An Alisa Review: Mine for Christmas by AD Lawless

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Matt Westin was shocked when he ran into Cody, his grade-school best friend—pleased, but shocked. Devastatingly handsome was an understatement when it came to Cody, with his hazel eyes, wide smiles, and broad shoulders.

It was less shocking, months later, when Matt found out just how far he’d go for Cody. A desperate request for Matt to play his boyfriend over Christmas and save him from his mom’s meddling blind-date plans completely hammered that fact home.

Matt couldn’t resist saying yes, not when it meant getting closer to Cody. The only question was how would he ever be able to let him go when it was over?

Such a perfect friends to lovers story. Matt and Cody were friends as children but lost track of each other over the years but quickly begin their friendship again and grow close. Cody puts them in an almost impossible situation but it helps push their feeling out into the open.

It was funny how much these two have had crushes on each other but being oblivious to the other’s feelings. I loved how Cody’s family quickly accepts Matt into their midst and it makes Cody feel so much more for him. This was so sweet and a perfect holiday story.

I like the cover art by Natasha Snow is great and the standard for holiday shorts this year.

Sales Links: Nine Star Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 14,500 words

Published: November 26, 2018 by Nine Star Press

ISBN: 978-1-949909-41-8

Edition Language: English

A Lucy Review : Under The Felt Mistletoe by Nell Iris

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The most wonderful time of the year is about to get even better.

On a cold, rainy December morning, Finn’s beloved Grampa, his best friend and rock, makes a friend outside their home who he invites for coffee. The last thing Finn expects is Nelson, a man with a painful past, who is beautiful and generous and turns Finn’s knees into jelly.

What starts out as a chance to get out of the rain, soon becomes more as Nelson helps Finn get ready for the Christmas market. They bond over coffee and fabric and Mariah Carey. Can handmade Christmas ornaments and an understanding heart give Nelson the love he’s been denied?

This seriously cute story focuses on Finn, a very happy man who lives with his beloved Grampa. He works at a craft store and makes crafts to sell, such as fabric ornaments and the felt mistletoe. When Grampa finds a cold young man looking for neighbors who moved, he of course invites Nelson in to warm up. When they find out Nelson was looking for the family who moved, it was a little heart breaking. “They…they are my parents and siblings.”

Finn and his grandparents have the best relationship. Gramma has passed away and Finn tries to make sure he is there for Grampa’s grief while Grampa does the same. They are the epitome of what family means. And Grampa’s pushes with Finn and Nelson were cute. Their coming out stories were so different – Finn just “…introduced my first boyfriend to him without earning him he was gonna mee a boy. He…they…just loved me.” Nelson’s was not happy. “My parents threw me out on my eighteenth birthday.” It’s so enraging to think how often this still happens.

I did feel I was missing a little bit – I wanted to know more about Nelson’s family and I missed the “tentative” communication with his sister. There is no sex on in the story, for those who look for that, but it was a cute holiday short with some very nice characters and a dollop of some Christmas spirit.

Cover design by Written Ink Designs shows Finn, his crazy curls under a beanie and wearing a giant smile with the felt mistletoe in the background. It really captured the way I envisioned Finn.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books

Book Details:

ebook
Published December 8th 2018 by JMS Books LLC
ISBN 139781634868204

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Soldier’s Wish (A Christmas Angel #5) by NR Walker

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

I found this story even more painfully nostalgic than the previous story, Christmas Homecoming, which took place in the post World War II era. I am a similar age to the MCs and the era in which the story takes place was very painful as I, and many others I knew, lost family and school friends in the Vietnam War. So I fell in love with Richard, the young soldier, immediately.

Gary is a typical teen of the era. Going with the flow, he accompanies his buddies to an event in New York that will later be known as Woodstock. He meets the lonely soldier in a diner along the way. The young man, Richard, is about to ship out to California where he’ll be sent on to Vietnam to fight in the war no one wants and become a vet that no one acknowledges. But in the meantime, he has a few days R&R, and on the spur of the moment he acts on his desire for Gary, something he’s never done before, and he goes with him for the weekend. That weekend cements their relationship and the author very cleverly tells the story from that point until a year later via letters Gary exchanged with his soldier.

When the letters stop, Gary loses his mind until he finds Richard, with the help of a friend, in a San Diego Veterans Hospital with a mangled leg. The next segment of the story is told through Gary’s visits with Richard at the hospital until he’s finally able to come home to San Francisco, where Gary now lives with one of their friends from Woodstock. The story is slow burn, very poignant, often heartbreaking, but romantic as well. As the young men fortify their love for each other, Gary presents Richard with a beautiful Christmas angel who seems to help him find the strength to be true to himself, despite his parents’ strict Christian beliefs and their inability to express any love for him. They do, we hope, live happily ever after.

If you are looking for a slow-burn romance, one with two strong, loving characters, this is one to add to your holiday list this year. Though part of the Christmas Angel series, each book can be read as a standalone.

The cover by Meredith Russell features a handsome young soldier in camo set against a background of firefights and helicopters in a night sky. Representing the era of the Vietnam War, this is Richard the MC of the story.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published December 2nd 2018 by BlueHeart Press
ASINB07KVRLNKG
Edition Language English
Series The Christmas Angel #5

The Christmas Angel Series

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding – Amazon US | Amazon UK
The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK

A Lila Advent Calendar Review: Boca Dreams by Scudder James Jr

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

You can’t correct the past.

Or can you?

Stephen’s not proud of who he was back in boarding school—spoiled and a player. Now, at the holiday reunion ten years later, he has a chance to show his former classmates who he really is: out and proud, devoted to helping others, and partnered with Victor.

Stephen understands why Victor, who grew up in a poor and abusive household, hates the rich kids at the reunion, but his attitude is ruining everything. Luckily Stephen bumps into Aaron, a former grunge rocker who has also changed. Stephen never forgot their one steamy night together.

With the help of three very unusual personifications of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, can Stephen revisit his mistakes and find the happiness that’s eluded him?

Boca Dreams is a non-traditional second chance story. More of a hope for a once missed opportunity; a what if with the one that got away.

I liked that Stephen was ready to show his classmates who he was but I’m not sure he went into it with the right mindset. It seems he had not changed much from that teen looking for acceptance. Victor read as a stereotype of a bitter man. It felt unnecessary to the story.

As someone that enjoyed high school. I love class reunion stories and I can see Stephen & Aaron as an item many years later. Unfortunately, their coming together didn’t feel feasible. The Scrooges part didn’t work for me. I wanted a little less drama and a bit more reminiscence. The story does have a nice ending, though.

The cover by L.C. Chase follows the 2018 Advent Calendar | Warmest Wishes template. The picture within is pretty standard and I’m not sure if it is Stephen or Aaron.

Sale Link: Amazon | Nook | Dreamspinner

Book Details:
ebook, 42 pages
ASIN: 9781644050477
Published: December 1, 2018, by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

Love Holiday Stories? Check out the Review Tour and Giveaway for A Soldier’s Wish (A Christmas Angel Story) by N.R. Walker

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 55,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

The Christmas Angel Series

Blurb

The year is 1969…

Gary Fairchild is proud to be a hippie college student, and he protests the Vietnam War because he believes in love and peace. To him, it isn’t just a counterculture movement—it’s a way of life. When tickets to the Aquarium Exposition—3 Days of Peace & Music, or Woodstock, as it was better known, go on sale, there’s no way he isn’t going.Richard Ronsman is a sheltered farm boy who lives in the shadow of his overbearing father. He’s hidden his darkest secret to earn his father’s love, but nothing is ever good enough—not even volunteering for the Vietnam War. And with just a few days left before he’s deployed, he’s invited by a striking hippie to join him at a music festival.Three days of music, drugs, rain, mud, and love forged a bond between these two very different men that would shape the rest of their lives. They share dreams and fears, and when Richard is shipped off to war, they share letters and love. For Richard’s first Christmas home, he is gifted a special angel ornament that just might make a soldier’s wish come true.This story is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed in any order.

Dec 2 – Boulevard des Passions, Gay Book Reviews, Dec 4 – Lelyana’s Reviews, Dec 6 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Megan’s Media Melange, Dec 8 – Xtreme Delusions, My Fiction Nook, Dec 10 – Mirrigold, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Open Skye, The Secret Of Ko, Rainbow Book Reviews, Dec 12 – Bookaholic & Kindle, Dec 14 – Making It Happen, MM Good Book Reviews, Dec 17 – Momma Says: To Read Or Not To Read, Lillian Francis, Wicked Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed, Dec 19 – Drops Of Ink, Kimmers Erotic Book Banter, Bayou Book Junkie, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dec 21 – Bonkers About Books, Book Corner Reviews

Read Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review here. We are loving this series!

The Christmas Angel Series

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love.

Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s 1700s England (Eli Easton’s Christmas Angel), the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

Author Bio

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things…but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Website

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An Alisa Release Day Review: Slow Thaw: Escape from the Holidays by J. Scott Coatsworth

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Javier Fernandez is a climate scientist living in a research station near the South Pole. Since his husband was killed in a car crash, he’s preferred to be alone, and is less than thrilled to have a junior scientist thrust upon him by his rich patron.

Col Steele is a trans man fleeing a bad break-up. He is ready for the next step in his career, and eager to spend Christmas anywhere but at home.

When a crack in the ice separates the two men from safety, they are forced to come to terms with their own losses and each other.

This was a nice story but I had trouble connecting to it and seeing the connection of these characters, other than mild attraction right away they hardly even talked when the disaster happened. I get that Javier still needed to come to terms with his husband’s death and Col was healing from his break-up but they seemed to jump together after the disaster. I don’t know it seemed like the couple days of knowing each other without actually getting to know each other didn’t relate to love.

The cover art by Catherine Dair is nice and a good background for the story.

Sales Link: Mischief Corner Books | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, ~23,000 words

Published: December 8, 2018 by Mischief Corner Books

Edition Language: English

A Stella Advent Calendar Review: Trapped in the Valley of the Kings by Blue Jones

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Rival archaeologists Will and Jude slept together a year ago, on the night of the Summer Solstice at a dig in Stonehenge. But they were both wearing masks, so Jude has no idea it was Will he slept with, and Will’s been harboring a powerful, one-sided crush ever since.

Now they’re in Egypt, competing to find the lost tomb of Queen Nefertiti. Jude falls through a crack in the cave floor, and when Will reluctantly climbs down to help him, they find themselves in Nefertiti’s tomb, surrounded by archaeological treasures—where they must spend Christmas stranded by a sandstorm.

Will a few sultry hours stripped almost bare from the heat and sharing a bottle of whiskey sort out who should get credit for the discovery—and the real reason for the tension between them?

This was another short story from this year Dreamspinner Press’ Advent Calendar. I quite enjoyed it. It’s a super quick reading, interesting and cute. It left me with a goofy smile on my face. I’m going to be honest, I was able to know pretty much nothing about Will and Jude, apart from their jobs and the attraction they feel for each other. There is not even one second character, just these two men trapped in the tomb of Nefertiti. Still I found this short well done, very sweet and sexy; I loved seeing the MCs tease each other and then finally be honest about their feelings.

I would so love to know more about Will and Jude, they totally deserve more words.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is not what I like a cover to be, eye catching and fitting, this cover doesn’t have these qualities.

SALE LINKS Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 24 pages

Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN13 9781644050446

Edition Language English

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Holiday Spirit by Carole Cummings

Rating 5 stars out of 5

It’s hard being the PA for the Holiday Spirit.

Julian is more dedicated than most, and knows the job inside and out. But that doesn’t mean he’ll still have a job when the new Holiday Spirit is elected. It also doesn’t mean he’s immune to the *cough* charms of the office, but that’s a whole other problem.

I’m a fan of this author and grabbed up her offer in Mischief Corner Book’s Holiday Collection ‘Escape from the Holidays’. What an absolute delight! Full of imagination, it opens into a scene of high suspense! In a North Pole conclave most similar to one where a new pope is being elected, all await the signal that indicates a new Holiday Spirit has been elected! Seems the old one made a hash of it during his reign (who gets penguins angry at them) and only his P.A. managed to maintain order and keep things running. That would be Julian who now anxiously awaits his new boss, and sees if he even has a job after the disaster of the last one.

In 32 pages, Cummings gives us detailed office politics, sparkling personalities, an hilarious and kinky married couple, the place of pheromones within the culture, world building, and the start of a wonderful romance. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end.

If I only had one thing to say, it would be to plead that we have a sequel, maybe next year to The Holiday Spirit, so we can check in on the office, assistance PA, married couple and maybe even the Boss and his PA? Pretty please with a candy cane on top?

Love your holiday stories? Be sure to add The Holiday Spirit by Carole Cummings for your holiday reading pleasure! I highly recommend it.

Cover art is magical and sort of perfect for the story involved. Love it.

Sales Links: Mischief Corner Books | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 32 pages
Expected publication: December 5th 2018 by Mischief Corner Books
Original Title The Holiday Spirit
Edition Language English

A Chaos Moondrawn Advent Review: The Last Birthday Party by Mere Rain

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Their favorite holiday is going away. Will it take their friendship with it?

Since 1989, the birthday of the Emperor of Japan has been celebrated on December 23rd. But this is the last year; the Emperor is abdicating, and next year there will be no holiday.

This is the last time they will have this day as a national holiday on Akihito’s birthday, so has a sad, bittersweet quality as seen through Akihito’s point of view. The story does talk about Japanese culture, festivals, and places without explaining–and that’s fine as they would not explain things that are a part of them, not to each other or in their thoughts. Their parents were neighbors and they have been a part of each other’s lives since birth, but now go to different universities and are on that cusp of adulthood where they will continue moving in different directions as work and life happen. As they spend the day together, Akihito struggles with his feelings for Kenji. Kenji has been struggling to tell Akihito his feelings as well. This is short and sweet with hope for the future.

The cover art is by Brooke Albrecht and captures the story well.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 25 pages
Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 139781644050422
Edition Language English

A Barb The Zany Old Lady Advent Calendar Review:That Turtle Story by C.S. Poe

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When Eugene Montgomery comes to the Turtle R&R to report he found a nest of turtle eggs on the beach and it appears some eggs are already damaged, biologist Nor O’Brien rushes to save them. He can’t keep from eyeing the gorgeous eye candy either. Nor is single and frustrated. Small and nerdy, the 28-year-old is hoping to find the man of his dreams—someone who might look a lot like Eugene—big, buff, and, hopefully, interested in turtles. But it’s apparent Eugene is on vacation, and Nor doesn’t do flings.

Well, not usually, anyway. At least that’s what he tells himself when the two end up in bed. But the good news is that Eugene does indeed love turtles, and Nor eventually learns he’s been mistaken about Eugune all along. He’s not on vacation—he’s moved here permanently to start his own business. Nor may really have met the man of his dreams, after all.

This story was sweet—and almost too short. But the author, who has a way with word crafting, was able to fit in a lot of detail about the turtle sanctuary, the rescue of the loggerhead eggs, time for dating, and even a sex scene. I would have loved this to be longer, but what we got was really interesting and heartwarming. Plus, both characters were sketched-in enough that I really enjoyed being with them on this adventure.

I definitely recommend this story, especially to those of us who live in Florida and have to “make do” with sandy beaches instead of snow for the holidays.

The cover by Brooke Albrecht features Nor, a young, eyeglasses-wearing, turtle-loving nerd. The bright colors and cute picture are definitely enough to attract attention to this book.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar
Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 139781644050392
Edition Language English

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