Title: Home For Christmas
Series: Texas 09
Author: R.J. Scott
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Christmas
Length: Novella (173pgs)
ISBN: B07KQYLWXY
Publisher: Love Lane Books (28th November 2018)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Can Connor show River a real family Christmas?
When Connor finds River on the roof of the campus admin building, he doesn’t know what to do. His friend is drunk, and shouting into a snowstorm, a bottle of vodka in his hand. The easy part is getting River down; the hard part is insisting River comes home with Connor for Christmas.
River doesn’t have a family, or any place outside of college that he calls home. Not that it matters to him; he’s happy being alone for Christmas in his budget motel, watching reruns of Elf. Only, Connor keeps telling wildly improbable stories of the perfect family celebrations at his parents’ ranch in Texas, and it’s wearing River down. He didn’t ask to be kidnapped. He didn’t want to fall in love with the entire Campbell-Hayes family. But he does.
From one Christmas to the next. This is Connor’s year to rescue River, and himself, for them both to mess things up, make things right, fall in lust and finally, for Connor to show the man he loves what being part of a family can mean.
Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Review: Home for Christmas is a sweet and warm story, where two young men begin to find their place in the world and one of them discovers hope and love.
Connor has had a blessed life with his family; he’s never known what it’s like to be all alone with little hope. River has been alone for many years, college is all he has now and after a bad diving practice he’s drunk, on the edge of a roof.
When Connor finds River on the roof, he’s worried about his friend and secret crush. River is annoyed with Connor because of all the sweet stories he tells about his family. When Connor persuades River to come home with him, River just doesn’t believe that Connor’s family is as wonderful as he makes out, but the Campbell-Hayes family sneaks past River’s walls.
This really is a sweet story; Connor has grown into a compassionate man but he still has a little bit of little boy in him when he thinks about disappointing his dads. Connor knows what he doesn’t want to do but doesn’t know if he can tell his dads, finding the strength to admit the truth is down to River, as he sees River’s determination to follow his passion. River tries to be hardened with being alone, but his yearning to be part of a family he’s never had peeks out. River knows what he wants out of life and he’s going to grab it with both hands, but he doesn’t think he will get love because he’s always been cast away before.
These two young men both think the other doesn’t want them, but spending time together they finally realise the truth and discover a love that they both need.
I enjoyed this story, it was lovely to see Connor all grown up and him discovering his own forever love. River is an amazing character, his passion for his future is wonderful and his discovery of love and family is very sweet.
Connor and River together give hope to those young men out there who are alone, who have been discarded during their youth, who feel they don’t deserve love.
I recommend this to those who love sweet love stories, who adore determined men, who love the discovery of love and family and a very happy ending.