This is a nice contemporary holiday anthology of 4 stories from some very good authors. The first is from Joanna Chambers and brings us the story of Cam and Rob. Cam has started a business in the Scottish village where his family had a summer cottage after he's been made redundant at his accountancy. Things have not gone so well for him though and about the time his boiler goes and he's down to no cash and none for the foreseeable future, he is about at this wits end. He's had a run-in with one of the locals and he feels very much like an outsider. When his sister provides a Christmas gift that will give him a night of fun in the city, he jumps at the chance. But again, things are against him and he ends up missing the night out, but maybe not a Happy New Year. I liked both characters and enjoyed watching them try to interpret their feelings about each other. Both men have suffered some setbacks and while they might be ready to move on, they realize they are going to need to be honest and communicate with each other. Rob is a really good guy and he realizes that he might have been part of the problem and really wants to set things right. Good on ya!The second is from Harper Fox. Also taking in place in Scotland - this time in a fancy hotel in Edinburgh, Cosmo is the head of housekeeping who meets a guest who piques his interest. Turns out there is a LOT more to Ren Vaudrey than meets the eye. There is a horrible boss, a back story for both Cosmo and Ren that takes them down some interesting paths and one thankfully short time of misunderstanding. There is a big of angst and some bad moments for both. I loved the ending of this one especially. The third is from LB Gregg and I think is my favorite. Winter and Luke were a couple happily living in Vermont. Winter took a job in Germany - without talking to Luke. At all. He comes back 6 months later and they have a wild interlude but nothing has changed essentially and things do not get any better. The following Christmas, Winter again returns to visit their common family and Luke ends up chauffeuring Winter to the family lodge. While things are still tense, Winter begins to try to sort things out between them. Both have suffered a lot during the separation. I've read a lot of reviews that seem to think that perhaps the forgiveness and compromise were no realistic or too fast or not enough grovelling and begging or whatever. I respectfully disagree. I think the resolution is completely believable and I loved it.The final story is from Josh Lanyon. Rocky and Jesse have been friends forever, but when try to become more than friends, it blows up disastrously. Both come into the relationship with baggage that they maybe aren't willing to completely own and when even their friendship might be on the line, Jesse goes all out to try to save the relationship. There is also another potential suitor for Rocky's affections as well as a potential job that would most likely separate them, but Jesse isn't going down without a fight. I enjoyed this story as well. Jesse and Rocky are two young guys who have a rather volatile relationship and a long history. While they are definitely interested in having more, they both sabotage any potential romance they might have. It's nice to see them work through their issues. All in all, these are 4 solid stories by some of the best in the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed these stories :) Happy holidays! A very enjoyable, cosy collection of four stories for the festive season.Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers (story one) - I really liked the story, but I found the use of apostrophes on every 'round (British colloquial version of 'around') very distracting. These were not used consistently (not used on 'phone, for instance), and nor were they used in Harper Fox's story, when both stories are set in Scotland, which makes no sense editorially. I know I'm being pedantic - perhaps the absence of the apostrophes would be just as distracting to US readers. However, I rate on how well a story drags me in and keeps me there, and those little fellas kicked me right back out of it, which is a shame, because I really liked the plot and the characters were very engaging.I absolutely loved Out, by Harper Fox (story two) - very much my kind of story - a chief housekeeper with agoraphobia and how he overcomes this to become a bit of a hero is exactly the sort of thing I love to read. It offers a very realistic portrayal of the condition, and the connection between the characters is excellent. I may have been left a little smitten by Cosmo.Waiting for Winter, by LB Gregg (story three) - it is a good story, and I was expecting great things, because I'd read rave reviews about how incredible the character 'Winter' was, but I didn't like him at all. I found him to be selfish, supercilious and superior. However, I wouldn't down-star a story for excellent characterisation. I don't like him; other people love him. Either way, LB Gregg has made us feel real things for a character.Baby it's Cold, by Josh Lanyon (story four) was great, other than the extensive recipe instructions. Filler much? The usual wit and dry humour is there, and the characters were feisty but likeable. A great story - I don't need to know what goes in a tiramisù or how to cook mussels. :)
What do You think about Comfort And Joy (2014)?
Baby it's cold outside I love me some josh Lanyon! I do I do I truly do!
—L230697
Three point five, rounding up only for Out by Harper Fox.
—Mossy_belle
