Customer Reviews

Hot Chocolate

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection of short stories is about women who share personal insecurities but decide to do something about it. The authors of this anthology take their main female characters and transform them from wallflowers into seductresses. The other thing these stories have in common is the use of chocolate as a plot device serving as some sort of key point in the story.

The sweetest story (no pun intended) of the group is Lori Foster's TANGLED SHEETS. Sophie Sheridan is a business owner who goes to the Winston Tavern every day after work for a cup of hot chocolate. She is attracted to bar owner Cole Winston and she is comfortable with their friendship. She would like to go one step further but she does not want to jeopardize what she already has with Cole. She pretends to have a twin sister named Shelly and she uses this alter ego to do the things that she wishes that she could do as Sophie. If things do not work out she can go back to her safe routine. Cole is intrigued and attracted to Shelly but he is in love with Sophie. He is a bit hesitant around Shelly but when he learns about Sophie's deception he will give her a Valentine's Day she will never forget. Nice and sweet stories for a rainy day.

"Hot Chocolate", a compilation of four short romance stories, all focus on one delectable drink to lure their characters together...hot chocolate. I know you must be wondering why I didn't give "Hot Chocolate" five stars. Here's why: Even though I enjoyed all of the stories, I feel that more could've been done with them. I understand that since they are short stories, they're...well...short, but I feel like the progression of the romances were way too rushed. It would've been nice to see the stories a little longer. I'm not saying that "Hot Chocolate" is a bad book, it isn't. In fact, it's very enjoyable. But it was just too short for my tastes. It would be nice to see these stories extended into a full novel one of these days. They are entertaining and it would be nice to explore these relationships a little more. If you DO enjoy short stories though, especially in compilations such as this, I suggest this book. It's got some steamy sex scenes that will be sure to keep you warm.

Actually, half-and-half might be a more appropriate analogy for this quartet of love stories. The first two, by Suzanne Forster and Lori Foster, live up to their billing. The hilarious affair between secretary Abigail and unaware boss Max builds to a delicious climax featuring a striptease! And Lori Foster follows by introducing us to the Winston boys, specifically the eldest, Cole, who is seduced by Sophie twice, once as herself and once as her decadent twin sister. Wonderful characters, delightfully sensual settings - it can't get much better! And unfortunately, it doesn't. While the other two tales are sweet romances, they don't compare well with the crisp sparkle of the first two stories. The plots are bland, and the characters are almost too good to be true. It was worth buying this book for the first two tales, but the second two are a disappointment.

As an altogether book, absolutely superb. "Hot Chocolate" is an enchanting blend of humor and steamy scenes, each story featuring a cup of delicious hot chocolate. I read this book particularly for Lori Foster, but Suszanne Forster and Fayrene Preston also did an outstanding job.

"Not Abigail!", by Suzanne Forster, was packed with delicious scenes. From the 'spiked' hot chocolate to the absent-minded but rather gorgeous boss, this story was wonderfully charming. Plot: Abigial has been pining for Max for years, but he's painfully oblivious. And when he requests her help in finding a wife by Valentine's day, she takes desperate measures. It's a rather cute plot, actually, I enjoyed it very much.

Lori Foster's work, "Tangled Sheets" is my favorite. It goes from sexy to erotic and the chemistry between Cole and 'Shelly' sizzles. Plot: Sophie and Cole are in love with each other -- but neither of them knows it. So Sophie creates a sexy alter ego / twin sister, Shelly, in the hopes of seducing Cole. But it doesn't quite work that way.

The third story, "Buried in her Heart" wasn't the best. In fact, I didn't really like it at all. The characters were too cliché, and the scenes were a bit flat. The added cheesiness of the 'cute-little-animals' was a bit too much for me. Plot: A lawyer, unsatisfied with her job, takes a break at a bed-and-breakfast on the beach, where she meets Jack. But wait, Abby secretly wants to be a cook, and how convenient that Jack is looking for one. However will he convince her?

"Ecstasy" by Fayrene Preston was sexy and adorable... but I'm still dying to know the secret recipe for the 'orgasmic fudge.' Plot: Hayden wants to buy and market a certain recipe from Brenna -- a certain kind of fudge that sends women into throes of ecstasy. The problem is, she won't sell. Instead, Hayden concentrates on what he wants more. Her.

I'd definitely recommend this. It's wonderful reading. And finding things by Lori Foster is very difficult, but she's such a wonderful writer!

HOT CHOCOLATE is one of the most sexy and arousing romance anthology I have ever read. The steam did not fizzled out halfway like many I have read. Suzanne Forster torched the flame with her story "Not Abigail" about a secretary in love with her boss, Max Gallagher and concocting a potion of love and chocolate to reveal her true feelings. Lori Foster snowballed the sass and fantasies with an engaging tale, "Tangled sheets" when Cole Winston is caught into deception by Sophie. Shelly is her invented identity, who is so sexy and irresistible that Cole finds himself in a struggle in his love for Sophie without knowing both of them are the same person.

Elda Minger comes up smoldering hot for this one. Her story involves a hot passion between Attorney Abby and a chef Jack who is onto opening a restaurant. Abby decides for herself between the one she loves and her job. All this heated desires in this anthology ends with a pleasant climax in Ms. Preston's story between Brenna and the rich Hayden.

HOT CHOCOLATE is unlike any anthology you have seen because the stories are constantly engaging and sexy. With so much zest and scintillating sensuality, they will keep you warm over a hot cup of chocolate. If you looking for something poignant and heavy, skip this one because this is seductive pleasure at its best.

I'm generally not a fan of anthologies, I feel they usually sell the stories short and only gloss over the character and plot depth for want of space. I'm pleased to say this book didn't feel like that at all. 4 story submissions and only one didn't grab me by the heart. They were all sweet, and hot. The heros were adorable and the situations ... well, I wouldn't go so far as to say they were realistic, but I happily suspended my disbelief for 80 pages. I'd definitely recommend this for light, happy reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! "Not Abigail!" by Suzanne Forster was a delight. To be the loyal assistant, completely invisible, who vamps into the perfect wife and lover - what a dream come true! Lori Foster's "Tangled Sheets" is also wonderful! Will you be surprised by what Sophie's twin sister pulls off? Like the hero, Cole, says hot chocolate won't be the same (after this read)! Sadly, these two stories outshine the remaining two, which are quick, by slow, reads.

I loved this book and have read it a few times but I always wanted to know what happened to the Winston brothers who were left. Found out what happened to Chase accidently in another book of short stores called "Charmed". It was great too but what about the last two brothers? Anybody know what book their stories are in? The last two seemed even more promising and I get hooked on characters.

There's a lot of sweaty sheets in this one but the short story format left a lot to be desired in the form of undeveloped stories, superficial characters.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the first two stories in this book, especially Tangled Sheets by Lori Foster! I have reread that story many a time! Because I enjoyed the story so much I surfed this site to find other books of hers and ordered some. The same with Suzanne Forster. The preview at the end of Hot Chocolate made me want to read it.

The third story in this book was alright, but a little bland and didn't keep my attention. I will look for her other books to see is she has something I would enjoy more.

The last story was good and I enjoyed reading. Overall, this book was great. But as I said before, Tangled Sheets was the best.