All the Trimmings by Caitlyn Willows
When Chrissy agreed to housesit for her grandparents and prep the place for Christmas, she never imagined the icing on her cookies would be the twins next door. But they are hard-loving men who don’t play for keeps, and she's never played at all…until now.
Joe and Jess crave their neighbors’ cute granddaughter more than they can stand. She’s definitely a game changer they never imagined, blowing into their lives like the approaching winter storm, stirring up their wildest fantasies and making them want with an intensity hot enough to melt the fake icicles draped around her Grandma’s house.
Christmas with all the trimmings. Those were Grandma’s instructions. And while Chrissy knows she wasn’t referring to Chrissy laid out for Joe and Jess’s pleasure—or they hers—Grandma’s got some explaining of her own to do. Like how she knew about those dimples on the twin’s perfect backsides.
Christmas Candie by Nona Raines
Aidan Callahan loves Christmas. His family makes it a big celebration and he does his best to carry on the tradition. Every ornament on his huge Christmas tree has a story and holds a special memory. He’s been hooking up for six months with Val Stenzler and would like to get closer to her, including sharing his love of Christmas. But aside from their hot sex sessions, she holds him at arm’s length. What’s the problem?
Val hates Christmas. The most devastating, humiliating event of her life happened at Christmastime two years ago, and she’s still trying to get past it. There’s no room for fruitcake or mistletoe in her life. As far as she’s concerned, the holiday season can’t pass quickly enough.
Christmas suddenly becomes a lot more interesting when Val and Aidan meet Candie Hurley. She’s as sweet as her name, as sparkly as tinsel and as mysterious as the Northern Lights. Aidan and Val both fall under her spell, but will the night they spend with her bring them closer together or tear their relationship apart?
Joe and Jess crave their neighbors’ cute granddaughter more than they can stand. She’s definitely a game changer they never imagined, blowing into their lives like the approaching winter storm, stirring up their wildest fantasies and making them want with an intensity hot enough to melt the fake icicles draped around her Grandma’s house.
Christmas with all the trimmings. Those were Grandma’s instructions. And while Chrissy knows she wasn’t referring to Chrissy laid out for Joe and Jess’s pleasure—or they hers—Grandma’s got some explaining of her own to do. Like how she knew about those dimples on the twin’s perfect backsides.
Christmas Candie by Nona Raines
Aidan Callahan loves Christmas. His family makes it a big celebration and he does his best to carry on the tradition. Every ornament on his huge Christmas tree has a story and holds a special memory. He’s been hooking up for six months with Val Stenzler and would like to get closer to her, including sharing his love of Christmas. But aside from their hot sex sessions, she holds him at arm’s length. What’s the problem?
Val hates Christmas. The most devastating, humiliating event of her life happened at Christmastime two years ago, and she’s still trying to get past it. There’s no room for fruitcake or mistletoe in her life. As far as she’s concerned, the holiday season can’t pass quickly enough.
Christmas suddenly becomes a lot more interesting when Val and Aidan meet Candie Hurley. She’s as sweet as her name, as sparkly as tinsel and as mysterious as the Northern Lights. Aidan and Val both fall under her spell, but will the night they spend with her bring them closer together or tear their relationship apart?
Gingerbread Photography by Rachell Nichole
Walker Savidge is one of FDNY’s Finest. He’s also the only openly bisexual fireman in the city. But his boyfriend, Ben Cook, is still very much in the closet, and not comfortable with his own sexual needs and desires. Every time they get close in public, Ben pulls away. Frustrated with his partner, Walker devises a plan to help Ben break out of his shell. The owner of Gingerbread Photography has been photographing the FDNY Firefighters for their calendar for years. She’s professional and sweet, and Walker knows she’ll immediately put Ben at ease. Now all he has to do is convince his lover to do a private x-rated, Xmas photo shoot.
Ben knows Walker is fed up with his hang-ups, but he can’t seem to help it. Every time he thinks he might be okay with announcing to the world that he also likes guys, the horrors of his high school locker room stop him. Growing up in a small community that wasn’t always supportive of homosexuality has forced Ben to hide that half of himself. He’d always dated girls before moving to the Big Apple and finding Walker. Now he’s trying to reconcile the two halves of himself and give Walker what he deserves. So when Walker suggests a photo shoot, Ben agrees, though the idea makes him squirm. He knows the week of Christmas break will be the best time for the shoot. He’s told his parents he won’t be home this year for Christmas, so he doesn’t have to answer awkward questions about his love life, or break Walker’s heart by not inviting him home for the holidays.
Lexie Ginger Rosamond is trying to survive as a NY photographer. But she’s dreading the upcoming holidays and her photo schedule. She’s reluctant to take on a last minute meeting with Walker and his boyfriend, but finally can’t deny the sultry voice of one of the sexiest firemen she’s ever met. But when Walker shows up at her studio with Ben, a young man she’s already met, and kissed, she doesn’t know what to do. As the photo shoot heats up, Walker jumps into the photos with Ben, and it’s almost more than she can bear. Until the two men ask her to join them in front of the camera instead of behind it. Tempted by their heat, and deciding maybe she can give herself a special treat this Christmas, Lexie agrees.
Walker Savidge is one of FDNY’s Finest. He’s also the only openly bisexual fireman in the city. But his boyfriend, Ben Cook, is still very much in the closet, and not comfortable with his own sexual needs and desires. Every time they get close in public, Ben pulls away. Frustrated with his partner, Walker devises a plan to help Ben break out of his shell. The owner of Gingerbread Photography has been photographing the FDNY Firefighters for their calendar for years. She’s professional and sweet, and Walker knows she’ll immediately put Ben at ease. Now all he has to do is convince his lover to do a private x-rated, Xmas photo shoot.
Ben knows Walker is fed up with his hang-ups, but he can’t seem to help it. Every time he thinks he might be okay with announcing to the world that he also likes guys, the horrors of his high school locker room stop him. Growing up in a small community that wasn’t always supportive of homosexuality has forced Ben to hide that half of himself. He’d always dated girls before moving to the Big Apple and finding Walker. Now he’s trying to reconcile the two halves of himself and give Walker what he deserves. So when Walker suggests a photo shoot, Ben agrees, though the idea makes him squirm. He knows the week of Christmas break will be the best time for the shoot. He’s told his parents he won’t be home this year for Christmas, so he doesn’t have to answer awkward questions about his love life, or break Walker’s heart by not inviting him home for the holidays.
Lexie Ginger Rosamond is trying to survive as a NY photographer. But she’s dreading the upcoming holidays and her photo schedule. She’s reluctant to take on a last minute meeting with Walker and his boyfriend, but finally can’t deny the sultry voice of one of the sexiest firemen she’s ever met. But when Walker shows up at her studio with Ben, a young man she’s already met, and kissed, she doesn’t know what to do. As the photo shoot heats up, Walker jumps into the photos with Ben, and it’s almost more than she can bear. Until the two men ask her to join them in front of the camera instead of behind it. Tempted by their heat, and deciding maybe she can give herself a special treat this Christmas, Lexie agrees.
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Those looking for a bit of heat to warm up their cold winter nights will find this book all that and more. In these three tales of ménage relationships readers get a bit of suspense, angst, heartbreak, and heartwarming interludes along with off the charts eroticism to keep you turning the pages.
From the very first story to the last these stories offer unique storylines, drool-worthy men, and numerous steamy encounters. While I liked some better than others they all brought a bit of heat to a wintry day and kept me engaged in each character's outcome. The story All the Trimmings is all about the sexiness when two gorgeous twin brothers who share everything become obsessed with the quiet teacher next door. There's a bit of suspense thrown in that was left incomplete along with a villain whose demise occurs in the blink of an eye to leave me a bit frustrated. The idea of Christmas was vividly displayed and the ménage relationship progressed in an unsurprising way, but the charm of the brothers and the likability of the heroine made this story enjoyable. Christmas Candie brought up all sorts of emotions and went in some surprising directions. It was sentimental at times and angsty in others. The heroines weren't always likable but they were strong-willed survivalist who had been put through the emotional wringer. The hero was delectable with sensual interludes that ran the gamut from f/m, f/f, to ménage with and ending that hinted at a HFN. Christmas was for them a time for getting in touch with their emotions in some sentimental soul searching. Gingerbread Photography left me hanging with many of its storylines and was the least warm and fuzzie of all the stories with all the issues it dealt with. When a moment of bigotry leads to fireman Walker pulling his closeted boyfriend into the public eye it makes for lots of awkwardness and a struggle with accepting who you are. I would've liked a better clue as to the incident that led to Walker becoming the poster boy for gay firemen. It would've added a deeper layer of importance to the story and made Ben's concerns for coming out more understandable. As it was I was often frustrated by Ben's issues with self-acceptance. Lexie was a spunky heroine and I enjoyed her connection to Ben and Walker but I almost felt that the connection between her and Walker was more enjoyable on its own. The warmth of the holidays was just hinted at here but everything culminated nicely in the end.
All in all this was an entertaining collection that kept me turning the pages in anticipation. Fans of erotica and ménage relationships will find this a great stocking stuffer to warm up with quickly. Here's to more naughtiness in the future!
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks so much, Jody, for taking time to read and review the anthology! :-) Happy Holidays!
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