Winter Thaw by Kit Tunstall
When assassin Kane Winter sees the picture of Widow Danika Rich in the newspaper, he's shocked by the surprising pull of attraction he feels towards her. The helpless look in her eyes reminds him of his sister Melissa, and his inability to save her in time before she was killed. Though he knows he shouldn't become more involved with Danika, he applies to be her personal security agent, in the hopes that he can prevent any more violence from happening. What neither Danika nor Kane count on is the instant and fiery attraction that springs up between them. Danika never thought she would be attracted to another man after the living hell Edmond Rich put her through, but she feels a bond with Kane that she never thought to find. Unfortunately, both have secrets that are preventing them from being truthful with each other. Kane is sure he will lose Danika if he tells her the truth about her husband's death, while Danika is equally sure that Kane will be repulsed by her life with Edmond. Will these two lonely souls be able to discover the happiness they are so aching to find? With the added threat of the hit on Danika's life in the equation, this story is filled with a good combination of romance and suspense.

The Holly King by Lynn Warren
Allyndair is the Holly King, but not for much longer. He knows that this Yule will be his last. He's done nothing to win his subjects' love or respect. Instead, all he has done is cause pain and suffering, being selfish in his desires and not worrying about the well-being of the kingdom. The Holly King rules for one hundred years and if in that time the King doesn't earn the love or respect of even just one of his subjects, he's destined to go back to the magical snow from which he was created. Allyndair thought he was destined to spend Yule alone, but when he sees his servant Lauren he realizes that he can make someone happy for once. He's determined to give Lauren the Yule she deserves, but the more time they spend together, the more he becomes attracted to her. Unfortunately Allyndair believes he can never atone for the sins he's committed against her. He sent her husband off to war in the hopes he would die, and he had his collectors confiscate her home and her beloved pet. The more time Lauren spends with Allyndair, the more she becomes convinced that he isn't the monster she imagined him to be. Will she be able to show him how her feelings have changed? Can he become the King he's always wanted to be or are his previous bad deeds too much to be forgiven? This magical story will show you that the true power of Christmas comes from love and not the material objects in life.

Stone Roses by Alicia Sparks
When Detective Luke Callahan sees his ex-wife drive back into town, he knows that trouble is sure to follow. Luke has always regretted the fact that he once cheated on Christine and with her back in town, he's reminded once again not only of his past mistakes but also of the feelings he still has for her. Despite his reawakening feelings though, Luke knows he has to stay far away from Christine as he has a secret that she can never discover. Christine is in town to investigate a murder and a ghost. She knows Luke is withholding information from her and she's resolute in her attempts to find out the truth. But will she get more than she bargained for when she discovers Luke's secret? Is there any way for past hurts to be rectified between two people who are more in love than ever before? Be sure to read this intriguing story to see if Luke is redeemable or if he's determined to live out his secret alone.

Have Mercy by Rachel Carrington
The first time wizard Keane Brady sees the enchanting Allyn Michaels he has no idea the kind of trouble she is going to lead him into. Allyn needs to get to Newgrange before she goes blind. She also has to help Keane accept his powers once again. Her job with the three Fates depends on Keane. Though Keane didn't intend to get drawn into Allyn's journey to Newgrange to regain her vision, the more time he spends with her, the more he doesn't want to let her go alone. If only she would leave the subject of his family alone. Keane gave up his powers because of an act of revenge so horrible, he can't bear to even talk about it. Allyn's mission is to prove to him that he need not carry that guilt and that he isn't as evil as he believes himself to be. Keane blames his parents' death on the Fates, the very same people for whom Allyn is working. Will he be able to forgive Allyn for her deception? More importantly, will Keane be able to forgive himself?

This is an anthology that is filled with magic of all kinds. Three of the stories feature paranormal plots, each unique and engaging to the reader. The stories are all well paced with convincing characters and believable twists and turns. This reviewer's personal favorite was The Holly King by Lynn Warren as the warmth and love of the holidays truly shone through on every page. Overall though, this anthology should please any reader who wants to learn about the true message of the holiday season: the gift of love.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Sarah W
December 8, 2004