Miracle on Mistletoe Lane

Derrick Knight

Joe Koehler and his six-year old son, Joey, are down on their luck. Currently, Joe is unemployed due to a bad economy and taking care of a medically complex son. Recently father and son become homeless due to their apartment catching on fire and Joe being without any insurance. They are forced to live in Joe’s old red pick-up truck. Eventually father and son take refuge at Hope House, a local homeless shelter, which is run by a kindly, yet mysterious, elderly woman named Emily.

Sidney Maier recently inherited his grandparents home but the house is in desperate need of repair. Skills Sidney greatly lacks. He befriends a fellow church member Emily who is the Interim Director at Hope House. Sidney tells Emily that he needs help with remodeling his new home. Also, he confides in her, that he is lonely and wishes he could meet someone special.

Emily and her assistants orchestrate for Joe and Sidney to meet where an instant attraction forms between both men. Joe and Sidney embark on a journey of courtship, but soon a negative force learns of their budding romance and wants to stop it at any cost. Emily and her assistants must all use their special talents if Joe and Sidney are meant to live happily ever after.

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, Holiday

Excerpt:

When Joe lifted his head, he saw the man he had been fantasizing about since Joey was discharged from the hospital.  He quickly stood up then nervously swayed back and forth.  Partly because he was nervous seeing the man whom he secretly desired, but also because he did not want Sidney to know that he was living here at a homeless shelter.  He did not want Sidney’s pity. 

“Oh, I…” Joe struggled to find the right words. 

“The church hired Mr. Koehler to finish remodeling our library,” Emily said smoothly. “We needed someone right away and by the Lord’s work Mr. Koehler was available.   My assistants and I think he is a Godsend.”  Emily’s cell phone began to ring.  “I need to take this call.  It’s my husband.”  She looked at Joe.  “Would you be willing to give Mr. Maier a tour of Hope House while I take this call?”

Before Joe could respond, Sidney interjected.

“I would like that very much.” 

The excitement in Sidney’s voice did not go unnoticed by either Joe or Emily.

“Good,” Emily said, taking her husband’s call as she walked away. 

For a few moments Joe and Sidney just stared at each other, both men wanting to say something but too afraid.  Finally, Joe mustered up the courage to start the conversation. 

About Derrick

Derrick Knight was born and grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin. Derrick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration from University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. For the last seventeen years, Derrick has been employed as a neonatal nutritionist in a neonatal intensive care unit at the largest teaching hospital in Illinois outside of Chicago.

Growing up Derrick was an avid reader of mystery novels. Agatha Christie was his favorite author. Ever since childhood Derrick dreamed of becoming a writer. He planned on writing mystery novels until a couple of years ago he read his first gay romance novel and he became hooked on the genre.

When Derrick is not writing, he is working on restoring his Arts & Crafts home, tending to his garden, and being an advocate for improving infant nutrition. Currently. Derrick resides in Peoria, Illinois with his two cats Iris and Madison Grace.

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Review

Title: Miracle on Mistletoe Lane

Author: Derrick Knight

Genre: Contemporary, Christmas Magic

Length: Novella (163pgs)

ISBN: 978-1503064782, B00P2GNXCY

Publisher: Derrick Knight (30^th October 2014)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Joe Koehler and his six-year old son, Joey, are down on their luck. Currently, Joe is unemployed due to a bad economy and taking care of a medically complex son. Recently father and son became homeless due to their apartment catching on fire and Joe being without any insurance. They are forced to live in Joe’s old red pick-up truck. Eventually father and son take refuge at Hope House, a local homeless shelter, which is run by a kindly, yet mysterious, elderly woman named Emily.

Sidney Maier recently inherited his grandparents home but the house is in desperate need of repair. Skills Sidney greatly lacks. He befriends a fellow church member Emily who is the Interim Director at Hope House. Sidney tells Emily that he needs help with remodeling his new home. Also, he confides in her, that he is lonely and wishes he could meet someone special.

Emily and her assistants orchestrate for Joe and Sidney to meet where an instant attraction forms between both men. Joe and Sidney embark on a journey of courtship, but soon a negative force learns of their budding romance and wants to stop it at any cost. Emily and her assistants must all use their special talents if Joe and Sidney are meant to live happily ever after.

Purchase Link: US: http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Mistletoe-Lane-Derrick-Knight-ebook/dp/B00P2GNXCY

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miracle-Mistletoe-Lane-Derrick-Knight-ebook/dp/B00P2GNXCY

Review: Joey makes a Christmas wish when Santa visits him in hospital, but it isn’t for a new toy it’s for his daddy to meet someone special. Joe has been dealt a rough hand, he has a young son, Joey, who has needed many surgeries in his young life, he is trying to support his son alone which isn’t easy when he has to take time off for his sons doctors’ visits and his home just burnt to the ground making him and his son homeless. The appearance of a black dog called Cole leads Joe & Joey to a homeless shelter, Hope House, and the very special staff who have a touch of magic and Joe’s life begins to look up. Sidney is a special education teacher who wants to find a special man and settle down, when he is introduced to Joe he remembers the man from his volunteer work at the hospital and the attraction he felt for the young father. Sidney opens his heart and home to Joe as Joe does some remodeling of his home and with the aid of the staff of Hope House Joe, Sidney and Joey might just get their happily ever after.

This is a wonderful sweet story with a dash of Christmas magic. While this story is an ideal Christmas story it actually takes place over the period of a year, it shows us that although Christmas wishes can happen it takes work and effort and a little bit of magic. Joe is a fantastic father and a hard worker, looking after his son has led to him finding it difficult to find regular work and now him and his son are homeless. The welcome he finds at Hope House has him swallowing his pride and accepting the help he desperately needs to get back on his feet and leads to him finding a man to love. Sidney is a big hearted man, he loves helping people and he takes pride in helping children who have learning difficulties, the one thing he wants more than anything is a family of his own to share the large house he inherited from his grandparents and he finds that with the aid of a member of his church.

I quite enjoyed this story as it had a feel good factor to it and it showed how someone’s life could turn around if they are given a helping hand. Both Joe and Sidney are wonderful characters whose relationship progresses at a good pace, Joey is delightful as Joe’s young son and the staff at Hope House, Emily, Merri, Misty, Holly, Snow and Flora, are delightful. There is a touch of conflict as Sidney’s jealous friend Glen spirals deeper into alcoholism and his actions and words cause conflict, but it also has a bright side as Glen gets much needed help when Emily and her girls decide to get involved.

While I did enjoy the actually story there was some things that put me off the book, the editing really needed more attention and the way the story was told needed some refinement. Sometimes it would go flat as descriptions were told instead of being worked into the story, so we would get info dumped on us rather than blended and it would pull me out of the story.

I recommend this to those who love sweet Christmas stories, great characters, Christmas magic that works all year round, a wonderful love story and a very happy ending.  

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