Title: What Father Christmas Left
Series: Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calender package “Celebrate!”
Author: Felicitas Ivey
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short (46 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 1st, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts
Blurb: Ex-Pat American Jacob Moore is looking forward to hosting his traditional Christmas Eve party with his partner, Errol. They love the quiet night of friends and food at their house in London, and the break before dealing with family, presents, and Boxing Day. The quiet is shattered when Jacob’s younger half-sister, Pru, shows up on his doorstep, running away from home for a very good reason. Jacob has stayed in touch with her over the years, even though he’s estranged from their father. But nothing prepared him for this.
Now he has to decide what to do with his unexpected package from Father Christmas.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calender package “Celebrate!”
ISBN: 978-1-63216-760-6
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5864
Reviewer: Prime
Review: This was one very cute, sweet story! It’s perfect for Christmas, once again showing that we may not choose our parents (or other members of the family) but we can make one with our friends, significant other and the blood relatives we love most. This isn’t a love story, really, or if you want to call it that, it’s more about the love between siblings.
Errol and Jacob have been together for seven years and come from very different family situations. Though, it took me a few times not to sing that song that goes “oh, Errol, I would give anything just to be like him!” – talking about Errol Flynn, mind you. But this Errol here is awesome; he’s a six-foot five cuddly bear, if only he had a larger role to play!
The difference between these character’s families are that Errol has come from an understanding family, although his parents had died and he had finished the job of raising his younger brother and sister. On the other hand, Jacob had a severe falling out with his father after coming out of the closet. Subsequently, he moved to England where he eventually met Errol. In all that happened, Jacob also has significantly younger half-sister, Pru.
This is a heart-warming story of Jacob and Errol trying to keep their family together and help get what is best for Pru, with Errol playing supporting role. Pru is a teenager well on the way of being damaged, but is surprisingly well-adjusted, though Jacob is an awesome and supportive older brother.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *