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Buchanan House #4
Holiday Weekend
Ryan Orchard moved from small-town Idaho to Portland almost two years ago and still feels like a hick. When Paulie Nesbitt dumped him, he wasn’t even surprised. Despite losing twenty-five pounds since then, Ryan’s confidence is nonexistent, and his life has stalled. Not only is he convinced the career he wants is beyond his reach, he’s given up on relationships. A new job at a familiar restaurant—and his gorgeous coworker—could be just what Ryan needs to believe in himself again.
Glenn Hernandez might be the only nineteen-year-old in Portland who dreads his days off. Between his horrible housing situation and the ever-present temptation to crawl back into the bottle, Glenn prefers to keep busy. He volunteers at the Elliott Foundation House, a homeless shelter helping LGBTQ former sex workers. As an alum of the shelter himself, Glenn finds it hard to leave his past behind. But when the new server at the trendy restaurant where he works catches Glenn’s eye and works his way into his heart, Glenn finally has a reason to start a new life.
Glenn Hernandez might be the only nineteen-year-old in Portland who dreads his days off. Between his horrible housing situation and the ever-present temptation to crawl back into the bottle, Glenn prefers to keep busy. He volunteers at the Elliott Foundation House, a homeless shelter helping LGBTQ former sex workers. As an alum of the shelter himself, Glenn finds it hard to leave his past behind. But when the new server at the trendy restaurant where he works catches Glenn’s eye and works his way into his heart, Glenn finally has a reason to start a new life.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2016
29 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 5, 2016
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
Let’s start with the good: I liked that a character that didn’t really get a full story got one. Ryan isn’t a bad guy. I felt bad for him in his first appearance, so seeing him find his own happiness was wonderful. The focus on being true to yourself and acceptance was wonderful (though comparing a past of sex work to being bisexual as equal is off and the implication of rape that was in the first hook-up was off).
Ok, the bad (this is much longer):
Fatphobia was still rampant in this book. Literally the book description even mentions weight lose, despite that NOT BEING A PLOT. Why is the author obsessed with the body fat on the characters? It is so off putting and gross. Like I can understand that abs are attractive, but they aren’t attractive to everyone and this series just bashes the reader over the head with the idea that any extra weight is bad.
There was transphobia for no reason. Not just the generic misgendering someone by accident that often gets overlooked, but threats of sexual violence. The plot doesn’t get resolved either. The trans male character is talked about when he isn’t around and as a trans man, I was livid. There was NO REASON for the transphobia, especially something so graphic. The plot could have gone exactly the same if the trans character literally wasn’t used as a prop.
Ryan knows that Glenn isn’t 21 and often comments on how young he looks. He repeatedly mentions that he hopes that Glenn is legal. YET HE HAS SEX WITH HIM ANY WAY. No. Ick. Stop. Glenn is 19, but that is something that Ryan doesn’t know. Ryan engages in sexual activity with someone he is unsure is a consenting adult.
I couldn’t tell the characters apart even at the end. If the chapters were not labeled, I wouldn’t have been able to know who was talking until they interacted with each other. Having a dual narration is super hard and a lot of people can’t pull it off. It annoys me to no end when it is done badly. It is especially bad in a romance. It just makes it feel like the same guy is romancing himself or a clone of himself, but without the excitement of clones.
Overall, it is a big no for me. The author has grown a lot since the first book, but the plot and issues were just too big this time for me to enjoy things.
I got an ARC of this book.
Let’s start with the good: I liked that a character that didn’t really get a full story got one. Ryan isn’t a bad guy. I felt bad for him in his first appearance, so seeing him find his own happiness was wonderful. The focus on being true to yourself and acceptance was wonderful (though comparing a past of sex work to being bisexual as equal is off and the implication of rape that was in the first hook-up was off).
Ok, the bad (this is much longer):
Fatphobia was still rampant in this book. Literally the book description even mentions weight lose, despite that NOT BEING A PLOT. Why is the author obsessed with the body fat on the characters? It is so off putting and gross. Like I can understand that abs are attractive, but they aren’t attractive to everyone and this series just bashes the reader over the head with the idea that any extra weight is bad.
There was transphobia for no reason. Not just the generic misgendering someone by accident that often gets overlooked, but threats of sexual violence. The plot doesn’t get resolved either. The trans male character is talked about when he isn’t around and as a trans man, I was livid. There was NO REASON for the transphobia, especially something so graphic. The plot could have gone exactly the same if the trans character literally wasn’t used as a prop.
Ryan knows that Glenn isn’t 21 and often comments on how young he looks. He repeatedly mentions that he hopes that Glenn is legal. YET HE HAS SEX WITH HIM ANY WAY. No. Ick. Stop. Glenn is 19, but that is something that Ryan doesn’t know. Ryan engages in sexual activity with someone he is unsure is a consenting adult.
I couldn’t tell the characters apart even at the end. If the chapters were not labeled, I wouldn’t have been able to know who was talking until they interacted with each other. Having a dual narration is super hard and a lot of people can’t pull it off. It annoys me to no end when it is done badly. It is especially bad in a romance. It just makes it feel like the same guy is romancing himself or a clone of himself, but without the excitement of clones.
Overall, it is a big no for me. The author has grown a lot since the first book, but the plot and issues were just too big this time for me to enjoy things.
March 3, 2020
As a sort-of-sequel to ‘Tiny House’ (book three in this fantastic series), this volume worked well for me. It picks up the story of Ryan, a secondary character I really liked, and I was happy to see he’d get a chance at his own happily ever after in this interlude to the main storyline of the series. Even though the majority of this story takes place in Portland, I got to revisit Buchanan House – one of my favorite fictional B&Bs on the Oregon Coast that is set up for the GLBTQ+ crowd. It is run by best friends Eric, who is a chef and married to handyman Tim, and Nathan, who is a host with flair and recently got together with Paulie after years of being best friends and friends with benefits.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 12, 2016
Holiday Weekend (Buchanan House #5) by Charley Descoteaux
3 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Hinted at past of being a prostitute
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was by far my least favorite of these stories so far. It was really, at least for me, not well put together. You had Glenn and Ryan who were the main characters, but this felt almost like two separate stories told side by side. There was really very little chemistry between the characters and the issues each character had were dealt with separately.
Overall, this was a short story about two individuals who had a lot of work to do in order to even be able to start a relationship.
We didn't really get to see the relationship - it was a friendship that started to become something more.
Oh well, guess you can't love them all.
3 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Hinted at past of being a prostitute
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was by far my least favorite of these stories so far. It was really, at least for me, not well put together. You had Glenn and Ryan who were the main characters, but this felt almost like two separate stories told side by side. There was really very little chemistry between the characters and the issues each character had were dealt with separately.
Overall, this was a short story about two individuals who had a lot of work to do in order to even be able to start a relationship.
We didn't really get to see the relationship - it was a friendship that started to become something more.
Oh well, guess you can't love them all.
March 3, 2020
As a sort-of-sequel to ‘Tiny House’ (book three in this fantastic series), this volume worked well for me. It picks up the story of Ryan, a secondary character I really liked, and I was happy to see he’d get a chance at his own happily ever after in this interlude to the main storyline of the series. Even though the majority of this story takes place in Portland, I got to revisit Buchanan House – one of my favorite fictional B&Bs on the Oregon Coast that is set up for the GLBTQ+ crowd. It is run by best friends Eric, who is a chef and married to handyman Tim, and Nathan, who is a host with flair and recently got together with Paulie after years of being best friends and friends with benefits.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 5, 2020
Portland
My second Buchanan House novel, again a well written and plotted tale set in greater Portland (Oregon). With alternating voice POV, the principal characters fill out their past, fragile in their fear of rejection. The supporting cast ties into the series and facilitates a resolution to the plot. The author describes the mileau of the City of Roses so well to invoke many good memories.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
My second Buchanan House novel, again a well written and plotted tale set in greater Portland (Oregon). With alternating voice POV, the principal characters fill out their past, fragile in their fear of rejection. The supporting cast ties into the series and facilitates a resolution to the plot. The author describes the mileau of the City of Roses so well to invoke many good memories.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
Read
December 10, 2021Good
3.5☆
Ryan and Glenn are instantly attracted to each other but both have a troubled past that holds them back to some degree.
This story was quite interesting but could have been told better. One issue is that the connection between the main characters does not feel complete. They share bits of their past but not everything, one example is
SPOILER
Glenn is an alcoholic but at no point does he tell Ryan
3.5☆
Ryan and Glenn are instantly attracted to each other but both have a troubled past that holds them back to some degree.
This story was quite interesting but could have been told better. One issue is that the connection between the main characters does not feel complete. They share bits of their past but not everything, one example is
SPOILER
Glenn is an alcoholic but at no point does he tell Ryan
September 30, 2023
I enjoyed Ryan and Glenn's (short) story, despite not having read any of the other Buchanan House books. They've both dealt with painful shit, but still find a way to trust and love each other, and find new purpose in their lives.
Read
September 2, 2021sweet NOT a reread
November 25, 2023
Rating : 3.5/10
April 30, 2024
I didn’t enjoy it. I’m not sure if it was become off a really good book. But I’m not a fan of slow burns and this was rhetorical slowest of the slow
December 6, 2016
I know that from reading the inscription that Charley left before this book began that this book was never intended to be written. I am glad that it was written, it would have been a real shame to not these two men's stories. It is considered to be a short story compared to the other books in this series but it still made an impact.
Both Glenn and Ryan have not had it easy. Both have very different stories about their backgrounds but in other ways their stories are similar. Both Glenn and Ryan were disowned by their families when they came out about their sexuality. And both men are still hurting from the lose they felt when they was disowned but that is where their similarities in their backgrounds end.
Glenn was caught at a much younger age the Ryan. When it became clear that he was gay his step father sent him packing. Glenn did exactly what he had to do to survive and he did survive but not without some major guilt and trust issues.
Ryan just recently came out as bisexual to his family and needless to say his father did not take it well at all. Ryan is having a really hard time with reconciling the fact his father is basically trying to make him choose instead of accepting him.
With all that they both been through they are both standoffish but at the same time drawn to one another. I think it took the weekend at Buchanan house for both men to make some really tough decisions.
This book in a lot of ways made me sad but in others it made me happy too. I was sad for everything both men had to go through but I was happy because they may have been to hell and back but they are still fighting and standing. They now have one another to lean on and to help the other through the tough times and to love with all that they are. This was a really good read and I am glad Charley wrote this book. I actually wish it would have been a little longer but regardless of that it was a great read.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Both Glenn and Ryan have not had it easy. Both have very different stories about their backgrounds but in other ways their stories are similar. Both Glenn and Ryan were disowned by their families when they came out about their sexuality. And both men are still hurting from the lose they felt when they was disowned but that is where their similarities in their backgrounds end.
Glenn was caught at a much younger age the Ryan. When it became clear that he was gay his step father sent him packing. Glenn did exactly what he had to do to survive and he did survive but not without some major guilt and trust issues.
Ryan just recently came out as bisexual to his family and needless to say his father did not take it well at all. Ryan is having a really hard time with reconciling the fact his father is basically trying to make him choose instead of accepting him.
With all that they both been through they are both standoffish but at the same time drawn to one another. I think it took the weekend at Buchanan house for both men to make some really tough decisions.
This book in a lot of ways made me sad but in others it made me happy too. I was sad for everything both men had to go through but I was happy because they may have been to hell and back but they are still fighting and standing. They now have one another to lean on and to help the other through the tough times and to love with all that they are. This was a really good read and I am glad Charley wrote this book. I actually wish it would have been a little longer but regardless of that it was a great read.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
January 3, 2017
The Buchanan House series is one of my favorites. I'm reading this one a little out of order because I wanted to read the Christmas one during the holiday season. It's fine because while the main novels do contain some spoilers, the novellas mostly don't, or not in a way that ruins the story or main plot, at least.
I definitely remember Ryan from a previous novel, and I thought at the time he deserved his HEA. He definitely gets his due here. Glenn also showed up in passing, and it was fun being able to remember that brief part. I always wanted to know more about him, even though his previous bit was pretty small.
I'm not always much on the "reformed street kid just needs to find love" plot unless it can be done in a way that gives the character depth and dignity. Fortunately, the author is adept at that kind of thing. So Glenn doesn't ever feel like a stereotype, and his relationship with Ryan isn't a cliche. They both have had a lot of heartache in different ways, but they're healing on their own terms both separately and together.
The familiar faces from the previous books are mostly there, but the story really belongs to Ryan and Glenn. It's a slow build up to when they're both able to admit they want and need each other, but it's not too drawn out because the story is so comparatively short. It works perfectly.
There's a lot of gut-wrenching pain in the story, but it's not overwhelming because it's broken up with some humor and the warmth of the friendships built over the course of the series. This one is a good addition, and I love that we got some closure for both Ryan and Glenn. I hope they'll turn up at least briefly in a future part.
I definitely remember Ryan from a previous novel, and I thought at the time he deserved his HEA. He definitely gets his due here. Glenn also showed up in passing, and it was fun being able to remember that brief part. I always wanted to know more about him, even though his previous bit was pretty small.
I'm not always much on the "reformed street kid just needs to find love" plot unless it can be done in a way that gives the character depth and dignity. Fortunately, the author is adept at that kind of thing. So Glenn doesn't ever feel like a stereotype, and his relationship with Ryan isn't a cliche. They both have had a lot of heartache in different ways, but they're healing on their own terms both separately and together.
The familiar faces from the previous books are mostly there, but the story really belongs to Ryan and Glenn. It's a slow build up to when they're both able to admit they want and need each other, but it's not too drawn out because the story is so comparatively short. It works perfectly.
There's a lot of gut-wrenching pain in the story, but it's not overwhelming because it's broken up with some humor and the warmth of the friendships built over the course of the series. This one is a good addition, and I love that we got some closure for both Ryan and Glenn. I hope they'll turn up at least briefly in a future part.
December 13, 2016
This is the first book I have written buy this author.
I am not sure if I had a hard to connecting with the main characters because I haven't read any other book in the series. I believe they built a foundation of friendship and like their story is really finished. They have/had a lot to work on separately to get to the point they were. I however, did not feel that all intense encompassing love. I felt they were detached at points. I felt detached at points, however they grew on me. I liked both male leads.
Ryan and his father are not seeing eye to eye. He is being forced to choose based on his sexual preference. As with Glenn I don’t know who’s story is worse. They are both bad. There are allusions to prostitution to survive after being kicked out the home by his stepfather. Their stories broke my heart. Glenn is always on guard checking his surroundings. He can’t just be.
I felt they were detached at points. They were standoff-ish with one another. I felt detached at points, however they grew on me. I liked both male leads. They had a great support system in friends. They had such an emotional rollercoaster of times to get to where they are now. I felt like I was riding it with them.
I am not sure if I had a hard to connecting with the main characters because I haven't read any other book in the series. I believe they built a foundation of friendship and like their story is really finished. They have/had a lot to work on separately to get to the point they were. I however, did not feel that all intense encompassing love. I felt they were detached at points. I felt detached at points, however they grew on me. I liked both male leads.
Ryan and his father are not seeing eye to eye. He is being forced to choose based on his sexual preference. As with Glenn I don’t know who’s story is worse. They are both bad. There are allusions to prostitution to survive after being kicked out the home by his stepfather. Their stories broke my heart. Glenn is always on guard checking his surroundings. He can’t just be.
I felt they were detached at points. They were standoff-ish with one another. I felt detached at points, however they grew on me. I liked both male leads. They had a great support system in friends. They had such an emotional rollercoaster of times to get to where they are now. I felt like I was riding it with them.
December 14, 2016
This is a difficult book for me to review. Not because I didn’t like it. More because of all the swirling thoughts and feelings I am having now that I have finished reading it.
There’s not much I can say without giving away the story. It can be read as a standalone, but it will take you a bit to get all of the characters and relationships straight. There is also a lot that could be missed by not having the entire back story.
It felt to me that this story had to be written, Glenn and Ryan’s story told, but I ‘ve read where that wasn’t always the plan. I am definitely grateful that they would stop talking to Charley until the book was written.
The feelings in and about this book-whoa. Both men have had so much pain and fear, watching them begin to trust each other and have hope again was breathtaking. To make plans and be excited for the future. To finally be who they are both meant to be, no hiding or shame. Alternating first person POV was a good vehicle for them, even if it made my heart hurt too much at times. Love wins and heals for another couple in the Buchanan House family.
There’s not much I can say without giving away the story. It can be read as a standalone, but it will take you a bit to get all of the characters and relationships straight. There is also a lot that could be missed by not having the entire back story.
It felt to me that this story had to be written, Glenn and Ryan’s story told, but I ‘ve read where that wasn’t always the plan. I am definitely grateful that they would stop talking to Charley until the book was written.
The feelings in and about this book-whoa. Both men have had so much pain and fear, watching them begin to trust each other and have hope again was breathtaking. To make plans and be excited for the future. To finally be who they are both meant to be, no hiding or shame. Alternating first person POV was a good vehicle for them, even if it made my heart hurt too much at times. Love wins and heals for another couple in the Buchanan House family.
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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