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When the Christmas Heart Glows
There are two things Ben Schumacher can happily live sex and Christmas.
All Ben wants for Christmas is to be left alone (and maybe to snuggle by a fireplace with a cute guy). He is sick of the holiday season with its real Christmas trees, whimsical traditions, and overall cheer.
The Heart
Troubled by Ben's lack of Christmas cheer, a mysterious (and frankly creepy) old man gifts him with a glass heart that glows when the beholder is full of Christmas spirit. Its light extinguishes as it falls into Ben's hand. He's soon offered a challenge to make the heart glow before Christmas. A challenge he ignores. He has better things to do than save Christmas. Like snuggling with a cute prince.
The Prince
As the Christmas season begins, he's dragged to the quaint county of Mistelvia to visit his cousin, Julianna, who just happened to marry to a prince. On his first night at the palace, he run into Nikolas, a scruffy book nerd and Julianna's brother-in-law. Last Christmas, the two bonded at Julianna's wedding and became friends. Now both single, it seems like Ben will get his wish to snuggle with a cute guy; however, merry misfortunes throw a wrench into his plans as Christmas is attacked by a mysterious spirit known as Grumpus. And the only way to stop this malevolent force of Christmas mayhem is for Ben spread a little holiday cheer. Because Grumpus only goes when the Christmas Heart glows.
All Ben wants for Christmas is to be left alone (and maybe to snuggle by a fireplace with a cute guy). He is sick of the holiday season with its real Christmas trees, whimsical traditions, and overall cheer.
The Heart
Troubled by Ben's lack of Christmas cheer, a mysterious (and frankly creepy) old man gifts him with a glass heart that glows when the beholder is full of Christmas spirit. Its light extinguishes as it falls into Ben's hand. He's soon offered a challenge to make the heart glow before Christmas. A challenge he ignores. He has better things to do than save Christmas. Like snuggling with a cute prince.
The Prince
As the Christmas season begins, he's dragged to the quaint county of Mistelvia to visit his cousin, Julianna, who just happened to marry to a prince. On his first night at the palace, he run into Nikolas, a scruffy book nerd and Julianna's brother-in-law. Last Christmas, the two bonded at Julianna's wedding and became friends. Now both single, it seems like Ben will get his wish to snuggle with a cute guy; however, merry misfortunes throw a wrench into his plans as Christmas is attacked by a mysterious spirit known as Grumpus. And the only way to stop this malevolent force of Christmas mayhem is for Ben spread a little holiday cheer. Because Grumpus only goes when the Christmas Heart glows.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 19, 2025
What a lovely story, I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was very sweet and funny, I really loved reading Ben's voice and I appreciated how messy and real he was. The characters were great and I was very happy to see the fat and asexual representation!
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September 25, 2025Ben Schumacher from When the Christmas Heart Glows is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
December 2, 2025
This story is laugh-out-loud funny and heartwarmingly sweet! I will need to reread it every December now as part of my holiday tradition. The representation of asexuality, ADHD, fat bodies, and mental health struggles are so well done and add such deep layers to a story that could have just been a very silly, fun read. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews