Christmas Travel Advisory

by Nicki Bennett

Workaholic investment banker Timothy Wyatt is determined to spend the first Christmas since his divorce with his four-year-old daughter, Megan. Fate—in the form of the largest winter storm system in a decade—seems determined to thwart him. When his flight from Dallas to Chicago is canceled, along with every other flight for at least the next two days, Tim is willing to try any alternative means of transportation to keep from disappointing his daughter yet again.

Luckily for Tim, he’s befriended by Zach Whelan, another stranded traveler. Zach is a travel agent, and since he was only planning a solo vacation in Mexico over the holidays, he makes it his mission to get Tim to his daughter in time for Christmas instead. They have three days—how hard can it be?

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Holiday, Christmas

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2021

About the author

Growing up in Chicago, Nicki Bennett spent every Saturday at the central library, losing herself in the world of books. A voracious reader, she eventually found it difficult to find enough of the kind of stories she liked to read and decided to start writing them herself.

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic "coming-home" for holidays with plane, train, and automobile - with some differences, of course. Tim comes home only for his daughter - he is divorced, and his wife or wife's family is not one that I really like to read on page.

I like the "adventure" that Tim and Zach has while they're traveling, however, after they arrive in Chicago, the story seems to lose its steam. Like, can they really continue their steps to relationship? I have my doubts.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A father desperate to see his daughter for Christmas and a strangers promise to make it happen.

After Tim's meltdown at the airport, Zach's confident he'll be able to get Tim to Chicago in time for Christmas Eve dinner.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other plans for them...

With all odds against them, this Christmas will be one for the books!

[Marge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the trope of strangers sharing a ride cross country, especially in a snowstorm at Christmas. I love this type of story as a Hallmark movie, and I love it as a book. This was an excellent example of two guys getting to know each other and having some fun (and occasionally scary) times on their journey. I loved the author's note at the end, where she said that every one of the obstacles/minor disasters that occurred in the book had happened to her or a family member, though fortunately not all on the same trip! Recommended.

[Daniell Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas connection

I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. It was a quick read, but it still made the characters feel likable and like someone you would want to know. It did make me want to try a train ride, just not in a storm. I liked how the characters both had their strengths, but the author also showed they weren't perfect. It gave room for the story to grow with them. I found myself smiling at parts.

[Amy (I'd Rather Be Sleeping) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard, basic I'll be Home for Christmas type plot for this standard, basic short story. Eminently standard, basic and forgettable.

A star added for there actually being reasons that the couple liked each other.

A star taken away for lack of epilogue.

(Also: highly improbable premise, late story sex scene that I would have traded for an epilogue.)

[Kobie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun premise and nice short story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas read.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet