Sand and Kisses Anthology Collection (Book Review)

Sand and Kisses Anthology Collection by Elana Johnson, Cindy M. Hogan, Jo Noelle, Candice N. Toone, Donea Lee Weaver

Sweet & Sassy Anthology Series

Publisher: Little Box Press

Publication Date: April 25, 2016

Format: eBook - 379 pages

               Kindle - 1062 KB

ASIN: B01DOPS3NI

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the anthology collection from the authors / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a book review program hosted by I Am A Reader.

Book Description:

Five new clean romance novellas from Sweet & Sassy Anthologies.

Open for Love by Elana Johnson 

Sabrina Arnold loves running her family’s Bed & Breakfast in sunny New Orleans. What she doesn’t love is the new establishment going up right next door. While Bri’s snooping around the place to see how it compares to hers, she’s caught by tall, dark, and handsome Carter Hammond.

What she doesn’t know is that Carter owns the property where she’s trespassing, though he claims he doesn’t. He’s in New Orleans to start his first business venture, get out from underneath his father’s thumb, and learn about the mother he’s never known. As he and Bri spend more time together, he knows it’s only a matter of time before she finds out that he owns the building she hates. Can their fledgling, summer love survive against the odds?


Secrets in the Sand by Cindy M. Hogan 

Sometimes staying hidden, even for a spy, is nearly impossible.

Christy Hadden, spy extraordinaire, thinks she’s created the perfect getaway in beautiful South Beach, Florida. A place where she and her handler, Jeremy, can give their forbidden romance a chance – in secret.

But when they hear cries of alarm in an alley nearby, they can’t resist the pull to help, even if it exposes them. And when Christy becomes a person of interest in a murder committed in that same alley, they must hunt down the real killers and clear Christy’s name.

In this game of hide and seek, it seems their secret is sure to be found out. Christy may have to choose between the love of her life and her life’s purpose – and the stakes are higher than she ever bargained for.


Life’s a Beach by Jo Noelle 

Jenna Brennan doesn’t believe in love. She doesn’t believe in marriage, and she’s learned to only count on herself. At her Uncle Walter’s insistence, and a little emotional blackmail, she returns to Misty Harbor Cottages to help him for one last summer in a place that’s really the only home she’s ever known.

Cole Zamora has worked at Misty Harbor for more than half of his twenty-three years, and imagined someday owning the place. He met Jenna when they were ten-years-old, and his young heart fell hard for her, relishing every summer she came back. That is, until two years ago, when she broke his heart and never returned.

Uncle Walter proposes a challenge between the two, with the winner becoming the new owner of Misty Harbor. Now, there’s a real chance Cole could lose his heart and his home. Jenna isn’t sure which worries her more—a summer of rivalry or romance?


The Upgrade by Candice N. Toone 

Moving on after college can be tough. Especially when former sorority president and dance team captain, Amanda Ford, takes a job at her alma mater. Her big plans to help host a study abroad tour to Peru and to launch a dance fitness program back on campus nearly come undone when she meets Spencer Elliott, an adorable undergrad who’d love to date the girl she used to be. She gives in to a final hurrah date, but regrets that choice when Spencer shows up at the study abroad orientation. Customs regulations, professional insecurities and social unrest combine to challenge Amanda’s developing professional prowess, often leaving her pitifully vulnerable to the unfortunate combination of an emerging sense of self, a handsome near-stranger, and a beautiful Peruvian beach.


Surfboards and Star Trek by Donea Lee Weaver 

When Anna meets much-younger-looking Derek while on vacation at the beach-it’s not exactly love at first sight. How could a handsome surfer be interested in a divorcee like her? When she finds their age difference is nominal and that she and Derek share a love for all things Star Trek, she hopes love might blossom. But, long-distance relationships are tough. And when a waitress mistakes her for Derek’s mom, she starts to doubt the budding romance. Can a California surf-connoisseur and an older woman who sucks at all things water-sports find enough common ground to make a relationship work.


My Book Review:

Who could pass up reading an intriguing collection of five romance novellas on a lazy summer day?

Since I enjoyed reading all five romance tales in the Sand and Kisses Anthology, I decided to only provide a general book review instead of individual reviews.

Sand and Kisses Anthology is an eclectic collection of five romance novellas from authors Elana Johnson, Cindy M. Hogan, Jo Noelle, Candice N. Toone, and Donea Lee Weave. Each romance novella flows smoothly from one to the next, and has a unique mixture of romance that will appeal to everyone. Each of the authors weave an intriguing, unique, and thoroughly enjoyable short romance tale with engaging characters, a variety of themes and settings, and enough drama, humor, mystery, and suspense that will easily draw the reader into each story, keep them turning the pages, and leave them wanting more.

Sand and Kisses Anthology is the perfect collection of romance novellas to read while at the beach or pool. Each story will certainly peak your interest, and whet your appetite to read more from each of the individual authors featured in this delightful anthology collection.


RATING: 4 STARS 

About The Authors

Cindy M. Hogan is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh.

She is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Sweet and Sour Kisses, and three in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush, Hotwire, and Fatal Exchange. Her newest action/adventure series: Code of Silence: Kate Unmasked, Kate Concealed, and Kate Unleashed is now available. She also has several novellas in various anthologies.

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A speculative fiction author under the name Elana Johnson and an inspirational adult romance author under the pen name of Liz Isaacson, her work includes the young adult dystopian romance series Possession, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), Elevated, the Elemental series, the Songs of Life fantasy series, the Redwood Bay romance series, and the Three Rivers Ranch Romance series.

School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog (www.elanajohnson.com) or Twitter (@ElanaJ). She co-founded the Query Tracker blog and WriteOnCon, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers, a blog written by young adult science fiction and fantasy authors.

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Jo Noelle grew up in Colorado and Utah but also spent time in Idaho and California. She has two adult children and three small kids.

She teaches teachers and students about reading and writing, grows freakishly large tomatoes, enjoys cooking especially for desserts, builds furniture, sews beautiful dresses, and likes to go hiking in the nearby mountains.

Oh, and by the way, she's two people--Canda Mortensen and Deanna Henderson, a mother/daughter writing team. We write sweet romance stories with contemporary, paranormal, fantasy or time-travel twists.


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As a third generation Logan-ite who has always lived in Utah, you might expect Candice N. Toone to be pretty settled. While she's completely committed to her roles as writer, wife and mother, she welcomes the opportunity to explore new adventures in her professional world. Some of her favorite resume highlights include: Jazzercise instructor, at-risk youth counselor, South American study abroad tour chaperone and academic mentor to potential elementary school teachers. At some point, she hopes to add neuroscientist, grocery store deli cook and back up dancer for the Pussycat Dolls to the list.

This is Candice's first fiction publication and she promises to become more active in the social media scene just as soon as she stops having flashbacks from the high school cafeteria.


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Donea Lee Weaver is a perpetual daydreamer who's been creating stories since her elementary school days, when she was convinced she was a psychic half-vampire. When she's not writing about the things she loves (all things fantasy, romance and sci-fi) she's raising a daughter and a dog, with her husband, somewhere in Northern, UT. She also loves to read, travel, eat ALL the baked goods, watch great movies and TV shows and play games with her family.

Surfboards and Star Trek is her first publication.


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