Judy C. (Judy-Ree) -
Helpful Score: 6
I got this book because I have been reading Nalini Singh's Psy/Changling series. The main characters were DarkRiver Leopard Zack and a human named Annie. Lucas, Sascha and Mercy, from previous books, were heard from in this short story. I must admit that it was my favorite story in the anthology, but then again, I just finished reading Ms. Singh's other 5 books, so I have been immersed in that world.
The Lora Leigh story continued her Breeds storyline with one of the enforcers and a human librarian from the town just outside of Sanctuary. I was very pleasantly surprised with this story. It had sensual elements without the going graphically overboard as I have found in some of her other books.
The story by Erin McCarthy I had a hard time getting into. I ended up basically scanning the story and hitting the highlights. The story was okay, but just didn't grab my attention. There were parts that just didn't ring true to the story and several sections that felt rushed and choppy.
Linda Winstead Jones' story was quite good once I got past the first few pages. Ruby is being targeted by a demon who must consume his 9th and final soul to be free to roam the earth. She doesn't know it but Zane, her stuffy professor neighbor, can help her if she can just learn to trust him.
All 4 of the stories take place around Christmas time and involve a cat in some form. Lora Leigh's story focuses on Christmas the most of any of the stories and it is a major theme in her plot line. Overall, this was a great book, especially if you have been reading the Psy/Changling or Breed series.
The Lora Leigh story continued her Breeds storyline with one of the enforcers and a human librarian from the town just outside of Sanctuary. I was very pleasantly surprised with this story. It had sensual elements without the going graphically overboard as I have found in some of her other books.
The story by Erin McCarthy I had a hard time getting into. I ended up basically scanning the story and hitting the highlights. The story was okay, but just didn't grab my attention. There were parts that just didn't ring true to the story and several sections that felt rushed and choppy.
Linda Winstead Jones' story was quite good once I got past the first few pages. Ruby is being targeted by a demon who must consume his 9th and final soul to be free to roam the earth. She doesn't know it but Zane, her stuffy professor neighbor, can help her if she can just learn to trust him.
All 4 of the stories take place around Christmas time and involve a cat in some form. Lora Leigh's story focuses on Christmas the most of any of the stories and it is a major theme in her plot line. Overall, this was a great book, especially if you have been reading the Psy/Changling or Breed series.
Caroline N. (sapphiredragon) reviewed The Magical Christmas Cat: Stroke of Enticement / Christmas Bree / Sweet Dreams / Christmas Heat on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
The Nalini Singh story about a shape-shifting leopard was by far the best story in the whole anthology. The characters were more fully developed than I expected and their playful bantering was excellent. I loved it!
The Lora Leigh story about a shape-shifting jaguar was pretty good, too, although, as I've never read any other stories from her series, I felt like I missed out on some important background, but overall it was a nice story.
Erin McCarthy's story was about a witch finding love, with a little help from her black cat was ok. Not great, but not terrible.
Linda Winstead Jones story in the book was awful! The cat in the story is an evil soul-eating black cat! I'm sorry, but if I read a book called "The Magical Cat Christmas" it's because I like cats and I don't think they are evil, especially around Christmastime! Aside from that, the story was poorly written and didn't hold my interest at all. This was the first and last time that I'll read anything by this author!
The Lora Leigh story about a shape-shifting jaguar was pretty good, too, although, as I've never read any other stories from her series, I felt like I missed out on some important background, but overall it was a nice story.
Erin McCarthy's story was about a witch finding love, with a little help from her black cat was ok. Not great, but not terrible.
Linda Winstead Jones story in the book was awful! The cat in the story is an evil soul-eating black cat! I'm sorry, but if I read a book called "The Magical Cat Christmas" it's because I like cats and I don't think they are evil, especially around Christmastime! Aside from that, the story was poorly written and didn't hold my interest at all. This was the first and last time that I'll read anything by this author!
Ellen (gremlin) -
Helpful Score: 3
This has stories from three authors I've already enjoyed. I hadn't read anything by Linda Winstead Jones before, and based on this sample I will be unlikely to read anything by her in the future.
Nalini Singh - Stroke of Enticement. Part of the Psy/Changling series. DarkRiver leopard Zach meets schoolteacher Annie when his nephew gets in trouble at school. My favorite in this collection.
Eric McCarthy - Christmas Bree. A sequel to the story in the anthology An Echanted Season. The Murphy sisters are all witches, and in this story middle sister Bree finds her unlikely match. Cute.
Linda Winstead Jones - Sweet Dreams. A soul-eating demon cat is looking for his ninth and final victim needed to become part of our world. The hero starts out as kind of a cold fish who doesn't eat white flour or sugar, so rejects the heroine's Secret Santa gift of Christmas cookies. It's a bit hard to redeem that in only 77 pages.
Lora Leigh - Christmas Heat. Part of the Breeds series. Overlaps with Mercury's War, and ties up a loose end from that book. Librarian Haley is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds out something that puts her life in danger from enemies of the breeds. Jaguar breed enforcer Noble Chavin is not about to let the woman he knows is his mate get killed.
Nalini Singh - Stroke of Enticement. Part of the Psy/Changling series. DarkRiver leopard Zach meets schoolteacher Annie when his nephew gets in trouble at school. My favorite in this collection.
Eric McCarthy - Christmas Bree. A sequel to the story in the anthology An Echanted Season. The Murphy sisters are all witches, and in this story middle sister Bree finds her unlikely match. Cute.
Linda Winstead Jones - Sweet Dreams. A soul-eating demon cat is looking for his ninth and final victim needed to become part of our world. The hero starts out as kind of a cold fish who doesn't eat white flour or sugar, so rejects the heroine's Secret Santa gift of Christmas cookies. It's a bit hard to redeem that in only 77 pages.
Lora Leigh - Christmas Heat. Part of the Breeds series. Overlaps with Mercury's War, and ties up a loose end from that book. Librarian Haley is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds out something that puts her life in danger from enemies of the breeds. Jaguar breed enforcer Noble Chavin is not about to let the woman he knows is his mate get killed.
TrishF reviewed The Magical Christmas Cat: Stroke of Enticement / Christmas Bree / Sweet Dreams / Christmas Heat on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Really enjoyed the stories in this book. Pretty developed and satifying. The Nalini Singh story was interesting with a couple of poignant moments. Lora Leigh was a breed story with the heroine falling for the hero before any kissing!, Linda Winstead Jones had a fascinating paranormal story and Erin McCarthy followed up an earlier story about a witch who is one of three sisters -- another sister was in another anthology my least favorite but even that one wasn't that bad.
Kathleen C. (KathleenSews) reviewed The Magical Christmas Cat: Stroke of Enticement / Christmas Bree / Sweet Dreams / Christmas Heat on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Not what I expected. Lora Leigh's cat is one of her Breeds. Other cat characters could just as easily be any other species, even full-human. Christmas is incidental to the stories.
