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Celebrate!
Buone Feste, Felices Fiestas, Frohe Feiertage, Joyeuses Fêtes, Happy Holidays! The end-of-the-year holidays bring celebrations of all kinds, and romance is at an all-time high. Take a trip around the world and enjoy these stories of life, love, and happiness. Your Christmas present to yourself!
Best Laid Plans by John Amory
Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross and Emma Michaels
Coming of Age by Venona Keyes
The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox
Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna
Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade
Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain
The Journey Back by Kristen Slater
King of Me by R. A. Kaitland
Krampusz by Lou Harper
Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy
The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo
Love Light by Jane Darius
The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker
Minstrel's Solstice by Nicole Dennis
My You by Tamer Lorika
Neighbors by Emma Wilson
A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson
Quite A Spectacle by Meg Harding
Saint Martin's Day by Kim Fielding
Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons
Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer
A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll
Stardust by Andrew Grey
The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael
Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor
The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen
Under a New Star by Leo d'Entremont
Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan
What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey
Best Laid Plans by John Amory
Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross and Emma Michaels
Coming of Age by Venona Keyes
The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox
Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna
Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade
Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain
The Journey Back by Kristen Slater
King of Me by R. A. Kaitland
Krampusz by Lou Harper
Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy
The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo
Love Light by Jane Darius
The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker
Minstrel's Solstice by Nicole Dennis
My You by Tamer Lorika
Neighbors by Emma Wilson
A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson
Quite A Spectacle by Meg Harding
Saint Martin's Day by Kim Fielding
Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons
Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer
A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll
Stardust by Andrew Grey
The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael
Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor
The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen
Under a New Star by Leo d'Entremont
Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan
What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey
ebook
First published December 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
John Amory
17 books63 followersJohn Amory is the defunct pen name of an educator and administrator living outside Philadelphia. He previously authored several short works of erotic and romantic queer fiction, but he now spends his days working in non-profits.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 9, 2014
2.5 stars
(But please see my reviews for the 4 and 3.5 star books below.)
Updated: Because the overall quality of the stories was not great this year (with a few exceptions, of course), I'm not going to read any more. Dreamspinner put a strict word count on these stories, which I think is unfortunate.
I think the majority of readers would rather have a longer story with PLOT, feels, and character development than a super short, trite, forgettable one.
Definitely not celebrating.
*********************************************************
There are 31 stories in the 2014 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar. This year's theme is Celebrate!
Let's get our warm and fuzzy on!
And vow to be naughty.
I won't be reading/rating all the stories, but I'll review the few I selected below (listed in order of my best best to worst rating).
Ilya and the Wolf
Rory Ni Coileain
~4.25~
Gorgeous! I have never heard of this author, but I really liked this story. Part Russian fable, part classic contemporary romance, this one felt complete, even though it was barely 300 locations on my Kindle.
The writing is lovely and evocative. The homophobia of Mother Russia plays on page in all its abhorrent glory, creating quite a contrast against the harsh winter landscape as Ilya and his two buffoonish, cruel brothers go out to cut firewood for their billionaire oligarch father on Russian Christmas Eve (January 6).
There is sadness here, but also sacrifice and a forever love. This is not a typical shifter story; it feels older, like a forgotten legend. I loved the atmosphere in this story and really liked Ilya and Volyk together.
Saint Martin's Day
Kim Fielding
~4~
Fielding has an amazing ability to draw me into a story with fully realized characters and setting without resorting to info dumping. I love that this story is set in Croatia during the Saint Martin's Day (November 11) celebration.
Years ago, Neno picked family over love, heritage over happiness. When Toby, the only man Neno has ever loved, finds Neno (in a library!) half a decade later, Neno is ready for a new beginning.
I would have liked this to be twice as long to bask in the culture of Croatia and see more on-page interaction between Toby and Neno. Their reunion came too quickly. I'm also interested in the dynamics of Neno's old-school family, which were mostly glossed over.
This is short but quite lovely with stellar writing (of course!), a lovers-reuniting-after-years-apart theme, and an ultra sparkly HEA.
Krampusz
Lou Harper
~3.5~
This one was a nice surprise and made me miss Budapest! Bookish, ordinary Brian arrives in Hungary to teach English to children. His roommate is the slightly scary, bearded Zoli.
Zoli gives Brian the evil eye from day one, but Brian slowly warms to his grumpy roommate. And Zoli doesn't stay grumpy for long.
I loved the Hungarian setting and the bit of smex. The little "mystery" as to why Zoli is suspicious of Brian was nicely resolved. I didn't see it coming, and I'm glad.
As for the title, you'll need to read the story to get the significance.
(This would have been 4 stars had it not been for a few unfortunate typos. There was a particularly bad one at the end where Brian's friend Kate is referred to as "Kat." I thought Harper had introduced another character for a moment.)
Hummingbird House
Kenzie Cade
~3.5~
Romantic, tender, and bittersweet, this story is about family and coming home.
After his beloved grandma passes away, Trent returns to the small English town where he spent a chunk of his childhood to claim the Hummingbird House, which has been in the family for generations.
Heading home means Trent has to face Callum again, the man who broke his young heart.
The letters Trent's grandma wrote her loved ones were lovely, even though considering her illness, I'm not entirely convinced she could have managed such a big undertaking.
I liked the dual POV and the sexy scene at the end.
Callum's family made for a nice set of secondary characters, and the spirit of the season shone through. We needed more time with the MCs and an epilogue set further in the future, but the author made me believe the HEA.
The Magic of Weihnachten
Bru Baker
~3~
The German setting in Baker's story is wonderful, and the writing is quite strong, but I never connected with the MCs.
Walsh was whiny; Dierck, jolly and easygoing. Since the story is told from Walsh's POV, I was never sure why Dierck wanted to take things so slowly. It didn't feel believable.
I really enjoyed the scenes at the cabin: the men cuddling by the fire and cutting down a Christmas tree, but the book definitely needed some steam to add spark to the plot. There was nary a kiss here and no real tension. The ending was also too tentative.
An extra star thrown in for German culture, traditions, and pastries! That was by far my favorite part of the story.
A Night Never Forgotten
SJD Peterson
~2.5~
This story has an oddly detached quality and a rather heavy theme.
Braylon and Ross meet once, but Braylon never forgets Ross. He returns to their first meeting place at an ice skating rink the first week in December time and time again even after he falls ill, but finding Ross proves an impossibility.
Aided by an enigmatic older gentleman named Chris (*ahem*), Braylon doesn't give up, but his body gives up for him.
While I appreciated the sweetness of Ross's "gift," the men needed much more time on page together. The character of Chris is introduced abruptly and not integrated into the story enough.
Despite the overall cheesiness of the plot, however, the ending promises a hopeful future.
The Swag Man Delivers
Sean Michael
~2.5~
An American and a Canadian meet at a bar . . .
No, wait, wrong joke.
They meet at a BEACH. In Australia. On Christmas day. They fuck for hours at an air-conditioned hotel and decide to spend New Year's together too.
The end.
The ratio of sex-to-plot was high, maybe too high. There was no meat to this story.
I've read several Michael stories, and his writing just doesn't quite agree with me. All his MCs sound like groovy surfers, and the prose is frantic and flits around too much.
That being said, the story certainly got its SMEX on! If you're in the mood for sex and candy, this is the way to go.
The Virgin Miracle
Rob Rosen
~1.5~
No virgins were harmed in the writing of this book!
To be clear: There ARE no virgins in this books.
But there are two guys who meet on a plane, give each other hand jobs in the bathroom, spend a night fucking, and then go their separate ways. Maybe.
There was no character development of any kind here. I skimmed the sex scene. *shakes head sadly* Which is practically unheard of. But why bother when it's just like shake, rinse, repeat?
I need more in my holiday stories: PLOT, creativity, interesting MCs, feel-goodness. Cock is all well and good, but it just doesn't cut it anymore.
I have a quote though; do with it what you will:
PURELL! Cause nothing says romantic like an asshole on fire.
Neighbors
Emma Wilson
~1.5~
This one is just boring, watch-the-noodles-cook kind of boring.
The MCs don't interact until the book is almost over. They have four pages together during which they watch a movie, talk a little, kiss, and fall asleep on the couch.
And that's it: no HEA, no HFN, no Christmas (some talk of an American Christmas feast).
The entire thing is about each MC crushing on the other, and their friends interfering to get them together. It was kind of cute, for like 5 pages, but it was all downhill from there.
Wait for Me
T.S. Morgan
~1.5~
This story would have been more successful has it been set in, say, 2009, not 1989. As such, it felt too contemporary, anachronistic even.
TJ and Jamie meet in Scotland; their grandfathers were lovers. Neither man is gay, but they fall in love and eventually have babies with a surrogate.
I believe the first documented case of a same-sex couple using a surrogate wasn't until the late 90s; surrogacy was barely available to "traditional" different-sex couples in the 80s and early-90s. Come on. RESEARCH.
This was one of the worst cases of Insta Love ever. Everything is told, not shown; we spend almost no time with the MCs at all. The (virgin) sex is off-page, and the GFY aspect is brushed of as "it's not about the gender." *face palm*
Nothing about this story says holidays or Christmas.
The letters the grandfathers write to one another also feel too contemporary. Homosexuality was a crime in Scotland until 1980 (!), and these men are professing their love in letters written in the 1920s. NO, just NO.
Extra half-star because Jamie was a cute pixie and the writing was decent, but I seriously don't know what the author was thinking with this one.
Business or Pleasure
Michael Cross and Emma Thompson
~1~
I don't even know where to begin with this one. The relationship happens off page. Three years pass somehow; I had to flip the pages to see if I missed something.
There is a sort of "robbery" during a company Christmas party, but that's about it as far as the holidays go.
The characters are wooden, the plot spastic and random. One of the MCs, Alex, is the biggest, homophobic asshole; he has NO redeeming qualities. Yet the other MC, Ian, puts up with his shit time and time again. There's cheating (one of the MCs is engaged to a woman), a "crime, and a rushed HFN.
Just say no to bad stories!
(But please see my reviews for the 4 and 3.5 star books below.)
Updated: Because the overall quality of the stories was not great this year (with a few exceptions, of course), I'm not going to read any more. Dreamspinner put a strict word count on these stories, which I think is unfortunate.
I think the majority of readers would rather have a longer story with PLOT, feels, and character development than a super short, trite, forgettable one.
Definitely not celebrating.
*********************************************************
There are 31 stories in the 2014 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar. This year's theme is Celebrate!
Let's get our warm and fuzzy on!
And vow to be naughty.
I won't be reading/rating all the stories, but I'll review the few I selected below (listed in order of my best best to worst rating).
Ilya and the Wolf
Rory Ni Coileain
~4.25~
Gorgeous! I have never heard of this author, but I really liked this story. Part Russian fable, part classic contemporary romance, this one felt complete, even though it was barely 300 locations on my Kindle.
The writing is lovely and evocative. The homophobia of Mother Russia plays on page in all its abhorrent glory, creating quite a contrast against the harsh winter landscape as Ilya and his two buffoonish, cruel brothers go out to cut firewood for their billionaire oligarch father on Russian Christmas Eve (January 6).
There is sadness here, but also sacrifice and a forever love. This is not a typical shifter story; it feels older, like a forgotten legend. I loved the atmosphere in this story and really liked Ilya and Volyk together.
"I ask you to choose me. Then, when you leave here I will be by your side, and when we return . . . You will be mine. Always."
Saint Martin's Day
Kim Fielding
~4~
Fielding has an amazing ability to draw me into a story with fully realized characters and setting without resorting to info dumping. I love that this story is set in Croatia during the Saint Martin's Day (November 11) celebration.
Years ago, Neno picked family over love, heritage over happiness. When Toby, the only man Neno has ever loved, finds Neno (in a library!) half a decade later, Neno is ready for a new beginning.
I would have liked this to be twice as long to bask in the culture of Croatia and see more on-page interaction between Toby and Neno. Their reunion came too quickly. I'm also interested in the dynamics of Neno's old-school family, which were mostly glossed over.
This is short but quite lovely with stellar writing (of course!), a lovers-reuniting-after-years-apart theme, and an ultra sparkly HEA.
Krampusz
Lou Harper
~3.5~
This one was a nice surprise and made me miss Budapest! Bookish, ordinary Brian arrives in Hungary to teach English to children. His roommate is the slightly scary, bearded Zoli.
Zoli gives Brian the evil eye from day one, but Brian slowly warms to his grumpy roommate. And Zoli doesn't stay grumpy for long.
I loved the Hungarian setting and the bit of smex. The little "mystery" as to why Zoli is suspicious of Brian was nicely resolved. I didn't see it coming, and I'm glad.
As for the title, you'll need to read the story to get the significance.
(This would have been 4 stars had it not been for a few unfortunate typos. There was a particularly bad one at the end where Brian's friend Kate is referred to as "Kat." I thought Harper had introduced another character for a moment.)
Hummingbird House
Kenzie Cade
~3.5~
Romantic, tender, and bittersweet, this story is about family and coming home.
After his beloved grandma passes away, Trent returns to the small English town where he spent a chunk of his childhood to claim the Hummingbird House, which has been in the family for generations.
Heading home means Trent has to face Callum again, the man who broke his young heart.
The letters Trent's grandma wrote her loved ones were lovely, even though considering her illness, I'm not entirely convinced she could have managed such a big undertaking.
I liked the dual POV and the sexy scene at the end.
Callum's family made for a nice set of secondary characters, and the spirit of the season shone through. We needed more time with the MCs and an epilogue set further in the future, but the author made me believe the HEA.
The Magic of Weihnachten
Bru Baker
~3~
The German setting in Baker's story is wonderful, and the writing is quite strong, but I never connected with the MCs.
Walsh was whiny; Dierck, jolly and easygoing. Since the story is told from Walsh's POV, I was never sure why Dierck wanted to take things so slowly. It didn't feel believable.
I really enjoyed the scenes at the cabin: the men cuddling by the fire and cutting down a Christmas tree, but the book definitely needed some steam to add spark to the plot. There was nary a kiss here and no real tension. The ending was also too tentative.
An extra star thrown in for German culture, traditions, and pastries! That was by far my favorite part of the story.
A Night Never Forgotten
SJD Peterson
~2.5~
This story has an oddly detached quality and a rather heavy theme.
Braylon and Ross meet once, but Braylon never forgets Ross. He returns to their first meeting place at an ice skating rink the first week in December time and time again even after he falls ill, but finding Ross proves an impossibility.
Aided by an enigmatic older gentleman named Chris (*ahem*), Braylon doesn't give up, but his body gives up for him.
While I appreciated the sweetness of Ross's "gift," the men needed much more time on page together. The character of Chris is introduced abruptly and not integrated into the story enough.
Despite the overall cheesiness of the plot, however, the ending promises a hopeful future.
The Swag Man Delivers
Sean Michael
~2.5~
An American and a Canadian meet at a bar . . .
No, wait, wrong joke.
They meet at a BEACH. In Australia. On Christmas day. They fuck for hours at an air-conditioned hotel and decide to spend New Year's together too.
The end.
The ratio of sex-to-plot was high, maybe too high. There was no meat to this story.
I've read several Michael stories, and his writing just doesn't quite agree with me. All his MCs sound like groovy surfers, and the prose is frantic and flits around too much.
That being said, the story certainly got its SMEX on! If you're in the mood for sex and candy, this is the way to go.
The Virgin Miracle
Rob Rosen
~1.5~
No virgins were harmed in the writing of this book!
To be clear: There ARE no virgins in this books.
But there are two guys who meet on a plane, give each other hand jobs in the bathroom, spend a night fucking, and then go their separate ways. Maybe.
There was no character development of any kind here. I skimmed the sex scene. *shakes head sadly* Which is practically unheard of. But why bother when it's just like shake, rinse, repeat?
I need more in my holiday stories: PLOT, creativity, interesting MCs, feel-goodness. Cock is all well and good, but it just doesn't cut it anymore.
I have a quote though; do with it what you will:
His asshole winked out, all come hither like. Naturally, I came yon. I smacked the head of my cock against his waiting port. Down dripped Purell. In slid my prick.
PURELL! Cause nothing says romantic like an asshole on fire.
Neighbors
Emma Wilson
~1.5~
This one is just boring, watch-the-noodles-cook kind of boring.
The MCs don't interact until the book is almost over. They have four pages together during which they watch a movie, talk a little, kiss, and fall asleep on the couch.
And that's it: no HEA, no HFN, no Christmas (some talk of an American Christmas feast).
The entire thing is about each MC crushing on the other, and their friends interfering to get them together. It was kind of cute, for like 5 pages, but it was all downhill from there.
Wait for Me
T.S. Morgan
~1.5~
This story would have been more successful has it been set in, say, 2009, not 1989. As such, it felt too contemporary, anachronistic even.
TJ and Jamie meet in Scotland; their grandfathers were lovers. Neither man is gay, but they fall in love and eventually have babies with a surrogate.
I believe the first documented case of a same-sex couple using a surrogate wasn't until the late 90s; surrogacy was barely available to "traditional" different-sex couples in the 80s and early-90s. Come on. RESEARCH.
This was one of the worst cases of Insta Love ever. Everything is told, not shown; we spend almost no time with the MCs at all. The (virgin) sex is off-page, and the GFY aspect is brushed of as "it's not about the gender." *face palm*
Nothing about this story says holidays or Christmas.
The letters the grandfathers write to one another also feel too contemporary. Homosexuality was a crime in Scotland until 1980 (!), and these men are professing their love in letters written in the 1920s. NO, just NO.
Extra half-star because Jamie was a cute pixie and the writing was decent, but I seriously don't know what the author was thinking with this one.
Business or Pleasure
Michael Cross and Emma Thompson
~1~
I don't even know where to begin with this one. The relationship happens off page. Three years pass somehow; I had to flip the pages to see if I missed something.
There is a sort of "robbery" during a company Christmas party, but that's about it as far as the holidays go.
The characters are wooden, the plot spastic and random. One of the MCs, Alex, is the biggest, homophobic asshole; he has NO redeeming qualities. Yet the other MC, Ian, puts up with his shit time and time again. There's cheating (one of the MCs is engaged to a woman), a "crime, and a rushed HFN.
Just say no to bad stories!
December 23, 2014
I'm only reading a few of these puppies to review for My Fiction Nook.
"The Swag Man Delivers" by Sean Michael - 3 stars
"The Virgin Miracle" by Rob Rosen- 1 star
"Neighbors" by Emma Wilson- 3 stars
"Wait For Me" by T.S. Morgan- 1.5 stars
That's all for now!
"The Swag Man Delivers" by Sean Michael - 3 stars
"The Virgin Miracle" by Rob Rosen- 1 star
"Neighbors" by Emma Wilson- 3 stars
"Wait For Me" by T.S. Morgan- 1.5 stars
That's all for now!
May 4, 2016
Yay! Its Advent time again. :D
Day 1: Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross and Emma Michaels (2 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 2: Saint Martin's Day by Kim Fielding (3.75 stars)
Love the setting and anything Fielding writes for that matter. Was a little shocked at how fast they went from 'nice to see you again' to 'let's get hitched,' though.
Day 3: A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson (3 stars)
The chances of that happening are so astronomically high that I had a hard time buying it.
Day 4: Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy (3.5 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 5: The Journey Back by Kristen Slater (3 stars)
Too many bloody flashbacks. Which, honestly, makes sense for the story since the dude is stuck on a train for a good portion of it, but I don't like flashbacks. I was having fun reading the present but i kept getting thrown back in time. It was annoying. And when he finally does get there...it just went from anxiety/doubt/fear to flowers/kittens/unicorns way too fast.
Day 6: Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons (2.5 stars)
Annoying best friend. Bored. (Is the only reason for breaking up in gay-land, finding your partner in bed with someone else?? Does no one just get tired of being in a relationship and call it quits?) Bored. [Repeat entire backstory here] Bored. Sparks! (unfortunately they're just fireworks). Lots of sex.
Basically? Dude runs into his ex, then they have sex. Not bad, just you know, kinda boring.
Day 7: Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey (2.5 stars)
Not so much a case of "the lady doth protest too much," as it is "the lady barely protested at all before flinging up her skirts and yelling 'get over here, big boy!'"
Seriously, while I enjoyed the bits of Korean culture in this short story, these guys went from 'we can never be together' to 'yay! gay orgy' in the amount of time it took them to drink a beer. And even if I cannot claim extensive knowledge of Korean culture, I would think that it would take more than just few comments to combat the societal and familial expectations these men will have to deal with for not only being gay, but being in a three-way relationship.
Also, you have no idea where those asses have been in the last ten years, so for gods sake, put a fucking condom on!
Day 8: The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo (4 stars)
Really like the mix of Welsh and Druidic traditions in this one. No magic in this one, but I enjoyed reading about the way these two guys celebrated their holidays in two different ways.
(Even if I get weepy anytime anyone brings up Ianto. By far the most horrible thing they ever did on that show.)
Day 9: King of Me by R.A. Kaitland (2 stars)
I'm sorry, I just can't do it. I can't be afraid of something called the 'goat alliance.' It just sounds too damn ridiculous. I had a hard time getting into this, and it never really got any better.
Day 10: My You by Tamer Lorika (4.5 stars)
Very sweet and very good. You will however not find me eating a sheep's head any time soon (or ever, if I have my way).
Day 11: Minstrel's Solstice by Nicole Dennis (3 stars)
I liked the magical aspect of this, though I wished we could have seen more of this world. I'm not a big fan of music/songs in stories because I think a lot of it gets lost when translated into just pure words. You are basically left with just poetry, and that is not the same thing as music. It doesn't have the same influence on me, and I just tend to skip over it, as I did here. I would have much rather had more story and less of the song near the end.
Day 12: Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna (4.5 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 13: Love Lights by Jane Darius (3.5 stars)
Very nice, quite enjoyed that. What exactly does one have to do to get a shower tree, anyways?? Not that taking a shower outside right now seems like a good thing to do, though.
Day 14: Krampusz by Lou Harper (4 stars)
Liked that. The whole Krampusz thing was cool, and we got to see a bit of Budapest again, with was nice. Kinda makes me want to go and read some more Lou Harper, though heaven only knows where I would actually find the time for the rereads.
Day 15: The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox (2 stars)
So...Peter ended up firing him in the future because either a)he wasn't fun or b)he didn't have sex with someone. That seems like a rather douchey thing to do. I'm pretty sure that Jae can do better than someone like that.
Also, the whole ghost of Christmas thing only seems to work with me when the consequences are not this stupid. He got fired. Yeah that sucks, but not the end of the world. Also, I find family members who constantly push at you to get in a relationship or else your life is meaningless, to be completely annoying.
Yeah, he should man up and tell Peter that he has a crush on him, but I somehow doubt that his life is going to fall completely apart if he doesn't. Oh no! He has to eat ramen-noodles!! However shall he cope with that??!! Not the best food in the world, but it isn't like he is starving, and maybe then he can get a job with someone who isn't a complete prick and won't fire him for 'not being fun anymore.'
Day 16: The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen (1.5 stars)
Ok...yeah. Um. Let's just say that this author really really like describing things. Mostly to the detriment of the story.
And 'turgid tool' sounds like something you really need to see your doctor about.
Day 17: Best Laid Plans by John Amory (2.5 stars)
The constant alien invasions?? (*cough* doctor who joke *cough*)
Not bad, but I did come out of this feel a tad bit out of breath. The sentences did run on...and on, and on. Also, there didn't seem to be much story here, not with the characters anyways. Mostly it was just about how horrible London (and anyone who lives there) is.
Day 18: Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade (4.25 stars)
After a day of headaches it was nice to fall into this short story. It was well written and despite the misunderstandings that happen here, it didn't feel like the author was just doing it to jerk our chains. These are some really nice characters and I wouldn't mind reading more about them at another time.
Day 19: Neighbors by Emma Wilson (4 stars)
I'm totally crossing off 'Open My Own Restaurant' off the list of things I might do one day. I pretty sure I end up in jail for killing everyone who worked for me, after a week. But other than commiserations with Rhys for his lack of quality employees, I really enjoyed the story. Both guys were a bit clueless, but it was a cute story and I liked it.
Day 20: Quite A Spectacle by Meg Harding (4.5 stars)
Really liked this one. Not a perfect family, but they got there in the end. Though, as hot as i might think going at it in a gazebo, in the middle of night may be, I'm quite surprised their balls didn't run screaming back into their bodies and refuse to ever come back out again.
Day 21: A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll (2.5 stars)
All that build-up and we didn't even get to see the fireworks. :(
This was ok, I guess. Parts of it were certainly funny, but a lot of it was simply told to us, not shown, so I couldn't help but be a little bored. I wanted to see all the crazy family stuff, instead the story skipped right over it, and let it be told to us later. Wasn't nearly as fun as it would have been having actually seen it. So it was basically all build up but no bang. Barely even a fizzle.
Day 22: Under a New Star by Leo d'Entremont (4.5 stars)
I've been saving this one because I really liked the blurb, and I'm glad I did, because this was really good. I loved the idea of the morphs. And I hope that the author decides to bring us more of this world since I'd love to know how these people get along on the new planet. Very enjoyable.
Day 23: Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan (1.5 stars)
ugh...where's the story? Is it hiding somewhere i can't see, 'cause to be honest that felt like a jumble of scenes...and not one of them had much in the way of storytelling. Not to mention that it is pushing it to sell me a GFY story in 21 pages...there was really no way I was going to buy a double GFY in that page count.
Day 24: What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey (4 stars)
I was splitting my time between reading this and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol so my concentration while reading this was a bit shot...but it was a good story. The dude's dad was a major douche though. I mean, I have daddy issues up the wazoo, but at least he never tried to screw me over like this. So, there's my bit of holiday cheer.
Day 25: Coming of Age by Venona Keyes (2 stars)
Enjoyment of this was mostly hampered by the fact that I have no interest whatsoever in manga, thereby had no clue what they were talking about half the time. But in addition to that the storytelling seemed rather stilted and I never really connected with any of the characters.
Day 26: Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer (3 stars)
To be honest, in the game of chicken between your car and that moose...my money's on the moose. Sorry.
This was good for the most part, but I couldn't get past the fact that Ian's reaction to the 'secret' was an incredible overreaction. He acted like he found out Jake had been secretly keeping a wife and eight children on the side, when all it really was
Day 27: The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael (3 stars)
Ok, I guess. Didn't really help that I find characters with weird names to be annoying, but the sex was hot (just a lot of it).
Day 28: The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker (4 stars)
I liked that. Glad that Walsh didn't suddenly wake up and become some kind of christmas fanatic, but also that he wasn't so much of a grump, either. nice.
Day 29: Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain (4 stars)
Kinda depressing and touching all at the same time. Enjoyed it though.
Day 30: Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor (3 stars)
I enjoyed the Aussie flavor of this, but sometime the characters got a bit annoying. I liked the drag aspect, though. Mostly a mixed bag.
Day 31: Stardust by Andrew Grey (4 stars)
Well it was nice to wrap up this year's advent calendar on a high note. A very nice story and I'm glad they go their happy-ish ending.
Day 1: Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross and Emma Michaels (2 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 2: Saint Martin's Day by Kim Fielding (3.75 stars)
Love the setting and anything Fielding writes for that matter. Was a little shocked at how fast they went from 'nice to see you again' to 'let's get hitched,' though.
Day 3: A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson (3 stars)
The chances of that happening are so astronomically high that I had a hard time buying it.
Day 4: Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy (3.5 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 5: The Journey Back by Kristen Slater (3 stars)
Too many bloody flashbacks. Which, honestly, makes sense for the story since the dude is stuck on a train for a good portion of it, but I don't like flashbacks. I was having fun reading the present but i kept getting thrown back in time. It was annoying. And when he finally does get there...it just went from anxiety/doubt/fear to flowers/kittens/unicorns way too fast.
Day 6: Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons (2.5 stars)
Annoying best friend. Bored. (Is the only reason for breaking up in gay-land, finding your partner in bed with someone else?? Does no one just get tired of being in a relationship and call it quits?) Bored. [Repeat entire backstory here] Bored. Sparks! (unfortunately they're just fireworks). Lots of sex.
Basically? Dude runs into his ex, then they have sex. Not bad, just you know, kinda boring.
Day 7: Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey (2.5 stars)
Not so much a case of "the lady doth protest too much," as it is "the lady barely protested at all before flinging up her skirts and yelling 'get over here, big boy!'"
Seriously, while I enjoyed the bits of Korean culture in this short story, these guys went from 'we can never be together' to 'yay! gay orgy' in the amount of time it took them to drink a beer. And even if I cannot claim extensive knowledge of Korean culture, I would think that it would take more than just few comments to combat the societal and familial expectations these men will have to deal with for not only being gay, but being in a three-way relationship.
Also, you have no idea where those asses have been in the last ten years, so for gods sake, put a fucking condom on!
Day 8: The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo (4 stars)
Really like the mix of Welsh and Druidic traditions in this one. No magic in this one, but I enjoyed reading about the way these two guys celebrated their holidays in two different ways.
(Even if I get weepy anytime anyone brings up Ianto. By far the most horrible thing they ever did on that show.)
Day 9: King of Me by R.A. Kaitland (2 stars)
I'm sorry, I just can't do it. I can't be afraid of something called the 'goat alliance.' It just sounds too damn ridiculous. I had a hard time getting into this, and it never really got any better.
Day 10: My You by Tamer Lorika (4.5 stars)
Very sweet and very good. You will however not find me eating a sheep's head any time soon (or ever, if I have my way).
Day 11: Minstrel's Solstice by Nicole Dennis (3 stars)
I liked the magical aspect of this, though I wished we could have seen more of this world. I'm not a big fan of music/songs in stories because I think a lot of it gets lost when translated into just pure words. You are basically left with just poetry, and that is not the same thing as music. It doesn't have the same influence on me, and I just tend to skip over it, as I did here. I would have much rather had more story and less of the song near the end.
Day 12: Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna (4.5 stars)
Read the full review here at Love Bytes.
Day 13: Love Lights by Jane Darius (3.5 stars)
Very nice, quite enjoyed that. What exactly does one have to do to get a shower tree, anyways?? Not that taking a shower outside right now seems like a good thing to do, though.
Day 14: Krampusz by Lou Harper (4 stars)
Liked that. The whole Krampusz thing was cool, and we got to see a bit of Budapest again, with was nice. Kinda makes me want to go and read some more Lou Harper, though heaven only knows where I would actually find the time for the rereads.
Day 15: The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox (2 stars)
So...Peter ended up firing him in the future because either a)he wasn't fun or b)he didn't have sex with someone. That seems like a rather douchey thing to do. I'm pretty sure that Jae can do better than someone like that.
Also, the whole ghost of Christmas thing only seems to work with me when the consequences are not this stupid. He got fired. Yeah that sucks, but not the end of the world. Also, I find family members who constantly push at you to get in a relationship or else your life is meaningless, to be completely annoying.
Yeah, he should man up and tell Peter that he has a crush on him, but I somehow doubt that his life is going to fall completely apart if he doesn't. Oh no! He has to eat ramen-noodles!! However shall he cope with that??!! Not the best food in the world, but it isn't like he is starving, and maybe then he can get a job with someone who isn't a complete prick and won't fire him for 'not being fun anymore.'
Day 16: The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen (1.5 stars)
Ok...yeah. Um. Let's just say that this author really really like describing things. Mostly to the detriment of the story.
And 'turgid tool' sounds like something you really need to see your doctor about.
Day 17: Best Laid Plans by John Amory (2.5 stars)
What was it about the holidays in London that made everyone so miserable?
The constant alien invasions?? (*cough* doctor who joke *cough*)
Not bad, but I did come out of this feel a tad bit out of breath. The sentences did run on...and on, and on. Also, there didn't seem to be much story here, not with the characters anyways. Mostly it was just about how horrible London (and anyone who lives there) is.
Day 18: Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade (4.25 stars)
After a day of headaches it was nice to fall into this short story. It was well written and despite the misunderstandings that happen here, it didn't feel like the author was just doing it to jerk our chains. These are some really nice characters and I wouldn't mind reading more about them at another time.
Day 19: Neighbors by Emma Wilson (4 stars)
I'm totally crossing off 'Open My Own Restaurant' off the list of things I might do one day. I pretty sure I end up in jail for killing everyone who worked for me, after a week. But other than commiserations with Rhys for his lack of quality employees, I really enjoyed the story. Both guys were a bit clueless, but it was a cute story and I liked it.
Day 20: Quite A Spectacle by Meg Harding (4.5 stars)
Really liked this one. Not a perfect family, but they got there in the end. Though, as hot as i might think going at it in a gazebo, in the middle of night may be, I'm quite surprised their balls didn't run screaming back into their bodies and refuse to ever come back out again.
Day 21: A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll (2.5 stars)
All that build-up and we didn't even get to see the fireworks. :(
This was ok, I guess. Parts of it were certainly funny, but a lot of it was simply told to us, not shown, so I couldn't help but be a little bored. I wanted to see all the crazy family stuff, instead the story skipped right over it, and let it be told to us later. Wasn't nearly as fun as it would have been having actually seen it. So it was basically all build up but no bang. Barely even a fizzle.
Day 22: Under a New Star by Leo d'Entremont (4.5 stars)
I've been saving this one because I really liked the blurb, and I'm glad I did, because this was really good. I loved the idea of the morphs. And I hope that the author decides to bring us more of this world since I'd love to know how these people get along on the new planet. Very enjoyable.
Day 23: Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan (1.5 stars)
ugh...where's the story? Is it hiding somewhere i can't see, 'cause to be honest that felt like a jumble of scenes...and not one of them had much in the way of storytelling. Not to mention that it is pushing it to sell me a GFY story in 21 pages...there was really no way I was going to buy a double GFY in that page count.
Day 24: What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey (4 stars)
I was splitting my time between reading this and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol so my concentration while reading this was a bit shot...but it was a good story. The dude's dad was a major douche though. I mean, I have daddy issues up the wazoo, but at least he never tried to screw me over like this. So, there's my bit of holiday cheer.
Day 25: Coming of Age by Venona Keyes (2 stars)
Enjoyment of this was mostly hampered by the fact that I have no interest whatsoever in manga, thereby had no clue what they were talking about half the time. But in addition to that the storytelling seemed rather stilted and I never really connected with any of the characters.
Day 26: Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer (3 stars)
Their house stood on a clearing at the end of a “road” that was even more narrow than the one where we nearly killed the moose.
To be honest, in the game of chicken between your car and that moose...my money's on the moose. Sorry.
This was good for the most part, but I couldn't get past the fact that Ian's reaction to the 'secret' was an incredible overreaction. He acted like he found out Jake had been secretly keeping a wife and eight children on the side, when all it really was
Day 27: The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael (3 stars)
Ok, I guess. Didn't really help that I find characters with weird names to be annoying, but the sex was hot (just a lot of it).
Day 28: The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker (4 stars)
I liked that. Glad that Walsh didn't suddenly wake up and become some kind of christmas fanatic, but also that he wasn't so much of a grump, either. nice.
Day 29: Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain (4 stars)
Kinda depressing and touching all at the same time. Enjoyed it though.
Day 30: Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor (3 stars)
I enjoyed the Aussie flavor of this, but sometime the characters got a bit annoying. I liked the drag aspect, though. Mostly a mixed bag.
Day 31: Stardust by Andrew Grey (4 stars)
Well it was nice to wrap up this year's advent calendar on a high note. A very nice story and I'm glad they go their happy-ish ending.
December 17, 2014
Traveling at Christmas time is bad enough, with masses of people trying to get to their holiday destinations at the same time, but doing it when you’re afraid of flying is a lot worse. George, the narrator of this story and a forty-something, is not doing well on his flight from Philadelphia to London to start with, and then things start really going wrong once he’s there for his one-day layover before seeing his partner-of-ten-years Scott in Paris. I really felt for George and admired his stubborn determination to “survive” so he could collapse into Scott’s arms once he made it to Paris.
From the moment the story begins with George already several hours into the flight and about to fall apart, his incessant babbling alerted me to the fact he was in trouble. Then the scene while he was waiting for his bag to arrive made things worse, and by the time he arrives in the hotel and meets the truly grumpy concierge, he just wants a shower and some sleep. Unfortunately, that isn’t in the cards either. I did think the concierge was incredibly rude, but the truth is, people like that exist in Britain just like anywhere else. For George, who is already exhausted, it must have been infinitely worse. When he gets lost in Harrods—something I have done without the excuse of an overseas flight, by the way, so I sympathize—he is ready to give up. Luckily he has Scott to save him, even long-distance, and the story takes a wonderful turn into a sweet Christmas tale. At least for me, the initial “suffering” made the ending all the sweeter.
If you like stories about established couples who have to cope with aging, but have the advantage of knowing each other really well, if a slightly neurotic main character sharing all his mishaps sounds like an interesting perspective, and if you’re looking for a story that is funny as well as sweet, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
From the moment the story begins with George already several hours into the flight and about to fall apart, his incessant babbling alerted me to the fact he was in trouble. Then the scene while he was waiting for his bag to arrive made things worse, and by the time he arrives in the hotel and meets the truly grumpy concierge, he just wants a shower and some sleep. Unfortunately, that isn’t in the cards either. I did think the concierge was incredibly rude, but the truth is, people like that exist in Britain just like anywhere else. For George, who is already exhausted, it must have been infinitely worse. When he gets lost in Harrods—something I have done without the excuse of an overseas flight, by the way, so I sympathize—he is ready to give up. Luckily he has Scott to save him, even long-distance, and the story takes a wonderful turn into a sweet Christmas tale. At least for me, the initial “suffering” made the ending all the sweeter.
If you like stories about established couples who have to cope with aging, but have the advantage of knowing each other really well, if a slightly neurotic main character sharing all his mishaps sounds like an interesting perspective, and if you’re looking for a story that is funny as well as sweet, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 1, 2015
Normally I use these Advent Calendar/Daily Dose things to try out new authors, which I did this time as well. Sadly, most of the storylines didn't appeal to me. So I only read a few stories, it might be that I'll read one or another story, but for now I'm done.
Saint Martins Day - 3 stars
The Magic of Weihnachten - 3 stars
Quite a Spectacle - 5 stars
Neighbors - 4 stars
Hummingbird House - 3 stars
Best Laid Plans - 2 stars
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under - DNF
Overall - 3 stars, although it felt more like 2-2.5 stars. Isn't that strange?
Saint Martins Day - 3 stars
The Magic of Weihnachten - 3 stars
Quite a Spectacle - 5 stars
Neighbors - 4 stars
Hummingbird House - 3 stars
Best Laid Plans - 2 stars
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under - DNF
Overall - 3 stars, although it felt more like 2-2.5 stars. Isn't that strange?
January 3, 2015
I’ve always loved the Dreamspinner Advent calendar. I enjoy holiday stories a lot so I thought that I’d tackle the complete set this year. The calendar is 31 stories I’ve broken up the review into three parts.
I've rated all the stories but there were definitely highs and lows here. As a whole I'm giving the anthology 3.5 Stars
Best Laid Plans by John Amory 3 Stars
Almost a Train, Planes and Automobiles type story except George was pretty much on his own for the whole of it. It was sad to see his enthusiasm drain after each incident but it made his reunion with Scott that much more sweeter. I liked these men together quite a bit and it had a perfect ending.
Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross & Emma Michaels 2 Stars
Yes, Alex was definitely an ass. I’m not sure why Ian put up with his attitude for so long. The writing was great but the story didn’t work for me because I didn’t like anything that Alex did.
Coming of Age by Venona Keyes 2 Stars
I liked reading about the Japanese customs but the MCs didn’t have chemistry for me so this read dragged.
The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox 2 Stars
A Christmas Carol riff. The MCs Jae-ho and Peter seemed very naive. A sweet story but maybe too sweet for me. I did like the Korean Christmas Eve date night.
Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna 4 Stars
An interesting clash of cultures. The characters and the story line really worked for me.
Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade 3 Stars
A nice reunited friends-to-lovers story. Very British British. I liked the family dynamics at play here and the characters had a great history with some sweet chemistry.
Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni coileain 4 Stars
Really intriguing shifter dynamic the author created here. I read a lot of shifter stories and this was wonderfully unique. I could easily read an expanded version of this story. Love the Russian angle as well.
The Journey Back by Kristen Slater 4 Stars
This story had me worrying that Idris and Dan weren’t going to make it as a couple. Great usage of flashbacks.
King of Me by R.A. Kaitland 3.5 Stars
Another author with some unique world-building. The Zodiac conception was really interesting and I could again easily read an expanded version of this story. So interesting.
Krampusz by Lou Harper 3 Stars
Brian and Zoli were great together but the twist at the end was just too coincidental for me. I would have liked the story better without it.
Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy 3 Stars
This was an odd one. Just flirting as a cab driver takes Rowan and his phoenix to Stonehenge. Chemistry saved it for me. I love snarky characters and Martin was fabulous. Too bad it ended right before the smexy times, I would have enjoyed seeing those two hit the sheets. Loved the phoenix and how it communicated.
The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo 2 Stars
I got lost in the details on this one.
Love Light by Jane Darius 4 Stars
I found this whole story wonderful. Really connected with the characters and their story. I’d love to read more about them. I’d like to know why Ben calls Nick, duck. I’m sure there’s an adorable back story there!
The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker 3 Stars
Walsh is kind of dick for most of this story. He comes across as very Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. I’m not on board with that. I felt Dierck could have done much better, he was a great character just trying to spread some holiday cheer.
Minstrel’s Solstice by Nicole Dennis 3.75 Stars
Fantastic world building here, I’d love for this to be an expanded story. I could definitely read a number of books set in this land, the magic created here is so interesting and unique. For me, this story best encompassed the theme of the anthology, Celebrate! Even with the awesome world, I did find the relationship between Kerryll and Griff a bit thin, which is why I would love something longer. They do have wonderful chemistry though.
My You by Tamer Lorika 3.75 Stars
Even though I’m not sure where Batbayar and Adrian are going to end up I thought their story was tremendously sweet. I loved the Mongolian setting!
Neighhbors by Emma Wilson 3.5 Stars
I’m a sucker for stories like this one. Just a quiet story with two guys crushing on each other and strong secondary characters who help them along the way. I had a lot of fun with it.
A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson 3 Stars
A huge coincidence at the 3/4 mark but I went with it. I found the men had a tremendous amount of chemistry together and that pulled me through to the end. I adored Braylon.
Quite a Spectacle by Meg Harding 3.75 Stars
Michael is having a tough Christmas trying to win over his husband’s family. I enjoyed the dynamic here and how things were more than a bit tense throughout. Great story.
Saint Martin’s Day by Kim Fielding 4 Stars
Neno and Toby break my heart. They haven’t seen each other in five years but the love between them was still so strong and beautiful. Zagreb was a great back drop for this story as well. I love everything Kim Fielding writes and this is no exception. The ending was fantastic.
Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons 4 Stars
Old boyfriends reuniting. I liked these guys and glad to see that they found each other again. Great chemistry.
Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer 3.5 Stars
I was enjoying this a lot up until the ex showed up. Very discordant for me but I liked the fallout.
A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll 2.75 Stars
The humour didn’t really work for me on this one. I did like that Tris and Ethan were able to hash a few things out and the ending was tremendously sweet.
Stardust by Andrew Grey 3.75 Stars
Wonderfully romantic tale. I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out for them with the timeline but it ended so well, I was worried for them.
The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael 3 Stars
This was more just a PWP but I really liked Gage and O. I found them both tremendously likeable and would love to see if they go beyond a holiday romance.
Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey 2 Stars
The menage just didn’t work for me, I didn't like the dynamic. I also don't see a future there.
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor Unrated – DNF
This lost me almost immediately. I’ll have to try it again when I can come at it from a different attitude. I will say that I was like Seth very much but I stalled out with how Sandy was introduced.
The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen 1.5 Stars
PWP that didn’t work for me.
Under a New Star by Leo d’Entremont 4 Stars
Great world building for such a short story with a solid, believable angsty romance. This is another one where I wasn’t sure how things could get resolved and loved the ending.
Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan 3 Stars
Double GFY. Achingly sweet. Not too sure if I found the instalove authentic but I only wanted good things for Jamie, he definitely deserved the world.
What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey 5 Stars
Ex-Pat American Jacob Moore is looking forward to hosting his traditional Christmas Eve party with his partner, Errol. They love the quiet night of friends and food at their house in London, and the break before dealing with family, presents, and Boxing Day. The quiet is shattered when Jacob’s younger half sister, Pru, shows up on his doorstep, running away from home for a very good reason. Jacob has stayed in touch with her over the years, even though he’s estranged from their father. But nothing prepared him for this.
Now he has to decide what to do with this unexpected package from Father Christmas.
This was my favourite story of the anthology. I want an extended version of this just because I loved all the characters so very much. Jacob and Errol won my heart. Pru made the right choice. Fabulous end to the anthology.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I've rated all the stories but there were definitely highs and lows here. As a whole I'm giving the anthology 3.5 Stars
Best Laid Plans by John Amory 3 Stars
Almost a Train, Planes and Automobiles type story except George was pretty much on his own for the whole of it. It was sad to see his enthusiasm drain after each incident but it made his reunion with Scott that much more sweeter. I liked these men together quite a bit and it had a perfect ending.
Business or Pleasure by Michael Cross & Emma Michaels 2 Stars
Yes, Alex was definitely an ass. I’m not sure why Ian put up with his attitude for so long. The writing was great but the story didn’t work for me because I didn’t like anything that Alex did.
Coming of Age by Venona Keyes 2 Stars
I liked reading about the Japanese customs but the MCs didn’t have chemistry for me so this read dragged.
The Eve That Finally Happened by Diane Lennox 2 Stars
A Christmas Carol riff. The MCs Jae-ho and Peter seemed very naive. A sweet story but maybe too sweet for me. I did like the Korean Christmas Eve date night.
Home for Chirappu by Ariel Tachna 4 Stars
An interesting clash of cultures. The characters and the story line really worked for me.
Hummingbird House by Kenzie Cade 3 Stars
A nice reunited friends-to-lovers story. Very British British. I liked the family dynamics at play here and the characters had a great history with some sweet chemistry.
Ilya and the Wolf by Rory Ni coileain 4 Stars
Really intriguing shifter dynamic the author created here. I read a lot of shifter stories and this was wonderfully unique. I could easily read an expanded version of this story. Love the Russian angle as well.
The Journey Back by Kristen Slater 4 Stars
This story had me worrying that Idris and Dan weren’t going to make it as a couple. Great usage of flashbacks.
King of Me by R.A. Kaitland 3.5 Stars
Another author with some unique world-building. The Zodiac conception was really interesting and I could again easily read an expanded version of this story. So interesting.
Krampusz by Lou Harper 3 Stars
Brian and Zoli were great together but the twist at the end was just too coincidental for me. I would have liked the story better without it.
Last of Summer by Genna Donaghy 3 Stars
This was an odd one. Just flirting as a cab driver takes Rowan and his phoenix to Stonehenge. Chemistry saved it for me. I love snarky characters and Martin was fabulous. Too bad it ended right before the smexy times, I would have enjoyed seeing those two hit the sheets. Loved the phoenix and how it communicated.
The Light of Winter by Jana Denardo 2 Stars
I got lost in the details on this one.
Love Light by Jane Darius 4 Stars
I found this whole story wonderful. Really connected with the characters and their story. I’d love to read more about them. I’d like to know why Ben calls Nick, duck. I’m sure there’s an adorable back story there!
The Magic of Weihnachten by Bru Baker 3 Stars
Walsh is kind of dick for most of this story. He comes across as very Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory. I’m not on board with that. I felt Dierck could have done much better, he was a great character just trying to spread some holiday cheer.
Minstrel’s Solstice by Nicole Dennis 3.75 Stars
Fantastic world building here, I’d love for this to be an expanded story. I could definitely read a number of books set in this land, the magic created here is so interesting and unique. For me, this story best encompassed the theme of the anthology, Celebrate! Even with the awesome world, I did find the relationship between Kerryll and Griff a bit thin, which is why I would love something longer. They do have wonderful chemistry though.
My You by Tamer Lorika 3.75 Stars
Even though I’m not sure where Batbayar and Adrian are going to end up I thought their story was tremendously sweet. I loved the Mongolian setting!
Neighhbors by Emma Wilson 3.5 Stars
I’m a sucker for stories like this one. Just a quiet story with two guys crushing on each other and strong secondary characters who help them along the way. I had a lot of fun with it.
A Night Never Forgotten by SJD Peterson 3 Stars
A huge coincidence at the 3/4 mark but I went with it. I found the men had a tremendous amount of chemistry together and that pulled me through to the end. I adored Braylon.
Quite a Spectacle by Meg Harding 3.75 Stars
Michael is having a tough Christmas trying to win over his husband’s family. I enjoyed the dynamic here and how things were more than a bit tense throughout. Great story.
Saint Martin’s Day by Kim Fielding 4 Stars
Neno and Toby break my heart. They haven’t seen each other in five years but the love between them was still so strong and beautiful. Zagreb was a great back drop for this story as well. I love everything Kim Fielding writes and this is no exception. The ending was fantastic.
Second Bite of the Cherry by Louise Lyons 4 Stars
Old boyfriends reuniting. I liked these guys and glad to see that they found each other again. Great chemistry.
Snow and Moose and Finnish Secrets by Reni Kieffer 3.5 Stars
I was enjoying this a lot up until the ex showed up. Very discordant for me but I liked the fallout.
A Snowman Made of Sand by J.J. Carroll 2.75 Stars
The humour didn’t really work for me on this one. I did like that Tris and Ethan were able to hash a few things out and the ending was tremendously sweet.
Stardust by Andrew Grey 3.75 Stars
Wonderfully romantic tale. I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out for them with the timeline but it ended so well, I was worried for them.
The Swag Man Delivers by Sean Michael 3 Stars
This was more just a PWP but I really liked Gage and O. I found them both tremendously likeable and would love to see if they go beyond a holiday romance.
Three Wise Men by Connie Bailey 2 Stars
The menage just didn’t work for me, I didn't like the dynamic. I also don't see a future there.
Tidings of Comfort and Joey Down Under by David Connor Unrated – DNF
This lost me almost immediately. I’ll have to try it again when I can come at it from a different attitude. I will say that I was like Seth very much but I stalled out with how Sandy was introduced.
The Virgin Miracle by Rob Rosen 1.5 Stars
PWP that didn’t work for me.
Under a New Star by Leo d’Entremont 4 Stars
Great world building for such a short story with a solid, believable angsty romance. This is another one where I wasn’t sure how things could get resolved and loved the ending.
Wait for Me by T.S. Morgan 3 Stars
Double GFY. Achingly sweet. Not too sure if I found the instalove authentic but I only wanted good things for Jamie, he definitely deserved the world.
What Father Christmas Left by Felicitas Ivey 5 Stars
Ex-Pat American Jacob Moore is looking forward to hosting his traditional Christmas Eve party with his partner, Errol. They love the quiet night of friends and food at their house in London, and the break before dealing with family, presents, and Boxing Day. The quiet is shattered when Jacob’s younger half sister, Pru, shows up on his doorstep, running away from home for a very good reason. Jacob has stayed in touch with her over the years, even though he’s estranged from their father. But nothing prepared him for this.
Now he has to decide what to do with this unexpected package from Father Christmas.
This was my favourite story of the anthology. I want an extended version of this just because I loved all the characters so very much. Jacob and Errol won my heart. Pru made the right choice. Fabulous end to the anthology.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
January 5, 2015
I used to like the advent calendar, it's so nice getting a story every day for all of December... but this year's calendar was a disappointment. Normally there are a few stories I don't like, the rest is good and a few selected ones are outstanding, at least that's how it was for the last few years. This year the overall feeling of the stories was 'meh', they were mediocre at best and what I noticed and it struck me as odd was that almost all of them lacked that Christmassy feeling, they might take place at Christmas or the holidays but they weren't Christmas stories, most of them could have taken place at any time of the year and that would have been okay too.
I think, the strict word count Dreamspinner put out didn't do the stories any good, most of them lacked in plot and character development what perhaps could have been solved if the stories would have been allowed to be longer.
IMO Fewer stories but longer ones with an actual plot and Christmas theme would have been way better.
I think, the strict word count Dreamspinner put out didn't do the stories any good, most of them lacked in plot and character development what perhaps could have been solved if the stories would have been allowed to be longer.
IMO Fewer stories but longer ones with an actual plot and Christmas theme would have been way better.
December 7, 2015
Reviewed by Brandilyn for Prism Book Alliance. Best Laid Plans by John Amory is a sweet tale of one Christmas in the life of two partners George and Scott. George just can't win. He is trying to get from the US to Paris in order to spend the holidays with his partner of ten years. However, the gods of travel seem to want to do everything they can to keep him away... until he finally calls Scott and tells him of his troubles. Find the whole review at http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?pos...
May 29, 2017
What was it about the holidays in London that made everyone so miserable?
The constant alien invasions?? (*cough* doctor who joke *cough*)
Not bad, but I did come out of this feel a tad bit out of breath. The sentences did run on...and on, and on. Also, there didn't seem to be much story here, not with the characters anyways. Mostly it was just about how horrible London (and anyone who lives there) is.
2.5 stars
December 28, 2018
2.5 over all. Unfortunately a very disappointing collection! I'll comes back and do individual breakdowns later.
December 10, 2014
4 star review by Vicki
These little Advent Calendar books are always so fun… short and sweet.
George is a neurotic mess, flying to Paris to spend Christmas with his partner Scott. They have been together for ten years, never missing a Christmas. George hasn’t flown since he was a child, and nearly drives himself and everyone one near him crazy, on the plane and in the airport! He makes a stop in London for a day, thinking he’ll take some time to explore a city he has always wanted to visit. Unfortunately his London experience isn’t all he hoped for.
I can’t tell you much more than that, there isn’t a lot of time for a plot. This is all from George’s perspective, so we get to know him best, and he is a mess! But a sweet mess. For all of his issues he seems like a happy guy, and we can see that Scott loves him. We get just a little glimpse of the lives of an established couple, they are in their forties and have been together for some time. There were several sweet lines about George looking forward to aging together. I liked that. There isn’t any sex, no action, adventure, or drama. This is just a nice story about a anxiety plagued man meeting his patient lover in Paris and having a fantastic evening. There was a lovely moment that brought a tear to my eye…
This is the only story I have read by John Amory, and the writing seemed good to me. It flowed well, had some great descriptions of George’s experiences, and some interesting characters. It was short, it took me less than a half hour to read, but it was good!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
These little Advent Calendar books are always so fun… short and sweet.
George is a neurotic mess, flying to Paris to spend Christmas with his partner Scott. They have been together for ten years, never missing a Christmas. George hasn’t flown since he was a child, and nearly drives himself and everyone one near him crazy, on the plane and in the airport! He makes a stop in London for a day, thinking he’ll take some time to explore a city he has always wanted to visit. Unfortunately his London experience isn’t all he hoped for.
I can’t tell you much more than that, there isn’t a lot of time for a plot. This is all from George’s perspective, so we get to know him best, and he is a mess! But a sweet mess. For all of his issues he seems like a happy guy, and we can see that Scott loves him. We get just a little glimpse of the lives of an established couple, they are in their forties and have been together for some time. There were several sweet lines about George looking forward to aging together. I liked that. There isn’t any sex, no action, adventure, or drama. This is just a nice story about a anxiety plagued man meeting his patient lover in Paris and having a fantastic evening. There was a lovely moment that brought a tear to my eye…
This is the only story I have read by John Amory, and the writing seemed good to me. It flowed well, had some great descriptions of George’s experiences, and some interesting characters. It was short, it took me less than a half hour to read, but it was good!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
December 14, 2014
I was looking forward to this one even knowing it was only going to be a short. But I was not prepared for it to end at 16 pages on my Kobo instead of the 21 I was expecting.
While I liked the actual story, and the ending was romantic, there was no real depth to the story.
I also found the rudeness of everyone at the beginning a little bit over kill. 5 people all being not just rude but pretty nasty too, even the Harods worker, who I would of expected to at least act with decorum. Maybe in a longer book it would of fitted but in this short it just felt false.
December 27, 2014
Short and a sweet ending. I kinda felt sorry for George, especially since EVERYONE in London was extremely rude, but George was a bit whiny as well. Writing was easy to read in spite on longer, run-on sentences, but I kinda took it as George's anxiousness coming out in the writing since this was in his POV. The best thing was Scott, his partner of ten years, semi-swooping in to save George from the bad day. The proposal at the end, at the top the Eiffel Tower in Paris, perfectly romantic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2015
Very short, sweet vignette with an extremely high strung main character. George is traveling alone for the first time in 30 years and is having a horrible experience. The negativity of those he meets in London were almost overwhelming for me. The ending and what Scott says to George are perfect because George really needs someone like Scott.
Want to read
March 30, 2015So far I've read 12 of the stories.
What strikes me is that despite being set at Christmas very few feel like Christmas stories.
What strikes me is that despite being set at Christmas very few feel like Christmas stories.
Want to read
December 1, 2014OMG I can't wait to start reading these.
February 21, 2017
3.5 stars
December 13, 2014
3,25stars
December 12, 2014
I liked George, the narrator, a lot; his misadventures were quite entertaining. Not sure I would call this a romance because there's not a lot of couple time, but a nice little ending nonetheless.
December 21, 2014
I love how Scott really cares for George and is there for him even the middle of a busy holiday season.
December 31, 2014
Not really much to this story, but I thought George was cute in his awkwardness.
December 12, 2014
A very sweet holiday story with travel woes and a beautiful trip to the Eiffel Tower :) Lovely to see some mature characters having a special holiday memory.
December 14, 2014
By the time I was beginning to get into the story it was over.
December 14, 2014
Soft story of an established couple who want to spend Christmas together, even though they are a continent apart. George is just lovely.
December 20, 2014
The ending saved it.
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