Merry Christmas Baby [Paperback]

These Brava anthologies get worse every time. It seems to me that two or three anthologies not unlike this one featuring pretty much the same authors are released every month. I noticed that some of the stories in Merry Christmas, Baby are not only undeveloped and too short for me to care about the characters, but they are also recycled. It is obvious to me that these authors are running out of ideas because this imprint makes them churn out crap at hyper speed. Donna Kaufman's Making Waves and Erin McCarthy's You, Actually are the better ones in this book. I was very disappointed with MaryJanice Davidson in this one. Undercover Claus is Santa Claws from Ellora's Cave's Naughty or Nice anthology, but with some minor alterations. The funny thing is that I read that Naughty or Nice anthology just a few days before reading this book. I can't help losing respect for an author who doesn't even bother to write an original story. I still love her work, but I shall read the stuff she writes for Berkley and for e-imprints in the future. I will read one of her Brava novels only if the plot is interesting (The Royal Treatment, which she wrote for Brava, was actually very good). The Lucy Monroe, Susanna Carr, and Nancy Warren novellas aren't any better. Having read Jingle Bell Rock last year, I should have known better than to read this one. Lucky for me, I borrowed this from a friend to amuse myself during the ninety-minute train ride to work. I suppose that this book was entertaining enough for work travel, but I couldn't help experiencing deja vu while I read the stories and a lot of the passages within them. I won't read any more of these Brava anthologies. They should give these authors some space to actually come out with good, or at least decent, material in the future. For the time being, I recommend the Secret anthologies from Red Sage Publishing.

Okay, six stories by six authors in a book that totals 307 pages. You do the math and figure out how strong these stories are. I think publishers are really going overboard when they try to cram this many stories in a book this short - the average length of each story is about 43 pages! And this is very disappointing for me since this book includes stories from some of my favourite authors, particularly Davidson, Warren and McCarthy. If you just want a quick taste of each, I guess this is worth your effort, but if you want more than that, don't bother.

Ms Kauffman closes out her Morgan Brothers series with Burke's story. Preparing to set out on his maiden voyage as captain of his own pleasure cruise business, his partner drops the bomb on him that he's taken a job Down Under. He placates Burke by assuring him that his granddaughter is just as good a cook as he is. When he meets Kam, she sure looks good, but she's also seasick. You can imagine how he cures her of it. Really not much to this one at all. The most satisfying part was the epilogue which wrapped up the series.

Ms Warren has perky weather girl Marisa and her survivalist cameraman Rob stranded in a blizzard. Rob thinks she's a superficial twinkie but is attracted to her anyway, much to his disgust. Marisa thinks he's surly and superior. Their forced time together brings them to the conclusion that neither is what the other seemed. One of the better of the bunch, but do they still have perky weather girls? I thought these days you had to be a meterologist to do TV weather!

Erin McCarthy's story felt a lot like a Lori Foster short - you decide if that's good or bad! It was a cute story of cartoonist Josh who has finally decided to tell his best friend Cassidy that he wants to be more than friends. He does it through his cartoon strip, but she misunderstands what it means. This one was cute and enjoyable.

MaryJanice disappointed me (and she is one of my VERY fave authors!). Her story was so reminiscent of an earlier short story for another Xmas anthology, Santa Claws from the Naughty or Nice collection from a few years back. Except in this story, the sidewalk Santa is cop Corrine undercover to catch a purse snatcher and her love interest is wealthy Brit business man Grant instead of a wealthy Scottish werewolf. While I always love MJD's stories and this one had it's wonderfully quirky and crazy moments, I felt like I had read it before. But if you haven't read Santa Claws, you just may love it.

Ms Monroe's story of a virgin lingerie model (!) and a Texas rancher was sweet but just seemed so unrealistic to me. But I must say Jake was a hunk and a half - very sexy!

I think Susanna Carr's story was my favourite and that surprised me as I'd never read her before. A group of old friends reunite in their small hometown for the holidays and get trapped together during a snowstorm. A power outtage, a mistaken bedroom, an incredible sexual encounter and the realization in the morning light that Karen did not enter the bedroom she thought! Can Tyler convince her that it was the right one afterall? Sexy and sweet.

Personally I think publishers are putting out too many of these anthologies - it seems there are two or three out every month or so. I'd much rather see longer stories featuring fewer authors a lot less often - for what it's worth!

Six winter tales that snap and sizzle....
Merry Christmas Baby has six steamy stories guaranteed to warm your hears and make you sweat. All these authors are auto-buys for me. Making Waves by Donna Kauffman is the story of the youngest Morgan brother Burke. Burke Morgan has spent the years since he left home traveling the open seas. He is now captaining his own boat. A last minute change of crew has him showing his friends grown up granddaughter Kamala Apolo about life on the sea. Burke has an amazingly sensual cure for the sea sick Kamala. This story is the perfect conclusion to the Morgan brothers' series.

Let It Snow by Nancy Warren has ever perky weather reporter Marisa Langley getting on cameraman Rob Sheridan last nerve. Until one snowy night they get trapped in the snow and cold do they realize how much they are attracted to each other. Let It Snow generates Enough steam to melt your heart.

Erin McCarthy's You, Actually has cartoonist Josh Black trying to tell his best friend Cassidy St. George that he is in love with her. Instead of telling her he lets his cartoon speak for him. Cassidy however thinks that Josh has falling in love with someone else. Both decide to act on their desires. You, Actually has the wit, charm and passion that are hallmarks to Erin McCarthy's books.

In Undercover Claus by MaryJanice Davidson, cop Corinne Bullwinkle posing as Santa's helper. She is trying to catch a purse-snatcher. Coming to her rescue is British citizen Grant Daniels. Neither can stay away from the other, their attraction is off the charts. MaryJanice has written another side splitting steamy story.

Lucy Monroe's Silver Bella takes us to the world of high fashion. Bella Jackson is a model for an elite clothing line. Jake Barton is supporting his writer sister by going to some fashion shows. Bella and Jakes connection is hot and instantaneous. Silver Bella is a gem by Lucy Monroe. Looking forward to more from her.

Snow day by Susanna Carr has friends snowed in during the holidays. Tyler Stevens and Karen Price have always skirted around their attraction. Tyler thinks this is the time to make his move before Karen gets serious with her date. When Karen enters the wrong room that night she and Tyler share a night neither will forget. This is the second book I have read by this author, will be reading many more.

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