lee Winter and Andrea Bramhall. There was also a longer story about a clumsy doctor in Wales at the middle of the book I enjoyed - it perfectly encapsulated the "fun and festive" theme of the book.
There really is something for everyone in here and I found myself liking more than my fare share of the stories. Solid anthology from Ylva.
I received this ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest review.
There really is something for everyone in here and I found myself liking more than my fare share of the stories. Solid anthology from Ylva.
I received this ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2020
4.5%
This came up as next book to read. Romance and festive short stories are generally so not my thing to read, but I think I needed some sweetness as a palate cleanser. And I have to say this is an excellent anthology. No clunkers. Good solid, and sometimes exceptional stories. Just what I needed.
This came up as next book to read. Romance and festive short stories are generally so not my thing to read, but I think I needed some sweetness as a palate cleanser. And I have to say this is an excellent anthology. No clunkers. Good solid, and sometimes exceptional stories. Just what I needed.
December 29, 2018
3.5 to 4*. As with any short story collection, there's bound to be some that one likes over others. It's the same with this anthology. But I count it as a win when I do enjoy majority of the stories. The rest are okay, nothing bad, just did not resonate with me as much as the others.
January 25, 2019
This was such a mixed bag spread out over so long I'm just going to leave it at a general 3 and figure out if it needs tws later
December 27, 2018
I got on the "Freebie" bandwagon and grabbed this on Christmas Day, trying to drag out the holiday feels, if you will. Normally I am not a short-story fan, because it's frustrating to even minutely invest in any of the characters when I know this ditty is only going to last a few pages. For this one, it wasn't any different. I enjoyed the different traditions around the world, the detail was fun, but I felt rather empty at the end of each story. Not many warm fuzzies I was hoping for.
As already mentioned by others, some stories stand out more than others. And all stories really ARE just flirty or barely bordering flirty, so if you want some steamy holiday sex including settings of warm fires, Christmas trees, hot tubs in the snow on Christmas eve, mistletoe strategically placed....well, this isn't the series for ya, lasses.
However.....Jody Klaire’s ‘Love Just Is’....if there is any way this could be a fleshed-out full story, Ms. Klaire, I will be very happy. Doctor falling for an actress? Right on. That witty Reverend is a lady? Yes please. Beautiful Welsh Christmas customs? Heart warming. Proposing over copious amounts of wine? Why not. Not only did I want to learn more about the MCs, and see the build up between them but those secondary characters would buffer this story beautifully.
I was also enamoured by Keely's description of Edinburgh at Christmas....my favourite place in the world. I could envision the exact locations her characters walked. That was a gift, thank you. :)
As already mentioned by others, some stories stand out more than others. And all stories really ARE just flirty or barely bordering flirty, so if you want some steamy holiday sex including settings of warm fires, Christmas trees, hot tubs in the snow on Christmas eve, mistletoe strategically placed....well, this isn't the series for ya, lasses.
However.....Jody Klaire’s ‘Love Just Is’....if there is any way this could be a fleshed-out full story, Ms. Klaire, I will be very happy. Doctor falling for an actress? Right on. That witty Reverend is a lady? Yes please. Beautiful Welsh Christmas customs? Heart warming. Proposing over copious amounts of wine? Why not. Not only did I want to learn more about the MCs, and see the build up between them but those secondary characters would buffer this story beautifully.
I was also enamoured by Keely's description of Edinburgh at Christmas....my favourite place in the world. I could envision the exact locations her characters walked. That was a gift, thank you. :)
October 24, 2018
"Language of Love' is a holiday anthology filled with some of the best short stories and novellas by many of the most outstanding authors that Ylva has. I chose to read this anthology because of the list of authors. I didn't even realize it was a holiday anthology until I began to read it.
All of the stories are good and well worth buying the book. They are heartwarming and romantic. Some are funny, some are more serious. All of them will make you glad you read them. There were three stories that stood out for me.
I would have known "The Friend" was written by Lee Winter even if her name had not been at the top of the story. It has her sharp and sometimes biting wit all through the tale, it was humorous and sarcastic and heartwarming all at the same time. And the way Ms. Winter can make her readers actually like a caustic ice queen is just amazing. Excellent story!
Cheyenne Blue made me cry when I read "Orphans' Christmas". I fell in love with the characters and I want to know more about them. I do hope Ms. Blue is considering making this story into a novel.
Wow, can Andrea Bramhall write action and adventure! "The Night Before Christmas---a Cumbrian Tale" had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story, and I want to know more about these characters too. This is another story that I would love to see as a full length novel.
Buy the anthology, folks. You won't be sorry.
An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
All of the stories are good and well worth buying the book. They are heartwarming and romantic. Some are funny, some are more serious. All of them will make you glad you read them. There were three stories that stood out for me.
I would have known "The Friend" was written by Lee Winter even if her name had not been at the top of the story. It has her sharp and sometimes biting wit all through the tale, it was humorous and sarcastic and heartwarming all at the same time. And the way Ms. Winter can make her readers actually like a caustic ice queen is just amazing. Excellent story!
Cheyenne Blue made me cry when I read "Orphans' Christmas". I fell in love with the characters and I want to know more about them. I do hope Ms. Blue is considering making this story into a novel.
Wow, can Andrea Bramhall write action and adventure! "The Night Before Christmas---a Cumbrian Tale" had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story, and I want to know more about these characters too. This is another story that I would love to see as a full length novel.
Buy the anthology, folks. You won't be sorry.
An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
January 28, 2021
A great bunch of stories that bring women together at holiday moments.
What a wonderful collection of stories. I loved each one of these amazing authors and will be looking into more of their work. I admit that the writing is so good I want to know how these amazing characters journeyed after the story ends. I enjoyed the the way they all connected but I was left wondering what happens next. A delightful love story from each writer that only left me wanting more. Bravo well done.
What a wonderful collection of stories. I loved each one of these amazing authors and will be looking into more of their work. I admit that the writing is so good I want to know how these amazing characters journeyed after the story ends. I enjoyed the the way they all connected but I was left wondering what happens next. A delightful love story from each writer that only left me wanting more. Bravo well done.
October 30, 2018
An enjoyable, well-curated set of short stories by a range of authors including Lee Winter. More from her, in all forms of writing, would be appreciated. She remains top-shelf, even in the abbreviated doses of her work that the public has received recently.
November 4, 2018
Usually when it comes to collections of short stories the quality is pretty variable. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed all but one of these stories quite a bit. And the one I didn't like I think was just personal preference, not quality of writing or story.
December 3, 2020
I have read a handful of some of these writers individual work and they're really good. Unfortunately this anthology didn't really impress on me perhaps I blame a mood swing so i hope another pick by these admired editors will amend
December 20, 2019
Very cute, and like lifetime movie-esque
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