Heart2Heart: A Paranormal Charity Anthology, Volume 7: What to Read & What to Skip
This was such a great anthology!
A fantastic group of authors united to share short stories ranging from four to ten chapters in length. Each story centered around a dating app aided by cupid ensuring the perfect pairing.
The interpretations of this prompt varied wildly.
I DNF’d three of the short stories, and the rest ranged from okay to epic.
In this anthology I discovered a short story that was one of the most interest things I’ve ever read. I seriously can’t stop thinking about it!
Read on for my recommendations on what to read and what to skip in this paranormal anthology.
You Can’t Spell Necromancer Without Romance by Alice Winters
Okay, I knew going in that Alice Winters is not typically my favorite author, but I really wanted to give this short story a chance.
Unfortunately, it really was not my thing. The sense of humor in this was just not funny to me. Honestly, it was super off putting.
I DNF’d the story about halfway through. And it was slog to get there.
Bottom line? If you are an Alice Winters fan, you will probably have a great time. Otherwise, skip this one.
Hot Date by Eliot Grayson
I very recently read The Royal Curse by Eliot Grayson and loved it (you can check out my review here), so I had high hopes for this short story.
It did not disappoint!
This was one of the steamiest stories in the anthology, but there was also a surprising depth and grit that had me hooked.
This is not one to miss!
Sweet Treats by Grae Bryan
I’ve seen Grae Bryan‘s books, but I haven’t been crazily compelled to try any of them before. I wasn’t sure at all what I would be getting into with this short story.
However, after reading this, I will definitely be checking out more of Grae Bryan’s work!
This was a super sweet and funny read. The characters are over the top and ridiculous, but in a believable and endearing way.
You should definitely check this one out!
Looking 4 Furever by Kiki Clark
Kiki Clark is another author that I am not super familiar with. I had to go into this one blind.
It turned out to be a cute and short read. There isn’t a lot of depth and it is a little silly, but it is only four chapters long so who really cares?
I liked the premise and thought the story had an interesting twist.
Especially with the length, trying this short story is an easy yes
Locked in Love by Lark Taylor
Call me crazy, but Locked in Love by Lark Taylor is just the longer and grittier version of Sweet Treats by Grae Bryan.
I appreciated the length of this story. It felt like a complete idea rather than just the hint of it like some of the other stories in the anthology.
I definitely recommend this one!
Love Me Love My Dogs by Macy Blake
In Love Me Love My Dogs by Macy Blake we meet our first nonbinary character of the anthology, Braxton. I enjoyed the representation in this story.
The writing style/tone in this short story is not my absolute favorite, but I did make it through the entire thing.
I thought the bit about one of the main characters having the same name as a pop star was kind of odd, and the way it was woven into the story was abrasive to me.
All of that to say, it is a short and easy read with a lot of dogs and some cool characters. Why not give it a try?
Not So Cupid by Mika Nix
Mika Nix was little too ambitious with this short story. Not So Cupid was underdeveloped and lacking.
I liked the concept of the Greek gods being real, but this story felt so rushed and superficial due to the length it had to be squeezed into.
Also, the strange and deeply underwhelming bonding bit at the end may have sent me diving for the DNF hills had the book not ended so abruptly right after.
Read this one at your own risk.
Starry Night by Pandora Pine
You know how I was super close to DNFing Not So Cupid? Well, this is a super similar book, but slightly more off-putting.
Needless to say I didn’t last long.
This was one of my three DNFs about three chapters in. I don’t think the main characters even remotely like each other.
Sometimes that’s hot, but there is not a single spark between these two.
Hard pass.
The Hidden God of Open Doors by Tavia Lark
Tavia Lark can do no wrong.
If you read nothing else from this anthology, you absolute have to read The Hidden God of Open Doors.
I have not been able to stop thinking about this short story.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the concept of this story has guaranteed that I will read every single future book that Tavia Lark writes.
I can’t risk missing books with genius like this!
Love Under the Sea by Taylor Rylan
I hate to end on a DNF, but I had literally no choice.
This story should never have been right after Tavia Lark’s.
The title alone is bewildering to me. The book is about a gorilla shifter and a koala shifter. Why in the world is it called Love Under the Sea? These are not sea creatures. I can’t fathom it.
Maybe I should have read past the first chapter, but it was simply not possible for me. Sorry, Taylor Rylan, but this was not it for me.
Hey, I’m Heather!
I read M/M romance books exclusively, and I help other readers find their next great M/M romance read.
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