Review for The Fourth of July Anthology

Title: The Fourth of July

Author: Alena Stuart, Denise Alicea, Ellen Margret, Mary Alice Pritchard,

Rachel E. Moniz, Kate Hofman

Publisher: DCL Publications

Genre: Contemporary

Publication date: June 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-9891937-6-4

Length: 372 pgs

Book Series and number: N/A

Rating: 4 1/2

Heat Rating: Warm

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for For Whom The Books Toll

4 1/2, Warm

Tangled Up In Need—Alena Stuart

When the object of her cyber lust shows up on her doorstep on the Fourth of July, Johanna Porter is caught between panic and giddiness. What’s a Canadian girl to do?

While vacationing in Colorado, Johanna has met the man of her dreams, Alec Brody. Now that she is back home in Ontario, she must settle for a long distance romance over the internet. Even that has it's limitations.

Wanting to surprise Johanna, Alec has made the long drive to Ontario. Knowing neither one wants to move, he's hoping to work out the details later. Right now, he's willing to settle for some celebrating time making love to her.

This is a fun short story, very entertaining. I like both characters Johanna and Alec. Tangled Up In Need is well written and moves along nicely.

Fireworks—Denise Alicea

After the death of her grandfather, Sarah takes his things away. A picture will lead her to a magical night. What’s a girl from New York going to do with a man from the 1940′s?

After collecting the last of her grandfather's mementos, Sarah headed home, which was a few blocks away. She was looking at some old pictures of her grandfather from the war, when a thunderstorm kicked up. A flash of lightening, and the lights flickered, then there was a shadow in the corner of the room.

The last thing Lt. James Taylor remembered was an incoming grenade, the next moment he was in a strange living room with a beautiful woman.

Sarah's grandfather had told her, he had a surprise for her and it looks like his young soldier friend is it.

Fireworks is a very short read and has little back story. That doesn't detract from the overall imaginative plot of Denise Alicea. Even after her grandfather went to Heaven, he's still trying to fix Sarah up on a blind date.

The Ghost Whispered, “I Love You”— Ellen Margret

Anna must change the past in order to be with Jon, her long-dead husband from a previous lifetime, who was mortally wounded at Bunker Hill.

Captain Jonathan Dagwoad, a British soldier, is writing his last words in his diary. He was severely injured during the battle at Bunker Hill. He met his wife Semone, in Charleston not long after landing in America. I found this scene very moving and capable of bringing the tears.

Unable to stay away a minute longer, Anna makes her way into the attic of the house where she rents a room. As she reads the words of a dying man from his diary, she is struck by a sense that somehow she was drawn to the attic to read the diary and find his old uniform.

Jonathan appears to Anna in the attic and tells her that she is his wife Semone from two hundred years ago. Willing to do anything to be with Jon, Anna let's herself go to sleep.

The Ghost Whispered, "I Love You" is another great story full of emotions and tells of life during the Revolutionary War between a British soldier and an American woman. I really enjoyed this book, and thought it would make a fantastic story worth re-visiting sometime. I felt so sad for Jonathan, and admired that his spirit wanted to wait for his previous wife's spirit to be reincarnated.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire—Mary Alice Pritchard

When Bear scents his mate, he’s on a mission to make Ginger his. Unfortunately, the town’s Fourth of July celebration is proving to be a dangerous distraction.

Ginger Hobbs is drifting through Riverfork, Montana, looking for a job. Seeing a help wanted sign in the local diner, she applies for the job.

Bear Jacobs is the Sheriff of Broadwater County, and it's his job to keep his part of Montana safe. It's a week before the 4^th of July and everything is very dry since it hasn't rained for a long time. Bear smells his mate and is on the hunt to find her before she leaves the area.

I had to giggle several times at Bear and how he acted like a love-sick teenager. He was just so cute. He lives in an area where the humans know about shifters and accept them living together.

Ginger has a hard time putting down roots. She works hard at whatever job she's working at at the time. She was very accepting of Bear and what he was very quickly. Where There's Smoke, There's Fire also has a little bit of danger involved in the story line and helped to make the book exciting.

I’ll Be Seeing You— Rachel E. Moniz

World War Two had changed everything except for Betty and Frank’s love for each other and their determination to be married before Frank leaves for Europe.

Two different couples during the war handle love two very different ways. Alice's boyfriend Jimmy is already fighting over in Europe. Betty's boyfriend, Frank Russo hasn't left yet, although his time is coming up. Betty and Frank want to get married before he ships out. Betty's parents want her to wait until he returns.

Frank gets injured during the fighting and he wonders if his injuries will change Betty's love for him.

I haven't read many war stories, so this one was a bit new to me. I found myself wanting Frank and Betty to do what they wanted before he leaves. I also cried when Frank was injured. I'll Be Seeing You has so many emotions in such a short story. I was very happy how the story ended.

Lover’s Meeting— Kate Hofman

Hoping against hope, Andrew returns to Ocean Breeze, Florida after being gone five years, looking for the one woman he should have never let get away.

Cheryl Devereaux's son, Jared is looking forward to all the fun of the 4^th of July. The parade, the fireworks and a picnic.

Andrew is taking a chance he'll find Cheryl in the huge crowd. He can't believe it when he is able to find her. Five years ago, he left Cheryl for a career opportunity.

Now, he wants to get back with Cheryl. When a little boy runs up, Andrew seems taken aback that she would have gotten married while he was gone. Then he looks at the little boy and knows Jared is his son.

Lover's Meeting is a typical Kate Hofman book, you know it's going to be a great read with excellent characters, lots of emotions, some twists and turns and obstacles to overcome. I really enjoy how the characters grow and are able to resolve the problems to stay together.

The Fourth of July anthology is a great book that contains several nice stories that are just the right length when you want to read something short and sweet and not a lot involved. I enjoy reading smaller stories at times when I don't have a lot of time to sit down and read. I would recommend this book to anyone.

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