Sugar Cookies & Computer Code

by Kris Jacen

Tandy has never fit in with the others at the North Pole, whether it’s his size or love for computers. But he wants to contribute to the mission of making the world’s children happy. Every elf does. Taking time away from his baby - a new process for the Nice and Naughty lists - to do the yearly census on the Isle of Misfit Toys just doesn’t fit into his schedule.

It seemed like every time El turned around, there was another elf getting under his foot for a census. Did the elves think that toys just disappeared from the Isle? And those that arrived were accounted for before they arrived. All El wanted at this point in his life was to become a baker at the North Pole. He’d had the love of a child already, and Jack Frost did it hurt when he was no longer in his heart. Maybe if he avoided the elves this year, they’d just leave him to his cookies.

Can the magic of the holidays bring these two together? El and Tandy both need help healing, and isn’t Christmas the season of miracles?

Genres: Holiday, Romance, Fantasy, M M Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Urban Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published December 5, 2018

About the author

Kris Jacen is the Executive Editor and Formatting Director for ManLoveRomance Press and its imprints. She was invited to join the MLR staff in 2008 and has never looked back. Working with over thirty-five phenomenal authors such as Rick R. Reed, JP Bowie, James Buchanan, J.L. Langley, Ally Blue, Jet Mykles, William Maltese and has allowed her to both hone her editorial skills and indulge her inner fangirl. Kris also acts as editor, mentor and sounding-board for newcomers including Kimberly Gardner, Lex Valentine, S.J. Frost, Patric Michael and Z. Allora. With this stable of talent under her guidance, Kris is quick to tell anyone who will listen that she loves her job. And her authors are just as quick to say that they love their editor.

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Variations of the North Pole have me fascinated, and this one certainly has a few extra special twists. In this world, toys are shifters – alive when they are on their own or among themselves, they become toys when they are with their designated child. Unwanted toys return to a special island, from where they are adopted out after completing the relevant census forms. Very cool worldbuilding like this always has me fascinated, and add in two fabulous main characters, this story made for excellent entertainment.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Eden Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable story of two misfits who discover they fit with one special person. I loved this take on the Island of Misfit Toys, the North Pole, and elves. Nerdy computer elf? Adorable. Poor Teddy bear El who had the stuffing hugged out of him, and who showed all the love in his heart by baking? Also adorable. These two finding each other? As sweet as the sugar cookie in the title.

I also loved that the toys could take human form. What a novel idea!

Rejection really hurt El, but in the end, he realized that, for all the years he hurt, the one who'd rejected him hurt too, regretting the mistake. From all of this, Kris Jacen gave all concerned parties a happy ever after.

Bravo. Recommended for anyone looking for a sweet Christmas story.

[TL Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yule tide sweetness ❤️

What a cute tale, so sugary sweet and now I suddenly have a craving for peppermint 😊 I loved how they all got their HEA.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Variations of the North Pole have me fascinated, and this one certainly has a few extra special twists. In this world, toys are shifters – alive when they are on their own or among themselves, they become toys when they are with their designated child. Unwanted toys return to a special island, from where they are adopted out after completing the relevant census forms. Very cool worldbuilding like this always has me fascinated, and add in two fabulous main characters, this story made for excellent entertainment.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jumps to the end

This was a decent short but would have benefitted from being a bit longer and having a bit more time to build the connection. Taking place in the magical North Pole, the Island of Misfit Toys is not only real but has toys who were lost or discarded by kids. These toys have the chance to be adopted again when Christmas comes, but Santa's Village needs an accurate census to send those toys out. This is where the two leads come in. El is a teddy bear shifter who had his heart broken when his kid gave him away and does not want to be adopted out again. Tandy is a misfit elf, to large and clumsy to do any traditional jobs, who gets sent to take the census of the island. The two are attracted to each other pretty instantly but they keep fighting as concerns about the census pop up. Before there is really a chance for feelings to develop it al, sort of gets solved. It felt like the natural ending to the story, it was simply that it jumped to it too fast. Between that and the so-called Christmas swears (figgin was common) it wore a but thin.

[Brei-ayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Tandy is a elf that has never fit in at the North Pole. He is bigger than most elves and he loves computers. He only wishes to help with making the children of the world happy. He has been working on a new process for Nice and Naughty lists. Tandy has to put it aside to do the yearly census at the Isle of misfit toys. El is tired of the yearly census. He doesn't want to be placed with another child after the last time. El wants nothing more than to bake for the North Pole. Will the magic of the holidays bring Tandy and El together and heal them?

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sugar Cookies and Computer Code
by Kris Jacen

A cute tale of a heartbroken teddy bear and a "giant" elf that meet on the Isle of Misfit Toys. They both need to learn from each other. I'm not sure how I feel about toys shifting into human form, but if that's your thing you'll enjoy.


The narration was well done, by Mark Reece Healey. The characters were well portrayed.


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was super, super cute! It had me smiling from start to finish.

TAGS
-- Holiday/Christmas -- elf/teddy bear shifter pairing -- absolutely adorable -- loved this world -- what a great idea -- made me smile -- warmed my heart -- LOVED the MCs... Tandy & El -- wish this was longer -- would read again

[Mrs.V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story about an elf and a teddy bear who don’t feel like they belong. Tandy is the biggest elf there is and also has no talent for anything elf-y, instead he’s a genius at coding. El doesn’t want to be adopted by another child, he just wants to bake! Together they find where they both belong.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Isle of Misfit Toys was always my fave part of the holiday ‘Rudolph’ tv special, so this short story worked very well for me. Super cute and with enough baked goods (and recipes) to make me super hungry!

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit disjointed it felt like there was a missing a chapter. One minute they were saying goodbye in the morning happy and the next when they met again Tandy was angry at El for acting like a 'grizzly', they acted like El did something to upset Tandy the morning after.

[Tori Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet!

Awww.... what a sweet, enjoyable Christmas story. I loved the characters, and it made me smile. Give it a read!

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and Cute!

An interesting take on the fates of lost or forgotten toys. Very cute. I can't wait to try some of the cookie recipes, especially the breakfast cookies.

[Marge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about two misfits who find their place at the North Pole and with each other.

[Tex Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun Take on Stuffed Animals/Shifters Being Adopted, With Cute Couple & Sweet Treat Recipes, Alas Just A Short.