SHOP 'TIL YULE DROP

Author: Alesia Holliday, Naomi Neale, and Stephanie Rowe ISBN: 0505526077 10/2004 ANTHOLOGY Publisher: DORCHESTER

A gift for Mom (Flannel nightgown? Too boring. Lingerie? Ugh!). Amnesia so I forget what happened at the holiday party last night. A job I love, or at least one that doesn't drive me insane. Someone else to pay off my credit card debt from holiday shopping. A hot guy to massage my aching feet . . . and other things. A body that actually looks good in black cocktail dresses. The willpower not to buy any more things I don't need that are on sale and oh-so-cute . . . The strength not to fall for the wrong guy AGAIN..

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP is an anthology of three stories, featuring urban, professional women during the holidays.

Ms. Holliday’s story, “A Publicist and a Pear Tree”, is a cute if predictable Cinderella story of a single woman struggling with a difficult boss and homesickness. Things just seem to be stacking up against Leah… her immediate boss steals her ideas and then sabotages her big project, her parents aren’t able to travel to New York to spend the holidays with her, and she has a history of her boyfriends dumping her on Christmas Eve. A chance meeting of a photographer at Tiffany’s, has her thinking things may not be as bad as she first thought.

This is exactly the kind of story one wants to read, when picking up a holiday anthology. Fast-paced, fun, and good-humored, this story leaves the reader with a smile on the face and one on the heart as well.

Ms. Neale’s story, “King of Orient Are”, features a personal shopper looking for answers from her friend’s magus, who turns out to be a homeless man. Feeling frustrated at not finding the perfect gift for a picky client, Keely reluctantly agrees to visit her friend’s advisor. When his suggestions seem to be the perfect answers, Keely finds herself relying on his answers more and more.

I personally didn’t connect with Keely; she seemed immature and one to make illogical choices. I wanted to bash her on the head a few times and tell her to grow up! The one shining part of this story is the mysterious director of the local homeless shelter. I wish the story had focused on him rather than Keely. He seems to be a far more fascinating character.

Ms. Rowe’s story, “Jingle This!” describes a woman recently dumped by her boyfriend who is also her boss. Thinking she was going to receive a proposal on Thanksgiving, she’s devastated when her boyfriend breaks it off. Not feeling the Holiday spirit, Angie has a terrible time writing the columns designed to sell jewelry for one of their clients. This is when the other owner of the company, Kyle, steps in to help her out. When she first began at the company, Kyle and Angie and been friends and on the verge of more than friends, until Kyle started dating Angie’s sister. Under the pressure of losing an influential client, Kyle decides to romance Angie into writing the columns. Then what does he do when he starts to fall for her for real?

A variation of the friends-to-lovers theme, “Jingle This!” is an entertaining read. Angie is a sympathetic character, and the reader will enjoy cheering her and booing her ex and his new girlfriend. It’s especially painful to watch Angie’s interaction with her family, knowing she’s really the good guy and seeing them less than supportive. Kyle is a yummy hero and before long, the perfect match for Angie.

For the most part, SHOP ‘TIL YULE DROP is pleasing, light-hearted fare, perfect for the holiday season. If looking for some stories to get you in the mood for the holidays, I highly recommend the first and last stories in this anthology.

Kendra Patterson