Holiday Pines: A Southern Comfort Christmas

by Timothy Warren

Wes Dalton is three weeks away from losing everything.

The family Christmas tree farm is drowning in debt, his father is recovering from a stroke that nearly killed him, and Wes has been running on fumes and stubbornness for so long, he's forgotten what it feels like to hope.

Then Jake Marley walks through his door.

The banker from Atlanta is supposed to be the enemy—another suit coming to deliver bad news and repossess his legacy. But Jake doesn't destroy farms. He saves them. And when he looks at Wes, he sees more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

As December counts down to Christmas, their professional relationship becomes something far more complicated. Late-night conversations. Stolen touches. A kiss that changes everything. But Wes is terrified of coming out to his fragile father, and Jake's life is three hours away in Atlanta.

When a devastating ice storm threatens to destroy the farm and trap Jake on the road, both men will have to decide what they're willing to risk for love.

HOLIDAY PINES is the first book in the Southern Comfort Christmas series—heartwarming small-town MM romances celebrating found family, second chances, and the magic of the season. Each book can be read as a standalone with a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance, Novella, LGBT, Holiday, Christmas

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2025

About the author

Timothy Warren lives in the Atlanta suburbs with his husband and their pets. When he is not writing, he is writing in his head... which often leads to strange looks from his spouse.

He loves writing about things that make him smile--the chemistry between men, in particular. Sex plays a big part in these relations, but love wins out more so with his enjoyment of telling these stories... as in life.

"I like to write about men being men and falling in love with men. And I love a happy ending."

You can reach out to him here:

https://www.facebook.com/timothy.warr...

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Pines: A Southern Comfort Christmas is by Timothy Warren. This is my very first book by this author. I loved the cute cover and the blurb pulled me right in.



Wes Dalton is thirty years old. After his father suffered a devastating stroke, Wes is now running the Christmas tree farm in Spoon, Georgia that has been in his family for three generations. He has help during the busy holiday season but for the rest of the time, he does everything on his own. Now, he has a foreclosure notice sitting on his desk, along with plenty of other bills. In three weeks, on December 24, the bank will take his farm if he can’t pay their debt by then.



Jake Marley is thirty one years old. Jake works for the bank but his job isn’t to take away people’s farm, his job is to help them re-evaluate everything and find a way to save it. After never having roots of his own, he is determined to help others keep their own.

When these two first meet, there are definite sparks. But Wes doesn’t trust easily, especially bankers. But as Jake convinces him that he’s on his side, Wes does something he had long given up, hope.



This was such a sweet story. It has cute “A Christmas Carol” vibes. I loved how these two were together and how they filled in each other’s missing pieces. I have other books by this author on my to read list and look forward to reading them.

“Jake had come to Spoon to save people. He was starting to think Spoon might save him right back.”

[patrícia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc Review: Holiday Pines, A Southern Comfort Christmas #1 by Timothy Warren
MC:Jake&Wes 3⭐

Tropes & tags
• Heartwarming small-town romance
• Closeted MC / coming-out arc
• Opposites attract
• Low angst
• Christmas romance
• Found family

This was a cute, sweet Christmas novella with a cosy small-town vibe. It’s an easy, quick read with a touch of insta-love, which works for the format but also made me wish for a few more pages to add emotional depth.

I didn’t fully buy Wes’s reason for staying closeted, especially since his father already seemed to know and be okay with it—letting him suffer in silence felt frustrating and underexplored.

The meddling town locals were a highlight and really added to the found-family feel, helping bring Jake and Wes together.

Overall, a sweet, low-angst holiday read—comforting and festive, even if it stays on the lighter side. 🎄🤍

“May I have this dance?” Jake asked, holding out his hand.
“Everyone is watching.”
“Let them watch. They’re happy for us, Wes. Let’s give them a show.”

I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.

⚠️Content Warnings
Mention of death of parent (MC)
One MC was raised in several foster homes

❣️Book Safety & Content
Cheating: No
Other Person Drama: No
Sharing: No
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Versatile
POV: 3rd person (dual) but sometimes the POV changed in the middle of the chapter?!
Format: Standalone but interconnected with other books
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Low
Spice Level: Medium
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining: Mutual

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A short and sweet Christmas novella that follows Wes, a struggling farmer, and Jake, the person who is going to save the farm.

The way they all address each other is slightly stiff, and it makes it feel like there’s not much warmth between Wes and his dad. It also goes back and forth on details sometimes, which was a little confusing. But the story feels comfy and familiar due to the nod to a Christmas carol.

I enjoyed it. The overall vibe is cute.

………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Cinthya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book🥹🩷

Relatively short, easy to read, and absolutely adorable. I loved the cozy, Christmassy vibes and the two main characters, Wes and Jake. There were so many beautiful lessons sprinkled throughout the book: trust, letting go, freedom, love, family, friendship and legacy. This book truly felt like a warm hug, the kind I think we’ve all needed at some point in our lives🩵

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Okay, so technically it’s not Christmas anymore, but a warm and cozy holiday read is fun regardless of what the calendar says. And Holiday Pines is the definition of cozy. Its characters are endearing and the angst meter is low and it has everything you want from a feel good read. It leans a little too far towards the saccharine side at times and the allusions to Dickens and A Christmas Carol are overly heavy handed, but the book was still a fun read. This is part of a series called Southern Comfort and, while couples from other books are mentioned, Holiday Pines works well as a standalone and I had no trouble following the story.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Meg Birch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. It’s well written, but the plot just didn’t hit for me. When you’re this short, you have to do a lot of work on every page—especially in romance. So I understand the decision to go for insta-love. But the relationship was almost non-existent. Insta-love incarnate. Which is valid, but not my vibe.

I also found the spice to be unfortunately placed. Minor spoiler: someone with hypothermia probably shouldn’t be bottoming (or having segs of any kind). It didn’t come off to me as something needed in that moment—or even safe.

The good news is all the characters are likable and have depth. Motivations are believable. Their actions and some dialogue can be a bit cliche but it’s not overpowering in that way, I guess.

I’d you’re looking for a quick holiday read, this works. But maybe after you’ve exhausted other options?

[Julie Underhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday Pines by Timothy Warren is A Southern Comfort Christmas story. I would suggest that you read the others in the Southern Comfort series as they tell wonderful stories and characters from them and the town appear in this one. Wes Dalton is being dragged down by all the work and problems of owning the Christmas tree farm, Holiday Pines, in Spoon, Georgia. His mother died when he was younger and his father, Henry, recently suffered a stroke and is recovering but all the day to day details of running the farm with Christmas coming has fallen on him and he doesn’t ask for any help other than Miguel, his hired hand. He really wanted to be an artist and does amazing chainsaw wood carvings that he sells locally but the farm that has been in his family for 3 generations had to come first. To top it off, he has received a foreclosure notice on the farm that will take place on December 24th. He doesn’t know what to do except keep working. Jake Marley works as a loan officer who specializes in agricultural recovery for Regional First Bank located in Atlanta, 3 hours from Spoon. He has come to the area to try to save farms by helping the owners restructure their loans and find other ways to make income to become successful. He grew up in foster care and never had a real family so he is very invested in helping families save their farms because he wishes he had a family himself. He contacted Wes and hopes to meet with him and when he shows up for a tour of the farm Wes is almost rude to him because to him all bankers have done is try to take his money and he doesn’t believe that anyone from one would try to help him save his farm. Jake is handling 3 other properties in the area so he will be around until Christmas if Wes wants to discuss what he can do. Henry tells Wes that he needs to listen to what Jake has to say and not be mad and when Jake calls him to tell him that there are viable recovery options he agrees so they schedule a follow up meeting to go over the restructuring plans. One of them is to find other uses for the farm except growing Christmas trees which only take up half of the 40 acres. He talks to Pedro Torres Shepherd who is married to the town mayor and has a business that he expanded several years ago. That really gets Wes thinking plus he is tired of fighting, worrying, and carrying everything alone. He meets with Jake and they talk about all that can be done with the farm as well as look at the restructuring papers. Wes is starting to feel some hope and says he will think about it. Then he shows Jake his shop where he does his chainsaw carvings. Jake is astonished at how amazing they are and tells him so. He’s creative, resourceful and finds ways to make beauty when everything is hard. There has been a simmering attraction between the two of them and they almost kiss but are interrupted. Wes is starting to trust Jake but he knows to trust his feelings and gut and that Jake doesn’t want to buy him out but to form a partnership. They meet by chance at the Dairy Dream and talk about their lives and how Jake is lonely and wants a home and someone to share it with. They know something is growing between them but Wes isn’t out to his father and worries that if he does come out it will make his him sicker. He then decides to sign the paperwork for the restructuring and they go back to the shop where Wes shows him what he is working on. This leads to a kiss and a hot love scene. They continue seeing each other but not out in public and when Jake is called back to Atlanta for a meeting Wes is worried that he won’t come back, but he assures him he will and he does. He takes him to visit the 3 properties he is helping and he sees what the past, present, and future could look like with his farm and he has to make a decision about when to tell his father he likes men. Jake gets called back to the office again but a storm is coming and when he tries to get back to Spoon and Wes some major things happen with lots of suspense that get them together and they declare their love while Henry is fine with their relationship and happy for them. After the storm members of the town come to help clean up the farm and Wes realizes he doesn’t have to do everything alone. There is still the problem of Jake working in Atlanta but he comes up with a solution that keeps them together and happy with a very special ending the next year. I really enjoyed this story as I have all the ones Mr. Warren has written. They are so heart felt and family based that you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. This is true for Wes and Jake. Wes has handled everything for so long and is stubborn and full of pride and doesn’t want help but now he is in dire circumstances. Jake is lonely and just wants a family and to belong and really likes helping people in trouble out. Wes is wary at first but can’t help falling in love with Jake once he trusts him and together they save the farm and form the family they always wanted. Henry and the townspeople all help their achieve their goals. I also liked how Mr. Warren brought in elements from A Christmas Carol that really bring everything in the story into focus. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about men looking for a family, helping each other get what they need, learning to ask for help when they need it, and falling in love at a Christmas tree farm at Christmas.

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This guy got a name?”
“Jake. Jake Marley.”
Henry’s eyebrows lifted. A slow smile spread across his face. “Like the ghost?”
“What?”
“Marley. From A Christmas Carol. Jacob Marley. The ghost.” Henry chuckled hoarsely... “Well, think about it. Maybe it’s a sign.”
“A sign of what?” Henry smiled, the crooked one that still worked after the stroke.
“Maybe he’s here to show you something you’re not seeing.” “Like what?”
“Like… the future.”

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a sweet Christmas romance. I loved both Wes and Jake. I loved the idea of someone in Jake's position actually wanting to help Wes save his farm rather than take it when times got tough. Wes understandably has his walls up because he's struggling and has a lot on his shoulders. But with some encouragement, pushing his pride down and openly listening, and taking a chance, he begins to see Jake really does want to help him turn things around and succeed; as well as let him see who the man is beyond his job title.

Jake is good at his job and really cares about the work he does for people, but lonely and never really had a place to call home or a family since he'd grown up in foster care. I love that he let that upbringing influence his work helping others save the things he'd never had for himself. And that Jake was willing to open up to Wes and let him see that bit of vulnerability to him.

“I moved around a lot,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Seven homes in ten years. Never had a place that felt like home— you know, really home... And then I got into banking, started working agricultural accounts, and I saw these families— people who’d been on the same land for generations, who had roots and history and legacy. Things I never had.”
He looked up, meeting Wes’s eyes.
“I guess I figured if I couldn’t have that for myself, at least I could help other people keep it."

I like the way their relationship developed. Still some obstacles to overcome. I also like the supporting characters. 4 stars

[Emmie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC for an honest review. That ARC ended up arriving late due to technical issues, but that’s okay.

Holiday Pines was a shorter, but very sweet, Christmasy read. Set on a struggling Christmas tree farm, there could have been a few more holiday vibes to really tie the setting together, but overall it worked quite well. I enjoyed the small town feeling and how they all looked out for one another. The queer-friendly small town introduced a lot of side characters who were great at advice giving and even better at DJ-ing.

Wes and Jake were sweet together! Both men were lonely and looking for home in different ways. Wes was looking for a life partner to share the responsibility of managing the farm and caretaking of his father. Jake was looking to put down roots after a childhood spent in foster care. Both men found that home with each other, but needed to be brave enough to alter their lives to keep that happiness.

Wes was inexplicably scared to come out to his father, and offered flimsy excuses such as worry for his father’s health to justify it. I felt like that was pretty weak, and that his character could have been better explored by really digging into why he was apprehensive about coming out, especially when his dad was a good man and not homophobic in the slightest.

While I had a few minor complaints, overall I ended up really enjoying this cozy, sweet romance. A hint of spice, but even more sugar. I highlighted so many soft passages between Wes and Jake that gave me the happy chills and heart eyes.

[Laura Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

4.5 Stars

Holiday Pines is a cozy, feel-good Christmas novella that packs a lot of warmth into a short read. It’s quick, gentle, and sweet, with a hint of insta-love that works well for the short story. It did leave me wishing the story had been a little longer so I could spend more time with the characters.

The story takes place on a struggling Christmas tree farm in a queer-friendly small town where everyone knows everyone and genuinely looks out for one another. While I would have loved a bit more festivness woven in, the strong sense of community more than makes up for it. The side characters are especially fun, offering plenty of advice, playful interference, I loved the DJ moments they really made me smile.

The town’s well-intentioned busybodies are a standout element, with their gentle nudging playing a key role in bringing Jake and Wes together in an organic, heartfelt way.

The inventive spin on A Christmas Carol—especially the aptly named “three spirits tour”—adds meaningemotional depth and character growth. By the end, Wes realizes he doesn’t have to shoulder everything on his own, while Jake comes to understand what having a true home and family really means. Their shared journey builds toward a love worth choosing and a warmly satisfying happily-ever-after that fits this holiday romance beautifully.

[Michelle N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday Pines is the first novel I had the pleasure of reading by author Timothy Warren. This is the holiday novel in his Southern Comfort series. The story takes place in the fictional town of Spoon, Georgia, the small-town location for his other Southern Comfort novels. This is a stand -alone novel and you did not need to read any of the prior books to follow the story.
This is a heart-warming holiday story about the strength of family, friends, and finding love when you let your walls down and open your heart to trust in your feelings and in other people.
Wes Dalton, put his life on hold to support his parents and run his family’s Christmas tree farm. He is struggling with the responsibilities of being his father’s only care giver and trying to keep the in debt farm from foreclosure.
Jake Marley, is a loan officer who works to save farms not sell them. He arrives in Spoon to help Jake design a plan to restructure his loan and save his farm. Jake did not plan on the feelings and attraction he has when he first meets Wes. Jake not only has to convince Wes to trust him with his farm but with his heart as well.
This is a sweet holiday story about trusting your friends and family to support you and love you for who you are and allowing yourself to live the life you want with the person you love.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first in the Southern Comfort Christmas series and a spin off from the southern Comfort series. This is a new to me author and I just loved this book. This is a standalone read but beware, it will make you want to go back and read the earlier series. This is the story of Wes Dalton and Jake Marley. Wes is desperately trying to keep his family tree farm afloat. He walked away from his dreams to help his dad and run the family tree farm. He is struggling to be the caregiver his dad needs and keep the farm from closing due to foreclosure. Jake is a loans officer who works to save struggling farms. Rather than just sell off the assets for repayment, he helps restructure loans so that the farms have a little room to breath and survive. He knows that he will have a hard time getting Wes to trust him enough to try and help him. This is their story. In spite of being on opposite sides of the fence, there is an instant spark and chemistry between Wes and Jake. The book is very well written and easy to read. I received a complimentary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I really enjoyed this book. Learning to let people in is difficult to do but sometimes the result is worth the risk. This is a heart-warming holiday story. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Ibiliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.
The story was okay, the characters were sweet, and the Christmassy feel was there, so don’t let my lower-than-average rating keep you from reading it.

However some things really bugged me and kept me from loving it the way I wanted:
- At a few points in the book the POV changes for a sentence or 2 and then switches back without any notice. Very confusing.
- Wes calling his dad by his first name 80% of the time and then when he doesn’t, switching between dad and pop. No one does that.
- From chapter 10 we suddenly get ‘dates, places and times’ before a scene. It doesn’t add much to the story.
- The order of things feel a little off, but that can just be me. However, when Jake is convincing himself he shouldn’t leave Spoon at 73% I frowned, because he already promised Wes he wouldn’t.
- Also I don’t believe you’re up to having sex with someone 5 minutes after almost freezing to death and haven’t even showered after walking in an ice storm. His hair was frozen! It said so.

I received this book as an ARC through Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book grabbed my heart right from the start. It is full of sweet, tender moments, holiday spirit, romantic connections as well as those with friends and family, understanding, trust, and love. I loved how this small town was full of nosy, but also loving and helpful people.
Wes and Jake are two really sweet men who are each familiar with heartache, but are opposites with Wes being the small town farmer and Jake being the suit wearing city banker. They both also have a touch of insta-love that absolutely turns truly genuine.
I really enjoyed this twist on 'A Christmas Carol' and the "three spirits tour" as Jake called it! By the end, Wes learns that he doesn't have to do everything on his own and Jake learns what it truly means to have a family and a home. Together they find a love worth fighting for and a sweetly satisfying HEA.

The ARC I read was in need of editing. There were some minor typos, but the bigger issue I had was a few chapters where the POV changed suddenly within a chapter and will leave the reader a bit confused. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I received an ARC from GRR, this review is my honest opinion.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Wes Dalton is working hard but the family tree farm is failing despite his efforts. A lifeline comes in the form of contact and an offer from Jake Marley, a senior loan officer from the bank holding the note on his loans to help him save the farm. Jake offers help in the form of a restructure of the loan that allows him more time to pay and also constructive guidance and advice that will help him figure out a way forward that will help him find a way to not only go on but potentially to thrive. There is an attraction that quickly springs up between them which moves at a good pace for both men. The sticking point came in relation to Wes not being out to his father. That was something that was in need of being dealt with if they are going to have more than just a business connection. There was a lot of growth happening for Wes and for Jake a sense that being with Wes was a way of creating the roots that he did not have as a foster child. This pairing made sense and the way they went about learning to trust and lean on one another was endearing.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pontiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes runs a Christmas tree farm that’s at risk of going bankrupt. He gave up his dream of art school for it, and to look after his Dad after his Mom died and his Dad had a stroke.

Jake is a banker who comes to town to help rescuer the farm if he can, and offers Wes a restructuring of his loan and ways to diversify his income.

Once the papers are signed, the two agree to go on a date and start seeing each other and falling in love. But Jake has to go back to Atlanta for work, and Wes has to come out to his Dad. When Jake’s car runs off the road during an ice storm, Wes goes to rescues him, and tells his Dad he loves Jake.

Jake makes plans to pen a satellite office in town, Wes makes more of his wood sculptures, and Christmas is beautiful and full of the warmth of love.

This was an interesting read, with Jake being a good guy banker and Wes being farmer and artist. Lots of friends help them figure out work and love, and it’s a home that Jake, as a foster child, never thought he’d have.

I received this ARC for free and am pleased to give it my honest review with thanks

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to build a life together

This is a new author to me, and I really enjoyed reading this book.

The strength of the book is the characters.  They were well developed and deep with real lives and problems.

The overall story contains themes of A Christmas Carole, but it's really about a love story and building a life together.  Wes was stubborn in business and needed to be shown a better way. He was also stubborn in life. He wanted Jake and was fine with that in private mostly, but had some difficulty bringing himself to come out to his Dad. This was the only part of the book I felt had any angst, but very low angst. It was really nice to see how Wes' and Jake's relationship developed over time but pretty quickly. They were very sweet together, and they had the support of many friends helping them navigate the business and their relationship. 

The book did have a couple of small errors in the beginning like mixed up names and days which needed a bit of editing but nothing distracting to the reading. 

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

like the ghost?, bourbon = vegetable, GA peach cobbler, pine tree vomit, 'three-spirits tour', Amish quilt, mimosas, a Mary-adoring Joseph, raccoon poop

This book checks all the right boxes to make a great and wonderful story. The angst is sufficient to create good drama and is balanced by the awesomeness of the plot. In fact, all of book's components are well-balanced. There's a fair bit of Easter eggs, especially with Cal's mastery of the jukebox.

Although it doesn't start like it, Wes and Jake are perfect for each other, like yin and yang. Wes owns an Xmas tree farm that is debt-ridden. Jake is a senior loan officer with the bank that is threatening foreclosure on the farm.

There are couples from the previous books who make appearances throughout. Being that Spoon, GA is a small town, the side characters make the story seem more believable and real.

I enjoyed this book and Timothy Warren's writing tremendously. I happily and readily recommend it.

[Kata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ultimate Christmas story. Sweet, adorable, and… and I can’t even find the words.

These two men are just so lovable, so sweet, so precious, and… ahh 😫😫😫
Honestly, I can’t even properly describe how I feel about this book without spoilers, because I’d definitely give something away from the story — and I really don’t want to do that. But one thing I absolutely have to mention is what Jake did to keep the promise he made to Wes 🥹 if only everyone were like him.

The side characters — Henry, Tucker, Evan, Chuck, Brody, and Barb — were all so incredibly lovable and supportive 🥹

My only regret is that I can’t give this book more than five stars, because it meant so much more to me than that.

Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC, and heartfelt congratulations to Timothy Warren — you wrote a truly fantastic book.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming novel about a small farmer who is struggling to save the family tree farm.
When a 'big city' banker comes, everyone thinks he's there to foreclose.
Instead he is there to offer hope.

Jake comes to Wes' farm to help him restructure the loan against it.
Wes isn't convinced he can trust him, but after several meetings, they begin to work together.
Wes meets with others who are in a similar situation and shares his vision with Jake.
Wes also reveals the wood sculptures he does to relieve stress and express himself.

They learn to share personal details and dreams.
They also discover it is possible to give each the courage to take risks and go for what they want.

A great plot, wonderful characters who you'll admire and a book you'll enjoy.

Thanks to GRR and Timothy for this enjoyable ARC.

[Heaterr11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️
This novella was a delightful surprise for me. I really enjoyed watching Wes and Jake’s relationship blossom over the span of just one month. It had a very Hallmark-esque feel, which I truly appreciated.

Wes is doing his best to keep the family Christmas tree farm from going out of business while also caring for his ailing father. Enter Jake, the sweet banker who wants to help Wes keep the family legacy alive. Now, the last thing Wes needs is a banker showing up during his busy season, but Jake is persistent, and Wes is just a big softie at heart.

I really loved the other characters and the small-town charm that shines through in this novella. Since I’m new to this author, I’ll definitely be checking out their other works and adding them to my TBR!

I received a free copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[meevreads]

dnf @ 57%

This story was a complete miss for me and I decided to stop as I was becoming more annoyed with each passing page. I love an insta love story but this one just felt far fetched. I'm all for instant chemistry/lust and small town shenanigans but everyone just assuming that there was something between Jake and Wes when the latter wasn't even out yet was not very credible.

The writing was extremely surface level with a lot of very short sentences in the dialogues. There's only so many times I can endure the characters saying "hey" or "yeah" back and forth. The lack of emotional depth really didn't help me get hooked on this story and relationship.

I really wanted to enjoy this holiday novella but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for the eARC!

[Bluemoonchild]

This was a quick, cozy holiday read that was easy to sink into, especially if you're in the mood for small-town charm and emotional stakes tied to family and tradition. I love a good Hallmark-style story, and one set on a Christmas Tree farm will always hit the mark. I loved the quiet moments between Wes and Jake as they started to connect, but I wasn't a huge fan of Jake pressuring Wes to come out. That's never okay, and I really didn't like it when Wes was already carrying so much emotional weight with his father and the farm. There were a few plot points that felt unresolved, and a couple of editing mistakes that pulled me out of the story. Still, despite those issues, it's a warm, low-stress romance that's worth picking up if you're looking for an easy holiday read with an HEA.

[I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews and ratings are my own.]

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, short holiday romance!

Jake was absolutely a sweetheart, finally giving a good name to the "city boy" that is so often in a Hallmark-esque holiday romance. He's determined to use his job with a bank to help people keep their family legacies. Wes presents a challenge, because he is suspicious (fair) and also stubborn and reluctant to accept help from anyone.

The romance did read a little insta-love for me, but they were overall very cute together once Wes finally got out of his own way and they spent more time together. I did think that some of their conflicts were a little overblown and some others were wrapped up a little too neatly, but I think that this book gets some good feelings packed into the limited page count.

I know the holidays may be over now, but if you're looking for some cozy vibes to keep you warm, give this book a try!

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

A very sweet, Hallmark-esque Christmas story. It was quite insta-lovey, which isn’t usually my thing, but within the context of a holiday romance it worked well.
Both characters were likeable, and Wes’s struggle to come out felt genuine and easy to understand.

This was my first story by Timothy Warren, and it definitely won’t be my last. While characters from his previous books are mentioned frequently - and I occasionally felt like I might have benefited from reading those first to fully appreciate the town and setting - it never detracted from the story itself. Overall, it was a warm, enjoyable read that left me feeling happy - which is exactly what I want from a holiday romance.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biter! Wes, is a legacy owner of a Christmas tree farm that is close to bankruptcy. Jake, is a banker who helps business recover through restructuring loans and alternate revenue and money management paths. Wes, has been laboring under personal and professional stress so long, he trusts no one. Wes and Jake are both really nice men, who go through life with noble purposes. This story is one about trust, vision, and going the distance after committing to strategic planning. Timothy, does a great job creating likeable characters who we enjoy getting to know and some we hope to know in the future. A few tense moments and bad weather keep our grips a long on our kindles. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Wes gets the foreclosure notice on the family tree farm, he thinks it's over. Jake, bank manager, arrives to help him restructure his debt instead of foreclosing. There are immediate sparks.

This is a sweet Christmas story, with real character growth among 2 adults - one who learns there are plenty of people out there willing to help him if he'd just accept it, and the other who learns that the job he originally wanted might not be the thing that makes him the happiest.

There's a medium amount of spice - it's a short book so there's not much time for a lot of it. Really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting.

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is book one, I am so so ready for book two in this aptly named Southern Comfort Christmas. This is a wonderfully romantic Christmas story about two men that you would to hang out with. Wes is just trying to keep his tree farm afloat as its drains money, while also taking care of his ailing dad. He is suspect when Atlanta banker Jake shows up, anticipating that Jake is there to tell him he is foreclosing his farm. In reality, Jake tries to save farms. Thus these two being a business relations that suddenly changes with a kiss. Both are not sure how a relationship would work given distance and Wes's family obligations but the heart wins. A feel good book that will leave you smiling.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet Christmas read!

Wes and Jake are two well written characters and the side characters make this a fun read you can’t put down.

Wes is down on his luck and full of stubborn pride. Jake has his own baggage, but wants desperately to help and find his own home and HEA in the world. The town wants happiness for both of them and their help also plays a part in bringing the two of them together.

The story is well written and not drawn out. There isn’t a lot of angst, which I appreciated. I loved this book—first by this author—and I will look for others written by him.

Great holiday, touching story. I will re-read this at holiday time! Recommend!

[Brown One Gem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Low-Angst, Plenty Cozy

Low-mid heat level, there is great overall chemistry between the characters and well developed story. Easy to read. Pet peeve though: around pg 103 there are multiple mentions of ‘this Saturday’. One mc character says ‘I’ll be back on Saturday’. Then it’s Saturday night and the other mc character is alone and invited out. Then the first character arrives and ‘tomorrow, Saturday, is the busiest of the year’. This type of inconsistency really pulls me out of the story. Surprised it wasn’t caught. Otherwise, I generally enjoy this author and will read the other books related to the setting of this book.