The Winter Tales anthology gives us more glimpses into the lives of The Original Sinner Series books. Reading short novellas about Nora, Soren, and Kingsley is always very enjoyable. Their love for each other is so addicting to read, but at the same time unbelievably strange. Tiffany Reisz is an amazing writer to be able to use humor, emotions, sexual behaviors and desires to keep the reader still interested in these characters lives for so long. I look forward to more of her books and of course more of “Mistress Nora.”

Winter Tales was a collection of novellas with a connection to the Original Sinners series. It was a gift to re-visit these characters during some of their most emotional and eventful times. As usual, Ms. Reisz writes this series with such commitment and passion. They may live in a world that I can't even imagine existing in, but they still feel emotions, disappointment and heartbreak just like everyone else. I loved the chance to read this collection of short stories and spend some time with these greatly loved characters. It was a wonderful holiday treat!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Ms. Reisz for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THIS WAS A GREAT SHORT NOVELLA WHICH BRINGS ALL YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTERS FROM THE SERIES. THE AUTHORS WRITING STYLE IS ADDICTIVE AND EASY FLOWING. IF YOU HAVE NEVER READ THE SINNERS SERIES I FEEL THIS NOVELLA IS NOT FOR YOU. HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ANY FAN OF THE SINNERS SERIES.

“Joy and terror-they’re twins, you know. Joy is born first. Then terror a few minutes after. Joy arrives when you recognize what you have. Terror comes on its heel, terror that you’ll lose the thing that gave you all that joy.”

Eep! It’s holiday time and that means a holiday novella from Tiffany! But, this year, Tiffany is gifting us with a group of novellas! So.... we get three that we already love and a new Soren novella!!

It’s always great to revisit these characters. I can especially never get enough Kingsley and Soren. But, I couldn’t wait to see what we were getting from Soren. It was like a prequel to the upcoming book, The Priest, and I just can’t wait!!!

Tiffanie’s signature writing gifts us with her trademark whit, emotions, and excitement. She has such a magical way about her writing that you just can never get enough of. She has engulfed us in this incredible world with these characters we have grown to love and crave. I enjoyed this series of novellas and can’t wait to get my hands on The Priest.

“The love is in the waiting.”

‘A son for King. A son for Søren. But what about Nora? Who did Nora get?’

The Winter Tales anthology has the following novellas: December Wine, The Christmas Truce, Poinsetta, The Scent of Winter and Blood & Wine. Whilst I have read some of these novellas before; the magic, the intensity of emotions and the spontaneous laughter has not been lost and I enjoyed them as much as the first time round, if not more.

“So there it is,” Elle said. “I give you my heart.”
‘Slowly Søren closed his fingers around the hart and pressed his fisted hand to his chest.’ “Thank you, Little One,” he said, his voice hardly a whisper.’

You know Christmas is coming when Tiffany Reisz releases an Original Sinners novella. Once again it’s like breathing in the fresh crisp scent of winter, which invigorates your soul, whilst at the same time, make you crave a warm embrace. Tiffany Reisz gives you that and more with her words. She always does.

‘What he remembered was the loneliness. The worst kind of loneliness. The loneliness of being in love with someone he couldn’t have.’

Tiffany Reisz reminds you why you fell in love with her writing in the first place, she reminds you why you fell in love with her characters, and why every single time you return to their world, it feels like coming home. It is quite the feat that, despite all the years and books which have come to pass, Tiffany Reisz still manages to show unexplored sides to her characters, whilst retaining what is so fundamentally them. You think you know every character inside out, after all you’ve been through so much with them, yet they never fail to surprise you whilst at the same time giving you closure on situations and emotions you didn’t even know you needed or had. This, at the same time as affirming something you’ve always been quite sure of. That you love them. Every single one. It’s a connection of hearts which can never be broken.

“Maybe I want to fall to my death”
“You’re not allowed.”
“I’m not allowed?”

“No,” Søren said. “You are not allowed. 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.”

Tiffany Reisz is so incredibly clever, a writing genius if you will. The way in which she uniquely writes these short stories so flawlessly, like a snapshot set in a moment you may have visited before or which came to pass, as you were busy elsewhere with either Nora, Søren or Kingsley. Well, it is quite an amazing accomplishment. The way in which she weaves her own brand of sharpness, sarcasm and sometimes silly humour with relevant musings of friendship, loyalty and love is quite simply outstanding.

“You always hold every card. Every last fucking card while the rest of us stand around with nothing in our hands but our hearts.”

The Scent of Winter and Blood & Wine had me in floods of tears. My heart just couldn’t take the intense traces of vulnerability as well as the humanity and power of love. It overwhelmed me and my heart felt too big for my chest with love, compassion and a deep sense of need to crawl into the pages, kneel and rest my head against Søren as my arms envelop him. December Wine and Christmas Truce made me laugh and marvel at the human connection which Nora has with those who play such an important part of her life. Her awe-inspiring love and loyalty.

‘He still had the smooth skin of a much younger man, but his eyes were ancient. They’d always been ancient, as if he’d lived a thousand lives before and carried what he’d seen in all those lives into every incarnation.’

I have purposely not divulged any details of the novellas, as every reader who is in as deep as I am with this series, will not need cliff notes. All you need to know is that this is Tiffany Reisz, this is the Original Sinners. We will feel, we will laugh, we will cry and we will crave more. It will never be enough -but for now- just for now, I feel overwhelmingly sated.

“Joy and terror – they’re twins, you know. Joy is born first. Then terror a few minutes after. Joy arrives when you recognize what you have. Terror comes on its heel, terror that you’ll lose the thing that gave you all that joy.”
He looked her in the eyes. “If she leaves me, I don’t know how I’ll survive it.”

A lovely collection of novellas that you don't want to miss. All stories take place at Christmas time and you get little glimpses into the lives of our favorite sadist.
This special holiday-themed collection also includes the novellas A December Wine, Nora's first meeting with Nico. Poinsettia, story with Magdalena and Søren. The Christmas Truce, our three favorites getting their Christmas wishes. The Scent of Winter, Kingsley and Søren. And a bonus short story starring Søren rounds out the Winter Tales anthology. Throughout all be prepared for bits of Fionn. If you don't know who that is you probably should be trading this collection yet.

If you're looking for that holiday romance feeling, and you already know Soren, Nora, and the rest of them, this is perfect. Just a bunch of Christmastime, wintery stories surrounding these characters, peeks into more moments in their lives. It's the strangest version of love I've read, and there's always more to their story.

However, if you haven't read the Siren books, this isn't for you. I've read some and not all and I'm a little lost. But I really enjoyed their dirtiness, their humor, and their deep caring for one another.

In December Wine, brand-new novella, Nora together with Zach is in search of Kingsley's son Nico. I really like how comfortable Nora and Zach have become to each other's naughty preferences. Tiffany Reisz never failed to remind us why Mistress Nora is such an unforgettable character. Her sassy dialogue is something I'm always looking forward to reading and in this novella is no exception to her sassiness. Winter Tales also includes previously published short stories that are always worth a reread. If you want a book that will keep you warm during the winter season? This is a must-read!

I loved the new bonus short story addition of Blood and Snow. Soren (Bambi) and Magdalene! Oh boy their convo was very interesting. By the end it feels like a "Stinger!" I really did enjoy all of these stories though. I swear it feels as if Winter is in my house, with the way Tiffany describes the cold lol.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What could be better than being introduced to a new friend you love in the company of old friends you love? Mark the date because on November 19, author Tiffany Reisz is going to introduce you to that new friend in Winter Tales. Billed as an Original Sinners Christmas Anthology, these stories are soul food for lovers of the Original Sinners series and its characters.

Once upon a time, I wrote that Tiffany Reisz's books often ask more questions than they answer. In December Wine, the new friend in the grouping, the question of how Nico reacts when he learns Kingsley is his father is answered. We also experience Nora's reaction when she sees the man she believes to be the son of her friend and lover. And for anyone who has been curious about what the future might hold for Nora and Zach, that question will be answered as well.

The Christmas Truce takes place on Christmas Eve during the period when Nora and Søren are estranged. Nora and Kingsley are spending the evening reminiscing and wrapping gifts. One thing leads to another and they find themselves making their way to Sacred Heart Church to hear their favorite priest deliver his homily. For that one evening, there is detente between the friends and lovers. Gifts are exchanged, hearts and souls are exchanged, and Nora wonders why every day can't be Christmas Day.

The third novella, Poinsettia, finds a young Søren spending Christmas Eve with his domme and mentor Magdalena. Gifts are given and received that will touch your heart and Magdalena will read a story that almost breaks her heart. I've often marveled at how well Tiffany Reisz goes beneath the surface of her characters and their lifestyles to make them relatable. Poinsettia is a fine example of the way she uses her beautiful words to show us who her Sinners really are.

The Scent of Winter brings Søren and Kingsley together for a magical night - a very special Christmas gift to each other - that is reminiscent of their first night together as lovers. Once more, the author's imagery and the intimacy between these two characters will be profoundly moving.

Finally, like a little gem among larger precious stones, is Blood and Snow in which we find Søren once more with Magdalena who isn't just any domme, but a wise woman who can listen to the concerns of another human being and help him find answers. They may not be exactly the ones Søren is hoping for, but they are exactly what we might expect from our author who loves to play mind games. As readers, we can't wait to find out how both Ms. Reisz and Nora will define revenge!

Winter Tales is a 5 Star gift from author Tiffany Reisz to her readers who love the Original Sinners. If you haven't read the series, you should start now with The Siren! I can promise you books that are beautifully written with humor, well-developed characters, and deliciously twisty erotica. Christmas will come early as you read!

Winter Tales is an anthology of short stories in the Original Sinners universe. Three of these December/Christmas stories were previously available for free on the author's website and/or through her December newsletters: "The Christmas Truce," "Poinsettia," and "The Scent Of Winter." I enjoyed rereading them.

The other two stories are newly released in this anthology: "December Wine" which tells of how Nora first met Nico; and "Blood and Wine" which hints at what to expect in The Priest which will be released in April 2020. I found it interesting comparing and contrasting Soren's POV of first meeting Kingsley in"Pointsettia" with Kingsley's POV of first meeting Soren in The Chateau. We learn some of Soren's and Kingsley's secrets and delve deeper into their relationship with each other and with Nora.

As always, Tiffany Reisz knows how to tell a tale that's the perfect blend of love, sex, and kink.

"Joy and terror—they're twins, you know."

I didn't expect to love this anthology as much as I did. It's not like any other that I've read before. Every novella answers a question that I've had while reading the Original Sinners series, and some that it never crossed my mind to ask. Blanks were filled in while I revisited some favorite memories and characters I've grown to love through the author's incredible writing.

Tiffany Reisz is the #QueenOfKink in my mind. She opened my eyes to things I'd never considered before. She had me going to places virtually that I'd never go in reality, and loving every second of the experience. Her wit and sarcasm through her character's witty banter is one of my favorite things about her writing. She can shock me one minute and have me laughing out loud the next.

I must also mention that she touches my emotions. Yes, I actually cried while reading this book. The characters live outside the box and their idea of normal is not the same as mine. But their hearts are huge and their love is strong. They make sacrifices, sometimes in secret, for each other that go above and beyond. I never pass up an opportunity to dive into a Tiffany Reisz story, no matter where she decides to take me, I never regret the journey. Trust me, if you are already a fan, these Winter Tales are gonna warm up your winter in the very best way.

It's always so much fun to meet with Mistress Nora again. :D She's the most fun but also so sexy the heroine that I've ever read so far. <3

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not affected by this exchange.

Are we surprised that I gave this 5 stars? I don't think so. Tiffany Reisz is my all time favorite author. I have rated basically everything she has ever written over 3 stars. This collection of short stories was brilliant. I liked that we got to see all of the characters we love at various points in their lives. One of my favorite things about Reisz is her ability to weave theology and kink together. I am not a religious person but her parallels to religion allow me to understand why people feel the way they do about God.
I rated all 5 short stories in this 5 stars but my favorites were December Wine and Poinsettia.
December Wine was about Nora going to find Nico for the first time. There was so much emotion conveyed in such a short period of time. I will always beg for more from the two of them.
Poinsettia was about young Søren and Magda and learning about each other. I loved the talk about Magda and her animosity towards the Church. I loved how both characters talked candidly about how the Church can be toxic for some people. Magda is an amazing character and it is amazing how someone with so little page time in the series can be so meaningful.

Words continue to escape me when trying to review a Tiffany Reisz book. Her writing is truly in another stratosphere where the term skimming is not only forbidden but you'd be labeled a fool to even think you could even try to get away with that. Your mind would revolt at the loss of the beauty that is her mode of expression. Please just that leap and enjoy this exquisite ride.

With Winter Tales, we are treated to various short stories circling around our beloved Nora, Kingsley and SØREN with the backdrop of Christmas and how it can provide perhaps a bit of magic to these weathered souls. Their witty banter, their insistence on doing things their way is beyond wonderful to watch. The way they behave when in each other's presence is it's own kind of marvelous spectacle with often lofty expectations that are beautifully soothed by even the most subtle of and simplest of gifts.

To witness the sincere emotion, albeit at times almost easy to miss, as the most unexpected of surprises are unleashed had my own heart bursting with love. For characters who have weaved themselves in and out of each other's lives for years, they can still offer a bit of mystery as revelations and confessions are revealed. And give even the most hardened of hearts that bit of humanity and faith they thought was lost forever.

But it's the way Reisz stays true to her characters that continues to give us fans true joy. Although they falter a bit when presented with a new truth or presumed burden, their strong and complicated personalities never fail them and they truly give the term 'gift-giving' a whole new meaning. I shared the joy of the season right along with SØREN, his King and his Eleanor. They are a threesome who never fail to keep me engaged all the while revving up my emotions in the most perfect of ways.

Also enjoying 'cameos' by other beloved personas we've come to know in the Original Sinners series, Winter Tales will make for a grand holiday treat for new and old fans alike. It is not to be missed!

5 + snowy stars!

December Wine:

I'm such a huge Nora x Soren fan now that I forgot how delightful it is to see Nora and Zach together again. My favourite quote of this short:

"Now wait. How is one night with him equivalent to a week with me? Are you and my wife implying that I'm one-seventh of the lover that he is?"

Anyway, Nicolas Delacroix a.k.a Nico Boissonneault! Hearteyes over the first time he came on page.

The bit with Fionn hiccuping reduced me to tears.

he Christmas Truce:

The period when Nora, Kingsley, and Soren were not together is not my favourite period, but anyhoozle, the hart/heart and the Christmas truce is nice.

Poinsettia:

BAMBI, and a little insight into Soren's younger years, as well as long conversations on feelings and Kingsley.

Have I mentioned how much I love Father Ballard? I've loved him a lot in The Confessions of Marcus Stearns.

The Scent of Winter:

I love Soren x Kingsley as much as I love Nora x Soren; I really cannot choose which pairing I love more. There's so much history and love and angst between all of them.

Anyway, Soren at 51 is an Image.

Favourite bit:

"Give la Maitresse my thanks. She takes good care of both my children."
"In very different ways."
"Don't remind me."

Blood and Wine:

Again, reminder of how much Soren loves Nora.

DISCLAIMER #1: Honestly, I didn't think this would have to be said considering this is billed as a RETURN to the Original Sinners as well as a collection of FAN FAVORITE novellas. Still, I have already seen complaints from people who, for some reason, know nothing about this series, but for some reason, requested to read this story anyway. However, IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR SINNERS THAN YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THIS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES.

And now on to my review.

I have said it before, and I will repeat it. I will NEVER tire of the unholy trinity that is Nora, Kingsley, and Søren. Nor will I ever tire of Mistress Tiffany and her Christmas gift to her faithful readers.

With the exception of December Wine, and the bonus Søren short at the end, the other three novellas were published in e-book format only as special gifts to her readers over the years. Therefore, this anthology spans decades.

Decades of love, of loss, of betrayal.

That is the thing when you pick up a story by Tiffany Reisz. It doesn't matter that the subject matter includes things that are definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The erotica doesn't take center stage, even when it does. There is always so much more. The depth to these characters, their feelings, the convoluted world they navigate, you FEEL them. You are able to experience their pain, their love, their frustrations. Even when you want to hate them, you can't help but love them.

If you worship at the altar of Søren, you will enjoy this anthology. If you haven't yet fallen at his feet? Read The Siren, and then join the rest of us.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is not what I was expecting and I really didn’t enjoy it. It just wasn’t romance to me and I found it very difficult to stay interested.

This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

Winter Tales is a collection of excerpts and short stories based on characters from one of Tiffany Reisz’ series, although it didn’t specify which one. There are many characters but little background so it is difficult to follow at times. This work is very adult, and not mainstream adult. Although the writing is good, the storylines lost me quickly and I chose not to finish this book.

This book was not to my taste and, therefore, I cannot recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

I have not read any of the other books from this series, and therefore didn't know the history of these characters from this story compilation. The stories were well written, and the plot was good in spite of not being familiar with the characters. The sexy scenes were really good, and actually surprised me in a good way. I would definitely read more by this author.