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Dressed in Holiday Style
Can the spirit of Christmas save this budding love affair?
Jakob French is so not feeling the reason for the season. He’s stressed out, hemmed in, and has only a few hours left to finish his window dressing before the world’s most famous parade welcomes Christmas, and the world, to New York City. On top of all that he’s sure that the window dresser across the street has stolen his theme! With a head full of steam and a holly-jolly bonnet on his head, Jakob storms off to face down the purloiner of ideas and give him what for.
Once he lays eyes on Chet Wallace some of his ire fizzles out as admiration for his foe’s handsome face and rangy physique takes over. Some, but not all. The night then devolves into a holiday free-for-all that includes a snowy war, discomfited police officers, and a mad rush to dress a window before Santa arrives in the Big Apple.
Jakob French is so not feeling the reason for the season. He’s stressed out, hemmed in, and has only a few hours left to finish his window dressing before the world’s most famous parade welcomes Christmas, and the world, to New York City. On top of all that he’s sure that the window dresser across the street has stolen his theme! With a head full of steam and a holly-jolly bonnet on his head, Jakob storms off to face down the purloiner of ideas and give him what for.
Once he lays eyes on Chet Wallace some of his ire fizzles out as admiration for his foe’s handsome face and rangy physique takes over. Some, but not all. The night then devolves into a holiday free-for-all that includes a snowy war, discomfited police officers, and a mad rush to dress a window before Santa arrives in the Big Apple.
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About the author
V.L. Locey
214 books729 followersV.L. Locey loves worn jeans, Dr. Who, Torchwood, belly laughs, yoga, reading and writing lusty tales, walking, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.
When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.
Sign up for my newsletter here: http://vllocey.com/Newsletter
She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.
When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, fresh cup of java in hand.
Sign up for my newsletter here: http://vllocey.com/Newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 10, 2025
unnatural dialog and unconvincing characters.
December 27, 2021
After having just rated the previous short story with ⭐️⭐️⭐️stating that I find it difficult to high marks to a story that’s not even 💯 freaking pages unless it is exceptional and/or a masterpiece.
I initially gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars because I completely, thoroughly and without a doubt, 🥰 🥰🥰 this 📕 and what it accomplished in less than even 5️⃣0️⃣ pages, but since I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, I reduced to only ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I’ve been on this “Christmas M/M Steamy HEA” binge since Thanksgiving, all enjoyed, some substantially more than others, but still ALL enjoyed nonetheless. The quality of the writing, characters, plot and plausibility have been much better in the 📚by Annabeth Albert and Daryl Banner, but in the end each of the 📚 become somewhat formulaic and the voice they are written in are somewhat similar, though so far in their 📚 I found myself more compelled to continue like when 📖 a “page turner”, until V.L. Locey’s, “Dressed in Holiday Style” because the voice of the characters, the freedom, humor and language of each person was witty and stylish, still swoon worthy like the other 📚, just less angst I guess, even though there was still angst (just not weighed down by it).
Pleasant 😊 and nice 😋 change of pace (and that is in no way to take away from the ✍️, especially the two aforementioned that I’ve do far enjoyed more than the other.
This was a story that would be worthy as an entire novel (in my opinion)… 😉
I initially gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars because I completely, thoroughly and without a doubt, 🥰 🥰🥰 this 📕 and what it accomplished in less than even 5️⃣0️⃣ pages, but since I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, I reduced to only ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I’ve been on this “Christmas M/M Steamy HEA” binge since Thanksgiving, all enjoyed, some substantially more than others, but still ALL enjoyed nonetheless. The quality of the writing, characters, plot and plausibility have been much better in the 📚by Annabeth Albert and Daryl Banner, but in the end each of the 📚 become somewhat formulaic and the voice they are written in are somewhat similar, though so far in their 📚 I found myself more compelled to continue like when 📖 a “page turner”, until V.L. Locey’s, “Dressed in Holiday Style” because the voice of the characters, the freedom, humor and language of each person was witty and stylish, still swoon worthy like the other 📚, just less angst I guess, even though there was still angst (just not weighed down by it).
Pleasant 😊 and nice 😋 change of pace (and that is in no way to take away from the ✍️, especially the two aforementioned that I’ve do far enjoyed more than the other.
This was a story that would be worthy as an entire novel (in my opinion)… 😉
December 31, 2021
Re-Read Review December 2021:
I originally read this as part of the Gifts of the Season Anthology last Xmas. Loved it then and loved it even more now. Short but fun.
Original Review December 2020:
OMG! Dressed in Holiday Style is so fun! If this was a full length novel or even a full-on novella it would be the perfect rom-com. As it's more of a long short story or short novella, it may not be full on romantic comedy tag but it's probably the most fun I've had in my holiday reading 2020. The comedic snowball "fight" to the police-ordered cup of coffee . . . well it's just fun, frankly I can't think of a better word than good old fashioned "F-U-N!"
I originally read this as part of the Gifts of the Season Anthology last Xmas. Loved it then and loved it even more now. Short but fun.
Original Review December 2020:
OMG! Dressed in Holiday Style is so fun! If this was a full length novel or even a full-on novella it would be the perfect rom-com. As it's more of a long short story or short novella, it may not be full on romantic comedy tag but it's probably the most fun I've had in my holiday reading 2020. The comedic snowball "fight" to the police-ordered cup of coffee . . . well it's just fun, frankly I can't think of a better word than good old fashioned "F-U-N!"
November 26, 2021
It's the day before American Thanksgiving and Jakob is rushing to complete his holiday window dressing in time for the parade the next day when he notices that the window directly opposite is using the same theme. Enraged, he storms off across the street to confront his competition. After some childish behaviour he and his competitor are coerced to spend some time together to settle their creative differences and maybe find some common ground and a touch of romance just for good measure. Definitely a very good short for the season.
November 8, 2021
Nothing better than a little competition during the holidays and when Jakob and Chet go head to head in a battle for the best dressed window display more than just snowballs start flying. Filled with laugh out loud antics and warm your heart feelings this was a wonderful story to bring out the best of the holiday in all of us.
December 20, 2021
I was hoping for a bit more than a kiss. I liked how the storyline was flowing. I thought adding bipolar disorder to Jakob's personality was good, but Chet should've made him take his meds while they were at Edelman's. I wanted to read more about them. Did they just date? Move in together? Did Chet ever propose?
April 9, 2023
Read/own in Gifts for the Season.
Funny and romantic. A lovely tale with realistic expectations.
* age gap
* diverse characters
* window dressers
Focuses solely on the meet cute and follow up. No ridiculous declaration of forever after one day. Just a believable ending with hope for the future.
Funny and romantic. A lovely tale with realistic expectations.
* age gap
* diverse characters
* window dressers
Focuses solely on the meet cute and follow up. No ridiculous declaration of forever after one day. Just a believable ending with hope for the future.
December 20, 2024
This was all over the place. Rushed and had too many themes. Also I hated the friend/coworker, she was a bitch. It is good this book was short, it didn't earn a one star hate, but it will only get 2 stars.
January 3, 2025
Very short and very silly and kind of all over the place. We get to know Jakub a lot more than Chet, which isn’t saying much considering how short this is. There is at least a 20 year age difference between them and I just wasn’t feeling their connection.
November 24, 2021
A fun but oh so short Christmas story, Jakob (with a k) is cute and hilarious. Opposing window dressers duke it out over a big misunderstanding, but then things take a sweet turn. An enjoyable read.
Read
December 4, 2021A very comedy filled story. These two go from ready to take the other one out with a snowball to true love. Great story of holiday magic that is a fun holiday read.
January 23, 2022
Lovely short holiday read. It is what it is. A short. Rate if 3.5 as at end I wanted more. So yeah could be longer hut as I said it is what is is. A holiday short. Loved the two characters.
November 1, 2023
A cute short story
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews