A review by kb33
Nightingale: An Anthology for Ukraine by Rina Kent, Debra Anastasia, Aly Martinez, Kandi Steiner, Brenda Rothert, Rachel Van Dyken, Kate Canterbary, Natasha Knight, Chelle Bliss, Renee Rose, Lucy Lennox, Sara Ney, Lauren Rowe, Meredith Wild, Vanessa Vale, Ana Huang, A.L. Jackson, Carly Phillips, Julia Kent, Willow Aster, Robin Covington, Katie Ashley, Siobhan Davis, Susanne Valenti, Kelsey Clayton, J.L. Beck, Penny Reid, C. Hallman, Karla Sorensen, Piper Rayne, Catherine Cowles, K.A. Linde, Heidi McLaughlin, Susan Stoker, A. Zavarelli, Samantha Chase, Pepper Winters, Xio Axelrod, Alta Hensley, Natalie Wrye, Aleatha Romig, Willow Winters, Skye Warren, Susannah Nix, Livia Grant, Amo Jones, Laura Thalassa, Rebecca Yarros, T.K. Leigh, Rebecca Zanetti, Carian Cole, Jay Crownover, Jennifer Probst, Tijan, Kelly Elliott, Caroline Peckham, Harloe Rae, Melanie Moreland, Amelia Wilde, Gina L. Maxwell, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Shantel Tessier, Honey Meyer, Raine Miller, Sienna Snow, L.B. Dunbar, Parker S. Huntington, Helena Hunting, Dylan Allen, Katee Robert, Jenika Snow, Roni Loren, Claudia Burgoa, Brittney Sahin, Toni Aleo, Terri E. Laine
Update after reading several stories: this is my first time reading a collection like this by different authors, and for other first timers I’ll say this: the stories are unrelated in topic and sub-genre of romance, and styles and lengths vary greatly. Some are stand alone stories, some are teasers or bonus epilogues for their other books. I love that this contributes to a good cause, but I’d rather just donate to the cause myself in the future.
Reviews on a few for my future reference:
Helena Hunting - 5/5 meet-cute with side characters from previous book. Clean romance.
Kate Canterbary - 5/5 I could tell these were probably characters from a previously written book or series, but it was easy to follow, sweet, and now I feel like I’ve found an author I need to check out. TW: mentions death of parent during pregnancy.
Laura Thalassa - 2/5 Definitely feel like I’m missing a lot of background info. Mostly sex. Dumb names.
Skye Warren - 4/5 Not a romance short story, but more of an empowerment short story. TW: sexual harassment.
Tijan - 2/5 Fits a whole novel into forty pages. Unedited. TW: death of family member.
Jennifer Probst - Seven pages. I can’t rate seven pages, can I? Not romance.
Honey Meyer - 1/5, DNF. Something about a kink with little girls and grown men spanking. No thanks. TW/CW: mentions domestic violence. Includes little girl/daddy sex role play.
Amelia Wilde - Cute story about pre-existing characters. Also extremely short. TW: pregnancy.
Meredith Wild/Chelle Bliss - 4/5 This was great until the really rushed ending. TW: infidelity.
Harloe Rae - 4/5 cute, mostly clean prequel.
Robin Covington - 1/5 This is a cliffhanger preview for her new book. Kind of a shameless attempt at hooking new readers.
Jenika Snow - 2/5 “You know I like when you act all afraid of me.” Not my kind of romance.
KA Linde - 3/5 I didn’t like the mmc in this. Also, a whole novel in a few dozen pages.
Ilsa Madden-Mills - 4/5
Melanie Moreland - 5/5 Loved this!!
Lucy Lennox - 4/5 M/M, mostly steamy scene, also a cute story.
Rina Kent - 1/5 bonus epilogue I didn’t understand because I haven’t read any of her books. There about 10 adults and 50 kids at a party, and the mmc talks about all of them, mostly complaining.
LB Dunbar - 4/5
Dylan Allen - 4/5 good story, but unedited.
Julia Kent - 4/5 TW: Discusses trauma, mentions gang rape and child abuse.
Brittney Sahin - 3/5 paranormal/special ops....
Brenda Rothert - 6/5
Susan Stoker - 3/5
Rachel van Dyken - 3/5
Lauren Rowe - 4/5
Samantha Chase - 1/5 It started out well, but turned into a whole novel in 37 pages. And the “my fulfilling job and wonderful friends mean nothing because I’m single” BS made me angry.
Heidi McLaughlin - 5/5 YA, cute, closed door romance.
Kelly Elliott - 5/5 teaser for new book, also works as a complete short story. TW: mentions death of spouse, infidelity, pregnancy.
Willow Winters - 4/5 New Adult Fiction
Debra Anastasia - 1/5 ridiculous antagonist, weird writing - when the author tells the reader, “Girl, sit down,” it’s not my kind of book.
Siobhan Davis - 1/5 like high school mobsters. Hard eye roll.
Roni Lauren - 4/5 MFM spicy
Claudia Burgoa - 2/5 for topic. TW: infertility and pregnancy.
Toni Aleo - 5/5
Reviews on a few for my future reference:
Helena Hunting - 5/5 meet-cute with side characters from previous book. Clean romance.
Kate Canterbary - 5/5 I could tell these were probably characters from a previously written book or series, but it was easy to follow, sweet, and now I feel like I’ve found an author I need to check out. TW: mentions death of parent during pregnancy.
Laura Thalassa - 2/5 Definitely feel like I’m missing a lot of background info. Mostly sex. Dumb names.
Skye Warren - 4/5 Not a romance short story, but more of an empowerment short story. TW: sexual harassment.
Tijan - 2/5 Fits a whole novel into forty pages. Unedited. TW: death of family member.
Jennifer Probst - Seven pages. I can’t rate seven pages, can I? Not romance.
Honey Meyer - 1/5, DNF. Something about a kink with little girls and grown men spanking. No thanks. TW/CW: mentions domestic violence. Includes little girl/daddy sex role play.
Amelia Wilde - Cute story about pre-existing characters. Also extremely short. TW: pregnancy.
Meredith Wild/Chelle Bliss - 4/5 This was great until the really rushed ending. TW: infidelity.
Harloe Rae - 4/5 cute, mostly clean prequel.
Robin Covington - 1/5 This is a cliffhanger preview for her new book. Kind of a shameless attempt at hooking new readers.
Jenika Snow - 2/5 “You know I like when you act all afraid of me.” Not my kind of romance.
KA Linde - 3/5 I didn’t like the mmc in this. Also, a whole novel in a few dozen pages.
Ilsa Madden-Mills - 4/5
Melanie Moreland - 5/5 Loved this!!
Lucy Lennox - 4/5 M/M, mostly steamy scene, also a cute story.
Rina Kent - 1/5 bonus epilogue I didn’t understand because I haven’t read any of her books. There about 10 adults and 50 kids at a party, and the mmc talks about all of them, mostly complaining.
LB Dunbar - 4/5
Dylan Allen - 4/5 good story, but unedited.
Julia Kent - 4/5 TW: Discusses trauma, mentions gang rape and child abuse.
Brittney Sahin - 3/5 paranormal/special ops....
Brenda Rothert - 6/5
Susan Stoker - 3/5
Rachel van Dyken - 3/5
Lauren Rowe - 4/5
Samantha Chase - 1/5 It started out well, but turned into a whole novel in 37 pages. And the “my fulfilling job and wonderful friends mean nothing because I’m single” BS made me angry.
Heidi McLaughlin - 5/5 YA, cute, closed door romance.
Kelly Elliott - 5/5 teaser for new book, also works as a complete short story. TW: mentions death of spouse, infidelity, pregnancy.
Willow Winters - 4/5 New Adult Fiction
Debra Anastasia - 1/5 ridiculous antagonist, weird writing - when the author tells the reader, “Girl, sit down,” it’s not my kind of book.
Siobhan Davis - 1/5 like high school mobsters. Hard eye roll.
Roni Lauren - 4/5 MFM spicy
Claudia Burgoa - 2/5 for topic. TW: infertility and pregnancy.
Toni Aleo - 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death, Murder, Rape, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Child abuse