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Garnet Run #3
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane
Can one man’s crowded, messy life fill another man’s empty heart?
Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish.
Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Garnet Run
Book 1: Better Than People
Book 2: Best Laid Plans
Raising a family was always Adam Mills’ dream, although solo parenting and moving back to tiny Garnet Run certainly were not. After a messy breakup, Adam is doing his best to give his young daughter the life she deserves—including accepting help from their new, reclusive neighbor to fulfill her Christmas wish.
Though the little house may not have “the most lights ever,” the Mills home begins to brighten as handsome Wes Mobray spends more time there and slowly sheds his protective layers. But when the eye-catching house ends up in the news, Wes has to make a choice: hide from the darkness of his unusual past or embrace the light of a future—and a family—with Adam.
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Garnet Run
Book 1: Better Than People
Book 2: Best Laid Plans
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2021
65 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Roan Parrish
37 books2,384 followersRoan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Roan's Newsletter
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Roan’s website
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Roan's Newsletter
Roan's Facebook Group
Roan on Twitter
Roan on Instagram
Roan’s website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
September 30, 2021
what an utter delight this was! the characters were charming and cute, the story was light and heartwarming, and the romance was exceedingly sweet. this book was a total win for me. 4.75 stars rounded up.
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December 17, 2024
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is book three in the Garnet Run series by Roan Parrish. This can be read as a stand alone. I previously have only read the book that comes after this, The Rivals of Casper Road, which is Halloween themed. So of course, I’m reading them out of order. This is a lovely holiday romance between two men, one heart broken, the other reclusive. The magic of Christmas and the good will of others makes this Christmas one they will never forget.
Adam Mills has just moved back to his childhood hometown of Garnet Run, Wyoming, as a single father to his eight year old daughter, August “Gus.” Adam had thought he’d found his forever love but he was so very wrong. So he and Gus were starting a new life. Gus is missing her other Dad and can’t figure out why he didn’t want them anymore. The one thing she asks Adam for is that they decorate their house in the MOST lights ever! And Adam will do whatever it takes to make his daughter’s dream come true.
Wes Mobray is a reclusive, brilliant scientist that lives across the street from Adam and Gus. From a childhood experience, Wes wants to be invisible, to not be the center of attention of others. But from their first meeting, he is taken with Adam and Gus. Gus’s curious mind makes him want to encourage her. And he can see how wonderful of a parent Adam is. When he’s with them, he feels peaceful, happy, wonderful! Adam fills his mind with all the things he never thought he’d have.
Adam has to ask for help with obtaining more lights for their home. I loved the way he did this. I couldn’t help but to fall in love with both of them. Gus was a little mini-scientist which bonded her to Wes quickly. But, when Adam and Gus’s house lighting project gets public attention, it also brings back every fear Wes deals with. Did Adam set his daughter up to have her heart broken once again?
This really was such a sweet, heart warming story. It’s like Hallmark with steam. All three of these characters so deserve happiness. Whether it is together or not, you’ll have to find out when you read this.
Adam’s brother, River, who runs a cat shelter, gets his book if #4.5, Shelter in Garnet Run! I can’t wait to read it.
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...
Adam Mills has just moved back to his childhood hometown of Garnet Run, Wyoming, as a single father to his eight year old daughter, August “Gus.” Adam had thought he’d found his forever love but he was so very wrong. So he and Gus were starting a new life. Gus is missing her other Dad and can’t figure out why he didn’t want them anymore. The one thing she asks Adam for is that they decorate their house in the MOST lights ever! And Adam will do whatever it takes to make his daughter’s dream come true.
Wes Mobray is a reclusive, brilliant scientist that lives across the street from Adam and Gus. From a childhood experience, Wes wants to be invisible, to not be the center of attention of others. But from their first meeting, he is taken with Adam and Gus. Gus’s curious mind makes him want to encourage her. And he can see how wonderful of a parent Adam is. When he’s with them, he feels peaceful, happy, wonderful! Adam fills his mind with all the things he never thought he’d have.
Adam has to ask for help with obtaining more lights for their home. I loved the way he did this. I couldn’t help but to fall in love with both of them. Gus was a little mini-scientist which bonded her to Wes quickly. But, when Adam and Gus’s house lighting project gets public attention, it also brings back every fear Wes deals with. Did Adam set his daughter up to have her heart broken once again?
This really was such a sweet, heart warming story. It’s like Hallmark with steam. All three of these characters so deserve happiness. Whether it is together or not, you’ll have to find out when you read this.
Adam’s brother, River, who runs a cat shelter, gets his book if #4.5, Shelter in Garnet Run! I can’t wait to read it.
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...
August 23, 2021
*3.5 stars*
I really enjoyed The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish, even if I found it a bit hard to focus on the story at times. It's a warm, fuzzy Christmas romance, but you do have to be in a particular mood to read it.
My main goal of 2020-2021 is to find books that captivate me and take me out of my head (I think we can all agree on that), and The Lights on Knockbridge Lane mostly succeeded on that front. It is a sweet story in the Garnet Run series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I liked having some background knowledge about the side characters but it isn't at all necessary to follow the story.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is for those who like books with heavy focus on children and family (the daughter plays a HUGE role in the book) and doesn't mind a lower-steam kind of story. I am fine with both of those elements, but, at times, I wanted less focus on Gus (the daughter), and more on the main characters. Still, I think Roan Parrish did an excellent job developing the feelings and back-stories for both of the MCs, and I totally bought them as a couple.
From a science perspective, I'm not sure how feasible some of the ideas in the story were (plus, racoons make terrible house pets), but I liked the fact that we got a geeky, shy, really, really ridiculously good-looking MC in Wes. Also, I loved seeing Adam be an openly extremely emotional kind of person (I could relate). They were both interesting and memorable characters.
The story was like warm hot chocolate on a snowy night. I liked the background of Christmas (even though I read this in the summer), and the hopeful, renewal vibe of the story. Despite some small patches of tension and drama, the story is relatively low angst. It is more about family and fresh starts than anything else, which was nice during this stressful time in the world.
If you like soft, family-focused Christmas romances, The Lights on Knockbridge Lane will be a sure-fire read.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I really enjoyed The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish, even if I found it a bit hard to focus on the story at times. It's a warm, fuzzy Christmas romance, but you do have to be in a particular mood to read it.
My main goal of 2020-2021 is to find books that captivate me and take me out of my head (I think we can all agree on that), and The Lights on Knockbridge Lane mostly succeeded on that front. It is a sweet story in the Garnet Run series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I liked having some background knowledge about the side characters but it isn't at all necessary to follow the story.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is for those who like books with heavy focus on children and family (the daughter plays a HUGE role in the book) and doesn't mind a lower-steam kind of story. I am fine with both of those elements, but, at times, I wanted less focus on Gus (the daughter), and more on the main characters. Still, I think Roan Parrish did an excellent job developing the feelings and back-stories for both of the MCs, and I totally bought them as a couple.
From a science perspective, I'm not sure how feasible some of the ideas in the story were (plus, racoons make terrible house pets), but I liked the fact that we got a geeky, shy, really, really ridiculously good-looking MC in Wes. Also, I loved seeing Adam be an openly extremely emotional kind of person (I could relate). They were both interesting and memorable characters.
The story was like warm hot chocolate on a snowy night. I liked the background of Christmas (even though I read this in the summer), and the hopeful, renewal vibe of the story. Despite some small patches of tension and drama, the story is relatively low angst. It is more about family and fresh starts than anything else, which was nice during this stressful time in the world.
If you like soft, family-focused Christmas romances, The Lights on Knockbridge Lane will be a sure-fire read.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
August 29, 2021
Another wonderful hurt/comfort romance from Roan Parrish. This author simply gets to the heart of her characters so perfectly, and Adam, Wes, and sweet little Gus are stripped down to their very foundations.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is an emotional tale of starting over, and the base for that sucess lies in forgiveness. All three of these characters have been wronged, and the wounds are deep, but being able to overcome the pain and leave it in the past is the only way to move forward.
As Adam says, forgiveness isn't about the other person and their failures. Being able to forgive gives him the strength to heal his own wounds and take care of himself. Well Roan Parrish says it beautifully, and The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a treasure - for Christmas time, or any time at all.
thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel, all opinions are my own
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is an emotional tale of starting over, and the base for that sucess lies in forgiveness. All three of these characters have been wronged, and the wounds are deep, but being able to overcome the pain and leave it in the past is the only way to move forward.
As Adam says, forgiveness isn't about the other person and their failures. Being able to forgive gives him the strength to heal his own wounds and take care of himself. Well Roan Parrish says it beautifully, and The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a treasure - for Christmas time, or any time at all.
thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel, all opinions are my own
January 10, 2023
UPDATE: New guidance from the Harper Collins Union that Harlequin and their imprints are NOT included in the ongoing strike. So here's my review...
4.5 stars rounded up
This was adorable and so cozy! A single dad falls for his grumpy and hermit-like neighbor around the holidays. It's a sweet and steamy romance with a precocious young girl who helps to bring these unlikely men together, and bring cheer to the entire neighborhood with an epic display of Christmas lights. I really loved their relationship and even thought this did a good job making the near-requisite third act breakup something that makes sense and allows for addressing past trauma. I need to read more Roan Parrish! I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up
This was adorable and so cozy! A single dad falls for his grumpy and hermit-like neighbor around the holidays. It's a sweet and steamy romance with a precocious young girl who helps to bring these unlikely men together, and bring cheer to the entire neighborhood with an epic display of Christmas lights. I really loved their relationship and even thought this did a good job making the near-requisite third act breakup something that makes sense and allows for addressing past trauma. I need to read more Roan Parrish! I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
August 29, 2021
This is such a gorgeous romance and it makes my heart so happy that it will be the first ever gay romance in Harlequin's Special Edition line.
It's the perfect story for a Christmas romance, it's full of warmth, it's heavy on the meaning of family and supporting those you love, even if they don't fit in with what society thinks is normal.
There's also a gentle heat to it, and a strong message that it's okay to be different, as is often the case with Roan's books. It has characters who don't follow the crowd, Wes is unashamedly out there will his passion for biodiversity, for bugs and insects, lizards and reptiles.
Gus is a delight, an eight-year-old package of inquisitiveness and confidence, but a child hiding the hurt of already being rejected by two parental figures, her own mother and the man she called Papa.
Adam was a delight, unashamedly emotional, willing to see the best in everyone and courageous enough to return to the town he left when he was 18 because he wanted his niece/daughter to be brought up close to the one family member who did care about them all.
I loved this book, it was a one shot read for me, I didn't want to put it down until I got to the happy ending, and it's a glorious one.
However, I will say if you're not one for children or Christmas, the emphasis on the importance of family (whether blood or not), then this might be too much for you as it's very much central to everything that happens.
For me, it hit all the things I want in a festive narrative and then some. Plus it was nice to catch up with some of the other guys from the Garnet Run series too.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press and the author via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
It's the perfect story for a Christmas romance, it's full of warmth, it's heavy on the meaning of family and supporting those you love, even if they don't fit in with what society thinks is normal.
There's also a gentle heat to it, and a strong message that it's okay to be different, as is often the case with Roan's books. It has characters who don't follow the crowd, Wes is unashamedly out there will his passion for biodiversity, for bugs and insects, lizards and reptiles.
Gus is a delight, an eight-year-old package of inquisitiveness and confidence, but a child hiding the hurt of already being rejected by two parental figures, her own mother and the man she called Papa.
Adam was a delight, unashamedly emotional, willing to see the best in everyone and courageous enough to return to the town he left when he was 18 because he wanted his niece/daughter to be brought up close to the one family member who did care about them all.
I loved this book, it was a one shot read for me, I didn't want to put it down until I got to the happy ending, and it's a glorious one.
However, I will say if you're not one for children or Christmas, the emphasis on the importance of family (whether blood or not), then this might be too much for you as it's very much central to everything that happens.
For me, it hit all the things I want in a festive narrative and then some. Plus it was nice to catch up with some of the other guys from the Garnet Run series too.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press and the author via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review
November 15, 2025
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
Christmas romance + Roan Parrish is a match made in heaven. They manage to strike the perfect balance between sweet, cheerful and a genuine romance. Cavity-inducing levels of sweetness in romance really isn’t my thing, so the little bit of angst was perfect here.
The main characters were both incredibly lovable and distinct, and the 8 year old kid was hilarious and very cute. A great start to holiday books this holiday season. Definitely recommend. Michael Dean is admittedly not my favorite narrator but I still really enjoyed the audiobook.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Christmas romance
Single dad
Small town
Reclusive neighbor
Moving back home
Size difference
Exotic pets
Disaster baking
Neurodivergent rep
⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
Frotting
Coming in their pants
Lovingly manhandled
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Themes of child abandonment
Alcohol consumption
Scopophobia and anxiety
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Yes
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Holiday romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 288
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Christmas romance + Roan Parrish is a match made in heaven. They manage to strike the perfect balance between sweet, cheerful and a genuine romance. Cavity-inducing levels of sweetness in romance really isn’t my thing, so the little bit of angst was perfect here.
The main characters were both incredibly lovable and distinct, and the 8 year old kid was hilarious and very cute. A great start to holiday books this holiday season. Definitely recommend. Michael Dean is admittedly not my favorite narrator but I still really enjoyed the audiobook.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Christmas romance
Single dad
Small town
Reclusive neighbor
Moving back home
Size difference
Exotic pets
Disaster baking
Neurodivergent rep
⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
Frotting
Coming in their pants
Lovingly manhandled
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Themes of child abandonment
Alcohol consumption
Scopophobia and anxiety
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Yes
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Holiday romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 288
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
February 8, 2022
The two guys were complete opposites in everything from personalities to hobbies. The saying is that opposites attract and that was certainly the case here. Adam is a soft-hearted, sweet man that displays all the characteristics that makes, not a perfect parent, but a caring loving parent. The dialog between Adam and his eight-year-old daughter was equally charming and endearing. Their neighbor, Wes, has made himself the town's favorite topic...and not in a fun or pleasant way. The rumors range from those that wonder if he is a vampire or perhaps a mad scientist. Needless to say, he has acquired a bad reputation. To make matters worse and fuel the rumor mill more his house is gloomy and dark. Wes is happy to let the rumors abound and have people just leave him alone. Turns out that Gus is the cement that will bond the two opposites together. Roan Parrish gave it just the right amount of angst. The I found the story to be an absolute delight, and even with the conflict, it still stood out as a book that I will diffidently read many more times.
December 24, 2023
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is such a heartwarming Christmas romance. I love the characters, and the romance between Adam and Wes was so sweet. They both have some pretty terrible family members, so it was really nice to watch them get closer and become each other's family!
October 5, 2021
I absolutely adored this wonderful, sweet Christmas story and now I have all the Christmas feels before halloween. Oh well, there's worse things you can have.
I've enjoyed the previous two books very much and I couldn't wait to get back to Garnet Run. In this, third book in the series (which you totally can read as a stand alone) we met Adam and Wes. Adam is a single father. Working hard on getting his and his daughters (totally adorable Gus) lives back on track after breaking things up with the guy he thought he loved. After a traumatic childhood Wes is hiding. Not that he's realizing that's what he's doing. Sleeping all day, working all night. He prefers being alone.
This was exactly what I hoped it would be. Filled with Christmas spirit, the meaning of family and moving on from things hurting you. (It's also filled with spiders and Lizards, but that's a totally different story).
A must read for the Christmas season!
I've enjoyed the previous two books very much and I couldn't wait to get back to Garnet Run. In this, third book in the series (which you totally can read as a stand alone) we met Adam and Wes. Adam is a single father. Working hard on getting his and his daughters (totally adorable Gus) lives back on track after breaking things up with the guy he thought he loved. After a traumatic childhood Wes is hiding. Not that he's realizing that's what he's doing. Sleeping all day, working all night. He prefers being alone.
This was exactly what I hoped it would be. Filled with Christmas spirit, the meaning of family and moving on from things hurting you. (It's also filled with spiders and Lizards, but that's a totally different story).
A must read for the Christmas season!
December 27, 2021
My favorite in this series so far, it's not saying much but still. It was enjoyable, light and low-angst. Gus, Adam's daughter, plays a HUGE role in the story, and I can see that grating some people the wrong way but I didn't mind. It really felt like "Roan Parrish goes mainstream", we had the bones of a Roan story this time (first time in this series to be honest) but the story beat felt dictated from the outside . As usual, for this author, the little angst we got felt genuine and not contrived. I feel I know those characters and I felt their love. The Christmas feel was very present which was nice. I, personally, recommend.
October 12, 2021
After Adam moves to Garnet Run, his daughter Gus's fascination with the mysterious neighbor across the street soon starts them on the path to romance. But Wes has issues that make it difficult for their relationship to stand the light of day.
This was a sweet romantic read with two quite unusual leads. Wes especially I thought was unconventional, and I have never read a hero quite like him before! Adam and Gus are also lovable, and I enjoyed the strong relationship between them. The romance between Wes and Adam was sweet without going saccharine, which can be a difficult balance to achieve in a Christmas romance.
I did think the plot was a touch thin, though. The fun of this book really lies with the interactions between the characters and nowhere else. Still, I greatly enjoyed my read and I would check out more by this author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This was a sweet romantic read with two quite unusual leads. Wes especially I thought was unconventional, and I have never read a hero quite like him before! Adam and Gus are also lovable, and I enjoyed the strong relationship between them. The romance between Wes and Adam was sweet without going saccharine, which can be a difficult balance to achieve in a Christmas romance.
I did think the plot was a touch thin, though. The fun of this book really lies with the interactions between the characters and nowhere else. Still, I greatly enjoyed my read and I would check out more by this author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 18, 2021
My first dip into the world of Roan Parrish and this was the perfect book for it. Steamy, Sweet, and an all around Feel Good Read that is sure to get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Gus stole the show every time she was on the page, this adorable eight year old will have you laughing out loud more than you would believe. The frank way she speaks was just perfect. Adam has been raising Gus since she was an infant and he definitely more of a dad than an Uncle to her, their bond was so strong it was touching. Adam would do anything his little girl wants and if she want the most lights ever on their house for Christmas, well that's what she'll have.
Wes is a recluse, he doesn't go outside much at all he prefers to stay indoors and work on his project which could change things radically for those in under funded areas. He enjoys the company of his pets and that's about it, until Adam and Gus move in next door.
I really enjoyed the way things played out with Adam and Wes, and the relationship between Wes and Gus was great! She had him wrapped around her little finger in no time at all.
If you are looking for an MM Romance that will get you into the holiday spirit I highly recommend this book to you. And if you enjoy Audiobooks, Michael Dean did a great job with the narration and really brought this story to life.
Happy Reading!!!
Read an #Excerpt here: http://bit.ly/NBReviewTLoKL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
I also purchased and listened to the audiobook version of this book
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Gus stole the show every time she was on the page, this adorable eight year old will have you laughing out loud more than you would believe. The frank way she speaks was just perfect. Adam has been raising Gus since she was an infant and he definitely more of a dad than an Uncle to her, their bond was so strong it was touching. Adam would do anything his little girl wants and if she want the most lights ever on their house for Christmas, well that's what she'll have.
Wes is a recluse, he doesn't go outside much at all he prefers to stay indoors and work on his project which could change things radically for those in under funded areas. He enjoys the company of his pets and that's about it, until Adam and Gus move in next door.
I really enjoyed the way things played out with Adam and Wes, and the relationship between Wes and Gus was great! She had him wrapped around her little finger in no time at all.
If you are looking for an MM Romance that will get you into the holiday spirit I highly recommend this book to you. And if you enjoy Audiobooks, Michael Dean did a great job with the narration and really brought this story to life.
Happy Reading!!!
Read an #Excerpt here: http://bit.ly/NBReviewTLoKL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**I also purchased and listened to the audiobook version of this book
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
July 22, 2021
4.5 stars. This is an adorable, small town romance between single Dad Adam and scientist across the street Wes. Adam’s daughter August aka Gus was such a fun character, totally sweet and the romance was incredible.
Adam being a single Dad, his life is chaotic at times but his priority always is Gus. With the ending of his last relationship, Gus basically loses her other father and both characters are still figuring life out without this exdouchebag, Mason. Fatherhood wasn't something that he wanted..he colored inside the lines for a while but eventually realized it wasn't for him. This obviously plays heavily into how protective of both himself and Gus, Adam is.
There is an adorable meet cute in this book which involves a BREAK IN! Wes is the neighbor across the street who according to the townspeople, is rumored to be a vampire. We learn as the book progresses why he chooses to only really come out of his house during the day but it was so sweet to see his barriers slowly come down the more and more time he spent with Adam and Gus.
This was a happy, cheerful, Christmas romance through and through. If you're a fan of holiday romances with some hot sexy times, this needs to be on your tbr. It was an unapologetically happy romance while still obviously exploring some very important themes but it managed to do so much while still being happy in Special Edition length of time.
I am totally rooting for Roan. This is our first gay category romance and I for one, am HOPING this won't be our last!
Adam being a single Dad, his life is chaotic at times but his priority always is Gus. With the ending of his last relationship, Gus basically loses her other father and both characters are still figuring life out without this exdouchebag, Mason. Fatherhood wasn't something that he wanted..he colored inside the lines for a while but eventually realized it wasn't for him. This obviously plays heavily into how protective of both himself and Gus, Adam is.
There is an adorable meet cute in this book which involves a BREAK IN! Wes is the neighbor across the street who according to the townspeople, is rumored to be a vampire. We learn as the book progresses why he chooses to only really come out of his house during the day but it was so sweet to see his barriers slowly come down the more and more time he spent with Adam and Gus.
This was a happy, cheerful, Christmas romance through and through. If you're a fan of holiday romances with some hot sexy times, this needs to be on your tbr. It was an unapologetically happy romance while still obviously exploring some very important themes but it managed to do so much while still being happy in Special Edition length of time.
I am totally rooting for Roan. This is our first gay category romance and I for one, am HOPING this won't be our last!
dnf
August 9, 2021I’M SO SAD. I adored the first 2 books in the Garnet Run series and I’ve been looking forward to the latest addition of the series. It’s even the first gay book in the Harlequin series and I so want to support this, but I really can’t keep reading this one.
I know there’s a lesson to be learned here since I did look ahead and see where this was going, but it’s still a no for me. We have two MCs - Adam and Wes. Adam recently moved back to Garnet Run, Wyoming with his daughter Gus (short for August) after his divorce. Adam is River’s brother (River is from book 2). Wes lives at the end of their street and is a bit of a recluse.
Wes has any number of pets in his home, but the one that makes me pause is that he lets his pet tarantula (Bettie) crawl around all over his house. And, I’m sorry, but I cannot be convinced that a HEA is feasible between a guy who is scared of spiders with a guy who lets his spider roam freely all around his home. I’m scared of bugs and insects and just imagining this play out??? It’s a hard no for me.
I just wish I knew about all this ahead of time because I wouldn’t have requested this book. And I’m super sad about it!! This book sounds SO good, but reading about creepy crawly spiders isn’t for me.
DNF @ 9%.
***Thanks to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC for review.***
I know there’s a lesson to be learned here since I did look ahead and see where this was going, but it’s still a no for me. We have two MCs - Adam and Wes. Adam recently moved back to Garnet Run, Wyoming with his daughter Gus (short for August) after his divorce. Adam is River’s brother (River is from book 2). Wes lives at the end of their street and is a bit of a recluse.
Wes has any number of pets in his home, but the one that makes me pause is that he lets his pet tarantula (Bettie) crawl around all over his house. And, I’m sorry, but I cannot be convinced that a HEA is feasible between a guy who is scared of spiders with a guy who lets his spider roam freely all around his home. I’m scared of bugs and insects and just imagining this play out??? It’s a hard no for me.
I just wish I knew about all this ahead of time because I wouldn’t have requested this book. And I’m super sad about it!! This book sounds SO good, but reading about creepy crawly spiders isn’t for me.
DNF @ 9%.
***Thanks to the publisher for giving me an e-ARC for review.***
August 7, 2021
Gorgeous!
July 15, 2022
If you pick up one cosy, feelgood holiday romance this year, make it this one! Especially if you've enjoyed the rest of the Garnet Run series, because it's amazing to be back in this town.
This is the holiday romance I've been looking forward to the most this year, so it's fitting that it should be the first I read as well. This sets the bar for the other books I'm hoping to read very high, so I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a holiday favourite this year.
If you're familiar with the Garnet Run series, this book is a little more lighthearted, to stay in the Christmas spirit, but it still does have two characters dealing with their own issues in order to be together. What I especially loved about this book was the central role Gus, Adam's daughter, had in the book. She was a well-rounded character, and she absolutely stole the show. I love that she stole Wes' heart even before Adam did, because that just makes the book that much more wholesome.
What I've loved about all the Roan Parrish books I've read so far, and also particularly about this one, is seeing two characters having to step outside of their comfort zones to be able to be together, and them genuinely struggling with that, because no, love actually does not conquer all, and it doesn't cure things like trauma and anxiety. It's nice to see such a balance between a character stepping outside of their comfort zone, but also them struggling with that and not overcoming their struggles by the end of the book, but just promising to do their best.
When it comes to the project the book was titled after, I have to say I had to suspend my disbelief a lot for that. After a hard year, Adam and his daughter have moved back to Garnet Run, and he asks her what she would love this Christmas. She says she wants the most Christmas lights of anywhere ever, so Adam gets right on that, decorating the house. And honestly, every time he or Gus turned on the lights, I expected them to put the entire neighbourhood out of power! This didn't affect my enjoyment of the book though, and I absolutely loved this one! I'm hoping we'll be getting River's (Adam's sibling's) book next!
This is the holiday romance I've been looking forward to the most this year, so it's fitting that it should be the first I read as well. This sets the bar for the other books I'm hoping to read very high, so I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a holiday favourite this year.
If you're familiar with the Garnet Run series, this book is a little more lighthearted, to stay in the Christmas spirit, but it still does have two characters dealing with their own issues in order to be together. What I especially loved about this book was the central role Gus, Adam's daughter, had in the book. She was a well-rounded character, and she absolutely stole the show. I love that she stole Wes' heart even before Adam did, because that just makes the book that much more wholesome.
What I've loved about all the Roan Parrish books I've read so far, and also particularly about this one, is seeing two characters having to step outside of their comfort zones to be able to be together, and them genuinely struggling with that, because no, love actually does not conquer all, and it doesn't cure things like trauma and anxiety. It's nice to see such a balance between a character stepping outside of their comfort zone, but also them struggling with that and not overcoming their struggles by the end of the book, but just promising to do their best.
When it comes to the project the book was titled after, I have to say I had to suspend my disbelief a lot for that. After a hard year, Adam and his daughter have moved back to Garnet Run, and he asks her what she would love this Christmas. She says she wants the most Christmas lights of anywhere ever, so Adam gets right on that, decorating the house. And honestly, every time he or Gus turned on the lights, I expected them to put the entire neighbourhood out of power! This didn't affect my enjoyment of the book though, and I absolutely loved this one! I'm hoping we'll be getting River's (Adam's sibling's) book next!
January 1, 2022
All the stars! I haven’t read the first two Garnet Run books yet, but I will rectify that! I adored these characters so much. I am ridiculously charmed. The story was funny, sweet, and swoony! I want more!
December 17, 2021
A sweet holiday read, with a bit of hurt/comfort and just a touch of drama. I enjoyed all the characters, even the very present, overly wise/mature for her age daughter of MC Adam (for those who've read Best Laid Plans he is River's older brother, for those who haven't this works fine as a standalone). Wes and Adam are perfect for each other. They both have had issues with unsupportive family and most of it is addressed, but it doesn't overwhelm the story.
Things moved pretty quickly between the men, but holiday magic and all that made it okay for me.
Things moved pretty quickly between the men, but holiday magic and all that made it okay for me.
September 13, 2021
Although this is the third book in the Garnet Run series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone as the connection between the books is the setting of Garnet Run, Wyoming.
Adam and his inquisitive daughter Gus (August) are new in town, and soon meet the "weird" neighbor on their block, Wes. He's the guy who never goes outside in the day, has paper covering his windows, and has raccoons, lizards, a snake and a tarantula named Bettie and is working on a biogas generator. And yes, you guessed it, Adam is terrified of spiders and snakes.
Gus is cute and inquisitive as all get-out, Adams has issues about the way his marriage to Mason ended and before too long Wes is going to Gus' show-and-tell at school and they all work toward decorating their house with as many Christmas lights as possible.
While the romance between Wes and Adam works well, the initial sex scene occurs before we really get a good sense of each man's personality and therefore Wes' dominance comes out of nowhere. But overall this was a sweet story about a new family and a very lovely Christmas. 3.5 stars.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Adam and his inquisitive daughter Gus (August) are new in town, and soon meet the "weird" neighbor on their block, Wes. He's the guy who never goes outside in the day, has paper covering his windows, and has raccoons, lizards, a snake and a tarantula named Bettie and is working on a biogas generator. And yes, you guessed it, Adam is terrified of spiders and snakes.
Gus is cute and inquisitive as all get-out, Adams has issues about the way his marriage to Mason ended and before too long Wes is going to Gus' show-and-tell at school and they all work toward decorating their house with as many Christmas lights as possible.
While the romance between Wes and Adam works well, the initial sex scene occurs before we really get a good sense of each man's personality and therefore Wes' dominance comes out of nowhere. But overall this was a sweet story about a new family and a very lovely Christmas. 3.5 stars.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2021
My first dip into the world of Roan Parrish and this was the perfect book for it. Steamy, Sweet, and an all around Feel Good Read that is sure to get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Gus stole the show every time she was on the page, this adorable eight year old will have you laughing out loud more than you would believe. The frank way she speaks was just perfect. Adam has been raising Gus since she was an infant and he definitely more of a dad than an Uncle to her, their bond was so strong it was touching. Adam would do anything his little girl wants and if she want the most lights ever on their house for Christmas, well that's what she'll have.
Wes is a recluse, he doesn't go outside much at all he prefers to stay indoors and work on his project which could change things radically for those in under funded areas. He enjoys the company of his pets and that's about it, until Adam and Gus move in next door.
I really enjoyed the way things played out with Adam and Wes, and the relationship between Wes and Gus was great! She had him wrapped around her little finger in no time at all.
If you are looking for an MM Romance that will get you into the holiday spirit I highly recommend this book to you. And if you enjoy Audiobooks, Michael Dean did a great job with the narration and really brought this story to life.
Happy Reading!!!
Gus stole the show every time she was on the page, this adorable eight year old will have you laughing out loud more than you would believe. The frank way she speaks was just perfect. Adam has been raising Gus since she was an infant and he definitely more of a dad than an Uncle to her, their bond was so strong it was touching. Adam would do anything his little girl wants and if she want the most lights ever on their house for Christmas, well that's what she'll have.
Wes is a recluse, he doesn't go outside much at all he prefers to stay indoors and work on his project which could change things radically for those in under funded areas. He enjoys the company of his pets and that's about it, until Adam and Gus move in next door.
I really enjoyed the way things played out with Adam and Wes, and the relationship between Wes and Gus was great! She had him wrapped around her little finger in no time at all.
If you are looking for an MM Romance that will get you into the holiday spirit I highly recommend this book to you. And if you enjoy Audiobooks, Michael Dean did a great job with the narration and really brought this story to life.
Happy Reading!!!
November 22, 2024
Aahhh this was such a swoon-worthy romance!! It was legit a hallmark movie's book baby. I loved, loved, loved Adam, Wes and Gus, their cute little family and creepy pets. My only regret would be not making myself a cup of hot cocoa and curling into my blanket, settling by a fireplace while reading this book
December 13, 2021
A sweet, funny, and steamy read that's perfect for the holidays.
Also, a huge congrats to Roan Parrish for writing the first LGBTQ+ Harlequin category romance! I absolutely fell in love with Garnet Run and its lovable cast of queer characters. 💕🎄
Also, a huge congrats to Roan Parrish for writing the first LGBTQ+ Harlequin category romance! I absolutely fell in love with Garnet Run and its lovable cast of queer characters. 💕🎄
October 29, 2021
I went into this one a bit hesitant--this series so far has been perfectly fine but some of my least-favorite works by this author. The heavy-focus on a young child is also not my thing, and while I enjoy a good holiday story, releasing it months before the holidays was a very odd choice. In the end I enjoyed it more than I expected, but I didn't fall in love with it the way I have with almost every other book of Roan's outside of this series.
I don't enjoy kids as a major factor in a romance plot, and while I didn't mind Gus (the 8-year-old) as a character, there was SO much focus, far more than I wanted or needed. I feel like you've got to really enjoy kid-centered plots to have not found it overkill. The relationship itself was sweet, and I appreciated that we had a MC with agoraphobic tendencies and more unusual interests, and another that's openly sensitive--both characterizations that are more outside the norm. The heat-factor was pretty low, which made sense for the story itself, but again, just not my personal preference. Something about the plot never quite fully gelled for me, and the ending includes a big, sappy public display of affection which felt both out of character and made me personally break out in hives--again, another thing that is just not my bag. Overall this book was perfectly fine, and I even mostly enjoyed it but it felt a little light and less substantive than what I've come to expect from this author. It was very heavily hinted that there will be at least one more book in this series, which I'm tentatively interested in, but mostly I am waiting for Parrish to move on to a new series with the hope that it'll resonate with me more than this one has so far.
Also, a minor quibble more to do with the publisher than the book itself, but it's annoying enough when there is an excerpt of a random book by another author at the end of a book I just read, but when that excerpt is fully 10% of the total book volume, that's too fucking much.
I did get an "arc" for this book in exchange for review, but it was approved well after the book had been published and I forgot to download it so I actually ended up getting this one from my library...
I don't enjoy kids as a major factor in a romance plot, and while I didn't mind Gus (the 8-year-old) as a character, there was SO much focus, far more than I wanted or needed. I feel like you've got to really enjoy kid-centered plots to have not found it overkill. The relationship itself was sweet, and I appreciated that we had a MC with agoraphobic tendencies and more unusual interests, and another that's openly sensitive--both characterizations that are more outside the norm. The heat-factor was pretty low, which made sense for the story itself, but again, just not my personal preference. Something about the plot never quite fully gelled for me, and the ending includes a big, sappy public display of affection which felt both out of character and made me personally break out in hives--again, another thing that is just not my bag. Overall this book was perfectly fine, and I even mostly enjoyed it but it felt a little light and less substantive than what I've come to expect from this author. It was very heavily hinted that there will be at least one more book in this series, which I'm tentatively interested in, but mostly I am waiting for Parrish to move on to a new series with the hope that it'll resonate with me more than this one has so far.
Also, a minor quibble more to do with the publisher than the book itself, but it's annoying enough when there is an excerpt of a random book by another author at the end of a book I just read, but when that excerpt is fully 10% of the total book volume, that's too fucking much.
I did get an "arc" for this book in exchange for review, but it was approved well after the book had been published and I forgot to download it so I actually ended up getting this one from my library...
December 20, 2023
Reread December 2021
This is just the perfect holiday book. I love it so much and I really hope that we get more books from Garnet run
Original review
This was just so great. I highly HIGHLY enjoyed it and I loved the audio. As I expected, this Garnet Run didn't disappoint and it gave big winter holiday vibes. I will for sure be listening to it again in December. August was the highlight for me, she was the light of this book and was wonderful. This one is about a single dad who moves back to Garnet Run with his daughter, August. August is very intrigued by everything and her little 8 year old self breaks into the neighbors house since he has snakes and spiders and animals galore. This of course leads to some neighbor romance but with some conversations about emotional health and anxiety etc. I will admit that I forgot the MCs names already but to be fair its been like a week and I just have procrastinated on my reviews. I haven't forgotten the plot though and I remember all the FEELS so it remains a 5 star.
This is just the perfect holiday book. I love it so much and I really hope that we get more books from Garnet run
Original review
This was just so great. I highly HIGHLY enjoyed it and I loved the audio. As I expected, this Garnet Run didn't disappoint and it gave big winter holiday vibes. I will for sure be listening to it again in December. August was the highlight for me, she was the light of this book and was wonderful. This one is about a single dad who moves back to Garnet Run with his daughter, August. August is very intrigued by everything and her little 8 year old self breaks into the neighbors house since he has snakes and spiders and animals galore. This of course leads to some neighbor romance but with some conversations about emotional health and anxiety etc. I will admit that I forgot the MCs names already but to be fair its been like a week and I just have procrastinated on my reviews. I haven't forgotten the plot though and I remember all the FEELS so it remains a 5 star.
November 20, 2022
Warm and wonderful
It’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, right? I was soooo excited for the first gay Harlequin, and I already know I love Roan’s writing, so this was an easy decision to get. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and I was happy the conflict didn’t last too long. I hope we see lots more of Garnet Run!
It’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, right? I was soooo excited for the first gay Harlequin, and I already know I love Roan’s writing, so this was an easy decision to get. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and I was happy the conflict didn’t last too long. I hope we see lots more of Garnet Run!
October 6, 2021
Yuck. Kids. Only Roan
Could make me read this sappy
Book. Not her best work.
Could make me read this sappy
Book. Not her best work.
October 5, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! It's a lighthearted Christmas romance novel with opposites attarct and tons of fairy lights. I really enjoyed the development of the relationship of Adam and Wes from neighbours to friends to lovers.
Meet cute via the help of a tarantula named Bettie? Check✔
Sweet and charming romance? Check✔
Warm and fuzzy Christmas feels? Check✔
Baking cookies? Check✔
It's the third book in the Garnet Run series but can be read as a standalone. I loved it so much that I'm definitely reading the previous books! Loved Gus, Adam's daughter, who plays a major role in the book. Wes is my favourite character, the shy, nerdy and hot type and I love hiw Adam is very emotional.
Overall a really enjoyable read, especially if you're in the mood for a holiday romance novel. Highly recommended!
*ARC provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Meet cute via the help of a tarantula named Bettie? Check✔
Sweet and charming romance? Check✔
Warm and fuzzy Christmas feels? Check✔
Baking cookies? Check✔
It's the third book in the Garnet Run series but can be read as a standalone. I loved it so much that I'm definitely reading the previous books! Loved Gus, Adam's daughter, who plays a major role in the book. Wes is my favourite character, the shy, nerdy and hot type and I love hiw Adam is very emotional.
Overall a really enjoyable read, especially if you're in the mood for a holiday romance novel. Highly recommended!
*ARC provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
March 14, 2022
2.75ish Stars
When Adam gave Mason the ultimatum of putting their daughter first Mason chose not to. Adam chose to leave the marriage after that. With not much to his name Adam returns back to his home town.
Wes is a bit of a recluse. He spends most of the day hiding away from people. He is more of a nocturnal person. When new neighbors arrive his M.O. is usually to ignore them. However, an 8 year old Gus is very aggressive in getting to know him especially after discovering the animals Wes keeps.
With the new move Adam just wants to make Gus, his daughter, happy. Her request is to have the most lights ever. Adam does his best to oblige her. With this task Wes helps. Gus' obsession with him makes it hard for Wes to keep to himself.
Adam and Wes start a relationship. Him and Wes are good together but when Adam's house garners more attention Wes' past trauma comes to life. Will they be able to work through it? Will Adam's past repeat itself?
Overall, it was an ok read. Very low steam and lots of Adam's tears.
When Adam gave Mason the ultimatum of putting their daughter first Mason chose not to. Adam chose to leave the marriage after that. With not much to his name Adam returns back to his home town.
Wes is a bit of a recluse. He spends most of the day hiding away from people. He is more of a nocturnal person. When new neighbors arrive his M.O. is usually to ignore them. However, an 8 year old Gus is very aggressive in getting to know him especially after discovering the animals Wes keeps.
With the new move Adam just wants to make Gus, his daughter, happy. Her request is to have the most lights ever. Adam does his best to oblige her. With this task Wes helps. Gus' obsession with him makes it hard for Wes to keep to himself.
Adam and Wes start a relationship. Him and Wes are good together but when Adam's house garners more attention Wes' past trauma comes to life. Will they be able to work through it? Will Adam's past repeat itself?
Overall, it was an ok read. Very low steam and lots of Adam's tears.
November 5, 2024
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a cute, fluffy (well, mostly) Christmas-themed story that is the very first male/male romance to appear in one of Harlequin’s main category lines. It’s the third in Roan Parrish’s Garnet Run series, and although characters from the earlier books do appear, they’re cameos and it’s not essential to have read those titles in order to enjoy this one.
Recently divorced Adam Mills moved back to Garnet Run with his eight-year-old daughter, Gus, after his husband decided he didn’t want to be a dad any more. Life as a single father has meant big changes for Adam; from a career as a photographer he’s gone to working in the local hardware store (owned by Best Laid Plans' Charlie Matheson) in order to provide for Gus and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to provide stability and make her happy. She’s adjusting to life without her “Papa” quite well, and is a bright, inquisitive child… albeit sometimes too inquisitive for her own good.
In the four months since he returned to Garnet Run, Adam has only seen his reclusive neighbour Westley Mobray out after sunset. Everyone who lives on Knockbridge Lane has an opinion about him; he’s variously a vampire, a witch, a devil-worshipper, a mesmerist, a gorgon or just a plain old freak, and even though he lives just opposite, Adam has never spoken to him, never waved hello or otherwise interacted. Which is why he’s surprised to see the man standing on his doorstep with Gus at his side – and even moreso when Mobray – Wes - tells Adam that Gus broke into his house through the basement window.
Embarrassed, Adam apologises, Wes leaves and Gus proceeds to explain that Wes has the best basement with four lizards and a huge hairy spider which he showed her and put right in her face! Adam is horrified (he’s terrified of spiders) while Gus’ face is lit with joy and enthusiasm as she tells Adam how interesting it all was – but Adam is stuck on the ‘shoved a tarantula in his daughter’s face’ thing and marches across the street to confront Wes, shoving aside his realisation that his reclusive neighbour is rather attractive.
After this less than promising beginning, the two men – and Gus – start spending time together regularly and get to know each other. Adam and Wes have strong chemistry and the attraction between them sparks early on, but Adam is understandably cautious about bringing someone else into his and Gus’ lives who might not stick around, and Wes struggles with an anxiety disorder that stems back to his teenaged years and has caused him to eschew social interaction. There’s a real sense of how hard it is for him to push himself beyond his comfort zone, but he does it for Adam and Gus and it’s lovely to see his growing ease with them.
The story takes place in the run up to Christmas, which is where the “Lights” come in. Adam asks an upset Gus what one thing would make this the most fun Christmas for her – and she says she wants “our house to have the most Christmas lights of any house in the world.”
No biggie, then.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane does exactly what it’s supposed to do, provide lots of warm fuzzies and a good helping of holiday cheer. That’s not to say it’s superficial, because it isn’t. The characters are satisfyingly complex and are struggling to deal with emotional baggage, which, for Adam, is trying to process the breakdown of his marriage and his feelings of guilt over what may have led to it as well as his guilt over the way the divorce has affected Gus, while Wes seems to be hiding from his issues rather than attempting to deal with them in any sustainable way. Both men have to learn to face their fears and overcome them if they’re to move forward with their lives and with each other – but of course, there are a few hiccups along the way.
Adam and Wes are both likeable, memorable characters. Adam is sweet and optimistic and I liked that he’s so openly emotional; he feels things deeply and is often moved to tears by his emotions, which is something he’s struggled with over the years, especially when he was bullied and belittled for it when he was younger. Wes is more outwardly stoic, but that hides a very dry sense of humour and an innate kindness; he’s harder to read and shows his affection for Adam in unusual ways, such as reorganising his pantry alphabetically. Gus is a cute mix of eight-year-old confidence and insecurity, but there’s no getting away from the fact that she’s a plot-moppet – albeit a well-written and loveable one – who often comes across as older than her years, and needs some firmer boundaries set by her dad!
I couldn’t quite work out how a guy who kept a tarantula as a pet and let it roam around the house (*shudder*!!) and a guy who was terrified of them were ever going to be able to share a home. I’m with Adam on that one; spiders freak me out, so No Spiders would an absolute house rule! And I’m not sure I bought into all the science; Wes is working to create a viable sustainable alternative to electric light – an admirable ambition – but I couldn’t help but wonder how feasible it all was.
Those quibbles aside however, The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a charming, low-angst Christmas-themed read about love, family and fresh-starts. It’s definitely one to curl up with – with a cup of cocoa – on a cold winter's evening.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a cute, fluffy (well, mostly) Christmas-themed story that is the very first male/male romance to appear in one of Harlequin’s main category lines. It’s the third in Roan Parrish’s Garnet Run series, and although characters from the earlier books do appear, they’re cameos and it’s not essential to have read those titles in order to enjoy this one.
Recently divorced Adam Mills moved back to Garnet Run with his eight-year-old daughter, Gus, after his husband decided he didn’t want to be a dad any more. Life as a single father has meant big changes for Adam; from a career as a photographer he’s gone to working in the local hardware store (owned by Best Laid Plans' Charlie Matheson) in order to provide for Gus and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to provide stability and make her happy. She’s adjusting to life without her “Papa” quite well, and is a bright, inquisitive child… albeit sometimes too inquisitive for her own good.
In the four months since he returned to Garnet Run, Adam has only seen his reclusive neighbour Westley Mobray out after sunset. Everyone who lives on Knockbridge Lane has an opinion about him; he’s variously a vampire, a witch, a devil-worshipper, a mesmerist, a gorgon or just a plain old freak, and even though he lives just opposite, Adam has never spoken to him, never waved hello or otherwise interacted. Which is why he’s surprised to see the man standing on his doorstep with Gus at his side – and even moreso when Mobray – Wes - tells Adam that Gus broke into his house through the basement window.
Embarrassed, Adam apologises, Wes leaves and Gus proceeds to explain that Wes has the best basement with four lizards and a huge hairy spider which he showed her and put right in her face! Adam is horrified (he’s terrified of spiders) while Gus’ face is lit with joy and enthusiasm as she tells Adam how interesting it all was – but Adam is stuck on the ‘shoved a tarantula in his daughter’s face’ thing and marches across the street to confront Wes, shoving aside his realisation that his reclusive neighbour is rather attractive.
After this less than promising beginning, the two men – and Gus – start spending time together regularly and get to know each other. Adam and Wes have strong chemistry and the attraction between them sparks early on, but Adam is understandably cautious about bringing someone else into his and Gus’ lives who might not stick around, and Wes struggles with an anxiety disorder that stems back to his teenaged years and has caused him to eschew social interaction. There’s a real sense of how hard it is for him to push himself beyond his comfort zone, but he does it for Adam and Gus and it’s lovely to see his growing ease with them.
The story takes place in the run up to Christmas, which is where the “Lights” come in. Adam asks an upset Gus what one thing would make this the most fun Christmas for her – and she says she wants “our house to have the most Christmas lights of any house in the world.”
No biggie, then.
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane does exactly what it’s supposed to do, provide lots of warm fuzzies and a good helping of holiday cheer. That’s not to say it’s superficial, because it isn’t. The characters are satisfyingly complex and are struggling to deal with emotional baggage, which, for Adam, is trying to process the breakdown of his marriage and his feelings of guilt over what may have led to it as well as his guilt over the way the divorce has affected Gus, while Wes seems to be hiding from his issues rather than attempting to deal with them in any sustainable way. Both men have to learn to face their fears and overcome them if they’re to move forward with their lives and with each other – but of course, there are a few hiccups along the way.
Adam and Wes are both likeable, memorable characters. Adam is sweet and optimistic and I liked that he’s so openly emotional; he feels things deeply and is often moved to tears by his emotions, which is something he’s struggled with over the years, especially when he was bullied and belittled for it when he was younger. Wes is more outwardly stoic, but that hides a very dry sense of humour and an innate kindness; he’s harder to read and shows his affection for Adam in unusual ways, such as reorganising his pantry alphabetically. Gus is a cute mix of eight-year-old confidence and insecurity, but there’s no getting away from the fact that she’s a plot-moppet – albeit a well-written and loveable one – who often comes across as older than her years, and needs some firmer boundaries set by her dad!
I couldn’t quite work out how a guy who kept a tarantula as a pet and let it roam around the house (*shudder*!!) and a guy who was terrified of them were ever going to be able to share a home. I’m with Adam on that one; spiders freak me out, so No Spiders would an absolute house rule! And I’m not sure I bought into all the science; Wes is working to create a viable sustainable alternative to electric light – an admirable ambition – but I couldn’t help but wonder how feasible it all was.
Those quibbles aside however, The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a charming, low-angst Christmas-themed read about love, family and fresh-starts. It’s definitely one to curl up with – with a cup of cocoa – on a cold winter's evening.
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