XOXO: Sweet and Sexy Romance Paperback – December 17, 2013

I personally appreciated how short the stories in this anthology are. Sometimes, you don't have time to read a long, drawn-out "short story" when that story is actually 20 pages long. With xoxo, it's possible to read any of the stories in one sitting; it only took me about an hour to get through half the book! Concision makes a story all the sexier; the subpar stories don't seem to drag on, while the magnificent ones leave a quick, cutting mark.Below, I've spotlighted four exceptional stories that stood out to me. It was hard picking just a few to feature, but I hope they give you a sense of what this anthology is like!"Anniversary Wrappings" by Kathleen TudorA couple's one-year anniversary starts out with a sweet gift that ends in kinky pleasure. The simplicity of this story really made me connect with each of the characters, and the writing is fluid, readable. The scenario isn't outlandish and ridiculous like a porn plot (which isn't uncommon in erotic anthologies), and is a situation you could totally find yourself in in everyday life."Dirty Laundry" by Martha DavisThis one is on the more extreme end because of how aggressive the sex is, but it's SUPER hot. It features ultimate alpha male Josh Moran, whom, even when domesticated, has the ability to start a five-alarm fire. Comforting story not only about spontaneous sex, but also about cohabitation, about making even daily household chores like laundry mind-blowing, as long it's with the one you love."Night Moves" by Christine d'AboWhen plagued by incomprehensible night terrors, the protagonist turns to the solace of her husband's arms. In this dark, lingering hour of frenzy, fright, and complete need, the two find each other with familiarity and ease, with practiced hands and experienced hearts. I loved the middle-of-the-night sex scene, but it's the beauty of how well a married couple can know and understand each other d'Abo portrays, that really blew me away."Wild Naked Bandits Flee the Square Conspiracy" by Nikki Magennis1. A mediocre costume party—how the night starts off2. A wild, skintight leggings-clad bandit—how the night becomes interesting3. And a thrilling escapade—how our night endsNarrated in a wry, engaging voice that I immediately liked, this story is hardly a romance—it's spur-of-the-moment, fantastical, and even a little eccentric, but oddly enough, that's what makes it so sweepingly romantic. You would not expect an erotic story about a hookup at a party to be so vivid, so entertaining, but Nikki Magennis's characters exude sex, subtlety, and charm that culminate in a very whimsical roleplay. By far my favorite story in the anthology; five stars for being all of smart, playful, and incredibly comical—in the bests of ways—while still provocative.Pros: High-quality writing // Each story is only 4-6 pages on average, so very easy to get through them // Lots of variety // Perfect blend of sweet and sensual stories with hot and heavy stories // Each story has something incredibly romantic about it; this isn't just about sex // Read "Wild Naked Bandits Flee the Square Conspiracy" if nothing else!Cons: A few stories that I didn't like that muchVerdict: This collection of 38 short and sweet stories will both light your heart up and light it on fire. Like a Valentine's Day candy sampler, each is delectable and unique; put together, xoxo: Sweet and Sexy Romance makes for a passionate, completely satisfying treat. The range of subjects and storylines is vast, featuring the kinky and vanilla, the sensual and scorching, the routine and spontaneous, the heterosexual and lesbian... so much variety! You definitely won't grow bored with Kristina Wright's latest anthology because there are so many different types of story to keep you entertained, each with special romantic flair that will make you melt.Rating: 8 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): An engaging read that will be worth your while; highly recommended.Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Cleis!).

The stories are amazingly cheesy, and there's very little "sexy" in it. Or rather, it's what a teenage girl might find sexy.

OVERALL REVIEW:Worthwhile anthology - definitely worth purchasing if you're inclined toward its titular description ("sweet and sexy"). Out of the thirty-seven stories, I only disliked a relative few of them because of personal writing-style preferences. (This is to be expected in any anthology with this many stories.) Check this collection out!STANDOUT STORIES:1.) "Wild Naked Bandits Flee the Square Conspiracy" - Nikki Magennis: Two lovers role play. Fun, humorous.2.) "Eighty Cupcakes" - Neve Black: Fun sexual-tension-while-baking story.3.) "When the Vacation is Over" - Annabeth Leong: A couple make the carnal best of their Hong Kong time together. Well-written, interesting setting.4.) "One Hot Wet Night" - Veronica Wilde: Two divorcees hook up. Good read.5.) "Miss Organized" - Elizabeth Coldwell: Fun calendar-based married couple spanking sex tale.6.) "Designated Driver" - Heidi Champa: Drunk sex in a car. Good read.7.) "Gargoyle Lovers" - Sacchi Green: Fun, creative lesbians-in-Paris piece.8.) "Soldier Boy" - Sommer Marsden: A military-separated couple reunite. Lives up to the "sweet and sexy" anthology quotient without overdoing it.9.) "Ouch!" - Lily K. Cho: Fun giggly-sex spank story.10.) "Best Friends" - Catherine Paulssen: A rainy day bike accident prompts best-friends/first-time-coupling-together. Good read.11.) "Unsnubbed" - Jeremy Edwards: Classmates at a reunion have sex. Fun, thoughtful, genre-transcendant. One of my favorite stories - possibly my favorite - in this collection.12.) "Anniversary Wrappings" - Kathleen Tudor: Knitting a lover's scarf leads to other, naughtier activities. Good read.13.) "Because He Knows Her So Well" - Saskia Walker: A couple, on the eve of purchasing their first house, celebrate in passionate fashion. Well-written.14.) "Control" - A.J. Lyle: Interesting story about a newly married couple.

These are sweet little vignettes of stories. Light, enjoyable and fun. They are very short but well-written. Most of them made me want to go home and have a little fun myself!

The introduction to this book described the stories as sweet and romantic like candy hearts on Valentine's Day. Mmm... After reading them, I'm not sure if I totally agree. Yes, they are all that, but they're more than that, too. The sweet can be captured by candy hearts, but it fails the sexy bits. How would I describe the stories in this anthology? Like the bottle of flavored spray lubricant I once bought in an adult novelty store that heated up on contact with skin. Yeah, that's it! The stories in this book are a sweet, cherry-flavored naughty lube that warms you up and makes you hungry for more.

Kristina Wright has got a great eye for putting collections together. My personal tastes run more to the erotica end but I had a great time with this romance anthology. Some stories pulled me in with their steam, others had me there rooting for the characters and hoping for what was to come. The writers collected here are some of the best in the business (Rachel Kramer Bussel, Giselle Renard, Anya M. Wassenberg) and I was delighted to see so many stand-out names listed. But I also found new favourites (A.J. Lyle, Emerald), writers I'd never heard of who I will now seek out to enjoy.A great collection with a great balance between "sweet" and "sexy"!