j.p. walker

3.5 stars

A mixed bag, like almost every anthology. This was mostly good, with several remarkable stories and two gems thanks to Amelia Mann and S.H. Allan (detailed ratings below).

A Friend for Christmas by J P Walker - Skipped
Not my cuppa right now

A Midnight Clear by Debbie McGowan - 1.5 stars

From All of Us to All of You by Ofelia Gränd - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.

Home for the Holidays by Jonathan Penn - 3 stars

Kiss Me At Kwanzaa by L.L. Bucknor - 1.5 stars

Lion’s Hero by Alexis Woods - 2.5 stars

One Nightstand by Rick Bettencourt - 3 stars

Shiny Things by Amy Spector - 3.5 stars

The Bard and his Boyfriend by Kathleen Hayes - 2 stars

The Christmas Present by Larry Benjamin - 2 stars

The Invasion of Tork by Claire Davis and Al Stewart - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.

X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale by Raine O’Tierney - 3 stars

A Christmas Tale by Hans M Hirschi - 2 stars

A Family Christmas by Terry Kerr - 3.5 stars
A nice drop of dark-zombish humor.

A Little Christmas Magic by K.C. Faelan - 3 stars

Always Have, Always Will by Amelia Mann - 4.5 stars
First chapters are powerful, with vivid descriptions of Jay circumstances; then lose a bit of that initial strength. But I loved this story so much, that I have purchased the separate ebook also.

An Angel in Eyeliner by Hunter Frost - 4 stars

Boyfriend Goes Home by Laura Susan Johnson - 1 star (DNF)
Scatological and stupid, I hated the "humor" in this story.
Furthermore, I now see that it is a case of self-rating (the bigger of my personal pet peeves).
So, what I have here is the "complete package", that one that ensures that this story —in which fortunately I didn't waste my time finishing it— Was the first and last story that I read from this author.

Christmas Commitment by Shayla Mist - 2 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.

Coming in from the Cold by Ava Penn -2 stars
The last chapter, rushed and almost totally disconnected from the previous chapters, ruined the story for me.

Holidays with Drum and Bell! by Matthias Williamson - DNF, no rating.
This bored me, but this is a case of "it's me, not you".

Te Amo, You Mushrooms by S.H. Allan - 5 stars
OMG, How I loved this story! Superbly researched, superbly written. Another where my enjoyment was such, that I bought the separate ebook. … (more)

I liked this story but it was kind of bittersweet. Could have been a lovely little story. But for the complications introduced. If one plot line or another had been cut. Either Jamie's or Anna's.

The "existence" of Anna turns the relationship with Jamie to be less than it might be/have been. Maybe it never would have been more than a "first girlfriend" type level relationship. But maybe it might have been more, but for the existence of Anna. And the uncertainty surrounding her existence.

And the existence of Jamie, the fact she exists and is quite happy to explore the idea of being friends with, and lesbians with Eve, keeps Eve from actually doing more to figure out if she is insane or not. Or, to put another way, to actually try to figure out if Ann is real or not.

The existence of both plot lines digs a hole in Eve, and puts Anna into pain. I don't like that.

I don't really know how to rate this one because of that. I mean, it's kind of unfair. heh. Here we have someone who had two different women enter her life at important points. Sure, it's at the same time and therefore creates problems, but still. Bah.… (more)