I enjoyed the stories in this Three author anthology of short stories set during the holidays...Rochelle Alers, Cheris Hodges and Pamela Yaye wrote stories that are entertaining and engaging. I recommend THE PERFECT PRESENT.

cute contemporary romance, i liked it but it felt so tame in comparison to things i read that love scenes seemed too short or boring.

This was an anthology with three stories straight from the heart. They were all quick and easy with well-liked characters. It was perfect for the holiday season. I highly recommend.

I am a fan of all these authors. Loved the storyline by Rochelle Alers. Such a sweet love story. It was my favorite.

Rochelle Alers, Pamela Yaye and Cheris Hodges have teamed up to bring us three wonderful couples celebrating Christmas. I enjoyed reading the stories about Noah and Sierra, who get caught in Chicago because of a snow storm and pretend to be a couple in front of Sierra's family, Malik and Kayla, who were friends ten years ago in high school, but some unfortunate circumstances bring them back to the same town, and Marc ( A sport's agent) and Maya (a Celebrity stylist) who start off keeping their relationship a secret, until it blows up in their face. I enjoyed all three stories and they were all well written.

I found all three of these books fun to read and each full of romance, intrigue, and at times some good hot love scenes. Plenty of dancing, and celebrating the holiday season with just enough drama with either family, or breaking up and finding that love you thought had walked away only to see her come back years later, or connecting with someone on a plane, and then meeting someone at a dinner, dance function only to realize that she is the sister to the person you represent, he is a sports agent. All three stories are very good, and all have good male and female characters. They also all have strong mothers who get their children no matter what their age to do what they want them to do. A very good book all the way around.

This Christmas-themed collection of stories from talented black women capture the spirit of the holiday season with the ever present romance that defines budding relationships.

The Perfect Present
Christmas short story collection

If you are looking for a book with multicultural romance novellas with a Christmas theme then this book just might be for you. Three short stories with happy endings for all of the characters all wrapped up with a Christmas bow.

A Christmas Layover by Rochelle Alers:
Two strangers meet on a plane and get stuck in Chicago. Sierra invites Captain Noah Crawford to her parents’ house to stay till he can fly to his destination and the two are thought to be a couple…play the part well…and admit feelings for one another before he flies away.

The Christmas Lesson by Cheris Hodges
High school friends that were almost more are given a chance to see if they can find love when Kayla returns home for the holidays. There is a bit of a financial problem at the school DeShawn is principal of that Kayla uses her skills to help out with.

Christmas with You by Pamela Yaye
Marc sees Maya and is stunned. There is a one night hookup that eventually becomes more even with a big brother trying to put a spanner in the works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

I really enjoyed this collection of holiday stories! Just what I needed to start my holiday reading season!

A CHRISTMAS LAYOVER by Rochelle Alers (3/5 stars): I really like the story and the characters, although I do feel like the writing's a bit...showy? I prefer my romance with less telling to it, if you get my drift.

THE CHRISTMAS LESSON by Cheris Hodges (1.5/5 stars): It had a potential to be great--two old besties reconnecting and having a second chance at love? YES. However, the plot's littered with unnecessary drama and it marred my enjoyment.

CHRISTMAS WITH YOU Pamela Yaye (DNF) : I just can't get into this at all, ugh sorry.


Overall, 2 stars.

It’s about to be Christmas in September. The Perfect Present is a holiday anthology by Rochelle Alers, Cheris Hodges, and Pamela Yaye. I appreciate these authors’ work and love the holidays (which will be upon us sooner than we think) so I was happy to dive into this book.

Christmas Layover by Rochelle Alers

This was a short, quick, and joyful read. I loved the familial bonds, holiday cheer, and love under the mistletoe that we got with this book. Nothing says holidays like bringing the family together, and taking your new man to meet your parents; even if it is all a ruse. However, I must say that I was not a fan of the “I love you” being exchanged literally two days after Noah and Sierra met each other. I know romance novels tend to have a whirlwind courtship but this was too much even for me.

The Christmas Lesson by Cheris Hodges

This was both a second chance and best friends to lovers novel. Kayla doesn’t want to go back to her small hometown (at least I get the feeling that it’s a small town) with her tail tucked between her legs but circumstances don’t give her any other option. The Christmas Lesson was a sugary sweet novel about falling in love with your best friend. At times, it might have been a little bit too sweet especially with DeShawn but in the spirit of the holidays, I can overlook it.

Christmas With You by Pamela Yaye

I’m sorry but Marc was too corny. He was supposed to be this suave and debonair guy but he came off as the opposite to me. Something about the dialogue between Maya and Marc was so stilted that at times I didn’t quite believe them. The holiday spirit infected everyone in this novel and the instant attraction between Marc and Maya promises them both something that may last beyond Christmas.



These stories may have suffered from the brevity needed for this anthology but if you’re open to a little bit of love for the holidays, check it out and let me know what you think.

The Perfect Present is comprised of three stories by three authors. A Christmas Layover was a sweet story. Two strangers (Noah and Sierra)meet on a flight across country. What happens when the weather is unbearable and they spend the holidays together? Will sparks fly or fizzle?

The Christmas Lesson is about two old friends who reconnected years after high school. They were the best of friends, but something happened to breakdown their friendship. Will they have a second chance a friendship or will they continue to avoid each other for the holidays?

Christmas With you was not somewhat predictable. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl flirt. Boy and girl connect. I felt that this story was rushed and not has developed as it could have been. Overall, the story was not bad. I felt as though the story lacked that umph.

The Perfect Present was not bed. I think each story should have been a stand alone book instead of a short story.