"Great paranormal Christmas anthology"

"Jingle's Belle" by Lani Aames

Alexander (he calls himself Jingle) is an elf, living at the North Pole and helping Santa prepare for Christmas. He's scorned by the other elves because he's the smallest elf there (human normal), but he loves Christmas. When Santa sends him on a mission, he's eager to accept. His misson: help disillusioned Belinda Cooper regain her Christmas spirit.

This is a really neat story -- not at all what I had expected to read. Jingle was thoughtful and talented. The romance was the major part of the story; there was very little sex, but it was perfect in the story. A great read.

"Twelve Nights of Christmas" by Treva Harte

Rome Tyler is heading home one snowy night when he sees a woman dangling in a tree. Unfortunately, the ladder he tries to rescue her with falls in mid-rescue and Rome is knocked unconscious. Mari--the woman in the tree--takes him home and cares for him. They play an elaborate game of attraction that's probably more fun to read about than experience. (Can we say frustration?)

Twelve Nights is hot, and you ache with both Rome and Mari as they fumble through their developing relationship. Rome battles his fears of overexcitement/premature-ejaculation and Mari battles her own fears of rejection. The characters are well drawn, but their interaction really makes the story.

"Santa Claws" by MaryJanice Davidson

Alec Kilcurt, the most powerful werewolf in Europe, is walking down a Boston street around Christmastime when he smells the most wonderful fragrance -- a woman. Giselle Smith is a Salvation Army Santa Claus when the crazy, insistent Scottish man asks her to lunch and dumps a thick wad of bills in her bucket. Then comes the food poisoning (and the hours of hot sex) while Alec tries to convince her to come home with him to Scotland.

This story is a real treat. It's a Wyndham werewolf story, like Davidson's "Love's Prisoner" in SECRETS 6. If you've read her previous werewolf story, you know the wry, engrossing voice and the humorous stories that Davidson pens. Alec's eager determination is lovable, as is Giselle's admirable restraint in the face of (much) temptation. The end is a bit over-done, but it's fun just the same. Simply for the combination of Davidson's voice and Alec's behavior, Santa Claws is a real winner.

Naughty or Nice is a great anthology. The stories are fun, the Christmas season is always well-represented, and each of these stories has a little something that really catches your interest. One great anthology, three great reads.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted March 12, 2002

Summary

Jingle's Belle by Lani Aames: Contemporary fantasy. Twelve Nights of Christmas by Treva Harte: Contemporary Santa Claws by MaryJanice Davidson: Contemporary paranormal (a Wyndham werewolf story).