Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Candy Hearts
SERIES: An LGBTQIA2S Charity Anthology (Volume 3)
AUTHOR: Multi-Author Series
PUBLISHER: Lee Blair Books 2026
LENGTH: 1581 Pages
RELEASE DATE: January 30, 2026
BLURB:
What’s sweeter than a low-angst queer romance at Valentine’s Day? How about twenty-one of them in one anthology to help support a good cause?
Each novella in Candy Hearts, volume 3, is overflowing with red-hot romance and all the good feels. This volume is full of “meet-uglies” and bad first impressions. What’s more satisfying than a happily ever after that started on the wrong foot?
The Candy Hearts LGBTQIA2S+ anthology will be available for a limited time, and all proceeds will benefit the Rainbow Railroad.
The participating authors in this volume are:
A.D. Ellis,BA Tortuga,Becca Seymour,Beck Grey,Bix Barrow,BL Jones,Chantal Mer,D.C. Emerson,David Gray,D.K. Sutton,E.M. Denning,EJ Stoll,Ellie Ash,Essie Sloane,Evie McGlynn,Madalyn George,Merry Farmer,Minerva Howe,Riley Long,Stella Rainbow,Susan Scott Shelley,Vinni George
REVIEW:
I love Multi-Author anthologies. Fun short stories that favorite authors submit and new-to-me Authors that I discover! A total win/win in my mind! And what is more fun than getting to read love stories at Valentine’s Day!
- Explosion of the Heart by BA Tortuga
Blurb:
Dalton is having a pretty crappy Valentine’s Day already when he hears that his soon to be ex is out with another man at a bar. And not only is Jack stepping out, but he left their two little girls with a babysitter to do it. So when he hunts Jack down to give him a piece of his mind, he’s not inclined to be kind.
But Jack is commiserating with a cousin about how he’s not with the love of his life for the first candy holiday of the year, and once Dalton makes a scene, Jack knows the man still loves him. So he sets about getting Dalton back, one day at a time. Will these two get what they really want, or will it all go out with a bang?
Review:
If you read my reviews at all you know that I’m a BA Tortuga and her swoon-worthy cowboys fan big time. This sweet novella gives a great taste of her kind of cowboys. Dalton broke his back rodeoing and that was the last straw for his husband Jack. They had a ranch and two little girls that needed their Daddy home, alive and not crippled. And Jack need his husband in one piece damnit. The way he handled it at the hospital might not have been the best way. Dalton’s lawyer sister didn’t like it one bit and made darn sure he knew it. And after that little show at the bar Jack knew his husband was his…jealousy and all. So now he had to figure out a way they could make a go of it. Because a year was a long time to be apart and not talking. And Jack wasn’t going to ever let them divorce!
I loved this quick read but would love if Author BA Tortuga decides to expand this wonderful story into one of her full-length Cowboy novels **hint, hint** 😉
- Mugs and Kisses by Beck Grey
Blurb:
Jake
My best friend’s having a rough time with her nightmare coworker, Matt. I can’t stand the guy—and I’ve never even met him. So when a ridiculously attractive stranger walks into our favorite coffee shop, it’s a welcome distraction. There’s an instant spark—heat, interest, the whole deal. Then I hear his order: one dark roast with two extra shots of espresso… and my bestie’s signature, impossible-to-miss latte.
And the name on his cup? Matt.
How dare he steal her ideas and then try to bribe her with her favorite drink! Not on my watch. I storm over and let him have it in front of everyone. It feels so good—until I find out he isn’t that Matt.
I just humiliated a total stranger.
Matt
I’m in line picking up coffee for a client, when I notice him—blue eyes, killer smile, the kind of guy who makes you forget how to breathe. One minute I’m paying for coffee; the next I’m being publicly roasted by the hottest guy alive.
Weeks later, fate throws us together again—at a Valentine’s Day party, no less. This time, he’s full of apologies and nervous charm. And honestly? He’s impossible to resist. Maybe it’s reckless. Maybe it’s fate. But if chemistry this strong can survive a spectacular misunderstanding… it might just be the start of something real.
Content Information or Trigger Warnings
Brief mention of a parent’s death due to heart attack. Allusion to depression of a parent after a spouse’s death.
Review:
This one surprised me. First how to overcome that misunderstanding after Jake literally rips Matt to pieces in the coffee shop. Then how well they got past that and the chemistry just exploded on the pages. Add in that this book takes place just one hour from where I grew up and minutes from where I went to college and I was hooked! Great story line. Fun banter and texting. Corny puns galore! Mix in in two gorgeous men who were definitely made for each other. Add in a dose of yummy foods and and creative art in the form of ceramics and you have a fun Valentine’s treat!
- The Weekend Boyfriend by Merry Farmer
Blurb:
The worst way to meet a guy is by showing up to their office dressed in glitter and wings to deliver a Valentine’s Day singing telegram from their ex. Javier Rivera thinks the disaster will mean the end of the modeling agency he’s trying to get off the ground…until he gets an entirely different kind of proposal from financier Desmond White. Desmond thinks hiring Javier to pretend to be his boyfriend for an important event will be the perfect way to get his ex to leave him alone. But when food poisoning takes him down and Javier cares for him like he’s never been cared for before, Des gets other ideas about how he could keep Javier in his life. But will pretending to be boyfriends for the weekend lead to a real connection?
Review:
This short, sweet novella is just the reason I love doing multi-author anthologies. I have been meaning to read one of Merry Farmer’s books for years but he time and opportunity never aligned until this book. And I’m so thankful I took a moment and chose to read this novella. It was the perfect introduction and I discovered at the end that it is the introduction to a full-length Javier and Desmond Novel! I am so on-board and looking forward to this brand new series. “This “Happy for Now” start will be expanded soon into a full-length novel that will kick of a new series Rent-A-Boyfriend!” I, for one, can’t wait for that release!!! Des and Javier were the perfect fake boyfriends that it became glaringly obvious that fake was going by the wayside very quickly. And I have a feeling it’s going to be spectacular!
- What the Heart Wants by Minerva Howe
Blurb:
When Maverick Grainger gets dumped by his casual weekend hook up before the main event on Valentine’s Day, he growls at the cutie working the front desk at the Grand Springs Hotel in Secret Springs, Colorado. He feels pretty bad about it later, and when the guy’s car breaks down, Mav knows what to do to help. Graham thinks the grumpy hottie from the hotel is out of his league, but Valentine’s Day is pretty magical, and he might just find out he’s wrong in the best way.
Content Information or Trigger Warnings
This is a alpha omega universe where mpreg is possible (though not in this story) with knotting on page.
I loved the Secret Springs series and getting to visit the Grand Springs Hotel again was a blast. We even got a few moments with both Charlie and Bridget 🎉. And met the newest omega staying at the Merchante building and working at the hotel. Graham is a sweet young man that is always willing to help out. Double shifts are the norm. And the staff love him. When a grumpy Maverick Grainger takes out his ire over his date with benefits that dumped him via text on the sweet and slightly husky front desk young man he knows he was wrong and had to apologize. That apology turns into a fun Valentine adventure as sweet and spicy as the holiday it’s self! This was a fun chance to get a glimpse at Secret Springs again and a tire holiday treat for this fan.
RATING: 
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