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The Humbug Holiday
Two grumpy bears and a holiday season neither will forget…
Joe
So this sexy silver fox rolls into my small New England town and buys a run-down old house in need of renovation. That’s where I come in. My job is to do some basic repairs, so he can write in peace. Yep, the hotshot is a bestselling author, but that’s not why I recognize Cameron Warren.
No worries, I won’t let a one-night stand make things awkward. I could use the work, but is he seriously asking me to help him buy a Christmas tree too?
No way.
Cameron
I’m a good-natured guy all year long, but I have to admit…I hate the holidays.
There. I said it.
This season, I’m hiding away on the opposite side of the country in a picturesque village. My family isn’t excited about my decision, and the only way to assure them I’m fine is to deck the darn halls. Or hire someone else to do it.
The handyman might not be the logical choice for an elf, but his grumpy act makes me smile. Which makes me think the holidays might not be so “bah-humbug” this year after all.
The Humbug Holiday is a bisexual, age-gap romance featuring two grumpy bears who find unexpected magic and learn to embrace everyone’s favorite time of year!
Joe
So this sexy silver fox rolls into my small New England town and buys a run-down old house in need of renovation. That’s where I come in. My job is to do some basic repairs, so he can write in peace. Yep, the hotshot is a bestselling author, but that’s not why I recognize Cameron Warren.
No worries, I won’t let a one-night stand make things awkward. I could use the work, but is he seriously asking me to help him buy a Christmas tree too?
No way.
Cameron
I’m a good-natured guy all year long, but I have to admit…I hate the holidays.
There. I said it.
This season, I’m hiding away on the opposite side of the country in a picturesque village. My family isn’t excited about my decision, and the only way to assure them I’m fine is to deck the darn halls. Or hire someone else to do it.
The handyman might not be the logical choice for an elf, but his grumpy act makes me smile. Which makes me think the holidays might not be so “bah-humbug” this year after all.
The Humbug Holiday is a bisexual, age-gap romance featuring two grumpy bears who find unexpected magic and learn to embrace everyone’s favorite time of year!
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2022
125 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Lane Hayes
107 books1,724 followersLane Hayes loves a good romance! She’s the bestselling author of the Out in College, Starting From, Better Than, A Kind Of, Right and Wrong, and Leaning Into Series! Lane loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). All things she can find in sunny SoCal where she lives with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
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January 5, 2025
The Humbug Holiday is a stand alone holiday romance by Lane Hayes. I am so in love with this little book! The characters were sweet and swoony and I adored them together!
Cameron Warren is forty eight years old and is a well known, best selling author. He is also a Scrooge. This year to escape the holidays, he bought a huge, run down Victorian home in Vermont where he could hide away to research his current book and write in peace. The house needs quite a few repairs and when the new handyman shows up, suddenly a little distraction doesn’t sound so bad!
Joe Linton is thirty seven years old and is working as a contractor/handyman in his home town. Joe is also not fond of the holidays. He’s thrilled to have the prospect of this new job since things are usually slow this time of year.
These two might seem to have nothing in common, big city celebrity author and a town handyman. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There is an ease between them, a comfortable connection neither could have anticipated. And yes, there are mountains of chemistry. Neither was looking for anything but it found them. I liked that there was no angst, no third quarter break up. Just a building connection neither wanted to question.
This was such a feel good, swoony story that made me smile so big! I’ve only read a few of Lane’s books now and I am so in love with her words. She’s an author I know I will come back to again and again. This is such a wonderful story and I hope you’ll check it out, and fall in love just as I did.
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...
Cameron Warren is forty eight years old and is a well known, best selling author. He is also a Scrooge. This year to escape the holidays, he bought a huge, run down Victorian home in Vermont where he could hide away to research his current book and write in peace. The house needs quite a few repairs and when the new handyman shows up, suddenly a little distraction doesn’t sound so bad!
Joe Linton is thirty seven years old and is working as a contractor/handyman in his home town. Joe is also not fond of the holidays. He’s thrilled to have the prospect of this new job since things are usually slow this time of year.
These two might seem to have nothing in common, big city celebrity author and a town handyman. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There is an ease between them, a comfortable connection neither could have anticipated. And yes, there are mountains of chemistry. Neither was looking for anything but it found them. I liked that there was no angst, no third quarter break up. Just a building connection neither wanted to question.
This was such a feel good, swoony story that made me smile so big! I’ve only read a few of Lane’s books now and I am so in love with her words. She’s an author I know I will come back to again and again. This is such a wonderful story and I hope you’ll check it out, and fall in love just as I did.
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...
December 16, 2022
~3.5~
~ Not one but two Grinches (Joe & Cameron each have a reason for disliking the holidays)
~ Small-town feel
~ Great dialogue (no surprise coming from Lane Hayes)
~ Plenty of steam
~ Epilogue featuring family, Christmas trees, and a heartwarming HEA
So many good things!
Unfortunately, the last two chapters, when Joe and Cam finally admitted the growing affection between them, skimmed over weeks of conversations and togetherness.
We are TOLD how welcoming the town is to Cam, but we don't see it. We are TOLD the men truly bond, but, again, this is summarized in retrospect.
Lane Hayes has written many amazing novellas, where the shorter length didn't interfere with the robustness of the story. This book, however, felt slightly rushed and truncated.
~ Not one but two Grinches (Joe & Cameron each have a reason for disliking the holidays)
~ Small-town feel
~ Great dialogue (no surprise coming from Lane Hayes)
~ Plenty of steam
~ Epilogue featuring family, Christmas trees, and a heartwarming HEA
So many good things!
Unfortunately, the last two chapters, when Joe and Cam finally admitted the growing affection between them, skimmed over weeks of conversations and togetherness.
We are TOLD how welcoming the town is to Cam, but we don't see it. We are TOLD the men truly bond, but, again, this is summarized in retrospect.
Lane Hayes has written many amazing novellas, where the shorter length didn't interfere with the robustness of the story. This book, however, felt slightly rushed and truncated.
December 7, 2022
I usually love anything Lane writes but I have to say this one turned out to be a favourite.
There's not much I love more than a romance between two older MCs who've not really been bothered about relationships before, or who've been "done dirty" by a previous lover and are wary of anything new.
Here we get a match of both, coupled with each character having to deal with painful memories which occurred around Christmas making them avoid celebrating the season.
I fell for Joe and Cameron big time. Each of them has dealt with a horrible situation by essentially shutting it out and ignoring any kind of celebrating.
Their paths cross when Joe's hired to do work on Cam's house and what Lane gives us is two men who are attracted to each other muddling their way into a relationship without realising what's happening.
It's incredibly hot, very sweet, highly emotional and has a subtle humour that stops things becoming cloying.
Perfect for a festive romance and while it's a standalone at this time, I'd love to see more in this setting.
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours in return for an honest and unbiased review.
There's not much I love more than a romance between two older MCs who've not really been bothered about relationships before, or who've been "done dirty" by a previous lover and are wary of anything new.
Here we get a match of both, coupled with each character having to deal with painful memories which occurred around Christmas making them avoid celebrating the season.
I fell for Joe and Cameron big time. Each of them has dealt with a horrible situation by essentially shutting it out and ignoring any kind of celebrating.
Their paths cross when Joe's hired to do work on Cam's house and what Lane gives us is two men who are attracted to each other muddling their way into a relationship without realising what's happening.
It's incredibly hot, very sweet, highly emotional and has a subtle humour that stops things becoming cloying.
Perfect for a festive romance and while it's a standalone at this time, I'd love to see more in this setting.
#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours in return for an honest and unbiased review.
December 20, 2022
For me a wonderful perfect little Christmas story. Without much frills. Just two men who have both suffered blows of fate and had found their niche in life, but were never happy. These find in each other the perfect other half. And even if it's a bit cheesy, the way this story is told here is by no means boring or predictable (ok a little bit) but somehow so unique, at least it felt that way to me.
So heart eyes for Joe and Cameron 😍😍😍
We were both guilty of being borderline rude…and too familiar. It should have felt unsafe to have someone poke at me for a reaction, but damn it…it turned me on.
And it's even the perfect balance between learning about each other and the sex scenes. 🥰🥰🥰
I rubbed against him like a dog in heat on a manic search for friction as he ravaged my mouth and yanked my shirt over my shoulders. I lost sense of time and space in the frenzy of lips and tongues and the feel of his big hands roving my body.
So heart eyes for Joe and Cameron 😍😍😍
We were both guilty of being borderline rude…and too familiar. It should have felt unsafe to have someone poke at me for a reaction, but damn it…it turned me on.
And it's even the perfect balance between learning about each other and the sex scenes. 🥰🥰🥰
I rubbed against him like a dog in heat on a manic search for friction as he ravaged my mouth and yanked my shirt over my shoulders. I lost sense of time and space in the frenzy of lips and tongues and the feel of his big hands roving my body.
December 12, 2022
Umm, don’t really know what to say about this one. I’m in the process of reading Heart2Heart anthology and so far Lane Hayes’ story was my favorite so I thought I should give this a try, especially since another reviewer here said that they (MCs) were both grumpy and I found that intriguing. Well, they weren’t both grumpy but rather one of them was rude. Actually, you know what? None of them was particularly likable and the first half of the book was a drag. The carpenter one (I forgot their names, lol) was obnoxious and rude and the other one, the mystery author was …bland. The dialogues were aiming for humor but they weren’t funny nor witty .
There’s one thing I enjoyed in this book though and that’s the smut. Man, that was HOT 🔥. Good sex scenes and plenty but not in an overwhelming way. The second part of the book was a bit better because they were more tender to each other and the final scene where the carpenter (I really don’t remember…JOE!!! Fuck, it was Joe!!) where Joe was running in his Santa costume and was losing the stuffing was hilarious. So 3 stars for the smut and for the second part of the book.
There’s one thing I enjoyed in this book though and that’s the smut. Man, that was HOT 🔥. Good sex scenes and plenty but not in an overwhelming way. The second part of the book was a bit better because they were more tender to each other and the final scene where the carpenter (I really don’t remember…JOE!!! Fuck, it was Joe!!) where Joe was running in his Santa costume and was losing the stuffing was hilarious. So 3 stars for the smut and for the second part of the book.
Read
March 11, 2023DNF @65%
For such a short book I was bored out of my mind. I am bummed because the last holiday book by Lane Hayes I just read was a winner.. so Bah! humbug!
I think the characters fell flat to me and the conversations were boring. With one being a mystery writer and the other being a contractor and both grumps, felt like it should have had the makings for success… but apparently that was too much to ask
For such a short book I was bored out of my mind. I am bummed because the last holiday book by Lane Hayes I just read was a winner.. so Bah! humbug!
I think the characters fell flat to me and the conversations were boring. With one being a mystery writer and the other being a contractor and both grumps, felt like it should have had the makings for success… but apparently that was too much to ask
December 16, 2022
Short, fun and christmassy story about 2 men in their prime.
Joe lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and he works as a handyman. He's called to an old house in desperate need of some work by a cute older lady who's one of the meddling aunts of Cam, a successful writer of murder mysteries. Soon enough, Joe discovers that Cam is none other than his anonymous hookup from a night 2 months earlier, a night both of them only have vague memories of.
So obviously we deal with 2 men who both already know what (and whom) they want in life, even if a relationship (and Christmas) isn't high on their list.
It's a novella, so don't expect a lot of background, or drama. It's cute, and what I loved most about it was that both characters - while having lived through a few things that left them scarred- haven't lost their ability to laugh, and to not take themselves too seriously. And I don't know about you, but the latter is one of the things I find most attractive and lovable about people, so even if the story is drenched in (scroogy) Christmas spirit, I enjoyed the ride and loved them together.
3.5 stars, rounded up because... well you know. Christmas and all that 😅
Joe lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and he works as a handyman. He's called to an old house in desperate need of some work by a cute older lady who's one of the meddling aunts of Cam, a successful writer of murder mysteries. Soon enough, Joe discovers that Cam is none other than his anonymous hookup from a night 2 months earlier, a night both of them only have vague memories of.
So obviously we deal with 2 men who both already know what (and whom) they want in life, even if a relationship (and Christmas) isn't high on their list.
It's a novella, so don't expect a lot of background, or drama. It's cute, and what I loved most about it was that both characters - while having lived through a few things that left them scarred- haven't lost their ability to laugh, and to not take themselves too seriously. And I don't know about you, but the latter is one of the things I find most attractive and lovable about people, so even if the story is drenched in (scroogy) Christmas spirit, I enjoyed the ride and loved them together.
3.5 stars, rounded up because... well you know. Christmas and all that 😅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2022
My favorite Christmas book of the year so far, in fact one of my favourite christmas books of all time. Highly recommended. It captures the Christmas season perfectly, and I absolutely love the story of these two men who hate Christmas for different reasons coming together with a great big happy ever after. Loved.
December 4, 2022
I love,love, love that both of these characters were grumpy! Sometimes similarities attract. Their chemistry was sizzling and their banter hot.
There’s a few curveballs thrown in to keep the plot moving and dynamic. AND a scene is teased and is actually delivered! YES. So hot too!
Even though this is a novella, there’s a lot of story here. I loved these characters. Their reticence to get into the holiday spirit actually made them closer. Christmas magic. That part by the helicopter 🚁 swoon! AND the HEA was just what I wanted.
Loved this Christmas-time tale. 💚♥️
There’s a few curveballs thrown in to keep the plot moving and dynamic. AND a scene is teased and is actually delivered! YES. So hot too!
Even though this is a novella, there’s a lot of story here. I loved these characters. Their reticence to get into the holiday spirit actually made them closer. Christmas magic. That part by the helicopter 🚁 swoon! AND the HEA was just what I wanted.
Loved this Christmas-time tale. 💚♥️
December 11, 2022
This was a sweet and low angst holiday story that I really enjoyed. Written in the usual Lane Hayes style the book delivers on giving you a warm holiday feeling.
I liked both characters and how they were both “bears”. They have an immediate attraction to each other that cannot be denied and it keeps drawing them to one another. On top of that they are also easily comfortable with each other e Pugh to open up about themselves. They are both quite surprised that they are telling the other so much about their pasts.
Cam and Joe do not like Christmas since the holiday carries so many bad memories. Cam buried himself in work and Joe tries to ignore his past. They find that together they can get through things such as buying a tree, decorating and sledding. These were pleasant experiences they shared together.
The one thing that I struggled with was the length of the story. This is a shorter book therefore I felt things were rushed, especially the ending. I would have loved more of a slow burn while the men did Christmasy things together. Instead we’re told more than shown that they spend nights and then weeks together. The ending itself was extremely rushed and then we are in the epilogue a year later. I wanted to read more and not just be told so much.
Overall the story is nice and I did enjoy it. I loved the town setting in Vermont and would love to visit it again if Hayes writes another story in this universe.
**ARC received for review
I liked both characters and how they were both “bears”. They have an immediate attraction to each other that cannot be denied and it keeps drawing them to one another. On top of that they are also easily comfortable with each other e Pugh to open up about themselves. They are both quite surprised that they are telling the other so much about their pasts.
Cam and Joe do not like Christmas since the holiday carries so many bad memories. Cam buried himself in work and Joe tries to ignore his past. They find that together they can get through things such as buying a tree, decorating and sledding. These were pleasant experiences they shared together.
The one thing that I struggled with was the length of the story. This is a shorter book therefore I felt things were rushed, especially the ending. I would have loved more of a slow burn while the men did Christmasy things together. Instead we’re told more than shown that they spend nights and then weeks together. The ending itself was extremely rushed and then we are in the epilogue a year later. I wanted to read more and not just be told so much.
Overall the story is nice and I did enjoy it. I loved the town setting in Vermont and would love to visit it again if Hayes writes another story in this universe.
**ARC received for review
December 28, 2022
This was my only Christmas read this year and it fit the bill: warm, uncomplicated, and brief.
January 14, 2024
New beginnings.
This book was full of fresh hope and the bright joy that comes along with it.
Both Joe and Cameron have painful roads behind them. Neither are looking for romance but that doesn't stop romance from coming after them.
Joe returned home (the small town he grew up in) to lick his wounds and start over.
Cameron came to Fallbrook to escape the life that allows him to live luxuriously even if it leaves him empty inside.
An unexpected attraction burns hotly, but the little tender moments took my breath away.
I love both of these grumpy bears.
Loved Joe's mom and Cam's aunts.
It was extremely well done and left me with all the happy feelz.
This book was full of fresh hope and the bright joy that comes along with it.
Both Joe and Cameron have painful roads behind them. Neither are looking for romance but that doesn't stop romance from coming after them.
Joe returned home (the small town he grew up in) to lick his wounds and start over.
Cameron came to Fallbrook to escape the life that allows him to live luxuriously even if it leaves him empty inside.
An unexpected attraction burns hotly, but the little tender moments took my breath away.
I love both of these grumpy bears.
Loved Joe's mom and Cam's aunts.
It was extremely well done and left me with all the happy feelz.
January 17, 2023
I enjoyed this sweet Christmas story even if I didn’t get around to reading it until January. I love a story about grumpy men who are changed by meeting the right person. This book fit the bill nicely.
December 13, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Does this objectively deserve 5 stars?? Who knows, but ratings are inherently subjective and after mostly disappointing holiday releases this year, the fact that this one didn't make me want to claw my eyes out is worth a full star all on its own. I liked the characters, the build was great, and the smut very much worked for me. I think it worked well as it was, but it's on the short side for sure and I do think there was space here to expand a bit, though maybe that's just me wanting more of a good thing. :D
Does this objectively deserve 5 stars?? Who knows, but ratings are inherently subjective and after mostly disappointing holiday releases this year, the fact that this one didn't make me want to claw my eyes out is worth a full star all on its own. I liked the characters, the build was great, and the smut very much worked for me. I think it worked well as it was, but it's on the short side for sure and I do think there was space here to expand a bit, though maybe that's just me wanting more of a good thing. :D
December 6, 2022
They’re both grumpy. It’s perfect. The end.
December 16, 2022
This was enjoyable for what it was.
We have Cameron, a 48-year-old, famous novelist who has moved into a small town Vermont Victorian household to hole up in there and finish his new book over the next few months.
Joe is a 37-year-old carpenter who is hired by Cameron to fix up a lot of thing s in this old house while he works. When they first meet, it takes a bit for both of them to recognize the other, but Joe does first, and when he points out that they've had sex together before, Cameron remembers as well.
Two months prior, in a dimly lit bar, the two got to talking, and then having sex in the parking lot hidden by Joe's car and the trees.
Once they recognize each other, it doesn't take long for a bond to form between them as the days, weeks go by leading up to Christmas. They start having sex soon after they meet again, but both agree it to be just sex that they're just interested in,, but of course that changes quickly.
I of course enjoyed their connection, it was done very well, and the steam was done well also.
It went by a little quickly, of course, since this is a short novella and it takes place over a few weeks, but it was overall fairly believable that they gained a. deep connection by around Christmas time. The 'I love you" while maybe not completely earned, was well on it's way there so I was able to let it go for the most part.
There was basically no drama at the end. It's there for like a second, but is resolved super duper quickly, so there was almost no point in the second of drama, in my opinion.
But other than it being a little rushed with no drama at the end, this was still well done enough and enjoyable enough for me to give it 4 stars. Definitely worth a holiday read, I'd say 😍👍
We have Cameron, a 48-year-old, famous novelist who has moved into a small town Vermont Victorian household to hole up in there and finish his new book over the next few months.
Joe is a 37-year-old carpenter who is hired by Cameron to fix up a lot of thing s in this old house while he works. When they first meet, it takes a bit for both of them to recognize the other, but Joe does first, and when he points out that they've had sex together before, Cameron remembers as well.
Two months prior, in a dimly lit bar, the two got to talking, and then having sex in the parking lot hidden by Joe's car and the trees.
Once they recognize each other, it doesn't take long for a bond to form between them as the days, weeks go by leading up to Christmas. They start having sex soon after they meet again, but both agree it to be just sex that they're just interested in,, but of course that changes quickly.
I of course enjoyed their connection, it was done very well, and the steam was done well also.
It went by a little quickly, of course, since this is a short novella and it takes place over a few weeks, but it was overall fairly believable that they gained a. deep connection by around Christmas time. The 'I love you" while maybe not completely earned, was well on it's way there so I was able to let it go for the most part.
There was basically no drama at the end. It's there for like a second, but is resolved super duper quickly, so there was almost no point in the second of drama, in my opinion.
But other than it being a little rushed with no drama at the end, this was still well done enough and enjoyable enough for me to give it 4 stars. Definitely worth a holiday read, I'd say 😍👍
December 17, 2022
3.5 stars
Read
December 20, 2022DNF @ 50%… I might come back and try to finish but it’s just not holding my interest.
March 19, 2024
DNF @ 35%
This author and I aren't meant to be. It's my second try with their work and once again, I'm struggling to stay awake because I'm so bored. The characters are fine but their interactions are very generic and nothing interesting is happening. There are excessive details about their small town, they're constantly whining about how much they hate Christmas stuff etc. These dudes are just living ordinary lives and their interactions might be realistic but they're boring. The side characters who popped up here and there also didn't help because they constantly rambled about boring stuff too.
Sidenote: it always makes me roll my eyes when authors make their characters be writers and they act as if being an author is the most mentally taxing, excruciatingly difficult work in the world. Please. The MC in this book basically justifies being an asshole to others because he uses up all of his social interaction energy through his characters. What? That doesn't make any sense and it makes the MC come across as entitled and out of touch with reality. Never mind that if writing is so incredibly draining for him and it screws up his life to such an extent, then clearly he needs to do a career change or go to therapy. I also rolled my eyes when the author claims that people recognize him wherever he goes. Sorry but authors aren't the same as actors or other kinds of celebrities. People know their stories but they often don't know or care about the author themselves. Most people probably wouldn't recognize photos of their favorite authors. It's very cringy when authors do this because obviously it's a self-insert situation where the author thinks way more highly of themselves than anybody else does. It's embarrassing.
Anyway - this author's work isn't for me. Both of my attempts have been mind numbingly boring so I'm gonna move on.
This author and I aren't meant to be. It's my second try with their work and once again, I'm struggling to stay awake because I'm so bored. The characters are fine but their interactions are very generic and nothing interesting is happening. There are excessive details about their small town, they're constantly whining about how much they hate Christmas stuff etc. These dudes are just living ordinary lives and their interactions might be realistic but they're boring. The side characters who popped up here and there also didn't help because they constantly rambled about boring stuff too.
Sidenote: it always makes me roll my eyes when authors make their characters be writers and they act as if being an author is the most mentally taxing, excruciatingly difficult work in the world. Please. The MC in this book basically justifies being an asshole to others because he uses up all of his social interaction energy through his characters. What? That doesn't make any sense and it makes the MC come across as entitled and out of touch with reality. Never mind that if writing is so incredibly draining for him and it screws up his life to such an extent, then clearly he needs to do a career change or go to therapy. I also rolled my eyes when the author claims that people recognize him wherever he goes. Sorry but authors aren't the same as actors or other kinds of celebrities. People know their stories but they often don't know or care about the author themselves. Most people probably wouldn't recognize photos of their favorite authors. It's very cringy when authors do this because obviously it's a self-insert situation where the author thinks way more highly of themselves than anybody else does. It's embarrassing.
Anyway - this author's work isn't for me. Both of my attempts have been mind numbingly boring so I'm gonna move on.
December 14, 2022
Lane Hayes motherfn brought it this holiday!
Wonderful protagonists ✔️
Spiciness with a side of dirty talk ✔️
Not one but two grumpy bears ✔️
Small town ✔️
And Holidays ✔️
Joe & Cameron were so much fun to read about. The Humbug Holiday certainly delivered.
Highly recommend it.
Wonderful protagonists ✔️
Spiciness with a side of dirty talk ✔️
Not one but two grumpy bears ✔️
Small town ✔️
And Holidays ✔️
Joe & Cameron were so much fun to read about. The Humbug Holiday certainly delivered.
Highly recommend it.
December 17, 2022
[3.25] when i learned we were getting a double helping of Grinchy grumpsters in this novella, you bet i hopped on The Humbug Holiday train with all the fervor a girl can muster in the middle of the holiday season's hustle-and-bustle.
this year, Lane Hayes established herself as one of my go-to's for fluff and alluringly fun banter. this tale was no different, absolutely delivering on those two fronts. however, the rest fell back on too much telling and not enough showing for me to connect with the story on more than a superficial level. i understand there are constraints that come with working with a limited number of pages, but i imagine swapping out a few of those steamy scenes (which, don't get me wrong, were undeniably hot and sweltering like a humid, summer day!) for more time dedicated to building their relationship's credibility and allowing for a less rushed ending in the final chapters would've done wonders for my personal reading experience.
nevertheless, none of the above changes the fact that this story was still entertaining in its own right and would be a great candidate for anyone looking for a quick holiday read - i was just hoping for a little something more.
Thank you to GRR and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review :)
this year, Lane Hayes established herself as one of my go-to's for fluff and alluringly fun banter. this tale was no different, absolutely delivering on those two fronts. however, the rest fell back on too much telling and not enough showing for me to connect with the story on more than a superficial level. i understand there are constraints that come with working with a limited number of pages, but i imagine swapping out a few of those steamy scenes (which, don't get me wrong, were undeniably hot and sweltering like a humid, summer day!) for more time dedicated to building their relationship's credibility and allowing for a less rushed ending in the final chapters would've done wonders for my personal reading experience.
nevertheless, none of the above changes the fact that this story was still entertaining in its own right and would be a great candidate for anyone looking for a quick holiday read - i was just hoping for a little something more.
Thank you to GRR and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book. This is my honest review :)
December 30, 2022
I saved this one to the very end.
Merry Christmas!
This had a different feel, since the characters were older and I have no complaints.
I'm a huge fan of Lane's work but I'd love to see her dip her toes in more stories like this one.
Perfect way to wrap up my December Holiday reads.
Merry Christmas!
This had a different feel, since the characters were older and I have no complaints.
I'm a huge fan of Lane's work but I'd love to see her dip her toes in more stories like this one.
Perfect way to wrap up my December Holiday reads.
December 10, 2022
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Two grumps make a sweet story. I need more grumpy/grumpy stories, this one was fantastic. And older MCs always make me swoon. And Lane writes incredible silver foxes (The Real Baxter - I’m looking at you!)
Seriously, this is one of my favourite holiday stories of the year. A writer who spends too much time in his head to really bother with a relationship, and a handyman who’s come home to lick his wounds after a stint in New York.
These guys are entirely unimpressed with the holidays (for their own painful reasons), but they grudgingly decide to decorate for the holidays to appease Cam’s aunts. Joe was hired to fix up the house but also gets roped into decorating duties.
The sexual attraction between these two is a given, but the more time they spend together, the more they find themselves feeling and wanting things they didn’t expect.
This is fun and playful, but with the maturity and depth that the characters warrant. And they were also very compatible (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
I also loved the town, and the setting and I wouldn’t be upset to have more stories set in this world. I’m sure Cam and Joe have some friends that could use a little love.
Two grumps make a sweet story. I need more grumpy/grumpy stories, this one was fantastic. And older MCs always make me swoon. And Lane writes incredible silver foxes (The Real Baxter - I’m looking at you!)
Seriously, this is one of my favourite holiday stories of the year. A writer who spends too much time in his head to really bother with a relationship, and a handyman who’s come home to lick his wounds after a stint in New York.
These guys are entirely unimpressed with the holidays (for their own painful reasons), but they grudgingly decide to decorate for the holidays to appease Cam’s aunts. Joe was hired to fix up the house but also gets roped into decorating duties.
The sexual attraction between these two is a given, but the more time they spend together, the more they find themselves feeling and wanting things they didn’t expect.
This is fun and playful, but with the maturity and depth that the characters warrant. And they were also very compatible (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
I also loved the town, and the setting and I wouldn’t be upset to have more stories set in this world. I’m sure Cam and Joe have some friends that could use a little love.
December 18, 2022
For the first 40% of this story, I was really doubting the characters' chemistry, but as soon as they smashed, their connection outside of the bedroom seemed to increase ten-fold. As a result, this was a slow start for me, but ended stronger.
December 11, 2023
3.5 Stars
Cameron, one of the protagonists in The Humbug Holiday by Lane Hayes, is an internationally acclaimed author who has escaped from the turmoil of NYC and LA to spend quite time alone in a small New England town to write. Well, and to avoid the pain of Christmases past. His most recent novel has been adapted as a Netflix mini-series, making him wealthy beyond his wildest expectations.
As a result he’s purchased an old house in the town to use for the holiday.
Joe, the other main character, a highly regarded handyman (craftsman) in that town has been hired by Cam’s aunts to renovate the house.
At one point in the story, Joe asks Cameron, “…But now I gotta ask…you don’t write any sex? Like none?”
Cam responded, “Rarely. I’ve occasionally included an off-scene dalliance, but sex is gratuitous in a murder mystery.”
It’s too bad so many authors don’t recognize that fact. Even in a rom-com, like The Humbug Holiday gratuitous sex often seems added solely to raise the book’s page count.
That aside, the characters are really likable and the story line is holiday perfect. Just, please, next time, less sex and more story.
Cameron, one of the protagonists in The Humbug Holiday by Lane Hayes, is an internationally acclaimed author who has escaped from the turmoil of NYC and LA to spend quite time alone in a small New England town to write. Well, and to avoid the pain of Christmases past. His most recent novel has been adapted as a Netflix mini-series, making him wealthy beyond his wildest expectations.
As a result he’s purchased an old house in the town to use for the holiday.
Joe, the other main character, a highly regarded handyman (craftsman) in that town has been hired by Cam’s aunts to renovate the house.
At one point in the story, Joe asks Cameron, “…But now I gotta ask…you don’t write any sex? Like none?”
Cam responded, “Rarely. I’ve occasionally included an off-scene dalliance, but sex is gratuitous in a murder mystery.”
It’s too bad so many authors don’t recognize that fact. Even in a rom-com, like The Humbug Holiday gratuitous sex often seems added solely to raise the book’s page count.
That aside, the characters are really likable and the story line is holiday perfect. Just, please, next time, less sex and more story.
December 19, 2022
This is my first time reading author Lane Hayes and I very much enjoyed this Christmas novella. Two grumpy bears who hate the holiday season spend it together and fall in love. Small town goodness, a silver fox mystery writer, a handy man, explosive sexual chemistry, decking the halls, sledding and snowball fights make this a satisfying read.
March 26, 2023
Two protagonists with exactly the same voice and issues. Lots of telling with no showing. Not a fan.
Also, when will indie m/m romance writers learn that certain words ("shmoopy," "toppy") are not used in the real world by literally anyone, let alone by adult men? They pull me out of books every time I encounter them. Not cute, not funny, just immature internet-speak. Sorry not sorry.
Also, when will indie m/m romance writers learn that certain words ("shmoopy," "toppy") are not used in the real world by literally anyone, let alone by adult men? They pull me out of books every time I encounter them. Not cute, not funny, just immature internet-speak. Sorry not sorry.
December 16, 2022
Well, it was okay, fun but not too memorable.
December 16, 2023
I don’t usually like graphic sex in holiday books, it just doesn’t suit the vibe I’m looking for in these stories. But I’ll forgive it here because I really liked how these guys were written. They felt like actual grown men (specifically ages 37 & 48). And they talk! Loved their conversations.
A handyman fixing up the old home of a famous writer taking up temporary residence in a small town….Hallmark worthy (without the sex, naturally).
A handyman fixing up the old home of a famous writer taking up temporary residence in a small town….Hallmark worthy (without the sex, naturally).
December 16, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a low angst read about 2 grumpy men who both hate Christmas finding love when they least expect it. Cameron is an author who has shut himself away from the world, content to only really live in the world of his characters. Joe is the town handyman who ran home from the big city to lick his wounds after he hit trouble courtesy of his ex-lover and never really bounced back. Cameron’s aunt hires Joe to do up his new house and he immediately recognises that Cameron is his one night stand from a few months ago which makes things awkward to begin with. As they spend time together while fixing up his house and reluctantly decorating it for Christmas they discover they have much more in common than first meets the eye. It’s light, it’s sweet and it is one of the best new holiday romances I’ve read so far this season. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is a low angst read about 2 grumpy men who both hate Christmas finding love when they least expect it. Cameron is an author who has shut himself away from the world, content to only really live in the world of his characters. Joe is the town handyman who ran home from the big city to lick his wounds after he hit trouble courtesy of his ex-lover and never really bounced back. Cameron’s aunt hires Joe to do up his new house and he immediately recognises that Cameron is his one night stand from a few months ago which makes things awkward to begin with. As they spend time together while fixing up his house and reluctantly decorating it for Christmas they discover they have much more in common than first meets the eye. It’s light, it’s sweet and it is one of the best new holiday romances I’ve read so far this season. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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