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Feathers From the Sky
All Cal wants is a little privacy...
Cal isn’t enjoying the Christmas holiday, stuck in an overcrowded house with his huge family. His only solace is that Philip will soon arrive.
He’s worried introducing Philip as his boyfriend rather than his roommate could put a damper on the holiday season, but his dad drops a bigger bomb: the family home will be sold.
Derailed from coming out, Cal makes it his mission to squeeze every ounce out of his last holiday in his childhood home. But there’s no way to disguise his love for Philip.
This holiday season is one of endings, but can it be the start of something even better?
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2013
About the author
Posy Roberts
31 books231 followersPosy Roberts started reading romance when she was young, but textbooks eventually replaced the novels, and she somehow existed without reading for fun. When she finally picked up a romance years later, it was like slipping on a soft hoodie . . . that didn’t quite fit right. She wanted something more.
Now she wanted to read about queer people falling in love. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and watch characters navigate the unpredictability of life as they create their happy homes. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.
Her stories have been USA Today’s “Happily Ever After” Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s spending time with loved ones and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.
Now she wanted to read about queer people falling in love. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and watch characters navigate the unpredictability of life as they create their happy homes. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.
Her stories have been USA Today’s “Happily Ever After” Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s spending time with loved ones and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 18, 2013
4.25*
The blurb does not do this story justice.
Cal loves his family, even if there are too many of them stuffed in to their parents small house.
Cal is an introvert and is feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the people and of course he feels the pressure of finally coming out to his family. I didn't quite see why he was so nervous, it was obvious his family loves him, but I guess you never know...
I loved how the family interacted and the traditions and I loved Philip and Cal together.
“We love parts of each other no one else bothered to appreciate.”
Sweet holiday story with an established couple and a very satisfying HEA.
The blurb does not do this story justice.
Cal loves his family, even if there are too many of them stuffed in to their parents small house.
Cal is an introvert and is feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the people and of course he feels the pressure of finally coming out to his family. I didn't quite see why he was so nervous, it was obvious his family loves him, but I guess you never know...
I loved how the family interacted and the traditions and I loved Philip and Cal together.
“We love parts of each other no one else bothered to appreciate.”
Sweet holiday story with an established couple and a very satisfying HEA.
December 22, 2014
My Christmas gangbang with Mishy continues. I'm getting a little sore, but I think I can handle a few more.
This was really cute and benefited from some smoking hot sex scenes. Buon Natale!
This was really cute and benefited from some smoking hot sex scenes. Buon Natale!
October 20, 2015
You know that warm, tingly feeling you get when Christmas is near? You feel so light and there's something different in the air you breathe? Well, this short story felt exactly like that for me.
This was a very heartwarming holiday story featuring big families, cute idiosyncrasies, and a coming-out rite of passage gone too long. Cal's character resonated with me well. And Philip! You cannot not love that guy.
He had the most unusual eye color. On the outside they were dark blue, but then they transitioned to a vivid green near his pupil. It was like he looked at me with the world.
Find me someone like Philip and I'll marry him. A traveler who has the right balance of sweetness and kinkiness? And has the weirdest but most sensible views? *Swoons*
"I like you and love you. According to my mom, that's a pretty big deal, because there have been entire months my mom hasn't liked my dad, even though she still loved him."
4.5 sweet stars!
November 13, 2015
3.5 stars
On the one hand I really liked the warm fuzzies of Cal’s big family, but on the other hand I found it VERY unrealistic that Cal had been hiding the love of his life for the past 3 years because he was afraid of his parent’s reaction.
The parents were sweet and loving, so I really didn’t get Cal. And 3 years, that is a very long time!
It still was a very sweet story and I did like Cal and Philip together.
On the one hand I really liked the warm fuzzies of Cal’s big family, but on the other hand I found it VERY unrealistic that Cal had been hiding the love of his life for the past 3 years because he was afraid of his parent’s reaction.
The parents were sweet and loving, so I really didn’t get Cal. And 3 years, that is a very long time!
It still was a very sweet story and I did like Cal and Philip together.
December 21, 2015
4.5 stars
Aww, another lovely heartwarming holiday story!
Aww, another lovely heartwarming holiday story!
December 18, 2013
I was eagerly awaiting this story and today, finally it was in my mail! Just finished reading and this was simply wonderful! I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face and thinking about a re-read.
I totally felt for Calvin - being together with that huge family with no means of alone time and how everything looked better when Philip arrived. His timidity to finally tell his family the truth about his relationship with Philip, although he was determined to do so - the actual saying-it-out-loud still isn't easy.
The story had a wonderful flow, no over the top stuff anywhere, even the end was very satisfying.
Loved it!
I totally felt for Calvin - being together with that huge family with no means of alone time and how everything looked better when Philip arrived. His timidity to finally tell his family the truth about his relationship with Philip, although he was determined to do so - the actual saying-it-out-loud still isn't easy.
The story had a wonderful flow, no over the top stuff anywhere, even the end was very satisfying.
Loved it!
December 13, 2013
The house may be on the shabby side and too small, bursting at the seems with fifteen people stuffed into it, but it’s Cal’s family home and everyone is back for Christmas week in the snowy countryside.
There are a lot of changes for twenty-six year old Cal this Christmas with the family. He’s finally ready to come out to them, and his boyfriend, Phillip, the love of his life, is coming to meet them too. And Cal’s parents have some news of their own.
I loved this. The author captures the feel of a noisy, active family, close-knit and loving, all up against each other for the holiday get-together. Cal, the middle kid, and an introvert, deals with all the bustle of his large family with long solitary walks in the snow, waiting for Phillip’s arrival. His six siblings, some with kids of their own, and his warm and supportive parents know he’s bisexual but he’s never brought a boyfriend home. He just knows they’re expecting him to marry a nice girl and add to the family flock.
And there’s the rub. They don’t know about Phillip, Cal’s lover of three years. He and Phillip are madly in love and are not interested in taking on any kids.
“He held my hand… and I could hear the quiet sound of his thumb brushing over my palm in tiny figure eights. Infinity… He was telling me he’d love me forever.”
Interesting thing… his family may be more understanding than he gives them credit for.
There is a fun, competitive snowball fight, lots of camaraderie, and the cozy, good feeling of people who care about each other. This is perfect for the holidays, full of love but never sticky sweet. As Phillip says during a walk with Cal in softly falling snow…
“Feathers from the sky,” he whispered as he looked up… “It looks like feathers falling from the sky.” I studied the flakes as they drifted down… (they) made the the air seem magical.”
Feathers From the Sky is part of DSP’s 2013 Advent Calendar - Heartwarming.
December 28, 2015
Another fuzzie Christmas story!
*3,5 stars*
Loved Cal's big family but Cal being so worried that his family wouldn't accept his relationship with Philip... pleasssse! But minor thingie. Still quite enjoyable to read.
I liked this quote;
"I like you and love you. According to my mom, that's a pretty big deal, because there have been entire months my mom hasn't liked my dad, even though she still loved him."
December 20, 2013
This was a great, quiet Christmas story and I just loved it. The characters felt real, the family was amazing, the angst wasn't overdone and the relationship between Phillip and Cal was perfect. I really felt the connection and the love between them. Cal's fear of being honest with his family was believable even if it didn't seem completely warranted. A big part of Cal's anxiety just came from his personality which just made him seem all the more real. A highly recommended story that is about family, home and love.
December 21, 2013
A sweet, well-written Christmas story about coming out to the family. Cal is visiting his large family for Christmas. The middle child of 7, Cal was always the introvert of the lot and the most sensitive. He loves his siblings and parents but he's never been able to tell them that he's in a relationship with Phillip--they all think Phillip is just a roommate. Phillip comes to spend the holidays with the fam and the truth will out. I read this in one sitting. The first person POV voice was charming and I liked everyone in the story. One of my favorite scenes was when Funny. There's plenty of romance, famliy, and some hot sex in here too. Recommended.
August 10, 2016
What a great holiday story. I don't come from a large family, but the author did a great job showing how it must be when you have such a large family. I really don't know why Cal seemed to nervous about telling his family, you just got the feeling from the beginning that they would be understanding. Perfect scene with Philip and Cal after they finished there walk. This story just was a feel good read that left me smiling.
November 29, 2014
3.5 stars
I love stories about family – especially around holidays. So when I read the summary of this, even if Posy Roberts was a new-to-me author, I immediately decided to read it. Added with the fact that it was about an established couple, one of my favorite themes, score!
I thought the description about Cal’s family was the best thing about this. It was crazy, it was cozy, it was loud, it was heartwarming, it was well, what family could be. I loved learning about Cal’s family members, as much as I enjoyed understanding Cal – the introvert who needed space after being stuck in so many family members (hey, Cal, I know your feeling!), who was fretting because he had been with his boyfriend for three years and felt like now it was the time to tell the family. I felt for his nervousness – and I felt that sigh of relief when Philip finally arrived.
It was a great holiday around family story … so, why not 4-stars then? Well, this will be my particular issue, and mine alone. See, the story felt clean and lovely and I was thoroughly enjoying it, until … this one scene when Cal and Philip decided to have a blowjob in open spaces, and there was a slight kink () introduced. It was kind of dirty and erotic and it just threw me off from what I considered as clean story. I just felt that it didn’t fit with what I had in mind and my nose was scrunching in dislike.
Again, my issue, and MY issue alone. It was still a heartwarming read, especially if you want something with strong family feels in this holiday season. And when Philip described the ‘feathers from the sky’? it was such a beauty ...
I love stories about family – especially around holidays. So when I read the summary of this, even if Posy Roberts was a new-to-me author, I immediately decided to read it. Added with the fact that it was about an established couple, one of my favorite themes, score!
I thought the description about Cal’s family was the best thing about this. It was crazy, it was cozy, it was loud, it was heartwarming, it was well, what family could be. I loved learning about Cal’s family members, as much as I enjoyed understanding Cal – the introvert who needed space after being stuck in so many family members (hey, Cal, I know your feeling!), who was fretting because he had been with his boyfriend for three years and felt like now it was the time to tell the family. I felt for his nervousness – and I felt that sigh of relief when Philip finally arrived.
It was a great holiday around family story … so, why not 4-stars then? Well, this will be my particular issue, and mine alone. See, the story felt clean and lovely and I was thoroughly enjoying it, until … this one scene when Cal and Philip decided to have a blowjob in open spaces, and there was a slight kink () introduced. It was kind of dirty and erotic and it just threw me off from what I considered as clean story. I just felt that it didn’t fit with what I had in mind and my nose was scrunching in dislike.
Again, my issue, and MY issue alone. It was still a heartwarming read, especially if you want something with strong family feels in this holiday season. And when Philip described the ‘feathers from the sky’? it was such a beauty ...
January 10, 2014
Daww. This was beyond adorable. I love introverted Cal with his big family. Being an introvert myself and the youngest child of eleven, I can totally get where he was coming from. Cal was so real, he read so real and so did his simply amazing boyfriend Phillip and the whole damn family. What a great story about love, hope, family and acceptance. What a lovely, warm and uplifting feel good story.
July 12, 2025
4.5
For me, this is one of the loveliest of the DSP advent calendar. It's just soft and sweet, funny and very holiday. Loved this!
For me, this is one of the loveliest of the DSP advent calendar. It's just soft and sweet, funny and very holiday. Loved this!
December 17, 2013
Feathers From The Sky is a short story included in Dreamspinner Press’s Advent anthology. I am a big fan of Posy Roberts, so I was delighted to be able to read and review this story. It is a sweet, sometimes hot family Christmas story. It is funny, and sweet, a tiny bit angsty, and romantic and all that one could want in a Christmas season read.
Calvin and Phillip have been together for three years. Calvin told his parents in high school that he was bi-sexual but they only ever saw him date women. It wasn’t until he went away to college that he got to experience the other side of being bi-sexual. Calvin determined that he preferred men.
While Calvin’s family knows Phillip, they think that he is Calvin’s friend and roommate. They have no idea that the two men are in love and in a committed relationship. This year, when Calvin goes home to visit his very large, chaotic family, he plans to tell them about his relationship with Phillip and that Phillip will be joining them for part of the visit.
Events prevent Calvin from having time to talk to his family about his relationship with Phillip and when he arrives, everyone is surprised. They welcome him as part of the family because of his friendship with Calvin. Then there are the sleeping arrangements to be addressed in an already over-crowded house. The by-play between Calvin and his siblings, especially his brothers, is so realistic and identifiable. Any one who has siblings will love it. Then, one-by-one, Calvin’s family members find out that he and Phillip are in love.
Feathers From The Sky is a great holiday short story. The love in that small house with so many people crammed inside was obvious. Posy Roberts did a great job of writing at least a little something about all of Calvin’s siblings and more about his parents. In such a short story to know so much about each character is rare. I was really rooting for Calvin and Phillip to be immediately welcomed into the fold as a couple. They were hot and sweet and so romantic together. And the game the whole family played in the snow was hilarious. I recommend you read this, it will push all of your buttons!
Calvin and Phillip have been together for three years. Calvin told his parents in high school that he was bi-sexual but they only ever saw him date women. It wasn’t until he went away to college that he got to experience the other side of being bi-sexual. Calvin determined that he preferred men.
While Calvin’s family knows Phillip, they think that he is Calvin’s friend and roommate. They have no idea that the two men are in love and in a committed relationship. This year, when Calvin goes home to visit his very large, chaotic family, he plans to tell them about his relationship with Phillip and that Phillip will be joining them for part of the visit.
Events prevent Calvin from having time to talk to his family about his relationship with Phillip and when he arrives, everyone is surprised. They welcome him as part of the family because of his friendship with Calvin. Then there are the sleeping arrangements to be addressed in an already over-crowded house. The by-play between Calvin and his siblings, especially his brothers, is so realistic and identifiable. Any one who has siblings will love it. Then, one-by-one, Calvin’s family members find out that he and Phillip are in love.
Feathers From The Sky is a great holiday short story. The love in that small house with so many people crammed inside was obvious. Posy Roberts did a great job of writing at least a little something about all of Calvin’s siblings and more about his parents. In such a short story to know so much about each character is rare. I was really rooting for Calvin and Phillip to be immediately welcomed into the fold as a couple. They were hot and sweet and so romantic together. And the game the whole family played in the snow was hilarious. I recommend you read this, it will push all of your buttons!
August 1, 2020
'Feathers from the Sky' is an excellent title for this book. It was explained to me when one of the main characters describes what the snow coming down feels and looks like. For him, the snowflakes were like "feathers from the sky". For me, this title also describes the feeling of the story: very light, sometimes surprising, and very beautiful. This is not an action-packed adventure, or a laugh-out-loud comedy. It is a quiet story about a man struggling with telling his family he has a boyfriend, and his boyfriend (who they all think is his roommate) there, by his side, supporting him.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 29, 2013
I love sweet, lovely, short stories like this! The story of Calvin and Phillip, a established couple, that is spending the holidays with Calvin's family. However his family doesn't know that they are a couple! The development is beautiful and there's the HEA that I love so much :)
December 26, 2017
that was a sweet family story
12/26/2017 sometimes a reread can ruin a story. Sigh. I wish I had left myself with the same happy memories of this book that I started with. I won't change the rating since I still loved hearing Paul Morey's voice.
12/26/2017 sometimes a reread can ruin a story. Sigh. I wish I had left myself with the same happy memories of this book that I started with. I won't change the rating since I still loved hearing Paul Morey's voice.
November 28, 2019
“Home. It’s wherever you are.”
Feathers From the Sky by Posy Roberts is sweet, heartfelt and passionate holiday story that gave me all the feels.
Very entertaining story.
Feathers From the Sky by Posy Roberts is sweet, heartfelt and passionate holiday story that gave me all the feels.
Very entertaining story.
December 17, 2022
3+
Całkiem przyzwoita świąteczna historia. Pomimo, że krótka, to nie było wrażenia, że czegoś brakowało.
Warto pogrzebać w starszych książkach, bo nie zawsze to, co nowe, musi oznaczać lepsze 😉
Całkiem przyzwoita świąteczna historia. Pomimo, że krótka, to nie było wrażenia, że czegoś brakowało.
Warto pogrzebać w starszych książkach, bo nie zawsze to, co nowe, musi oznaczać lepsze 😉
December 22, 2020
Hmmm...I dunno.
This was cute but I just didn't really buy it.
I'm glad it all worked out for the best.
This was cute but I just didn't really buy it.
I'm glad it all worked out for the best.
December 11, 2019
Three years together and didn't tell his family about his relationship with Phillips, Cal needed to tell them. Because he's in love with Phillips and it's not fair for Phillips.
Afraid that his family won't except that, he kept holding back
But Phillips is the sweetest, you know? Cal is very lucky having him.
A heartwarming and adorable holiday story, with a family that love each other, this book will warm your heart.
Sweet and tender moments included. Loved this!
Afraid that his family won't except that, he kept holding back
But Phillips is the sweetest, you know? Cal is very lucky having him.
A heartwarming and adorable holiday story, with a family that love each other, this book will warm your heart.
Sweet and tender moments included. Loved this!
December 10, 2019
*A copy was provided by the author for free in exchange for an honest review*
I really found this pretty adorable. I loved the characters and the family was cute without being annoying. The minimal drama was understandable. The "marriage" talk in this story was more tolerable, less of a must and more a want. Basically a real cute holiday story about growing up and owning who you are.
I really found this pretty adorable. I loved the characters and the family was cute without being annoying. The minimal drama was understandable. The "marriage" talk in this story was more tolerable, less of a must and more a want. Basically a real cute holiday story about growing up and owning who you are.
June 6, 2014
I felt sorry for Cal lost amongst the bustle of his big noisy family. But then I felt lost too - the writing style doesn't work for me it's all tell and fading out of conversations for introspection instead of showing things. What had potential to be a cute seasonal family story fell flat as I didn't get any feel for the family; or even an idea of how many of them there were, it was just random faceless noise.
And the plot concept - Bisexual boy who is out to his family, who might not understand but will clearly always accept him, hides his boyfriend from them.
His boyfriend who they know, who actually knows each family member by name. A boyfriend of THREE YEARS, who the boy LIVES WITH. Just because they keep asking if he has a girlfriend. They're a family who love and accept him, his father is known locally as the liberal professor - why has he never once said 'no a boyfriend' during college or in the THREE YEARS of his relationship with Philip. Philip must have a lot of forbearance, as well as money.
Also the little kink seemed out of place in this kind of story.
And the plot concept - Bisexual boy who is out to his family, who might not understand but will clearly always accept him, hides his boyfriend from them.
His boyfriend who they know, who actually knows each family member by name. A boyfriend of THREE YEARS, who the boy LIVES WITH. Just because they keep asking if he has a girlfriend. They're a family who love and accept him, his father is known locally as the liberal professor - why has he never once said 'no a boyfriend' during college or in the THREE YEARS of his relationship with Philip. Philip must have a lot of forbearance, as well as money.
Also the little kink seemed out of place in this kind of story.
December 15, 2013
Feathers From The Sky is a great holiday short story. The love in that small house with so many people crammed inside was obvious. Posy Roberts did a great job of writing at least a little something about all of Calvin’s siblings and more about his parents. In such a short story, to know so much about each character is rare.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
December 29, 2013
This sentimental story was all about the modern family. I liked the major mayhem as all the members of the family packed into the old house for one last Christmas. The traditions, thoughts and new family members made this story a feel good read.
December 22, 2013
I don't usually like established relationship stories, but this one was perfect! So sweet and, yes, heartwarming.
August 27, 2016
4.5 stars Fantastic holiday short story. I loved the author's voice and the characters were amazing.
December 20, 2013
ARC Review: Feathers From The Sky by Posy Roberts A cute, sweet feel-good Christmas story about a young man, Cal Thompson, who's out to his family as bisexual, but hasn't told them about the boyfriend he's had for a while. They've assumed, or so he thinks, that he'll eventually marry and have babies, even if he's bisexual. Now he's stuck in a house with fourteen of them for Christmas, but planning to tell them about Philip. Who's on his way to Cal's family's house.
The blurb is slightly misleading, as it could be construed as Cal's family being not supportive, and that's not the case. In fact, the love between the family members jumps right off the pages, and there's never any doubt that they all love each other. I didn't quite understand what Cal was so nervous about, to be honest - his family seemed to have accepted him for who he is, without making any demands on him to procreate.
Except then Cal's dad makes an announcement that throws Cal for a loop, and his plans to announce his boyfriend takes a back seat. Posy Roberts took something that felt realistic and rang true and built from it a sweet story about family and love and Christmas, while delivering a message that home is where the heart is, and that a house is just a house - family is what makes it a home.
I loved that this story was about an established couple but also about coming out to your family, of sorts. The HEA was just icing on the cake, but also very fitting!
Nicely done.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
The blurb is slightly misleading, as it could be construed as Cal's family being not supportive, and that's not the case. In fact, the love between the family members jumps right off the pages, and there's never any doubt that they all love each other. I didn't quite understand what Cal was so nervous about, to be honest - his family seemed to have accepted him for who he is, without making any demands on him to procreate.
Except then Cal's dad makes an announcement that throws Cal for a loop, and his plans to announce his boyfriend takes a back seat. Posy Roberts took something that felt realistic and rang true and built from it a sweet story about family and love and Christmas, while delivering a message that home is where the heart is, and that a house is just a house - family is what makes it a home.
I loved that this story was about an established couple but also about coming out to your family, of sorts. The HEA was just icing on the cake, but also very fitting!
Nicely done.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
December 19, 2013
This was a heartwarming little holiday treat (as promised by the series name) featuring an established couple for a change. Established couples aren't usually my favourite thing - simply because I just like the getting-together part so much in the romance books I read. But here it's good - it makes all the things happening that much more believable and I generally liked both Philip and Cal. The family setting was cozy as well, all the different family members traipsing in and out of the story were fun. The J-C name thingy (and then the boy named Jaycee) were awesome, that idea really cracked me up.
However, despite all these objectively positive things I couldn't really get into the story. I think my main issue was the writing. It just seemed repetitive at times - word repetitions, action repetitions - and that disrupted my reading flow. Moreover, somehow the story didn't feel real to me, the characters fell all a bit flat, and the chemistry between Cal and Philip was more descriptive than something I could actually sense. And everyone was just a little bit too nice and everything a little bit too harmonic and sweet.
At the end of the story I was rather glad it was over, to be honest - I enjoyed it enough while reading, but I don't feel the need to know more about these guys and their life together. That's not exactly a good sign for me!
However, despite all these objectively positive things I couldn't really get into the story. I think my main issue was the writing. It just seemed repetitive at times - word repetitions, action repetitions - and that disrupted my reading flow. Moreover, somehow the story didn't feel real to me, the characters fell all a bit flat, and the chemistry between Cal and Philip was more descriptive than something I could actually sense. And everyone was just a little bit too nice and everything a little bit too harmonic and sweet.
At the end of the story I was rather glad it was over, to be honest - I enjoyed it enough while reading, but I don't feel the need to know more about these guys and their life together. That's not exactly a good sign for me!
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