Heartwarming Advent Calendar Novellas 2

When the chance came to review the novellas for the Heartwarming Advent Calendar they all looked so good that we decided to do our Nina and Beans joint reviews thing and talk about them all.  Some are longer and those get their own review space.  Some are shorter and those we are putting together into small bundles.   So bundle up, snuggle down, sip that eggnog and let’s find something great to read.

Title:  Alaska

Author:  Kim Fielding

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  45 pages

Rating:

Up All Night Satisfaction

Blurb:  Best friends Scott and Marco meet on a rooftop on Christmas Eve, each temporarily escaping from his difficult home life. With no gift to share, Marco instead promises to someday rescue Scott and take him to Alaska. As the years pass, they meet—first by design, then by chance—on occasional Christmas Eves, only to find life growing increasingly difficult. They treasure the few moments they have together, but will they ever reach Alaska?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming”.

Reviews:

Beans:  A brilliant story. This was dreadfully difficult to read. A beautiful and heart wrenching story about two best friends who go down different paths of life but need each other desperately.

This entire story tore my heart to shreds. I wanted so much, time after time for these beautiful boys and then men to finally come together. The ending was completely wonderful and I was captivated.

Nina:  Heartbreakingly beautiful. A story of struggle, pain, loneliness and hope. It broke my heart while at the same time reminding me that there is always possibility. That even when things seem dark and impossible, if you just hang on and keep believing, life has a way of taking you where you need to go.

Title:  Gift-wrapped

Author:  Sam Hill

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  46 pages

Rating:

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  Noah hates his job at the popcorn kiosk, and finding out his original holiday plans to return home have fallen through doesn’t help make his season bright. The daily Secret Santa gifts left on the counter of the kiosk are, so far, more frustrating than cheerful. Then a clown determined to turn Noah’s frown upside-down convinces him that Christmas might not be as terrible as he’d expected.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming”.

Reviews:

Beans:  An adorable tale. I liked the youthful feel of this one. It worked with the kiosk and the presents. It was a fine story that anyone can have their Christmas miracle. It was short and sweet and worth the read.

Nina:  I liked this one, it was cute.  It cracked me up with the whole thin line between stalker and secret admirer.  It really is defined by receptiveness and reciprocation.  A fast and enjoyable read about holiday spirit and family.

Title:  The Lawyer Under the Tree

Author:  Meg Harding

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  57 pages

Rating:

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  Christmas parties aren’t Travis Buckley’s thing. He’s far too cynical and set in his ways. Too bad his bosses don’t care what he wants. Travis had better lawyer up and make the firm proud by contributing to a charity auction giving out dates with gorgeous men. It’s not really a hardship, except Travis might just buy a bit more than he bargained for.

Happy-go-lucky Cameron Ward runs the charity and has a lawyer for a brother, so he knows all about the secrets underneath those staid personas. This year, with a little help from his brother’s firm, Cameron’s setting out to be the crown jewel of the charity auction. Of course, every crown jewel needs a king—and Cameron knows exactly who he wants.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming”.

Reviews:

Beans:  Cynics make the best love interests. This story, in the beginning, felt like something old hat but quickly made me smile. I was drawn to Travis and his ambition and jaded lifestyle. He was out to live by his own rules and I respected that, even if they made him lonely. Cameron was exactly the foil Travis needed.

I think what I liked the best was that Cameron didn’t try and change Travis, he just changed the way he could communicate with him. Because of that Travis didn’t feel like he had to constantly defend himself. It was a fantastic story.

Nina:  I do love a bossy bottom. Cameron is adorable and just what Travis needs to get him out of his rut of work and a shallow personal life. These guys are a great match and I liked that Cameron was able to easily hold his own (honestly, he kind of dominated in the best ways possible for Travis) while still being exactly what the alpha shark needed from his man.