Tag: Gay Holiday

The Ugliest Sweater by Gillian St. Kevern

Title: The Ugliest Sweater *on sale at NineStar Press for just $0.50 at time of posting*

Author: Gillian St. Kevern

Genre: Contemporary, Holiday

Length: Short Story (65 Pages)

Publisher: NineStar Press (December 14, 2015)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Dan’s favourite festive sweater is so ugly, it’s cost him not one but three boyfriends and sent him back to his parents’ place for the third Christmas in a row. About to give up hope of ever having a Christmas date, Dan meets Jake, a hot guy with a rock and roll edge. Jake is infatuated with Dan’s sweater but vanishes before Dan can decide if Jake is for real or really in need of an eye-check. After all, no one has ever liked the sweater.

Dan’s sweater is rocketed to national attention, when Jake’s radio colleagues launch a hunt for the mystery man in the hideous jumper. Dan jumps at the chance to meet Jake again, and they hit it off in a big way, to the accompaniment of intimate gigs, exclusive clubs, and the paparazzi. Dan falls hard, but despite obvious mutual attraction, Jake refuses to take him back to his apartment. Is the relationship real – or a ratings stunt? After all, Jake has a reputation for cool that Dan, a lowly gym instructor, could never approach. Is a fondness for tacky Christmas clothing the only thing they have in common? Or does uber-cool Jake hide a Christmas secret of his own?

ISBN: 978-1-91115-310-8

Product Link: NineStar Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This author is new for me and I have to say that she definitely gives you a story that you will remember. First thing that caught my attention was the title, and let’s just say it is quirky enough to have me running to grab it. The cover shows you just how ugly the sweater is, but damn I wouldn’t mind it. This story was so damn funny, I spent most of my time laughing while reading it.

Dan’s is a quirky young man that loves his ugly sweater. It had even cost him boyfriends in the past, but he wasn’t going to give it up. Thank god he doesn’t have to when he finds the one man that loved it just as much as he did. Jake had walked in and saw Dan’s sweater and knew that this was one man he wanted to get to know. After all they are way more than alike then either one thinks.

I had so much fun reading this and look forward to seeing what other stories this author has out. I would like to see what these two are doing somewhere down the in the future. They rocked and I would definitely recommend this story.

The Birthday Present by Sean Kerr

Title: The Birthday Present

Author: Sean Kerr

Genre: Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Length: Short (21 pages)

Publisher: eXtasy Books (July 2, 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 1/2 Hearts

Blurb: Making apple pie can be such messy work.

Ronald feels old, washed up. As a middle aged gay man on the scene, he cannot help but wonder if his time is over. His frustrations are further exacerbated when he finds himself the victim of a group of thugs who seem to find it funny to torment him in his own home.

Ronald is planning a party, a summer celebration of his middle age, but as he begins the preparations in his hot kitchen, a Policeman turns up to question Ronald about the attacks. Over the course of the interview, Ronald comes to understand that perhaps age is just a number after all.

ISBN: 978-1-4874-1102-2

Product Link: eXtasy Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: A cute, sweet story of two men who come together despite the obstacles they face. I loved Ronnie and Officer Andy. Though the reason Andy is there to begin with was heartbreaking. Thugs throwing homophobic slurs is no way to enjoy ones day.

These guys are hot together.

I loved how well the story flowed and seemed endless though it is a short read.

Sekani’s Stinky Escapade by Charlie Richards

Title: Sekani’s Stinky Escapade

Series: Wolves of Stone Ridge 40

Author: Charlie Richards

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Short Story (27 Pages)

Publisher: eXtasy Books (June 18, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Out of the Cage: When a flight of fun goes awry, a bat shifter plays the damsel in distress.

Sekani just planned to stretch his Egyptian fruit bat’s wings a little while his vampire lover, Master Borscht Kuznetsov, sat through a conference call. Unfortunately, his short flight takes an unexpected turn when he runs into another bat…of the non-shifter variety. Sekani’s headlong rush puts him in unexpected peril. While Sekani can speak telepathically with Borscht, will it be enough for his vampire to find and rescue him?

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0557-1

Product Link: eXtasy Books 

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This is part of the eXtasy Books 2018 Summer Shorts.

Sekani has always been one of my favorite guys in Charlie’s books. His beloved has to make a conference call so Sekani is going to fly around in his bat form. He really should have stayed home, less dangerous. Skunks sure do smell.

I always get a crack out of these stories. They are funny as hell and sometimes exciting. This one just gives you the right amount of tasty goodness. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.

2 Days Later by C.M. Corett

Title: 2 Days Later

Author: C.M. Corett

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Short Story (43 Pages)

Publisher: NineStar Press (November 21, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts

Blurb: Nate Beckett doesn’t expect much from life, and he definitely doesn’t believe in New Year’s celebrations or resolutions. A happy New Year? Not likely. As the manager of McGee’s bar, the best he can hope for is a drama-free night. One glance at the sexy young man on the dance floor and that hope is long gone. Once again, his young neighbor Justin is back to tempt and torment him. Despite the undeniable attraction, Nate knows he’s too old and jaded for someone like him, so the time has come to reject Justin. It’s for his own good!

Justin may be young and inexperienced, but he knows what he needs. His New Year’s resolution—to tempt and win Nate over. One lame seduction attempt later, and he’s on his way home in a cab. Alone. But later that night, Justin wakes up battered and bruised on Nate’s doorstep, and Nate insists that Justin stay with him. The big, beautiful man’s protective and caring instincts are definitely kicking in.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for a happy New Year after all!

ISBN: 978-1-37020-779-4

Product Link: NineStar Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Nate doesn’t believe in New Years resolutions. He doesn’t seem to believe in a lot of things to me. However he has a temptation that keeps coming for him, in the way of a young and sexy young man. Justin wants Nate in more ways then one. However he has a secret that he has been keeping. After one attempt at seducing Nate goes wrong, so does his night at home.

You can’t really go into details about stories like this without giving it away. I would have like to know more then what I got though, and wished this author made it a bit longer. I wanted to know more in the beginning and then I wanted to know what happens in the future. This was nothing more then a taste of something that could be great.

Winter Roses by Jo Tannah

Title: Winter Roses

Author: Jo Tannah

Genre: Fantasy, Holiday, Science Fiction

Length: Novella (93 pages)

Publisher: Extasy Books (December 22, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: When you let your heart lead the way, magic happens.

In Kizerain, preparations are underway for Yula, a once in a lifetime Royal festivity. Everyone is excited, except Anwyll and Pedr.

Prince Anwyll had always dreaded winter, but this year, he’s turning twenty-five, and for the first time since his birth, the nation will be simultaneously celebrating three momentous events—his birthday, his ascension to the throne, and the identity of his chosen consort.

Pedr Gardner is a talented botanist whose days are spent experimenting to create new varieties of plants and designing gardens. As a recipient of a much sought after royal invitation, he needs to present the king with a unique gift. Unfortunately, he’s coming up blank.

When a handsome man walks into Pedr’s garden, they strike up a conversation that soon evolves into friendship and finally love. As Yula draws nearer, Anwyll has to find a way to make Pedr his.

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0936-4

Product Link: eXtasy Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: A magical story about a prince, Anwyll, who is soon to become king, who finds his consort among the commoners. Pedr is a gardener from generations of the beginning when the people fled their home world from a tyrannical reign.

Anwyll was so determined to to keep Pedr despite what tradition says. I loved how thee two interacted and talked to one another. Pedr was extremely knowledgeable about all things regarding plants. I loved his gift for the king and the tale that is told to how it came about years before.

The celebration was magical and felt like it was a fairytale come to life.

Awesome read.

Love Happens Anyway by R.J. Scott

Title: Love Happens Anyway

Author: R.J. Scott

Genre: Contemporary, Holiday

Length: Novella (154pgs)

ISBN: B077WSVY2B

Publisher: Love Lane Books (2nd December 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what could possibly go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Review: Derek CEO of his family’s ad agency, he’s also well loved by his parents but the pressure to settle down has had him coming up with a fantastic boyfriend… a boyfriend his parents really want to meet. In desperation he hires a complete stranger to save the day, not realising that Luke really is the man of his dreams.

Luke has had his life crumple about him and in a last ditch attempt to save his family’s bar he agrees to be a pretend boyfriend in the run up to Christmas, Derek turns out to be the man that Luke could easily fall for but can he convince Derek and himself that what was built on lies could be made real.

This is a super sweet story that is just perfect for a cold winter’s night. Both Derek and Luke are wonderful characters, their attraction to each other is instant but their circumstances have them both holding back.

Derek is feeling the pressure from his parents to settle down, he also feels hemmed in at work; unsure of what he’s doing and if he’s doing things right. Luke lost his career due to injury, and he could also lose his family’s bar if he doesn’t come up with a way to get the money for it. These guys meeting solve each other’s problems but then what are they to do when they both want more?

This is a really cute story, we fall for both Derek and Luke, and both men reach out to us with their individual circumstances and feelings. We are drawn into their budding relationship, how they come to lean on each other and respect each other, and finally as they fall in love.

It’s a feel good warm fuzzy story, you can’t help but be drawn in from the first pages and you keep reading to discover how the guys will explain away their real relationship when the fake one is over… after all Luke’s name really isn’t Marcus 😉

RJ Scott knows what her readers love, but she also welcomes new readers with her warm sweet stories of two hot men falling in love. Writing this story she hit a big nugget of gold, loveable characters, interesting storyline, cute kittens and snowmen… what more could you want in a sweet romance set at Christmas.

I’d recommend this to true romantics, those who love hot men finding love, overcoming personal fears and embracing family.

The Vampire Claus by Robert Winter

Title: The Vampire Claus

Author: Robert Winter

Genre: Holidays, Paranormal

Length: Novella (97 pages)

Publisher: Robert Winter Books (November 15, 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: ’Twas the night before Christmas, but what’s stirring is a little more dangerous than a mouse.

Taviano is nearly two hundred years old and never wakes in the same place twice. Weary and jaded, the vampire still indulges in memories of childhood Christmases in Naples. He lingers in shadow, spying on mortals as they enjoy the holiday.

When Taviano spots a handsome young man in Boston loaded down with presents and about to be mugged, he can’t help but intervene. Soon he’s talking to joyous, naïve, strong-willed and funny Paul, a short-order cook who raised funds to buy Christmas presents for LGBTQ children. Before he knows what’s happened, Taviano is wrapped up in Paul’s arms and then in his schemes to get the presents delivered by Christmas morning.

A vampire turned into a Christmas elf… What could go wrong?

Vampire Claus is a 30,000-word standalone gay romance about a lonely vampire and a fearless mortal with no instinct for self-preservation. A heartwarming ending, no cliffhanger, and a young man who discovers he has a thing for fangs. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

ISBN: B0777C4CX1

Product Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: I loved this story. You have two good men. One,Taviano, a nearly two hundred year old vampire turned against his will at twenty-two. He believes he is a monster and so lives a lonely existence away from humans. The only ones he feeds from are bad ones. It is this situation in where he meets Paul.

He sees three men stalking a lone figure and intercedes. Paul is smitten by Taviano, even after learning what he is. I liked the easy going way these two talked with each other. They seemed made for the other. They both are lonely and have good hearts despite their situations.

I was happy Taviano helped Paul Deliver gifts to the lgbtq children. This made them grow even closer.

Fantastic read and highly recommended.