Title: On 
The Rocks
Author: Ari McKay
Genre: Contemporary, Christmas
Length: Short (73pgs)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st December 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: For years, Mal has given Aidan a little piece of the world for special occasions in the form of unique rocks and fossils—until the year he gives Aidan a piece of the moon instead. Aidan has treasured every gift: in a world of impersonal relationships, they’re the one reminder he has that somebody out there cares about him for who he really is. Then through a twist of fate, their relationship goes beyond personal and into intimate, leaving Aidan shocked and set to run the other way. Despite his feelings for Mal, past experiences have convinced Aidan that he’s a failure at relationships, and he’s afraid to trust his heart. It just might take a Christmas miracle for Aidan to find the courage to love.
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Review: Mal and Aidan have been best friends for years, and Mal always gifts Aidan rocks and fossils with a story behind them. Aidan loves these gifts more than anything in the world and he cherishes his friendship with Mal too much to ever change it. A Halloween party changes all that though, when their relationship crosses the invisible lines and Aidan severs all contact, pushing Mal away before he completely destroys any feelings Mal might have for him.
This is quite a surprise as a Christmas story, because the beginning is long before Christmas and the ending just seems to coincide with Christmas. Aidan is used to everyone wanting mainly one thing from him… money. He has never been truly loved or wanted and has a string of failed relationships to prove it. Mal is his only real friend, but when they cross the line one night, Aidan believes that everything will change for the worse and decides to break everything off before it bites him in the ass. Mal has always loved Aidan, but he knew that the chances of anything more than friendship were low. But, one night with Aidan blows his mind and then Aidan cuts him from his life and Mal loses all hope.
This is a good story and I liked the characters Mal and Aidan. Their relationship is very special, but because of the emotional scars that Aidan carries, anything more than friends would be destroyed. I really liked that Aidan realized how much he missed Mal and that he finally realized how much help he really needed to heal. It was very sweet as he went out of his way to do something special for Mal and that finally they both got to the place where they can be equals.
I will recommend this to those who love emotionally crippled men, determined friends, a great friends to lovers story, some hot sex and a happy ending.