Mini Review: A Taste of Chocolate

A Taste of Chocolate by Vonnie Davis was a sweet and mystical short story. It didn't thrill me as I'd hoped but it was still enjoyable.

Here's the synopsis:

Hope Morningstar has the worst luck with men. One boyfriend wrote her a “Dear John” letter while serving overseas. Her latest romantic interest broke up with her in a text. When a traffic detour puts her in an unfamiliar neighborhood, she stops at Freya’s Coffee Shop where she gets more than directions. She gets another chance at finding love.
Declan Fleming, scarred by a cheating ex-wife, has given up searching for love. He’s taken the route of a few other men and engaged the services of Freya, the matchmaker. Still, he’s been waiting for a year and he’s just about given up hope. Then Freya sends him Hope.
When feelings of insecurity and trust issues come into play, can finding love stand a chance? Can the magical influence of this matchmaker create a happy ending? After all, finding that one special love often involves a bit of special magic, does it not? 

This was quite a short short story, coming in at just 31 pages. The pace of this story wasn't too bad but I think Declan came on WAY too strong and, if I were Hope, I would have run in the other direction. I think a lot of the strong feelings came from the fact that he had been working with Freya for awhile and was waiting for his perfect match. Hope just sort of gets thrown into things. Not only does she have to deal with a...well...aggressive suitor (that may be a bit harsh but I can't think of a better word) but she has to try and make sense of Freya. What is she, exactly? Is she a witch? A fairy? Who knows!

A fun (I think) aside: Hope's reading a story in this story and I'm fairly certain it is the same That Dating Thing that is also published by Still Moments Publishing! I could be wrong and it could just be a coincidence but it made me giggle when I read it.

I think a lot of people would like A Taste of Chocolate by Vonnie Davis. I wish I had liked this one more as I thought I'd really enjoy it. I think I was just a little put off by how passionate Declan was and the intensity he had when pursuing Hope. Overall, it was sweet but was only an ok read for me.

*A copy of this short story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.*

PS Fun fact! This is my 300th post! Whee! :)

Mini Review: Bullets and Buckets

Bullets and Buckets by Janelle Lee was a quick, romantic, country western story that, in all honesty, kind of confused me.

Here's the synopsis:

The last thing Michelle Hanlan was looking for when she arrived at her grandfather’s ranch was friendship let alone romance. She would do her time and then hightail back to the city where she belongs. That was the plan until Rick crossed her path, leading her heart to other ideas.

I mentioned that this was a quick read. This story was a whole 24 pages and almost wasn't enough to really get into the story. I think that's also what made me a little confused. There were things that I believe should have been explained better. For example, right at the beginning of the story Michelle is confronted with a rattlesnake that Rick ends up shooting to save her. She's completely ungrateful and I was a bit shocked. If someone shot a rattlesnake so it wouldn't bite me, I'd be pretty thankful. Michelle was just hard to like at first so it was a bit of a rough start with her.

I did like the romance, even if it did get off to a sort of odd start. There's a bit of mystery to Rick and it was nice to read along as Michelle started to figure him out. I do like that he calls her on her rudeness right off the bat. It shows that he has a sense of humour that can balance her...well, stuck up-ness.

I know this is a super short review but it's hard to write too much about a 24 page story! I wasn't really thrilled with Bullets and Buckets and think that author Janelle Lee probably could have impressed me more by writing a slightly longer story. I just didn't get enough out of this story, unfortunately.

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*

Mini Review: The Billionaire's Con

I loved Mackenzie Crowne’s short story That Dating Thing so when I found out she had another story published, The Billionaire’s Con, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Here’s what this short story is all about:

Determined to succeed, Chef Meggy Calhoun realizes her dream with the opening of Boston’s hottest new culinary experience. But will her secret connection to one of New England’s most powerful families poison her recipe for success, and leave her heart flambéed?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved that there was a great mix of intrigue and romance. As the reader, we’re not sure who to trust and we’re not sure what the motive is behind a lot of actions. Slowly the story is unraveled and we find out why everyone’s been deceitful.

Maggy was such a great character. She seems like the type of person that I could be friends with - smart, funny, down to earth. She also has some great friends of her own and it’d be fun to hang out with all of them.

At just over 100 pages, The Billionaire’s Con is pretty much the perfect length for a short story. There’s enough action to keep things interesting and there aren’t any lingering questions, which can sometimes happen with stories that are just too short.

If you’re looking for a quick, romantic read, I definitely recommend The Billionaire’s Con by Mackenzie Crowne.

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*

Just Finished: Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit by Liberty Blake was one of those quick and entertaining short stories that you need to read every once and awhile. This short story is one of Still Moments Publishing's and I was happy to give it a chance when they asked me to review it. I'm a sucker for all things Christmassy :)

Here's the short and sweet description of this story:

Cross a Christmas phobic male with a caterer with Christmas bells on...can she ignite the Christmas spirit in him?

I blew through this story in a lunch hour at work this past week, which was great. Sometimes it's nice to be able to wrap something up in one sitting because you don't want to have to re-enter the character's world. This was a really short short story at just 28 pages so I had no problem reading it at lunch. It was a lovely break for the day!

Sometimes I find short stories too short, especially when they try to rush things. It can sometimes be particularly bad with romances because you have to wonder how quickly people can really fall in love. Even though this story was very short, I didn't have that feeling. I thought there was just enough time given that it made sense that the characters could end up with each other. I did think that I would have liked some more back story on a few things, like finding out why Harry hates Christmas. That almost felt abrupt and I didn't think enough time was given to that part of the story.

While the story itself wasn't one of my favourites, I thought it was well written. It had Christmas, it had a steamy romance, and it also had a theme of loss and learning to let go and enjoy things again. Very well done, considering the length of the story.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read Christmas Spirit by Liberty Blake. Check it out if you're looking for a little shot of Christmas before the big day!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Christmas Magic

It's just over two weeks until Christmas so I thought it was high time to post another holiday review! Christmas Magic is one of the new holiday anthologies published by Still Moments Publishing. While it wasn't one of my favourites, I think others would really enjoy it.

Here's a little bit about each story:

Wishes Come True by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Will mixing one lonely baker and the town’s prodigal son with spices and laughter make a tasty recipe for love?

Harbor Homecoming by Lindsay McFerrin
Can a gigantic dog named Bear be a matchmaker? If it’s Christmas in romantic Bar Harbor, Maine, the answer is yes!

Beginning of Forever by Terri Rochenski
A new face in town forces Lillian Davis to choose between living in her past and what is blossoming in her heart.

When I was in university I would always be home for the break between semesters. My mom and I share a love of romantic Christmas books and I would always finish the books before she did. I think she liked that though because I could tell her what order to read the stories in and if there were any she should skip altogether. Why am I telling you this? Well, because I wish I had had someone to tell me what order to read these stories in. I really liked Wishes Come True and it would have been nice if that had been the last story I had read. It's not that I disliked the other two, it was just that I enjoyed the first one the most.

Sometimes I find that short stories do not have a good pace and that things end up happening much too quickly for it to be believable. That didn't really happen with these stories. Funnily enough, Wishes Come True was the story that I struggled with the most when it came to timing. I think it was just a little difficult to understand how the characters could care so much about each other without really spending much time together.

Each story had a really sweet storyline, which is perfect for Christmas. I loved Bear the dog in Harbor Homecoming and thought he was just perfect for the story. I was also amazed at how Lillian picked herself up after a tragedy and was able to be a terrific mother in Beginning of Forever. I can't imagine what she had to go through.

Overall, Christmas Magic gave me just the holiday boost I needed. The stories were fun to read, the romances were sweet, and there was just the right amount Christmas spirit. Pick this one up if you're looking for a few quick Christmas stories. I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*

Just Finished: Chocolate Kisses

Happy December first! It seems only fitting that I kick the month off with a review of a sweet (in more ways than one) Christmas short story. Chocolate Kisses by Darlene Fredette was such a lovely read.

Here's the description of this short story:

When Jackson Frost returns to Redford Falls, Candi Cane knows he’s not only after her chocolate kisses.

This story had everything I needed for a Christmas fix. Giggle inducing names (Jackson Frost and Candi Cane? Love it), a chocolate shop complete with story time and Santa Claus, a small town, and a second chance at love.

The only teeny little thing that I didn't like too much was the reason why Jackson came back. I don't want to give anything away but I wish it was a little less...serious and legal, I suppose. I've been trying to think of another explanation for why he could have come back to town and I have yet to come up with anything. This is by no means a deal breaker but I wanted to mention it - even though it's cryptic and only the author or others who have read this would understand what I mean. :)

I really liked the pace of the story. All too often it seems like short stories rush the plot but that wasn't the case with this one. Everything happened at a natural pace and it made sense. It helped that the characters already knew each other as it meant the ending wasn't forced or outlandish.

I'm really hoping that Fredette will write more in this Redford Falls series. I think it's such a lovely setting and there are so many opportunities for some more sweet stories. I'm partial to Jackson and Candi now so I hope that we'd get a glimpse into what they're up to in the next story.

Overall, I loved reading Chocolate Kisses by Darlene Fredette. If you're looking for a quick Christmas story, I definitely recommend you check this one out.

Happy reading :)

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*

Just Finished: Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I tend to enjoy a good wedding story. I feel like they provide all the necessary tension for good chick lit/romance without needing to add ridiculous plot twists. Besides, reading about weddings is a whole heck of a lot cheaper than attending them! When I found out I was one of the winners from the Still Moments Publishing Halloween blog hop, I decided to choose one of their wedding anthologies for my prize. Something Borrowed, Something Blue stood out for me and it ended up being a very enjoyable read.

Here's what the four stories are about:

Always a Bride by Darlene Henderson
Alex has walked down the aisle a hundred times in as many wedding dresses, she is “Always a Bride” but somehow she's still single. When her high school sweetheart, Harvey shows up will Alex’s walk down the aisle finally end at an altar?

Sleepless in St. Lucia by Denise Moncrief
Elise Cameron thinks the hardest thing she’ll ever have to do is watch her best friend, Trish, marry the man of Elise’s dreams. When her high school crush, Ryan Morgan, shows up at Trish’s wedding to be the best man, Elise and Ryan have to confront some old misunderstandings to find their own happily ever after.

The Ring Toss by Liv Rancourt
A last minute switch lands Mack in a long white dress, but can she commit?

An Island Wedding by Tudor Robins
When Jessa’s best friend calls off her wedding at the last moment will it be a case of “nearly a bridesmaid, never a bride?” Or will Jessa manage to stop worrying about other people’s weddings long enough to land her own true love?

Each of the four stories had something that I really liked. I think my favourite was Always a Bride and the second chance that Alex and Harvey got. It was fun to read about Elise in Sleepless in St. Lucia as her idea about Ryan completely flipped around. The Ring Toss had an adorable twist in an unlikely situation. I loved reading about Jessa as she finally realized that what was in front of her was the best thing for her in An Island Wedding.

I do have to say that The Ring Toss was a wee bit confusing because it was hard to keep track of all the characters. They were being referred to as their actual names as well as the names of the characters they were playing in the play. See, I can't even explain the confusion without confusing you! :) It wasn't a huge deal but I do wish that story had been written just a little bit differently. It does win for the best twist of the four stories, though!

Short story anthologies are always tough to review since there's not a lot of content to review on and I don't want to inadvertently give something away. So. I'm not going to say too much more. I think Something Borrowed, Something Blue was a really sweet and entertaining read. Was it my favourite anthology? No, but I still enjoyed reading all of the stories. If you're looking for some cute wedding themed stories, pick this one up!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Eye of the Storm

Happy Halloween! I read the suspenseful and slightly spooky short story (how’s that for alliteration?) Eye of the Storm by Denise Moncrief a little while ago and I thought posting my review on Halloween was a good fit!

Here’s the synopsis:

Kieran Talbot’s problems as a resident at a Tallahassee hospital force her to take a leave of absence and escape to the beach. One stormy night, a bruised and bloodied man collapses in the front doorway of her borrowed house.

A storm blows in off the warm Gulf waters, promising to drench the coast with the first downpour of a very hot summer. Kieran retreats to the beach house as the deluge begins. Just as she gets comfortable, the door bursts open. Rain soaked and bloody, Davis Jackson falls through the doorway. He needs a hospital, but he doesn’t want the cops involved. Danger follows Davis wherever he goes. Kieran won’t tell him her story and Davis won’t tell her his. Together they must fight for their lives during a Class Three Hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast.

I have to admit that I wasn’t super into this story. I think part of it had to do with the fact that I had no idea how long it was. I started reading it at the gym one day and then decided to finish it the next. It turns out I had read almost the whole story while at the gym so I barely had time to get back into it before it was over. For this annoyance, I blame the ereader. However, I’ve also realized that suspense isn’t really my thing. At least, not with reading. I think I require the actual visual of a good looking male instead of the one in my head… :)

Putting aside the fact that suspense stories aren't my favourite, I think Eye of the Storm provided a good little mystery. Who is Davis? What did he do? What’s Kieran's story? Why is she hiding? These are all questions that eventually get answered – but not before some craziness ensues. And I'm not talking about the hurricane!

Overall, I liked Eye of the Storm by Denise Moncrief but I think others would like it more. It’s got a bit of a crazy twist mixed in with some romance and was an enjoyable, quick read.

I received a copy of Eye of the Storm in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Still Moments Publishing!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Spellbound Hearts

I never used to be a fan of short stories. I didn't think I could get the full experience from a little snippet of a story. My mind was changed in the last few years as I encountered several short stories that gave me everything a novel did. But...the anthology Spellbound Hearts left me wanting a lot more.

Before I get too much into my thoughts, here's the synopsis of these four stories:

Boxers or Briefs by Jillian Chantal
Magical Foundations, so much more than a lingerie shop.

The Beauty Within by Olivia Devereaux
Adele lives a privileged life. When one of the Council of Eight decides Adele needs to be taught a lesson, the pixie is cast down into the world of the sprite. Without the finery that made her one of the privileged of the society, Adele must find the meaning of true beauty and what love entails or be cast out forever.

Witchy by Clara Waibel
Love spells are illegal. The Council sends witches to jail for much less, but when Sally falls for the new guy at the office, resorting to an evil Fae's help will be her only hope.

Temptations Touch by Liv Rancourt
Geri cringes at the thought of a single touch, but when she finds herself stranded in the Fae world, the temptation is too strong to resist, connecting her to a binding love.

Let me start out by saying that I'm usually a fan of magical stories. I adore Harry Potter and devoured (the more grown up) All Souls Trilogy featuring witches, vampires, and daemons. I've always enjoyed these kinds of stories - confession: I had a huge fairy obsession when I was younger - so I'm not really sure why I didn't love the four stories in this anthology.

I think some of my issues came with the writing itself. Magical stories can be tricky to write and read. If things aren't written well or explained in a relatable way, they can seem sort of...well...hokey, I suppose. Maybe I just notice these things more now that I've been blogging for almost two years. I never used to pay attention to the way things were written but I now find myself editing the books I read when they're not working for me. Mostly I found some flow issues and some awkward phrasing and dialogue. Could I have done better? Probably not, but, as a reader, these little things did make a negative impact on my enjoyment of the stories.

What makes all this negativity surprising is that when I think about the actual stories, I can't find anything about them that I disliked. It was interesting to see how the witchy matchmaker fared when faced with a curious stranger. The relationship between the pixies and sprites was reminiscent of the class struggles we all face as humans. I wondered what I would do if I was a powerful witch who couldn't seem to find a guy who liked me. And I was intrigued about the Fae world that orphan Geri found herself in.

I've read stories by some of these authors before and enjoyed them so I found it odd that these ones didn't connect. Because of this, and because of the fact that I didn't dislike the stories themselves, I'd still give this anthology a recommend. I will say that you should definitely be into magic and fantasy stories to enjoy these though. If those kinds of stories only sometimes thrill you, I'd check out one of the other anthologies Still Moments Publishing has to offer (I'd recommend those anyway - they've got something for everyone!). A bit of a downer review, I know, but just know that this less than stellar reading experience hasn't deterred me from reading more short stories in the future.

Happy reading :)

Thank you to Still Moments Publishing for the copy to review.

Just Finished: That Dating Thing

Let's start things off with a simple statement: I loved That Dating Thing by Mackenzie Crowne! It was a great short story that left me loving the characters and wishing there were more stories about them.

Here's the synopsis:

An irresistible attraction to a sexy assistant district attorney threatens the only daughter of Wall Street’s most notorious stock swindler with exposure and ruination.

Dog trainer, Rylee Pierce has perfected the art of flying beneath society’s radar. Prosecutor, Cooper Reed is a threat to her carefully hidden truths, but how is a woman supposed to resist a man capable of handling a psychotic Great Dane while charming her out of her panties before she has the chance to blink?

This was a long short story (is that an oxymoron? Hm. No matter.) at around 125 pages and I loved the pace of it. Normally I find that short stories have to rush through things to have the story all wrapped up nicely by the end. That wasn't the case with this story, thankfully. Everything happened at the right time and I felt like I was getting all the information I needed. Of course, I would love to see this expanded into a full length novel but I feel like everything was resolved by the story's conclusion. I just wanted to spend more time with the characters!

The romantic storyline in this story was great. After they meet, Rylee and Cooper eventually agree have a "dating thing" - after much deliberation on the part of Rylee. She's so closed off and is always worried about what her father's past will mean to the guys she dates. This proves to be a valid concern. I thought Cooper was being a bit of an idiot when it came to her past but (and this is a very minor and vague spoiler) she should have been up front with him in the first place. But, before things even get to that point, there's a very sweet and sexy relationship between them and it was fun to read about.

I was really happy with Mackenzie Crowne's That Dating Thing and I will definitely be looking out for what she writes next. I think any romance lover would enjoy this story. It's fun and sweet and all around enjoyable.

Thank you to Still Moments Publishing for the copy to review!

Just Finished: The Better Man

I read another of Ceri Hebert's short stories earlier this month (it was Yesterday's Tomorrow and the review can be found here if you missed it) and while The Better Man didn't capture me quite as much, I still really enjoyed the story.

Here's the synopsis:

A Dear Jane letter. A jilted bride. With the help of the Best Man, Lorelei Warren discovers that being left at the altar might be the best thing that's ever happened.
Lorelei Warren is facing every bride’s nightmare; she’s been left at the altar with nothing but a Dear Jane letter from the cheating groom and a church full of friends and family. Will Draper, her best friend and the best man is there to pick up the pieces. He’s been in love with Lorelei for years and he can’t resist her. Now Lori has to decide what direction her life will head, especially when it comes to Will. Can she risk losing his friendship or is what she feels for Will worth pursuing?

The story starts in an incredibly emotional moment - Lori has just been dumped...with a letter...on her wedding day. This blows the Post It Note break-up right out of the water. I was immediately in Lori's corner and was ready to trash the ex-groom right along with her bridesmaids. This helped me connect with Lori right away and I loved that. I was invested in her life right from the start and cared about what was going to happen to her.

I knew what would happen between Will and Lori but I was interested to see how it would happen. I was pleasantly surprised when Hebert threw a bit of a twist in the story and sent Lori on her road trip honeymoon - without Will. What was going to happen!? Again, I was invested and curious to find out if Lori would eventually get her happily ever after.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read The Better Man by Ceri Hebert. It was a sweet story with a great romance and I think a lot of others would like reading it as well (you can purchase it on Still Moments Publishing's website here). Since I've now enjoyed two of Hebert's stories I will definitely be on the lookout for what she writes next!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Yesterday's Tomorrow

I'm a big fan of second chances stories so I was happy to review the short story Yesterday's Tomorrow by Ceri Hebert.

Here's the synopsis:

What would you do if life gave you another chance to go back and get it right? 

No one needs a mental health day more than forty-four year old Lila Weidner, but when the overworked HR director wakes up in her twenty-three year old body, she's left wondering what is going on. Where is her life as a successful business woman? Where is her equally successful husband? And how is she going to maneuver through the day in order to stay on the same path she followed over twenty years earlier? Lila soon rediscovers old dreams and old friendships that she left behind and wonders if this is her chance for another shot at a truly fulfilling life. Does she dare to step off her original path and allow yesterday to become her new tomorrow?

We all wonder "what if?" at some point in our lives. It could be something simple like, "What if I hadn't gone to that concert and stayed home instead?" or something complex such as, "What if I had married my high school sweetheart?" I like when stories really examine these questions, whether the character gets a literal do-over or just the chance to do something they've always wanted to try. In the case of Yesterday's Tomorrow, it was the former. Lila goes to bed as a 44 year old and wakes up in her 23 year old body. Realizing she has the chance to create the happy ending she fears she's lacking, she dives into this second chance and makes the most out of it.

I loved seeing what Lila did with her second chance. She had to make a tough decision - stick with what's familiar or use this opportunity to really go after her heart's desire? I wasn't sure at first how it was going to turn out but I'm very happy with the conclusion.

I really liked this short story (emphasis on short - it was only about 40 pages long) and think many others would as well. Romance plays a part in Yesterday's Tomorrow but it's more about Lila's journey and what she realizes when she gets her do-over. It was a great read for sitting in the sun in the backyard on a Saturday afternoon! :)

Thank you to Still Moments Publishing for the copy to review!

Just Finished: When Love Aligns

Welcome to my very first single short story review! I've reviewed compilations a few times before but When Love Aligns by Jennifer Daiker is the first stand alone short story that I've read in awhile. I've read some of Daiker's work before and really enjoyed it so I was expecting good things from this story.

Let's start off with the synopsis:

What do you do when you match the love of your life to someone else? Time is running out for this Goddess of Love to set things right and win her soul mate’s heart…without magic. Matchmaking just got a lot more interesting.
Drew just made the worst mistake the Goddess of Love could ever make. Accidentally matching her soul mate to another woman! What was she thinking?
Match making has always been Drew’s destiny – it’s the only things she’s good at. But time is of the essence, and the last thing she needs is for the Gods to discover her glitch. Her Goddess of Love status would be severed permanently. Now Drew has to convince Jack that she’s his one true love…without the use of her magic! Will she succeed before it’s too late?

As usual, Daiker created a sweet and entertaining story. I liked that she included a magical element because I haven't encountered a good magical chick lit story in awhile. It was an interesting premise - what would happen if the Goddess of Love fell in love herself? Is that even allowed? I liked following Drew and Jack and wondered how they would be able to be together.

I have found that I'm the type of person who will not read the synopsis right before reading the book. I'll read it when I buy it or agree to accepting a review copy but I won't read it again until I'm putting it up in a post. I've found that this gives me more surprises and allows me to enjoy the book more because I'm not expecting anything that was given away in the write up. In the case of this short story, I completely forgot that the main character was the Goddess of Love. I was a bit confused at the start but I don't think that all came from not knowing that Drew was magical. I feel like I was missing a chapter because I wasn't sure who all the characters were and it seemed as though I was expected to. Fortunately, this confusion was the only negative I found with this story.

Did I love When Love Aligns as much as I did the other stories Daiker has written? No. Will I read whatever she comes out with next? Absolutely. Jennifer Daiker has quickly become an author I want to keep an eye on because she always creates sweet but real and entertaining stories. I look forward to reading her next work!

Just Finished: Valentine Delights - Be Mine

First, let me just say that this review of Valentine Delights: Be Mine was supposed to go up on Tuesday, you know, Valentine's Day. Due to a ton of crazy things happening in my life I haven't had time until today. So, find your time machine and put yourself back into a Valentine's Day mood, ok? Ok.

Oh, Valentine's Day. It's a holiday that draws oh so much criticism. Is it a Hallmark holiday that only makes businesses richer? Or is it a nice excuse to spoil your loved one, whether it be with roses or breakfast in bed? I always loved giving out and getting Valentines in elementary school and then I was the resident candy heart giver outer starting in high school and carrying on through university. Personally, I don't do much of anything for Valentine's Day. Part of that could be the fact that my boyfriend and I have hardly ever been in the same city for the holiday in the almost seven years we've been dating and part could be that I'm not one who needs all the fancy schmancy romance stuff. I think spending the night together doing whatever you love doing is the best way to celebrate. And there should be chocolate. Lots of chocolate :)

Now that you know a little bit more about me and my thoughts on V-Day, let's get moving on the review!

Here's a quick little synopsis of the stories in this anthology, from Goodreads:

The Coroner’s Heart by Jillian Chantal
Making a Valentine’s Day candy heart from Jell-o is easy for this coroner, performing an autopsy on a real heart is even easier, but what happens when her own heart is at risk? 

Latte Love by Jennifer Daiker
When Charlie's secret admirer orders more than just a steamy latte this Valentine's Day, the secrets have never been sweeter. 

Change Of Heart by Liberty Blake
After the night they spent in the hot tub, Melody believed her new man wanted a relationship, but now it was Valentine's Day and not even a phone call. Did he have a Change of Heart?

As I mentioned in my recent review of  Snowbound Hearts (also published by Still Moments Publishing), I really like when anthologies have a theme. Obviously this one was all about Valentine's Day (aren't you glad I spelled that out for you?). I have to say that I didn't like Valentine Delights quite as much as Snowbound Hearts but I still enjoyed reading the three stories in this collection. I didn't have an overwhelming favourite story this time either so I'm just going to give some quick thoughts on each story.

When I read "The Coroner's Heart" I had a mix of TV characters in my head when I was picturing the coroner. It was a mix of Abby from NCIS, Brennan and Cam from Bones, and Lanie from Castle. Kind of amusing, right? I liked this story because it was a case of working with someone and then suddenly realizing that there was a romantic connection there.

"Latte Love" featured a secret admirer and I really liked that. I was just as curious and intrigued as Charlie and couldn't wait too find out who had been sending her such sweet gifts!

"Change of Heart" is an example of why communication is key. Note to the guys: always find out why your girl doesn't like celebrating Valentine's Day. Is it because she truly doesn't like it or is it because she's never had a good experience with it? Sweet (and steamy!) ending to this one.

All in all, I was happy reading Valentine Delights: Be Mine and I will pay attention to other themed anthologies that Still Moments Publishing comes out with. Want to check this one out for yourself? You can get it from the publisher's website here or on Smashwords.

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day and had lots and lots of delicious chocolate! :)

Just Finished: Snowbound Hearts

My favourite thing about reading short story collections is that you get a taste of many authors in one lovely package. Snowbound Hearts (published by Still Moments Publishing) was a very lovely package and I am so glad I got the chance to read this anthology. A big thank you to one of the authors Jen Daiker (the very talented voice behind the blog Unedited, check it out here!) for sending me the collection.

Here's a quick snapshot of what this collection holds:

Sophie’s Snow Day by Jillian Chantal 
“A snowstorm can be a life changing event. Just ask Sophie.”

Snowbanked by Jennifer Daiker
“Returning home can hold the best surprises, especially when love is involved.”

The White Lion by Maggie Devine
“When Pub owner Sophie Ashford clashes with the new Lord of the Manor, Shane Smith, a secret past is unearthed and a new love erupts...”

Winter Twilight by Shannon O’Brien
“Can a secret, up and coming rock musician reawaken a young woman's passion while she fumbles her way through a strange city and new life?”

I've discovered that I really like when anthologies have a theme. Usually I read Christmas books (I'm mildly obsessed with Christmas collections...) but after reading this book I've realized that I'm open to just about anything. In Snowbound Hearts each story features a big snow storm which results in the characters being snowed in. There's something very romantic about being snowed in with loved ones and this collection takes advantage of that. Usually the snow looks fresh and clean and pretty (even though it's wreaking havoc on the world outside) and you can watch the world become white while snuggled up in your house - bonus points if you have a fireplace!

I was really happy with this collection. There wasn't a story that I didn't like and that's something that I'm always afraid of - reading a few great stories and then coming to one that I just can't get into. However, there were two that stood out more for me - "Snowbanked" and "The White Lion".

"The White Lion" took place in a small town British pub. Sophie was spunky and had a great personality that enchanted Shane just as much as me. I loved the bantering and the witty conversations, especially between Sophie and her uncle, and there were several times I found myself laughing out loud. I think what I liked most about this story was the crazy twist Devine came up with. I was quite proud of myself for figuring it out but maybe I'm thinking too highly of myself... :) I liked that I went into this story expecting one happy ending and instead I got two...a great bonus!

Since Jennifer was the one who sent me a copy of the book I told myself that I wouldn't play favourites and would be as fair as I always am in my reviews. Turns out I absolutely adored her story and it was my favourite in this collection. This story also made me realize that I love the returning home stories - when a guy or girl leaves behind their small home town and their love interest to run away to the big city, only to return and realize what they've been missing. There are a couple of lines I just have to share from this story because I loved them so much:

"Snowflakes trickled outside the oversized windows while the chocolatey goodness brewed into the glass mug"

Can't you just picture yourself there, looking out at the snowflakes falling, and waiting for a tasty hot chocolate?

"You're the most gorgeous klutz I've ever met."
"I'm the only one you've ever met."
"And the only one I fell in love with."

 *swoon* I think love this because I'm such a klutz too. It's a little cheesy but it works with the story.

Overall, I really liked Snowbound Hearts and I encourage everyone to go buy it. You can get it from the Still Moments Publishing site or Smashwords and since it's only $3.99 you have no excuse not to purchase it. Stay tuned for my review of the next anthology Jennifer Daiker is a part of - Valentine Delights - I'm really looking forward to it!

Happy reading :)