The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain is a sweet Christmas romance. Running at the size of a novella, this is a very quick read which works as itās one of this authorās love at first sight stories.
She does a great job of making us believe in the instant connection between Henri the dancer and Jed, the head of his own building maintenance business .
Yes, that whole āmaintenance manā thing is a bit of a misdirection in a way as Jed is a very successful business man whoās company just happens to include maintenance as well as electrical work etc among its many services.
That aside, Jed is a wonderful character, with a found family of interesting employees to like and an adorable Lab to throw heart eyes at. Instantly relatable!
So too is Henri, especially the more we learn of his circumstances, his boss, and the pressures heās under.
Heās beautiful, both a man of personal grace and strength while demonstrating great emotional fragility. I love him.
This is an instant where I thought it worked so well. The characters, the plot, and the length of story. Itās a HFN, as it should be.
I thought the āI love youāsā came about a tad quick but thatās just me.
Otherwise The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain is a lovely Christmas story to add to your holiday reading list. Iām definitely recommending it!
What if the man of your dreams dances into your lifeāand heās a nutcracker?
Maintenance man, Jed, might yearn for an alpha-femme guy, but whereās he going to find him in his small Oregon town?
New York ballet rising star, Henri, just wants to dance, but his desire for top roles only leads him into the pervy artistic directorās bed.
The chances of these two meeting are less likely than a grand jete. But then they do, one pre-holiday evening in a less-than-one-night stand that leaves them both yearning. Still, one short hookup on a kitchen floor doesnāt turn Jed and Henri into a match made in heaven. Not when all the world sees is a janitor and the ballet bossās potential boy toy.
Sounds like a job for the Sugarplum Fairy.
The Fairy Dance is an opposites-attract, big city vs small town, holiday MM romanceāin tights.
No-Strings Noel by Annabelle Jacobs is a nice Christmas romance. The characters and storylines are sweet and there is little to no angst to the plot or obstacles to the relationship.
For me, Iād hoped for something a little more substantial, like not having to refer to my notes to remember characters names because after reading this story it was simply gone from memory.
The premise of a man (turns out two) recently out of a unworkable relationship going on a holiday and finding love is a great trope. I always look forward to see how each author puts their own spin on it. While there were some unusual elements here, none of them really gelled for me in this story, including the couple.
It starts off with the location being a family oriented park with housing , read tons of kids and kid focused activities/rides. Huge playgrounds, pools, indoor courts for badminton etc. Everything an active family could want. But a couple of young gay singles? Hmmmm okā¦ possibilities.
However, it sort of turns dudly ( yes I mean dudlyā¦ made that up from so dull and deadly) because of the personalities involved and the sheer lack of energy i felt coming from the dynamics between them. No chemistry, at least thatās my pov.
Henry , admittedly unhappy about his breakup, is a bit of a pill. Even after trying for a better attitude, his character never quite recovers. He stays an apologetic (on the inside) insecure man. Henry delayed college because he wanted to work for the money to pay for it so he wasnāt bogged down by students debt. Now heās getting a later start. Instead of the author making us or me connect to him by infusing him with pride for his achievements at his age and determination, she left him a bit of a needy mess. So I stayed firmly outside any emotional attachment to him.
The other didnāt fare that much better. Dom is also coming off a broken relationship. One he says heās from be with. Hint, heās not. But this is a guy who, who unlike Henry, comes to this place on purpose. Heās ready to settle down, wants the ring and kids, dog and white fence or itās British equivalent. Heās got his house already. Heās next level with an eye on relationship goals and stability. Day one and Domās holding hands and had a schedule. And thinking he really likes Henry.
Okā¦ my thoughts were.. Henry why arenāt you runningā¦awayā¦yikes!
Nope they are a couple for the entire holiday.
And I felt nothing for either of them.
Only when they reconnect afterwards did I become more involved. But, it was not ever a relationship I was invested in nor were these men.
For me, the author never made me believe in their relationship, romance, or even potential HEA, especially that epilogue.
If you are the type to read every Holiday story thatās released this season, hereās another for you! Or if youāre a fan of this author, you might want to pick this up. If youāre new to Annabelle Jacobs, check out her shelf, she has plenty of books Iād recommend.
Happy Holidays!
Synopsis:
A week of no-strings fun in a winter wonderland setting. No consequences, no expectations, no hurt feelings. Right?
Henry:
Finding his boyfriend in a compromising position leaves him with a week off work and no holiday to go on. A night of vodka, ice cream, and his sisterās sympathetic ear is the only way to deal with it. Itās also how he finds himself on holiday alone a few weeks later, at an English holiday village in the countryside, surrounded by Christmas cheer and happy families.
Heās expecting a week of relaxing days and early nights, doing his own thing, and taking some time for himself. And hopefully finding some festive spirit along the way, because itās sorely lacking at the moment.
What heās not expecting is Dom.
Dom:
Coming to somewhere so familiar soothes his broken heart after yet another failed attempt at finding someone to settle down with. Heās ready. They never are.
Seeing a lost-looking stranger on the first day of his holiday triggers his protective instincts, so he steps in to give him some helpful advice. Who knew that advice would mean they end up spending the day and then the whole week together? But he figures a holiday fling is exactly what he needs to get through this slump: no expectations, no misunderstandings, no heartbreak. Or that was the plan. He knows Henry wants more, but he doesnāt trust himself where his heartās concerned. He doesnāt trust Henry not to break it.
A Christmas MM romance featuring a meet-cute, a sexy holiday fling, a meddling but awesome sister, a teeny bit of angst, and a festive HEA.
Right off the bat let me tell you if the rating system went higher, say to 10 or 15 stars, Iād still want to give this book more.
I almost, I say almost, had to stop reading this because I was given strict instructions not to put any undue pressure on one eye atm but I couldnāt help it! I was collapsed sideways in helpless laughter! Roaring even!
Iād stop. Gather myself up. Read on, and then Bam! Arlo has said or flailed or something has happened during a trip to Amsterdam and Iām overcome once more, tears pouring out of my eyes! Tears of uncontrollable laughter!
It stayed that way through the many group outings , the inner doubts and outside stumbling towards a new beginning between two men who have known each other most their lives.
Lily Morton has written, for me at least, a perfect holiday romance. Surrounded by a city as charming as the men themselves and the company theyāve traveled with, Morton has delivered that most elusive of gifts, a Christmas love affair so grounded in the reality of being human hat we never forget these men have their flaws in their layered personalities. But the author elevates her story by folding in the magic of historic Amsterdam at Christmas as Arlo and Jack discover love amidst the canals, museums, and all the other picturesque sights around them. If you havenāt been to Amsterdam, this will make you want to travel there.
But if the setting is magnificent, itās the people we care greatly about. All the elements are so thoughtfully crafted. The dialogue is outstanding . The characters are so well done I never stopped thinking of them as anything but someone I could have the chance of meeting. How I would dearly love to.
And the storyline is such , including a ending thatās perfection, that Iāve put Merry Measure at the very top of my to be recād list.
Sometime in the early hours I woke up giggling madly thinking once more about this couple and story.
Mr. Whiffles indeed!
Itās definitely on my to be re-read list too.
This has become a new favorite comfort and holiday read instantaneously!
Iām sure it will become yours as well.
Make sure you are curled up, put all liquids out of reachā¦ just in case of heavy guffaws! Just saying! And enjoy my absolute favorite of the season!
Arlo Wrightās introduction to his sexuality came when he saw his older brotherās best friend, Jack Cooper, in his sweaty football kit. Unfortunately, he didnāt have long to enjoy the revelation because he promptly knocked himself out on a table. Relations between them have never really moved on from that auspicious beginning. Arlo is still clumsy, and Jack is still as handsome and unobtainable as ever.
However, things look like theyāre starting to change when Arlo finds himself sharing a room with Jack while on holiday in Amsterdam at Christmas. Will the festive spirit finally move them towards each other, or is Arlo just banging his head against a wall this time?
From bestselling author, Lily Morton comes a warm romantic comedy set in chilly Amsterdam.
Ever read a book that feels like all your favorite Hallmark movies gathered together with extra helpings of the sounds of carolers and the sight of fresh falling snow on Christmas Eve? Well, if you havenāt before, you will once youāve read the heartwarming holiday romance Christmas Wish List!
N.R. Walker returns to that most Hallmark like of small towns, Hartbridge, Montana for her second and, honestly my favorite novel, in her Hartbridge Christmas series. A series that finds out of place Aussies stumbling into a Christmas wonderland and their HEA . Ok sighing again
Walker created a remarkably believable Hartbridge in her first novel in this series, Tic-Tac Mistletoe Christmas We learned about its families, itās stores, itās diners, itās community and traditions.
I was ready to grab up a plane ticketā¦itās so real.
Now we return with chef Jayden Turner. Heās been hired as a new B&B chef through the holidays, which happens to be n Hartbridge.
A Aussie whoās been rootless and now wants a home is coming into a place that will fill him with wonder , warming him with magical Christmas scenes that bring home the holiday spirit and a place where suddenly it starts to feel like home.
A huge part of that is Carter āCassā Campion and his renovated grand house, Arabella Manor. Cass is a man whoās poured his heart into this renovation and new business but he needs assistance . Cass also has a personal issue heās dealing with thatās causing him enormous guilt and isolation. Help for everything arrives in the form of Jayden.
I canāt begin to tell you how right Walker gets their relationship . How believable it is as they navigate first their working and personal relationship then as they move through each manās issues by communicating and effort to arrive at their HEA.
I DID NOT want this to end. I absolutely fell madly in love with Jayden and Cass.
That I adore Hartbridge goes without saying, more of Carl, his diner, and the community.
Plus of course, thereās our other couple too. Canāt forget Hamish and
Ren from Tic-Tac Mistletoe Christmas. Love them too.
So yes. Need a book or two to make you sigh happily, grab for the hot chocolate, and maybe want to listen for the sound of tiny silver bells?
These are must reads for the holidays or any time of the year! I highly recommended them both.
āļøHart ridge Christmas series:
ā Tic-Tac Mistletoe Christmas #1
ā Christmas Wish List #2
Synopsis:
In need of work and a change of scenery, Aussie ex-pat Jayden Turner agrees to a short-term chef position at a Bed and Breakfast over the Christmas holidays. After all, how hard could it be in a small town in the mountains of Montana? What he finds is a grand old house in a beautiful town, and his new boss is gorgeous, gay, and single.
After his divorce, Carter āCassā Campion bought his great-auntās rundown country manor in his home town, and heās determined to get it ready for the busy holiday period. Recently out as gay, heās been focused solely on his business and hasnāt had time for a man. Not that many gay men come through Hartbridge . . .
As his new clients arrive, and being away from his two kids, celebrating Christmas is the last thing on Cassās mind. But his new chef has other ideas. And if thereās one thing on his Christmas Wish List this year, Jayden can make it come true.
The Holiday List is the fourth and final book in Lane Hayes Script Club series, built around a group of nerd scientists who live and work together. They form a club that does odd jobs, each becomes a focus of a book as well as one of the scientists who end up with their HEA.
This was a cute story. Chet was someone new to the house and therefore not a person weāve grown to love as we had all the others. He was just as adorably quirky and Hayes gave him a suitable family and background.
Chet really shown with his interactions with Lincoln, the child he was helping with his science projects. I really wished this story had explored that dynamic further, including Sam into it. Because that would have elevated this story into something special, especially at the holidays.
As it is, we get a āas toldā sort of narrative for their developing relationship. As in Chet and Linc did this , then they performed thatā¦ etc.
It did not fill in for the missing lively personal warmth and displays of developing affection the other scenes made apparent.
I liked the characters. That of Sam, the divorced father with his issues of insecurities and background were well done. Also his chemistry with the adorable Chet was clear.
But, I felt there could have been more scenes , maybe of them decorating Samās house, since that was a big element, anything that had them actually talking and establishing a relationship (one we see happening).
The numerous sex scenes are hot and well, sexy. However relationship and character growth needs to be given equal page time for everything to flourish. Including our interest in the couple.
They have a very sweet ending and lovely epilogue. It puts a happy ending to the book and series.
While not my fav in this series, itās cute. And if youāre a fan, itās a nice way to say goodbye.
Synopsis:
The Mars maestro, the single dad, and a wish listā¦
Chet-
Boy, am I lucky! Finding a living situation with a houseful of passionate scientists just before the holidays is ideal in every possible way. As the newest member of the Script Club, I feel itās important to step up and tackle the to-do list my friends would prefer to avoid. Item one, address the tutoring request from the neighborhood-hottie-slash-single-dad on the next block. Iāve got this!
Or do I?
Handsome, older, sporty gentlemen intimidate me. And Mr. McSwoony doesnāt like the holidays. This may be a daunting task.
Sam-
What do you do when a new neighbor shows up on your doorstep with cookies and a wacky plan to spread holiday cheer? I donāt need cheer, but I could use help with some of the experiments my son wants to try. I know football, not science. Hopefully, I can talk Chet into a mutually beneficial trade. The only snag is that Iām seriously attracted to my local Mars expert. Heās unintentionally charmingā¦in the very best way.
Donāt quote me, but maybe this holiday elf with thick glasses and a mile-long list might be exactly what I need.
The Holiday List is an MM bisexual, geek/jock romance with a holiday twist featuring a lovable scientist and a single dad whoās probably on the naughty list!
Dearest Malachi Keogh is a wonderful, romantic Christmas sequel to that incredible heartwarming novel Dearest Milton James. That story is easily in my top ten contemporary romances this year, maybe top five as it ticks so many of my emotional narrative boxes.
Dearest Malachi Keogh picks up four years later with Julian Pollard and Malachi Keogh a happily established couple, living together with a rescue cat, and with families content with their relationship.
Also back and intact is our quirky, deeply endearing ,or in Paulās case weirdly fascinating, small family like staff at the Dead Letters Department at the Mail Office. What a great lot they are! The more I see of them the more of them I want to see! Love each and every one!
Once more the use of a letter mystery is employed here, this time by Julian himself. What we get is a beautiful blend of emotions, poetry, mystery, and joint efforts by everyone! All towards one romantic goal for Malachi and Julian.
My only thoughts here are that I wish the author had somehow utilized the whole Dearest Malachi to even greater effect.
I remember all those Dearest Milton James, as will anyone who read that story and the effect they had on me as well as the characters who read them. And I feel we had just gotten started before it was over. I wanted more, something longer, but it certainly was deeply heartfelt .
āMerry Christmas, my loveā is sigh worthy.
This was a lovely, happy, wonderful and, yes, sexy, Christmas sequel to a amazing contemporary romance.
Itās really not a standalone story but needs to be read in tandem with the first Iāve referenced throughout this review.
Havenāt read that one? Youāre in for a huge treat! Grab up both stories and read one right after the other.
Read the first? Then youāll love this! Itās the HEA youāve been waiting for. Although NR Walker shouldnāt be surprised if people start crying out for Malachi and Julianās wedding. Thereās got to be some missing invitations tie in.
And yes to the author for that rescue cat. Leaving that neighbors cat behind bothered me and this was a great solution. I know I know. You canāt go about swiping other peoples cats but stillā¦.
Ty. Extra point for that cat.
Yes, Iām highly recommending this.
Dearest Milton James series:
Dearest Milton James #1
Dearest Malachi Keogh #1.5
Synopsis:
Julian Pollard never believed in love at first sight. That was until he met Malachi Keogh. Well, maybe it wasnāt love at first sight, but it sure was something.
Julian had forgotten how to live, how to be happy, and Malachi changed all that. Now together for four years, Julian wants to give Malachi a Christmas heāll never forget.
The only problem is, Christmas at a mail distribution centre is the busiest time of the year. It just might take the whole team to make it happen.
Dearest Malachi Keogh is a 13,000-word short story.
Extraordinary Things is the series finale for Star Shadow, Beth Boldenās rock band romance.
While all five musicians got their HEA, the heart of the band and much of its drama centered around the couple Leo Humphries and Caleb Chance. It was the disappearance of Caleb that caused Star Shadow to disband and Leo to shatter. And it was his reappearance that eventually put them all back togetherā¦4 books later.
In Terrible Things, we got the background of the band, the groupās long friendship and the coupleās relationship. It was completely Leoās perspective, including watching and being unable to help a Caleb whoās addiction to alcohol was spiraling out of his and everyoneās control.
It was raw, angry, and painful.
And I wondered about Calebās viewpoint in that book.
In Extraordinary Things Bolden gives us Calebās story and missing voice. A perfect way to come full circle and wrap up the series.
Weāre able to go back into the past with Caleb, his addiction, his feelings about what drove him away from Leo and his friends. As well as whatās still driving him today. Itās a complicated and complex internal picture of a man still struggling with forgiveness and the destruction he caused to those around him.
The other side of which is Leo who also is trying to adjust his life to Calebās needs as well as his own.
Boldenās story, the bandās new dynamics, and ongoing trust issues are beautifully defined and well written. I love that communication works out to be key to forward movement here. Frank discussions and finally a leap of faith in each otherās feelings and strength.
This is an emotional story whoās journey starts with Terrible Things. For me books one and four are the jewels here but the others are the necessary pathways to get there.
Read them all in the order they were written with pleasure. Iām highly recommending them.
Leo and Caleb have been through hellāaddiction, destruction, and even a five year separationābut theyāve come through on the other side with their love stronger than ever.
Caleb knows heās earned Leoās forgiveness. He wants to believe he deserves it, but just when Leo needs him more than ever, a voice in his head insists that maybe he doesn’t. Itās so loud, he can’t block it out. So loud, heād do anything to silence it.
Including risking everything he and Leo, and the rest of Star Shadow, have built together.
Extraordinary Things is a continuation of Leo and Caleb’s love story from Terrible Things. It should not be read as a standalone.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 