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A Touch of Mistletoe
Less Than Three Press presents a collection of stories about people brought together by the magic of mistletoe...
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
Warren's life has been shrinking ever since his wife passed away. Blind, and finding it difficult to adjust to life on his own, it's easier to hide away in his house. When his friend Missy invites him to a Christmas party, an unexpected kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe leaves him confused and wondering...
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Christmas in Japan is no big deal for Ash Harmon, with his family half a world away and supernatural problems that have no respect for the holidays. When he picks up a bodyguard job for a rising star of figure skating who seems to be encountering trouble with a restless spirit, he stubbornly resists the unexpected attraction to his charge, wary of the risks that come with relationships. But the mistletoe has other ideas...
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Sometimes, Fate gets tired of being ignored. And some nights, Fate decides something will just have to be done about it. Enter Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. He's got a few short hours to change Scott Misener's outlook on life, love, and understanding. Lucky for Scott, Dru knows a tried and true trope that might just do the trick...
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
It's Christmas Eve and An-An and M.C. have plans to spend Christmas in Texas with An-An's family. But their plans are cut short when M.C. takes on a last minute case. Thankfully, though, it should be an easy exorcism.
Until they arrive at the snowbound lodge where trouble resides, and come face to face with a demon wolf unlike anything they've ever encountered.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Kingston has worked hard to get where he owner of his own shop, master potion maker, well-respected... and lonely, too busy with life to enjoy more than his regular visits to Acacia House. If he wishes his loneliness might be eased by Hux, the man he meets at Acacia twice a month, well, someday he'll work up the nerve to ask. Maybe.
Then Hux unexpectedly visits his shop, distressed and in desperate need of help to save his employer from a love potion...
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
Warren's life has been shrinking ever since his wife passed away. Blind, and finding it difficult to adjust to life on his own, it's easier to hide away in his house. When his friend Missy invites him to a Christmas party, an unexpected kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe leaves him confused and wondering...
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Christmas in Japan is no big deal for Ash Harmon, with his family half a world away and supernatural problems that have no respect for the holidays. When he picks up a bodyguard job for a rising star of figure skating who seems to be encountering trouble with a restless spirit, he stubbornly resists the unexpected attraction to his charge, wary of the risks that come with relationships. But the mistletoe has other ideas...
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Sometimes, Fate gets tired of being ignored. And some nights, Fate decides something will just have to be done about it. Enter Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. He's got a few short hours to change Scott Misener's outlook on life, love, and understanding. Lucky for Scott, Dru knows a tried and true trope that might just do the trick...
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
It's Christmas Eve and An-An and M.C. have plans to spend Christmas in Texas with An-An's family. But their plans are cut short when M.C. takes on a last minute case. Thankfully, though, it should be an easy exorcism.
Until they arrive at the snowbound lodge where trouble resides, and come face to face with a demon wolf unlike anything they've ever encountered.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Kingston has worked hard to get where he owner of his own shop, master potion maker, well-respected... and lonely, too busy with life to enjoy more than his regular visits to Acacia House. If he wishes his loneliness might be eased by Hux, the man he meets at Acacia twice a month, well, someday he'll work up the nerve to ask. Maybe.
Then Hux unexpectedly visits his shop, distressed and in desperate need of help to save his employer from a love potion...
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2014
1 person is currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Megan Derr
281 books2,934 followersMegan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 16, 2015
I chose this book to read more about E.E. Ottoman's characters from Selume Proffere, so this is the first book I read and reviewed. The rating is also for Ad Melioria, 4.5 stars.
Apart from that, the collection was just okay for me. What I liked is that we have some different kind of tales for Christmas, but they weren't something to shout out about.
Ad Melioria
by E.E. Ottoman
Ad Melioria is a short sequel to Selume Proffere and shows us An-An’s and M.C.’s first Christmas together. (It can be read on its own, too.) Don’t expect a sweet fluffy Christmas fluff fluff, though, please. Ad Melioria is scary as fuck, sexy as kink, and okay, I give you romantic, too ;-)
I really have a thing for An-An and M.C. They are captivating, unique characters, and I’d read a lot more about them.
There is this one absolutely beautiful scene between them. It made my heart break for M.C. and made me so proud of An-An, how she accepted M.C. and was there for them. It really was a holding-your-breath-don’t-dare-to-breathe moment… Perfect!
Not only was there romance, I promised you sexy kink, right? Holla Die Waldfee was that hot. This book made my heart race.
And not only with the scorching hot sex. The demon exorcism plot was so, so SCARY, I tell ya. Imagine you’re alone in a cabin in the woods in the snow in the dark, trying to exorcise a demon who lulls your mind to lure you outside and devour you. So much FUN! The moment the demon knocks on the door and your protector spells are breaking… The moment some stupid mistletoe decoration is all that stands between you and the demon… :-D Absolutely loved this!
4.5 stars! If you have read Selume Proferre, you shouldn’t miss this little gem, either. If you haven’t, just enjoy a different Christmas tale ;-)
I think I will reread this before every Christmas from now on. I am having a hard time with Christmas, with all the pressure and expectations, and I know this short will put me in a good place, because it is not Christmassy, because it is so different that it's freeing.
***
Here for You
by J.K. Pendragon
What I really liked:
- very easy-going writing style, with enough depths to it, too
- a Korean and a blind protagonist
- well-written kisses and a steamy BJ
What didn't work for me:
- the bi-for-you theme because
a) we are to believe the protagonist has never looked at anyone besides his now dead wife (no other woman or man), so the idea of maybe being bi never crossed his mind. OMG I AM SO STUPID!!! Of course he hasn't. HE IS BLIND, Mel!!! Yeah, good I figured that out now while writing this more than embarrassing review :-/
b) the I-help–you-figure-out-if-your-bi/gay trope always leaves me with a feeling of awkwardness and makes me a bit uncomfortable because there is at least a hint of taking advantage of another person
3 stars
***
The Christmas Spirit
by Talya Andor
I liked that this story is set in Japan. The protagonists are a young Japanese athlete, Yuki, and a man of colour living abroad as a paranormal detective. Yuki was really cute.
The paranormal-spirit plot was okay.
The age-gap wasn't that huge, so I don't get why Ash was so reluctant. All the psychics telling him to 'go for it' was also kinda lame.
1.5 or maybe 2 stars
***
A Beautiful Thing
by A.F. Henley
DNF
I liked the beginning with the very, very grumpy Scott ranting and fusing about Christmas. I could very much relate.However, when things are getting weird, some mistletoe imp appears to change him with the Past, the Present, and the Future... I dunno, that was just such a weird break in the story and I don't care for that trope right now.
1 star
***
Two Parts Mistletoe
by Megan Derr
Hm... Nice idea, the world with the potions, but it was too descriptive for my taste. Page-long details about how a potion is made... I skipped a lot in the middle of the book.
The protagonists were nice, too, but nothing that makes them stand out. I've already forgotten their names.
I am a bit confused about the sex in this short. I mean, you mention cocks and sex on the first page, and through the whole book there are constant references to the mysterious club the MCs go for sex twice a month, so there is quite the build-up, but when they finally get it going... I've read nothing more vanilla and boring for a long while.
2 stars
Apart from that, the collection was just okay for me. What I liked is that we have some different kind of tales for Christmas, but they weren't something to shout out about.
Ad Melioria
by E.E. Ottoman
Ad Melioria is a short sequel to Selume Proffere and shows us An-An’s and M.C.’s first Christmas together. (It can be read on its own, too.) Don’t expect a sweet fluffy Christmas fluff fluff, though, please. Ad Melioria is scary as fuck, sexy as kink, and okay, I give you romantic, too ;-)
I really have a thing for An-An and M.C. They are captivating, unique characters, and I’d read a lot more about them.
There is this one absolutely beautiful scene between them. It made my heart break for M.C. and made me so proud of An-An, how she accepted M.C. and was there for them. It really was a holding-your-breath-don’t-dare-to-breathe moment… Perfect!
Not only was there romance, I promised you sexy kink, right? Holla Die Waldfee was that hot. This book made my heart race.
And not only with the scorching hot sex. The demon exorcism plot was so, so SCARY, I tell ya. Imagine you’re alone in a cabin in the woods in the snow in the dark, trying to exorcise a demon who lulls your mind to lure you outside and devour you. So much FUN! The moment the demon knocks on the door and your protector spells are breaking… The moment some stupid mistletoe decoration is all that stands between you and the demon… :-D Absolutely loved this!
4.5 stars! If you have read Selume Proferre, you shouldn’t miss this little gem, either. If you haven’t, just enjoy a different Christmas tale ;-)
I think I will reread this before every Christmas from now on. I am having a hard time with Christmas, with all the pressure and expectations, and I know this short will put me in a good place, because it is not Christmassy, because it is so different that it's freeing.
***
Here for You
by J.K. Pendragon
What I really liked:
- very easy-going writing style, with enough depths to it, too
- a Korean and a blind protagonist
- well-written kisses and a steamy BJ
What didn't work for me:
- the bi-for-you theme because
a) we are to believe the protagonist has never looked at anyone besides his now dead wife (no other woman or man), so the idea of maybe being bi never crossed his mind. OMG I AM SO STUPID!!! Of course he hasn't. HE IS BLIND, Mel!!! Yeah, good I figured that out now while writing this more than embarrassing review :-/
b) the I-help–you-figure-out-if-your-bi/gay trope always leaves me with a feeling of awkwardness and makes me a bit uncomfortable because there is at least a hint of taking advantage of another person
3 stars
***
The Christmas Spirit
by Talya Andor
I liked that this story is set in Japan. The protagonists are a young Japanese athlete, Yuki, and a man of colour living abroad as a paranormal detective. Yuki was really cute.
The paranormal-spirit plot was okay.
The age-gap wasn't that huge, so I don't get why Ash was so reluctant. All the psychics telling him to 'go for it' was also kinda lame.
1.5 or maybe 2 stars
***
A Beautiful Thing
by A.F. Henley
DNF
I liked the beginning with the very, very grumpy Scott ranting and fusing about Christmas. I could very much relate.However, when things are getting weird, some mistletoe imp appears to change him with the Past, the Present, and the Future... I dunno, that was just such a weird break in the story and I don't care for that trope right now.
1 star
***
Two Parts Mistletoe
by Megan Derr
Hm... Nice idea, the world with the potions, but it was too descriptive for my taste. Page-long details about how a potion is made... I skipped a lot in the middle of the book.
The protagonists were nice, too, but nothing that makes them stand out. I've already forgotten their names.
I am a bit confused about the sex in this short. I mean, you mention cocks and sex on the first page, and through the whole book there are constant references to the mysterious club the MCs go for sex twice a month, so there is quite the build-up, but when they finally get it going... I've read nothing more vanilla and boring for a long while.
2 stars
May 4, 2016
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon–-3.5 stars
This was a sweet story. Warren lost his wife a year ago to a drunk driver, and he has been grieving ever since. And not only is he missing his wife, but he is missing someone to help him, as he is blind. He never expected that an impromptu kiss under the mistletoe with the soft-spoken Kyung would be what starts to turn his life around. He has only ever loved his wife and he has no idea what to do with this sudden attraction to this man.
Not a lot happens here, but I enjoyed it anyways. It is great to have MCs who are not stock white guys, and I love the infusion of foreign culture into the story. I would have liked a bit more of that, actually. We only see a few bits of Kyung’s Korean side, and it would have been cool to see a little more. Overall, a sweet GFY story, even if it felt like the plot was just starting when the story finished.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor–-4 stars
Someone or something is haunting figure skating champion Hanabishi Yuki, and with the Japanese Nationals coming up, Yuki can’t spare the energy or concentration to deal with the constant interruptions with his life. So his manager hires Ash Harmon, a psychic detective to find out who is behind Yuki’s hauntings. And while Ash feels perfectly equipped to deal with any spectral disturbances, he is less sure that he can keep his hands off the gorgeous skater.
Since the last book I read set in Japan was incredibly angsty and somewhat depressing, I am glad to see a lighter side to the country in this short story. I enjoyed the bits of Japanese culture, especially the strict social interactions and maneuverings. And the romance wasn’t half bad either. I will say that the ghost mystery wrapped up rather neatly about ⅔ of the way thru the story, and the rest of it is taken up with the relationship (or lack there of) between Yuki and Ash, leaving the last third feeling like it was a bit too drawn out. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I kept expecting it to end sooner than it did.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley–-4.5 stars
I just died of the cutes. The grumpy cutes, but the cutes nonetheless.
This is basically a retelling of A Christmas Carol. Except I really liked it. Scott is a bit of grump about Christmas, about the whole useless fleeting point of it all, so when a kid tries to ‘brighten up’ his cart at the local convenience store, he kinda goes off-–on everyone-–about the real meaning of mistletoe. However, when that mistletoe later turns out to be Dru-–a fae working for the Night Before Outreach Program–-Scott get a little visit to his past, present, and future to help him show just what Christmas oughta be.
So, yeah. I loved this. Usually with retellings of such well known stories I get bored. Been there, done that, and all that jazz. But this was so good. It took the basic idea and gave it a fresh spin. It didn’t hurt that i’m a sucker for grumpy men. I kept laughing at Dru and Scott’s conversations, and every time I was sure it was going to fall into cliche (or kinda creepy ghostly sex), it cleverly avoided it.
I’m not done with the anthology yet, but this has put in a very good bid for my favorite of this collection.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman-–4 stars
Christmas is a time for family. Which is probably why An-An and M.C. are out in the middle of nowhere trying to discover who or what has been munching on the members of the family that owns the cabin out in the middle of the woods. With An-An’s schooling in magics and M.C.’s abilities in exorcism, it should be an easy job. Except their clients may not have been so forthcoming with all the particulars in this case, which might just lead to even more deaths for M.C. and An-An.
I have a bit of a hard time getting into this one to begin with. I think it mostly has to do with the character names. I have a hard time with names that are unusual, it just throws something off in my brain and all I spend my time doing is trying to figure out how in the world someone got named that, instead of actually paying attention to the story. So I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this one as much as I usually enjoy stories from this author.
Yet, something clicked about a third of the way thru and I was able to just immerse myself into the story. It didn’t hurt that I have a soft side for trans characters, and E.E. Ottoman always does them so well. And while I’m not a big fan of the lady parts, this story was really interesting-–and my god was the sex hot. Loved the magical aspects of this book and would love to have more in this world where magic seems to be common knowledge.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr-–4.5 stars
Potions Master Kingston loves his job as owner of Two Parts Mistletoe, a thriving potions shop. Well, he loves it when he isn’t actively hating all the paperwork that goes into it. And while his shop is popular he never expected to run into Hux there. Hux who he meets bi-monthly, in secret, to spend the night with in a local club. They don’t know who the other is in real life, what they do when they are not wrapped around and in each other, but Kingston has found himself wanting to for some time. He didn’t want it to be because a man was dosed with love potion and in danger of losing his sanity and his free will, though.
Loved this little short fantasy story. The world was quite interesting, and I liked the magical/potions aspect of it. And Hux and Kingston were quite cute together. It was however Kingston, himself, that really had me here. I loved his voice and his life. It was so well written that I found myself really wanting to know more about him and his life, and yet I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from his story. I am quite a big fan of Megan Derr and her short stories, and this is another example of why I find them so enjoyable. Great world building, wonderful characters, and a little bit of sex to heat them all to the right temperature.
This was a really good christmas anthology. I liked all the stories, and I honestly don’t know if it was Derr’s or Henley’s that came out on top. Such good writing. Not just for those two, but for all of them. If you are on the lookout for some more christmas stories to entertain you this holiday season, I can recommend you pick this collection up.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
This was a sweet story. Warren lost his wife a year ago to a drunk driver, and he has been grieving ever since. And not only is he missing his wife, but he is missing someone to help him, as he is blind. He never expected that an impromptu kiss under the mistletoe with the soft-spoken Kyung would be what starts to turn his life around. He has only ever loved his wife and he has no idea what to do with this sudden attraction to this man.
Not a lot happens here, but I enjoyed it anyways. It is great to have MCs who are not stock white guys, and I love the infusion of foreign culture into the story. I would have liked a bit more of that, actually. We only see a few bits of Kyung’s Korean side, and it would have been cool to see a little more. Overall, a sweet GFY story, even if it felt like the plot was just starting when the story finished.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor–-4 stars
Someone or something is haunting figure skating champion Hanabishi Yuki, and with the Japanese Nationals coming up, Yuki can’t spare the energy or concentration to deal with the constant interruptions with his life. So his manager hires Ash Harmon, a psychic detective to find out who is behind Yuki’s hauntings. And while Ash feels perfectly equipped to deal with any spectral disturbances, he is less sure that he can keep his hands off the gorgeous skater.
Since the last book I read set in Japan was incredibly angsty and somewhat depressing, I am glad to see a lighter side to the country in this short story. I enjoyed the bits of Japanese culture, especially the strict social interactions and maneuverings. And the romance wasn’t half bad either. I will say that the ghost mystery wrapped up rather neatly about ⅔ of the way thru the story, and the rest of it is taken up with the relationship (or lack there of) between Yuki and Ash, leaving the last third feeling like it was a bit too drawn out. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I kept expecting it to end sooner than it did.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley–-4.5 stars
I just died of the cutes. The grumpy cutes, but the cutes nonetheless.
This is basically a retelling of A Christmas Carol. Except I really liked it. Scott is a bit of grump about Christmas, about the whole useless fleeting point of it all, so when a kid tries to ‘brighten up’ his cart at the local convenience store, he kinda goes off-–on everyone-–about the real meaning of mistletoe. However, when that mistletoe later turns out to be Dru-–a fae working for the Night Before Outreach Program–-Scott get a little visit to his past, present, and future to help him show just what Christmas oughta be.
So, yeah. I loved this. Usually with retellings of such well known stories I get bored. Been there, done that, and all that jazz. But this was so good. It took the basic idea and gave it a fresh spin. It didn’t hurt that i’m a sucker for grumpy men. I kept laughing at Dru and Scott’s conversations, and every time I was sure it was going to fall into cliche (or kinda creepy ghostly sex), it cleverly avoided it.
I’m not done with the anthology yet, but this has put in a very good bid for my favorite of this collection.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman-–4 stars
Christmas is a time for family. Which is probably why An-An and M.C. are out in the middle of nowhere trying to discover who or what has been munching on the members of the family that owns the cabin out in the middle of the woods. With An-An’s schooling in magics and M.C.’s abilities in exorcism, it should be an easy job. Except their clients may not have been so forthcoming with all the particulars in this case, which might just lead to even more deaths for M.C. and An-An.
I have a bit of a hard time getting into this one to begin with. I think it mostly has to do with the character names. I have a hard time with names that are unusual, it just throws something off in my brain and all I spend my time doing is trying to figure out how in the world someone got named that, instead of actually paying attention to the story. So I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this one as much as I usually enjoy stories from this author.
Yet, something clicked about a third of the way thru and I was able to just immerse myself into the story. It didn’t hurt that I have a soft side for trans characters, and E.E. Ottoman always does them so well. And while I’m not a big fan of the lady parts, this story was really interesting-–and my god was the sex hot. Loved the magical aspects of this book and would love to have more in this world where magic seems to be common knowledge.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr-–4.5 stars
Potions Master Kingston loves his job as owner of Two Parts Mistletoe, a thriving potions shop. Well, he loves it when he isn’t actively hating all the paperwork that goes into it. And while his shop is popular he never expected to run into Hux there. Hux who he meets bi-monthly, in secret, to spend the night with in a local club. They don’t know who the other is in real life, what they do when they are not wrapped around and in each other, but Kingston has found himself wanting to for some time. He didn’t want it to be because a man was dosed with love potion and in danger of losing his sanity and his free will, though.
Loved this little short fantasy story. The world was quite interesting, and I liked the magical/potions aspect of it. And Hux and Kingston were quite cute together. It was however Kingston, himself, that really had me here. I loved his voice and his life. It was so well written that I found myself really wanting to know more about him and his life, and yet I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from his story. I am quite a big fan of Megan Derr and her short stories, and this is another example of why I find them so enjoyable. Great world building, wonderful characters, and a little bit of sex to heat them all to the right temperature.
This was a really good christmas anthology. I liked all the stories, and I honestly don’t know if it was Derr’s or Henley’s that came out on top. Such good writing. Not just for those two, but for all of them. If you are on the lookout for some more christmas stories to entertain you this holiday season, I can recommend you pick this collection up.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 1, 2015
This isn’t your typical holiday anthology. I enjoyed the unique stories and the different styles of the authors.
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon is a sweet story of two lonely and grieving men coming together and learning to let go of the past in order to make a future with one another.
Warren is so sad and alone when he meets Kyung. His wife was his high school sweetheart and he has never been with anyone else so his attraction to Kyung was a surprise.
Kyung is homesick for his native Korea, overwhelmed by his father’s illness he needs the affection and acceptance he finds in Warren’s arms.
Both men will have to be brave and bold if they are going to be able to make a future together.
The Christmas Spirit by Tayla Andor gives us the story of a southern gentleman far away from all of his family and the familiar Christmas rituals while working in Japan.
I liked that the romance aspect was slow building and sweet. Ash isn't sure if he should push for more and it was great seeing him ease his way through and get romanced a little. Both men are adorable and a little shy.
The supernatural aspect was mild and helped to move the story forward.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley was a sexy twist on a Christmas classic.
Scott is bitter and angry when Dru comes into his life and the journey they take through Scott's past, present and possible future was fun, a little sad and unexpectedly hot.
I liked that there wasn't a threat so much as a promise of a wonderful future if only Scott can let go of his negativity and embrace the hope and possibilities around him.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman is an intense and kinky story. An evil haunting by a powerful and deadly being may put an end to their holiday celebration if they aren't careful.
The love between the couple is apparent and compelling. An-An's complete acceptance of M.C. is beautiful.
The supernatural aspect is intense and some might find it a little scary, but it's an interesting idea. The sex is kinky and emotional.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr is sweet and charming. With a magical element and a race to fix a very nasty spell.
Kingston and Hux are adorable together. They've both been wanting more from each other and while the situation is not romantic their natural chemistry and deep affection make this a sweet and sexy holiday story.
The world building is well done and interesting. I always enjoy spending time in the worlds that Megan Derr creates.
A fun and different take on the holiday novella. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys love, romance, magic and is looking for something new to read for the holidays.
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon is a sweet story of two lonely and grieving men coming together and learning to let go of the past in order to make a future with one another.
Warren is so sad and alone when he meets Kyung. His wife was his high school sweetheart and he has never been with anyone else so his attraction to Kyung was a surprise.
Kyung is homesick for his native Korea, overwhelmed by his father’s illness he needs the affection and acceptance he finds in Warren’s arms.
Both men will have to be brave and bold if they are going to be able to make a future together.
~ * ~ * ~
The Christmas Spirit by Tayla Andor gives us the story of a southern gentleman far away from all of his family and the familiar Christmas rituals while working in Japan.
I liked that the romance aspect was slow building and sweet. Ash isn't sure if he should push for more and it was great seeing him ease his way through and get romanced a little. Both men are adorable and a little shy.
The supernatural aspect was mild and helped to move the story forward.
~ * ~ * ~
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley was a sexy twist on a Christmas classic.
Scott is bitter and angry when Dru comes into his life and the journey they take through Scott's past, present and possible future was fun, a little sad and unexpectedly hot.
I liked that there wasn't a threat so much as a promise of a wonderful future if only Scott can let go of his negativity and embrace the hope and possibilities around him.
~ * ~ * ~
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman is an intense and kinky story. An evil haunting by a powerful and deadly being may put an end to their holiday celebration if they aren't careful.
The love between the couple is apparent and compelling. An-An's complete acceptance of M.C. is beautiful.
The supernatural aspect is intense and some might find it a little scary, but it's an interesting idea. The sex is kinky and emotional.
~ * ~ * ~
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr is sweet and charming. With a magical element and a race to fix a very nasty spell.
Kingston and Hux are adorable together. They've both been wanting more from each other and while the situation is not romantic their natural chemistry and deep affection make this a sweet and sexy holiday story.
The world building is well done and interesting. I always enjoy spending time in the worlds that Megan Derr creates.
A fun and different take on the holiday novella. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys love, romance, magic and is looking for something new to read for the holidays.
~ * ~ * ~
A diverse mix of stories that took me many different places and through many emotions. I enjoyed all of the stories and loved a couple. Recommended for those who are looking for something different and special in their next holiday story.
Reviewed by Nina
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January 23, 2015
This anthology consisted of five short holiday stories, some of whom are new authors to me, Megan Derr being the only one I’m familiar with. All stories, like the title implied, built around the mistletoe. Overall these were quite entertaining holiday tales.
In Here for You by J.K. Pendragon, a bereaved widower met a young Korean who left his life to take care of his dying father. Warren, blind since birth, never thought of himself other than straight; his attraction to Kyung unsettled him. Kyung, for his love and devotion to his father was not without drawback, he had burden of his own. The interactions and chemistry between these two were pretty low-key to me; the storyline a bit sedate. I usually expected a rather fast pace in short story as there were only so much rooms for them to develop. But this was a sweet GFY story with low level of angst. As the starter to the anthology this was to wet your appetite for more. 2.75 stars from me.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor was a paranormal detective story set in Japan. Ash Harmon was a Southern gentleman, a paranormal investigator who opened shop in Shinjuku. He was hired to solve the haunting happening surrounding Hanabishi Yuki, a famous young Japanese ice skater. I liked that although there was instant attraction between these two MCs, either didn’t jump right into action. Also I was happily cheering for this cute couple to get on with their proper courting. This was an angst free mistletoe flavor holiday story. Could be my love of yaoi manga influenced the feeling of reading this story. 3 stars for this one.
Next came the Grinch of the anthology, a grumpy Mr. Scott Misener in A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley. This was an almost typical holiday story, a Dickens’s Christmas Carol of the anthology, in which fate’s interference represented by Dru the Mistletoe Fae. Typical though it might be, this was a truly entertaining one, baring the too coincidental and rush ending. 3 stars.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman is the F/F story in this anthology, the one had An-An and MC (yes, that’s one of our MCs name) going to a mansion in the wood to exorcise the curse and demon killing family member of the manor. For demon-busters story, this one was barely on the surface for me; the terror of the said curse was said but not felt. Compared to the other stories, this one had pages of smutty scenes, and the mistletoe appearance was quite prominent. 2.5 stars.
In Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr we met Master Potion and Master Secretary in their quest to save a young Lord from the effect of love potion during the Frost Days (that’s like Christmas on this story’s universe). Like the premises, the plot, the pulls between the two main characters, Kingston and Hux. I like this story best from all as it simply drew me in into the thick of from mundane activities to pressing actions and even the steamy scenes. 3.5 stars for this story!
Note: ARC was kindly provided by Less Than Three Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In Here for You by J.K. Pendragon, a bereaved widower met a young Korean who left his life to take care of his dying father. Warren, blind since birth, never thought of himself other than straight; his attraction to Kyung unsettled him. Kyung, for his love and devotion to his father was not without drawback, he had burden of his own. The interactions and chemistry between these two were pretty low-key to me; the storyline a bit sedate. I usually expected a rather fast pace in short story as there were only so much rooms for them to develop. But this was a sweet GFY story with low level of angst. As the starter to the anthology this was to wet your appetite for more. 2.75 stars from me.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor was a paranormal detective story set in Japan. Ash Harmon was a Southern gentleman, a paranormal investigator who opened shop in Shinjuku. He was hired to solve the haunting happening surrounding Hanabishi Yuki, a famous young Japanese ice skater. I liked that although there was instant attraction between these two MCs, either didn’t jump right into action. Also I was happily cheering for this cute couple to get on with their proper courting. This was an angst free mistletoe flavor holiday story. Could be my love of yaoi manga influenced the feeling of reading this story. 3 stars for this one.
Next came the Grinch of the anthology, a grumpy Mr. Scott Misener in A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley. This was an almost typical holiday story, a Dickens’s Christmas Carol of the anthology, in which fate’s interference represented by Dru the Mistletoe Fae. Typical though it might be, this was a truly entertaining one, baring the too coincidental and rush ending. 3 stars.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman is the F/F story in this anthology, the one had An-An and MC (yes, that’s one of our MCs name) going to a mansion in the wood to exorcise the curse and demon killing family member of the manor. For demon-busters story, this one was barely on the surface for me; the terror of the said curse was said but not felt. Compared to the other stories, this one had pages of smutty scenes, and the mistletoe appearance was quite prominent. 2.5 stars.
In Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr we met Master Potion and Master Secretary in their quest to save a young Lord from the effect of love potion during the Frost Days (that’s like Christmas on this story’s universe). Like the premises, the plot, the pulls between the two main characters, Kingston and Hux. I like this story best from all as it simply drew me in into the thick of from mundane activities to pressing actions and even the steamy scenes. 3.5 stars for this story!
Note: ARC was kindly provided by Less Than Three Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2015
I really wish I could add half stars, because I enjoyed this anthology quite a bit, however, there was one story that completely threw me out and I had some personal issues with one as well. I'm going to try not to let that colour my review but you are for warned. I'll review each story individually.
January 5, 2015
Those of you who know me might wonder why a Naturalistic Pagan is reading a Christmas-themed misteltoe collection. Short answer: it looked fun. Longer answer: I was hopeful that at least some of the stories would offer something besides the tried-and-true "kissing in doorways" trope. On that score, this anthology delivers: three of the five stories use mistletoe in a different way, and even in one of the oens where there is kissing under mistletoe, that's subsidiary to the role the plant has already played.
"Here for You," J.K. Pendragon: My least favorite of the set and an inauspicious beginning for me. Kyung's refusal to accept Warren's repeated "no" borders on the coercive. "How do you know you don't like it if you've never tried it?" is no less a dick move when trying to convince a self-identified straight person that they may be bi than when trying to convince a self-identified gay person that they may be straight. And I would much have preferred Warren actively consenting to that blow job, rather than just . . . kinda not fighting it.
"The Christmas Spirit," Talya Andor: This is a sweet one, and I enjoyed it, though I would've liked better integration of the action and romance plots, rather than having the action plot resolve completely before the pursuit of the romance plot, which feels almost tacked on.
"A Beautiful Thing," A.F. Henley: I love this one, maybe because pre-enlightenment Scott perfectly reflects my crotchety anti-Christmas grumpiness. And despite the mistletoe and the nod to A Christmas Carol, Scott's wake-up call feels less "the magic of Christmas saves a life!" and more "wow, I should stop being a dillhole," which I really appreciate.
"Ad Meliora," E.E. Ottoman: Another nice one, with plenty of danger, intrigue, and magic, and a pair of relatable characters. But I felt like there was room for a lot more depth and development. The "why" of the curse felt rushed; I wanted to know more of the why behind M.C.'s reluctance to meet An-An's family, and An-An's concern that she's more of a hindrance than a help to M.C. could have been explored more. And, again, the sex scene (which I couldn't finish, btw, because of the way one partner talks to the other, but YKINMK and all that jazz) feels poorly tacked on and hampered by a seemingly unnecessary setting change (seriously, once the job was over, why couldn't they have sex in the ginormous cottage?).
"Two Parts Mistletoe," Megan Derr: A great, strong ender. My favorite use of the thematic mistletoe, and just a solid, engaging, well-plotted story with the romantic and action plots nicely intertwined and equally paced.
"Here for You," J.K. Pendragon: My least favorite of the set and an inauspicious beginning for me. Kyung's refusal to accept Warren's repeated "no" borders on the coercive. "How do you know you don't like it if you've never tried it?" is no less a dick move when trying to convince a self-identified straight person that they may be bi than when trying to convince a self-identified gay person that they may be straight. And I would much have preferred Warren actively consenting to that blow job, rather than just . . . kinda not fighting it.
"The Christmas Spirit," Talya Andor: This is a sweet one, and I enjoyed it, though I would've liked better integration of the action and romance plots, rather than having the action plot resolve completely before the pursuit of the romance plot, which feels almost tacked on.
"A Beautiful Thing," A.F. Henley: I love this one, maybe because pre-enlightenment Scott perfectly reflects my crotchety anti-Christmas grumpiness. And despite the mistletoe and the nod to A Christmas Carol, Scott's wake-up call feels less "the magic of Christmas saves a life!" and more "wow, I should stop being a dillhole," which I really appreciate.
"Ad Meliora," E.E. Ottoman: Another nice one, with plenty of danger, intrigue, and magic, and a pair of relatable characters. But I felt like there was room for a lot more depth and development. The "why" of the curse felt rushed; I wanted to know more of the why behind M.C.'s reluctance to meet An-An's family, and An-An's concern that she's more of a hindrance than a help to M.C. could have been explored more. And, again, the sex scene (which I couldn't finish, btw, because of the way one partner talks to the other, but YKINMK and all that jazz) feels poorly tacked on and hampered by a seemingly unnecessary setting change (seriously, once the job was over, why couldn't they have sex in the ginormous cottage?).
"Two Parts Mistletoe," Megan Derr: A great, strong ender. My favorite use of the thematic mistletoe, and just a solid, engaging, well-plotted story with the romantic and action plots nicely intertwined and equally paced.
January 30, 2015
This is probably my favorite anthology so far. (I like anthologies because it's easier for me to read short stories.) I didn't DNF any of the stories in it, a first, and I really enjoyed most of the stories. My favorite was A Beautiful Thing by AF Henley, with Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr a close second.
The rest of this review is may be spoilery, so behind the tag it goes.
The rest of this review is may be spoilery, so behind the tag it goes.
January 3, 2015
This is an interesting collection of novellas/short stories of (mainly) M/M connections that occur over the Christmas holidays. There are a lot if interracial couples, and also, a solid paranormal bent, which was fun.
The stories vary in heat, most of which have limited sex on the page. I enjoyed the cross-cultural stories--if is was a young Korean man finding solace with a blind widower, or a black Vaudun master helping a Japanese figure skating phenom--there was such diversity I was charmed.
There was a transitioning male in a relationship, and I felt the situation was handled with care and thought. I think my fave story of the bunch was Two Parts Mistletoe which featured a potions master helping rescue a nobleman from a love potion--and the devoted secretary who sought magical aid. lock and Hux were adorable!
If you like a wide variety of paranormal romance, featuring diverse partners and a touch of steam this one will satisfy. I received a copy via NetGalley.
The stories vary in heat, most of which have limited sex on the page. I enjoyed the cross-cultural stories--if is was a young Korean man finding solace with a blind widower, or a black Vaudun master helping a Japanese figure skating phenom--there was such diversity I was charmed.
There was a transitioning male in a relationship, and I felt the situation was handled with care and thought. I think my fave story of the bunch was Two Parts Mistletoe which featured a potions master helping rescue a nobleman from a love potion--and the devoted secretary who sought magical aid. lock and Hux were adorable!
If you like a wide variety of paranormal romance, featuring diverse partners and a touch of steam this one will satisfy. I received a copy via NetGalley.
December 16, 2014
Five succulent, short but long enough to enjoy stories that have really warmed my heart and perked my interest.
Each story is written by a different author with completely distinct styles. Each story deals with same sex love with a Yule theme with the obvious mistletoe as a frame.
Four out of five stories are gay love stories, only one is a lesbian love story involving a female to male transexual.
Although if I have a choice, I tend to prefer lesbian stories, I have to sincerely say that I loved all stories. I found none not to my liking.
All stories have well written diverse plots, deftly woven with affection, suspense, intrigue and all laced with passion that gave the stories intensity enough to warm cold winter nights.
Well-done to all.
Each story is written by a different author with completely distinct styles. Each story deals with same sex love with a Yule theme with the obvious mistletoe as a frame.
Four out of five stories are gay love stories, only one is a lesbian love story involving a female to male transexual.
Although if I have a choice, I tend to prefer lesbian stories, I have to sincerely say that I loved all stories. I found none not to my liking.
All stories have well written diverse plots, deftly woven with affection, suspense, intrigue and all laced with passion that gave the stories intensity enough to warm cold winter nights.
Well-done to all.
May 6, 2015
Here for You - 3.5 stars
The Christmas Spirit - 4 stars
A Beautiful Thing - 3 stars
Ad Meliora - 2 stars
Two Parts Mistletoe - 5 stars
The Christmas Spirit - 4 stars
A Beautiful Thing - 3 stars
Ad Meliora - 2 stars
Two Parts Mistletoe - 5 stars
June 21, 2015
3.5 Stars rounded up.
December 11, 2014
Overall this was a great anthology! The standout stories for me were those by Talya Andor and Megan Derr. Andor’s The Christmas Spirit is set in Japan and makes the most of the setting in a way that is fascinating to read about without begin overwhelming. The romance between Ash and Yuki was sweet, too! Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr also had a great world with potions and and generic old-fashioned setting. It was interesting to read a story set in a world where a m/m relationship is a normal thing. The chemistry (ha!) between the main characters was great, too.
Also very good were the stories by Pendragon and Ottoman. Pendragon’s was the only contemporary and I thought Warren’s blindness was well handled. Ottoman’s sex scene was super-hot and it dealt with some things I hadn’t read before. One of the characters, M.C. is transgender and in the process of adjusting her social identity to match her internal identity. I thought it was well done and had good world building, too.
Here for You by J.K Pendragon(m/m, contemporary)
Warren is blind and recovering from his wife’s death. At a holiday party he finds himself under the mistletoe with a mutual and male friend. He’s always considered himself heterosexual, but now his new friend has him wondering.
The relationship between Warren and Kyung moved pretty quickly, I thought. They each have their own issues to deal with besides, Warren’s surprise bisexuality, which turns out not to be a big deal. It was just the right amount to put in a short story, though. Once in a while I felt like the story was a bit jumpy, but overall it worked well.
Grade: B
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
Ash is a black Southern American man living and working in Japan. He specializes in paranormal investigations. When he’s asked to look into a disturbance involving a figure skating star he’s immediately attracted, but thinks it could never work out.
There was so much I enjoyed about this story! I wasn’t very familiar with Japanese culture, but I felt like I learned some by reading this story, and I never felt like I was wading through a travel guide to get that understanding. The world building was good, too. The reality of what it was like to be a friend of a psychic was interesting! One of those “I’ve never thought about this before, but I bet that’s exactly what it’s like” moments. I also appreciated how their relationship progressed slowly. I’ll definitely be looking for more by Talya Andor!
Grade: A
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
This one had a promising start, but then a little fairy guy showed up and I was just done. I have a thing again romance where there’s a guardian angel type character. I know better than to read them. I may have missed out on something good, but the odds of it working for me are very low, so I moved on to the next story.
Grade: DNF
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman (f/trans, sci-fi/fantasy)
An-An and M.C. are out on a job Christmas eve. M.C. needs to investigate and possibly exorcize something that’s murdered multiple people. At they same time they’re dealing with some relationship issues, including how M.C. is transitioning away from a female identity.
The storyline about a transitioning person was about as foreign to me as the fantasy world building in this story. It was very well done, but very new to me. M.C. wants to be referred to as “they and their” instead of “she and hers” or “he and his.” This was so new for me to read, and it really kept pulling me out of the story. I think that’s just because I wasn’t used to it. It was an interesting story, though, both for the paranormal side of things and the sexual side of things.
Grade: B+
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
Kingston is a potionmaker. He’s surprised to see Hux, his routine and anonymous hookup come into his shop. The timing is right – he’d been working up the nerve to ask Hux if he wanted a relationship, but first they need to deal with the problem that brought Hux to his shop.
I enjoyed this story from start to finish. It had a historical London feel to it, if historical London had men looking for husbands and magical potions. It was probably a bit simplistic when it came to handling the crime that was committed, but I was excited enough about Kingston and Hux that it didn’t bother me. I’ll definitely be looking for more from Megan Derr, too!
Grade: A
Also very good were the stories by Pendragon and Ottoman. Pendragon’s was the only contemporary and I thought Warren’s blindness was well handled. Ottoman’s sex scene was super-hot and it dealt with some things I hadn’t read before. One of the characters, M.C. is transgender and in the process of adjusting her social identity to match her internal identity. I thought it was well done and had good world building, too.
Here for You by J.K Pendragon(m/m, contemporary)
Warren is blind and recovering from his wife’s death. At a holiday party he finds himself under the mistletoe with a mutual and male friend. He’s always considered himself heterosexual, but now his new friend has him wondering.
The relationship between Warren and Kyung moved pretty quickly, I thought. They each have their own issues to deal with besides, Warren’s surprise bisexuality, which turns out not to be a big deal. It was just the right amount to put in a short story, though. Once in a while I felt like the story was a bit jumpy, but overall it worked well.
Grade: B
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
Ash is a black Southern American man living and working in Japan. He specializes in paranormal investigations. When he’s asked to look into a disturbance involving a figure skating star he’s immediately attracted, but thinks it could never work out.
There was so much I enjoyed about this story! I wasn’t very familiar with Japanese culture, but I felt like I learned some by reading this story, and I never felt like I was wading through a travel guide to get that understanding. The world building was good, too. The reality of what it was like to be a friend of a psychic was interesting! One of those “I’ve never thought about this before, but I bet that’s exactly what it’s like” moments. I also appreciated how their relationship progressed slowly. I’ll definitely be looking for more by Talya Andor!
Grade: A
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
This one had a promising start, but then a little fairy guy showed up and I was just done. I have a thing again romance where there’s a guardian angel type character. I know better than to read them. I may have missed out on something good, but the odds of it working for me are very low, so I moved on to the next story.
Grade: DNF
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman (f/trans, sci-fi/fantasy)
An-An and M.C. are out on a job Christmas eve. M.C. needs to investigate and possibly exorcize something that’s murdered multiple people. At they same time they’re dealing with some relationship issues, including how M.C. is transitioning away from a female identity.
The storyline about a transitioning person was about as foreign to me as the fantasy world building in this story. It was very well done, but very new to me. M.C. wants to be referred to as “they and their” instead of “she and hers” or “he and his.” This was so new for me to read, and it really kept pulling me out of the story. I think that’s just because I wasn’t used to it. It was an interesting story, though, both for the paranormal side of things and the sexual side of things.
Grade: B+
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr (m/m, sci-fi/fantasy)
Kingston is a potionmaker. He’s surprised to see Hux, his routine and anonymous hookup come into his shop. The timing is right – he’d been working up the nerve to ask Hux if he wanted a relationship, but first they need to deal with the problem that brought Hux to his shop.
I enjoyed this story from start to finish. It had a historical London feel to it, if historical London had men looking for husbands and magical potions. It was probably a bit simplistic when it came to handling the crime that was committed, but I was excited enough about Kingston and Hux that it didn’t bother me. I’ll definitely be looking for more from Megan Derr, too!
Grade: A
May 13, 2015
Final Verdict: A great collection of winter holiday themed stories that make for a fun way to take a break no matter the time of year.
A Touch of Mistletoe is a wonderful collection of five short stories that have to do with Christmas/A Winter Holiday, and where a sprig or two of mistletoe plays a key role in the romance. Being a fan of Megan Derr and the Less Than Three Press, I found I could not resist requesting this from NetGalley. Below is a list of the short story titles and brief descriptions of the stories.
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
At a friend’s Christmas party Warren, a blind man still getting over the loss of his wife, has his world rocked when Kyung-Sam kisses him under the mistletoe. It causes Warren to slowly re-evaluate his life and the possibility that there may still be love left out there for him. Kyung-Sam meanwhile is dealing with knowing he is gay, but is a full time career for his dying father who does not know this. Is there more in store for these two?
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Ash, a paranormal consultant and occult shop owner living in Japan, is surprised to be hired to investigate the haunting of a famous figure skater. While investigating the apparent ghost that has latched itself to Yuki, Ash has to fight his growing attraction for the exuberant younger skater because he feels it would be inappropriate to start anything between them. However, no one has told Yuki this, and with a mistletoe inspired cake things might change between them, but only after the ghost is dealt with of course.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Scott Misener has become jaded with life and downright belligerent in the face of all the holiday cheer. However, Christmas Eve night, after an incident at the grocery store over the misguided romanticism of mistletoe, he is visited by Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. Scott knows the drill and grudgingly goes along for his Christmas Carol inspired night, never realizing it will indeed change his life, if only he lets it.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
An-An and her lover, M.C., are spending Christmas in a remote lodge investigating several supernatural deaths. Instead of the usual family affair that An-An is used to, the two end up fighting for their lives against a vengeful demon, with only their arcane knowledge and mistletoe as defence. It wasn’t exactly the romantic getaway that the picturesque setting would lead one to believe.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Master Potion maker Kingston is surprised when the man that he has been meeting for two years for anonymous sex turns up in his shop the night before Frost Day, especially as Kingston had been planning on asking the man if they could be more to each other. The man turns out to be Huxtable, secretary to a noble man, a man that Hux suspects has been poisoned with a love potion. Quickly the two must work together to save Hux’s friend and master, but maybe after there is time for them to discuss what is happening between them, especially now that they know who other really is.
Unfortunately due to my scholarly pursuits I was unable to read this during the winter holiday season, however once I finally started to read it, I finished within a single afternoon. It was a great collection of stories, and it is very difficult for me to pick a favourite. Each story brought in such different aspects and worlds, but was engaging in its own way. There isn’t a single story that I would skip the next time I read the book. I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse the characters in the stories were, with a good number not being white, only one story involved a female main character but her love interest identifying as non-binary with they/them pronouns, and at least one other lead was bisexual. Also, for the folk lore lover in me, it was nice the stories really covered many of the different myths around mistletoe. The only caveat for the typical readers of the blog is that this is an adult collection, with several explicit sex scenes. However, if you are into short stories with LGBTQ main characters this is a great collection and can be enjoyed any time of year, but especially in winter!
Review originally posted: https://francesandlynne.wordpress.com...
A Touch of Mistletoe is a wonderful collection of five short stories that have to do with Christmas/A Winter Holiday, and where a sprig or two of mistletoe plays a key role in the romance. Being a fan of Megan Derr and the Less Than Three Press, I found I could not resist requesting this from NetGalley. Below is a list of the short story titles and brief descriptions of the stories.
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
At a friend’s Christmas party Warren, a blind man still getting over the loss of his wife, has his world rocked when Kyung-Sam kisses him under the mistletoe. It causes Warren to slowly re-evaluate his life and the possibility that there may still be love left out there for him. Kyung-Sam meanwhile is dealing with knowing he is gay, but is a full time career for his dying father who does not know this. Is there more in store for these two?
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Ash, a paranormal consultant and occult shop owner living in Japan, is surprised to be hired to investigate the haunting of a famous figure skater. While investigating the apparent ghost that has latched itself to Yuki, Ash has to fight his growing attraction for the exuberant younger skater because he feels it would be inappropriate to start anything between them. However, no one has told Yuki this, and with a mistletoe inspired cake things might change between them, but only after the ghost is dealt with of course.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Scott Misener has become jaded with life and downright belligerent in the face of all the holiday cheer. However, Christmas Eve night, after an incident at the grocery store over the misguided romanticism of mistletoe, he is visited by Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. Scott knows the drill and grudgingly goes along for his Christmas Carol inspired night, never realizing it will indeed change his life, if only he lets it.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
An-An and her lover, M.C., are spending Christmas in a remote lodge investigating several supernatural deaths. Instead of the usual family affair that An-An is used to, the two end up fighting for their lives against a vengeful demon, with only their arcane knowledge and mistletoe as defence. It wasn’t exactly the romantic getaway that the picturesque setting would lead one to believe.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Master Potion maker Kingston is surprised when the man that he has been meeting for two years for anonymous sex turns up in his shop the night before Frost Day, especially as Kingston had been planning on asking the man if they could be more to each other. The man turns out to be Huxtable, secretary to a noble man, a man that Hux suspects has been poisoned with a love potion. Quickly the two must work together to save Hux’s friend and master, but maybe after there is time for them to discuss what is happening between them, especially now that they know who other really is.
Unfortunately due to my scholarly pursuits I was unable to read this during the winter holiday season, however once I finally started to read it, I finished within a single afternoon. It was a great collection of stories, and it is very difficult for me to pick a favourite. Each story brought in such different aspects and worlds, but was engaging in its own way. There isn’t a single story that I would skip the next time I read the book. I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse the characters in the stories were, with a good number not being white, only one story involved a female main character but her love interest identifying as non-binary with they/them pronouns, and at least one other lead was bisexual. Also, for the folk lore lover in me, it was nice the stories really covered many of the different myths around mistletoe. The only caveat for the typical readers of the blog is that this is an adult collection, with several explicit sex scenes. However, if you are into short stories with LGBTQ main characters this is a great collection and can be enjoyed any time of year, but especially in winter!
Review originally posted: https://francesandlynne.wordpress.com...
January 13, 2015
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
I didn't really connected with the MCs in this story, perhaps, because I read Megan Derr's story first and was expecting the anthology to be fantasy theme. Warren was very insecure, for very good reasons. But it wasn't enjoyable for me to read about his constant insecurity, his doubts and his woe is me attitude, again, he has every rights to do so but it was too much for me after a while. I liked that the story features various aspects of love and that love is complex and multifaceted. The story end just as MCs overcome personal conflicts and we have yet to see the fallout of those. That said, overall, this is a 3 stars for me.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
I enjoy this one quite a bit. I think that Ms. Andor did a fairly good job of writing Ash and how he operate as a black man in Japan. Although, I felt that Ash's power was a little bit confusing for me. Yuki's willingness to push relationship forward despite Ash's legitimate reluctant was sweet and perhaps went along with the kind of high level athlete's mentality. I do felt the author did a good job of depicting Japan and it's culture. Despite having a slightly hallowed plot, I do give this one 3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
A variant of Christmas Carol narration, I liked how the author play with the theme of the story and turn it around to fit the genre. I do felt that it was a bit too short for me... I like to read about the aftermath but I will say that the story probably the same outline as the original. That it ended soon after the *fixing* part. 3.5 stars for snarky dialogues and ill tempered MC.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
I like the outline of this one. I was, however, wasn't sure what to make of the MCs. As a gay man, I am not interested in female parts. Some confusion as well when the author use they for M.C. sometimes. This is the story with the most explicit and longest sex scenes in this anthology. I felt like I have been educated in the things that I didn't really want to be educated... Besides that, the story had some decent parts. Even though it felt like we should have known the MCs before reading the story sometimes. 3 stars for ok story, I can't really judge the rest though.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
I read this anthology because I love Megan Derr's writing. This one felt... on par for Ms. Derr, nothing spectacular but not bad either. I guess it's because of the short story format. I also felt that the story seems minimalistic and closed off somehow... Maybe because of the highly winterized environment? The story felt a bit claustrophobic for me for some reason... Besides that I felt that the story lack a bit of information that Ms. Derr usually describe in her story. Maybe because there was just two instants when she did that when usually she would did that more often... Regardless, I liked this one quite a bit, 4 stars.
I didn't really connected with the MCs in this story, perhaps, because I read Megan Derr's story first and was expecting the anthology to be fantasy theme. Warren was very insecure, for very good reasons. But it wasn't enjoyable for me to read about his constant insecurity, his doubts and his woe is me attitude, again, he has every rights to do so but it was too much for me after a while. I liked that the story features various aspects of love and that love is complex and multifaceted. The story end just as MCs overcome personal conflicts and we have yet to see the fallout of those. That said, overall, this is a 3 stars for me.
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
I enjoy this one quite a bit. I think that Ms. Andor did a fairly good job of writing Ash and how he operate as a black man in Japan. Although, I felt that Ash's power was a little bit confusing for me. Yuki's willingness to push relationship forward despite Ash's legitimate reluctant was sweet and perhaps went along with the kind of high level athlete's mentality. I do felt the author did a good job of depicting Japan and it's culture. Despite having a slightly hallowed plot, I do give this one 3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
A variant of Christmas Carol narration, I liked how the author play with the theme of the story and turn it around to fit the genre. I do felt that it was a bit too short for me... I like to read about the aftermath but I will say that the story probably the same outline as the original. That it ended soon after the *fixing* part. 3.5 stars for snarky dialogues and ill tempered MC.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
I like the outline of this one. I was, however, wasn't sure what to make of the MCs. As a gay man, I am not interested in female parts. Some confusion as well when the author use they for M.C. sometimes. This is the story with the most explicit and longest sex scenes in this anthology. I felt like I have been educated in the things that I didn't really want to be educated... Besides that, the story had some decent parts. Even though it felt like we should have known the MCs before reading the story sometimes. 3 stars for ok story, I can't really judge the rest though.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
I read this anthology because I love Megan Derr's writing. This one felt... on par for Ms. Derr, nothing spectacular but not bad either. I guess it's because of the short story format. I also felt that the story seems minimalistic and closed off somehow... Maybe because of the highly winterized environment? The story felt a bit claustrophobic for me for some reason... Besides that I felt that the story lack a bit of information that Ms. Derr usually describe in her story. Maybe because there was just two instants when she did that when usually she would did that more often... Regardless, I liked this one quite a bit, 4 stars.
December 19, 2014
Five different authors came together to share these five distinctly different stories with a little holiday flare.
JK Pendragon set the stage for the stories with her gay for you tale that all started with a kiss under the mistletoe. Warren is still recovering from his wife’s death when he attends his best friends Christmas party. Not really in the mood to socialize, he finds himself in the library seeking solace from the festivities, but he is not the only one to need a little peace and quiet. Warren is confused and almost argumentative with Kyung about his sexuality, but when a second kiss leaves him wanting more, Warren quickly deals with his new found attraction to another man.
Talya Andor turns the tables with a spooky ghost story set in Japan with a burgeoning romance between a paranormal investigator and the skater he is assigned to. This short story has a lot of content with the PNR, multi-cultural romance and mysterious aspects all vying for equal attention.
AF Henley confused me with her sci-fi story that included what I think were a fairy and a guardian angel, perhaps these two thoughts of a character in my mind were one in the same? I’ll be honest, I skimmed this one, didn’t quite catch my attention.
EE Ottoman transcends normality with this transgender sci-fi nod that delves into something sinister, exorcism, murder and mayhem all while one of the female leads is transitioning into her new found identity as a male. This one calls for a girly bits warning, including the terminology for said bits.
Megan Derr rounds out this stellar casting with her magical tale with a historical feel. Kingston is a potion maker that Hux has called on to help him with a potion gone wrong. As it turns out, Hux’s boss is the unfortunate recipient of unrequited love that resulted in a love potion gone wrong. But that is just the backdrop for the story, the real focus here is on the relationship between Kingston and Hux, which has been a long time coming you learn as you read the story.
As I said at the start, these are all five distinctly different stories with one common interest, love. While I skimmed through the Henley and Ottoman stories due to subject, all five stories were very well written regardless. My favorite was the budding romance between Warren and Kyung, I would love to read a full length novel for them. If you are looking for a variety of stories from several well versed authors then this steamy Christmas themed anthology will be perfect for you. Romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal activity and healthy dose of passion all underneath the Mistletoe!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
JK Pendragon set the stage for the stories with her gay for you tale that all started with a kiss under the mistletoe. Warren is still recovering from his wife’s death when he attends his best friends Christmas party. Not really in the mood to socialize, he finds himself in the library seeking solace from the festivities, but he is not the only one to need a little peace and quiet. Warren is confused and almost argumentative with Kyung about his sexuality, but when a second kiss leaves him wanting more, Warren quickly deals with his new found attraction to another man.
Talya Andor turns the tables with a spooky ghost story set in Japan with a burgeoning romance between a paranormal investigator and the skater he is assigned to. This short story has a lot of content with the PNR, multi-cultural romance and mysterious aspects all vying for equal attention.
AF Henley confused me with her sci-fi story that included what I think were a fairy and a guardian angel, perhaps these two thoughts of a character in my mind were one in the same? I’ll be honest, I skimmed this one, didn’t quite catch my attention.
EE Ottoman transcends normality with this transgender sci-fi nod that delves into something sinister, exorcism, murder and mayhem all while one of the female leads is transitioning into her new found identity as a male. This one calls for a girly bits warning, including the terminology for said bits.
Megan Derr rounds out this stellar casting with her magical tale with a historical feel. Kingston is a potion maker that Hux has called on to help him with a potion gone wrong. As it turns out, Hux’s boss is the unfortunate recipient of unrequited love that resulted in a love potion gone wrong. But that is just the backdrop for the story, the real focus here is on the relationship between Kingston and Hux, which has been a long time coming you learn as you read the story.
As I said at the start, these are all five distinctly different stories with one common interest, love. While I skimmed through the Henley and Ottoman stories due to subject, all five stories were very well written regardless. My favorite was the budding romance between Warren and Kyung, I would love to read a full length novel for them. If you are looking for a variety of stories from several well versed authors then this steamy Christmas themed anthology will be perfect for you. Romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal activity and healthy dose of passion all underneath the Mistletoe!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
January 17, 2015
3-ish stars. It starts out weaker and gets stronger by the end.
Here for You - 2.5/5
A blind guy, recovering from his ex-wife's unexpected death, meets another guy at a holiday party and sparks fly. I guess?? Actually, I was kind of uncomfortable with how incredibly pushy Kyung-sam was about Warren's sexuality, and they were both so touchy and dramatic I didn't find them very engaging to read about. It was nice to read about a protag with a disability, though, and a couple that wasn't two all-American white guys.
The Christmas Spirit - 2/5
More suuuuper thinly-disguised RPF fic. In this Japan-based story, Ash, an expat paranormal detective, is hired byYuzuru Hanyu uh, sorry, I mean Yuki Hanabishi, an up-and-coming figure skater who is haunted by a mysterious entity and wants Ash to protect him. It dragged on and on despite a straightforward, uninspired mystery and a dull climax. The writing was also kind of awkward in places.
A Beautiful Thing - 2.5/5
Ostensibly a romantic retelling of A Christmas Carol but TBH Scott comes off less "Scrooge" and more "psychotic." He revels in abusing and terrorizing other people, including small children and hapless minimum-wage employees, and makes huge, public, embarrassing scenes to prove some kind of deranged point about how much he hates Christmas. What follows would have been cute-ish, I suppose, except throughout the entire story, I couldn't shake the conviction that what Scott really needed was serious therapy, not ~love.
Ad Meliora - 3.5/5
An-An and M.C., from one of Ottoman's other stories, go to investigate a Christmas curse. The mystery was good, thought the resolution was very rushed and fell flat, and the sex was decently hot. However, I couldn't really reconcile the story part and the mystery part very well. There wasn't a good transition between them and it made the pacing rougher. Similarly, while I was interested in the sub-plot about M.C.'s desire to transition, I didn't understand why they were bringing it up in such a fraught and precarious situation. They knew that the demon would be gone one way or another by Christmas Day; why not just wait twenty-four hours until they and An-An could actually devote uninterrupted attention to the subject? It's lampshaded in-text, but not actually explained, so it seemed a bizarre thing for M.C. to do.
Two Parts Mistletoe - 4/5
Decently cute fluff, nothing out of the ordinary. Derr has her thing and does it well. I enjoyed the actual incorporation of mistletoe into the story beyond its use as decoration. The resolution of the larger plot was admittedly a bit rushed, but it didn't bring the story down too much overall.
Here for You - 2.5/5
A blind guy, recovering from his ex-wife's unexpected death, meets another guy at a holiday party and sparks fly. I guess?? Actually, I was kind of uncomfortable with how incredibly pushy Kyung-sam was about Warren's sexuality, and they were both so touchy and dramatic I didn't find them very engaging to read about. It was nice to read about a protag with a disability, though, and a couple that wasn't two all-American white guys.
The Christmas Spirit - 2/5
More suuuuper thinly-disguised RPF fic. In this Japan-based story, Ash, an expat paranormal detective, is hired by
A Beautiful Thing - 2.5/5
Ostensibly a romantic retelling of A Christmas Carol but TBH Scott comes off less "Scrooge" and more "psychotic." He revels in abusing and terrorizing other people, including small children and hapless minimum-wage employees, and makes huge, public, embarrassing scenes to prove some kind of deranged point about how much he hates Christmas. What follows would have been cute-ish, I suppose, except throughout the entire story, I couldn't shake the conviction that what Scott really needed was serious therapy, not ~love.
Ad Meliora - 3.5/5
An-An and M.C., from one of Ottoman's other stories, go to investigate a Christmas curse. The mystery was good, thought the resolution was very rushed and fell flat, and the sex was decently hot. However, I couldn't really reconcile the story part and the mystery part very well. There wasn't a good transition between them and it made the pacing rougher. Similarly, while I was interested in the sub-plot about M.C.'s desire to transition, I didn't understand why they were bringing it up in such a fraught and precarious situation. They knew that the demon would be gone one way or another by Christmas Day; why not just wait twenty-four hours until they and An-An could actually devote uninterrupted attention to the subject? It's lampshaded in-text, but not actually explained, so it seemed a bizarre thing for M.C. to do.
Two Parts Mistletoe - 4/5
Decently cute fluff, nothing out of the ordinary. Derr has her thing and does it well. I enjoyed the actual incorporation of mistletoe into the story beyond its use as decoration. The resolution of the larger plot was admittedly a bit rushed, but it didn't bring the story down too much overall.
April 24, 2015
Title: A Touch of Mistletoe
Author: A.F. Henley, E.E. Ottoman, J.K. Pendragon, Megan Derr, and Talya Andor
Cover Artist: Aisha Akeju
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay & Lesbian
Length: Novel
Heat Rating: 5 Flames
Book Rating: 4 Stars
A Touch of Mistletoe is a unique collection of holiday shorts. Most of the shorts have a mystical component to them taking you on journeys that toy with your emotions. It is hard to pick one favorite of the bunch but Two Parts Mistletoe comes out on top for me. If you missed this during the holiday season put in on your “to read” list for this year that is unless you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and enjoy them now.
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon – This is just a sweet story about two lonely men who connect and move towards a future together. Warren is blind and has lost his wife his only true love. Kyung is longing for his home life in Korea. The attraction these two find is just what they each need.
The Christmas Spirit by Tayla Andor – Ash Haromon is a psychic detective hired to figure out what is plaguing skating champion Hanabishi Yuki. There is a slow building romance here that is sweet. The mystery is given time to be resolved but so is the relationship between these two relatively shy men.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley – Here we have a twist on the classic A Christmas Story. Scott is the Christmas grump in this story. Due to an encounter with a child at the local store he spouts his disgruntled Christmas beliefs. Dru enters his life and takes Scott on his journey of past, present and future. Their interaction and connection puts a smile on your face and you can’t help liking these men.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman – This gives us a haunting mystical story as to why one family’s Christmas rituals have ended in tragedy for the last few years. An-An and M.C. talents of magic and exorcism combine to make them the right choice for the problem. The love is evident and beautiful between An-An and M.C. as these two women face the real possibility of death.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr – Potions Master Kingston and Hux have been meeting in secret and anonymously at a local club every couple weeks for some time now. Each man believes that there isn’t time for love in their current life. When they run across each other in the open at Two Parts Mistletoe each examines their true feelings for the other. The romance builds and peeks as they disentangle the love potion mystery that brought them together at last.
Review also at WoDF - A Touch of Mistletoe
Author: A.F. Henley, E.E. Ottoman, J.K. Pendragon, Megan Derr, and Talya Andor
Cover Artist: Aisha Akeju
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Reviewer: Jay
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Type: Romance
Pairing: Gay & Lesbian
Length: Novel
Heat Rating: 5 Flames
Book Rating: 4 Stars
A Touch of Mistletoe is a unique collection of holiday shorts. Most of the shorts have a mystical component to them taking you on journeys that toy with your emotions. It is hard to pick one favorite of the bunch but Two Parts Mistletoe comes out on top for me. If you missed this during the holiday season put in on your “to read” list for this year that is unless you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and enjoy them now.
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon – This is just a sweet story about two lonely men who connect and move towards a future together. Warren is blind and has lost his wife his only true love. Kyung is longing for his home life in Korea. The attraction these two find is just what they each need.
The Christmas Spirit by Tayla Andor – Ash Haromon is a psychic detective hired to figure out what is plaguing skating champion Hanabishi Yuki. There is a slow building romance here that is sweet. The mystery is given time to be resolved but so is the relationship between these two relatively shy men.
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley – Here we have a twist on the classic A Christmas Story. Scott is the Christmas grump in this story. Due to an encounter with a child at the local store he spouts his disgruntled Christmas beliefs. Dru enters his life and takes Scott on his journey of past, present and future. Their interaction and connection puts a smile on your face and you can’t help liking these men.
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman – This gives us a haunting mystical story as to why one family’s Christmas rituals have ended in tragedy for the last few years. An-An and M.C. talents of magic and exorcism combine to make them the right choice for the problem. The love is evident and beautiful between An-An and M.C. as these two women face the real possibility of death.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr – Potions Master Kingston and Hux have been meeting in secret and anonymously at a local club every couple weeks for some time now. Each man believes that there isn’t time for love in their current life. When they run across each other in the open at Two Parts Mistletoe each examines their true feelings for the other. The romance builds and peeks as they disentangle the love potion mystery that brought them together at last.
Review also at WoDF - A Touch of Mistletoe
December 13, 2016
There's an earthquake scene where Yuki said "get to the door" and surprised that nobody was out... But in reality, when there's earthquake, you shouldn't run to the door as this is very dangerous, instead just try to hide under table or something that can cover for you.
October 25, 2015
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr - 3.75 stars
December 27, 2014
Really disappointed by this one. the only stories I actually liked are A Beautiful Thing and 2 parts mistletoe. the rest is just meh. expected a lot more from a holiday's anthology.
November 4, 2015
1 - 3.5☆
2 - 2.7☆ Yuki's a cutie but the mystery wasn't really interesting to me.
3 - 3☆ fun
4 -skipped
5 -3☆
2 - 2.7☆ Yuki's a cutie but the mystery wasn't really interesting to me.
3 - 3☆ fun
4 -skipped
5 -3☆
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December 30, 2015Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr is available on her blog for free reading.
December 30, 2016
Really liked Derr story as usual. Some others a bit less... still what I was looking for at this time of year
July 19, 2017
3.5* for Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
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