Peter finds Crystal charming. She tries to bribe him and his father for the return of Rudolph in exchange for her chocolate pudding cake. Henri LeBarron tells Peter to marry Crystal for the cake.

A Kiss Under the Mistletoe (contemporary romance) by Julie Skerven
Just before Christmas, Jessie Barnes breaks into the cabin belonging to Nick Maxwell, who works with her brother Michael. Her brother is missing and she's looking for clues to his whereabouts. Nick catches Jessie breaking in and the two of them wind up working together to find out what's happening to WestTec - the computer design firm Michael and Nick founded, and what's going on with her brother Michael.

Deck the Halls (paranormal suspense) by Cassie Walder
Laura Hall returns from a trip visiting her son and his family and finds all her family has been shot - husband, father and mother-in-law, brother and sister-in-law, husband's brother. The murderer's identity is unknown. The ghosts of the departed family members visit Laura daily. Laura works with long-time friend, Jack Decker, a psychologist and parapsychologist, to try to solve the murders. Jack wants to prove the existence of ghosts. Laura doesn't want to discuss it. Jack and Laura have tremendous chemistry and a twenty-three year friendship.

Laura is still in danger. Jack plans to proect her. Will they be able to solve the murders in time?

Winter Enchantment (regency romance) by Jane Toombs
Lord Malden isn't celebrating Christmas. He has no use for holidays or visitors. A cat Merlin falls through his bedroom chimney, a baby girl is found at his front door during the snow, and Miss Julia Frost comes to him for assistance in a snowstorm. Everything changes.

Special Delivery (ghost story) by Carrie S. Masek
Margaret Parkhurst, 67, is very lonely without her family on Christmas Eve. She misses her daughter Karen and her baby girl who died 2 years earlier. After leaving the cemetary, she misses her bus and accepts a ride from Nick, a stranger. Margaret hears a baby crying and Nick and Margaret stop at an apartment complex on the way home where Margaret finds baby Juanita and saves her. Afterward Nick drives Margaret to her dream house and she realizes she died at the cemetary. Nick is Santa Claus and hears all children in trouble. Margaret must decide - do I go to Karen and Peggy's house or stay with Nick and help him save all the children in trouble.

A Home for Christmas (inspirational contemporary romance) by Karen Wiesner
Craig Stevens loves Christie Renata Zondervon and he never told her.

Christie is an orphan who grew up in a very strict orphanage and then many foster homes. She wants her own family.

Craig had his own record company, Mission Records, and signed Christie. They worked on her first record together. On the second record Craig's brother Gregg was co-writer and co-producer. Christe fell in love with Gregg and he dumped her.

Craig was the shoulder Christie cried on, her friend, her mentor. Craig invites Christie to Olympia, Washington with him for his annual Christmas visit with his family. There's a new awareness between Craig and Christie. Craig decides to take a chance and try to win Christie's love at last.

The story collection works well together because the strengths and surprises of the main characters are very parallel. I liked the writing because the stories flow and you move through them quickly. I gave this anthology a 4 rating because of the quality of the writing and also because the characters are like people I know. I gave this anthology a sweet sensuality rating because the stories are written in a manner that leaves out explicit details of the relationships so your imagination can fill in the details of where the relationships are going. Each of the stories has a pair of main characters that also have an enjoyment of life factor that really enhances the story.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Ellen
August 16, 2005