Mostly Ghostly

Hotblooded Holidays #12

by Alex Winters

This Halloween, not every ghost wearing a thin white sheet is scary. In fact, some of them are downright… sexy!

Brent Helms has just been evicted from his apartment. Forget that he’d been writing his roommate rent checks every month, the big schmuck had been cashing them all instead. Just before bailing on him, that is. Now Brent needs a place to stay and when he gets an offer too good to refuse, from one of the dishwashers at work, no less, Brent can hardly say no, can he? Particularly when the dishwasher in question looks so damn good, hot, sweaty, and steamy from another shift in the dish pit!

Pyke Carlson doesn’t hesitate to invite his coworker Brent to rent out his spare room, though he does pause before telling him about his somewhat questionable side hustle. The one where he makes custom jerkoff videos for high-paying online clients. But when it turns out Brent is as curious as he is handy with a camera, Pyke makes him a free rent in exchange for recording him instead. Now that the cat is out of the bag, Brent wants to do more than just watch Pyke make his Halloween-themed videos; he wants to join in the fun. As the new roomies inch toward a cautious relationship, will their growing affection trick them into falling for each other too fast? Or will their insta-lust be the treat that turns into love at first… fright?

PUBLISHER Contemporary Erotic M/M Romance. First Time Gay, Holiday Romance. 22,400 words. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

Genres: Novella

89 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2024

About the author

Alex Winters is an Amazon bestselling romance author with a passion for holiday music, junk food, cheesy 80s horror movies and Epcot. His series feature a variety of romantic pairings (M/F, M/M, F/F AND MMF) and include Campus Crush (Evernight), Slightly Sinful (Siren Publishing), Good Sports (Ninestar Press), High-Stakes Heroines (JMS Books) and more. His stories tend to be sizzling and sweet, with a whole lot of laughs – and spice – along the way!

Reviews

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining short insta love with strong characters in Brent and Pyke. The author brings the heat in this interesting story, moves it quickly and smoothly and delivers another terrific read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Hotblooded Holidays series. Each book is a standalone read. This is the story of Brent Helms and Pyke Carlson. Brent and Pyke work at the same restaurant. Brent is a server and Pyke is a dishwasher. While at work, Brent learns that he is being evicted. He was naïve and trust his roommate to actually pay the rent. Instead he took off with the money. Brent has 24 hours to find a new place to live. Since Pyke was out back on a break, he hears the conversation and offers Brent to come live in his spare bedroom if he wants. With little or no choice, Brent moves in. The story shows how the two of them get to know each other. And when Brent learns of Pyke's side gig, he offers to help with the recording. This triggers the urge to explore for Brent and Pyke is happy to help him on his journey. This is their story. This is a short, well written book that is easy to read. I loved watching how their relationship grows. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Themes for the Holiday ? . . .

Pyke Carlson and Brent Helms work at the same restaurant, one as a dishwasher and the other a server. When Brent’s roommate cashes the rent checks instead of applying them to Brent’s share of the rent, he disappears and leaves Brent to face eviction. He already works a double shift and has little time to find an alternate place to live. Fortunately, his co-worker Pyke offers him his spare room after first warning him that he makes sexy videos for special customers who are willing to pay the price. Eventually learning that Brent is experienced with this kind of video camera, Pyke offers him free rent if he wants to be the one recording Pyke so he can explore different angles, lighting, and that sort of thing. How will this new “partnership” affect their growing feelings for each other?

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book twelve in the Hotblooded Holidays series and it was a super erotically charged little novella. It read exactly like what you’d expect from two somewhat inexperienced young twenty-somethings—shy and hesitant to come right out and ask for what they wanted for fear of being rejected but I have to say, they gained confidence quickly and boy did it get hot! However, unlike most guys their age, our MMCs were emotional and easily touched and, realistic or not, I LOVED it!! I’m a sucker for vulnerability in a guy, what can I say?

Looks like I’ve found a new one to add to my favorite short re-reads list. 5 Stars!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A HOT 🥵 SEXUAL AWAKENING ROOMMATE TO LOVERS NOVEL!💕

I have read all the Hot Blooded Holiday novels and all I can say this Halloween is “Trick or Treat “ with the sexual awakening aspect being depicted so brazenly boo-tiful!

If you like hot, sweaty men devouring each other from head to toe then get ready for Brent Helms and Pyke Carlson who both work at the same restaurant but only really get to know each other when Brent gets duped by his roommate in rent and moves in with Pyke…

Pyke has a side hustle which leads these two lonely guys to discover each other behind closed doors where it’s safe to be themselves and play out Brent’s wildest fantasies involving two lust filled men…

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So hot
Brent Found out that he was being evicted due to not paying his rent The thing is Brent has been paying his rent to his roommate, and now said roommate has done a runner with his money. Thankfully, a colleague at work Pyke offered him his spare room. Then things started to change as Brent found out what Pyke’s Side hustle was. It was time for Brent to be honest about who he was.
This is a really quick read that is intense, hot, passionate, but for me, it was just the fact that Brent could finally be honest about who he was. Brent and Pyke are so good for one another. A really enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was intriguingly fun! Brent is scammed by his room mate and as a result is left homeless. A co-worker, Pyke invites him to rent out a spare room in his apartment. Pyke, has a side hustle which sparks Brent's curiosity and interest. Brent, asking to participate takes being a roomie to the next level. Interesting dynamics, lotsa fun and takes being room mates to the next level. Much too short, fun characters. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

These holidays are becoming more hotblooded by the book! This one is super-sweet and super-super-hot! It is more a case of insta-lust than insta-love but I have a feeling that if we were to be given an epilogue to read there would be a lot of love featuring in it and a wonderful future ahead for our two lovers!

It all begins when Brent gets some bad news. He has been duped by the person he was renting a room from. Badly duped. The rent he was giving the other person, I don't think they can really be considered a friend, was going straight into a pocket and nowhere near the landlord. Now Brent has nowhere to live.

Pyke is in the back alley, behind the restaurant he and Brent work in, and overhears the conversation. Taking pity on the other man, and having nothing to lose, he offers Brent a room at a very cheap rent. After all Pyke doesn't need the money, the house was paid for by his father. But he wants to help and doesn't want Brent to feel judged, taken advantage of or felt sorry for.

They barely know one another yet they work in the same place so Brent says yes. A brunch on their first day as roommates has them sharing truths. Brent's is that he dropped out of college in the first semester because of rumours spread by his then girlfriend about his interest in men. Pyke is the first person Brent has ever told. In return Pyke doesn't so much tell as show Brent his truth. The videos he films. Undercover. Themed for the seasons, to titillate the viewer. Pyke loves his side hustle but Brent is the first to see him in action, live, and to do the filming.

Of course one thing leads to another, slowly but still within hours and it is sweet, cautious, gentle, adorable. I thought my heart would burst! Brent and Pyke are fantastic, realistic characters. Their story is short and utterly wonderful to read. Hot and spicy as well as incredibly heart-warming, this is another hot-blooded holiday to add to the collection and to keep coming back to whatever the time of year!

Merged review:

These holidays are becoming more hot blooded by the book! This one is super-sweet and super-super-hot! It is more a case of insta-lust than insta-love but I have a feeling that if we were to be given an epilogue to read there would be a lot of love featuring in it and a wonderful future ahead for our two lovers!

It all begins when Brent gets some bad news. He has been duped by the person he was renting a room from. Badly duped. The rent he was giving the other person, I don't think they can really be considered a friend, was going straight into a pocket and nowhere near the landlord. Now Brent has nowhere to live.

Pyke is in the back alley, behind the restaurant he and Brent work in, and overhears the conversation. Taking pity on the other man, and having nothing to lose, he offers Brent a room at a very cheap rent. After all Pyke doesn't need the money, the house was paid for by his father. But he wants to help and doesn't want Brent to feel judged, taken advantage of or felt sorry for.

They barely know one another yet they work in the same place so Brent says yes. A brunch on their first day as roommates has them sharing truths. Brent's is that he dropped out of college in the first semester because of rumours spread by his then girlfriend about his interest in men. Pyke is the first person Brent has ever told. In return Pyke doesn't so much tell as show Brent his truth. The videos he films. Undercover. Themed for the seasons, to titillate the viewer. Pyke loves his side hustle but Brent is the first to see him in action, live, and to do the filming.

Of course one thing leads to another, slowly but still within hours and it is sweet, cautious, gentle, adorable. I thought my heart would burst! Brent and Pyke are fantastic, realistic characters. Their story is short and utterly wonderful to read. Hot and spicy as well as incredibly heart-warming, this is another hot-blooded holiday to add to the collection and to keep coming back to whatever the time of year!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable short fun and steamy novella about Pyke and Brent who become housemates after Brent gets evicted because of his flatmate and how when Pyke tells him about his side hustle Brent decides to help him by becoming the cameraman for Pyke’s holiday videos for getting a deal with his rent but after recording the first one Brent opens up to Pyke and things get very steamy between them and they decide to give things a go and give a relationship a try.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Pyke hears Brent has no where to live, he offers him a room at his place. It becomes rent free if he agrees to film Pyke for his cam boy show. This, is a short, lust novella of two guys finding their personal rewards filming titillating holiday happiness. I received a copy of this novella through Booksprout and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet and steamy story about two guys who become roommates and slowly discover each other. It was more steam and sweetness than actual plot, but a nice relaxing read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween Side Hustle

When Brett needs a new place to live, his co-worker Pyke offers him a room. This short and slightly erotic story was sweet in how these two form a bond, neither of them expected. It was a fun read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brent & Pyke: Book 12 of Hotblooded Holidays: MM/ roommates/ Halloween/ Spicy quick read: Standalone. Alex Winters did a great job with this addition to the Hotblooded Holidays series. Spicy quickie with a great storyline.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another cute yet spicy story. While it is short, it was still entertaining and interesting to read.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Brent moves in with his new roomie, Pyke, he is curious about the recording equipment and odd set up in the den. Turns out Pyke has a side gig making “holiday videos” for his customers. When Brent volunteers to do the filming while Pyke has his steamy times under the ghost sheet, a whole new world opens up to Brent as he gets to explore his new-found interest in men with his very willing roommate. Cute exploration story of two young guys, one experienced, one not, learning more about themselves and each other.

Bold, self-assured Pyke is very attracted to relatively innocent Brent. Brent is curious, very open to try new things, and Pyke steps up with an offer of a job to help filming in exchange for helping Brent explore this new side of himself. There is plenty of hot action, good communication (finally two guys who know how to talk to each other,) and lots of time and opportunity to explore these new feelings and what it might mean for the future.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.re and develop feeling, and a commitment at the end.

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly Ghostly is a short, sweet, and sensual bit of Halloween fun that is definitely a treat. The story starts off where Brent is tricked by his shady roommate, who cashes his rent checks but doesn't pay the rent, leaving Brent about to be evicted. Brent works in a low paying job and doesn’t have somewhere to go, so his co-worker at a restaurant offers to let Brent rent a room from him. Pyke is a nice guy with an interesting side hobby making sexy videos that he shares. Brent offers to be his camera man and that changes the dynamic of their relationship. They discover growing feelings for each other, and soon embark on a new “partnership.” This story about instalust and sexual awakening was beautifully written. It was an emotional story about two lonely guys who eventually have a steamy and intense relationship, and was enjoyable to read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a fascinating depiction of a young man's sexual fantasy service and how his new roommate helps him with it. It is also a sweet love story between two lonely men. Pyke is a dishwasher at the same restaurant where Brent is a server. They both have sad and slightly abusive backstories. Their relationship quickly becomes more than sex, and it is nice to see men who are not blessed with money or fancy jobs find their happiness. I love their unique method of connecting and loving each other as they are.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Polli.p · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet and sexy read with Winter's usual honest insights into ordinary people and their first times.

Needing somewhere to stay Brent accepts Pyke's offer of a room, only to discover Pyke has a lucrative side hustle. Becoming the cameraman for this hustle leads to Brent confronting his own sexuality and falling for Pyke along the way.

This is a cute and hot bit of Halloween fun in more ways than one.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely short story about someone in need who gets the help he needs from a co-worker. Brent becomes unhoused because of a shady roommate and needs a place to stay. He works at a restaurant and when Pyke, a dishwasher at the restaurant, offers him a spare room they go from coworkers to friends to a whole lot more. Their relationship turns out to be more than a convenience with benefits relationships which is neat.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon Janssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mostly Ghostly" is a great quick read by Alex Winters. It is a fun and steamy short story that you will quickly devour. It may be a short book but it has the impact of a longer book. You won't want to miss this fun and steamy insta-love story.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[stardragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brent has been evicted from his apartment because of a thieving roommate. He usually works double shifts at a restaurant and doesn’t know what he is going to do. Enter Pyke a dishwasher at the same restaurant who has a spare room for him to crash in. They become friends as both are lonely. The storyline is cute and fun to read as they become acquainted with each other.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

What starts out as bad news, turns into something new and different for Brent. Liked how this all began so innocently only to lead to some much more rather quickly. Each of them are open to trying and exploring a bit of the unknown and the friendship that sparks between them.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Peering.
Right back.
At him…'

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun read. I loved both Brent and Pyke. They had great chemistry and I liked how they were able to discuss things- no assumptions or unnecessary drama. I liked how open Brent was, and of course I loved him filming Pyke. Not as Halloweeny as I thought it would be, but that was fine. 4 stars

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. A steamy story where being evicted gives Brent everything he wanted when Pyke offers his spare room. They soon move onto a closer relationship after Brent helps Pyke with his side project.

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book to read. I enjoyed and I'm going to check out more books from this author. I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great, short, sweet story with a lot of heat. These two were so cute together and I really enjoyed watching them both take a chance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.