What do you think?
Rate this book
Comfort and Joy
A Holiday anthology
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers
Two stormy hearts find peace when feuding neighbors in the Scottish Highlands are trapped by a blizzard.
Things haven’t been going well for Cam McMorrow since he moved to Inverbechie. His business is failing, his cottage is falling apart and following his very public argument with café owner Rob Armstrong, he’s become a social outcast.
Cam needs to get away from his troubles and when his sister buys him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, he can’t leave Inverbechie quick enough. But when events conspire to strand him in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, not only is he liable to miss the party, he’ll also have to ask his nemesis, Rob, for help.
Out by Harper Fox
Can a stranger unlock the courage and passion in a young man’s captive heart?
It’s Christmas at Edinburgh’s magnificent Barlinney Hotel, and chief housekeeper Cosmo Grant is in charge of the festivities. He’s already got his hands full when handsome Ren Vaudrey checks in.
It soon turns out that Ren is an undercover cop. Cosmo wants to help him, but unless he can do it within the Barlinney’s walls, Cosmo is stuck. A victim of crippling agoraphobia, he’s been a prisoner in this gilded cage for over a year. Cosmo gathers all his courage to do the right thing by Ren and Sam—and as a glittering Christmas Eve descends on the city, finds himself confronting his very darkest fears.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg
Some mistakes are worth repeating.
Luke always thought he and Winter were the perfect couple—until the day Winter announced he was taking a new job and they were uprooting and headed for Germany. No discussion. No debate. For the first time in his life, Winter miscalculated. Badly. Now Luke is trying his best to move on with his life, but Winter is back in town and he’s set on digging their relationship out of the deep freeze.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon
Or maybe it's the flu. Breaking up is hard to do -- especially around the holidays.
Talk about Kitchen Nightmares! TV Chef Rocky and Foodie blogger Jesse have been pals forever, so it should have been the most natural thing in the world to move their relationship to the next level. Instead, it turned out to be a disaster. But Christmas is the season of love, and someone's cooking up a sweet surprise...
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers
Two stormy hearts find peace when feuding neighbors in the Scottish Highlands are trapped by a blizzard.
Things haven’t been going well for Cam McMorrow since he moved to Inverbechie. His business is failing, his cottage is falling apart and following his very public argument with café owner Rob Armstrong, he’s become a social outcast.
Cam needs to get away from his troubles and when his sister buys him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, he can’t leave Inverbechie quick enough. But when events conspire to strand him in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, not only is he liable to miss the party, he’ll also have to ask his nemesis, Rob, for help.
Out by Harper Fox
Can a stranger unlock the courage and passion in a young man’s captive heart?
It’s Christmas at Edinburgh’s magnificent Barlinney Hotel, and chief housekeeper Cosmo Grant is in charge of the festivities. He’s already got his hands full when handsome Ren Vaudrey checks in.
It soon turns out that Ren is an undercover cop. Cosmo wants to help him, but unless he can do it within the Barlinney’s walls, Cosmo is stuck. A victim of crippling agoraphobia, he’s been a prisoner in this gilded cage for over a year. Cosmo gathers all his courage to do the right thing by Ren and Sam—and as a glittering Christmas Eve descends on the city, finds himself confronting his very darkest fears.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg
Some mistakes are worth repeating.
Luke always thought he and Winter were the perfect couple—until the day Winter announced he was taking a new job and they were uprooting and headed for Germany. No discussion. No debate. For the first time in his life, Winter miscalculated. Badly. Now Luke is trying his best to move on with his life, but Winter is back in town and he’s set on digging their relationship out of the deep freeze.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon
Or maybe it's the flu. Breaking up is hard to do -- especially around the holidays.
Talk about Kitchen Nightmares! TV Chef Rocky and Foodie blogger Jesse have been pals forever, so it should have been the most natural thing in the world to move their relationship to the next level. Instead, it turned out to be a disaster. But Christmas is the season of love, and someone's cooking up a sweet surprise...
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2014
14 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Chambers
41 books1,221 followersJoanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.
If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/
If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/
If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/
If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:
https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
December 9, 2014
Rest and Be Thankful
Joanna Chambers
~4.25~
Two estranged neighbors in the Scottish Highlands find comfort, and more, during a New Year's blizzard.
I loved the setting, the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, and the two complex MCs. This was my first Chambers story, and I was blown away by the quality of the writing. The setting, the atmosphere, the character development were all there.
Cam was so lonely in his stoic self-sufficiency. And Rob needed one little nudge to see the world anew. The cozy New Year's at a cabin in a remote Scottish village was cozy and sexy!
I just wanted a stronger ending, a real HEA, not a tentative HFN. I would hike, landslides be damned, for a sequel. This would make an amazing full-length novel!
Out
Harper Fox
~2~
Can a stranger unlock the courage and passion in a young man’s captive heart?
I could barely wade through the writing in this story; it was too dense for a novella, cryptic and stiff. I've enjoyed other Harper Fox books, but this one felt heavy and dark.
Cosmos suffers from agoraphobia; he's trapped at the hotel where he works under an abusive boss.
There's a mystery element and angst, but the romance doesn't kick in until the halfway mark, and the book drags. The ending was a beginning of something, but the atmosphere overall was unsettling.
Waiting for Winter
LB Gregg
~3~
Luke and Winter seemed like the perfect couple until Winter announced he was taking a new job and they were uprooting and headed for Germany.
This is essentially an established couple story. Luke and Win were together for seven years before Win decided they should move to Germany for his job, not including Luke in the decision.
The story begins a year after their breakup. Luke is angry at Win for leaving, but Win wants Luke back. Instead of talking to Luke, Win tries to seduce him. Because we only see Luke's POV, Win came across as arrogant and conceited.
The writing was restless and somewhat erratic, with some unsettling time jumps. I felt like I was blindly dashing into each moment versus being smoothly led.
I did love the Christmas at the cabin, and the way Win finally showed Luke he didn't want to live without him. The Christmas tree moment was lovely. I wish that scene had lasted longer, but the ending was beautiful.
Baby, It's Cold
Josh Lanyon
~2~
A chef and a foodie! Breaking up is hard to do, especially around the holidays.
Because there was no buildup to Jesse and Rocky's relationship, I didn't root for them to resolve their differences. There was no real heat and no tension to the story.
Joanna Chambers
~4.25~
Two estranged neighbors in the Scottish Highlands find comfort, and more, during a New Year's blizzard.
I loved the setting, the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, and the two complex MCs. This was my first Chambers story, and I was blown away by the quality of the writing. The setting, the atmosphere, the character development were all there.
Cam was so lonely in his stoic self-sufficiency. And Rob needed one little nudge to see the world anew. The cozy New Year's at a cabin in a remote Scottish village was cozy and sexy!
I just wanted a stronger ending, a real HEA, not a tentative HFN. I would hike, landslides be damned, for a sequel. This would make an amazing full-length novel!
Out
Harper Fox
~2~
Can a stranger unlock the courage and passion in a young man’s captive heart?
I could barely wade through the writing in this story; it was too dense for a novella, cryptic and stiff. I've enjoyed other Harper Fox books, but this one felt heavy and dark.
Cosmos suffers from agoraphobia; he's trapped at the hotel where he works under an abusive boss.
There's a mystery element and angst, but the romance doesn't kick in until the halfway mark, and the book drags. The ending was a beginning of something, but the atmosphere overall was unsettling.
Waiting for Winter
LB Gregg
~3~
Luke and Winter seemed like the perfect couple until Winter announced he was taking a new job and they were uprooting and headed for Germany.
This is essentially an established couple story. Luke and Win were together for seven years before Win decided they should move to Germany for his job, not including Luke in the decision.
The story begins a year after their breakup. Luke is angry at Win for leaving, but Win wants Luke back. Instead of talking to Luke, Win tries to seduce him. Because we only see Luke's POV, Win came across as arrogant and conceited.
The writing was restless and somewhat erratic, with some unsettling time jumps. I felt like I was blindly dashing into each moment versus being smoothly led.
I did love the Christmas at the cabin, and the way Win finally showed Luke he didn't want to live without him. The Christmas tree moment was lovely. I wish that scene had lasted longer, but the ending was beautiful.
Baby, It's Cold
Josh Lanyon
~2~
A chef and a foodie! Breaking up is hard to do, especially around the holidays.
Because there was no buildup to Jesse and Rocky's relationship, I didn't root for them to resolve their differences. There was no real heat and no tension to the story.
November 30, 2017
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers: 4 stars
-- my favorite of the bunch, despite the length it felt complete from beginning to the (hopeful) end. Satisfying even if I wanted more :).
Out by Harper Fox: 3.25 stars
-- took awhile to get into the story, and I didn't warm up to it until about halfway. It felt more serious and darker than the other four though. But the ending was rather glorious.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg: 3.25 stars
-- a bit too short (and thus slightly undeveloped) for this kind of theme. Feel like missing essentials scenes.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon: 3.5 stars
-- it has all the Lanyon's FEELZ and familiarity (which was the base of my rating), but darn, I felt that the focus was more on the food and food preparation rather than the romance. The ending was rushed too.
I decided to rounded up this one time because despite the overall 3.5 rating, I still felt all the comfort and joy (all pun intended!) that this anthology offered. Yes, it was still a solid one.
-- my favorite of the bunch, despite the length it felt complete from beginning to the (hopeful) end. Satisfying even if I wanted more :).
Out by Harper Fox: 3.25 stars
-- took awhile to get into the story, and I didn't warm up to it until about halfway. It felt more serious and darker than the other four though. But the ending was rather glorious.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg: 3.25 stars
-- a bit too short (and thus slightly undeveloped) for this kind of theme. Feel like missing essentials scenes.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon: 3.5 stars
-- it has all the Lanyon's FEELZ and familiarity (which was the base of my rating), but darn, I felt that the focus was more on the food and food preparation rather than the romance. The ending was rushed too.
I decided to rounded up this one time because despite the overall 3.5 rating, I still felt all the comfort and joy (all pun intended!) that this anthology offered. Yes, it was still a solid one.
Read
January 2, 2019
Baby, It's Cold by Josh LanyonI read this after putting on the lights on our Christmas tree, so I read in the dark and looked at the tree. Enjoyed this. A look at after the HEA and what goes wrong and how it can get right again.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna ChambersLiked this. I understand the Awl right, okay syndrome unfortunately.
December 14, 2014
Okay, I've reviewed separately, but summing up: a sold Christmas anthology.
Loved Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers--that was my fave of the bunch. Great emotion!
Coming in second is L.B. Gregg's Waiting for Winter--the writing was visceral and compelling, and though Luke unfairly beat himself up too much, I still felt The Spark.
A close third is Josh Lanyon's Baby, it's cold--I liked the dynamics of this story a lot, but I was still left too hurt and insecure about the romance by the end.
Unfortunately, I didn't click at all with Out :/ Too heavy on detail that was either unnecessary or boring. Still love this author, though!
Loved Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers--that was my fave of the bunch. Great emotion!
Coming in second is L.B. Gregg's Waiting for Winter--the writing was visceral and compelling, and though Luke unfairly beat himself up too much, I still felt The Spark.
A close third is Josh Lanyon's Baby, it's cold--I liked the dynamics of this story a lot, but I was still left too hurt and insecure about the romance by the end.
Unfortunately, I didn't click at all with Out :/ Too heavy on detail that was either unnecessary or boring. Still love this author, though!
October 24, 2015
BR with Mishyjo!
'Comfort and Joy' is nice holiday anthology; a "bundle up in a blanket with hot chocolate" kind of thing. A great way to chase away those 'bah, humbugs'!
'Rest and Be Thankful' by Joanna Chambers
Rating: 4 stars - Dec 7, 2014
Cam McMorrow and Rob Armstrong aren't on the best of terms. But the holidays have got the two questioning both their own circumstances, and their feelings for each other. I really enjoyed this short from Joanna Chambers. The enemies-to-lovers theme, the slight comfort/healing vibe and the small-town setting all made for a very entertaining story. I'd love to read a short sequel. Overall, it was a great start to this anthology.
'Out' by Harper Fox
Rating: 3 stars - Dec 7, 2014
Cosmo Grant is the chief housekeeper of a top hotel in Glasgow, which he hasn't stepped outside of in a year because he has severe agoraphobia. He's accepted living his life like this, until Ren Vaudrey, an undercover cop, comes in to his life. I didn't really enjoy the first half of the story; it was very slow and the writing just seemed stilted. But I enjoyed the second half a whole lot more. The mystery, the angst and the romance really happen in the second half. By the end, I liked 'Out' quite a bit, and a couple more pages just to smooth things out would have bumped up my rating a bit.
'Waiting for Winter' by LB Gregg
Rating: 3.75 stars - Dec 8, 2014
Luke and Winter broke up a year ago, when Winter shifted to Germany for work, and Luke stayed behind. Things didn't end on good terms, and the two have been second-guessing themselves for months. When Winter comes back to Vermont for Christmas, Luke and Winter get another chance at making things right. I really enjoyed this story, but I think you'd have to know what to expect in order to like it. If you've read L.B. Gregg before, you'll know that she has a tendency towards quick endings and seemingly missing scenes. Even so, this was a great holiday short. There's a second chances theme, some humour, some hot sex and a winter storm. Just an all-around feel-good story.
'Baby, It's Cold' by Josh Lanyon
Rating: 2 stars - Dec 10, 2014
Rocky and Jesse were friends for ages, but when they tried to take it a step further, things didn't work out. Now it's Christmas Eve, and Jesse comes up with a plan to win Rocky back, but things don't go as planned. This short was just okay. It seemed more so like a cooking show than a romance, since at least half of the story was devoted to explaining the various dishes that Jesse was cooking. The romance, when we finally get to it, is sweet, but feels unfinished. On the upside, I now know how to make tiramisu. The secret is whisked egg whites in the filling.
'Comfort and Joy' is nice holiday anthology; a "bundle up in a blanket with hot chocolate" kind of thing. A great way to chase away those 'bah, humbugs'!
'Rest and Be Thankful' by Joanna Chambers
Rating: 4 stars - Dec 7, 2014
Cam McMorrow and Rob Armstrong aren't on the best of terms. But the holidays have got the two questioning both their own circumstances, and their feelings for each other. I really enjoyed this short from Joanna Chambers. The enemies-to-lovers theme, the slight comfort/healing vibe and the small-town setting all made for a very entertaining story. I'd love to read a short sequel. Overall, it was a great start to this anthology.
'Out' by Harper Fox
Rating: 3 stars - Dec 7, 2014
Cosmo Grant is the chief housekeeper of a top hotel in Glasgow, which he hasn't stepped outside of in a year because he has severe agoraphobia. He's accepted living his life like this, until Ren Vaudrey, an undercover cop, comes in to his life. I didn't really enjoy the first half of the story; it was very slow and the writing just seemed stilted. But I enjoyed the second half a whole lot more. The mystery, the angst and the romance really happen in the second half. By the end, I liked 'Out' quite a bit, and a couple more pages just to smooth things out would have bumped up my rating a bit.
'Waiting for Winter' by LB Gregg
Rating: 3.75 stars - Dec 8, 2014
Luke and Winter broke up a year ago, when Winter shifted to Germany for work, and Luke stayed behind. Things didn't end on good terms, and the two have been second-guessing themselves for months. When Winter comes back to Vermont for Christmas, Luke and Winter get another chance at making things right. I really enjoyed this story, but I think you'd have to know what to expect in order to like it. If you've read L.B. Gregg before, you'll know that she has a tendency towards quick endings and seemingly missing scenes. Even so, this was a great holiday short. There's a second chances theme, some humour, some hot sex and a winter storm. Just an all-around feel-good story.
'Baby, It's Cold' by Josh Lanyon
Rating: 2 stars - Dec 10, 2014
Rocky and Jesse were friends for ages, but when they tried to take it a step further, things didn't work out. Now it's Christmas Eve, and Jesse comes up with a plan to win Rocky back, but things don't go as planned. This short was just okay. It seemed more so like a cooking show than a romance, since at least half of the story was devoted to explaining the various dishes that Jesse was cooking. The romance, when we finally get to it, is sweet, but feels unfinished. On the upside, I now know how to make tiramisu. The secret is whisked egg whites in the filling.
December 9, 2014
Fantastic holiday anthology. The first story, by Joanna Chambers was top-notch, sweet and hot and full of feels. Harper Fox's story was very nice, although i think it would have benefitted from being longer--however, at novella length, it still packed a punch. I almost skipped LB Gregg's story because Winter's character type usually doesn't work for me. Surprise! This time it did! Hottest story in the collection by far. And josh Lanyon wrapped it up with a sweet friends to lovers story--a trope i love.
I have to say, out of the 250+ books i've read this year, this is quite possibly the best edited. This is actually the first book i've read in months where I didn't notice any errors at all--and that made it an extra joy to read.
I have to say, out of the 250+ books i've read this year, this is quite possibly the best edited. This is actually the first book i've read in months where I didn't notice any errors at all--and that made it an extra joy to read.
December 20, 2014
More Comfort and less Joy.
Take the comfort in Comfort seriously, these are not light and fluffy holidays stories. These are rocky roads and rough starts where the protagonists agonize and then find the smoother roads. They are interesting and well written, but I guess I had different expectations and wants.
Take the comfort in Comfort seriously, these are not light and fluffy holidays stories. These are rocky roads and rough starts where the protagonists agonize and then find the smoother roads. They are interesting and well written, but I guess I had different expectations and wants.
December 22, 2014
OVERALL RATING: 3.5 stars
DID YOU SEE THE LINEUP OF AUTHORS ON THIS THING?!!!!! Holy cow, those names alone should get this 3.5 stars to start. I don't even have to read another word. :) Thankfully...I did.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - 3.5 stars
Oh Ms. Chambers. How I adore your words. You make me want to pick up and move to Scotland and drink coffee and whiskey and wine.
Cam and Rob both live in a small town in the Scottish Highlands. Cam is having a rough go of it, starting a new business and not making many friends in the village. He's hard up for cash and things are going downhill fast. Cam made me...sad. Man did he make me sad. Being down on your luck is one thing...but REALLY being DOWN on your luck is hard to read. I wanted him to be happy because it was so hard to read him being SAD.
Rob is your everyman. He's a good guy. People like him. He's older. He's a widower. He's moderately successful as a cafe owner. He's talented as a painter. And the town embraces him. I like Rob. I didn't really get to know too much about him, but I liked him. And I knew I NEEDED him to give Cam something to be happy about.
The two are friends, then enemies (based on a misunderstanding) and then, when weather ruins plans for the new year, they're suddenly thrown together and hanky panky ensues. I think the hook-up happened rather abruptly and I was a little thrown by that as the pace felt different than the rest of the story.
Still, I found this story to be emotional, sweet, redemptive, and HOT!
Out by Harper Fox - 3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this one because 1) I love Harper Fox's style, 2) though contemporary, her stories always feel like they're written for another time, 3) the mystery/romance/PTSD/hotel setting all combined for a story that really worked for me.
Cosmo is the head of housekeeping at the very prestigious Barlinney Hotel. Because of a traumatic incident in his recent past, he suffers from agoraphobia and never leaves the hotel. He meets a mysterious stranger, a guest at the hotel, and is immediately attracted to him.
Ren is a cop who's searching for his missing partner...and who is wildly attracted to Cosmo. Yes, it was insta-love...this is a short story so I can forgive that. But, I just really liked these two together. I think Fox does an amazing job of writing hurt and imperfect characters...the love-healed-me angle of her stories works for me and it did so here as well.
The story was a bit rushed and had a dark tone to it, but I still found my self delightfully entertained.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg - 4 stars
My favorite story of the bunch! Second-chances storylines WARM my heart and fill it with HOPE (the melodramatic romantic in me!) and this one...*sigh*...I loved it. I loved it because it was obvious Luke & Winter never stopped loving each other. It was obvious that with a little extra communication, they were right there, primed and ready to get back together. I loved it because the snowed-in-at-a-mountain-cabin plot twist is one I could read over and over again. I loved it because LB Gregg just writes characters that I adore.
This story was romantic and heartwarming...and Winter's obsession with getting that tree was the best thing ever! :)
Baby It's Cold by Josh Lanyon - 3.5 stars
I have to admit that I was completely lost as to what was happening the beginning of the book. The hidden agendas and the extra characters confused me and I wasn't sure what was going on other than 2 guys who used to date, now seemed mad at each other (????), and there's some cooking going on.
Then, Lanyon kicked it into gear. I think it started with when he went back in time describing when Rocky & Jesse met as kids. And then they fell in love. And then it all went to shit.
As I mentioned before, second-chance-love stories are my favorites. And this one packed an emotional punch when it started to get going. I felt Jesse's loss and his broken heart. I felt his fear of not having Rocky in his life. And I loved it.
Started weak, but ended strong. I would love to read more of this couple!
December 10, 2014
Rest and Be Thankful:
5 stars! What a wonderful read all around! Loved it.
Out:
DNF. This author doesn't work for me and this is another example. I can't get into it, her writing style just isn't for me
Waiting for Winter:
2 stars because I normally love the writing of this author, but this time - it didn't work at all. Couldn't get into it, which is especially frustrating as this was the story I was looking forward to the most. Right now I'm glad I bought the whole anthology, as the first story was the absolute winner. Glad I got to read that one. This one - not so much.
Baby, It's Cold:
4.5 stars. Very nice story, I totally love this author's writing style.
Overall 4 stars for the 3 stories I finished.
5 stars! What a wonderful read all around! Loved it.
Out:
DNF. This author doesn't work for me and this is another example. I can't get into it, her writing style just isn't for me
Waiting for Winter:
2 stars because I normally love the writing of this author, but this time - it didn't work at all. Couldn't get into it, which is especially frustrating as this was the story I was looking forward to the most. Right now I'm glad I bought the whole anthology, as the first story was the absolute winner. Glad I got to read that one. This one - not so much.
Baby, It's Cold:
4.5 stars. Very nice story, I totally love this author's writing style.
Overall 4 stars for the 3 stories I finished.
December 8, 2014
3,4 stars
Ok, this is me during Christmas craze every year:
I am not fan of holiday novellas, but this anthology has a great line up and I didn't want to miss it.
"Out" by Harper Fox - 4,5 stars
There is one line I keep repeating when it comes to Harper Fox novels: the way she writes British setting is just amazing. Whether we read about hauntingly beautiful moors of Cornish Coast or she takes you on a walk through Grainger Street of Newcastle...she just has a way of describing setting so vividly it becomes a character in a story. Take Scrap Metal for example- that story wouldn't be the same and it would be lacking if it's set anywhere else but Arran.
This reader would presume that this is where author truly shines.
So... you know what Fox did in this novella?
She gave her main character agoraphobia and locked him in a hotel. Narrator doesn't go out so we would be treated with one of her "come visit this city, you know you want to" specials, since at the time we meet him, Cosmo hadn't left that hotel for over a year.
But here is the kicker, guys...she brought Barlinney Hotel to life. She did it so masterly I feel like I was there. She actually did it again.
This story is a bit different from others in tone and style: main character is more complicated because of his condition and it has a genuine suspense and romance thrown in. Cosmo is a housekeeper in-chief in Barlinney Hotel and Ren is a UC cop trying to locate a colleague last seen there. Plotwise, it wasn't totally perfect since some things were a bit over the top, but I liked it- obviously, usual sugar&sweet season novellas are not working for me at all. It seems I love my holidays with a bit of carnage. :P
Somehow.... in content this story feels more substantial than others in anthology- so many things is going on it doesn't feel like short story at all.
It also has lines like this one:
"Rest and Be Thankful" by Joanna Chambers - 3 stars
Nice, positive story about two guys who started as nemesis and ended up spending holidays together.
After reading this I really wish Joanna Chambers to release a contemporary romance novel in future. Her writing seems so much cleaner here, and it lost that over-descriptiveness she sometimes does.
This was written really good - in terms of characters, setting and romance plot.One thing that bothered me was the overused plot for determining sexual dynamics between characters
*I actually went lurking on her site and saw that she did write few short CR short stories under another pen name. Have to check out.
"Waiting for Winter" by L.B. Gregg - 3 stars
Tots cute.
Second chance love story full of sass and humor Gregg is known for.
I liked the beginning more, but it went little of the rail in second part.
"Baby,It's Cold" by Josh Lanyon - 3,2 stars
I feel like holidays don't start until Josh writes something to go with reindeer sweater, vin chaud and Christmas spirit in general.
It's kind of a tradition by now. ;)
The reason I mentioned beverage is not accidental- This story made me hungry. You see, Jesse, a blogger is cooking a romantic dinner for his ex, Rocky, who is a famous chef. He thought it was a great plan. As it often happens with every great plan of seduction in romcom setting- nothing goes according to plan. There is a drama, men being stupidly stubborn and some yummy food. Did I mention yummy food?
Ok, this is me during Christmas craze every year:
I am not fan of holiday novellas, but this anthology has a great line up and I didn't want to miss it.
"Out" by Harper Fox - 4,5 stars
There is one line I keep repeating when it comes to Harper Fox novels: the way she writes British setting is just amazing. Whether we read about hauntingly beautiful moors of Cornish Coast or she takes you on a walk through Grainger Street of Newcastle...she just has a way of describing setting so vividly it becomes a character in a story. Take Scrap Metal for example- that story wouldn't be the same and it would be lacking if it's set anywhere else but Arran.
This reader would presume that this is where author truly shines.
So... you know what Fox did in this novella?
She gave her main character agoraphobia and locked him in a hotel. Narrator doesn't go out so we would be treated with one of her "come visit this city, you know you want to" specials, since at the time we meet him, Cosmo hadn't left that hotel for over a year.
But here is the kicker, guys...she brought Barlinney Hotel to life. She did it so masterly I feel like I was there. She actually did it again.
This story is a bit different from others in tone and style: main character is more complicated because of his condition and it has a genuine suspense and romance thrown in. Cosmo is a housekeeper in-chief in Barlinney Hotel and Ren is a UC cop trying to locate a colleague last seen there. Plotwise, it wasn't totally perfect since some things were a bit over the top, but I liked it- obviously, usual sugar&sweet season novellas are not working for me at all. It seems I love my holidays with a bit of carnage. :P
Somehow.... in content this story feels more substantial than others in anthology- so many things is going on it doesn't feel like short story at all.
It also has lines like this one:
He sprang out of bed and stood naked, looking more like a good day out at the beach than ever, damn him. Skin like hard-packed sand, wide miles of grey-blue North Sea distance in his eyes. A trace of semen on his belly, as if the waves had washed him and left an arc of foam.
"Rest and Be Thankful" by Joanna Chambers - 3 stars
Nice, positive story about two guys who started as nemesis and ended up spending holidays together.
After reading this I really wish Joanna Chambers to release a contemporary romance novel in future. Her writing seems so much cleaner here, and it lost that over-descriptiveness she sometimes does.
This was written really good - in terms of characters, setting and romance plot.One thing that bothered me was the overused plot for determining sexual dynamics between characters
*I actually went lurking on her site and saw that she did write few short CR short stories under another pen name. Have to check out.
"Waiting for Winter" by L.B. Gregg - 3 stars
Tots cute.
Second chance love story full of sass and humor Gregg is known for.
I liked the beginning more, but it went little of the rail in second part.
"Baby,It's Cold" by Josh Lanyon - 3,2 stars
I feel like holidays don't start until Josh writes something to go with reindeer sweater, vin chaud and Christmas spirit in general.
It's kind of a tradition by now. ;)
The reason I mentioned beverage is not accidental- This story made me hungry. You see, Jesse, a blogger is cooking a romantic dinner for his ex, Rocky, who is a famous chef. He thought it was a great plan. As it often happens with every great plan of seduction in romcom setting- nothing goes according to plan. There is a drama, men being stupidly stubborn and some yummy food. Did I mention yummy food?
December 30, 2023
I’ve read two stories from this holiday anthology.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - My review here.
Baby, It’s Cold by Josh Lanyon - My review here.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - My review here.
Baby, It’s Cold by Josh Lanyon - My review here.
December 10, 2014
Merp.
Waiting for Winter made this SOOOOO worth it.
Waiting for Winter made this SOOOOO worth it.
December 8, 2014
A lovely, lovely mix of hurt/comfort, enemies-to-lovers and second chances themes all wrapped up in a satiny soft, red Christmas ribbon.
Exactly what it says on the tin, really. :)
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers: 4.5 stars --> LOVED!!!
Out by Harper Fox: 3.5 stars
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg: 3.5 stars
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon: 4 stars
Exactly what it says on the tin, really. :)
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers: 4.5 stars --> LOVED!!!
Out by Harper Fox: 3.5 stars
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg: 3.5 stars
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon: 4 stars
Read
December 24, 2014Rest and be Thankful by Joanna Chambers 5 stars
Give me more of this story please. I loved it. My first read in the anthology. Enemies to lovers at its best.
Give me more of this story please. I loved it. My first read in the anthology. Enemies to lovers at its best.
December 11, 2014
Baby it's cold outside
I love me some josh Lanyon!
I do I do I truly do!
I love me some josh Lanyon!
I do I do I truly do!
December 9, 2014
4 stars for the whole anthology. Individual ratings below
This is an entertaining holiday anthology from a group of talented writers. I enjoyed all the stories in it-- some more than others-- and each one has a bit of edge which lends some uniqueness. You can find my individual reviews spoilered under the title-- only to save space, I try not to spoiler any major points.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers; 4.5 stars
Out by Harper Fox; 4.5 stars
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg; 3.5 stars
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon; 3 stars
December 20, 2014
Mixed bag. Overall though, I enjoyed them all. 3.5 stars.
December 18, 2014
Overall rating: 3 STARS
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - 4 STARS
This was probably the best book out of the four and I kinda wished I read it last. I really like the story and the feel of the book. I'm always more attracted to books set in UK and Australia (or even New Zealand) rather than America. The terms/words are just so interesting. Anyway, this is Scottish fell in love more and even listened to some of the native Scottish accents.
I really like how Cam and Rob's story were told because it felt simple yet full. Full but not like a hundred details shoved in the story and made it fit. It just felt like it has depth. I really loved how the backstory were told even with the shortness of the book. I really got a grasp on it. Then the friends to enemies to lovers thing was really written nicely.
Out by Harper Fox - 2 STARS
Oh God. This one. I had a hard time coping with this. I felt like skimming so much of it. This one kind of felt full but in the bad way. I felt so much things put in this book but a few to none developed well. Like seriously.
I really didn't feel the connection Cosmo and Ren. I did feel the heartache when he thought he was just a lay and Ren loved another person. It's insta-love and I'm usually fine with it but this one, I didn't connect instantly to the insta-love.
Anyway, I'm no detective and Cosmo isn't one too but wow, he can distinguish how many people were walking based on their footsteps? I usually know if it's either one or more than one. But he did know the exact number. Plus, he knew there was one more set of footsteps but that person might be treading lightly, so he settled on the number of people he got. That was totally amazing and hilarious.
Anyway, one thing I wanted fully resolved was not resolved and kind of ignored at the end.
This one had potential but it just didn't work for me.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg - 3 STARS
After reading the first chapter of the novella, I got confused of the big time skip. There was a few to none that indicated the time skipped. Anyway, after awhile, I got it. I really thought this was just okay. The ending was cute but this was nothing memorable. Winter and Luke were really a good couple together. The banter was there. It was just the misunderstanding that held them apart. The Christmas trees thing was really heartwarming. I thought the ending was cute.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon - 3.5 STARS
The only reason this was higher than LB Gregg's book was because it was about cooking and it had more depth to it. I really liked how it started but the middle part was kind of meh. The thing with Louis was so petty. I thought they were old enough to play games like that. But yeah, desperate times call for desperate measures.
I also didn't get why Rocky was that "right" one (even if he admitted he was also wrong) when they started to rehash the past in the bedroom. I thought Jessie had more rights to be mad. Although Jesse's fault was not admitting his true feelings. I really liked the backstory of Rocky and Jesse. I also am a sucker for tattooed guys. Anyway, the book needed more clarity in some things but it was good.
Overall, a nice read but would not really recommend to read everything.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - 4 STARS
This was probably the best book out of the four and I kinda wished I read it last. I really like the story and the feel of the book. I'm always more attracted to books set in UK and Australia (or even New Zealand) rather than America. The terms/words are just so interesting. Anyway, this is Scottish fell in love more and even listened to some of the native Scottish accents.
I really like how Cam and Rob's story were told because it felt simple yet full. Full but not like a hundred details shoved in the story and made it fit. It just felt like it has depth. I really loved how the backstory were told even with the shortness of the book. I really got a grasp on it. Then the friends to enemies to lovers thing was really written nicely.
Out by Harper Fox - 2 STARS
Oh God. This one. I had a hard time coping with this. I felt like skimming so much of it. This one kind of felt full but in the bad way. I felt so much things put in this book but a few to none developed well. Like seriously.
I really didn't feel the connection Cosmo and Ren. I did feel the heartache when he thought he was just a lay and Ren loved another person. It's insta-love and I'm usually fine with it but this one, I didn't connect instantly to the insta-love.
Anyway, I'm no detective and Cosmo isn't one too but wow, he can distinguish how many people were walking based on their footsteps? I usually know if it's either one or more than one. But he did know the exact number. Plus, he knew there was one more set of footsteps but that person might be treading lightly, so he settled on the number of people he got. That was totally amazing and hilarious.
Anyway, one thing I wanted fully resolved was not resolved and kind of ignored at the end.
This one had potential but it just didn't work for me.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg - 3 STARS
After reading the first chapter of the novella, I got confused of the big time skip. There was a few to none that indicated the time skipped. Anyway, after awhile, I got it. I really thought this was just okay. The ending was cute but this was nothing memorable. Winter and Luke were really a good couple together. The banter was there. It was just the misunderstanding that held them apart. The Christmas trees thing was really heartwarming. I thought the ending was cute.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon - 3.5 STARS
The only reason this was higher than LB Gregg's book was because it was about cooking and it had more depth to it. I really liked how it started but the middle part was kind of meh. The thing with Louis was so petty. I thought they were old enough to play games like that. But yeah, desperate times call for desperate measures.
I also didn't get why Rocky was that "right" one (even if he admitted he was also wrong) when they started to rehash the past in the bedroom. I thought Jessie had more rights to be mad. Although Jesse's fault was not admitting his true feelings. I really liked the backstory of Rocky and Jesse. I also am a sucker for tattooed guys. Anyway, the book needed more clarity in some things but it was good.
Overall, a nice read but would not really recommend to read everything.
July 12, 2015
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - 4 stars
The discouragement that Cam feels is very well achieved, same as Rob's muffled sadness.
Out by Harper Fox - 3, 5 stars
It's a little hard to get involved in the story but toward the ending you realize that it have a deeply poetical undertone. The end is marvelous.
Waiting for Winter by L.B. Gregg - 2,5 stars
Win was an unforgivable dick, and he's not a child; hence I found difficult believing his attitude change.
Baby, it’s Cold by Josh Lanyon - 2 stars
A total meh
August 19, 2017
Overall this m/m bundle turned out to be quite good! This little Christmas read will sure keep you intrigued :)
My favourite stories though were 'Out' by Harper Fox and 'Waiting for Winter' by LB Gregg!
However, it was pretty short but if your in a mood for some romance between some hunky men then this is for you!
My favourite stories though were 'Out' by Harper Fox and 'Waiting for Winter' by LB Gregg!
However, it was pretty short but if your in a mood for some romance between some hunky men then this is for you!
May 4, 2016
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers–-4.5 stars
Cam’s life is not going well, at all. His boiler had bit the dust, his business has flown south for the winter, and pretty much everyone in Inverbechie dislikes him–-including the sexy café owner who he had a blazing row with moths ago, which led to the town shunning him. And he’s broke; so very, very broke. No, life is most definitely not going well. He can only hope that come midnight on New Year’s Eve, he’ll figure out a way to make this new year a better one. Because he really doesn’t fancy freezing to death, alone in his run-down cottage.
This was a bit depressing at times, if only because I am currently experiencing a bit of Cam’s problems in my own life, but overall it was a very nice holiday story. Even the parts that made me a bit weepy (but then again, anything that reminds me of how broke I am is bound to do that). The story was very well written and I really liked how Cam didn’t give up, even though if I had gone thru all that I would have sat in the middle of the street, popped open that bottle of Champagne and gotten bloody pissed. Not that drinking every really helps anything, but the dude just couldn’t seem to catch a break…well, until he caught Rob. And boy was he worth catching! Lovely story, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
Out by Harper Fox–-4 stars
Ever since being held-up at the post office a year ago, Cosmo has suffered from an acute case of agoraphobia. Unable to leave the hotel in which he works, he is forced to follow the whims of his homophobic, bigoted-–and probably criminal–-boss. When Ren checks into the hotel, though, Cosmo didn’t expect to find himself challenging all his fears to help and protect a man he has only know for a few hours.
It took a bit for me to get into this one. There was just something about the writing that had me off-kilter for the first two chapters. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on or why Cosmo was being forced to stay in the hotel, but after all that settled into place the story started to really flow for me. I really do love Harper Fox’s way of writing, and these two characters really were fun to read about. I am rather hoping that Cosmo’s boss finds himself at the pointy end of a rather sharp stick, the poncy bastard.
Waiting for Winter by L.B. Gregg–-3.5 stars
It’s been six months since Luke last saw his ex, Winter. And having the man waltz up to him in a bar and declare that they were leaving-–without so much as a by your leave-–reminds Luke of all the reasons they fell apart so quickly and so badly. But it also reminds him of why he was never able to say no to the insufferable man. With so many crossed wire and screwups between them, Luke doesn’t know if there can ever be anything between him and Winter other than a whole lot of regret.
In the end, I liked this story…I just had to deal with me wanting to shove Winter into a snowdrift for a good portion of the story before I got to the liking stage. He just has one of those personalities that rubs me the wrong way. And other people might find his cockiness an attraction, like Luke does, but for me it just make me want to take his fancy tie and shove it up his…well, I think you get the picture.
But for all his abrasiveness, by the end of the story I was quite happy cheering for these two. No one side was really at fault for what happened, and I like that they both admitted it. I do with they had done more talking before they got down to the sexing, but make-up sex is supposed to be good…so I guess they couldn’t help themselves.
Baby, It’s Cold by Josh Lanyon-–3.5 stars
Paid to cook a romantic dinner for two, for his ex and someone else, Jesse didn’t think that his Christmas could get any worse. Then the someone else shows up. Now Jesse is having to deal with a whole pot full of jealousy, a recipe gone right off the rails, and generous helping of the flu. And that’s all before the snowstorm moves in. It’s shaping up to be one hell of a Christmas.
As with most of Josh Lanyon’s works, I enjoyed this. Not quite used to having the relationship front and center with him, but a departure from dead bodies and tricky mysteries was quite nice. I liked that these guys had been in a relationship before, and that it imploded because they were idiots…especially since it was obvious that fixing things was never going to be easy. In fact I wasn’t sure it was going to be fixable at all till the end. And as someone who has spent several Christmas staring at the bottom of a NyQuil bottle, I can say I fully sympathise with Jesse. Though unconsciousness is an excellent excuse to use when you need a way to avoid some rather tense family gatherings.
Overall I found this anthology rather enjoyable. And while Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers has to be my favorite of the quartet, all of them I enjoyed in some way or the other. Whether you buy them separately or altogether, these are a nice addition to the Christmas stories this year.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Cam’s life is not going well, at all. His boiler had bit the dust, his business has flown south for the winter, and pretty much everyone in Inverbechie dislikes him–-including the sexy café owner who he had a blazing row with moths ago, which led to the town shunning him. And he’s broke; so very, very broke. No, life is most definitely not going well. He can only hope that come midnight on New Year’s Eve, he’ll figure out a way to make this new year a better one. Because he really doesn’t fancy freezing to death, alone in his run-down cottage.
This was a bit depressing at times, if only because I am currently experiencing a bit of Cam’s problems in my own life, but overall it was a very nice holiday story. Even the parts that made me a bit weepy (but then again, anything that reminds me of how broke I am is bound to do that). The story was very well written and I really liked how Cam didn’t give up, even though if I had gone thru all that I would have sat in the middle of the street, popped open that bottle of Champagne and gotten bloody pissed. Not that drinking every really helps anything, but the dude just couldn’t seem to catch a break…well, until he caught Rob. And boy was he worth catching! Lovely story, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
Out by Harper Fox–-4 stars
Ever since being held-up at the post office a year ago, Cosmo has suffered from an acute case of agoraphobia. Unable to leave the hotel in which he works, he is forced to follow the whims of his homophobic, bigoted-–and probably criminal–-boss. When Ren checks into the hotel, though, Cosmo didn’t expect to find himself challenging all his fears to help and protect a man he has only know for a few hours.
It took a bit for me to get into this one. There was just something about the writing that had me off-kilter for the first two chapters. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on or why Cosmo was being forced to stay in the hotel, but after all that settled into place the story started to really flow for me. I really do love Harper Fox’s way of writing, and these two characters really were fun to read about. I am rather hoping that Cosmo’s boss finds himself at the pointy end of a rather sharp stick, the poncy bastard.
Waiting for Winter by L.B. Gregg–-3.5 stars
It’s been six months since Luke last saw his ex, Winter. And having the man waltz up to him in a bar and declare that they were leaving-–without so much as a by your leave-–reminds Luke of all the reasons they fell apart so quickly and so badly. But it also reminds him of why he was never able to say no to the insufferable man. With so many crossed wire and screwups between them, Luke doesn’t know if there can ever be anything between him and Winter other than a whole lot of regret.
In the end, I liked this story…I just had to deal with me wanting to shove Winter into a snowdrift for a good portion of the story before I got to the liking stage. He just has one of those personalities that rubs me the wrong way. And other people might find his cockiness an attraction, like Luke does, but for me it just make me want to take his fancy tie and shove it up his…well, I think you get the picture.
But for all his abrasiveness, by the end of the story I was quite happy cheering for these two. No one side was really at fault for what happened, and I like that they both admitted it. I do with they had done more talking before they got down to the sexing, but make-up sex is supposed to be good…so I guess they couldn’t help themselves.
Baby, It’s Cold by Josh Lanyon-–3.5 stars
Paid to cook a romantic dinner for two, for his ex and someone else, Jesse didn’t think that his Christmas could get any worse. Then the someone else shows up. Now Jesse is having to deal with a whole pot full of jealousy, a recipe gone right off the rails, and generous helping of the flu. And that’s all before the snowstorm moves in. It’s shaping up to be one hell of a Christmas.
As with most of Josh Lanyon’s works, I enjoyed this. Not quite used to having the relationship front and center with him, but a departure from dead bodies and tricky mysteries was quite nice. I liked that these guys had been in a relationship before, and that it imploded because they were idiots…especially since it was obvious that fixing things was never going to be easy. In fact I wasn’t sure it was going to be fixable at all till the end. And as someone who has spent several Christmas staring at the bottom of a NyQuil bottle, I can say I fully sympathise with Jesse. Though unconsciousness is an excellent excuse to use when you need a way to avoid some rather tense family gatherings.
Overall I found this anthology rather enjoyable. And while Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers has to be my favorite of the quartet, all of them I enjoyed in some way or the other. Whether you buy them separately or altogether, these are a nice addition to the Christmas stories this year.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
December 14, 2014
Comfort and Joy (Anthology)
Joanna Chambers, Harper Fox, L.B. Gregg, Josh Lanyon
Four Stars
I resist shorter fiction and anthologies, because often they just don’t satisfy me. But this Christmas-themed anthology of four long stories is not only by four authors with great writing creds, but they work together thematically to put you in the mood for the holiday season.
Which is to say, they make you cry.
Two of these come to us from the UK, Joanna Chambers’ “Rest and Be Thankful,” and Harper Fox’s “Out.” The other two are American, one East Coast (“Waiting for Winter” by L.B. Gregg) and one West Coast (“Baby It’s Cold,” by Josh Lanyon). All of them involve snow on Christmas Eve, three of them focus on young men at cross-purposes with each other, and one of them takes place in a luxury hotel in Edinburgh.
How to start. They all made me weepy, but that might simply be the season and my generally low emotional tipping point at this time of year.
Confessing, as usual, that Harper Fox is my favorite author, I also must say that the rather oddball setting for “Out” made this story stand out. Cosmo Grant (love that name) is trapped in a grand old hotel in Edinburgh. Severe agoraphobia triggered by a horrific incident has kept Cosmo “in” for over a year. Torn between his love for the staff at the hotel and his hatred of his boss, Cosmo is stuck, physically and emotionally. And then Ren Vaudrey walks into the marble splendor and turns Cosmo upside down. The hotel itself is a major character in this gay romantic take on “The Grand Hotel Budapest.” (Note: I’m pretty sure I stayed in the hotel Fox uses as the model for this in 1970 with my dad when I was fifteen.)
The other three are, to be sure, wonderful stories. In spite of diverse locales, it is more than the snow that echoes through all three narratives. These are cautionary tales about miscommunication; not speaking your heart when you should, and speaking from your own heart without giving through to what the other guy might be feeling.
Chambers’ “Rest and Be Thankful” is surprisingly low key, and is about two men discovering each other, almost by accident, as if for the first time. It really is a tale of how easily we hurt ourselves by assuming the worst of others.
Lanyon’s “Baby It’s Cold” and Gregg’s “Waiting for Winter” concern couples who have split and, charmingly, both involve slightly screwball ploys on the part of one character that go awry. These are more painful to read, since they cast a bright light on the ways we hurt people we love most out of fear and insecurity—and sometimes plain stubbornness.
For all their similarities, these stores are not the same. No one would say that landscape paintings are all the same. In a parallel way, romance stories all share certain essential ingredients. It is the author’s skill as a writer and as a narrator (not the same thing) that makes each of these individual and uniquely appealing. This is very much the case here. Everyone who reads this anthology will find the one story that touches most deeply and satisfies most fully. Which of these four will do that for you depends upon who you are.
Joanna Chambers, Harper Fox, L.B. Gregg, Josh Lanyon
Four Stars
I resist shorter fiction and anthologies, because often they just don’t satisfy me. But this Christmas-themed anthology of four long stories is not only by four authors with great writing creds, but they work together thematically to put you in the mood for the holiday season.
Which is to say, they make you cry.
Two of these come to us from the UK, Joanna Chambers’ “Rest and Be Thankful,” and Harper Fox’s “Out.” The other two are American, one East Coast (“Waiting for Winter” by L.B. Gregg) and one West Coast (“Baby It’s Cold,” by Josh Lanyon). All of them involve snow on Christmas Eve, three of them focus on young men at cross-purposes with each other, and one of them takes place in a luxury hotel in Edinburgh.
How to start. They all made me weepy, but that might simply be the season and my generally low emotional tipping point at this time of year.
Confessing, as usual, that Harper Fox is my favorite author, I also must say that the rather oddball setting for “Out” made this story stand out. Cosmo Grant (love that name) is trapped in a grand old hotel in Edinburgh. Severe agoraphobia triggered by a horrific incident has kept Cosmo “in” for over a year. Torn between his love for the staff at the hotel and his hatred of his boss, Cosmo is stuck, physically and emotionally. And then Ren Vaudrey walks into the marble splendor and turns Cosmo upside down. The hotel itself is a major character in this gay romantic take on “The Grand Hotel Budapest.” (Note: I’m pretty sure I stayed in the hotel Fox uses as the model for this in 1970 with my dad when I was fifteen.)
The other three are, to be sure, wonderful stories. In spite of diverse locales, it is more than the snow that echoes through all three narratives. These are cautionary tales about miscommunication; not speaking your heart when you should, and speaking from your own heart without giving through to what the other guy might be feeling.
Chambers’ “Rest and Be Thankful” is surprisingly low key, and is about two men discovering each other, almost by accident, as if for the first time. It really is a tale of how easily we hurt ourselves by assuming the worst of others.
Lanyon’s “Baby It’s Cold” and Gregg’s “Waiting for Winter” concern couples who have split and, charmingly, both involve slightly screwball ploys on the part of one character that go awry. These are more painful to read, since they cast a bright light on the ways we hurt people we love most out of fear and insecurity—and sometimes plain stubbornness.
For all their similarities, these stores are not the same. No one would say that landscape paintings are all the same. In a parallel way, romance stories all share certain essential ingredients. It is the author’s skill as a writer and as a narrator (not the same thing) that makes each of these individual and uniquely appealing. This is very much the case here. Everyone who reads this anthology will find the one story that touches most deeply and satisfies most fully. Which of these four will do that for you depends upon who you are.
Currently reading
January 14, 2015It's time to start my Secret Santa's gifts!
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers
***4.5 stars***
Sweet and heartwarming New Year's story. Complete with the snow, mountains, cottage and two hot Scottish men. Delightful!
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers
***4.5 stars***
Sweet and heartwarming New Year's story. Complete with the snow, mountains, cottage and two hot Scottish men. Delightful!
October 28, 2020
It's hard to find an anthology where ALL of the stories worked for me, but that's what happened here. Be forewarned that the last two may make you cry (in a good way!). This is the book you want to read if you're looking to get into the holiday spirit with some tender, feel-good romance!
December 10, 2014
Four wonderful Winter holidays stories by four of our genre's best authors. Have your Kleenex ready.
December 21, 2014
J. Chambers 2*
H. Fox 2*
H. Fox 2*
November 20, 2015
A very enjoyable, cosy collection of four stories for the festive season.
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers (story one) - I really liked the story, but I found the use of apostrophes on every 'round (British colloquial version of 'around') very distracting. These were not used consistently (not used on 'phone, for instance), and nor were they used in Harper Fox's story, when both stories are set in Scotland, which makes no sense editorially. I know I'm being pedantic - perhaps the absence of the apostrophes would be just as distracting to US readers. However, I rate on how well a story drags me in and keeps me there, and those little fellas kicked me right back out of it, which is a shame, because I really liked the plot and the characters were very engaging.
I absolutely loved Out, by Harper Fox (story two) - very much my kind of story - a chief housekeeper with agoraphobia and how he overcomes this to become a bit of a hero is exactly the sort of thing I love to read. It offers a very realistic portrayal of the condition, and the connection between the characters is excellent. I may have been left a little smitten by Cosmo.
Waiting for Winter, by LB Gregg (story three) - it is a good story, and I was expecting great things, because I'd read rave reviews about how incredible the character 'Winter' was, but I didn't like him at all. I found him to be selfish, supercilious and superior. However, I wouldn't down-star a story for excellent characterisation. I don't like him; other people love him. Either way, LB Gregg has made us feel real things for a character.
Baby it's Cold, by Josh Lanyon (story four) was great, other than the extensive recipe instructions. Filler much? The usual wit and dry humour is there, and the characters were feisty but likeable. A great story - I don't need to know what goes in a tiramisù or how to cook mussels. :)
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers (story one) - I really liked the story, but I found the use of apostrophes on every 'round (British colloquial version of 'around') very distracting. These were not used consistently (not used on 'phone, for instance), and nor were they used in Harper Fox's story, when both stories are set in Scotland, which makes no sense editorially. I know I'm being pedantic - perhaps the absence of the apostrophes would be just as distracting to US readers. However, I rate on how well a story drags me in and keeps me there, and those little fellas kicked me right back out of it, which is a shame, because I really liked the plot and the characters were very engaging.
I absolutely loved Out, by Harper Fox (story two) - very much my kind of story - a chief housekeeper with agoraphobia and how he overcomes this to become a bit of a hero is exactly the sort of thing I love to read. It offers a very realistic portrayal of the condition, and the connection between the characters is excellent. I may have been left a little smitten by Cosmo.
Waiting for Winter, by LB Gregg (story three) - it is a good story, and I was expecting great things, because I'd read rave reviews about how incredible the character 'Winter' was, but I didn't like him at all. I found him to be selfish, supercilious and superior. However, I wouldn't down-star a story for excellent characterisation. I don't like him; other people love him. Either way, LB Gregg has made us feel real things for a character.
Baby it's Cold, by Josh Lanyon (story four) was great, other than the extensive recipe instructions. Filler much? The usual wit and dry humour is there, and the characters were feisty but likeable. A great story - I don't need to know what goes in a tiramisù or how to cook mussels. :)
December 30, 2014
We did a group review over yonder on the PBA, each one of the four of us reviewing one of the stories. It averages out to a 4.5 rating. Not too shabby 't all!
I reviewed Joanna Chambers's Rest and Be Thankful.
I read them all - duh!
This is one of the best holiday anthologies I've experienced.
All four stories were tight in plot and character. Shouldn't be a surprise given the line-up. Batter up!
Each of them had unexpected elements.
They all made me wana curl up with, burrow in and snuggle against someone.
All of them featured unlikely pairings in contemporary settings.
Every one of them featured an ending that was sigh-worthy and made it possible to dream of wonderful futures for all of these guys.
*contented sigh*
Chambers's story is one of her best. Realistic, uncertain and ultimately hopeful. Loved it.
Fox's is that intriguing mix of contemporary and mystical, sort of dreamlike, that she does with some of her stories. It was definitely written the main character thinks, which isn't always logical or accessible. Loved it.
Gregg's story, lawdy, the angst and sharpness are worth it for the ending. It choked me up. *nods* It did.
Lanyon's has his usual humor, with characters struggling through their imperfections in not exactly perfect ways. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy this one even more. Lots o food talk.
This is going on the comfort read shelf and is one I will reach for, no matter the time of year. :D
I reviewed Joanna Chambers's Rest and Be Thankful.
I read them all - duh!
This is one of the best holiday anthologies I've experienced.
All four stories were tight in plot and character. Shouldn't be a surprise given the line-up. Batter up!
Each of them had unexpected elements.
They all made me wana curl up with, burrow in and snuggle against someone.
All of them featured unlikely pairings in contemporary settings.
Every one of them featured an ending that was sigh-worthy and made it possible to dream of wonderful futures for all of these guys.
*contented sigh*
Chambers's story is one of her best. Realistic, uncertain and ultimately hopeful. Loved it.
Fox's is that intriguing mix of contemporary and mystical, sort of dreamlike, that she does with some of her stories. It was definitely written the main character thinks, which isn't always logical or accessible. Loved it.
Gregg's story, lawdy, the angst and sharpness are worth it for the ending. It choked me up. *nods* It did.
Lanyon's has his usual humor, with characters struggling through their imperfections in not exactly perfect ways. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy this one even more. Lots o food talk.
This is going on the comfort read shelf and is one I will reach for, no matter the time of year. :D
March 30, 2015
Rest and Be Thankful by Joanna Chambers - 4.5 stars
Out by Harper Fox - 4 stars. Took a while to get into but, as usual, once she had me Harper Fox wouldn't let me go.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg - 3.5 stars. Anyone who follows my reading history (I won't say reviews because I don't review, I simply scribble down notes to remind me what I liked) will know how much I love LB Gregg. I was so looking forward to this story. In the end I felt disappointed probably because I'd expected so much. I also felt disconnected. I couldn't warm to Winter but I didn't know if that was because of his character or because Luke was an unreliable narrator, which in turn meant I couldn't trust any of the things Luke was telling me.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon - 4 stars. This story had me nervous and on edge for the entire read. Almost on the verge of tears for some reason.
Averages out at 4 stars for the whole anthology.
Out by Harper Fox - 4 stars. Took a while to get into but, as usual, once she had me Harper Fox wouldn't let me go.
Waiting for Winter by LB Gregg - 3.5 stars. Anyone who follows my reading history (I won't say reviews because I don't review, I simply scribble down notes to remind me what I liked) will know how much I love LB Gregg. I was so looking forward to this story. In the end I felt disappointed probably because I'd expected so much. I also felt disconnected. I couldn't warm to Winter but I didn't know if that was because of his character or because Luke was an unreliable narrator, which in turn meant I couldn't trust any of the things Luke was telling me.
Baby, It's Cold by Josh Lanyon - 4 stars. This story had me nervous and on edge for the entire read. Almost on the verge of tears for some reason.
Averages out at 4 stars for the whole anthology.
Read
December 8, 2014I bought this because of Josh Lanyon's short. Generally, I do not buy anthologies because I am never satisfied with the depth and length of the stories. This was no exception.
Josh's story felt like it needed to go on much longer, that the end just came upon me suddenly. I always want more of Josh's writing so that doesn't surprise.
The other stories I just didn't warm up to, not at all.
I won't rate this because it wouldn't be fair, given my predisposition to dislike short stories.
Josh's story felt like it needed to go on much longer, that the end just came upon me suddenly. I always want more of Josh's writing so that doesn't surprise.
The other stories I just didn't warm up to, not at all.
I won't rate this because it wouldn't be fair, given my predisposition to dislike short stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews