J. Daniels So Much More:

More Bama Boys....oh heck yes!!!! Hearing from my favorite Alabama crew is always a YES! I loved catching up with them and their lives. It really made me miss them more than I did before. And J, you better be planning that Nolan books ASAP...... I'm gonna need that one soon ;)

Helena Hunting's Getting Down:

Ah I love these characters so much! Ruby and Bane, seriously they are unbelievable. Funny, insatiable and scorching! Seriously they cannot get enough of each other LOL!! And Amie....girl I cannot wait for your book!

The main story I was interested in this anthology was by Tijan I will fully admit because I'm a Fallen Crest fangirl and that one did not disappoint in the least. I found myself wondering when this story fell in the rest of the Fallen Crest books and getting more and more irritated with the author as I was reading...until I got to the end. I'm not always a fan of anthologies but I really enjoyed this one. The rest of the stories were just as enjoyable and I though very cohesive throughout. I'd definitely recommend - even if you're only a fan of one of the authors I'm betting you'll leave a fan of more of them!

Eye Candy gives us 5 short stories based around a Halloween theme from each of these authors. The stories are an add on from previous books from each author. A few of the backgrounds I was aware of (J Daniels, Bella Jewell and Tara Sivec) but I was unfamiliar with Tijan or Helena Hunting's characters. That being said it didn't halter my enjoyment of this anthology at all.

I love holiday themed books so this was a real treat with Halloween around the corner. They were a mix of everything from edgy to humorous so each story gave us a little different flavour which really mixed it up and kept everything interesting.

I did enjoy each story but Tijan's was the real stand out one for me as it was genuinely edgy and had me nervy all the way through.

I was provided with a copy of this book from the Publisher via Net Galley; there was no inducement or obligation.

I really loved and enjoyed these short stories. I loved being able to see my favorite characters again. loved that it was a little spooky too. cant wait for more.

3.5 reluctant stars
I really wanted to like this set of novellas more than I did since it included stories from 2 of my favorite writers and while I enjoyed many of the Halloween oriented tales and it was nice to connect to beloved characters from prior books, I confess it just didn't do it for me. I think the effort to bring in Halloween and make the story funny/"boo scary (not really)" could be a stretch for any author and if the characters are in that vein to start, it doesn't work.
In particular, I didn't like the Fallen Crest Halloween story and that made me really sad because I have read all the books and for the most part enjoyed the progression the characters made from misunderstood, vigilante-type, disruptive high schoolers to maturing and more relatable young adults. I actually do struggle the most with the short, novellas that tend to be more disjointed and frankly not as likable compared to the full-length books. I feel this story was forced, Tijan obviously took a hook out of the Friday the 13th/Nightmare on Elm Street/Scream movies and tried to apply it to her FC crowd but just didn't work, for me at least. It was weird and I struggle mightily to finish it which is a shame.
Helena Hunting's story was a great segue from "Shacking Up" to her upcoming "Hooking Up," I loved the additional insights into all the main characters and while it was a bit of messy story, it jumped around from character to character and there is quite a lot happening so the reader has to track each storyline, I laughed a ton and the storyline of throwing a massive Halloween benefit party played up all the ridiculous, funny, good and bad characteristics these characters represented. I am looking forward to "Hooking Up."
I haven't read the J. Daniels nor Tara Sivec series that are highlighted in this book but they were actually quite fun and had good characterizations. Even though I felt Tara Sivec secondary characters were way over the top, I did really like the main H and h and his love for her was so sweet and nice to read. The J. Daniels story was a really good blend of humorous and poignant which is hard but underlying it was how great the couples that were regrouped from the Alabama Summer series were.
I confess the Bella Jewel story was a huge "meh" for me. I wasn't invested in the characters and I skimmed it since there wasn't a pull for me to get bought into it.
Thanks very much to Netgalley for providing this ARC

Eye Candy by Tijan, J. Daniels, Helena Hunting, Bella Jewel, & Tara Sivec is a compilation of novellas with a Halloween theme. There really is something for everyone in this group of stories. In Fallen Crest Nightmare, Tijan gives us a thriller/slasher filled story centered around her characters Mason and Samantha from her Fallen Crest series. In So Much More, J. Daniels provides a series of meaningful moments/highlights from a variety of characters, Love Actually Style. Each story intersects, but is unique and special, sweet, hot, and/or romantic all on their own. In Getting down, by Helena Hunting the story centers on Ruby and Amalie leading up to Amalie's pending nuptials and a Halloween ball. It is a fun and passionate romp, at least between Ruby and Banecroft. They are fun, passionate and hot for each other, though we do see Bane's jealous/insecure side. Amie's wedding to Armstrong is causing some issues for her and was not real thrilled with the blandness that Armstrong provides for their future (no surprise there). Unsafe Haven, by Bella Jewel is the meeting of Jade and Oliver. Jade's previous bad (very bad) relationship has made her shy and a series of events allows her to get to know Oliver better and help them to form a very sweet start to their budding relationship. The Pumpkin Was Stuffed by Tara Sivec is Noel and Sam's story. Noel is pregnant and fit to burst any moment and she is surrounded by her crazy family and passionately attentive husband. The Pumpkin Was Stuffed was a wild ride, craziness all over the place. But also very sweet and romantic. I liked Sam and his dedication to Noel, in spite of (because of) all the craziness around them.

Overall, if you are looking for a diverse set of Halloween Novellas, no two alike, then take a look at Eye Candy. These may be characters you know from reading the authors other books, or ones you have never met. Either way there is much to be enjoyed.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

I only got to read one story from this book, so the rating is based on it.

A group of friends hit are harassed by a killer straight from any horror movie you've seen. All that was missing was a clown mask. And it ends in exactly the way I suspected. Not impressed.

Eye Candy is a group of novellas written by several different authors. To keep it fair, I will rate each novella and then discuss my thoughts on the books as a whole.

3 stars
Fallen Crest Nightmare by Tijan

This book begins with the girls getting together to go out drinking while the guys get the house ready for a haunted house/party the next night.

Once the drinking starts things quickly go from bad to worse and the next day things get even more horrible.

I have never read the Fallen Crest series but I have read this author before. This one was not at all what I was expecting. A part of me was happy that I didn't know theses characters, it would have been really upsetting if I did. And the ending...I figured that was how it was going to end but it was just weird.

I wouldn't really classify this one as a romance, more of a suspense. There was a little sex but not much and it wasn't very descriptive.

4.5 stars
So Much More by J. Daniels

This novella is a return to the Alabama Summer series and features a quick check in on each of the couples from the guys point of view with an additional surprise chapter at the end.

I loved this novella although I wish it would have been just a little bit longer! These characters are some of my favorites and it was great to get an update if you will of what is going on with all of them.

And the last chapter?? Such a tease J. Daniels!! When are we going to see that book?

4.5 stars
Getting Down by Helena Hunting

This novella features Ruby and Bane from Shacking Up as well as Amie from the same book. It follows these friends as the navigate planning Amies wedding to a man no one likes and a Halloween charity ball.

I have not read Shacking up or any other books by this author but I still really enjoyed it! This feels like a bridge story between Ruby's story and Amies which comes out later this year but can still be enjoyed even if you haven't read the first book.

This short glimpse into these characters lives made me excited to go back and read more books by this author.

4 stars
Unsafe Haven by Bella Jewel

This novella is the story of Jade, who escaped an abusive relationship and is still cautious about getting close to men. Then she meets Oliver and she is determined to give him a chance.

Pushed together amidst the unexpected events of a Halloween party, Jade learns quickly that Oliver is not like any other man and he is just the man for her.

This one was a fast, well paced read with great characters and lots of action/drama. Not as much on the sexy side as some of the other novellas but what there is fits well with the flow of the story.

Unlike the first three novellas, this one actually reads like a standalone and was easy to follow and very enjoyable.

3 stars
The Pumpkin was Stuffed by Tara Sivec

This last novella in this book follows the story of Sam and Noel and Noel's family as they prepare for the birth of Sam and Noel's first child, a wedding and Halloween.

There are a lot of characters for such a short story and it was very predictable what would happen in the end. This one I thought was just ok.


Overall, I thought this book as a whole had a few hits and a few misses. It introduced me to a couple of new authors I had never read before and look forward to reading books from in the future.

<i>I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

It is good to see some characters from previous books written by these authors and read what they are up to right now. Some of this stories are very funny, others are sweet. To be honest from a few stories I expected more and was left intrigued because it felt like the story was unfinished.

Sexy, sweet, and fun this is the perfect collection to heat up cool fall nights.

These stories are sure to make your Halloween reading season hot and entertaining.

This is a great way to discover new authors! Love that they do this together so you can read in the same theme as some you may know and some you don't.

As fall is starting to make its presence known again here in New England, I have started looking forward to Halloween already and Eye Candy was a great warm-up from some favorite authors to help set the mood!

Tijan gets major points for creeping me out with her Fallen Crest crew and their Halloween shenanigans. Think a little bit of I Know What You Did Last Summer mixed with a little Scary Movie with her own unique twist for some heart-pounding moments that will have you asking WHAT??? as Samantha lives her worst nightmare alongside Mason, Logan, and Heather.

So Much More by J. Daniels features all of the Alabama Summer series couples, and I have to admit that I skipped over this one. I love this author's books but I haven't read all of this series yet so I decided to hold off on reading the novella until I have a chance to finish them all.

Getting Down by Helena Hunting features characters introduced in Shacking Up. Bancroft (aka Bane) and Ruby are back along with her best friend Amie, her fiance and Bane's cousin Armstrong, and Bane's brother Lex. Amie's wedding is rapidly approaching much to her consternation- and Ruby's. Armstrong is not the right man for Amie; Ruby knows it and Amie is beginning to think the same way but she is stuck now. The girl formerly known as Anarchy Amie had one too many brushes with the wrong side of the law with her penchant for bad boys in the past, and settling for Armstrong is her way of trying to go with a safe option even if it means the death of the O for her.

When Ruby has the idea to throw a Halloween party at Bancroft's pad, it somehow morphs into a big soiree at one of Bane's family hotels courtesy of Armstrong's big mouth and desire for attention from the high rollers of society. Then both Bane's mom and Armstrong's plastic biatch of a mother get in on the action and it takes on a whole new life of its own. There are definitely a lot of funny moments that had me dissolving into laughter and some very hot and swoony Ruby/ Bane moments. But the best part is the setup for what will be coming next in Hooking Up which will be Amie's turn in the spotlight - and I cannot freakin' wait!!

Last but not least for me is the fabulous return to the world of the Holiday family in Tara Sivec's The Pumpkin Was Stuffed! I have absolutely loved this series and the Halloween novella is an excellent addition to their story. All in all, there is a lot to love in this anthology and it is one I will definitely go back to in order to re-read a few of the stories.

Sometimes you need a quick fix when reading, especially if you are a busy mama or have a demanding job. You need a tale that is going to tempt you to read further but one that you can quickly gobble up in one sitting. You need a test drive into new author territory before jumping behind the wheel. Anotholgies like Eye Candy are the perfect places to test drive authors' words before you thrust full throttle into their books.

When you always wish your favorite authors would write a bit more about their beloved characters that you love and then your wish is granted from a genie called the anthology. The Eye Candy anthology, a collection of short stories from many amazing authors in one book, is that glorified quickie we readers sometimes crave....that wham-bam-thank you, sir or ma'am.

As I only met two series out of the five that the Eye Candy anthology features, I read and reviewed those.

SO MUCH MORE - J. Daniels

Smoldering sex, sweet surprises, endearing moments, Halloween haunts, and friends who are family make up So Much More J. Daniels gives readers with more Bama Boys, back to the series of Southern sass, steam and swoon. Each Eye Candy chapter blesses us with a Bama Boy's point-of-view, an insight into what's happened since the series stopped.

Ben and Mia return and they are as cute and captivating as ever, especially as parents who still are hot for each other. Their family life is so sweet...so endearing and I loved the sneak peek into their life with littles.

This need—this overwhelming desire to taste and touch and fuck this woman never goes away. Never lessens in the slightest. It's always there.

Reed and Beth keep the kink in marriage and you have to applaud their Christian Grey creativity. One word: rope! I missed Reed's deliciously dirty mouth and loved getting a taste.

"Watching you with that rope is driving me crazy. Because I know what you can do with that rope, Reed. I know exactly what you can do with it. And I want that."

Luke and Tessa are still as feisty as ever and always entertaining couple. I like my alphas a little tarnished and perfectly imperfect, and Luke is all that and more. Tessa always makes me both laugh and gasp in shock...no filter. I LOVE her and still want to be her bestie!

I shouldn't get off on riling Tessa up and getting a helluva lot of lip from her, but I do. And she gets off on giving it.

Tully and Riley...the best for last and oh do they have a sweet surprise! Tully is still my favorite Bama boy who is entertaining and endearing to me!

This is real—the way she's looking at me. Those big, blue flames burning me up the way they always do.

That 'darlin,' a Southern gal's kryptonite, gets me every time.

"We were always meant for this, darlin'."

That Tully charm is twisted around me and I'll never let it go. I'll never want to let go of the Bama Boys.

GETTING DOWN - Helena Hunting

Heat, humor, and heart make up one delicious delight as Helena Hunting weaves her writing magic into Getting Down. Cinderella meets superheroes and one villain or two in a fierce and fire-hot fairytale that leaves you wanting more. You'll end this taste of a treat needing the next novel by Helena Hunting, Hooking Up, to satisfy the ache that Getting Down leaves.

The chemistry continues to combust between Bancroft 'Bane' and Ruby! These two were created for each other. I loved them both so much!

Serious Bancroft makes me want to get naked. All versions of Bane make me want to get naked, but when he's all scowly and furrowed brow it makes my lady parts want attention.

Ruby channeled her inner Violet and I was in HUMOR HEAVEN!

"Naughty girl." He drags a knuckle along my slit. "You're ready for my cock right now, aren't you."

Holy hot! Bane's deliciously dirty words turned me into wanton woman.

Throw Ruby's bestie, Amie, along with Bancroft's cousin, Armstrong, and his brother, Lexington, into the mix and things quickly get interesting and oh-so-more intoxicating! Getting Down bleeds angst along with humor and heart!

I turn away from Lexington so I don't succumb to the urge to look at his abs again.

A taste of Bane's brother, Lex, left me wanting a bigger bite. I also can't wait for Amie's story as that bit of fire she showed in Getting Down made me want to see more of Amie's flames.

I LOVED getting down with GETTING DOWN, which lit me up in laughter, blazed my body, and shot sparks to my heart and soul!!! Packed with humor, heat, and heart, Getting Down is a rom-com that delivers it all!

Eye Candy is full of tricks and this perfect treat SATISFIES EVERYWHERE!!! This anthology is a compilation of character favorites, beloved heroes and heroines who feel like family. Eye Candy is the sweetest reunion; it feels like coming home. Like the finest chocolate, Eye Candy is an ADDICTION where you'll ache for MORE!

💋💋💋💋💋 sweet, smoldering, and satisfying kisses

A MUST-READ DELIGHT!!!

➡️ http://amzn.to/2vF0zIc

Absolutely loved every story in the EYE CANDY Halloween edition. Super hot treat for a steamy romance reader. I read stories from my favorite authors and a new one. The writing is of course on point. The stories are sexy alpha hot. Enjoy a little Halloween
sampler from the best of the best.

My review is for So Much More by J. Daniels.

I havent gotten around to the rest of the stories yet, but first things first, I just HAD to get my fix of the Bama Boys (im looking right at you Ben and CJ). And woo-hoo!! J. Daniels brought the heat for this Halloween shorty. Between the sweetness of Ben and Mia, the fire of Reed and Beth and for goodness sake.. NOLAN... *be still my heart*.. there wasn't anything that I didnt like about this lovely little novella. Its always good to catch up with your favorite characters and anytime I get more from J. Daniels Bama Boys is a happy time for me. Thank you JD for making this one So Much More!

This is a great boxed set with some amazing authors. Each book was great and had a wonderful story which kept me reading way past my bedtime. They all have well developed characters are all very entertaining. Each of the books were full of surprises and I didn’t want them to end. If you are looking for a great boxed set then you need to get this one. I am looking forward to reading the other books by each of these great authors. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Four of my favorite authors in one book!!! Tijan's was story was very freaky I loved it. J Daniels story was sexy I'll have to check out her books! Helena's book was pretty good, not my favorite. Next up was Bella Jewel and I am loving her new series which is where this story takes place and it was soo good. You'll love Oliver and Jade. Tara Sivec bringing up the rear and you as always Tara can make you laugh! It was awesome. Loved this anthology would recommend to EVERYONE

This amazing collaboration of novellas was just what I needed to get in the mood for Halloween. I was able to revisit a few of my favorites from Tijan, J. Daniels and Helena Hunting along with meeting some new friends from Bella Jewel and Tara Sivec. The stories are perfect and lets you see a little more into the lives of some of our favorite characters.

Ok I read all of these novellas and besides bringing back some of my favorite characters, it made me SO ready for Fall! But that could be the 100+ temperatures for a week... Either way, this was a fantastic read!

Each story didn't feel like a novella to me because I just got so sucked in as soon as I started a story. I got to see a peek from each of my favorite couples, have some laughs and get a nice little epilogue of their lives together. A great holiday read!