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Winter Warmers

by Chrissy Munder (Goodreads Author), Clare London (Goodreads Author), J.L. Merrow (Goodreads Author), Josephine Myles (Goodreads Author), Lou Harper (Goodreads Author)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 89 ratings · 38 reviews

Baby, it's cold outside! Beat the chill with Winter Warmers—a seasonal anthology.

Mulled wine. Butterscotch kisses. Hideous sweaters. Candy at the beach, or a trip to a sex shop in Amsterdam. And the man of your dreams, wrapped around you... Winter warmers come in many shapes and sizes, from the tongue-in-cheek to the hot-as-hell. Enjoy a quintet of heart-warming tales of m...more

Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 155 pages

Published November 26th 2011 by Pink Squirrel Press

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Nov 16, 2012 Mandy*reads obsessively* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook-owned, m-m, anthology, age-gap, cinderfella, cottoncandy-fluff, cute-easy-light, feel-good-read, fun-or-funny, hurt-comfort-disability, insta-love-lust, paranormal, short, sweet

I'll read and rate as I go..
May contain some spoilers! ;)
A very good collection of winter/holiday stories.

Clare London's Lucky Dip 3.5*
Cute story about second chances and unusual circumstances!
I think I would have liked it a bit better, if I had a little bit of the 'before' but it's sweet.

Chrissy Munder Butterscotch Kisses 3.5*
I liked this one a lot, but after getting invested in Matthew's success in climbing to the top, I think I deserved to reap the rewards with him and see him make it!

Lou H...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Elspeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, emily, kindle, mm, not-us

Lucky Dip by Clare London
One Star
Call me a bitch if you want, but I would never have taken back a man that dumped me the way Greg did to Andy. I can see making a mistake and being scared, I can see somebody not knowing what they have because it’s new to them, I can even see trying to break it off because you are afraid your partner is going to get hurt. I understand these things, and if you see the signs of any of these coming to pass please make sure you drop that bomb in the appropriate place....more

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Dec 07, 2011 Serena Yates rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m

If you are looking for a heartwarming, nicely uplifting and positive read, these five short stories fit the bill. Each of them contributes to the whole in their own way, but taken together, they make a wonderfully ‘warming’ whole. This collection just ‘worked’ for me.

Lucky Dip by Clare London is a very sweet story about Andy, a primary school teacher, and Greg, his banker ex-boyfriend. I love exes making up again, especially when the reason for their separation was basically a misunderstanding....more If you are looking for a heartwarming, nicely uplifting and positive read, these five short stories fit the bill. Each of them contributes to the whole in their own way, but taken together, they make a wonderfully ‘warming’ whole. This collection just ‘worked’ for me.

Lucky Dip by Clare London is a very sweet story about Andy, a primary school teacher, and Greg, his banker ex-boyfriend. I love exes making up again, especially when the reason for their separation was basically a misunderstanding. The way fate ‘arranged’ for these two to have the opportunity to talk it all out and reconsider was funny. A gentle story that made me smile.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder is a super-cute story with a lot of truth about overcoming your fears added as a bonus. Matthew is deadly afraid of heights and just as determined to overcome this fear. Like so many people with a perceived ‘flaw’ he believes his inability to cope is the reason he’s still alone. Luckily Adam takes it all in stride and his support, of course, makes all the difference. A funny story with lots of self-deprecating jokes that made me laugh.

Wintertide by Lou Harper is also warm and uplifting, and while Jem finds love for the first time, Oscar has obviously got a little more to deal with. I liked how we gradually find out about his background and why he is a little hesitant. This is an emotional story which gives hope to all those who have lost a lover.

When in Amsterdam… by Josephine Myles is a great story about two lovers experimenting with their kinkier side. I loved how Brandon, sexually more dominant, was the one who was hesitant about taking it further. Jos, the ‘bottom’ in the relationship was far more experienced and knew exactly what he wanted. The way he gets Brandon to try out something different and acknowledge that they may be able to deepen their relationship in a new way, was simply wonderful. A very hot story with loving partners who discover a new aspect of their sex life.

A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by J.L. Merrow is a fun story about Liam, who grew up with witches but doesn’t expect much from men. When he meets Neil that changes, even though their first date is somewhat unorthodox. Or maybe because of it? A fun story with a slight supernatural touch which made me smile.

NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online (less)

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Dec 30, 2011 DarienMoya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, 2011-reads, anthology, favorites, my-m-m-lovin, interracial-love

More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS

4.5

I am so happy I read this book, even though anthologies are my least fave to read. Well I have no complaints, I loved this book every freaking story had me grinning, and getting feelings in my heart. A perfect Christmas read, about the joys of the holiday. It could have been all ‘happy love is all we need’ but each story had a little something more. Every story has a uniqueness that stand on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

Lu...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Elisa Ramblings added it

This anthology is so nice and romantic that is really difficult to say if I like a story more than the other, they are really very good.

Lucky Dip by Clare London: A light and very romantic story about a primary school teacher and his former boyfriend who wants a second chance. Andy is so cute and tender that I was wondering how Greg could have ever thought to let him go, and truth be told, I would have not bought his reasons so easily like Andy does, but you know, when you are in love nothing el...more This anthology is so nice and romantic that is really difficult to say if I like a story more than the other, they are really very good.

Lucky Dip by Clare London: A light and very romantic story about a primary school teacher and his former boyfriend who wants a second chance. Andy is so cute and tender that I was wondering how Greg could have ever thought to let him go, and truth be told, I would have not bought his reasons so easily like Andy does, but you know, when you are in love nothing else really matters. There is no drama in this Christmas story, and even if sex happens, it’s behind closed door (pun intended), so the major focus of the story is the romanticism, and a love story that is sure to have an happily ever after of the type that warms your heart.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder: Matthew has been dumped by his boyfriend, but that is not really what is upsetting him, but more the fact he has a fear for heights. And so he is going over and over back to the same place where the break-up happened, but after the first time he has one reason more to go: the cute ticket guy, Adam, and his funny hats and warm smiles. Now Matthew’s target has changed from trying to overcome his fear to conquering Adam. Again a sweet and romantic story, no sex at all, just some very tender kisses.

Wintertide by Lou Harper: more with a bittersweet feeling than the previous two, Wintertide is probably my favourite. It’s about Oscar, an handsome 40 pushing 50 years old man who has recently lost his 25 years long-time partner, Charlie. There is no regrets in Oscar, he knew he loved Charlie as much as it was possible, and Charlie loved him back, so Oscar’s sadness is right, but not incurable. And so when he meets Jem, young man with a stray attitude, Oscar brings him home, to cherish and love him, something Jem is not used to. Oscar and Jem are average people, not model striking beauty, not sun-tanned wealthy businessmen, but their love is sweet and romantic, one of the nicest novellas I read in recent time.

When in Amsterdam by Josephine Myles: Interesting multicultural love story, between Brandon, Englishman, and Jos, from Amsterdam. Jos is bringing Brandon to meet his family in Amsterdam for the Sinterklaas, a local festivity, and Brandon is surprised to find out that instead of elves helping Santa Klaus, there are the Pietens, black-little men. To Brandon’s sense of justice it seems a little insensitive to use something deriving from slavery as children fairy tale and also turning it into a tourist souvenir, but actually there are more important things on Brandon’s mind right now, like trying to understand if he is able to being the dominant lover Jos needs, not an easy thing for him to be, Brandon being so kind and sensitive every time and in all occasion.

A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by JL Merrow: a funny May/December story about Liam, a twenty-something guy who has the hots for the silver fox he sees everyday while he is playing the saxophone in the London Tube. Even if Liam has a wonderful life, a loving mom and two wonderful aunts living with them, plus another one who is in a lesbian relationship, it’s clear that his interest in older men it’s due to the fact he didn’t have a fatherly figure in his life. Liam’s father is more than 10 years younger than his mother, and has now a new family and doesn’t care much for his first son, probably since he didn’t want him from the beginning. But as I said, Liam is not bitter about that, and when he meets Neil, it’s love at first sight, a love that will grew strongly until the Christmas Eve night when he will have finally the chance to meet him.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006F8QFTG/?...(less)

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Jan 23, 2012 Tam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sheesh, I read and reviewed this in DEcmeber on my blog. Why didn't I put this here. Sorry.

This is going to be an abbreviated look at each story saying what I liked about it.

Lucky Dip – Clare London: A story of a grade school teacher who is forced to work with his ex (the uncle of a student) to prepare for the Christmas carnival. They manage to get locked in a storage closet for the night, complete with bottles of wine and mince pies where the ex gets a chance to explain his behaviour. I reall...more Sheesh, I read and reviewed this in DEcmeber on my blog. Why didn't I put this here. Sorry.

This is going to be an abbreviated look at each story saying what I liked about it.

Lucky Dip – Clare London: A story of a grade school teacher who is forced to work with his ex (the uncle of a student) to prepare for the Christmas carnival. They manage to get locked in a storage closet for the night, complete with bottles of wine and mince pies where the ex gets a chance to explain his behaviour. I really liked that while it all worked out over the night, Andy didn’t give in easily to a second chance. He made him grovel and seriously was ready to move on. I get frustrated when one guy just say “gee sorry” and the other goes “okay”. Nooooo. Groveling is good. Lots of fun descriptions of the kids preparing for the fair with a good dose of humour.

Butterscotch Kisses - Chrissy Munder: A man dumped by his bf because of his fear of heights and refusal to go on the toboggan run, is determined to conquer his fear, if it means showing up every day and paying to climb a little more each day. Flirting with the ticket sales guy with the funky hats is just a bonus. When he’s rescued by hat boy, they finally get a chance to talk. It was a very cute story and I felt for Matthew who suffered from dyslexia as well and felt that he couldn’t live up to the “perfection” that was his twin brother, but was determined to beat this one thing. The hats were amusing.

Wintertide - Lou Harper: Escaping noisy neighbours, Jem sees a sexy older guy on the pier. They flirt and end up at sexy guys place, although later after waking Jem sees pics of another guy and figures he’s with a cheater, but Oscar tracks him down and explains it his lover who died and they decide to try dating. This story had one of my hot buttons, BIG age gap. Oscar was 45+ and Jem was not yet 21. Long term viability? I find it hard to buy into that. If I look at in a “for a period of time that works for them” maybe. I just tried not to think about the numbers much. Well written and I’m sure others won’t mind the gap at all.

When in Amsterdam – Josephine Myles: An interracial couple head to Amsterdam to spend Christmas with Jos’ parents. Brandon is first freaked out by all the pieten he sees in the store windows (little black elves who help Santa) and he’s also feeling self-conscious about the fact that Jos is into BDSM and he’s very vanilla. However taking shelter in a sex store from the rain, maybe he’s not quite as vanilla as he thought and could give Jos what he needs. This was more sexy and intense and a while not angsty or serious, not so light as the others. Seeing vanilla Brandon explore his Dom side was very interesting and hot.

A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips and Thou – JL Merrow: Liam, who lives with his mum and two aunts who are witches, spends his evenings playing his saxophone in the metro to earn cash. Everyday he sees an older man but they never talk. His family is eager to get him mated off but end up knitting him a variety of odd items they insist on wearing. A hat that covers his mohawk, a long Dr. Who scarf and a god awful cardigan. Each item seems to bring him closer to meeting his crush, the cardigan being the last piece of the puzzle. I snickered many times reading this. The hat that looked like he had a tea cozy on his head and the references to Dr. Who were very funny. Even though there was another big age difference, maybe because they only spent the evening together I didn’t feel the same squick factor. *shrug* Who knows with me.

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Dec 07, 2011 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Winter Warmers is an anthology of 5 short stories about the holiday season with an obvious British flair. This collection is exactly what I wanted to get me in the mood for the upcoming Holidays and it’s short, sweet, and to the point. Each story is obviously different with their own tone and mood. I like the variety offered and each author is clearly talented. The stories are also short and often sweet, just a glimpse into the lives of these men and that’s enough for me. I never got bo...more 3.5 stars

Winter Warmers is an anthology of 5 short stories about the holiday season with an obvious British flair. This collection is exactly what I wanted to get me in the mood for the upcoming Holidays and it’s short, sweet, and to the point. Each story is obviously different with their own tone and mood. I like the variety offered and each author is clearly talented. The stories are also short and often sweet, just a glimpse into the lives of these men and that’s enough for me. I never got bored with any particular story but neither did I want them to continue. I’m good with the stories offered and happy enough to move on. For only a few bucks this is one of the better holiday collections and worth the money.

The anthology starts off with Clare London’s Lucky Dip. This is a very cute and funny story about a primary school teacher who decides whether to give an ex-boyfriend a second chance. Here the backdrop of the story is the setup for an annual holiday party with some seriously adorable and funny kid antics. In fact these secondary characters as well as the non stop details about wands, glitter, wine, and so on actually took over the story. I was more interested in the party/fair than the couple getting together. The two men are cute and offer some good tension but I think the actual setup steals the show and made the story worthwhile.

Next up is Chrissy Munder’s Butterscotch Kisses, a decidedly different tone where a young man struggles to get over his fear of heights in the dead of winter. Munder is an excellent author and that comes across here very well. The vivid cold is depicted beautifully and contrasted with the warmth from the cute ticket guy Adam. Matthew’s bleak thoughts are nicely woven into the story and his fear of heights is portrayed accurately. Overall this is a great little story that offers a colder feel but warms up at the end pretty nicely. It’s more sweet than anything but that typifies the collection as a whole so don’t go into this story or any of them wanting tons of explicit sex.

Wintertide by Lou Harper is about an older man moving on after the death of his long time companion. I liked this story quite a bit and it’s my favorite of the collection. The two men don’t really match and the age difference is definitely too much but I could easily see why they were attracted and how they fit together. The last scene especially is incredible. I don’t necessarily believe the couple will last given their differences, most especially Jem’s age and lack of direction, but I want to believe they will make it. The writing is lovely and the story is heartwarming even as it touches on a dark subject.

The final two offerings are When in Amsterdam... by Josephine Myles and A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by JL Merrow. I liked these stories about the same and they have a very similar feel to them. They’re both cute, fun, and unexpected. Myles story deals with a couple that gets a little kinky while visiting family during the holidays – don’t worry all the kink takes place at a hotel when family is not present otherwise that’d be way too kinky. The couple is adorable and very eye catching with their differences. The story offers a lot of great details and a builds the connection between the men to a nice crescendo.

Following on its heels is the witch filled story by Merrow. It has many classic humorous touches fans can expect from Merrow while giving a nice setup to how the two men meet. It’s entertaining and fun to read, making the pages fly by easily. The writing is crisp, uncluttered and always filled with interesting details. The secondary characters, all women, are wonderful and I almost wanted more of them. The main couple doesn’t fall instantly in love but there’s a nice chemistry and potential that should satisfy most romantics.

Overall this collection of stories is well written and interesting to read. None of them are my favorites from the various authors but they hit all the right notes and should satisfy and entertain readers. The variety of characters and situations keeps the anthology interesting while each story has a sweet ending. I’d recommend this one for holiday themed readers.
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Dec 08, 2011 Brie C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Winter Warmers is filled with great stories that albeit short, pack a lot of punch. They are set around Christmas time rather than proper Christmas stories, although they don’t really have that as a common theme. They were all very different and as far as I could see the only thing they shared was the fact that the main characters were all a bit lonely, slightly awkward, and insecure. And by the end of their respective stories they all in a way overc...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Tami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lucky Dip by Clare London
Andy and Greg: Teacher and pupil'S uncle hook up again, after Greg broke up with Andy because he was afraid. This felt like a scene from a longer novel, was nice and humorous.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder
Matthew and Cute Ticket Guy: A sweet little story with good development. Matthew tries to conquer his fear of hights and meets Cute Ticket Guy on his daily trips.

Wintertide by Lou Harper
Story of Jem, young and vulnerable and Oscar, old and rich, who had lost his...more

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May 08, 2012 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, favourite, anthologies

Okay, so I'm reading this waaaay out of season, but I wanted to leave a review because it's a great anthology.
Every one of these stories touched me in its own unique way.
It starts with Lucky Dip by Clare London, which surprised me because of the setting: a primary school Christmas Fair, and the 'hero', Andy, a disarmingly dorky teacher. The scrape he gets into with his ex is really funny and romantic at the same time. Clare made me laugh while managing to get me to root for the relationship to...more Okay, so I'm reading this waaaay out of season, but I wanted to leave a review because it's a great anthology.
Every one of these stories touched me in its own unique way.
It starts with Lucky Dip by Clare London, which surprised me because of the setting: a primary school Christmas Fair, and the 'hero', Andy, a disarmingly dorky teacher. The scrape he gets into with his ex is really funny and romantic at the same time. Clare made me laugh while managing to get me to root for the relationship to be restored to the way it should have been, even though I found Greg's reason for dumping poor Andy a trifle unconvincing as it didn't seem enough, but that's pure nitpicking. It was a lovely story and very fitting for the season. I really must remember to re-read this anthology in December!
Story 2 is Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder. This was a delightfully original setting for a romance too! Matthew is a guy who is afraid of heights. He has a self-help tape which he listens to on his iPod. While scaling the tower of a toboggan run. He never gets very high, but comes back each evenign to try. There he meets a man in a dorky (that word again!) seasonal hat who works there, selling tickets. Another nice story that made me smile.
Number 3 is Wintertide, a story with an age difference which I enjoyed very much. The older man, Oscar, has been in mourning for his dead lover for five years, until he meets Jem, a much younger man. Their attraction is instant and they're pretty hot together. Just the ticket to warm you up in December!
Story 4, I have to admit, was almost my favourite. When in Amsterdam... by Josephine Myles, who is a writer a love. Her quirky humour always makes me laugh and this story was no exception. It's about two guys, and black guy from Bristol and his Dutch lover going to Holland for Sinterklaas, which happens earlier in December than Xmas, to visit Jos's family. You know why Amsterdam is famous, and Jo doesn't disappoint with some kinky fun (in a sex shop, no less!), but you will learn more about Amsterdam than that. I've never been there but almost believe I have now. Brilliant, happy, fun story with an original seasonal twist. Yum.
Finally, number 5 has the best title, imo; A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou, by JL Merrow. It's no mean story either, to end the wonderful bunch, and it was the one that blew me away with its subject, humour and great romance. Liam, a musician currently (un)employed as a busker, complete with punky outfits and mohawk, lives at home with his Mum and 2 Aunties, who happen to be witches. As he puts it, he is 'the one, solitary male in the household, unless you count the cats. And to be honest, they're not as male as they used to be, poor things.'
His other Aunty is an Anglican vicar, just to make life interesting, as if it wasn't already.
While busking, Liam spots Neil, an older man (this is another heartwarming age-difference story, and none the worse for it). He plays soulfully whenever Neil comes into view, but so far Neil has been swept along by the commuter tide and Liam hasn't got very far.
Until the women in his life interfere... I won't tell you how because it would spoil the fun.
The plot had me laughing aloud and appreciating JL's settings and descriptions. I loved it and will definitely be reading it again.
This is the best selection of holiday-based stories I've read yet, and encourage you to buy it. I'd be amazed if you didn't agree.(less)

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Dec 09, 2011 Beatrice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, contemporary, gay-romance, holiday, kink

Winter Warmers was a really delightful anthology that warms the heart and engages the holiday spirit. While these short stories are all contemporary, they also cover different couples of different backgrounds in different circumstances. The holiday season is the underlying theme, of course, but it's such a versatile collection that there's going to be something here for every M/M romance lover.

Lucky Dip by Clare London
This short story was cute with a touch of angst. The tropes used here - break...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Cryselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, m-m

Lucky Dip by Clare London

Poor Andy Jackson—if something can go wrong, it will go wrong, all over him. This poor klutz trips over himself and the small children working on the festival displays. Not only is he a hazard to himself and others, it makes him feel like a fool in front of Greg Canbury, the debonair uncle of one of the students, and Andy's former lover. They'd broken up once before, breaking Andy's heart, and now, he's got to work an entire carnival in close proximity to the man. Someti...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Jenre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthologies, contemporary, romance, m-m

I was really pleased when I heard that this anthology was going to be released. It features four well loved authors in Clare London, Chrissy Munder, Josephine Myles and JL Merrow, plus Lou Harper whose a fairly new author but I liked her story Between Friends in the DSP June Daily Dose anthology, so I knew I was in for a treat with these stories and I wasn't disappointed. This is not an anthology of Christmas stories, but rather each story is set in winter, and as such can be read at any time of...more I was really pleased when I heard that this anthology was going to be released. It features four well loved authors in Clare London, Chrissy Munder, Josephine Myles and JL Merrow, plus Lou Harper whose a fairly new author but I liked her story Between Friends in the DSP June Daily Dose anthology, so I knew I was in for a treat with these stories and I wasn't disappointed. This is not an anthology of Christmas stories, but rather each story is set in winter, and as such can be read at any time of the year.

Before I do a round up of each story, I just want to highlight something that really worked for me in this anthology as a whole, which was that each story was firmly routed in its setting, and that each setting was very different to the others. This meant that I was taken from the rather claustrophobic setting of a British Junior school, to the snow and freezing temperatures of a Michigan winter, to the milder winter of Santa Monica, to the canals and architecture of Amsterdam, and finally to London. I found this variety very pleasing indeed.

Clare London's story, Lucky Dip, really showcased the author's talent for situational comedy as it is set in the hectic world of the school Christmas Fair. Year two (7-8 year olds) teacher, Andy, is struggling to get his class stall erected whilst looking after the child of one of the parent helpers. He's pretty annoyed when he finds himself placed next to the lucky dip stall with is being run by his ex-lover Greg. What I really liked about the story, other than the great little jokes about working in a school and dealing with children, was the way that the men were forced to confront their feelings and deal with their issues. It made it impossible for them to run away from the situation, and as such allowed them time to make amends in a realistic fashion. Plus the tone was so lighthearted and fun that it made the story an enjoyable start to the anthology.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder was a change in tone to something a little more sombre, at first. This was a welcome quieter story which focused on Matthew who is trying to overcome his fear of heights. Each day he returns to the toboggan run where his previous boyfriend dumped him in order to try and climb up to the run, and each day he fails. His visits are brightened by chatting to the 'cute ticket guy' who rescues Matthew when a sudden storm blows in. I really felt for Matthew at the beginning as he struggles with something he really has no hope in conquering. My heart ached for his lack of self confidence and I loved the sweet beginnings of his romance with Adam and how that gave him the push he needs to keep going. The little touches, such as Adam's hat and the way he warms Matthew up, not only with heat, but with his words meant that I enjoyed this story a great deal.

Lou Harper's story, Wintertide, was a quieter read and was perfect for the middle of an anthology. It's a May to December romance which takes the theme of moving on from grief. Jem is a young man with a dead end job who takes a trip out to Santa Monica where he meets Oscar, a middle aged man. They click well together but Oscar has to let go of the past before he can move on into a future with Jem. I have a fondness for older/younger man romances and whilst these two don't initially seem as though they would fit together with their different backgrounds and outlook on life, I thought the author did a good job of showing the potential for them as a couple. It's a story of new beginnings and as such we leave them as a HFN, but I felt that worked best within the context of the story and I still felt optimistic for them in the future.

The fourth story, When in Amsterdam by Josephine Myles, was set in Amsterdam during their Sinterklaas celebrations. Black guy Brandon is not happy to see all the 'Golliwogs' in the windows of the stores and no matter how much his Dutch lover Jos tries to explain that they are Pieten, or elves, it doesn't stop Brandon feeling uncomfortable. The pair shelter from the rain in what turns out to be a sex shop where Brandon surprises himself at how much he is turned on by a particular leather harness. There were two elements to this story which worked well for me. Firstly, I loved the setting, especially with the time of year and I very much enjoyed reading about the traditions and the architecture in the city. Secondly, this was a story about changing your perceptions of yourself and I liked the slow way Brandon chases away his misconceptions of Jos' submissiveness, and begins to learn how to make that work within their relationship. I was fanning my face at some of the sexual tension but was so much more than just hot sex, it was also about making a relationship work. Great stuff.

The final story was A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips and Thou by JL Merrow, and was an amusing story full of quirky characters and observational wit. It's taken from the first person narrative of Liam who lives with a coven of witches made up of his mother and two aunts, and who makes his living busking in the London Underground. Each day he sees a hot older man at the tube station but the man never seems too look at him unless to put a pound in his saxophone case. In the days leading up to Christmas his mother and aunts give him a series of bizarre clothing items as early Christmas presents which finally seems to get the man's attention. This was definitely the silliest story out of the anthology with the two main leads almost getting upstaged by Liam's mother and aunts, but it still retained a core of romance as Liam and his 'silver fox' Neil spend a few hours getting to know each other. The London setting with its shift from the tube, to a traditional British pub to an Anglican Church all added to the fun of the story for me and I finished it with a smile on my face.

Often when I read anthologies, I can select a favourite story. Not so with this one because all the stories were equally as entertaining and well written. If you're looking for a set of stories to chase away the cold winter weather then this anthology of contemporary stories will be perfect.. I'm looking forward to more story collections from this new press.(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Fritz42 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, 2013-books, m-m-romance, nook-lendable

This would have been five stars but for the first story, Lucky Dip by Clare London. It didn't read plausible to me, and the kids in it seemed to behave much more mature than their actual ages. The klutziness of Andy was distracting, and Greg's reason for breaking up with Andy was just...shallow. Yeah, didn't like much about that story.

But I loved the rest of them. The cute animal hats in Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder were the best, and I loved Cute Ticket Guy. The quiet angst of Wintert...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Camille rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lucky Dip by Clare London: 4 stars (Funny and cute. The children are adorable)

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder: 4 stars (I loved the MC having dyslexia and a fear of heights finding love with a guy going back to college as an older student having made mistakes prior. Both self-conscious, both vulnerable, both finding acceptance from each other.)

Wintertide by Lou Harper: 5+++ stars. (I LOVED THIS STORY!!!)

When In Amsterdam by Josephine Myles: 1 star (Overly ornate and purple prose porn, van...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Eli Easton rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought this for J.L. Merrow's story and was not disappointed. Another wonderful, witty gem from her. There's a trio of witches, a mohawk-wearing sax-playing street performer, and the silver fox he fantasizes about--and lots of silliness.

Some favorite quotes
"The wind was blowing in from Siberia so hard I could smell the Vodka and the borscht."

"I'd explain who I was talking about, but you've been paying attention, haven't you? You know I mean my silver fox. Him with the strokeable hair, the brig...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Jayhjay rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on my blog Joyfully Jay.

Winter Warmers is a holiday anthology by five great authors. Each one is short story length making for a solid novel-sized book. I really enjoyed the anthology and would definitely recommend it. The stories have a nice range from sweet and fun to hot and sexy. Below I have a summary and some thoughts on each of the stories.

Title: Lucky Dip
Author: Clare London

The story opens with school teacher Andy Jackson helping to get ready for the sch...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Dreamydreamer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Oh, that was finished quickly. It took all of an hour. Oh well, twee and sugar coated trouble turning to dreams come true wonderland. Stories are predictable but pleasant and the writing is good. Very quickly you understand the characters. Easy for dead-heading. I refused to read the first 3 chapters of her next book at the end, as I'm not sure i want to be drawn into more of this type of story.

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Dec 31, 2011 Simsala*is getting slow* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, christmas-y, m-m

Lucky Dip by Clare London 4 stars
LMAO!

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder 4 stars
Would have been a five if not for the cut-off ending...

Wintertide by Lou Harper 4,5 stars
The "warm and fuzzy" story in this anthology.Loved it...

When in Amsterdam... by Josephine Myles 3,5-4 stars
Kinky and hot...

A Pint of Beer,a Bag of Chips,and Thou by J.L. Merrow 4 stars
LMAO the second...may/december with matchmaking witches...

Overall the best m/m anthology I`ve read so far...recommended!

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 03, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-fiction, life-romance, christmas

A nice little anthology to get you in a festive mood.

All stories were nicely written, however my two personal favourites were; 1) Wintertide by Lou Harper a very bittersweet story written with a great deal of empathy and feeling; 2) A Pint of Beer, A Bag of Chips, and Thou by JL Merrow just loved the subtle and very British humour to this one.

So make sure you get the tinsel out and have a glass of mulled wine ready while reading and you'll be all set for the Yuletide.

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2011 Fehu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christmas-m-m-story, genre-m-m-contemporery

That christmas collection has some great author and lovelly stories, the first one is my favorite.
But I have to confess second chances are one of my favorite themes for christmas stories. The story is about a primary school teacher who has to work toghere with his ex-boyfriend, who dumped him, on a fundraising project.

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Dec 25, 2012 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks-i-own, anthology, contemporary, holiday-seasonal, male-male-romance, read-2012, romance

This anthology was very hit and miss for me. My favorite story was "A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou" by JL Merrow. It made me laugh out loud, and the Dr. Who references made me happy (although poor Christopher Eccleston gets no love). "Butterscotch Kisses" by Chrissy Munder was also cute. The other three stories felt either unfinished, or unsatisfying, or just plain poorly written.

Lucky Dip by Clare London
1 star

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder
3 stars

Wintertide by Lou Harper
1 star

W...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 31, 2011 Barb Gilmour rated it 4 of 5 stars

5 Stars for Merrow story it was the stand out read in an all round great anthology! The humour and easy read of everything by Merrow is to the max in this story; just loved Liam and his witches and his silver fox! I want more.

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Feb 03, 2012 kasjo_peja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humorous-romance, m-m, may-december

The title is very appropriate. The stories were nice and warm, with a bit of humor. No angst, no drama, no sexual excesses. I liked all the stories more less equally and rated them between 4 and 4.5 stars.

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Jan 13, 2012 Aniko rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.75 stars

4.5 stars for JL Merrows story. 4 stars for Clare London, Chrissy Munder and Josephine Myles stories. I didn't finish the other story by Lou Harper

1 like · like · see review

Mar 23, 2013 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

ebook.
Good solid anthology full of winter holiday cheer.
Stories by Clare London, Chrissy Munder, Lou Harper, Josephine Myles and JL Merrow.

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Jan 30, 2013 Heller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, anthology

3 stars for the JL Merrow and Chrissy Munder stories.

They were my favorites of the collection. The other stories didn't really work for me as well.

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: collection, arc, holiday, romance, gay, 2011, done, ds

This m/m romance holiday collection is perfectly titled - these are heartwarming, cozy tales that will help you find your holiday spirit as you curl up on your couch with your ebook reader. (Yes, they are also sexy tales. I know you were wondering!) ;)

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 16, 2011 Kyra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthology, interracial, xmas-hanukkah-favorites

I think this was the first anthology where I read every single story. I liked all of them, especially Clare London’s Lucky Dip and Chrissy Munder’s Butterscotch Kisses.

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Dec 24, 2012 Stevie Carroll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Five variously cute and spicy stories, with bags of charm and a large heap of humour. One to reread for definite.

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About Chrissy Munder

I'm an author of erotic romance - currently having a wonderful time writing m/m romance.

I write a little of everything that strikes my fancy: romance, scifi, contemporary erotica, even a little horror on occasion. But overall I prefer to focus on three key elements in life: Love, Laughter and Desire.

I believe you can never have enough of those three elements and with them there isn't anything life...more

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