Merry & Bright

by Joanna Chambers

Three seasonal love stories from Joanna Chambers

Humbug

Quin Flint is unimpressed when his gorgeous colleague, Rob Paget, asks for extra time off at Christmas. As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin’s on the fast track to partnership, and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin’s boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants…and who he wants it with.

Mr Perfect’s Christmas

Sam Warren’s new job hasn’t been going so well so the last thing he’s in the mood for is the obligatory office Christmas party, particularly since Nick Foster’s going to be there. Nick–the guy whose shoes Sam has been trying to fill–seems to take very opportunity to point out where Sam’s going wrong. But when Sam receives an unexpected Secret Santa gift at the party, he’s forced to question his assumptions about his rival. Could it be that he’s been misinterpreting Nick’s actions all along? And is it possible that his reluctant attraction to Nick is reciprocated?

Rest and Be Thankful

Things haven’t been going well for Cam McMorrow since he moved to Inverbechie. His business is failing, his cottage is falling apart and following his very public argument with café owner Rob Armstrong, he’s become a social outcast. Cam needs to get away from his troubles and when his sister buys him a ticket to the biggest Hogmanay party in Glasgow, he can’t leave Inverbechie quick enough. But when events conspire to strand him in the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm, not only is he liable to miss the party, he’ll also have to ask his nemesis, Rob, for help.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Anthologies, Christmas, Queer

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 23, 2017

About the author

Joanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.

If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:

https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/

If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:

https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/

Reviews

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humbug - 3.5 stars
Mr. Perfect - 5 stars
Rest and Be Thankful - 4 stars

Overall Rating - 4 stars

Well written and engaging anthology of three wonderful Christmas love stories!

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of three short novellas, exactly what’s needed for a light holiday book. They all follow some sort of the same pattern. Each has a guy who is maybe not in the best moment of his life, and it turns out, the guy who ends up being the LI has been in his life for a while, but in an unassuming way, where they hadn’t considered the possibility of something happening between them.

All ended on a hopeful HFN and felt like a warm hug to the soul.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry & Bright is an anthology of three novellas with a holiday setting:

Humbug: I hate Dicken's "Christmas Carol." Marley, Tiny Tim, the three ghosts .... yeah, I realize it's a classic (and the Guthrie Theatre here in Minneapolis has been doing it forever), but it's stupid, okay?

But Humbug? Loved it - love how Chambers takes the very core of the story and retells it so beautifully. Sure, Quin is a work-obsessed jackass who has alienated people left and right. He's destroyed a wonderful relationship with his former boyfriend Ben, and is on the fast track to a sad and lonely life. I really felt his pain when the realization hits him that he has squandered time, he's thrown away love with both hands. And his eventual redemption, with the help of his co-worker Rob? Touching and realistic, without being too coy or overly sentimental. For such a short story, this really packs a punch. 5 stars.

Mr. Perfect's Christmas - After losing his job at a big London law firm, Sam finally finds a position at a small firm in the northwest. But Sam has a hard time adapting to the new firm, isn't sure he's doing a good job and his predecessor Nick (or "Wonder Boy" as Sam thinks of him) keeps dropping by the office giving "helpful" tips about his former cases, making Sam worry about his continued employment. But at the office Christmas party, Sam learns that he is mistaken about a lot of things, most particularly about Nick. Turns out, two people may not be perfect, but they can be perfect for each other. 3.5 stars for this short tale.

Rest and Be Thankful - After being downsized from his accounting job, Cam starts Glen Croe Adventures, offering canoeing, kayaking and cycling adventures. But his first winter is difficult, with no bookings, no money, and no friends in the small village of Inverbechie after a fight with local cafe owner / artist Rob Armstrong. Cam has plans to celebrate New Year's Eve in Glasgow, but when his Volvo dies 200 feet from Rob's cabin, his plans change. I like how Cam learns that "expressing desire, maybe even expressing need, may not be a sign of weakness at all, but of strength. And that, sometimes—maybe—self-sufficiency might be its own kind of cowardice" while Rob envisions a new beginning after the death of his partner Andrew, and a future with Cam. 4 stars.

I really enjoyed this anthology by Joanna Chambers. She does a beautiful job of setting the stage for each short story and creating fully-developed characters who are easy to care about. Merry & Bright is a perfect read for the holiday season and I give it 4 stars overall.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!

[Lost in a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit? I think these shorties may turn that frown upside down and have you channeling your inner Will Ferrell.



Ok, maybe not that excited but possibly a little less Scrooge and a little more Grinch finding his heart. These three stories all have something in common; The MCs feeling like they’ve hit rock bottom while utterly alone. But are they really alone? What can they do to find their way out of Scroogeville? Those are questions the men in each story have to work through. It isn’t that they have a hatred for the holiday season, life has just beaten the shit out of them and each man has to figure out how long he’s going continue being kicked while down.

Humbug
I was a fan of Quin. Not the asshole-ish vibe he constantly gave off but of the journey he made from beginning to end. He was the classic case of living to work and not working to live. Quin treated everyone around him like they were mere peasants and he was king. Luckily, Rob saw through his facade and was an excellent role-model on how to treat people. Rob had the unique ability to put Quin in his place while making him want to be a better person. This was a super sweet short that made me all warm and fuzzy once they got their HEA.

Mr. Perfect’s Christmas
Meh. This was shorter and the story wasn’t as enjoyable as the first in the anthology. Sam was Eeyore and it seemed that he always thought the worst of himself in all situations. He needed a little more reassurance and Nick was just the man to do that. I wish this was a tad longer for increased depth but it served its purpose for spreading Christmas cheer and the message of hope.

Rest and be Thankful
This was the longest in the anthology at about 50%. Cam. He broke my heart. Cam was trying to tread water in his shitty circumstances and was sinking fast. He was really relatable in that everything was going wrong all at once. House falling apart, not making enough money at work to fix everything, trouble in the community, completely alone, and not wanting to ask for help to save face. *sigh* His despair was a tangible thing and Rob was just the person to provide that “rest” for this weary man.

But, here's my pickle… This was the longer of the stories and I felt it provided the least amount of closure. Yes, the men have their HEA but we still don’t know if Cam fixed any of his other circumstances. Once he got the New Year's peen, it was game. over. There wasn’t an epilogue and I feel kinda gypped. *Bah humbug*

All in all these sweet stories are perfect for the holiday season with a little heat thrown in. They gave me warm and fuzzy feelings of hope, love, and the benefits of surrounding yourself with the ones in your life who matter most. Recommended.

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una recopilación de tres historias de Navidad, adorables y bien escritas las tres. Tienen su dosis de elementos típicos de novella de Navidad, pero con un toque más profundo del que otras carecen.
Me ha encantado.

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Humbug

Quint is a overbearing workaholic who pays more attention to doing his job than the people he works with. A couple days before christmas he gets a rude awakening when he realizes how much the people he works with and the people who are supposedly his friends think so little of him.

Feeling down he runs into his coworker Rob. Rob who has always had a soft spot for Quint. Rob helps Quin realize there is more to life than working.

If I would have gotten the big F-U to Charlie the trash talking "friend" then I would have loved this more.

3.5 stars

Mr. Perfect Christmas

Sam is working as a temp at firm where he constantly compared to his predecessor Nick "The Wonder Boy." Always being compared he feels down about his prospect of getting offered a permanent position. His boss and his colleagues all seem to love Nick. Faced with having to attend the Christmas party of his new firm he can't help but compare it to his previous position. He is disappointed with how things are going and dreaded attending the office party. However, and unexpected admirer is revealed and things change.

3 stars

Rest and Be Thankful

Cam McMorrow has moved to a small town in his parents old vacation cottage. He started a small business but things are not going as plan. Everything in fact seems to be falling apart. It doesn't help that he seems to have made enemies with the local cafe owner, Rob. All Cam is really asking for is a break in his bad luck. He just so happens to get that in a form of a rockslide that leads him straight to Robs front door.

[annob [on hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Christmassy shorter stories from an author I admire: 'Humbug', 'Mr Perfect' from the Wish Come True anthology and 'Rest and Be Thankful'.

I didn't like the main character in 'Humbug' but that was exactly what the story arc was aiming for. Memorable version of Scrooge, but to me not that romantic. The two other stories where much more my cuppa and dealt with loneliness, feeling left out, not fitting in, struggles with money or work—and even when you've hit a low point, that special someone can come along when you least expect it.

Like delicious Christmas toffee you want more of, these stories were tasty treats I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

HUMBUG

In a real life, I met people like Quin.
Hell, my former boss was like him.
These people, are so hard to like. They're just so annoying, irritating and bring with them the label ' You're not important to me if you're not useful'.
That.
And lucky for Quin that Rob 'still' like him, despite of his so called 'behavior'.
He need a strong hand to make him better and Rob is definitely the man.
Even I can't like Quin until the end of the book, he's actually 'not a bad people'. He just clueless, and workaholic.
And that can be cure, slowly.

MR. PERFECT'S CHRISTMAS

What supposed to be a not very pleasant Christmas eve outing with his fellow office friends, has become one night he'll never forget. This is a classic 'no talking, just assuming' story about two guys. until everything's almost too late. Good thing is, Nick is a nice guy and finally told Sam why did he always come to the office while he's not working there anymore.
Sam also seemed like an uptight guy, Nick called him Mr. Perfect.
After clearing what's the problem between them, well, things went smoothly...into bed.
Hmm...a little too soon, but it's Christmas. Let's consider it a gift.

REST AND BE THANKFUL

Things hasn't be really good for Cam's business lately, added an awkward meeting with Rob at his café while meeting his sister. Their old problems? Has to be clear before they can move on to another level of their 'wanted' relationship.
Anything happen for a reason, and Cam stranded with his broken car near Rob's cabin.
Well, things finally resolved between the two. They talked, and seemed like they worked it out somehow. Spending a new year with a potential future lover, seemed like a dream come true.

[Skirmish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2018/09/24/...
Rating: 4 Stars - minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

[Rachel]

11/27/19 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

[Exina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merry and Bright is a holiday collection by Joanna Chambers.

Humbug – My review.

Mr. Perfect’s Christmas – 3 stars
It’s Christmas time, but Sam’s so not feeling it. He’s got a terrible year: a breakup, losing his job, moving back to his parents, and after months of trying, finally getting hired at a small law firm, which is so not his scene.

No matter how desperately he tried to fit in with them, he just… didn’t. With his designer-label clothes, buffed nails, and expensively styled hair, he was like an exotic bird in a flock of starlings.

Oh, poor baby…


And to top of it all, to the shitty Christmas party of his new workplace his predecessor, Nick is also invited.

Overall a cute story, a nice surprise.

Rest and Be Thankful – 3.5 stars
Sweet New Year’s Eve story, told from dual viewpoint. Pseudo-enemies (because of some misunderstanding and non-communication) to lovers, a new beginning for both of them.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three delightful festive treats make up this short story anthology from Joanna Chambers.

I'd read one of them before in the fund raising Wish Come True Mr Perfect's Christmas, and I enjoyed it as much now as I did then. It's a sweet twist on what you think is going to happen between Sam and Nick.

Speaking of twists, I'd have loved to read more of book one, Humbug, with its take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Quinn was an utter arse, fairly unsympathetic for a fair chunk of this narrative.

But in true festive spirit, Rob managed to pierce the driven and less than pleasant surface and discover Quin's inner nice guy. There were some painful truths to be had as Quinn took his unexpected second chance.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The first short story, Humbug, is a modern sort-of-adaptation of A Christmas Carol (with a gay twist, of course) and I quite liked the execution.
The second story, Mr. Perfect’s Christmas, is the shortest of the three and, even though it was pretty complete for a short story, I liked the two MCs and their dynamic enough that I would’ve loved to know what was in store for them and the rest of their relationship.
I’d already read the third story, Rest and Be Thankful, because I didn’t realize it was included in this collection. Review here.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, let’s be honest. I am a fangirl of holiday stories and Ms Chambers does them well. I can’t even say which is my favorite (Mr. Perfect, fine) because they are all so lovely. These are re-released stories so I had previously read Mr Perfect’s Christmas and re-read it and then read it more. So I was very excited to get to see two more stories by this author for the holidays.

Humbug
Quin is a focused manager and he has a five year plan that includes being made partner. However he has to act to make that happen, he will. When one of his employees, Rob, asks for a little extra time off at Christmas, Quin acts like a total jerk about it and never bothers to find out why. That, combined with a morning face off with his BFF, Freddy, sort of sets off a chain of events where Quin has to face some harsh truths about himself. The way he treats his friends, even his best friend, the way he treats his employees, his nonexistent life outside of work, all these come into account as he has to face some unpleasantness about himself.

Quin is a total work absorbed jerk at first but I really liked him. He realizes through the story that he hasn’t handled things well. “Somewhere along the line I’d got used to not being someone anyone looked forward to seeing.” And how sad is that? But he does manage to get it together and he wants to make it different. I loved that and I loved reading his change of heart.

Mr Perfect’s Christmas
L.O.V.E. this story. Sam had been a lawyer in the city and he was let go, soon after breaking up with his boyfriend. Now he is in a much smaller place as a temp and he’s trying to take the place of Wonder Boy, AKA Nick Foster. Nick is the wunderkind who had the job before Sam. A job that Sam is struggling with, trying to fit in and do his job. “Oh, I learned it all right. I learned that I couldn’t do the job I was hired for” – Sam let out a long, hard breath, then added-“And I still can’t.” His feelings are made worse because everything he does, Nick has done better.

The company’s holiday party, which Nick is invited to thought he no longer works there, sort of brings things to a head with, of all things, a Secret Santa exchange. Mr Perfect. This one worked for me on so many levels, I loved Sam, loved Nick, even Penny.

Rest and Be Thankful
Cam was an accountant and when he was made redundant he put his thought into what he really wanted to do, which was start an adventure company in Inverbechie. How it turned out, however, isn’t what he was expecting. “Apparently, to exist on the poverty line in a remote village where everybody hates me.” The thing is, Cam just isn’t a people person. So he comes across as standoffish, rude and even insulting sometimes but that’s not who he is. When a much needed New Year’s plan falls apart, he has to ask for help from the last person he wants to, Rob, the café owner who due to a presumptuous employee and a public argument Cam no longer speaks to most of Inverbechie
Cam does have a supportive sister and it really is meeting with her that gets the ball rolling for Cam to talk to Rob,. Oh Cam, just tweaked my heart. He's trying and he's worried and part of the reason it isn't working well is his non-relationship with the town. It's all misunderstandings but they are understandable ones, if that makes sense. And he is so being on being “awlight, okay” that he doesn’t really let anyone help. I loved this one, even as it is more about Cam than anything else.

Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4,5 stars*

Another fabulous winner in the Christmas novella section. I immensely enjoyed all three stories in this anthology, with Humbug being most likely my favourite (because it is a take on Dickens’s Christmas Story).
Joanna Chambers supplies well drawn, very relatable and sympathetic characters and tons of feels!
As always the Britishness of her writing highly appeals (particularly setting Rest and be Thankful in Scotland).

Loved it!!!

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to my Secret Santa for gifting me this

Humbug: 4 stars
Read in 2015. Review is Here

Mr. Perfect's Christmas: 4 stars
Ah, the GLORIOUS misunderstanding trope. I loved this!! When Sam finally realized that he thought wrong about Nick, that Nick actually liked him, it was WONDERFUL :). Short and sweet, but enough to make me smile

Rest and Be Thankful: 4 stars
Read in 2014. Review is Here

All stories have been previously released

[Karen Wellsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three lovely festive shorts.
All left me wanting more
Review to follow on blog

[Tailtiu]

Nothing new...these are all re-released stories. :(

Rest and Be Thankful also part of the Comfort and Joy Anthology 3,5*

Mr Perfect’s Christmas is part of the Wish Come True Anthology

Humbug

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merry & Bright is comprised of Humbug, Mr Perfect's Christmas and Rest and be Thankful. Three short stories on a holiday theme that I read as time allowed over the height of the holiday period. Realistically they all take not much more than a couple of hours each. Overall my biggest complaint about the book is that it is not consistently or well-formatted. The individual stories are not marked, and only two of the three have chapter markings.

HUMBUG

That’s all we have to give each other. Our time, here on earth. And now that I’m looking back, over the last twenty-five years, I realise how much of it I’ve wasted. — Marley Jacob

Humbug is a clear and obvious play on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. With the moral that we all need to stop being such work-obsessed little bunnies and live and love more. It's not awful just overly done and slightly unimaginative. Interestingly it might work without the holiday setting. So while it is a play on a classic there is a enough of a twist to remove some of the true seasonal elements.

The characters are okay. Quin developed as he should he isn't easy to like at the start but I can see myself in him. The obsessive nature there are some jobs we should not be in, it's unhealthy for us. Rob is sweet. Tim may be slightly problematic but I'm happy he was there. It's not a brilliantly strong story not sure it has much readability or if it holds appeal outside of a compilation.

A representative gif:

MR PERFECT'S CHRISTMAS

Was it because of the head-fucking combination of resentment and lust that filled him every time he saw Nick Foster? Did it throw off his gaydar? His common sense? Whatever it was, looking at Nick right now, Sam felt foolish and naïve. — Sam Warren

This half feels like an exercise in descriptive writing more than an actual story. That said I enjoyed this more than Humbug. It is much less tropey. Yeah, it was clear where it was going but the way we got there was slightly unexpected. The men are nice, believable. They suited the story and in something this short, that is all I can ask. The setting is something slightly unusual Christmas week and a work Christmas party rather than Christmas itself.

A representative gif:

REST AND BE THANKFUL

“That’s the great tragedy of life, you know.”
“What is?”
“That it’s true—about it going on. Life goes on and grief ebbs—even when you want to hang on to it.” — Rob Armstrong & Cam McMorrow

It's nice to have a holiday romance set at new years. I like Vals whole aesthetic, I want her wardrobe and tattoos but that is neither here nor there. Its a story of miscommunication and mistakes corrected, mending bridges, honesty to self and finding their way. It suits the setting perfectly. The leading men are both reasonable characters and good men. One in over his head after starting a new business and has a mild sexual kink. The other older with a dead lover and a bit of a lost soul.

It has a beautiful ending that feels right for the brevity and plot. I don't feel that too often. To me, it's not the worst NYE read for those disposed to reading over partying.

One thing I feel I need to put in a review. Yes, this is a plot/character-driven short story but it is sold in a global marketplace. The phrase Hogmanay is used frequently. For those of us who are not Scottish is simply means the last day of the year, it is kinda synonymous with New Year's Eve, but it goes beyond that. I only know this because I googled it, don't put a phrase like, ie locally or not widely used, in a story especially one with a broader meaning without defining it.

"I like people who do what they love without worrying about whether it's cool or not. I hate coolness, actually. It’s got a lot to answer for, coolness.”
... “What do you mean?”
“Just, the idea of coolness—it inhibits kids from enjoying stuff. The arts, especially." — Rob Armstrong & Cam Morrow

A representative gif:

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry & Bright is an anthology of previously published Christmas/holiday shorts by Joanna Chambers. I'd only had the pleasure of reading one of these before, so it was a real treat to get to read these new-to-me contemporary shorts by one of my go-to authors. Each one was a sweet story about overcoming loneliness and opening one's eyes and looking beyond our perceptions; a great lesson to keep in mind over these holidays which can be stressful and isolating for some.

Humbug
I absolutely adored this story. It is based on the classic A Christmas Carol, with our MC Quin facing some awful truths about himself. He’s work-obsessed to the point of ignoring all other parts of his life and all of his relationships. He lost his long-time boyfriend, he’s become estranged from his friends, his coworkers dislike him. It takes his boss forcing him to take a few extra days at Christmas to kick off the “visits” from his “ghosts.” This story was incredibly emotional - there were a couple times when I actually teared up a bit due to how deeply I felt Quin’s pain and loneliness. Rob was such a great counterpoint to Quin and filled in all his spaces and opened up his mind to other possibilities for his life. There was a bit of a lack of relationship development between Rob and Quin - we see their first evening together, then jump ahead to their first anniversary - but that didn’t bother me much because this story was really about Quin and his personal growth. It was very, very well done.

Mr. Perfect’s Christmas
This is the one story of the anthology that I’ve read previously. It’s also the shortest of the three. Sam’s on his way to the office Christmas party, but he feels out of sorts. He’s not sure of his place at his new company, he’s not comfortable socializing with his coworkers, he feels inadequate compared to his predecessor, Nick, and all-in-all feels like a fish out of water. It’s very similar to Humbug in that it is office-based, each guy has been crushing on each other for a while, but oblivious to the other’s attentions, and they come together after some emotional soul-searching in the company of others. It’s very relatable - I could definitely sympathize with Sam and his insecurity surrounding his job and social life. I loved how brazen Nick is, how he decides to make his move no matter how many times Sam unwittingly tries to stop him. It’s really just a sweet, feel-good short that ends with a HFN.

Rest and be Thankful
This was yet another emotional story. We alternate POVs between Cam, who moved to Inverbechie 10 months ago to start an outdoor adventures company but is struggling silently both financially and socially; and Rob, who owns the local cafe and is experiencing the hard truth of life moving on after the death of his partner. The overarching theme here is that it’s okay to not be okay. Cam is used to being the strong one, and he’s not sure how to handle the fact that his business is slow over the winter months, and he needs help to make ends meet until the warm seasons come back. Both men have been a bit too prideful to apologize after a very public argument that put a pause on things between them before they could ever start. As with the other stories in this anthology, the loneliness of the characters is vivid and my heart broke for Cam and his almost self-imposed solitude. The timing of the new year was a perfect metaphor for this couple, as they helped open each others’ eyes to how things could be. This ends with a comfortable HFN.

An advanced copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely set of holiday themed novellas a la A Christmas Carol. I enjoyed all three, although I wished the second story was a tad longer. If I had to grade them?

Humbug : B+ (best developed story and characters; sweet epilogue)
Mr. Perfect’s Christmas : B+ (I was just getting into this one when it ended!)
Rest and Be Thankful : A- (aside from its air of melancholy, it’s perfect)

Good stuff.

[Nile Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three awesome Christmas short stories - 4.5

[La*La · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three were re-reads for me, but I'm glad the author compiled her Christmas stories into one book.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humbug:

Considering Charles Dickens is now being billed as the ‘man who invented Christmas’, it stands to reason that Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption story is a popular one to borrow from in a holiday romance. Joanna Chambers kicks off her new collection of Christmas stories, Merry & Bright, with Humbug, the story of Quin Flint, a cold and distant workaholic who meets his opposite in Rob Paget, the man who will help Quin see that all work and no play really does make him a dull and callous boy. Not to mention a lonely man.

Chambers doesn’t delve into the ghosts of the past, present and future in the story. Rather, Humbug focuses on Quin’s personal awakening and his growing awareness of how empty his life is, how devoid it is of anything meaningful, and when he is confronted by the truth of his own neglected friendships and failed relationships, Quin begins to more closely examine how narrow a life path he’s been following.

But it’s Rob and his brother, Tim, who help Quin find new direction, a course that leads him to a full and fulfilling life.

Joanna Chambers tells a sweet and heartwarming tale about finding and grabbing hold of a new lease on life and love. It is, of course, encompassing of everything magic about romance and the holidays. – 4 stars

Mr. Perfect’s Christmas:

Sam Warren has a new job, not by choice but by virtue of his temp position not turning into a permanent, full-time fit at a reputable and well-respected London law firm. Out of necessity and desperation, Sam accepts a new position at a much smaller firm far from the city. Not only did he leave his cosmopolitan lifestyle behind, but he left behind the hope of a high-profile job only to work for the small Morton & Higgins law firm, in a place far removed from the usefulness of designer label clothing, perfectly molded hair, and his Armani murse.

But perhaps the most ill-fitting thing Sam found at M&H was the giant shoes he’s been left to fill upon Nick Foster’s departure from the firm. When a Secret Santa gift exchange goes a bit sideways for Sam, it drives Nick to make some confessions that cause Sam to see ‘Wonder Boy’ in a new light.

Misunderstandings and misperceptions are the ties that bind this romantic little tale into a tightly told short story. Perfection begins in the eye of the beholder, and I liked how that simple truth was the trick to bringing Sam and Nick together. – 4 stars

Rest and Be Thankful:

This story is my hands-down favorite of this trio, owing a good bit to the fact that it didn’t just pluck at my heartstrings. It wrenched them into complete submission.

Cameron McMorrow is having a rough go of it. Having left behind a stable job in accounting to start up his own business in a small and close-knit community, Cam is struggling on multiple levels. Running an outdoor adventures business may be his dream, but in the cold light of day, the reality is that winter has meant a complete stoppage of income, and his financial reserves have run dry. A broken boiler, a broke down car, and a run-in with local café owner, Rob Armstrong, have converged to leave Cam in a depressing and desperate spiral.

Being an outcast outsider on the cusp of the New Year, who’s now stranded for the holiday in a place that doesn’t want him, is the bitter icing on Cam’s sad and depressing cake. And this is the element I loved most about this story. The slings and arrows of misfortune Cam suffers were necessary rather than the more annoying angst for angst’s sake. Cam was rudderless and sinking fast when Rob threw out a lifeline of friendship, which came at a time when Cam not only needed it but was desperate to accept it.

I loved this serene and touching little story. It is redemptive and it speaks to the power of compassion in a weary and troubled world, in the way only holiday romances can. – 4.5 stars

I can say without hesitation that if you’re a sucker for a warm and charming story, whether it’s set around the holiday season or not, and love a well-written novella that offers a quick happiness fix, you should grab this three-in-one collection of sweet Christmas cheer.

Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach

[Fritz42 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humbug 5 stars

It was a wonderful take on A Christmas Carol. With the contemporary setting, Quin comes face-to-face with some cold hard facts on how people think of him. Even though the guy was initially a dick, I hurt when he went through that realization.

Mr. Perfect's Christmas 5 stars

Another one where I hurt right along with Sam, who struggled with fitting in at his new job. Definite misunderstands clouded the way, and I loved how Nick felt so bad when they were revealed.

Rest and Be Thankful 3.5 stars

It took me awhile, but I realized that I had read this one in Comfort and Joy previously.

[Sally Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of three short stories set around Christmas and the New Year. They’re cosy, without being twee or cloying, and very rich given their short length. Chambers does a great job of fleshing out the characters, and the romances are full of sweet yearning and tug at the heartstrings in all the right ways.

If you’re looking for a festive read, this is the collection for you—perfect for a cosy night in with your favourite Christmas treats!

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars over-all

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love holiday stories, and even though it’s still November, I have been looking forward to sitting down with a hot drink and some festive love stories over the past few evenings. These three short stories (Humbug, Mr Perfect’s Christmas and Rest and Be Thankful) by Joanna Chambers were great and have kicked off my Christmas reading very nicely - I was fairly confident that I’d like them but you sometimes run the risk of liking one story and finding the others lacking. That usually happens to me when I read anthologies or shorts that get compiled together. I was pleased to find that I enjoyed all three of the stories here. I found each one to be wonderful and entertaining in its own way, and they were quick reads ideal for an evening in, all cosy and tucked up on the sofa :)

These were well written and interesting, and I really feel like they are stories that I will return to, not just during the holidays but all year round. I’m a sucker for holiday reads - no matter what time of year it is! - and would absolutely recommend this if you are too.

A copy was provided by Signal Boost Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

[M'rella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy reads with very satisfying endings. Perfect for Christmas reading! :D

Unrelated to the book, but it ruins my reviewing experience:
I am not sure why GR took it upon itself to up my reading count. Very annoying, I have to constantly check on my books to make sure there are no additional dates :(