Candy Hearts Anthology Volume 2 by multiple authors


I wasn't sure if I was going to feel the Valentine's Day love this year, since I'm newly single after 26 years of marriage, but there was no denying how sweet and low angst this entire charity volume was... and I read it cover to cover.
 

From the blurb:

What's sweeter than a low angst queer romance at Valentine's Day? How about twenty-three of them in one anthology to help support a good cause?

Each novella in the Candy Hearts Anthology, volume 2, is overflowing with red-hot romance and all the good feels. This volume is all about wrong numbers—wrong phone numbers, addresses, office numbers, seats, and more. If you enjoy serendipity, then you’ll love this collection.

The Candy Hearts Anthology will be available for a limited time, and all proceeds will benefit the Rainbow Railroad.

The participating authors in this volume are:
Anna Sparrows
BA Tortuga
Becca Seymour
Beck Grey
Bix Barrow
BL Maxwell
CD Rachels
Chantal Mer
D.K. Sutton
David Gray
E.M. Denning
Hinsel Meyer
Jem Wendel
Lee Blair
London Price
Marie Sinclair
Merry Farmer
Minerva Howe
Riley Long
Rye Cox
Stella Rainbow
Susan Scott Shelley
Victoria Gillilan
Zoe Lee


Heather's Review:

When I first responded to Marie Sinclair's cryptic request for ARC readers, I was in a completely different headspace, so by the ARC came in I was a little leary about diving into twenty-three low angst love stories focusing on Valentine's Day... but I have to tell you that the Wrong Number theme was absolutely addictive and I read all 1539 pages cover to cover!

I can't even say which stories were my favourites because this anthology is filled with novellas from my one click authors - there was no story that didn't meet the brief of wrong number/right people and low angst adorable!  

I love that some of the authors gave us standalone glimpses into existing worlds like Merry Farmer with her Art of Love series and Lee Blair with Dahlia Springs and other authors like Beck Grey and London Price set their stories in the recent past (well recent for me - mid 80' and 90's).  There's Ace rep, blind dates, singing messengers, age gap, opposites, all the tropes - even a sweet MPreg story.... 

This anthology is only around for a short time, so it's best to pick it up today!


Reed Kaye's review:

Rye Cox All I Want
Right from the first sentence this story grabbed my attention. I had to read it in one sitting.
Kevin attends frat parties with his bff Bernie who is a member. There he first sees Lance and has this instant attraction. He tries for two semesters to get close to Lance but nothing seems to work.
Lance has had a crush on Kevin but hasn't made a move for a number of reasons. Then Lance makes a mistake that changes their chance of a relationship.
The whole mistake is a heart wrenching path for these two. The singing telegram sets the scene for the secondary characters to be such a big part of the story. The roses scene just grabbed my heart. I hope the author write more stories from this group of characters

Anna Sparrow Silver (Fox) Linings
This is the first story in the anthology and what a great start. It is a fun age gap, bff story. Kenneth has lost the newness of success and at 45? is in a sort of slump when he gets this anonymous? call asking for help. something makes him go to the rescue of the caller and this leads to a set of unplanned situations for him.
Cody feels like he is never going to find that someone special. He tries online dating and that doesn't work out for him when he finds himself in trouble he isn't ready to handle.
These two are so swoon worthy. Both big hearted and unselfish. I really loved the Valentine ordeal with Cody's parents. I look forward to reading more by this author.

BA Tortuga Drunk Dialing
Jake is missing Treat. They broke up but Jake really wants Treat when he gets drunk and accidentally dials Treat thinking he has called his bff Trapper. Jake then talks all about his feeling lonely and missing Treat.
Treat wants Jake but knows Jake wasn't ready to settle down. When he gets the call he realizes it's time for him to exert himself and go get Jake. After he gets there situations get in the way and things happen but the path these guys take is heartwarming. I really enjoyed the part of the yaks.

Becca Seymour Falling for 42
Heartwarming story. Malik has had a crush forever on Kobe, his bff's tattoo artist older brother. When Kobe attends his brother Jackson's basketball game not knowing Jackson has set him up.
When Kobe and Malik see each other the instant attraction is more intense than they expected. The path they took kept me page turning till the end. Hopefully I will be able to see more of these characters in a later book.

Beck Grey Wrong Place, Right Time
This story is so heartbreaking. Danny is a guy who has not had a break. During school he was bullied and after graduating he ends up with a job that won't really support him. He is forced to live with his parents and his dad is extremely homophobic and a bully. He treats Danny like he is a problem child even though he is 23 he has to answer for everything he does. He even has a curfew. When Danny gets a chance to go to his first hockey game he finds he has sat in the wrong seat. Luckily the seats owner is his high school crush Mike.

Mike finds a hot guy in his seat at the hockey game and since the seat next to him is open he tells the guy to stay. He then finds he previously went to the same school as Danny but since Mike was a couple years ahead he had not met Danny. Mike also has had not much going his way. His dad was not happy finding out he was gay. He is a good mechanic but the shop he works at is not gay friendly. His meeting Danny is the best thing that has happened to him.
This started them in the get to know you stage of the relationship and then both realize the attraction is pretty strong. Their job situations get worse and both are forced to make a decision.
I really enjoyed the story. The setting I found a little dated because not many people know about wired phones anymore. I hope the author will write maybe a epilogue letting me know how life works out for them.

Bix Barrow Last Mango in Palm Springs
This is such a heartwarming fun story. A baggage mixup causes Ford to call Zachery so they can exchange suitcases and get their own back. The problem Zachary had gone to Vegas for a wedding before the mixup was discovered. Zachary tells Ford since they are about the same size, go ahead and use his clothes. This is the start of texts and phone calls that lead to so much more. I felt this drew me to the character of Zachary because he was more than understood. I laughed a few times at Ford on vacation and his activities and the people he ran across. This happily is a complete story that left me appreciating this author.

I’m still reading the stories and the authors in the collection are great. This is one of the few anthologies I wanted to read most of the stories.


Candy Hearts Anthology is currently available as an e-book in wide distribution.

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