Read the print thoroughly - this is a 3 part "novella" - one by Crusie, one by a mediocre author (Foster) and one by a Harlequin-type, bodice-ripping, soft porn disgrace (Phillips). Crusie's novella is not her best, but it shows the witty, erudite, sexy fun read those who are her fans have come to expect, albeit with no character development to speak of. The Foster novella, while mildly entertaining, doesn't begin to rise to Crusie quality. The Phillips horror is a soft porn, nasty piece of pseudo-writng which, if it were a movie, would go straight to video. How many times can you use the cliched "feminine mound" in the course of a 189 page novella? Way too many!!! Cliche sex scenes abound, there are too many. I have not been familiar with Carly Phillips "over 20 books" and after this inclusion of nasty foolishness, I will avoid them. In the vernacular, she sucks, and the whole book does not deserve the $7.99 price tag. Pay $.25 on the remainder table, if you pay anything at all.

Santa Baby is an anthology of holiday novellas featuring, Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster and Carly Phillips, two familiar authors for me and an author who is new for me.

HOT TOY by Jennifer Cruise is the story of Trudy Maxwell, who is out on Christmas Eve trying to find a Major MacGuffin, the Tough One Two, the latest toy craze, for her five year old nephew. Not only is she out of luck on finding the toy but when she runs into Nolan Mitchell, a professor of Chinese literature, who she had dated a three times, Trudy knew her night had just turned gotten worse. She had thought he was the one, he had never called again. Nolan apologizes for his behaviour, but she is having none of it. When she finds a Major MacGuffin from a previous year she has no idea that this particular version is about to throw her into a world of spies and espionage involving Nolan, secret codes and the toy she is now in possession of. Watching this couple's relationship blossom through it all, is an entertaining read. This story has everything a reader could want, suspense, love, and in places humour. Jennifer is a new author for me, but one I will be reading in the future.

CHRISTMAS BONUS by Lori Foster, although a reprint is a novella I hadn't had the pleasure to read, and this story is a pleasure. Maggie Carmichael, had gone from college to President of Carmichael Athletic Supplies after her father's death. This put Eric Bragg who had been a friend and her father's right-hand man in a very difficult position as he was now her employee. Eric had always had hot feelings toward Maggie, but had bid his time waiting for her to grow up because of a ten year age difference although now it looked like his was going to be a statistic of unrequited love due to unforeseen complications. Unknown to him, Maggie had always had a crush on him and intended to do everything in her power to get Eric to notice her as a woman, not as a boss, now that they must work together to plan a Christmas party for the staff. Secrets are about to be uncovered, desires acted upon and readers are in for a sensual, hot read. Lori has again given her readers a terrific read that will sizzle the pages.

NAUGHTY UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Carly Phillips is also a reprint and the third novella, again not one I had read before but enjoyed. Antonia Larson, a lawyer had now been named senior associate in the new offices of Corbin and Sons. Since she was going to be in a different office now, she felt she could finally act on her plan of seducing her boss and not have to worry about work and office protocol. Maxwell Corbin, an PI, was at the annual Christmas party as an obligation to his father and dreading every minute of it. When he gets a scorcher of a kiss from one elf, his world is turned upside down. Toni realizes at once she has just kissed the twin brother to Stephan Corbin, her colleague and friend under the mistletoe rocking her world. This is one sizzling read as Max and Toni act upon their desires to discover one another. Only Max wants more than a one night stand, but there are obstacles still to be overcome and he only hopes that he can pull it all off to their mutual satisfaction. This is one delightful hot read, and Carly delivers in her usual style.

Santa Baby is a great read, for all readers and proves that Christmas is a magical time of year and really is the season of miracles. I recommend this novella for a super read by three great authors.

I loved this book! Are you kidding? Lori Foster's story is so romantic and totally got me in the mood for Christmas! And you get a new story from Cruise! What's not to love about "Santa Baby"...?

AND I already knew that two of the three were reissued, because I...READ the copyright page. It's pretty simple folks, just turn that little ol page and look to see when the first printing occured. Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Nora Roberts...just to name a few...have tons of books out. BUNCHES of them are reissues. New covers, same stories. I don't bother to keep track of which stories I've read and which I haven't, but I always know to flip to the copyright page and see if it's an old story that got a new cover, this tells me whether I've read it already...can't exactly blame the author for that...

"Hot Toy" by Jennifer Crusie. On Christmas Eve, Trudy Maxwell seeks a Major MacGuffin figure for her five years old nephew, but none are in stock when Chinese Literature Professor Nolan Mitchell arrives at the toy store looking for the same item. He apologizes for not calling her after their three great dates. When she finds the toy, everyone is stunned with this magic miracle. However, she finds herself in trouble as that is a hot toy with an enigmatic past and future involving espionage and the sexy professor she adores.

"Christmas Bonus" by Lori Foster. Eric Bragg has loved Maggie Carmichael for several years, but he hid his feelings waiting for her to graduate college first; he was not prepared for her father to name her as president of Carmichael Athletic Supplies, which makes her his boss so he still hides how much he wants her. She secretly loves him too. This Christmas perhaps with the help of a loyal matchmaking staff love will blossom under the office mistletoe.

"Naughty Under the Mistletoe" by Carly Phillips. This Christmas associate attorney Antonia "Toni" Larson plans to seduce her boss whom she has been attracted to for quite awhile. Maxwell Corbin reluctantly attends the party tossed by his family, the partners at Corbin and Sons though he thinks the name should be Corbin and Complaint son since only his twin stayed with the firm and he is a suburban private investigator. Toni thinks Max is Stephen when she kisses him under the mistletoe burning both from their head to their toes.

Though the weather outside is frightfully wintry, these three Yuletide romances will heat readers even Scrooges and Grinches with delightful contemporary romances starring likable protagonists.

Harriet Klausner