Warmest Wishes Advent 2018: Week 4

It's Week 4 of the Warmest Wishes Advent Stories! This week we're featuring stories from Elliot Joyce, Chrissy Munder, Cassie Decker, August Li and Ward Maia!

ICYMI: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Make a Circle by Elliot Joyce

Pagan punk musician Lucas is fully prepared to spend this Yule with the rest of the band and his beautiful bass guitar when Oliver, his boyfriend of almost a year, asks if he wants to join the rest of the Han family for their annual winter celebration. It comes as a shock since Ollie has gone to great lengths to keep the two apart, and Lucas always assumed he was the reason. Since they’re planning to be together long-term, Lucas can't say no to meeting Ollie’s parents, but he better brush up on his manners and his Mandarin because this is going to be a holiday season like no other—and it has some surprises in store for both of them.

Ann - 4 Hearts

I liked this short story quite a lot. There was much to learn about a culture different from my own and about transgender identity. The author managed to convey a lot organically by showing rather than telling and I was hooked on Lucas and Oliver before I even knew which direction the story was headed. The Han family dynamics were . . . pretty standard actually. Overall they were loving and open with a few assholes mixed in for normality and generational differences that are to be expected.

Lucas’ stress about meeting Oliver’s family was what I thought the story was going to be focused on, but when the shift happened and Oliver’s relationship with his own family moved to center stage, the story took on a depth I really appreciated reading. An immediate family may be accepting, but getting together over the holidays with the extended family adds stress that made me understand why Oliver was apprehensive. Not that anyone in the family was cruel by any means, but every little act of misgendering is a disrespectful dig that attempts to erode Oliver’s confidence. Oliver had wanted to protect Lucas, but Lucas ended up being the strength and comfort that Oliver deserved. The two of them are perfect together and I loved the little family that they were together.

A Holiday Tradition by Chrissy Munder

Paul Carpenter has his life all planned out. Or at least his father does. The right school, the right degree, the right job. Paul is on track, until a bus accident has him sitting out a coveted internship, babysitting, or being babysat, by a grandfather he barely remembers during his holiday stay in a Florida RV park. His father’s reasoning? How much temptation can Paul find around a bunch of senior citizens playing bingo? There’ll be nothing to distract him from his studies.

It’s hard to muster his holiday spirit when Paul is used to snow and cold, not sun, surf, and plastic flamingos in Santa hats. But then Paul meets Kevin Lombardo, who offers to show him some new holiday traditions. Suddenly Paul’s fast track hits a curve.

Ann - 4 Hearts

D’awwwwwwww

Every year I look forward to Chrissy Munder’s holiday stories and A Holiday Tradition was yet another annual treat. I felt for Paul and the pressure he was under to make his father proud and the broken leg he suffered on a return trip from an art showing ends up being a blessing in disguise. It gets him off the fast track to unhappiness and while he doesn’t see it for awhile, or I should say, he doesn’t see it until he sees Kevin, it’s still a blessing.

The road trip to Florida with Paul’s maternal grandfather is actually adorable and the QV park with all the snowbirds is the perfect place for Paul to convalesce and write the paper he hates writing. He becomes friends with the park owner, dreamy Kevin, and Kevin is a welcome distraction. The flirting, banter and friendship the two share is my absolute favorite thing in this story and something the author excels at. It’s why I look forward to her stories every year. The relationship they built up made me believe in an HEA for them with every fiber of my holiday loving heart.

His father sends him on a roadtrip to Florida with his maternal grandfather and since Paul’s mother passed years ago, his father has done his best in the way he knows how to do it. It’s not what makes Paul happy, but he loves his dad and so he does the college path his father has laid out for him. Paul’s passion isn’t finance, but he’s practical enough to know that his art isn’t going to

Cupcake - 4 Hearts

My kind of Christmas fluff!

I gotta be honest, this story was virtually assured raining hearts on it, over it and above it from me when I read that ole Grandpa Louie has a Mt. Dew addiction, obsession let's just call it a hearty appreciation for the neon green nectar of the gods and call it a day, shall we? Cuz I can relate.

Nothing says 🎶 Christmas Time is Herrrreeee 🎶 like unapologetically horny grandpa Doing The Dew with the promise of pinochle and shuffleboard on the horizon which is bearing down on you at a whopping 45 mph in an RV that doesn't quite fit your full leg cast, now, does it?

See, I really couldn't have asked for much more out of my Christmas fluff onaccounta it being heartwarming without being schmaltzy and all but also because it was funny and didn't take itself too seriously.

Paul and Kevin slow burn into their romance and it was angst free and unfussy with good relationship development that had me rooting for them early on. They are good together and, I believe, good for each other which is always a win in my romance book.

Another win is "A Holiday Tradition" isn't overly reliant on the miracle of Christmas thing and the geriatrics are a hoot. They're enjoying their golden years to the fullest. Walkers be damned!

Munder made the ending realistic rather than going all hearts and flowers which I appreciated. In so doing, I was even more convinced of their longevity, though I wouldn't mind catching up with them were the author so inclined to write more about them in the future.

Great holiday fun is in store for you in this uplifting little story!

Once in a Lifetime by Cassie Decker

All his life, astrophysicist Peter has dreamed of seeing the comet that last appeared on his birthday—and won’t be seen for another thirty-eight years. Since it could be his only chance, he travels to New Zealand. But his dream might be quashed after all when his rental car breaks down on the way to the observatory. He doesn’t even have a place to stay.

Fortunately a New Zealand native with a heart of gold offers assistance. But is kindness the only thing drawing the two men together?

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Once in a Lifetime is short, sweet and hopeful. The romance didn’t really have enough page time to develop, but what I did get I enjoyed. The reason Peter travels to New Zealand is sentimental and said a lot about who he is as a person. I could see why Rangi was enamored of him so quickly. After the two spend some time together with Rangi’s family it was easy to see why Peter felt the same way towards Rangi. Being a fly on the wall with Rangi and his family’s holiday preparations was some lovely insight into Maori culture and tradition. It was a treat for me and something Peter needed as well. The declarations happened rather abruptly, yet still sweetly and there wasn’t quite enough there for me to picture an HEA, but there was definitely material there for an HFN.

Rangi can’t leave Peter stranded so close to Christmas, and his family has plenty of room—and love—to share. While Rangi is attracted to Peter, he’s seen too many of his friends get their hearts broken by tourists. Will they manage to see the comet on its decades-long journey across the sky… and take advantage of a rare opportunity that might never come again?

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3 Hearts

A holiday trip is actually a long journey for Peter to fulfill a promise he made to his dad and himself. He’s traveled across the globe to New Zealand to witness a comet he’s prepared his whole life for. It seems however, that fate has several obstacles in store for Peter, but luckily they also have thrown in Rangi, a friendly Maori local, to help him out and to possibly lend perspective to Peter’s life.

Way too short, this could’ve been great had there been more to it, as this story barely scratches the surface. The sweet and hopeful HFN left me wanting which I suppose is a testament to the setup and the disappointment of not having more.

Colina de Lavanda by August Li

Lord protector of whores, thieves, sorcerers, and deviants.

Owning a parcel of land the railroad needs to cross means Edward gets to run the border town around the station as he sees fit. What starts as a place to indulge his varied appetites becomes a haven to society’s castoffs, and if Edward encourages legends about its founder to flourish, well, he’s not so much a liar as a man who wants to protect all the cultures living in peace. Being mayor means folks might ignore his vices, but they also expect him to fix what goes wrong.

When a crushing heat wave and drought threaten not only the town’s diverse holiday celebrations but its very existence, Edward must turn to the one man he’d rather french kiss a timber rattler than face—the icily elegant Cantonese mage Edward walked out on but never stopped loving.

Ann - 4.5 Hearts

The blurb is quite clear about what to expect with Colina de Lavanda, yet I was still surprised about where the story went and the journey it took to get there. It was completely unique take on a holiday story and I loved that about it so much! The author pulled together many cultures, some fantasy and some magic along the way and the different genres played together very nicely and flowed easily.

Edward is a very flawed hero and that’s what I appreciated about him. He was an accidental good guy which tells you he’s a quality dude at his core. He may not get to the goodness on a straight and narrow path, but he’ll get there. His biggest regret was letting the love of his life, Shu go for his own selfish reasons. It takes his beloved town falling apart for them to come back together and Edward has to do some legit groveling and learning in order to earn Shu back. The magic kept me hooked and Edwards redemption in Shu’s eyes was a holiday present in itself.

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3.5 Hearts

My second Li book and I will say, this author brings to the table intriguing world building and colorful characters!

Edward is the venerable mayor of a small town known to offer peace and acceptance for those who typically don’t belong. However, an unseasonably terribly hot winter that’s only getting worse, can mean doom for the burgeoning community. Something definitely unnatural is afoot, and Edward must ask ex lover Shu for help, bringing to the fore past hurts and lingering regrets. What they ultimately discover is pretty horrific but the situation allows Edward to realize his mistakes and ask for forgiveness and acceptance.

Bridge an old western theme with lots of magic plus some legend and lore and you’ve got quite the entertaining holiday historical. This was unique and sexy with a sweet second chance at love!

Cupcake - 4 Hearts

This is my first experience with this author and they really know how to create an atmosphere. In just a few pages this little desert town of Colina de Lavanda took shape as did the people in it through an interesting mélange of fantasy, historical and romance. The blending of cultures and the spirit of acceptance that pervades this town embodies the spirit of Christmas which is what made this read a rewarding experience.

Summer Santa by Ward Maia

Sam is a journalist struggling with the recent transfer to his magazine’s Brazilian office. He doesn’t speak the language and isn’t all that familiar with the customs. It also isn’t easy to make friends when you’re the new guy. Then there’s James, his friendly and gorgeous coworker, who is so out of Sam’s league, he knows he doesn’t stand any chance with the handsome Brazilian.

Just as Sam is preparing to spend Christmas away from his family, an unexpected surprise spins his lonely holiday plans around. Another unforeseen gift is James’s offer to show Sam some of the city’s holiday traditions. With his significant low self-esteem, Sam doesn’t know what to make of James’s offer and apparent interest. Can some last-minute decorations and an impromptu meal make Sam’s apartment feel more homely?

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Sam thinks he’s going to be spending Christmas alone in a new city where he doesn’t speak the language and he’s resigned himself to the idea. He’s not thrilled but he’s convinced himself that he’s going to run with this new job opportunity even if the timing was not ideal. One perk of the new job is the ability to ogle his dreamy co-worker James. Sam is convinced James is out of his league, he gets tongue tied when they interact and it’s really pretty charming. You know what was really charming though? When it became obvious that James was truly interested in Sam and James could be just as insecure when it came to putting himself out there with Sam.

The unexpected arrival of Sam’s entire family throws Sam off his routine and it works perfectly since he’s already off kilter from James attention and the new job. It’s good for Sam to be just a bit off center, it keeps him from overthinking and missing out on any James-centered activities. Sam’s family is great and this read like a true holiday story regardless of the weather. I totally bought the HEA for Sam and James, it was hopeful and real and gave me all the warm fuzzies.

Maybe everything could come together in a wonderful way—if Sam can find the courage and confidence to accept all James wants to give.

Review copies were provided by the publisher in exchange for honest opinions.

From the clubhouse to your house, wherever you are, Merry Christmas from The Unicorn Mafia. 

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Eli Easton

Eli Easton is her today with an exclusive excerpt of her new holiday novel that's already caused some fangirl/boy squealing in the MM community. Be sure to enter to win last year's holiday novel too! 

Desperately Seeking Santa Exclusive Excerpt:  Gabe learns about the mystery Santa

By Eli Easton

Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary to Boys Meets Boy Reviews!  I’m looking forward to a good six weeks of Christmas books and movies this year. How about you?  This is my fifth year releasing a Christmas novella. I love to write them almost as much as I love to read them.

The protagonists in this year’s book, “Desperately Seeking Santa”, are Gabe, a journalism student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Mack “the Mountain” McDonall, a 6’10”, 285-pound star college wrestler. Gabe first sees Mack (and drools over him) when he attends a wrestling match with his friend, Jordan. Jordan sets Gabe and Mack up, but it doesn’t go too well at first, thanks to Gabe’s callous-sounding remarks about how he intends to “out” a mystery Santa who performs at a local charity dinner. Of course, eventually Gabe convinces Mack that he’s not a Scrooge and deserves a chance.

I’m sharing an exclusive excerpt from the book here. In this scene, Gabe been assigned to write about a Christmas charity dinner for the local newspaper. He’s trying to find an interesting angle on what seems like a completely boring story. He’s about given up hope of the story until he learns one unusual fact….

EXCERPT – Mystery Santa

The Elks Lodge in Madison was a few blocks away from the capitol on Lake Monona. It was a two-story white building with huge windows, a beat-up parking lot, and a dock out back. Like a lot of Madison, Wisconsin, it was a mix of an awesome natural setting with a Midwest 70s plain-ass building. It was November 30th, the day was chilly and gray, and that made me all the more aware of how time was slipping away from me this semester, and how close the end of the year was.

Walter Stickle was the Elk in charge of the charity dinner, and he was about what I expected. He looked to be in his 80s with a bald head, fragile build, plaid shirt, old-man trousers, and too-white tennis shoes. But he was jovial as he shuffled ahead of me into a big hall. The room had rust-colored carpet, wood paneling on one wall, a small raised stage, an American flag on a stand, chairs stacked to the side, and big banquet tables. It was clean but drab and uninspired, a church meeting hall sort of space. The sole redeeming factor was that one whole wall was glass and overlooked the lake. The lapping water was beautiful even on a gray day like today.

“This is where we have the Christmas dinner every year,” Walter said. “Usually, we sell around three hundred tickets, but only about two hundred folks show up for the dinner and entertainment. Lots of people just like to contribute. It’s for a good cause.”

I typed that into my phone’s notepad app. “There’s entertainment?”

“Well, sure! We’re not heathens,” he teased with a smile. “Let’s see. This year we have a string quartet from over to the college. They’ll play before and during dinner. Then carolers come in while dessert is being served. They dressed up in Victorian-like costumes, you know. Once all the plates are cleared, the kids come in and sing a song. Then Santa Claus makes his big appearance.” He gestured broadly. “That’s always the highlight of the evening!”

Be still my heart. “What kids come in?” My thumbs flew over my phone.

“Why, the kids from St. Mark’s,” Walter had a killer duh look for an eighty-year-old.

“Oh. Right.”

I’d checked out the Elks’ website and downloaded the PDF flyer about the charity dinner. It was the thirtieth year they’d had it, and the dinner benefited St. Mark’s Children’s Home in Madison.

“Do all the kids from the children’s home come here for that?” I had no idea what difference it made, but I asked the question anyway.

“Oh, yes! They wouldn’t miss it. They get dinner too, but theirs is served over in the lounge. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese. Kid-friendly foods, you know. I can show you the lounge if you want.”

“Sure. In a minute.”

I looked over my notes with a sinking feeling. This interview and tour were as dreary as I’d imagined. I’d made a list of questions last night, and I scrolled through them now. Some of them were things that, standing there, I could not bring myself to ask Walter, like about the relevancy of the Elks today, why their membership was declining, and if they thought millennials were responsible for the death of fraternal organizations. I’d tried to think of something, anything, with a hint of real substance and controversy.

Desperate, I picked one of my favorites. “So… the tickets are a hundred dollars a person. Exactly how much of that goes to the kids?”

Walter put his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Good question. All of it. We get the food and drinks donated from local businesses. I have a list I can give you. It’d be nice to acknowledge them; everyone’s so generous. And of course we don’t charge anything for the use of the lodge. The cooks and servers are Elks and we donate our time. So, you see, every cent we raise in ticket sales goes to the kids.”

I noted it down. Not exactly an expose in the making there.

“What’s the history of the event? Why did the Elks start raising money for St. Mark’s specifically?” I asked. Maybe there was something interesting and gossipy in the backstory. An out-of-wedlock baby given up for adoption? A young Elk in love with a perky orphanage matron?

“Oh, the Elks have always raised funds for charity, especially when it comes to children. We raise money for over ten local organizations. I can’t say exactly why we started with St. Mark’s, ‘cept that it’s a children’s home here in Madison. It’d be odder if the Elks didn’t do something for ’em.”

“Oh.” Dead ends. Dead ends everywhere! I was sure Will Ripley never had to make something out of a story like this one.

“You don’t look too happy, son,” Walter said. “Maybe you can tell me what you’re looking for, and I can help you out.”

I was ashamed to have been caught pouting. I smiled. “Oh, no! It’s fine.”

He regarded me with sharp eyes. “Uh-huh. I suppose this is a pretty boring story, year after year. But we do appreciate the publicity. Helps us sell tickets, and usually St Mark’s sees an uptick in direct donations when the article comes out too. So I’ve heard.”

“Yeah, of course, I’m glad we can help.”

I scanned my list again. Over consumption of alcohol? Yeah, no doubt it was a wild and crazy night. No, there was nothing here. And I felt like a shit for wanting drama and scandal. Poor Walter. He was such a nice guy.

“I suppose you’re new to the paper?” he asked.

Resigned, I nodded and dropped my phone into a pocket. “Yeah. I’m a journalism student at UW.”

Walter nodded knowingly. “Believe it or not, I remember how it feels, trying to make your mark. I enlisted in the Navy at eighteen. They couldn’t make a hurdle high enough for me. Had to prove myself, you see.”

I smiled. It was hard to picture Walter as a young man, but for a brief second, I managed, seeing him scrambling over some boot camp wall. Bet he was cute.

Jesus, getting old sucked.

“So let’s see…” Walter pondered. “What would make this a more interesting article for you…?”

“Oh, that’s really not necessary.” Dios. I felt like a tool.

Walter waved me off. “No, no. There’s got to be something. Let’s see.” He tapped his chin. “There was the year a candidate for mayor came and introduced a pretty blonde around as his wife. Came to find out later, it wasn’t his wife at all.” Walter winked. “Though I don’t suppose that sort of scandal matters much these days, and this was years ago. Oh—I know! There is one mystery around the Christmas dinner.”

I was about to protest again, but his words hooked me. I blinked. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

He smiled deviously and leaned in as if to impart a secret. “Our Santa Claus is a mystery man.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, no one knows who he is. He contacts us every year on the phone in early December to confirm that he’s coming. He shows up the night of the dinner in costume, hands out gifts, greets everyone, ho-ho-hos, takes pictures with the kids, and leaves, still in costume.” Walter shrugged. “He’s never told us his name.”

“But… don’t you have to write him a check or something?”

Walter waved his hand like he smelled something bad. “Oh, no, we don’t pay him! He does it for free.”

That seemed weird to me. I wasn’t grasping it. “So… your Santa is not an Elk?”

“Oh, definitely not an Elk.” Walter shook his head, chuckling as if it was a dumb question. “Believe me, there’s no one like him in our group!”

“Well… how did he start doing it then? He must have interviewed, talked to someone about the job at some point.” My voice sounded a little overeager. Something about this was sparking a flame deep in my little reporter’s heart.

“Now that’s an interesting story,” Walter said philosophically. “See, for about twenty years, we had the same Santa, a guy named George. Very nice man. But then poor George got cancer. And one year—guess it was about four years ago now—he called me up and said he didn’t think he was up to it. He insisted on sending someone around to replace him. That night, a new Santa showed up. And he was great. Really good with the kids, you know. Made a big impression.” Walter chuckled. “So I told him he was welcome to come back again, and he said he would, and he’s been coming ever since! But I’ve never seen his face without the white wig and beard. Why, he could be the real Santa Claus for all I know!”

Walter’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Was he pulling my leg? Well, duh, about the guy really being Santa, he definitely was.

“Curious,” I said slowly. “Yeah. That’s… sort of curious.”

“Told ya I’d think of something! Now come on, let me show you the lounge.”

The lounge where the kids got their dinner was a big room with a bar at one end and a mounted TV. Walter also showed me the dock out back.

When the tour was over, I sat out in the parking lot in my car. I was intrigued by the idea of a mystery Santa Claus. Could he be a celebrity? A secret philanthropist? A homeless person? Someone with buried secrets? The idea reminded me of the movie Miracle on 34th Street, my favorite Christmas movie of all time and one of my guilty pleasures.

Okay, so the Elks’ Santa wouldn’t turn out to be the real Kris Kringle. All my journalistic wishing in the world wouldn’t bring that story to my door. But I might be able to spin some of that wistful feeling into the Elks story? Maybe?

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. There was something there, a story that could get people engaged and talking. I could feel it.

Hell, I was engaged. That was a good sign, right?

Also, investigative journalism was digging out the hidden truth and reporting it. So if I could make enough out of this mystery-Santa angle, I could use it for my class project too.

Por favor, Santa, all I want for Christmas is a brilliant story. One that will knock their socks off. Sincerely, su pequeño Gabriel.

                                                                                              

Have a very merry Christmas and enjoy “Desperately Seeking Santa”.

Eli Easton

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Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, seasons greetings.

Whatever you are doing over the coming days - be it celebration or the norm, at work or at home, we hope they are wonderful for you. May everyone, near or far, find peace and love.

Spread the love. Share the love. And read something good.

Happy Holidays.

The Unicorn Mafia.