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Resting Grinch Face
Noel Woodbury is a retired English professor whose one true love was taken from him way too early, leaving him a grumpy, lonely man. Love is the last thing he’s looking for on the birthday/Christmas cruise his sister gifts him with.
Joshua Nolan is thrilled to be cruising with his best friends just before Christmas. Then a chance meeting and a love of reading might lead to other things
Can bar waiter Gabe work his match making magic to help a grinch-y guy find love again with a younger man?
Synopsis is subject to change prior to publication.
Joshua Nolan is thrilled to be cruising with his best friends just before Christmas. Then a chance meeting and a love of reading might lead to other things
Can bar waiter Gabe work his match making magic to help a grinch-y guy find love again with a younger man?
Synopsis is subject to change prior to publication.
- GenresM M RomanceHoliday
55 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2023
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Peterson
14 books31 followersR.J. Peterson is a retired graphic designer.
He is an avid reader, preferably while sipping a vodka martini or some bourbon on the rocks. RJ’s had a long and varied career, including library page, car wash attendant, customer service representative, interpreter for the deaf, travel agent, and graphic designer in the marijuana industry. He also worked in banking for twenty-five years. In addition to starting up a writing career, he still works as a freelance designer, creating book covers and other items for several authors.
RJ loves to travel and has been on 50+ cruises. When not on a cruise, he and his husband live in New England.
He is an avid reader, preferably while sipping a vodka martini or some bourbon on the rocks. RJ’s had a long and varied career, including library page, car wash attendant, customer service representative, interpreter for the deaf, travel agent, and graphic designer in the marijuana industry. He also worked in banking for twenty-five years. In addition to starting up a writing career, he still works as a freelance designer, creating book covers and other items for several authors.
RJ loves to travel and has been on 50+ cruises. When not on a cruise, he and his husband live in New England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 7, 2023
Review soon
December 10, 2023
Noel is a retired English professor who lost his husband several years ago in a tragic skiing accident. Ever since he has withdrawn from the world and mostly stopped interacting with people. Then his sister gives him a trip on a cruise with them for a birthday/Christmas present. She believes it long past time that Noel rejoin the world and hopefully find someone to spend the rest of his life with. Noel hates this plan but can't disappoint his sister. He goes on the cruise but plans to spend most of his cruise in quiet spots reading. When his sister arranges to meet him in a bar on their first night where they are having a special get together for LGBTQIA passengers, he sees Joshua, a younger man that he is attracted to. However he has forgotten how make connections with new people. Noel comes across as a grump or a grinch. Luckily the next day, Gabe the bartender brings the two together as fellow readers. Noel is happy to have another chance and being with Joshua brings light and color into his world again.
Joshua is on the cruise with a couple of his friends. They are willing to share the cabin with him even though they are a couple. Joshua is happy and comfortable around people. He used to be happy playing the field but now he feels lonely and tired of playing. When he sees Noel sparks fly but Noel acts grumpy and pushes Joshua away. When the bartender Gabe puts the two together, he learns that Noel is just unaccustomed with dealing with people. he may act like the grinch but he just needs someone to help open his heart again.
Joshua is on the cruise with a couple of his friends. They are willing to share the cabin with him even though they are a couple. Joshua is happy and comfortable around people. He used to be happy playing the field but now he feels lonely and tired of playing. When he sees Noel sparks fly but Noel acts grumpy and pushes Joshua away. When the bartender Gabe puts the two together, he learns that Noel is just unaccustomed with dealing with people. he may act like the grinch but he just needs someone to help open his heart again.
December 5, 2023
One again, Gabe, server extraordinaire on the Ocean Voyager, help two lonely souls find love together. Josh is the director of nursing at a Boston area nursing home. Noel is a retired English professor. They meet in the Neptune Lounge and are attracted to each other. When they meet again and again, they connect over mm romance series. One thing leads to another and they begin a cruise romance. After being inseparable on ship, they agree to see where it will go once they get home.
I wouldn't exactly say that this is a grumpy/sunshine type story although Noel does realize that he's been a Grinch most of his life and that Josh makes him better, happier. It definitely is a vacation romance.
What I like about the book: Both Josh and Noel are older, both silver foxes. Not thirty somethings. It's a slow burn with the romance more sweet than sexy. Also, Peterson offers a realistic ending that I could see happening in the real world. A thoroughly enjoyable short or novella. There are two more in the series and I can't wait for them.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
I wouldn't exactly say that this is a grumpy/sunshine type story although Noel does realize that he's been a Grinch most of his life and that Josh makes him better, happier. It definitely is a vacation romance.
What I like about the book: Both Josh and Noel are older, both silver foxes. Not thirty somethings. It's a slow burn with the romance more sweet than sexy. Also, Peterson offers a realistic ending that I could see happening in the real world. A thoroughly enjoyable short or novella. There are two more in the series and I can't wait for them.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
December 8, 2023
Noel doesn’t want to be on this cruise spending Christmas with his sister and brother-in-law. Thankfully, he has his own suite and plans to spend as much time reading as possible.
Joshua is thrilled he’s going on a cruise with his two best friends who are a couple and hope there’s some Christmas magic a board. When he first spots a guy at the end of the bar, he thinks he’s hot as anything. But isn’t sure if he’s gay or the woman he is with with is his wife.
Noel spots the group of three men in the bar and one of them is stunning, but he’s too young for him. but when the guy behind the bar Gabe gets them to share a table They start talking, and they realise they have a lot in common, and the attraction is mutual. What will become of it??
I’ve Gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed the short Read this is a second book in the series, and it was super cute to see these guys overcome something in the past and see what is in front of them. Can’t wait to read book 3.
Joshua is thrilled he’s going on a cruise with his two best friends who are a couple and hope there’s some Christmas magic a board. When he first spots a guy at the end of the bar, he thinks he’s hot as anything. But isn’t sure if he’s gay or the woman he is with with is his wife.
Noel spots the group of three men in the bar and one of them is stunning, but he’s too young for him. but when the guy behind the bar Gabe gets them to share a table They start talking, and they realise they have a lot in common, and the attraction is mutual. What will become of it??
I’ve Gotta say I thoroughly enjoyed the short Read this is a second book in the series, and it was super cute to see these guys overcome something in the past and see what is in front of them. Can’t wait to read book 3.
November 29, 2023
🛳Sweet cruising with a like-minded stranger😉
3.5🌟 stars
It's a nice, brief story with two guys who are strangers and not in the first bloom of youth meeting on a holiday cruise. Noel is closed off but I think calling him a Grinch was a bit too much. Josh is the younger in the pair and more outgoing, but even he needs a push from barman Gabe to approach the older stranger who intrigues him. I thought it was cute that they really start to click through their love of reading. But the story's a bit too short to give much depth to their romantic connection and I did not feel I knew enough about Josh.
General impressions: positive, some milder heat eventually, minor holiday vibes, happy ending.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
3.5🌟 stars
It's a nice, brief story with two guys who are strangers and not in the first bloom of youth meeting on a holiday cruise. Noel is closed off but I think calling him a Grinch was a bit too much. Josh is the younger in the pair and more outgoing, but even he needs a push from barman Gabe to approach the older stranger who intrigues him. I thought it was cute that they really start to click through their love of reading. But the story's a bit too short to give much depth to their romantic connection and I did not feel I knew enough about Josh.
General impressions: positive, some milder heat eventually, minor holiday vibes, happy ending.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
December 7, 2023
This is another good addition to this collection of short holiday cruise stories each can be read as a standalone as only the staff from the Neptune’s Reef bar matchmaker Gabe and his colleague Theo have been in the stories This story is about Noel and Josh both older men, Noel lost the love of his life and withdrew into himself and now realises just how much he had withdrawn from life and is determined to try more and then Josh he works a lot and just hasn’t had the best experience at dating in the past so give up on it, they meet and connect with a little help from Gabe, and spend nearly all the cruise together and arrange to meet after the cruise as they don’t actually live far from each other, again as in the last story I would love an epilogue further into the future that shows a Hea instead of just a few days after the cruise ends.good holiday short read.
December 8, 2023
This is book 2 of the series, short reads featuring bar waiter Gabe helping single guys find their person on a cruise before Christmas. This time, retired university professor Noel is introduced to Josh, a nursing facility director. Both men are older, Noel in his early sixties and Josh in his late forties. Both men live in the Boston area and are avid readers, spending time on the ship together reading their Kindles and discussing books. The more time they spend together, the more they feel things they haven’t for a long time, and the closer they get.
Sweet, low angst short story of two older men possibly finding the person to spend the rest of their lives with. Interesting characters with a story line that feels full and complete in a relatively short number of pages. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Sweet, low angst short story of two older men possibly finding the person to spend the rest of their lives with. Interesting characters with a story line that feels full and complete in a relatively short number of pages. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
November 3, 2023
3.5/5 I felt like the “Grinch” comment was a little rude and overblown towards Noel. After one non-committal comment to strangers, Noel is labelled a grinch? (And on the flip side, if Noel has been anti-people for twenty-five years, this was a really quick turnaround. For some reason, it just didn’t feel like it should be that long to me, maybe because Noel references it several times like it was a lot more recent.)
That being said, I enjoyed Josh and Noel’s shared love of books, their time spent together, both getting to know one another and to quietly read. This is short and sweet, but it did feel like these two understood one another and wanted the same things.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
That being said, I enjoyed Josh and Noel’s shared love of books, their time spent together, both getting to know one another and to quietly read. This is short and sweet, but it did feel like these two understood one another and wanted the same things.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
December 14, 2023
I love the grumpy/sunshine trope, and this novella was so cute! Noel lost his first love years ago and never thought he would find love again. He has lived a pretty solitude life since than, and has become a bit of a grump. Joshua on the other hand is such a happy guy. He is instantly attracted to Noel but feels like he can’t get past his grumpy exterior. Of course match maker Gabe has the perfect way to get these two together. The only thing about this story I would change, is I would have loved to them off the ship together.
I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.
I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.
December 8, 2023
GABE DOES IT AGAIN!
This is the second book of the series aboard a cruise ship for the Christmas holidays.
This time Gabe- waiter and matchmaker extraordinaire with the help of Theo a blonde bartender brings together a retired professor Noel Woodberry and a director of nursing for an assisted living facility Josh Nolan- who have so much interests in common!
A sweet mature romance aboard a cruise ship which could lead to so much more for a heart broken widower and a sweet, caring nurse…
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest review.
This is the second book of the series aboard a cruise ship for the Christmas holidays.
This time Gabe- waiter and matchmaker extraordinaire with the help of Theo a blonde bartender brings together a retired professor Noel Woodberry and a director of nursing for an assisted living facility Josh Nolan- who have so much interests in common!
A sweet mature romance aboard a cruise ship which could lead to so much more for a heart broken widower and a sweet, caring nurse…
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest review.
October 29, 2023
Sweet Christmas themed read once again set on a cruise ship with Gabe the barman on hand to lend a helping hand. Despite their age difference, Noel and Josh are so well suited. I loved that they were always to be found with their Kindle in hand ready to cwtch up and read together. Why did I not find myself someone like this? A great way to while away an afternoon in readiness for the Christmas season.
December 6, 2023
Another short story in the Seasons of love series. It won’t take you long to read. I liked Josh and Noel. It felt a little contrived in places but there is only so much you can say in 10k words. I have a feeling Gabe, from the ship, is going to be a recurring character here. It has a bit of the grump and the sunshine vibe to it as well as an age gap, even though both men are over 40. It is worth a read.
December 13, 2023
Noel has lost so much in his life but now it’s time to move on at least his sister thinks so and while on the cruise he starts to feel the same way. Josh isn’t looking for love but after running into Noel a couple of times there’s just something about the man that calls to him and with the help of a certain bartender they get the chance to get to know one another. They both love reading and end up spending their Christmas together, their ending was super sweet. 😀❤️
January 8, 2024
This is another short and sweet holiday treat! Noel is a long timed widower turned recluse. His sister has dragged him on a Christmas cruise to encourage him to reconnect with the world around him. Thanks to a little Christmas magic and a perceptive bartender he meets Josh and his eyes are opened to the possibility of romance again. I liked that this story stops short of instant love and focuses on the start of a beautiful romance.
October 30, 2023
This was probably my favourite of the 4 books in this series but again I would classify them as Christmas themed. Yes, there is a Christmas cruise that they are on but that is really the only Christmas detail. This one is a short fun read about two older men meeting and falling in love whilst on said cruise.
November 25, 2023
Grumpy/sunshine, older men on a cruise.
Another short and sweet, cruise-based short story. Once again Gabe the waiter has a pivotal role in bringing the two MCs together. I loved you this story focused on older man, where Noel is 63 and Josh is 49, and a mutual love of books seals the deal for them!
Another short and sweet, cruise-based short story. Once again Gabe the waiter has a pivotal role in bringing the two MCs together. I loved you this story focused on older man, where Noel is 63 and Josh is 49, and a mutual love of books seals the deal for them!
November 27, 2023
Another holiday treat with characters you instantly like and a happy ending. A cruise, Christmas, a new romance in the air and no end of the happiness in sight, I’d say this is a gift to give yourself. No big drama in this book, more like a meet up, a connection and a Merry Christmas for Noel and Josh. Fun for the holidays. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
December 3, 2023
This was a sweet holiday romance set aboard a cruise ship. Despite their age difference, Noel and Josh are so well suited.
Noel and Josh worked well together and I appreciated their shard interest in reading and always having their Kindles at hand.
This one is a short fun read about two older men meeting and falling in love whilst on said cruise.
Noel and Josh worked well together and I appreciated their shard interest in reading and always having their Kindles at hand.
This one is a short fun read about two older men meeting and falling in love whilst on said cruise.
December 7, 2023
This is the second book in this series of holiday matchmaker novellas. It was a sweet story about Noel, a grumpy older man still dealing with terrible loss. And Joshua, a younger man on a cruise with his best friends. These two are sweet together, it was nice to see Noel start to live again in this short story.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 7, 2023
Cute, short story about two strangers who meet on a cruise. Gabe is always there to help make the match. Noel is a retired English professor who lost his partner years ago. He joins his sister and brother-in-law on a cruise at Christmas. He meets Josh, and while he is reluctant at first, begins spending more time with him and they realize they have a lot in common.
December 7, 2023
The problem with this series is that the books are so short that everything has to be insta-love.
Noel is taken on a cruise by his sister and brother-in-law. He lost his partner some time ago but wasn't ready to date again.
Josh, is there with his friends and Gabe the waiter plays his part to get the 2 of them together. A HEA for all.
Noel is taken on a cruise by his sister and brother-in-law. He lost his partner some time ago but wasn't ready to date again.
Josh, is there with his friends and Gabe the waiter plays his part to get the 2 of them together. A HEA for all.
December 8, 2023
Noel and Joshua are going on the same cruise with other friends and family. Their meet cute is actually prefaced by them having a couple of sly glances toward each other. Noel has some baggage but Joshua is the perfect person to get him past it. A short and sweet romance. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
December 9, 2023
Noel and Josh ❤️
3.5 Stars ⭐️
This is my second read in this series of short stories and I adored this one. Both character were very likable and their story was pretty endearing, it was all about love when it's least expected. I'd recommend if you're looking for a short and very sweet read.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
3.5 Stars ⭐️
This is my second read in this series of short stories and I adored this one. Both character were very likable and their story was pretty endearing, it was all about love when it's least expected. I'd recommend if you're looking for a short and very sweet read.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
December 9, 2023
What could be better than a grumpy/sunshine, age gap romance between a retired English professor and an avid reader who meet on a cruise? For this romance fan, nothing much. Noel and Joshua, aided by the matchmaking magic of Gabe the bartender make a wonderful couple. I''m enjoying this series immensely.
November 20, 2023
This is my 2nd book by this author, and the 2nd in the series. It's another sweet holiday short story about finding love on a cruise ship. As with book 1, I felt there wasn't enough of Gabriel matchmaking, but it was cute.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
November 30, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. I found it funny how the first impression he gave off was of a grouchy older man but he liked him anyway. It’s cute how they bond over wanting to be alone to read. This is definitely a great matchmaking waiter.
December 5, 2023
I am enjoying this series so much. The perfect short holiday reads to fit into a busy schedule. Noel and Josh are so sweet and adorable. I love the fact that they are older too. I’m so glad I requested this series from GRR. I’m definitely adding them to my annual holiday reads list.
December 5, 2023
This was a short quick read! This is book two and I really enjoyed reading Noah and Joshua's story! Cute, romantic, and engaging! I read an advanced copy of this story and this is my unbiased review!
December 6, 2023
This is a nice short story of two mature men, Noel and Josh, who meet and fall in love whilst on a Christmas cruise.
With a little help from the resident cupid, Gabriel.
I received this book from GRR.
This is my honest review
With a little help from the resident cupid, Gabriel.
I received this book from GRR.
This is my honest review
December 6, 2023
My favorite thing about this book is the age of the guys involved. It's so nice to read about an older couple and not just 20-year-olds getting on cruise. I thought this one was another sweet, short story. I'm really enjoying this series and recommend just in time for the holidays.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews