What do you think?
Rate this book
Snow and Mistletoe
Richard is stunned when he starts to receive very thoughtful but anonymous gifts during the holiday season. Between those presents and a new job, even if the work isn't in his field, it's a pretty good Christmas this year. After a while, though, he can't help but wonder who's leaving him presents and why.
His initial idea that it's his friends trying to cheer him up proves to be wrong, so who is it? And what, exactly, do they want from him?
His initial idea that it's his friends trying to cheer him up proves to be wrong, so who is it? And what, exactly, do they want from him?
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 19, 2012
Proof that shorts can work.
This was a beautiful tale of love and caring and romance. I especially loved that Richard was not a total stud, but rather an average guy with low self esteem.
Another plus was having a female that was actually believable and not over the top in either bitchiness or sweetness.
A lovely Christmas feel good read.
This was a beautiful tale of love and caring and romance. I especially loved that Richard was not a total stud, but rather an average guy with low self esteem.
Another plus was having a female that was actually believable and not over the top in either bitchiness or sweetness.
A lovely Christmas feel good read.
December 11, 2012
Cute little Christmas story. It's nice to read a story where one character isn't all perfect with good looks and a great body and still gets his HEA.
December 27, 2010
Very good short m/m holiday romance about a guy with a really bad self-image who hasn't had any luck finding journalism work. He starts finding mysterious presents outside his apartment door - he's sure they're from his friends, trying to cheer him up, because no way could he have a secret admirer...
December 22, 2012
Richard is looking for a job and finds it where he least expects it - in the bar he frequents. He doesn't see himself as attractive so he settles to a life of work and spending time with his friends. Suddenly he starts receiving gifts at his door. His first thought is that his friends are just trying to make him feel better, for he couldn't fathom that anyone could be trying to woo him.
I liked Richard. He was insecure and apparently has had a rough past so I understood his reluctance and his reaction when he found out who was sending the gifts.
I enjoyed the way the author went about telling he story. There was enough information to know that Richard's insecurities came from events of his past, but not enough to weigh down the feel-good vibe of the story. I also liked that at first I was kept guessing about Richard's admirer, it added to my enjoyment of the story. And then once the truth was out, it made Richard's reaction and what came next more interesting.
All in all, a good feel story of finding what you've always wanted staring you right in the face.
I liked Richard. He was insecure and apparently has had a rough past so I understood his reluctance and his reaction when he found out who was sending the gifts.
I enjoyed the way the author went about telling he story. There was enough information to know that Richard's insecurities came from events of his past, but not enough to weigh down the feel-good vibe of the story. I also liked that at first I was kept guessing about Richard's admirer, it added to my enjoyment of the story. And then once the truth was out, it made Richard's reaction and what came next more interesting.
All in all, a good feel story of finding what you've always wanted staring you right in the face.
November 24, 2011
Aww, such a sweet story! Richard has pretty low self-esteem, he doesn't like his body, he can't find a job, and he has no family.
What Richard does have, is a secret admirer!
What Richard does have, is a secret admirer!
December 9, 2012
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews
This falls into the oblivious friends to lovers genre. Richard has recently graduated with a degree in journalism, but he’s finding it difficult to find a job. He hangs out a local gay bar where he enjoys looking at the hot young bartender, but he is a bit on the chubby side and figures he’s not the type to attack hot guys anyway. One night, to escape his roommate and his girlfriend’s noisy sex, he goes to the bar to find it jammed and owner Ty frazzled. Richard offers to help out, and before the night is through, Ty has offered him a job since Malik has skipped town with a new boyfriend.
Richard has always thought Ty was hot, but again, no one would want him. But soon gifts start arriving on his door step, gifts from someone who obviously knows him quite well. He assumes his friends are doing it but they all deny it. After an overheard conversation between Ty and Malik on the phone, he finally puts it together and figures Ty is just messing with him. Ty has to spell it out for him pretty clearly.
There were a few things I kept wondering about that niggled at me while I read. There are vague references to a car crash that killed Richard’s parents and left him badly scarred, but when he and Ty finally get naked, there is no reference to the scars, and you’d think Ty would have commented if they were that obvious, even in a non-negative way. Also, when the first gift arrives, he puts it in his room, goes out the bar and until the next day’s gift arrives he forgot about it. What? You got a mystery wrapped gift from a stranger and you FORGOT ABOUT IT? I would have been ripping that sucker open within minutes of getting it. :-)
However Richard’s roommate and his girlfriend were nice characters. The girlfriend was first a friend of Richard’s, so she was very at ease with him and teased him about being a poor excuse for a gay man for being excited about getting a paperweight for a gift and not a cock ring and leather shorts. It was nice to have a straight friends who were just that, friends with no drama.
I do like stories with the shy guy with low self-esteem, and it’s always nice to see a character who has a few extra pounds and feels less than confident about it, get his man. So I did enjoy the story, but sometimes when little hints are thrown out, it makes me want to know more, and I end up thinking about that rather than focusing on what I am being told. Still, it was a cute winter story and not overly saccharine as some Christmas stories can be. A nice start to my Christmas themed reading.
This falls into the oblivious friends to lovers genre. Richard has recently graduated with a degree in journalism, but he’s finding it difficult to find a job. He hangs out a local gay bar where he enjoys looking at the hot young bartender, but he is a bit on the chubby side and figures he’s not the type to attack hot guys anyway. One night, to escape his roommate and his girlfriend’s noisy sex, he goes to the bar to find it jammed and owner Ty frazzled. Richard offers to help out, and before the night is through, Ty has offered him a job since Malik has skipped town with a new boyfriend.
Richard has always thought Ty was hot, but again, no one would want him. But soon gifts start arriving on his door step, gifts from someone who obviously knows him quite well. He assumes his friends are doing it but they all deny it. After an overheard conversation between Ty and Malik on the phone, he finally puts it together and figures Ty is just messing with him. Ty has to spell it out for him pretty clearly.
There were a few things I kept wondering about that niggled at me while I read. There are vague references to a car crash that killed Richard’s parents and left him badly scarred, but when he and Ty finally get naked, there is no reference to the scars, and you’d think Ty would have commented if they were that obvious, even in a non-negative way. Also, when the first gift arrives, he puts it in his room, goes out the bar and until the next day’s gift arrives he forgot about it. What? You got a mystery wrapped gift from a stranger and you FORGOT ABOUT IT? I would have been ripping that sucker open within minutes of getting it. :-)
However Richard’s roommate and his girlfriend were nice characters. The girlfriend was first a friend of Richard’s, so she was very at ease with him and teased him about being a poor excuse for a gay man for being excited about getting a paperweight for a gift and not a cock ring and leather shorts. It was nice to have a straight friends who were just that, friends with no drama.
I do like stories with the shy guy with low self-esteem, and it’s always nice to see a character who has a few extra pounds and feels less than confident about it, get his man. So I did enjoy the story, but sometimes when little hints are thrown out, it makes me want to know more, and I end up thinking about that rather than focusing on what I am being told. Still, it was a cute winter story and not overly saccharine as some Christmas stories can be. A nice start to my Christmas themed reading.
December 26, 2012
Very cute and entertaining holiday read about a guy who hasn't a clue about his own appeal...and his sense on self-worth is zip. For a story of it's short length the characters are surprisingly well developed. There's even plenty of info about his apartment, roomie and the bar packed inside too.
You couldn't help but like Richard immediately and I loved the details of the gifts from his secret Christmas admirer. Hunky Ty was a great addition throughout and the ending where they finally got together was handled well.
You couldn't help but like Richard immediately and I loved the details of the gifts from his secret Christmas admirer. Hunky Ty was a great addition throughout and the ending where they finally got together was handled well.
December 7, 2014
I loved this short little story and the secret admirer/Secret Santa theme of it. Who wouldn’t love getting very thoughtful gifts on a regular basis that really show someone spent the time getting to know you and picking out the perfect little something to make your day! Added to that is the fact that Richard’s secret admirer was able to conquer Richard’s self-doubts about anyone wanting him and this made for a wonderful little holiday story!!
May 1, 2012
I feel like I've read this story before ... honestly, it's so cookie-cutter and so similar to other [better] shorts that I've read previously, this one really didn't hold my interest. The only reason I finished it was because it was so short. =p
June 18, 2011
Cute one.
December 20, 2012
A little chick-litty at times. Some annoying "mahogany"and "coffee and cream" skin tone references. Okay besides these issues. My favourite thing was the dragon.
January 4, 2014
2.5 stars
November 27, 2014
Adorable little short story, in which the appeal lies in watching the expected unfold.
Cute!
Cute!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews