Anthology Reviews

Page Four

Added November 2, 2003

Jingle Bell Rock

Authors: Lori Foster, Janelle Denison, Susan Donovan, Donna Kauffman, Alison Kent and Nancy Warren
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-0569-4
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Author Email/Website: www.janelledenison.com
Author Email/Website: www.susandonovan.com
Author Email/Website: www.donnakauffman.com
Author Email/Website: www.alisonkent.com
Author Email/Website: www.nancywarren.net
Reviewer: Robin Taylor

In the first of Kensington Brava's six-packs, we get six wonderful little Christmas-themed tales.

Lori Foster brings platonic friends Booker Dean and Frances Kennedy together in He Sees You When You're Sleeping. Booker has been waiting for the right time to end a relationship with his current girlfriend, Judith. When he gets that chance, he heads straight over to see Frances. Will she just accept him with open arms? Don't miss this sexy short by Ms. Foster.

A year has past for Faith Roberts. Her last relationship ended rather badly. Faith is about to get All She Wants for Christmas, in a hot and sexy treat by Janelle Denison. She has been having a hard time putting her lust and attraction aside for Dr. Matthew Carlton.

Pediatric surgeon Matthew couldn't be a happier man. After months of asking schoolteacher and hospital volunteer Faith Roberts out for dinner, she approaches him. She asks for a night of uninhibited pleasures. Matthew immediately reacts...and plans. Can Matthew give Faith a night to remember, while convinced he can bring Faith's emotions into the night, thereby setting a course to a future together? Ms. Denison writes a sexy story that includes enough emotions to grab your attention.

What reader won't be needing to be Turning up the Heat when they read this short by Susan Donovan? Valerie Walters is cold, very cold. Will Earl, the furnace repairman be able to warm Valerie up? Valerie is wearing a red dress that Earl feels is wrapping a really delicious present. The heat's already up, and when Earl and Valerie realize they may've met before, it gets even hotter. When you read this short by Ms. Donovan, the passion between Earl and Valerie may just overwhelm you.

Be prepared for an emotional onslaught when Jace Morgan and Suzanna York (Zanna) run into each other in the middle of a snowstorm in Baby, It's Cold Outside by Donna Kauffman. The high school sweethearts are headed back to Rogue's Hollow on Christmas Eve. It's been ten years since they've seen each other, and Jace cannot believe that Zanna still has a piece of his heart. When Zanna sees Jace at the train station, her feelings of dread and anticipation reflect the guilt she has from leaving Jace. Both Jace and Zanna experience a firestorm of want and need, with two hearts that will only be complete when they are mended together. Who will be the first to breach this immense gap between them?

Jessie Buchanan is back in A Blue Christmas by Alison Kent. She needs to find out why she is missing Thomas "Blue" Miller so much. It's been ten years since Jessie's seen Blue, and she can't get him out of her heart or her mind.

Why has a Dallas radio station advertised Blue's Christmas tree farm? Why would they send someone to September, Texas to see his farm? Well, Blue quickly finds out when he comes face to face with his past - Jessie Buchanan. Jessie knows just what she wants with Blue. Blue has so much anger towards Jessie for leaving. Will he accept her offer while battling with feelings of anger, passion and lust? This sensitive story by Ms. Kent is a great read.

Coworkers Daniel Jarvis and Tara Ellison are driving each other crazy in The Nutcracker Sweet, the last story in this anthology by Nancy Warren. During a Christmas party at work, Daniel and Tara are about to play their part in a gift exchange. Since Tara is known for her hard, bossy ways, and a couple of the guys on the job call her the "Ballbreaker", Daniel purchased a nutcracker as her gift. Will he live to regret it, especially because a strong sexual hum emanates a lot of power between the two of them? When you read this book by Ms. Warren, you may find the sexual tension as titillating as the sex between Daniel and Tara.

Be sure to pick up this fantastic anthology written by familiar authors who will always have you coming back for more. It is hard to pick a favorite story, as each is so well-written. Even though these are very short, they are thorough enough that I was satisfied after each read. Jingle Bell Rock is already destined for the keeper shelf.

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Added November 2, 2003

Bad Boys to Go

Authors: Lori Foster, Janelle Denison and Nancy Warren
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-0551-1
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Author Email/Website: www.janelledenison.com
Author Email/Website: www.nancywarren.net
Reviewer: Robin Taylor

Gil Watson just found out he's a father to two year-old Nicole in Bringing up Baby by Lori Foster. He found this fact out after the baby's mother, Shelly, was killed in a car crash. Gil has two problems. #1 - Anabel Truman, who's been taking care of Nicole, is a woman he wants, a woman he's always wanted. Problem #2 - He's a father, and he's in love with his daughter. Though being a father is not a problem at all, his life is about to change in more ways than one. When I started this novella, I knew it would have a great emotional impact. After just a few pages, the emotional level of this story of Gil and Anabel made itself very clear. Take a few moments and read this beguiling story by Ms. Foster. It's not often when reading erotic romance there are children in the picture. But, little Nicole will steal your heart, just as quickly as she stole Gil's.

Adrian Wilde has been trying to avoid Chayse Douglas for four months in The Wilde One by Janelle Denison. Chayse wants Adrian to pose in her Outdoor Men calendar and he wants no part of it. It's all rather frustrating to Adrian, because he is very attracted to her. This duel irritation drives Adrian to issue a dare to Chayse. At first Chayse has no idea why she should take the ultra-sexy Adrian up on his dare. But she must find out why he's so stubborn about the calendar. That, plus finding a way to deal with her own passion she feels for him.

One thing I love about this novella is the way Chayse reads each and every emotion of Adrian's. I've read the Wilde series to date and also have read The Wilde One several times. I must say, Adrian is my favorite Wilde brother, and I'm very much looking forward to Scott's story in March of next year.

Nancy Warren pens a delectable novella in Going after Adam. Gretchen Wiest is a P.I. who is following Adam Stone. It starts out being just a typical case of finding evidence of a man having an affair. When Gretchen and Adam meet for the first time, Gretchen finds out things aren't what she thought they were. Adam is a man with a mission, and now he has Gretchen on his case. Read this terrific adventure by Ms. Warren and see where Gretchen and Adam end up.

Bad Boys to Go is another delightfully sexy anthology by Brava. Three terrific authors pen equally terrific and tantalizing novellas that will titillate your senses. Each novella has a great tale that will leave you satisfied. Be sure to visit each author's website to see what they have in store. There will be no shortage of great stories from each and every one of these talented ladies.

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