BOOK REVIEW: ONE LUCKY NIGHT, a romance anthology

One Lucky Night, a romance anthology
published May 2014

Stories and authors included in this collection:

Lucky Break, by Aria Kane

Lucky Star, by Grace Teague

A New Tune, by Ana Blaze

Lexi's Chance, by Constance Phillips

Drink or Dare, by Melinda Dozier

About the Book (from Goodreads):

One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance? One Lucky Night is a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes by Aria Kane, Grace Teague, Ana Blaze, Constance Phillips, and Melinda Dozier.

Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she's in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Not even gorgeous ones. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whelan meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.

MY TAKE:

One Lucky Night is an anthology of five wonderful sexy tales, woven together with a single theme and taking place on one fateful winter night.

The stories take place in The Brazen Head, an Irish pub in the heart of Boston owned and run by the Whelan siblings. Jaimie Whelan is the eldest brother and his wife is the head chef, but the premise of the evening is that the two of them are trying to take a rare night off together - a date night - leaving the pub in the hands of the other siblings.

A snowstorm descends on Boston, and an older Irish gentleman in a bespoke grey suit takes up residence at the bar for the evening. He interacts with the characters in each of the stories, the other Whelans, the staff, and some of the regular patrons. He doles out the advice each needs to stop denying the attractions they feel, and follow their hearts.

Each story was unique, with interesting characters and different points of view. I enjoyed each tale individually, as well as the way the stories worked together and played off one another.  All five authors are gifted storytellers, creating characters you believe and care about, and sex scenes that may just melt your e-reader.

My two favorites were "Lexi's Chance" and "A New Tune," with "Drink or Dare" coming in a close third.  I especially loved the character of Sean Whalen throughout all the stories, as the cute sexy Irish bartender (a staple in Boston pubs, believe me!) Author Constance Phillips gives us the behind-the-bar view of what Sean's really thinking and feeling, and lets the reader glimpse the sweet guy lurks behind the facade. Ana Blaze's tale of the Irish musician flirting with the waitress is a similar tale of a man who acts like a player as part of his bar persona but is truly interested in just one thing... A real shot at love with the one woman he can't get enough of.

Flirty, sexy and fun, this collection of sizzling tales will make you smile long after you finish turning pages.

Buy ONE LUCKY NIGHT on AMAZON