Santa Jinn by Pamela Downs
Celena and Berg are crestfallen with two things in their life, the Christmas season and their marriage, both of them dormant and overwrought. Celena feels she is being taken for granted while caring for the children and the home. She gets the impression that Berg no longer holds the same desire for her as he once did and the beautiful co-worker that Berg works with doesn't help matters. Being a man, Berg naturally doesn't understand the little problems that surround their life. On an adventurous night, during a snowstorm, they decide to go out to eat, when something happens that changes their life. They stumble upon an old lantern and when a Jinn appears granting them each three wishes, what starts as a mirage of events that create a stir, ends with them discovering each other.

This delightful story shows how two people learn a lesson in sparking their marriage back to life. Kudos Ms. Downs. I loved the part where Berg told his wife she was spoiling the kids and she said that was what she strived for, that was a hoot. Snappy dialogue, refreshing characters, a blast of a read from beginning to end.

A Sexual Twist by Emy Naso
Set in present day this is a spin off of a Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist. Oliver is a bank clerk with a low salary, handcuffed to his job until he asked his boss for a raise, only to find himself unemployed. Seeking employment elsewhere, he accepts a job with Fagend, a transvestite who runs a Call Center service offering sex. In no time Oliver is in the midst of characters infatuated with sex. There are some so fixated that they go to any 'no holds barred' lengths to get it anyway they deem necessary. Fagend decides to write his story about being a Drag Queen. After carefully searching the Net he is certain that the e-book publisher, Venus Press will print his story. Oliver learns quickly that life is certainly different in the present day, and with stunning new developments, things take on a better life for the young orphan in the present day.

This lighthearted read, full of wit and sexual capers, is creatively told by the great master storyteller, Emy Naso, and as always, is done remarkably well.

Daniel Morgan's Christmas by Nix Winter
Daniel had the misfortune of growing up sheltered with a gang, so he doesn't know about the joyful, magical time Christmas has to offer. Not only that, he has never seen any flying red-nosed reindeer, or Santa visiting homes that one time of the year, bearing gifts. You see Daniel is blind and was property to an abusive Asian man but Taylish; a police officer came to his rescue. He knows nothing about the tinsel or decorations that come with the holiday season. Being blind has also made him clueless to many things that surround him, as if he is in a cage unable to get out. So when he is left abandoned with no help from anyone, he finds a confidant with Setsuki, an enigmatic woman who sets out to show Daniel the true spirit of Christmas. As Daniel learns to bake cookies and trim a tree, even with no sight, his heart begins to see more than what others often sometimes miss in life.

This is a most heartfelt story and the affectionate character of Daniel and what he has been through with the help of Setsuki gives this tale a rare commodity, most rewarding.

Mistletoe and Magic was a unique anthology, as it carried a variety of tales that were interesting and fun. Each story takes on a whole different form that has the reader anxiously waiting for the next page to see the outcome. Santa Jinn with its genie in the bottle was absolutely charming. I found the couple fascinating and enjoyed their storyline. Pamela Downs creates a stimulating tale that not only is consistent but also keeps the reader's interest in this captivating amusing read. A Sexual Twist spins an old classic dipped in sexual overtones that has the reader amazed how someone could cleverly construct such a read, but Emy Naso never disappoints any reader in this reader's thoughts. Throwing in the addition of Fagend having his book published by Venus Press was indeed a bit hilarious to boot. All in all, this read was rip-roaring fun. Daniel Morgan's Christmas was a magnificent read. Daniel's character stood out as he learns a valuable lesson and shares with his loved ones. This reader found him very kind-hearted. Nix Winter takes a harsh situation and paints a lovely portrait on a canvas where the beauty will never fade in this outstanding read.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Linda L.
November 23, 2006