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The Proof Is in the Pudding

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Steve never expected making a Christmas pudding would bring him the man of his dreams.

Steve Hayes is away with a group of friends who are spending the Christmas break together. He's determined to put his two-timing ex-boyfriend in the past, and enjoy his week away. Steve is happily surprised to find that Corey Oh, the guy he's been admiring from afar, has been invited along too. But Steve knows there's no way someone as wonderful as Corey, who could have any man he wanted, would be interested in him.

However, thanks to a misadventure with a Christmas pudding, Steve will find that dreams can come true.

54 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2015

20 people are currently reading
81 people want to read

About the author

Nic Starr

44 books368 followers
Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!

When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family–an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters–and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.

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5 stars
46 (25%)
4 stars
76 (42%)
3 stars
49 (27%)
2 stars
6 (3%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Len Evans Jr.
1,503 reviews222 followers
July 19, 2020
A really wonderful Christmas love story that starts during one Christmas with a group of friends celebrating together and continues on to 12 months later! Corey and Steve are really sweet and adorable together and I really enjoyed this fun and excellent story!
Profile Image for multitaskingmomma.
1,359 reviews44 followers
December 7, 2015
Original Blog Post: Review Request: The Proof is in the Pudding by Nic Starr

Review by: multitaskingmomma
My Rating: 4 of 4 Stars
(Based on Short&Light Read Category)


'Tis the season to be merry and puddings, fruit cakes, gingerbread cookies and eggnogs are in the list of Must Have things. In Nic Starr's Christmas story, we have front and center: the pudding.

The pudding is one of the most exhaustive dratted things I had the misfortune of thinking I could actually accomplish without hurting myself. One, the sheer amount of fruit preserves and whatnots that have to get in there did wonders for my wrists and shoulders (Note: I could not move for two frikkin days!). Then there is the act of mixing the thing together. Of course, there is also the muslin that needs to wrap it up and the carefully, carefully duck out of the way pot filled with boiling water. It has to be at the right temperature before loading the thing in. Taking it out, will take a whole new segment to write about. That I managed to escape unscathed was a miracle by itself.

Unfortunately, Steve was not as lucky as I when it came to the pudding. His heart, though, heheheheeeeee, tingles down the spine, he gets his Christmas wish of a man in Corey and more.

I love these little short Christmas stories coming out these days. This is the first of what I consider as the bake-a-Christmas-cake books that landed in my tablet. (Note: I got rid of the dratted Kindle) This is a story that makes the cook in you sit at the edge of your seat. Is Steve doing the right process, is he going to drop it? As a romance, this is breezy but as an adventure in the kitchen and within the heart, oh yes, it's a Nic Starr all right!
Profile Image for Serena Yates.
Author 104 books768 followers
December 20, 2018
An Australian Christmas is at the center of this cute story about six friends celebrating together somewhere in the mountains. Both Steve and Corey have suffered disappointments with lovers and want to move on, but sometimes that is easier said than done. A few Christmas traditions and one very resistant Christmas pudding later, they spend more time together than either had expected and suddenly new options appear on the horizon.

Steve is the one in charge of making the Christmas pudding this year, and he follows his mother’s recipe as closely as he can. Unexpectedly Corey – a man Steve has so far only admired from afar - joins him to help, and they figure out they like spending time together. But when Steve is almost done, an accident causes an injury that means he has to rest, and he ends up spending a lot more time with Corey. Talking isn’t all they do, and by the time the pudding is served, both of them are hoping for more.

If you like sweet Christmas celebrations, if you want to find out more about two men who are both in need of some monogamous loving, and if you’re looking for a fun read with a touch of heat, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by MLR Press for the purpose of a review.
Profile Image for Lena Grey.
1,615 reviews25 followers
January 1, 2019
Steve Hayes, of 'The Proof Is in the Pudding' by Nic Starr, is nursing a broken heart; his controlling ex, Richard, broke up with him and threw him out. Between the stress at work and having to find a new place to live, he's frazzled. His friends come to his rescue and take him with them on Christmas break.

As his contribution to Christmas dinner, Steve has decided to make his mother's Christmas pudding. Steve is in the middle of preparing his 'masterpiece' when Corey walks in. Although Corey is new to their group, the guys have invited him to join them. Steve has been crushing on Corey since he first met him, but his bad breakup has been keeping him from moving on. With Corey so close, Steve is tempted to make a move, but figures that Corey wouldn't want him. Corey jumps right in, helping Steve with the pudding. Things are going well, both with getting to know Corey better and the progress of the pudding, when disaster strikes. The wooden spoons holding the pudding up over the steam break, 'showering' Steve with boiling water! It appears Steve's much needed getaway has been ruined.

This is an endearing story of great friendships and love, in which a Christmas pudding is the motivation. I really liked Corey and Steve and the heartwarming end of the story. Thanks, Nic, you are great at creating flawed but real characters.

NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.




Profile Image for namericanwordcat.
2,440 reviews439 followers
January 2, 2019
This was perfectly fine read. I like no snow Christmas romances. This one was set in Austerial and the heat descriptions made me sweaty. lol

The romance is okay but I wish we had more of it.
Profile Image for Kim Stone.
1,550 reviews1 follower
December 5, 2018
I’ve read this author before. A great Australian mm contemporary Christmas novella. A great light read.
Profile Image for Kara.
674 reviews22 followers
December 30, 2015
This was a very sweet and cute holiday novella!

So some friends decide to go to a cabin for the holidays and celebrate together. Steve is trying to put his cheating ex in the past and enjoy his time with his friends. Well one of his friends decides to invite Corey who Steve has been admiring from afar.

I have to say I loved the way this author wrote this story and these characters! I thought these two men were so sweet together. There was also the way all these friends interacted together which was just so awesome. Then lets not forget the pudding, which Steve was having the hardest time making.

All together I thought this was a very sweet holiday story and I really liked this novella!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
Profile Image for Gillian Kevern.
Author 36 books199 followers
December 15, 2015
4.5 stars, rounded up!

Great story -- I was looking forward to the Australian setting, and Nic really captured the flavour of an antipodean Christmas delightfully. A really nice little Christmas read.
Profile Image for Delphia Baisden.
Author 3 books24 followers
December 10, 2018
An adorable, light Christmas-y read! I really appreciated how the author described both mild burns and anxiety in anticipation of certain important moments. Also, HIGHLY appreciate being told my very first Christmas-themed dirty joke in this story! Smiles, laughs, and holiday treats! What more could you want this time of year?
Profile Image for Jennie.
848 reviews25 followers
December 10, 2018
I loved that this was a book about a hot, Aussie Christmas. Steve and Corey spending it with mates, old and new.
After a kitchen mishap. Corey helps Steve when he needs it.
A great Christmas story full of friends, fun and a blossoming romance.
I loved the Aussieness of it all!!
Profile Image for Lisa.
249 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2018
Sweet short Christmas novella.

This is a cute short story about a group of friends getting together for Christmas which involves lots of food good company and a bad Christmas pudding as well as two friends who fancy each other but have been afraid to say anything until an accident brings them together.

Great read with plenty of humour from a good MM author.
83 reviews7 followers
December 15, 2018
A wonderfully Australian Christmas.

I love Christmas novellas, particularly ones that are set in different countries and cultures. It’s fun to read about Christmas around the world and The Proof Is In The Pudding is a very Aussie Christmas, hopefully minus the mishap. Throw in some gorgeous men, laughter and a HEA and you have a highly enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Deanna.
2,738 reviews65 followers
July 25, 2020
Sweet Short Story

Two nice guys. A Christmas away with friends. An accident and love. Set in Australia.Sweet, charming little story. Well written. I will read more by Mix Starr.
Profile Image for Ro.
3,124 reviews16 followers
December 16, 2024
What I liked most about this story was the background of Steve making the Christmas pudding. I admit, I’ve read of the pudding many times in holiday stories but I have never actually seen one. It was so interesting to see the complicated process that goes into it and believe me, it was nothing like I thought!
Steve had a partner last Christmas, one he took to meet his parents. Richard was it, or so Steve thought, until it turns out Richard is a cheating jerk. They have spent Christmas with friends and last year, Richard took charge of providing the pudding. He bought a big, expensive one. This year, even though Steve really doesn’t feel like even going, he will not only be there but he’s going to outdo Richard’s stupid pudding offering.
Another complication is the arrival of the group friend Corey, someone Steven’s liked for a while. They can maybe now address the attraction, while they celebrate Christmas and contend with that blasted pudding. Of course, things aren’t that simple, especially pudding-wise, so there are some problems to contend with.
This is a cute holiday story that was made more interesting by, you guessed it, the pudding!
Profile Image for Ami.
6,241 reviews489 followers
January 3, 2017
A nice and enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance that involves Christmas pudding -- or more accurately a Christmas pudding fiasco :). I thought the moments where Corey took care of Steve was sweet. Even if Steve and Corey's friendship happened before the story started, I believed that they were good friends. I also liked that this was quite a slow-burn, even if the story was short.
Profile Image for Anita.
73 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2018
An amazing, sweet Christmas story that captures Christmas in Australia perfectly. A ‘family’ Christmas with friends and pudding drama leading to a HEA. Nic Starr has written a book that you can’t help but smile your way through and leaves you with that amazing Christmas feeling of love and happiness.
Profile Image for Brooke Edwards.
Author 11 books30 followers
December 20, 2018
Loved this authentic Australian Christmas tale. Nic's signature sweetness shines through every page, and you'll have that tingling grin on your face and those happy flutters in your chest by the end of this Hallmark-esque story.
396 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2018
Great read!

This is a lovely, sweet story with a wonderful relaxed flow.
In the proof is in the pudding we join a close group of friends on holiday for Christmas. Corey and Steve are completely likeable and truly nice characters, I found myself smiling whenever they interacted.
I loved the way in which Steve described his feelings, there was a beauty and depth to them that bought this book to life for me.
Fabulous dual POV epilogue which was a real joy to read.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,957 reviews16 followers
December 6, 2018
This is a sweet Christmas story. Corey and Steve's story had me smiling through out this story. It is definitely a feel good book and you can't help but feel good. Just another great book. Definitely read this one.
1,548 reviews11 followers
December 12, 2018
Aww, this was such a super-cute, super-Christmassy story.
Steve and Corey aro so meant for each other that they're completely in tune. Same-time mutual crush, same-time... other things, which I will not spoil.
All in all, a lovely short stories about Aussie Christmas love.
Profile Image for Love Bytes Reviews.
2,529 reviews38 followers
December 30, 2015
4.5 Heart Review by Kat

I know I keep saying it but I love these Christmas/Advent/Holiday novellas. They brighten my day and people have been asking why the big smile on my face. I then tell them about the little “treat” I just opened and read.

Nic Starr has also added a wide smile on my face. Her delightful Christmas novella was just what I needed. I am sitting in Hawaii, with the sun beating on me, and completely “got” her book! Being used to the cold of Oregon and then experiencing the hot sun while shopping for Christmas presents is a bit perplexing. I can’t imagine preparing, let alone consuming, a huge Christmas feast in 85+ degree weather. But that is what the delightful men in her newest book do. A great group friends go on Christmas vacation together every couple years in Australia. They have a newer friend that they invited along and that is where the story gets really interesting. I loved the friends-to-lovers story of Steve and Corey. Although Steve seems a bit dense, I can understand his lack of trust in men, after being treated so badly by his ex. Corey is cute and fun and I was cheering for them to get together the entire story. I still have no idea what this pudding is that they were making. It sounded a bit like fruitcake at first, but fruitcake isn’t boiled. I would love to try it.

I am always a sucker for an HEA and I know that we have at least the start of that. This is a story that I could easily see as a prequel to their full story. Hint, hint!

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.
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Profile Image for Devan Huff.
175 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2015
I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

The Proof is in the Pudding is a short but sweet Australian Christmas romance. Steve and his friends are spending the holiday break in a house in the woods and are looking forward to plenty of food, fun and friendship. Steve has recently been dumped and is trying to get his life back in order and maybe open his heart to new possibilities. Corey caught his eye quite a while ago but he doesn’t think he has a chance with him.

Steve is in charge of the Christmas pudding and he and Corey bond in the kitchen. A kitchen accident and some nasty burns has Corey playing nursemaid to Stevens injuries and one thing leads to another, resulting in a very merry Christmas.

The author does a great job of developing each of these characters. You can feel how hurt Steve was by his ex but his is trying hard to move on and get on with his life. You don’t get to know Corey quite as well but he seems like a nice guy who is interested in more than just getting Steve in bed. There was a nice amount of chemistry between the two and some light hearted banter as well.

I loved the collection of friends that the author creates. They are all a nice balance between lighthearted fun and slightly pain the ass friend. They all seem real…like guys you would meet at the office or living next door.

As an American I liked hearing about the hot Australian Christmas and their creative use of natural materials to provide a Christmas tree for their gathering.

The pace of the book was just right and I loved watching Steve and Corey get to know each other.

If you are looking for a sweet Christmas romance, this is a great one!
Profile Image for Diverse.
1,179 reviews53 followers
December 29, 2015
I often love when books are set in places I've never been. It's like taking a vacation. And of course this one is set in Australia at Christmas time. A win win for me!

It all circulates around pudding that Steve is making... or destroying. LOL. A group of friends rent this gorgeous house out for Christmas break. I loved this concept. I would have loved doing something like that once in my life. Corey who isn't a regular so much takes part in the festivities and soon Steve and Corey become more than friends.

They have a lot on common. The same hurt but they have the same amount of love to give.

This is a cute Christmas novella filled with great friendship, cooking, and of course love!!!
Profile Image for Atom Yang.
Author 3 books30 followers
January 18, 2016
The Proof is in the Pudding is a delightful short story about a healing heart, romance, friendship, and good eats on Christmas!

I appreciated the author's ability to write an ensemble cast well, giving life to several characters with only a few words of description, and letting their dialogue express their personalities. What I appreciated the most, however, as a gay, Asian male reader of MM/gay romance is her characterization of the love interest (who's Asian-Australian)--he felt real, and at no point did he come off as a stereotype or fetish object.

This is a fun holiday story to read--full of warmth, friendship, love, heat, and food (I can't wait to make my own Christmas pudding!).
Profile Image for W.S. Long.
Author 30 books54 followers
December 30, 2019
Lovely read

This is a great story. Steve, nursing a bad breakup, is spending the Christmas holidays with friends. Unbeknownst to him, his friend, Mal, invited Corey, over. Steve always thought Corey was cute but never said anything.

I love how the characters interacted with each other. I loved the biracial love story. It’s definitely worth five stars!
Profile Image for Heather York.
Author 5 books53 followers
August 23, 2016
4-1/2 Stars

I have a few Nic Starr stories on my kindle but I've yet to read them. After this, I'll be bumping them up on my TBR list. Sometimes friends really do know what's best for us and sometimes they don't have a clue. A great little holiday read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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