holiday

Release Blitz, Review & Giveaway: A Gift Wrapped Holiday by Amy Aislin

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: A Gift-Wrapped Holiday

Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin

Cover Artist: LC Chase

Release Date: November 22, 2022

Genre: Contemporary M/M romance

Tropes: single dad, age gap (10 years), small town, found family

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 69 000 words / 272 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo

Blurb

Mal’s first priority is giving his six-year-old son the best Christmas ever, a goal made trickier by a recent move to New England after losing his job. As a single dad, he’s not looking for romance—especially not with a blond California boy ten years his junior.

After being ridiculed at the family business, Luca sets out to prove himself by opening an eco-friendly gift-wrapping store in a small town with a hard-on for Christmas that’s about as far from LA as he can get. Out of his comfort zone in snowy Maine, love is the last thing on his mind.

But the magic of the season has other ideas. As Mal and Luca collide on wintery streets, will they let their first Christmas in Lighthouse Bay lead to happily ever after?

Content warning: stillbirth. Although it took place off-page and in the past, it is discussed on-page.

Jenn Review

4 Stars

This is a really sweet read to get you in the holiday spirit! I really enjoyed Mal and Luca and their story and of course little Otis just adds a sprinkle of sweetness and joy. It’s the kind of story that just makes your heart happy and embraces that holiday magic. It really felt like feel-good holiday movie.

Mal and Luca are two men who’ve been through quite a bit and are trying to make a new(ish) start in Lighthouse Bay. They are both determined to be successful and are working hard to make the holiday season special. They never expected to meet each other or the connection that happens right from the start, but it’s clearly something special. It’s really a sweet journey of love and healing, both of them needing to move forward after some painful past experiences and they find they can do it together.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s entertaining and endearing and these characters are so easy to love. It’s easy to feel the genuine love that develops between Mal and Luca and it’s really heartwarming. I’m definitely curious about Donovan and am hoping to get his story too, plus I’d love to see more of Mal and Luca! This is definitely a book to pick up to get the holiday feels!

Excerpt

Mal slowed at the bottom of a driveway and nodded at the house. “This is me.”

“I was wondering who lived here,” Luca said, taking in the house’s boxy structure.

“Why? Because it’s hideous?”

That startled a laugh out of Luca. “Well . . . yes. It doesn’t match the rest of the houses.” The area just west of Christmas Lane housed Lighthouse Bay’s historic homes, but this modern construction was decidedly not historic. Luca had passed it a couple of times on his evening gift deliveries and wondered what the owner had been thinking. “Why’d you buy it if you don’t like it?”

“I’m not. I’m leasing.”

Even so, Mal had gone all out with the decorations. Icicle lights hanging from the roof, flashing multicolored lights framed around each window, static white lights around a nine-foot-tall pine tree, and a lit-up reindeer family. He even had some sort of spotlights buried somewhere in the yard that swirled red and green snowflakes on the house in an unidentifiable pattern.

“Which is probably another reason I haven’t unpacked,” Mal continued. “I hate this place.”

“Why lease it, then?”

Mal blew out a breath that ghosted the air in front of him. “The short version is that I was in a rush.”

“And the long version?”

“The long version is something I’ll have to give you another time.”

Luca glanced at Otis. “I think he’s asleep.”

“Bet he gets a second wind as soon as I walk in the door.” Mal’s voice was a disgruntled grumble that Luca shouldn’t have found as charming as he did. “Thanks for walking us home.”

“Thanks for letting me. I like talking to you.”

Mal’s smile went lopsided. “I like talking to you too. Still want to do it again sometime? I promise not to feed you ice cream while it’s below freezing outside. Real food only. Scout’s honor.”

Luca’s armpits went damp despite the winter weather, and butterflies took flight in his belly. He dug his toe into the sidewalk. “You must really want to date me if you’ve asked me out twice in one week.”

“Or I just want an adult to talk to for once,” Mal said, a teasing tilt to his smile.

Luca stuck his tongue in his cheek and backed down the driveway, keeping his gaze on Mal’s. “Or maybe you like me.”

“Damn. And here I thought I wasn’t being obvious at all.”

The butterflies floated into Luca’s throat. “Text me?”

“I will.” The darkness enveloped Mal as he moved away from the sidewalk and into the shadow of the house, but Luca could still see the quirk to his lips. “Good night, Luca.”

“Night, Mal.”

Luca watched Mal and Otis head inside, waved at Mal through the glass-fronted door, then turned toward his own home only a couple blocks away, an extra bounce to his steps.

About the Author

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up | Facebook Group

Giveaway

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one signed paperback of A Gift-Wrapped Holiday

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New Release Review: The Wishing Tree by RJ Scott

Hope it’s been a great weekend! Today I’m excited to share my review for The Wishing Tree by RJ Scott! This is a wonderful, heartwarming Christmas read that made me so happy and we’ve also got a great excerpt to share!

Happy Reading!

The Wishing Tree

Author:RJ Scott
Series:STANDALONE STORIES
Tag:2021 RJ

It takes an impossible Christmas wish for Bailey to find forever love with his brother’s best friend.

Turning twenty-five and still a virgin, Bailey has barely dated, let alone acted on the private fantasies featuring his brother’s best friend, newly retired hockey star, Kai. All he wants is for Kai to love him, but after a summer when Kai’s anger drove them apart, love doesn’t seem possible at all.

When Kai goes home to Wishing Tree, he knows he owes everyone an apology, not least of all to the man he loves. He’s convinced he can be the man Bailey deserves, and he needs to show Bailey how much he’s changed.

The only problem? Bailey has secrets he’s scared will drive Kai away, and Kai is running out of time to convince Bailey that falling in love starts with a wish, and can end up in forever.

The Wishing Tree is a standalone small-town Christmas MM romance with perfect snow, twinkling lights, a first real kiss, a shy virgin with a silken kink, a retired hockey player, and all the Christmas feels.

More info →

Amazon

Paperback

4.5 Stars

The Wishing Tree is a very heartfelt, sweet Christmas romance about two wonderful men who finally get a chance at the love and happiness they both truly deserve. I completely fell in love with Kai and Bailey and all of Wishing Tree to be honest!

Bailey has been in love with his older brother’s best friend Kai for basically forever. When he is teen he decides it’s time to come out to his family and put the ultimate wish for Kai and love on The Wishing Tree. Kai is busy with his hockey career and doesn’t have time for love, on a visit home he comes across Bailey as he’s leaving his wish on the tree, Bailey reveals some secrets that are too much for Kai at the time.

Years later, Kai comes to the realization that there is more to life than hockey, he’s ready to give it up return to Wishing Tree and try to prove to Bailey that he’s the man he is supposed to love. Bailey has worked to build a good life for himself and be the very best uncle, but he’s never found someone to love, aside from Kai. When Kai returns and confesses his feelings, it’s hard for Bailey to believe it’s all real, but Kai is one determined man.

There’s a magic to this story, it was so endearing and touching and add in the Christmas feels and it’s just so good! I loved sweet Bailey, he’s such a wonderful guy, he can by shy and insecure at times, but he’s also so very strong. Kai is equally as wonderful, yes he’s made some mistakes but he is one hundred percent committed to making up for those. He loves Bailey and is determined to show him, to prove himself to him. Their story is more romantic that hot and spicy, although we definitely get a glimpse at their chemistry. I loved the families in this book as well, they add so much to the story and really bring it all together. Overall a fantastic holiday read about a love that is just meant to be!

EXCERPT

“Hey, Angel.” He bent at the waist, stretching, but twisting his neck as he did, so he could send me a smile. His caramel eyes were such a beautiful shade, just this side of topaz, and his lips were lush and pink and pillow-soft. He called me Angel because according to him my hair, all blond curls and long made me look like an angel. I didn’t mind him calling me that, I secretly loved it, but when my brothers did it too, then I wanted to murder them in their sleep.

I loved seeing him because he was my entire world and I wanted to tell him everything.

I hated seeing him, because I didn’t know what to say to him, and how in God’s name would I ever be able to tell him anything?

“Hey.” I sketched a wave, the card obvious in my hand and, embarrassed, I shoved it deep into my pocket, hoping he didn’t notice.

“Are you adding a wish?” he asked, then he stalked over to me, and I swear I was going to die on the spot. “I should do that as well.” He lifted the lid to the sheltered card box, and picked up a pen, which he proceeded to tap on the surface. “I’ll have to owe the tree a dollar. I’ll bring it back later.” He glanced up at the tree as if he was apologizing to the skeleton of branches. “I don’t know what to wish for.” He side-eyed me. “What are you wishing for?”

Oh god, my tongue was a hundred times too big for my mouth. I couldn’t tell him all my secrets; I wouldn’t have known where to start. I let out what sounded like a squeak, and same as my brothers, he didn’t pause to let me answer, because he knew as well as they did that I didn’t talk much, that I was shy.

He was a professional hockey player, a star in his own right, twenty-one and with the world at his feet. I’d loved him forever, and I hated that I didn’t see much of him. Just man up and say it. I love you, Kai. Can you kiss me?

RJ SCOTT

Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

RJ’s Social Media as clickable links

Audio Review: Operation Fake Relationship by Jay Northcote

Can a fake relationship between best friends turn into the real thing?

After years of estrangement from his parents, Nick is finally going home for Christmas, but not without backup. He wants moral support, so his best friend and flatmate, Jackson, agrees to pretend to be his partner so he can go with him.

It’s easy for Jackson to be convincing when his feelings for Nick are as genuine as ever. He put his crush on the back burner long ago, but acting out a role he’d love to play for real is harder than he imagined. Holding hands, kissing under the mistletoe, even sharing a bed for the sake of the charade… He can’t help wondering what he’s let himself in for, and whether his heart can take it.

Emotions run high as Nick grapples with family issues, and the sexual tension between him and his best friend becomes difficult to ignore. But if he and Jackson give into the temptation to be fake boyfriends with benefits over the holiday, what will it mean for their future as friends once Christmas is over?

Contains: best friends to lovers, pretend boyfriends, daddy issues, mistletoe, and a happy ending—of course.

Amazon

Audible

Goodreads

4 Stars

This was a fun friends to lovers Christmas book and I really enjoyed the narration, Hamish Long did a great job bringing this story to life for me, especially when it came to the character voices. It’s a pretty straightforward story, Nick has a difficult relationship with his parents after his father always made him feel that he would never be good enough, but at Christmas his mother asks him to come home, insisting things are better. Not wanting to deal with that alone Nick asks his best friend and roommate Jackson to come along, and pretend to be his boyfriend, just to really put his father to the test.

At the start of their visit Nick is definitely on the defense, especially when it comes to his father, so he’s a little difficult there, but ultimately and what makes this a good read, is his willingness to understand that his father has changed and while there are still hurts, they may be able to build a new relationship. Jackson plays such a big role in that, and I have to say I just loved him! He’s the sweetest guy with such a great heart and it seems to be just what Nick really needs. I liked that these two were friends to start, then seem to discover their real feelings, there’s a great sweetness to it. It’s a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed listening, definitely has heart and holiday spirit!

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

Release Blitz & Review: Snowed by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey

Today we are excited to share the Release Blitz of Snowed by RJ Scott and V.L. Locey! This can be read as a standalone Christmas/winter book, but as we always say it’s better if you’ve started with book 1 in the Boston Rebels series to get the best out of the book. I’m also sharing my review of this great second chance romance!

Happy Reading!

SNOWED

A second chance at love is all Kyle wants for Christmas, but a dark menace from his past wants him dead, and love is second to staying alive.

Kyle Lourenco has carved out a comfortable life and career for himself in Boston. With the holidays quickly approaching, he’s heading home for the first time in several years. Home to his loving parents and the small Canadian town where he was raised. And home to Christian, his best friend and the first man to steal his heart.

Just as a winter storm begins to blow in, it forces Kyle off the road only miles from home and a dark and sinister force from his past creeps ever closer. His only hope is getting to Christian’s cabin before the evil that has haunted him for years finally catches up to him.

Best friends since they were three, Christian Gauthier grew up next door to Kyle, in a remote mountain town with one stoplight and a forty-mile round trip to the nearest school. When Kyle left town for a shot at a professional hockey career, he took Christian’s heart with him. Even though he knew Kyle was always destined for bigger things, it hadn’t stopped Christian from falling for him as soon as he knew what love was.

With Christmas coming soon and a major snowstorm heading their way, Christian shuts the doors to the family store and heads to his cabin, where he will be on standby as an official volunteer for Search and Rescue. He has never regretted staying in Eagle Ridge, but a near miss on a simple rescue leads him to reevaluate everything, and when Kyle ends up at his door, he knows that guarding his heart might not be the best solution after all.

eBook

Paperback

4 – 4.5 Stars

I’m a big fan of RJ Scott & V.L. Locey’s hockey world and was very excited this holiday read, and while it was different than what I expected they totally delivered and I really enjoyed it! This is a great second chance story but there’s also a good mystery tied in as well.

Kyle and Christian were best friends as kids and that bond developed into a great love, but life happens and when Kyle left their small Canadian life to play professional hockey in Boston the two grew apart. A sudden injury has Kyle heading home for the first time in years to spend Christmas with his family, but a major snowstorm and a nasty car accident has him at Christian’s front door.

There’s a lot to this story, it’s intense in a lot of different ways. There is the relationship between Kyle and Christian, which in just undeniable, but there’s also the nightmares that have plagued Kyle, the fears that follow him and attempting to stop them for good. I loved following this story, I was intrigued at first, trying to figure Kyle out, but then I just didn’t want to put it down. I absolutely loved Kyle and Christian, the love they have for each other is so deep and real, they were just meant to be. It’s heartwarming and makes you feel so good, but then there’s the mystery side, the terrors Kyle experiences and how that side of the story reveals itself. I don’t want to spoil it, but I loved it, it kept me guessing and needing to know more. The blend of romance and mystery was great and then when it all comes together, SO GOOD! I loved seeing these two together, healing and happy! A really great, if surprising addition to this series!

Excerpt

I should use the radio and contact his parents—let them know where he was, and that he was okay—because they were probably concerned that he hadn’t turned up. I should report him being here to the search and rescue team. Maybe I should call the RCMP. Someone might be looking for him, a friend, a lover? There might be someone else in the car wreck I assume he’d walked away from.

I couldn’t move as shock stole my rational thoughts, and I needed to know whether I had to go out there and rescue someone else.

“Kyle, were you alone?” No response, and then his eyes opened a little and I got my first look at the inky depths of a man in pain. “Is there someone else out there in the snow?” I asked clearly.

“Huh?”

“Were you alone in the car?”

“Car?”

“Is anyone else in danger?”

“Alone,” he managed and closed his eyes again. That was one thing I guess—he’d been driving in a snowstorm on his own, which meant I didn’t need to suit up and get out there. He’d slipped back into sleep, but it was restless and jarring as he groaned in pain and mumbled something that I barely made out… Taqriaqsuit. A nightmare then because the ancient phantoms of his momma’s stories visited in his sleep, and I’d held him before when the night terrors consumed him. I’d held him and quieted his fears, and he’d left me, and he’d never come back.

“No… no… no…”

The blankets moved a little as he jerked and then whimpered, but his eyes were still closed, and I knew he wasn’t in this world right now. Wherever he was, he was fighting the same age-old demons that plagued his childhood. There was only one thing that stopped them then, but it meant me climbing into bed with him and cradling him, reassuring him I could keep him safe. It meant me opening my heart to the only man I loved and promising him I’d be there forever.

I refused to lie because forever was something we’d never have.

SERIES DETAILS

Boston Rebels – RJ Scott & V.L. Locey in the reading order of all the hockey romance books;

Lost in Boston (Free Prequel Novella) Top Shelf Back Check

Boston Rebels

Lost in Boston (Free prequel novella) (Boston Rebels 0.5) – http://rjscott.co.uk/LIB_Master

Top Shelf (Boston Rebels 1) – http://rjscott.co.uk/read-topshelf

Back Check (Boston Rebels 2) – http://rjscott.co.uk/read-backcheck

Snowed (Boston Rebels 3) – http://www.rjscott.co.uk/read-snowed

RJ SCOTT

Writing love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards

RJ’s Social Media as clickable links

VL LOCEY

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee.
(Not necessarily in that order.)

She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

VL’s Social Media as clickable links

ALL NEW and FREE Christmas holiday book

Have you seen this surprise holiday freebie from Tijan, Lucy Score, Kennedy Ryan, Marie Force, Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland?!

It’s the season for gift giving!

Five FREE standalone holiday short stories!

Hot Item by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Getting into a fight with a sexy stranger over the last hot toy on the shelf was not the way I intended to spend Christmas Eve. And I certainly didn’t plan on spending hours more trying to win a contest to decide who would get to buy it. But when our time is up, would the toy be the only hot item I wanted to take home?

One Night Only by Lucy Score

After a Christmas Eve concert mishap, divorced Brooke finds herself snowed in with the silver fox retiring rocker she’s been trying to interview. Will it take a Christmas miracle to get him to open up to her or does the tattooed bad boy of punk rock have other ideas on how to pass the time?

A Kellan Holiday by Tijan

Humans are so simple with their holiday traditions.

They are ignorant of the powerful and majestic creatures among them, like me.

I am the most powerful demon above the surface.

Nothing can stop me…except, well, some stupid prophecy.

Holiday Swing by Kennedy Ryan

For our five-year wedding anniversary, my husband decides he wants another woman.

The traditional gift is wood, but okay.

After trying everything with little improvement, our marriage counselor suggests we experiment to reignite our sex life. A swing party is my husband’s adventure of choice.

Once inside, I can’t go through with it. Seeing him walk off with someone else, I realize we want very different things. Our marriage is over, and I have no intention of having a random hook up with a stranger.

But then away from the noise and revelry, I find him.

It’s one illicit encounter. A night with no names and no inhibitions.

I don’t hold back, knowing I’ll never see him again.

And I don’t…until my parents’ Christmas party…

Nochebuena by Marie Force

Nochebuena is the Cuban community’s Christmas Eve celebration, and in this short story, the cast of Marie Force’s Miami Nights Series comes together to mark the holiday after a year of change that’s touched nearly every member of the family. Catch up with the characters from How Much I Feel, How Much I Care and How Much I Love and get a sneak peek at the couple that will headline book 4, How Much I Want. If you haven’t read the books yet, you’ll still enjoy this short story set in the Miami Nights world!

COVER CREDIT:

Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Grab your free copy today, before it goes away!

Available for only a limited time!

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/y20g69cp6x

Release Blitz & Giveaway: A No-Strings Noel by Annabelle Jacobs

Happy Friday! We are excited to share the Release Blitz for A No-Strings Noel by Annabelle Jacobs today! I’m currently reading this fun holiday and romance and will be sharing my review soon! Make sure to check out the awesome giveaway!

Happy Reading!

ALL BUYS LINKS

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Length: 54,000 words approx.

A week of no-strings fun in a winter wonderland setting. No consequences, no expectations, no hurt feelings. Right?

Henry:

Finding his boyfriend in a compromising position leaves him with a week off work and no holiday to go on.
A night of vodka, ice cream, and his sister’s sympathetic ear is the only way to deal with it.
It’s also how he finds himself on holiday alone a few weeks later, at an English holiday village in the countryside, surrounded by Christmas cheer and happy families.

He’s expecting a week of relaxing days and early nights, doing his own thing, and taking some time for himself. And hopefully finding some festive spirit along the way, because it’s sorely lacking at the moment.

What he’s not expecting is Dom.

Dom:

Coming to somewhere so familiar soothes his broken heart after yet another failed attempt at finding someone to settle down with. He’s ready. They never are.

Seeing a lost-looking stranger on the first day of his holiday triggers his protective instincts, so he steps in to give him some helpful advice.
Who knew that advice would mean they end up spending the day and then the whole week together? But he figures a holiday fling is exactly what he needs to get through this slump: no expectations, no misunderstandings, no heartbreak.
Or that was the plan.
He knows Henry wants more, but he doesn’t trust himself where his heart’s concerned.
He doesn’t trust Henry not to break it.

A Christmas MM romance featuring a meet-cute, a sexy holiday fling, a meddling but awesome sister, a teeny bit of angst, and a festive HEA.

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction
Website – www.annabellejacobs.com
Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction

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Release Blitz, 5 Star Review & Giveaway:

Hope it’s been a great week so far! Today we are excited to share the Release Blitz for Christmas Mountain by Garrett Leigh! I loved this book, if you’re looking for a great read to kickstart the holiday season, I definitely recommend this one! I adored Rami and Fen and am sharing my 5 star review and there’s a great giveaway too!

Happy Reading!

ALL BUY LINKS

Cover Design: Black Jazz Design

The probation officer caring for his dead brother’s baby. The wounded gentle giant with the biggest softest heart.

Rami: Sweet Fen Hawthorne is my favourite thing about working in the prison. His broad shoulders and sunny grin. His twinkly flirtation. And he likes me as much as I like him. More seems inevitable until life happens.

One day I’m there, then I’m not, and second chances don’t really happen when your car breaks down halfway up a snowy mountain, do they?

Besides, I don’t remember flirting with a bearded lumbersexual, only dreaming about one.

Fen: Do dreams come true?

Christmas Mountain is my home. But it’s the one place on earth I never imagined seeing Rami Stone again, and now I’m snowed in with him. Trapped, with only a roaring fire for company, and it’s a fantasy come true. The air is thick with more than snow and the eighteen months we’ve been apart fades away.

As the snow clears, though, so does the haze. Rami says he comes with baggage.

But so do I, and I’m here for the heavy lifting.

I’m here for forever.

A Christmas MM romance from Garrett Leigh. Expect: Long lost friends-to-lovers, heart-warming found family, and the swooniest second chance at love with a healthy dose of sweet hurt/comfort. Gorging on mince pies and cinnamon-spiced doughnuts is optional, but deeply encouraged.

5 Stars

I really loved this holiday story from Garrett Leigh, it was heart-warming and fun and I think the sweetest read from Garrett Leigh I’ve come across! I’m a big fan and know that I usually need to be prepared for some major angst when reading this author and I love that, but I also really love what she did with this book. It still has very real, raw characters but this was very much touching, heart happy read!

Rami and Fen know each other through work, Fen is a prison guard and Rami a probation officer and there’s a connection building between the two men. But, life throws some major curve balls to both of them, and just when the two are about to finally get a first date, everything changes, for both of them. Rami’s brother dies, leaving him caring for his young nephew and Fen is injured in a prison attack. The two men don’t see each other for eighteen months and their reunion is a bit unexpected.

Rami and Fen are thrown back together, stuck on a mountain during a winter storm and really, both men are in need of some saving. Since those fateful moments over a year ago, they have both been struggling in their own worlds, living a rough, lonely life. Rami thinks he’s ready to hand off sweet Charlie to his sister to raise, feeling inadequate and miserable, but spending time with his family and with Fen, he realizes how much that little boy means to him. Fen has isolated himself for the most part after the attack, working hard on his tree farm but that’s his main existence.

There was so much I just absolutely loved about this book! Rami and Fen have such a great connection and such great chemistry, but their story really is about the heart and the feels. Neither man is prepared to just jump in bed for a quick fling so their relationship really builds and becomes something so very special. I loved seeing these two open up to each other and to love! Rami still keeps his sassy snarky side, which is so funny and Fen just rolls with it. He is such a loveable big lumbersexual guy! You can really feel the love they have for each other. Christmas Mountain really is a wonderful read, I fell so hard for this whole group of characters, plus I LOVED the Dante Pope appearance! My heart is so happy!

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer.

Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.

Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

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Book Blitz, 5 Star Review & Giveaway: Tic Tac Mistletoe by N. R. Walker

I’m beyond excited to share the Book Blitz for Tic Tac Mistletoe by N. R. Walker! I absolutely freaking loved this holiday read, it is so much wonderful feel good love! I’m sharing my 5 Star Review, plus there’s a great excerpt and giveaway too!

Happy Reading!

~Jenn

Tic Tac Mistletoe
N.R. Walker
Publication date: November 27th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, LGBTQ+, Romance

Hamish Kenneally is moving from Australia to the US for a fresh start, starting with Christmas at his sister’s place in Idaho. When a snowstorm diverts his plane to Montana and leaves him stranded two days before Christmas, he hires a car and drives right into a blizzard.

Ren Brooks has always called Hartbridge, Montana, and his family hardware store, home. After a few failed attempts at love, he’s resigned to being single forever—after all, no guy wants to stay in his sleepy little town for long. And after his dad’s passing earlier in the year, Ren’s Christmas is looking bleak. But when a car runs off the road in front of his property, Ren pulls the driver out and takes him home to get out of the cold.

With the storm and the holidays leaving Hamish with nowhere else to go, Ren kindly offers a place to stay. Hamish is certain he’s crashed right into a Hallmark Christmas movie, despite more car delays and road closures and the prospect of not seeing his sister for Christmas. And with help from Hamish, Ren is beginning to feel a little Christmas cheer.

These two unlikely strangers have more in common than they first realise, and after two days of Christmas decorations, cookies, and non-stop conversation, it looks like Christmas might be saved after all.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Jenn’s Review

5 Stars

For me this was the perfect holiday read! It was so sweet and delightful and fun and I’m pretty sure my heart just exploded with happy! It is exactly what I needed to get me into holiday mode. This isn’t an angsty story, there isn’t some drawn out wind-around plot, it’s got some insta-love and absolutely adorable characters and it was just so much freaking fun to read!

Hamish has left Australia, moving to the US to be closer to his sister and to try to find his place in the world, but he’s not off to a good start! The weather has diverted him to a different state, there’s a crazy snow storm and he’s trying to drive a car that is the opposite of everything he knows. Ren loves his life in Montana, running the family hardware store, it’s just where he belongs. He thinks he’s pretty content, although missing his father after he passed away and maybe a bit lonely, but over he thinks he’s doing just fine. That is until an Australian trying to drive in a snow storm crashes into his ditch. Ren comes to the rescue and provides Hamish a place to stay until the roads clear. What neither of these guys counted on was how right everything feels when they are together.

There’s just so much to love about this story! The interaction between Ren and Hamish is so fantastic, they have a great connection right away. As they spend time together, Ren especially starts to see what he’s missing and what he wants, and it just so happens to be standing right in front of them. From their love of the same TV shows, movies and songs, they are just perfect for each other. It’s easy to feel a bond right away. Both of them are such nice guys and deserve to be happy. It really feels like a bit of Christmas magic just coming along and dusting them with glittery goodness. Yes, I’m gushing, but I really did enjoy this story that much! It made so freaking happy! If you are in the mood for that Hallmark movie goodness, this is definitely the book for you! It’s a new favorite for me!

EXCERPT:

Hamish’s POV

A totally catastrophic, unmitigated disaster.

What is a totally catastrophic, unmitigated disaster, you might ask?

Let me break it down for you real quick.

My life, my relationship, my job, my plans, my future, and this whole damn trip.

So, basically me.

Me.

I am the totally catastrophic unmitigated disaster.

Hamish Kenneally, thirty-one-year-old Australian, who quit his shitty job and sold his shitty apartment and left behind his shitty life in Sydney, packed his said-shitty life into two suitcases, and boarded a plane to spend Christmas with his sister in God-knows-where, Idaho, USA.

Well, Christmas first. Then two years, at least, in America trying to unshitify his life.

And if the trip to said God-knows-where, Idaho, was any indication of just how spectacularly extra-shitified my life was going to get, I should have turned around and stayed right where I was.

Because if the flight from Sydney to LA was bad, which it was, then the second flight, LA to Spokane, made the first flight look like a joy ride.

Because I didn’t get to Spokane, did I?

Oh no, of course I didn’t.

Because you see, Christmastime in America is in winter. Which is weird enough for this Australian. Christmas should be hot summer days at the beach, seafood and salads, beers and watching the bronzed surfers and drunk foreigners at Bondi. That is what Christmas should be.

None of this “sorry folks; to avoid flying into a massive snow blizzard, we’re being diverted to Missoula, Montana” crap the captain of the plane said when we were halfway there. Like the screaming baby in the seat next to me, or the vomiting lady in the row in front of me weren’t bad enough. Like we had any choice about which direction we were flying into.

I had no choice. I was now going to Montana. In a freaking blizzard, of all things. Ever been on a plane that flew into a snowstorm? There is zero joy in that kind of turbulence, believe me. It would also explain the screaming baby and the vomiting woman. And the man behind me saying Hail Mary’s . . . which you’d think might be comforting. But oh boy, is it ever not. Especially when he yelled the prayer every time we hit a particularly large pothole in the sky on the descent. Honestly, if this flight was a scene in a movie, you’d think it was too ridiculous to be real.

After the plane landed—to which I would have clapped and cheered like everyone else if I wasn’t stuck in the brace position after trying to kiss my own arse goodbye—we were kicked off the plane without so much as a good luck in the wrong bloody state.

So there I was, a clueless Aussie, after flying for twenty hellish-hours and now a few hundred kilometres from where I was supposed to be, trying to wrangle two overweight suitcases down the concourse, when one little wheel on my suitcase broke.

Because of course it did.

Frazzled and trying not to cry— Yes, cry. A thirty-one-year-old man can cry; shove your toxic masculinity in your cakehole and stop judging me. I was having a jetlag-fuelled shitastic day meltdown, trying to keep my shit together the best I could, and clearly not doing it very well. I was allowed a little saltwater leakage.

Anyway, getting back to my story. I tried to call my sister.

No signal.

Because of course there’s not.

So, taking a deep breath and willing myself not to spiral, I found my car rental kiosk. Finally, something is going right. “I have a car booked,” I said, trying to keep my now-broken suitcase upright with my foot while rifling through my backpack for my booking confirmation and driver’s licence. After dropping my passport and half the contents from my backpack all over the floor, then scrambling to collect it all while still trying to keep my suitcase upright, I handed everything over with a flourish of triumph. “Oh, that flight was the worst,” I said, sagging onto the counter. I was about to tell her all about my day from the ninth circle of hell when she looked up at me with that look.

You know the one.

The look of superficial appeasement before they cut you off at the knees. “I’m sorry, sir. But I don’t have a reservation under your name.”

I stared at her. My brain short-circuited and the will to live left my body. It was an actual out-of-body experience, I’m sure of it. I could see myself staring at her, mouth gaping like I’d been lobotomised.

Because of course they didn’t have my booking.

Why would they? My rental car was waiting for me in Spokane. In Washington. Not in freaking Montana.

“Oh,” I whispered, and my left eye twitched. “That’s nice.” I looked around the airport, at the line of annoyed people behind me. “Excellent. I’ve seen that movie where Tom Hanks lives in an airport. It wasn’t so bad. Could be worse. Could’ve been the one where he’s stuck on the island, I guess. Though I didn’t pack a volleyball, so that would’ve sucked.”

She blinked and tap-tap-tapped away at her keyboard. “But sir, we’ve had a lot of cancelled flights today because of the weather. I can arrange a vehicle for you, if you’d like?”

Oh, my sweet baby Jesus in a manger, why didn’t she lead with that?

Author Bio:

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

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Release Blitz, Review & Giveaway: A Christmas Break by Annabelle Jacobs

We are excited to share the Release Blitz for A Christmas Break by Annabelle Jacobs today! I’m really trying to get in the holiday mood and am enjoying some holiday reads and this is definitely a fun one! It’s got sweet guys and funny cats! I’m sharing my review, plus there’s a great giveaway!

Happy Reading!

~Jenn

ALL BUY LINKS

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Length: 54,000 words approx.

Christmas is a time for giving, not lusting after your brother’s best mate.

Finn’s never had the Christmas of his dreams, and this year isn’t shaping up to be much better. Then he rents his spare room out to Jasper, and life begins to look up.

Laid back Jasper is nothing like Finn expects. He’s hot, sweet, and easy to talk to. Finn could easily fall for him. But, he’s his brother’s best friend. He’s off limits, and Finn would never break that sacred rule…right?

Jasper’s carried a torch for his best mate’s brother for years. Living with him sparks an old flame to light, and the more time they spend together, the brighter it burns. Finn is gorgeous and kind. He’s everything Jasper has ever wanted.

But he’s also scarred by old wounds, and reluctant to let his guard down again. Friendship blooms, and for a short while, it’s enough. But the fire between them is undeniable. Finn can fight it as much as he likes.

He won’t win.

A Christmas Break is a festive MM romance. Expect: a swoony best friend’s brother, old friendships that fast turn to love, sweet roommate romance, and lots of naughty rescue cats.

Jenn’s Review

4 Stars

This was a really fun holiday read, I loved Finn and Jasper and their friends – roommates – lovers story. I enjoyed this book from start to finish, it’s one I didn’t want to put down!

Finn is still feeling a bit raw after his last breakup, he’s been keeping to himself lately and avoiding going out. Jasper is back in town after spending some time traveling. When Finn’s best friend takes him for a night out he’s face to face with Jasper again as he’s out spending an evening with Finn’s brother Cole. Fate seems to bring them together, Finn needs a roommate and Jasper needs a place to live.

There’s a great chemistry between these two, but there are also a whole lot of reasons why they shouldn’t…roommates, friends, Jasper is Finn’s little brother’s best friends…but these two just can’t deny that connection. It’s supposed to be just a bit of fun, to relieve some stress, you know all the excuses to deny the feels.

I really liked how their story played out, I loved that they both came to realize what they needed in order to move forward and build a real relationship. Man, that just made my heart schmoop. It felt very genuine and made me love them both that much more. They both have some things they need to sort out and having that ability to see that was a great part of this story. These guys are just adorable together and you add in some super duper cute kitties that wreak havoc and it’s a wonderful, feel-good holiday read! Definitely one I’d recommed!

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction
Website – www.annabellejacobs.com
Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction

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Blog Tour & Givewaway: Gingerbread Mistletoe by Amy Aislin

Happy Saturday! We are so happy to be a part of the Blog Tour for Gingerbread Mistletoe by Amy Aislin today! This is a sweet holiday read with all the holiday feels. I’m sharing my review, plus there’s a great excerpt and an awesome giveaway too!

Happy Reading!

~Jenn

Book Title: Gingerbread Mistletoe

Author: Amy Aislin

Publisher: Self-published

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Series: Lighthouse Bay #2

Genre/s: Contemporary m/m holiday romance

Trope/s: Enemies to lovers, small town, forced proximity

Heat Rating: 2 flames

Length: 62,000 words

It’s book two in the Lighthouse Bay series, but can be read as a standalone.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Amazon Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

The last thing Jeff wants is to spend time with the man who totaled his car—the one he spent years restoring with his late father. But if he wants to resurrect his childhood town’s annual outdoor hockey tournament, he’s got no choice.

The last thing Mika wants is to work with the guy who took off right after the accident, without ensuring he was okay. And working together on organizing Jeff’s proposed tournament sounds like a complete nightmare. He’s got enough on his plate after surviving cancer.

Sparks fly as they’re forced to work together, but is that enough for them to set their differences aside and pull off the tournament in only two weeks? Or will they prove to be immune to the magic of Christmas?

4 Stars

This is a sweet, feel-good, slow burn holiday story that was fun to read, touching and left me feeling oh so very happy! It’s a story about two men who really need some holiday magic and happiness, finding it in the most unlikely place.

Jeff and Mika, two men who don’t exactly have the best start, are just so heart-melty wonderful together. These two have a rough encounter a year prior to the main setting of this book. A simple car accident turns into so much more as both men are struggling at the time, trying to sort through some major hurts. A year later and on the other side of the country they are reunited and find themselves having to work together, albeit begrudgingly. As the two start to get to know each other and the moments behind that disastrous first meeting are revealed, both Jeff and Mika soften and discover the intense connection between them.

There is such a sweetness to this read, it’s definitely not angsty or dramatic but more about the building of this relationship and healing of both Mika and Jeff. It felt like it really was more about those special little moments that happen and the impact they can have. I loved those moments and how warm fuzzy it all made me feel. I felt like I read this book with a small smile constantly on my face. Add in some holiday magic and it’s a wonderful read to really bring that holiday spirit!

Excerpt

Standing, he held a hand out to the man who was so much his type it was almost laughable. Three or four inches taller than Mika’s own five-ten height, dark brown hair that shone red under the warehouse’s lights, like the deepest shade of mahogany, with charcoal-gray at the temples and above his ears, and lines that fanned out from narrow eyes a dark shade of blue. A high forehead in a heart-shaped face and the physique of a footballer completed the package. All of that wouldn’t have been a big deal on its own, but the way he held himself with the cool confidence of someone who knew his place in the world? Yowza. Talk about Mika’s type wrapped in a black wool coat and a stubbled jaw more gray than brown. He’d have been giving Jeff his number if the guy wasn’t scowling at him. Wait, that scowl . . . Jeff stared at his outstretched hand. “No.” “Uh.” Rearing back, Mika dropped his arm back to his side. “Excuse me?” Zach crept up behind him, gaze swinging from Mika to Jeff. “What’s wrong?” Jeff waved a hand at Mika. “This is the guy you want me to work with?” He put special emphasis on this, as though Mika were a criminal who’d steal his wallet when he wasn’t looking. Straightening his spine, Mika planted his hands on his hips. Zach blinked once. “Yes?” Holland Stone—Zach’s boyfriend and Mika’s ex—approached from where he’d been working on his float for the parade, clad in a dusty T-shirt and even dustier jeans. He squinted at Jeff before turning to Zach and Mika. “You two okay?” He held a hammer in one hand like he meant to wield it. Not that he ever would, but the image would’ve made Mika chuckle had he not been so confused. And frankly? Kind of hurt. What the hell had he ever done to this guy? “I can’t work with him.” There was no give in Jeff’s tone. “Why not?” Zach stepped in close to Mika, butting in against his left side. “Mika’s the best.” Aw. The ire in Mika’s chest faded a little at Zach’s words. It was nice of him to say, especially since Mika had made the worst of first impressions on him last Christmas. The amount of disgust in Jeff’s scoff would’ve been impressive had it not been directed at Mika. “I’m not working with the guy who totaled my dad’s car.” Mika’s head jerked back. “What?” Zach and Holland swung their gazes his way. “I didn’t!” Taking a step back, he raised both hands. “I’ve never totaled anybody’s car in my life.” “Oh no?” Jeff argued, raising both eyebrows, and god, the sarcasm. “Not even a turquoise 1956 Chevy Nomad near the Bluffs in Pacific Palisades? About this time last year? Ring any bells?” That was where Mika knew this guy from! Jesus, he was still holding a grudge? “Okay, first of all, I apologized, like, seven times. Second, I gave you my number. It’s not my problem that you didn’t call. Like I said—I would’ve paid to get it fixed. And third.” Leaning over the desk, he narrowed his eyes on a squinty-eyed Jeff Bellmoor. “Totaled?” Jeff winced. “Fine. That’s maybe the wrong word.” Uttered so begrudgingly, it was a miracle he managed to say the words at all. “But like I said—it’s not about the damage.” A huff of exasperation escaped Mika and he threw his hands up. “I don’t know what that means.” He hadn’t known then either. “Never mind.” Rubbing his forehead, Jeff turned away. “You wouldn’t understand.”

About the Author

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group, Amy Aislin’s Readers, to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Author Links

Website | Facebook group | Facebook page | Facebook

Newsletter | Instagram | BookBub | Twitter

Pinterest | Goodreads | QueeRomance Ink

Giveaway

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a signed paperback of Gingerbread Mistletoe

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