A Holiday Lift

by Arden McKenna

A Holiday Lift
An Arden McKenna Holiday Trifle

Gus Carlyle doesn't do Christmas spirit. He does oil changes, quiet, and a toolbox nobody's allowed to touch—which was working out fine until Elliot Lawson started showing up to every single garage event with a terrible drink and an even worse habit of making Gus laugh.

Elliot's accountancy apprenticeship just collapsed, which means he's back in Wrenwood with a diploma nobody seems to want and entirely too much time to hang around the garage “helping.” He tells himself it's about the dog. It's not really about the dog.

When a scruffy foster dog named Noel talks Gus into taking him home for the holidays, Elliot suddenly has a legitimate reason to be underfoot—bringing Gus disastrous seasonal coffees, dragging him to the Christmas market, and slowly convincing him that being noticed isn't the same as being a burden. Gus has spent years deciding what's easiest for everyone else. Elliot's done waiting to be asked what he actually wants.

One dog, one toolbox incident seven years in the making, and a garage full of people who've already decided these two are perfect for each other—if Gus can stop managing Elliot's life for him long enough to let him in.

A low-angst, high-charm holiday novella with grumpy/sunshine energy, a small-town found-family cast, and a rescue dog who steals every scene he’s in.

76 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2026

About the author

Arden McKenna writes warm, queer romances about complicated people finding the places, communities, and occasionally stubborn men that feel like home. His Wrenwood Romance series is set in an English canal village populated by old buildings, narrowboats, unexpected second chances, and residents who are rarely as good at minding their own business as they think they are. Last Track, a Wrenwood prequel, is available now, and A Holiday Lift arrives October 23, with Hard Lasted (January 2027), Last Effects (February 2027), and Last Boundary (April 2027) to follow. Arden was born at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and now lives in Pennsylvania, where he writes whenever real life leaves an unattended fifteen minutes. He is frequently supervised by Oliver, an orange cat with strong editorial opinions and no apparent respect for deadlines. He believes romance should leave its characters changed, its readers hopeful, and ideally provide at least one place you wish you could visit. Readers can visit Arden and find more from Wrenwood at ardenmckenna.com.

Reviews

[Dyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little story, but I felt like too much of it was assumed rather than openly communicated between characters or shown through action. It has a very English vibe, which I'm sure is on purpose, and that comes across a lot as culturally significant interactions that a native Brit would probably understand intrinsically, but which I do not have as an American reader despite my love of British comedy. 😅 That doesn't make it a bad thing, just a thing that I struggled with in my effort to connect with the characters.

I will say that I believe it might have been easier to keep up with who is who in this story if I'd started with book one in the Wrenwood Romance series because there were a lot of characters but not a lot of interaction with them directly. Kind of like it was assumed that you would know who each person was to the MCs.

Very low spice. Like, they kiss, but nothing else, which is fine. Just don't go into the story expecting high heat because this isn't the right book for that.

There is some angst because the characters consistently don't say what they are thinking until after someone is already miffed about something, but it isn't intense angst.

Overall, you probably ought to read the series in order, and I suggest this novella if you are looking for sweet romance that doesn't get heated.

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, cozy romance between Gus, the mechanic and Elliot, the local pet rescue's accountant.

It begins during the pet rescue's holiday adoption event, when Noel the dog decides he really really likes Gus. The foster has fallen through and Gus ends up fostering Noel for the week. Elliot helps, of course. Even though they've known each other for 7 years,this is the point at which Gus finally makes his move. There's a bit of a misunderstanding (Gus doesn't want to make himself Elliot's 'problem', but Elliot really wants him to be his 'problem'), but they get their HEA in the end.

No spice (it's too short for that) and some found family. Things are kind of vague here - you never get to know the characters very well because it's too short for that. I liked it and would like to read more by this author.

[Holly Deacon · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Gus Carlyle has a toolbox nobody's allowed to touch, absolutely no Christmas spirit, and a serious problem in the form of Elliot Lawson! 😂❤️

I loved the contrast between grumpy, set in his ways Gus and Elliot, who's determined to worm his way into Gus's life one terrible seasonal coffee at a time. Add an adorable foster dog named Noel, festive chaos and years of feelings bubbling beneath the surface, and you've got a Christmas romance that's impossible not to love.

What really got me was watching Gus learn that looking after everyone else doesn't mean he has to ignore what he wants for himself. These two are sweet, funny and just begging for their happy ending!

Arden McKenna delivers another adorable MM romance that proves sometimes the best Christmas gifts come with four paws and a very persistent man.

[Monocat Meow]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is my second story by this author, and I have learned what to expect: it is not the same structure and flow as other MM romance. It is not even really a love story, but rather about companionship and surviving in a small town where not a lot is ever going on. This story is not just closed-door; they close the gate as well, so we get the same story as anyone else living in the area. I don't mind it, and it feels kinda warm inside, but I probably will not recommend it to folks who just looking for a good MM romance

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know it's a short story so there isn't a whole lot of time for character development and such, but there's still time for character development.

I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story and I had a very hard time keeping track of who was who; including the dog.

Not my favorite, but as I always say; it could be someone else's.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Hannah · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

ARC received!

A sweet cozy romance covering an age gap and grumpy/sunshine. It was a very short novella so it didn’t cover much in the way of drama or trauma. As per usual communication is key! Although it was refreshing that Gus was quick to answer “Yes” when Elliot asked if he was flirting with him. Just enough Christmas cozy to start off some holiday reads.

[Ray Reed · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, clean, MM romantic short story. It's an easy read with mild to low angst. The down side is there is little chemistry between the two characters. They have known each other for years and I thought there might be a little pining or longing from one or both sides. That wasn't evident. But I am a sucker for a holiday romance with a HEA!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the story was well written, it just didn’t do much for me. I felt the characters lacked depth, and the story could have been more fully developed. It simply felt a little too short.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ReadaBook · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

A short story described as a stand-alone. That said, it read as if being dropped into another story. That main point is two guys who kind of found each other, and the foster dog who helped them do it. Not long enough to develop any of the characters too much, but overall a sweet short story.

[Moni · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

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