Review: Under the Mistle-tome (a Christmas Falls story) by Sammi Cee

Rating: 4.5🌈

Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee is the third book I’ve read in the multi-author Christmas Falls series and it’s my favorite one so far.

A best friends to lovers story, here the best friend from childhood is returning to Christmas Falls after a long separation and with an adorable daughter in tow.

Trevor’s cold family life that he and his young daughter, Holly, are leaving behind is sharply contrasted with the warmth and joyful welcome that awaits them at the familiar bookstore run by Trey and his heart warming family. Cee makes that bookstore, Season’s Readings, with its fun kids story times run by Eddie, hustling crowds of book loving people, and general air of welcoming spirit a place of reality for the reader. It grounds us and all the characters immediately.

It’s a place where the men can start their own journey back together as Trevor’s adorable little Holly adjusts to her new home, stealing hearts and scenes left and right.

Through Holly, the reader gets to view Christmas Falls as we should see it! Christmas Falls parades, the magical world of the town spreads out before Trevor and Holly as she sees it for the first time and Trevor remembers why he loves it so and needed to return. And Trey, see his town again and appreciates how special it is again.

This entire story is just a reminder of the importance of the community and spirit of the holiday season, whether it’s a large town celebration or a family coming together, home again in heart and place. Such a joy to read in every aspect.

If I had a quibble, it was the quick resolution for the manner Trevor was treated, and his daughter was treated by his parents . There was a later disclosure about her behavior but it did nothing to assuage the lack of full support from his father or the lack of apologies from either for what was really long term damaging behavior. If this was going to be an important element, then it needs just as thorough and satisfying ending.

Otherwise, a fantastic holiday story, with beautifully rendered scenes and great characters. I love it.

Christmas Falls:

✓ Get Frosted by Amy Aislin

◦ Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison

◦ Snowbody Loves Me by Jacki James

✓ Silent Knight by Beth Bolden

✓ Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee

◦ Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox

◦ No Elfing Way by Hayden Hall

◦ Ready, Set, Glow by Rye Cox

◦ Scrooge You! by Brigham Vaughn

“Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/ M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.”

Buy Link:

Under The Mistle-tome

Blurb:

Hoping to give his young daughter, Holly, the joyful childhood he had, Trevor moves back to the one place he’s always considered home—Christmas Falls.

As happy as he is to be back in the festive atmosphere of the small charming town, it’s nothing compared to how excited he is to spend time with his best friend, Trey.

Taking over the family bookstore in the town he grew up in was all Trey had ever wanted. Until Trevor walked back into his life, proving his childhood crush had never completely faded.

And Trevor’s daughter? Well, the adorable girl quickly claims a piece of Trey’s heart.

With the help of a little holiday magic, these two men and one very determined little girl may get exactly what they need—a family.

Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.

• Publisher: (December 1, 2023)

• Publication date: December 1, 2023

• Print length: 188 pages

Review: Ice Around the Edges by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3🌈

Ice Around the Edges by Mary Calmes is a perfect example of how a story written years ago (December 2010) and re-released just doesn’t hold up in present times. At least not without making some major changes and narrative length.

I’m a fan of Calmes and her characters but this storyline is full of elements that demonstrate how certain aspects of a relationship has changed over time. Things now that raise flags and are considered warning signs for a person weren’t really well known fourteen years ago. Or elements that would have factored into contemporary romances.

The basic story is that this couple broke up because one of them, the one who had the most money and wealthiest family heard his father and grandfather arguing over his “friend” saying he wasn’t good enough. So without further information or arguments on their behalf, the rich son , Dixon Bain, immediately broke up with the other man Evan Kano, and never saw him again. Years pass.

Evan goes on to live a full and eventful life. Gets shot, ends up hospitalized. He’s handling it well and responsibly. But out of nowhere comes Dixon, steamrolling Evan with plans for Evan to immediately leave Chicago, his apartment, go to NYC, etc. After no contact with Dixon in years. What follows is a prime example of what’s now termed “love bombing “.

Doesn’t leave when asked. Hides in a room. Brings his mother with him to make excuses while the person is fragile in a hospital bed. Honestly, more flags.

There’s some honesty here but very little. The story itself is only 62 pages.

Had Calmes rewritten it, extended the narrative to include time for these men to explore who they had become after all this time? Give the men and readers a chance to see and relate with the story and men as they reconnect as adults with new experiences and maturity. That would have given this the missing depth and relevance that it’s lacking.

Instead the story we or they got here is the one from 2010. There was a lot of potential to update this but it didn’t happen.

Read it because it’s by Calmes and you just read everything of hers.

Buy Link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com › …Ice Around the Edges – Kindle edition by Calmes, Mary. Romance …

Blurb

Evan Kano’s life is on an even keel until the night he’s shot at the homeless shelter where he works. The resulting turmoil is not caused by a bullet but by a blast from the past: Evan’s first lover has returned to visit him in the hospital and deliver some big news.

Ten years ago, Dixon Bain walked out of Evan’s life because he thought his family didn’t approve of him having a male lover. But Dixon has discovered that what he thought he knew could not be further from the truth, and now he’s returned to claim the only man he’s ever loved… if he can melt the ice around the edges of Evan’s still-wounded heart.

2nd edition, previously published December 2010.

Publication date: October 25, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 62 pages

Review: Jonathon, After All: Princes Take New York Book 1 by K. Sterling

Rating: 4.25🌈

From K Sterling’s forward:

“All the books in this series are meant to be modern adaptations of classic fairy tales with the primary focus on the king of all tropes: Prince Charming. He’s the king for me, at least. And if there is one thing that is consistent with Charming, it’s insta love. He believes in love at first sight and he is often blindly noble. Occasionally, to his and his true love’s detriment.”

Other classical elements of the Prince Charming fairy tale story are included. A in-distress character who’s been wronged, knights,wicked stepmothers, etc, but all given a contemporary twist with the characters and storyline elements to make Jonathon, After All: Princes Take New York Book 1 a entertaining start to a new series.

The aspects of this story I absolutely loved were seeing the real relationship between Jonathon and his formidable aunt Muriel. In the preceding series and stories, both Jonathon and his intimidating Aunt Muriel, and her apricot poodle, had by their own accounts here, given a very different, oftentimes off putting impression. But here we see and understand the truth of the matter. That they love each other and Aunt Muriel has always been Jonathon’s most loyal supporter, even when she hasn’t understood his actions.

Sterling presents an older, mischievous, highly intelligent woman, one determined to make sure that her beloved nephew is taken care of and safe. If you can’t tell, I’d be throughly thrilled with a novel about Muriel , Tilly (her devoted staff), and that poodle as the go invest things!

And add in Jonathon, who has a great, wounded backstory, but a loving history with Muriel and that building that they live in Manhattan, well, I’m totally invested in this family. It gets better when Jonathon meets and is “acquired” as part of the Nanny found family by Riley and Giles. Again, another superb pairing and part of the story. Beautiful work with in this narrative, and so great to see this family again.

Only the romance was a little less developed for me. I think this has to do with how the flashbacks were worked into the present day storyline. For me, the transitions weren’t particularly smooth between the decade they met and the time now when Leo is trying to figure out what happened and get Jonathon back.

It’s too jumbled and it takes away from the story as it’s happening now between them. The best part is all about Jonathon. Then separately about Leo. It’s not until later that any real new relationship can begin again. And reasonably, a decade and a lot of misdeeds have happened.

More development would have been nice for them both afterwards and a better cohesive format for the flashbacks to really make this relationship stronger than it comes across. Especially with the kink and their background.

I’m looking forward to reading the new books in the series and hopefully Aunt Muriel pops up again to save the day in some way. What an amazing character and turnaround! I adore her so much!

A definite recommendation.

Nannies of New York (6 book series) and must read.

Princes Take New York (connected and sequel series):

Jonathon, After All #1

Buy link

PREORDER NOW

Blurb

What do you say to the man who took your virginity, broke your heart, and ruined your life?

For ten years, Jonathon hid his pain, acting out in ridiculous ways in hopes that one day, his prince would rescue him. But when the day finally came, it was too little, too late after being pushed at and rejected by every eligible bachelor in Manhattan.

Leopold, the new Margrave of Hessen, was the gala’s guest of honor but he didn’t give a damn until he spotted the love of his life at the bar. After nearly a decade apart, Leo’s delight quickly turns into confusion when he’s doused by a cocktail and Jonathon flees the gala.

What happened, all those years ago in Austria? And what went wrong? Both men must confront the truth about their secret, month-long affair and break the spell that’s kept them apart. Is it too late for them to turn back the clock, or will Jonathon get his happily ever after, after all?

A spin-off of K. Sterling’s Nannies of New York series, Jonathan, After All is a contemporary fairytale romance about a young artist hiding a broken heart behind an influencer persona, and a valiant, misguided prince trying to save the world from climate change. There’s meddling family and staff, a metaphorical tower, a wicked aunt, and two lovers separated by an evil spell.

Publisher: Bawdy Books (August 20, 2024)
Publication date: August 20, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 303 pages

Review: Under The Gun (Accidentally Undercover Novel) by Cari Z

Rating:3.75🌈

Part of a LGBTQIA espionage/spy thriller romance series, Under the Gun by Cari Z delivers the exciting action packed scenes and storylines we’d expect from this genre.

The romantic suspense plot line arrives in the form of museum art archivist, Joey Cole. He’s taken a side job for a Russian oligarch to catalog his private art collection for insurance purposes. However, everything about this job has Joey on edge and regretting taking it. From being on an isolated island to the man himself, who is making Joey uncomfortable.

Cari Z has an excellent setup and creates an empathetic character in Joey. He’s in trouble and everyone knows it.

The explosive energy and element that makes its way into the situation is the character of Adam, long ago ex-boyfriend and current spy with a complicated history of association with Joey’s family.

The author ramps up the explosive action and the emotional reunion as the story builds to a suspenseful finale.

It’s very entertaining and the characters are both engaging if not exactly grounded in their various careers. The grandmother, however, was exactly what she was supposed to be. Steely determination, cold intelligence, perfect.

While I had a few questions about the story, my real issue was the matter in which Joey’s hard won reputation and career was discarded. Or what happened with his career was better explained at the end, especially as it was such a big deal to Joey and the author made it a large part of the narrative. But we never find out if things were fixed with his friend, Melanie, the Museum, and the loss of the expensive equipment. Or what he’s even doing a year later. This is feels unfinished and unsatisfactory. Especially as we are told what happened to Adam’s career. And the grandmother.

Under the Gun by Cari Z is an enjoyable romantic suspense story that suffers from a ending that’s not exactly satisfying. Read it for the fun characters and action scenes.

Accidentally Undercover-6 books of a LGBTQ+ romantic suspense series.

✓ Under the Gun by Cari Z (m/m)

◦ Under Her Roof by Allison Temple (f/f)

◦ Under His Sheets by R.L. Merrill (m/m)

◦ Under the Table by Layla Rayne (f/f)

◦ Under His Name by MA Grant (m/m)

◦ Under the Radar by Linden Bell (m/m)

Buy Link

Under the Gun

Blurb:

Life is plenty exciting for Joey Cole. Everything that isn’t his day job revolves around having fun, but “fun” becomes complicated when Joey’s latest side gig turns into a gunfight between the handsy billionaire he’s working for and the ex-boyfriend who broke his heart and who’s now…smuggling drugs?

Turns out that Adam, Joey’s ex, is a spy for His Majesty’s government, and that Joey has fallen into a sting operation meant to take his shady employer down. Joey and Adam are hounded by assassins as they escape to a safe house in England, home to the woman who introduced Joey to Adam in the first place—his grandmother.

Who, it turns out, is also a spy. Huh, no wonder she made him get so good at untying knots with his hands tied behind his back.

Joey and Adam rekindle the romance that burned between them, but Adam is still a spy—he’s not his own man, and he’ll certainly never belong to Joey. The safest thing would be to break it off before Adam breaks his heart again…but the way they’re being hunted, safe is out of the question, and love may mean the difference between life and death.

Under the Gun is part of the Accidentally Undercover shared romantic suspense series.

• Publication date: April 2, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 166 pages

Review: The Play (Charleston Condors Book 4) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 5🌈

What a wonderful story and fantastic way to send off the series and this team.

The interactions between holdover player, defensive end Deacon Harris and the new owner of the Charleston Condors, security industry billionaire Grant Green, has been a subtle but significant part of the series and team’s dynamic. It was always clear that the two men had a strong connection and attraction to each other. But, throughout each book it was clear that they never actually had acted on it due to their roles in the organization. And we wanted them to have their romance.

The Play returns us to the beginning of their history together, back in college as student tutor and college football player needing help. The chemistry that’s never acknowledged but present is cut short by choices made for career reasons that will quickly separate them until years later. Because of the realness of these scenes we feel every bit of the pain and frustration of this unexpected change in this new relationship. And the startling moment when they meet once more.

Bolden’s writing has never been better. Her characters go from uncertain college youth with the future ahead of them to seasoned men who have been living full lives. One, Grant, now at the pinnacle of his career and the other , Deacon, ready to retire after a shattering year of betrayal and disappointment. Each has made big impacts in their professional careers but their emotional relationships haven’t been as successful. The reason is because they have been only interested in one person.

How Bolden works the past and present together, weaving the emotions that never left either man back together into a tight layered narrative of sports, team dynamics, partnership, and a deep bond between them is a read that can’t be missed.

We get the present day run for a playoff spot, as intense as can be and fantastically realistic. Bolden gives us boardroom NFL drama such as what might be likely to be played out across CNN and sports coverage alike, and then while all that is happening, layers into the story, all the human drama we love.

Grant and Deacon trying to find a way to each other in an organization where Grant is the owner and Deacon a player, albeit a retiring player who wants to continue to work with the club. This is a complicated situation that’s believable and loving. They are great, they communicate, and we love them.

And finally, as if I hadn’t just bawled my eyes out over Jason Kelce’s retirement speech, here comes another. Deacon’s speech was a fabulous second. And all the players from the other series who meant so much to the readers are there as well as the important individuals from this series. It’s a testament to Bolden’s ability to create great characters and deeply moving moments that everything about the scene is beautiful and real. And I was bawling again.

Tissues had a workout this week.

Read this book. But not without reading the stories that come before. It’s a great series. And Bolden’s an auto read for me. The Play is simply another example why.

Charleston Condors:

✓ The Star #1

✓ The Game #2

✓ The Score #3

✓ The Play #4 – finale

Bolden’s connected Football series in order they are written:

✓ The Riptide

✓ Miami Piranhas

✓ Charleston Condors

Buy Link:

The Play (Charleston Condors Book 4)

Blurb

Last year, defensive end Deacon Harris witnessed the very worst of the Charleston Condors. After everything he and the team went through, he promised himself he’d walk away from football. But before he can retire, the team is sold to the last person he ever expected to see again.

Deacon stays because the Condors are going into major rebuilding mode. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.

But one rule hasn’t changed: don’t fall in love with the owner of your football team.

Grant might be brilliant and a billionaire, but Deacon only remembers Grant as his tutor in college—and as the one who got away.

In all his dreams about reconnecting, he never imagined that Grant would end up as his boss. Both his downfall, and also his salvation.

Or that they’d be forced into confronting the Condors’ most difficult challenge yet—but that they’d face it together, hand in hand, tackling their critics and proving once and for all that love doesn’t take sides.

• Publisher: (March 6, 2024)

• Publication date: March 6, 2024

• Print length: 391 pages

Review: Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1) by K Sterling

Rating: 4.5🌈

K Sterling’s series The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club is a wonderful strange world to tumble into. For starters, it exists. Bisbee, Arizona is a real place. That knowledge alone sent me running to google as much as I could about a place that is as descriptively beautiful, narratively haunting, and just outright fascinating as you might imagine. The photographs made me want to take the next plane out to see it for myself.

With that rich, historic haunted town as both a backdrop and foundation, Sterling populates it with some great characters, of equal degrees of emotional depth and haunted backstories. The Bisbee Batchelor s Club. Stories written about the single men of the queer friendly, hippy artsy former copper mining town.

And it starts with one of the most emotionally haunted man of them all,

Cace Talbot. Surrounded by his son and close friends, it’s still not enough to keep the pain away from losing his soul mate, the man who left him and the town to pursue his art. Cace is still struggling and Sterling make him easy to understand and relate to.

Especially when the man he’s been trying to forget returns to town. That’s Laurence “Lorrie” Nixon, who’s come back after 25 years away.

There’s a realistic look at the years these men have lost. It’s a true bittersweet element that runs through their reunion and reconnecting relationship. Discussions over what might have been, the children they should have had, the moments lost they will never get, it’s so sad in those moments when they are sharing memories , painful, and heartbreaking. It’s twenty-five years of love and loss and longing that they know could have been theirs but wasn’t. This aspect is there even as they decide to go forward because it’s ingrained into who they’ve become.

I love that Sterling is able to build this not only into the storyline but into their characters too. It makes the depth of their bond even more believable.

The murder mystery that runs along side the romance rebuilding is good but strangely just a secondary storyline. It never feels like a main theme. I liked how it plays out, but wanted a little bit more details and depth to the investigation until the reveal. It was all a bit pat for me.

But the relationship between Lorrie and Cace? That was emotional and heartfelt. And adding in all the found family members around them was perfect.

I’m onto the next. I’m absolutely sold on the town and these characters. And I’m a fan of the author, so I’m thrilled to gave a new series to binge.

I’m happily recommending Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1) by K Sterling. Enjoy!

The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club:

✓ Haunted Hearts #1

◦ Moonlight & Madness #2

◦ Unhappy Medium #3

◦ Grave Expectations #4

◦ Riddles & Rivals #5

◦ Shadows & Reservations #6

◦ Heart & Soulless #7

◦ Specters & Sparks #8

Buy Link

Haunted Hearts (The Bisbee Bachelors’ Club Book 1)

Blurb:

There are worse things haunting Cace Talbot than the ghosts inhabiting his beloved hometown. Hidden in Arizona’s Mule Mountains, Bisbee was small in a cozy way and just casually haunted with specters from its wild and sometimes dark past. Then, Laurence “Lorrie” Nixon returns after breaking Cace’s heart twenty-five years earlier and the town becomes too small and the memories a lot scarier.

Lorrie’s waited long enough and is determined to win Cace back no matter how hard he has to grovel. He’s already got his work cut out for him when a pair of copycat killings with echoes from Bisbee’s past cast suspicion Lorrie’s way. Lorrie turns to Cace and their band of childhood friends for help solving the brutal murders.

Cace doesn’t want to see his first love accused of a gruesome crime he didn’t commit but that doesn’t mean he’s letting Lorrie Nixon back into his life. At least, that’s what Cace says. His body on the other hand… Can Cace help find a killer without getting caught up in the memories and the pull of Lorrie’s lips?

Review: Under the Mistle-tome (a Christmas Falls story) by Sammi Cee

Rating: 4.5🌈

Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee is the third book I’ve read in the multi-author Christmas Falls series and it’s my favorite one so far.

A best friends to lovers story, here the best friend from childhood is returning to Christmas Falls after a long separation and with an adorable daughter in tow.

It’s a place where the men can start their own journey back together as Trevor’s adorable little Holly adjusts to her new home, stealing hearts and scenes left and right.

Otherwise, a fantastic holiday story, with beautifully rendered scenes and great characters. I love it.

Christmas Falls:

✓ Get Frosted by Amy Aislin

◦ Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison

◦ Snowbody Loves Me by Jacki James

✓ Silent Knight by Beth Bolden

✓ Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee

◦ Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox

◦ No Elfing Way by Hayden Hall

◦ Ready, Set, Glow by Rye Cox

◦ Scrooge You! by Brigham Vaughn

“Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/ M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.”

Buy Link:

Under The Mistle-tome

Blurb:

Hoping to give his young daughter, Holly, the joyful childhood he had, Trevor moves back to the one place he’s always considered home—Christmas Falls.

As happy as he is to be back in the festive atmosphere of the small charming town, it’s nothing compared to how excited he is to spend time with his best friend, Trey.

Taking over the family bookstore in the town he grew up in was all Trey had ever wanted. Until Trevor walked back into his life, proving his childhood crush had never completely faded.

And Trevor’s daughter? Well, the adorable girl quickly claims a piece of Trey’s heart.

With the help of a little holiday magic, these two men and one very determined little girl may get exactly what they need—a family.

Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.

• Publisher: (December 1, 2023)

• Publication date: December 1, 2023

• Print length: 188 pages

Review: Under the Mistle-tome (a Christmas Falls story) by Sammi Cee

Rating: 4.5🌈

Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee is the third book I’ve read in the multi-author Christmas Falls series and it’s my favorite one so far.

A best friends to lovers story, here the best friend from childhood is returning to Christmas Falls after a long separation and with an adorable daughter in tow.

It’s a place where the men can start their own journey back together as Trevor’s adorable little Holly adjusts to her new home, stealing hearts and scenes left and right.

Otherwise, a fantastic holiday story, with beautifully rendered scenes and great characters. I love it.

Christmas Falls:

✓ Get Frosted by Amy Aislin

◦ Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison

◦ Snowbody Loves Me by Jacki James

✓ Silent Knight by Beth Bolden

✓ Under the Mistle-tome by Sammi Cee

◦ Clausing a Scene by Casey Cox

◦ No Elfing Way by Hayden Hall

◦ Ready, Set, Glow by Rye Cox

◦ Scrooge You! by Brigham Vaughn

“Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/ M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.”

Buy Link:

Under The Mistle-tome

Blurb:

Hoping to give his young daughter, Holly, the joyful childhood he had, Trevor moves back to the one place he’s always considered home—Christmas Falls.

As happy as he is to be back in the festive atmosphere of the small charming town, it’s nothing compared to how excited he is to spend time with his best friend, Trey.

Taking over the family bookstore in the town he grew up in was all Trey had ever wanted. Until Trevor walked back into his life, proving his childhood crush had never completely faded.

And Trevor’s daughter? Well, the adorable girl quickly claims a piece of Trey’s heart.

With the help of a little holiday magic, these two men and one very determined little girl may get exactly what they need—a family.

Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie.

• Publisher: (December 1, 2023)

• Publication date: December 1, 2023

• Print length: 188 pages

Review: The Christmas Extra (Laurel Holidays #5) by V.L. Locey

Rating: 5🌈

If you look forward to reading warmhearted Christmas stories, then V. L. Locey’s Laurel Holidays series is a fabulous place to start. Full of small town charm and great characters, each tale is full of the holiday spirit and special moments that this season brings to mind.

The Christmas Extra, the latest in the series, is a great example of why I love the series and this author’s work.

It starts with Stillman King. Rockmount, Pennsylvania’s small-town sheriff whose life has settled into a quiet, small town pace. Whether he’s helping round up pigs, deliver babies, or just keep the locals stay within the law, Stillman and his old cat, Ellery, are content with their lives.

Locey makes us feel like we know him, how the years have aged him, and how much the town’s people count on him as one of them. He’s real and grounded within Rockmount.

The second chance at love and lovers reunited has to be two of my favorite tropes and they are combined here as the Mayor has managed to make their small town a cable show location for a popular tv soap series. It’s the holidays and the town is decorated with the beautiful trappings of the holiday season drawing in the locals and the tourists alike. Perfect for the show. Which is also bringing in a ex boyfriend of Stillman’s.

Tony Gugliotti, popular tv actor, has come to Rockmount with the series crew to film his new movie. And maybe see his ex boyfriend from college, the man he loved and left behind.

Both men, now older, both living very different lives at different coasts. But even with all the years and anger, the scenes between them and the intimacy that Locey is able to bring about through her images makes the reader understand the chemistry and feelings that the men still share.

I was absolutely invested in this romance and relationship. Watching the men reconnect, through memories and experiences was heartwarming and wonderful. Especially as the author wove the town and its inhabitants into their growing relationship as well. We got a feel of community pulling together as well as the love rebuilding.

The ending was perfect. There was a dramatic , suspenseful moment and then a lovely epilogue that tied up the storyline. What made this perfect was an element I’ve found missing in other books recently , and that’s the author has paid attention to the important animal character . At the end, Ellery, the cat, was not forgotten but followed his beloved owners to their HEA, as it should be. So happy about this.

I was left with a happy ending, feeling totally satisfied, and a great book to rec for the holidays.

And don’t forget to check out the others in this series if you haven’t found them already.

The Laurel Holidays Series:

✓ The Christmas Oaks—Laurel Holidays #1

✓ The Christmas Pundit—Laurel Holidays #2

✓ The Christmas Tenor—Laurel Holidays #3

✓ The Christmas Rescue—Laurel Holidays #4

✓ The Christmas Extra—Laurel Holidays #5

◦ The Easter Redemption—A Laurel Holidays Spring Romance Novella

Buy Link:

The Christmas Extra (Laurel Holidays #5)4Kindle Edition$4.99

Blurb:

’Tis the season for a second chance at love.

Stillman King likes his life in the small rural farming community of Rockmount, Pennsylvania. It’s a different pace of life than Philly, but Philadelphia was where his heart was broken, and he was happy to leave. He might be lonely, but he’s settled and has even managed to win over his snooping neighbors. Overall, his days as a small-town sheriff are peaceful with only the occasional traffic accident, drunk and disorderly conduct, or a random meandering cow to deal with. That was until the day the mayor announced that Rockmount was going to be the filming location for a Christmas romance movie starring the popular soap opera star, Tony Gugliotti. The same Tony who’d left him right after college graduation and headed west to the bright lights of Los Angeles without even a goodbye.

Hearing his former lover’s name shatters all the merry bucolic vibes that usually fill Rockmount, at least for Stillman. He’d not seen or spoken to Tony for over twenty years and had no wish to ever again. But, suddenly, here Tony was, looking just as good as he did way back when with his killer smile and movie star jawline. Hollywood descended on Rockmount and Stillman did his best to balance keeping the peace while maintaining a polite distance from his ex. Pity it’s such a small town packed with incredibly meddlesome people. All it takes is one stake out, a night stuck in the courthouse’s basement, and one kiss wound in a lighted pine tree to reignite the passion both men thought they’d left far behind.

The Christmas Extra is a standalone small town, forced proximity, gay second chance Christmas romance with all the glitter of Hollywood, two mature men who never really got over each other, a village packed with holiday cheer as well as inquisitive neighbors, a well-meaning cast and crew, and a tinselly happy-ever-after.

The Game (Charleston Condors Book 2) by Beth Bolden

Rating: 5🌈

I absolutely loved this story! Micah Rose was a character whose complicated journey started with the Miami Piranhas team and series .

A damaged, angry man, Micah’s transformation was a side storyline that was so compelling that the reader just wanted to know why he was so hurt and broken that it almost cost him his career in Miami.

In The Game, Bolden gives her readers the answers. We finally understand the hardships and pain that drove Micah to make the decisions he made to arrive at the man he was in the Piranhas. As well as the new man he’s become that asked for a trade at the end of that series.

That’s our starting point. After the events at the end of The Star which saw a teammate caught betting on game play, a trade was made and it brought Micah Rose to the Charleston Condors.

It also brought him back into the life of the man he loved and left. Beckett West. The other half of himself. The other half of the famed Northwestern “Wall” when they played together in college. And the events that drove them apart.

Bolden’s exemplary narrative charts the awkward moments between the tentative first reunion between them through the all the detailed history and emotional scenes that will bring forgiveness and redemption to them both as well as love and HEA.

This is a story about forgiveness, families in whatever form that may take, love and redemption. Bolden dogs deep into both lives to find the reason for their own suffering and eventual forgiveness. It’s a remarkable story.

And if I had thoughts that Micah was to easy to forgive his mother’s actions perhaps that’s on me and not the character. Within the narrative, it was believable and grounded within the people and families.

The next book has a tough bar to fly over. I look forward to seeing what the author has to offer.

Meanwhile, I’m absolutely thrilled to recommend this series by Beth Bolden. Start at the beginning and work , book by book, through the series. Just outstanding writing, fabulous action sequences, football commentary, characters and relationships, etc. 15/10 recommend.

Charleston Condors:

✓ The Star #1

✓ The Game #2

◦ The Score #3 – Oct 31,2023

Bolden’s connected Football series (characters appear/are mentioned

in all the series) in order they are written:

✓ The Riptide

✓ Miami Piranhas

◦ Charleston Condors

Buy Link:

The Game (Charleston Condors Book 2)

Blurb:

Micah Rose is ready for a clean slate. He might’ve messed up his rookie year with the Miami Piranhas, but being traded to the Condors is the best way to put all that behind him.

The Condors are rebuilding, too. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.

But one rule hasn’t changed: don’t marry your ex-best friend in Vegas.

Beckett West isn’t looking forward to seeing Micah again. Back in college, they shared not only a ride-or-die friendship, but a ton of sexual tension they never acted on.

That was before Micah pushed him away.

Still, Beck’s never forgotten their last drunken night together. Not only did they finally confess their feelings, they both promised if the day ever came when they played on the same team again, they wouldn’t waste the chance to be together.

But Beck didn’t expect that day to ever be this day.

He certainly didn’t expect to wake up in bed with Micah’s ring on his finger.

Or that he’d never want to take it off.

But it turns out the only man for him is the one man he could never forget. The one man he’s always wanted to make his.

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