If you are not familiar with the protagonists and their backstory (like me) it is not so easy to understand what is really going on here, and why. I also didn't know that the protagonists are either priests or whores, and it's a SM setting.
Maybe these stories are nice for fans of the series, but I quickly lost interest.

I love Tiffany's Original Sinners books and these little novelettes were the perfect accompaniment. Soren, King and Nora are wonderful characters.

Sexy, angsty, and the perfect follow up for someone who's just finished the Original Sinners. Tiffany is a writer in a league of her own!

An interesting read, not my normal choice, but good to widen your choices and try something new every now and again.

This was a very sexy and pretty cozy read. Not exactly what I was expecting, but overall it was a good read!

Every year I look forward to the Original Sinners bonus stories. I am slightly obsessed with these characters, and it’s always a thrill to return to their world. Winter Tales gifts us with five novellas from various points in time within the OS saga timeline. I loved every word. Reisz is a brilliant writer. She transports you into the lives of these characters, makes you laugh and cry, makes your heart swell and bleed, and she always keeps me wanting more.

I liked this - it was a fun easy read for my Christmas ski holiday, short (and sexy) stories all interlinked. Not what I usually go for if I'm honest, but I'm certainly glad I read it.

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

I love revisiting my favorite characters from my favorite ever book series! Tiffany Reisz never disappoints when it comes to her writing!

I love her short stories! Some I had already read, but some were wonderful surprises!

I love Tiffany’s unique sense of humor (and how it translates to Søren and Nora - and even Kingsley), but most of all I love how Tiffany stays true to her characters!

Having enjoyed several books from the original Sinners collection and having loved them, I am looking forward to The Priest, especially since Søren is my favourite character in the series. But as this novel won't be published for a few months, I thought this collection of short stories could help me wait. And it gave me a good time over the holidays.

"Kingsley wished there were angels here to worship Søren. He deserved it, all of it, the seraphim and the archangels and all the heavenly host. But Kingsley couldn’t give that to him. So he kissed him instead.
And lo, a Christmas miracle occurred, and the only miracle Kingsley wished for.
​
Søren returned the kiss."

<spoiler>It's sweet in its own way for King, Juliette, Nora, Søren and Zach & Grace hold Søren's son.</spoiler>

Tiffany Reisz remains true to form, with her special sense of humour and kinky sex scenes. So anyone who liked her previous work should enjoy this collection.

Reisz never ever disappoints! Her writing is such a gift for me, I am always completely sucked into her stories and I'm left a little dumbstruck when they end.

I could fill this screen with all of the reasons why I love the Original Sinners world and why you should buy this collection. I could tell you that even if you don't know the history of these characters you'd find that each short story stands on its own. I could tell you that the characters are well rounded, the banter lands perfectly, the inner monologues can be poignant, and the sex is intimate and sexy. I could tell you that even though I've read at least one of these shorts before, I willingly read it again because I just wanted to live in the space of these characters. But perhaps the most telling thing about my pleasure in this collection is that it makes me want to start at the very beginning of the novel series and deep dive back into the lives of these dynamic characters--and that's the thing about reading Tiffany Reisz: as soon as I start one of her novels all I want to do is push aside everything else and read her entire back list and get lost in the worlds she creates.

When I signed up to read and review this, I hadn’t realized this was a series of several novellas in one. I without fail will read everything Tiffany Reisz writes. I’m a sure thing. I did notice here that I’ve already read and reviewed a couple stories within this compilation so I did skip over those. One story in this book wasn’t a huge hit with me but all the rest are great. I love novellas in that, especially with the busy holiday season, you can get a quick fix and saucy sexy lovin’.

So so good!
Author Tiffany Reisz collection of all new short stories from the Sinners series are the best!
Loved getting more of my favorite characters from her previous books.

Sexy, fun, and full of her signature sinful naughty words set in the Holiday scenarios!

Such an entertaining read to keep you toasty all year round.

Cosy, romantic, winter/Christmas read, just what I was looking to read this December. would advise to try this one

4.5 stars. I read this for December Wine. I needed to find out what Nora and Nico’s first face to face meeting was like. It’s impossible to not have immediate heart eyes for Nico. Nora and Zach travel to France specifically to seek out Nico and the purpose is unbeknownst to Soren and Kingsley. Having stuck around these characters through so many books and seeing how they handle different situations, it still doesn't lessen the feels and intensity when it's a short story. While Nico doesn't consume the majority of the pages, his presence is symbolic of a lot of things that give Nora much to think about. Definitely worth the read because some of the topics discussed in this one will likely come up again in Tiffany Reisz's 2020 release The Priest, which I am very eager to read.

The Christmas Truce is a great depiction of Nora and Kingsley's relationship, during the time that Nora and Soren were estranged. I'm always struck by how similar these two are and yet their relationship can be like a roller coaster at times. Their common denominator is not always Soren so I like seeing them have their own dynamic that is independent of him.

Poinsettia is young Soren, back then known as Marcus, interacting with Magdalena, whom he has mentioned before in The Original Sinners when he visits her in Italy. She taught him the art of sadism and she's rather fascinating. But there's also a bit of something else more tender and weighty in this story towards the end that is a special message for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or preferences.

The Scent of Winter is a strictly Soren and Kingsley story of them back in their youth when they first knew each other and in the present day when it's Soren's birthday. Kingsley will always want whatever Soren dishes out for him, but it's their vulnerable conversations that always reel me in and endears both of them to me.

With Winter Tales Tiffany Reisz has put together a wonderful collection of winter themed short stories set in the Original Sinners world. I started out reading this (and bad on me for not reading this closer to release date ) with the intention to just read the newest in the bunch, but ended up reading the entire offering. There's something about Tiffany Reisz's characters and her writing that this reader in and won't let me go. It's like visiting old friends.

In December Wine, Nora and Zach go looking for Nico in France. I really like how these stories reveal little bits of a larger puzzle that the reader doesn't get to see until Ms. Reisz lets you. It's an intriguing and sometimes frustrating way to compose a story. It really keeps things interesting.

This story had me thinking about secrets and the trouble knowing a secret can cause and had me examining my own feelings regarding marriage fidelity. I like that about this series.

Fans of the series definitely need this. It's hard for me to say how it works for new readers.

I loved the time I spent revisiting with these characters reading Winter Tales. The characters fascinate me, and it's all good.

A complimentary copy was provided for review.

This Christmas Santa Tiffany brings a bag full of Søren anecdotes. It was truly embarrassment of the riches as we get not 1, not 2, but 5 short stories, of time lapses in Original Sinners series
The winter tale was just like a winter holiday, crisp, fragrant and nostalgic. The warmth brought in by Kingsley's son (yep!!) Nico. Both are taken by surprise at this unexpected revelation.Nora and Zach find themselves on the way to Soret in France to meet Nicholas himself and share the news. And of course, what's a few night stoppages on the way between Nora the Mistress and the guy who gave her the BEST ANAL SEX ever!! So that tiny juicy morsel is to make me and the story moist......worked!👍
Lots of emotions overflow and trickle from the eyes of the characters and readers. It's sweet in its own way, though a long road ahead lies for King, Juliette, Nora, Søren and Zach & Grace. Cause they hold Søren's son too!!!!
Surprise! Surprise!
Next three stories are all linked to holiday cheer too. There's Nora celebrating Christmas overwhelmingly with younger Kingsley when her and Søren were on a break. There's Magdalena teaching Søren some tricks when he comes back for assurance and confidence after Fionn, his son is born.
It lands perfectly before the holidays and Hopefully there will be more during to warm us with Tiffany's trademark style of kink with my fave priest!
The 5 stars for tender hiccups

I’ve never read anything by author Tiffany Reisz but I was super excited to read “ Winter Tales”. All of the stories were new to me. All in all, these stories were sensual, kinky, and enjoyable quick reads. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and getting to know more about these characters.

*I received a digital advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I will preface this with, I have not read any of the original sinners series. If you have not and you picked up this Christmas booked filled with novellas, I would recommend getting some backstory and starting somewhere in the series. I was a little lost since every novella is with different characters.

The writing was really good and descriptive. If you like erotica novels with some major steam factor you would like this series. It will get you in the Jolly Balls Christmas Spriti. I am now completely curious and going to start with book one.

December Wine - ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????



I'm probably going to fumble this but bear with me for a sec.

Reisz is a talented writer. She singlehandedly has made me not just like or care about but become borderline obsessed with these characters who are openly and unabashedly polyamorous. Me! Who is openly and unabashedly possessive and, I daresay, a bit jealous. That in and of itself is a monumental feat. However, I think that very character trait may be the proverbial fly in the ointment here.

This is the second Nico story that's left me wanting because, yet again, it wasn't Nico and Nora; it was Nora and Zach, Nora and Søren, Nora and Søren's baby Fionn, Nora and King and Nico was little more than a secondary character.

Part of my frustration is wanting Nora to on page dominate Nico but the larger issue is their relationship never seems to be centerstage. It's never just them and when it is it's just fleeting glimpses. Maybe I want something that simply isn't ever going to come to fruition which I fully realize is irrational and I should build a bridge, but it is what it is nonetheless.

The story itself carries the infinite readability I've come to expect from Reisz as well as her trademark emotiveness, kinky sexitimes and sensible characterizations. Yet I still found myself wilting little by little as I read and realized the inevitable, which is undoubtedly a "me" issue. A "me" issue I'm stumped as to how to rate but it's all I've got right now.

As always, my opinions are my own and YMMV.

The Christmas Truce - Somewhere between 3-3.5 🎄🎄🎄

I feel like I've read this before? Let's face it, I probably have.

They say memory is the first thing to go, yes? IDK... I forget.

Anywhat, in news that will shock exactly no one, I enjoyed the King portion of the truce more than the Nora portion. I love that man. I would count the ways but we'd be here all day so suffice to say he entertains me greatly and has the ability to break my heart sometimes simultaneously.

In this story he did both. BUT! It warmed my heart to see him and Søren have a moment, for Søren to give him something to sustain him besides friendship.

Plus, it was pretty sexy. That one cane strike...



Poinsettia - 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

This is classic Reisz. I freely admit that any story that doesn't feature King I'm liable to start cleaning my andirons but I requested this thing so I pushed through and lo and behold... I found myself engrossed. That Reisz weaves a strange magic I tell ya.



So King isn't in it in it but Søren is mooning over him.

Let me repeat that for the cheap seats: Søren. Is. Mooning. Over. King. Like, "I'll never love again; he's the only one for me; I just want to see his face and know he's ok for Christmas." You could've knocked me over with a spreader bar. I didn't think he had it in him

"There's only one Kingsley."


You're damn right there is. It warmed my heart to see Søren so miserable which undoubtedly makes me a bit of a sadist myself but 🤷🏻‍♀️

Magdalena and Father Ballard were also pleasant surprises as was the gifting, so I guess I need to break down, quit being such a hard-ass and read that Søren book.

The Scent of Winter - 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

I read this one when it was originally released and adored it (Original Review) but I'm a sucker for Søren showing King how important he is to him since he got hosed for an eternity.

I enjoyed it just as much but I do wish there was more pain involved since sadomasochism is definitely in their wheelhouse but I did thoroughly enjoy the domination.

"...You are not allowed to get lost unless I want to lose you. You aren't allowed to be found, unless it's me doing the finding. And the only way you're allowed to die is if I choose to kill you with my own hands. Your life doesn't belong to you anymore, and if I have to murder you tonight and paint the snow with your blood to make you understand that, I will. You are mine, Kingsley. End of discussion."


*shivers*

Yap. Still as good as I remember.

Blood & Snow - 🎄🎄🎄

The more I get to know this Magdalena person the more I like her. She might out sadist the Original Sadist a.k.a. Søren. That kind of makes me giddy especially when she unleashes it on him.

I'm hoping she plays a role in The Priest which *I think* this is probably a foreshadowing teaser for what's to come as it takes place shortly after he finds out he's Fionn's father.

Reisz is a master of pulling heartstrings and this story was no different. She's humanizing Søren incrementally with these stories. Here with him verbalizing his fear of Nora leaving him and, honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about that. I've spent soooooooo long being pissed at him, thinking he was a stone cold SOB but now... I find myself having some empathy or something in that neighborhood towards him yet still wary he's going to asshole out again any second now. Which is a testament to Reisz' prowess with the pen.

Overall a good anthology to pick up especially for fans of the series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

An ARC was provided by NetGalley.