Tag Archives: Hot for the Holidays

Hot for the Holidays by Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James

Book Review, , , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: Hot for the Holidays
Author: Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast & Allyson James
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 5th – 12th January 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: He ignored it, swung his sword.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Featuring four all-new novellas of sensual surprises and seasonal spirits, this collection includes a new tale of the Breeds from Lora Leigh and a return to the world of the Mageverse from Angela Knight.

Vampire’s Ball by Angela Knight
Kat Danilo’s childhood turned tragic when her sister become the victim of a serial killer. Years later, she gets a chance at justice when she discovers she’d the daughter of Lancelot, vampire knight of the Round Table. But first, she’s got to convince a handsome vampire warrior that she’s worthy to gain the magical powers that are her birthright—powers that might help her find her sister’s killer.

If the murderer doesn’t find her first….

Sweet Enchantment by Anya Bast
This novella provides a first taste of the world in which Anya’s new Dark Magick series is set.

A Little Night Magic by Allyson James
The town of Magellan is famous for its woo-woo activity. Naomi is known as an Unbeliever (one who doesn’t believe in Magellan’s mystical energy). But Naomi must put disbelief aside when her Navajo lover reveals that he is a Changer, a shapeshifter, and has returned to Magellan to protect her from grave anger on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas Kiss by Lora Leigh
Jess has been in isolation for the past year… ever since she betrayed the people she loves the most. Yet, it’s Hawke’s unwillingness to visit her that really hurts her the most. As secrets are revealed and truths discovered, will Jess and Hawke finally find a way to be together?

Thoughts

This is a fantastic novella collection. Especially since it’s got a Christmas theme, but really wasn’t Christmassy at all. Actually, other than the fact that each of these novellas was set around the festive season, there was nothing truly Christmassy about any of these. Which made me much, much happier. I’m just not that into the festive season this year…

I bought this collection because I had one of the series in it (Stormwalker). And then, not long after, started the second one (Breeds). In reading this, I also got to discover two new, great series that are most definitely going on my wish list. It made a great, fun collection. One that took me to new worlds and made me want to just sink my teeth into each and every one of these four series…

Although this is in the paranormal romance section of my bookshelves, it’s really not all the romancey. There are a few stories in this that are intensely lustful, and in every single one there is a couple and sex. But, ultimately it was more about finding a way to be happy with one another, not about the actual overboard romance.

 <- A Christmas Kiss ReviewVampire’s Ball Review ->

Image source: Amazon

A Christmas Kiss by Lora Leigh

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: A Christmas Kiss
Author: Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #13.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense
Dates read: 12th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Hawke guided her into a large elevator and keyed in his security code.

Synopsis

Jess has been in isolation for the past year… ever since she betrayed the people she loves the most. Yet, it’s Hawke’s unwillingness to visit her that really hurts her the most. As secrets are revealed and truths discovered, will Jess and Hawke finally find a way to be together?

Thoughts

Every time I feel like I might have kind of kicked the whole Breeds infatuation… I find myself a novella or short story that I can obsess over yet again. Now I need to pick up the next novel and get a full fix of this series. There are enough hints of the overarching series storyline in each tale. But it’s the romance and the way that people are willing to give up their crap to find a happily-ever-after.

This novella is lustful, intense and possessively sweet. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of stories of total possession, but somehow that male possessiveness is perfectly balanced out by the presence of the women in their lives. They might be domineering in the bedroom (something that I am a fan of), but they’re so freaking vulnerable in so many ways in the everyday world. It’s what makes something that normally would piss me off so freaking desirable.

I love that the mating between these two is seriously delayed by the fact that Hawke wants to respect Jess. That even though they know they’ll eventually succumb (as do you, the reader), there is a delay in which they wait for each other to become truly enamoured with each other.

<- Coyote’s MateBengal’s Heart ->

Image source: Amazon

Sweet Enchantment by Anya Bast

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: Sweet Enchantment
Author: Anya Bast
Series: Dark Magick #0.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 11th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: “Ready to go back?”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

This novella provides a first taste of the world in which Anya’s new Dark Magick series is set.

Thoughts

I kind of found Ronan annoying at the beginning of this story. There was just something about him that was a bit too pushy and immature. He refuses the woman he loves, so he can escape and win back the woman he loves. Rather than just marrying her and working on their relationship in a way that would have been much simpler for both. Don’t get me wrong, it made an incredibly fun and impossible to put down novella. But he’s kind of stupid. He did grow on me though, so that was alright.

I loved the comparisons between the Seelie and Unseelie Court. There is still a hint of mystery about the Unseelie Court, but I assume that when I get around to buying the actual novels in this series, I will find out so much more. But I did love that this was the wonderfully traditional outlook on the fae courts. And that those who are normally considered powerful in the mythos (the Courts), were not so powerful. It’s a great start at world building and, since this is the prequel novella, a fantastic introduction to a brand new world.

This is a really cute love story. And I really enjoyed how Bella wanted nothing more than to find her way back to the man she loves, even if that means giving up everything else. But, what made me really hooked to this story was the fact that an amazing fae world was being created. And I want to explore every single aspect of it!

 <- A Little Night Magic ReviewA Christmas Kiss Review ->

Image source: Amazon

A Little Night Magic by Allyson James

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: A Little Night Magic
Author: Allyson James
Series: Stormwalker #0.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Strong women, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 9th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: They laugh at me but they fear and distrust me.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

The town of Magellan is famous for its woo-woo activity. Naomi is known as an Unbeliever (one who doesn’t believe in Magellan’s mystical energy). But Naomi must put disbelief aside when her Navajo lover reveals that he is a Changer, a shapeshifter, and has returned to Magellan to protect her from grave anger on Christmas Eve.

Thoughts

Wow. This is an amazing novella. Just like the other novella I read in the Stormwalker series. I’m remembering why I’m so addicted to the idea of this series. Luckily, this time, I actually have Stormwalker sitting on my bookshelves… so I will probably start reading that almost immediately. There is just something incredibly intense and fun about this writing and world building that takes me to my super happy place.

Naomi and Jamison are a really great couple. I wasn’t as attached at the outset, due to the whole, he abandoned her for two years thing. But then he explained that away. And I fell completely, head over heels, in love. It helped that Jamison is a Native American, and I love the addition of this cultural group into my shelves.

To expand on the Native American theme, Coyote is also a major player in this story. He has got to be my favourite trickster deity. At least, thus far. There is something conniving, fun and wonderful about him. Plus, tricksters are supposed to be agents of change and balance… he’s the closest fit in all the mythos I’ve read. And he fits the bill perfectly in here. He kind of helps out Jamison and Naomi… but then he also kind of just abandons them….

<- More Allyson JamesStormwalker ->

Image source: Amazon

Vampire’s Ball by Angela Knight

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for hot for the holidays book cover

Title: Vampire’s Ball
Author: Angela Knight
Series: Mageverse #5.5
In: Hot for the Holidays (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast and Allyson James)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Camelot, Paranormal romance, Vampires, Witches
Dates read: 5th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: He ignored it, swung his sword.

Synopsis

Kat Danilo’s childhood turned tragic when her sister become the victim of a serial killer. Years later, she gets a chance at justice when she discovers she’s the daughter of Lancelot, vampire knight of the Round Table. But first, she’s got to convince a handsome vampire warrior that she’s worthy to gain the magical powers that are her birthright—powers that might help her find her sister’s killer.

If the murderer doesn’t find her first….

Thoughts

My first ever Mageverse story! I’ve been looking at this series for a while, because, quite frankly, I’m just intrigued by the idea of a series based on vampires that are also knights of the round table. And this completely lived up to all of my expectations! I’ve read a novella or two of Knight’s which are just lustful enough for me to be happy. And this kept up that trend. But you know… it added in this idea of vampires, werewolves, witches and Camelot. What girl (or person, however you want to approach this) wouldn’t fall madly in love?

As with many novellas, this was a great, quick, easy and quite lustful read. Which, of course, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Or at least, that’s the case in my crazy, happy mind. The attraction between the two leads is there from the very beginning, although, it does take them a little while to build up to it. In my opinion, I much prefer this – don’t get the whole insta love thing. But I digress. I love that although they’re both attracted from the beginning, and the story does centre on this… it’s not what made me want to keep reading. Don’t get me wrong, the romance was freaking fantastic. But the mystery of what was wrong with Christmas and what happened in the past… I was so much more intrigued by that.

Both Kat and Ridge have a tragic history in this story. Yet, it’s Kat’s that really drew me in. Her not well mother, her lost sister and the mystery that surrounds everything was seriously difficult to put down. The fact that you find out in the opening moments that she’s also Lancelot’s daughter… I just had to know more!

 <- Hot for the Holidays ReviewA Little Night Magic Review ->

Image source: Amazon