Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Candy Hearts: An LGBTQIA2S+ Charity Anthology Volume 2 (Part 1)
AUTHORS: Anna Sparrows, BA Tortuga, Becca Seymour, Beck Grey, Bix Barrow, BL Maxwell, CD Rachels, Chantal Mer, D.K. Sutton, David Gray, E.M. Denning, Hinsel Meyer, Jem Wendel, Lee Blair, London Price, Marie Sinclair, Merry Farmer, Minerva Howe, Riley Long, Rye Cox, Stella Rainbow, Susan Scott Shelley, Victoria Gillilan, Zoe Lee
PUSLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 1539
RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2025
BLURB:
What’s sweeter than a low angst queer romance at Valentine’s Day? How about twenty-three of them in one anthology to help support a good cause?
Each novella in the Candy Hearts Anthology, volume 2, is overflowing with red-hot romance and all the good feels. This volume is all about wrong numbers—wrong phone numbers, addresses, office numbers, seats, and more. If you enjoy serendipity, then you’ll love this collection.
The Candy Hearts Anthology will be available for a limited time, and all proceeds will benefit the Rainbow Railroad.
The participating authors in this volume are:
Anna Sparrows
BA Tortuga
Becca Seymour
Beck Grey
Bix Barrow
BL Maxwell
CD Rachels
Chantal Mer
D.K. Sutton
David Gray
E.M. Denning
Hinsel Meyer
Jem Wendel
Lee Blair
London Price
Marie Sinclair
Merry Farmer
Minerva Howe
Riley Long
Rye Cox
Stella Rainbow
Susan Scott Shelley
Victoria Gillilan
Zoe Lee
REVIEW:
Note: There are 24 (!) stories in the anthology this year so I’m once again breaking up the reviews into smaller groupings 🙂 Stay tuned for reviews of more of the stories in this anthology.
Silver (Fox) Linings by Anna Sparrows – 4.75 stars
This is the story of Cody and a grndr date gone wrong followed by accidental texts to Kenneth, his father’s best friend and not his own best friend Sylvia. This is an age-gap, virgin MC, father’s best friend story that is really sweet. Cody is an adorable twink and Kenneth is a successful CEO and even though on paper they shouldn’t work, well they start a friendship that sort of leads to a friends with benefits sitch. But maybe there is still more there for them 🙂 I really enjoyed this.
Drunk Dialing -by BA Tortuga – 4 stars
This is a second chances story between Jake a cowboy and Treat, and rancher and the one he can’t forget. It also starts with a mistaken phone call that has Treat realizing that he misses Jake as much as Jake apparently misses him. Jake was afraid to settle down and There is a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner too 🙂 There is a strong hurt/comfort vibe here too.
Falling for 42 by Becca Seymour – 4 stars
This is a cute story of Kobe, a tattoo artist who unknowingly get set up my his brother Jackson who is a college basketball player. He gives Kobe a jersey to wear to the first game he finally attends, but it’s NOT Jackson’s jersey as he assumed, but another player. A player named Malik that Jackson is trying to set Kobe up with 🙂 It’s a very cute brother’s best friend set up. Its a fun story about two guys who needed the nudge to get together, but take time to get to know each other. And there is tattoo talk 😉
Wrong Place, Right Time by Beck Grey – 4.75 stars
This one set in 1987 and as such gives a definite perspective on the bad old days in many ways. Danny and Mike went to HS together and have a serendipitous meeting at a hockey game. Mike was Danny’s HS crush. He’s still in the closet because he lives at home with his homophobic father. Mike has no relationship with his father, but his sister has moved out west to Oregon and is after Mike to move. There are definitely time appropriate hurdles and I really liked seeing these two build something despite the cultural opposition of the day.
Last Mango in Palm Springs by Bix Barrow – 4.75 stars
I haven’t read a lot of Bix Barrow stories, but the ones I have, I’ve really enjoyed. This one starts with a baggage mixup and ends with Ford taking the wrong one so he’s on a vacation in Palm Springs with Zachary, a younger man’s, clothes 😉 It’s a really fun comedy of errors with these two. then. There is also some good Ace/Demi rep here too. I really like how Zachary helped Ford figure some things out. Really good story – one of my favorites in fact.
Sixteen or Ninety-One by BL Maxwell – 4 stars
I enjoyed this one even if it was a little bit insta-lovey. I feel like that’s OK for a Valentine’s day short story. It sweet and fluffy and I like the sweet and shy Jake and Spencer and the valentine’s game was strong here!
RATING: 
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