Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 2

These short stories are the equivalent of fun-sized candy bars that leave you wanting the full-sized bar. Aimee Nicole Walker’s contribution to the second Heart2Heart anthology is just like that, but with a kick.
Hot, sexy, with great characters that I want to see in a full-length novel, Cincinnati is a sweet bite of fun.

Easily one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read

I loved the first volume, but honestly, given the unique original premise, I wasn’t sure the second Heart2Heart anthology could come close. Wow, was I wrong. Not only did I get some great shorts from favorites, but I’ve added a number of new-to-me authors to my “read more from” list. I loved the theme that once again ran throughout and tied the myriad of stories together. All of the shorts were well written and edited, never leaving me frustrated or tempted to skip ahead; and the collection of characters and plots ensured I’ll be hoping there’s a third volume to come.

*Kindle Unlimited book*

It’s no secret I love anthologies. Each story is a sweet bit of goodness that I can devour at the pace life allows me. This one was even more special. First off is the fact that all the authors and the editor along with the beta and proof readers did this as a labor of love for charity. Being that I have read work from all of them and interacted with some on Facebook, I know this is special to them. What makes this even better is the connection all the stories have to each other and how well the authors made sure the dating app concept blended with the others. We are taken on a journey to several cities in packed clubs to black tie affairs. Wait until you meet the characters. A delightful complex mix that has the same hopes, dreams, insecurities an doubts that we all can relate to. While I could break this down for each author and story, it would be like reading a book by the time I finished. I do want to point out a couple things. Starting and ending with R. G. Alexander’s guys was the perfect touch. Also, I love the fact that Sloane Kennedy went about it completely different from the others with the first meeting. From the first to the last this was a pure joy to read. It’s only available for 90 days. Here is the link.
https://www.amazon.com/Heart2Heart-Charity-Anthology-Lucy-Lennox-ebook/dp/B07KCTVWC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543300008&sr=8-1&keywords=heart2heart+vol+2

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Forget Paris, R.G. Alexander:
Forced to organize the anniversary charity event in Toronto instead of his dreamed-of moment in Paris, Martin is undeniably testy. Despite the bluster, short temper, and sniping he captures the attention of Luke, the very helpful and very attractive bartender. After accepting an offer to experience a bit more of Toronto before Martin has to leave, he discovers that there might be something more to Toronto for him than Paris…but his little adventure is just beginning. The start of Martin and Luke’s story has an interesting beginning and goes from mopey to sexy very quickly. We’ll get to see their “conclusion” at the end of the anthology…

Los Angeles, A.E. Wasp:
Kurtis and Zane are very cute together. I accepted the characters without in-depth background or well-established motives because their hearts were so very obvious. They also didn’t play games. The honesty and desire for depth and something lasting was very clear from the get-go. At first meeting they were adorable, from Kurt’s lack of smooth to Zane’s upfront honesty. I will say that the back and forth between present and Kurt’s flashback-ish moments was a bit difficult to get into at first, but it grew on me and became a nice change from the story line progression normally used. While the end came a little too soon for me, there was such a great connection between Kurt and one of his patients in addition to what he was building with Zane that the sentiment and intimation of something long-lasting and expanding was fantastic. I just really wanted more. 4 stars.
(ARC of this book was provided by this author)

Cincinnati, Aimee Nicole Walker:
This story was merely okay for me. It wasn’t as transformative as I hoped. We get to know Evan through Lucas’ eyes and the picture isn’t exactly pretty despite their long-lasting friendship. Evan is sweet, kind, but a playboy and Luke is a late-blooming virgin in love with Evan, his best friend. A lot of time was spent defining stereotypes which felt like a waste of page space since we’re all pretty well aware of the myriad of stereotypes ascribed to gay men. It didn’t enhance the story or Luke’s situation at all. Why were they best friends? Why are we just told that Evan did a lot of proving to Luke but we didn’t get to see any of that at all when the main thing we know about Evan was that he willingly bedded a lot of women prior to the big revelation moment? Without the actual evolution of their relationship the sweetness of the epilogue is lackluster and more like a gloss-over with an overview. 2 stars.

Oakland, Alexa Land:
Rick and Ryan’s first meeting was definitely less than stellar and first impressions are difficult to change. At their second meeting, though, it doesn’t take long for their situation to bring out the best and the damaged parts of them and both men end up yearning for more. Their separation was predictable based on what we learn in a letter but it’s the way Rick goes about seeking a reunion with Ryan that has me falling for him so hard. Their reunion was cute and while it was an HFN it held so much promise. 4 stars.

Cape Town, Alison Hendricks:
This story had a really great start. We really got to know both men very well right away which laid out their biggest individual vulnerabilities and insecurities. It ended quite abruptly though. With a vague mention of more but a sweet sense of hope to accompany it I can’t say it was unsatisfying, but I can’t say it was the best point to end on either. The dual POV was nice but I might have been willing to sacrifice that for more of a story than a super nice first date with vague mentions of maybes and possiblys regarding career and romance. Mitchell and Lucas had a ton of potential with such a great set-up that the story just seemed too short. It was nice but I just wanted more. 3.5 stars.

Boston, Annabella Michaels:
Harry and Milo were surprisingly awesome. I was immediately interested and then when they really meet for the first time I became enchanted. The surprise was both in their abilities and warmth for one another and I couldn’t get enough. The ending felt natural for a segue between the end of their date and a hint toward their future. I genuinely liked both men but more in a general sense that they were both very good men and almost made for one another. I’d love to see this couple in a longer story. 3.5 stars.

Athens, Charlie Cochet:
Nico was an archaeologist lamenting his unknown nemesis only to find out that his nemesis could very well be his forever love. Aedan is a thief pursuing something he’s willing to let Nico do all the work to acquire and yet there’s something that makes him second-guess his life’s profession. There was more a sense of yearning than actual conflict between these men and with all the sexual chemistry added to that it was difficult for me to sink deep into their story. The resolution was nice, not a lot of a plan for the career move or repercussions of defiance, but the gesture toward a happy future together was a good one. I liked that both men were changed by their encounter before they were reunited. 3 stars.

Denver, E. Davies:
Jaden and Henry were so real and honest. I enjoyed the honesty and forthright nature of both men especially concerning Henry’s revelation. That questions and desires could be discussed and shared went a long way to making their relationship believable. We really got to know both men well by the end, enough to know that they truly fit and complemented one another. It was fantastic that there was no magic cure at the end, but that the progress was there and it felt organic and real. 4.5 stars.

Melbourne, Eden Finley:
The individual motivations in this story was quite different from the others we’ve read thus far and I have to say I really liked the direction it took. The sniping between Marty and Luce was more amusing than grating and they were very sexy together. Their dynamic was slightly unexpected and really hot. Their story’s “end” was very cute and had loads of potential. 4 stars.

San Francisco, Hailey Turner:
Right from the beginning I felt like I was there with them. From a cute beginning to great characters to a nice ending that was very light-hearted and hopeful, I enjoyed reading this one. The donuts meeting their doom was funny and the best part was the consumption the next morning. Eliot’s love of sweets and Bernard’s love of rum give a quirky-cute vibe to both men that make them memorable. 3.5 stars.

Scotland, K.M. Neuhold:
Maverick was much more of a free spirit than Tucker but both men seemed to genuinely fit together. They were good characters that I truly liked. Specifically, which character ended up making the life change felt natural and believable for their personalities and inner wants despite the practicalities. Those were skipped in favor of story length giving us another HFN rather than an HEA, but it was their intimacy progression that felt the most fitting for the story. It wasn’t rushed and it was more subtle while still maintaining the spice. 3.5 stars.

Washington, Lucy Lennox:
I really, really liked these men. Cam and Josh were amusing and caring, very warm right from the start. Their sexual chemistry was there also but it felt more comfortable than incendiary. They were awkward at times yet so honest and sweet. Tender and flirty and all the things. The ending was a good combination of sexy and sweet and with only three sentences we’re shown how they tied together for now and forever. 4.5 stars.

New Orleans, Macy Blake:
Antonio and Paxton’s beginning was quite awkward. I almost cringed when Antonio shot off at the mouth, but the immediacy of the making-nice to apologize was really good. My initial impressions of the men were that Antonio was shallow and arrogant but for his family while Paxton was a downer and pessimistic. Those impressions quickly changed, though, and their interactions felt much more fluid and interesting. While I’m not exactly sure how much I liked the cousin’s visit I won’t deny that it was pretty sweet and gave a sense of the family’s inclusion of Paxton going a long way to making me believe that their romance would become pretty solid. 3.5 stars.

Toronto, Max Walker:
The drama here was much bigger than the story length could accommodate. It felt contrived. Between Brody’s family tragedy and mascot trouble to the poaching it felt like there was way too much to resolve in such a short time. Not enough attention was given to the couple. Jordan and Brody’s connection was definitely there but I didn’t find the humor to be, well, humorous, and their interactions felt more awkward than anything. The dinner scene was nice and while the setting was a bit more fantasy than I expected, it was trying to fit in all that crazy that made it less special than it could have been. Aside from everyone and everything feeling like it was all trying too hard, there was potential there between Jordan and Brody that I would have liked more of. 2.5 stars.

Boston, May Archer:
An unfortunate first impression gives way to something more, something deeper, something neither Taika nor Ethan ever expected. I kind of liked their awkward start because while their contention felt juvenile (age-wise) with their temperaments and reactions, it felt relatable. Their back-and-forth was highly amusing, especially their ridiculously cute texting and their confessions were beyond adorable because they were so heartfelt coming from men who were pretty untried in the serious-relationship department. Their dynamic for being together and making things work out was very right for the characters. And that epilogue? Divine. 4.5 stars.

…Second part of the anthology’s review will be in a comment on this review…