Elf on the Beach

by T.J. Nichols

Roone Sorley is an elf on a mission. He has one year to live in the mortal world and experience everything it has to offer before deciding if he is going to return to the North Pole and immortality or stay and become human. Christmas in Australia is all sun, sand, and surf. For Kyle Morgan, that means lots of tourists wanting to learn how to surf, but he hates Christmas. This time of year always reminds him about the family he doesn’t have.

With the clock ticking and only days left, Roone plans on making the most of the heat and the beach and his hot surfing instructor. Beyond that he has no idea what he wants. However with a little magic, he might be able to give Kyle exactly what he needs.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2015 Advent Calendar package "Sleigh Ride".

Genres: M M Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Short Stories, Fantasy, LGBT, Magic

41 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

TJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.

After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/

You can find TJ on
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...

Reviews

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A unique look at the elves from the North Pole! They basically get an all expense paid gap year to live and experience the human world before deciding their life plan.

Here, Roone hasn’t found a compelling enough reason to give up his immortality with 2 weeks left, but the sad surfing teacher Kyle, definitely makes him hesitate. If only Roone can get him to believe in the magic of Christmas again, he just might stick around...

The conflict resolution was not foreseen and that was much appreciated. A very satisfying holiday short!

[☆ Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short 39 page story was completely magical, full of cynicism, longing and a healthy dose of hope.

It was also by far my favorite of the 5 anthology stories that I read for our group blog post.

From a very early age, Australian surfing instructor Kyle's life was less than ideal, growing up in foster care, hoping that one day his mother would get clean and reclaim him, giving him a real family.

Now at 25, Kyle doesn't believe much, especially something as crazy as magic. Or even more unlikely, the thought of someone being able to have actual feelings for him.

But when Kyle meets 20 y.o. Roone, a young elf traveling the human world for a year to decide if he will return to the North Pole or live in our world, Kyle begins to see the world through different eyes.



Well, the same eyes, if you're being literal, but he begins to see other possibilities. One of which being magic. And another being, possibly, love. A love both given and returned.

If this story were any cuter, it would have probably put me in a permanent sugar coma, with a perma-grin on my face that no amount of "bah humbug" could ever wipe away.

The slow-burn read was a little angsty and a little sexy, with tons of tingles and feels. And if this short story ever gets expanded to full novel length, I will most definitely be reading, and savoring, every single one of those pages.

This, people, *this* is what a Christmas story of magic and elves and possibilities is all about, so I'm giving this one a very full, heart-felt 5 stars for this adorable and entertaining read.

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is wonderfully sweet and touching. The two MCs are very well developed, especially for such a short piece. It will leave you wondering if magic is real and you just have to believe and look for it!

[Rachel]

1/7/2020 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07ZXBXP6...

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is part of the Sleigh Ride Calendar.

"Do you believe in magic?"

This was exactly how a romantic Christmas tale is supposed to be. With just the right amount of sweetness, angst, steam and magic!

Like Belen said in her review, in this story, elves have a Rumspringa! One year to decide if they want to stay home for ever and work as elves, or live as humans.

Roone is an elf and travels the world in search of summer. He only has two more weeks to make a decision. That's when he meets Kyle, a surf instructor. So much can happen in two weeks!

Kyle is directionless and a non believer. His tough childhood stole his ability to believe in magic. But not everything is lost, and the moment Kyle finds his faith again, is EVERYTHING!

The chemistry and the bond between Kyle and Roone is strong and the ending is just perfection.

Highly recommended! Even for non believers.

*Cross posted on Gay Book Reviews.*

[Bitchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites of this year's Advent stories so far.

Elven Rumspringa!

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Elf on the Beach’ is a great title, and I think this story’s idea of every elf taking a gap year in the human world is fascinating. Roone has a whole year to travel, do anything he wants, “fully funded” as he puts it, before he has to decide whether he is going to join the “family business” back in the North Pole, or whether he wants to become human permanently. It is a tremendous opportunity, but Roone is having real trouble making the decision.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the premise that elves basically get a Rumspringa where they keep their magic, but get to spend one year amongst the humans, soaking up as much human experience as possible so they may decide whether they want to return to the North Pole and live the rest of their lives as an elf, or become human and lose their magic.

Roone Sorley is one of Santa's elves and has only a couple of weeks left on his year in the mortal world when he meets Kyle Morgan, a surf instructor in Australia. Kyle is hook-up shy after being burned too many times, so at first he pushes Roone away.

He’d stopped letting people get close years ago. He’d built up a thick noncommittal armor and drifted from lover to lover, not willing to share more than a bed.

But when Roone gets past some of Kyle's defenses it's sweet, hot, and oh-so-yummy.



It takes Kyle being willing to see that magic exists to have a real chance with Roone.



I loved that this has a lot of emotions and depth to it as well. This is a short, sweet story, with a bit of angst, a lot of depth, and even a bit of sexy times.

4 Stars! Recommended!

Advanced Review Copy generously provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 Stars

Something about the idea of an Elf-style Rumspringa just tickled me; I almost wish we could have had several of the other adventures rolled in with this one, even if they had other romantic partners. Alternately, seeing perpetual beach-bum Kyle adapt to life in the cold would have been a hoot!

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an adorable short! No on the page heat, but plenty of tension and the hint at something more. The beginning was a bit melancholy as two men, an elf and a human find themselves at a bit of a crossroads. For the elf, it’s a decision that will affect the rest of his life and he only has two weeks to decide. For the human, it’s one of belief in magic and that good things can happen to those who truly believe.

Although there’s no HEA, there is an HFN which the reader can easily extend in their minds.

Well written with surprisingly fully drawn characters for such a short story!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I loved this story really hard. The whole insight into the lives of elves was so well done and the author gave just the right balance of detail to get me hooked without too much extraneous info taking up precious page time. I needed to know how Roone and Kyle were going to work out their future and I needed it to be magical. The author delivered. The sweetness was tempered with just enough angst to keep it interesting. Kyle was sympathetic and Roone was absolutely made for him, I was all kinds of happy by the time the story ended.

[Anke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, looks like I'm the only one missing the magic.

[Finnegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kyle do not like Christmas, and he is bitter about gifts he did not receive from his (no X-box or fancy gifts) foster parents. He blame Santa for his lack of fancy gifts. Never got the memo that Christmas is less about fancy gifts and more about love and fellowship. So he then meets and elf on the beach, and elf convinced him if he just believed, all things would have been possible. I did not like the message of the book as the focus on material things and commercialism during Christmas just make me mad.

[DeeNeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet holiday read that made me reflect in the meaning of magic. An elf on a summer holiday in Australia brings back the magic of Christmas to a lonely surfer. By the story’s end, they found that love is magic in of itself.

[Janeylou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise, and I liked the overall execution, but I was disappointed when it finished at 75% in and the rest was an except from another story. Not sure how I feel about it now...

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** :):):) A darling fairy tale of an Elf and a Surfing instructor ! Roone has been on vacation to enjoy summer and travel before he figures out where he wants to be. Lonely Kyle teaches surfing, and has a sadness about him. He was raised in foster homes and his childhood was terrible, so even now, he doesn't believe in Christmas. To Kyle it's gloomy. Roone takes surfing lessons from Kyle and they are attracted to each other. Can they have a fling? There is a deeper meaning to this wonderful short story than a simple affair, because the heart is involved and some magic, too !!! Great little fable with a moral to the story. Enjoy !!

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an elf's ear (true story). And people keep asking me about it, either I'm an undercover elf, or Mrs.Spock.
I know what Roone's feeling about his ear. :)
This one is good, entertaining, with a little extra magic.
I enjoyed this one. A good nice story with a touch of magical Christmas, what's not to love?

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super adorable story! It's all about our Elf, Roone, who is having a sort of Amish Rumspringa, where he has a year to explore the human world and decide if he'll stay there or go back to the North Pole to become a Christmas Elf.

I loved the dual POV, letting us see both perspectives, because it really added to the already well explored characterisation. The world building needed was minimal, because it took place in the human world, but the added touches of Roone's magical heritage were really nicely done. The couple had chemistry, there was a really Christmas feel, despite taking place on an Australian beach in the sunshine, and it had a heartwarming, positive vibe all throughout.

I loved it!

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Elf on the Beach’ is a great title, and I think this story’s idea of every elf taking a gap year in the human world is fascinating. Roone has a whole year to travel, do anything he wants, “fully funded” as he puts it, before he has to decide whether he is going to join the “family business” back in the North Pole, or whether he wants to become human permanently. It is a tremendous opportunity, but Roone is having real trouble making the decision.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

M/M paranormal romance short story.
I didn’t like this one as much as the other short stories.
Roone is on an Elven Rumspringa (all expenses paid! Nice!)! But I have to agree with Kyle that I am not sure why Roone was exactly attracted to him. The chemistry felt off to me for some reason and the story was rather predictable.
Told from alternating POVs, I just couldn’t get behind liking Kyle.

[dee~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I read a book by this author I know I'll get something good. Same with this book that is one of their earlier work. Though short, it has a meaningful message - two young men thinking about their lives and what future should bring for them. Lovely!

[MariF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and heartwarming despite melancholy undertones.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Xmas story - enjoyed! The beach or the north pole - which would you choose?

[Brad Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story with an unconventional spin.

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the idea of this.

An Elven rumspringa? Sounds fun! This is such great little story. I love the setting, characters and mix of holiday magic. It’s all just so good.

[Penumbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical. Really liked this. Review forthcoming

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.


Roone is an elf who is on his one year elf mission during which he gets to decide if he wants to remain human forever, or if he wants to return to the North Pole to work in the “family business.” It’s two weeks before New Year’s Eve, the last day of his mission, when he finds himself on the beach in Australia, taking surfing lessons from his gorgeous instructor, Kyle.

Roone has the hots for Kyle and is determined to learn how to surf. He’s equally determined to put a smile on Kyle’s face and help him find the magic of Christmas. Raised in foster homes, Kyle has no recollection of Christmas being anything but lonely and sad. He was never given anything he wanted, especially the gift of his mother coming back for him.

But Roone’s happiness and belief in the magic of Christmas is contagious, and Kyle begins to have little glimpses of what might be when Roone reveals he’s an elf. The untrusting side of Kyle is dominant, however, and that may mean the end of Roone’s chance for a little more happiness before he leaves. Or is it the end? Readers will enjoy this tale as we see just how powerful belief can be.

I like the twist the author gave to the elves having their chance for a one year mission before deciding to work at the North Pole. And I love the way the magic slowly happened in the story, and the ending was surprising and fun. I also enjoyed the engaging characters and the non-traditional (no snow) setting. This is a great little stocking stuffer to put a little magic in someone’s heart.

[Melissa Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Kyle lay beneath him, his eyes dark with lust. They had never talked about what was going to happen or how it was going to happen. Some people liked that; they had expectations and needs.”

4 magical stars! This book was beyond cute and fun! I didn’t want it to end!

Roone is given a year, all expenses paid vacation to live his life how he wants before he has to decide to join the family business as an elf or be a human for the rest of his life. His spends his time in Australia where he learns to surf from the hot surfer named Kyle. Roone soon realizes there may be more to their relationship, but Kyle is resistant. He’s been through too much and he doesn’t want to get hurt again. So both men are left with a decision...what will they decide?

I thought this book was so cute and different. It wasn’t a typical holiday read and I was intrigued throughout the whole book!


ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club