Once Upon a December

Once Upon a Holiday #1

by Jess Bryant

Gibson Frost hates Christmas.

The holiday brings nothing but painful memories for him. It’s not a time for celebration or cheer so he works through the new year, avoiding as much fanfare as possible. Only this December is different because for the first time in a long time, he’s met someone that isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him, to challenge him, and push him to open up.

Felix Michaelson loves Christmas.

His big, boisterous family celebrates the holiday the same way they do everything. Together and with all their heart. So when his parent’s new neighbor turns out to be a Grinch who wants to stomp all over their joy, he’s determined to show the man there’s plenty to celebrate. Somewhere beneath all that ice, he knows there’s a heart of gold.

But is one month enough time to convince Gibson they could have a lifetime of happiness together or will Felix need a Christmas miracle to win the heart of a Grinch?

Genres: Christmas, M M Romance, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Novella

74 pages, ebook

First published December 12, 2018

About the author

Jess Bryant is an avid indoorswoman. A city girl trapped in a country girl's life, her heart resides in Dallas but her soul and roots are in small town Oklahoma. She enjoys manicures, the color pink, and her completely impractical for country life stilettos. She believes that hair color is a legitimate form of therapy, as is reading and writing romance. She started writing as a little girl but her life changed forever when she stole a book from her aunt's Harlequin collection and she's been creating love stories with happily ever afters ever since.

Jess holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and is a lifetime supporter of her school and athletic teams. And why not? They have a ton of National Championships! She may be a girlie girl but she knows her sports stats and isn't afraid to tell you that your school isn't as cool as hers... or that your sports romance got it all wrong.

For more information on Jess and upcoming releases, contact her at JessBryantBooks@gmail.com or follow her on her many social media accounts for news and shenanigans.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon a December is book one in the Once Upon A Holiday series by Jess Bryant. If you know me, then you know I do this all of the time. I have already read books two and three in this series and am just now coming back to read the first one. And, I have to say, this is my favorite of them all. It must be so hard to somehow fit an entire story into a novella but Jess did just that.

Gibson Frost is a Grinch. He despises Christmas but he has a good reason. Gibson spends his life running the family business, Frost Financial, and also looking after his two younger brothers and his uncle. Because to him, family is everything. With as busy and as crazy as his life is, he never expected to have time for a relationship. Honestly, he wasn’t all that interested in making time. Until a very angry, very good looking man stormed up his driveway and told him nose to nose just what he thought of him!



Felix Michaelson is a party planner and has been very successful. He loves his job. But now he has the chance to plan the party of all parties. A Christmas ball for Frost Financial. As long as the CEO approves his ideas for the party. Except, when Felix walked into the office, he was face to face with a man he had just royally told off the day before.



Felix has one month to plan the party. He finds himself working closely with Gibson. Making him smile, laugh even, and taking just a little bit of the stiffness out of his shoulders makes Felix so happy. It doesn’t take long for them both to realize that they share something special.

This was a short read but so sweet, so sexy, and so heart warming. It actually didn’t hurt me that I read them out of order. I just am so glad I finally went back and read this one. The next book in the series is Gibson’s Uncle Ronan’s book, Once Upon A New Year. I hope you fall in love with the Frost family just as I have.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the cinnamon roll of christmas books. Sweet and super enjoyable.
There's ista love (it's a novella!!!) but also serious character development, and both MCs are reflected and able to communicate - I'm impressed....

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story gave me M/M and Christmas all in one novella. I’m a happy reader right now. It was a super sweet read about letting someone in & finding love after tragedy. Great dialogue, sexy chemistry and some laughs made it a really fun read.

I received an arc of this book

[Anke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, short read in between.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a Hallmark movie. It’s super sweet and full of love.

[Cindy M. Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, fun and sexy read by Jess Bryant ❤️
I loved the whole opposites attract vibe between Felix and Gibson. The banter between them was fun and witty, they complimented each other so well spending time with them as their relationship progressed was a great way to spend my evening. I'm intrigued to try more of her books!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect little Christmas treat. Fun, flirty and packed with feeling. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella had a very developed plot and characters for its length. There is no wasted space which I appreciated. It was well laid out, the dialogue was a highlight and I connected with both main characters and was very pleased with their story.

I will say I truly did not like Gibson as a name- now that's on me, but I read that as a last name not a first name, so it took a little away from the intimate scenes for me. There was also something (trying to do this with no spoilers) that I thought was unrealistic, although I see why the author did it because it's a series. Lastly, I am spoiled by epilogues and would have liked one here, even though the book did have a satisfactory ending.

All in all a sweet story which I am happy to have picked up on Kindle Unlimited. Note: This is a M/M romance which can be read as a standalone. Available on KU at time of review.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying to knock out books that start with the 6 letters of the alphabet I hadn't already happened to read books for, and for O, I started reading Othello but was not in the right headspace at all, so I ended up with this.
Is there a lot of telling rather than showing? Yes. Are there a number of typos? Also yes. Am I already excited to check out the rest of the series because Bryant teased the possibility of each of those relationships in this one? A third resounding yes.
This isn't anything life-changing and isn't particularly artful, but it's short and sweet and I'm a sucker for grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, working through trauma, and of course, Christmas. 🎄
Oh, and the title puts the song from Anastasia with the same name into my brain, which brings me joy ✨️

[Jamie Lee Zonneveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a December by Jess Bryant is a M/M Holiday Novella and the first novella about a member of the Frost family. This first story is about Gibson, the oldest Frost brother and Felix. Gibson hates Christmas and Felix loves Christmas. I loved their story. Can't wait to read the next book.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet holiday romance featuring a grinch-y CEO & a Christmas loving event planner. It was cute 😊

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. I love the opposites attract and great communication of this story. On to the next one!

[V Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix and Gibson are amazing!! Felix is a party planner who loves all things Christmas. Gibson is a man who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders and avoids everything Christmas due to an accident years before. When Gibson and Felix meet sparks fly (more than just the sexual spark) and then they learn that they are planning the Christmas party for Gibson's company together.

Once Upon A December is a sexy, witty, funny and quick read about insta love and the things people will do for the ones they love! I love what Author Jess Bryant does with her characters and I can't wait to read more!!!

Highly Recommended!

[Maren Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and perfectly paced, I loved bossy Gibson the Grinch and fun loving, mouthy Felix. They were perfect together!

[Megan Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon A December was a quick, witty & sweet Christmas read that had my M/M loving reader heart very very happy ❤️. This was a story about moving on from tragedy & what happens when you open your heart and let someone back in. This novella was full of awesome chemistry, all the swoon, love & laughs. I really enjoyed Once Upon a December and I'd most definitely recommend giving it a read ❤️

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felix Michaelson was lost in suburbia in this upscale neighborhood where his parents moved. He wasn’t sure if he was just driving around and around the same block because all the homes looked alike! He really didn’t understand the total lack of holiday decorations in this neighborhood either. Where was the Christmas spirit?? He pulled over to answer his phone and his sister repeated directions to get to their parents’ house as a jerk came up behind and honked, startling Felix and making him drop the phone on the floor. The rude man then sped around him and continued on down the street. When Felix got to his parents’ house, there were no decorations, even though the family had helped put them all up after Thanksgiving. His sister, Roxanne, told him the neighbor yelled at their mom about the rule against decorating and made her take everything down by herself when her husband was out of town. Felix looked where his sister had been looking and saw the car that honked at him. He could let that go, but not the yelling at his mom. So he stormed over to the nasty neighbor.

Gibson Frost, who ran a Fortune 500 Company, hated Christmas and it always put him in a bad mood. He was a literal “Grinch”! He had a frustrating day and he assumed the guy coming up his driveway wanted to be hired for lawn work. But the man was not pleased at Gibson’s assumption. Instead he told him to never, ever talk to his mother like he had or he would need a “doctor’s services”, not lawn service! Everyone who knew Gibson understood that he demanded control, liked schedules and routines, accepted no excuses or mistakes. He liked things done his way and his way was always right. No one ever spoke back to him. Yet this man impressed him somehow. But he had no more time to give him – he was late for his meeting!

Felix is an awesome party planner who has worked hard to be the best. If he can get the contract for the Frost Financial Christmas Party, he will have made a huge name for himself. This was his big chance to become the go-to name in the industry. He just had to impress the CEO with his ideas to create the grandest event of the season. This meeting would make or break him.

He stepped into the CEO’s office and then looked into blue eyes that were cold and calculating, taking his measure from top to bottom then flicking away from him in dismissal. These were the eyes of the man he had only yesterday called a rich, entitled, racist a$$. But even if he threw him out of the office, Felix would not apologize for yesterday because the man’s treatment of his mom was rude and it needed to be said. He wasn’t expecting the man’s sudden smile as he asked if Felix had decided to continue that argument about outdoor décor after all. When Felix commented about the Grinch needing to plan a party, Gibson’s assistant actually gasped in alarm! But both men were smiling at each other, and Gibson even chuckled out loud.

This was an amazing story about love and family and how all of us need each other. After having lost his parents during the holiday season, Gibson stepped up and successfully ran the family business while also taking care of his brothers and his Uncle Roman. It didn’t leave him much time for himself. When Christmas came around, his grief turned him into a Grinch. It was the perfect time to meet Felix who came from a big, loving family and was filled with joy and happiness, especially at Christmas. He understands Gibson’s pain and together they can start to heal. Will working on the party plans bring them to their HEA?

[Rudy Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to Jess Bryant. I was completely thrilled at the level of development in her main characters, Gibson & Felix. Both men are strong willed, determined, totally HOT, and yet are extremely sensitive, though getting through Gibson's tough exterior can be daunting. Felix, though, is very much up to the challenge. The connection between them, and the way Bryant draws the reader into their story, keeps readers hungry to know what us going to happen next.

Gibson is the oldest of 3 brothers, and was forced to step into the role of CEO of a hugely successful company when his parents were killed after a Christmas party. Since then, he does everything possible to hold his family, the company, and himself together. Maintaining strick control is the only way he knows to accomplish his goals.

Felix is a happy go lucky, laid back party planner who often let's his emotions get the best of him. When he learned that Gibson forced his mother to remove their Christmas decorations, he lashes out at him in the driveway. Only later does he learn that Gibson holds the future of his party planning business in the palm of his hand. OMG! He really did it this time.

As the two work closely to plan the celebration, one Gibson never attends, they give into the passion and chemistry firing between them. When the party rules around, however, and Felix believed that Gibson would attend the party with him, he is devastated to learn that he won't. Hurt, he ghosts Gibson, even though Gibson had just told him he loved him.

When the youngest of the brothers arrived at the party, Felix learns that his behavior caused Gibson to completely shut himself back off from everyone. Realizing he too is miserable, despite the party they planned, sets in motion to make things right. But is it too late, has Gibson given up on him already? Felix could hardly blame him given his selfish behavior. Get a copy of this short, but steamy, Christmas themed novella for yourself.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parties are work too

This was a beautiful little fairy tail-esque story that had a Grinch and the sweet and fiery man who showed him that Christmas didn't have to be horrible.

It was really fun how Gibson and Felix first meet and then their subsequent meet up. At first Felix meets Gibson just to call him out for his behaviour and admonish him for his actions. The next time the two meet is Felix having a job where it turns out Gibson is his boss. It could have meant that there was awkwardness, or that Felix was immediately apologetic, but instead Felix held his ground and Gibson respected him. It really started the two on even footing in a situation where it was likely that they would have been off balance and gave a great foundation for the story.

Despite his temper, Felix is actually a very sweet and loving character. Much of his temper seemed to come from loved ones getting hurt and was actually quite protective. It helps the two men bond more than anything. For Gibson, family had been everything for so long. He had to raise and protect his family while running a huge company, so he has always been accused of being cold and unfeeling, but again it was to protect those he loved. Their heat and icy coldness mix together and each man learns about the families they both love and the fact that building a relationship where they love each other and their family is something that is great rather than something holding them back.


This was a story that let love build things up but didn't fix everything. There are problems that can't be fixed quickly or that need more than just love. This story acknowledged that but didn't make that something that was wrong. It just meant that there was still work to do but being in love they could do it together. A great little story!

[Zoë Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heart two sizes too small

Holiday Cheer Meter: 1/5
(Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')

After a tragic loss, Gibson Frost has come to hate Christmas and all its trappings. He's such a grumpy Grinch about it that confronts his new neighbours about their festive holiday decor that goes against community guidelines for their neighborhood.

Felix Michaelson's not about to stand for someone making his mother cry so he gives their neighbor a piece of his mind, not expecting that he's his new client and that they are about to start spending a lot more time together.

This novella suffered from too much telling and not nearly enough showing. Sure there were some cute moments - I enjoyed the meet-cute and loved the reunion the following day, even the grand gesture, but it just wasn't enough. I'd have loved to experience the cooking date, some kind of low-key Christmas event with Felix's family or anything showing their relationship strengthening.

I also had a bit of a hard time with Felix's behaviour towards the end of the book, it felt a little icky given what we and he knows about Gibson's past.

By and large I read romance to feel the characters fall in love and the whole evolution of their relationship is basically glossed over. Considering the lack of character development and storytelling the author spends too much time with secondary characters and setting up what I'm sure will be other books in the series.

I'll probably check them out if I find myself wanting something quick to read but I'm not chafing at the bit to do so.

[Amy Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've ready by Jess and it is AMAZING!!! It was sweet, heartfelt and even funny at times. Gibson hates Christmas. Many years ago, his parents were killed coming home from the company Christmas party. The accident left his uncle Roman a recluse and Gibson had to stand up and take control of his family and their company. Felix is a party planner whose parents have just moved into Gibson's neighborhood. They meet when Felix stomps over to Gibson's house to give him a piece of his mind for making his parents take down their Christmas decorations. Little does Felix know that Gibson is about to be his new boss as he's been hired to plan the Frost Financial Christmas party. Over the course of the next few weeks, the two find themselves falling for each other the more time the spend together. Things get a little rough when Felix assumes Gibson will attend the party with him and Gibson admits that he just can't. Felix avoids him and Gibson, worried he might be losing the man he loves, swallows his pride, asks Felix's parents for help and takes his first step towards putting the past behind him and embracing a new future with Felix. Dawson, Gibson's brother, convinces Felix that at the party is not where he should be and he goes to Gibson's house where the two declare their love for each other and a desire to take their relationship forward.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, funny and romantic story. Gibson is overprotective, cocky, caring and broken. Felix is bold, sassy, upbeat and compassionate. They meet when Felix marches over to Gibson's house to confront him about his disrespectful attitude with his mother. Gibson finds Felix's boldness hot. They meet again when Felix meets with the CEO if the company that hired him to plan their Christmas party. The CEO is Gibson. Both of them get snarky with each other, but they both find it amusing and attractive. As they spend time together planning the party, they both want more, but Felix being Gibson's employee nixes that. They do end up together, Felix drawing a lighter, happier Gibson to the surface. Things end up as more after Gibson reveals his reason for hating Christmas. They are amusing and adorable as a couple, and I loved their story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, after a holiday tragedy it’s a struggle to reclaim the true spirit of Christmas. Gibson and his brothers, suffered a tragedy around Christmas and he struggles to stay strong for his family. Has he really had time to grieve, so he can move on? Felix is an event planner, extraordinaire. He plans the company Christmas party helped by his assistant/friend Beau. Gibson senses Felix's kind and compasionate nature and decides to personally help Felix. They develop trust and a friendship. Is Gibson ready to commit more? Is he ready to embrace Christmas? Will he attend the holiday party? Absolutely wonderful story. All of the characters are likeable and seem fun. Dawson sounds like a rock! I look forward to hearing about all the brotheres. Well done! I received an ARC from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Nice cover art!

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

4.5 stars

I thought for the length of the story, there was a good bit of depth to the story. Gibson may have been a Grinch around the holiday season, but he has a good reason for wanting to avoid all the Christmas trappings. Felix loves the holiday season and is excited for the holiday party he's planning. Neither expected that a holiday that they view so differently would be what draws them together. Though the romance between the two was fast, it didn't feel fast in the story. The pacing worked really well.
I do wish we had gotten to know Felix's family a bit better. I would have liked to see more of his interactions with his sisters and parents. I'm looking to seeing stories with the rest of the Frost family and I hope we'll get to see more of Gibson and Felix.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gibson hates Christmas and everything that it depicts he is a Scrooge through and through until a man puts him in his place a man who intrigued Gibson and stood up to him. Felix loves Christmas he was going to visit his mother when a man in his car started honking at him then he speeds off, when Felix arrived at his mother’s he noticed that there were no decorations and when he heard that the next door neighbour forced his mother to take down the decorations well Felix wasn’t having any of it so he stomped over to the man’s house and gave him a piece of his mind cause no one speaks to his mother like that. Fantastic m/m story I loved it and I’m glad that Felix showed Gibson a different side to everything Gibson wasn’t really a bad guy he just liked a controlled life but that’s no way to live and I highly recommend this book.

[JudyAnnLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Jess Bryant’s M/M Romances. They are so good! Filled with strong, sexy, slightly damaged lead characters that have you sighing and rooting for them from page 1. In this Christmas Novella we meet sexy as sin businessman Gibson. After having lost his parents during the holiday season he took over running the family business and taking care of his brothers and uncle. Generous to a fault but a Grinch during the holidays, he meets his match in the form of the hot party planner Felix. For his part Felix is vibrant and outgoing and see’s the man behind the facade. Their chemistry is off the charts and watching them fall in love is a beautiful thing. TBR this fantastic book and enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bit Over-the-Top

The premise here is interesting and valid but things got shoved into place a bit too quickly and conveniently, probably because of its length. Still, it's a worthy palate cleanser when you are trying to figure out which longer book to tackle.

What is good about it is the cover--woof-almighty, Gibson Frost is everyone's dream man. Extremely wealthy because of his family's long-time business interests, he becomes the family majordomo by tragedy.

Right away in the first chapter when he is confronted by Felix Michaelson, whose parents have recently moved in across the cul-de-sac and along with his siblings are more boisterous than subdivision manager Gibson can tolerate, we know this is going to be a bit of a rough enemies-to-lovers to-do.

Actually, it all turns out to be very logical (no spoilers), but what is missing from the narrative is a better explanation of Felix's family situation. It is clear from the start that while Gibson is pure white bread Felix is Latino. Really? With a last name like Michaelson, I would have liked to find out more--and that is the big hole in the story for me.

Otherwise the plot line and romance, and the sexual encounters, are quite worthy of four stars.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I don't know how the author did it but she took two totally opposite people and brought them together wonderfully. At the beginning I would have put money on Felix and Gibson not getting together. They absolutely started off on the wrong foot. More and more they were around each and got to know one another love blossomed. Their chemistry when they finally got together was off the charts It had so many sweet moments...it was just so wonderful to read. I can't wait to read more of Gibson's family finding love too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book about how sometimes fate plays a role in our lives. Gibson and Felix did not meet under the best of circumstances but when they see each other a second time they realize their attraction towards one another is not something they can deny. Gibson has alot of issues with the Christmas holiday and Felix tries to heal his heart so he can finally begin to move on. These two may seem like an unlikely pair but the heart knows who their soulmate is. This book was sweet and sexy and the characters were phenomenal. I can not wait ti read the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[T Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroes started out a bit rocky but, as we see here, that’s just the beginning of this sweet love story. Felix and Gibson’s first impression of one another leaves a bit to be desired though their second brings a much better end, definitely a great start! Being present to enjoy the budding relationship as it turns into a forever kind of love was wonderful especially as we watch Gibson’s heart soften. This story delivers a lovely HEA after a sweet work up to our hero’s romance, minus first impressions.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gibson Frost is the oldest of three boys. When their parents died in a crash coming home from a Christmas party, Gibson took it upon himself to make sure everyone one was taken care of. Gibson Frost does not do Christmas, however he always puts on a Christmas party for his employees. The year Felix is in charge for planning the party and wants Gibson to be a part of it. Can Felix break through the sadness in Gibson's life? Will Gibson ever be happy again?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.