Book Review: Merry Christmas, Baby by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jennifer LaBrecque, Rhonda Nelson

Title: Merry Christmas, Baby

Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jennifer LaBrecque, Rhonda Nelson

Release Date: November 15th 2011

Publisher: Harlequin

Age: Adult

Who will you find under your Christmas tree? 

A cowboy?

Ranch hand Tucker Rankin isn't crazy about the holidays…until a wintry night before Christmas, when Lacey Evans shows him how much fun it is to be nestled all snug in her bed…. 

A wealthy New Yorker?

Stockbroker Jared Martin needs to get away, and Alaska's the perfect place to unwind. Especially once actress Theodora "Teddy" Monroe gets him to loosen his tie—and take it all off! 

Or maybe even a man in uniform?

Soldier Silas Davenport is on Christmas leave. But when he arrives at his parents' home, no one is there…except for the irresistible Delphie Moreau. And she's one gift he won't be exchanging!

Merry Christmas, Baby  is another Christmas anthology. It has three different short stories about couples who find love at the holidays.

First story is "It's Christmas, Cowboy" (linked to Sons of Chance series), about the cowboy Tucker Rankin and Lacey Evans, who met at school and haven't seen each other for years, until an accident unite them and force them to spend a night at Lacey's cabin. Both of them have issues celebrating Christmas, but it's time for them to get over it and enjoy it, specially since they are together and still attracted to each other.

"Northern Fantasy" (linked to LaBrecque's Alaskan Heat series) is settled in Alaska, where New Yorker Jaren Martin needs a break and met Teddy Monroe, a woman who turn him on the exact moment he saw her. This one is definitely the hotest story of the three, their attraction was indomitable, but I think it would have been better if the story would have been longer, since the characters had more to say.

"He'll Be Home for Christmas" (not sure if it's linked to the Men Out of Uniform series) is about Silas, who just got permission to spend the holidays with his family and Delphie, his neighbor and the only who is looking after his parent's house. This story is very sweet, Delphie and Silas fell in love and it wasn't only about physical attraction, and I absolutely loved the ending. I think it was perfect for a short story and very realistic, it was my favorite.

Overall, I think Merry Christmas, Baby is the perfect anthology is you are looking for naughty holidays short stories. And don't worry about the stories being linked to series, you can still read them if you haven't read the previous books.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Holiday Hideout by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis, Julie Kenner

Title: Holiday Hideout: The Thanksgiving Fix, The Christmas Set-U, The New Year's Deal

Authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis, Julie Kenner

Release Date: November 1st 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Anthologies

Age: Adult

The Thanksgiving Fix by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Finding Mr. Right is the furthest thing from Beth Davis's mind when the Reno professor takes Thanksgiving break at a colleague's Lake Tahoe cabin. Until Coinneach McFarland arrives to fix a suspicious leak. It looks like somebody's playing matchmaker for two people sworn to stay single. But as things heat up, Beth is astonished to find she has discovered her soul mate just as she'd given up looking. 

The Christmas Set-Up by Jill Shalvis

Competing architects Zoe and Jason have two weeks to come up with the design to win a coveted new project. But when a snowstorm strands them together at a secluded cabin, Zoe sees her chance to show Jason how she really feels. With romance blooming under the mistletoe, can she get the gorgeous Scrooge into the true Christmas spirit? 

The New Year's Deal by Julie Kenner

Five years ago, Cleo Daire and Josh Goodson said goodbye and went their separate ways. But first they made a promise to reunite. Now the ex-lovers are spending New Year's Eve in a romantic cabin, where passion takes them by surprise and long-wished-for dreams can sometimes come true.

I don't usually read anthologies, but I have found that I enjoy holidays anthologies. Not sure why, maybe because more couples = more love!

The three stories of Holiday Hideout are connected by Lake Tahoe cabin, that is rumored to rekindle love, brings couples back together or create new couples. I enjoyed the fact that the three stories happened in the same place and of course all the couple found love one way or another.

The Thanksgiving Fix is about two people who are tired of not finding the perfect person. But when they met each other, it's obvious there is more than attraction between them. So what if they spend Thanksgiving Day just enjoying each other without ties?

The Christmas Set Up is about two coworkers who have two weeks to make a design, and the one who win is going to be ascended. But what is one of them steals your pendrive and you have to follow him to the cabin?

And the New Year's Deal is about a couple who broke up in the past and made a promise to meet each other in five years, and see if they still have the spark. What if they still have the spark? Will they finally make the effort to be together?

I have to say I liked the three stories, but my favorite was The Christmas Set Up. Two coworkers attracted to each other  but always in competition. They met at the cabin and it's to hard to fight their attraction, even if that means that one of them is going to loose the ascension. Who is going to be?

Overall, I liked Holiday Hideout because all the stories were sweet but also very hot! (which is not usual on Christmas stories). I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a light reading.

More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Book Review: Cupid Cats by Katie MacAlister, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Connie Brockway

Title: Cupid Cats

Authors: Katie MacAlister, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Connie Brockway

Release Date: Jone 8th, 2010

Publisher: Signet

Age: Adult

From New York Times bestselling authors Katie Macalister, Vicki Lewis Thompson and National bestselling author Connie Brockway: Stories full of magic, love-and cats. This one-of-a-kind-all-original anthology features stories by three bestselling superstar authors starring the mysterious, mischievous, and magical matchmaking felines of the Cupid Cats Animal Shelter, who assist their owners in finding romance and true love.

I actually read Cupid Cats a long time ago, for Valentine's Day.

Cupid Cats is a collection of three stories from different writers. Every story has something in common, a magical cat from the Cupid Cats shelter.

Unleashed by Katie MacAlister is about a Morovian, a jaguar shape shifter, and a wildlife officer. If you like paranormal romance you will love this one, full of action and paranormal characters. Unleashed is a novella from her series Dark Ones.

A Cat's Game by Vicky Lewis Thompson is about a superstar and his ex-high school girlfriend, who found each other again. It's a cute and romantic story, and the magical kitty is always there trying to bring them together.

Cat Scratch Fever by Connie Brockway is the cutest story of all. A father goes to the shelter looking for a cat with his little daughter, and he found Edith, who works at his company and is a very shy woman. The magical cat, Ishy/Pixie, is the cat that his daughter wants, but she is very old and doesn't want to leave the shelter, giving the couple time to really meet each other.

All of the stories were well written and I enjoyed them. They were romantic and perfect to read them for Valentine's Day.

More about this book at katiemacalister.com, www.vickilewisthompson.com, www.conniebrockway.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.