Since I’ve been on vacation and not writing or editing, I’ve had lots of time to read. I have half a dozen other books on my Kindle to read over the next couple of months (depending on how many other review requests I get). I’ll post those each separately. Since all of these are holiday reads, I’m putting them together with links to my full reviews on Goodreads. There are five; three are new this year, and two are older but I hadn’t read them.

Reviews

Holiday Weekend (Buchanan House #5), by Charley Descoteaux

• Length: 142 pages
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Publication Date: December 16, 2016

Ryan Orchard moved from small-town Idaho to Portland almost two years ago and still feels like a hick. When Paulie Nesbitt dumped him, he wasn’t even surprised. Despite losing twenty-five pounds since then, Ryan’s confidence is nonexistent, and his life has stalled. Not only is he convinced the career he wants is beyond his reach, he’s given up on relationships. A new job at a familiar restaurant—and his gorgeous coworker—could be just what Ryan needs to believe in himself again.

Glenn Hernandez might be the only nineteen-year-old in Portland who dreads his days off. Between his horrible housing situation and the ever-present temptation to crawl back into the bottle, Glenn prefers to keep busy. He volunteers at the Elliott Foundation House, a homeless shelter helping LGBTQ former sex workers. As an alum of the shelter himself, Glenn finds it hard to leave his past behind. But when the new server at the trendy restaurant where he works catches Glenn’s eye and works his way into his heart, Glenn finally has a reason to start a new life.

What can I say? I love this whole series. Heartbreaking but witty and warm. Read the full review here.

A Friend for Christmas, by J.P. Walker

• Length: 71 pages
• Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing (December 1, 2014)
• Publication Date: December 1, 2014

A story from Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology

Eve was always an outsider. So different from everyone else, she never made friends easily – until the day she met Anna, a totally mysterious girl who seemed almost too good to be true.

A few times over the years they had found each other, and then Anna would disappear, leading Eve to conclude that she is an imaginary friend – a perfect girl she had created in her own mind to help ride the wave of difficult teens and other troubles in life.

But what if Anna is real? Could they still be friends?

On Christmas Eve they might just discover that the magic and love they’ve found can be held onto all year round.

Very sweet, a lovely friends-to-lovers story with a little bit of mystery. Read the full review here.

Checking Him Out for the Holidays, by Debbie McGowan

• Length: 80 pages
• Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing (December 21, 2014)
• Publication Date: December 21, 2014

Freelance engineer Sol Brooks doesn’t do the festive season. He thinks it’s boring and overly sentimental. With the rest of the household laid up with ‘the flu’, Sol’s planned on using the time to crack on with some work.

His mother, however, has other ideas.

And so does Sol’s husband, Adam.

A stand-alone holiday special featuring Sol and Adam from Checking Him Out.

I really only read these because I like Sol. Or because Amazon then recommends a LOT of books with half-naked men on the covers; whichever. (I’m not serious!) Read the full review here.

The 12 Days of Hipster (The Avona Tales #2), by Raine O’Tierney

• Length: 271 pages
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Publication Date: December 19, 2016

Last Christmas, Tyler Lang accidentally accepted David Griffith’s invitation for dinner. Yes, it was an accident. See, hipster (don’t call him that!) Tyler doesn’t date guys, and even if he did, he certainly doesn’t date jocks. A rude and hasty exit right when the date was getting good left things awkward between them.

David Griffith isn’t really a jock. Well, he’s a former athlete who loves sports, but “jock” has a certain connotation that doesn’t quite fit the intelligent, hardworking store owner. A jock wouldn’t have given Tyler Lang the time of day. But even after that little, ahem, stunt with the fire escape, David can’t stop thinking about the hipster a year later. Which would be fine if fate didn’t keep butting her nose into their business, making it impossible for the jock and the hipster to avoid each other this Christmas.

A hilarious holiday romp, set to the music of the Winter Sounds.

Everything about this is perfect. Everything. Just go read it. Read the full review here.

Hammer’s Thief, by Alexis Woods

• Print Length: 262 pages
• Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing
• Publication Date: December 1, 2016

Eight nights to fall in love.

Running away from his foster home at eighteen, Locke struggles to survive the brutal winter streets in Atlantic City. Trust is a fickle thing, and Locke hasn’t had much of it. He’s worked hard for everything he has. When a helpful security guard takes him in during a Code Blue, Locke discovers that some things are more than they seem. His fantasy becomes reality, but sometimes reality is too good to be true.

Graced by God, Judah Maccabee has dwelt in Yahweh’s kingdom for nigh on two thousand years, rising through His ranks to become a leader among the warrior angels. A blessing bestowed, Yahweh has found the one for him. Now Judah has only the eight nights of Chanukah to fall in love with the one who will complete him. The only catch – his other half must love him in return if he is to stay earthbound. But expecting Locke to fall just as hard and fast as he does rebounds in a devastating way.

When egos rule and demons lurk, can these two men pull together, trust in family and faith, and earn love? And can they do it in a single week?

The writing style is gorgeous, but this didn’t end up being the book for me. I’m not sorry I read it, and I do think lots of others would love it because it’s a more traditional romance than I typically prefer. Read the full review here.