5 Star Holiday Review: Winter Ball, by Amy Lane

Title: Winter Ball

Author: Amy Lane

Publisher/GR Link: Dreamspinner, GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Holiday, OFY, sports

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Lock this book up: 4 keys.  This is a hot book where the sex adds to the romance.

Length: Novel

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Adorable and wintery

Synopsis:Through a miserable adolescence and a lonely adulthood, Skipper Keith has dreamed of nothing but family. The closest he gets is the rec league soccer team he coaches after work—and his star player and best friend, Richie Scoggins.

One brisk night in late October, a postpractice convo in Richie’s car turns into a sexual encounter neither of them expected—nor want to forget. Soon Skip and Richie are living for the weekends and their winter league soccer games—and the games they enjoy off the field. Through broken noses, holiday decorating, and the killer flu, they learn more about each other than they ever dreamed possible. Every new discovery takes them further beyond the boundaries of the soccer field and into the infinite possibilities of the best relationship of Skipper’s life.

Skipper can’t dream of a better family than Richie—but Richie’s got real family entanglements he can’t shake off. Skipper needs to convince Richie to stay with him beyond winter ball so the relationship they started on the field might become their happy future in real life!

Impressions: I love Amy Lane, and I gobble her books up as soon as I can, sometimes over and over again.  This book was a perfect wintery, holiday read.  I LOVED this gem!

Richie and Skip are too adorable, and this was a low angst, OFY, friends to lovers, Christmas miracle.  I read, after reading this, that it was a modern, MM take on a Cinderella tale, and what an adorable idea!  

Richie was adorable, and I couldn't wait to see him get away from the troubled people in his life and get his prince Skip.  Skip is the head of their soccer team, and he has everything to offer and no one to give it to.  When he realizes that Richie is that person, his love is patient, kind, and so supportive. 

I could  go on and on about how cute this one was, but I don't want to waster your time.  Go get it and cuddle up for a book about love, friendship, and happily ever afters.

Holiday Read: Snowed In

Title: Snowed In

Author: Teodora Kostova 

Publisher/GR Link:

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Holiday, Friends-to-lovers

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lock this book up: 3 keys.  The story is sexy and hot and the sex supports the plot.

Length: Novella

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Its GORGE!

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for...

Nate has been in love with Quinn, his brother’s best friend, for as long as he can remember. But when he finally gets the chance to show Quinn how he feels, his heart gets broken in the most unexpected way.

Second chances come when you least expect them...

Quinn doesn’t believe in miracles, especially not Christmas ones. When he decides to win Nate back he knows it won’t be easy. The last thing he expects is a health scare, a road trip and a vicious snow storm to work in his favor.

In the end, a cabin in the woods turns out to be not only the shelter they desperately need, but also Quinn's very own Christmas miracle.

Sometimes, to forgive, you need to get snowed in...

Impressions:  I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers story, and this holiday treat was a great read.  I enjoyed watching Nate and Quinn reconnect.  Quinn made some decisions that may seem foolish and short sighted, but when I read a holiday story I am looking for the love and warmth, and this book had plenty of both!

I liked Nate and I found his responses and reactions believable and understandable.  The secondary characters are very well written, and I also found them to be three dimensional and realistic. 

Overall, this is a story about a lasting crush turning into love, and a “perfect son” who might have a few dents in his armor, but when the story is done, you will feel the love and joy that this romance is meant to bring.

Recommended Read: Status Report, by Annabeth Alberts

Title: Status Update

Author: Annabeth Alberts

Publisher/GR Link:

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Nerds, Rescues

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

Lock this book up: 4 out of 5 keys.  This book is smoking hot, and so sexy!  It really supports a wonderful story line.

Length: Novel

Satisfaction:  HEA

Cover Impressions:  Adorbs!!

Synopsis: Adrian Gottlieb is winning at life. He's a successful video game designer with everything a man could ask for, including a warm comfy ride to Denver and a date for his sister's wedding. But he finds himself in need of a total reboot when he's left stranded at a snowy campground in Utah. Holiday plans? Epic fail.

That is until Noah Walters offers him shelter for the night and a reluctant cross-country ride. Nothing about the ultraconservative geoarchaeologist should attract Adrian, but once he discovers Noah's hidden love for video games, the two connect on a new level. Soon, a quiet but undeniable chemistry sparks.

Something doesn't add up, though. As the miles accumulate and time runs out, Noah must face the most difficult choice of his life. Meanwhile, Adrian must decide whether he's ready to level up. Is their relationship status worth fighting for, or has this game ended before it's even begun?

Impressions:  This was the book I needed to read, and I am so grateful to Ms. Albert for giving it to me!   I have loved all of her short stories, and I was excited to read her first full length novel.  This surpassed my excitement and made it to my top reads of the year list.  I just snuggled in and ate this delicious read right up!

I just loved Noah and his stuffy exterior that is hiding a man who is desperate for comfort and companionship.  I found him to be completely believable, and I loved the way Albert created a backstory that explained his prickly exterior.

Adrian was an adorable counter part to Noah.  He is joyful and free with his love, but he feels like the awkward black sheep of the family, despite his own professional successes. 

This book was so sexy and steamy that I felt myself blushing and hoping no one was reading over my shoulder!  What really drew me in were the amazing characters who ache for love and acceptance under the surface, but who don’t know how to grab it when it is near them.  This book has just the right balance of angst and sweetness, and sexiness and romance.  The pace was perfect, and I didn’t want it to end.

Do yourself a favor and grab this one when it is release on 12/7.  Its up for pre-order now, so get it now and be ready to set some time aside on 12/7!

 I received this book as an ARC though NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Holiday Book Review: Humbug by Joanna Chambers

itle: Humbug

Author: Joanna Chambers

Publisher/GR Link: GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Holiday, Scrooge

Rating: 5 stars

Lock this book up: 3 keys.  The sex is hot, sweet and perfect!

Length: Novella

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Adorable!!

Synopsis: Quin Flint is unimpressed when his gorgeous colleague, Rob Paget, asks for extra time off at Christmas. As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin's on the fast track to partnership and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin's boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants... and who he wants it with.

Impressions: Let me start by saying that I am a Christmas Carol aficionado.  I love the movies and musicals, and I’m a sucker for any Scrooge-like story.  I’ve also had some serious book-lust just from judging this one by the gorgeous cover!

This was a great holiday read, and it was all that I wanted in a take on this classic.  Quin is perfectly self absorbed and yet so verya lone.  Rob is sweet and adorable and I loved watching Quin realize what he had been missing out on this whole time.  This story will warm you up and the temperature drops! 

Highly Recommended- and as a bonus, this was released today!  Go get it!

Book Review: If Only in My Dreams, by Keira Andrews

Title: If Only In My Dreams

Author: Keira Andrews

Publisher/GR Link: KA Press, GR

Genre: MM Contemporary

Vice: Holiday, New Adult

Rating: 5 stars

Lock this book up: 4 keys---this one will melt the frost from your windows!

Length: 140 page novella

Satisfaction: HEA

Cover Impressions: Full of the Holiday Feelz!

Best Line:  “You make me want to vomit and shit my pants too.” (trust me!)

Synopsis: Charlie Yates is desperate. It’s almost Christmas and his flight home from college has been delayed. For days. Charlie promised his little sister Ava he’d be home for her first holiday season since going into remission from leukemia. Now he’s stuck on the opposite coast and someone else grabbed the last rental car. Someone he hasn’t even spoken to in four years. Someone who broke his heart.

Gavin Bloomberg’s childhood friendship with Charlie ended overnight after a day of stolen kisses. With years of resentment between them, they don’t want to be in the same room together, let alone a car. But for Ava’s sake, Gavin agrees to share the rental and drive across the country together.

As they face unexpected bumps along the road, can Charlie and Gavin pave the way to a future together?

Impressions: I loved this feel good holiday treat!  Andrews is an author I can always count on to bring a smile to my face with her dynamic characters, and this book was exactly what I hoped it would be!

I loved the way Andres revealed the history between Gavin and Charlie, and I could so easily empathize with each of them.  Watching them fall (back) in love was so sweet, and incredibly sexy.

The sexual tension and emotional tension in this book is so touching that I couldn’t stop turning the page.  Charlie is an adorable brother and son, but Gavin really tugged at my heart strings.  Watching him gather the courage that he had lost so long ago was a joy to share with him. 

I am a holiday book junkie, but when a story transcends the holiday season then I know I have found a keeper.  This is one I will definitely revisit when I want a Christmas and Hanukkah pick-me up!