Guest Review: The Christmas Pundit (Laurel Holidays #2) by V.L. Locey

Will two complete opposites learn to cross party lines to benefit their beloved hometown and save Christmas?

Evan Griffiths is enjoying his tenure as the mayor of Cedarburg, Pennsylvania. While it may barely be a blip on the state map, it’s where he grew up, and he’s thrilled to be at the helm of the tiny rural community. With the recent election in the past, Evan can focus on his agenda to bring Cedarburg out of the fifties. Being the first gay mayor in the town’s history is a good start but there’s plenty more to do. His first big job is expanding the yearly Christmas Carnival to lure tourists to his fiscally challenged birthplace. Things seem to be moving along at a good pace then a ghost from Christmases past arrives on the morning bus.

As soon as Gideon Pierce returns to Cedarburg he picks up right where he left off back in elementary school—tormenting Evan at every turn. Only this time instead of shoving Evan down on the playground, Gideon is bedeviling him with snippy editorials in the local paper. Gideon is no longer the gangly, bucktoothed kid he used to be. When his gaze keeps touching on Gideon’s mouth and the appreciative fire in his brilliant holly green eyes, Evan is finding it harder and harder to keep his mind on witty replies to Gideon’s cutting viewpoints.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This was a lovely festive book. I adored Evan from the outset, and his parents were such brilliantly engaging characters! I did find it a little harder to warm to Gideon (I was team Evan from the start and Gideon had been such a mean bully* when they were kids. *not really a bully).

Evan is Cedarburg’s first gay mayor. A situation that seemed like science fiction within my lifetime. I was so glad to read a story where Evan just *was* in his small town and that this could really be a real thing is amazing. There are plenty of town characters and the Christmas carnival was described so well, it was like being there! The local newspaper was so very fortunate to land the somewhat famous former resident and local-boy-made-good as the new editor. It’s a shame the arrival of Gideon was not such good news for those sensitive boys terrorised throughout their childhood though…

From surprise arrival to the small town gossip machine, Poor Evan’s happy, sensible, lonely, busy life was ruined*. *made infinitely better.

I loved the book sharing, the accidental meetings, the discovery that Gideon’s childhood had been a horror and the part Evan’s parents played in trying to keep Gideon safe. The whole thing was a delight, with longing looks, quiet evenings and snippy verbal battles, and of course, the totally necessary HEA.

All in all, it was a delight! Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.