Book Review: You for Christmas by Valerie Ullmer

Hiding his feelings for his best friend has become second nature to Parker Hunt. Throughout his years of friendship with Jonah Lee, he’d hoped for more, but he’d never been able to tell Jonah how he felt or what he wanted. When Jonah’s plans fall through for holiday break, Parker is determined to spend their last Christmas together and this time, be brave enough to tell Jonah exactly how he feels.

Jonah Lee has always been in awe of his friend, Parker. His energy, enthusiasm, and honesty had drawn Jonah to him from the first time they met. And while he’s always been an open book with Jonah, lately, Parker had been holding something back. On top of that, Jonah has realized that his feelings for Parker have grown and for the first time in his life, he’s curious about what Parker’s lips would feel like under his and what his definite male body would feel against his.

Will the holidays bring everything both men want, or will they let this opportunity pass them by?

I really enjoyed this book! The main characters are extremely likable, and I loved watching their interactions and seeing their relationship develop. There is barely any angst, so this would be the perfect book to read by the fire on Christmas afternoon. There are a couple of typos, but nothing to distract you from the delightful story. If you're in the mood to read about two sweet best friends falling in love, this is the book for you!

4.5 stars

Buy Link
Smashwords | Amazon

~ M

I ❤️ Yaoi: Stay Close to Me by Yaki (Yuri!!! On Ice Doujinshi)

Good morning yaoi lovers! This week's feature is the Yuri!!! On Ice doujinshi, Stay Close to Me by Yaki.

Yuri has moved to Saint Petersburg to train with Victor as they prepare for the upcoming season. When Victor recommends that he participate in an ice show, Yuri's insecurities creep back to the surface. Will he be able to push them aside or will they consume him?

This is a really sweet dj with gorgeous artwork! It's everything you would expect from a YOI storyline: good-hearted Yuri feeling he isn't good enough, Victor being encouraging, but in his own very unique way, Yuri Plisetsky acting as prickly as ever and, of course, adorable Makkachin! Give this dj a try. It's a very quick read that will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Read Stay Close to Me here.

~ M

Don't Let Me Go by Fanatic_weirdo

Don't Let Me Go by Fanatic_weirdo

Magnus almost loses Alec and can't bring himself to leave his side.

This is such a good story because the author manages to convey a wealth of emotion in a pretty short one-shot. My heart broke for Magnus as he tried to come to terms with the fact that his beloved Alec was so close to death and what it would be like to live without him.

Even though the subject matter is pretty heavy, there is hope and some really touching moments. Give it a try!

~ M

picture credit: Freeform

Book Review: Secret Santa by Jay Northcote

Keeping secrets is never a good way to start a relationship.

Theo hardly has time to date. Between work and caring for his four-year-old son there aren’t many hours left over. He’s lonely though, so he joins a hook-up app and starts chatting to a guy called Luke. Luke seems friendly and they arrange to meet. Theo doesn’t mention that he has a child. It’s early days and he’s worried about putting Luke off before they get to know each other.

Luke is currently working as Santa at the local shopping mall. He figures Theo never has to know. Christmas will be over soon and Luke will move on to a new, less embarrassing job. He’s surprised when Theo and a little boy visit Santa one afternoon. Theo doesn’t recognise Luke, and Luke realises he’s not the only one with a secret.

Despite misgivings on both sides, they start dating, and the chemistry is amazing. But as Christmas approaches their secrets pile up like colourful packages under the tree. If they’re not careful, they’ll lose the best gift of all—each other.

This is a sweet, relatively uncomplicated Christmas love story. I liked both of the main characters and their chemistry was, in my opinion, very believable. I did find myself a little frustrated with the misunderstandings and lack of communication, although I did appreciate the awkwardness of their first meetings, but once those issues were resolved, the story really took off. All in all, this is a nice read for the holiday season.

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided my honest review.

Buy Link

Amazon

~ M

Book Review: Unexpected Christmas by Nell Iris

Daniel Erickson stormed out of his family celebration after choking on turkey served with a side of bigotry. Utterly miserable, he reluctantly lets himself be charmed by the hulk of a man and gets into the stranger’s car...hoping he won’t be axed before the night is through.

Axel Wilson -- Ax for short, unfortunately -- is a sweetheart. Really. He may be badass-looking but his heart melts into goo at the mere mention of his four-year-old niece. Surely he isn’t dangerous?

Thrown together by family drama, the two men spend the evening getting to know each other. Axel is nothing like Daniel expected. But it doesn’t matter that he loves poetry, is gentle and patient -- and hot! -- Daniel is absolutely not falling in love at first sight. There’s no such thing.

Right?

This is a lovely Christmas read that I really enjoyed! It's very short, but I was immediately immersed in the world Nell Iris created. Daniel and Ax are very likable characters that made me root for their happiness and success. Neither has an easy life due to society's preconceived notions based on their sexuality and appearance. However, Daniel and Ax manage to rise above and live their lives to the fullest. I do hope that a sequel is written because I would love to learn more about these two characters. I received a small taste and now I'm hungry for more.

If you're in the mood for a truly sweet, short story that will warm your heart, Unexpected Christmas is the book for you!

 I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided my honest review.

Buy Links
JMS Books | Amazon

~ M

Invisible by LoveMeThatsAllIAskOfYou

Invisible by LoveMeThatsAllIAskOfYou

As Alec battles a mysterious, debilitating illness, he feels as if his life is at a standstill. He can't work, he's afraid to go out and his relationship with his boyfriend is hanging by a thread. Alec feels so alone...until one day a beautiful soul walks into his life and changes it forever.

This is a really interesting read. While it has plenty of fluffy moments, there are also some painfully realistic scenes, especially as it pertains to Alec's illness. I appreciate that the author does not gloss over what Alec goes through on a daily basis, the good, bad and ugly. Magnus, as always, is a gem, but he also shows great complexity. This is definitely a story to check out!

~ M

Book Review: Watermelon Kisses by Freddy MacKay

Life hasn't been easy for Amir since he fled Iran after a brutal imprisonment. The trauma experienced at the hands of the guards left a dark spot on his soul. The one constant in his life since relocating to Chicago has been his lover, now husband, Esmail, whose steadfast love and support has soothed his wounded heart.

​But this Shab-e Yalda, Amir wants to be the one giving his husband something special, because even after the darkest nights, the sun will rise again.

I really enjoyed this holiday novella. Even though it contained some serious issues, my heart felt warm and full by the end. The characters are extremely likable and I liked learning more about them, their former lives in Iran and the gorgeous Iranian festival Shab-e Yalda.

My heart broke for both men as Amir dealt with his PTSD and his desire to not only fit in in the United States, but also live freely with the man he loves with all his heart. If you're in the mood for a sweet read that will truly make you feel a myriad of emotions. This is the book for you! Also be sure to read the extra information about Shab-e Yalda at the very end. It's very interesting and enjoyed learning something new. 😃

I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided my honest review.

Buy Link

Amazon

~ M

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot by sanyumi

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot by sanyumi

Oliver is a correctional officer who is tasked with keeping an eye on a new inmate, Connor Walsh, after he was convicted of double homicide. Their relationship starts off professional, but soon evolves through quiet conversations and mindless flirting. Even though he tries to fight it, Oliver can't reconcile the fact that he's falling in love with a murderer.

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by this fic! I've read this author's work in the past and have always enjoyed it. The depth and complexity of the characters is great, which, in turn, didn't make it so far-fetched that they'd fall in love under such dire circumstances. If you're in the mood for a really compelling read, check this one out!

~ M

photo credit: ABC

I ❤️ Yaoi: Ore to Omae no Stalker Boushihou by Kanbe Gorou & Mongorou

Good morning yaoi lovers! This week's selection is Ore to Omae no Stalker Boushihou by Kanbe Gorou & Mongorou.

When Chino discovers a handsome man potentially stalking a young lady after work, he immediately confronts him and drags him to the police station. Fortunately, it was just a misunderstanding, but to Chino's surprise, Yamada turns his attention to him, bringing him pastries and sweets on a daily basis. Is Yamada a harmless guy with a crush or is he a full blown stalker who should be kept at arm's length?

I'm not quite sure how to take this manga. On one hand, some of the situations are sweet and funny and I root for the main characters to develop a relationship, but on the other, Yamada's actions are very suspicious and I want Chino to run far, far away. 😒 Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts.

~ M

Siren's Lure by zero4life

Siren's Lure by zero4life

When Alec is attacked by a siren and injected with a siren's lure, he is immediately taken to Magnus for treatment. Unfortunately, the only way to lessen the effects of the spell is through sexual contact. Alec is embarrassed, but at the same time desperate for relief. Magnus is extremely cautious because they barely know each other and he doesn't want to take advantage of the situation for his own pleasure...even though he would be helping Alec. How will the two men handle the stressful and tense 12 hours together?

Wow! This story is something else! The sexual tension between Alec and Magnus is so palpable that your heart rate will race during each and every chapter. Even though the sexual aspect of the story is at the forefront, there is also a really interesting background story as well. Alec and Magnus are not in a relationship and they don't really know each other that well. It's known that Magnus is attracted to Alec, but he's still in the closet and afraid to live as his true self, which makes the situation that much more tense and difficult. This is an engrossing read that I definitely recommend!

~ M

picture credit: Freeform

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: Jingle Spell by Chris Ethan

It’s the most horrible time of the year.

Smooches under mistletoes and tacky reindeer decorations.
Newly single, Davey has had enough of wasting his love and having his heart broken. Better to be single, he decides. No more dates. No more falling in love. No more dreaming of happy ever afters. Those are for movies.

He’s resolute.

And then Avery steps into his life, bringing care, compassion, and tenderness in his path.

Davey’s so tempted to hope again. But can an online date and a brief encounter turn into anything other than an ephemeral sexual encounter?

Is there a future for them? Will Avery stay? And most importantly, can Davey bear to offer up his heart to the season’s love—just one more time?

This is a delightfully charming story that I really enjoyed. Both Avery and Davey are likable characters and their courtship was sweet to watch. I only had two complaints, and I can't really call them that because they didn't completely detract from the reading experience. Avery experienced insta-love, and I sometimes couldn't determine if Davey truly liked Avery or just the thought of him. We learn very early that Davey is lonely, tired of random hook-ups and has had his heart broken several times. Even though Avery was wonderful towards Davey, I often got the feeling that Davey was caught up in the Hallmark Christmas movie romance of it all, not the reality. Like I said, these things didn't detract from the story for me, just something I noticed.

If you're looking for a sweet Christmas read that's very low on angst, Jingle Spell is the book for you!

The author provided a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided my honest review.

Buy Link
Amazon

~ M