2 quick and easy short story reads. I liked the twist in the ending of the first story. ( )

Naughty or Nice - 3 Stars - Billionaire meets successful lawyer and a love affair ensues. There is a quick turn of events in the last chapter that confused me a bit, but it does end in happily ever after.

A Mackenzie Christmas - 4 Stars - Very good to be such a short story. Left me with a smile on my face. I need to read more about the Mackenzie family because they seem like an interesting bunch.
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I picked this up as an All I Want For Christmas anthology, two stories. I believe now they are both sold separately.

Naughty or Nice

It’s Christmas, and Kate the attorney is stuck in Chicago due to bad weather. While kicking herself for letting her life becomes dull and without excitement and while finding out that she cannot extend her room reservation, a handsome stranger (Derek happens to be the owner of the tony hotel where she was staying) makes an indecent proposal.

He’s hot, she’s hot, they’re both single and of age, so why not? The sex scenes, which basically are almost all there is, here, are very good, but there was a little nagging part of my brain screaming, “They are virtual strangers; what about condoms, what about condoms?” There’s a twist at the end that explains it, but it’s too late - I have already been a bit squicked out by the unsafe sex, and can’t retroactively get UNsquicked.


A Mackenzie Christmas

I liked the Mackenzie family, a happy, horny, noisy family all gathered together for the holidays. I can also relate to Grant Mackenzie, who felt a little overwhelmed by the noise and togetherness, and the idea that everyone else is paired off.

He goes off for a solitary tramp in the snow, and is in the nick of time to rescue Annabeth Martin, who’s gone out for a solitary skate, and falls through the thin ice when she is distracted by Grant’s presence.

I liked this, but at the same time, I felt like all the boxes were being ticked off. Hot hero and heroine - check. Both secretly in love with each other? Check. Perfectly reasonable excuse to get them both naked and in bed together? Check. Engagement ring at the end? Check. Family support and approval? Check.

There were unique author touches, such as the dilemma when Annabeth needed to get out of bed to pee - thank you! Real women do need to use the bathroom at inconvenient times.


Personally, I am coming to loathe the “close with an engagement ring” meme. I know for a lot of readers this makes whatever went before okay, because our couple is going to get married! I believe that even the hottest sexual chemistry does not necessarily translate into a happy marriage, and it does marriage a disservice to suggest so. I want to see dating, conflicts, problem-solving, not just burning up the sheets, before The Ring appears. In a sexy novella, especially one this short, there isn’t time to get into all of that - and I understand that, but (IMO) it’s too soon to suggest a Happily Ever After.

In Real Life, moving a relationship too fast is one of the warning signs of a pyschopath; I just don’t think romance authors should suggest it’s a sign of True Love. *steps down off soapbox*
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Read for fun (Kindle)
Overall Rating: 3.00
Story Rating: 2.50
Character Rating: 3.50

Part of my 25 Books for the Holidays for 2012

Quick Review for a very quick read: All I Want for Christmas is two really short stories in one book. I think they both were done as well as they could be in the short amount of time Liliana had to tell the story. I just think it is me and novellas--I always want more and just can't feel a connection. It takes awhile for me to warm up to characters. These were both incredibly sexy though and the second story was my favorite! If you are looking for a very short, very sexy read for the Christmas--this may be for you! ( )

Two great holiday stories of love and getting things together even when it doesn't seem like it will happen. ( )