A Christmas in Paradise

Title:  A Christmas in Paradise

Author:  Tianna Xander

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0656-1

Genre: {M/F/M}, Paranormal, Series, Holiday

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Grant and Trey regret leaving Evie in New Jersey, but they don’t think she can accept what they are.  Evie decides to go to Montana to visit for Christmas.

A Christmas in Paradise is the nineteenth book in the Paradise series.  This book is a little different from the previous ones, as there is not a shattering life event.  Instead this book is about three people reconnecting and figuring out what they really want and need.

Evie already knew about the two men being shifters and is hurt by the fact the two didn’t talk to her as she thought of them as her best friends.  Grant and Trey know she is their mate, but were afraid to share their secret in case of rejection and didn’t think she could handle a poly relationship.  It is easy to tell that they have chemistry.

A few characters from previous books make a very brief appearance. I was a little puzzled about how Evie became friends online with Gemma though. 

I hope there will be more in this series and that readers will learn more about the Rangers who became shifters and their future mates.

Melissa’s Christmas Wish

Title:  Melissa’s Christmas Wish

Author:  M.R. Kelly

Publisher:  eXtasy books

Publisher URL:  http://www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0956-2
Genre:  {M/F} Paranormal, BBBW, Holiday

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

All Mel wants is to spend her last night as a student hanging out with her best friend.  However, things don’t go as planned when Mel finds herself in a dangerous situation.  As far as Mel knows, all hope is lost and she could perish at any moment. 

Serghei is a vampire who is no stranger to protecting others. When he has visions of a beautiful, mysterious black woman, he knows he has to help her.  Unfortunately Serghei has no idea who she is or where to start.  All he knows is that something about her is drawing him in.

Melissa’s Christmas Wish has a lot of drama and story packed into this short read.  I was sad when it ended.  Mel’s relationship with her best friend was so moving.  They seemed to understand each other more than their families.  That kind of bond is hard to come by and I appreciate M.R. Kelly reminding me of the importance of a great friend.  I was impressed by the amount of honor that Serghei has.  Without hesitation, he jumped to help Mel and without hesitation, Serghei also decided to walk away. Thank GOD Mel was not afraid to share her feelings with him.  Readers will be rejuvenated from this story, no doubt.  The blend of action and romance is impossible to resist.

The Alien’s Holiday Gift

Title:  The Alien’s Holiday Gift

Author:  Lee-Ann Wallace

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0957-9

Genre:  Science Fiction, Holiday, 

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Petra is constantly being rejected as a mate because she can’t have children.  She is very surprised when Kartoc, her guard, approaches her about becoming his mate.

The Aliens Holiday Gift by Lee-Ann Wallace is the first book by this author I have read.  It is a fast read but there were a few gaps regarding questions.  Why the Morgaths were looking for mates among human women was a question never answered.  The mating process was interesting because of the various transformations involved for both parties.

Kartoc has a reason he chose Petra that is revealed toward the end after she goes through a traumatic event.  I could understand why Petra decided Kartoc could have anything he wanted after that revelation.

Several of the secondary characters were interesting and one decided to ignore the rules for choosing a mate, which resulted in a tragedy for him.  Unfortunately, Petra also had a hand in what happened because she wasn’t quite ready to change her mind about leaving Morgath. 

I will be looking for other books by this author to read and will probably read this one again.

My Mistletoe Master

Title:  My Mistletoe Master

Author:  Cameron Allie

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-4874-0837-4

Genre:   {M/F} BDSM, Holiday, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Amelia has stayed away from home after humiliating herself at a party with her brother’s best friend, Nick.  Because of his loyalty to her brother, Nick has always regretted not telling Amelia how he felt.  Things will change this year at Christmas.

My Mistletoe Master is the first book in the Unexpected Changes series by Cameron Allie.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect as this is the first book by this author I have read and not all authors can write about BDSM well.  I was pleasantly surprised, especially as Nick wasn’t an established Dom and the story indicated that he was doing research so he could meet Amelia’s expectations.

I had to laugh at both Amelia’s and Nick’s reactions when she thought she was alone and started watching a kinky video and Nick caught her.  That was the catalyst for the rest of the story.  I found it interesting that Amelia is the one that didn’t want people to know they were together after that.  There were also some very funny moments when her brother was trying to figure out what was going on as well as almost catching them.

Several of Amelia’s relatives are funny and I had to laugh at Amelia’s grandmother.  With trying to conceal their relationship, Amelia’s ex showing up at a party, and other friends trying to make a play for Nick, there were plenty of times that would make you cry, laugh, or want to slap someone in this book.

The author did a good job of showing how both people try to find their way when both were inexperienced, but one party already knew about their submissive side.  I’m glad the author made sure to mention safe words and that Nick made sure Amelia used them. 

I want to see where the author takes this series. I sort of want to see what happens with Amelia’s brother.

Silver Bells

Title:  Silver Bells

Author:  Dahlia Rose

Publisher:  Changeling Press

Publisher URL: http://www.changelingpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  07547-02434

Genre:  {M/F} Contemporary, Christmas

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Danny Grinch is a grumpy toy maker who hates Christmas.  Only one person, his assistant, has a chance at changing his mind about the holiday.  Danny wants Tia, but he’s scared to make a move.  Waiting too long might lead her into the arms of another man.

Two years ago Tia Davis came to town for a new start.  She loves everything about the small town atmosphere and Christmas.  Since she arrived, Tia’s been giving Danny hints that she’s interested in dating him, but the man seems to be clueless.  

When Danny and Tia finally get together, they are happier than they imagined possible.   Tia is still curious about Danny’s strong feelings against Christmas because he refuses to share that part of him.  Tia’s old life catches up with her and threatens to ruin her present life that she loves.  

Silver Bells is the fifth installment of the Reindeer Games series and a holiday romance that left me longing for Christmas again.  I loved Danny and Tia together because they seemed so different.  Danny had valid reasons for disliking Christmas.  Honestly, I wasn’t expecting something so deep and meaningful and that was a wonderful surprise.  Danny needed healing that I think only Tia could provide.  Tia’s past life was a shock that caught me off guard and had me frightened for her future.  I knew Danny was a strong man, but he turned out to be more heroic than I guessed.  When his woman was threatened, Danny impressed me.  Every woman needs a man like Danny and I know readers will appreciate him as much as i do.  This story has an appeal that is too strong to resist, so give in and enjoy.

Winter Ball

Title: Winter Ball

Author: Amy Lane

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publishers URL: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781623808983

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Holiday          

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Skip coaches and plays for one of the many local rec soccer teams.  The team isn’t very good, but it gives Skip the chance to form ties with others.  Along the way, he becomes close with Richie and his feelings grow into something more than what he ever thought he would find.

Winter Ball is another well done story by author Amy Lane.  Ms. Lane brings the readers two characters that they are sure to like right from the get go.  Skipper Keith is an IT expert for a local company.  In his spare time, he plays in a recreational soccer league. He likes the group of guys he plays with but has no plans of telling any of them that he is gay.  Richie is also a member of the soccer team and Skip’s best friend.  It’s not unusual for the two of them to spend time together, but both of them are shocked when their relationship goes from friends to lovers. 

I loved the way the author brings these two together.  Their first time is unexpected and shocks both of them, but that first time forms a bond between the two men that is so strong that it can only go forward.  I liked that rather than run scared, Richie and Skip work hard to spend more time with each other to see what it is that they feel for each other.  While the relationship between the two men goes smoothly, it is outside forces that try to cause problems. 

There are many secondary characters in Winter Ball that play important roles in the story.  There is Carpenter, a co-worker of Skip’s, who becomes a good friend as well as a great addition to the soccer team.  I loved the Thanksgiving that Skip spent with Carpenter’s family.  There are the members on the rec team.  Most of them turn out to be good friends, however, there are a couple that leave a lot to be desire.  Then there is Richie’s family.  Let’s just say that there is a reason why Richie denied a side of himself for so long.

Like all of Ms. Lane’s books, Winter Ball was a story I could not put down.  I loved the way the author pulled me into the world she created and could not wait to see how the story would play out.  I will be re-reading this book again many times. 

Soldier Boys

Title: Soldier Boys

Author: AKM Miles

Publisher: MLR Press

Publishers URL: http://www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN/BIN: MLR-1-02015-0467

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Holiday, Series          

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

It’s Halloween at Scarcity Sanctuary and everyone has been waiting to see what the kids have chosen to dress up as this year.  While Dillon knows everyone’s secret, even he is shocked to see what happens on Halloween.

Soldier Boys is the ninth book in the Scarcity Sanctuary series.  This series started with the story of two men, each scarred in some way, who take in several young boys who have problems of their own to overcome.  Each of the following stories have been about one of those little boys, now men, finding the love of their lives.  In between the novels, the author has given the fans of this series little glimpses of the Scarcity family’s lives.  In this newest book, the author lets us see what Halloween is like in the Dillon/Soldier household. 

In a large household, even with most of the kids living on their own, there is a lot going on.  So it is not usual for something to get by Dillon, and that is just what happens in this story.  Be prepared to laugh, and maybe even be brought to tears, as the twins show Soldier just how much they love him. 

Soldier Boys also sets up the next story in the series and I can’t wait to see how the author plans to handle the situation with Bart.  I love these interludes the author gives us and will hate to see this series come to an end.

In From the Cold

Title:  In From the Cold

Author:  Meg Adams

Publisher:   Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  https://www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:   978-1-61922-871-9

Genre:  {M/F} Contemporary, Christmas

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Change wasn’t only blowing in the wind, it had created a tornado for Claire Iverson.  She was tired of hiding in bed and reliving the past.  Claire needed this new job to get her life back on track.  What she didn’t need was the run-in on this dirty flying bus with a rude father who was neglecting his adorable daughter.  Her heart sank when Claire realized the little girl was her new job.

Balancing work and his daughter Suzie is harder than Drake Driscoll expected.  He was counting on the hired nanny to take care of the best thing in his world.  What he hadn’t counted on was the instant attraction to the curvy woman who obviously thought he was the worst father in the world. 

Claire connects with Suzie and Drake so effortlessly but she’s uncertain about what comes next.  Baggage from the past still haunts Claire and it isn’t so easy to share that with Drake, no matter how understanding he is.  Drake has problems of his own, which surface on this business trip and changes things forever.  Claire is overwhelmed by it all, and this could be enough to send her back to cutting herself off from the world.

I loved this reality romance, In From the Cold!  It was a clever mesh with the feel of a day time soap opera and the average person’s life.  Meg Adams painted a picture for me that I wanted to keep staring at.  I was right there on that plane with Claire and the mother in me jumped into life.  I am so glad she wasn’t shy with her opinions.  Drake deserved the little gifts his daughter gave him and I couldn’t help but laugh at the entire thing.  Those moments were when I started warming up to him and a few of my favorite scenes.  He made me relate to being a single parent from the dad’s point of view.  The issues with his best friend and his ex-wife brought me to my knees.  I would never have guessed he was dealing with so much because he appeared so well put together.  They say bad things happen for a reason and this story is a good example of that.  Claire and Drake weren’t the only people who got the new beginning they deserved.  I don’t want to give away the too much, but I know readers will be drawn in by other characters and love this story as much as I did.  It’s like an onion, because it has so many layers that might bring up tears.  

Something More for Santa

Title: Something More for Santa

Author: AKM Miles

Publisher: Man Love Romance Books

Publishers URL: http://www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN/BIN: MLR-1-02014-0349

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Holiday          

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Derek loved his mother and did everything to make her final days peaceful.  Now he is left in debt.  Working several jobs to cover the past due medical bills is starting to wear the young man down.  Little does he know that things are about to change, thanks to a little elf that happens to overhear Santa’s wish.

Something More for Santa is the latest release from author AKM Miles.  I have to admit that this story sounded vaguely familiar to me, but for the life of me I could not remember if I had read it or not.  This newest expanded edition is one I will not forget however, and I plan on reading it again in the future.

From the beginning the author pulled me into this story.  All the main characters are well written, in fact while the story is about Derek and Max, Michael, Max’s son, plays such a strong role in this story, that he could be seen as a third main character.  Derek and Max meet after Michael looks for someone to help his father with his “main headache”.   At the time Derek is working as one of the Santas at Martin’s department store and happens to be on break, and feeling sorry for himself, when he meets Michael.  The three are drawn together once again, after Max goes searching for his son who has wondered away from his sitter.  There is a strong connection between Max and Derek, making it easy for the readers to see that these two belong together.  The addition of Michael is a bonus for Derek, as these two bond almost from the moment the little “elf” asks “Santa” for help. 

Even though the connection between the two men is intense, and their relationship flows easily, there are interferences from multiple outside forces that shake things up a time or two.  These little twists and turns keep the readers turning the pages to see what will happen next, while adding just enough suspense to keep the story from being too sweet.  

Something More for Santa is a definite keeper and sure to bring this author many new fans.

Sunny’s Second Chance

Title:  Sunny’s Second Chance

Author:  Nola Cross

Publisher:  Beachwalk Press, Inc.

Publisher URL:  http://beachwalkpress.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781940744292

Genre:  {M/F} Contemporary, Interracial, Holiday

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Sunny Williamson finds it hard not to compare herself to the woman who took her husband.  But, she can’t spend too much time on a pity party with her daughter Jasmine expecting Santa to bring her daddy home.  When Jasmine becomes inseparable from her new friend, Sunny has no choice but to spend time with the boy’s father.  After a while, Sunny can’t continue to use the kids as an excuse.  Spending time with Ben is something she’d come to enjoy.

Now that his son Spencer has a reason to laugh again, Ben Stillman feels like things might be alright.  He’s just barely been going through the motions since his wife’s death. Never in a million years did he expect to feel attraction to any woman right now.   But meeting Sunny has given Ben a new, unexpected outlook on life.  She fits into his life so comfortably that Ben can’t imagine the future without her. 

In the blink of an eye, Sunny and Ben bond and stop thinking of reasons not to be together.  Sunny feels desirable again while Ben starts to let go of some of the guilt he lives with.  The kids are happy and life can’t get any better.  Then their Hallmark holiday gets thrown off by Sunny’s ex-husband and Ben’s family.  Obligations almost ruin everything for Sunny and Ben but they refuse to let it. 

Sunny’s ex-husband really did a number on her self esteem, even before he left her for another woman.  Ben appreciated her in ways that she deserved and helped her get her groove back.  Like many mothers, Sunny was so focused on her daughter that she lost sight of her own needs.  And Ben was in the same boat with his son.  Death is different than divorce, so Ben doesn’t get the same kind of closure as Sunny.  He feels guilty about finding another woman in what he thinks is a short time after his wife’s death.  And just when he convinces himself it was okay to move on, Ben’s family puts doubt in his mind again.  I was happy that the story ended without a dramatic scene between them and Sunny because I was praying that wouldn’t happen.  Thumbs up to Nola Cross for concluding this story the way she did.  Relating to her characters is easy because their real life issues could easily be anyone’s issue.  Finding the romantic side of day to day life isn’t always easy, but the author did it.    Sunny’s Second Chance is a sweet, empowering story of hope and family and I enjoyed every page. 

Wayne County Holidays

Title: Wayne County Holidays

Author: Stephani Hecht

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Publishers URL: http://www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-749-4

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Holiday, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

It’s the Christmas season and Cassie, alpha-mate of the Wayne County Pack, wants the house done up right for the holiday.  Hale isn’t thrilled that he was given the job, but isn’t brave enough to go against a pregnant Cassie either.  With the help of others in the pack, the place is soon brimming with Christmas cheer until their enemy shows up without warning.

Wayne County Holidays is the ninth book in the Wayne County Wolves series.  This holiday short story gives the readers a glimpse at some of the previous couples, introduces a set of twins, and brings a twist into the series that is sure to show up again in the future.  The book is well done and allows the readers to catch up with a few of the Wayne County Pack members.  I love that the author choose Hale and Troy to lead this story, as Troy is almost as crazy as his brother Shane, which always make for a fun read.  I also enjoyed the re-appearance of some previous characters, who show up to give Hale a hand with the decorations. 

Unfortunately, the decorations don’t last long when Rand and his people show up.  I felt bad for Hale and his friends after spending all that time decorating just to have it destroyed the way it was, but liked that he soon realizes that the holiday is not about the decorations.  There is also a glimpse of the next possible hook up and I hope that story will come out soon.

Lastly, there is the birth of the twins.  Everyone has been waiting for the arrival of Cassie’s and Chris’ twins, but this brings about a change in the dynamics of the pack as some members are shifted around to protect the new babies.  I did expect a little more hyperness from some of Cassie’s family members, however the touch with Jacyn did make me chuckle. 

Wayne County Holidays is a fun little read that gives the readers a look at some of the past characters while advancing the series plot.  Unlike other books in this series, Wayne County Holidays can be read as a stand-alone.  However I would recommend reading all the books in order.

Brac Pack Halloween Murder Mystery

Title: Brac Pack Halloween Murder Mystery

Author: Lynn Hagen

Publisher: Siren Bookstrand

Publishers URL: http://sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781627407533

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Holiday, Series

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Maverick feels his life is in a rut and he’s ready to shake things up a bit.  To do that, he, and the three other family leaders, decided to throw a big Halloween party.  Things turn crazy from the get-go, but what would you expect when the mates are involved.

Brac Pack Halloween Murder Mystery is the thirty-second book in Ms. Hagen’s long running Brac Pack series.  This story is more of interlude, yet it was one of the best additions to the series in some time.  I thought this story took the series back to its lighter moments, before all the families had enemies and crises to battle.  Mate centered, Johnny, Nero, Keata, and Gabby find themselves in the limelight. 

During the party (wait until you find out what their costumes are), Gabby finds Cecil lying dead on the floor.  What follows will leave you laughing.  More than once I was glad I was reading this book at home so no one could see me cracking up.  The interrogations are over the top, and I loved the case notes Johnny was taking.  When the ‘case’ is solved, Johnny and his friends decide a little revenge is in order.  These four can be evil when need be and it’s a good thing their mates know just how to handle them.

There is also a bit of a side story going on that opens up the possibility of new books in the series.  I am sure fans of this series will love this little side story.  Many former characters show up, all of whom add a wealth of flavor to the book. 

Bondage Slave for Hire

Title:  Bondage Slave for Hire

Author:  Laura Tolomei

Publisher:  eXtasy Books

Publisher URL:  www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-77111-718-0

Genre:  {M/F, M/M/M, M/F/M/M} BDSM, GLBT, Holiday, Paranormal

Rating: Golden Blush Award

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Lilly loves being a bondage slave.  When she saw Terry, then his two lovers, she decided they were the only ones that could be her masters.  What she didn’t know is what price she would have to pay if she wanted to live beyond Halloween.

Bondage Slave for Hire is the first book I’ve read by author Laura Tolomei and it won’t be my last.  Ms. Tolomei was very creative in her picture of slaves in this particular bondage club, with everything working toward one night of the year.  This story was very original, and not like anything I have read before.

As the story progresses, readers will start to get an inkling of what Julian and Andre are, but still won’t have a clue about Terry until the end. I was extremely surprised about Halloween night and how descriptive the author was, which borders on horror.

The chemistry, and later love, between the four main characters is apparent. The fact that Lilly was willing to do what she did could only have been done for love, even as she was being told she was not supposed to love the three men.

Secondary characters come and go, but each contribute to the story in their own way.  Readers will love some and hate others, but all add to the story and Lilly’s experiences with Terry, Julian and Andre.  

Some things can be disturbing in this story, but everything that happens is geared toward Halloween Night and the ritual that happens.  Those of us familiar with different BDSM lifestyles may cringe at some things, but in this case the scenes are warranted.  Kudos to Ms. Tolomei for Bondage Slave for Hire.

Melonne Brac’s Mistletoe Madness

Title: Melonne Brac’s Mistletoe Madness

Author: Lynn Hagen                        

Publisher: Siren Bookstrand

Publisher’s URL: http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781622423378

Genre: {M/M/F}, Paranormal, Holiday, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Melonne is no longer the little five-year old girl that came to live with Maverick Brac’s pack.  Unfortunately, her adoptive father, Maverick, can’t seem to notice. With two mates, one a Christmas elf and the other human, Melonne can’t decide what would be best; taking her mates and running or finding some way to get her father to accept them.

With Melonne Brac’s Mistletoe Madness, the Brac Pack series reached the big 30.  This holiday addition is slightly different from the previous one.  In this story, Melonne is bound and determined to claim her mates, but complications abound as first Ruttford’s brother stirs up trouble with bookies on his tail, then Adam wants to exploit Brac Village for money.  I could completely understand Maverick’s difficulty letting Melonne go.  This tough Alpha has raised her since she was five and his overprotectiveness is well known.  I was actually more surprised that Melonne was upset by the way he was acting since I thought she, more than anyone, should have known better.  I wasn’t very impressed by either Adam or Ruttford.  While I could understand Ruttford’s unwillingness to wait any longer to mate with Melonne, I found him to be a little heavy-handed at times with her.  As for Adam, I could understand him doing his job in the beginning, regardless of how repulsive it was, but the fact that he had no trouble planning to exploit Melonne’s family after realizing what they were, made me dislike him even more.  I was surprised by how fast Melonne forgave him.

I did, however, love the way this story is full of the many wonderful characters we have met before.  While many years have past since the various mates have shown up, and they have all more or less matured, they each still carry themselves the way they did when we first met them.  Johnny had me laughing more than once, especially when he had Hawk give Melonne the ‘birds and bees’ talk.  As fans of this series would expect, when a threat is leveled against the pack the mates take things into their own hands, rather than tell the shifters, and things soon get out of hand. 

Melonne Brac’s Mistletoe Madness also furthers the plot of this series.  New characters are introduced and new problems planned for.  While there are some aspects of this story I had problems with, this was a fun book to read and I am waiting to see what will happen next.

Broken Boughs

Title: Broken Boughs

Author: Jade Buchanan

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-60820-8036

Genre: {M/M} Holiday Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

This Christmas was going to be very special; at least that was what Neil Brogan had in mind when he planned a romantic interlude with his lover Jonah Chevalier. However, things don’t always go as planned when a curious puppy decides to investigate the gifts under the Christmas tree.

Broken Boughs is part of the Broken Trilogy. The amusing and enjoyable holiday short story features the characters from the first book Broken Rules as well as a dog named Kato, a new addition to the household. Neil and Jonah have been friends since childhood. Reunited after years of separation, Neil and Jonah became live-in lovers. The love between the two men has grown over time and they are ready to take the next step in their relationship.

Happy Hanukkah

Title: Happy Hanukkah

Author: Z. Allora

Publisher: MLR Press

Publisher URL: www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-60820-8067

Genre:  {M/M} Series Holiday
Rating: 3 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Uncle Leo has always been a helpful friend as well as a mentor to all of the guys in the rock band, so it is only natural that the members of the Dark Angels would celebrate the holiday with their honorary uncle. Uncle Leo had given band members Robin and Josh a home until they became adults.

Happy Hanukkah is a holiday addition to the Dark Angels series. The plot features a brief history of the beginnings of Hanukkah. The story also brings up to date all the relationships or the lack of relationships for the characters previously introduced in the series. The main feature in the story is the kinky gifts given by Robin, as well as the diverse methods the gifts were utilized. Even though intimacy is the only emotion illustrated, Happy Hanukkah is a mildly amusing enjoyable saga.       

Love Brokers: Mr. Romance

Title: Love Brokers: Mr. Romance

Author: L.C. Chase

Publisher: Loose Id

Publisher URL: www.loose-id.com

ISBN: 978-1-62300-106-3

Genre: {M/M} Holiday

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx 

Jacob Cruz needed a little push in the right direction from a mutual friend. So mutual friend stepped up to the matchmaking challenge by introducing best friend Jacob Cruz to new best friend Brant Hudson. Jacob and Brant immediately found each other extremely appealing; unfortunately, fate had a few detours in store for the budding lovers.

Love Brokers: Mr. Romance is an enchanting, as well as amusing, journey-to-true-romance story. Jacob and Brant have the same personality traits. Both men are naturally charismatic, honest and compassionate. They have the same dream of helping others find happiness with a loving partner. After Jacob and Brant met, they each realized being content in a shallow relationship with their current boyfriends was not enough. Spending years apart, Jacob and Brant re-ignite the sparks at a second chance meeting. This time, Jacob and Brant finally manage to fulfill their heart’s desire for a long term relationship together.

L.C. Chase has created a heartwarming saga that I thoroughly enjoyed.

7 Days of Christmas

Title: 7 Days of Christmas

Author: Nicole Dennis

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Publisher URL: https://spsilverpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781614958420

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Series Holiday

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Noel Hudson spent his childhood in a state run orphanage. Now that he’s an adult, he’s alone and on his own. Moving to Hamilton River was supposed to be a new start but instead, he lost his job then his apartment and ended up living on the streets. For two weeks, he’s spent his days inside Justin’s bookstore reading until the store closes in the afternoon. Justin can’t help but wonder about him and when he learns of Noel’s past he’s determined to make a change in his life. Justine offers him a job, a place to stay and seven red envelopes, each with a little hope, love and Christmas magic inside.

7 Days of Christmas is part of Let It Snow 2012 and Nicole Dennis wrote it to be part of her Hamilton River series.

This is a cute story—a gently holiday tale of hope and love set during the Christmas season. Some might say it’s too sweet—that Justin and Noel are too perfect and that they didn’t have any conflict, but I didn’t care. I love both characters. Their personalities are perfectly crafted, there’s just enough back story, the descriptions pulled me into the plot and I loved the use of the red envelopes. It’s a unique and creative approach I didn’t expect. The slow courtship between Justin and Noel is wonderful. The soft touches, kisses on the cheeks and spending time together—sharing Christmas traditions while they got to know each other instead of jumping into bed is appreciated. Ms. Dennis not only captured the heart of both men but the spirit of the season with this joyful and entertaining release. 

A Very Shaney Valentine’s Day

Title: A Very Shaney Valentine’s Day

Author: Stephani Hecht

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Publisher’s URL: http://www.extasybooks.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-77111-104-1

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series, Holiday

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph 

It’s Valentine’s Day and Shane wants to get the perfect gift for his mate.  The only problem is that Shane has no idea what the perfect, normal gift would be.  Shane couldn’t be more surprised when the perfect gift falls in his lap during the course of a coalition mission. 

A Very Shaney Valentine’s Day is a fast-paced holiday read set within The Lost Shifters series.  I never thought about how Valentine’s Day would be so difficult for someone like Shane.  Yet, having learned much about the young assassin since he joined the series, it is easy to understand his need to get something wonderful for his mate that did not involve blood and guts.  I think readers, in some way, will be surprised by his gift, yet at the same time, not be surprised at all. Although this is a short story, the author has filled it with so much that it ends up having the feel of a much longer book.   I loved A Very Shaney Valentine’s Day, partly because it stars Shane and Trevor, who have become some of my favorite characters, but also because the author introduced new characters who I hope get their own stories soon.    

While it is not necessary to read the whole series before reading this book, I do recommend that you at least read Shane and Trevor’s stories so that you will have a clear understanding of the character’s complex natures.

Bring Him Gold

Title: Bring Him Gold

Author: T. A. Chase

Publisher: Amber Allure

Publisher URL: www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure

ISBN: 978-1-61124-247-8

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary Sequel Holiday

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx 

Ronnie and Lucius might have known each other since childhood but they’ve only been together as a couple for a year. A lot has happened during that time. The one thing Lucius is certain of is he wants to spend the rest of his life with Ronnie and wishes to call him husband. The only problem is figuring out the best time and place to pop the question. That means he needs the help of some friends to pull together the perfect Valentine’s Day surprise for the man he loves. The question is whether he has the nerve to drop down on bended knee in front of an audience. 

Bring Him Gold is the latest release by multi-published author T. A. Chase. It’s the sequel to last year’s Embrace My Reflection and they should be read in order. It’s an entertaining follow-up story with committed lovers Lucius and Ronnie, just in time for Valentine’s Day.  

The details of how Ronnie dresses and the club are just as vivid as before, making the scenes come alive. These two men were cute together in the first book and they’re only more so in this 13K short. It’s sweet when Lucius tries to come up with the best way to propose to Ronnie. And adding their family and friends just makes it endearing. We do get a glimpse of possible future books with Dante and Mikey or maybe Tomas and Andy, so I look forward to seeing what comes next.