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Christmas Commitment
A story from Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology
Dick hates Christmas. This year more than ever because he's been dumped by his boyfriend. There's only one way to prove to Zack he's serious about their future together: coming out to his family. Dick might be willing to do that, but what if it's already too late?
Dick hates Christmas. This year more than ever because he's been dumped by his boyfriend. There's only one way to prove to Zack he's serious about their future together: coming out to his family. Dick might be willing to do that, but what if it's already too late?
34 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2014
28 people want to read
About the author
Shayla Mist
14 books24 followersShayla made her debut in the writing world during elementary school with a heart-breaking story about how her grandma's chicks died from an unknown disease. It was published in the school newspaper, spurring a significant amount of pitiful looks directed her way. Being a stubborn Aquarius, she kept on striving, publishing cheesy love poetry, an endeavor that thankfully proved to be far more successful. Her writing life changed dramatically when she read her first yaoi manga and discovered her real calling. Imagining guys together has become her favorite pastime. Aside from writing, daydreaming about men and devouring any M/M book she can get her hands on and, she also loves manga, kpop, jrock, classical music, crafts and art. An earnest romantic, she's always been convinced there's a soulmate out there, searching for her. It appears he's been lost. Maybe word hasn't gotten to him that cars are faster than white horses. In case you've seen a prince on a white horse (though a sports car would be preferable), Shayla would very much appreciate if you let her know. Contact her at shayla.mist@gmail.com or on her blog – shaylamist.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 3, 2016
I'm a big fan of Christmas redemption stories and this is kind of like if A Christmas Carol was written from the POV of Ebenezer Scrooge, and he knew he was an asshole.
I enjoyed watching Dick's emotional transformation throughout the story.
Few thing inspire us to want to be a better version of ourselves than love.
I enjoyed watching Dick's emotional transformation throughout the story.
Few thing inspire us to want to be a better version of ourselves than love.
November 24, 2014
I received this novella as a look-see from Shayla Mist, and immediately I knew it was going to be a quick, but endearing read. I don't usually read M/M stories, but stories are all about characters and bringing them to life, and Ms. Mist does a rock-solid job of doing just that.
The story, told from a first-person POV, involves an around-thirty man named Dick--no joke--who's broken up with his boyfriend Zack just before Christmas. Dick is, well, a bit of a dick by his own admission. Zack has already come out to his folks while Dick is still somewhat in the closet and lost as to how to explain to his parents that he's gay. Going through a lot of soul-searching, admitting that he has been a dick to his boyfriend--trashing his X-Box in a fit of jealousy, for example--Dick finally 'fesses up to his parents and they are more than supportive, saying that they've known all along and it's all right with them.
And herein lies the rub, my only fault-finding factoid. I think that any set of parents would be upset at first. Granted, times are different now than they used to be, but still, parents who are in their fifties or more might not be so forgiving, at least in the initial stages. However, they come off as being decent people, and that's what life is all about, or should be all about.
The characters are somewhat tropis, but stilllikeable. Dick is the everyman, average type, tall and slender, eyes of brown, and calls himself average in every way. Jodi, a friend and fellow sympathizer, is the wisecracking confidante, and a little more about her would have been nice. She's out of the story a third of the way through, never to be heard from again and it would have been nice to see her find out how Dick has fared in his quest.
Zack, by contrast, is practically a Greek god with a penchant for using skin cream, and is considered every gay man's perfect catch although there's not a whole of data about him. He's not perfect--no one is--but to Dick he is what life is all about, and he dreams of settling down with Zack in a domestic partnership/marriage and isn't that what equal rights is all about, anyway?
The bottom line in all this is that love and honesty conquer all, and Ms. Mist does her job well, writing in a loose, carefee and breezy style. Definitely worth buying for the fans of M/M fiction.
The story, told from a first-person POV, involves an around-thirty man named Dick--no joke--who's broken up with his boyfriend Zack just before Christmas. Dick is, well, a bit of a dick by his own admission. Zack has already come out to his folks while Dick is still somewhat in the closet and lost as to how to explain to his parents that he's gay. Going through a lot of soul-searching, admitting that he has been a dick to his boyfriend--trashing his X-Box in a fit of jealousy, for example--Dick finally 'fesses up to his parents and they are more than supportive, saying that they've known all along and it's all right with them.
And herein lies the rub, my only fault-finding factoid. I think that any set of parents would be upset at first. Granted, times are different now than they used to be, but still, parents who are in their fifties or more might not be so forgiving, at least in the initial stages. However, they come off as being decent people, and that's what life is all about, or should be all about.
The characters are somewhat tropis, but stilllikeable. Dick is the everyman, average type, tall and slender, eyes of brown, and calls himself average in every way. Jodi, a friend and fellow sympathizer, is the wisecracking confidante, and a little more about her would have been nice. She's out of the story a third of the way through, never to be heard from again and it would have been nice to see her find out how Dick has fared in his quest.
Zack, by contrast, is practically a Greek god with a penchant for using skin cream, and is considered every gay man's perfect catch although there's not a whole of data about him. He's not perfect--no one is--but to Dick he is what life is all about, and he dreams of settling down with Zack in a domestic partnership/marriage and isn't that what equal rights is all about, anyway?
The bottom line in all this is that love and honesty conquer all, and Ms. Mist does her job well, writing in a loose, carefee and breezy style. Definitely worth buying for the fans of M/M fiction.
November 28, 2014
Shayla Mist nails the POV of a character that was extremely hard to like. We grow along with Dick (no pun intended) and the end result is a great story with a beautiful message.
January 14, 2020
I quite liked the story by the end, but the main character, telling the story from his point of view, Dick...Dickie, approaching thirty and afraid to come out of the closet with regards to his parents, drove me mad.
He is so up hisself and insecure, and unable to make a decision and stick to it, I wanted to slap him one, and I’m not prone to acts of violence...okay, so perhaps not a slap...but a damned good shake then, enough to make his teeth rattle. 🤦🏻♀️😂
Meanwhile, loving boyfriend, Zack, must have had the patience of a saint as he’s spent a couple of YEARS encouraging dear Dickie to come out and tell his parents, and be introduced as his partner of heart and body and sole...soul...that I was thinking, run man, while you can.
Then the whinging, undecidable D goes off alone to his parents for Christmas, and he still doesn’t come out...but is informed by his father that they know he’s gay. This is enough to kick stupid upside the head and want to go back to his beloved...
Actually, if parents don’t realise their almost thirty year old, single, no girlfriends, but lots of girls as pals, isn’t gay, then they must be dense and blind, or so right wing Christian...no, best not go there, nothing complementary can be said of bigots.
Zack, I ask you, is Dick worth it?
No, don’t answer that, Shayla Mist the author does it for you...personally you may have died of hypothermia if I’d been writing your end in this.
Three stars, edited too.
Read as part of Boughs of Evergreen anthology book.
He is so up hisself and insecure, and unable to make a decision and stick to it, I wanted to slap him one, and I’m not prone to acts of violence...okay, so perhaps not a slap...but a damned good shake then, enough to make his teeth rattle. 🤦🏻♀️😂
Meanwhile, loving boyfriend, Zack, must have had the patience of a saint as he’s spent a couple of YEARS encouraging dear Dickie to come out and tell his parents, and be introduced as his partner of heart and body and sole...soul...that I was thinking, run man, while you can.
Then the whinging, undecidable D goes off alone to his parents for Christmas, and he still doesn’t come out...but is informed by his father that they know he’s gay. This is enough to kick stupid upside the head and want to go back to his beloved...
Actually, if parents don’t realise their almost thirty year old, single, no girlfriends, but lots of girls as pals, isn’t gay, then they must be dense and blind, or so right wing Christian...no, best not go there, nothing complementary can be said of bigots.
Zack, I ask you, is Dick worth it?
No, don’t answer that, Shayla Mist the author does it for you...personally you may have died of hypothermia if I’d been writing your end in this.
Three stars, edited too.
Read as part of Boughs of Evergreen anthology book.
February 1, 2015
A brilliant coming-out story.
The MC was great and I loved that he was so flawed and yet managed to be so lovable at the same time. The journey of self-discovery he went on was very interesting and I loved the way the plot slotted together.
A wonderful holiday read.
The MC was great and I loved that he was so flawed and yet managed to be so lovable at the same time. The journey of self-discovery he went on was very interesting and I loved the way the plot slotted together.
A wonderful holiday read.
December 3, 2014
Review being brewed
April 16, 2015
Even though we've just celebrated Easter, I was in the mood for some Christmas cheer, and since I owed Shayla an honest review, I thought I reread this one.
Dick is, well, a dick! But the character is so well created it will not bother you. He is a bit immature and very scared of coming out to his parents, but he's mostly afraid of the change.
Zack is not so well fleshed out, but it doesn't hurt the story at all. It's Dick's story after all. Zack's personality is revealed through Dick's eyes and the ones' of their mutual friend.
On the plus side: well developed and relatable characters, beautiful story, well paced.
Minuses: I found Dick's parents a bit too forgiven, or perhaps everything happens a little too fast after the buildup. And Dick is a bit whiney at times.
In conclusion, this is the best of Shayla's books so far. I strongly recommend.
Dick is, well, a dick! But the character is so well created it will not bother you. He is a bit immature and very scared of coming out to his parents, but he's mostly afraid of the change.
Zack is not so well fleshed out, but it doesn't hurt the story at all. It's Dick's story after all. Zack's personality is revealed through Dick's eyes and the ones' of their mutual friend.
On the plus side: well developed and relatable characters, beautiful story, well paced.
Minuses: I found Dick's parents a bit too forgiven, or perhaps everything happens a little too fast after the buildup. And Dick is a bit whiney at times.
In conclusion, this is the best of Shayla's books so far. I strongly recommend.
September 16, 2017
I find impossible to believe that level of miscommunication between D. and his parents, it's not consistent with their personalities.
December 24, 2015
2.5 stars
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January 3, 2016A lovely story; even though the main character isn't instantly likeable, he does grow on you, and you do feel for him when at one point fate seems to be very much against him.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews