Kind Hearts at Christmas

by Sue Brown (Contributor), Joanna Chambers (Contributor), Barbara Elsborg (Contributor)

Kind Hearts At Christmas is an mm romance anthology in support of HIV / AIDS charities.

It’s Christmas…it’s snowing, there are gifts to give and receive, trees to decorate and all the great food to enjoy. It’s a time to spread kindness where men are falling in love, lust and everything in between.

From a school reunion, a morning after a one-night stand, university friends, a secret agent, an ex-husband in a coma, an unemployed truck driver, a naked man in a snowstorm, a village policeman, a motherless boy, Kind Hearts At Christmas has something for everyone. Each story features romance between men during the Christmas holidays, as they express their desires, from sweet kisses, up to spicy so-much-more.

Kind Hearts At Christmas has all the tropes including: snowed in, cowboys, holiday, forced proximity, fairy-tale folklore, established couple, adult film star, only one bed, return to hometown, hurt/comfort, school crushes, opposites attract, good boy/bad boy, found family & enemies to lovers.

Grab some hot chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows, indulge in a mince pie or a slice of Christmas cake, curl up and escape into the Christmassy romance. With sixteen stories by some of your favourite mm romance authors, you're sure to find something to help you rediscover the joy and kindness of Christmas!

This anthology will only be available until 28 February 2023. Make sure you don’t miss buying your copy.

Stories are between 5,000 words (16 pages) to 25,000 words (80 pages) the anthology features stories by:

Sue Brown — My Christmas Nemesis
Joanna Chambers — The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Barbara Elsborg — A Spaceman Came Travelling
Suki Fleet — Ethan Gold Feels Like Home
Amber Kell — Kissing the Winter Wizard
Liam Livings — Should Old Acquantance Be Forgot?
Clare London — Santa No. 5
Susan Mac Nicol — Our Kind of Music
Louisa Mae — Tainted Love
Jackie North — The Christmas Pony
Jack L. Pyke — Holly and the Heathen
Ali Ryecart — The Christmas Café
K.C. Wells — Never Let You Go

AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the United States. Half the profits from the sale of this anthology will support AIDS United's work to ensure access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the United States.

This charity anthology is in support of Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), with 50% of profits from its sale going to THT. THT is the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity. We support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, and help the people using our services to achieve good sexual health. Our mission is to end new HIV transmissions in the UK by 2030, and to bring an end to stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. By purchasing this anthology, you are supporting us, alongside AIDS United, as we work towards our vision of a world where people living with HIV lead healthy lives free from prejudice, and good sexual health is a right and reality for all.

Genres: Anthologies, Holiday, M M Romance, Christmas, Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories

757 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

Hot guys, big hearts, Sue's world.
Sue Brown is a Londoner with a dream to live on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance with hot guys loving each other, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.

Reviews

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinds Hearts at Christmas is an anthology to benefit HIV and AIDS charities in the UK and US. I don't think I've ever given five stars to an anthology before, but this one deserves every last one of them!

Each of the short stories center around an act of kindness, and shows what results from someone going just a bit out of their way. With over 750 pages of marvelous authors, Kind Hearts at Christmas is a truly fantastic holiday treat!

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown
With shades of British department store comedies, Sue Brown's enemies to lovers story is truly charming. The two men started off on the wrong foot, but their mutual attraction cannot be denied. Thankfully, as with many things in life, hurt feelings and misunderstandings can be soothed with a good meal and honest communication. Really lovely.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers
I got such a kick out of this one! Jordan has a chip on his shoulder, and it turns out Harrison is just as sweet as he can be, his intensions are pure, and all Jordan has to do is open his heart to receive the friendship (and love) offered to him.

A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg
Oh my gosh - you all know how much I adore Barbara Elsborg's stories, and I'd do anything to get another 200 pages of A Spaceman Came Travelling! A sweet kid + a kindhearted "guncle" + a sassy, adorable alien all conspire to create a marvelous hurt/comfort holiday story.

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet
Whoa, Suki Fleet's story is a stunning mix of paranormal and hurt/comfort and the result is simply fantastic! I literally couldn't put this dark and heartfelt story. Truly lovely.

Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell
I've never read Amber Kell before, and I've got to give this author points for their sense of humor. True, the story is a bit sad in spots, but the uplifting relationship between uncle and niece kept me smiling.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot by Liam Livings
Where have I been? I've never heard of Liam Livings before... but I'm so glad to discover this amazing author's work! This is a really sweet tale of a reunion, and a reformed bully, and happily ever afters. I really enjoyed the way the author spins the story. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Santa No. 5 by Clare London
Clare London's fantastic sense of humor pervades this lighthearted romance. A clever and charming small town holiday love story.

A Night to Remember by Susan Mac Nicol
Inspired by a gifted homeless musician, two university students organize a holiday festival to benefit the homeless. An absoluely wondeful tale!

Tainted Love by Louisa Mae
A complex story about darkness and light. Angels.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North
Such an incredibly sweet holiday story! A trucker's kind acts make a young girl's Christmas a truly special one... and it pays off with a Merry Christmas for all.

Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyke
Fans of Jack, Jan, and Gray Don't want to miss this one! Traveling back to rural North Wales, the guys run into an odd pair. (All is not what it seems.) It did my old heart good to see these three playing and teasing and making a home together. Jack L. Pyke blends magic and mystery, and my three favorite guys in the world find some peace during the holiday season.

The Christmas Cafe by Ali Ryecart
What a lovely, heartwarming story. I love how the folks at Ed'z Eatz opened up their hearts to Seb, even after he made such a poor first impression. The Christmas Spirit doesn't care how much you have in your bank account... after all, kindness is free.

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells
Heartbreaking, yet so uplifting - K.C. Wells always knows just how to tug at my heartstrings! A unique and moving tale of finding love in unexpected places, and a timely reminder to never give up hope. Romance might be just around the corner!

an advanced copy of Kind Hearts at Christmas was provided for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall 3.5 stars

I find anthologies always have a mix of stories that I'll enjoy and some I may not but overall this was enjoyable. I was introduced to authors that were new to me which I always like. I will add individual reviews to all the stories soon . The theme of each story seemed to center around an act of kindness. This anthology had the heartwarming feels one expects from their Holiday reads😁 .



My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown

2.5 stars

Laurence works at a retail store. He is asked to work on Christmas Eve. He isn't happy about but agrees to it. Problem is his arch nemesis, Aaron, is also working that day. He has spent the last 18 months avoiding shifts with Aaron after over hearing Aaron calling him a loser. However, these two are stuck together.

The story is enemies to lovers which I love but it was too short and too quick. I couldn't any real feel for it or the characters. It was still cute but I wanted more.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers

4 stars

Jordan just started working at tech firm. He is great with coding but not so much with people. Which is probably why he doesn't realize when one of his co-workers, Harrison, has been hitting on him. It takes another co-worker to open his eyes.

A quick read but it was packed with just the right stuff. Really enjoyed it.

A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg

3 stars

Seven does a kind thing for Cooper's nephew. Cooper invites him over for Christmas dinner. Cooper has been visiting the Cafe Seven works at for some time. He has a bit of a crush on him. Seven finds him attractive too but Seven has secrets that make him hesitant on starting something with Cooper.

It was an interesting story. I loved what Seven did for Cooper. It was a lot to try and get in to a short. The ending seemed a bit rushed even with two epilogues 😆

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet

3 stars

Ethan Gold has been fired from his job and kicked out of his home. With nowhere to go he lives out of his car. On one blizzardy night he finds a man naked in the snow. Ethan helps the man. There is an instant connection between the two. The man, Win, feels familiar to Ethan but there is something Win is keeping secret. There is a curse on Win and he has 24 hours to break it.

I liked the story. There as a bit of a mystery about Win and the curse. There was a connection between Ethan and Win. I will say, weirdly enough, that the story dragged on a bit too long.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a decent collection of stories for this charity anthology which is supporting HIV/AIDS charities, both here in the UK and in the US. Mainly UK authors, and including a few of my faves such as Joanna Chambers, Barbara Elsborg and Suki Fleet.

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel this anthology is a bargain. There are short stories and longer stories. These are some of the well-known authors getting together, providing a wide variety of stories that kept me busy reading. I found stories I normally would not have read, I really enjoyed. This opened up other type stories for me.

Jack L. Pyke Holly and the Heather
This story is the reason I wanted to get this analogy. I have read both series, Don’t and Broken Ink, and wanted to see how this author was going to bring the main characters from both series together. Not only does this story bring them together but does a thorough job of letting you know about the characters. I could have read this story without having read either series.
Gray, Jack and Jan are on their way to spend some time together and have a little quiet time for bonding when they are faced with the issue of helping a disabled car and the guys in it. Kiyen and Fal are stranded and not sure why they are there. When Gray, Jack and Jan stop, all the guys are apprehensive of each other. As this story progresses the interaction between the two groups gets tense at times but the way they all deal with each other adds so much to describe their individual personalities. This crossover also does a great job of opening up the possibilities of where each series could head next. The story follows the authors style of providing description and details plus making sure the story flow is continuous. Even though this is a complete story in itself it just reminded me how impatient I am to get the next part of both series. I’d love to see more of all these characters together.



Sue Brown My Christmas Nemesis
Both Laurence and Aaron work at Sandy's a low cost, high turnover store. They started same day. Now Lawrence has been there 5 years. He is very insecure and feels he has no friends. He has had a crush on Aaron his co-worker until he over-heard Aaron and another employee discussing Aaron's promotion and called Laurence a loser and no competition. They agreed Jenn, Lawrence’s supervisor, protected him otherwise he would not have kept his job. Aaron is line to be next assistant manager. Aaron sets it up to work the same shift Christmas eve as Lawrence because Aaron is attracted to Laurence. Aaron plans to make his feelings known and surprises Lawrence when he lets him know how attracted he is to him.

Joanna Chambers The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Jordan new graduated and only been at his job with Deacon Kirk Software Solutions, four months, working on an important product upgrade. Problem is Jordan doesn't fit in. He is gay working class boy from Liverpool who loves football while colleagues are posh, straight and play rugby. Jordan is attracted to Harrison who is one of the most popular employees. Jordan falls into trouble when he is supposed to attend a meeting presenting himself in a business fashion. Harrison steps in and helps him but Jordan doesn’t take Harrison’s help personally. Jordan continues to examine all the differences between his co-workers and himself and that puts him on the defensive. Finally, something happens that makes him re examine his interactions with Harrison and his part in being left out.
Barbara Elsbory A Spaceman Came Travelling
This story has a little Sci Fi to it. This is a retelling of Cinderella. SEVEN IS LIVING a awful life when he brings goodness into Ben's life. Ben is a little boy who has lost his mom and it being Christmas time he has high hopes of being able to go to the stars and visit her. Cooper is Ben's uncle. Ben lives with him since both parents are died. Seven provides a way to help Ben through the holidays and keeps Cooper from dealing with a disappointed nephew at Christmas. Cooper and Sevens attraction develops quickly and there are a number of twists before everything gets resolved. This is a heartwarming story.


Suki Fleet Ethan Gold Feels Like Home
Four years since his dad died, Ethan is living with his aunt. Ethan has tiptoed around his miserable religious aunt trying to show her how grateful he was she came to take care of him so he didn't end up in kids home but she took down family pics and replaced them with church pics and no matter what he did she replaced it or ignored him. Ethan tried his hardest but aunt made him know nothing was good enough and she would never love him. Finding out he was gay she decided to kick him out and let him know if he didn't leave she would call police. Even though Ethan had not done what he was accused of, he lost his job so was forced to live out of his car. He had bought the car on his 17th birthday from wages and other money he earned and saved.
On his 3rd evenings trying to sleep in his car he saw a person in the rear view stumbling through the snow. Ethan got out of the car yelling at him but the boy didn’t appear to have heard him. The boy then stumbled and passed out. Ethan carried him to his car and found Win was not as he expected. There was a twenty four hour challenge for Win and he found his attraction to Ethan helped. This story has many twists and made me anxious to see what would come next. Things with Win appeared different than I expected and the dealing with Ethan’s aunt was a surprise. I don’t normally enjoy fantasy type stories but this one might make me look at more.

Amber Kell Kissing the Winter Wizard
Maddy who is eleven wants her uncle Sam to kiss the wizard statue so he gets talked into it.
Next morning someone pounding on Sam’s door at 6 a.m. The guy walks in, shuts the door and said his name Allard. You are the one who kissed me. I was certain my magic drew me to the right location. He explained he was the statue. Allard said Sam is his soul mate. He said took you long enough to notice you've been coming to the park for years and didn't pay attention. I've been encased in Stone most of your life then Allard explained how he became a statue. The issue of Maddy’s custody was something that became a priority for Sam but Allard stepped in to help. Sam and Allard had to figure out what the future held for them and Maddy.

Liam Livings Should Old Acquaintances Be Forgot
Drew goes to his class reunion where he still feels like the kid that was bullied. William, who was a jock in school, goes to the class reunion to apologize for being a bully in school. William figured out that his bullying people was because he didn’t want to admit he was gay. William and Drew start talking and catching up. William apologized and they continue talking about all the things that happened in the past. Drew starts to see maybe he might have been a little to blame. Good story and great reminder about bullying.

Clare London Santa No.5
Jacob Carter is the new sergeant of Kingsmere's police station. He has been Sergeant for two months. He originally thought this was a way up his career ladder but it was the opposite. He had got too big for his boots and ended up in this village, not even a small town with an even smaller crime rate.
Nicks family is trouble but not him. He works at staying out of trouble and helps where he can. His dad in jail for burglary. His mom is on probation for internet fraud. His brother Bernie a thief. Then Nick gets caught in the act of reaching in a woman purse but when faced with pressing charges and identifying Nick she says nothing was stolen and she can't id the guy who supposedly was in her purse. This is when Jacob gets involved in the burglaries. When he comes face to face with Nick, he is attracted to him. They get together but circumstances happen that can cause problems between the two. Jacob decides to stake out the next person he suspects will be robbed. Here again a twist causes Jacob to discover Nick has been doing things differently than people believe. What all happens and who gets involved in solving the burglaries is entertaining. Fun holiday story.


Susan Mac Nicol A Night To Remember
Midas and Teddy have 3 things in common, university,music and rum laced coffee...plus Midas has been lusting after Teddy for awhile. Milo's best friend at DBS Institure is Newton Craig. Newt knew Milo since they were kids and knew Milo was stuck on Teddy. But Teddy didn't know Milo was gay. He didn't want to come on to someone who wasn't receptive to him. He said been there done that. He had his nose broken by a guy he came on to who was not ready to admit he was gay. Newt told Milo Teddy's schedule and what dorm he was in. Newt was hung up on Amy, who was Teddy’s bff, and had been trying to get her to notice him for months. Milo got caught following Teddy and had to admit he was attracted to Teddy. Teddy said Amy had told him Milo was following him. She tells Teddy everything and that includes everything Newt tells her. Teddy and Milo run across a violinist playing and when they learned his story they get involved in a project to make some money for the homeless. This story is warm hearted figuring out who they are. So fitting for the holidays.



Louisa Mae Tainted Love
I really enjoyed this story but I felt sad at the end. I may have missed it but I didn’t get a concrete reason Lucian was the fallen, no redemption angel. I enjoyed it enough that I will check out more of this author’s stories.
Lucian an angel of darkness is faced with mortals and can't resist having fun during the season of goodwill. Lucian didn't understand the actions of those since he is unbelieving in the traditions. He enjoyed the endless drama feeding on the conflict which arose. He observed how the humans didn't appear to take one moment to enjoy the sights of the season in their hurry to shop. Next Lucian observed a girl catching sight of a store window angel. The child was so fascinated on what to Lucian was a poor representation of a real angel. He felt a presence around the girl. It was SAGE. Lucian had memories of time spent with Sage. Sage didn't remember Lucian and he felt indifferent about Lucian. He had this same indifference to Lucian every time they had reunited since Lucians fall. Lucian tried to find Sage but only found the lingering energy surrounding the girl. Later, Lucian found himself observing the humans as the holiday approached. One night he was drawn to a place where music and sounds of raucous behavior intrigued him. He normally would not frequent someplace as this but he justified his visit as business not pleasure. The bar had seen better days and held little to celebrate the season. The people seemed to be filled with too much alcohol. Fights would be commonplace as disagreements spiraled into something serious. Perfect for Lucian to absorb the emotions to feed his dark soul. But he didn’t feel the need to be involved with these people since he didn’t think he would be able to change their path. Again, he walked the streets searching for something to fulfill the need in him. He found it in a bar called The Rainbow Rooms. He posed as a hapless human and waited in line to enter. Once in he felt Acceptance. He was in a room with mostly LGBTQ members. He flirted with the bartender who mentioned his husband probably wouldn't like it. Lucian kept flirting and again asked his name. Kian pointed out Lucian was a man who walks into a bar and propositions a married man. That's a bold move. As Lucian talked to Kian he had sight of a figure behind him. Joe, Kian’s husband, had previously known Lucian. Kian and Joe end up arguing and Lucian steps in to help the disagreement along. Sage appears and keeps pushing Kian to make things right with his husband Joe while Lucian pushes a little the other way. In the meantime, Sage and Lucian are drawn together again. Different situations happen and even though Sage and Lucian get together again Lucian knows later
Sage will not remember. They will continue meeting forever and Lucian can suffer through it because he never wants to forget anything about Sage. Lucian will wait til the end of time for any moments with Sage.


Jackie North The Xmas Pony
The story is a good holiday story even without having read more of the series but I think would have enjoyed it more if I’d had a little more background on the ranch and it’s occupants.
Ty has one last job and then the trucking Co he has worked for the last 5 years will be taken over by the new Co and they have no interest in keeping him as a employee. He just has to deliver the Pony by Christmas morning and then he is done. There is a blizzard stopping Ty from driving his original route. He could turn back and not deliver the Pony. Or he could try the two-lane blacktop road to Farthingdale Ranch. He could go home with his pink slip to a apartment where his lease is up Dec 30. He had lost his dad 9 months ago to a heart attack and he had been struggling to keep his job at Eaton trucking. Three weeks ago a west coast conglomerate had bought the trucking co and had no plans of keeping the old employees. Ty decided to deliver the pony but got snowed in at the ranch. It gave him a chance to meet Bea, Bill, Austin and Clay. Ty wasn’t sure how much to get involved with these people since he would be leaving and probably never see them again. Then circumstance changes and Ty future takes a different turn.


Ali Ryecart The Christmas Café
This is an interesting way to point out someone needing to examine their lifestyle and values. Seb is left without friends to celebrate with so he decides to go out on his own and visit a different bar. Things get out of hand and he ends up in a situation he is unprepared for. While trying to resolve his dilemma he walks into a old café unlike what he is used to. The people here are pretty down on their luck and this café offers them kindness. Seb meets Tom. Tom is hard working and left to deal with the café on his own. He can’t keep up so Seb steps in to help. Their back and forth conversations are eye opening to Seb. I enjoyed this story but wish the end had been a little more detailed. It is a heartfelt story.


K C Wells Never Let You Go
This story tore at every emotion I could have. It was so sad how a couple could be together yet so far apart. This author has a gift for making me happy and sad at the same time and thoroughly enjoying the story. Max is on a sort of guilt trip while spending time with Paul in the hospital. When everything comes out about the people close to Paul, I just wanted to cry for him. His life seems somewhat empty yet. Max does his best to be there for Paul but things don’t work out yet he keeps examining what could have been. At the same time Tiny, Paul’s nurse, is attracted to Max. Tiny is a guy I could not help but want to know. He checks all the boxes for a great guy. His character makes this a perfect holiday story. This story has so much reality to it that I could not help but feel these characters.

[Renée · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I read 3 of the stories, and was SUPER excited and pleasantly surprised to see a novella featuring Gray, Jack, and Jan from Jack Pyke. It really confused me though. It takes place after Book 7, but I'm gonna need some friends to read it because I have so many questions.

The Joanna Chambers story was very cute.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet stories for a good cause from some of my favorite authors..
It was really fun and heartwarming and beautiful.
Read this one!

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to GRR for providing an advanced copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

First, the proceeds of this anthology are going to an amazing cause so I highly encourage everyone who’s interested in it to purchase it!

Second, this anthology is filled with cute Christmas stories from a myriad of popular authors! I absolutely loved going through these and they definitely got me in the Christmas spirit!

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed bag of seasonal schmaltz. The Joanna Chambers is the standout entry.

[Jack Pyke]

For my part in this anthology, Holly and the Heathen involves both the Don't... series lads and those in Broken Ink in a Christmas crossover special. So psych thriller meets PNR, with some old Welsh folktale.

Broken Ink

Don't...: A gay BDSM Thriller

Blurb:

The old Welsh tree that Kiyen crashes into carries a dark folklore, one that stops MI5 Director Gray Raoul from offering to help. Only Gray’s not exactly travelling home alone for Christmas, and even under threat of hearing his name called out in Welsh, the whisper in his ear is that it’s the time for goodwill, even for him. Right?

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly: Buy this book! It is for a good cause. That being said, I have no idea how/if to rate this overall. Anthologies are always tough bc not everything works for everyone, but there were several quite good stories. However, the bad was really not great. Again, please keep in mind that 50% of the proceeds go to HIV charities in the US and UK, so it's worth it to buy it if you want to support that! Maybe just skip anything that isn't working for you. I know some people want the breakdown story to story, so this was my experience:

The Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown - 2.5 stars - Super abrupt ending, standard fare, but can’t rate it higher bc it just . . . ends.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers - 3.5 stars? - This feels like it could be in her holiday collection Merry & Bright. If you liked those stories, you’ll probably enjoy this.

A Spaceman Came Traveling by Barbara Elsborg - skipped bc I don’t get on with the author (plus I could see there were two epilogues from the table of contents, one 25 years later and . . . * deep sigh *)

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet - 3.5 stars - Features reunited friends and finding home in one another. The mystical part was cool; the part about the aunt was confusing.

Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell - 1 star - What was this. It's only three chapters long, yet there's room for descriptions of horrible abuse of a genderfluid child. But don't worry, bc their uncle kisses a statue in a magical climate controlled park and that turns out to be his soul mate from a different realm who has his entire fortune in the base of his statue. And then they can win the court case against the child's evil cop father? Merry Holidays, I guess.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? By Liam Livings - 2 stars - Answer to title question: Yes - I just don’t like Redeemed Bully stories, especially when there isn’t sufficient groveling and he keeps being a dick to everyone, but is slightly less dickish than the other MC’s family, so I guess that’s enough?

Santa No. 5 by Clare London - 3.5 stars - This one is just cute, thankfully. It’s a bit of fluff between a local policeman and a fellow from a family of petty criminals who has a bad reputation by association.

A Night to Remember by Susan Mac Nicol - um - Only two chapters this time and I couldn’t finish the first one. Unreadable “funny?" dialogue that was mostly just offensive and could not really see where the romance was supposed to be.

Tainted Love by Louisa Mae - DNF after a few paragraphs; I looked up the author, realized I haven’t had luck with them in the past, and the writing style isn’t for me.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North - 4 stars - Heartwarming and affecting, actually made me tear up a bit; however, this is in no way shape or form a romance. It is in the world of some of the author’s other books, apparently, and the couple featured as secondary characters were probably the MCs in another book. Worked okay as a standalone, probably better if you know the players.

Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyle - Skipped this one. Might be fine, but I haven't read the previous stories and would probably be lost.

The Christmas Cafe by Ali Ryecart - 3.5 stars - Quite sweet Christmas Day strays story.

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells - 4 stars - Big content warnings for death and end of life decisions, but I enjoyed the connection between the ex-husband of a comatose patient and a single father nurse who has been caring for him. Probably the best of a wildly differing lot.

I received a review copy from Gay Romance Reviews and these are my honest opinions. (I have donated the price of the book to AIDS United.)

[Anna]

Sue Brown - My Christmas Nemesis: this was okay but I really am not a huge fan of the misscommunication trope. Also I'm pretty sure that there are typos in this with the character's name because the big slip up uses a different name than the MC and maybe it's a last name but it's not mentioned anywhere else but it just didn't work. It didn't make sense. Been there was a reference to a onesie but that's literally the only reference to any sort of kink or age play. I just don't think it needed to be in there if it wasn't going to be addressed. No explicit scenes.

Joanna Chambers - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: this was cute! It's got an out gay coworker who has a crush on another assumed straight (only by this gay MC) coworker and I liked it a lot. One explicit scene.

Barbara Elsborg - A Spaceman Came Travelling: adorable. Contemporary Cinderella morphs into science fiction with a heart of gold at the center. I didn't love the beginning but as it went on I was more invested. There's a single dad MC and a kid who just wants to visit him mom in the stars and a good Samaritan MC who wants to try and make it happen (as much as it's possible). Explicit scenes. Very cute epilogues. Honestly this wasn't even that long but I'm impressed by how complete it feels.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

The Kind Hearts at Christmas anthology is published in support of HIV/AIDS charities. The spark for the idea is explained in the preface and dedication written by author Liam Livings, who also writes a story in the anthology. The stories range from 22 pages to 86 pages and include many favorite tropes, such as snowed in, found family, and only one bed, to name just a few. There are 13 stories set around winter or the holiday season, with plenty of variety. While we’re not reviewing every story here, we’ve included a range to give readers an idea about what’s included. The anthology will only be available until February 28, 2023, with profits benefiting the Terrence Higgins Trust and AIDS United. It’s the perfect time to get your copy and support two dedicated charities.

Read Michelle's and Kris' review in its entirety here.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Christmas Nemesis, Sue Brown, 3*
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Joanna Chambers, 3.5*
A Spaceman Came Travelling, Barbara Elsborg, 3*
Ethan Gold Feels Like Home, Suki Fleet, 3*
Kissing the Winter Wizard, Amber Kell, 4*
Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot, Liam Livings, 2*
Santa No 5, Clare London, 3
Our Kind of Music, Susan Mac Nicol, 3.5*
Tainted Love, Louisa Mae, DNF - boring
The Christmas Pony, Jackie North, 5*
Holly & The Heathen, Jack Pyle, Skipped - it's part of a series
The Christmas Cafe, Alie Ryecart, 4.5*
Never Let You Go, KC Wells, 3.5

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown - 3/5 stars
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers - 3/5 stars
A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg - 4.5/5 stars
Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet 4/5
Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell - 2/5
Santa No. 5 by Clare London - 3/5 stars
The Christmas Pony by Jackie North 3/5 i guess?
The Christmas Cafe by Ali Ryecart - 3.5/5 stars
Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells - 4.5/5 stars

If I didn't mention a story, it's because I don't know the author and skimmed it.

[DLB2572 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Anthology for A Good Cause

These are all great stories. I love that they were all put together in this anthology for this cause.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown: 1 Star

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers: 3 Stars

A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg: 2 Stars

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet: 3 Stars

Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell: 1 Star

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot by Liam Livings: 1.5 Stars

Santa No. 5 by Clare London: 1.5 Stars

A Night to Remember by Susan Mac Nicol: 2 Stars

Tainted Love by Louisa Mae: 2 Stars

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North: 1.5 Star

Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyke: Did not read, characters from other series

The Christmas Cafe by Ali Ryecart: 3.0 Stars

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells: 3.5 Stars

[Lena Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown

If someone hurts you, it's better to confront them about it rather than let it fester. It allows the other person to clarify things and can lead to a more favorable outcome. After hearing Aaron, a coworker, make disparaging comments about him, Laurence feels like he is "out to get him." For months, he avoids Aaron until they are thrown together on Christmas Eve. Thanks, Sue, for the charming "Halmarkish” story with a delightful ending.


The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers

There's an old saying that when you assume something, it makes an a** out of you and me. Jordan is attracted to a coworker, Harrison, who is ridiculously handsome. Still, Jordan has had his share of falling for straight guys with devastating results, so Jordan assumes that Harrison is straight. He misinterprets Harrison's interest as a joke and is rude to him. When he discovers the truth, Jordan hopes there is still time to salvage the situation. Thanks, Joanna, for reminding us not to jump to conclusions.

A Spaceman Came Traveling by Barbara Elsborg

We've all been in situations where life isn't ideal; we don't fit in anywhere but desperately want to. Seven works at a restaurant where he is taken advantage of to return to his cold, lonely room. A bright spot in his life is when one of the patrons comes in with a little boy. Seven overhears the little boy saying he wants a space suit to visit his deceased mother in the stars. Seven doesn't want him to be disappointed. Determined to make the boy's dream come true, he designs a space suit and drops it off.

even's act of kindness reminds me that giving without the expectation of receiving is the best gift of all. Thanks, Barbara, for the different Christmas story that emphasized the real spirit of Christmas.

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet

Home is where the heart is a well-established fact. Often people will let you down, disappointing you when they ought love you. Yet, if you find someone who loves you unconditionally, being with them is like coming home. Recognizing this truth gives Ethan and Win their much-deserved happy ending. The supernatural element makes this hurt-comfort story more profound, while eventually having a happy ending is complex and frightening—especially when the "bad guy's role is unclear. Thanks, Suki, for reminding us that family is not always the people you are kin to.

Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell

When Sam's niece, Maddy, talks him into kissing a statue of a wizard, he doesn't think the "statue," Allard, now a man, will show up at his front door. The story continues with hilarious, tender, and solemn events. Thanks, Amber, for turning a serious situation into a happy one by bringing Maddy, Allard, and Sam together for the best Christmas ever.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? by Liam Livings

Shakespeare wrote: "To err is human and to forgive divine." Although Drew has reservations, his best friend convinces him to attend his 10th high school class reunion, promising she will go with him. Her child gets sick at the last moment, and she must back out, leaving Drew to decide to go since he is bound to run into his nemesis, William, who tortured him unmercifully through school. As he feared, William is there but is unexpectedly nice to Drew. They have changed a great deal since high school and soon learn that they are more alike now than then. William apologizes profusely for the idiot boy he was back then. A blizzard throws them together, during which time they have a brief sexual encounter. They part ways but not on good terms, which they soon regret. Finally, William decides that a life with Drew is more important than his pride and apologizes again but will Drew still hold a grudge or forgive him? Thanks, Liam, for reminding us that having a grievance against another damages us as much as it does them.

Santa No 5 by Clare London

Jacob Carter, the new police chief of a small village, has difficulty believing that Nicholas (Nick) Hollybush is a criminal because Nick has tried hard to make up for his evil ways by doing good deeds in the village. Still, Jacob must wonder when Mrs. Summers identifies Nick, dressed as Santa No.5, as the person with his hand in her purse. It's almost unheard of, but there have been three break-ins, and Nick may be involved. Thanks, Clare, for the story's twists and turns and the happy, unpredictable ending, reminding us that things are not always what they seem.

Our Kind of Music by Susan Mac Nicol

Milas has a crush on Teddy, a fellow student, but hasn't been brave enough to ask him out. Instead, he follows Teddy like a stalker, admiring him from afar. One day, Teddy calls him out on his "stalking" asking why he's following him. Milas must think fast and points to a fantastic musician busking on a nearby corner. It turns out that the man, Alfie, was a famous musician until AIDS took his partner. After that, he lost his desire to play. Milas and Teddy are planning a winter festival to benefit AIDS research and ask Alfie if he would like to participate because his appearance would earn even more money for the cause. At first, Alfie is hesitant, but when he starts to think about it, he knows it is a good idea. Along with other talented street people, they form a band and perform. Thank you, Susan, for this magical story and for reminding us of what Henry Wadsworth wrote: "Music is the universal language of mankind."

Tainted Love by Louisa Mae

Lucian is a fallen angel who, while on Earth during Christmas, can't wait to cause mischief and mayhem. As he contemplates agitating a couple by flirting with one of the men, he realizes he knows his partner. As he reflects on what to do next, he runs into his lover, Sage, an angel still in good standing. They haven't seen each other for a very long time. Even though Sage tries to pretend he doesn't care, secretly, he does. Lucian is madly in love with Sage and wants to be with him, but it can never happen because of his fateful choice. As they struggle with their "different" missions, Sage to bring happiness to others and Lucien to bring misery, they contemplate past decisions. ‘Tainted Love’ was a dark story with some light thrown in. Also, I'd like to know what Lucien did to make him fall. Thanks, Louisa, for reminding us that none of us are all good or evil; we are a mix of both.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North

It takes a good-hearted person to go above and beyond to ensure a little girl has her special Christmas gift, but that's what Ty does. Even though he is at a low point in life, he wants to make sure that he makes someone else happy. After his truck goes into a ditch, Ty drives through a blizzard and walks to the Farthingdale ranch. The ranch is an extraordinary place where people heal and find a beginning. Thanks, Jackie, for allowing me to return to Farthingdale Ranch and all the fantastic characters who live there. Of all the great stories in the anthology, yours is my favorite.

Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyke

'Holly and the Heathen' is the darkest story in the anthology. It's complex and profound. There is a supernatural element about bending space and time, among other factors, and some of the main characters are in a BDSM relationship. One of the three is a psychopath. The references to Welsh customs were interesting, but much of the dialogue was "foreign" to me. The main issue with the story was that there were too many characters and storylines going in different directions that I couldn't follow. I felt like I was coming in in the middle of a movie. Thanks, Jack, for getting everyone back where they belonged.

The Christmas Café by Ali Ryecart

After an ill-planned night of debauchery, Seb wakes up in a horrible apartment in an even worse part of town wearing nothing but his jeans. He is far out of his element with no idea what to do. Seb grabs a grubby shirt and wanders outside. Surprisingly, he finds a cafe and goes in. Immediately, he realizes he looks worse than the patrons, primarily homeless people. Seb thinks that if he can reach his friends, he can get out of there, but when Seb receives access to a phone, he can't remember anyone's number! Besides, there's a blizzard going on outside. While there, Seb gains a new appreciation for a simpler life, one in which he may be happier. Thanks, Ali, for reminding us that money can't buy everything.

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells

Even though they are divorced, when his ex-husband, Paul, is in a coma, Max comforts him even when no one else does. Paul has left Max on his paperwork as his next of kin, so he will be the one to make the hard decision when and if it comes to that. While there, Max realizes that a nurse nicknamed Tiny is taking special care of Paul, and he is grateful. He doesn't realize how much Tiny admires Max for sticking by Paul. When it's time to let Paul go, Tiny is there, comforting and supporting Max. Thanks, K.C., for the sad but thoughtful story. I cried.

I chose to read and review the ‘Kind Hearts at Christmas Anthology’ because HIV/AIDS is more than some distant experience for me. I lost many friends in the 80s when the disease was raging out of control. One experience has stayed with me to this day. My friend was a physician’s assistant at Johns Hopkins in the AIDS Clinic. I went on rounds with her one day and met some men who were dying from the dreaded disease. The last young man I met looked so forlorn and defeated that I went over and gave him a big hug. He hugged me back and smiled, grateful that I thought of him as a person and not a “leper”’ I can’t recall his name, but this profound experience has stayed with me even after all these years.

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of short stories that made me feel hopeful and happy. The collection is well worth the price and the time to read. Bravo to each of the authors!

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown 5 stars
Overhearing someone he’s crushing on badmouth him has hurt Laurence and he’s been avoiding Aaron like the plague ever since. Getting stuck working Christmas Eve is bad enough but having to do it with Aaron is just adding salt to the wound. I had to laugh at the chase Laurence gives Aaron but to no avail. The grand gesture from Aaron brings things to a head. The ending is sweet and hopeful.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers 5 stars
Jordan is feeling out of place. He’s in a new place, new job, and doesn’t connect well with others, throw in a crush on a straight guy and his life is pretty unhappy. His first big meeting with clients has him feeling overwhelmed and getting to work has Murphy’s Law making his life miserable. Harrison is obviously a great guy and his attempt to help Jordan gets a very prickly response. I liked that Harrison’s friend stepped in to give Jordan more than just advice.

The Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg 5 stars
Everything about this story enthralled me. There is a tiny nod to Cinderella but it isn’t a Cinderella story. Seven had my attention from the first sentence and at every turn his thoughts and actions captured me more. His kindness and his loneliness had me wanting to hug him. Cooper’s sadness at not being able to give his nephew what he wants for Christmas has Seven jumping to help. Cooper’s parents added a wonderful layer to the story and his nephew had me smiling and breaking my heart every other sentence. I loved seeing the three of them in the future. I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.
Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet 5 stars
Suki has outdone herself with this story. She truly manages to capture the loneliness and despair of both men. When Ethan finds Win naked in the middle of the road with heavy snow and wolves on the hunt it only gets stranger from moment to moment. Ethan accepts each element as it is revealed and sees the boy he used to know underneath. I liked that the Man in the Woods turns out to be less malevolent than I first assumed. The ending left me feeling hopeful and happy.
Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell 3.5 stars
This was an enjoyable short story with a fantasy element. Samuel is an amazing uncle and it was obvious how much he loved Maddy. Finding his wizard come to life and claiming to be his soul mate is the beginning of the magic.

Should Old Acquaintance be Forgot? by Liam Livings 5 stars
A class reunion has Drew and William facing one another and their shared past. I loved William’s heartfelt apologies and that Drew was willing to open himself up to see the real man inside. Of course, critical voices in our head are hard to ignore, especially when it’s the voice of a parent. It takes a bit of time and a push from his friend to get him to try connecting with Drew once again. Drew’s quick forgiveness and willingness to try for something real with William made me like him even more.


Santa No. 5 by Clare London 5 stars
Jacob is trying so hard to fit in with his new village as their new Sergeant. I enjoyed his inner monologue as he’s interacting with his fellow officers. Nick was everything good and kind but it was hard for him to see beyond the notoriety of his family. The people of the village see how wonderful he is and it doesn’t take Jacob to see it too. I loved the ending as it left me hopeful and smiling.

A Night to Remember by Susan Mac Nicol 5 stars
Milo and Teddy’s story is short but memorable. I liked the good that came from their bumbling encounter. Their friend Alfie’s story broke my heart but the place he was headed made me so happy.

Tainted Love by Louis Mae 3.5 stars
Lucian may be a fallen angel but there is still good in him. Sage and he reconnect again and again with only Lucian remembering every moment of their love. I liked the story but the ending left me feeling disappointed but hopeful.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North 5 stars
Ty’s loneliness was visceral. His determination to make sure that Christmas wasn’t spoiled made me like him. His trick with the tractor made me like him even more. I loved that everyone at the ranch welcomes them in for Christmas and into their family in the best way.

The Christmas Café by Ali Ryecart 5 stars
Seb is having one awful day. Finding Ed’s Eatz café gives him refuge and whole lot more. He finds that despite his wealth he has a lot in common with the patrons. Each hour has him growing into the man he wants to be, seeing that there is so much more than his lonely existence has been so far. I loved how hopeful and happy this little story made me.

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells 5 stars
The introduction of Max has me convinced that he is one of the kindest men around and then comes Tiny to give me two such rare creatures. Each man is genuinely kind and giving when no one is looking. I liked the addition of Tiny’s son Nico to the story. I truly wish that this was a full book as I wanted to know all of them and the road to their HEA.

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Christmas anthology with lots of fantastic stories

Anthologies are always a bit of a risk in my view so I was cautiously optimistic with this one and I'm glad I was. Whilst not all of the stories were my particular cup of tea, the majority of them were and I enjoyed the variety in the stories provided.

My Christmas Nemesis - Sue Brown - 4.5 stars
This was a really sweet one (with a good dose of amusement too). I'll be honest, I didn't expect to love it as I personally have a bit of a hit and miss records with Sue Brown's work. I honesty really enjoyed it and found it light and entertaining.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Joanna Chambers - 5 starts
I loved this - the grumpy sunshine mix is a personal favourite of mine and I absolutely adored Harrison. He was such a cutie and watching him thaw out Jordan was lovely. Very sweet and gave me all the warm and fuzzies.

A Spaceman Came Travelling - Barbara Elsborg - 5 stars
I love Elsborg's writing though had taken for a while because it can be very angsty. I like that this, whilst definitely giving hurt/comfort vibes, did not have me in floods of tears. Seven was a fantastic character and I found myself sucked in from the word go. I'm also a total sucker for an alien so this was definitely a favourite.

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home - Suki Fleet - 5 stars
This is a new to me author and I am so, so glad that I now get to read their other books. This is definitely on the sadder side but it didn't feel overwhelmingly sad like some stories with darker elements can. I enjoyed the way the story was revealed and you definitely get taken on a bit of a ride.

Kissing the Winter Wizard - Amber Kell - 3.5 stars
I think some of the reason this didn't work as well for me was that everything felt really rushed. Maybe if it had been a standalone novel with more space for things to develop it would have worked better and I would have enjoyed it more. I think the premise is interesting, I just couldn't really connect with the characters. I will say though that the relationship between Sam and Maddy was done well. I just wished I got more from Sam and Allard.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot - Liam Livings - 4 stars
Drew and William have a history and it's not a good one. I have a fondness for redemption arcs so William's desire to make up for his past bullying behaviour worked well for me. I do think Drew might have forgiven him a bit quickly, but honestly I'd prefer a faster apology than the past not being put where it is, the past. I like that there was a sense of accepting that people change over time (especially from when they were kids).

Santa No 5 - Clare London - 5 stars
I enjoy Clare London in general and this was a lovely bit of cuteness. Jacob and Nick shouldn't work but they do. I like the mix of police/notorious family but mostly what I enjoyed about this was that it was sweet and fluffy. Definitely a good story if you're looking to put a smile on your face.

A Night to Remember - Susan Mac Nicol - not my cup of tea
I'm not going to rate this one because I think this author's writing style is just not for me.

Tainted Love - Louisa Mae - not my cup of tea
Again this was one that I think just didn't work for me. I wasn't in love with the writing style and it honestly just felt a little sad for a Christmas anthology.

The Christmas Pony - Jackie North - 4.5 stars
Content warning - recent death of a family member, not on page. The winter holidays can be hard for people who have suffered bereavements so I wanted to flag it up but it's not the core of the story. I believe this is a short featuring characters from one of Jackie's series. This really is just a heartwarming story. It's not about romance, it's about being good to other people, being kind and open and good things returning to you. Ty was a sweetheart despite things in his life really not going well. He'd had a really rough time of it. I loved that there was such a warm feeling to the story. I think if I'd read the series I might have enjoyed it even more.

Holly and the Heathen - Jack L Pyke
I think this is one which is going to be great for people who have read the series it's connected to but the opposite for people who haven't. I had to DNF it only because I was really lost as to what was going on/who people were.

The Christmas Café - Ali Ryecart - 4.5 stars
Very sweet story about how money can't necessarily bring you happiness but being a good person and surrounding yourself with good people can. I like that even in a short story Seb developed as a person. The interaction between him and Tom was very sweet and the story left me with a smile on my face. This is another one that really does have strong Christmassy vibes.

Never Let You Go - KC Wells
Unfortunately, I couldn't read this one given what it was about. I adore KC Wells but I've recently had a family member die and I just could not bring myself to read it.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite type of anthology.
I love anthologies. It’s even better when they are in support of charities, especially ones I care so strongly about. Thank you to all the authors and all those who helped bring their stories together here.
The first story is My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown. It was a cute enemies to lovers story with happy ending.
Joanna Chambers gives us The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Jordan is intellectually smart but socially awkward. Harrison is so sweet. I like how the author ended this. And thank goodness for friends lol.
Now we are at Barbara Elborg’s A Spaceman Came Traveling. What a sweet read. I especially liked how the author ended it.
I have only read a couple of Suki Fleet’s books so I was super excited to see them here. Ethan Gold Feels Like Home is a little mysterious and seriously touched the heart. I found the world created fascinating and would love more from there.
I’ve been looking forward to Kissing the Winter Wizard by Amber Kell. Before you read it let me tell you the trigger warning. There is mention of child abuse not seen on page but the aftermath is. I longwas so angry with Alberto and his crooked buddies. I liked Allard’s first suggestion. Loved the ending.
Liam Livings gives us Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot?. This is my first time reading this author. What I liked most about this story was it dealt with some serious emotions and wasn’t an all light and sunshine. The holidays can be a mixed bag of good and bad and this shows that. And acceptance in who we are.
I am a long time Clare London fan so you know I was really looking forward to Santa No. 5. This is another stellar holiday read. This author is so good at them. I did have the case figured out early on but its didn’t take away my enjoyment.
The blurb for Our Kind of Music by Susan Mac Nicol will definitely put you in the spirit of the season. This was such a sweet read. My heart went out to Alfie. It was amazing what they all accomplished in a couple of weeks.
This is the second anthology I have read with Louisa Mae in it. Tainted Love was so beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. So much love and acceptance as well as despair. I would love a longer version of this.
I adore Jackie North’s work. I’m do glad they are here. And the title, A Christmas Pony, made it feel like opening a present to read it. Oh my I hope we get Ty’s story. Such a sweet soul who has known so much pain and I think we just scratched the surface.
Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyke is a very interesting read. The world caught my interest and I would like to explore it more. And all of the characters as well.
Ali Ryecart always gives a sweet read. The Christmas Cafe was a wonderful Scrooge like read. Seb had a lot to learn and Tom has the biggest warmest heart.
Man I love K. C. Wells. A truly multitalented author who is always a pleasure tod read and Never Let You Go is a great example of that. What a way to close this out too. This one will hit you in the feels.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind Hearts at Christmas is a charity M/M romance anthology to benefit the Terrence Higgins Trust in the United Kingdom and AIDS United in the United States. This anthology features thirteen short stories, and I was able to read six of those. This review, naturally, will only focus on those, but once I have the opportunity to read the remaining seven (although there was one I started but had to stop after a couple of pages because it had characters from already published books and I felt a bit lost), I'll be editing this in order to include them.

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown
This enemies-to-lovers romance was a great beginning to this anthology. It had humor and romance, and Laurence torn between his hurt with and his crush on Aaron made for some entertaining encounters between them. 4.5 stars.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers
This opposites-attract and office romance kept up the momentum set by the first story. Jordan was the outsider who had certain preconceived notions about his co-worker, Harrison, and it was interesting to see him realize the error of his ways. 4.5 stars.

A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg
This was probably the most original of all the stories I was able to read. Seven and Cooper (and Ben!) had such an engaging story, and I was hooked from the very beginning till the end. This one truly brought a smile to my face. Five stars.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? by Liam Livings
This redemption romance was a pretty good one. I appreciated that William made no excuses for what he did to Drew when they were younger and that Drew was as confident and self-assured as he was. Four stars.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North
Ah, this was the most heartwarming one! While it is set in an established book world, I was still able to fully enjoy Ty's story. This wasn't a romance, but it was a lovely story that reminded me of the saying when God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. Loved it! Five stars.

Never Let You Go by KC Wells
This was a reminder that endings can be beginnings as well. Both Max and Dave were good men, and it was interesting that their common denominator at the start was Max's ex-husband. This was a wonderful way to close out the anthology. Five stars.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top marks for a heartwarming & varied collection📚

4.5🌟 stars
The range and quality of the stories in this collection had me chomping at the bit to move to the next and the next and the next.... I expected romance but I got so much more. Some of these stories are more sharing and caring with strangers and those in greater need with maybe a lick of romance thrown in and they were just as satisfying as the romances both sweet and steamy. And all for a great cause. I am so glad I chose this collection😊.

The plots range from work romances to aliens; earthly magic to a bully repenting; a kind trucker who goes out of his way to rescue a child's Christmas; several focusing on helping the downtrodden find some companionship and joy during the holidays; a couple who form a bond at a terminal patient's bedside; a road accident in Wales; angels walking the city streets; and a police chief finding it a bit difficult to fit into village life. The common theme running through it all: helping and being kind to others. Some past school bullying and home child abuse and neglect is included but overall this is an HEA bonanza.

Some of my favorites:
Barbara Elborg's story of an alien who cheers a little boy who lost his mother's Christmas;

Ali Ryecart's tale of a prosperous fellow who stumbles on the true meaning of the season and some romance in a cafe frequented by the downtrodden;

K.C. Wells' story of a terminally ill patient whose care brings a nurse and the patient's ex together;

Joanna Chamber's opposites attract office romance;

Liam Livings' class reunion that brings a former bully back together with the fellow he tormented;

and Jackie North's down and out trucker who saves a little girl's Christmas.

The self sacrifice in Suki Fleet's contribution with its fast-paced action and magical originality also stood out.

And the others? I didn't find a bad one in the bunch.

🎅Ho-ho-wholy recommended!

I read a complimentary advance copy of the collection; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is raising money for a couple of AIDS charities at Christmas with a few original holiday stories. In truth, this is a great collection of holiday stories and I enjoyed most of them, but I’d give it a 4.5 because two of them just don’t seem to belong and a third kind of caught me wrong.

My Christmas Nemesis and the Most Wonderful Time of the Year both feature mistaken-intent relationships that are lovely and satisfying once the misunderstanding is cleared up. A Spaceman Came Travelling and Ethan Gold Feels Like Home bring a paranormal twist to the holiday season. A bit of a mystery in Santa No. 5 is adorable, as Jacob tries to fit into his new post and learn how to deal with people a bit better. A Night to Remember, the Christmas Pony, and the Christmas Café are just plain sweet, and Never Let You Go is an utterly beautiful story of love amid loss.

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot seemed like a lot of gratuitous mention of sex in what is a clean bunch of stories, and it felt like the male author had something to prove, so this was not one of my favorite stories for style reasons. I was utterly lost in Holly and the Heathen, though I finished it – it is set in Jack Pyke’s Don’t world, which I have not read, so I had a terrible time trying to figure out what was going on. Tainted Love seemed extremely dark and not to my taste at all, especially for a Christmas anthology, but as I did not finish beyond the first chapter I can’t say if that changed.

Overall this anthology brought me a lot of entertainment over a couple of days, and I love both the holidays and short stories, especially in the crazy days leading up to the holidays, when time is at a premium. Several of my favorite authors took part, and I’ve now discovered a couple more that are well worth checking out. I received an advance copy in return for my honest review.

[Jozey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great cause with so much of amazing stories.

Kind heart at christmas


Grab a blanket, a hot chocolate and dive in this book full of wonderful strong short stories about hope and love fulfilling at christmas time.

1- Contains: nemesis to lovers, coworkers, cute confession love in a staff room.

2-Contains: oblivious, coworkers, size difference.

3- Contains: kid christmas wish come true, poor guy and a lawyer, and omfg what a twist, A+ for an epilogue.

4-Contains: something really strange and unique (I can't even describe it), the main story is about accepting yourself as you are.

5-Contains: soulmates, demisexual, magic, transportation à travers le temps, visibility of genderfluid.

6-Contains: school reunions, bully, p*rn-star, snow in, one bed, one night, second chance, choosen families.

7- Contains: a good boy from a villain family, a cop and a thief case.

8- Contains: angels, good one and bad one, a man in distress, hope and love.

9- Contains: a delivery for Christmas eve, a new family. No romance. Just an happy ending fulfilling with hope and family. 

10- Contains: trouple, couple, strangers, space/time travelers? as the short story #4 it's something really strange and unique (I can't even describe it). I have read a lot but this kind to me is new and It seem to have a mystery to save someone or more but I'm completely lost. Both in this kind of universe and with my English. I feel like I fail to understand the story itself. Let me know if I'm really lost.

11-Contains:  romance, poor/rich, A rich wake up in a poor area with no clothes, no keys, no phone, no wallet. He will learn a valuable lesson as he become for one day, someone just like everyone else in this town, sh!t on luck. Hfn.

12- Contains: a grief ex husband and the nurse, size difference, death, grief, kid

[GlamLawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

All together I give it 4 stars because of the cause and the time the authors gave to this.

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown

Around 2.5, pretty uneventful. Very calm enemies to lovers.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanna Chambers

I liked that one. Adorable, lovely characters. 4 stars.

Kind Hearts At Christmas by Barbara Elsborg

That story was just not my cuppa. I didn't like the writing on this one and the plot was just weird. 1 star.

Ethan Gold Feels Like Home by Suki Fleet

That one was a little different than I'm used to from this author. I adore her, but I'm not always that into fantasy. I still enjoyed this, because I love her way of story telling. Around 3.5 it'd give it 4.

Kissing The Winter Wizard by Amber Kell

1 star. Absolutely not my cuppa.

Should Old Aquaintance Be Forgotten? By Liam Livings

The concept was interesting and it started out well. But i think because it was too much story for the short concept it became rushed. I didn't like the conclusion of the pornjob. 3 stars


Santa No. 5 By Clare London

2.5 stars.

Our Kind Of Music by Susan Mac Nico
I didn't like that one.

Tainted Love by Louisa Mae

Skipping that one.

The Christmas Pony by Jackie North

It isn't a romantic story, but a lovely introduction to a world the author is writing in. Made me ceriuos. I liked the theme and the emotions. 4 stars.

Holly and the Heathen by Jack L. Pyke
DNF

The Christmas Cafe by Ali Ryecart

4 stars. A little on the kitschy side but so christmassy, it made me all swoony. A really good Christmas story.

Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells
3.5 stars. Very emotional.

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Collection

I’m reviewing Jack Pyke’s Holly and the Heathen.

I’m a huge Jack Pyke fan and was thrilled when I found out she was contributing to this charity anthology that I happily snapped up.

First, I got to revisit Gray, Jan, and Jack. My favorite triad. Oh, and Martin poked his head in. He scares me. Then I got to see Kiyen and Fal. The two worlds Jack created merge together for this brief story set in the Welsh countryside at Christmas.

Gray and his crew find Kiyen and Fal on the side of the road after their car hit a tree. A tree Gray doesn’t ever remember seeing. And, when Jack convinces Gray to bring the two stranded travellers home with them, things only get stranger. Gray doesn’t trust these two – and they don’t trust in turn.

It’s a holiday celebration to remember and I’m so glad I went along for the ride. I’m always hoping to see more glimpses of Jack, Jan, and Gray…and I suspect there are more Kiyen and Fal stories to come. A great paranormal novella.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several favorite authors in this one and a few new ones, but every one of these stories is a winner. There is a wonderful mix of tropes, settings, some with mysterious, haunting elements, some with genuine mystery. I got involved and read these straight through one after the other over a couple of days. I'd suggest treating this like a short story advent calendar and reading one story a day which is what I am about to do in a re-read. I must mention one story in particular that broke my heart from the very beginning and then put it back together in the most wonderful way possible and that is A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg. Ben and his conviction that Santa would bring him a spacesuit, why he wanted that suit, the look on Cooper's face witnesses by Seven who overhears Ben's request and the character of Seven all set me up for some tears. What happens on Christmas Eve is magical and just the start of an amazing story.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the authors were ones I have read several times and liked what they wrote. Other reviewers gave detailed reviews of each entry so I'm only highlighting my favorite entries. My one exception (and therefore why I only gave this book 4 stars) was "Ethan Gold Feels Like Home". I gave it a solid try but only got to 35%. I was lost from the beginning. Aside from that, I must say that if you need a little dose or a big dose of Christmas to get you in the holiday spirit, these will ring those Christmas bells as each story takes the reader on an emotional journey around Christmas. My favorites were The Christmas Pony by Jackie North. I've read all of her Farthingdale Ranch books and this story of trucker Ty delivering pony Cinders to little Bea was special. The other one I really felt heart tugs for was Never Let You Go by K.C. Wells. This is my voluntary and willing ARC review.

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a read that will you get through a cold afternoon, curled up on a couch, look no further than this- this collection of short tales, full of fantasy, humour, drama and romance, that ticked all of my boxes.

All of the writers are talented, resulting in an anthology that has many wonderful characters, that truly come alive on the page. Even though the stories involve Christmas , they're all different and entertaining, it’s hard not to enjoy something from every story.

I'm not going to review each and every story, because I don't want to give anything away. I rated the stories from a 3 to five, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Certainly worth a read, and worth buying, all monies going to charity.

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

Kind Hearts at Christmas is an anthology of short stories to benefit HIV and AIDS charities in both the UK and US. Each of the short stories centres around an act of kindness and shows what results from someone going a bit out of their way. All will give a result that will be felt within your heart.

My Christmas Nemesis by Sue Brown
The two men started off on the wrong foot, but their mutual attraction cannot be denied. Thankfully, as with many things in life, hurt feelings and misunderstandings can be soothed with a good meal and honest communication.

A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg
A sweet kid with a gorgeous uncle who is tragically now the caregiver encounters a kindhearted alien who tries to make the kid's Christmas wish come true.