Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction Blog
Story 1: Chester by Esther E. Schmidt
This story was more novella length and due to that short, simple and a bit over the top with the insta-love. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read even if the character development fell a bit short for me. I liked the instant loving relationship between Chester and Amelia, but skipped over the hot scenes, since they were kinda interchangeable for me. I liked the idea, but guessed really fast, what was actually happening. The writing style of this author was good and fluent and kept me in the story. I did not understand everything the characters did and showed and how they behaved, but overall it was a nice start for the book and I might pick up the books of Chester's siblings after I finish the Anthology.
3.5 stars
Story 2: Riddick by Kathy Coopmans
Kathy Coopman's books are a hit and miss for me. They can be either great or leave me with just a vague okay-ish feeling. Unfortunately this one was the latter. I liked the idea and the way Riddick and Cora found each other again, but then it went downhill. In my opinion Riddick was a selfish sob and the way he inserted himself in Cora's and Ethan's lifes after PROMISING that he would wait was just too much. I get that they love each other. That it had been 12 years and it was surprising, but seriously? They are not the same people anymore! They have lived and changed! Also the sex scenes were just too much for me. As soon as they started, I skipped over most of them, because they did not bring the story forward at all. The end was not really surprising and I kind of expected it to go this way, since everything pointed there from the begining.
I think what disappointed me most in this story was that it is part of a Single-Parent-Anthology and yet it seemed as if the kid always was the second thought for Cora. She just went to him and talked to him after things happened to make sure he was okay.
2.5 stars
Story 3: Back to Life by Dani René
This one was a sweet and short novella and I enjoyed reading it. It could have been a bit longer to give the characters a bit more depth, but all in all I enjoyed reading it and it was kind of a heartbreaker in the beginning. I liked both kids and the way Kayla was with Nicholas. I did not like how Caleb was with his daughter from time to time. They were all about trust, but he had a sitter for a 15-year-old when he went out for dinner? Not really trusting if you ask me.
Since I would have liked for the book to be a bit longer to really connect with the characters 3.5 stars for this one.
Story 4: Ripple Effect by Evan Grace
This story was my first highlight of this anthology. It was written in a heartbreakingly beautiful way and I loved every second I spent with Rip and Brock. They both broke my heart and reading about their turmoil and fears brought me to tears more than once. I admit I guessed pretty fast who the father of Alex was, but I never thought I would be right. Ever. When it all came to light I began to hate Brock, because of what he did and what this did to Rip. Did she not suffer enough? The end was coming a little bit too fast for me and did not made a lot of sense (you get what I mean, when you read the book). I wished this was better explained, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading this story and will definitely pick up more by this author.
4.5 stars
Story 5: Heartbreaker Anna Brooks
This was a short and fastpaced novella that reminded me a lot of Alexa Riley's books. They are also short and a bit over the top, but oh so enjoyable. Ryan and Opal stole my heart right along with that adorable girl Olivia. I loved to see Opal opening up and conquering her fears and Ryan patiently waiting for her. It was a really good developed plot and I enjoyed reading this novella.
4 stars
Story 6: Whispered Prayers of a Girl by Alex Grayson
If you only want to read one story from this anthology, read this one. I adore Alex Grayson and since I am a lucky girl, I had not read this story before I got my hands on this anthology, so I was in for a treat. And what a treat this was! I highly recommend having tissues ready, because you will cry. A lot. And you will laugh. And then you will cry again, because this book is a very well written emotional rollercoaster you won't be able to get off till the very end. I loved it and it was THE highlight of this book for me
5+++++ stars
Story 7: Wicked truths by L.A. Cotton
After the emotional rollercoster of the previous book this one was like a balm on my enraged nerves. It was easy to read and really sweet and I enjoyed it as a calm down after the previous book. The characters were well developed and I fell in love with all of them
4.5 stars
Story 8: Whe Hope ends (Life Begins) by Freya Barker
I did not expect another emotional rollercoster like Alex Grayson's book so soon after it, but this one came close. It's my second favorite story of this anthology and I recommend keeping the tissues ready again. The sadness and pain of the grown-up main characters were very well portrayed and my heart broke all over again with them during the book. They were so well developed and the way their journey back into the light was portrayed was gripping and so real I had to check a few times if I was there with them or at home reading. Freya Barker is a very talented author I will pick up again after I finish this story to see what else she got. My only negative point is that in the end it felt a bit rushed. I would have liked the interview to have its own scene, because I really really really wanted to know how he got roasted.
4.5 stars
Story 9: Boss of Me by Angel Devlin
This one was a nice and funny story. I laughe a lot and shook my head over his stupidity and prejudices while my heart went out for Pippa and her struggles. I would ahve wished for a bit more holding out and back from both characters in the beginning, but in the end everything turned out nice and I enjoyed this fluffy read.
4 stars
Story 10: Tempt Me by Kally Ash
I did not click at all with Gianna and Max. Both characters were too shallow and not really well portrayd in my opinion. Gianna was a bland female character which was just a little bit too cliché for me since she did not know about her beauty and I really don't like this character trait in my female characters. As for Max, he was completely unbelievable. I mean first he gets dumped, got it, bad situation, then he's looking for a nanny and even though his daughter is the most important person in his life, he takes the first offer he finds "on the streets? No credentials? No experience? Nothing? Apparently he checked her out, how? It was never really explained and the way he kind of expected from Gianna to come with him instead of staying in New York was a huge disappointment. The writing style was good, though.
3 stars
Story 11: Just because of You by Gianna Gabriela
DNF. Could not get into the story because of the writing style.
Story 12: Fighting for Us by Heather Lyn
Wow, oh wow, oh wow, oh wow! What a flipping powerful story! I loved Levi and Emmy so much! And their little girl was just adorable <3 I totally guessed what would happen, but it never put me off reading, because the writing style and plot were so captivating. This is one of my top 3 books of this anthology!
4.5 stars
Story 13: Hunter by Lauren Daws
The one and only paranormal romance in this book. It was a short and easy novella that opened my heart, but left me a bit unsatisfied. As far as I understand it, most shifters only have one mate during their whole life. If this mate dies, he can find another partner, but not a (soul)mate again which is why I was a bit disappointed that this wasn't explained better. I would always have felt second best if I were the female. Nevertheless it was a nice story.
3.5 stars
Story 14: Resisting Rayne by HL Nighbor
The last story in this anthology left me deeply disappointed. After reading the blurb of this book, I was already wondering how the author would manage to fit all this into a short novella and I was right to doubt it. Normally I'm not that picky with showing and telling as long as it is combined in a good way, but here everything that happened was just told. I did not get the sparks or the things that held the characters back from pursuing a relationship. It all went by too fast and thast kept me from fully enjoying the book, even though the idea was nice. Also... 38 in my opinion is NOT a silver fox!
2.5 stars
So, I read all 1 stories and I think it is rather obvious, which ones were my favorites. Overall it was a very good anthology and the placement of the stories was mostly good and made it easy to read the whole book from back to back. I did not love all stories, but I think that's a given with most anthologies, but I highly recommend picking this one up, if you love yourself some single parents.
I give the whole anthology 4 stars