A USA Today Bestseller!What’s more romantic than a love song? A mixtape full of them.Twelve bestselling and award-winning authors have curated an anthology of brand-new, standalone stories inspired by love songs, featuring a foreword written by NYT bestselling author Laurelin Paige. Press PLAY on this limited-edition collection that’s guaranteed to make you swoon.***GUYS MY AGE – Saffron A. Kent… swoon.
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GUYS MY AGE – Saffron A. Kent
He’s older — much older, experienced and freaking gorgeous. Oh, and mine. He just doesn’t know it yet.
SAY IT FIRST – Nikki Sloane
I spend my days speeding around the track and my nights thinking about her—my new best friend and movie star Anna Douglas. Who’s going to win the race to admit we want to be more than just friends?
BROKEN HALLELUJAH – Sierra Simone
A kinky, wartime love affair once swept Marine Jacey Benjamin off her feet—until the hero she longed for chose power over love. Now her hero is back and ready to have Jacey kneeling before her once again, if only Jacey will say yes…
SAY YES – Elle Kennedy
I’m in town for a wedding. We both swiped right and blew each other’s minds last night. But this morning? He looks a hell of a lot like the groom.
ALL I WANT – Mara White
Marilyn loves her husband, but she may love the idea of being a mother more. Will one night of passion with a beautiful stranger give her what she wants, or more than she bargained for?
TOOTHPASTE KISSES – Xio Axelrod
Starting over is Mal’s idea of hell and the last thing on his mind is freaking office décor. But this painting? It haunts him. So does the handsome and intriguing artist who may have inadvertently opened a window into Mal’s soul.
WILD PITCH – Rebecca Shea
I’m snowed in with the one person from my past who broke my heart. Someone forbidden…my first love…my brother’s best friend.
YOUR EVERYTHING – K.L. Kreig
Some say no woman should come between brothers. Blood trumps all. Family first. Those people have not met Maverick DeSoto.
THINK I’M IN LOVE – Leslie McAdam
What’s worse than being in love with your best friend? Watching him propose to his girlfriend.
MOMENT OF TRUTH – Veronica Larsen
Telling her I love her might just ruin our friendship, but watching her marry someone else? Means losing her forever.
LUSH – Marni Mann
There aren’t any secrets from me at my exclusive sex club, Lush. Not until the only man to ever tame me—the one who vanished in the middle of the night—turns up at the door.
KISS ME – Lynda Aicher
A strong drink to mellow her frustrations is all Tara McTavish wants. Seeing the man who’d fired her the day before is not in her plans. But then, neither is going home with him.
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Broken Hallelujah by Sierra Simone
What can I say except Phenomenal! Sierra always delivers a emotionally charged story that resonates in your soul,her eloquent way with words creates such a powerful passionate love story. Whether it’s a full novel or a short novella she will captivate you! This mixtape anthology is sure to have plenty of passion and heat!
My review is for Broken Hallelujah by Sierra Simone. She definitely knows how to write a story that pulls you right in. I am a huge fan of Sierras, but this is the first F/F romance I have ever read. Even though the story is a quick, hot read Jacey and Devon’s relationships takes place over a few years. They are passionate, intense and meant to be.
Review of “Toothpaste Kisses” by Xio Axelrod
I have been a fan of Xio’s since her first book Falling Stars. I love her writing and her short story in this anthology doesn’t disappoint. From the very first word the characters draw you in and don’t let go. Even the secondary characters Xio writes are engrossing and pull you into the story. The connection between Mal and Pell is so poignant before they even meet I’m rooting for them. Their chemistry is palpable. I hope we get more stories about their relationship. Definitely pick up this anthology. You won’t be disappointed with this short story.
Review to ‘Guys My Age’ by Saffron A. Kent
Well, leave it to Saffron A. Kent to bring something special to your life with only a novella length story! Gosh, I’m so in love with her writing it’s not even funny! I keep getting back to this story like it’s my new guilty pleasure. And maybe it is. Or it’s just Saffron’s unholy talent to hook me on her stories. I can never know. (Is it even legal to have such a great gift like her writing?!)
I’ve been literally dying to read this bits. I know I will always get a sizzling forbidden romance from Ms. Kent, but sweet macaroni, this one was just so amazing!
I won’t go into spoilers, but if you’re an avid Saffron A. Kent reader, there’s a little Easter egg hidden in the story so I guess you should totally find out what is it and then you will be falling in love with Fallon and Dean along the way.
I think that’s all for now, folks. It was such a great read! Don’t miss out on it!
Guys my Age by Saffron A Kent: Totally loved this delightful story of Fallon & Dean!! In true fashion Saffron gives well developed characters that bring us all the feels. Even though this is a short story, there is no shortage of up and downs and some extremely sizzling scenes! Loving this Anthology and will add the rest of my reviews as I go.
*Review of Say It First by Nikki Sloane*
Hot. Quick. Sweet.
Anna and Jamie are such a sweet couple. In a novella of The Blindfold Series, they are playing their part. Anna is an actress that is very humble. When she reunited with Jamie, you can just feel the connection. Circumstances play into their lives and they have to overcome obstacles.
This one sweet, quick read that you will love. As a lover of the Blindfold Series, I loved this book! It made me believe love can happen no matter what. Love doesn’t know time or occupation. Love is just that, Love. It can survive anything.
I was given an ARC of Say It First. This is just one of many stories in this book. My opinions are my own.
My review is for Sat it First by Nikki Sloane
I love the story, sweet, a little funny and super sexy.
Anna and Jamie capture my heart in the first chapters and being a Blindfold Club series fan I think this novella is a good compliment. I really hope these two get a full book for themselves so we can read more about them. I feel like there’s more to say about them.
So pretty please!! I want more!!
I will update my review as I read other novels on this anthology
Had the opportunity to sneak a peek at Nikki Sloane’s Say it First and it doesn’t disappoint! Looking forward to reading the rest of Mix Tape and if the other authors’ stories are just as good!
UPDATE: After reading all titles included, I have to say, Say it First stole the show for me. While I love the premise of each story being based around a song included on a mixtape, I didn’t quite get that feeling from each individual story. and FYI – Mixtape covers a very varied genre of romance and not all were my cup of tea. Star rating for Nikki Sloane’s Say it First
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I picked up this story because of Elle Kennedy’s story. I haven’t even heard of the other authors. (Sorry) That’s the good thing about anthologies: you can explore new and different authors.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the anthology overall. The first story actually got my first 1 star ever. Overall, there was the one 1 star, two 2 stars, seven 3 stars, and 2 four stars. The Elle Kennedy story was my favorite and very sweet. The other story I really enjoyed was “Say Yes”.
It is a pretty diverse anthology especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ and sexual kinks/fetishes. The diversity is good because it exposes you to different things, but it also limits the possibility of a five star read overall.
I did review a handful of the individual stories on my blog if you want to check those out.
WOW! Something for literally every taste!! Love, Passion, Tears, Angst, NA, Same Sex, Dark….the list goes on and on and on.
Need a break from your rut? Looking to meet some new authors? Want to know what happens after or before some of their other novels? Check this one out!!!
Mon avis sur la nouvelle d’Elle Kennedy
C’est une nouvelle très courte ( je dirais entre 30 et 40 pages) qui est donc en lien avec un titre de chanson particulière . Say Yes est très liée à l’intrigue et c’est un fil un peu conducteur pour nos personnages.
Emilia est donc notre héroïne trentenaire qui va revoir son amie Marcy pour son mariage. Malgré la distance physique mais aussi entre elles, elle sera la demoiselle d’honneur et partagera un moment clé de la vie de sa meilleure amie. C’est une jeune femme qui a un petit passé familial qui a forgé celle qu’elle est devenue et sa conception de l’amour. Nous voyons bien qu’elle n’a pas le temps pour cela et qu’elle n’y croit plus surtout. Cela ne l’empêcher pas de profiter d’une occasion unique en surfant sur ce site de rencontre. L’appli fait bien les choses car un possible prétendant est très très près d’elle. La nuit sera mouvementée et très très agréable. Mais le réveil sera plus “réaliste” et l’après encore plus surréaliste.
Dirk est notre héros et il sera plein de surprises. On voit qu’il est présent sur l’appli de rencontres pour des raisons très précises et il ne s’en cache pas. C’est quelqu’un qui n’y va pas par quatre chemins et qui va droit au but. J’ai aimé sa personnalité car il est sûr de lui, sait pertinemment qu’il est charmant et qu’il assure avec la gente féminine et il a ce côté borné qui lui va bien. J’ai aimé le découvrir et j’avais envie de connaître le dénouement le concernant.
Bref, je ne peux rien vous révéler de plus car sinon je vous gâcherai la surprise. La nouvelle d’Elle Kennedy nous fait passer un délicieux moment en compagnie de personnages qui nous feront sourire, rire et bien plus encore.
I used to skip anthologies because they overwhelmed me but I got over that and was excited for this one. I jumped into this one and the first story I began with just wasn’t the right one for me. It’s an anthology so I knew that had to be at least one story that I would connect with. I then got overwhelmed and didn’t know which stories to read, so I listened to all the songs that inspired the stories and based on the songs, I chose Moment of Truth by Veronica Larsen and Wild Pitch by Rebecca Shea to read. I loved Moment of Truth. I loved Dean and Gabby. There story was sweet and I would have definitely read more of them. Wild Pitch was really good too. I suggest if you pick this one up to read and you don’t know where to start, you should let the songs determine which stories to read.
What I didn’t like about this book was that I wanted MORE!! Especially “Say it First” by Nikki Sloane! I love NASCAR and her Blindfold series. Here you get a taste of both – and it’s delicious!
The title of this book took me back to high school when we actually made mixed tapes. Through the various authors, it is all about finding that one person that makes everything in your world right. Then have the gumption to fight for that person.
I received a copy and voluntarily left a review and all opinions are my own.
(Review of Moment of Truth by Veronica Larsen)
I could not wait to read Moment of Truth for several reasons. The first being that I have fallen madly in love with Veronica Larsen’s writing. She makes her characters so beautifully flawed and their stories so heartfelt that you start to feel as if there a friend and not a fictional character. I was also excited to read the story when I found out that she used one of my favorite song “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arther as inspiration, since it is part of a mixtape anthology. Then add in that Dean and Gabby are friends on a journey that leads to the heart and between the sheets and I was ready and willing to get to know this angsty couple.
Dean has developed feelings for his childhood best friend and he plans on confessing to her on Valentine’s Day. That is until….well, I can’t tell you now can I? From the moment Dean spotted Gabby at the bar with all his feelings and desires overflowing for the girl he grew up with, I just knew that he was a hero that I wanted to keep in my clutches and couldn’t wait to see their love story play out.
Gabby was a heroine that I wanted to hug and comfort in sympathy one minute and shake some sense into her in the next. With all the yumminess that Dean has to offer, how could any woman possibly resist? Veronica made us privy to all Gabby’s indecision and ambiguous feelings to the point where I felt it was me riddled with the conflict instead of her.
What more could you ask of a writer than to have you sitting with your heart opened wide, biting your nails, waiting breathlessly for the love that is on the line to dazzle you with it’s brilliance. Veronica Larsen delivers a short story that is big on emotions, passion, and a friendship that becomes so much more. I highly recommend “Moment Of Truth” from the Mixtape Anthology for a romance that will steal your heart and warm you in all the right places.
Very mixed bag in terms of story quality. At 99 cents though even enjoying one is worth it. Just don’t slog through those that don’t catch your interest.
3 – 4 Stars – some great and some okay stories.
I haven’t yet read all of the stories because I rarely do with anthologies, especially after I catch a story that has me losing my motivation to continue reading. At this point I’m not sure if I’ll come back for the others but the ones I’ve read so far were a great mix and I liked some of them a lot.
Say Yes by Elle Kennedy:
Funny and sexy rolled into one.
Emilia had only been looking for a hook up for the night but got quite the shock the next day at her friend’s wedding when the groom looked a hell of a lot like the guy who gave her several incredible orgasms the night before.
Why on earth ever did it take me so long to read something from this author?! I had some of her books on my tbr for ages and it took this anthology to finally dive into one of her stories. Shame on me.
This one had me hooked right from the very start. What a hilariously funny, swoon-worthy and very sexy story.
Wild Pitch by Rebecca Shea:
Lost love reunited.
Mia’s childhood crush Mateo up and left to fulfill his dream of playing baseball. Fate brings them together years later when a snow storm brings them closer than ever.
It was a nice little story, perfect to warm up your cold nights. I just didn’t like the ‘we’re going to make this work’, when there were still so many obstacles to overcome and I wonder if the characters can ever make it.
Your Everything by KL Kreig:
Prequel to Black Swan Affair.
Maverick might be the main reason of the strained relationship between Killian and his brother Kael, though it’s not the only reason why he held back so far with confessing his love and making a move. But Killian has waited long enough now and will do anything to get every obstacle out of the way for a future with the love of his life and the woman he wants to call his.
Black Swan Affair is one of my favorite books and an absolute must read! This Prequel gave a great insight in the complex world of the three characters. I must say that it broke my heart a little since I knew what’s bound to happen, and I didn’t know how much I’d missed those characters until I read this. I think I need to re-read BSA again soon.
Think I’m in Love by Leslie McAdam:
YA M/M romance
Randy has loved Shane for a long time, and although they had experimented some with each other, Shane can’t accept his feelings for a man.
I love MM Romances and was pleasantly surprised with this great read because I adored Randy but felt sad for him because of Shane’s hesitancy. This was definitely one of my favorites in this anthology.
Moment of Truth by Veronica Larsen:
A bittersweet event.
Gabby and Dean were childhood friends and they both didn’t want to ruin their friendship with their secret feelings for each other. But what happens when you lose the person you love the most to someone else? Because that’s bound to happen if neither of them steps up and confesses to their feelings.
This story was very intense despite its length. It captured a very important moment in a person’s life, a turning point, an event that changes everything.
I loved the writing and how it made me root for the characters as if I’d known them for a long time. This is definitely a must read in this anthology and it left me wanting for more.
Lush by Marni Mann:
Very erotic!
Pepper owned a very exclusive sex club and kept business and private pleasure strictly apart. Though there was one man who had gotten her attention, someone who had given her countless times of pleasure. He’d disappeared weeks ago but was now back for more.
This was scorching hot. A very erotic scene played out between Pepper and Bale. But there was also a huge secret that would destroy everything.
I liked the erotic and passionately hot scene but I didn’t like the open ending because of what was revealed shortly before. It felt like a cliffhanger and that’s a no go for me when there’s no sequel planned. If I’d known this, I wouldn’t have read this story. Because how can you drop a bomb like that and not tell us how it ends with the characters?! That’s just mean.
Kiss Me by Lynda Aicher:
Wild night with the ex-boss.
Tara had been let go from her job and fate would have it that she was at the same bar as her former boss. His intense stare was directed at her and reflected the same emotions that she felt towards him.
Well, that’s one way to avoid trouble with the non-fraternization policy at work. Not working at the same place anymore has its benefits but looking for another job wasn’t one of them. Anyway, this story was okay but there was mention of pent up tension since they wanted each other already while they had been working together but it felt more like strangers meeting at a bar without heat. Honestly, I even had to skip some pages because I wasn’t very invested in this story.
If you are looking for a quick steamy read this anthology is perfect for you. I’ve only had the chance to check out Saffron A Kent’s Guys My Age and it was wonderful. Dean and Fallon have know each other for a long time and Dean happens to be older. They both fall in love right away but because of the age difference they stay apart. Though this story is short; it has the perfect amount of angst and romance. It’s a hot and fast one. Lol.
GUYS MY AGE by Saffron Kent is a quick, sweet age-gap romance between Dean and Fallon. They’ve been friends since childhood, a connection that doesn’t diminish over time. They’re grown up now and Fallon realizes she needs to take charge of their relationship. A cross country road trip back home will test their patience and attraction for one another. It’s a ride they’ll never forget
3 stars. This a cute idea for an anthology. Each author chose a song and wrote a story based on the lyrics to the song. There are a several stories I really liked, several I did not enjoy very much, and a few that were just okay, so I am rating this 3 stars. In general, I liked this anthology and felt it was worth reading.
Here are my thoughts about the stories:
Guys My Age by Saffron A. Kent- 3 stars. This story was about a 3 year old little girl who was best friends with a teenage boy and told him she wanted to marry him. Flash forward to when she is 18 and can finally tell him she loves him and wants to be with him. This story was only okay for me. The heroine felt immature and the hero wasn’t very nice. They stated they loved each other, but I didn’t feel it.
Say It First by Nikki Sloane – 3.5 stars. The story of two high school classmates that made it big, but weren’t close in high school, who get talking again over a Facebook post about their high school reunion. This was a pretty cute and entertaining story. It was a safe, easy read. I would have liked a more secure HEA ending but I know that’s hard to get in such a short story.
Broken Hallelujah by Sierra Simone- 2 stars. Not my cup of tea. A F/F story that was very angsty, overly drama filled and had BDSM. I didn’t really like the characters.
Say Yes by Elle Kennedy – 3.75 stars. This was a fun story about a girl that has a one night stand the night before her friend’s wedding only to find out it was with the groom’s twin brother. I liked this story a lot. It was very funny and cute. Again, I would have liked a more secure HEA ending but I know that’s hard to get in such a short story. One of my favorites of the anthology.
All I Want by Mara White – 2 stars. This story was about a wife who cheated on her much older husband in order to get pregnant. This was another one that was not my cup of tea. I didn’t really like either character. It contained cheating and I found the story strange. The writing was not bad though.
Toothpaste Kisses by Xio Axelrod – 2 stars. This was another miss for me. Slow moving, MM story. I never felt any love or chemistry and found it not interesting.
Wild Pitch by Rebecca Shea – 2 stars. This story bothered me. The hero decided they couldn’t be together and needed to be apart for “reasons”. Now 4 years later, they happen to see each other and he decides the “reasons” are up and they can be together now. The heroine just jumps at the chance. I couldn’t get on board with that.
Your Everything y K. L. Kreig – 2 stars. I found it a confusing story. At the end, we find out this story was a prequel to a series where this couple is in a love triangle. I think we are supposed to know the story already and the set-up from having read that series, but I hadn’t and it wasn’t clear enough for me to understand.
Think I’m in Love by Leslie McAdam – 2.5 stars. An angsty, MM, friends to lovers story. I liked Randy (hated his name) and felt bad for him, but did not like Shane very much. He treated Randy badly. The ending is a cliffy so there was no pay off for me for the angst.
Moment of Truth by Veronica Larsen – 2.5-3 stars. This story was okay. Best friends to lovers, but I felt it took too long for them to get out of the friend zone and I didn’t feel any chemistry.
Lush by Marni Mann – 3.25 stars. This was the story of a female sex club owner who fell for one of her male customers, only for him to disappear and reappear much later. I liked this story, but I felt the ending was too open-ended. I needed a more secure future for the couple.
Kiss Me by Lynda Aicher – 3.75 stars. This story was my favorite of the anthology. This is the story of a woman who gets fired when her company downsizes and meets her ex-boss in a bar that night only to find out why she was let go and that he has strong feelings for her. It was sexy and romantic. I felt it was missing something in that we never get to hear the hero tell the heroine what exactly his feelings were, but I liked it nonetheless.
As you can see, it was a mixed bag of stories for me, but several of them I really enjoyed. My favorites were by Lynda Aicher, Elle Kennedy and Nikki Sloane, which are already some of my favorite authors. There is a lot of variety of stories and authors in this anthology so there is something for everyone. It is definitely worth picking up!