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To All A Good Night
Unleashed by Donna Kauffman
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn't expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO's sexy great-nephew??-and heir-whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear....
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it's time to alter the equation-and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who's about as far from Maggie's type as he could get. But suddenly what's wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right....
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It's a week before Christmas and she's lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She's so desperate, in fact, that she'll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist-but can Natalie afford his price?
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn't expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO's sexy great-nephew??-and heir-whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear....
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it's time to alter the equation-and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who's about as far from Maggie's type as he could get. But suddenly what's wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right....
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It's a week before Christmas and she's lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She's so desperate, in fact, that she'll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist-but can Natalie afford his price?
310 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
47 people are currently reading
710 people want to read
About the author
Donna Kauffman
146 books1,796 followersUSA Today bestseller and award winning author of the Cupcake Club series and the Blueberry Cove series, DONNA KAUFFMAN has been gratified to see her books get rave reviews in venues ranging from Kirkus Reviews and Library Journal to Entertainment Weekly and Cosmopolitan. She lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, where she is happily working on the next book in her brand new Blue Hollow Falls series, set right in her mountain home area. When she's not writing, she can be found recapping the popular tv show NCIS for USA Today, or escaping into her garden to play in the dirt. Donna also works as a volunteer wildlife transporter for two local sanctuaries, giving orphaned and injured wildlife a second chance at survival. You can catch up on all of her adventures via her author page on Facebook, or on Twitter, or Instagram @writerchick. Donna loves to hear from readers!
Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.
Donna Kauffman passed away on April 9, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 28, 2022
After reading so many Christmas anthologies recently and giving most of them two stars or less, I wasn’t expecting much when I started this book. Surprisingly, I liked each short story. All three of them had likable MCs and a short, but believable, plot.
Okay, some of you may say it was insta-lust, but it quickly became insta-love. What more can you ask?
Okay, some of you may say it was insta-lust, but it quickly became insta-love. What more can you ask?
September 28, 2008
"To All a Good Night" is a very hot threefer with stories about the best kind of Christmas...a sexy one!
"Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman. Emma is a pet sitter and has just taken on her most lucrative job, pet sitting over the holidays for the richest man in town. When his nephew shows up unexpectedly, she quickly realizes two things. One, his presence here is not an accident. And two, she must have been a very, VERY good girl this year!
"Finding Mr. Right" by Jill Shalvis. When egghead Maggie's sister dares her to give herself the gift of one night of wild sex with Mr. Wrong, it doesn't take her long to zero in on her high school crush, Jacob. As for Jacob, all it takes is one night for him to realize that Maggie's not only the hottest thing in bed, she's also in trouble. Lucky for him, she just can't seem to tell him no!
"Can You Hand Me the Tape" by HelenKay Dimon. When Natalie breaks up with her mentally abusive boyfriend, he accidentally walks off with a video tape she made for him...of herself...naked. The only solution she can think of is to appeal to her ex's soon-to-be-former law partner. After all, he has no interest in seeing her naked...right?
All three of these stories were VERY funny and VERY sexy. I think I enjoyed Jill Shalvis' story the most, probably because I've been called a nerd more times than I care to remember! Additionally the stories by Kauffman and Dimon also had the theme of women bigger than the average size 8 which I love to read about. Definitely worth your money and time!
"Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman. Emma is a pet sitter and has just taken on her most lucrative job, pet sitting over the holidays for the richest man in town. When his nephew shows up unexpectedly, she quickly realizes two things. One, his presence here is not an accident. And two, she must have been a very, VERY good girl this year!
"Finding Mr. Right" by Jill Shalvis. When egghead Maggie's sister dares her to give herself the gift of one night of wild sex with Mr. Wrong, it doesn't take her long to zero in on her high school crush, Jacob. As for Jacob, all it takes is one night for him to realize that Maggie's not only the hottest thing in bed, she's also in trouble. Lucky for him, she just can't seem to tell him no!
"Can You Hand Me the Tape" by HelenKay Dimon. When Natalie breaks up with her mentally abusive boyfriend, he accidentally walks off with a video tape she made for him...of herself...naked. The only solution she can think of is to appeal to her ex's soon-to-be-former law partner. After all, he has no interest in seeing her naked...right?
All three of these stories were VERY funny and VERY sexy. I think I enjoyed Jill Shalvis' story the most, probably because I've been called a nerd more times than I care to remember! Additionally the stories by Kauffman and Dimon also had the theme of women bigger than the average size 8 which I love to read about. Definitely worth your money and time!
December 22, 2014
I picked up this book because of the genius heroine in Jill Shalvis story.
It was fun and sexy. A great quick read.
I didn't care for the other two stories much at all though.
It was fun and sexy. A great quick read.
I didn't care for the other two stories much at all though.
December 20, 2008
Unleashed by Donna Kaufman
It's instant love and attraction between Emma the Pet Sitter and Trevor the House Burglar and before she lets him make his move she wants to know why he is skulking around the house that she had been told would be empty over the holidays. Apparently Trevor has been looking for clues about his family tree since he was a boy and when he learns that his uncle's house is going to be empty over the holidays he hopes to learn something about his history. Instead he finds the love of his life in Emma and decides he doesn't need to know anything about his past because all he cares about now is his future.
*gag* I didn't notice any chemistry between Emma and Trevor nor can I discern a reason as to why this novella was even created. Pointless love story set during Christmas. Our H/H meet and fall in love. The End.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing the perfect guy. All her ex boyfriends were successful, reasonably attractive and very intelligent. And boring. So she hits upon the excellent idea of picking Mr. Wrong to be her Mr. Right.
Enter Jacob. The ripped and sweaty construction guy who is working in her building. Hubba Hubba. Our brilliant but clumsy heroine trips her way into Jacob's arms and into his heart. This was fun, a little slapstick-y and hot. Stick a big red bow around Jacob's....er, Jacob and it's Merry Christmas to me!
Can You Hand Me The Tape by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie has a big problem. She's just broken up with her turd of a boyfriend but not before he unknowingly made off with his Christmas present. A homemade video. *wink wink* She can't tell him to give it back because that would just rouse his curiosity and cause him to watch it. So she turns to Spencer Donovan for help.
This was a little annoying. Nat has been mentally pounded into nothing by her emotionally abusive ex boyfriend and so she distrusts Spencer's sudden declarations of love and devotion. This entire novella is just endless rounds of "didja get the tape?" and "I'm too fat to be loved!"
It's instant love and attraction between Emma the Pet Sitter and Trevor the House Burglar and before she lets him make his move she wants to know why he is skulking around the house that she had been told would be empty over the holidays. Apparently Trevor has been looking for clues about his family tree since he was a boy and when he learns that his uncle's house is going to be empty over the holidays he hopes to learn something about his history. Instead he finds the love of his life in Emma and decides he doesn't need to know anything about his past because all he cares about now is his future.
*gag* I didn't notice any chemistry between Emma and Trevor nor can I discern a reason as to why this novella was even created. Pointless love story set during Christmas. Our H/H meet and fall in love. The End.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing the perfect guy. All her ex boyfriends were successful, reasonably attractive and very intelligent. And boring. So she hits upon the excellent idea of picking Mr. Wrong to be her Mr. Right.
Enter Jacob. The ripped and sweaty construction guy who is working in her building. Hubba Hubba. Our brilliant but clumsy heroine trips her way into Jacob's arms and into his heart. This was fun, a little slapstick-y and hot. Stick a big red bow around Jacob's....er, Jacob and it's Merry Christmas to me!
Can You Hand Me The Tape by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie has a big problem. She's just broken up with her turd of a boyfriend but not before he unknowingly made off with his Christmas present. A homemade video. *wink wink* She can't tell him to give it back because that would just rouse his curiosity and cause him to watch it. So she turns to Spencer Donovan for help.
This was a little annoying. Nat has been mentally pounded into nothing by her emotionally abusive ex boyfriend and so she distrusts Spencer's sudden declarations of love and devotion. This entire novella is just endless rounds of "didja get the tape?" and "I'm too fat to be loved!"
May 30, 2016
To All A good Night has three stories in it.
Unleashed by Donna Kauffman. Emma Lafferty is hired to dog sit a billionaires pets over the Christmas holiday. When she gets there, the Billionaires nephew is already there. No one knew he was going to be there. He was looking for something in the house. Because of an ice storm they are stranded there for a few days. A good read.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis. Maggie Bell is a chemist working for a company in their office. Jacob Wahler and his crew are doing construction inside the same building. Maggie doesn't think Jacob is Mr. Right. Things happen between them. They also find out who is trying to steal the formula Maggie is working on. A good read.
Can You Hand Me The Tape? by Helen Kay Dimon. Natalie Pritchard doesn't feel right in her own body. She makes a nude tape of herself to give to her boyfriend. She breaks up with her boyfriend and by accident he ended up with the tape in some paper of a case he is working on. Natalie goes to her boyfriends, lawyer, partner, Spencer Donovan, to help her get the tape back. Natalie had lost 45 pounds. Spencer never noticed her before but does now that she isn't seeing her boyfriend any more. Spencer told her it was because she was dating. A good read.
Unleashed by Donna Kauffman. Emma Lafferty is hired to dog sit a billionaires pets over the Christmas holiday. When she gets there, the Billionaires nephew is already there. No one knew he was going to be there. He was looking for something in the house. Because of an ice storm they are stranded there for a few days. A good read.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis. Maggie Bell is a chemist working for a company in their office. Jacob Wahler and his crew are doing construction inside the same building. Maggie doesn't think Jacob is Mr. Right. Things happen between them. They also find out who is trying to steal the formula Maggie is working on. A good read.
Can You Hand Me The Tape? by Helen Kay Dimon. Natalie Pritchard doesn't feel right in her own body. She makes a nude tape of herself to give to her boyfriend. She breaks up with her boyfriend and by accident he ended up with the tape in some paper of a case he is working on. Natalie goes to her boyfriends, lawyer, partner, Spencer Donovan, to help her get the tape back. Natalie had lost 45 pounds. Spencer never noticed her before but does now that she isn't seeing her boyfriend any more. Spencer told her it was because she was dating. A good read.
January 28, 2021
Sexy and entertaining romantic anthology
4 stars
Brava once again bring together three great romance authors for some festive fun, love and sex.
UNLEASHED by Donna Kauffman
Emma Lafferty has just landed her biggest job to date - pet-sitting for a multi-millionaire in his remote, palatial mansion over Christmas. What she doesn't expect is her peace to be interrupted by the billionaire's rather distracting and delicious great-nephew Trevor whose reasons for being there are definitely suspicious. And that's before the pair get trapped together in the house during a snowstorm.
An enjoyable story with two likeable characters and a romance that you can suspend belief and just believe in. While being wintry and a perfect story for a night in by the fire, it wasn't at all Christmassy and I was rather irritated to find that the 'great mystery', which was the whole reason for Trevor being there, was actually just the premise for another of Donna Kauffman's books.
FINDING MR RIGHT by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant scientist Maggie Bell is an absolute dating disaster, always managing to pick men who turn out to be Mr Wrong. Sexy contractor Jacob Wahler, despite being gorgeous and sweet, definitely seems like a Mr Wrong, but Maggie has decided that a Mr Wrong might turn out to be oh-so right.
Again this story wasn't particularly Christmassy but it had wonderful characters and was fun, sexy and romantic. Jacob is a hero to die for while Maggie was someone most people could identify with. The story of the 'mysterious potion' was funny and kept the pages turning.
CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? by HelenKay Dimon
One week before Christmas and Natalie Pritchard is in a complete panic. The sexy tape that she made for her ex-boyfriend is missing and she desperately needs help to get it back. Unfortunately the only person she can turn to is her nemesis, deliciously handsome and sexy defence attorney Spencer Donovan but will Natalie be willing to pay his price?
This was a cute story about a curvy woman who is still coming to terms with the way her last relationship ended and her insecurities about her body. Spence is a great hero and perfect for Natalie but the story really does suffer from being so short and the Christmas theme is quite thin on the ground.
This set of three, sexy Christmas stories is let down by the lack of festive content, but all of the stories are still fun, sexy and very readable. These will still warm you up and are perfect for a cosy winter night by the fire. 4 stars.
June 5, 2018
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis - 5
Maggie is a chemist who has crushed on Jacob, the hot jock, since high school. When she decides this Christmas to find Mr. Wrong she chooses him and sparks fly. Through in mystery when her tires get slashed and someone breaks into her place. Sweet, hot, fun even if the suspense part wasn't very believable.
Maggie is a chemist who has crushed on Jacob, the hot jock, since high school. When she decides this Christmas to find Mr. Wrong she chooses him and sparks fly. Through in mystery when her tires get slashed and someone breaks into her place. Sweet, hot, fun even if the suspense part wasn't very believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2018
Every year I get suckered into reading a few of these for the holidays, they are like my Holiday Hallmark/Lifetime movies. And...they deliver exactly what I expect. A tidy, predictable dose of unrealistic love and perfect happiness in about 100 pages (seeing as how 3 short stories are packed into one volume). Perfect vacation read.
December 26, 2019
Funny, sweet, a peppermint twist of holiday novellas. I’ve had this floating around my house for a long time, glad to finally read!
June 28, 2022
Man, her novellas sure are a lot cheesier than her full length novels...
November 14, 2024
So so, I guess. Not very holiday based. Skip.
September 13, 2008
This book has 3 stories written by: Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis and HelenKay Dimon.
I have enjoyed previous books by Donna and HelenKay, so knew that I was in for a treat. This is my first of Jill's and definitely will not be my last.
UNLEASHED by Donna Kauffman
Emma Lafferty has started her new business and is hired by a CEO billionaire to watch his pets during the holidays. She expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in her temporary opulent surroundings, but a winter storm traps her and an unexpected visitor, the CEO's great nephew named Trevor inside. Emma is there to protect the animals and house, but Trevor is looking for some very important papers and did not plan on a beautiful pet sitter to disrupt his plans.
From the moment that Emma and Trevor meet in the dark corridor, with their flirtatious and charming ways, you are eagerly awaiting to see what happens next. Their romance is such a delight to see unfold and I enjoyed how their personal space would became one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINDING MR.RIGHT by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has found Mr. Wrong too many times and with another lonely Christmas almost here, she decides that it's time to change course and seeks out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Jacob Wahler is a rough and rippling contractor who is nowhere near Maggie's type, so she thinks. One night of fun and satisfaction with Mr. Wrong makes Maggie wonder if he really was wrong for her, all she knew is that one night with Jacob was not enough.
I was loving every word! I didn’t want to put it down, but I had too, sleep is needed for work. “Finding Mr. Right” is sexy, electric, funny and upbeat, I could really see this happening, they were a perfect fit for each other, but they needed to find that out. The secret looks, then the touch and that was it. I was chuckling out loud with their words and emotions towards one another and like I said, I didn’t want the story to end. Mr. Wrong is not always who it seems to be, he might be Mr. Right after all. I love early an Christmas present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It’s a week before Christmas and she’s lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She’s so desperate, in fact, that she’ll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist—but can Natalie afford his price?
Spencer is not up for breaking the law, not even for Natalie, but the thought of her on that tape, being naked, what's a man to do? So, he gives in to her pleas to help her. Natalie and Spencer are both smart, cautious and witty.
I loved how the conflict between Natalie and Spencer is so visible, yet the warmth they learn to feel or admit for each other is so touching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet romance, charm and humor fills these pages. Each story holds its own, but you will not want to stop til you have finished and you will want more. I just loved each and every word and think Christmas should come sooner.
I have enjoyed previous books by Donna and HelenKay, so knew that I was in for a treat. This is my first of Jill's and definitely will not be my last.
UNLEASHED by Donna Kauffman
Emma Lafferty has started her new business and is hired by a CEO billionaire to watch his pets during the holidays. She expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in her temporary opulent surroundings, but a winter storm traps her and an unexpected visitor, the CEO's great nephew named Trevor inside. Emma is there to protect the animals and house, but Trevor is looking for some very important papers and did not plan on a beautiful pet sitter to disrupt his plans.
From the moment that Emma and Trevor meet in the dark corridor, with their flirtatious and charming ways, you are eagerly awaiting to see what happens next. Their romance is such a delight to see unfold and I enjoyed how their personal space would became one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINDING MR.RIGHT by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has found Mr. Wrong too many times and with another lonely Christmas almost here, she decides that it's time to change course and seeks out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Jacob Wahler is a rough and rippling contractor who is nowhere near Maggie's type, so she thinks. One night of fun and satisfaction with Mr. Wrong makes Maggie wonder if he really was wrong for her, all she knew is that one night with Jacob was not enough.
I was loving every word! I didn’t want to put it down, but I had too, sleep is needed for work. “Finding Mr. Right” is sexy, electric, funny and upbeat, I could really see this happening, they were a perfect fit for each other, but they needed to find that out. The secret looks, then the touch and that was it. I was chuckling out loud with their words and emotions towards one another and like I said, I didn’t want the story to end. Mr. Wrong is not always who it seems to be, he might be Mr. Right after all. I love early an Christmas present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It’s a week before Christmas and she’s lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She’s so desperate, in fact, that she’ll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist—but can Natalie afford his price?
Spencer is not up for breaking the law, not even for Natalie, but the thought of her on that tape, being naked, what's a man to do? So, he gives in to her pleas to help her. Natalie and Spencer are both smart, cautious and witty.
I loved how the conflict between Natalie and Spencer is so visible, yet the warmth they learn to feel or admit for each other is so touching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet romance, charm and humor fills these pages. Each story holds its own, but you will not want to stop til you have finished and you will want more. I just loved each and every word and think Christmas should come sooner.
November 30, 2017
I want to start this with the same point that I put on all the Christmas collections I read; It must be very hard to write a good solid, story in 150 pages or less. Still every Christmas season I haul out my stack of Christmas books and enjoy the season with them so I know that really good stories CAN be written in 150 pages or less.
"Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman. This story was okay I finished it without really having an opinion one way or another. Well, that is not entirely true I liked it more than I disliked it so I guess I finished it on the positive side of "meh". The characters were fine but I was not attached to them and it was another story that just happened to take place at Christmas instead of being a Christmas story. The ending sets up for a sequel but I am not sure that I will go looking for it.
My favourite lines in this story:
"Quite a nice swing on that back porch of hers." (..and he doesn't mean her house)
"If only she knew how badly he wanted her to come into his candy shop"
and
"Just moments ago, she'd looked at him like a woman craving a sugar rush, and he'd been a giant everlasting gobstopper"
If nothing else this story had quite a few laugh out loud moments.
"Finding Mr. Right" By Jill Shalvis. I liked this story - I almost REALLY liked this story. The only thing that kept me from the four starring it is that, again, this story could have taken place at any time of the year. There was nothing overly Christmassy about it except that it just happened to take place then. Honestly Christmas could have been an afterthought added later. However, I loved the babbling scientist character, I find flawed character incredibly endearing, and the gruff Jacob was just ... hot. As I said - good story but more Christmas would have made it fit into this anthology better.
"Can You Hand Me the Tape?" by Helen Kay Dimon. This was another good one. The anthology rounded out well. I liked the characters,Natalie and Spencer. They got a long well and their conversations were usually quite funny especially when juxtaposed with their thoughts. It was a fun read and I appreciated the theme of self-esteem and unhealthy relationships which was presented in a compelling and light hearted way. Even thought the story was not about Christmas, Christmas was a part of the story. More so, anyway, than in the previous two stories.
I will happily return this one to my collection to pick up again next year.
"Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman. This story was okay I finished it without really having an opinion one way or another. Well, that is not entirely true I liked it more than I disliked it so I guess I finished it on the positive side of "meh". The characters were fine but I was not attached to them and it was another story that just happened to take place at Christmas instead of being a Christmas story. The ending sets up for a sequel but I am not sure that I will go looking for it.
My favourite lines in this story:
"Quite a nice swing on that back porch of hers." (..and he doesn't mean her house)
"If only she knew how badly he wanted her to come into his candy shop"
and
"Just moments ago, she'd looked at him like a woman craving a sugar rush, and he'd been a giant everlasting gobstopper"
If nothing else this story had quite a few laugh out loud moments.
"Finding Mr. Right" By Jill Shalvis. I liked this story - I almost REALLY liked this story. The only thing that kept me from the four starring it is that, again, this story could have taken place at any time of the year. There was nothing overly Christmassy about it except that it just happened to take place then. Honestly Christmas could have been an afterthought added later. However, I loved the babbling scientist character, I find flawed character incredibly endearing, and the gruff Jacob was just ... hot. As I said - good story but more Christmas would have made it fit into this anthology better.
"Can You Hand Me the Tape?" by Helen Kay Dimon. This was another good one. The anthology rounded out well. I liked the characters,Natalie and Spencer. They got a long well and their conversations were usually quite funny especially when juxtaposed with their thoughts. It was a fun read and I appreciated the theme of self-esteem and unhealthy relationships which was presented in a compelling and light hearted way. Even thought the story was not about Christmas, Christmas was a part of the story. More so, anyway, than in the previous two stories.
I will happily return this one to my collection to pick up again next year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2016
Usually with a three-popper (book of short stories by several authors, with a common thread to bind them), there's one crappy story, one 'meh' story, and one amazingly good story. I love going into them, wondering which one will be the one that surprises me with how good it is.
In this three-popper? There's not a good one to be *HAD*. We start out with 'Unleashed', a story about a man traveling several states, carefully timing out his visit, and breaking into his uncle's (mostly) unattended house to prove that he's illegitimate (and unworthy of the vast inheritance he has). But by the end of the book, he doesn't give a crap, never looks at the information he finds... WHAT. WAS. THE. POINT?!?!?!?!
'Finding Mr. Right' was about a nerdy chemist chick who can't find a Mr. Right, so she decides to find a Mr. Wrong. And it would've been cute, if she wasn't all leg-hair obsessed and then falls backwards into her dishwasher and cuts her ass up on broken dishes, and... it just gets more 'ew' with every page. It wasn't cute. It was awkward and painful and hairy, t'boot.
'Can you Hand me the Tape' was written from a third world country by someone who has no grasp on the English language. The dialogue made little to no sense, and was about a girl who broke up with her jerk boyfriend two weeks ago, but made him a nude-y tape and he accidentally got it (but doesn't know he has it, unbelievably), and she wants his lawyer partner to get it back for her. Mostly it was about her stretch marks from losing 45 pounds, and how nobody in the book every liked each other, but somehow out of that they fall in love. R'something. I don't know, I wasn't feeling it, and nothing was helping.
I chucked it on the floor. Then I came here to bash it. Now I'm going to rip in apart in 20-30 page increments so that it'll burn completely up with the paper trash in our burn barrel. Just so's everyone knows how much I liked this mess. Which would be (in case you didn't pick up on it?) not at all.
In this three-popper? There's not a good one to be *HAD*. We start out with 'Unleashed', a story about a man traveling several states, carefully timing out his visit, and breaking into his uncle's (mostly) unattended house to prove that he's illegitimate (and unworthy of the vast inheritance he has). But by the end of the book, he doesn't give a crap, never looks at the information he finds... WHAT. WAS. THE. POINT?!?!?!?!
'Finding Mr. Right' was about a nerdy chemist chick who can't find a Mr. Right, so she decides to find a Mr. Wrong. And it would've been cute, if she wasn't all leg-hair obsessed and then falls backwards into her dishwasher and cuts her ass up on broken dishes, and... it just gets more 'ew' with every page. It wasn't cute. It was awkward and painful and hairy, t'boot.
'Can you Hand me the Tape' was written from a third world country by someone who has no grasp on the English language. The dialogue made little to no sense, and was about a girl who broke up with her jerk boyfriend two weeks ago, but made him a nude-y tape and he accidentally got it (but doesn't know he has it, unbelievably), and she wants his lawyer partner to get it back for her. Mostly it was about her stretch marks from losing 45 pounds, and how nobody in the book every liked each other, but somehow out of that they fall in love. R'something. I don't know, I wasn't feeling it, and nothing was helping.
I chucked it on the floor. Then I came here to bash it. Now I'm going to rip in apart in 20-30 page increments so that it'll burn completely up with the paper trash in our burn barrel. Just so's everyone knows how much I liked this mess. Which would be (in case you didn't pick up on it?) not at all.
February 26, 2010
I bought this book to read the first two stories. Unleashed by Donna Kauffman and Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis.
I don't really know why but I was only able to read the first one. I really wanted to read the story by Jill Shalvis because I wanted to get a taste of her writing, but as many times as I tried I couldn't get past the first page. I will not say it's her writing because I truly don't think it is, I think maybe it was the fact It has to do with Christmas and I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas stories.
I also had no intention of reading the story by Helen Kay Dimon, not because of her because I have never read her before, but because I really didn't like the description of the story.
So no for my review:
Emma was hired to pet sit for this billionaire while he is out of town. Then in Walks his great nephew with the silliest back story ever. Yet I looked over it and kept reading. I liked a lot of things about this story and I think my favorite part of is when the bookcase fell over on top of Trevor. But there were a lot of things that I didn't like about story as well. But I find it hard to say what I didn't like because I really don't like short Stories to begin with. So with that being said I will tell you that I liked hero and the heroine. I would have liked to have seen the hero's back story be a lot juicier than it was but again I call short story and understand why it was so quick and fluffy. I believe there will be people who love this story, when they read it. So I would still recommend this readers that love Anthologies and short stories.
I don't really know why but I was only able to read the first one. I really wanted to read the story by Jill Shalvis because I wanted to get a taste of her writing, but as many times as I tried I couldn't get past the first page. I will not say it's her writing because I truly don't think it is, I think maybe it was the fact It has to do with Christmas and I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas stories.
I also had no intention of reading the story by Helen Kay Dimon, not because of her because I have never read her before, but because I really didn't like the description of the story.
So no for my review:
Emma was hired to pet sit for this billionaire while he is out of town. Then in Walks his great nephew with the silliest back story ever. Yet I looked over it and kept reading. I liked a lot of things about this story and I think my favorite part of is when the bookcase fell over on top of Trevor. But there were a lot of things that I didn't like about story as well. But I find it hard to say what I didn't like because I really don't like short Stories to begin with. So with that being said I will tell you that I liked hero and the heroine. I would have liked to have seen the hero's back story be a lot juicier than it was but again I call short story and understand why it was so quick and fluffy. I believe there will be people who love this story, when they read it. So I would still recommend this readers that love Anthologies and short stories.
Want to read
January 18, 2014To All a Good Night - Several Stories by different authors
Unleasehed by Donna Kauffman
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn't expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO's sexy great-nephew??-and heir-whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear....
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it's time to alter the equation-and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who's about as far from Maggie's type as he could get. But suddenly what's wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right....
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It's a week before Christmas and she's lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She's so desperate, in fact, that she'll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist-but can Natalie afford his price?
Unleasehed by Donna Kauffman
When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn't expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO's sexy great-nephew??-and heir-whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear....
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it's time to alter the equation-and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who's about as far from Maggie's type as he could get. But suddenly what's wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right....
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It's a week before Christmas and she's lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She's so desperate, in fact, that she'll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist-but can Natalie afford his price?
May 1, 2012
herding cats & burning soup
Not bad. Not bad at all. To All A Good Night was a delicious holiday read filled with sexy men and spunky women. Lots of heat and delightful adventure. Basically it's some good not-so-clean Christmas fun ;) There's no real connecting theme other than, maybe, finding love when you least expect it?
I really loved two of the stories (Shalvis and Dimon). Both are easily 5 star stories. They're fun and sexy with great characters and storylines that felt complete and fit the characters.
I didn't love Kauffman's contribution though. It only got 3 stars. It started off strong but fizzled and fell into the rushed category. Ex- after less than 24 hours knowing each other the two are going to move in together and she's going to move states to be with him. Really? Eh, unfortunately, not for me.
But if you love holiday stories and are in the mood for a quick fun read this anthology overall is really quite excellent.
Not bad. Not bad at all. To All A Good Night was a delicious holiday read filled with sexy men and spunky women. Lots of heat and delightful adventure. Basically it's some good not-so-clean Christmas fun ;) There's no real connecting theme other than, maybe, finding love when you least expect it?
I really loved two of the stories (Shalvis and Dimon). Both are easily 5 star stories. They're fun and sexy with great characters and storylines that felt complete and fit the characters.
I didn't love Kauffman's contribution though. It only got 3 stars. It started off strong but fizzled and fell into the rushed category. Ex- after less than 24 hours knowing each other the two are going to move in together and she's going to move states to be with him. Really? Eh, unfortunately, not for me.
But if you love holiday stories and are in the mood for a quick fun read this anthology overall is really quite excellent.
October 7, 2009
Multi-author anthology with a mild Christmas theme. I found the stories pleasant but not absorbing - but that may just be me...
From Amazon:
This title contains stories including "Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman, "Finding Mr Right" by Jill Shalvis, and "Can You Hand Me The Tape?" by HelenKay Dimon. "Unleashed" - Hired to watch a billionaire's pets over the holidays, Emma Lafferty ends up trapped in a mansion with her employer's sexy great-nephew - and heir - whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear..."Finding Mr Right" - With another lonely Christmas looming, the brilliant Maggie Bell has a eureka moment when she decides Jacob Wahler, a rough and rippling contractor, is so wrong he has to be oh-so-right..."Can You Hand Me The Tape?" - One week before Christmas, Natalie Pritchard loses the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. Only her nemesis, the sexy criminal defence attorney Spencer Donovan, can help - but can she afford his price?
From Amazon:
This title contains stories including "Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman, "Finding Mr Right" by Jill Shalvis, and "Can You Hand Me The Tape?" by HelenKay Dimon. "Unleashed" - Hired to watch a billionaire's pets over the holidays, Emma Lafferty ends up trapped in a mansion with her employer's sexy great-nephew - and heir - whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear..."Finding Mr Right" - With another lonely Christmas looming, the brilliant Maggie Bell has a eureka moment when she decides Jacob Wahler, a rough and rippling contractor, is so wrong he has to be oh-so-right..."Can You Hand Me The Tape?" - One week before Christmas, Natalie Pritchard loses the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. Only her nemesis, the sexy criminal defence attorney Spencer Donovan, can help - but can she afford his price?
November 13, 2009
I couldn't finish Donna Kauffman's Unleashed. It's not the first time I've had this problem with her books, but I can't pinpoint what my problem is. This one wasn't catching my interest at all.
I enjoyed Jill Shalvis' Finding Mr. Right the most of the three. Interesting characters that already knew each other, which always helps make short stories more believable (makes more sense for them characters to fall in love so quickly if they've at least met each other before, IMO.)
I've never read HelenKay Dimon before, but her story, Can You Hand Me The Tape?, has inspired me to try another one of hers. It was too short. Of the three stories in this book I felt hers could have been even better if it was a lot longer (book length even). It just seemed to be too much story and not enough words, or something like that.
I enjoyed Jill Shalvis' Finding Mr. Right the most of the three. Interesting characters that already knew each other, which always helps make short stories more believable (makes more sense for them characters to fall in love so quickly if they've at least met each other before, IMO.)
I've never read HelenKay Dimon before, but her story, Can You Hand Me The Tape?, has inspired me to try another one of hers. It was too short. Of the three stories in this book I felt hers could have been even better if it was a lot longer (book length even). It just seemed to be too much story and not enough words, or something like that.
July 29, 2010
I love anthologies in general, and romantic anthologies in particular. Anthologies make it easy to read one story at a time, when time is in short supply, and sometimes, the stories are linked together in some way. They were not in this book.
This one has three great stories, with the added kicker that each story left me wanting to know more about the characters and their stories. In some ways, that tease is irritating, but at the same time, lets me know I've read a good one when I'm really not ready for it to end yet.
My daughter had read this one first, and I asked her at the end of the first one, "do these stories tie together in any way?" Of course not. Very enjoyable read, nonetheless, and gives me some more authors to add to my To Read lists.
This one has three great stories, with the added kicker that each story left me wanting to know more about the characters and their stories. In some ways, that tease is irritating, but at the same time, lets me know I've read a good one when I'm really not ready for it to end yet.
My daughter had read this one first, and I asked her at the end of the first one, "do these stories tie together in any way?" Of course not. Very enjoyable read, nonetheless, and gives me some more authors to add to my To Read lists.
April 2, 2009
I usually enjoy Donna Kauffman stories so I was surprised to find Unleashed a bit slow-going. I really didn't feel much for the characters nor the connection toward each other. I enjoyed Jill Shalvis' Finding Mr. Right much more with its entertaining plot and likeable characters. Maggie made me laugh with her plethora of trivia. I'm a bit of the trivia nut and she had me looking up a couple of the facts she stated. The characters in HelenKay Dimon's Can You Hand Me the Tape? were also likeable and the fact that they were so sensitive to each others' insecurities and vulnerabilities was touching.
July 3, 2010
How do people fall in forever love in 2 days? Much less 3 couples?
The short stories/novellas were well done for their length, but it was like the last 10 pages came and all of the sudden we needed to have them be in a love.
I buy novellas all the time. But for this to work for me there has to be some sort of supernatural connection that is explained. A predestined mate for a were, a singular bride for a vamp... something that explains how in 48 hours two people are willing to swear off all others for each other.
The short stories/novellas were well done for their length, but it was like the last 10 pages came and all of the sudden we needed to have them be in a love.
I buy novellas all the time. But for this to work for me there has to be some sort of supernatural connection that is explained. A predestined mate for a were, a singular bride for a vamp... something that explains how in 48 hours two people are willing to swear off all others for each other.
November 27, 2011
The first two stories were DNF for me, but the third one by HelenKay Dimon was delightful. No stupid misunderstandings or petty bickering between the hero and heroine. Some real relationship issues to work through, and sizzling chemistry without being a lustfest. I'll be on the lookout for more books by this author.
November 20, 2011
4.5 stars, absolutely excellent! All top quality stories but in particular Jill Shalvis always gets me with her swoonworthy hero's! I also really enjoyed the HelenKay Dimon story. I've never read her before but the snappy dialogue between the H & h really had me laughing out loud. A great feel good Christmas selection.
January 1, 2014
In December I have a marathon of Christmas books. I prefer full length books, I love to get into a story and shorter lengths a lot of the times can seem to go way too quickly. However, each of these stories were well written and completely developed. I didn't feel cheated, however, I was left wanting to read more from each of the authors.
December 17, 2014
Unleashed - least favorite of stories, didn't like the hero's change of heart related to lineage, all wrapped up too easily.
Finding Mr. Right - realized I had read this before but always love a Jill Shalvis story, even the second time around! Little bit of a mystery.
Can you Hand me the Tape? Cute enough story, enjoy author's style and pace, story a like weak but overall enjoyable.
Finding Mr. Right - realized I had read this before but always love a Jill Shalvis story, even the second time around! Little bit of a mystery.
Can you Hand me the Tape? Cute enough story, enjoy author's style and pace, story a like weak but overall enjoyable.
March 12, 2015
Unleashed by Donna Kauffman
2/5
CNF. Got about halfway through and just didn't feel any chemistry between the leads and couldn't finish it.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
3/5 Great opposites attract story. Chemistry was there in spades and in several forms.
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
3/5 Great title, slightly above average story.
2/5
CNF. Got about halfway through and just didn't feel any chemistry between the leads and couldn't finish it.
Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
3/5 Great opposites attract story. Chemistry was there in spades and in several forms.
Can You Hand Me the Tape? by HelenKay Dimon
3/5 Great title, slightly above average story.
April 15, 2016
This has been sitting on my Kindle for quite some time. I finally decided to read it as I was in the mood for some shorter novella length stories. Unfortunately, these just weren't very memorable. They were ok, but there wasn't a lot of character development and ended up being insta-love stories. Eh.
January 25, 2017
Overall a disappointment. Best one was #3: Can you hand me a tape? by H Dimon. I actually read the whole story (except the bedroom scene.) ..the other two, I skipped lots.
One thing I like is the unusual occupations of the ladies: pet-sitter, chemist and probation officer.
Last one set n DC and hero is a defense attorney.
One thing I like is the unusual occupations of the ladies: pet-sitter, chemist and probation officer.
Last one set n DC and hero is a defense attorney.
November 4, 2024
Hmmm....Donna Kauffman's "Unleashed" left me expecting and waiting for more. I don't know whether I'm just going to be left hanging or whether there is a follow-up out there some where that I have to find. :( I want to know more!
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