Novellas: Scrooged Over and All I Want for Christmas...Is No Christmas

All I Want for Christmas...Is No Christmas by Colton Aalto

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Buy from Amazon (amazon associates link)

Official Summary: Visit Goodreads 

Review: Alec is in Aspen for the holidays, earning money by having sex with people. He's been doing this since he was kicked out by his parents. It isn't what he wants, but it allows him to pay for college. However, he ends up being arrested in Aspen and he thinks his job has finally been found out. What is worse is that his best friend's cousin, Hayden, is the one interrogating him. This was a fun read. It wasn't quite what I expected, and I think it could have made a better novel as there were aspects of the book that weren't quite resolved. I'm also not sure I can totally get behind the sudden romance, but it's not terrible!

Scrooged Over by David Connor

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Buy from Amazon (amazon associates link)

Official Summary: Visit Goodreads 

Review: Deke and Dudley have their own radio show. Deke hates the holidays and Dudley loves them. They make a bet to see how many people they can get to call in or create videos saying if they love/hate Christmas. If Deke wins (more people hate it), he gets to set Dudley up on a blind date, and if Dudley wins (more people love Christmas), he gets to set Deke up on a blind date.

This was a cute read. I felt really bad for Dudley though, because a lot of his Christmas plans go wrong and you can tell how frustrated how he gets. Christmas can be stressful but nothing seems to work out for Dudley and he loves it so much, it's a bit disheartening. Of course, the book does end well. This novella has some fun humor in it though, as Deke and Dudley spar a lot on the radio. I love humor in books!

Holiday Novellas: Traditions, Simple After All, The Stockings Were Hung

I know Christmas has passed, but that doesn't mean you can't still read holiday themed reads! I'm back with a few more novella reviews!

Traditions by Ann Anderson

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher - all opinions are my own

Buy on Amazon (amazon associates link)

Official Summary: Visit Goodreads

Review: Traditions was a cute read, but it was definitely a predictable one. Mark and James have been dating for years, but after being overwhelmed during Christmas at Jame's parent's house, Mark hasn't been since their first year. This year, he surprises James by attending the big celebration. It's obviously a sweet gesture on Mark's part and you could tell the two made a good couple. They could easily read each other. Like I said, the overall story is pretty easy to guess, but I still won't ruin it for you if you want to read.

Simple After All by Yolande Kleinn

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher - all opinions are my own

Buy on Amazon (amazon associates link)

Official Summary: Visit Goodreads

Review: This is one of the longer novellas and I really loved it. It's about Noah, a fairly grumpy man, who attends his family's huge Christmas gathering every year because he loves them. His sister often brings along a friend every year, and this time, she brings along Riley. Despite Noah's outward nature, Riley believes there is more to the man than meets the eye and slowly they start to get to know each other over the holiday week. It's a relatively quick romance, but I really did love these two together. It's the whole "opposites attract" idea and it works!

The Stockings Were Hung by Cassie Sweet

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher- all opinions are my own

Buy on Amazon (amazon associates link) 

Official Summary: Visit Goodreads

Review: This was a nice read, but I have to say that the reasoning for Drew moving away, and subsequently breaking Hill's heart, just didn't work for me. I think he should have talked to Hill about things and be more honest. Regardless, second chance romances are a guilty pleasure of mine, if you will, so it was nice to see the two start to open up a bit. It ended in a good spot too, I thought. Nothing too unrealistic. All in all, a good story.

Novella Reviews: Resolutions and Krampus Hates Christmas

I'm back with a couple more novella reviews from the Bah Humbug Advent Calendar, courtesy of Dreamspinner Press.

Resolutions by Emma Keene

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: As an advertising executive, it’s Logan’s job to sell people holiday cheer, and he’s good at what he does. But deep down, Logan hates everything about Christmas, so he worries that his crush on the hot baker who loves the holidays is a recipe for disaster.

Last year, Logan saw Ryan at a holiday party Ryan was catering, and the attraction was instant. In a drunken moment, Logan made it his New Year’s Resolution to ask the pastry chef out. But another year has slipped away, time is running out, and Logan’s assistant demands he collect on his resolution. Can Logan find the confidence that usually comes so easily to him? And if he does, will Ryan have any interest in spending the holidays with a man who doesn’t share his enthusiasm for the season?

Review: While I enjoyed this one, it definitely wasn't my favorite. The basic idea is that Logan makes a drunken New Year's Resolution to ask out caterer Ryan, when he meets him at a holiday party. The book starts almost a full year later and Logan still hasn't done it. His office secretary pushes him to do it, telling him that he needs to at least try, even if Ryan says no. I understand the reluctance to ask out a near-stranger. Logan doesn't want to be let down. However, there is an aspect of this story that just didn't ring true to me. I can't see it happening in real life - but then again, maybe it could? Like I said, it 's a good read, but more of the short and sweet variety than anything truly amazing.

Want to read Resolutions? Get it from Amazon for $1.99

Krampus Hates Christmas by Andi Van

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Karl Kringle hates the modern-day Christmas. He was born to be Krampus, but the Holiday Council refuses to let him help his brother Nick—aka Santa Claus—with the Naughty List until he finds his holiday spirit. To meet that challenge, he’s turned human and dumped in a strange apartment.

Lewis Weatherby loves the holidays and always has. Not only do his parents own a pumpkin patch and tree farm, he’s also inherited a Christmas-themed shop. All he wants from Santa is the man of his dreams, and the Big Guy might’ve just delivered. Lewis’s new neighbor Karl is gorgeous, sweet, and has a fantastic sense of humor—if his jokes about being Krampus are any indication.

Soon getting home is less important to Karl than what will happen when Lewis inevitably realizes the truth behind his jokes. He’s finally starting to understand the real joy of the season—now he just has to figure out how to hold on to it. 

Review: This is one of the longer novellas and for that, I was really happy, because it benefits from a slightly fuller story and it's definitely one of my favorites in the collection. I highly recommend it!

Karl Kringle looks a bit like an animal, fur and hooves to match. He's Nick Kringle's twin brother - Santa Claus to most people - and he's supposed to help Nick every Christmas by taking care of the naughty children. The council won't let him though. So Nick's husband sends Karl to live in the apartment building he owns until Krampus Day, disguising him as a human, in hopes that he will find his Christmas spirit.

It's here that Karl meets his neighbor, Lewis, and they soon start a friendship that leads to more. It's easy to feel concerned about this relationship though, since Lewis doesn't know Karl's full story and Karl is unsure if Lewis will stay with him when he once again takes on his "animal-esque" appearance. 

I loved these two together though! Lewis loves Christmas and it's nice to see Karl slowly develop more of a love for it, helping out with Lewis' shop and decorating a Christmas tree. Family plays a big part in this novella and I thought it was done really well. I'd love to read more about Karl and Lewis in the future! It was a fun, imaginative story!

Want to read Krampus Hates Christmas? Get it from Amazon for $3.99

Novella Reviews: Iced and #ChristmasHatesYouToo

Bah Humbug is the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar. You can buy the whole calendar, or you can buy the individual novellas. I'm here today to share a couple novella reviews; not all the titles have their own cover, but if they do, I'll share it!

Iced by Jon Keys

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Keith Walker, a mall bookstore employee, is struggling to get through another miserable holiday season while trying to preserve a crumbling long-term relationship. One of his few comforts is his morning coffee made by a good-looking, younger barista. Austin Novak felt an attraction when Keith started frequenting the coffee shop, but he doesn’t think the older man has any interest in him or his graphic novel collection.

A Christmas week snowstorm buries the city and locks Keith’s car into its parking spot. Keith decides to show Austin his gratitude for helping free the car from the ice with a dinner invitation. The meal becomes complicated when Austin meets Keith’s boyfriend, Shawn, and things go downhill from there when Shawn announces he’s heading to Cancún with his coworkers. Keith is caught between keeping his boyfriend happy and keeping his job. But Keith might not need a plane ticket to find the happiness that’s been missing from his life.

Review: I really enjoyed Iced. It's a simple story, with Keith having a crush on the barista, Austin. One night it gets so cold and icy, his car is stuck in the mall parking lot, and Austin comes to his rescue. As a thanks, he invites him over to dinner, where they find Keith's boyfriend Shawn with his best friend. It's obvious the two are a little flirtatious and Austin is angry on Keith's behalf.

I thought Keith was a really good guy, but he definitely lets people walk over him. Austin is more outspoken and he does care for Keith, but ultimately, he just wishes that Keith wasn't with Shawn - who is obviously bad for him. As it's a novella, you don't get a ton of character growth, but when it comes to Austin and Keith, there isn't much they need to change. Keith just needs to stand up for himself more. It's a good, quick read!

Want to buy Iced? Get it from Amazon for $1.99

#ChristmasHatesYouToo by E.F. Mulder

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Born December 25, Noel Beebe is tired of having his birthday overshadowed by all things Christmas. While looking for love on social media, he comes across a prospective new beau just in time to celebrate the Big 3-0, someone who encourages him to take back his day and say thumbs down to Christmas! On a trip to the Big Apple, Noel does just that, flipping off the Rockefeller Center tree and demanding his coffee in a nondecorative paper cup as a fun birthday prank. His act of defiance is caught on video and soon goes viral, leading to a backlash all over the Twitterverse, Internet, and TV. Suddenly what Noel thought would be his best birthday—and even Christmas—yet is shaping up to be his worst. Can his family and his potential boyfriend prove to the world that Noel isn’t the Scrooge he’s been labeled?

Review: I really loved this novella! Noel (rhymes with Joel, not No-El) isn't a big fan of being born on December 25th. It just means that his birthday gets mixed in with Christmas and it's not really celebrated all on its own. When he ends up going out on a date with someone he met via Twitter, they persuade him to have a little fun and pronounce his hatred of Christmas wherever they go. For example, when visiting a coffee shop, Noel will loudly say how he hates Christmas and he doesn't want a holiday cup, he wants a regular cup! The man he's out with video tapes most of these interactions and puts some up on his Twitter feed. Unfortunately, Noel's videos go viral.

Suddenly, he's all over the news. The hashtag "#ChristmasHatesYouToo" is used over and over. Everyone in the world seems to think that Noel is an awful person who hates Christmas and somehow, America. It's ridiculous, but it's definitely upsetting and Noel doesn't know what to do to show that he really doesn't hate all these things. It was just for fun.

It's ultimately up to Noel's potential boyfriend, friends, and family to "clear" Noel's name. All in all, it's a really cute read. I thought the premise was kind of fun - I could definitely see someone doing something similar to Noel all in good fun and having it blown way out of proportion.

Want to read #ChristmasHatesYouToo? Buy it from Amazon for $3.99

Running Blind by Kim Fielding and Venona Keyes

Running Blind by Kim Fielding and Venona Keyes

Review by Lauren

source: copy from Dreamspinner Press; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Kyle Green is on top of the world. He and Matt have been together for ten years, and—as the voice of Ecos, the wildly popular anime character—Kyle is treated like a rock star in anime circles. But in an instant, a stroke leaves him blind. When photographer Matt gets the opportunity of a lifetime, Kyle reexamines their relationship, discovers it has been a safety net rather than a true romance, and sets Matt free to pursue his dream. Kyle’s life and career as he knew them are gone, and he must now find the courage and creativity to draft a new plan.

After being away for fifteen years, Seth Caplan comes home to Chicago to care for his mother and to partner with a small start-up tech company. He and Kyle meet after Kyle’s collision with a child’s sidewalk toy, and they hit it off. Kyle wants to get back into running, and Seth becomes his guide. As they get to know each other, they start seeing each other beyond their three-times-a-week runs. But Seth’s revelation of the dark reason why he left his career in California sends the relationship into a tailspin and leaves both men running blind.

Review: I had read a YA novel where the main character was blind, but also a really good runner, and she eventually got a running guide so she could run for her school team. When I read the summary for this book, I immediately knew I had to read it so I could read another story that featured running guides for blind runners. The basics of the story is that Kyle has a stroke and ends up blind from the result. He breaks up with his current boyfriend, Matt, so that Matt can go on and fulfill his dreams - besides the two were more brothers than lovers by that point.

It takes Kyle a bit to get used to his new life. His job is voice narration and he is famous for voicing an anime character. Without his sight, Kyle can't watch the video to sync up his voice with the animation. It's a rough blow and Kyle isn't sure what he'll do from there. Kyle eventually tries running, realizing that if he's moving, he can start to see the outline of shapes and he thinks this will be enough for him to run on his own. Unfortunately, he crashes on the sidewalk and is helped by a man named Seth.

Fast forward and Seth becomes Kyle's new running guide. The two are a good match. Seth is back in town to take care of his mom, who has Alzheimer's, so he knows how to treat Kyle with dignity and respect. As for Kyle, he does the same for Seth's mom, even if she's calling him the wrong name or getting lost in time. The two of them eventually get closer and go from friendship to relationship.

To keep from spoiling everything that happens in the book, I'll just say that this was a really good novel. I loved both guys and I think they complimented each other well, like I said above. I love reading books with disabled characters, as it's something that people should read about more. It creates empathy, and to me, it seems like the authors did a great job with their characters and their various diversities in Running Blind.

The Outfielders by Robert P. Rowe

The Outfielders by Robert P. Rowe

Review by Lauren

source: copy from publisher; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Tony was waiting until he went away to college to come out to his parents and start his new gay life. Unfortunately, at twenty-four, it doesn’t look like college is going to happen after all. Stuck in a dead-end job in a small town and still living at home, with all the arrested development that entails, he finds escape in playing for the company baseball team and lusting after his straight outfielder crush, Alex. But Tony’s best friend, Jennifer, thinks she’s found a plan in the pages of gay romance novels. All Tony has to do is convince Alex he’s gay for you… or for Tony. It’s easy—just find some excuse to be alone in bed together and let nature take its course. What could possibly go wrong?

Review: I was given a chance to read and review The Outfielders from Dreamspinner Press and while it's not my new favorite LGBT+ novel, it was still really enjoyable. The premise of The Outfielders is that twenty-something Tony is stuck in a dead end job in a dead end town. Oh, and he's gay and nobody knows but his best friend, Jennifer, who most people believe is his girlfriend. He's been crushing on his baseball teammate Alex for years, but Alex is straight, so it's pointless, right? 

Having read many m/m romance stories, Jennifer tells Tony about "gay for you" storylines - you know the ones! An otherwise straight guy falls for his best guy friend, making him "gay for you" instead of just gay. Jennifer tries to give Tony tips on how to make Alex fall for him, even telling him to read a book called The Outfielders. Tony refers to the two main characters in this as Book Tony and Book Alex. Don't worry, it's not as confusing as it seems - and the two storylines don't quite match up, so it's not a complete spoiler!

I really liked learning about Tony and his world. He's good at explaining his hometown and the people that populate it. He's not the brightest crayon in the box, which Jennifer is always lovingly telling him. He does mean well though and while he wishes Alex were gay, he's not willing to push the issue and lose him as a friend. The book has some other interconnecting story lines as well which makes the book more than just a romance. 

The Outfielders was slow in parts, but I did want to keep reading, and I was satisfied with the ending! 

Real World by B.A. Tortuga

Real World by B.A. Tortuga

Review by Lauren

source: copy from Dreamspinner Press; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Dan White is trying to acclimate to civilian life after a long career in the military with multiple combat deployments.

Now he’s home in the Austin area, living with his brother Dixon, Dixon’s husband, Audie, and their two nine-year-olds. During the New Year celebration, Dan meets Abraham Weldon, and the connection is instant.

There’s a kiss. There’s a dance. There’s a proposition.

Then Dan finds out Weldon is bisexual.

And a dad.

With five kids. Five kids, one of whom is a blind fifteen-year-old.

Weldon has been in love twice in his life—with his high school best friend, Blake, and with his wife, Krista, who he met in a Dairy Queen as she was crying over a positive pregnancy test. Love number three hits Weldon like a hammer when he meets Dan.

But since Dan isn’t interested in a guy with kids, they might only get one night together.

Review:

Apparently, this is the second book, but it's a companion novel so it doesn't matter. I'm just pointing it out in case you DO want to start with the first book and then read this one. Real World is one that stands on its own though. I will say that it was difficult to follow the cast of characters at first, but once I got the hand of who everyone was, things went smoother. I'll share the main cast of characters later in this review to help you out before you jump into this one. The basic story of Real World is about Dan who has just left the army and gone back to Texas. He's currently staying with his brother, Dixon, and his husband, Audie, as well as their children. The beginning of the book has Dan watching his brother perform at a bar and that's where he meets a friend of Audie's, whose name is Weldon (well, that's his last name, but most people call him Weldon). The two of them have a night together and while it goes well, Dan made it clear beforehand that he wasn't looking for a guy with kids...and Weldon has five. Of course, this wouldn't be much of a romance if Dan didn't at least give Weldon a chance, right? It takes a bit of time, but eventually he tries his hand at romancing Weldon and even getting to know - and love - all of the children. I liked that it didn't immediately work for Dan. He's not someone who ever saw himself with kids, so it's understandable that he wouldn't want to jump into a relationship with a guy who has five. It's not always easy for either Dan and Weldon, but they work at it. There are some of other side stories in the novel as well, but I won't go into it. I don't want to give all of the book away. In general though, I enjoyed this one. It felt a bit long at times, but I appreciated the realistic nature of the story and I really did fall in love with all the children! Cast of Characters: Dixon and Randi - father and daugther Audie and Grainger - father and son Dixon and Audie are married Dan is Dixon's brother Dan falls in love with Weldon Weldon has five kids from a previous marriage to a woman - Weldon's bisexual Jakob is the oldest, then Maddie, then Emma, then Kenzie, then Caleb (I'm pretty sure that is the order -Jakob is 16 and Caleb is 3, then 4 during the course of the novel)

The Losing Game by Lane Swift

The Losing Game by Lane Swift

Review by Lauren

source: copy from The Dreamspinner Press; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: Winchester Crown Court, October 2035: Richard Shaw leaves, a free man.

Grief-stricken and angry, Lucas Green is hell-bent on revenge against Richard Shaw, who killed his sister. Lucas has heard of a man who can help—the handsome and urbane owner of a boutique sex shop with a head for planning crimes. But Dante Okoro has a past he’s desperate to keep buried. Though Lucas piques his interest in more ways than one, Dante turns him away. Still, he wonders if he made the right decision….

An unexpected death brings Dante and Lucas together once more. This time they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. But courting a lover with lies is a dangerous game. Dante has been spying on Lucas, convinced he has plans to kill Shaw. Lucas has been spying on Shaw, waiting for the right moment to strike. If Dante admits his suspicions to Lucas, he’ll surely lose him. If he doesn’t, Lucas might do something reckless—and end up losing everything.

Review: I definitely thought The Losing Game would be more exciting and suspenseful than it ended up. It's not a bad book, per se, but if I was going to choose a rating, I'd go with a 3 or 3.5. I'd be curious to see what else Lane Swift has written or will written, but this one just didn't really work for me.

For one thing, it takes place a bit in the future and I could never really figure out why. It just didn't seem necessary, and unless I was missing some key aspects of the book, I think it would have been just fine set in the present day. I suppose this isn't a huge deal, but I suppose I thought it would play more of a part.

The aspect that I felt would be more suspenseful is Lucas Green wanting to kill Richard Shaw for hitting his sister on a bike, while he was drunk, and not really getting into trouble for it. He wants to kill Richard, make him pay. He's lost in grief and when he gets pointed in Dante's direction, he's hoping that Dante can plan him the murder so that he won't be caught in the end. While Lucas keeps trying to plan a way to get back at Richard, and Dante finds himself wanting to do more to help Lucas, it never really felt like the stakes were that high. I suppose I just wasn't that invested in the outcome of the story, so that was a bit of a let down. I wanted things to be more exciting!

Finally, there is tentative romantic relationship between Lucas and Dante. We all know it's going to happen, but again, it didn't entirely work for me. I liked the two of them together, but Dante does some things that definitely would have made me pause more than Lucas. However, I did really love Dante's relationship with his two adopted daughters! It was obvious how much he cared for them and the story of how they all ended up together was heartbreaking, yet beautiful.

Overall, not bad, but nothing that I'd want to read again.