Copyright © 2009, Dee Lloyd, Carrie S. Masek, Nancy Pirri, Jane Toombs, Karen Wiesner, Karen Woods
Published by Whiskey Creek Press LLC

Reviews For MAGICAL KISSES, A Jewels of the Quill Valentine’s Day Anthology by Jewels Of The Quill

““Magic Kisses" by Carrie S. Masek is the first delightful story in the Valentine’s Day Anthology. Carrie S. Masek has given readers a wonderful idea for Valentine’s Day. The idea of using chocolate candy kisses to attract a mate is unique.

“The second story is “Telephone Tag Winner” by Dee Lloyd. This is a story about lovers who get a second chance at the love they lost due to deception. I enjoy a good story that gives couples a second chance and this is one.

““Winning Sylvia’s Heart” by Nancy Pirri is a heartwarming story that gives women in a going-nowhere relationship the courage to get out of that relationship and find one that will be fulfilling.

““The Third Kiss” by Jane Toombs is my favorite in this anthology. I could connect personally to this story because I also married a man after our third kiss that was years later after kiss one and two.

““Atop a Wedding Cake” by Karen Woods is the fifth story in this anthology. A terrific tale about a man who makes a mistake, is willing to admit it, and finds true love.

““In Cahoots with Cupid” by Karen Wiesner is the last story in this anthology. This is a heartbreaking tale about a daughter who believes her father will choose her ex-husband over her to love. Believing this, she stays away from her mother and home. Also, the one man who loves her cannot break her belief that she is too old for him. I love the single mindedness of Kiowa Mackenzie. He makes up his mind and nothing or no one can change it. He is willing to wait for who will complete his life. This is a lesson that we all need to learn. I did think it was sad that Angela waited so long to go home and make peace with her father. Too many times that is exactly what happens in real life.

“Magical Kisses is an anthology stuffed full of feel-good stories. It is the perfect Valentine’s Day read. This book will join the other Valentine anthologies you have lined up on your bookshelves.” ~Dawn Myers for Writers Unlimited

4 stars! "Once again the Jewels assemble their award-winning talents for this sextet of enchanting stories that capture the essence of Valentine's Day. Each offering is delightful; there are quirky characters and laugh-out-loud scenes as well as some poignant moments." ~Donna M. Brown for Romantic Times BOOKreviews

Black Seal Rating (Fantastic Read. Definitely stays on my shelf.) "The authors of this anthology are true “jewels” of romance. A perfect Valentine read, this collection of six amazing MAGICAL KISSES will make you laugh, will make you cry and the heroes will definitely make you fall in love. While I liked all the stories, my favorite was "The Third Kiss" by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise), perhaps it was the fact that its my birthstone that made me prejudiced but the cute story of the magical third kiss from the person who gave you your first kiss sure caught my fancy more! It was heart warming reading about how the opposite sex goes from being obnoxious to someone we really can’t live without. "Magic Kisses" by Carrie S. Masek (Dame Topaz) was also pretty cool, and the author and the heroine puts those blissful Hershey kisses to great use, and they definitely epitomize the best and most cost effective Valentine gift, not to mention the guarantee for a happy future in this tale. Basically this anthology by the Jewels of the Quill is about second chances at finding the love of your life…the perfect romance! Reading MAGICAL KISSES makes one feel reassured that it really is never too late for love. So this anthology would make a great Valentine gift for yourself…enjoy…Happy Valentine’s!!!" ~reviewed by Raakhee Suryaprakash for WRDF

“Magic Kisses” by Carrie S. Masek {contemporary romance}:
Brett Mason needs a new apartment, a new job and a new girlfriend, but what he gets is a leaky radiator, unpaid overtime, and a life completely devoid of women...until he meets his flaky new neighbor, Eliza Fanelli. Can Eliza introduce the cynical software engineer to the magic of love, or is he doomed to spend the rest of his life alone?

“Telephone Tag Winner” (Aquamarine Series, Book 1) by Dee Lloyd{contemporary romance}:
Feeling unloved and unlovable, Rina heads off to a friend’s cottage where she’s supposed to meet her blind date. She can’t believe she agreed to do this on Valentine’s Day! En route, the multi-vehicle fender bender that leaves her with a dislocated shoulder, bruises and an aching bleeding head makes an already dismal day absolutely miserable. Then she makes the embarrassing mistake that could be the best thing she’s ever done. As she waits to be taken to hospital, she leaves a message canceling her date—on the wrong answering machine!
Later Ryan, finishing up his regular Friday duty in the emergency room of the local hospital, checks his messages. The second message delivered in a low silky voice with a slightly husky edge hits him hard. If the woman is already in the hospital, it’s no big deal for him to check on her and tell her about her mistake. And if she’s the woman he thinks she is, he’s been hoping for this day for ten long years.

“Winning Sylvia’s Heart” by Nancy Pirri{contemporary romance}:
A box of candy. A bouquet of flowers. A card with the words ‘I Love You Forever’ and Sylvia Maxwell’s fiancé Tom has once again forgotten to even include his signature. When he calls to cancel their romantic dinner, she suggests they end their relationship. She’s stunned when he readily agrees! Alone on the eve of Valentine’s Day, Sylvia’s feeling lonely after the break-up, especially since she can hear partying from her neighbor’s apartment.
In the past few months, Jack McNamara has struck up a friendship with Sylvia while getting over his own failed relationship. Sylvia shows up at his door this night ready to party and get over her ex-fiancé when she realizes the party’s ended. But Jack invites her in, cooks her dinner, and listens sympathetically to the details of her woeful relationship. Her ex, Jack decides, was nowhere near good enough for her, nor was he in the least bit romantic. If she was his girl, he’d romance her non-stop—and not with candy kisses and clichés. When Jack sets out to win Sylvia’s heart, it doesn’t take long for them both to fall head over heels in love.

“The Third Kiss” by Jane Toombs {contemporary romance}:
As a child, Gail listened to her grandmother tell her the third kiss was the magical one, providing it came from the man who gave you your first kiss.
At thirty-five, Gail has all but forgotten the story, though she still remembers her first kiss at twelve, and how mad she was at the boy who did it on a dare. The second time Augie kissed her was nothing more than a goodbye kiss before they went their separate ways after graduation, though he did cross her mind now and then as the years passed. At thirty-five, with no significant man in her life, she no longer expects anything magically romantic, not even on Valentine’s Day. The very last thing she expects is a third kiss...

“Atop A Wedding Cake” by Karen Woods {contemporary romance}:
Cathy Baker has had no time for herself in sixteen years. Suddenly left a young widow with six children, she turned to the one skill she possessed in order to make a living for her family—baking. With her bakery, she’s made a good living. Five of her children are now grown, with homes and spouses of their own. Her youngest, Emily, is getting married on Valentine’s Day. Since her husband died, no man has touched Cathy’s heart. Then again, she hadn’t encountered Trey Edwards, Emily’s father-in-law to be. When they meet, Trey is no more delighted with the marriage than Cathy is. So why can’t she get the image of herself and Trey atop a wedding cake out of her head?

“In Cahoots With Cupid” (Kaleidoscope Series, Book 2) by Karen Wiesner {contemporary romance}:
Kaleidoscope Office Building provides employment to nine hot, young singles—all about to make a love connection. Working 9 to 5 has never been so complicated…or so much fun! Angela Lewis, owner of Kaleidoscope Office Services and its companion business Lewis Graphics by Design, has devoted her life to seeing that everyone she cares for is happy. But when she returns home to Fever, Texas for a wedding, she remembers the one instance where she’d turned her back on something she wanted for herself. Kiowa Mackenzie is five years younger than she is and had pursued Angela with the energy of a stallion when they were younger. Even now, he seems to have no inclination to stop, though she insists she’s too old for him and she’s not interested in falling in love again. Best man Ki has every intention of tackling the bridesmaids to make sure maid of honor Angela catches the bride’s bouquet!

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