I've never read a Cardeno C. book I didn't like. This author has a way of really getting to the heart of soul of his characters, and making them into flawed, wonderful people I truly love to read about. For a short story, I thought Places in Time was a very well-rounded read that I thoroughly enjoyed and truly hated to see come to an end.

I really liked the leads, Abel and Kai, and while Kai's sister annoyed me at first, she had her heart in the right place. I'll also say that All of Me is kind of cheesy-sweet and you have to go in with a frame of mind wanting to see a couple who were obviously meant to be together find their way. It is paranormal in the sense that there are shifters in the book, but it is no great world-building paranormal read. It's not meant to be. It is what it is, a contemporary romance with two characters who are hurting with a fix in sight....This is a really nice and quick shifter read. Although there is a darker reason for the two lovers to have not made their bond occur earlier, the MC's are good together. ...if you are feeling like a romantic and sweet paranormal, with the sex all kinds of good too, then this is a nice little read.

I must say though that when reading this light, short read, it had a dreamy quality to it. I cannot really put the right words on text, but it was like I was participating in the events that unfolded in a quality very dreamlike and quite blurry. It felt so good and in spite of the sensitive topic involved, it left me with a feeling of such great HOPE. Something which could only be felt during hopeful holidays like Christmas....There was something magical about this story that speaks of love, commitment, hope and faith. Yes, this is a very short and light read but it was bigger than the quantity of the text.  It made me think deeper and it reached out to something deeper inside me (and hopefully other readers). It teared up quite a bit but as the story was not sad, it was good tears. Hopeful tears. It was a beautiful.

I love the concept of one true mate, and this story delivered it beautifully.

I enjoyed both of these books for the same reason. They give hope. We all need a good dose of hope, especially during the holidays when depression can take hold of you.