How to Cheat at Dirty Santa

by Amy Spector

Some things are worth risking the naughty list.

Jonah Newfeld is not someone men fall for at a glance. They have to get to know him first. So when he meets the perfect man, he knows he needs to play the long game.

Nathan Sharp is the newest guy on the customer service floor. He’s clever, kind, blessedly single, and volunteers weekends at a local animal shelter. Jonah wants to raise babies with him. But when Nathan’s sister starts trying to fix him up with her veterinarian, Jonah’s plan is put into jeopardy.

Jonah needs the perfect plan if he wants to win over the man of his dreams. But a terrible plan will have to do, and more than a little help from his friends. If Jonah can pull it off and manage to get the boy, it’ll be more than worth being put on Santa’s naughty list for good.

Genres: Holiday, Romance, M M Romance, LGBT

44 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2021

About the author

Amy Spector grew up in the United States surviving on a steady diet of old horror movies, television reruns and mystery novels.

After years of blogging about comic books, vintage Gothic romance book cover illustrations, and a shameful amount about herself, she decided to try her hand at writing stories. She found it more than a little like talking about herself in third person, and that suited her just fine.

She blames Universal for her love of horror, Edward Gorey for her love of British drama and writing for awakening the romantic that was probably there all along.

Amy lives in the Midwest with her husband and children, and her cats Poe, Goji, and Nekō.

Reviews

[Holly Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few weeks ago (before it even was released) but haven't got around to writing a review. Every time I see the cover, I smile. This is such an adorable story about Jonah who has a crush on his colleague, Nathan, and when it's time for the yearly dirty Santa game at the office, he asks his friends for help to get his present in Nathan's hands. It spirals out of control, of course, and the plan gets more and more complicated and more and more people get involved. Hilarious. And I loved the ending!
And as always, Ms Spector has awesome secondary characters.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of this one. Trying to rig a gift exchange sounds like so much fun.

BUT there was way too much planning and scheming with the team and not enough time or sparks with Jonah and Nathan for my tastes.

Great ending though!

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Short, but so delightful!!! Pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face this holiday season 🙂🙂

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story about how 2 guys that work together get together through a game of Dirty Santa. Jonah is head over heals crazy about Nathan! He's drafted his two best friends into helping him make sure Nathan picks his gift in his office Christmas Party's Dirty Santa. As each day passes, more and more co-workers get involved. They all want to see Jonah get his guy! It seems the only person not in on the plan is Nathan, himself. But it seems like he might have plans himself!

This was super adorable and funny! I found myself laughing out loud and definitely didn't see the punchline. I highly recommend this cute HFN Christmas story.

[Penumbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Cheat at Dirty Santa stars Jonah Newfeld and his co-worker, Nathan Sharp. The story is told in first person through Jonah’s pov.



This is a short, cute, funny, fluffy read that has a strong HFN. Jonah and Nathan work at an insurance company and Jonah is totally smitten with Nathan. Jonah desperately wants to date Nathan but first he needs to find a way for Nathan to really notice him. Sadly, Jonah is too nervous to ask Nathan on a date so he concocts a crazy scheme with the help of his friends, which evolves into the whole office helping Nathan acquire Jonah’s gift in the Dirty Santa gift exchange. Jonah’s wacky scheme or rather his BFF’s idea, was crazy and is what moves the story along.

Jonah is a nerd, but a loveable nerd who is rather clueless. He is totally smitten with Nathan. Since the story is from Jonah’s pov, we only get to see how he thinks and feels and he is pretty funny, but at the same time a sweet guy. We don’t know about Nathan much except through Jonah’s eyes, but Nathan is kind, friendly, and if Jonah was paying attention, he’d realize that Nathan kind of hung around Jonah and seemingly ‘accidently’ would bump into him on occasion. But Jonah gets tongue-tied every time he’s around Nathan, so he’s oblivious to Nathan’s behavior towards him. Of course, it’s also obvious that Nathan’s afraid to ask Jonah out. The author did a good job of creating unique personalities for Jonah and all the side characters. And at the end I could believe in Jonah and Nathan as a couple.

I enjoyed this whole story, but I think what sealed it for me was the last line of the book spoken by Nathan. It took me completely by surprise and I cracked up laughing. Even now, I still think about it and think it was the absolute perfect ending. Not all authors can pull off the perfect conclusion to a story, but this author did.

How to Cheat at Dirty Santa is a funny, sweet, fluffy, Christmas read. I recommend it to everyone. This book deserves a solid, 5 Stars.



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

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, funny story about the most convoluted way to ask somebody out *laughs*

First, I must be honest: I had to google Dirty Santa to see if it was really a thing... and it was! Sorry, we don't have anything like that here :P

With that out of my chest I must say that I loved the story, I loved how obvious was that they both were smitten, how the co-workers were willing to work really hard to help Jonah to get his man, and the very sweet sense that the whole thing has. Yes, even the cheeky ending *laughs*

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written story with a cast of strong characters centering on Jonah and Nathan. The author packs a ton in this short read. It's an entertaining story ,moves quickly and smoothly and is an enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable short Christmas read. Jonah is lusting after one of his fellow staff members and wants to let Nathen get to know him. His best friend and finally the whole staff get involved in a complicated convoluted Christmas party scheme. Will it work out? You'll have to read this cutie of a story to find out. I am glad I did.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read with a fun premise-- I loved the chemistry, the sweetness, and the co-workers willing to go along with a some seriously silly plans. Would it have been simpler to find literally any other way to ask someone out? You bet, but that's kind of the point.

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

[Shelba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday books aren’t my favourite thing (bah humbug!), but this was cute and I always like Amy Spector’s writing. That last line really sealed the deal for me.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and very clever. I thoroughly enjoyed Amy Spector's How to Cheat at Dirty Santa. LOL, I had to actually look up what "Dirty Santa" is, we called it a White Elephant Exchange, but I like Dirty Santa better.

[Tony Farnden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonah has his eye on a fellow workmate Nathan. Nathan is perfect as far as Jonah is concerned and probably out of his reach unless he can get him to spend time with him. This is a sweet story about using whatever means to get with someone who may be the person for you. The means here involve fixing dirty Santa gift distribution event at the Mt. Ford Insurance company’s office party. It seems impossible as he would have to get everyone to be on board to ensure Nathan gets the present Jonah wants him to have.

This is a short story but it feels the perfect length. There are a range of characters ranging from sweet Jonah, his friends, a few grouchy older men and the odd mildly unsavoury colleague. They are all a bit quirky in a good way and are all believable. There’s a HEA like all Christmas romances, gay or otherwise, and it will have you smiling at the twisty ending.

Another great read from Amy Spector. I love the way she can tell a story and how she gets inside a character.

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

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute little story that’s lots of fun and full of laughs. Jonah and Nathan are adorable and the supporting characters are sweet too. A super adorable holiday read!

[MariF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, light and fluffy read. Recommended.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this last Christmas and was too drunk to leave a review.
Fabulous, just like Amy Spectrum.

[Mere Rain]

Cute set up. I liked how gradually more and more coworkers became involved in the "secret" plot to get the two guys together. And the ending was perfect.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - A cute holiday short. Liked how it was implied they both improved upon getting to know them, rather than one was universally considered a hunk.