Yule Be Mine by Lori Foster + giveaway

Type: Contemporary Romance, One w/ slight Paranormal 
Heat: 2 out of 4
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Turns out Yule Be Mine isn't one of Foster's full length novels but a collection of her short stories. And it's a pretty good collection too. Fun and sexy with lots of humor, sweet declarations and characters finally winning over the ones they love. 

One of the things I love about Foster's short stories is that while things get all hot and heavy right away all the couples have known each other for months, if not years, before the good stuff starts. Makes them so much more believable and to me a lot more enjoyable to read. 

If you love Foster and are looking for something you can quickly pick up and finish in one sitting Yule Be Mine is definitely one to check out. 

He Sees You When You're Sleeping (55pgs)

Heh, okay so kinda a creepy title but a nice short, quick read that's pretty cute. Booker Dean has his sights set on unwrapping his next door neighbor, Frances, for Christmas. She's been secretly lusting after him for months too but doesn't know he's finally broken up with his cheating girlfriend and is free for the taking. I loved the friendship between the two and how feisty Frannie was with him. She wasn't about to do anything with him when she thought he still had a girlfriend and damn if she didn't stop him in his tracks. Love a girl with morals! Just a fun friends to lovers story with a lot of laughs. The secondary characters were great too and provided some highly embarrassing background entertainment.

"If you'll just settle down and listen, I'll explain." Cautiously, he turned her around so she faced him. Then, before she could protest, he looked at her mouth, appeared drawn there and he started kissing her again, light, teasing kisses. "I swear, Frannie, you have the sexiest mouth." 

"In about two seconds, I'm going to unman you with my knee." He released her and stepped back so quickly, she almost smiled. "Now, if you insist, you can explain while you help me move my stuff."

White Knight Christmas (53pgs)
This one was pretty good too. It's hard to get a full story in in only 50 pages but Foster manages very nicely. Parker Ross really doesn't like Christmas and his much younger neighbor Lily Donaldson who lives for it is about to do him in with her good cheer. I really liked both characters. They've been crushing on each other for months without the other knowing it. Parker thinks he's way too old and hard for the young, sweet Lily and she's determined to finally have him. I loved Lily. She's blunt about what she wants (Parker), bubbly and not at all what he thought she was. I about died when he told her his initial impression of her and her weird behavior. This one's funny, sweet and while the last bit was oh so corny and had me rolling my eyes I had a big goofy grin on my face the whole time. 

"I figured you for a hooker."
Lily blinked at him.
Neither of them moved.
Even Elvis quit singing...
"A hooker?...What a dilemma for you, Detective Ross. Here you are, the quintessential defender against evil--"
"Knock it off, Lily."
"The epitome of all that's good--"
Growling, he said, "You're asking for it."
"A regular White Knight, and you thought the damsel in distress was a soiled dove."...Taking him by surprise, Lily drew up short, pulled him around, and threw herself into his arms. "You're precious, Parker, you really are."

Do You Hear What I Hear (111pgs)
Now this one I LOVED! Sergeant Osbourne Decker's boss asks him to look out for his sister-in-law Marci over the Christmas holiday because she thinks someone is stalking her. She may be hot but Osbourne is off crazy women. And ones who think they're pet psychics and steal donkey's from nativity scenes are so on that list. The characters are great, funny, sweet and cute together. I loved that Marci's a little kooky and talks with animals. That she gets him all flustered and off kilter. With pilfered donkey's, a pet psychic and two crazy rescued dogs thrown into the mix things could get a little outlandish but I love it. It's a nice, satisfying read and pretty steamy and humorous to boot. You never quite know what's going to come out of her mouth and Osbourne's inner dialogue/thoughts were fantastic. He turned out to be an amazingly sweet hero. Loved the whole thing. 

The donkey nibbled on his butt. 

"What the hell!" Leaping a foot, Ozzie jerked around. The donkey was right THERE, not two inches from him, his ears laid back and his big brown eyes soulful. How had the damned thing moved so silently? 

"He's just being friendly." Marci shared that special smile that felt like a caress. "He likes you." 

Appalled, Ozzie said, "He likes my ass." And he backed out of the donkey's reach. 

"I do, too." 

No, no, no. He wasn't about to touch that one. "It'd help if you'd just be quiet, Marci." 

Unaffected by his dark mood, she laughed. "Lighten up, Osbourne. It's not my fault, or the donkey's that you have such an irresistible bod."

The Christmas Present (108pgs)
This one is part of Foster's Brava Brother's series which is one of my favorites. Beth Monroe decided to get back at her cheating ex-fiance by having a fling with his best friend Levi and now Levi, who has had a crush on her forever, refuses to give her up. Oh the drama, right? So Lily runs home to her family and Levi takes up the chase. Some serious sparks/passion fly between them and her whole family is there for the show. I loved getting to see all the past characters and how they were doing.  Levi was one of my favorite heroes. He's been pining away for Lily for years but never let on because she was with his best friend and he'd never cross that line. This man loves her something fierce and it's something to see. The ending wrapped up a little too pretty for me but it's a lovely heartwarming read none the less. 

"Back then," he whispered, "I guess I was into masochism, because being there with you, so close when you were so untouchable, was pretty torturous." 

In the same whisper, Beth asked, "So why did you do it?" 

"Because not being with you was worse."

Get Your Copy:    Amazon    Barnes&Noble  

Are you a short story reader? How short is too short? 

Or are you a full length novel only reader? Have you read Foster? Have a favorite? 

I've got an extra copy of Lori Foster's A PERFECT STORM that's in need of a new home! 

It's the 4th of her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series and a hot, sexy read!

the giveaway is international and open until 7/31

just leave a comment about the review or answer the questions and leave a way to reach you :)