Nicole DennisCritiques

Gifts from the Tree by Kay Berrisford - 2 stars
Christmas in Hawaii by Valynda King - 2,5 stars
Christmas Tree Magic by Amber Kell - 2,5 stars
Mistletoe and YouTube by Francis Gideon - 1,5 stars
Josh's Christmas Angel by A.T. Weaver - 1 star
Deefur and the Great Mistletoe Incident by RJ Scott - 2,5 stars
A Jaguar for Christmas by Caitlin Ricci - 2 stars
Christmas Reunion by AJ Henderson - 2,5 stars
Spiced Apple and Cinnamon by Meredith Russell - 2 stars
Ivy Park by Tom Alexander - 2,5 stars
Our Best Christmas by Gary Hendrickson - 2 stars
Two for Hooking by Christopher John - 2 stars
Once you go Black Friday by John Wiley - DNF
The Christmas Mansion by Hollis Shiloh - 2 stars
Love Delayed by Abigail Winters - 2,5 stars
Christmas Lightning by Diane Adams - 3 stars
Joyeux Noel by Aisling Mancy - 1,5 stars
Christmas Angel by Allan Jay - 1 star
Waiting for Snow by JC Wallace - 2 stars
Paid with a Full Moon by SA Garcia - 2 stars
Christmas Promise by Nicole Dennis - 2 stars

Story about a musician named Xavier, his lover Ryan and Xavier's decision to come out to his public as gay.

I'm not sure why, but I couldn't really relate to this story. I found the sentences to be overlong, Ryan to be too perfect, and the story was like an over sweet fairy tale. However, the writer did appear to understand music and was good at describing the music scenes.

Rock and a hard place by Karyn Gerrard is m/f

So far I've read 12 of the stories.

What strikes me is that despite being set at Christmas very few feel like Christmas stories.

Rock and a hard place by Karyn Gerrard is m/f

So far I've read 12 of the stories.

What strikes me is that despite being set at Christmas very few feel like Christmas stories.

As one of the group who worked on editing and proofing these stories and helped put the anthologies together I might be considered biased, but these anthologies are definitely worthy of the 5 star rating.

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this short story, although I did have a bit of an issue with it. Zach and Nolan are an established couple, but there seems to be a lack of understanding there that I'm finding hard to reconcile. The resolution was rather speedy as well, but that's the nature of the short story beast.

Reading the blurb made me smile: starting with a to do list for the main character is a wonderful way of communicating what he wants to do. Maybe even what he needs to do. And it sets the tone for the rest of the story: Zach is determined to do the right thing, finally, and it was great to see what can happen once determination and personal feelings become more important than "business decisions" and staying in the closet for all the wrong reasons. Granted, Zach's band is famous enough they don’t think they're risking anything, but there are no guarantees.

Zach has decided to come out – with a vengeance. The manager's contract has finally run out, the band is at the top of their game, so what could be better than to take the bull by the horns and speak the truth. Zach needs to do this as much for himself as he feels it's important for his lover, Nolan. Imagine Zach's surprise when Nolan doesn't react the way he imagined…

Nolan is a successful interior designer, and while he is deeply in love with Zach, he doesn’t want him to come out for the wrong reasons. He wants the world to know about their love so he can stop hiding. But as soon as he has doubts about Zach's motivation, his reaction changes, and lots of misunderstandings and chaos ensue.

Despite the serious topic, you'll find lots of humor as well, and the style makes it easy to read and enjoy. If you like stories about decisive men who stand up for what they believe in, if you want encounters that are as passionate as they are hot both inside and outside the bedroom, and if you're looking for an uplifting story, you will probably like this short book.

This is a short tale about a land of magic, where the ugly reality of a sweeping plague has destroyed many of the old customs. One of them is a culture of traveling musicians, minstrels who learn the different types of music needed for all the festivals throughout the year. The deadly plague has made many suspicious of the travelers, and the lack of welcome is a real danger to those looking for shelter.

One such man is Kerryll. He is a gifted musician, guild-taught and accredited, but he wants to settle down. The lack of welcome just before the Dark Solstice is the last straw for him, and he almost dies before Duke Gryff in the north takes him in and nurses him back to health. Kerryll plays for the solstice festivities, and has a decision to make about his future before he is even done.

Gryff is a duke, he knows what he wants, and he is shocked when he hears a village refused Kerrylll shelter in the blizzard that almost killed the minstrel. He likes what he sees, he enjoys Kerryll's talented music, and is determined to keep the minstrel right by his side.

If you like stories about new beginnings, symbolized through the Dark solstice that celebrates the return of the light as well as Kerryll and Gryff's new relationship, if you enjoy reading about magical rituals, and if you're looking for a read in a fantasy setting that is as fascinating as it is romantic, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Set in Florida, this entertaining novella is part of the ‘States of Love’ series that offers stories of romance that span every corner of the United States. If all of them contain the same interesting and informative flavor of the state they are set in as ‘Treasure Trail’, this will be a great series to read. It will almost be like taking a tour encompassing the entire USA, only much cheaper than actually traveling there! Having been to St. Augustine many years ago, it was nice to “revisit” and see it through someone else’s eyes. And with the flavor of the Annual Pirate Festival, mock battles included, the scene is set for a lively story with lots of fun events.

Derick owns a brewpub-tavern named Matey’s Tavern, and as shy as he is on a personal level, for his job he has no problem acting the part of a jovial host. He likes all the pirate pub walking tour groups who make a stop at his place, and not just because it’s good business. Chris, one of the tour company’s guides, a “captain” who styles himself after none less than Captain Jack Sparrow, has Derick’s particular attention. Too bad Derick is too shy to do something about his attraction.

Then one day Chris takes the first step, and they discover mutual interests, a similar shyness where personal relationships are concerned, and a shared love of riding their bicycles. One thing leads to another, and Derick creates a very special treasure hunt for Chris that has both of them enjoying some teasing, lots of innuendo, and more than one shared kiss.

If you like stories with lots of local flavor, if pirates are your thing, and if you’re looking for a light, entertaining read with a few puzzles, then you will probably enjoy this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

I had high hopes for this book, after hearing it was looking like a promising, hot, enemies-to-lovers romance at the 20% point when the MCs shared a hot, angry, passionate kiss during an argument. Fuck, who can resist that kind of drama?! I jumped right on that bandwagon like the cheap poser I am.

Well, it certainly could have been a delicious tale of two adversaries sharing a wicked sexual attraction that finally bubbles over into a night of aggressive, wild, angry sex. *clears throat* Unfortunately, that didn't happen here. Instead we got two MCs who were clearly off their mood stabilizing meds. One minute kissing the hell out of each other, the next minute screaming at each other. I couldn't keep up. Their first mutual sexual experience was a blow job on the beach. MC Samuel was clearly uncomfortable with the situation (because of their volatile relationship, their working relationship and lack of discussion about health issues) and the location. MC Dakota ignored these concerns and sucked anyway. It was kinda creepy, IMO.

Eventually, these two develop an interesting relationship that just might work. But as soon as that happens, the SEQUEL PARADE happens. You know the one. The one the author presents to the reader to get the reader interested in the next books in the series. In this tiny, tucked away oasis in Florida, the Doctor, Sheriff, landscaper, construction worker, prep cook, sous chef and accountant are all male, all single and, you guessed it, all gay.

After the parade, getting back to our story and our MCs... Done! That's it! The book just. Ended. All loose ends were left open. Our who-done-it, unsolved. The mystery surrounding the lack of revenue at the restaurant, never solved. No declaration of love, just a casual chat of, "Hey, I think I'd like to stay here longer than the six weeks I'd originally planned."

*Sigh* It felt like half of a book. I was very unfulfilled. While this did have a few romantic moments, they were scattered and quite short lived before one of our MCs had a mood swing again.

Can't recommend this one.

2.5 Stars....

I really wanted to love this book based on the description, but it fell short. As I was reading I had to put it down and check that I wasn't reading the second book in the series instead of the first because of the restaurant scene where it felt like I was suppose to know all the other people that were named. I set it aside for the second time because of the overuse of the Greek words and way too many details that I could care less about, i.e. the cooking scene, the getting ready for the date scene, etc. And I found it hard to believe that gay millionaire is going to a party and sleeping with a drug addicted woman who then gets pregnant, tracks him down to write him a letter telling him she knows he's gay and would be perfect for her gay brother. Then this same gay millionaire finds the brother and his first idea is to marry him and become an instant family, because that sounds like the only acceptable plan. Wait, what? First, dude slept with his drug addicted SISTER. Just.....eeww! SSecond, she loves her awesome brother so much she never once told him that she knew the father, even wrote a letter to the father of her baby, and let him get broadsided with the results? Whatever. The kid was kinda annoying, too. At times he sounded like a 6 year old and other times like a much younger kid. Just found the whole book not really to my liking.½

3.5 star. Very engaging.

Apparently a light erotic romance, there were at time when this novel went a little beyond. The character of Morric had a darkness in him that made this man more complex than the simply eye candy blue collar lover that attracted Grant’s attention.

Grant is a self-made millionaire who is enjoying is early almost retirement; a computer wizard, sometime he still behaves like a spoiled teenager who is playing with big toys, like muscle cars and co. He is not a bad boy, only a little self-centered. So self-centered that, even if he says that he cares a lot for Marty, and I didn’t find any reason to not believe him, he let pass months before coming to visit, so long that he doesn’t know Marty hired a new mechanic, Morric, and that Marty is terminal ill.

That was the first hint the author decided to make this story less light than first impression; the second is Morric and his stubbornly decision to not let Grant have it easy with him. Morric is not the last toy Grant will use and toss away, if he wants to play, they will do it together. I quite enjoyed Morric, he is round and square, able to understand his issues and trying to overcome them. So much that sometime I found Grant to be too immature for someone like Morric; but the positive side of Grant is that, like a stubborn puppy who wants to share his love, he ignores Morric’s attempts to push him away and is always coming back for more.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1627400605/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

I didn’t like this one from the start.
It had two creepy elements from the beginning: One of the MC s is a “stalker” (however harmless, but still strange), and a teenager – the other one a grown man. The teen might be 18, but he is still in High school and the guy he crushes on is a grown-up, who owns a store. Creepy and unappetizing, no matter how sexy the store-owner is described. He is pushy and much older and more confident – I don’t like this kind of dynamic, when one party is so very young and inexperienced. And the stereotypical “he is so mature for his age” – as if this can be determined in a 2 minute long talk (he even calls him “little one” – that’s how I address my 4 year old nephew – urrrggghhh).
Also not my cup of tea: the LOTRs stuff (names like Gandalf, analogies – e.g. “looks like a wood elf from LOTRs” etc.) – I am also a LOTRs fan, but that’s just not cool. And btw, Tolkien wrote the books, he didn’t make the film (“Gandalf.” – “Like the wizard from the Tolkien movies?”).
Bad case of insta-love (TRUE LOVE nonetheless – not the garden variety, no sir!) only based on physical appearance and ghostly powers of the universe (I am not kidding!).
The whole “relationship development” felt like it was supposed to be cute, like texting shortly after meeting, but it was came across as pushy and needy. And as big finale they go together to the high school dance – really? As a grown-up? Going there as a DATE to one of the kids?
The whole costumes-trope was just not interesting at all. It felt artificial and forced.
And don’t let me start of the incarnation/ghost/hunted jacket element – the least said about it, the better.
Strange and stilted, cheesy dialogue.
Stereotypical characters besides the MCs (TGTBT), like the mean jocks, the understanding Mom, the feisty sister etc.
Not good at all.

Very sweet, although the dialogue drifted into 'cheesy' territory a few times.

While I liked this and wished it were longer, I didn't really buy Nolan's reasons for his reluctance to go public. Sweet story, though.

This story is not so much a romance story as a story of reconnecting and healing for a whole family. This family has suffered at the hands of one man but now they are ready to face and work on the future together.

This is a powerful story with some really big twists thrown in. There are strong emotions displayed by all the characters involved. I really loved how the boy Theo is really included in the rest of the story. I think to say anything else would give away to much of the story. I can't wait to read more in this series.

A romantic Christmas story of love found when you least expect it.

Justin spots Noel a homeless guy and decides to give him a chance. He realizes that he has feelings as well and works with great patience to slowly show Noel that Christmas can be special. I love how they feel an immediate connection but neither feels the need to rush to the physical.

I really enjoyed this story that was really very sweet and tender. It had wonderful elements of a needy man, a wounded hero, and a dramatic meeting.

Such overly dramatic dialogue!

Very sweet, although the dialogue drifted into 'cheesy' territory a few times.