I'll be Boned for Christmas

Collier's Creek Christmas #1

by Katherine McIntyre

Nothing like getting caught streaking to bring people together for the holidays…

Jordan
I’ve got a rep in town for causing trouble, and it’s well-earned. But when Nick and I get caught streaking after the tree lighting ceremony, we’re in for a messload of community service to get the town ready for the Collier’s Creek Christmas Bash. Except I’ve been craving to be taken more seriously, and Nick seems to be the only person in town who does.

Nick
After Jordan and I get in trouble, one joke leads to slipping between the sheets—or at least, the stalls—and suddenly we’re hooking up on the regular. It’s everything I’d told myself I didn’t want from my straight best friend, and I’m falling too hard and too fast. Yet my sister’s upcoming wedding is the reminder that I’m not just looking for a plus one there…but for keeps, and Jordan and I are just temporary. No matter how badly I want him to be mine.

Celebrate the holidays with the men of Collier’s Creek, where magic fills the air and irresistible romances are the highlight of the festive season. Six low-angst romances, each filled with heartwarming moments and swoon-worthy romance.

Genres: Christmas, Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Queer

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2024

About the author

Geeky Queer Romance.

Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

Reviews

[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆
Such a fun book! Amazing main characters! And a very Very cute friends-to-lovers romance 😊.

Jordan and Nick (aka Rogue) were great, just lovely - individually and together. I connected with Jordan instantly because I'm very silly for my age and so most people don't take me seriously. He just likes to have fun, even if it means it'll get him (and his buddies) into trouble. What a rascall 🤭.
Nick... 😌 aah Nick, he's such a sweetheart, so kind and so patient.
Also we have great character building moments for both of them, which I think it's an important detail.

》Jordan: "After spending time with the fam, I’d needed to get out and blow off steam, but half of my siblings would consider this childish now. Maybe something was wrong with me, but I figured if I could pay my bills and hold down a steady job, I could still chase thrills. What was life if I couldn’t squeeze every drop of joy from it?"《 YES! Jordan, yes... ❤️

Thank you, Katherine McIntyre for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Socials | BookBub | StoryGraph | Reviews On Goodreads

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute best friends to lovers, lots of sexy scenes, a fab addition to this shared world (with the usual caveat that shared worlds mean characters I don't remember, or haven't met yet)

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. I thought it was a bit predictable and somewhat repetitive. It was low angst and I did like Nick and Jordan.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author for me, and I liked it a lot. Another friends to lovers trope at Christmas, but Jordan's newfound appreciation for Nick seemed to spring from a long suppressed feeling that had always been there. These guys were fun to read, and I'm going to read more from this author.

[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄 I'll Be Boned For Christmas by Katherine McIntyre 🎁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

📚 🎄 Multi-Author Collier's Creek Christmas Series (A Spinoff from Multi-Author Collier's Creek Series)
⬆️ Ebook ARC

😏 Adult MM Contemporary Small Town Romance
📖 Sweet & Captivating Short Story
🔀 Dual First-Person POV
🎄 Twinkling Lights ✨ & ❄️ Swoony Skies 🌨
🎄✨️ Festive Season & Where Magic Fills The Air!! ✨️❄️
🌄 Bisexual Awakening
😜 Country Boys In A Lot Of Shenanigans & Feelings & ...Boning 🌋
🥰 Best Friends to Lovers
😍💥 Loner Falls First... Fast & Hard
😏 Artsy Tattooed & Smitten Best Friend
🥵 Shameless Sinful Bad Boy Mechanic
🥵 Insta-Lust & Fast-Burn (... hot damn) 🥵🥵🥵
🤤 Coveralls & Oil Smudge Marks 🚙👀🥵
🥵 Spicy: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
🤣 Hilarious moments

MC's:
🔧🪛🔩👉 Jordan Ellis aka J (he/him): 25yo, dark brown hair that’s usually a bit messy, bright blue eyes, and golden skin.
In Nick's words, Jordan is "nuclear-grade hot."
He has a carefree, sunny vibe, with a hint of a smirk on his full lips, like he’s always up to something.😏

🚙Jordan is known for his devil-may-care attitude and is a natural partner-in-crime with Nick, who’s been by his side since they were kids.

🚙 A car mechanic by trade.

🚙 Since his breakup with Leah, he’s joked about being in a “Sahara-level drought.” But unexpectedly, after the last mess he and Nick got into, he’s found himself noticing things about Nick he hadn’t before.
Nick was, well… stunning... And maybe, just maybe, Jordan isn’t as straight as he thought.🤔

🖼🎨💻🌊👉 Nick Levine aka Rogue (he/him): 25yo, is tall and lean with long honey-colored hair and hazel eyes that sometimes turn greenish.
His skin is a canvas of intricate tattoos, mixing Norse and oceanic themes, reflecting his dream of seeing the sea.

💻 A remote graphic designer.
Nick now lives alone in the house where he grew up, as his parents and sister have moved to a town near Collier's Creek. He feels a bit lonely but loves his quiet hometown, where his playful side comes out with his best friend, Jordan... and he really needs that.
Although Nick may look like trouble, it’s actually Jordan who comes up with the wild ideas, and Nick always goes along, secretly harboring a crushing on him since their teens.

💻 After a tough breakup a year ago, Nick’s cautious but hopeful.
Now, he’s found himself in a situation with Jordan he can’t turn back from, wanting more with him... Even if he fears risking his heart and friendship.

⚠️ Very Low Angst
👉 No Cheating Happens
⚠️ Alcohol Consumption
👉 Mutual Yearning For A Family Of Their Own
👏 Solid Character Development
👉 Can Be Read As A Standalone
😍 Love The Ending
😍 HEA

Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

🎄🥰👉 An absolutely captivating Christmas story!
It's packed with mischievous boys, unforgettable firsts, steamy scenes, and heartfelt moments.
😍 The love between them is both sweet and intense, beautiful and exciting to read.
🤌 This is exactly the kind of story I needed. Plus, I think it's the first holiday book I've read that doesn’t include typical Christmas food scenes.
For me, those details can feel boring and unnecessary, since they don’t really add much to the story. So, perfectly done! 👏

✨️👉 It all started with a group of friends: Jordan, Hal, Chad, Nick, and Andy, who had a long-standing tradition of drinking together at the town's annual tree lighting ceremony, a tradition they began back in high school.
Following that, they found themselves bored with nothing to do, which often led to trouble...
🌨🥶🤭 In conclusion, Jordan and Rogue got caught streaking by Sheriff Morgan, which wasn’t exactly part of their plan, while the others managed to escape.

🎄 As a consequence, they’re assigned mandatory community service for the Collier’s Creek Christmas Bash.
😯😳 After being dismissed by Sheriff Morgan, Jordan and Nick went to the local diner to grab a bite and "blow off" some steam 😏. They vented and eventually realized they were both single... Their conversation soon took an unexpected turn, leading to new challenges, curiosities, and memorable experiences that would stay etched in their minds.

👌 I admired Jordan for going after what he wanted without second-guessing himself, and Nick was the perfect match, and when they're together, the chemistry is off the charts. 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

🎄👉 Jordan and Rogue (Nick) both appear originally All The Wrong Pages by Kat from the Collier's Creek Series the Multi-Author Main Series that Collier's Creek Christmas Series Spins Offs from.

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

■ "Nick: Jordan snorted. “Dunno, seems to me Collier’s Creek’s like a queer oasis in Wyoming.”"

😅 ■ "Nick: Jordan snorted. “No. You’re probably getting dicked down left and right. Long hair for tugging and all that ink? It’s like gay boy crack.”
A sharp laugh escaped me. “Dammit, J. You’re straight. What do you know about what gay boys want?”
He shrugged. “Hot is hot.”
I blinked and then blinked again. Those words couldn’t possibly have come out of Jordan Ellis’s mouth. Heat traveled through my body, settling on my cheeks. My skin danced with electricity like I neared a live wire.
Jordan had just called me hot. Was I still drunk?" 😳🤯

■ "Jordan: “So clearly you’re fine with kissing a guy too,” Rogue said, his voice a little throaty and a lot sexy.
I flashed him a grin. “More than. I’m curious about everything. Once you pop, you can’t stop.”
“Did you just compare your sexuality to a Pringles can?” he asked and shook his head. “Never mind. That doesn’t surprise me.”" 🍟🤣🤣

■ "Jordan: I looked up at last, and Mom stood with her arms crossed, a soft smile on her lips.
“I’d say you belong with us, but I feel like you’d give me sass back,” Mom said. “Just understand what you’re going through is normal. Growing pains, sweetheart. Finding where you belong or who you belong with isn’t easy. And while you might change a little in the process, I believe the core of you will remain the same. You’re still always going to be carefree, and that’s a good thing. There’s far too much seriousness in the family. We need people who tip the scales.” 💞🥰

❄️⛸️ ■ "Jordan: Tonight, though, with Rogue’s hand in mine as we skated forward, something clicked into place I’d been missing. I didn’t want to change, but having a partner in crime, someone to share an adventure with?
Yeah, I longed for that in a fierce way.
Where we could shuffle across an icy lake at night together, trusting if one of us fell, the other would be there to yank them up. My chest ached with the realization." 🌌

❤🧲 ■ "Jordan: I fought to lose myself in him. We were two magnets drawn together time and again, and I couldn’t resist this pull."

■ "Nick: Little had I known it’d be the guy I’d skinned knees with as a kid. The one I’d broken curfew with as a teen. The man I’d gotten rip-roaring drunk with as an adult. The one who’d always had a little piece of my heart." ❤

👍I'm definitely going to read this again

💯 I'm looking forward to reading the books in this Series

😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!

I received this book for free from GRR and am voluntarily leaving this review.

BookBub Review
StoryGraph Review
Reviews On Goodreads
My Socials

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky small towns with many gay couples form a rich tapestry for many Christmas romance stories, and Katherine McIntyre delivers with this tale about Collier’s Creek.

In this installment in a series, a character known for his attempts at romance with women, finds himself questioning whether a childhood friend might be willing to take him more seriously. That childhood friend is part of a group of friends who elect to engage in streaking after the town’s festive Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.

When the two main characters of the group get caught by the Sheriff sans winter attire, their punishment is to volunteer for the sparse setup crew. The forced proximity, and demonstration of loyalty to each other, leads to experimentation and awareness of how they could be together. But alas, the angst is the past ‘bad boy’ reputation of Jordan who had only dated women before, and Nick, his childhood friend’s mindful conflict that they can’t be a couple, although both are thinking through to that potential end.

Katherine McIntyre gives our bad boy Jordan words that enforce his growing attraction to Nick, actions that include skating without skates at a popular frozen pond, and rich metaphors enforced by the calling on Nick to see the beauty of the western night sky.

Their odyssey includes a growing awareness of accepting family and community connections, and a confrontation with a past love interest provides impetus for their statement of being together.

This is a great read, a fun trip to Collier’s Creek and a rich collection of its people.

[Colleen (colleenreads40) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll Be Boned for Christmas is Katherine McIntyre’s contribution to the Collier’s Creek Christmas collection. This collection is a multi-author collaboration of Christmas stories taking place in the small town of Collier’s Creek. The series is a spin-off of the Collier’s Creek collaboration, but books from either series can be read as complete standalones. Here’s what you can expect from Jordan and Nick:

🎁 MM contemporary, small town romance
🎁 164-page novella
🎁 First person dual point of view
🎁 Guaranteed happily ever after
🎁 Low angst
🎁 Gay and bisexual representation
🎁 Best friends to lovers
🎁 Insta-love and fast-burn
🎁 Romantic comedy

As someone that hasn’t had the opportunity to read the original Collier’s Creek collaboration, I had no issue diving into I’ll Be Boned for Christmas. I’d love to go back and read Katherine’s original novel, All the Wrong Pages, as part of the first series. But these can definitely be read as standalones, so you don’t have to worry about that. This book really lived up to my expectations! It was a short read with very little angst, lots of fun heat, and certainly some romantic comedy vibes. It also had some heartfelt moments, and the insta-love aspect worked very well for the story itself. Overally, this was a fun, easy read and it’s perfect if you’re already a fan of Collier’s Creek, looking to get into the holiday spirit, or a fan of Katherine’s work.

I received an ARC from Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great friends to lovers, small town, bi-awakening book. There was no angst, and it was just the sweet story of them getting together and seeing their relationship develop. I loved all the Collier's Creek books last year, and I'm glad we get more this year!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute quick read.

Loved Jordan and Nick's connection and how it only got stronger. Also love how Jordan wasn't afraid of his sexuality or freaked out about it either.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

We're back in Collier's Creek and it's the perfect time for a best friends to lovers, bisexual awakening with a little streaking, a little community service and a whole lot of snow melting steam... reading Nick and Jordan's story was fun and funny, with goofball besties, one oblivious guy and the guy who has been crushing on him for years!

It's low angst, high steam and full of stuff you'll just shake your head at and then you add in a little holiday magic and it's chef's kiss...

I loved last year's Colliers Creek Christmas series and if they're all this swoony, steamy goodness this year, it's another multi-author series I'll have to read all of!

[Pontiki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nick and Jordan and their friends all cause a lot of mischief, and after drunkenly streaking and then getting caught by the police, the two end up doing community service for the Christmas bash.

As they joke, it leads to a hookup, as neither of them is attached, and they agree to allow Jordan to experiment with being bi.

But Nick has been ignoring his feelings for a long time, and Jordan realizes he’s looking for someone to see not just his rebellious nature, but his loyal, caring traits too.

At the Christmas bash Jordan kisses Nick in public, declaring his feelings, which Nick returns.

This book is somewhat of an anomaly in the Collier’s Creek series, it’s about immature guys who drink a lot and hook up. There are warm moments, like the ice shuffling they do together and the gift Nick gives Jordan. But overall, this wasn’t the type of book I enjoy.

I received this ARC for free, and am providing my honest review with thanks.

[Kwaj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might try this again sometime, but I am not sure. For whatever reason I found the character names very confusing and just didn't have the concentration or focus right now to figure them out, so I just jumped to the end and marked the book as done. Besides, for someone who typically reads a book in a few hours the fact that after a week I hadn't gotten any further than Chapter 3 tells me this wasn't the book for me at this time.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story but characters felt very underdeveloped

[Julie Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be Boned for Christmas by Katherine McIntyre is part of the Collier’s Creek Christmas series by various authors. It is the story of two men who have known each other since childhood and finally realize they are right for each other and find love. Jordan Ellis is known throughout the town of Collier’s Creek, Wyoming, for his pranks and never taking anything seriously. He’s now in his mid-twenties and still acts that way, always restless and seeking fun. He is an auto mechanic at Gage’s Auto and has a huge family that is always around and he has dated lots of girls but not for long. What he really seeks is someone that sees more than the town troublemaker and wants him for his real self. Nick Levine, or Rogue as his friends call him, has been friends with Jordan since they were kids. He always went along with his crazy ideas and liked being with him. His sister is getting married and has moved away which has left him in his house by himself and he is very lonely, especially since he works from home for a graphic design firm so he enjoys spending time in town with his friends. He also needs a + one for her wedding and since he likes men he has had a hard time finding someone to go with him. Then at the Collier’s Creek Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Jordan has one of his half-brained ideas and after drinking some whiskey he talks his friends into streaking in the freezing cold. Unfortunately he and Nick get caught by the sheriff and get community service for their trouble. They are to help get the town ready for the Christmas Bash by doing whatever is needed. This makes them spend even more time together and with Jordan wanting to reevaluate his game plan they end up at a bar after helping out and decide to try something new by fooling around in the bathroom. Nick wasn’t sure what was going on and didn’t know if this was going to be a one time thing but Jordan wanted more and made up a list of things he wanted to try so they had lots of very hot love scenes. All this time they were falling for each other with Jordan realizing that Nick was hot, creative, and loyal and Nick liked that Jordan was unpredictable, considerate, reliable, and always showed up. The more they were together the more they realized they were each other’s person. It took an incident the last night of the Christmas Bash for them to declare their love for each other. I enjoyed this book. Jordan was a major creator of the unexpected that often got him in trouble. As he grew older he realized he wanted to be more than his reputation. Nick always went along with Jordan because he liked him so much but didn’t think they could have a future together. He was so happy when Jordan wanted to be with him. The townspeople and their families also played a big part in their story, often being somewhat exasperated at the things they got up to, but were also supportive when they came out as boyfriends. The one thing that was off-putting to me was the feeling I had that at their ages they just needed to grow up. But I was happy that they found each other and were planning to move forward together. I recommend this book if you like Christmas stories with bi awakening, friends to lovers, men who like to play pranks, and finding love when they see each other for who they really are.

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Cheer Meter: 2/5
(Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')

1st person, past tense, dual POV
Jordan Ellis (25), mechanic at Gage's Auto
Nick 'Rogue' Levine (mid-twenties), graphic designer

I really enjoyed this book; it was quick, light, fun, and hot as hell. Bi-awakening isn't my favourite trope but I loved the way this one transpired with an off-hand comment between friends after they each learn the other has been experiencing somewhat of an *ahem* drought. Their chemistry is insane, I adore claiming-type thoughts and actions. No straight spiraling to be seen, just a calm acceptance as pieces slotted into place.

Friends-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes; I just love the depth of feelings that develop from a shared history and in knowing another person so well. That neither seems particularly surprised at how quickly they got to the ILY stage speaks to that. The conflict in not wanting to change the status quo and lose everything is incredibly relatable.

This is a pretty spicy book for its length and I was here for each steamy encounter, though it was also tempered by a lot of sweetness, Nick's incredibly thoughtful Christmas gift for J was absolute perfection. I would have preferred a little more Christmas content given the title and billing as a holiday read but I was rooting for the couple the whole way through and loved their big reveal to the town.

I hadn't realized that this was a spin-off series, and while I didn't have any real trouble getting into and enjoying the story, there feels like a lot of established characters and history exists that I didn't have all the context for, not the least of which was Jordan's huge family; the Ellis clan is extensive and with so many secondary characters they really blurred together.

I've got an ARC for the next book in the series, Meeting Mr. Christmas, as well so I guess I'll keep hanging out in Collier's Creek for the time being. I'll probably circle back and read the original six books of series in the new year since I'm deep into my holiday reading at the moment.

I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.

[Ramsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Small town
- friends to lovers
- bi-awakening
- low angst

3,5-3,75 stars, rounded up to 4

Sadly this was not quite the book for me even if I love all those tropes, especially the bi-awakening, friends to lovers. But from the first moment we meet Jordan and Nick as well as their friends I felt like I was meeting unruly teenagers and not men.

I honestly had trouble to see those two as men, mature enough for an honest, stable and functioning relationship.
Yes, they and their demeanour changed quite a bit over the span of the story but I couldn't completely forget their immature behaviour from the beginning. So that took a bit off the story for me. No idea why that is some kind of no-go for me but that's how it is. So, that is definitely a me thing, others may have absolutely no problem with this.


And yet: It's not as if the book was a bust for me, there were still things I liked and appreciated.

The fact that Jasper – often the initiator of all that mischief and 'childish acting' – started to think about his life and future, wanting to be seen as more than the troublemaker and therefore changed his ways and acted more mature was a welcomed thing.
That he took it much more relaxed and didn't freak out when he realised he may not be as straight as he always thought and that he had the right person already by his side, made me happy and I finally could believe a bit more that he was an 'adult'.
Perhaps they started to have a s3xual relationship 'on a whim' but it evolved naturally and they built a good, solid - even if very spicy - relationship that hopefully will withstand the times.

There were tender and lovely moments between those two and seeing them finally connect on another, deeper level was heart-warming and made me smile. I was happy to watch them find their other half and getting their HEA.

I liked the corny puns and found them participating in Christmassy things – even if because they had to – fun and enjoyed to read about it.

All in all I enjoyed the read and was entertained. Give it a try yourself!

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the Christmas ARCs have started!!! Here's Katherine McIntyre's "I'll Be Boned For Christmas." It's a part of the multi-author series, Collier's Creek Christmas.

["Nothing like getting caught streaking to bring people together for the holidays…

Jordan
I’ve got a rep in town for causing trouble, and it’s well-earned. But when Nick and I get caught streaking after the tree lighting ceremony, we’re in for a messload of community service to get the town ready for the Collier’s Creek Christmas Bash. Except I’ve been craving to be taken more seriously, and Nick seems to be the only person in town who does.

Nick
After Jordan and I get in trouble, one joke leads to slipping between the sheets—or at least, the stalls—and suddenly we’re hooking up on the regular. It’s everything I’d told myself I didn’t want from my straight best friend, and I’m falling too hard and too fast. Yet my sister’s upcoming wedding is the reminder that I’m not just looking for a plus one there…but for keeps, and Jordan and I are just temporary. No matter how badly I want him to be mine."]

Streaking across town in chapter one. Propositioning your best friend in chapter two. What could go wrong? What could go HEA??

When these two finally opened the door to the chemistry between them, it was pure fire. Jordan kept lamenting about how pretty Nick was, and Nick's classic-crush-on-his-straight-best-friend bloomed into full-blown, weak-kneed lust. There was basically no looking back (one bathroom stall blow job turns into two kisses and so forth, creating a festively gay Christmas countdown).

And now I have to read the rest of this series... And the OG series...

#grr #gayromancereview #arcs #arcteammember
#illbebonedforchristmas #katherinemcintyre #collierscreekchristmas #collierscreekchristmasseries #collierscreek #collierscreekseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine McIntyre delivers another delightful holiday romance set in the quirky, LGBTQ+-friendly small town of Collier’s Creek. In this installment, Jordan—a known ladies’ man with a “bad boy” past—finds himself questioning his feelings for Nick, his childhood best friend. What begins as a tentative exploration of their connection blossoms into something deeper as the story unfolds.

The plot kicks off with a streaking escapade during the town’s festive Christmas tree lighting ceremony. When Jordan and Nick are caught by the Sheriff, their punishment is community service on the understaffed holiday setup crew. This forced proximity not only reignites their bond but also pushes them to confront long-hidden feelings. Jordan’s growing attraction to Nick is portrayed with heartfelt sincerity, as his words, actions, and thoughtful gestures—including skating without skates on a frozen pond—reveal his deepening love.

Nick, meanwhile, struggles with the idea of being with Jordan, fearing the complications of Jordan’s reputation and his own reservations about their future as a couple. Yet their shared experiences—like a starry night under the Western sky—help Nick see the potential for something beautiful between them.

Family and community acceptance play pivotal roles in their journey. When an encounter with a past love interest forces Jordan to publicly stand by Nick, it becomes a turning point in their relationship, leading to a heartfelt declaration of their commitment.

You'll find...
MM small town romance
164-page novella
First person dual point of view
Guaranteed happily ever after
Low angst
Gay and bisexual representation
Best friends to lovers
Insta-love and fast-burn
Romantic comedy

This story combines humour, charm, and emotional depth, set against the backdrop of a town brimming with love and holiday spirit and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 and here's why...

I was excited to see Katherine releasing a Christmas story and that it was going to feature a trope I love, friends to lovers. Upon diving into the story though, while full of shenanigans and hijinx, it was also mainly full of lots of spicy scenes. Or moments where each mc was thinking about a future spicy moment. Which works for a lot of people, I just unfortunately am not one of them. I was hoping for there to be a bit more relationship building moments outside of the steam, but I didn't get that in the beginning.

As I kept reading I ended up enjoying it more and more because Jordan and Nick's characters started doing more than engage in steamy moments. They made wreaths for their small town, they had dinners together, they had real meaningful conversations about their life and their feelings for one another, and that's what left me enjoying this story.

For those wondering while this book has Christmas in the name, I wouldn't say this is a Christmas book. Certain events are mentioned but it's not heavily pronounced throughout the story for those who might not like 'conventional holiday stories.'

Even though I didn't enjoy it much in the beginning that is because of my personal preference. Kat's writing is fantastic as always, and her characters are terrific. I liked that these two got into mischief together and were quick to have each other's back. It made the chemistry between them leap off the page even more in those moments. Please read this story yourself, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

[Julia Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5☆

This was such a fun Christmas-y read! I really love best friends to lovers, especially childhood best friends to lovers because there's just so much history to build on. And boy did these 2 have history.
I loved Jordan and Nick together! Jordan was deemed the troublemaker of Collier's Creek and his recent actions point to that too. He gets community service together with Nick and they get to spend more time together. This translates to them starting to see the other one in a different light.

People only saw what was on the surface with Jordan, but he also didn't help the situation by always deflecting, causing mayhem and being funny. But Nick sees through that and that is what Jordan needed all along. They were both looking for the same thing and spending more time together and working together on projects just showed them that the person they needed was right there all along. Jordan's bi-awakening was very smooth and he didn't even freak out, he just took it as fact that he's not as straight as he thought he is. I also really loved Jordan's little display of jealousy and how he showed the town who he was with.

This book had a great amount of pre-Christmas activities and just gave me that feel-good energy that I needed. It was fun and I loved the banter between the MCs and I also loved the small town feel with everyone being nosy.

Definitely recommend if you want a fun Christmas novella.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick and Jordan have been friends since childhood, and partners in crime for years. When they drunkenly decide to streak outside of town with their friends on a cold snowy night in December, their luck runs out. Caught, they avoid jail, but must do community service leading up to the town’s Christmas Bash, resulting in lots more time together. Joking around one night, straight horny Jordan jokingly accepts gay guy Nick’s offer of a bj, and Jordan discovers he really likes it, and maybe he’s bi so is ready to explore other hot steamy experiences. Between time together on community service and time after exploring new things to do together, both realize on an individual basis that they are finding something that they’ve been missing and craving, but does the other one feel the same, and is there a future for them, or will it disappear after the holidays are over?

This is a really entertaining, hot, spicy bi-awakening between old friends who really “see” and “get” each other, finding a sense of being “home” together with each other that they’ve never felt before. Quirky family and friends on both sides, a town dedicated to creating Christmas spirit, discovering and re-discovering things special about their hometown and connections over the years, and a realization that what each was craving was right in front of them the whole time makes for an enjoyable read to get in the mood for the holidays.

I received an advance reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read a fantastic book
Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews, and this is me leaving my honest review.
Wow, what a fantastic read. I’ve got to say I easily fell for Jordan and Nick. These two guys are just wonderful. I absolutely adore that Jordan is this larger-than-life prankster who accepts his attraction but still remains himself, even though the town thinks he is just a player who Likes to wind people up.
Then you’ve got Nick who is openly gay and all he wants is to find one and settle down. Jordan and Nick have been friends since they were very young and it isn’t until these two lads get caught streaking and had to do community service together, that they Started to see each other in a different light. And it starts with a I was going to say dare but, it’s not a dare, but it is the start of these two hooking up. Problem being Jordan has always seen himself a straight he doesn’t have a problem with what’s happening with Nick and his new feelings , but he needs to work out if this is just hooking up or if he has found his one.
I laughed out loud. While reading this book my heart melted for these two men. they got such a strong connection. The chemistry is off the charts to the point that they struggle to keep their hands off each other when they’re in other peoples company . And the passion wooohooo it is hot hot hot! This is just a brilliant read and just what we need before Christmas. An easy five star read

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUNNY, QWERKY AND STEAMY!💕

I love Katherine McIntyre’s writing style and how she makes us as readers live inside her amazing worlds, especially Colliers Creek that is a multi author series!

Two childhood friends who always understood and supported each other by getting up to mischief together get caught streaking as adults and get sentenced to do community service at the Colliers Creek Christmas Bash!

Jordan has been straight all his life but one evening after a dry spell he sees one of his best friends in a different light…

“Want me to take care of that for you?” I teased.”

“Okay.”

Nick Levine aka Rogue has always crushed on the enigmatic charismatic Jordan Ellis and when he becomes bi curious Nick is only too happy to help Jordan scratch off his gay bucket list…

““Did you just compare your sexuality to a Pringles can?”

They are both oblivious idiots and their families know it as they always gravitated towards each other and got up to shenanigans together even during and after failed relationships…

Nick wants to settle down find his plus one for his sister’s wedding and maybe forever…

Jordan is tired of being the joke of the town and wants to be seen… Nick sees him and understands him…

The mandatory community service draws them even more closer together but what will happen when it ends?…

Will they realise this is more than just hookups and realise they are each other’s perfect person?…

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased review.

[Caroline Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a rush! This is such a fun holiday read that you will want to devour as begin to learn about Nick and Jordan. When a prank lands both men in jail, they are forced to realize that sometimes the best part of your life has been your life long partner in crime. Jordan is well known in his small town of Collier Creek and people or very little stock into who he is beyond the surface. Nick tries to stick to the basics as he feels doomed to never find his happily ever after especially since he's a little in love with his straight beat friend. But with some grace from the sheriff, the boys are on Christmas Bash Committee to bring the holidays to light all over their town. This time spent together creates one big awakening and one learning to trust and fall fully in love. As you can always expect there is desire dripping from the pages and will set you on fire. There are first times in new places and first times in general full of love of each other partnered with the thrill of a new beginning. Both men are scared to ruin what they've found but are unsure of the other. When an unexpected blast from the past forces a blast from the closet and a declaration for the ages. Best friends to lovers never fails and when you add in a small town backdrop and Christmas cheer you've got a bonafide winner on your hands. Don't miss out!

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi-author series Collier's Creek Christmas series - Season 2. It can be enjoyed as a standalone but reading this will make you want to go back and read all of Season 1. This is the story of Nick and Jordan. These two have been friends since they were young children and getting into mischief together. Jordan is a mechanic who never has any trouble finding a pretty lady to date. Nick is a graphic designer and is gay. He lives alone in his family home. The dating pool doesn't have a lot of depth in his hometown. None of the people he meets live up to his dream of being with Jordan. After a night of streaking, the two of them end up working together for community service. When at the bar together, they both complain about going through a dry spell wrt romantic interludes. When Jordan dips his toe into the same sex pool, he wants to keep trying different things. Since Nick is in love with him, he agrees to help Jordan experiment. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. I liked how it was low angst. I enjoyed watching how they moved from best friends to lovers. This is a sweet story. I really enjoyed it.

I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in teh new series of Collier's Creek but you don't need to have read any others. They are all stand alone within the series. Previous characters pop up though.

Nivk and Jordan have been friends a long time. Jordan is the town's trouble maker, but Nick really sees Jordan. Community service means the two spend a lot more time together, and a dare takes theor relationship to a new level, one Nick hoped for.

A super low angst book from Ms McIntyre? Oh hell yes! She does the darker, kinkier books awesomely, and when she sets her mind to it, the sweetest books come out just as good!

I bloody loved this!! (I think I might be saying this a lot about these books!)

I loved that, once Jordan's eyes were opened to Nick (and NICK, not Rogue as is his nickname) he sees something he never thought he'd have: a future partner in crime, his plus one, his forever person. That Nick is a man, never really passed across his radar. Jordan jumps in with two feet and goes full bore at Nick. Nick is a little hesitant, though. he never saw anything happening between them.

It's steamy, oh yes. Jordan wants to try everything with Nick, and takes every opportunity to do so.

A super sweet, cute, warm and fuzzy book, if ever there was one!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[abookwithacupoftea · Rating 4 out of 5]

After drunkenly streaking and getting caught by the police, best friends Nick and Jordan are forced to do community service for their small town Christmas bash. They end-up hooking-up, which surprises Nick who has always had more than friendly feelings for Jordan, but without hope as Jordan is straight. But Jordan is actually bi-curious and they agreed that Jordan will experiment with Nick.
Nick is lonely and is looking for a stable and meaningful relationship, Jordan has the reputation of being unreliable but has reach a point in his life where he wants to be seen and taken seriously, Nick gives him that. They both realised that maybe the other is what they need, but are afraid the other one is not on the same page. I like them both, they are sweet, loyal, and very good friends, and they complete each other. I enjoyed how their relationship evolves from best friends, to fuck-buddies to more...

This is a sweet, spicy, relatively short, low-angst holiday story. It is a very entertaining, quick read, even if sometimes the inner dialogues about Nick's loneliness and Jordan tired of not being taken seriously, are a bit repetitive. It’s part of the Collier Creek series 2 but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shortish, sweetish, humorous and steamy for sure…
In small-town Collier’s Creek, Wyoming two childhood friends Jordan and Nick get drunk and decide to go streaking out of boredom at the annual Christmas celebration of lighting the tree. Oops! They are caught by the town’s sheriff and are given community service to undo the wrongs they have done. Oh yeah! Together Jordan and Nick are assigned the job of doing any and all menial jobs needed at the Collier’s Creek Christmas Bash. What neither of the guys realize is that in their mid-twenties they are both looking for meaningful relationships. They are tired of the bachelor life especially since they have almost gone through all the eligible women and men in the small-town. Nick is gay and has had a crush on Jordan for a long time. Jordan is straight but has a very hard time settling down with any of the women in town. And of course, he has a reputation as a mess-up (not exactly the word used to describe him in the book)!
If you enjoy humor with your gay romance, you will truly like this gay-for-him Christmas story. One of the things that I liked best is that Ms. McIntyre had Jordan accept his attraction to Nick without personal recriminations or awkwardness. I couldn’t put it down. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - This is the first in the Collier's Creek Christmas series for 2024.

Ok, I have to say that this is one of my fave of these holiday novellas that I've read this year. This author is just such a solid writer and the character's voices always come through so distinctly and with such personality. This book starts off on a such a funny note that I was already laughing a loud just a few pages in, so I knew I would be in for a fun read and I was not disappointed. Childhood BFFs to lovers is just the very best trope for me - having someone who really knows them and who has been by their side through everything? And then on top of that, they discover that they like to blow one another? Doesn't really get better than that in my book. Jordan and Nick are both hot and they just get each other. Being forced to spend so much time together doing these holiday activities just makes them look more deeply at each other & they open their eyes to possibilities. While Nick has always known he is gay, Jordan has a bi awakening and I love how he is just accepting and all in. GAH! They're so cute! And their spice is spicy hot! This book gives me feels and Christmas magic all wrapped up into one. Recommend.


I received a complimentary copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[J.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll Be Boned for Christmas delivers exactly what it promises, scorching friends-to-lovers chemistry where spice reigns over cozy and owns it. The casual slide from friendship into something physical feels electric and surprisingly natural, especially thanks to Jordan’s quiet confidence in what he wants and Nick’s enthusiastic willingness to oblige. The “let’s check things off my list” setup is delightfully outlandish, but it works because the emotional foundation is already solid. Jordan and Nick already have trust and comfort but then that simmering tension finally snaps, queen, it pops off big time. With sharp banter, mutual chips on their shoulders, enticing angst and voracious, hungry consent, you get an easy, addictive read. It may not be the snuggliest holiday romance. For what it lacks in the usual living off hot coco and snow men vibes it more than makes up for in raw intimacy. Hot, fun, and exactly the kind of indulgence that knows what it’s doing and does it well. Easy 5 stars. Have your pearls handy, you’ll be clutching them and heating up in no time.

Side note, the Collier’s Creek collections have been entertaining reads. From ear to ear grins deep in my soul to flushed cheeks and that good kind of burn deep down, I’ve yet to find one I didn’t absolutely devour.