Annabella Michaels

OK, if you like MM, you definitely need to get this anthology, because it's packed full of great authors and wonderful stories. None of the stories are a long read, so if you just have a few minutes and you want something to make your heart feel better, one of these stories will work. And better yet, proceeds go to a LGBT charity picked by each author.

The premise behind this one is that the Heart2Heart dating app is holding raffles in several different cities. What they are raffling off is show more dates. Basically, there are all kinds of different kinds of dates and different locations. You drop your ticket in and 2 tickets are drawn from each pile. The winners get to go out on a blind date together.

There are several brilliant authors in here, including 3 of my favorites, Macy Blake, Lucy Lennox, and May Archer.

Lucy Lennox-Washington

Lucy Lennox landed in Washington DC. Her characters are Cam, an art therapist, and Josh, who is an investigative reporter. The date they won was a tour through Arlington Cemetary. OMG, Josh is a freaking hoot! He has a such a wicked sense of humor, and he uses it well, especially to fend off nosy people. Josh and Cam are super cute together. I want more of them.

Macy Blake-New Orleans

From DC to the Big Easy, Macy Blake takes on NOLA, and hands us Antonio and Paxton, as well as Antonio's pushy cousin Michelle and her husband, Dave. Antonio is a delight, and our first into to him includes him explaining exactly what he's (not) wearing to his cousin when she tries to prank call him. I know I wouldn't want to hear that my cousin was naked and about to put on his best, snug fitting, black briefs. I mean, I love them and all, but TMI. Paxton has a twin brother who set Antonio up with a jerk, so when Antonio sees Paxton, he first insults his suit and then says that the twin would deserve it. I really want to be Antonio's friend, because I'm pretty sure he would make any life better.

May Archer-Boston

May Archer also had a story in last years H2H, and it spun off into a series. This year's story is sort of related to that series, at least it takes place in the same world. We have workaholic and self-made gazillionaire Taika who is drug to the event by his best friend Simone, who is producing it. On the other side, we have Ethan, who is working as a freelance writer and is covering the event for a magazine. He wants to be a travel blogger, and since all the dates in this story are destination dates, he's hoping to win because he's pretty sure that on his budget, it's the only way he's going to travel. So when he and Tai end up going to Disney in FLA, he's excited.

Each and every story in this book is worth reading, and they are all fantastic. show less

2.5 stars
So many little annoying things ruined this book for me. I found myself skimming the last 3 chapters.
- They were moving too fast for my taste. Caleb confessed his undying love after 2 weeks. I liked Caleb, but he was either that romantic, or I missed a time jump?
- I didn't get Gio's thinking process with the ex-wife. Why didn't he confront her sooner?
- Sooo much sex. Or if they were not having sex, they were talking about it. It felt like they fell in love with each other cuz the show more sex was so good.
- Now, I don't have a twin, but claiming that "He felt a sudden stab in his head that traveled through his body and he fell to the ground, and that's when he knew something bad had happened to his twin, he's in pain", this only happens in cheap telenovelas IMO. *eye-roll 10x*
-To me this book ended at 70%, the rest was just there to fill the space and introduce the characters of the next book, totally unnecessary.

There were other things I don't want to mention cuz of spoilers.

On the plus side, I really loved Caleb's family, they were so cozy with each other, always hugging. :)
Oddly I liked it enough to go on with the second book. Because Carter, the other half of the twins. He's a cheeky little bastard, so I'm in. show less

Can't say I'm impressed. I loved Volume 1 so much more.
Maybe it's because there are more authors participating than last year, hence less space, hence shorter, lacking stories. :(

Most of these little novelettes had the same problem: they started out good, but then progressed too fast, they would kiss and there would be a big time jump for the epilogue. Meh. Also instalove or insta...something, which I expected, and it's not a bad thing, I just don't like it.

I'm not reviewing them show more individually, but you'll find a list below of the stories I would buy if they ever get released, hopefully an extended version.

List of stories to buy:
1. Boston - Annabella Michaels
I don't need this to be a full-length novel, or even a novella. I just want them to go one or two more dates and I would be satisfied. Loved it!

3. Denver - E. Davies
Well, damn. Ed is the only author who managed to write an insta-romance that didn't actually feel insta. It's a special story. I loved this. I should really read more books written by him.

And here are the maybe
Boston by May Archer
Enemies to lovers. Loved the characters.

Athens by Charlie Cochet
I'm only mentioning this cuz it was fun, not sure if it would work outside of the anthology, even with extension, or added scenes.

Melbourne by Eden Finley
San Francisco by Hailey Turner

My overall feelings about the anthology are still positive. show less

Sweet

Such a sweet story. Have a box of tissues at hand, lots of crying for me in this book. I loved both characters, Cooper and Brock and all of the family.