My True Love Gave to Me

Twelve Holiday Stories

edited by

Stephanie Perkins 

 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication date: October 14th, 2014

 

  

My rating: 3.5 of 5

(Book read on August 14th to August 18th, 2014,  from the review copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)  

 

 

Summary:

 

 

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by twelve bestselling young adult writers (Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de La Peña, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Laini Taylor and Kiersten White), edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins. 

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or Kwanzaa, there's something here for everyone. So curl up by the fireplace and get cozy. You have twelve reasons this season to stay indoors and fall in love.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Collection:

My True Love Gave to Me is a nice collection of holiday stories, perfect for the season. Even though I read it in the summer, it definitely brought me in a wintry holiday mood. I enjoyed the mix of fantasy & contemporary stories, and I loved the mix of the different type of holiday stories. And there's something in this collection for everyone. Even though I didn't fall in love with every story (yes, unbelievable, but there were some I didn't like, and from authors I've enjoyed before), there are some gems of stories that were worth it, and they made me glad that I read this anthology. So, I recommend this collection to every fan of holiday stories, because even though it's a subjective thing, I know that every reader can find a few stories in it, that will make him/her fall in love with them. And of course, I must mention the lovely cover. I love the fact that all the couples are represented on it, and I loved searching for them after reading each story, so it has the perfect cover. That being said, I'm going to share my thoughts on every story, too.

  

 

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell 

 

Midnights is a great story set on more than one New Year's Eve. We follow best friends Mags & Noel - the way they met, how their friendship developed, and the possibility for something more. I really liked them as characters, their story was sweet & fun, and it was pretty much the perfect beginning to this anthology. So, yes. I loved this story, and Rainbow Rowell has done it again.

My rating: 4.5 of 5

 

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link

  

This is a Christmas story with a touch of fantasy in it. I really wanted to enjoyed it, but it started slow, and it was hard for me to get into the story, or like the main character, and it was a little bit weird, but in the end it turned out ok. I quite liked the ending. In the end, the idea for this story was interesting enough, I just wasn't a fan of the way it developed.

My rating: 2 of 5

 

 

Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Peña

 

Angels in the Snow is another Christmas story, though this one a contemporary one. I have to admit that at first I didn't like it. My problem - the main character Shy. I couldn't connect with him, I found him to be quite unlikable & unrelatable at first, but before this story was over, I understood him, and I really, really liked him as a character, and I really liked the story. Haley was likable as a character, too, but what I liked the most were the interactions & the connection that developed between them both. Overall, it was sweet. The story was a little bit sad, and it made me teary-eyed, so it was heartbreaking, yet at the same time it was heartwarming. So, overall, a nice story that I really enjoyed. I'll have to check out some of the author's full-length books.

My rating: 3 of 5

 

Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han

Ok, I'm going to say it - I didn't like it! The setting was imaginative & maybe the idea was interesting enough, and I guess the possibility for the main character's future I liked, but the "love" story - really, really didn't like it. I didn't care about the characters, too, so I didn't care about the story. Just not a story for me.

My rating: 1.5 of 5

 

  

 

 It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins' story is everything you would expect from her, if you've already read her books. The characters are really likable, their interactions are sweet, fun & charming, and the story itself is funny, and will make you feel all warm inside. At least, that's what happened to me. I actually had a smile plastered on the face from the beginning until the end. So, yes, I loved everything about it, and it's one of my most favorite stories in this anthology!

My rating: 5 of 5

 

Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan

    

I'm sad to say that I really, really did not like this story. I've read books by David Levithan before, and really enjoyed them, but not this one. And even though when I finished the story, I thought that the idea about belonging was quite good, I just didn't enjoy the execution. Before I realise what it's about, I thought that it's quite pointless. I didn't like the MC - just couldn't connect or care about him, and I didn't like the story. Really wanted to, but it didn't work for me. Sometimes it happens, and unfortunately this time it happened to me. I guess Your Temporary Santa just wasn't a story for me.

My rating: 1 of 5

 

Krampuslauf by Holly Black

It took me a while to get into Krampuslauf. It just felt a little long, but in the end it turned out to be quite fun, and definitely cool. It was really entertaining, and after I finished it, I thought - a typical Holly Black story. I mean, the kind of story I would expect by her, before you know it, you've been totally hooked, and you haven't even realised. So, I enjoyed it a lot, and definitely one of the good stories in this collection!

My rating: 4 of 5

 

What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth? by Gayle Forman

 

 

Gayle Forman's story is so, so amazing, I loved it so much! I loved Sophie as a character - she's sarcastic, and so funny & likable. I also loved Russell, too. He's fun, and so nice & charming - and I loved the interactions between them both. Their story is funny, sweet, charming, and it left me all happy & hopeful inside, so overall - amazing! Gayle Forman has done it again!

  

My rating: 5 of 5

 

 

 Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire

This story is set around a nativity pageant. I've never really understood those, I mean what's the point? So, that didn't help. But, my biggest problem was that I couldn't see the point of the story - I think it was pointless, and I really, really did not like the main character. Or anything else, to be honest. So, yes, I guess this just wasn't my kind of story.

My rating: 1 of 5

 

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White

I loved this one. It was so good! It was fun, sweet, charming, funny, and I had a smile on my face while reading it. And on top of that, one of the MCs (Ben) is a chef, and there was lots of cooking (and I have a thing about cooking & chefs in fiction), so definitely my type of story. I really liked the interactions between Ben & Maria, and I loved that the story left me feeling all happy & hopeful inside. Lovely holiday story! 

 

My rating: 4 of 5

 

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter

 

 

Overall, Star of Bethlehem is a nice story. It was both funny & sad, and I really liked it. The characters were likable, the connection that developed between them was sweet, and the story was fun and interesting.

My rating: 3 of 5

 

 

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

  

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer is the perfect finale to this collection of holiday stories. The writing was beautiful, and the story itself was so magical, and wonderful, and enchanting, and I loved the mythology in it. Just, so imaginative & unique, and absolutely beautiful & amazing. I loved the eerieness of the setting, and I loved the MC, and I loved pretty much everything in this story. If you've read Laini Taylor before, you know how mesmerizing her storytelling can be, and this story was just like that!

 

My rating: 5 of 5

 

Challenges: 

 

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

 

The Death Pit

(Doctor Who: Time Trips)

by

A. L. Kennedy

 

Publisher: Random House UK, Ebury Publishing

 

Imprint: BBC Digital

 

Publication date: December 5th, 2013

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5 

     

  

(Story read on August 7th, 2014, from the review copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)

 

 

Summary:

 

 

Time Trips – groundbreaking Doctor Who adventures by some of the most respected writers in the Universe. Short stories that are bigger on the inside…

 

Something odd is going on at the Fetch Brothers Golf Spa Hotel. Receptionist Bryony Mailer has noticed a definite tendency towards disappearance amongst the guests. She’s tried talking to the manager, she’s even tried talking to the owner who lives in one of the best cottages in the grounds, but to no avail. And then a tall, loping remarkably energetic guest (wearing a fetching scarf and floppy hat) appears. The Fourth Doctor thinks he’s in Chicago. He knows he’s in 1978. And he also knows that if he doesn’t do something very clever very soon, matters will get very, very out of hand.

 

  

 

My Thoughts on the Story:

 

 

The Death Pit is amazing Doctor Who adventure featuring the 4th Doctor. Everything I love about Doctor Who was present here. The humour, the entertainment, the fun, the quirky & lovable characters, the mystery, the adventure, the brilliance, the great & really interesting story. I just adored every second of it.

 

Also, I loved the author's writing style. I haven't read anything by A. L. Kennedy so far, but the writing reminded me a tiny bit of Douglas Adams, and not anyone can pull that off, and that's what actually made me love the story even more.

 

I highly recommend this story to every fan of Doctor Who. As for me, I can't wait to delve into the other Time Trips adventures.

 

 

 

Challenges:

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Title: Kiss That Frog

Author: Cate Rowan

Publication date: July 5th, 2012

My rating: 3 of 5

 

 

(Read on May 23rd, 2014, from the review copy received from the author via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)  

 

 

Summary:

In this romantic fairy tale remix, a cynical Los Angeles artist reluctantly pet-sits for her young niece's frog and discovers magic in the terrarium--in the form of a sexy enchanted prince.

 

This novelette with a Regency time-travel twist is 12,000 words/45 pages. Cate Rowan's sensuous fantasy romances have won more than thirty awards.

 

  

My Thoughts on the Novelette:

This is the first time I've read Cate Rowan's work, but it won't be the last. In such a short read, she managed to entertain me, make me laugh, like the characters, and cheer them on, and that is great! So, I'm definitely interested in trying her other stories & books!

As for Kiss the Frog, I really enjoyed reading it! The heroine was funny, the prince was yummy, and the story was fun, and they were cute together.

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, I highly recommend Kiss the Frog! It's short, but sweet, and will totally make your day. 

 

 

 

Challenges:

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2014 

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

The Novella Reading Week is hosted by Rachel @ Fiktshun & Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads!

The goal is of course to read novellas ;)

For more detailed info & to sign up, visit the posts HERE or HERE.

My Novellas Reading List:

1. The Monarch of the Glen - An American Gods Novella - by Neil Gaiman - read on June 10

2. Countdown - Joe Ledger #0.5 - by Jonathan Maberry - read on June 10

3. Material Witness - Joe Ledger #1.2 - by Jonathan Maberry - read on June 10

4. First Night Memories - Benny Imura #0.5 - by Jonathan Maberry - read on June 10

5. In the Land of the Dead - Benny Imura #1.5 - by Jonathan Maberry - read on June 10

6. Dead & Gone - Benny Imura #2.5 - by Jonathan Maberry - read on June 10

7. Seduced by a Pirate - Fairy Tales #4.5 - by Eloisa James - read on June 10

8. Forbidden Blood - House of Comarre #0.5 - by Kristen Painter - read on June 16

9. Beasts and BFF's - 13 to Life #0.5 - by Shannon Delany - read on June 10

10. UnStrung - Unwind #1.5 - by Neal Shusterman

11. The Brave Tale of Maddie Carver - Downside Ghosts #0.1 - by Stacia Kane

12. Finding Magic - Downside Ghosts #0.5 - by Stacia Kane

13. Rick the Brave - Downside Ghosts #3.5 - by Stacia Kane

14. Home - Downside Ghosts #3.6 - by Stacia Kane

15. The Butcher of Anderson Station - Expanse #0.5 - by James S. A. Corey - read on June 12

16. The Flower of Arizona - InCryptid #0.1 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 11

17. One Hell of a Ride - InCryptid #0.2 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 11

18. No Place Like Home - InCryptid #0.3 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 11

19. Married in Green - InCryptid #0.4 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 11

20. Sweet Poison Wine - InCryptid #0.5 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 11

21. Hometown Girl - Bad Boys of Red Hook #0.5 - by Robin Kaye - read on June 10

22. Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engagements - Millworth Manor #1.5 - by Victoria Alexander - read on June 16

23. Phantom File - Dark Eden #1.5 - by Patrick Carman - read on June 16

24. Those Nights in Montreal - Language of Love #1.5 - by Beverley Kendall

25. All's Fair in Love & Seduction - Elusive Lords #2.5 - by Beverley Kendall

26. The First Fall - InCryptid #0.6 - by Seanan McGuire - read on June 16

Ok, so I won't read all of these, and I tried to limit myself only to series (or at least authors) I've tried before.

Also, I will update this post with my reading progress, and I will probably write my thought about those I've read in this post, too!   

#1 - The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman

 

In this American Gods novella, we follow Shadow who came to Scotland around 2 years after the events in American Gods. If you loved American Gods, you will love this one, too. I know I did. It's not possible to say anything more without including spoilers, but once again Neil Gaiman has created an imaginative story mixed with mythology, that will keep you guessing :) But, what I must mention is that if you haven't read American Gods, you shouldn't read this one because there are lots of spoilers about it in this novella. The Monarch in the Glen is published in Neil Gaiman's collection Fragile Things.

My rating: 5 of 5

#2 - Countdown by Jonathan Maberry

 

Countdown is a prequel of the Joe Ledger series. To be honest, mostly everything that happens here is seen through flashbacks in Patient Zero, but I totally loved reading this in details, and to see Joe Ledger once again in action :)

My rating: 4 of 5

#3 - Material Witness by Jonathan Maberry

 

Wow, I absolutely loved this novella! It was just so creepy & eerie & action-packed & awesome, and it will totally make you want to read the Pine Deep trilogy asap. Yeah, this one is a Joe Ledger novella, so it follows Joe Ledger & his team (what's left of it) on a mission to the town of Pine Deep. I haven't read the Pine Deep trilogy, but I'm definitely interested & intrigued to find out what exactly happened there. Pine Deep is one spooky town, with some intriguing & mysterious characters.

My rating: 5 of 5   

#4 - First Night Memories by Jonathan Maberry 

 

I was surprised by this prequel in the Benny Imura series, mainly because I thought it will be only about Benny's First Night memories, but I was pleasantly surprised that it featured the First Night memories of Nix, pastor Kellogg, and Benny & Tom Imura's memories. Yeah, I'll admit, I totally bawled my eyes on the part with Tom & Benny, and I absolutely loved it. And the part at the end with Benny & Chong on Benny's birthday was a nice touch, it definitely sets up the story for Rot & Ruin (and it makes me want to re-read it), so great prequel, and I totally loved it!  

My rating: 5 of 5

#5 - In the Land of the Dead by Jonathan Maberry

This novella is set between Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay. In this one we see how Benny & especially Nyx copes with the events in Rot & Ruin. We also meet Solomon Jones, and there's this quite fun part where Benny & Chong talk about Nix & Lilah, they made me laugh so much, it was so funny, and the part with the Swords at first was hilarious, although it ended on a different note. So, yeah, I totally loved this novella, too, and if you're a fan of the series & the characters, I recommend it!

My rating: 5 of 5

#6 - Beasts & BFFs by Shannon Delany

 

This one is a prequel to 13 to Life, and although quite short, it was fun & I liked it a lot! It's obvious that 13 to Life will be a fun story with fun characters, too, so it's a nice prequel.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 

#7 - Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James

 

Seduced by a Pirate is part of Eloisa James's Fairy Tales/Happily Ever After series, and it's connected to the 4th book in the series - The Ugly Duchess. I still haven't read that one, but I'm a big fan of the series & this book only made me more excited about finally reading The Ugly Duchess. After years & years at the sea, Griffin comes back home, determined to pick up his life where he left it, but will his wife be ready to forgive him? And how he plans to achieve that? By seduction, of course ;) I won't include any spoilers, but I loved Griffin & Phoebe as characters, as well as a couple & I loved all the secondary characters, they made ma laugh so much! It was sweet, funny, charming & lots of fun, so another great addition to the series, and I can't wait to read James's story! So, if you're a fan of the series, you don't want to miss this novella!

 

My rating: 4 of 5

#8 - Hometown Girl by Robin Kaye

 

So, Robin Kaye has done it again! She has a talent for writing really likable characters, with great chemistry between them, and Hometown Girl is really great contemporary novella. To be honest, is quite on the steamy side, but the connection & the dialogue & the chemistry between Simon & Elise is great, and I totally loved this! It was sweet, charming, fun, romantic & funny. I also really liked the secondary characters, and this being the prequel to the Bad Boys of Red Hook series, I'm definitely going to try the series, because I want to read the HEA to those secondary characters, actually I'm quite looking forward to it!

  

My rating: 5 of 5

 

#9 - Dead & Gone by Jonathan Maberry

 

Yeah, I know, another Jonathan Maberry novella ;) I just can't get enough of his stories & characters. Dead & Gone is part of the Benny Imura series, and all the characters we meet here I'm guessing will meet with Benny & the gang in Flesh & Bone, and I definitely can't wait. The pacing of this novella was quite slow, but we learn a lot about Riot - a girl that's on the run from the Night Church, as well as the Night Church itself, and we get a glimpse how other people survive in the Rot & Ruin. I loved the ending, it was surprisingly really fun & I loved the new character Jolt, too! This book will make you want to pick up the next book asap, something I'm planning to do soon :)

 

My rating: 4 of 5

#10 - The Flower of Arizona by Seanan McGuire

I absolutely loved this prequel. In The Flower of Arizona we get to see when Jonathan Healy & Frances Brown met. This novella had it all - mystery, danger, kick-ass hero & heroine, monster, action, fun dialogue, and most of all the Aeslin mice are here :D They're hilarious, I don't think I'll ever get enough of them! Great prequel!

My rating: 5 of 5

 

#11 - One Hell of a Ride by Seanan McGuire

One Hell of a Ride is another prequel featuring Jonathan & Frances, and it's set a while after The Flower of Arizona, and I loved this one, too! They're traveling by train, and they end up in hell. Once again there's lots of danger, action and awesomeness, and I highly recommend it!

  

My rating: 5 of 5

 

#12 -  No Place Like Home by Seanan McGuire

No Place Like Home is set months after One Hell of a Ride, and Johnny & Fran finally arrive at his home. She meets his family, and I loved his family, and the Aeslin mice, I started to love them even more. It was awesome seeing more of the life of the cryptozoologists, so yeah, I loved this, and Johnny & Fran has made themselves a special place in my heart, I think I can read about them again & again!

My rating: 5 of 5

#13 - Married in Green by Seanan McGuire

Married in Green is set a few years after the last prequel with Johnny & Fran, and they're about to get married. I was a little bit bummed because I didn't get to see how the romance developed between them, but I still loved it! He gave her the best wedding present ever, and it was obvious how much they love each other, and their wedding was sweet!

My rating: 4 of 5

 

#14 - Sweet Poison Wine by Seanan McGuire

Although I was a little bit bummed because I didn't get to see the romance between Johnny & Fran, I was pleasantly surprised by this one :) Sweet Poison Wine is set a few months after the birth of their son Daniel, and now they're finally going on a honeymoon. It was so sweet & romantic, but of course they being monster hunters, something had to come up. I loved the mythology mixed in here & the story, and yeah, I think I can read about Jonathan & Frances forever & ever.

 

My rating: 5 of 5

#15 - The Butcher of Anderson Station by James S. A. Corey

This novella is prequel to the Expanse series. The main character I met in the 1st book Leviathan Wakes, where although a secondary characters, he has quite an important role, and I was really interested to know how exactly he got his title, and how he came to be at the position he is in Leviathan Wakes, and this novella offers that explanation, and I enjoyed it quite a lot.

My rating: 4 of 5 

#16 - The First Fall by Seanan McGuire

Another InCryptid prequel with Fran & Johnny. This only came out a few days ago, and it was so sad & heartbreaking, I cried through it all. That's all I'm going to say. I'm really hoping that the author is planning to write more, because I want to know who's responsible, and that the one who's to blame will pay. The First Fall is amazing, heartbreaking, but amazing!

My rating: 5 of 5

  

#17 - Phantom File by Patrick Carman

 

I really enjoyed reading Phantom File. It gives us background about Dark Eden & its mystery, as well as the one behind it all. I loved it how the author mixed history with science & the paranormal, making one eerie story. Also, this novella makes me want to finally pick up the sequel & its conclusion asap, so hopefully I'll do that soon.

 

My rating: 4 of 5

#18 -  Lord Stillwell's Excellent Engagements by Victoria Alexander

 

Win first shows up in What Happens at Christmas, the first book in the Millworth Manor series. I absolutely loved that novel, and I absolutely loved Win as a character. We learn that he was engaged 3 times, but never got married, so this novella is about that. We meet the 3 different women he was engaged to, and we see why the engagements has fallen apart. Once again Win is delightful, amusing, witty, fun, and overall amazing character. I especially loved his letters to Gray in the novella, hilarious! I loved this novella, it was fun, sweet, romantic, and a little bit sad, and I can't read Win's HEA in The Importance of Being Wicked.

 
My rating: 5 of 5

#19 - Forbidden Blood by Kristen Painter

  

In this prequel novella of the House of Comarre series, we get to see how Dominic & Maris (Marissa here) met, and how they fell in love. Also, we see how Maris won her freedom. I absolutely loved this novella. Having already read Blood Rights, I was interested to know more about Dominic, as well as he & Maris, so I was really glad about this novella, I just hadn't gotten around to reading it. This novella was fun, sweet & romantic, and I absolutely loved both Dominic & Marissa as characters, and they were great together. There was also some action, and Marissa is one kickass character, although that wasn't a surprise, she being what she is ;) We also get to see a good glimpse of the amazing world-building Kristen Painter has done in the series. So, if you're a fan of the series, this is a must-read, and even if you're not, this is a good place to start ;) As for me, now I'm ready to catch up on the series before the last book is published!

 

My rating: 5 of 5

Wrap Up:

For someone who didn't plan on reading a lot, I went crazy & read a lot ;) Yeah, most of the novels I was reading were left unread because I was reading novellas, but this was awesome, and I will definitely do this some time in the future, taking a week to read mostly novellas in series, there are a lot more to be read :)