Blog Tour + Giveaway: When Heart Becomes Home by Pat Henshaw

It's the final day of When Heart Becomes Home blog tour! Check out today's stop, more info about the second chance romance from JMS Books and enter in the $10 Amazon gift cards giveaway courtesy of author Pat Henshaw and Other Worlds Ink! (2 winners) 

Pat Henshaw has a new MM contemporary romance out: When Heart Becomes Home. And there's a giveaway!

Is there a time limit on love and forgiveness?

Fifteen years ago, Manny didn’t show up to take Wes to the Shelby High School prom as he promised. Instead, Wes found Manny’s letter jacket at their meeting spot without a note or any explanation.

From college to his current job in Monterey, California, Wes has carted the jacket around as a memento of his teenage love and rejection. This year he decides enough is enough. He’s attending the high school class reunion, returning Manny’s jacket, and going home free to find the real love of his life.

When Manny sees Wes at the reunion tour of the new high school facilities, he’s determined not to let his teenage lover leave without them clearing the air and possibly getting back together.

Through reunion activities such as a quiz bowl, meet-and-greet meals, and a formal banquet with a prom-like ball as well as outside activities like the quinceañera of Manny’s niece, Wes and Manny work through the lies and misunderstandings of the past.

With so much to reconcile and forgive on both sides, will they end up together? Or go their separate ways with only memories of the past?

Universal Buy Link | QueeRomance Ink

---

Giveaway

Pat is giving away two $10 Amazon gift cards with this tour:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47175/?

---

Excerpt

Manny and I had never talked about college or the future. We’d been too centered on sex.

Because of all my wanderings through the past, it took me a few seconds to process what he’d told me. He’d written me a letter, and on the night of the prom, he had put it with the jacket at our prearranged meeting place.

He’d left the jacket—for me. He hadn’t crushed it into the ground in some undecipherable message. He’d left it with a note for me.

What had happened? Who’d come along and taken the note? And tried to blot out the jacket? Why hadn’t he or she taken it, too?

There was still a lot of food left on our plates when we both stopped eating and sat staring at each other.

“Okay, please tell me what happened from your side. What did your letter say? I have to make sense of this.”

He put his hand on the table, open for me to grab it with mine. We needed to hold on as we looked down at the rift that had separated us for fifteen years.

“What the letter said was I was stupid and asked you to forgive me. I knew I was gay. You knew I was gay. Hell, most of the town and the class probably knew, too. Everyone but my mother who insisted I wasn’t. According to her, none of the Garcias or the Escobars had ever been. She had read about homosexuality running in family lines. We had no gay men in the family. Therefore, I could not possibly be gay.” His thumb started rubbing over the back of my hand. “But I am. I knew it then. And I know now she knew it.”

The last part was said so low and his thumb over my skin was so seductive the words at first bypassed my brain. He kept speaking, so I had to scramble to keep up.

“Her big ambition for me wasn’t to get into a good college and have a fulfilling career like some parents wanted for their kids. No, it was for me to be a chambelane for as many of the daughters of friends as she could arrange, pick one of the girls, get married, and have as many kids as the girl would allow.” His thumb stopped, and he stared into my eyes.

“All I wanted to do was go on dates with you and for us to go to the prom. Together. As boyfriends. That’s all.”

His soulful eyes reflected the conflict between him and his mother.

“In the end, she won a tiny victory that has nicked away at my soul. When it came time for me to stand like a man, I failed. I cut myself down to her size. I agreed to play her game of life.” He looked away and sighed. “I learned the quinceañera waltz. I partnered her friends’ daughters. She smiled at me and bragged about her dutiful son. She dangled me by the strings she had woven since I was a baby.”

A short silence descended on us. I had nothing to say and knew he had a lot more to tell me.

---

Author Bio

Pat Henshaw has spent her life surrounded by words: teaching English composition at the junior college level; writing book reviews for newspapers, magazines, and websites; helping students find information as a librarian; and promoting PBS television programs.

Pat was born and raised in Nebraska and since then has lived at various times in Texas, Colorado, Northern Virginia, and now Sacramento, California. Over the years, Pat has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Europe, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Egypt, and Stowe, Vermont, where she now has family.

Author Website: https://www.pathenshaw.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenshawAuthor

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998437.Pat_Henshaw

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/pat-henshaw/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00BPDEDEA

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Heart of the Holidays by Pat Henshaw

Author Pat Henshaw and Other Worlds Ink visit on the Heart of the Holidays blog tour! Read more about the holiday romance and enter in the $10 JMS Books gift card giveaway!

 

Pat Henshaw has a new MM holiday romance out: "Heart of the Holidays." And there's a giveaway!

Everyone hopes his road to happily ever after will be carefree and smooth, but too often hair-pin turns and detours seem to get in the way.

Having thought he was on the road to forever before, former Silicon Valley programmer Dan Lassiter is leery about pedaling down it again. His elderly companion Charlie urges him to get to know Rick Reardon whose bakery is across the street from Dan’s bicycle shop.

Under the watchful eye of Charlie, Dan and Rick take tentative steps towards each other, all the while trying to avoid potholes such as exes, homophobes, and family problems.

As summer turns to fall and then winter, they hope that the road will be smooth going from their first date and first kiss to having what Rick’s sister euphemistically calls their “sleep overs”. At each step, though, they are tripped up and wonder why there seem to be so many bumps in their road.

Maybe Dan and Rick should heed some of Charlie’s sage advice or maybe they should listen to their hearts instead of the warnings from their pasts.

QRI Universal Buy Link

---

Giveaway

Pat is giving away two $10 JMS Books gift cards with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47163/?

---

Excerpt

The kids and their mom arrived after lunch, right about the time Charlie usually turned in for a nap. He gave them the once over as they got out of the car, nodded to me with raised eyebrows, and ambled back toward the house. I guess he figured he’d meet them sometime, probably sooner rather than later, so he didn’t have to knock himself out now. It was the siesta part of his day.

After the kids tumbled from the car and jumped on Rick, he pointed at my open garage and waved at me. I waved back, and they galloped across the street.

“Hi, I’m McKinsey! You can call me Mack.” The red-haired boy danced in front of me. His hair blazed in the sun and was as bright as his green eyes and freckles. He didn’t look anything like his uncle. “So these are all the bikes I can ride? Can I try them out first?”

“Yeah, but don’t go very far. I’ve got an app keeping an eye on them.”

“Cool. Bye.”

He didn’t wait for me to explain further, but ran toward the racks so fast that I thought he would barrel into them. A small hand on my arm stopped me from chasing after him.

“Don’t worry. He’s careful. He won’t hurt the bikes. We won’t go far because of mom.” Since I wasn’t worried about the bicycles, I looked down into brown eyes, a solemn face, and curly sable hair. “I’m Leslie. Everyone calls me Lee. My brother throws himself into his activities. I don’t. Can we choose any of the bicycles?”

I glanced up at their uncle who shrugged at me. The small hand let go of my arm, so I looked down at Lee again.

“Yes. You have three choices. One, you can select a bike and ride it the entire time you’re here. Two, you could come back to the garage and pick another one to ride for the day, the half-day, the hour, or however long you want it. That means if you wanted, you could ride every bike in this place in one day. Or your third choice, you could stay at the bakery and not go bike riding at all.” I winked at her. “I would choose the bakery except then I’d look like a human lead balloon if I did.”

She giggled and put her hand on my arm again.

“I like you, Mr. Dan. I think we’ll get along fine.” She nodded and gave me a long assessing once over. “Don’t worry. You don’t look like a balloon at all. Not at all.”

If she’d been in her teens, I would have thought she was flirting. But Lee seemed as if she was merely making an observation.

I liked both kids and their approaches to life. I’d be willing to bet Charlie would like them too when he got up from his nap and met them.

Unlike her brother, Lee sauntered over to the bikes, many of which were now askew thanks to Mack’s unsorting process. She carefully started to right those tossed aside. She stopped at a turquoise bicycle, hopped on, and waved to me and her uncle as she sped away. Her brother was long gone. The bike rack still needed straightening which would give me something to do while Charlie snoozed.

I started toward it. Rick had surged across the street and was striding up to me.

“Here. I’ll help.” He stood staring down at the mishmash of bikes. “If you show me how to untangle them without making things worse."

I nodded.

“I don’t get it. Aren’t you afraid people will just take off with your bikes and you’ll never see them again?”

I watched him bend over to pick up one on the ground. My groin tightened at the sight. We were going out to dinner. Together. Soon. My heart and dick lifted as my mind piled up image after image of dinner and afterward. It was about time for me to get back in the saddle as it were.

---

Author Bio

Pat Henshaw, born and raised in Nebraska, has lived on the U S's three coasts, in Texas, Virginia, and now California.

Before she retired, she held a number of jobs, including theatrical costumer, newspaper features reporter and movie reviewer, librarian, junior college English instructor, and publicist.

She also loves to travel and has visited Canada, Mexico, Europe, Egypt, Thailand, and Central America as well as almost all fifty US states.

Now retired, she enjoys reading and writing as well as visiting her older daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren on the East Coast and playing havoc with her younger daughter's life in NorCal.

She thanks you for reading her books and wants you to remember that every day is a good day for romance.

Author Website: https://pathenshaw.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/foothillspride

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenshawAuthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phenshaw2018/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998437.Pat_Henshaw

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/pat-henshaw/

Author Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/pathenshaw

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Redesigning Max (Foothills Pride #2) by Pat Henshaw

Author Pat Henshaw and Other Worlds Ink host today's blog tour stop for re-release, Redesigning Max (Foothills Pride #2) from JMS Books! Find out more about the contemporary romance and enter in the giveaway for your chance to win a $10 JMS Books gift card!

Renowned interior designer Fredi Zimmer is surprised when outdoorsman Max Greene, owner of Greene’s Outdoors, hires him to revamp Max’s rustic cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Fredi is an out-and-proud Metro male whose contact with the outdoors is from his car to the doorway of the million-dollar homes he remodels, and to Fredi, Max is a typical straight man’s man.

When Max blatantly and clumsily flirts with Fredi, Fredi’s stereotypical view of Max is shattered. Is this a build-up to a gay bashing? Cautiously believing Max is closeted and is trying to come out, Fredi decides he’s game to put a little spice into Max’s life, whether it’s in the colors and fixtures he’ll use to turn Max's dilapidated cabin into a showplace or over one of the many lunches and dinners they share talking about the remodel. Who can blame a guy for adding a little sensual pleasure as he retools Max’s life visually? Besides, Fredi has a backup plan if he’s wrong about Max’s intentions.

Life would be all wine and roses if it weren’t for Max’s former friends and their conservative families. Alarmed with Max’s obvious infatuation, they make it their business to save him from sliding into hell.

With the battle on, will Fredi and Max win the fight for a life of happiness together?


JMS Books | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | Google Play | iBooks | Barnes & Noble Print | Barnes & Noble Nook | Kobo | Universal Buy Link | QueeRomance Ink About the Series
During the recession at the beginning of the 21st century, many gays and lesbians moved from the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento to the Sierra Foothills. FLAG (Foothills Lesbians and Gays) was formed. This series was written for them.

Other Books in the Series:



What's In a Name | Redesigning Max | Behr Facts | When Adam Fell

---

Giveaway

Pat is giving away a $10 JMS Books gift card with this tour – enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47145/

---

Excerpt

Designer Fredi and adventure guide Max go to lunch right after they meet:

By the time we got to the Rock Bottom Cafe, I felt like I’d bottomed out. I was hungry, tired, and feeling the first twinges of a headache.

Max hadn’t exaggerated about how much I’d hate the Rock Bottom’s decor. It was the worst of rural cafe: hellacious plastic flowers, grotesque plastic-covered booths, peeling gangrene-painted beadboard walls, pockmarked linoleum floor, and faded food-stained menus. It made the cabin look almost palatial, except it didn’t smell as bad.

As Max slid into one side of a booth and I into the other, he said, “Food’s great here. Okay?”

I glared at him, but I had to admit the odors coming from the kitchen wove seductively around us.

After we’d ordered and had gotten glasses of iced tea, which I liberally dosed with artificial sweetener, Max leaned back in his side of the booth and blew out a little breath.

“So guess here’s what you need to know about me.” He was looking at the tabletop. “I was an only kid when my folks died. Raised by my aunt and uncle with their four boys. I was the youngest and nobody cared what I thought, so I don’t talk much.”

Oh dear. I wasn’t sure which of those statements I should answer, if any. My heart bled for the beautiful man in front of me who would give me a raging hard-on if I let my libido take control.

His words and lack of self-pity made me want to create a unique space where he’d feel completely at home and that would soothe him when he needed it. I probably wouldn’t end up his BFF or someone he could unbend with, but I could create a warm cocoon to shelter and coddle the man or let him entertain his friends comfortably.

The image of the young Max feeling like an outsider when he was thrust on his uncaring aunt and uncle to raise was banished by the waitress who put lunch in front of us.

“Oh. My. God!” I nearly drooled into the chili and homemade bread as I tasted them. “This is incredible.”

“What’d I tell you?” Max gloated. “Said you shouldn’t be put off by the decor. Some of us are more than our decor.”

I spooned up a couple of bites, then looked at Max. “You really do think I’m a snob, don’t you?”

Why was it so easy to get him to blush? I hadn’t a clue, but his quick, mercurial red cheeks had me intrigued.

“No, no, I don’t think you’re a snob,” he protested. “I mean, you’re just so….” He waved a couple of fingers at me, but kept his elbows on the table as if protecting his bowl of chili.

“I’m so what?”

Max shrugged. “I don’t know. Beautiful. And fancy,” he added, ducking his head over his bowl.

Ah, I understood now. Max was intimidated by my suit.

“Look, you came to get me in the coffee shop. I was dressed to take a rich lady through her house later this afternoon. I can work in jeans and a T-shirt”—did Max think I wore suits every day?—“or anything I want. Pajamas even. You just caught me on a suit day.” Which, I didn’t add, was too often for even my overblown sense of style.

Now Max was staring at me.

“Yeah, right. You wear jeans,” he scoffed, but looked interested, intrigued.

I shrugged. “Okay, not when I’m with a client. At home I’m way more casual.” I might have sounded a tad defensive.

“Yeah, right,” Max muttered with a grin.

I left it lying there. It wasn’t worth fighting about. But it bothered me that he saw such a divide between us. I was just a man, wasn’t I? Just like him, right? What was he going on about? Sheesh.

---

Author Bio



Pat Henshaw, born and raised in Nebraska, has lived on the U S’s three coasts, in Texas, Virginia, and now California. Before she retired, she held a number of jobs, including theatrical costumer, newspaper features reporter and movie reviewer, librarian, junior college English instructor, and publicist. She also loves to travel and has visited Canada, Mexico, Europe, Egypt, and Central America as well as almost all fifty US states.

Now retired, she enjoys reading and writing as well as visiting her older daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren on the East Coast and playing havoc with her younger daughter’s life in NorCal. She thanks you for reading her books and wants you to remember that every day is a good day for romance.

Author Website: https://pathenshaw.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/pathenshawauthor/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenshawAuthor

Author Amazon: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/pat-henshaw/

Release Blast + Giveaway: What's in a Name? (Foothills Pride #1) by Pat Henshaw

Don't miss today release blast from author Pat Henshaw and Other Worlds Ink for re-release, What's in a Name? (Foothills Pride #1) now from JMS Books! Learn more about the contemporary romance and enter in the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway!

Pat Henshaw has a new Contemporary MM romance out, book one in the Foothills pride series: "What's In a Name?"

On his 30th birthday, barista Jimmy Patterson decides to get rip-roaring drunk after his roommate-boyfriend abandons him at a bar in the tiny California foothills town of Stone Acres where they have relocated from San Francisco. Jimmy is immediately rescued by the burly owner of Stonewall Saloon, who has had his eye on Jimmy since the first time he came in months before.

Jimmy’s fine with being saved but wants to know the bartender’s real name since the guy has worn name tags with an assortment of names every time Jimmy has spoken to him. After Jimmy nicknames him Guy, the bartender decides to turn guessing his first name into a game, giving Jimmy a guess a day for a week and promising to wine and dine him during that time. If Jimmy’s guess is wrong, he owes Guy a zing-zow, knock-your-socks-off kiss. Jimmy agrees since this sounds like a slam-dunk, win-win deal.

While he searches for cringe-worthy given names, Jimmy is distracted by the destruction of his shopping mall coffee shop. He is also beset by the town council that doesn’t want him to buy an historic bank building in Old Town Stone Acres to set up another coffee shop. The celestial high of being romanced by Guy and the abyss of business worries don’t seem like the road to happily ever after. However, Jimmy and Guy might be in for a big surprise.

About the Series:

After housing prices rose to unbelievable heights in the San Francisco metropolitan area at the turn of the current century, gay men headed for the Sierra Nevada foothills. The historic former mining town of Stone Acres with its gay sheriff seemed like the perfect place to settle. But the conservative white descendants of the early town fathers seem ready to fight back. Is a move East the solution the gay men are looking for?


JMS Books | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CAN | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | QueeRomance Ink

---

Giveaway

Pat is giving away a $10 Amazon Giftcard with this blog tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47133/?

---

Excerpt

Is there anything worse than waking up with a really bad hangover? The answer, I found out that morning, was a solid yes. My particular hell was waking up in a strange bed with someone lying next to me, who’s snoring away so loud I was surprised the neighbors weren’t complaining. What made it all worse was I had to pee really, really bad, and I didn’t have a clue where the bathroom was.

I lay on my back taking stock. I was naked, covered with a beige sheet and navy blue comforter in a huge bed, my head taking up most of the California king space.

Where the heck was I? I had no clue. I really didn’t care because I was hurting so badly it’d probably be better if whoever lived here would just shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Still, I had to pee, so I slowly swam to the edge of the bed, trying not to move any body parts. Which was a complete failure. I ached all over. Had someone beaten me up?

As I reached the side of the bed and peered over the edge at the floor a few stories below, I groaned. Where was the ladder to climb down to the carpeting? I clutched the edge of the bed with one hand and rolled to my side.

“Hey, where you going, Jimmy?”

I hadn’t noticed the snoring had stopped until the voice boomed in my ear.

Carefully, I turned my head.

The Stonewall Saloon bartender with the nametag of Alex last night was peering at me over his chest of hair. His eyes were squinted. A slender beam of light from a gap in the curtains was aimed at his face.

“Bathroom. Pee.” I sighed. “Gotta pee.”

“Right.” He groaned and caused a tidal wave on the mattress even though it wasn’t a water bed.

My body reacted with the seismic quake and my stomach protested. I swallowed back the rising pain even though I knew my gut had nothing left in it to come up.

I felt large hands under my arms.

“Right this way.”

His voice clanged from one of my ears to the other.

He turned me, and we marched to a doorway and into the bathroom. Carefully, he lowered my nude body down onto the toilet.

“No spilling.” He turned away and walked into the hallway.

I pushed my limp dick between my legs and did my thing, not spilling a drop on the bathroom floor or the toilet seat. Then I rested my arm on the sink counter next to the toilet and put my head on my arm.

“Nope, no snoozing here.” His voice boomed. “C’mon. It’s way too early for this shit.”

Again arms lifted me. After I balanced myself, one hand left. The toilet roiled. The hand returned.

“We’d usually wash our hands,” the voice murmured through me, “but I think we’ll skip it this time.”

Back in bed, covered, dry mouthed, I decided it was again nap time.

###

THE NEXT time I woke, I was awake. Awake awake. Oh my God, where in the hell am I awake. Shit, I’m in big trouble awake. Where are my clothes awake.

I took inventory. No pain in the ass. That was a relief. No smell of semen. Check, and another sigh. No aches and pains that weren’t directly related to way, way too many shots and beers, check. No clothes. No clothes?

I was okay, pretty much, other than naked, hungover, and in a stranger’s house.

Damn it, I was thirty years old, naked in a stranger’s bed, with only a hazy recollection of what happened after my now former boyfriend Alex stranded me at the Stone Acres’ historic saloon.

I had a hazy memory of the bartender helping me to the bar bathroom the night before and this morning. So was I at his house? If so, how’d I get here?

“Um,” I tried to say, but my mouth was glued shut.

I reached over to feel the side of the bed. Still there. Then I reached over to the other side. Nothing. No one.

Okay, I was alone in a strange bed as my memory filtered back online. I had been an ass, and the bartender with the faux name of Alex had taken care of me anyway. I owed him my firstborn child, should such a thing happen to me now in my boyfriendless state. I owed Alex the bartender everything, including my pride and gratitude.

What I really needed to do was apologize for causing him so much trouble.

Slowly I sat up and then stood. My knees protested, so I sat back down and then tried again. This time my knees cooperated.

---

Author Bio

Pat Henshaw, born and raised in Nebraska, has lived on the U. S.’s three coasts, in Texas, Virginia, and now California. Before she retired, she held a number of jobs, including theatrical costumer, newspaper features reporter and movie reviewer, librarian, junior college English instructor, and publicist. She also loves to travel and has visited Canada, Mexico, Europe, Egypt, and Central America as well as almost all fifty U. S. states.

Now retired, she enjoys reading and writing as well as visiting her older daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren on the East Coast and playing havoc with her younger daughter’s life in NorCal.

She thanks you for reading her books and wants you to remember that Every day is a good day for romance.

Author Website: https://www.pathenshaw.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/pathenshawauthor/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenshaw

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998437.Pat_Henshaw

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/pat-henshaw/

Author Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/pathenshaw

Review: DSP Advent: Homemade for the Holidays Week 3

Choosing the right gift for that special someone can be the most daunting part of the holidays. In a sea of mass-produced items, why buy when you can DIY? The end-of-the-year festivities are the best time for crafts, whether they’re made from yarn, paper, flour, or even code. And with some love and luck, these special presents might inspire a romance that lasts an evening… or a lifetime. Nothing makes the season merry and bright like a gift handmade from the heart, and to bring smiles to the faces of the ones they care about, these guys are willing to get creative.









Week 3 is here!

Hole-Hearted by Sam Burns

Pediatrician Luce Wright’s bad breakup gets worse when his drunk ex drives a car through his house a week before Christmas. His whole family is coming over in just a few days, and he can’t have a hole with a tarp over it in the middle of his dining room. Fortunately his neighbor’s son is moving back into town, and he owns a construction company. Can Luce and his homemade cookies persuade Darren to mend the hole in the house… and maybe the one in Luce’s heart too?

Ann - 2.5 Hearts

Well, that escalated quickly. Hole-Hearted is an extra short story so the romance/lust approached light speed to make it be a thing in 20 pages. I honestly thought I got to know Luce (and his family’s dynamic) pretty well in the page time given, so I was pretty happy in the ‘getting to know the MC’ department. Darren was more of a shell of a character, he didn’t get much beyond a basic description and history.

Luce’s ex causes major damage to Sam’s house right before Christmas and it’s super handy dandy that his neighbors son has returned home and has his own construction company. Soooo, he’s giving Luce an idea of time for repairs, etc., comments are made about how the neighbor wants to fix them up and wham, bam, thank you Darren, the two are dry humping in the damaged dining room. It kind of felt like a little too much gay convenience, as in, your both gay, so you should obviously date. 

There was a very optimistic HFN, but I didn’t get enough chemistry to base that on anything solid. Both characters and their respective families were happy though, so yay for home repairs and neighborly convenience!


A Holiday Homecoming by Liv Rancourt

Ten years ago Jon’s passion for the piano took him across the country to New York, where a demanding concert career consumed his life and left him no time to look back. His father’s stroke is the only thing that brings him home to Seattle. The sickroom makes for a dreary holiday until Jon runs into Bo, whose inner light can make anything sparkle.

Bo loves the holidays: the food, the crafts, the glitter! A fling with an old school friend—who grew up to be his celebrity crush—makes a good thing better. The season turns sour, though, when Jon is offered a gig he can’t refuse. He wants Bo to share the moment, but Bo doesn’t fly. Anywhere. Ever. 

Is this goodbye, or will a handmade ornament bring Jon home to Bo?

Ann - 4 Hearts

I liked this one. It’s a little darker and a little bittersweet, but Bo makes everything better and he was the necessary light in A Holiday Homecoming.

Jon is at a bit of a forced crossroads with his family and career. He’s come home to help his mom care for his father who recently suffered a stroke. They aren’t the closest of famiies and reading about their lives before and after was actually kind of sad. Jon and his dad have some undefined animosity between them that was alluded to and witnessed, but not really explored. So, I felt like something was missing a bit there.

Now, Bo, Bo is a force to be reckoned with. Bo and Jon were friends in middle school and Bo still lives in the town they grew up in. He’s close with his family, makes friends almost before he even meets them and he and Jon have some chemistry between them that needs exploring. They were too young to know what they were feeling back in the day, but now they know they want/need each other.

Jon is there temporarily though and it’s pretty easy for circumstances to convince him to rethink his future. Which I really appreciated. A lot of times a character will dig their heels in for “reasons” without giving the sappy stuff a chance to change their mind. Jon finally decides to give himself a full opportunity at life and it’s amazing what a compromise or two can do.

I completely bought into a HEA for these two, it’s kind of necessary.


Love in 24 Frames by C.S. Poe

Declan Groves is a CPA in New York City. His adult life is dictated by routine and borderline monotony. The need to express himself, in ways his career and crippling shyness have never allowed, leads Declan to becoming an amateur stop-motion filmmaker.

The one problem is that Declan is also in love with the Wandering Artist Studios receptionist Shota Watanabe. Shota has always had a smile and engaging comment ready for Declan, but even if it is more than casual politeness, Declan hasn’t been able to get out more than a tongue-tied sentence at a time. And a man like Shota surely has no intention of waiting forever.

So when an unexpected change to Declan’s daily schedule throws the two together outside of the studio, it might be the catalyst needed to explore what’s unspoken between them. But if they’re to have a future, Declan needs to find a way to tell Shota how he truly feels.

 R *A Reader Obsessed* - 4 Holiday Hearts

I’ve read every single one of Poe’s advent stories, and I’ve yet not been disappointed. This was a total win!

Understated and sweet, this starts with Declan - older, so so shy, and unable to make a move on his secret crush Shota.

Cue some awkwardness and a back and forth slow burn that ended with a really wonderful HEA for these two - and just in time for the holidays!

Poe definitely has that rare talent for shorts. This is one advent that will warm you up and keep you cozy through the cold wintery days, leaving you wanting more but not at all dissatisfied!

Ann - 4.5 Hearts

Love in 24 Frames is absolutely adorable was exactly what I expected from C.S. Poe. I read her advent tales faithfully every year and she has a real gift for writing short stories.

Declan is incredibly shy and his shyness is holding him back from his dream man who works at the studio that Declan rents to work on his stop motion animation project. Shota is charming and is subtley giving off interest vibes in Declan’s direction, but Declan is clueless and there’s no way he would believe that someone as incredibly lovely as Shota would be interested in him.

But, literally no one is as charming as a smitten Declan and through circumstances the two end up spending time together and Declan starts some actively wooing Shota and oh my, what an ideal wooing it was. Declan is quiet and sincere and Shota was perfect for him. Shota appreciated every little thing and everything about it made me happy.

I would have loved to dive into Shota’s life a little bit and to see a little redemption for him in the form of a Noah takedown, but all that would have derailed this from being a short story. The journey Declan and Shota took was such a treat and this one will be going on my Christmas reread list.


Making the Holidays Happy Again by Pat Henshaw

Blacksmith Butch has secretly loved his best friend, science nerd Jimmy, since grade school. Now their shops in Old Town Seven Winds, California, are only doors from each other.

They’re about to turn thirty, and Butch refuses to wait another day to make a decision: propose to Jimmy and start the family he’s always wanted or forget his dream to avoid risking their friendship. Why can’t the choice be as easy as creating decorative ironwork in his forge?

 R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3 Hearts

Another easy going advent that features a gentle giant and a friends to lovers trope.

As per the blurb, Butch and Jimmy have been friends for forever, and Butch has finally resigned himself that things will never progress further than that and hence, he needs to just move on and make some long term plans without his BFF.

Beware that this is all in Butch’s voice, and the author made it a point over and over how not educated he is. Admittedly, Butch’s low self esteem bummed me out, and I didn’t want that to be the main thing holding him back. Not surprisingly, he and Jimmy do get their happy ending, though I would’ve appreciated Jimmy’s POV to better understand his actions and feelings.

Regardless, I always give a lot of leeway with holiday reads and in the end, Butch and Jimmy’s happiness is what counts!

Ann - 2.5 Hearts

This friends to lovers story had a great setup and the little town sounded so quaint and I just wanted to pack up and visit.

The story is told through Butch’s POV and I liked him very much. It was mentioned repeatedly that Butch had not graduated high school he referred to himself as dumb entirely too often. It made me sad for him, because he was a successful businessman and an accomplished artist, he is obviously intelligent. His poor grammar made him seem like more of a caricature and wasn’t necessary and became slightly distracting.

I didn’t get much of a feel for Jimmy. He didn’t get a ton of page time and the time he and Butch were together was spent bickering. I was told they were BFFs forever, but I didn’t get a solid feel for what I was being told. I did get a good gist of Butch’s relationship with pretty much everyone else and he was a solid guy and good friend.

Jimmy went from 0 to 60 at the end and while it was what everyone wanted, especially Butch it came a bit out of the blue and that’s where a bit of Jimmy’s POV would have been helpful.


The Music Box by Kassandra Lea

It’s the eve of Alvin’s favorite holiday—the little-known St. Nick’s Day. His devoted boyfriend, woodworker Milo, has been planning for months to make it a day neither of them will forget, and their peaceful annual nighttime walk will pale in comparison to what Milo has secreted away in the basement.

Ann - 4 Hearts

The Music Box is a refreshingly sweet story about an established couple and there just aren’t enough of those around. We’re dropped into a moment with Alvin and Milo and these two are really good with moments. The author did a great job of showing the relationship between the two through great dialog and references to their past and wishes for their future.

Milo has a special surprise hidden away for Alvin for St. Nick’s Day. St. Nick’s Day is their own special day where they have a some sweet homespun traditions and the two of them are incredibly sweet together. Like really, really sweet. Really sweet.

The story of the tree and Milo’s gift for Alvin are so very thoughrful and something every established couple wishes they could have in their lives, probably not super realistic, but I don’t read for realism, I want the thoughtful sugar and Milo and Alvin delivered.


Notes from Home by Dirk Greyson

While deployed on a covert mercenary assignment, Johnny doesn’t have much in the way of holiday cheer. But the mysterious notes from Dex that somehow appear in his bunk—reminding him of the gifts, cookies, celebrations, and most of all, love, waiting for him back in Wisconsin—help him get through the long, hot days. Will they be enough to keep his spirits up when the rest of his unit goes home to their families and he’s left alone?

Ann - 4 Hearts

This short and sweet little nugget really delivered a lot of feels for being only 22 pages long. All the more impressive considering the two MC’s aren’t even together for the bulk of the story.

Johnny is on assignment and receives love letters from home from Dex on the regular and those letters get him through the hot and lonely days and nights. The author does a really solid job of showing how much these two love one another through Dex’s letters and handmade Christmas tchotchkes, as well as through Johnny’s inner musings. The fact that they won’t be able to be together for the holidays is heartbreaking, but something that they both accept as part of Johnny’s job for the greater good.

 The ending is a perfect coming home moment and my heart grew three sizes just reading it.

**copies of the Advent stories were provided for honest reviews**

Blog Tour: Making the Holidays Happy Again by Pat Henshaw

Pat Henshaw and Other Worlds Ink share info today about holiday romance, Making the Holidays Happy Again! The short story can be found from Dreamspinner Press 2019 Advent Anthology! Learn more today!

Pat Henshaw has a new MM holiday romance out: "Making the Holidays Happy Again."

Blacksmith Butch has secretly loved his best friend, science nerd Jimmy, since grade school. Now their shops in Old Town Seven Winds, California, are only doors from each other.

They’re about to turn thirty, and Butch refuses to wait another day to make a decision: propose to Jimmy and start the family he’s always wanted or forget his dream to avoid risking their friendship.

Why can’t the choice be as easy as creating decorative ironwork in his forge?


Dreamspinner | QueeRomance Ink | Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Google Play

---

Excerpt

“Okay, what’s up?” I sat on the bench with my back against the bricks at the Old Time Pub. “You’ve been pissed since last week.”

My best friend and secret love of my life Jimmy glared but didn’t answer. We’d known each other for so long that I waited him out like usual. I crossed my pumped arms and sat back, smelling my sweat-soaked T-shirt in the AC blowing around us.

The past summer in Seven Winds, once a Gold Rush town in California’s northern Sierra Nevada mountains and now a tourist trap, had been brutal. A record number of days over one hundred degrees had turned a lot of the shop owners into snarling dogs.

As the resident blacksmith, I took the heat as business as usual. So I was hot and sweaty? I was always hot and sweaty. The day I ain’t I was either sick or dead.

I figured Jimmy’s problem was more than the heat though. He’d been acting funny lately. Like he had something caught in his craw but he couldn’t spit it out.

Jimmy wasn’t looking at me, but down at his hands. They was long and thin, completely different from mine. I had a collection of burns and scratches, scars from the forge and the tools and all.

His hands was pale white with a bunch of freckles that went with the freckles all over the rest of his body. When we was kids, the tiny red hairs on his arms stood out almost more than his carroty hair. The bright red had changed as he got older and was now more muted. Me? I’d stayed hairy brown all over.

I tapped his hand with my blunt fingers.

“Whatever it is, you know you can just spit it out.”

He stared at me, and I swear his green eyes got darker. He was making me uneasy. What the hell was wrong?

“You ever look at your life, Butch, and ask yourself, ‘Is this all there is?’” He sighed. What the fuck? What had gotten into him? “Don’t give me that look. You’ve got to know what I’m talking about.”

“Sure. But you know me. Something’s wrong, I make it right.” Takes me time but I figure it out eventually. “So, uh, what’s wrong with your life?” I wanted to make a joke and laugh, but he was too damned serious. And Jimmy’s never this serious.

“I mean, look at us. We work all day in our shops. We make good money. We got nothing to spend it on but ourselves. We go out drinking with the guys on the weekends. Or we go into the city to a game. Or we go fishing, camping, riding around.” He shook his head. “But in the end, what have we got?”

“Fun. Friendship. I don’t know. Life?” It wasn’t much of an answer. I knew where he was coming from. I figured it was because we was about to turn thirty after Christmas and it was time for us to grow up. I’d been thinking on it a lot lately.

“Don’t you want something else, Butch? Something more? Something better?” He sounded desperate, like he was drowning and I wasn’t saving him.

“Yeah, sure. I guess. I mean, I want a husband, a house, a dog, you know, stuff like we talked about when we was kids.” I’d had it mostly planned out. I’d been saving my money.

I was surprised Jimmy hadn’t already figured it out. He was usually two steps ahead of me in everything. “Okay, I gotta ask. What brought all of this on? What happened?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been sitting around thinking lately. And mom’s been on me to move out.”

His mother Hazel’s a character. She’s an old hippie with graying auburn hair and grass green eyes. Her face is a roadmap of lines cuz she spends so much time outdoors. And she worries. She thinks we need her to run our lives. We mostly let her think that even though it’s not true.

“She says she wants me to move out of the farmhouse.” Jimmy said it like it was a death sentence.

“So? Isn’t that what you always wanted to do?”

He shrugged, then nodded, reluctant like. “I guess.”

“Jimmy, you’ve always talked about living in your own place.”

Once I thought me and him would get together, and, you know, live happily ever after. But then he became a doctor of chemistry and natural medicine. I never finished high school.

“Yes, I know. You’re right. I’ve wanted to move out for a while now.” Jimmy sighed. “But this feels like her trying to push me out. I don’t like to be pushed.”

“I don’t get the problem. You know what you want already.”

He laughed. “I don’t like to be pushed by my mother.”

“So the Apple Festival is coming up, and I’m making some changes,” I said, moving on to another subject.

“Yeah? What’s up? Whare are you doing?”

“I wanna make the shop more family friendly.”

He looked at me weird.

“I don’t get it, Butch. This isn’t like you.” He ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “You’re making me nervous. First my mother, now you. Why is everybody so hot to change suddenly?”

“It’s like you said.” I hunkered down, putting my elbows on the table and spreading out my hands. “I took a look at my life. I figure if I don’t do something to get settled, it ain’t gonna just fall in my lap. The Big Three Oh is the first step to the rest of my life. If I don’t get my shit together, nobody’s gonna hand my life to me. I may not know everything, but I know it’s up to me to do it myself.” I shot him a frown. “And you know it too.”

He nodded and looked like dog meat.

I may not have solved his problem of moving out or nothing like that, but maybe we was finally on the same page. Maybe.

I was making changes. He had to decide on his own life.

---

Author Bio

Pat Henshaw:

1. Is a she, not a he.
2. Writes MM romances.
3. Has interviewed Arlo Guthrie, Big Bird, Fred Rogers, Liberace, and Vincent Price.
4. Has lived and worked on all three US coasts and in the middle of the country, too.
5. Has been a reviewer, costumer, librarian, and teacher.
6. Has ridden an elephant, touched the pyramids, and stood at the edge of a volcano.
7. Believes love is essential to everyone's happiness.

She wants you to remember: Every day is a good day for romance!

Author Website: http://www.pathenshaw.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10

Author Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/phenshaw

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998437.Pat_Henshaw

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/pat-henshaw/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/e/B00BPDEDEA

Guest Review: Short Order (Foothill Pride #8) by Pat Henshaw

When recent horticulture graduate Dr. Fenton Miller arrives in Stone Acres, California, he thinks his only concern is which job offer to accept after spending the holidays working at his cousin’s plant nursery. But after he rents a room from another shorter-than-average man, sous-chef John Barton, Fen falls in lust.

While he’s attracted to Fen, John’s got bigger concerns when two men from his past arrive in town and pressure him to return to San Francisco. Although John tries to stop Fen from getting involved, Fen realizes his lover is in trouble and is determined to protect him.

As the holidays get closer and Fen makes his own enemy, the joy of the season gets lost in the ill will around them. To ensure love triumphs, Fen and John must stand tall to show that short, dark, and handsome is a recipe for love.

Reviewer: NeRdyWYRM

Underdogs, Unite!

I love a good underdogs story. Love. Love. Love. And you have a lot of that here. Add in a personal growth twist and an epic romance and you have a whole lotta good feels.

I liked that the MCs were a little different. I liked that they were a little damaged, or well, at least one of them was. More so than the other. I liked the fact that John had to grow up a little and realize that there is a vast different between what you think you want and what you actually need.

Fenton's character was fantastic. Smart, sweet, funny, patient, and strong. John was quieter and a little broken, but still made of steel. They were great as individuals and great together.

As always, there are niggles. The villain in the story was more of a paper tiger. I mean, do people as inept as he was really get away with stuff like that in a setting like this? I just don't see it. I guess it's not as much that it's impossible as it seems unlikely. Maybe I'm being hypercritical, but I don't think so.

John pissed me off a few times and Fen, too, for that matter. John was just a little too ... self-sacrificing? Self-deprecating? Doom and gloom. And Fen was too far in the other direction. Hyperfocused on something ephemeral instead of something real. Too dismissive. Too determinedly footloose. It irked here and there even though I knew they'd get it together.

All in all this was an enjoyable read. I really loved the character- and relationship-building even though the guys frustrated me at times. The plot was so-so, like I said before, but taken as a whole I really don't have much to complain about. I liked it. I was thankful—because my work schedule sucks ass—that I didn't have to read the whole series to enjoy this book. It can be read as a standalone. And best of all, I'd truly love to see these guys again sometime.


More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
Images (when present) may be subject to copyright.
An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.

Guest Review: Waking the Behr by (Foothills Pride #7) Pat Henshaw

Both Ben and Mitch think they know exactly what they want. Turns out, they don’t even know their own hearts.

Good old boy Ben has dated women his entire life, while gay nightclub owner Mitch has never considered unsophisticated country boys his type. But after they start hanging out, the small-town contractor and the urban entrepreneur are both stunned by the electricity sparking between them.

As they step outside their comfort zones to spend time together, Mitch finds he enjoys rural car rallies, and Ben is intrigued by the upscale bars Mitch owns in San Francisco. When they share their lives and grow closer, they start to question the way they’ve always defined themselves. Then they kiss and fling open the door to love. Now they must step up and travel the road that may lead to happily ever after—even if that path isn’t one they ever expected to walk.

Reviewer: Shee Reader

Ben and Mitch are both interesting characters who seem at first to have nothing in common, but as the story unfolds they find quite a lot of common ground. The relationship is a slow burn one, but that fitted these two nicely. The two contrasting locations they lived in gave interesting details, and it was nice to see the men discover things about themselves that they had hitherto not known. I really liked Ben’s brothers, so might well look out their stories at some point.

There were lots of likeable qualities about this book as it rolls long, but there were things that drove me crazy too. Ben’s repeatedly referring to being gay as a choice, referring to himself over and over as a good ol’ boy are just two examples. Mitch was pretty likeable too but i wanted to know more about him. There was lots to like about it, but this book wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I imagine lots of readers would love it though.

I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my review.

Audiobook Review: Redesigning Max (Foothills Pride #2) by Pat Henshaw

Renowned interior designer Fredi Zimmer is surprised when outdoorsman Max Greene, owner of Greene’s Outdoors, hires Fredi to revamp his rustic cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Fredi is an out-and-proud Metro male whose contact with the outdoors is from his car to the doorway of the million-dollar homes he remodels, and Max is just too hunky for words.

When Max comes on to Fredi, the designer can't imagine why. But he’s game to put a little spice into Max’s life, even if it’s just in the colors and fixtures he’ll use to turn Max's dilapidated cabin into a showplace. Who can blame a guy for adding a little sensual pleasure as he retools Max’s life visually?

Max, for his part, is grateful when Fredi takes him in hand, both metaphorically and literally. Coming out is the most exciting and wonderful time in his life, despite the conservative former friends who think they’re saving him from sliding into hell.

Narrated by David Ross
Listening Length: 2 hours and 55 minutes

Pat Henshaw is an easy read author with, from what I’ve read, uncomplicated love stories. That’s not to say that there isn’t depth, or that the characters don’t have complicated lives, I just find the relationship development straightforward and easy on the heart.

This story has no real angst to it, and I think it is a good thing. It leaves the plot development to the world around Fredi and Max, rather than creating drama within the relationship. This is my favourite type of relationship development. While life can sometimes be messy, I prefer characters who are adept at keeping their romantic lives as tidy as possible, while unwinding mess through discovery and action.

Fredi has been commissioned to revamp a rustic cabin that Max received as part of an inheritance settlement. It is in dire need of a professional touch, and Fredi is an award winning designer who is perfect for the job.

Max has decided that it’s time he came out and stopped hiding. He takes an instant interest in Fredi, and is subtle in his approach to flirting and making his intentions known.

I found Fredi to be a fun complex character. He doesn’t put up with crap from anyone, least of all the town bigots. But he is a little bit over-reactive when it comes to pulling out his Boner……..

This story had a nice easy flow. Some drama to keep it exciting, but the ease with which Fredi and Max communicated was what held my interest.

I’ve read this series out of order, starting with book four, but I don’t think it’s really necessary to read them in order. Each story stands on its own, with no wider story arc, but with enough intertwining to feel the familiarity of some of the characters.

That being said, I would still recommend these be read in order if you are starting from the beginning.

David Ross is always a pleasure to listen to, and I don’t think he could ever make a story sound bad. Top notch voice acting skills that makes him someone I look for when picking new audiobooks to buy.

I would recommend this for those who enjoy straightforward gay romance, with some nice depth and good character development.

A review copy was provided.

Audiobook Review: What’s in a Name? (Foothills Pride #1) by Pat Henshaw

Barista Jimmy Patterson thinks it's a good idea to get rip-roaring drunk on his birthday after he’s dumped by his boyfriend. When the burly owner of Stonewall’s Saloon rescues Jimmy, the night starts to look up.

Now Jimmy just wants to know the bartender's first name since he's worn a different name tag every time Jimmy's seen him. "Guy" Stone gives Jimmy seven guesses, one for each night he takes Jimmy out on a date.

While Jimmy’s trying to come up with his name, he's distracted by the destruction of his coffee shop and what looks more and more like a hate crime.

Listening Length: 2 hours and 49 minutes
Narrator: David Ross

Jimmy Patterson has dumped his boyfriend for cheating on Jimmy’s birthday, and seems to have attached himself to a bartender who wears a different name tag every night at Stonewall. This was a pretty intriguing concept. Jimmy has to guess what the guys name is in seven guesses, each name to be guessed after a date with “Guy”.

I enjoyed the way this relationship developed and the way “Guy” was a stable support for Jimmy while things were going wrong in his business life. Jimmy is trying to open up another Coffee shop but he is getting resistence, and what appears to be a hate crime is perpetrated on his existing shop.

What I loved most about this, is that Jimmy still managed to stay upbeat about everything and had fun with “Guy” while organising his life without his ex in it. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he got all stormy about his ex being a cheater, or his shop being trashed, but he picked himself up quickly and got on with succeeding. That’s not to say he was unaffected, he just gave off the impression that sometimes shit happens, and it shouldn’t stop him from doing what he set out to do.

The guessing game was fun, if a little cheesy. Their chemistry was beautiful, regardless of whether a real name was known. “Guy” was still authentic and passionate, real and practical. There was no subterfuge or mystery with anything else about him. What was presented was honest, and refreshingly straightforward.

David Ross, of course, is a wonderful narrator, and gave depth to the characters in this story. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of his voice as a storyteller. Great voice acting is a skill I would never be able to master, and he does a superb job of bringing life to even the most mundane character in this book.

Fun and flirty, with some serious content thrown in for depth, this was a great short story to listen to while I did boring cleaning chores around my house.

Recommended for all MM romance readers.

Find on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Sunday Funday Christmas: 2016 Advent Calendar - Bah Humbug | Week 1

It’s nearing that time of year again! Yuletide-the season of giving, jolly ole St. Nick may be about to creep down your chimney or in your window, the time to make merry or fake it til you make it by bringing a tumbler and a fold out chair to partake of the mulled wine and we're here to spread the Christmas cheer.

We each weighed in on 31 Bah Humbug tales and for the next six weeks we are going to utilize our finely honed expertise on all of them to find the gems. For you. This week we've got Clare London, Matt Burlingame, Kim Fielding, Pat Henshaw, Andi Van & Sarah Hadley Brook!

So, sit back, relax and let the Christmas spirit fill you to the brim with holiday cheer this season.

Missed a week? Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
| Week 6

Creatures of the Night and Santa’s Christmas duties don’t mix. Every myth and bedtime story tells you so.

But on Christmas Eve, when the Elves walked off the job over pension rights, it was time for me—Irwin, the only vampire on Santa’s payroll, despite recent diversity initiatives—and my trusty team to help out. Just deliver a few parcels, Santa asked me. Just help out on your local patch. Just for one night.

Armed with my reluctance to face all that human sentimentality, and accompanied by a wise-cracking werewolf and an unruly fairy with a taste for vodka, I did my best. Honest.
But we were heading for disaster until I came face-to-face with cute babysitter Benny. It’s Santa’s Number One Rule—no interaction with the clients. But Benny somehow managed to upset my appetite, inflame my libido, and restore my faith in the Christmas spirit, with one cheeky smile and a tasty body piercing.

It’s Christmas, and the show must go on!

Fantasy Living - 4 Hearts

A fun take on how Santa gets all the gifts to children in one night. This was cute, sexy, and funny. I loved all the characters, and how they reacted to each other. There was snark, drunken fairy business, and a sweetheart of a Vampire, just trying to do his job and get back to his coffin.

The writing was solid, and the plot worked well. This is an open ending, so I’ve decided what happens to all the characters in this story after this short intro.

If you’re looking for something different this holiday season, this is definitely a winner. Not too heavy on the Christmas message, these are just a group of random mythical beings doing a favour for Santa.

Ann - 4 Hearts

Who knew vampires could be so darn charming? Not this Peach, but then I met Irwin and I couldn’t help but love the guy. I also loved the author’s unique take on Santa’s helpers from the darker side of the mythological spectrum. The vampire Irwin leads a band of misfits to help deliver presents on Christmas Eve and the banter between him, Wulf the werewolf and Zilith the drunken sprite was snarky and fun. At one house they are discovered by Benny, a delicious young man who just happens to have a vampire/biting kink and just how perfect is that? Benny tags along because, you know, the kink and the two of them do some bonding while delivering all the Christmas cheer. Neither one can pass on the opportunity of an HEA with their match so declarations of forever are made and forever is a long time with an immortal and I ate it every last word. Bite Night was a great way to start out the Jizzmas season.

Chelsea - 4.5 Hearts

That was great. There was humour, great characters and a smoking hot blow job with fangs!!

Irwin and his team of Creatures Of The Night are helping Santa deliver the toys on Christmas eve because the elves are on strike. They get caught by a human man, Benny who them joins them in their exhibition.

The side characters were great fun. I loved the dialogue and Irwin thoughts; he was a sneaky horny vampire.

He clung to my arm as we eased through the wall back out into the garden. “That was… different,” he gasped, when he got his breath back.

I nudged his left elbow until it came properly back into focus. That was all limbs accounted for. I didn’t think he’d have damaged any major organs. I checked his groin area, just to be sure. No, everything looked in order.

It's not 5 hearts because we never saw Irwin’s piercing fetish get satisfied (insert sad face) and I love assets (insert happy face). If a book doesn't have fucking it has to leave a pretty big impact to receive a full rating *points at all of you* no judging allowed.

If the rest of the stories are going to be this good I'm going to really enjoy Christmas!

Jenni Lea - 4 Hearts

You know, I grudgingly agreed to do this whole 'Jizzmas Review' thing. I'm not really a fan of Christmas Jizz. Usually around this time of year, when all my friends are squeeing over the holiday stories, I quietly disengage and run searching for the booze. I just can't with the sugary sweetness and bubble gum love. But if most of them are like this little story, I just might change my tune. This was a treat! I laughed out loud so many times. Irwin is a curmudgeonly vampire who works for Santa. Why, if he's such a grump, I have no idea. He and his werewolf and sprite companions help deliver presents to all the boys and girls on Christmas eve, cause, ya know, Santa's only one guy, right? While delivering some presents to one little boy, they are discovered by Benny the Babysitter. Immediately the sparks fly between Irwin and Benny. This was a cleverly told tale of silliness and shenanigans. There was quite a bit of snark (of which I am a fan) and Irwin's internal dialogue was just my type of quirky. I enjoyed this little story quite a bit and now I think I'll have to try some more of Clare London's work. If they're all like this I may just have found an author to add to my favorites list.

Sara - 3.5 Hearts

I think I will be the odd man out on this story but I find the author is hit or miss with me.
So…um…Well this was a new take on the standard Christmas tale and it was hilariously sexy. Who would have thought that when Santa gets in a pinch for present delivery, he calls on the creatures of the night to fill in? I loved Irwin’s sense of humor, Wulf was punny and I am glad he didn’t pee on the tree and Zilith is my kind of Sprite. But really, Benny the babysitting human steals the show with his reaction to seeing the threesome and deciding that Irwin needed a taste of what Benny was offering. OMG. Yeah, there were some cheesy lines but this was fun and different for a holiday read.

Lori - 3 Hearts

I actually loved this story, except for one fact, which I'll point out in my review so this is a maybe spoiler alert type thingmebob.

Okay, this was funny, I loved the chat and snappy comebacks between the characters. Ioved the drunk pixie and snarky werewolf. I loved that the MC was a vampire doing Santa's work.

What I didn't love was the dog shit. They used wizardymagicky ways of moving and Benny lands in a pile of poo - then they're kissing and stuff and all I can think about is the fact that it's all gonna smell of shit. And that was kinda distracting in a baaaaaad way. Kisses and romance and dog shit do not mix, in my world at least. Take out that one line and I probably would have made this a 4.5 read. :(

Find out more about Bite Night on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Thirty-three-year-old technical writer Laurence Hart is a modern-day Scrooge when it comes to the holiday season—and the rest of the year, too. He doesn’t like most people, they don’t like him, and he’s happy to keep it that way. Over lunch with his best friend, he receives a fortune cookie promising him true love. The next day, forced to work on a holiday charity committee or lose his job, he meets Nick, a jolly ginger giant who loves all things Christmas. Together they face numerous obstacles to put together a holiday fair to raise money for children in foster care, in only four days. While Laurence has to mend his curmudgeonly ways to make the event a success, Nick’s holiday magic might mend Laurence’s heart.





Breann - 4.5 Hearts

Squeeeeeeeeeeeee! I'm so happy this was the first Bah Humbug story I decided to read! It gave good squishy feels.

A classic Christmas trope. Laurence hated Christmas. So when Mr. Grumpykins was volun-told to work on the annual office fundraiser he was not too happy.

He worked on this fundraiser with Nick. Well... after Laurence met Nick, he couldn't back out then. Nick was too sweet for words! He got under Laurence's skin and I loved it. Laurence was a jerk. He had his reasons... but still, a jerk. Nick brought out the best in Laurence. I love a good "finding the holiday spirit" story and this one was IT. There was a lot of emotion packed in this short romance. Laurence found his holiday magic with Nick, along with some other great secondary characters.

The Fortune Cookie is a must read for your holiday reading list this year. It's a little bit funny, a little bit angst, and a lot sweet, drizzled with Christmas-y goodness.

Ann - 4 Hearts

Poor curmudgeonly and misunderstood Laurence is not a fan of the holidays or anything in general anymore and his attitude has landed him on the holiday committee at his office as penance for a past transgression. He reluctantly attends the planning meetings and the only good thing he sees is Nick, the new employee and head of the committee. Nick is perpetually optimistic and determined to make the holiday fundraiser the best ever. Unfortunately some people aren’t big on change and after a minor mutiny, there aren’t but three committee members left. Nick is ready to throw in the towel and that is something that Laurence just can’t abide by. Laurence figures it’s one thing for him to be miserable, but he can’t handle seeing it in Nick.

Thankfully Laurence also has a conscience in the form of his best friend and co-worker Amanda and I really liked her character. She supported Laurence but also called him on his dickish behavior. I don’t know that Laurence would have been able to handle his chance at enlightenment and happiness without her there to be sounding board for him. Nick helps Laurence see the possibilities in Christmas that he’s never had a chance for before and the author managed to get some real issues and feelings into this short story while still keeping an optimistic feeling throughout. The ending is sweet with a little bit of a magical feeling that didn’t get too saccharine and the author made sure that Laurence still stayed true to the character that I got attached to throughout the story. It felt more like he lost his dickish ways and found who he used to be with an added dose of optimism. It was really well done and the whole ending made me feel all the Christmas feels.

Sara - 4 Hearts

This was so good. I am a sucker for the redeemable asshole and Laurence just happens to fit the bill. He's all sorts of Bah Humbug about the Christmas Holiday but when he gets Voluntold to be on the committee for the holiday charity fundraiser to make up for well, something he did before, he meets the one and only Nick who is one hell of a ginger. Not only does Nick have blue eyes, a beautiful ginger beard and is built like a tree you want to climb, he LOVES the Christmas holiday as much as me and not just because his last name is Kringall.

To keep this short. Laurence has issues that have made him so grumpy and grinch like but when he feels an attraction to Nick and empathy for him, he begins to let the ice around his heart melt. Watching Laurence open his heart and let it grow *whispers* three sizes, was really amazing. He is this great guy who had some bad times but he is letting the Christmas magic change all that.

The side characters in this were great too! I loved Amanda and I was shocked right along with Nick and Laurence when we learn about Brad!

Just an all-around well written holiday short story that will warm the coldest cold heart.

SheReadsALot - 4.25 Hearts

I feel!

Possibly the Jizzmas spirit? *squints*

This Santa jizz Grumpcorn was tickled by this adorably snarky story. I swallowed this load easily.

I think this year's anthology theme of Scrooges reigning supreme is great. (You can't tell me that the Scrooges don't reign) It's the only reason why I even looked at this year's Dreamspinner anthology. I felt one with this story's Scrooge, Laurence. He's 33, single and not a big fan of the Christmas commercialism. And if he shreds unwanted Christmas decorations from his office cubicle, so what? They shouldn't be invading his space. I feel he is misunderstood. He stood up to the Christmas cheery and their Christmas sugar, fought the good fight...maybe he might have been a little stern.

But he got his point across. *shrug*

Maybe too well, since he's been at it for years and this year an office mishap lands him in an office holiday planning committee. Mandatory or else. *gasp* And to make matters worse, the committee is being led by a Christmas loving ginger giant by the name of Nick Kringall. Nick tries to complete the impossible with Laurence on his team--throw a big party in a limited amount of time. The two men are forced to work together. During this short period of time Laurence thaws out, Nick seems a little otherworldly, is it a Jizzmas miracle?

NO!

Where this story wins is not the Jizzmas cheer, it's watching Laurence realize his flaws, grow as a person and open to let someone in. Also, Matt Burlingame, the author of this story has a fine hand at letting the story unfurl without letting it get lost to Christmas fluff and cheer. There was a speck of feels as there are mentions of past abuse - Trigger warning. There were also moments of cheese--hm, like Cheddar cubes--but it worked to make a well rounded story. And the romance was sweet not sticky. The laughs had a snarky tinge. Thoroughly enjoyed and will be looking for more MM romance from this author (it's his first time!)

On second thought, I don't think it's Jizzmas spirit I feel. I think it was a little indigestion. *burp* ;P

Lori - 4.5 Hearts

My notes say four.5 stars. cute, not sickly and just the right amount of Christmas cheer. would read more about these guys. and terrible punctuation aside, it really sums up this story for me. It was everything right about seasonal stories and left me with a warm glow that had nowt to do with mulled wine, eggnog or sherry. Recommended.


Find out more about The Fortune Cookie on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Grant Beaudoin should be thrilled to escape Minneapolis at Christmastime and grateful to lounge on a Hawaiian beach. Instead he is mired in self-pity and drowning in too much tequila. His twin is marrying the perfect man, while Grant is stuck in middle management with no love life in sight. A walk into the rain forest leads to a meeting with a doomed man who has a story about a holiday that predates Christmas. Grant comes to realize that difficult endings can lead to new beginnings—and perhaps a brighter future.








Lori - 2 Hearts

Ho hum, 2 hearts... am I joining the grumpycorns in the jizzmas nay corner? Nope, nuh huh, no way not even a little bit. Those 2 hearts still have glitter all over them.

But...

This story was a bit of a miss for me. Frankly, if I'm honest, it just confused the life right outta me. I also didn't connect with the characters. liked that this was not a traditional setting and theme but I felt the author needed to have a lot more words to write the story she intended. I'm making the assumption there was a word count limit for these stories. This story needed to be longer then I would have felt connected to the characters, and a somewhat confusing storyline could have unfolded more naturally.

Breann - 2.5 Hearts

I'm so bummed I didn't love this one. I mean, it is Kim Fielding. It should be a no-brainer.

I need more romance and holiday magic in my Jizzmus. I mean... the legend and mythology stuff was neat. But I didn't want neat. I wanted love and holiday cheesiness. There was too much world-buiding and it got in the way of the romance for me.

Sara - 4 Hearts

I am a sucker for the traditional Christmas stories but I love it when an author can take the holiday and turn it into more and Fielding did exactly that.

Grant is not happy with his life, his work or really anything in between. It’s pretty bad when you can be happy in Hawaii at Christmas even if it is for your twin brothers wedding. Grant is so grumpy that as he orders another drink, the waiter decides to serve him a bit of magic and Grant finds that the magic among the forest. Grant soon learns that this holiday we consider one of Conifers, colored lights and large men in red suits with white beards, is not the only way to celebrate.
I loved the folklore in this and the tale of the Gods I haven’t heard of. It was great to be with Grant as he learned the story and life of Perun and it was heartbreaking to watch him hold Hors after the evitable. But when he decides to take his fate into his own human hands and go to Croatia to search for the Oak tree from the story, no cold could have kept the warmth from my heart.

This was a great and unconventional holiday story that still kept what I love most about the season, hope, love and happiness for all.

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

I liked this unique tale very much. It’s not a traditional holiday romance and I think that’s what I appreciated most about it. Plus, I accidentally learned stuff about mythology from other parts of the world and I love accidental learning. Grant is in Hawaii to be with his twin for his twin’s wedding to the love of his life and Grant can’t help but feel his perpetual loneliness pretty acutely while surrounded by all the love and as he’s spending some alone time exploring the island he comes across a tree that doesn’t quite belong and then a man that doesn’t quite belong either. He’s not sure if he’s dreaming, but his curiosity is definitely piqued. I liked reading about Grant’s interest in *something* and I could see Grant gain depth as a character as the story progressed. The ending was a little tough to wrap my brain around. I mean, I get it, but my practical side had questions. But, the story is a fantasy, so don’t listen to your practical side and enjoy Grant’s unique HEA.

Cupcake - 2 Hearts

This whole grumpicorn thing was meant to be a joke but now I feel extra grinchy for not liking this one. I mean, it’s Kim Fielding! I’m supposed to love all of her writes, right? But this gave me a case of the mehs. Bahs? Humbugs? It’s not overly Christmasy which was a plus but aside from that it was too bizarre.

It’s largely set in Hawaii for Grant’s brother’s wedding. One day Grant gets sloshed day drinking, wanders into a rainforest and meets a god. The god tells a story and it resonates with Grant so much so that he can’t get the god out of his head. I get the whole instalove thing but that’s instalove on industrial strength Santa jizz. There’s no discernible connection between the two that I could see or feel, but Grant’s constantly hitting the rainforest hoping for more of his god.

The god’s mythology seemed like Slavic lore but the story is in Hawaii? Why is it an oak tree? How did it get in the rainforest? I think this is some sort of symbolism I missed. Why are none of these people not at all taken aback by Grant conversing with gods in rainforests? I know I was supposed to suspend disbelief and get with the Jizzmas spirit and maybe I could’ve done that had the relationship between them been more solid or romantic or something, but as it stands the mythology overtook the romance and left me more confused than anything else.

Find out more Anything Else on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Christmas joy is a matter of perspective. For some, it’s the happiest time of the year. For others, not so much.

Twenty-nine-year-old Mick, the son of crack addicts, isn’t exactly a dyed-in-the-wool Scrooge. Mick’s been on his own from childhood. As a teen, he lived in a shelter where for a short time he had a boyfriend. After the boyfriend left, Mick moved to the Orpheum Theater. While squatting there and taking care of the grand old building, Mick watched others celebrate the holidays from a distance, never able to share in their joy.

Only his Technicolor dreams liven his dull, mechanical life until one day the world around him begins to change. Mick is surprised when a man named Jim buys the vintage Orpheum and plans to restore it. Something about Jim makes Mick think they’ve met before. In fact, Jim rekindles Mick’s longing for a better life and a little holiday magic for himself.

Chelsea - 3 Hearts

This one started out OK. I was intrigued by Mick's character and liked his back story. I was hoping for a nice Christmas miracle for him seeing as how he had a pretty shitty past. That did happen, but it was so sudden and yet so expected that I really didn't feel it.

I liked each individual character, Mick had real substance and Jim was very cute how he floundered around Mick. However, there really was absolutely no connection between these two and while I don't (or shouldn't) have anything against non-explicit stories; I was very disappointed when even their first kiss was written as, ‘after more kissing’.

The romance was virtually nonexistent but the HEA was perfect for Mick!

Sara - 4.5 Hearts

Boy oh boy was this one good. It had me at go and tugged at my hopeless romantic heart. I fell hard for Mick as we learn about his awful childhood, his time in shelters and learning about his love for The Orpheum Theater. It was heartbreaking but oh so relatable as he told us about his mind movies at night and his version of romance was so very much me. Sigh. I loved learning about his friend Randy and how much they meant to one another and how it just tore Mick apart when Randy disappeared and he didn't know what happened to him. Just kicked me in the gut, I tell you.

But it's not all rose colored melancholy for our dear boy Mick. When the new owner of the theater takes a few minutes to get to know Mick, he has this feeling of overwhelming familiarity that he can't quite place and man did it do a number on me.

I was so emotionally invested in this story up until the reveal and then I felt a bit let down. Maybe it's just me but I wanted more from it. More letting me feel than glossing over those last details that could have been so emotional and intimate. And yet, I can still write this the morning after finishing the story and let out a gooey sigh so that in itself, says something about the magic of a good story.

Lori - 4 Hearts

A cute tale of Christmas spirit that embodies the warmth, and importance, of friendship and love. I liked both Randy and Mick, they are both just the kind of MCs I like in my Christmas stories; humble, hardworking and loving. A Christmas hit for me.

Find out more about The Orpheum Miracle on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

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.

Fantasy Living - 3 Hearts

I like Andi Van as an author, and for those who love Christmas fluff, this will appeal.
For me, I was expecting something a little edgier with Krampus as a main character, and while I actually enjoyed Krampus in this story, I wanted a little more snark, maybe some growling, and some anti-Christmas feels to go along with.

Krampus, in this story, doesn’t deliver the kind of grumpiness I was expecting in the beginning. Yeah, he’s cranky, but it’s because he’s trying to take the burden off his brother (Santa). The supporting characters were great, and I enjoyed the witty banter between everyone else. I enjoyed Noel, I liked the Dwarf, and the family feel of the story was nice and mushy. I just felt that Krampus wasn’t given the complexity I would have expected for this type of Bah-Humbug cum Christmas is Joy story.

That being said, the plot was solid, and the writing was impeccable. The secondary characters were all well developed, and the basics of the mythology was explained well. There was some funny, some sads, and definitely some heartwarming moments. Taking out my preconceived notions of who Krampus should be, the character was written really well, and I connected with the story. Maybe I’m just too much of a horror fiend to appreciate this milder, more friendly version. Totally on me.

For those looking for edgy or dark, or, well Krampus, this is not for you. But for those who want this to buoy their spirits during Silly Season, this will definitely give you the Reason for the Season feel.

Recommended for all Christmas Lovers, and those who prefer their anti-heros not very anti…. but very much a hero.

Ann - 5 Hearts

I honestly wasn’t sure where the author was going to go with Krampus as an MC in a Christmas story and how she was going to make me feel empathy for him, but dammit if that wasn’t a thing from the get go. I got sucked into this sweet tale of Santa’s brother Karl and his place in the legends. I think what I appreciated about the story, aside from all the wonderful characters, banter and of course, Karl, was the thought that went into Karl’s story, the way he expressed his feelings, the passion for the job he wants and the love for his brother. It really showed the depth of character for Karl in a way that read very organically making all the information about the mythology easy to absorb as the story progressed.

The characters make this story. If you’re a fan of Beast (as Beast) in Beauty and the Beast; if you prefer Hugh Jackman AS Wolverine more than any other character he’s played, then Karl’s your guy. Sure, he’s grouchy, but for the most selfless of reasons and the more I learned about his feels, the more I loved him. He’s sent to the mortal world to find his Christmas spirit and conveniently found Lewis first. Lewis was the perfect match for Karl and their flirting was perfectly adorable and I can’t remember the last time I was more squee-ish for a couple of characters. And then there’s Jerry, Nick, Noel, I could seriously go on and on. This one is getting a permanent spot on my Jizzmas reread shelf.

Sara - 5 Hearts

This is possibly my favorite story out of the Advent Calendar, and yes I am reading them all. It will be pretty damn hard to top this!

From the blurb you know what is up. Karl is Krampus and gets sent to be human and find his Christmas spirit…

Ack. How do I keep this short?

*deep breath*

I adore the hell out of Karl. Sure, he is Krampus (which he LOVES being all the way down to his hooves, horns and hairy body) and has the job of scaring the naughty kids for Christmas but he is genuinely a good guy. He loves his twin brother Nick, aka as Santa Claus, and even his brother in law Noel. He loved the Christmas holiday but hates that he lost the spirit and now can't help Nick with the duties and he really doesn't like the burned falling onto Nick's shoulders. So even though he didn't want to spend time among humans and was kinda pissed at Noel for sending him on a "vacation" he is willing to put the time and effort into finding the Christmas spirit again because he loves his bro... let's all give a great big Awww to Karl now, Kay? Awwwww....

And while they don’t necessarily hate Krampus, they’re afraid of him because he’s so different—wild and gruff and angry all the time. What they don’t understand is that Krampus is angry because he knows his brother is being taken advantage of, but no one will let him help.

Of course I loved Lewis too. How could I not when we get a awesome man over 40 with a normal, not shredded body, who loves the Christmas spirit even if it irks him that the Christmas season now seems to last 3 months. It was so much fun meeting Crampy Ass with him and him just losing it over Karl's real stories that he thought were all made up. Lewis is a true gem and his family is amazing. Nick is great. Noel is feisty AF and the banter with him and Karl is an ab workout. And man you have to love the hell out of Jerry! Seriously.

I adored the romance between Karl and Lewis. I love the bromance between Karl and Nick and I just loved the Holy Holly out of this story.

This was a fun, smart, witty and imaginative take on the folklore of not just Christmas but the mythical beings that rule our calendared holidays. It’s a fun read you do not want to miss.

Jenni Lea - 5 Hearts

OK, what the hell is going on? I hate holiday jizzmas stories! I get nauseated at the thought of reading them. I'm a grinch, a Scrooge. I turn my nose up at all the sap and the sugary sweetness.

Well, apparently I'm also a big, fat liar now.

I. LOVED. THIS. STORY. Krampus (or Karl, as he is called while in human form) is the most loveable grump and I heart him SO HARD! He made this book for me. Well, that's not entirely true. Lewis and Jerry and Lizzie and Barb and Susan and Nick and Noel and Rimble and... and... hell, everybody made this book for me. I laughed so many times! I think I highlighted about 75% of the story too. All the awkward moments, all the laughter, even the tears I shed over the letters to Santa just made this book that much more enjoyable for me. And that ending! Gah! It was completely over the top and ridiculous but I wouldn't want to see it end any other way.

What a wonderful alternative to the classic Christmas story this is. Such clever writing. Hands down, this is my favorite book of the season. Highly, highly recommended.

Lori - 5 glitter covered, lights a glowing, cinnamon scented Hearts

Krampus how I love thee, let me count the ways...
1 - hulking, fluffy Krampus is hulking and fluffy with a nice bit of growl.
2 - hulking human Krampus is hulking and human with a nice bit of growl.
3 - hulking and growl. Yum.
4 - he is so cute and lovely and I want more Karl.
5 - see points 1-4.
6 - yadda, yadda, yadda...

This was the sweetest story and it is everything a Christmas read should be - with extra fur. Perfect.

Find out more about Krampus Hates Christmas on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

Matthew Blick is almost thirty years old, and he hates the thought of another holiday alone. He has become a bit of a wet blanket when Christmas rolls around every year. So much so that even his five-year-old niece, Hannah, knows something needs to change. She asks the department store Santa to bring her uncle a man to love, and when Santa sees her uncle, he formulates a plan to set that possibility in motion.

Santa shows up at Matthew’s house and at first Matthew can’t place him, but then the memories of his first kiss flood his mind and he is shocked to find that Santa is the man he has carried a torch for since high school. Will this twist of fate help Matthew change his view on the holidays? Only a kiss can tell.


Lori - 3 Hearts

Oh yay, oh yay, oh yay! It is my most favourite time of year, the time of the holiday story! I adore holiday stories as much as a winter Hallmark film (naysayers turn away now) and I'm fully ensconced in the Merry Jizzmas unicorn camp.

We have glitter and fairy lights and hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows and a fire and snow outside over here! Snuggled under myvred and green fleecy blanket I started my Bah Humbug! reading.

Matthew's Kiss was short, and sweet like the inside of a marshmallow. Gooey. Yum. Maybe it was a bit too 'telling' and a tad short on the 'showing' side for me, but I'll forgive it! An enjoyable start to my Christmas love-in

Ann - 3.5 Hearts

Matthew’s Present is a really sweet meet-cute story that also qualifies as a bit of a reunion story too. The author did a really good job of working Matthew’s niece Hannah’s wish into the story without it becoming too saccharine/sweet. When Matthew’s present arrives at his home I got all wrapped up in the sweet tension of the moment and it really exemplifies what I love most about the Jizzmas stories. Characters have a tendency to take chances they may not otherwise and this one has that setup in spades, I loved it. The only thing I would have liked was a little more at the end so I could get a feel for the guys as a couple, but while it may not have qualified as an HEA just yet, it left off with a very optimistic HFN.

Sara - 4 Hearts

This is my kind of Christmas story! We have the lonely but good hearted man who isn’t a fan of Christmas anymore because he was cheated on over the holiday. We have one adorable 5 year old niece who wants her Uncle Matthew to be happy with a man and we have one blue eyed Santa who decides to hit one Scrooge with two balls of snow and make both their holidays’ one to remember.

I loved Matthew with his goals, his melancholy, his brick ranch house and his adopted dog. I loved the holy Holly out of Tyler and the moment Matthew remembers who he is and what he means to him. Can we say heart to the chest moment right there? I think we can! This had all the right feels and the feels were believable in a short number of pages that this redhead swooned.

Cupcake - 2 Hearts

NOW I really feel like a Grinch! *sticks head in a faux snow drift* I chose this one because it looked cute and fluffy and it was. It so was. It was like Santa and Rudolph decided to have a threesome with Frosty and it devolved into an orgy with all the elves who were powerless to resist the lure of candy cane jizz wafting from Santa’s workshop.

I had to chalk too much up to the miracle of Christmas to find this reunion between two dudes who once shared a secret make out/grope session at a party in high school believable. The whole destined by Kris Peengle takes time and effort and needs to drill deep to tap the wellspring of my Christmas spirit and unfortunately the turnaround was sprinkled with too much magic dust. It's not that the writing's bad but there wasn't enough there for this to evolve and suck me into the jizzmas void. I found the whole now they have found their other half all because Matthew’s magnanimous and cupidly niece has decided her most fervent Christmas wish is for her grumperton of an uncle to fine truuuuuueeeee love rather than a Madame Alexander doll required a wee bit more eggnog than I had on hand. Also, how in the sweet name of Prancer did Tyler know where Matthew lived? One word-creeeeee-py.

Only diehard Jizzmas fans would I recommend this to. Like the Santa Jizzians who went before me.

Find out more about Matthew's Present on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

***Review copies were provided by the publisher***

Next week we'll review another five Bah Humbugs. Until then get out there and cheer up a reindeer!