Chocolate Kisses

Chocolate Kisses

I love anything Francis Ray, 'A Chocolate Affair was my favorite story in this book. I enjoyed the rekindled relationship between Miranda and Lucian. They had a love stronger than the time that passed between them, and stronger than her mother's will to intefere. Just a Hot, Sweet, Romance. 'A Good Man Is Hard To Count', a very HEATED story! Only the second story I've read by Maryann Reid...HOT, HOT, HOT. Savannah was definitely a slave to her ways and Clinton was out to prove that he was man enough to fulfill every sweet fantasy. 'Chocolate Kisses' a great debut by Renee Luke. It was sweet, sexy and funny I enjoyed the relationship between Nicole and Marcus. He really knew how to sweep a girl off her feet. The ending was an ending for the true romantic!

Chocolate Kisses

'A Chocolate Affair' was my favorite...I enjoy Francis Ray's writing style. I loved the affair between Lucian and Miranda. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Count' was a little too freaky for me...only the second novel I've read by Maryann Reid. Her writing style is very off-the-chain! The third story 'Chocolate Kisses', was an enjoyable read. It was good combination of a little sweet and a little risque...but I'd say a good story line for a debut by Renee Luke.

Sweetest Temptations

I'll admit, this book has been on my shelf for awhile. After reading some of the reviews, it dropped on my tbr pile. Finally, looking for a book to read between books, I figured a book of short stories would be the best route. I'm glad I chose this book. True to the chocolate theme, Francis Ray's A Chocolate Affair does not disappoint. It's classic Francis Ray. Lucian and Miranda parted ways in college, much to the dismay of Lucian. Years later, circumstances and chocolate bring them together. Can their love be as sweet as it once was? Maryann Reid veers from the chocolate theme, but still keeps it sweet in A Good Man is Hard to Count. Sassy and sexy Savannah keeps track of her sexual trysts using a Man Jar. Each man is assigned a colored sour stick candy. As the number of a certain colored sour stick increases, it's time to move on. Clinton, a hot firefighter, enters the picture and only wants her to see the color red. Can one color ever be enough? Debut author Renee Luke makes her presence known and felt with the title story Chocolate Kisses. Nicole and Marcus are best friends and have been for years. They have been everything to each other from work out partners, movie buddies, confidants, sounding boards to meal companions. But now, Nicole wants to add 'lover' to their friendship. Even so, she says he's just a friend. Is Nicole fooling herself? Chocolate Kisses satisfies the sweet tooth. Just which story will be the most satisfying depends on what the reader craves. Questioning any of these authors' talents shouldn't be an issue. The problem, if that is what you want to call it, with this novel is the grouping of these three particular authors together. They should not have been put together. It's like apples and oranges. One isn't better than the other, they're just different. Francis, Maryann and Renee's style, flow and usage of words are very different. Someone looking for romance will love Francis Ray's story, but not necessarily find that element in Maryann's. (ex...'Looking down into Miranda's face, her lips parted, her eyes glazed with desire, he felt himself falling in love.') Someone looking for something hot will find that in Maryann's story, but not necessarily in Francis'. (ex...'In bed at night, she still got wet at the memories of the menage a trios, the hedonistic acts at the 'locked-door' parties, and the quickies in the Red Lobster bathroom, where one guy had an urge to eat her following a dinner of oysters.') While Francis and Maryann may represent both extremes, Renee falls somewhere in the middle. (ex...'She wanted Marcus, and the ache between her legs sure as hell wasn't going away until she had him.') Taking it a step further, to describe what I'll call a man's 'state of excitement,' Francis may use a word like 'arousal,' while Maryann may use 'hard,' and Renee 'erection.' One term may be too strong for one reader and not strong enough for another. Whatever floats your boat, but it doesn't take away from any of their skills. Each story was good in its own right. Overall, the book was enjoyable. Having read previous works by Francis and Maryann, their stories met my expectations. Renee, however, was a pleasant surprise. I went into her story not sure what to expect from this first timer and ended up liking her story the best. I will say this, someone needs to consult with someone when it comes to putting these anthologies together. Good stories can make for a not great book because the authors don't mesh or complement each others style. Four Degrees of Heat featuring Crystal Lacey Winslow, Brenda L. Thomas, Rochelle Alers, ReShonda Tate Billingsley is another case in point. Good stories, but these authors had no business being in one book together. In the future I'd like to see Francis Ray with complementary authors like Brenda Jackson, Rochelle Alers and Donna Hill. I'd like to see Maryann Reid with the likes of Crystal Lacey Winslow and Brenda L. Thomas. Renee is versatile enough

three heated Valentine¿s Day romances

¿A Chocolate Affair¿ by Francis Ray. When they attended Columbia together, he thought they would be together forever, but instead without warning or explanation Miranda dumped Lucian. He vowed that if the opportunity ever arose he would dump her. Now the CEO of A Chocolate Affair has that chance, but wonders who will be hurt more if he walks. --- ¿A Good Man is Hard to Count¿ by Maryann Reid. Savannah is a man eater who loves them and leaves them she keeps score by placing a candy stick in a jar for each hunk she devours. That is until she meets firefighter Clinton, who is the entire candy store. He demands commitment while she craves variety or does she? --- ¿Chocolate Kisses¿ by Renee Luke. When Marcus tells his best friend Nicole that he accepted a job that means moving away, they fall into each other¿s arms and make love. They agree this was a temporary aberration, but both crave more Chocolate Kisses yet neither want to harm their friendship by speaking of their sweetest desire. --- These three heated Valentine¿s Day romances will satiate the audience¿s sweet tooth while placing immense pressure on significant others (no subtle hint to my spouse) to come through on the holiday. --- Harriet Klausner

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