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My Review:Title: A Year of Love
Author: Helena Hunting, Debra Anastasia, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Max Monroe, B.B. Easton, Kennedy Ryan, Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen, Tijan, K.F. Breene, K. Bromberg, Willow Winters
Published by: Indie
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Format: ebook
Pages: 394
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal Romance
Source: Book Funnel
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Bookish Resolutions Anthologies, Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Fall
My rating:
Blurb:Fall in love all year long.
12 months.
12 authors.
12 short stories to make you swoon.
JANUARY – RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR by HELENA HUNTING, H. HUNTING
Secrets are shared, awkward conversations are unavoidable, and shenanigans abound when the Kids of Pucked get together for a New Year’s celebration.
FEBRUARY – SKATING ON THE STARS by DEBRA ANASTASIA
Asking her to marry him is the easy part, but Gaze needs everything to fall in line this Valentine’s Day. Pixie Rae deserves the best, and a wild racoon has no part in the beginning of their forever.
MARCH – BUTTERFLY, BROKEN by ILSA MADDEN MILLS
When Everly wakes up at Crystal Lake Academy, she has no idea how she arrived at the strange college. When a threatening letter appears, she seeks the help of the most ruthless gang at Crystal Lake. They’ll help her for a price.
APRIL – APRIL FOOLS by MAX MONROE
My April Fools’ Weekend beach getaway was only supposed to include three things: relaxation, wine, and fun in the sun. Something it absolutely wasn’t supposed to include: The bane of my teaching existence—Mack Houston—walking in on me in the shower.
MAY – OPERATION: MILE HIGH CLUB by BB. EASTON
An all new sexy, hilarious, (mostly) true story from BB Easton, author of 44 Chapters About 4 Men, the memoir that inspired the #1 Netflix series Sex/Life!
JUNE – FREE TO LOVE by KENNEDY RYAN
Mere weeks from my wedding, I don’t have jitters. I have a future mother-in-law making everything obnoxiously bigger. The guest list. The band. The pain in my . . .you get the picture. My sweet, hot, sexy fiancé better fix it or there may not be a wedding at all.
JULY – WEEKEND FLING by ELLE KENNEDY
Getting stuck with her brother's annoying girlfriend and his sexy best friend is not at all what Kate had in mind for her family weekend getaway. But sometimes, the unexpected can be exactly what you need...
AUGUST – TRAINING CAMP by SARINA BOWEN
Do an internship with a professional hockey team, they said. It will be fun, they said. Too bad I'm terrible at my job. Until the rookie defenseman offers to help...
SEPTEMBER – NO DRAMA, SERIOUSLY by TIJAN
Mara only wants to be a normal college student. No drama.
Too bad that her family might not let that happen. And who is Cruz?!
OCTOBER – POSSESSION by KF BREENE
When a deliciously sexy demon tricks Jaelyn into showing up at the hottest and most dangerous Halloween party of the year, she must confront him and her past if she hopes to survive.
NOVEMBER – FOREVER MORE by K. BROMBERG
When Lyric Evermore crashed Angie McIntyre’s all-alone-on-Thanksgiving pity party four years ago, she never could have imagined it would be the start of their own annual tradition. Nor did either of them know, it might be the start of something more meaningful . . .
DECEMBER – MY SECRET by W. WINTERS
She’s my secret. Mine and mine alone.
OVERALL: 3 stars — August and November were the stand outs for me! I think I’m starting to realize I may not be into anthologies of short stories, especially when often times they are fan service, and if you’re not already a fan it leaves you a bit in the lurch.
JANUARY – RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR by HELENA HUNTING, H. HUNTING
2.5 stars — I just don’t think I share the same sense of humour as Ms. Hunting. Reading this didn’t make me laugh, only cringe…kind of like how I felt reading Pucked. I guess I prefer her more subdued takes (because I loved Pucked Off. I also felt really lost in this one, and I can’t help but think this was a fan service short story…but unfortunately that doesn’t help someone who isn’t as familiar.
FEBRUARY – SKATING ON THE STARS by DEBRA ANASTASIA
3.5 stars — This is another case of fan service I think, but I was still able to connect with the characters, and understand what was going on (even if I wasn’t previously invested in the couple). I enjoyed the situation, and what I could see of the relationships.
MARCH – BUTTERFLY, BROKEN by ILSA MADDEN MILLS
2 stars — Short stories are really hard to do and have them feel complete. This one definitely didn’t feel complete. The story jumped right in, with no explanation, and by the end of it, it felt like the prologue of a book. Not a prequel, a prologue — because there was zero resolution, not even temporary. And unfortunately, I wasn’t that sucked in (I kept internally asking stupid questions about the plot).
APRIL – APRIL FOOLS by MAX MONROE
3.5 stars — It’s funny, this one they specifically said they were planning on expanding, but I was pretty happy with it! It was cute, and felt complete enough (especially for a short story). I was worried I wasn’t going to like Katy, but once she let go, she felt more real and human.
MAY – OPERATION: MILE HIGH CLUB by BB. EASTON
DNF — I don’t know, I think my brain can’t get past the non-fiction part and let myself get taken away. It’s a me thing.
JUNE – FREE TO LOVE by KENNEDY RYAN
3.5 stars — I have NO IDEA why, but while the writing was great, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not even the steamy scenes. Might have been just me, who knows.
JULY – WEEKEND FLING by ELLE KENNEDY
3.5 stars — Started off a bit rockier, and initially I had a hard time getting excited about Nick because his positive attributes were all physical…but it settled in when the misunderstandings were cleared up and I enjoyed it.
AUGUST – TRAINING CAMP by SARINA BOWEN
4.5 stars — Absolutely freaking adorable. Loved it from start to finish.
SEPTEMBER – NO DRAMA, SERIOUSLY by TIJAN
3.5 stars — Initially started off feeling like I wouldn’t enjoy it as much since I hadn’t read other books by Tijan…like I was missing something. Which was partially true, but also just leaving mysteries until the end, which isn’t my fave. Mildly intrigued by Mara, but not sure enough.
OCTOBER – POSSESSION by KF BREENE
2.5 stars — Felt like i was dropped into a world that perhaps other readers might know more of…if not, it was just a lot to take in for a short story, and I guess my brain just wasn’t interested.
NOVEMBER – FOREVER MORE by K. BROMBERG
4 stars — Now that was a solid short story. The pacing was great, and I really enjoyed the tale of Annie and Lyric.
DECEMBER – MY SECRET by W. WINTERS
3 stars — My need for all answers overshadowed my enjoyment of the story…besides, I’m not usually into bad guys.
I read this anothology. I don’t remember much about it other than Training Camp. I LOVED that one. I wish she would have expanded it to a full length.
I ADORED it!!