Wish Come True

Title: Wish Come True
Author: Keira Andrews, Joanna Chambers, Amy Jo Cousins, Megan Erickson, Suki Fleet, Kaje Harper, and Anyta Sunday
Publisher: Self
Release Date: November 29, 2015
Genre(s): Contemporary/Holiday/Anthology
Page Count: 417
Reviewed by: Renée
Heat Level:  3.5 flames out of 5
Rating:  4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

First love. Young love. Holiday love…

Wish Come True is a collection of contemporary, new adult, holiday short stories by some of our favorite authors!

A Very English Christmas by Keira Andrews
Isaac and David have created a new life together outside the Amish world. Living “English,” they’ve left behind the rigid, isolated community where they discovered their forbidden love. Staying with Isaac’s older brother in San Francisco, they yearn for a home—and bed—of their very own. As they experience the bright lights and merry carols of modern Christmas for the first time, can they make their holiday wishes come true?

Mr Perfect’s Christmas by Joanna Chambers
Sam Warren’s new job hasn’t been going so well so the last thing he’s in the mood for is the obligatory office Christmas party, particularly since Nick Foster’s going to be there. Nick–the guy whose shoes Sam has been trying to fill–seems to take very opportunity to point out where Sam’s going wrong. But when Sam receives an unexpected Secret Santa gift at the party, he’s forced to question his assumptions about his rival. Could it be that he’s been misinterpreting Nick’s actions all along? And is it possible that his reluctant attraction to Nick is reciprocated?

The Christmas Ship by Amy Jo Cousins
When a twink who’s finally ready to grow up accidentally catfishes a college football player headed to the NFL, it’s going to take a lot of honesty and all the faith they can muster in their own One True Pairing to set this Christmas ship sailing.

That Thing by Megan Erickson
Helping his wedding planner sister work an event is not Devin Master’s idea of what he wants to do on his winter break from college. But saying no to his sister isn’t in his wheelhouse, which is why he finds himself embedded in a drama-filled wedding. His first task? Babysit the “troublesome” best man.

Adrian Alvarez wants to do just about anything on New Year’s Eve except attending his best friend’s wedding. Ever since Adrian came out, he’s been shunned in his hometown. By everyone but his best friend, Tony. Which is why he finds himself trudging through the airport to fulfill his best man duties. He doesn’t expect to find out his ride to the hotel is a hot blond with a cocky grin.

Devin can’t get involved with a member of the wedding party, or his sister will kill him, and Adrian just wants to lay low and not draw attention to himself. But neither can resist the chemistry between them and they have to decide if they are willing to ignite or let their attraction fizzle out.

Just Like Heaven by Suki Fleet
One rainy night in December, David helps a busker with pretty eyes get his stolen money back. He doesn’t imagine the strong attraction he feels is mutual. But after overcoming his shyness, David discovers Jess is definitely interested.

Jess just isn’t interested in anything but a one night stand. Or maybe two. Falling for David is definitely not part of his plan. But when David gets trapped in a snowstorm the night before Christmas Eve, Jess realises a night or two is never going to be enough.

Not Your Grandfather’s Magic by Kaje Harper
A month away from Zeb Crowe’s twenty-first birthday — just a month before the ceremony that will awaken his psychic heritage — Zeb’s grandfather predicts cryptically, “Hold your mind and heart ready, and something good will come to you.” Shortly afterward, Zeb meets Matt, a smart, gawky, unexpectedly appealing guy who might warm the lonely corners of his heart. But is Matt really the “something good” his grandfather predicted? And is it fair to get close to him, when very soon Zeb’s whole life will change? If Zeb’s dad wasn’t missing, or his grandfather wasn’t such an enigmatic old bastard, his path to love, or power, would be so much clearer.

Bottle Boys by Anyta Sunday
Benjamin Otto is a bottle of liquid luck. Good looks. Good brain. Whatever the challenge: good odds. Except, what happens when those odds change?

Dad’s had enough bankrolling Ben and requests him to get a job. The challenge: make enough money to finance Christmas or face telling his little brother the holidays are dead.

Then there’s Sebastian. The guy from his politics class who is always coming in second after him. The guy who steals Ben’s idea to collect bottles for quick cash. The guy who makes Ben wonder if any amount of luck will be enough to win him what he really wants…

Proceeds will be donated to Lost-N-Found Youth , an Atlanta-based nonprofit corporation whose mission is to take homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths to age 26 off the street and transition them into more permanent housing.

I can’t remember the last anthology where I read each and every story, and there wasn’t a single one that I DIDN’T like! Brilliant!

A Very English Christmas by Keira Andrews ~3 stars~
I have no doubt that those of you who’ve read the Gay Amish Romance series will rate this higher. But since I haven’t (I know, GASP – I tend not to touch religious-themed books with a ten-foot anything), I went with 3.

It was adorable and sweet and all that. But it didn’t wow me. Still good though. Some smokin’ hot sex for two former Amish boys! Go Isaac and David!

Mr. Perfect’s Christmas by Joanna Chambers ~4.5 stars~
I actually really enjoyed this one more than a lot of other readers it seems. When I saw this author’s name attached to something non-historical? SIGN-ME-UP!!!! Sam is a lawyer who has been working for about 6 months for a smaller firm than his last, and he has some reservations about getting used to his new life now that he’s not in the fast lane or the lap of luxury anymore. I loved the insight into Sam. In such a short period of time, even with only his POV, I felt this author did an amazing job with not only Sam’s character development, but Nick’s too. I FELT this book so much! LOVED!

The Christmas Ship by Amy Jo Cousins ~3 stars~
There is something about communication through social media between MCs that makes me happy! That’s what I loved about this one. The banter via Twitter was super cute. The giant jock meets the twink that vomited glitter. What didn’t work? Not a fan of the pseudo-fade-to-black sex scenes. They’d be in the moment and then at the end of the moment with no explanation of the jump other than the beginning of another paragraph. Wait, what? What just happened? Also – not very satisfying HFN at the end, but just a personal preference. Cute story otherwise.

That Thing by Megan Erickson ~4.5 stars~
My other top contender! Devin is filling in as a last minute favor as his wedding planner sister’s assistant. Just laying eyes on the best man has Devin knowing he needs to keep his hands off. Once again, Erickson finds a way to character build the hell out of these men, via dual POV, in such a short read. There is so much more to this story than best man meets wedding planner’s assistant. Devin and Adrian live thousands of miles away from each other, but such an undeniable connection was made. Will they keep in touch after the wedding? Erickson ties it up with an AMAZING epilogue!

Just Like Heaven by Suki Fleet ~4.5 stars~
Suki Fleet is an amazing writer! But her longer stories tend to be a bit darker than I can handle, so when a short for a holiday anthology pops up, I’m all over that! David meets Jess as Jess is singing and playing guitar for cash on the street. He’s only in town temporarily, helping a family member do some catering jobs for the holidays, and offers Jess a job with him to help with money. Told from dual POV, we see Jess’s bad luck from the past and why he is wary of why anyone would choose to be helpful with no ulterior motives. This one is British – with the posh language that is so adoringly sexy! I had to play guessing games at a what a “busker” was though.

This one had some sweet, amazing smexy times, and one beautiful epilogue!

Not Your Grandfather’s Magic by Kaje Harper ~4 stars~
Combine one quirky, klutzy, ginger, college-student with a sexy, macho, long-haired, brown-skinned Mr. Fix-It, and you have your two MCs for this story. Matt and Zeb meet when Zeb responds to a “fix-it” problem that Matt’s grandmother calls Zeb’s company for. Their story was sweet, sexy times were VERY nice, and Matt will steal everyone’s heart!

The background story about Zeb’s grandfather’s magic and how that played out was a little weird and awkward, but didn’t take away from the love story. This story wins for best line:

Because you keep telling me you’re not worth it, and then looking at me like you are.

Bottle Boys by Anyta Sunday ~4 stars~
Ben is the college-age son of a wealthy family in Germany. His father cuts him off in an effort to teach him some responsibility. His fellow student, Sebastian, is NOT well off at all, and struggles daily to help his sister and niece with the bills. Their tentative friendship develops into more over a 6 month period and is incredibly sweet to see unfold.

The only downside was that there are some things alluded to with Ben’s best friend, Marco, that are never revealed. It’s almost like a build-up for another book, but not in a smooth way at all. Ms. Sunday summed up a crucial conversation between Ben and Marco in 3 sentences and then switched topics. Without actually sharing a single detail. It was very weird.

Overall, this was an amazing anthology! I highly recommend!! And the cause? How can you resist?

 

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