Three steamy holiday stories that were just so-so but I did finish them with some skimming. They were so heavy with internal debate about the relationship. One story even had a gimmick for internal dialog. First was about bosses daughter, next was red teddy gift, and the last was 8 days of presents.
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I enjoyed all three stories in this book! All were set just before Christmas and revolved around a Secret Santa gift exchange at the offices of Connoisseur magazine. The first, by Janelle Denison, is the cutest of the lot - the heroine has an imaginary angel/devil pair she consults regularly - but the story drew me in and had some nice moments. Isabel Sharpe brings her trademark twist to her story of a woman who seduces the wrong Santa and finds romance anyway. The last tale was by Jennifer LaBrecque, who I'd never read before - a great find! Her warring food critic protagonists are believable, sexy and funny. ( )

“He’d Better Watch Out!” by Janelle Denison
Amanda Creighton has talked to the little angel and devil sitting on her shoulders since her mother died when she was young. But now her little vixen convinces her to put her own name by that of the office bad boy for Secret Santa. After he gets her seductive gift, he can’t help but wonder who it’s from…and the sparks begin to fly. Too bad she’s the boss’s daughter and he has a promotion to worry about…
The story was really funny, especially with the conversations in…awkward moments…with either side of her conscience. The sex was sizzling, and the story was actually very tender and sweet.

“The Nights Before Christmas” by Isabel Sharpe
Cathy Ann Johnson gets lacy lingerie from her Secret Santa along with an invitation to model it. So she goes to the apartment of the gorgeous international photographer, Quinlan, who’s about to leave for London for a year. After all, who can pass up an invitation like that from a man she’s secretly lusted after for ages? Except that he didn’t send it…
A very sweet story full of real-life awkwardness, but also showing that as long as you have the right guy, it doesn’t matter.

“Mistletoe Madness” by Jennifer LaBrecque
Tatiana Allen loves her job as a restaurant critic, but she doesn’t much care for her rival, Cole Mitchell, Mr. Silver Spoon himself. Unfortunately her editor has decided to do a his and hers series for the magazine that requires them to go out to dinner practically every night before Christmas. And to top it all off, they have each other for Secret Santa. But it soon turns out that the sparks that fly off each other in anger might just be a byproduct of unresolved sexual tension.
Nice and fun. Something where you just sit back and watch the sparks fly in the comfortable knowledge that they’re perfect for each other, and that they’ll realize it without too much drama. ( )