Ratings Overall: 10 Sensuality: 9 Paranormal Element: 10

This is an Official Review by a contemporary Romance Writer Official Reviewer

Review for Hot For the Holidays
Author: Lora Leigh ,
Date of Review: 01/10/10
Reviewed by: Heather

Reviewer Comments: Witches, magick and shape shifters are the central focus of these stories.

Vampire’s Ball by Angela Knight is about Kat Danilo who attends a ball with Ridge Champion after she discovers she is a Latent, a human who has the capacity to become a Magae. She needs a vampire like Ridge to turn her. The moment she turns and gains her magick, she has a vision of the monster that killed her sister. In the ensuing battle, Kat, Ridge and Kat’s long lost father Lancelot (yes, from King Arthur fame or infamy) join forces. Ridge and Kat become Truebonded.

In A Little Night Magic by Allyson James, Naomi does not believe that Jamison Kee has returned after two years. He is back to regain her love and to protect her from his enemies. He has a secret he shows her and Naomi does not know how to react but is thankful he, in his wolf form can protect her and her daughter, Julie. For Jamison and Naomi, it becomes a fight to the death and then a life changing experience.

Anya Bast provides readers with a Sweet Enchantment. There is the Rose Tower for the Seelie or purebloods and the Black Tower for those of dark magick and mixed blood. Bella, a Seelie, proposes to Ronan, an Unseelie, to help him escape jail, after all she has been in love with him for thirty years, even after he publically rejected her. Instead, she finds herself on the run with Ronan. Ronan must pit his intelligence against the Seelie Queen for him and Bella to be together.

A Christmas Kiss is a holiday story by Lora Leigh. Jessica Raines has been through much in the past year including the betrayal of her father against the Breeds and her isolation from those she inadvertently betrayed. Hawk Esteban, one of the Breeds, has to ensure that his mate keeps safe as there is an assassin in the group. Once Jessica accepts her innocence, which is confirmed by Wolfe, the pack alpha, she becomes his mate. She has one more trial to endure to find her peace.

These four short stories are a delight to read and draw the reader into the individual worlds. The worlds are such that they are integral to the character’s behavior and the way in which they react to events around them. The authors have delivered stories that are part of the world they have built and the characters are usually comfortable within that world.

Each author has delivered characters worthy of love and desire despite the trials they have to endure to find true happiness. The focus is on the relationship with some background to allow the reader to see the context. What didn’t I like about these stories; they were far too short for me. I wanted more of each.