Cameron’s Reviews – MM Good Book Reviews

Title: Aunt Dee Dee’s Holiday Check

Series: 2012 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar: Evergreen

Author: Joel Skelton

Genre: Holiday

Length: Novella (65 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner (December 1, 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Blurb: After his Aunt Dee Dee sends him a windfall, Ethan decides to bail on the family holiday drama and go on a college skiing trip instead. Then a reservation snafu lands him in the same room as Henry, another student on the trip, and Ethan stumbles onto a bonus present of another kind: one that could last through Christmas and beyond.
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3407

Or purchase the entire 2012 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar: Evergreen: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3476

Reviewer: Cameron
Review: This is a very sweet tale of loss of virginity. The two main characters were likeable, but the plot reminded me very much of an old fan-fic ploy which has been done to death. That having been said, the inner dialogues and soul-searching are excellently portrayed, and it is extremely well written.

The only reason I like it, rather than love it, is that it moves very slowly from the beginning (quite naturally in a courtship dance), then explodes into a sudden coupling, and, if you’ll pardon the ski analogy, heads downhill at breakneck speed to finish. The pacing was wrong. This might be a book I would recommend to someone who has never read M/M before, as it follows a very hetero pattern and the sex scenes are mild enough to give to a broad-minded elderly relative.

The character I love most is the one after whom the book is named, and who only appears in a telephone call. I truly hope that Ethan and Henry will take a vacation to Hawaii once they are an established relationship to go visit his crazy aunt and her girlfriend. Now, THAT, will be the one I will grab if it comes out.

Title: Bless Us Every One

Series: Evergreen Christmas Collection

Author: Gina A. Rogers

Genre: M/M Holiday

Length: Short (38 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner (December 1, 2012)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3+ Hearts

Blurb: Edan has spent the past five years hiding in his home, living with the ghosts of his Christmases past and unable to allow for the possibility of a future. So when his vibrant and sexy neighbour, Tim, barges into his life with a stepladder and a plate of cookies, Edan finds himself living for the present. But can he let go of his bah humbug ways and accept this second chance as the gift it is

Product Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16176469-bless-us-every-one

Reviewer: Cameron

Review: This was an “opposites attract” story that was well-written and engaging. A refreshing depth of background and characterisation made up for it being yet another “two guys meet and you just know they are going to fall into bed/love somehow at the end” tale. It ends when they finally pluck up the courage to kiss. The yearning on Edan’s part was believable, and it made a nice change to have only one character’s point of view. I have no problem with it being entirely without sex, that makes a good change, too, sometimes.

The only reason that I have rated it “like” and not “love” is that the ending was totally predictable from the start, and it was just a tad too stereotypical of the Scrooge story. A redeeming feature would have been the torments that Edan had gone through in trying to hide his sexuality, if it hadn’t been glossed-over in a single conversation covering only two pages. I’d recommend this as a heart-warming, sweet read for a cold evening.

Tag: Cameron’s Reviews

Aunt Dee Dee's Holiday Check

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Bless Us Every One by Gina A. Rogers

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