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Santa Baby
Martin 'Tin' McAuliff is an innocent - in every sense of the word. He hides behind his studies and his job to cover up how socially awkward he is, but that doesn't stop him dreaming of the perfect guy coming to sweep him off his feet.
Beckett Lake exudes power and status, from the top of his perfectly tousled hair to the bottom of his expensive shoes, but he’s never met a man worth lavishing his substantial affections on. Until a chance meeting with the most adorable man on two legs quickly brings out his protective side.
Tin doesn’t realize that Beckett wants more than friendship from him.
Beckett is struggling to come to terms with how fast he is falling.
Together, they will create a Christmas love story of a lifetime.
Beckett Lake exudes power and status, from the top of his perfectly tousled hair to the bottom of his expensive shoes, but he’s never met a man worth lavishing his substantial affections on. Until a chance meeting with the most adorable man on two legs quickly brings out his protective side.
Tin doesn’t realize that Beckett wants more than friendship from him.
Beckett is struggling to come to terms with how fast he is falling.
Together, they will create a Christmas love story of a lifetime.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
58 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 20, 2017
Overall book rating: 2
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
I’m really sorry to say that this didn’t work for me. I was thinking it’s ME but then I read some other review as well and apparently, I don’t have to feel like puddle scum about not being crazy about what I read.
I don’t really know how to put this, but to me it just didn’t sit right. Becket’s way of handling things made me lift a hell of a lot of eyebrows throughout the story and I have to shamefully admit I skimmed the last two chapters just to get it over with.
The “good” stuff that could have made this story fabulous was casually mentioned in passing. I mean people! We’ve got ourselves an innocent virgin boy here! Where is the FIRST KISS scene? Where is the in-detail-worship-and-introduction-to-love-making scene?? The poor thing had a “peck” on the lips for a first kiss??
Becket goes on and on about making Tin’s first Christmas spectacular. Maybe again, I have different standards because taking him to a bunch of Christmas parties does not make for a fabulous FIRST Christmas experience.
The buying him a tree and decorations thing got much more brownie points with me. Giving us a scene while they actually did the decorating would have been great.
I didn’t get the “hormonal drama” scene in the end at all. Totally unnecessary to me. This could have been so sweet and so amazing.
Also, can anyone tell me what the hell the story was with his sister in the opening chapter cause that’s just another thing on my list of not understanding.
I didn’t get the attraction between them. Becket was a controlling sugar daddy and Tin.. well I still don’t really get him either. How exactly will this “relationship” work? Hmmmm Glad I’m not there to see the train smash.
Sorry you guys.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
I’m really sorry to say that this didn’t work for me. I was thinking it’s ME but then I read some other review as well and apparently, I don’t have to feel like puddle scum about not being crazy about what I read.
I don’t really know how to put this, but to me it just didn’t sit right. Becket’s way of handling things made me lift a hell of a lot of eyebrows throughout the story and I have to shamefully admit I skimmed the last two chapters just to get it over with.
The “good” stuff that could have made this story fabulous was casually mentioned in passing. I mean people! We’ve got ourselves an innocent virgin boy here! Where is the FIRST KISS scene? Where is the in-detail-worship-and-introduction-to-love-making scene?? The poor thing had a “peck” on the lips for a first kiss??
Becket goes on and on about making Tin’s first Christmas spectacular. Maybe again, I have different standards because taking him to a bunch of Christmas parties does not make for a fabulous FIRST Christmas experience.
The buying him a tree and decorations thing got much more brownie points with me. Giving us a scene while they actually did the decorating would have been great.
I didn’t get the “hormonal drama” scene in the end at all. Totally unnecessary to me. This could have been so sweet and so amazing.
Also, can anyone tell me what the hell the story was with his sister in the opening chapter cause that’s just another thing on my list of not understanding.
I didn’t get the attraction between them. Becket was a controlling sugar daddy and Tin.. well I still don’t really get him either. How exactly will this “relationship” work? Hmmmm Glad I’m not there to see the train smash.
Sorry you guys.
November 17, 2017
DNF at 40%. This was NOT a good book. Beckett is a creepy predator who gets off on Tin being a “innocent virgin”. The book mostly consists of Beckett being creepy and insinuating himself in Tim’s life as a sugar daddy while ordering him around (all while thinking about how “adorable” poor fragile Tin is). Tin himself is oblivious and naive to the point of ridiculousness. Tin is constantly doubting himself while Beckett gets off on these insecurities, thinking he’s “being a tease” and playing hard to get. And where are Tim’s so-called friends during all of this? Oh, they’re there in the background cooing over how ADORABLE Tin is for being so stupidly naive.
November 20, 2017
I imagine this was supposed to be sweet and fluffy but that is not how it came across to me. In fact, I found Becket on the verge of creepy with dialogue like this (we are talking earliest of early dates here, they are not really together yet):
„The restaurant I was talking to you about before? I want you to meet me there tomorrow evening. Wear something pretty for me, okay?”
Then they were suddenly together basically because Beckett decided that Tin was his. Until there was some kind of big drama over what, exactly? I can maybe understand Tin’s need to get away from the situation but the thoughts in his head afterwards on whether or not they were still together were just waaay too much. It really wasn’t a big deal and they were not fighting. So that was just odd.
Then there were some odd phrases like:
Beckett took him by the hand and guided him toward a beautifully polished wooden staircase. The traveled up the dark wood steps together,
(I mean, the traveled up the stairs? Really?)
“You’re so beautiful,” Beckett told him. “I don’t know whether you don’t believe it, or you think it’s untrue,”
(I read this several times and still don’t see any real difference between Tin not believing it or thinking it’s untrue?)
So this was just a miss for me.
„The restaurant I was talking to you about before? I want you to meet me there tomorrow evening. Wear something pretty for me, okay?”
Then they were suddenly together basically because Beckett decided that Tin was his. Until there was some kind of big drama over what, exactly? I can maybe understand Tin’s need to get away from the situation but the thoughts in his head afterwards on whether or not they were still together were just waaay too much. It really wasn’t a big deal and they were not fighting. So that was just odd.
Then there were some odd phrases like:
Beckett took him by the hand and guided him toward a beautifully polished wooden staircase. The traveled up the dark wood steps together,
(I mean, the traveled up the stairs? Really?)
“You’re so beautiful,” Beckett told him. “I don’t know whether you don’t believe it, or you think it’s untrue,”
(I read this several times and still don’t see any real difference between Tin not believing it or thinking it’s untrue?)
So this was just a miss for me.
November 26, 2017
*** These guys are an emotional blank slate as they navigate their first ever relationship. Martin/Tin, a student,
came from a family of zero affection, no Christmas, no celebrations, nothing. He is inexperienced in every way, shy, and blank. He's almost has no feelings.
Older Beckett is a spoiled rich guy,
a playboy until he meets Tin. This guy is different, and Beckett has true feelings for the first time, and he lavished Tin with his need to make Tin happy. His own happiness isn't coming first this time.
Yes, Beckett came out looking like a guy who had an agenda, but as the story flows, we see the inner thoughts, realizations, and reasoning. Everyone in the Beckett family loves quickly and for good. Tin's inner most musings are sad and difficult. He has zero experience in sex or life, plus seems like an introvert, oblivious to flirting or feelings.
Tin's two girlfriends opposing opinions confuse him, but also force him to think for himself. This is an extreme slow burn as we watch the men progress. Yes, there are bumps in their road, but they communicate, so they can figure out how to proceed.
They both want to go forward, to experience the relationship and make it work, first as friends, lovers later, as these guys figure it out.
Some folks didn't like this one, but if you keep an open mind, read the WHOLE BOOK, you will be rewarded.
I thought of it as a "Cinder-fella" tale, and by the end it all clicked together for me.
ENJOY !
==========
I enjoyed Avery Ford's "Blue Christmas," "Gingerbread," "Baby Makes Three,"
and "Protector," also.
=====================
came from a family of zero affection, no Christmas, no celebrations, nothing. He is inexperienced in every way, shy, and blank. He's almost has no feelings.
Older Beckett is a spoiled rich guy,
a playboy until he meets Tin. This guy is different, and Beckett has true feelings for the first time, and he lavished Tin with his need to make Tin happy. His own happiness isn't coming first this time.
Yes, Beckett came out looking like a guy who had an agenda, but as the story flows, we see the inner thoughts, realizations, and reasoning. Everyone in the Beckett family loves quickly and for good. Tin's inner most musings are sad and difficult. He has zero experience in sex or life, plus seems like an introvert, oblivious to flirting or feelings.
Tin's two girlfriends opposing opinions confuse him, but also force him to think for himself. This is an extreme slow burn as we watch the men progress. Yes, there are bumps in their road, but they communicate, so they can figure out how to proceed.
They both want to go forward, to experience the relationship and make it work, first as friends, lovers later, as these guys figure it out.
Some folks didn't like this one, but if you keep an open mind, read the WHOLE BOOK, you will be rewarded.
I thought of it as a "Cinder-fella" tale, and by the end it all clicked together for me.
ENJOY !
==========
I enjoyed Avery Ford's "Blue Christmas," "Gingerbread," "Baby Makes Three,"
and "Protector," also.
=====================
November 25, 2017
Lol
This is one of the silliest books I've read in a while. There's so much of the nonsensical here. The characterization is inconsistent, the dialogue is bizarre, and the conflicts make very little sense (not to mention the wreak of first world problems). To top it all off, Ford seems to experience frequent bouts of forgetting how words work. One of my favorite parts is when Beckett tells Tin that since they've been together, his life has "improved for the better". How deliciously redundant. Of course I'm sitting here wondering if it's possible for something to improve for the worse...
There's also this weird timeline inconsistency in which Beckett tells his mother that it all started when he agreed to give a guest lecture at Columbia...and this occurs BEFORE he actually gives the lecture where he runs into Tin for the second time.
Still scratching my head over that one.
If you have KU and just wanna check it out, by all means, have a blast. But I could never recommend actually paying money for this.
This is one of the silliest books I've read in a while. There's so much of the nonsensical here. The characterization is inconsistent, the dialogue is bizarre, and the conflicts make very little sense (not to mention the wreak of first world problems). To top it all off, Ford seems to experience frequent bouts of forgetting how words work. One of my favorite parts is when Beckett tells Tin that since they've been together, his life has "improved for the better". How deliciously redundant. Of course I'm sitting here wondering if it's possible for something to improve for the worse...
There's also this weird timeline inconsistency in which Beckett tells his mother that it all started when he agreed to give a guest lecture at Columbia...and this occurs BEFORE he actually gives the lecture where he runs into Tin for the second time.
Still scratching my head over that one.
If you have KU and just wanna check it out, by all means, have a blast. But I could never recommend actually paying money for this.
December 1, 2017
There was just so much wrong with this book. Character development was superficial at best. There were so many loose plot devices that lead nowhere: Tin's sister (what happened? where'd she go?), Tin's lack of Xmas experience(religious reasons? poverty reasons?), the marten (where did it come from and why?). Hints at Tin's background were frustratingly dropped and then subsequently ignored. Kept waiting in vain for the other boot to drop and real drama to start and then the only drama that really happens was some shit talking that Tin, the delicate little snowflake that he is, couldn't stand to be defended against. The sex scenes took forever to happen and then were so contrived and shoddily put together it may have been hetero sex for all the "You feel so good" and "I want to feel you inside me," tripe. At least Beckett used a condom. The twin female best friends were annoying as are most female characters in m/m romances and their desire to protect Tin as if he were another girl was just as annoying. I did like the proposal scene as it was touching and did encapsulate what commitment should mean to couples of every orientation. In general it was just a poorly put together book that can be skipped. Next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
Pretty Woman - with a virginal, shy young man instead of a prostitute
3 stars overall rating
4 stars - when I suspend disbelief and am in the mood for a saccarhine Alpha male rescuing a shy, young dude-in-distress
2 stars- when I look more closely at some of Beckett’s actions
This story reminded me so much of the movie Pretty Woman, with a rich Alpha male rescuing an overlooked new/sudden unlikely partner, except in this case the rescued party is a lil “dude-in-distress” who is a virginal student, not a female sex worker. The story had some decent UST and resulting heat in parts, but the overall story was very saccharine, with Beckett falling incredibly quickly for the nervous but geekily charming and truly innocent young man.
In the end, I loved Tin and wanted to believe in Beckett’s sudden interest and care, but it struck me as ridiculously quick and pretty unbelievable, hence my divided reaction. (If I think fairy tale, it’s cute and “aww shucks” sweet. If I think real contemporary society, it just doesn’t work for me.)
As other reviewers have pointed out, Beckett pulls a couple of things that can come across as very creepy. To the author’s credit, the “Greek Chorus” of Tin’s friends pointed this out and made him think about Beckett’s attention and largesse. However, it would have struck me as even more controlling and creepy if the object of his desire were a woman. I realize that’s sexist on my part, as a young woman in theory shouldn’t be considered any more vulnerable than a young man. But if a rich man offered such lavish gifts, like a rent-free, decked-out duplex for as long as they needed, to a young, virginal, shy woman, and also told her to “wear something pretty for me,” it would have struck me as scary, not endearing.
In the end, if I divorce myself from reality (and suspend some disbelief) and accept Beckett’s sudden care for a vulnerable young man to falling swiftly in love with someone not his type, it is sweet “rich Prince” of an Alpha male rescuing a shy/introverted/hurt young virginal man. However, if/when Beckett’s care/falling for Tin seems unbelievable, it comes accross as too much of a stretch for me.
3 stars overall rating
4 stars - when I suspend disbelief and am in the mood for a saccarhine Alpha male rescuing a shy, young dude-in-distress
2 stars- when I look more closely at some of Beckett’s actions
This story reminded me so much of the movie Pretty Woman, with a rich Alpha male rescuing an overlooked new/sudden unlikely partner, except in this case the rescued party is a lil “dude-in-distress” who is a virginal student, not a female sex worker. The story had some decent UST and resulting heat in parts, but the overall story was very saccharine, with Beckett falling incredibly quickly for the nervous but geekily charming and truly innocent young man.
In the end, I loved Tin and wanted to believe in Beckett’s sudden interest and care, but it struck me as ridiculously quick and pretty unbelievable, hence my divided reaction. (If I think fairy tale, it’s cute and “aww shucks” sweet. If I think real contemporary society, it just doesn’t work for me.)
As other reviewers have pointed out, Beckett pulls a couple of things that can come across as very creepy. To the author’s credit, the “Greek Chorus” of Tin’s friends pointed this out and made him think about Beckett’s attention and largesse. However, it would have struck me as even more controlling and creepy if the object of his desire were a woman. I realize that’s sexist on my part, as a young woman in theory shouldn’t be considered any more vulnerable than a young man. But if a rich man offered such lavish gifts, like a rent-free, decked-out duplex for as long as they needed, to a young, virginal, shy woman, and also told her to “wear something pretty for me,” it would have struck me as scary, not endearing.
In the end, if I divorce myself from reality (and suspend some disbelief) and accept Beckett’s sudden care for a vulnerable young man to falling swiftly in love with someone not his type, it is sweet “rich Prince” of an Alpha male rescuing a shy/introverted/hurt young virginal man. However, if/when Beckett’s care/falling for Tin seems unbelievable, it comes accross as too much of a stretch for me.
November 11, 2019
The major problem of this novel is its storyline. It's RIDICULOUS. The sister problem was laughable and the water accident was improbable. The "big ferret" was the last straw in this farfetched tale for me. It's a fiction indeed, but the talented author is the one who makes the reader believe the unbelievable. Realism is the spine of a good fiction, and this one is way too unrealistic to keep me interested... in spite of all the "nice to meet you" and "it's my treat!" that the author brought to make it sound "ordinary". Indeed, it is ordinary............ in a bad way.
November 15, 2017
Beckett Lake is a playboy who has everything. He is wealthy, good looking and can have any man he wants but never keeps them. When he sees a young man being hit on in a bar he jumps in to help and finds he is drawn towards him yet has no idea why. Tin is an innocent, a student who has never even been kissed and Beckett finds him absolutely adorable.
If you want a feel-good Christmas romance then this is it.
If you want a feel-good Christmas romance then this is it.
November 17, 2017
It was a nice story on the whole. I liked Beckett more than Tin, Tin was a bit too wimpy throughout the entire story. The two made a good couple although Tin was a bit frustrating at times with all the self doubt or just plain naivete, how he survived in that story setting especially at the start of the book without getting mugged every other day is beyond me.
December 4, 2017
I have mixed feeling about this book. It’s a Cinderfella type of story. I get Beckett’s personality, and I kind of liked how his grew character with him falling in love with Tin. He became a caring, protective lover. But I had a harder problem connecting with Tin. I can only describe him as awkward. Overall it was a sweet story.
January 19, 2021
I really liked this Christmas story. It's an easy read with no drama but a lot of sweetness.
TAGS
-- holiday/Christmas -- fast easy read -- age difference -- opposites attract -- first time/virgin -- really sweet -- warmed my heart -- loved Beckett & Tin -- minimal on page sex -- wish there was more
November 26, 2017
Christmas Love
Two completely opposite people meet,one a player and one shy and naïve, what could possibly go wrong. Thanks to caring and a little Christmas magic love happens. This is a very sweet Christmas story..
Two completely opposite people meet,one a player and one shy and naïve, what could possibly go wrong. Thanks to caring and a little Christmas magic love happens. This is a very sweet Christmas story..
January 16, 2018
The Lake men fall fast and hard
But their road to a HEA isn’t without its potholes.
This is a sweet little book and an easy read. Yes, their love story is unbelievable but it’s fiction and it’s Christmas.
But their road to a HEA isn’t without its potholes.
This is a sweet little book and an easy read. Yes, their love story is unbelievable but it’s fiction and it’s Christmas.
March 4, 2019
Amazing !!!!!
I loved it. I'm a hopeless romantic. This is one. The comedy too. Curious as to will there be a second part for Tin and Beckett.
Avery Ford. I love a lot of his books
I loved it. I'm a hopeless romantic. This is one. The comedy too. Curious as to will there be a second part for Tin and Beckett.
Avery Ford. I love a lot of his books
November 17, 2019
Ok, going to have to say I didn't love it. The cadence of the writing was off for me and the relationship between Tin and Beckett felt really strange. It didn't feel that they should really gel. It was a sweet story, but maybe a little over the top sweet.
January 7, 2022
Yikes, red flag central. Bennett was gross and creepy; Tin (short for Martin, really?!) was one of these characters who, while sweet, you don't know exactly how they manage to take care of themselves.
November 18, 2017
were it was a decent story and it was a bit long winded.
November 27, 2017
Sweet
Enjoyable characters. These two were so sweet to each other. I liked how they grew together. Sweet and perfect for Christmas.
Enjoyable characters. These two were so sweet to each other. I liked how they grew together. Sweet and perfect for Christmas.
November 29, 2017
Insta-love
I do appreciate that the author tried to put a family spin on the insta-love theme. This story does need a visit to an editor, but luckily there aren't a lot of errors.
I do appreciate that the author tried to put a family spin on the insta-love theme. This story does need a visit to an editor, but luckily there aren't a lot of errors.
December 3, 2017
1.5☆
This holiday story just didn't work for me
This holiday story just didn't work for me
December 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. It was a sweet Christmas love story. I adored Tin. Well written with well developed characters. I will read this one again.
December 18, 2017
A Special Christmas
A young man with no experience with Christmas is given more than he can imagine when he meets an affluent businessman. Love quickly follows.
A young man with no experience with Christmas is given more than he can imagine when he meets an affluent businessman. Love quickly follows.
December 19, 2017
Holiday merriment at its finest!
Loved it! The heart knows what it wants and I love a story that follows it to a happily ever after.
Loved it! The heart knows what it wants and I love a story that follows it to a happily ever after.
December 20, 2017
Cute, but not a lot of character development. Whole story feels very surface. The HEA is nice but I was kind of like “huh, thanks it?”
December 28, 2017
3.5 stars
January 3, 2021
3.25 Stars
January 11, 2023
3.5 🌟's. It's a cute little holiday story! I recommend for a quick Christmas read.
February 3, 2018
My main issue with this book is that it was supposed to be a sweet Christmas fluff but had a completely unsuitable hero for the genre. Slick douche-player businessman. Maybe Beckett would have gone a personality transformation by the end of the book, but it would have been completely unbelievable from the premises. What's been going inside his head in his first chapters made me dislike him with a passion, to the point of DNF (30%). Examples?
Again, maybe it could have worked if this was anything but a Christmas fluff, say, a BDSM novella or something.
Again, maybe it could have worked if this was anything but a Christmas fluff, say, a BDSM novella or something.
November 23, 2017
Oh, Santa Baby!
This really was a wonderful Christmas romp! I don’t normally read Christmas themed books much, but this was really a fun and sweet read... with a nice dash of heat thrown in.
This really was a wonderful Christmas romp! I don’t normally read Christmas themed books much, but this was really a fun and sweet read... with a nice dash of heat thrown in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews