Reviewed by Sadonna

 

TITLE:  Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology (Collection) Volume 7 – Part 1

AUTHORS:  Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton, Charlie Novak,
Cora Rose, E.M. Lindsey, Fearne Hill

PUSLISHER:  self-published

LENGTH:  698 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 2, 2024

BLURB:

Once upon a time SIX YEARS AGO, the Heart2Heart app made its first batch of incredibly unlikely (but oh-so-perfect) love matches. So a fresh, new group of your favorite authors wondered… what happens when the world’s most perceptive dating software gets an upgrade, just in time for Valentine’s Day?

Will the porcelain teacup collector, the shy rugby player, and the bank robber with a heart of gold find their perfect matches? Only fate (and C.U.P.I.D) know.

As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

Stories included in this collection are:
Among Friends, by Annabeth Albert
A New Thrill, by Avril Ashton
Brie Mine, by Charlie Novak
When CUPID Strikes, by Cora Rose
Mixed Signals, by E.M. Lindsey
August’s Thief, by Fearne Hill
Skating After You, by Hayden Hall
Wings of Love, Jackie North
Love in Bloom, by Jocelynn Drake
The Shape of the Heart’s Desire, K.C. Wells
Meat Cute, by Kelly Fox
Mixed Motives, by Leslie McAdam

REVIEW: 

Among Friends: 4

Annabeth Albert’s contribution to this anthology is a story of Tennessee, a lawyer who has moved back to the town he mostly grew up in and uses the dating app to find a date before Valentine’s Day.  This turns out to be a total bust.  But while he’s in the ER after falling and injuring his wrist, he meets up with his childhood best friend Tate – who is also in the ER for an injury.  While waiting for medical help, they reminisce and catch up.  Tennessee had disappeared from Tate’s life when they were younger and he had no idea what had happened to him.  Turns out the Tennessee had been hiding how bad his home life was and when he was whisked away, well there hadn’t been time to notify anybody.

Tate is excited to be reunited with his bestie.  Since Tennessee has been gone, Tate has come out and he’s looking for something real and permanent.  Tennessee is still the same true friend he remembers and now he’s hoping for more than friendship 😉

It’s a sweet story, low angst with a well-deserved happily ever after for two guys who get a second chance they never knew they needed.

A New Thrill: 3.5

This story by Avril Ashton has Paxton and Jameson have broken up and Pax has finally decided to take the plunge and find someone to date, so he uses the app.  He’s not at all pleased when on the first date, it turns out not to be the person he thought he was communicating with,  but someone he already knows.

There is a backstory of PTSD for Pax after being one of the victims in a bank robbery.  Jameson was there for him and they had been building something.  But then it turned out to be built on a foundation of lies and Pax was devastated.  Jameson swears that he didn’t mean to hurt him, but the damage is done.  The question is can Pax get over his devastation and the lies and give Jameson another chance.

I have to say I did not at all connect with this story, the MCs or the way things played out.  I just didn’t find any of it believable.  This may be a me thing.  As usual YMMV.

Brie Mine:  4.5

Charlie Novak’s entry in this anthology is a delightful story of two guys, Sage and Iggy, who live in a small coastal town in England with its requisite small dating pool and end up talking to each other via the dating app.  When they finally bump into each other at the local free library and figure out who the other is, well it’s quite serendipitous 🙂  They end up chatting about books and music and share a meal and really enjoy themselves.  Their businesses are in close proximity and they’ve actually noticed each other in the past and hadn’t worked up the nerve to approach each other.

The more time they spend together, the more they seem to have in common.  It feels very natural between them and like they’ve known each other forever.  They are each pleasantly surprised since they haven’t had great lucky dating in the past.

It’s a super sweet, low angst and very easy flowing story.  I enjoyed every single word.

When CUPID Strikes:  4.5

This lovely short story from Cora Rose has a lawyer, Alastair and Ara, a librarian getting set up on a blind date.  Alastair however is not gay and did not say he was attracted to women.  Ara is not happy either.  But Alastair is a gentleman and he has a reservation so they go to his fancy expensive French restaurant.  And have a good time!

Alastair can’t get Ara out of his mind though, so he heads to Ara’s library ostensibly for a book on snails, but really to see Ara.  Ara invites him back to his place.  It seems like maybe Alastair likes Ara more than he thinks he should.

Ara goes to return something that Alastair leaves behind and they end up at Alastair’s fancy place.  Ara is surprised but it seems that Alastair really does fancy him.  Like a lot.  But it’s Alastair’s first time with a guy and Ara is worried.  Turns out he didn’t need to be 🙂

Loved this bi-awakening sweet story with minimal angst and drama.  Alastair realizes he wants what he wants – even if it is unexpected.  Ara is shocked that a guy like Alastair would want him, but they really are good for each other and keep the other interested and interesting.  Really delightful characters and story.

Mixed Signals:  4.25

E.M. Lindsey does their usual brilliant job of presenting characters that may not be typical.  Phoenix, aka Nix, is autistic and has terrible luck with finding a date. He’s got food aversions and he’s pretty good at masking when he has to at work, but it’s exhausting. He really wants to find someone he can be himself with. So his brother talks him into the dating app.

Maddox has been injured in a hit and run and uses crutches and a wheelchair because his leg was basically shattered.  He’s about to finish vet school and works at a Pet Store with his best friends.  He wants to find a guy who sees him as more than his injury.

Mad and Nix are meeting other dates at a food truck festival.  Neither is excited about the venue.  Turns out both of their dates are AWFUL!!!  But Mads notices Nix getting more an more agitated by his awful date and steps in.  He really likes Nix and understands more than anyone else ever has.  He says the magic words and it seems like and awful date maybe leads to the perfect date.

Absolutely loved these two together.  Real and authentic in all life’s messiness.

August’s Thief:  4.25

This story from Fearne Hill tells the story of August and Dawson.  In many ways these two guys are very different.  August is wealthy.  Dawson is definitely not.  Dawson cares for his disabled twin brother Mikey and he struggles to do that.  August has been sent by CUPID, promising him the answer to his prayers.  August feels like his disfigurement is the problem.  Dawson feels like his commitment to Mikey and his lack of funds is his problem.

Turns out that these two really are a match made in heaven to more ways than one.  It takes CUPID to point out to August though how much he’s actually getting from this relationship.  Dawson is proud by practical.  August begins to see that his life can have meaning and worth beyond just his social position.

I love this writer and this story was sweet and unexpected.  I also loved her take on the dating “app” which is more like a chatbot I guess.  Anyway, just lovely.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

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