It didnāt immediately register but I had read this before as a short story in the Heart2Heart Valentine Dayās Anthology. It worked there, surrounded by other like stories and given a foundation by the Anthology basis of the Heart2Heart matchmaking process, a well established tradition and built upon by each story.
As a standalone? Removed from that structure and foundation? Unfortunately, without a solid narrative support, it doesnāt really make the type of satisfying story you would expect from Tavia Lark.
I love the premise and the potential of this story. That someone has been imprisoned for an indefinite amount of time within a small room for a unknown reason is horrifying. Especially as we get glimpses into his tiny room and his personality. Then Lark flips over to Raider, who, along with his sister Val, owns and runs a shop for magic items and are newly immortal.
Ruin finally gets to communicate with someone else when mysteriously they are hooked up via the Heart2Heart dating app.
I canāt see where this was expanded from the original version. The story is still a good concept but given the trauma of being held prisoner for thousands of years and then having a relationship, albeit a verbal one? I would have thought Runeās reactions to have been considerably more intense and internalized.
The backgrounds of the locals or location need further explanation, especially as thatās where Rune was imprisoned. As it was there is so many unanswered questions.
The Hidden God of Open Doors by Tavia Lark is a sweet paranormal short story. A quick read that needs more attention to detail and depth of character.
Forget finding his perfect match. Rune is just desperate to talk to someone.
Rune is lonely, immortal, and trapped in a mysterious prison. Objects appear and disappear as the decades pass, and his only companions are the books and television. He hasnāt spoken to a real, live person in over two hundred years.
Until one day a phone appears, with a magical dating app already installed.
The app promises to find Runeās perfect match for Valentineās Day. Rune is tempted, even though he knows thatās impossible. Nobody wants a perfect match they canāt meet.
Then he matches with Raiderāa confident ex-treasure hunter who shamelessly flirts past Runeās loneliness.
And Raider doesnāt believe in impossible.
The Hidden God of Open Doors is a short Valentineās Day MM romance about a trapped immortal, the flirty treasure hunter who wants to discover everything about him, and the dating app magic that brings them together.
Previously published in the Heart2Heart Volume 7 Paranormal Anthology
I have looked forward every Christmas to N. R. Walkerās new Hartbridge Christmas story, and was delighted to see Deck the Fire Hall this year.
Hartbridge, Montana is that snowy, Hallmark like small town with a beautiful view and endless charming Christmas decorations . Plus something else. Where a visitor that arrives in town at Christmas will meet his true love in town and find forever happiness.
Thatās happened through four magical, heartwarming stories, each building upon the other. So that couple by couple, Hartbridge is becoming a real place that anyone would love to live or at least visit.
Now itās time for the Firefighter Captain Soren De Silva weāve come to know to get his own HEA. Soren has come close but now a burned out doctor just moved in next to him.
Doctor Robinson OāReilly is a lovely character. Walker really gives us the sense of a man who has been through some serious mental and physical stress. And has needed a severe change.
The relationship is sweet, adult and develops, as is the case with these stories, quickly. Doc Reilly and Soren De Silva were a wonderful couple and if Deck the Fire Halls ends the series, itās a heartfelt way to see it go out.
Charming, funny, sweet and just a lovely read about a great town and wonderful people. What a pleasure!
Just some thoughts.
Some things struck me as odd. This is definitely part of a series. Yet, itās been removed as one and you would struggle to find the other books if you didnāt know they existed or the order to read them in. Very strange.
Also, I was missing the lovely map of the town thatās been a part of the series and shows where all the shops and couples live. If youāre interested, look at Holiday Heart Strings where I saw it last, a great book too.
Doctor Robinson OāReilly is burned out. Exhausted, jaded, and disillusioned with the bureaucracy of his profession, heās ready to throw away his entire career. Convinced to take a part-time position in a small town instead, he packs his medical bag for Hartbridge, Montana.
Who knows, maybe the change of pace and mountain air will do him good.
Firefighter Captain Soren De Silva moved to Hartbridge two years ago. He loves the town, the people, his job. What he doesnāt like is the lack of queer men. Well, the lack of available queer men. There are a few queer couples in town whom Soren can only look at with envy.
He wants what they have.
Thereās a new doctor in town; not Sorenās usual type, but thereās something about him that Soren canāt ignore. A friendship sparks between them and Soren canāt help but wonder if that Hartbridge Christmas magic the others joke about is real.
Because a spark leads to flames, and this is not a fire Soren wants to extinguish.
Gigi Riversā has such a captivating, warmhearted series with her Berry family of hearth and kitchen witches and their assorted otherworldly mates. With every member finding their love at Christmas, during the same time period, itās been a joy to watch the same events from the various family members perspectives.
Dragons, gargoyles, werewolves, cat shifters, and orcs! Itās all about love and acceptance in a large family thatās been through so much pain and sorrow, stayed together, and still has room and love in their lives and hearts for more.
Grady is the oldest of the Berry family. Heās the one who remembers, who was there when everything fell apart, and the one who held them together as a family and kept their family bakery from being sold. The responsibility and the feeling that he is the guardian of them and everything that keeps them safe is pressing in on him as the stress of the years is getting to him.
Looking down upon the Berry family activities, of their bakery and home, is Uzoth, the last of the gargoyles. Perched high over the town, heās fascinated by this family, Grady in particular.
Rivers writes an emotional story of two guardians, one increasingly overwhelmed by his own family and his inability to step back from his past, and the other slowly becoming stone, because heās without a mission, and family, having lost both long ago.
How they come together at Christmas is a hard won, absolutely magical tale. I loved it. And them.
Gradyās struggles are so real, the pressures he puts on himself are so intense and relatable. And the loneliness that is Uzoth is heartbreaking.
This is another marvelous story in a terrific series and Rivers intends to bring them all back next season. I canāt wait!
Pick them up and dive into a magical seasonal wonderland of Christmas markets, otherworldly beings in love, and magic!
An ancient gargoyle. A hearth witch baker. Theyāve always looked after others. Is it time to look after themselvesā¦ and their hearts?
Uzoth is the last of the gargoyles. He sits on rooftops as snow gathers on his wings. But Uzoth is used to the cold. He once had people to protect and brethren to stand beside, but that is all gone. Still, he continues his silent watch, wishing he had a purpose once again.
Strung-out and overworked, Grady is the eldest of ten children. Since his parentās death, heās dedicated himself to caring for his siblings and running the family bakery. He hasnāt had a moment for himself. Or for love.
One night, thieves attack Grady. Uzoth swoops in and rescues him. An unusual and tentative friendship forms between them. Soon, feelings and desires grow. Still, Grady has so much responsibility. Can he find time for a relationship with Uzoth? Or will he end up sacrificing a chance at love for the sake of others?
The Last Gargoyleās Christmas Wish is a cosy fantasy romance with plenty spice. It features an ancient gargoyle, an older sibling who takes on too much responsibility, cosy Christmas vibes, inappropriate uses of a tail, and a guaranteed HEA.
I came across this series quite by accident, the covers of course! And Iām so happy that I found them. Iām reading my way through this remarkable series thatās centered around a family of hearth and kitchen witches finding their mates during the Christmas holidays with the last book ending on Christmas.
Read the authorās notes for the exact reading order for the stories listed below (not that I knew about this to begin with). And be very prepared for a new hungering for the Vanilla crescent cookies as vividly described and dearly loved within. I had to go get something to munch on as I read.
Avery, the dragon of the title is a tad unusual as dragons go. Heās so winsome and engaging as well as a being we can sympathize with.
Jack and his boisterous family of hearth and kitchen witch bakers are such a great bunch of characters. Their love, kindness, laughter and yes, loud noises are so beautifully written that I feel we can hear them off the pages.
Rivers excels at building a sense of world for the reader to understand the settings while the characters form their relationships and continue their lives, separately and increasingly as a couple.
Magic is everything and everywhere. Dragons after all. But so are books, and baking and the Holidays.
This was absolutely charming and itās sending me on my own journey to read the entire series before the end of the year. I highly recommend reading this ! Itās so heartwarming, fantasy romance and dragons!
Another great cover.
AN MM MONSTER CHRISTMAS
A Werewolf Mate for Christmas
The Orc Who Hated Christmas
The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas The Last Gargoyleās Christmas Wish
Will a lonely dragon find love this Christmas? Or is he destined to spend another year on his own?
Avery is a wealthy dragon from a powerful bloodline with a hoard of books. Despite this, he lives a solitary life and spends every Christmas alone. Still, he dreams of one day finding a mate with whom he could share the holiday (and his books).
As a hearth witch working in the poor part of town, Jack is often looked down upon. When Avery walks into his bakery, Jack mistakes him for an upper-class servant. Captivated by Averyās stunning golden eyes and brilliant coppery hair, Jack invites Avery to the Christmas markets.
Avery is beyond thrilled. Maybe he wonāt be alone this Christmas! But when Jack realises that Avery is no mere servant, he starts to have doubts. Could a wealthy dragon and a poor baker really build a life together?
Will Jack and Avery overcome their differences? Or will Avery once again be the loneliest dragon at Christmas?
The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas is a cosy fantasy romance with plenty of spice. It features cosy Christmas vibes, a witch baker snowed in with a dragon, lots of cuddling surrounded by a hoard of books, and a guaranteed HEA. Whilst this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
Hayden Hallās Mingle All The Way see out the second season of the heartwarming, wonderful Christmas Falls series. So of course, I mistakenly read it out of order and stumbled across the answer to this seasonās biggest mystery, who is Christmas Falls Secret Santa?
The answer was absolutely perfect and in keeping with the heart and magic of this small Christmas town and community.
Itās the romantic journey of two childhood friends who were separated by a parentās need to locate for a job and the revelations and romance that is sparked when theyāre reunited years later when both are back in Christmas Falls.
Milo, the boy who left crushed and crying returned home first , years later to open his dream shop, Jingle Bites, selling his handmade chocolates. Now arrives Christian, returning home after his ventures outside in NYC, both romantically and professionally, failed.
Memories and their old friendship revives their relationship but something else turns it into a deep bond.
Milo has been a favorite throughout the series, with his quiet engaging hometown voice and handmade chocolates that appear in every story. Hall take a terrific secondary role and turns Milo into a great character, one who can make a reader feel connected to his life and struggles, whether itās the charming shop heās poured everything into or his long time feelings for Christian.
Christian is a very strong character but I have to admit thereās moments I was very frustrated with his character and or maybe the lack of momentum in his outlook and his poor treatment of Milo. Continued expectations of forgiveness for the same behavior grows old in fiction as well as real life. It becomes an issue when a writerās character inability to move forward becomes a loop instead of a forward path once too often. That narrative stumble temporarily took me out of the story and from my connection to this character.
The ending is fantastic and more than made up for that section prior. Itās that Hallmark climax thatās heartwarming and full of seasonal surprises.
Milo, this town and yes, Christian, all have that wonderful Christmas Falls energy and finale that is the reason we read and love this series.
Christian and Milo and his Jingle Bites was a delight and a lovely way to close the season for this year. Highly recommended.
Cover art by Morningstar Ashley Designs
And check out all the books in the Christmas Falls series, both 1 and 2.
Christmas Falls, Season 2:
The Snuggle is Real by DJ Jamison Flake It til You Make It by Beth Bolden ā¤ļø
12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn
Here Comes Santa Paws by Lee Blair
Under the Mistle-Foe by Rye Cox
ā¤ļøChristmas Beau by Amy Aislin
ā¤ļøNo Business Like Snow Business by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry
Frost Impressions by Kelly Fox
Promise Yule Be Mine by Rhys Everly ā¤ļøMingle All The Way by Hayden Hall
Christmas Falls, Season 1:
Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison Snowbody Loves You by Jacki James Get Frosted by Amy Aislin
When I go home for the holidays, Santa has a secret waiting for me…
I wandered far and wide in search of happiness, never finding what I sought. When I return to Christmas Falls to lick my wounds, the last thing I expect is for Santa to send me a golden-haired, blue-eyed man I once called my best friendāthe friend who was taken away from me when we were kids.
Milo Montgomery is back in town, and he doesnāt wait for miracles to come to him. Thereās a special sort of magic in the way he spreads joy throughout our town.
His chocolate shop might be struggling, but that canāt break his festive spirit. His optimism is contagious, and his cheerful mood makes me feel like Iām thirteen again, catching snowflakes on my tongue. As we walk down memory lane, recreating every Christmas Eve we spent together, our friendship becomes everything I’ve been missing.
Milo confesses I was his first and only love. But as a straight man, I can never love him the same way. Or can I? I’m beginning to question everything I thought I knew about myself. About the world.
Maybe happiness has nothing to do with a place. Maybe all it takes is the right person.
Christmas Falls: Season 2 revisits a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. It’s a multi-author M/M romance series.
Gigi Rivers has written a really beautiful fantasy romance that weaves into the relationship between an adopted Pixie Cas and a cast off, painfully maligned Orc, Graal, so many emotional themes.
Abandonment, emotionally and physically, adolescent and adult trauma due to racism or rather speciesism, found families and acceptance in every aspect of their lives. This is a highly complex, often emotional story with wonderful moments and some very sexy scenes.
Cas was adopted into the family of hearth and kitchen witches that this series is focused upon, and his retelling of that moment is both heartfelt and magical. That scene has so many layers to it. Itās funny, poignant, heartwarming, and beautiful. And exactly why I love this book.
Riversā characters have been vividly defined, by their well crafted personalities and by their backgrounds that support their own actions and responses to the events around them. To say more is to go into the details that might remove those magical moments that connect with us and make us feel so deeply drawn into their lives and developing love story.
I just love this couple, this series and Gigi Rivers is on my auto list. Highly recommended.
Donāt forget to check out the Authorās Notes for the exact reading order for the stories listed below (not that I knew about this to begin with). I should have done that and have been working on it now.
Another great cover.
AN MM MONSTER CHRISTMAS
A Werewolf Mate for Christmas
The Orc Who Hated Christmas
The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas The Last Gargoyleās Christmas Wish
A grumpy orc who hates Christmas. A Christmas-obsessed pixie. Can these opposites find love together?
Graal is an orc who hates Christmas. Every year, he spends the day alone in his crappy rented room, haunted by memories of a family who never loved him. He just wishes Christmas and everyone who celebrates it would leave him alone.
Cas is a pixie who loves Christmas. He dresses up in sparkly outfits, calls himself the Christmas pixie, and spreads holiday cheer and pixie dust in the bakery where he works. But this year, his partner cheated on him and then left him. Still, Cas wonāt let a broken heart ruin his favourite time of the year.
When Graal steps into Casās bakery, Cas is determined that the grumpy orc will enjoy the holiday. Graal is reluctant, but itās hard to resist the pixieās charms. As Cas shows Graal the magic of the season, something lingers in the air between them. And it isnāt just pixie dust.
But can a pretty Christmas pixie really love a grumpy orc? And can Cas open his heart again so soon after being betrayed? Or will Graal celebrate another Christmas alone?
The Orc Who Hated Christmas is a cosy fantasy romance with plenty of spice. It features grumpy/sunshine, hates Christmas/loves Christmas, hurt/comfort, fling to more, size difference, an orc who doesnāt believe his worth, a pixie keen to show him it, and a guaranteed HEA. Whilst this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. Thatās such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
Thereās so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year Iām adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. Iām including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. Thatās The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. Thatās the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These arenāt in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. Thatās the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
š·Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
š¹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( Iām still working on the larger collections)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they werenāt available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. Iād lost track because I read so many.
Itās a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and authorās voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
Iām so thankful for the authors and books Iāve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
š«¶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Father F’in’ Christmas: A Minded Story by R.L. Merrill is a short story about loss, grief, and redemption. From the perspective of a deceased firefighter looking back at his life, especially on his grieving wife whoās been struggling since his death.
Merrillās story is one I wish was longer as it ends just as I want to see more of the characters as they move forward. Thereās pain, recognition of oneās own faults and failures, and also the ways in which we have been successful. Itās a human journey full of otherworldly beings and human struggles. And cats. Lots of cats.
Iām definitely heading to read the rest of the Minded stories, more of Louis and Maggie.
A holiday story for those not very fond of the holidays. Put this and the author on your TBR list.
Isnāt that a wonderful cover?
Cover Illustration: Art By Regan Kubecek
Cover Design: Yosbe Designs
Wonder what happens in the afterlife? Follow the adventures of the recently deceased and their Intervention Specialists, Maggie Boudreaux and Louis Sheffield.
Fans of Minded and Blossomed will enjoy seeing one of Louis’s early solo Interventions in this wacky and sweet new tale from the afterlife.
When deceased firefighter Tommy Quintana wakes up in a gymnasium and is told he suffers from Death Denial Syndrome, he knows the one thing he must do in order to move on: mind his wife, Kimberly. Assigned to work with Intervention Specialist Louis Sheffield, he soon learns that he has much more to make up for than he thought as his widow is literally dying of a broken heart. With the help of a 1980s-era punk rocker, a gargoyle, and an alley cat, Tommy will attempt a friggin’ Christmas miracle to save her.
Publisher: Celie Bay Publications LLC; 1st edition (August 13, 2017)
Fragile as Glass by Pat Henshaw is a wonderful, slightly mystical romance in JMS Books LLCās Gay Advent Calendar this year.
Henshaw does such an excellent job in creating the character of glass artist Ashton Snell, complete with compelling history that explores and helps the reader really understand him, his personality, including his disability, and the slightly magical gift that he inherited from his grandfather. Ashton is so well written that he and this narrative need a longer story to completely dive into all the many elements and characters this author has created here.
The other main character is singer/rock star/songwriter Hunter who just isnāt as layered a character but has the ability to grow into something special. Heās intriguing but thereās so much to Ashton that anyone would be a lesser individual with this story. Thereās not enough pages for equal development.
He comes with a good backstory, two side characters ( a bodyguard and his boyfriend , a chef) that I also wanted more of. Especially Gil, that bodyguard, because in a tv show or on stage, heās whatās called a āscene stealerā. Heās that dynamic.
Thereās also something fascinating going on, plot wise, that Henshaw pulls together here. After giving us an idea of the intriguing place where Ashton lives, a home turned compound that his grandfather started and has filled with artists. Ashton has two long time friends,fellow artists, and the author begins a storyline about a changing new dynamic between them, not a welcome one.
Itās a great plot. But thatās not what the story is about, and it has nowhere to go. Itās dropped. But I certainly was glued to this aspect of the story and itās still there in my mind, going back over what the author might have done with more pages to really explore this aspect of Ashtonās life.
The romance between Ashton and Hunter is magical, quick, with a dramatic moment and then a sweet ending. That seems a bit rushed. But that is my preference for longer stories in general and this is in keeping with the spirit of the story.
Fragile as Glass by Pat Henshaw is a lovely story. Itās got so many interesting elements and well done characters that I wish it was twice its length or a prequel for more of this universe to come.
Itās another win for this author and the delightful press, JMS Books LLC. Check them out!
A scrying stone says after his gift is destroyed, a famous songwriter will fall in love. Will the stoneās prediction come true?
Glass artist Ashton Snell is delighted when superstar singer/songwriter Hunter Davidson walks into his shop looking for a gift for a friend. On a whim Ashton looks through a scrying glass to see whatās in store for Hunter in the future. The stone shows a vision of the glass unicorn gift shattering and Hunter falling in love. Should Ashton tell Hunter what heās seen?
Before he can decide, Hunter asks him to lunch. Ashton agrees although heās surprised someone as celebrated as Hunter would want to be seen with him. Despite living with it since birth, Ashton is still self-conscious about his limp. Hunter, however, doesnāt seem to notice it.
Could their lunch be the beginning of a lasting friendship? Or will their attraction turn into something more?
On Circus Lane by Lily Morton is another one of this authorās fantastic heartwarming Christmas stories. The second novel, Merry Measure, was released first in December 2020, and is the hilarious holiday story of Arlo Wright, the younger brother. And I love it.
But it had been several years since Iād read it so I approached On Circus Lane with fresh eyes and as though the characters were completely new to me. After a reread, I think this is the best way to go into the book because Bee and Tom Wright were secondary characters in Merry Measure and I love their personalities and characters so much more here .
As they roam around the snow covered streets of Edinburgh, peering into the tiny alleyways and decorated shops that Morton vividly describes, we become deeply connected to this complicated marvelous couple. As with all her books, Morton has visited and traveled the same pathways that her characters take so the incredible sights and experiences of their journey come alive through the authorās own eyes as her imagination. Itās so beautifully written and charming.
Layered into the charming holiday landscape are the perfectly executed characters of Bee Bannister and Tom Wright. Bee is that slowly unfolding gift of hidden depths, adolescence painful secrets, and unimaginable intelligence wrapped up in a lovely quirky man who trusts few and has an unlimited appetite for knowledge. I adore him . Tom Wright, with his unusual family background and his parents romantic love story, is the perfect companion and character whose own journey to love is one that fits in so beautifully that the reader is along with them emotionally each step forward.
Secondary characters like Sal and Ivy, Frank and awful boyfriend Stephen are just as well crafted, full of energy and personality. We love them, root for them, and even dislike one of them ,itās a complete cast of recognizable people that add to a warmhearted romance full of the sights and atmosphere of the holiday season in Edinburgh.
In short, a fabulous story and a must read this year.
The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldnāt stand him.
Everything about the man aggravated himāhis perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.
Which is why itās such an unpleasant shock to find that heāll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.
However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.
The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.
This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 