Cross My Candy Heart

Title: Cross My Candy Heart

Author: A.C. Thomas

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance, Valentine's Day

Page Count: 95

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 

Read book blurb here

This novella answers the question: "How do you let someone know you're totally crushing on them when dressed as a slightly mangy teddy bear or in a duck costume with candy-striped tights and big webby feet?" 

After his latest bad relationship with a truly horrid ex, Justin is working three jobs to get his head anywhere close to above water. And as an employee of "Season's Greetings," he delivers singing telegrams. AND his latest one is a doozy - Adam Hubert (who I picture as James Garner with a heavier brow and a scowl) is definitely not feeling the Valentine love with this anonymous embarrassing delivery. And to make it worse, Adam is his daily 7:15 am "extra-large Americano with a double shot of espresso" order / crush at the coffee shop where Justin also works. 

What follows is a sweet story of two guys who find they may not be perfect, but they are perfect for each other. But along the way, each man spends far too much time bemoaning their unworthiness - way, way too much time, IMHO - plus the requisite miscommunication and some angst. But no worries - a very improbable resolution to who is sending Adam these singing telegrams (plus a pretty darn steamy sex scene) makes for a very satisfying HEA. 4 stars. 

I received an ARC from IndiGo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.

A Winter's Earl

Title: A Winter's Earl

Author: Annabelle Greene

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date: November 9, 2021

Genre(s): M/M Historical Romance

Page Count: 298

Rating: 3 stars out of 5 

Read book blurb here

Have you ever been a fan of a long-running soap opera? Recall all those scenes where two characters talk constantly about .... "talking"? As in, "We really need to talk about our feelings" or "Why can't we just talk about Devon's terrible accident?" or "I've decided to finally tell you .... my deep, dark secret" as they stare off into the distance and furrow their brow? \Yet somehow they never actually TALK, while miscommunication, HUGE misunderstandings and MASSIVE secrets pile up like sands in the hourglass .... (Yup, that's a Days of Our Lives reference.) 

I loved Annabelle Greene's The Vicar and the Rake and adored the wonderful second chance romance, as well as the way she crafted her MCs and the secondary characters. And starting in on "A Winter's Earl" I had hoped to find the same sort of cohesive story that grabs your attention and won't let go. 

However ... reclusive poet Sherborne Clarke and moody self-exiled Earl of Portland, Richard Ashbrook are wrapped in their mutual misery of a youthful infatuation and so-very-hot affair cut short by betrayal. The betrayal is all they talk .... and NOT talk about ... for almost 300 pages. There is brow-furrowing aplenty and numerous angry scenes ending with Richard storming off, while Sherborne suffers in noble silence. We get POV from both MCs, yet I never found myself gaining a deeper understanding of either character. 

The secondary characters are also somewhat murky and unfleshed out, while the plot device to get Richard and Sherborne together is lightly explored, in my opinion. Personally, I felt this particular book was a near-miss, but I continue to admire Annabelle Greene's work and look forward to reading more from her. 3 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

He's Behind You!

Title: He's Behind You! 

Author: Clare London 

Publisher: Jocular Press 

Release Date: December 11, 2019 

Genre(s): M/M Holidays 

Page Count: 48 

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 

Read book blurb here 

A sweet holiday story of an annual pantomime in a small English village. What is a pantomime, or "panto" you may ask? " A panto is a traditional fairy tale complete with songs, dances, jokes, exaggerated characters and lots of audience participation. The British love a good panto." (Thanks, Theatre-Britain website!) 

Duncan and Francis get a second chance at love in the midst of a crazed version of Cinderalla with bald stepsisters and .... pirates? 4 stars.

Holidays in Blue

Title: Holidays in Blue 

Author: Eve Morton 

Publisher: Carina Press 

Release Date: December 7, 2020 

Genre(s): Holiday Romance 

Page Count: 207 

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 

Read book blurb here

Carina Press has marketed "Holidays in Blue" as "A Forced Proximity Christmas Romance" and my expectation, combined with the 207 page count, was this would be a short, sweet romance set during the holidays.  So, I fully acknowledge this was my bad.

Eric and Cosmin lived across the street from one another but because Cosmin is older, were never really school friends.  This did not stop Eric from crushing on Cosmin, and seeing Cosmin and his boyfriend Maurice making out when he was a teenager was an important point in Eric realizing that perhaps he was not completely straight, but rather bisexual.

Eric became a (divorced) sporadically employed actor while Cosmin is a teacher, writer and radio personality. When Cosmin loses his radio show, he has one final broadcast which he wants to center around his family relationship. When he returns to his family home in Toronto, a huge ice storm strands him and Eric together.

So far, so good. However, as Cosmin uncovers family secrets, there is a lot of reflection about his relationship with his father, his sister, etc.  And Eric comes to an understanding about his failed marriage, as well as an unexpected windfall as the result of a chance encounter. I must admit that I struggled with Morton's writing style - at times exasperated by the glacial pace, and then absolutely gobsmacked by the emotional impact of an eventual revelation or understanding. 

We get a lot of insight into Cosmin, and Eric, but yet their relationship seems unexamined and I just didn't feel a strong connection to the characters.  Also, at times, the book felt dated, with mentions of  Cosmin's Blackberry and the radio show vs. a podcast which seems like such a natural fit for his talents.  On the whole, the pace of the story did not work well for me and because of this, my feelings about this book may be different than yours.  3.5 stars, and I welcome your comments!

I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Title: Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Author: Katie Porter
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: November 20, 2017
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 268
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Kyle and Nathan were boyhood lovers at the boarding school they attended - Nate the scholarship charity case and Kyle the rich golden boy. They had plans for a life together after graduation, but Kyle ended up going to Yale, while Nate went to prison. Ten years later, Kyle's production company hires Nate's stunt company Second Chances to work on a film in London over the holidays. They've never been able to forget, nor forgive, one another and their reunion is filled with loads of sexual tension and lots and lots of anger. Despite baiting each other and "revisiting the old hurts, the old fears" sexually their chemistry is nuclear. “That’s one place where we never had any problems. The sex.”

Over the shoot, Nate and Kyle initially spend too much time f@cking and fighting, but "The buzzing undercurrent of desire was always there, but he was beginning to seek more of their renewed camaraderie and fun." Finally, there's a answer to why Nate went to prison, a final misunderstanding and reconciliation, and an epilogue that is all kinds of perfect. 4 stars for Came Upon a Midnight Clear.

A Touch of a Brogue (Ninestar Press 2018 Holiday)

Title: A Touch of a Brogue
Author: Christine Danse
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: November 12, 2018
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 108
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"A Touch of a Brogue" is a sweet holiday story with a HEA featuring a pub called The Irish Sisters and a food critic whose bad review of the place has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy.

Christine Danse does a lovely job here of describing a pub that I think most of us would love to visit. The Irish Sisters pub has been painstakingly brought to America and reconstructed and is full of old-country charm and a menu of old favorites with a new twist. All they need is customers ... but a bad review in a prominent Portland publication plus loads of bad Yelp reviews are keeping the customers away.

Although the first part of this tale is a bit slow, Danse sets the scene by giving us a feeling for this pub and what it represents to Colm. Eric's personality is perhaps less developed, and I cannot honestly understand why this kind man who is passionate about food would have written a fake review because his boyfriend (owner of the bar down the street) asked him to do so. But when Eric learns what he has done, he strives to make it right, and the result is a sweet story of second chances. There is little on-page sex but the budding romance between Colm and Eric is nicely done. 4 stars.

Just in Time (Ninestar Press 2018 Holiday)

Title: Just in Time
Author: Jacqueline Rohrbach
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: November 26, 2018
Genre(s): Holidays, Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 73
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Just in Time" is a quirky retelling of Charles Dicken's famous Christmas Carol with a new addition to the ghosts of Past, Present and Future --- the Ghost of Imaginary Time. So what exactly is the Ghost of Imaginary Time, or as he calls himself Phil? As Phil explains:

Everyone wants to be understood, I suppose. But my gig, my true gig, is that no one can. Past helps humans deal with their trauma, Present helps them cope with reality, Future gives them something to change. I make you face up to the fact that you don't know shit.

Still not sure what that exactly means? Well how about ....

Mine for Christmas

Title: Mine for Christmas
Author: A.D. Lawless
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: November 26, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 53
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Mine for Christmas" is a sweet friends-to-lovers Christmas story with plenty of cute scenes as Matt and Cody realize they love one another in the process of pretending to be boyfriends to keep Cody's mother's matchmaking at bay. There are cozy scenes of drinking cocoa and picking out a tree, a dramatic scene where Matt falls through the ice while they are skating (and requires full body naked warming from Cody) and other adorable moments.

While this story is sweet, it lacks any sizzle between Matt and Cody and feels overly predictable. For me, personally, I guess I wanted just a bit more of something deeper or different. But then again, this is a short Christmas love story and if you are looking for a light read, this is quick and enjoyable. 3.5 stars.

Christmas Prince (The Christmas Angel #7)

Title: Christmas Prince (The Christmas Angel Book 7)
Author: RJ Scott
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: December 2, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holiday
Page Count: 146
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Christmas Angel" is set in the small fictional country of Montaunoit (think Monaco). Having been to Monaco two years ago, I though the author did a wonderful job of creating the principality complete with a castle hewn from the mountainside, an oceanographic museum overlooking the sea (just like Monaco), etc.

At the beginning of "Christmas Prince," Raphael is a bit stalkery when he outbids Marc for an auction lot just because he is interested in him and lures him to Montaunoit to create a installation featuring an aspect of Montaunoit history pulled from the extensive archives. But once Marc gets past his (IMHO, justified) anger at being treated like a Victorian heroine and Raphael realizes he is overstepping a bit, their relationship grows slowly (very slowly) into a very sweet romance, full of moments together in a snow-covered winter wonderland, lovely holiday events, secret passages, and a warm family Christmas with Raphael's parents and siblings. The sex scenes here are not graphic or extensive detailed, but the chemistry between Raphael and Marc is strong and so beautifully portrayed.

RJ Scott beautifully creates this tender romance that has a touch of magic, courtesy of a Christmas angel that brings the two men together, and it is a sweet heartfelt read for the holiday season. Plus bonus points for the epilogue set three years later that perfectly completes the story. 4.5 stars for "Christmas Prince."

Neutral Zone: A Railers Christmas Story (Harrisburg Railers #7)

Title: Neutral Zone: A Railers Christmas Story (Harrisburg Railers Hockey Book 7)
Author: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: November 25, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance, Holidays
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

FYI - this is not a stand-alone book and you'll want to read at least Book #1 and #6 in the Harrisburg Railers Hockey series (and maybe Ryker Book #1 in the Owatonna U Hockey series) to get the background on Mads and Ten.

Ten is in rehab recovering from a brain injury (suffered at the end of Book #6) and Mads is back home in Harrisburg with the team. There's a beautiful balance here between Mads wanting to wrap Ten in bubble wrap and protect him from harm while hoping that Ten will return with confidence to his former glory on the ice. And Ten struggles with loneliness and the fear that he will never regain fluent speech/thought or balance sufficient to return to hockey.

But all this worry is firmly grounded in the abundant love and admiration that Mads and Ten have for one another. I love how there is little manufactured angst here, but rather a lovely mix of hockey, family, hope and love (with a low steam level, which feels appropriate here). I highly recommend reading "Neutral Zone" and give it 4.5 stars.

Love Around the Corner (A New Milton novella)

Title: Love Around The Corner: A New Milton Novella
Author: Sally Malcolm
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 29, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holiday
Page Count: 117
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Oh, I loved this little Christmas novella, which takes plot elements from the 1940 movie "Shop Around the Corner" with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan, about "two employees at a leather goods shop in Budapest who can barely stand each other, not realizing they are falling in love as anonymous correspondents through their letters." (Thanks, Wikipedia!) And of course, "You've Got Mail" was based on this movie as well, with Tom Hanks' little bookstore called "The Shop Around the Corner."

So anyhoo, this is a gentle story about two lonely men in New Milton (the setting for Malcom's other excellent books "A Perfect Day" and "Between the Lines") who meet on an online book blog and become friends and rapidly something more. The tale is wildly romantic, and heartbreaking and ultimately full of love and second chances. It is simply glorious. 5 stars.

That Turtle Story (Dreamspinner 2018 Advent Calendar)

Title: That Turtle Story (2018 Advent Calendar - Warmest Wishes) 

Author: C.S. Poe
Publisher: Emporium Press
Release Date: December 1, 2018 (reissue April 10, 2020)
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 46
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

This book features turtles, turtle eggs, love when you last expect it, and the sun and sand and water of Key West, all mixed together into a lovely holiday read.

Nor works at a turtle rescue and when Eugene walks in, claiming to have found a nest of turtle eggs at a popular tourist beach, Nor sweeps in to protect the little eggs. Along the way, he and Eugene share some wonderful moments like a Christmas parade as only Key West can do it and a haunted trolley tour. This story has a bit of spice, a lot of heart, and a sweet ending. Enjoy! 4 stars.

Colina de Lavanda (Dreamspinner 2018 Advent Calendar)

Title: Colina de Lavanda (2018 Advent Calendar - Warmest Wishes)
Author: August Li
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2018
Genre(s): Fantasy/Paranormal, Holidays
Page Count: 50 pages
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Stay with me here ... but reading August Li is like seeing a Cirque du Soleil production. It's mystical and magical and unexpected, but trying to describe it to someone else is really hard.

Colina de Lavanada" features a town created for "whores, thieves, sorcerers, and deviants" where everyone is accepted and all holidays are observed. Li adds a dash of magic and native folklore, a mysterious illness, a love story between Edward and a silver-haired mage Shu and the end result is fascinating ... but darned if I know how to describe it! 4.5 stars.

29 Hours to Eternity

Title: 29 Hours to Eternity
Author: Elizabeth Noble
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: December 1, 2018
Genre(s): Fantasy Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 30 pages
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Bottom line - I loved this unusual unexpected holiday story from Elizabeth Noble. From the very first page, we think we know what is going to happen and the tension builds as each chapter gives us a countdown of how many hours are left to eternity. But what happens between the expected and unexpected is wonderfully done.

Flight attendant Ian has a long long layover at LAX and meets a man, Race, whom he feels he has known forever, and marvels at their easy connection. They are both pagan and celebrate the winter festival of Saturnalia. FYI, Saturnalia was a major Roman holiday celebrating the god Saturn and we still see its influence in our celebrations of Christmas, Epiphany, the Feast of the Holy Innocents and the western European custom of a "Lord of Misrule." Roman poet Catullus called Saturnalia "the best of days." (Thanks, Wikipedia!!).

And although time is short, Ian feels he and Race (short for Horace) have indeed spent the very best of time together. The ending is surprising and it lends a bittersweet feeling to the tale but I love how Elizabeth Noble turns this holiday story into something unexpected and totally beautiful. 5 stars and a Recommended Read.

An Elf to Myself

Title: An Elf to Myself (2019 Advent Calendar | Homemade for the Holidays Book 4)
Author: Emy Calirel
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre(s): Holidays, Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 36 Pages
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Faced with the horror of navigating a Michaels store right before Christmas, Wilhelm finds himself getting crafting tips from one of Santa's elves ... well, a short guy wearing green overalls and knee-high red-and-white socks with tinsel in his hair claiming to be a banished elf. In exchange for helping create something for his 4-yr-old niece, Wilhelm lets Alabastair sleep on his couch.

Before too long, Wilhelm finds his house cozily decorated for Christmas with a fresh tree and warm cookies and the love of Alabastair, who is indeed an elf and a skilled toy maker. Or as he says "Elves create toys, sugar. Who do you think came up with the sex ones?"

 For a short wee story, this one is full of seasonal happiness and elfish charm ... and sex. Happy Holidays! 4 stars.

Flour, Eggs, Sugar, and Magic

Title: Flour, Eggs, Sugar, and Magic (2019 Advent Calendar | Homemade for the Holidays Book 8)
Author: Daniel De Lorne
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre(s): Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Magic
Page Count: 39 Pages
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Will decides to bake some magical cookies for the kids in the Rainbow Shelter, imbuing them with luck, love and health. As thoughts of his horrible ex-boyfriend Cal interrupt, the cookies turn out to embody the opposite. And when Will's roommate Lucas eats them, his usual good luck runs out.

Over the course of this very short piece, Will breaks it to Lucas that, yes indeed, magic does exist and they need to find the way to reverse this disasterous spell, but they also deal with a kitchen sink load of convoluted personal relationship issues on the way to a happy ending.

At heart this is a sweet holiday story with a nice second chance at love, but personally I feel the story is a bit scattered due to all the sudden subplots and too much "tell vs. show." 3 stars.

A Stitch in Time

Title: A Stitch in Time (2019 Advent Calendar | Homemade for the Holidays Book 28)
Author: Asta Idonea
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre(s): Holiday, Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 24 Pages
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

When Connor meets Finn, a guy who "belonged on a magazine cover, or in a movie, or maybe in a pantheon of Greek gods" at the community center, Connor can't let him know that he's taking a crochet class and he doesn't correct Finn's assumption that he's taking a boxing class. This very short story plays with perceptions and misconceptions about masculinity, attractiveness, skills, etc. and quickly ends with a HFN.

This story is very brief, without much character development and feels more like an excerpt than a complete work. But it is sweet and engaging and worth a read! 3.5 stars.

The Accidental Baker

Title: The Accidental Baker
Author: Clare London
Publisher: Jocular Press
Release Date: April 20, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 64
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Clare London's novella features four (4) short interconnecting stories, all centering around some Easter chocolates which "spill onto the pavement of a small parade of local shops - and go on a matchmaking like no other!"

Donnie is a sweet guy who spends his spare time helping others and is preparing some Easter chocolates for the kids of the housing estate. He meets a kind man with salt & pepper hair, the local vet, who comes to his aid when the chocolates escape from his basket.

 Simon is recovering from a horrible ex who ruined his bakery business by disappearing with their money. In dropping by his former business to pick up equipment, he runs into Trevor, a fellow sugarcraft creative specializing in cupcakes, and looking for a partner in his new business, and maybe in life as well.

Socially awkward Eric meets homeless Jez when Jez saves Eric from bullying. They spent some time together chatting and telling jokes, and discovering one of Donnie's chocolate Easter eggs that rolled into Jez' spot in the doorway of the deserted hardware store.

And jaded cynical Henry finally meets a man, sweet kind Abi, who sees beyond his brittle bitchiness and helps him realize "there's nothing wrong with being kind, generous, encouraging. In being pleasant. In listening to others, not always looking for ways to score points."

There's no sex here, but plenty of sweetness and second chances. 4 stars for "The Accidental Baker."

Santa's Last Gift

Title: Santa's Last Gift (Dreamspun Desires Book 95)
Author: Sandine Tomas
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 3, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5

Blurb: Read book blurb here

"Santa's Last Gift" is a sweet, low-key story of a second chance love between two former high-school boyfriends. Sebastian and Matty haven't seen each other in 10 years, what with Sebastian living in Manhattan hard at work as an event planner and Matty remaining in their home town earning a reputation as a talented artist. With Seb's continued absence due to working so hard to provide for his family, Matty steps in as beloved uncle, brother and son.

When they were seventeen, Matty thought their relationship was casual, but it broke Seb's heart when Matty moved on to another boyfriend. Now they have a second chance at getting it right and throughout the course of the book, they slowly reaffirm that love. There are a lot (a lot) of sweet scenes with Seb's nieces Chance and Rowan as well as some light family drama until there is a final angsty moment between Seb and Matty before a happy ending and a sweet epilogue.

The plot offers no surprises and is big on family togetherness and happy endings. The pace of the story is slow and steady, and while the ending brings everything together in a neatly tied package, it feels a bit too predictable and staid. 3.25 stars rounded up to 3.5.

Get Lit

Title: Get Lit (2019 Advent Calendar | Homemade for the Holidays Book 10)
Author: Kim Fielding
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 1, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holidays
Page Count: 40
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Blurb: Read book blurb here

Burning down one's apartment while trying to make Hannukkah candles is one way to meet the sexy man next door! In just a few short pages, Kim Fielding gives us a sweet holiday story that combines latkes and menorahs with tamales and luminarias and brings together two men who honor their parents and family memories with their holiday traditions.

This low-key low-angst story illustrates the simple truth that when "You enjoy the other person's company, you back them up when they need it. You think of ways to make them happy." I love the charming story about Uri's mother and her credo "I'd rather waste my life on wonderful possibilities than on boring certainties" and how Uri is willing to finally do the same and embrace the possibility that he and Oscar are at the beginning of a life together. 4.5 stars for "Get Lit."

But candles and stove flames weren't the only kind of lights. A different kind could be kindled in the heart and soul if you allowed yourself to fall in love with the right person.