THE GIFT OF LOVE, edited by Lori Foster, is a collection of
short stories by Ms. Foster and eight other authors. I love
anthologies because they give me a chance to sample new
authors without committing to a full-length novel.
When I was reading this entertaining anthology, I was
impressed by how each author was able to give me a
completely charming story in a few short pages.
I have to admit that there was one story, The Wolf Watcher's
Diet by Paige Cuccaro, that had me wanting to give up on the
anthology because it is a shapeshifter story. I am firmly
entrenched in being a reader of either contemporary romance
or romantic suspense. Fortunately, Ms. Cuccaro's writing
had me continuing to turn the pages. I found myself totally
engrossed in the story and rooting for Ella, Luke, and their
path to true love. My enjoyment of The Wolf Watcher's Diet
took me totally by surprise, and I will be watching for
other short stories by Paige Cuccaro.
The Redemption of Brodie Grant by Lisa Cooke is a
historical romance, another a genre outside of my comfort
zone. The Stovers and the Grants had been "feuding" for
years. Now Sara Grant is marrying Leo Stover and Brodie is
back in town to celebrate the wedding. Will the marriage
help to settle the feud, or will it take something else?
Ms. Cooke's story had me turning page after page wanting to
see what was going to happen, and how Brodie would be
redeemed.
Helen Kay Dimon closed the anthology with Second Time
Around. A story of unrequited first love turning into
something special as adult love.
Overall, as anthologies go, THE GIFT OF LOVE is a great
choice as a gift for a loved one, or just a treat for
yourself. The fact it benefits a charitable organization is
just the icing on the cake!
Edited by New York Times bestselling author Lori
Foster-a heartwarming anthology of all-new stories that
celebrate family love.
Families come in many
configurations, and every one is unique, made up of the
personalities of each member. But the love that connects
families is universal. Whether it is the love of parents
for their children, the love between a husband and wife,
the love between siblings, a love that transcends
generations, or even the love for a family member never
met, the family ties that bind us are the strongest and
deepest emotional connections we experience. Families
influence a person's development, how they treat others,
and how they view life. In The Gift of Love, eight
exceptional writers offer a variety of unique perspectives
on what family love means and how it impacts our lives in
ways profound and often surprising.
Featuring:
Lori Foster • Heidi Betts • Jules Bennett • Ann
Christopher • Lisa Cooke • Paige Cuccaro • Gia Dawn •
Helen Kay Dimon
The Wolf Watcher's Diet by Paige Cuccaro
Like most women, Ella Blackwood has always struggled with
her weight, but she never realized the health issues her
yo-yo dieting was having on her body...until she was bitten
by a werewolf. Now the wolf in her won’t allow her to turn
back to her human form until she’s completely healthy. But
being a wolf comes with its own set of struggles—wearing fur
might be sexy, but being furry...not so much.
Luke Danhurst has felt the pull of his true mate, Ella
Blackwood for years, but he swears biting her was a total
accident. Really! Now that he has her as a fellow werewolf,
he’s determined to help Ella learn to love herself, the way