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Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology [Combined Edition]
Boughs of Evergreen is a two-volume collection of short stories celebrating the holiday season in all its diversity. Penned by authors from the UK, the USA, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, these are tales of the young and the not-so-young from many different walks of life.
Themes of family, friendship and romance take readers on a journey through some of the major holidays, both past and present, including Thanksgiving, Advent, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas and New Year. In each we find at the very least hope, and often love, peace and happiness.
Each story is also available as a separate ebook.
Proceeds from sales of this anthology will be donated to The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization [USA] providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
THE STORIES:
(combined edition includes all 22 stories)
Volume One
"A Friend for Christmas" - JP Walker
"A Midnight Clear" - Debbie McGowan
"From All of Us to All of You" - Ofelia Gränd
"Homme for the Holidays" - Jonathan Penn
"Kiss Me At Kwanzaa" - LL Bucknor
"Lion's Hero" - Alexis Woods
"One Nightstand" - Rick Bettencourt
"Shiny Things" - Amy Spector
"The Bard and his Boyfriend" - Kathleen Hayes
"The Christmas Present" - Larry Benjamin
"X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale" - Raine O'Tierney
Volume Two
"A Christmas Tale" - Hans M Hirschi
"A Family Christmas" - Terry Kerr
"A Little Christmas Magic" - K.C. Faelan
"Always Have, Always Will" - Amelia Mann
"An Angel in Eyeliner" - Hunter Frost
"Boyfriend Goes Home" - Laura Susan Johnson
"Christmas Commitment" - Shayla Mist
"Coming in from the Cold" - Ava Penn
"Holidays with Drum and Bell!" - Matthias Williamson
"Te Amo, You Mushrooms" - S.H. Allan
"The Invasion of Tork" - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
Themes of family, friendship and romance take readers on a journey through some of the major holidays, both past and present, including Thanksgiving, Advent, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas and New Year. In each we find at the very least hope, and often love, peace and happiness.
Each story is also available as a separate ebook.
Proceeds from sales of this anthology will be donated to The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization [USA] providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
THE STORIES:
(combined edition includes all 22 stories)
Volume One
"A Friend for Christmas" - JP Walker
"A Midnight Clear" - Debbie McGowan
"From All of Us to All of You" - Ofelia Gränd
"Homme for the Holidays" - Jonathan Penn
"Kiss Me At Kwanzaa" - LL Bucknor
"Lion's Hero" - Alexis Woods
"One Nightstand" - Rick Bettencourt
"Shiny Things" - Amy Spector
"The Bard and his Boyfriend" - Kathleen Hayes
"The Christmas Present" - Larry Benjamin
"X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale" - Raine O'Tierney
Volume Two
"A Christmas Tale" - Hans M Hirschi
"A Family Christmas" - Terry Kerr
"A Little Christmas Magic" - K.C. Faelan
"Always Have, Always Will" - Amelia Mann
"An Angel in Eyeliner" - Hunter Frost
"Boyfriend Goes Home" - Laura Susan Johnson
"Christmas Commitment" - Shayla Mist
"Coming in from the Cold" - Ava Penn
"Holidays with Drum and Bell!" - Matthias Williamson
"Te Amo, You Mushrooms" - S.H. Allan
"The Invasion of Tork" - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
880 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2014
4 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 13, 2015
I will add my reviews as I go. I will not, of course, be commenting on my own story.
This was an anthology created by the energy and talents of many people. This time was given freely in the spirit of charity, hope, acceptance and love.
I know that Debbie McGowan put her heart and soul into this venture, and I believe that this shining rainbow of effort can be felt on every single page.
A Midnight Clear..Queen Debbie...5 stars
Homme for the Holidays..Jonathan Penn...5 stars
Shiny Things...Amy Spector...5 stars
This was an anthology created by the energy and talents of many people. This time was given freely in the spirit of charity, hope, acceptance and love.
I know that Debbie McGowan put her heart and soul into this venture, and I believe that this shining rainbow of effort can be felt on every single page.
A Midnight Clear..Queen Debbie...5 stars
Homme for the Holidays..Jonathan Penn...5 stars
Shiny Things...Amy Spector...5 stars
Read
February 14, 2016I'm finally sitting down to officially read Boughs of Evergreen start to finish! Since this is such a huge anthology, I will rate overall collection here and will add a more detailed review of the stories on their individual GR listings.
The Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology is a collection of stories written by authors around the world, for charity and a hope for a better world for the next generation. It is the brain child of Debbie McGowan who is my hero.
Volume One
A Friend for Christmas - JP Walker
A Midnight Clear" - Debbie McGowan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt
Shiny Things - Amy Spector
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjamin
The Invasion of Tork - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale - Raine O'Tierney
Volume Two
A Christmas Tale - Hans M Hirschi
A Family Christmas - Terry Kerr
A Good Word" - L.M. Steel
A Little Christmas Magic - K.C. Faelan
Always Have, Always Will - Amelia Mann
An Angel in Eyeliner - Hunter Frost
Boyfriend Goes Home - Laura Susan Johnson
Christmas Commitment - Shayla Mist
Coming in from the Cold - Ava Penn
Holidays with Drum and Bell! - Matthias Williamson
Te Amo, You Mushrooms - S.H. Allan
The Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology is a collection of stories written by authors around the world, for charity and a hope for a better world for the next generation. It is the brain child of Debbie McGowan who is my hero.
Volume One
A Friend for Christmas - JP Walker
A Midnight Clear" - Debbie McGowan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt
Shiny Things - Amy Spector
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjamin
The Invasion of Tork - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale - Raine O'Tierney
Volume Two
A Christmas Tale - Hans M Hirschi
A Family Christmas - Terry Kerr
A Good Word" - L.M. Steel
A Little Christmas Magic - K.C. Faelan
Always Have, Always Will - Amelia Mann
An Angel in Eyeliner - Hunter Frost
Boyfriend Goes Home - Laura Susan Johnson
Christmas Commitment - Shayla Mist
Coming in from the Cold - Ava Penn
Holidays with Drum and Bell! - Matthias Williamson
Te Amo, You Mushrooms - S.H. Allan
Want to read
November 16, 2015Proceeds go to the Trevor Project to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth:
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Get your copy here:
http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/...
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Get your copy here:
http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/...
November 21, 2014
original Posts:
Happy Happy Release Day eARC Reviews: Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology
We would like to thank author Ofelia Gränd for donating an ebook copy of From All of Us to All of You, to 1 lucky commentator who gets chosen. Make sure to leave a comment below to get a free ebook copy of From All of Us to All of You.
Happy Happy Release Day eARC Review: Author Spotlight: From All of Us to All of You (Boughs of Evergreen) by Ofelia Gränd
We would like to thank authors and editor of Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology for donating ebook copies of choice, to 3 lucky commentators chosen. Make sure to leave a comment below.
From All of Us to All of You by Ofelia Gränd
After reading Simon's internal observations and reaction to the modern-day commercial celebration of the Christmas holidays, I don't blame him for hating it, or the other holidays. The way people approach it now, there is no longer any 'goodwill to all' experience. At. All. For Simon, it just meant that whatever his mother or father were hiding from, were denying to all, were trying to save face from, this is the time when all that comes to the fore. And it's just a miserable time for him. Unfortunately, he cannot seem to find a way out.
Then, from out of nowhere, a motherly co-worker does some, at least to Simon, too-obvious planning of a blind date with her son, Hannes. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Hannes is a great guy and comes by often to just be good friends and companion with Simon. And so it goes, and continues going. Just. As. Friends.
Then the dreaded Christmas Eve arrives and Simon is just about ready to climb the walls. He is almost beyond standing his parents' actions and hypocrisy when Hannes arrives and offers him a gift he could not refuse.
This is really a story of a budding sweet romance. Simon and Hannes slowly and very surely get to know each other as friends after that almost disastrous first meet and are reaching that almost comfortable stage where things can go either way. The build up is slow and confusing for Simon. He really does not have a full-functioning gaydar so is constantly wondering what or where Hannes was going with this new friendship of theirs. The way the author wrote it, the reader is looking in from the outside and of course knows where this is going but also wondering how it all unfolds. A truly interesting way to get the attention of this reader and lock onto it until the very, very sweet ending.
Oh, that was a really lovely way to end.
Note: I don't know what St. Lucia's holiday is all about but I will investigate!
A Friend for Christmas by JP Walker
Author JP Walker wrote a truly beautiful, bittersweet, but beautiful romance here. One that spans through decades of love, loss, misunderstanding and finally, completion and a lot of hope.
It begins with Eve who cannot connect with other children her age save one: Anna. Once they started talking, they became the bestest of friends and they just loved each other. Then Anna leaves and Eve is left to live her life in school and among classmates. These are the early days where she realizes that she does not need boys in her life but does love the girls around her. Her father is very supportive and so understanding, he truly deserves his own second chance at love. (This is truly the part of the story that made me cry. FIRST!)
Then Anna reappears and she and Eve reconnect. But it does not last, for once again, Anna has to go. Eve is angry, understandably so, for she is young and now has to make choices she should not at such a young, sweet age. She does though and sticks with it. However, Eve is also beginning to think that she made up Anna until the day they meet again.
It has to be fate that intervenes for now, Eve sees Anna in public and everyone can see her. She was not crazy for loving a ghost after all, for here she was all so real. And still the same Anna she loved from when they first met decades ago.
This is one of the most beautiful stories of love and hope I have read, and the end, that made me cry. Again.
Homme for the Holidays by Jonathan Penn
When Cade Bishop brings home his boyfriend, Alan, home to meet the parents for Christmas, he had a purpose. He had to show his parents that five years after that horrible event, he was on the path to healing, emotionally. He had to show his parents that here was the man who took to him and accepted him without thinking twice.
He had to show Alan that he was the man who made him whole and no money or status could ever succeed where he did.
Alan walkes into Cade's home and had a shock of all shockers. He never envisioned that his beautiful and beloved boyfriend could come from such a background. A background people like us can only dream or read about. Of course, having the meet the parents was a shock he has to get over sooner rather than later. As he does, he realizes that this family, his and Cade's family, more than made up for anything.
This was a lighthearted read and had some moments of cringing (the green squigly jell-o, oi!) and laughter that beautifully balanced the drama of a backstory revealed in stages throughout this read. By the time the end came, all I could think about was 'what next'? I wanted more from Alan and Cade and knowing what I do now in the case of Cade, I want to experience the same for Alan. Will the author, Jonathan Penn, grant it? I hope so.
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa by LL Bucknor
Kwanzaa? What in heck is Kwanzaa? I have absolutely no idea and yet after reading this little story, I know I want some of this!
So Adan comes from this complicated and extended family made up of some of the most complex, inriguing and mind boggling relatives. Holidays are made up by their mother and so celebrated at the most unexpected times and days. Anything goes, really. The weird thing is, the whole family enjoys the good fun and take joy to participate!
So Ish comes into Adan's mother's home and experiences a trip to the Twilight Zone. How he survived, he knows not. One thing he knows: he wants in and always with Adan.
Nope, this is not erotic but this is such a fun, fun read and I laughed quite a few tears from the events that unfolded here. The unexpectedness of the revelations just handed out like a piece of tissue paper was really quirky. The complicated family relations, even quirkier. But the realization of love that blooms between Adan and Ish? Oh, this is a wonderful read!
Note: I am not done, far from it, but obviously, Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology is an outstanding collection of heartwarming stories that can satisfy even the most critical and unforgiving. There is a lot of tension and romance going on but so far as I have read, all are quite well done and I do intend to continue reading and reading. Heck peeps, there are 1009 pages here!
Happy Happy Release Day eARC Reviews: Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology
We would like to thank author Ofelia Gränd for donating an ebook copy of From All of Us to All of You, to 1 lucky commentator who gets chosen. Make sure to leave a comment below to get a free ebook copy of From All of Us to All of You.
Happy Happy Release Day eARC Review: Author Spotlight: From All of Us to All of You (Boughs of Evergreen) by Ofelia Gränd
We would like to thank authors and editor of Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology for donating ebook copies of choice, to 3 lucky commentators chosen. Make sure to leave a comment below.
From All of Us to All of You by Ofelia Gränd
After reading Simon's internal observations and reaction to the modern-day commercial celebration of the Christmas holidays, I don't blame him for hating it, or the other holidays. The way people approach it now, there is no longer any 'goodwill to all' experience. At. All. For Simon, it just meant that whatever his mother or father were hiding from, were denying to all, were trying to save face from, this is the time when all that comes to the fore. And it's just a miserable time for him. Unfortunately, he cannot seem to find a way out.
Then, from out of nowhere, a motherly co-worker does some, at least to Simon, too-obvious planning of a blind date with her son, Hannes. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Hannes is a great guy and comes by often to just be good friends and companion with Simon. And so it goes, and continues going. Just. As. Friends.
Then the dreaded Christmas Eve arrives and Simon is just about ready to climb the walls. He is almost beyond standing his parents' actions and hypocrisy when Hannes arrives and offers him a gift he could not refuse.
This is really a story of a budding sweet romance. Simon and Hannes slowly and very surely get to know each other as friends after that almost disastrous first meet and are reaching that almost comfortable stage where things can go either way. The build up is slow and confusing for Simon. He really does not have a full-functioning gaydar so is constantly wondering what or where Hannes was going with this new friendship of theirs. The way the author wrote it, the reader is looking in from the outside and of course knows where this is going but also wondering how it all unfolds. A truly interesting way to get the attention of this reader and lock onto it until the very, very sweet ending.
Oh, that was a really lovely way to end.
Note: I don't know what St. Lucia's holiday is all about but I will investigate!
A Friend for Christmas by JP Walker
Author JP Walker wrote a truly beautiful, bittersweet, but beautiful romance here. One that spans through decades of love, loss, misunderstanding and finally, completion and a lot of hope.
It begins with Eve who cannot connect with other children her age save one: Anna. Once they started talking, they became the bestest of friends and they just loved each other. Then Anna leaves and Eve is left to live her life in school and among classmates. These are the early days where she realizes that she does not need boys in her life but does love the girls around her. Her father is very supportive and so understanding, he truly deserves his own second chance at love. (This is truly the part of the story that made me cry. FIRST!)
Then Anna reappears and she and Eve reconnect. But it does not last, for once again, Anna has to go. Eve is angry, understandably so, for she is young and now has to make choices she should not at such a young, sweet age. She does though and sticks with it. However, Eve is also beginning to think that she made up Anna until the day they meet again.
It has to be fate that intervenes for now, Eve sees Anna in public and everyone can see her. She was not crazy for loving a ghost after all, for here she was all so real. And still the same Anna she loved from when they first met decades ago.
This is one of the most beautiful stories of love and hope I have read, and the end, that made me cry. Again.
Homme for the Holidays by Jonathan Penn
When Cade Bishop brings home his boyfriend, Alan, home to meet the parents for Christmas, he had a purpose. He had to show his parents that five years after that horrible event, he was on the path to healing, emotionally. He had to show his parents that here was the man who took to him and accepted him without thinking twice.
He had to show Alan that he was the man who made him whole and no money or status could ever succeed where he did.
Alan walkes into Cade's home and had a shock of all shockers. He never envisioned that his beautiful and beloved boyfriend could come from such a background. A background people like us can only dream or read about. Of course, having the meet the parents was a shock he has to get over sooner rather than later. As he does, he realizes that this family, his and Cade's family, more than made up for anything.
This was a lighthearted read and had some moments of cringing (the green squigly jell-o, oi!) and laughter that beautifully balanced the drama of a backstory revealed in stages throughout this read. By the time the end came, all I could think about was 'what next'? I wanted more from Alan and Cade and knowing what I do now in the case of Cade, I want to experience the same for Alan. Will the author, Jonathan Penn, grant it? I hope so.
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa by LL Bucknor
Kwanzaa? What in heck is Kwanzaa? I have absolutely no idea and yet after reading this little story, I know I want some of this!
So Adan comes from this complicated and extended family made up of some of the most complex, inriguing and mind boggling relatives. Holidays are made up by their mother and so celebrated at the most unexpected times and days. Anything goes, really. The weird thing is, the whole family enjoys the good fun and take joy to participate!
So Ish comes into Adan's mother's home and experiences a trip to the Twilight Zone. How he survived, he knows not. One thing he knows: he wants in and always with Adan.
Nope, this is not erotic but this is such a fun, fun read and I laughed quite a few tears from the events that unfolded here. The unexpectedness of the revelations just handed out like a piece of tissue paper was really quirky. The complicated family relations, even quirkier. But the realization of love that blooms between Adan and Ish? Oh, this is a wonderful read!
Note: I am not done, far from it, but obviously, Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology is an outstanding collection of heartwarming stories that can satisfy even the most critical and unforgiving. There is a lot of tension and romance going on but so far as I have read, all are quite well done and I do intend to continue reading and reading. Heck peeps, there are 1009 pages here!
February 25, 2015
So honored and priviledged to be a part of this family of gifted storytellers. This is THE book to recommend to your children, your parents, your elders, as this book teaches us about respect, diversity, harmony. I want to give it as a gift to all who believe that this time of year is about "one" religion, "one" deity...this would be an excellent book for teachers to introduce to their students. We live in a diverse world filled with beautiful color and love...If you are a reader who loves to open your heart, this is a great gift. My fave stories so far are Kiss Me At Kwanzaa, An Angel In Eyeliner, A Midnight Clear, The Invasion of Tork, A Good Word, The Bard & His Boyfriend, and Lion's Hero...but I'm only about halfway done!
December 25, 2015
I was making notes reading this anthology (being afraid that with its massive size I’d long forget the first stories by the time I got to the end). But then, about halfway through, The Invasion of Tork by Claire Davis and Al Stewart started, and I cried, and cried more, and laughed a little, and cried till the end of the story, just a bit more happy and hopeful tears, and forgot all about making notes <3
November 27, 2014
Excluding my own story of course - I'm not rating that. =D
Wonderful set of authors with different voices and writing style that create a different blend of holiday stories (all types of winter holidays mind you) that encompass LGBT main characters and romance.
Proceeds donated for a great cause - The Trevor Project
Happy Holidays.
Wonderful set of authors with different voices and writing style that create a different blend of holiday stories (all types of winter holidays mind you) that encompass LGBT main characters and romance.
Proceeds donated for a great cause - The Trevor Project
Happy Holidays.
Want to read
December 24, 2014Today I had time to start reading the stories from Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology. I'll be making my way through both volumes in random order. I'll be posting the individual book review and rating on it's respective book page. For this review, it's only on Volume One. Volume Two will have it's own review.
Boughs of Evergreen is the brainchild of Debbie McGowan, publisher and editor at Beaten Track Publishing. The proceeds from the anthology are donated to the Trevor Project. Twenty-three authors from around the world contributed their time and talent to writing various holiday stories. I participated in this awesome endeavor, and my story appears in Volume Two, but I won't be reviewing it since I wrote it.
Volume One
A Friend for Christmas - JP Walker
A Midnight Clear - Debbie McGowan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt
Shiny Things - Amy Spector
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjamin
The Invasion of Tork - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale - Raine O'Tierney
Boughs of Evergreen is the brainchild of Debbie McGowan, publisher and editor at Beaten Track Publishing. The proceeds from the anthology are donated to the Trevor Project. Twenty-three authors from around the world contributed their time and talent to writing various holiday stories. I participated in this awesome endeavor, and my story appears in Volume Two, but I won't be reviewing it since I wrote it.
Volume One
A Friend for Christmas - JP Walker
A Midnight Clear - Debbie McGowan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt
Shiny Things - Amy Spector
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjamin
The Invasion of Tork - Al Stewart and Claire Davis
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale - Raine O'Tierney
December 18, 2016
The Invasion of Tork - Al Stewart and Claire Davis 4,5*
An Angel in Eyeliner - Hunter Frost 4*
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes 3,5*
A Little Christmas Magic - K.C. Faelan 4*
Always Have, Always Will - Amelia Mann 4*
A Midnight Clear 3,5*
A Christmas Tale - Hans M Hirschi 3,5*
Shiny Things - Amy Spector 3,5*
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjami 3*
Xmas Cake: A Modern Fairy Tale - Raine O'Tierney 4*
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt 3*
Christmas Commitment - Shayla Mist 4*
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn 3,5*
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor 3*
Holidays with Drum and Bell - Matthias Williamson 3*
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods 3,5*
Boyfriend Goes Home - Laura Susan Johnson2*
Coming in from the Cold - Ava Penn 2,5*
Te Amo, You Mushrooms - S.H. Allan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
A Family Christmas - Terry Kerr I really don't know how to rate this!?
Discarded
A Good Word - L.M. Steel
A Friend for Christmas because FF
An Angel in Eyeliner - Hunter Frost 4*
The Bard and his Boyfriend - Kathleen Hayes 3,5*
A Little Christmas Magic - K.C. Faelan 4*
Always Have, Always Will - Amelia Mann 4*
A Midnight Clear 3,5*
A Christmas Tale - Hans M Hirschi 3,5*
Shiny Things - Amy Spector 3,5*
The Christmas Present - Larry Benjami 3*
Xmas Cake: A Modern Fairy Tale - Raine O'Tierney 4*
One Nightstand - Rick Bettencourt 3*
Christmas Commitment - Shayla Mist 4*
Homme for the Holidays - Jonathan Penn 3,5*
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa - LL Bucknor 3*
Holidays with Drum and Bell - Matthias Williamson 3*
Lion's Hero - Alexis Woods 3,5*
Boyfriend Goes Home - Laura Susan Johnson2*
Coming in from the Cold - Ava Penn 2,5*
Te Amo, You Mushrooms - S.H. Allan
From All of Us to All of You - Ofelia Gränd
A Family Christmas - Terry Kerr I really don't know how to rate this!?
Discarded
A Good Word - L.M. Steel
A Friend for Christmas because FF
April 7, 2019
3.5 stars
A mixed bag, like almost every anthology. This was mostly good, with several remarkable stories and two gems thanks to Amelia Mann and S.H. Allan (detailed ratings below).
A Friend for Christmas by J P Walker - Skipped
Not my cuppa right now
A Midnight Clear by Debbie McGowan - 1.5 stars
From All of Us to All of You by Ofelia Gränd - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
Home for the Holidays by Jonathan Penn - 3 stars
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa by L.L. Bucknor - 1.5 stars
Lion’s Hero by Alexis Woods - 2.5 stars
One Nightstand by Rick Bettencourt - 3 stars
Shiny Things by Amy Spector - 3.5 stars
The Bard and his Boyfriend by Kathleen Hayes - 2 stars
The Christmas Present by Larry Benjamin - 2 stars
The Invasion of Tork by Claire Davis and Al Stewart - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale by Raine O’Tierney - 3 stars
A Christmas Tale by Hans M Hirschi - 2 stars
A Family Christmas by Terry Kerr - 3.5 stars
A nice drop of dark-zombish humor.
A Little Christmas Magic by K.C. Faelan - 3 stars
Always Have, Always Will by Amelia Mann - 4.5 stars
First chapters are powerful, with vivid descriptions of Jay circumstances; then lose a bit of that initial strength. But I loved this story so much, that I have purchased the separate ebook also.
An Angel in Eyeliner by Hunter Frost - 4 stars
Boyfriend Goes Home by Laura Susan Johnson - 1 star (DNF)
Scatological and stupid, I hated the "humor" in this story.
Furthermore, I now see that it is a case of self-rating (the bigger of my personal pet peeves).
So, what I have here is the "complete package", that one that ensures that this story —in which fortunately I didn't waste my time finishing it— Was the first and last story that I read from this author.
Christmas Commitment by Shayla Mist - 2 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
Coming in from the Cold by Ava Penn -2 stars
The last chapter, rushed and almost totally disconnected from the previous chapters, ruined the story for me.
Holidays with Drum and Bell! by Matthias Williamson - DNF, no rating.
This bored me, but this is a case of "it's me, not you".
Te Amo, You Mushrooms by S.H. Allan - 5 stars
OMG, How I loved this story! Superbly researched, superbly written. Another where my enjoyment was such, that I bought the separate ebook.
A mixed bag, like almost every anthology. This was mostly good, with several remarkable stories and two gems thanks to Amelia Mann and S.H. Allan (detailed ratings below).
A Friend for Christmas by J P Walker - Skipped
Not my cuppa right now
A Midnight Clear by Debbie McGowan - 1.5 stars
From All of Us to All of You by Ofelia Gränd - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
Home for the Holidays by Jonathan Penn - 3 stars
Kiss Me At Kwanzaa by L.L. Bucknor - 1.5 stars
Lion’s Hero by Alexis Woods - 2.5 stars
One Nightstand by Rick Bettencourt - 3 stars
Shiny Things by Amy Spector - 3.5 stars
The Bard and his Boyfriend by Kathleen Hayes - 2 stars
The Christmas Present by Larry Benjamin - 2 stars
The Invasion of Tork by Claire Davis and Al Stewart - 3.5 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
X-Mas Cake: A Modern Fairytale by Raine O’Tierney - 3 stars
A Christmas Tale by Hans M Hirschi - 2 stars
A Family Christmas by Terry Kerr - 3.5 stars
A nice drop of dark-zombish humor.
A Little Christmas Magic by K.C. Faelan - 3 stars
Always Have, Always Will by Amelia Mann - 4.5 stars
First chapters are powerful, with vivid descriptions of Jay circumstances; then lose a bit of that initial strength. But I loved this story so much, that I have purchased the separate ebook also.
An Angel in Eyeliner by Hunter Frost - 4 stars
Boyfriend Goes Home by Laura Susan Johnson - 1 star (DNF)
Scatological and stupid, I hated the "humor" in this story.
Furthermore, I now see that it is a case of self-rating (the bigger of my personal pet peeves).
So, what I have here is the "complete package", that one that ensures that this story —in which fortunately I didn't waste my time finishing it— Was the first and last story that I read from this author.
Christmas Commitment by Shayla Mist - 2 stars
Read previously as a separate ebook.
Coming in from the Cold by Ava Penn -2 stars
The last chapter, rushed and almost totally disconnected from the previous chapters, ruined the story for me.
Holidays with Drum and Bell! by Matthias Williamson - DNF, no rating.
This bored me, but this is a case of "it's me, not you".
Te Amo, You Mushrooms by S.H. Allan - 5 stars
OMG, How I loved this story! Superbly researched, superbly written. Another where my enjoyment was such, that I bought the separate ebook.
December 5, 2019
I came across this book while looking for Holiday reads. I liked that it had stories for everything from Thanksgiving - New Years; including less known Holidays like Winter Solstice. Like most Anthologies its a mixed bag. Some I liked, some I didn't. But in the end I enjoyed and I feel good that Proceeds are going to the Trevor Project.
January 17, 2020
This has to be the best anthology of short stories I have read...so far!
I see there is a Volume Two, and I shall now download it, knowing that proceeds go to a worthy charitable cause.
This one’s proceeds is to The Trevor Project that seeks to help young LBGTQ youngsters in the USA at times of crisis.
One day it would be great to think they wouldn’t be needed...but I fear that is some time in the future.
I have reviewed each story individually and so won’t repeat here.
This has been an anthology that I have dipped into now and again, as such it has taken a long time to get to the end story...all stories in my opinion rated from sound three up to five stars, and as such for the readaholic this is one to last, and good value for money, for quality of content it’s also very good, hence overall I have rated it as hitting my five star reads marker.
Thanks to all authors for their contributions, I enjoyed reading them.
Oops...seems I’ve made an error...I read the combined anthology so will post this again here.
combined anthology read, star rating remains 5 star overall. Excellent anthology.
I see there is a Volume Two, and I shall now download it, knowing that proceeds go to a worthy charitable cause.
This one’s proceeds is to The Trevor Project that seeks to help young LBGTQ youngsters in the USA at times of crisis.
One day it would be great to think they wouldn’t be needed...but I fear that is some time in the future.
I have reviewed each story individually and so won’t repeat here.
This has been an anthology that I have dipped into now and again, as such it has taken a long time to get to the end story...all stories in my opinion rated from sound three up to five stars, and as such for the readaholic this is one to last, and good value for money, for quality of content it’s also very good, hence overall I have rated it as hitting my five star reads marker.
Thanks to all authors for their contributions, I enjoyed reading them.
Oops...seems I’ve made an error...I read the combined anthology so will post this again here.
combined anthology read, star rating remains 5 star overall. Excellent anthology.
December 11, 2014
Very depressing! All the stories were well written and had a happy ending (or a happy for now ending) but the path to getting to the ending was very depressing in many of the stories. I was hoping for some uplifting Christmas tales but instead you get a mix of a few inspiring stories (Kiss Me At Kwanzaa stood out) and the rest have doom and gloom like a mother that would rather curse her son than have him be gay, a father that's an alcoholic and a mother that tries to pretend that everything is cheerful for Christmas, homelessness, a man that has a heart attack- it goes on like this for most of the stories. I wish there had been a description of the stories before I purchased this because I probably would have rethought my purchase.
June 28, 2016
3.6 Stars
A M/M Romance Group Team Spin Spellapalooza Challenge read. (Go Team 6 - Living In Spin!!!)
A M/M Romance Group Team Spin Spellapalooza Challenge read. (Go Team 6 - Living In Spin!!!)
January 1, 2016
Amazing and touching
So many stories. Some will make you happy and smile. Some will make you happy and cry. Perhaps you'll find a new author to follow. They each offer a different view of the various holidays. It's also good to know that the proceeds go to the Trevor Project.
So many stories. Some will make you happy and smile. Some will make you happy and cry. Perhaps you'll find a new author to follow. They each offer a different view of the various holidays. It's also good to know that the proceeds go to the Trevor Project.
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