Yuletide Enchantment by Cindy Spencer Pape

Yuletide Enchantment: 1 (Holiday Hearts)
By: Cindy Spencer Pape
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: December 9, 2009
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, Inspirational, Mystery
Content: M/F, Oral Sex, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Suki
Date: June 20, 2015

 

The company Christmas party goes awry in an erotic way when quiet accountant Shelby Carter is magically whisked into a miniature Victorian village with the boss's gorgeous son, Noel Holiday.

Noel has always honored the policy against fraternization, but when he's trapped for several days with sweet, sexy Shelby, he decides it's time to start breaking the rules. While exploring the enchanted surroundings, they delve into their deepest fantasies, even acting out scenes from a collection of erotic Victorian postcards. After all, what's Christmas without a little magic and a whole lot of sexy fun?

Though Shelby's crazy about Noel, she's sure he'll forget all about her once their interlude is over. But Noel has fallen head over snow boots in love with Shelby. Now he just has to convince her that holiday wishes can come true, and his devotion will last beyond their Yuletide Enchantment.

Yes I am reading a Christmas book in June.  Perhaps I am hoping for some of that snow we got this winter to cool things off a bit. This book is not going to cool anything off. In fact I think it rose the temperature a degree or two. 

Noel Holiday (HERO) works for the family greeting card company as a designer and is asked to check out the new Christmas display to see what is missing from it. When he gets there what he finds is Shelby Carter from accounting who is intent on the village. When they touch hands and the village at the same time they find themselves transported to the Victorian village or at least the house.  Complete with Victorian clothing and condoms. 

Once they discover there is no real way to escape they decide to make the best of it and let their attraction for each other takeover. But will it last when they are returned to reality?

I really enjoyed this book. And when you read any Ellora’s Cave book you know you are going to get sex scenes that are hot and detailed. I personally would have liked more about when they got back to reality, it seemed rushed. A couple more pages might have done the trick. But the book was very well written and edited and I fell in love with the Characters.

If you are looking for something to heat things up, this will do it.

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Disenchanted Christmas By Sandra Sookoo

Title: Disenchanted Christmas

Author: Sandra Sookoo

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: Out Now

ISBN: 978-1-59578-769-9

Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance

Length: 71 pages

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Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: TJ

Date: November 6, 2011

Christmas in 1899 starts as a joyless affair. Bethany Cundiff has hit a rough patch in life. While caring for her young niece and nephew, she's evicted from her residence and fired from her job ten days before Christmas. To make matters worse, a gentleman who desires her company for the holiday, and has the money to back up the promise, propositions her for sex.

Blake Wenchal is a disenchanted elf that's been banished from the Northern Realm and Santa's court because he's lost the spirit of compassion and charity. Lonely from years spent by himself, he's thrown off balance when Bethany accepts his ill-advised offer of paid bed mate—except she arrives on his doorstep with children in tow.

Neither one counted on the power of love, acceptance and the miracle of family to make the holiday unforgettable.

Disenchanted Christmas is a heart-warming holiday keepsake that I will be sure to reread every year. Bethany is in desperate straights and even while facing an ethical dilemma she is still a strong and principled woman. Blake is malcontent with the season and humans in general until Bethany and her niece and nephew burrow their way into his disgruntled heart. Experiencing his interactions with the children and his reviving joy through them is such a treat. I loved how well developed every character introduced was and Blake’s neighbor is someone I hope to see make a reappearance in upcoming adventures. This story left me feeling that holiday miracles definitely can come true and that even our bleakest moments can lead to a lifetime of happiness.

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Making Christmas by Lizzie T. Leaf

Title:   Making Christmas

Author: Lizzie T. Leaf

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60168-381-6

Genre: historical romance

Length: 99

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Heat Level: sensual

Other: mention of m/m, m/f

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Callie’s world changes when the War Between the States hits close to home. With her parents dead and her brother missing in action fighting for the south, Callie decides to dress like a boy and go find him. The ones who love her want her to stay home, but she promises to be home by Christmas. While away, she’s captured by Union soldiers. Drunk or not, Dr. Tom Kent is mighty surprised when the ‘boy’ he’s helping turns out to be a young woman. He keeps ‘Cal’s’ identity a secret and keeps her close as an aide. Fair and pretty for a boy, Cal draws the wrong kind of attention from the men at camp, including the commanding officer. Making it home for Christmas turns out to be a bigger challenge, but Callie through her struggles, Callie learns things sometimes happen for a reason.

Making Christmas is a seasonal twist on a classic plot line. I enjoy Civil War stories and many take on the female in uniform aspect. This one adds in a commander with a secret love for men, which was different. At about mid-point in the story the plot does take a distracting twist with more said about the gay commander than the budding romance between Callie and Dr. Kent. Still, the growing relationships and friendships make Making Christmas emotionally satisfying. Readers looking for a different twist on a Civil War era Christmas story will be happy with Making Christmas.

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Cade's Thanksgiving by Cia Leah

Title:   Cade's Thanksgiving

Author: Cia Leah

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date:   Nov 5 2009

ISBN:    978-1-60435-413-3

Genre:   Western Historical Romance

Length:   6,060 words

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Heat Level:   Sweet

Reviewer:  Suki

Date:   December 31 2010

“When Cade Lawson sent for his mail order bride, Maggie O'Malley, he didn't know what to expect. He and his twin sons needed a woman in their lives, the babes a mother to take the place of their dead mamma and he needed a woman to love.

Maggie was anxious about becoming a mail order bride, marrying a man she'd never met, but once she laid eyes on Cade and his twin sons, she knew that this Thanksgiving was going to be the best she'd ever had.”

The blurb about says it all for the story, it’s a sweet story about a man who needs a mother to his children and wife for himself. Cade is a good man who is in over his head with his two twin sons. Maggie needs a way to get out on her own, so the situation is ideal for both.  If you are looking for something light, and as I mentioned sweet, then you will enjoy the story. If you are looking for something with some depth and conflict, I advise that you read something else.

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Devil in a Red Kilt by Elysabeth Williams

Title:  Devil in a Red Kilt

Author:  Elysabeth Williams

Publisher:  Black Lyon Publishing

Publication Date:  2010

ISBN:   978-1-934912-29-4

Genre:  Paranormal, time travel, romance

Length:  228 pages

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Author Email    Elysabeth@elysabethwilliams.com  

Heat Level:  Steamy

Reviewer:  Suki

Date:  10/16/10

“Their Happily Ever After
Deserved a Second Chance …

For more than twenty years, Evan and Evie MacDonald were the couple “meant to be.” Their marriage now in tatters, they throw one final family Halloween party to honor Evie’s recently deceased mother. But, as Evan’s hand hovers over divorce papers, the ancient Celtic secrets Evie’s mother always spoke of spring to life.

Transported in flames to thirteenth-century Scotland, Evie and Evan land on opposite sides of the feud raging between Clans MacDonald and McLeod. Dubbed the Red Devil, Evan’s skills as a leader and warrior bring him into the enemy camp—and back to Evie. Now, faced with an ancient evil they never imagined, the two must rekindle the “forever and ever” kind of love they once felt, and bargain for a bit of Fae magic to flip the hourglass right side up again—before time runs out.”

Any reader who loves time travel stories will want to pick up Ms Williams, Devil in a Red Kilt.  The story is full of intrigue, suspense, love, and redemption. Her hero, Evan, is a man among men, honorable, strong and loving.  He is true to his wife no matter what the situation and he has temptation thrown at him regularly. Evie is harder to like, maybe it’s because we love Evan so much it’s harder to sympathize with her plight, I just wanted to reach into the book and shake her, though she is redeemed when she is thrown back in time. The historical elements are well researched and the story line over all is believable. I did have issues believing that you can be married to a man and not know him no matter what century you might find yourself in especially after you have been intimate. But if a reader can suspend their disbelief on that issue, and I believe most can, then they will be in for a great read and great ride, mixed with twists, turns, and surprises.

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My Valentine by Sheridon Smythe

Title: My Valentine
Author: Sheridon Smythe
Publisher: The Wild Rose
Publication Date: Original 1999, release 2009
ISBN: 1-60154-211-9
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 260 pages
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Heat Level: Lightly Sensual
Reviewer: Suki
Date: Feb 5th 2010

"Delivering Valentine’s was an unusual job for a lady, but Rosalyn Sue Mitchell had lots of newfangled ideas. Rosalyn – affectionately known as Cupid – liked her job and her independence. But she was downright tired of hearts and flowers. She longed for the love her valentines helped bring to everyone else, the love her friends were always urging her to find. Then a handsome gentleman from New York City came to town and dedicated himself to getting Rosalyn into the spirit of the holiday. Dark, charming Christian Garrett would make Rosalyn his – as long as she didn’t find out who he really was."

This is a charming look at industrial New England in a city that most wouldn't have thought to write about Worcester Massachusetts. Our Heroine is feisty and genuinely adorable. The reader loves her almost immediately. The Hero Christian has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide but a heart just as big. It a pleasure to watch him grew and learn to trust again.

The team of women that make up Sheridon Smythe have written an endearing book that mixes fictional characters with real historical figures like the original owner of Hershey within their story. The scene where the women try chocolate for the first time is a classic. If you are looking for a sweet valentines day story to wrap up with on a cold snowy day this might work well for you.

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Petticoat Pledges by Sarita Leone

Title: Petticoat Pledges

Author: Sarita Leone

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: 2007

Genre: Historical

Length: 8 pages

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Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: Starla Kaye

Date: 1-22-10

The war has been tough on everyone, including those women left behind to remember their men and the vows of love and their promises to wait for their return. Valentine’s Day is particularly hard for some women, such as Bettie, who aches to hear from her beloved Henry. Each day gets harder to hold to the petticoat pledge she’d made, to wait for even a simple note from him. While this was a very short story it was filled with emotion and the pain of loving someone in difficult times.

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A Night for Miracles by Cheryl Pierson

Title: A Night For Miracles
Author: Cheryl Pierson
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: 2009
Genre: Western historical
Length: 37 pages
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Heat Level: Sweet to sensual
Date: January 8, 2010

When widow Angela Bentley takes in injured ex-gunhawk Nick Dalton and three orphans on Christmas Eve, she is determined only to lend a hand where needed. But when the children drag in a small, scraggly Christmas tree, Angela finds herself wanting to create a memorable holiday for them. Can these visitors become the family she longs for? For those who believe in miracles, anything is possible--even true love, in the most unlikely circumstances.

Christmas stories are one of my favorite books to read and A Night for Miracles did not disappoint. I love a big, strong man who has vulnerabilities and Nick Dalton was it. Angela is a lonely widow with a big heart and more than enough love for Nick and his niece and nephews. My only complaint? This book could have been a complete novel and I felt like I only got a little taste of all of the plot and character's potential. But the author does a great job of giving the reader a lot of punch in a short story and her writing is very good so I'll be on the lookout for more by Cheryl Pierson.

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