Review: clever, steamy, and unexpectedly touching holiday trio
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2013
I originally purchased these stories separately, and didn't read them in the suggested order. Since the characters and time frame overlap, I didn't find this to be a problem. But, I will evaluate them in their suggested order here.GETTING SCROOGED by Eden Bradley (3.5 stars): I liked the chemistry between Holly and Ben right away, with the business-related verbal sparring escalating into a fiercely playful flirtation. While the use of the alpha-male romance trope made me skim the early love scenes, the later m/m/m/f (yes, the number of "m"s is no typo) made up for that. The ending is both charming and touching.NOT SO TINY TIM by Robin L. Rotham (4 stars): This novella impressively balances a number of genres that wouldn't seem to blend well together: romantic comedy, BDSM-flavored menage, and heartwarming Christmas fantasy. Whenever the story threatens to go over the top in one direction, Rotham adds another element to propel it forward. The characters' relationship is well-developed, with their sweetness, snarkiness, and scorching chemistry all equally believable. Not your typical holiday tale (or romance, for that matter), and all the better for it!MARLEY IN CHAINS by R.G. Alexander (3 stars): It's a bit jarring to see the difference between the spunky Marley of GETTING SCROOGED and the vulnerable creature in this installment, but that adds to the poignancy of her situation. Michael and Carlos are also very sympathetic characters, and the trio has real heat together. My main issue is with the sentence structure, which I found to be much more choppy than in other Alexander stories I've read. I was also a little disappointed that the story ended up being an m/f/m menage in the end (though there are hints of m/m attraction in the future).I'm giving a 4-star rating overall for the bundle because each installment plays off the others very well, and the overall nods to Dickens are quite entertaining. I hope to read the story of the mysterious doorman Frost someday!