Christmas Stories 2018

Over the past week or so I've been reading Christmas stories whenever I found myself with a few spare minutes. Below are my thoughts on the stories I read.

Cupcakes and Mistletoe by George Loveland

Declan was sure he had locked the front door to his bakery shop. When a handsome man begs Declan to make him a batch of cupcakes, he knows he can’t refuse.

Adorable, sweet, with a small dose of magic this is a charming Christmas story featuring characters (both main and secondary) I wouldn’t mind meeting again.

Made in Paris by Ana Newfolk

New York. Paris. A friendship across continents and ages.

In Paris, days before Christmas, and on the most important stage of their lives, Dorian and Jean-Paul stumble upon the many letters they exchanged over the years since they became penpals at the tender age of ten. 

Watch what happens when friendship turns into more. 

Distance, tragedy, and fear. 
Will anything get in the way of their love?

A sweet gay romance set in the most romantic city with a happy ever after from the author of Made in Portugal, Ana Newfolk.

Grab your copy and discover a love...made in Paris.

Made In Paris is a 10k word standalone gay romance short story with a HEA ending and no cliffhanger.

A most charming story portraying a relationship as it develops over twenty years as two boys, living on different continents, grow up and move from pen pals via friends to.… Well, if you want to know what their lives look like twenty years after the first letter you’ll just have to read this wonderful story, told in part through those letters they sent back and forth.

Baby, It’s Cold Inside by Brigham Vaughn

A trip to visit his boyfriend Nate’s parents during the holidays leaves Emerson a nervous wreck. Bad weather and an unfortunate mix-up leads to an awkward first introduction, and as things deteriorate from there, Emerson begins to doubt if their relationship will survive the stressful weekend. Can Emerson get everything back on track and impress the Collins family in time to have a Merry Christmas? 

Poor Emerson. He’s hopeful and full of good intentions as he is about to meet his boyfriend’s parents for the first time. Except nothing goes as he’d imagined it would and he fears he’s ruined his only chance to make a good first impression. The poor lad made me smile. He’s so young and his emotions are sooooo over the top. In fact, the whole story made me happy and I can honestly say I read it, from start to finish, with a constant smile tugging at my lips. And the epilogue turned that smile into a delighted grin. A wonderful, feel good, Christmas story.

First Footing by Clare London

Caleb and Owen's relationship thrives on conflict and banter, however deep their true feelings run. But are they really going to fall out over... a Christmas card?

Who knew receiving a Christmas card could have such exuberant consequences?

Sometimes having an argument can be as much fun and as hot as more standard foreplay. Caleb and Owen sure have arguing for the heat of it down to a find art. And the question about whose name should be mentioned first on a card addressed to both of them leads to all sorts of rather fabulous not to mention deliciously scorching verbal skirmishes and other, more physical shenanigans.

An original, highly entertaining and rather sexy Christmas short.

The Christmas Hitch (Mysterious Mixology) by Chris Ethan

All they want for Christmas is love.

Charlie is desperate for company this Christmas. With his family and friends away for the holidays, he’s accepted he might have to spend the last few days of the year on his own.

Adam hopes his friend will invite him to spend Christmas with him. When he does, however, he’s on the other side of the country.

What happens when a train is halted mid-journey and the two men are stuck in each other’s charming company?

The Christmas Hitch is a cozy gay romance with magical cocktails, mysterious bartenders and love at first sight and is approximately 15k words. 

Treat yourself to a sweet date with two strangers...

Two men at their wits end when it comes to life in general and love in particular find each other and happiness thanks to a delightful combination of coincidence and mysterious encounters with someone who may not be who or what he presents himself as.

An adorable story that will leave you with a huge smile on your face once you’ve reached the end (and on one or two crucial moments during the story too). Charlie and Adam are so obviously made for each other it’s hard not to cheer when they find each other during what might have been a disastrous delay in their journey, but turns out to be anything but. This is a comforting feel good read if ever I saw one.

A Gentle Shove of Human Kindness by Amy Lane

Witness the Angel Gabriel.

a.k.a. "Heaven's biggest prick"

Gabriel has been accused of the crime of hubris--and his sentence is to remember why angels protected humans in the first place. A permanent seat at Starbucks might be Gabriel's idea of hell, but it's there that he meets the irrepressible Jamie and wounded Ernie, and realizes that the human race might be worth saving after all.

It just needs a gentle shove of human kindness.

Okay, so strictly speaking this isn’t a Christmas story. Given that it features angels as the main characters and ends with the reader feeling happy and, may I say it, with their faith in human kindness refreshed, I’m inclined to gently shove this adorable, funny, and yet poignant short into this lineup anyway.

Gabriel in this story is probably best described as a grumpy old angel, convinced humankind is depraved and doomed. All it takes is twenty-four hours of observing Jamie and Ernie to restore his faith in humans and reduce his cynicism. A most wonderful, lighthearted yet poignant short.

When Harry Met Sully by Susan Mac Nicol

Sometimes, Christmas elves ARE real. And when Harry sees one he'd like to get to know better, you simply have to go with the Christmas flow.

This is a rather sweet and gently funny account of, as the title suggests, the moment Harry is introduced to Sully by Liz, his friend who is determined to end his solitary status.

This is the shortest of the Christmas stories I’ve recently read. It doesn’t come with a happily ever after. Heck, I’m not even sure it qualifies as a happy for now. But, it does leave you with a feeling of happy times to come, and in this case, that’s more than enough.

A Taste of Agapi by Chris Ethan - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 50,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Tiferet Design

Blurb

Jimmy has a secret.

But when he meets Ren, he can no longer hide it.

Ren is an adventurous comic-book nerd.
He transfers to Thessaloniki, Greece in an attempt to find his place in the world.
What he gets is more than just an escape from his academic family.

Jimmy is a hard working man.
After losing his mother, he has put his heart and soul into finishing his studies and helping his dad through his financial difficulties.
When he is introduced to Ren, Jimmy initiates him into the coffee-and-chill culture of his Greek city.

But something awakens in both of them.

Something neither can tame.

Can the two boys be more than just friends?

And what is that feeling called? That feeling they can’t seem to shake off?

Review

It’s amazing how I sometimes forget that the lifestyle, and attitudes I take for granted in my life are not the norm elsewhere. I was initially shocked to see Greece described as a homophobic country. I somehow assumed that since it’s a European country it wouldn’t be too far behind the north European culture of (mostly ever growing) tolerance. It’s a case of live and learn, I guess, but it makes me sad.

And that’s why I hated how Jimmy thought about himself when the story started. My heart broke when he considered himself a pervert. But, it made the journey he subsequently took to arrive at a place of not only accepting but also embracing who he was, all the more glorious. Be it that he threw up one or two roadblocks that made me want to give him a good talking to. Where’s aunt Daisy when you need her.

Talking about aunt Daisy, she and the other secondary characters were delightful. They were fully fleshed and instantly recognizable and yet they never took the limelight from Ren and Jimmy.

Ren. He’s such a sweetheart and so out of his depth. He doesn’t understand Greek culture and Jimmy’s hot-cold reaction to him. I loved him for not giving up and for not holding grudges.

Yes, this is a sweet romance. But it is more than ‘just’ that. A Taste of Agapi also gives the reader a wonderful insight into and tour around Thessaloniki and Greek culture. There’s enough food on these pages, described in delicious detail, to cause hunger pangs while reading. And I absolutely love the meaning of ‘Agapi’. I’d quote the explanation here, because I love it that much, but that would just spoil the moment for other readers.

And maybe that’s the right word to describe this book with: delicious. A wonderful mixture of sweet romance, light but heartfelt angst and inspired interactions, all served against the backdrop of a beautiful and intriguing Greek setting. What more could you possibly ask for?

Author Bio

Chris Ethan is a book whore. He enjoys selling his feelings for money and other pleasures and is blatantly unashamed to do so for as long as he breathes. Chris Ethan is also a persona for Rhys Ethan, author of fantasy and sci-fi. He uses Chris Ethan to share stories of adult queer romance with those who need it. Before you delve into his books however, be warned. He likes putting his characters through shitstorms and hates anything conventional. But then there's that darned happy-ever-after. Also, he likes swearing. Deal with it!

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Jingle Spell by Chris Ethan - Review Tour

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 119 pages

Cover Design: Ethereal Ealain

Blurb

It’s the most horrible time of the year.

Smooches under mistletoes and tacky reindeer decorations. 

Newly single, Davey has had enough of wasting his love and having his heart broken. Better to be single, he decides. No more dates. No more falling in love. No more dreaming of happy ever afters. 

Those are for movies.

He’s resolute.

And then Avery steps into his life, bringing care, compassion, and tenderness in his path.
Davey’s so tempted to hope again. But can an online date and a brief encounter turn into anything other than an ephemeral sexual encounter?

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

A sweet romance by Chris Ethan, author of The Guy With The Suitcase.

Review

Jingle Spell is a wonderful Christmas story; a true ‘bah-humbug to happy-ever-after’ sort of tale and yet it manages to steer clear of being too sweet.

To say Davey has not embraced the Christmas spirit when the story starts, would be a gross understatement.  Then again, he could be forgiven for that, considering how he’s just been dumped…again. He decides once and for all that romance is not for him and gives up on his dream of a relationship with someone who loves him.

Of course, that’s the moment Avery steps into his life. And Avery is one surprise after another, especial since he doesn’t appear to be looking for a hook-up. Much to Davey’s surprise he finds himself dating a man who truly is interested in him. Not that Davey lets go of his attitude without an (internal) fight. He tries to hang on to his ‘bah-humbug’ attitude as well as his conviction that ‘love is not for me’ and yet finds it ever harder while faced with Avery who is not like any other man Davey has ever encountered.

Through Davey’s eyes Avery is so perfect that it is almost a relief when he appears to slip up. It is the one moment of real angst in the otherwise easy-going story and yet, it is also the moment Davey gets to shine most brightly. I loved the contrast between how Davey sees himself and how he acts; his unselfishness took my breath away and made the happy ending, when it came, all the more enjoyable. 

As Christmas stories go, this one is wonderful. Jingle Spell is also well written and despite being a novella, a full story with fully established characters. If you’re looking for a charming and heartwarming Christmas read I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

November 20 - Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BooksLaidBareBoys

November 22 - RAM PA Group, Valerie Ullmer

November 24 - The Way She Reads, Wicked Faerie's Tales & Reviews

November 27 - Hearts on Fire Reviews, OptimuMM

November 29 - Padme's Library, Drops Of Ink, Book Lovers 4Ever, Au Boudoir Ecarlate, Bayou Book Junkie, The Geekery Book Review, Making It Happen, Sexy Erotic Xciting

December 1 - A Book Lover's Dream, Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings, Dog-Eared Daydreams, Slashsessed

Author Bio

Chris Ethan is a book whore. He enjoys selling his feelings for money and other pleasures and is blatantly unashamed to do so for as long as he breathes. Chris Ethan is also a persona for Rhys Ethan, author of fantasy and sci-fi. He uses Chris Ethan to share stories of adult queer romance with those who need it. Before you delve into his books however, be warned. He likes putting his characters through shitstorms and hates anything conventional. But then there's that darned happy-ever-after. Also, he likes swearing. Deal with it!

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The Guy with the Suitcase by Chris Ethan Re-Release Blitz

The Guy with the Suitcase by Chris Ethan

Pages: 208

Details: #1 Once Upon a Guy

E-book / Own

The blurb:

Pierce is homeless. 
Young and strong-willed Pierce has been living in the streets of New York City for six months, since his parents kicked him out of their perfect, Christian, suburban house. Pierce is gay. And he is suffering the consequences for being true to himself. 

Rafe is homeless. 
He is also sick. Impressionable, but far from innocent, Rafe ran away from home almost a year ago. His sickness is slowly killing him. But Rafe is not a hopeless case. He has learned to get by. Nights of paid passion turn to sheltering warmth from the imminent New York winter. 

And then there's a suitcase. Pierce's suitcase, which holds secrets from everyone including its owner. 

When their worlds collide, their lives intertwine and when the world seems bent on bringing the two souls to their knees, fate has other plans for them. 

Caution: Contains adult language, New York City streets, tough life choices, sexual tension, stubborn brutes and swoon-worthy romance. 

My thoughts:

This book is not for the faint of heart. Pierce and Rafe are put through far more than their fair share of shit before they get to their happy ending. In fact, so many obstacles are thrown in their way it is a minor miracle they survive it all, never mind find their way to happiness.

When these two young men first encounter each other it is anything but a good start. I think it is safe to say that after that first ‘meeting’ it’s a minor miracle they end up as friends at all. That first meeting is also a good indicator of what the first few months they spend together will be like; tough, hostile and often hopeless with initially far more downs than ups. But neither man is willing to just give up. While the hopelessness of their situation as homeless youths threatens to bring them down more than once, they persevere. Especially Pierce refuses to let the system win.

As the reader you are aware, almost from the start, that these two guys are not only attracted to each other but also meant to be together. Pierce and Rafe take longer to come to that realisation though; mostly because the two of them are just not

point of skimming over passages just to get to the part where they do talk again. Not so in this book. For these two men it made sense not to talk to each other about their feelings considering how it was being honest with their families which landed them on the streets in the first place.

I loved the message I found in this story; perseverance pays. It may take a while but continuing to fight does lead to results for Pierce and Rafe. I liked these two young men together, fighting the system and beating it. And I loved that amid all the ugliness, cruelty and indifference they encounter, they also met good souls, friends and charity.

The ending was somewhat fairytale-like and I’m not sure the story needed it, since these characters were always going to make it. But, I’d come to care about Rafe and Pierce enough to not begrudge them their miracle.

Overall this was a touching, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting story. It portrayed human kindness and perseverance with as much care for detail as it did the horrors of living on the street, getting the balance exactly right for this reader. I’m looking forward to seeing what this author will offer us next.

Buy links:

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk     AllRomance eBooks   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   iBooks

Print: http://www.amazon.com/Guy-Suitcase-Once-Upon/dp/1945171111

About the author:

Chris Ethan is a book whore. He enjoys selling his feelings for money and other pleasures and is blatantly unashamed to do so for as long as he breathes. Chris Ethan is also a persona for Rhys Christopher Ethan, author of fantasy and sci-fi. He uses Chris Ethan to share stories of adult queer romance with those who need it. Before you delve into his books however, be warned. He likes putting his characters through shitstorms and hates anything conventional. But then there's that darned happy-ever-after. Also, he likes swearing. Deal with it!

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