Review: Tinsel and Tatas: A Holiday Romantic Comedy Anthology

Tinsel and Tatas: A Holiday Romantic Comedy Anthology by Kilby Blades
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Tinsel and Tatas" was a fantastic collection of short, fun stories benefiting a charity that's particularly special to me, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I started by reading the stories from my favorite authors and then moved on to the ones from new-to-me authors that were most appealing, but I ran out of time to read them all before I had to write my review. I will likely revisit the collection to read the rest of the stories in the future.

"Wilder for the Win" by Serena Bell: This story is part of Bell's Wilder Adventures series but works as a standalone. After years of marriage, three kids, and launching two successful businesses, Heath and Amanda (Wilder) Kenning are desperate to recapture the spark between them. I loved this super cute novella, which aptly demonstrated the importance of good communication and asking your partner for help. Amanda and Heath were both incredibly likeable and the misunderstanding between them was very relatable. 5 stars.

"Last One Gets the Booby Prize" by Kilby Blades: Even though this seems to be a sort of bonus epilogue featuring the main characters from "The Secret Ingredient" (which I haven't read yet), it worked well on its own and I really enjoyed it. Max was such a sweet, supportive husband, and I appreciated that he was secure enough to step back and let his wife, celebrity chef Cella Dawes, enjoy the spotlight. 4 stars.

"Mixing Merrymas" by Dylann Crush: This is a novella in the upcoming Whiskey Wars series but works as a standalone. After her sister Charity pressures her to spend the holidays together, Grace Devine returns home to Beaver Bluff, Tennessee for the first time since her mother's death. She meets bartender Arlo when she stops for a drink on her way from the airport to her sister's house, and they turn out to be each other's lucky charm. I loved this cute, sweet story, which featured a healthy dose of steam and the ugliest, most adorable dog imaginable. 5 stars.

"Two Nights to Believe" by Melonie Johnson: This story is a follow-up to "Too Good to be Real" featuring engaged couple Penelope and Jay, but works as a standalone. Penelope and Jay only have two days to organize a charity event in honor of their boss's friend, who was recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. A survivor of childhood cancer herself, the topic strikes close to home for Penelope, who worries that her "miracle" has an expiration date and she won't get the chance to grow old with Jay. She and Jay were an endearing couple, and IMO Jay's response to Penelope's fears was absolutely perfect. He never tried to talk her out of them, just reassured her that no matter what happened, they would face it together. I completely adored this story; in fact, it was my favorite one of the entire collection. (The sweet corgi cameos were just an added bonus!) 5 stars.

"Decidedly with Tinsel" by Stina Lindenblatt: Juliette Rogers and Drew Chapman were best friends (and secret crushes) as teenagers, but have now become workplace enemies as adults thanks to a messy falling out between their families. Forced to team up in a charity competition against a rival advertising firm, the old feelings between them reignite, but Drew's ex-girlfriend is determined to win him back. Will history repeat itself or can Drew and Juliette manage to get things right this time? This was a fun enemies-to-lovers story, and I really enjoyed the competition aspect of it. 4.5 stars.

"Star Bright" by Susannah Nix: This story serves as a standalone prequel to Nix's Starstruck series, though readers may remember the female lead, actress Kimberleigh Cress, from her brief appearance in book #2 ("Rising Star"). Kimberleigh has avoided speaking with entertainment reporter Spencer Devlin ever since an uncomfortable interview she did with him went viral. However, after he helps her through a panic attack, she realizes that Spencer isn't actually who she thought he was. I loved this story and can't wait for more when the full, expanded version comes out next year. 5 stars.

"Pretty Packages" by Marika Ray: This is a standalone story set in the Jobs from Hell/Sisters from Hell world. The last thing mail carrier James wants to do is show his gossipy co-worker Poppy's secret granddaughter around the town of Auburn Hill, but when he meets Liv, it turns out to be love at first sight. This was such a funny, sweet, and heartwarming story! Liv was so brave to share her story, and I loved James's response when she let him see her scars for the first time. 5 stars.

"A Brit Under the Mistletoe" by Brenda St. John Brown: Gemma invites her friend Oliver to run the Santa Dash charity 5K with her at Castle Calder, hoping that he will finally see her as more than a friend. However, Oliver turns the tables on her when he asks Gemma to pose as his fake girlfriend to ward off advances from another woman. This was a cute story, if a bit frustrating for me because the only thing keeping Oliver and Gemma apart was the fact that they wouldn't talk to each other. 4 stars.

*Review copy provided by the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.

View all my reviews