With Winter Tales, Tiffany Reisz proved once again why she
is one of my most beloved authors. Her dynamic characters, their interwoven
relationships, the intensity of the love they share, the darkness in their
souls, the unraveling of secrets, the witty dialogue, and above all - the
extreme kinkiness - happily lured me back into the Sinners world, never wanting
the experience to end. Here, as with each publication, Reisz delivered sheer
brilliance in her prose that left me both satisfied with these short stories,
yet thirsty for more. She's cunning and genius in that regard - consistently
feeding my addiction and curiosity when it comes to Søren, Nora, and Kingsley,
while knowing there is so much more to explore when it comes to these
characters. Reisz's unique and masterful writing style, coupled with several
captivating story-lines, the Mistress of Erotica earned ten plus stars for this
Christmas holiday-themed anthology.
December Wine - M/F
Taking place after Søren and Nora's night of terror, this
compelling novella featured Nora and Zach during their free-pass getaway in
France. Nora is on a mission to seek out Kingsley’s long-lost son, Nicolas
"Nico" Delacroix. Here we see some of the many conflicts a morose
Nora is struggling with - a new and uncertain future that will include both
Nico and Fionn (Zach and Grace's son fathered by Søren) and how their presence
affects the trio. Their relationships may be forever changed, and Nora bears
the weight of these worries on her shoulders.
Sexy, steamy, and somewhat melancholy, the highly anticipated December
Wine gave insight into these characters’ lives that I longed for since
reading The Mistress. Also, it was an opportunity to learn more about
the old soul that is Nico, who I absolutely adore.
The Christmas Truce - M/F/M
Set before The Siren, this little treat was a flashback to
one passionate night shared between Søren, Nora, and Kingsley. An unforgettable
ménage where the
quarreling trio briefly set aside their grievances to enjoy the holiday and
make their Christmas wishes come true. Be warned ~ this tidbit is off-the-charts
erotic. But all kinkiness aside, there are several emotional and tearful
moments laced throughout the novella.
Poinsettia & Blood and Snow
There are countless reasons why I adore all things Søren. His
omnipotent and dominant personality
has fascinated me since my first read of The
Siren. Sadistic, enigmatic, charismatic and intense, he is the heart and
soul of this series, in my opinion. A master manipulator, this is Søren's world
as all other characters have no choice but to gravitate towards him. A true
paradox, he is both savage and saintly.
However, in these two short stories, we see a different side of
Father Marcus Stearns in both the present day and in the past as a young man in
the seminary. Seeing him conflicted, struggling, and vulnerable, added another
layer to his multifaceted persona as he sought counsel from Mistress Magdalena
(a cruel but witty Dominatrix, whose brutality rivals that of Søren's).
Witnessing his fears, seeing his humanity, I fell in love with the mighty Søren
all over again.
The Scent of Winter - M/M
Of all the tales within this anthology, The Scent of Winter
was, without a doubt, the most emotional. Never have I witnessed two characters
so in love cause each other such tremendous pain. It's a common theme
throughout the series, but for me, this was extraordinarily intense as their
sorrow was gut-wrenching. For decades, Kingsley and Søren have both loved and
loathed each other for a variety of reasons, and it is here where a major issue
comes to an explosive head - as secrets are finally confessed, confronted, and
resolved. Beautifully written and overly touching, this novella was truly a
remarkable story.
Merci Tiffany Reisz, for yet another outstanding read, as Winter
Tales has joined the ranks as one of my most favorite reads of this year. I
consumed this anthology not once, but twice before composing my thoughts for
this review - it was that fantastic. Until the next release, I will mourn the
loss of these characters and all their craziness. Another magnificent tale and
a must-read for all Original Sinners fans!
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