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jaimereadsromance's review
5.0
Searching For You – 5 Stars
I absolutely love Jennifer Probst and the Searching Series. This short story is the perfect introduction to the whole Kinnections crew for those who haven’t started the series. I highly recommend that you get on that right away!
I really enjoyed Dylan and Riley’s story for two reasons. First, it’s a second chance romance and second it all takes place while they are stranded during a snow storm. These are my favorite types of Holiday romances and I was not disappointed in any way, shape or form.
“Everything. By the time I taste your pussy, you’ll beg me to let you come against my tongue. And I’ll demand it, Riley. Every last bit of it is mine.”
It’s a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol – 5 Stars
I feel like at this point there is nothing more to be said about a story that involved Drew Evans. I mean, HELLO IT’S DREW EVANS, the story is going to be hilarious, sexy and sweet. In true Emma Chase fashion, she brings to life the male POV, as it pertains to the Christmas spirit this time, like no other author out there. You will swoon, you might even cry (I did, don’t judge me) and you will absolutely laugh your ass off. Is it possible for us to get a new short story for every holiday for…well forever?
“Want to sit on my lap…or my face…and tell me if you’ve been a nice girl this year?”
Saving Grace – 4 Stars
Three words. Hot British Billionaire. Do you need more incentive to read this?
“Fuck the women, Grace. I haven’t looked at another woman since the day you fell at my feet and charmed me off mine. I don’t give two shits about any other woman. It’s only you. And I’m telling you, I’m promising you, it will only ever be you.”
Safe in His Arms – 4 Stars
A small town, meddling family and neighbors, a new teacher in town and the town prince who doesn’t want to settle down. Clearly this is a recipe for a great holiday novella.
“I don’t think that’s it at all, Natalie. I think what happened between us was pretty damn spectacular, and now you’re running away scared instead of facing it like an adult.”
Rekindle the Flame – 5 Stars
This is my first Kate Meader read, but I promise after meeting Beck and his hot, firefighting foster brothers, it won’t be my last. I loved the storyline of this one (duh, second chance romance!) and the quirky one-liners/catch-phrases (sex point average, nonversation) were the best! The heat, the sweet and the funny, this story had it all! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to utilize my one-click finger on this Hot in the Kitchen series I just discovered.
‘”Find ’em hot, leave ’em wet,’ he murmured. “Well-known firefighter maxim.”‘
I absolutely love Jennifer Probst and the Searching Series. This short story is the perfect introduction to the whole Kinnections crew for those who haven’t started the series. I highly recommend that you get on that right away!
I really enjoyed Dylan and Riley’s story for two reasons. First, it’s a second chance romance and second it all takes place while they are stranded during a snow storm. These are my favorite types of Holiday romances and I was not disappointed in any way, shape or form.
“Everything. By the time I taste your pussy, you’ll beg me to let you come against my tongue. And I’ll demand it, Riley. Every last bit of it is mine.”
It’s a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol – 5 Stars
I feel like at this point there is nothing more to be said about a story that involved Drew Evans. I mean, HELLO IT’S DREW EVANS, the story is going to be hilarious, sexy and sweet. In true Emma Chase fashion, she brings to life the male POV, as it pertains to the Christmas spirit this time, like no other author out there. You will swoon, you might even cry (I did, don’t judge me) and you will absolutely laugh your ass off. Is it possible for us to get a new short story for every holiday for…well forever?
“Want to sit on my lap…or my face…and tell me if you’ve been a nice girl this year?”
Saving Grace – 4 Stars
Three words. Hot British Billionaire. Do you need more incentive to read this?
“Fuck the women, Grace. I haven’t looked at another woman since the day you fell at my feet and charmed me off mine. I don’t give two shits about any other woman. It’s only you. And I’m telling you, I’m promising you, it will only ever be you.”
Safe in His Arms – 4 Stars
A small town, meddling family and neighbors, a new teacher in town and the town prince who doesn’t want to settle down. Clearly this is a recipe for a great holiday novella.
“I don’t think that’s it at all, Natalie. I think what happened between us was pretty damn spectacular, and now you’re running away scared instead of facing it like an adult.”
Rekindle the Flame – 5 Stars
This is my first Kate Meader read, but I promise after meeting Beck and his hot, firefighting foster brothers, it won’t be my last. I loved the storyline of this one (duh, second chance romance!) and the quirky one-liners/catch-phrases (sex point average, nonversation) were the best! The heat, the sweet and the funny, this story had it all! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to utilize my one-click finger on this Hot in the Kitchen series I just discovered.
‘”Find ’em hot, leave ’em wet,’ he murmured. “Well-known firefighter maxim.”‘
ssejig's review
3.0
Searching for You by Jennifer Probst
This author is the reason I picked up the book. I have mostly been enjoying the "Searching For" series about a group of matchmakers who are also finding their own true love. This story is about one of their matches.
Dylan and Riley were at grad school together but they weren't friends. Most definitely not. So when they're matched by Kinnections (at 100%, no less) it's a total shock to them both.
This is one of those stories that definitely could have benefited from being full-length but it's a nice one nonetheless. I always like when the H/H from shorter stories new each other before so it's not so much insta-lust.
It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase
Oh. This poor story. So many things that I didn't like. It won't make me not read the author again but... issues. First, grammar problems in the title. Then, first-person (not POV I enjoy). Also, it seems that this story would be more enjoyed by people who had read (what I can only assume exists) the first book. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters well at all.
Saving Grace by Kristen Proby
Another book from a series! Theme much here? This was definitely an insta-lust story but the author saved it by the true promise of an HEA happening further down the line (not in the first two days of meeting).
Grace's friends want to do a girls' weekend in Colorado. Skiing. But Grace, despite living in a ski-resort town in Montana, doesn't downhill ski. See, she's a klutz. I wish I would've counted the number of times she feel in this story but, for a novella-type story, it was an awful lot.
Other than that, I liked the story quite a bit with getting to know the characters a little and the one Big Misunderstanding being cleared up pretty fast.
Safe in His Arms by Melody Anne
Okay, I realize I'm being pulled out of the suspension-of-disbelief here, but to think that a school board, even a school board of meddling old (is sixties really that old?) women, would choose a teacher based on looks alone (at least that's strongly implied) is just ooky to me. They're more concerned with bringing in a wife than a teacher. Yipes. Especially when they hire a teacher who shows up in Montana (in December) with only So-Cal clothes. Um, I realize it's short notice and that she's excited but what kind of teacher (!) doesn't do her research. And the mess that Natalie is... Ugh. No wonder they choose this title.
Rekindle the Flame by Kate Meader
A really great end to the anthology. Beck Rivera and Darcy Cochrane were high school sweethearts but he decided that they'd be better off apart. As a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, he knows he'd just bring this society princess down.
But that was seven years ago, and both Kate and Beck have done some growing up. Can he convince her that he knows he made a mistake, that both have grown up enough to now be together?
This author is the reason I picked up the book. I have mostly been enjoying the "Searching For" series about a group of matchmakers who are also finding their own true love. This story is about one of their matches.
Dylan and Riley were at grad school together but they weren't friends. Most definitely not. So when they're matched by Kinnections (at 100%, no less) it's a total shock to them both.
This is one of those stories that definitely could have benefited from being full-length but it's a nice one nonetheless. I always like when the H/H from shorter stories new each other before so it's not so much insta-lust.
It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase
Oh. This poor story. So many things that I didn't like. It won't make me not read the author again but... issues. First, grammar problems in the title. Then, first-person (not POV I enjoy). Also, it seems that this story would be more enjoyed by people who had read (what I can only assume exists) the first book. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters well at all.
Saving Grace by Kristen Proby
Another book from a series! Theme much here? This was definitely an insta-lust story but the author saved it by the true promise of an HEA happening further down the line (not in the first two days of meeting).
Grace's friends want to do a girls' weekend in Colorado. Skiing. But Grace, despite living in a ski-resort town in Montana, doesn't downhill ski. See, she's a klutz. I wish I would've counted the number of times she feel in this story but, for a novella-type story, it was an awful lot.
Other than that, I liked the story quite a bit with getting to know the characters a little and the one Big Misunderstanding being cleared up pretty fast.
Safe in His Arms by Melody Anne
Okay, I realize I'm being pulled out of the suspension-of-disbelief here, but to think that a school board, even a school board of meddling old (is sixties really that old?) women, would choose a teacher based on looks alone (at least that's strongly implied) is just ooky to me. They're more concerned with bringing in a wife than a teacher. Yipes. Especially when they hire a teacher who shows up in Montana (in December) with only So-Cal clothes. Um, I realize it's short notice and that she's excited but what kind of teacher (!) doesn't do her research. And the mess that Natalie is... Ugh. No wonder they choose this title.
Rekindle the Flame by Kate Meader
A really great end to the anthology. Beck Rivera and Darcy Cochrane were high school sweethearts but he decided that they'd be better off apart. As a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, he knows he'd just bring this society princess down.
But that was seven years ago, and both Kate and Beck have done some growing up. Can he convince her that he knows he made a mistake, that both have grown up enough to now be together?
libertyreads789's review
3.0
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars Averaged.
Searching for You by Jennifer Probst--2 stars.
It’s a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase--1.5 stars.
Saving Grace by Kristen Proby--4 stars.
Safe in His Arms by Melody Anne--3 stars.
Rekindle the Flame by Kate Meader--2 stars.
I was in a really bad mood yesterday from being stuck in bed and isolated from my husband and the rest of this house (for going on three weeks now) so I decided to find a Christmas-y/romance short story collection to read on Scribd. I was expecting these stories to be more along the Hallmark lines of romance, but this drifted into rated R/rated X categories in quite a few places. I’m not big on those kinds of romance stories so all of these got pretty low ratings from me except for one. I think that almost solely came from location/setting.
Overall, they are cute romance stories that are quick and easy reads so something to fluff up your GoodReads challenge for sure. These just aren’t for me as a reader.
Searching for You by Jennifer Probst--2 stars.
It’s a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase--1.5 stars.
Saving Grace by Kristen Proby--4 stars.
Safe in His Arms by Melody Anne--3 stars.
Rekindle the Flame by Kate Meader--2 stars.
I was in a really bad mood yesterday from being stuck in bed and isolated from my husband and the rest of this house (for going on three weeks now) so I decided to find a Christmas-y/romance short story collection to read on Scribd. I was expecting these stories to be more along the Hallmark lines of romance, but this drifted into rated R/rated X categories in quite a few places. I’m not big on those kinds of romance stories so all of these got pretty low ratings from me except for one. I think that almost solely came from location/setting.
Overall, they are cute romance stories that are quick and easy reads so something to fluff up your GoodReads challenge for sure. These just aren’t for me as a reader.
klndonnelly's review against another edition
3.0
Review at Beverages and Books
http://beveragesandbooks.com/?p=537
http://beveragesandbooks.com/?p=537
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
3.0
Probst: 4, Maybe I'd read another
Chase: 3, cute vignette/Christmas Carol
Proby: 3, cute ski lodge
Anne: 2, Oh, for Heaven's sake! The heroine is the daughter of an unwed teenage mother. No character ever discusses contraception or worries that it wasn't used? Really? This is a huge red flag for me. Grrrr.
Meader: 5. Always love her, and the firefighters are going to be awesome
Chase: 3, cute vignette/Christmas Carol
Proby: 3, cute ski lodge
Anne: 2, Oh, for Heaven's sake! The heroine is the daughter of an unwed teenage mother. No character ever discusses contraception or worries that it wasn't used? Really? This is a huge red flag for me. Grrrr.
Meader: 5. Always love her, and the firefighters are going to be awesome
musicalknitter's review against another edition
5.0
This book has 3 wonderful, fun and witty stories! The adventures these couples go through for their happily ever afters can be circuitous and surprising and somewhat unexpected but they do make it in time for Christmas. Enjoy this fun way of celebrating Christmas, romance style!!
maryelena07's review against another edition
4.0
Cortas historias románticas todas centradas en la navidad. Es una lectura rápida y amena. Algunas más lindas que otras pero todas llenas del espíritu navideño que vuelve a florecer en esta época del año. Mis favoritas fueron la de Emma Chase con Drew como protagonista y la de Kristen Proby y el multimillonario.
noveladdiction's review against another edition
4.0
I will admit to skipping the second story in this anthology, because it is a sequel to a book I haven't read. But otherwise, I enjoyed this. The last story was by far my favorite, so I will be on the lookout for more by that author. While Christmas is mentioned in several stories, this is just as much a winter read as a holiday book.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books for 11/3/14.
We had our first snow of the season this weekend, so it was the perfect time to cuddle up with a quilt and read this anthology. It's chock-full of reader catnip: second chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, stranded with a billionaire, sexy firefighters, new takes on classic stories and appearances from some favorite series characters--all wrapped up inside five quick-to-read HEAs. Even though some of these are part of series, they all work well as standalones.
"It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol" by Emma Chase was an absolutely delightful read. Drew is hands-down my favorite male narrator ever--his snarkiness and sexiness are a lethal combination. (Check out his debut in [b:Tangled|18297707|Tangled (Tangled, #1)|Emma Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375808439s/18297707.jpg|21868234] if you haven't yet--you'll thank me.) This mashup of A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life was so much fun. I had way too many highlighted bits for such a short read! It was easy to believe that Drew could have lost sight of what's really important in life, and completely satisfying seeing how his life with Kate is turning out. The series characters who played the "ghosts"? Brilliant!
A favorite line:
I had almost as many highlighted lines in "Rekindle the Flame" by Kate Meader as in "Wonderful"--she's a new-to-me author, but I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future. Beck was a to-die-for firefighter hero who likes to sprinkle his seduction with Spanish (yum!) and he's definitely met his match with Darcy. After the way he ended their first relationship, he has a lot to make up for in this second-chance story. Fortunately he's up for the task--and it's such an enjoyable read.
A favorite line:
"Saving Grace" by Kristen Proby is part of her Love Under the Big Sky series. Grace, a clumsy schoolteacher, finds herself spending the weekend at a nearby ski resort to prepare for an upcoming girls' weekend with her best pals. A mistaken identity and her natural lack of grace (she tells Jacob at one point, "I think my parents named me Grace as a cruel joke") make for some very funny moments. Their HEA felt a bit rushed, though and the story definitely could have worked well expanded into a full-length novel. More Jacob-and-Grace time would have been nice. :)
A favorite scene: when Grace literally walks into a door after a kiss. Totally adorkable!
Rating: 4 stars / B
"Safe in His Arms" by Melody Anne featured fire chief Hawk and elementary schoolteacher Natalie. It had a cute premise and the hero and heroine were likable, but I found it hard to connect with their romance. Perhaps if they had had more page time and the conniving townspeople had less, it would have worked better for me.
A favorite line:
"Searching for You" by Jennifer Probst is part of her Searching For series, and the owners of Kinnections, the exclusive matchmaking agency the series is based on, make a brief appearance to match up the hero and heroine. I really liked the second chance/enemies-to-lovers plotline here and Dylan and Riley were likable characters, but somehow this story, like first in the series [b:Searching for Someday|17571266|Searching for Someday (Searching For, #1)|Jennifer Probst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405260083s/17571266.jpg|24510895], just didn't quite make it. Possibly a longer story would have allowed us to better understand Riley's issues? The quick synopsis she gives Dylan isn't quite enough. Fans of the series will probably enjoy it, though.
A favorite line:
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
We had our first snow of the season this weekend, so it was the perfect time to cuddle up with a quilt and read this anthology. It's chock-full of reader catnip: second chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, stranded with a billionaire, sexy firefighters, new takes on classic stories and appearances from some favorite series characters--all wrapped up inside five quick-to-read HEAs. Even though some of these are part of series, they all work well as standalones.
"It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol" by Emma Chase was an absolutely delightful read. Drew is hands-down my favorite male narrator ever--his snarkiness and sexiness are a lethal combination. (Check out his debut in [b:Tangled|18297707|Tangled (Tangled, #1)|Emma Chase|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375808439s/18297707.jpg|21868234] if you haven't yet--you'll thank me.) This mashup of A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life was so much fun. I had way too many highlighted bits for such a short read! It was easy to believe that Drew could have lost sight of what's really important in life, and completely satisfying seeing how his life with Kate is turning out. The series characters who played the "ghosts"? Brilliant!
A favorite line:
During my research, I also discovered that sociopaths and CEOs share a lot of character traits--but we'll talk about that another time.Rating: 5 stars / A
I had almost as many highlighted lines in "Rekindle the Flame" by Kate Meader as in "Wonderful"--she's a new-to-me author, but I'll definitely be reading more from her in the future. Beck was a to-die-for firefighter hero who likes to sprinkle his seduction with Spanish (yum!) and he's definitely met his match with Darcy. After the way he ended their first relationship, he has a lot to make up for in this second-chance story. Fortunately he's up for the task--and it's such an enjoyable read.
A favorite line:
They were ancient history and dredging up the whys and whats was about as useful as Matthew McConaughey's shirt collection.Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-
"Saving Grace" by Kristen Proby is part of her Love Under the Big Sky series. Grace, a clumsy schoolteacher, finds herself spending the weekend at a nearby ski resort to prepare for an upcoming girls' weekend with her best pals. A mistaken identity and her natural lack of grace (she tells Jacob at one point, "I think my parents named me Grace as a cruel joke") make for some very funny moments. Their HEA felt a bit rushed, though and the story definitely could have worked well expanded into a full-length novel. More Jacob-and-Grace time would have been nice. :)
A favorite scene: when Grace literally walks into a door after a kiss. Totally adorkable!
Rating: 4 stars / B
"Safe in His Arms" by Melody Anne featured fire chief Hawk and elementary schoolteacher Natalie. It had a cute premise and the hero and heroine were likable, but I found it hard to connect with their romance. Perhaps if they had had more page time and the conniving townspeople had less, it would have worked better for me.
A favorite line:
One of Natalie's worst faults, or at lease what she felt was one of her worst faults, was that she'd get so lost in her own head she'd tune out the rest of the world. A vivid imagination was great when you were teaching young children, but not so great when trying to hold normal conversations with other adults.Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+
"Searching for You" by Jennifer Probst is part of her Searching For series, and the owners of Kinnections, the exclusive matchmaking agency the series is based on, make a brief appearance to match up the hero and heroine. I really liked the second chance/enemies-to-lovers plotline here and Dylan and Riley were likable characters, but somehow this story, like first in the series [b:Searching for Someday|17571266|Searching for Someday (Searching For, #1)|Jennifer Probst|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405260083s/17571266.jpg|24510895], just didn't quite make it. Possibly a longer story would have allowed us to better understand Riley's issues? The quick synopsis she gives Dylan isn't quite enough. Fans of the series will probably enjoy it, though.
A favorite line:
"What about you?" she practically squealed. "You need clothes."Rating: 3 stars / C
He arched a brow. "I'm comfortable being naked. Do you have a problem with that?"
He noted the high flush of her cheeks and the hungry stare. Oh yeah, he had her good. "Yes, I do," she said primly. "I can't concentrate."
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
shell74's review against another edition
5.0
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
‘Riley was spit and vinegar, smart and sassy, and he wanted her. Under him. Over him. In his house, and his bed. Tonight.’
In Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Kate Meader, and Melody Anne, We are lucky enough to get five amazing short stories by five equally fantastic authors. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Emma Chase and Jennifer Probst, having followed each of their bestselling series since the beginning. But I’ve also read and loved Kristen Proby, Kate Meader and Melody Anne, so having them all here in one anthology is a romance reader’s dream!
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‘Riley was spit and vinegar, smart and sassy, and he wanted her. Under him. Over him. In his house, and his bed. Tonight.’
In Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Kate Meader, and Melody Anne, We are lucky enough to get five amazing short stories by five equally fantastic authors. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Emma Chase and Jennifer Probst, having followed each of their bestselling series since the beginning. But I’ve also read and loved Kristen Proby, Kate Meader and Melody Anne, so having them all here in one anthology is a romance reader’s dream!
Read More