Color of You by @cs_poe @dreamspinners #REVIEW

Color of You, CS Poe, Dreamspinner Press
Bowen Merlin— yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority….

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring scars that could end their budding relationship when someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive the holidays, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.




REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this book, it was one that I couldn't put down once I started. Both MC's were incredibly likable which made it easy to believe in their relationship. I loved the way the author explained Bowen's characteristic of seeing voices as color, it was unique and interesting. Strong secondary characters added to the overall story and brought the sense of family and community that made this a satisfying holiday read.

I will definitely be looking for other Lancaster residents stories!



BUY LINKS:
DREAMSPINNER
AMAZON





RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. This book was given to us by Dreamspinner Press.

Day Thirteen Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days - Love Happens Anyway by @Rjscott_author #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day thirteen.....Merry Christmas!

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Love Happens Anyway, RJ Scott
Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can 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.

REVIEW:

What a perfect ending to my Holiday reading, I love the fake boyfriend trope.

Derek made up a boyfriend months ago just to keep his meddling parents out of his personal life. The only problem is now they want to meet the heroic firemen that doesn't exist anywhere but Derricks imagination.

What's a guy to do?

Luke is trying to get the bar that has been in his family for three generations up and running again, but the bank doesn't seem to want to help. When he gets a call from an old friend asking for a favor, for a lot of money,  he is reluctant but desperate.

Things get off to a rocky start, but one thing after another opens each men's eyes to the possibility of love happening anyway!

Great story, not just for the holiday but for anytime you just wanna go, sigh!

BUY LINK:

AMAZON

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Tyra.

   

Day Twelve Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days @Nina_Croft #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day twelve.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Bittersweet Christmas (The Order), by Nina Croft, 2017

Orphan Liam Ryan isn’t asking for much this Christmas--just his Uncle John. And he’s counting on Father Christmas to find a way to make that happen.

But when Father Christmas tosses Liam’s letter, claiming that the kid is

asking the impossible, his daughter, Winter, takes over. Half-pixie, Winter, longs to do something important with her life, starting with getting a job at the Order of the Shadow Accords, the organization that polices the supernatural world. When she discovers Liam’s uncle works for the Order, it seems like fate.

Savaged by werewolves and bitten by a vampire, no one knows what to expect of John Ryan, but it won’t be anything good. So there’s no way he’s getting involved with his nephew...or anyone else. Worse, he’s getting a babysitter over the holidays. But when he meets irrepressible Winter, all that matters is whether she likes her guys to be naughty or nice....

The Order series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Bittersweet Blood
Book #2 Bittersweet Magic
Book #3 Bittersweet Darkness

Book #4 Bittersweet Christmas

REVIEW:

Bittersweet Christmas by Nina Croft has all the feel good makings one would expect of a holiday story with some darker, sexier, angstier twists. For those new to the series, The Order of the Shadow Accords is an organization that polices the supernaturals of this world.  Bittersweet Christmas ties in John Ryan's story line whose nephew writes a letter to Father Christmas (AKA Odin) asking for for the return of the uncle who abandoned him.  Winter is the Half Pixie tasked to babysit the newly turned human and ensure that the boy's Christmas wish comes to pass.  Do not be fooled by the fact that this is a novella - there is a lot going on and it is a steamy fast read.  Fans of this series have been waiting a minute for a new installment so this is pretty exciting stuff - for those who are reading this as a stand alone (shhh don't tell me!), there isn't much in the way of world building or major character development so you will have to keep pace.

All in all, Bittersweet Christmas is a perfect PNR holiday gem to get you in the Xmas spirit or keep you there on a cold winter's night.  Nina Croft made the Nice List this year!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON
iTUNES
ENTANGLED

RATING: Four Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Jenn

   

Day Ten Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day ten.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Montana Secret Santa (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 3)

Ad exec Krista Martin, while feeling more Grinch than elf, still jumps at the chance to co-chair Marietta’s Secret Santa Society. Why not? Especially since brilliant, attractive, and innovative tech wunderkind Jonah Andrews has agreed to help. He's well connected and Krista's hoping for some advice on rebooting her career.

Jonah knows Krista has a not-so-hidden agenda, but sparring with her over cocoa at their Secret Santa meetings is the most fun he’s had since returning to his old hometown. Krista may come across as all business, but Jonah’s positive he’s glimpsed a little girl inside her who wants to believe in Santa... and in love.

REVIEW: 

What a fabulous Christmas story! I love the people, the town, the chocolate shop and of course the dogs!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON
B&N

RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Kim

   

Day Nine Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days - Three Under the Christmas Tree by @Silvia_Violet #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day nine.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Three Under the Christmas Tree, Silvia Violet
Ace and Gavin haven't had a threesome in far too long. When Ace meets the perfect guy to join them, he can't think of a better way to kick off the holiday season.

Jonathan is charmed by the sexy couple, and he quickly realizes that what started as a fling has the potential to be a whole lot more.

Gavin feels their connection just as strongly, but even after weeks of the three of them hanging out, he's afraid to suggest they turn their friends-with-benefits arrangement into a serious relationship.

The joy and shared experiences of the season have a way of making magic happen, if only all three men could find the courage to ask for what they want.

REVIEW:

If you are looking for something to warm you up this cold holiday season then this is the book for you!

Ace and Gavin are an established couple with an open relationship, and they are looking for a special holiday present they can share. Jonathan is just what they are looking for. When the three come together it is scorch the pages hot....but can the flames be sustained?

The queen of threesomes has another winner! Come for the hot sex, stay for the love!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON
B&N

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Tyra.

   

Day Eight Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days@StephanieRowe2 #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day eight.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

 

A Real Cowboy for Christmas (Wyoming Rebels Book 6), Stephanie Rowe, 2017

Only a deathbed promise would send Jaimi Hamilton to Rogue Valley for Christmas to track down her brothers, the nine Stockton cowboys who don’t even know she exists. 

When Sheriff Dane Wilson discovers the vulnerable, sassy single mom from New England has a secret connection to the cowboys he considers his brothers, the protector side of him kicks in…but whose side is he supposed to be on?

When a wintry first kiss raises the stakes, suddenly there’s more than just family at risk. 

REVIEW: 

All I want for Christmas is a Real Cowboy! Stephanie Rowe has long been a go-to author for this reader. She writes stories that grab you quickly and don't let go. Regardless of genre - Contemporary, Romantic Suspense or Paranormal Romance - they are always about family, about the connections between people and what binds us together. And at no point of the year does that resonate more than at the holiday season.

Dane and Jami are great - their connection is instant and their story is both sexy and frustrating as they dance around the secrets and mysteries of her family, revealed after her mother's death. There are moments of laughter, sadness and blush worthy romance - a perfect treat for someone who has been good all year long! Check out A Real Cowboy For Christmas and go back and pick up the first five in the Wyoming Rebels series - you wont be sorry!.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON
B&N
iTunes

RATING: Four Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Jenn

   

Day Six Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day six.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas by Randi Alexander

A lucky first kiss in front of a Las Vegas slot machine pays off big for bull rider Boone Hancock and New York college student Gigi Colberg-Staub. As they celebrate their win, an intense attraction develops, and they spend a hot, sensual night in each other’s arms. When Boone inadvertently reveals his true objective, Gigi walks out of his life. Boone quickly recognizes his mistake and acknowledges his deep feelings for her. He's willing to take a chance on love, but is it too late to win her back?















REVIEW:
I obviously am not standing at the right slot machine! What a great way to spend the holidays!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON
B&N

RATING: 3 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Kim

   

Day Five Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days - A Very Marian Christmas by @lucylennoxMM #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day five.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush

toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

A Very Marian Christmas, Lucy Lennox
Made Marian #7
12 Marian Men-A-Mating... I mean, A-Meeting
11 Blind Dates-A-Blinding
10 Lords-A-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing (okay, maybe that's Griff)
8 Kids-A-Complaining
7 Changes-A-Clothing
6 Love Junk Gadgets
5 **DRA-AAG QUEENS**
4 Calling Neighbors
3 Nosy Grannies
2 Men Falling In Love
And a partridge in a pear tree.

REVIEW:

The gangs all here and they are doing what Marian's do best.....meddle!

Noah just moved to San Francisco from Canada and until he can get his RN license transferred he has taken a part time job selling sex toys. And of course his first party is with the Marian family who decide that Noah needs to find a man and they are going to hep him do it...and if a little bet between siblings also happens to take place who could it hurt?

Luke is a work-aholic who doesn't have time for relationships, or so he keeps telling himself. Having his best friends little brother who is hot as hell living with him is trying his resolve. And seeing him going out with a different guy almost every night isn't helping either.

Noah meets some great guys on his date but all he really wants is Luke.

Because this book involves the Marian clan you know hilarity ensues! I was laughing so hard by the time I finished the book my stomach hurt.

A funny, sexy holiday read!

BUY LINK:

AMAZON

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Tyra.

   

Day Four Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days #GuiltyIndulgence #HappyHunkyDays

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day four.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

REVIEW:   Oh Keira Andrews, you do know how to melt a frosty heart!  In Case of Emergency is a perfect holiday romance tale: complete with long lost "relatives", crappy coworkers and hot tubs in the snow. 

At one time related by their parents brief marriage, Daniel and Cole have grown and gone their separate ways.  A freak klutz accident finds Daniel, listed as "In Case of Emergency Contact" at college, picking up his once step brother from the ER and committing to a week of nurse-maiding due to his fracture and concussion.  Not exactly the romantic holiday getaway he had originally planned.  But things happen for a reason.   The two men learn who one another has become and they are more alike than not.  And the bonds of once upon a family are nothing like the bonds of pure attraction that develops - like the whipped cream on top of hot cocoa.  Just that little extra that makes your mouth water and your brain say "Yum!"  A great quick holiday romance read - the friends to lovers trope will never get old for this girl!

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON

RATING: Four Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Jenn

   

ONLY KEEP THIS IF REVIEWING AUDIOBOOK...

Day Two Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days #HappyHunkyDays, #GuiltyIndulgence

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day two.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

Real Vampires Take a Bite Out of Christmas, Gerry Bartlett

Glory St. Clair #10.5

It’s the holiday season and vampire Glory St. Clair finally sets a wedding date. But will a hit ordered on a dear friend ruin Glory’s chance for an eternity of wedded bliss? Find out in Real Vampires Take a Bite out of Christmas, a novella featuring the gang from the best-selling Real Vampires series by Gerry Bartlett.

REVIEW:

Glory St. Clair is finally marrying her long-time lover. But with the wedding only weeks away, she has more on her hands than bridal showers and fitting her generous curves into a wedding dress. Her best friend Flo is in trouble and it’s up to Glory to convince her pal to take the threat seriously or there will be no matron of honor on Glory’s big night.

WOW! A wedding to plan, moving into a new place together, Christmas and an attempted killing! That gives a whole new meaning to holiday stress!
 

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON

B&N


RATING: 4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Kim
   

Day One Eighth Annual Happy Hunky Days - A Dye Hard Holiday by @AimeeNWalker #HappyHunkyDays, #GuiltyIndulgence

GUILTY INDULGENCE'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!  

Day one.....

Seasons greetings from all of us to all of you.  As we rush toward the end of 2017, juggling work, school, kids, pets,  and life in general, it's hard to imagine how we can possibly get it all done!  Thankfully we all share that most enjoyable guilty indulgence of reading - what a way to relax and recharge so we can get up and do it all over again.  We are blessed to continue to be in one another's lives despite the distances between us and want to pass that love onto each and every one of you. Please join us for our EIGHTH ANNUAL HAPPY HUNKY DAYS!!!!  Twelve fun filled days of Christmas where we treat you with gifts of joy and happiness (aka excellent books to place on your TBR pile and very yummy eye candy!)  Savor the calorie free treats and join us daily for more fabulous Ndulgent reads!

A Dye Hard Holiday, Aimee Nicole Walker
Curl up and Dye Mysteries #5
It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year for Gabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt as they celebrate their first holidays as fathers, but someone’s war on St. Nick threatens to ruin their holly jolly Christmas.

The Norman Rockwell holiday they had envisioned implodes and shenanigans ensue in true Josh and Gabe style, but that only makes the couple more determined to rejoice in the love and joy they have found in one another. A Black Friday showdown, two foul-mouthed birds, one lumbersexual, ugly Christmas sweaters aplenty, four invading grandparents, and a sexy twist on an advent calendar lead up to oh, holy nights. Catch up with your favorite characters and meet some new faces in a tale that is sure to make you feel as warm as Josh’s creamy, hot-buttered rum concoction.

A Dye Hard Holiday is a funny story about two fathers trying to hold it all together as they juggle busy careers and family life while planning the perfect holiday season. Will they be rocking around the Christmas tree or will it be a blue Christmas? The book is approximately 50,000 words long and is not intended as a standalone book. This supplements the Curl Up and Dye Mysteries series, which should be read in order. This book contains sexually explicit material and is intended for adults 18 and over.

REVIEW:

I found this series this year and just could not read them fast enough. I love the banter, not just between the MC's, but all of the characters. They talk to each other like I would talk to my friends.

This is the first Christmas for the twins and Josh and Gabe want to make it wonderful for everyone, but someone is trying to rain on their Christmas parade. There are a rash of break in's and property damage cases and it looks like they are being done by the same person or people. So why Gabe is busy trying to get the bad guy, Josh is dealing with visiting grandparents, and keeping up with two babies....not to mention an ex that keeps showing up. They are out to deck the halls and keep things merry and bright and if they have to kick ass to make it happen then they will!

While they are busy with cookie making, holiday parties and catching the bad guys there is still plenty of Ho Ho Hot sexy times.

This is a great holiday read that will warm you up and put a smile on your face!!

BUY LINK:

AMAZON

RATING: 5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.  Many thanks. This book was READ & RATED by Tyra

   

Holiday Reading - Stocking Stuffers @dreamspinners #ADVENT #HOLIDAYREADS

Stocking Stuffers - 2017 Advent Calendar - Dreamspinner Press
Sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most….

The holidays are a time when bigger often means better, and meals are huge, decorations are over-the-top, and elaborate gifts and grand gestures are one way to show affection. But beneath all the pomp and ceremony, after the grandiose presents have been unwrapped, the stocking stuffers are still waiting to add that final sparkle to the perfect celebration. Even the tiniest trinkets can be gems when they’re chosen with love, and like a good love story, they are held close to the heart and treasured for years to come. The festivities don’t have to end after the feasts and gift exchanges. Dig a little deeper for romantic stocking stuffers both naughty and nice.







A Gift of Family by Tami Veldura
Scott Burke has always desired a big family, but as a divorced single dad, all he has is his young daughter, Lexi. He pours himself into raising her, half-convinced he’ll never find what he’s looking for. When Brennan Price strolls into Scott’s life, he’d better have enough patience for both Lexi and Scott if he intends to stick around.
Brennan has a huge family and a successful career, but no one to call his own. Wooing Scott and his daughter is right up his alley, though, and he steps up to the challenge to prove he’s enough for both of them. His attraction to Scott is immediate, but he recognizes a family man when he sees one and hatches a plan to win Lexi over. Her handsome father is sure to follow….

A Holiday Crush by CJane Elliott
San Francisco lawyer Brad Halberstam is in a rut. At forty-one, he’s successful but alone. Even his holidays are predictable—he spends every Christmas golfing in Napa with his ex-boyfriend. Then attractive but oh-so-young filmmaker Michael Blair invites him out. Brad joins Michael and his housemates in their holiday celebrations and learns that life can be joyful. He hesitates to saddle Michael with a much-older boyfriend but as their attraction ignites, Brad’s tempted to let Michael sweep him into a bright new future.

Michael lives in a group house in Berkeley. He loves making life into a celebration, especially during the holidays. Michael longs for a partner, and he hopes serious but sweet Brad Halberstam is the one. Michael’s infatuation grows over caroling and cookies, but his housemate reminds him that Michael always latches on to someone during the holidays, so he won’t be alone. After a misunderstanding, Michael loses heart, no longer sure if his relationship with Brad is real or just another Christmas crush.

A Timely Gift by Kris T. Bethke
Sometimes the right gift can be life-changing….
On the solstice, Rory’s grandfather gives him a pocket watch that he claims will have Rory’s life sorted and his problems solved by Christmas. Rory starts out skeptical, but when he reconnects with an ex he never thought he’d see again, he has to admit there might be some holiday magic working after all.
Deacon’s life is in shambles, and he’s returned to Syracuse for a fresh start. Running into Rory again feels like much more than a coincidence, and neither of them can deny the passion between them is still smoldering. With the watch behaving oddly at just the right moments, Rory and Deacon might receive the gift of a lifetime—if they’re willing to accept it.

All Creatures Great and Small by Kasper Quill
Growing up an orphan meant Charlie never celebrated Christmas. He’s committed to making sure his newly adopted cat, Max, doesn’t miss out like he did. Unfortunately, he discovers that giving Max the perfect Christmas might be easier said than done—and not without risk.
Charlie’s landlord, successful and wealthy real estate developer Aemon Scotfield, is charmed by the gorgeous redhead and his shameless alley cat. He finds himself compelled to help orchestrate a memorable celebration for Max—and Charlie—despite the mishaps that seem to just keep coming. As difficult as it will be to pull off the perfect holiday, the real challenge might be walking away when it’s over.

An Open Window by Rick R. Reed
Two men. One Christmas Eve that changes the courses of both their lives.
Henry’s homeless and only wants a warm place to sleep on the coldest night of the year. A forgotten open window in a darkened house entices Henry inside with the promise of warmth and comfort. He knows it’s bad, but he promises himself he’ll be out before the owner wakes on Christmas morning. Except he oversleeps and the homeowner, Jim, discovers a bearded stranger sawing logs under his dining room table. When the shock and the drama that ensues dies down, Henry and Jim discover that they might have found, quite unexpectedly, the Christmas miracle they’d both been longing for—love and home.

An Unexpected Sanctuary by Cassie Decker
An aggressive super-flu pandemic wipes out a majority of the population over the course of one Christmas holiday—and brings Tobin and Kyle together. For almost a year, they’ve been trekking across the country from Colorado toward a sanctuary in upstate New York. Kyle’s survival skills have kept them alive, and Tobin wants to repay the man he loves with a very special gift of his own making. He sneaks off in search of the last few pieces… only to get himself and Kyle kidnapped by a desperate stranger. With their journey to New York on hold—possibly indefinitely—they’ll need to accept that home isn’t always defined by a place as much as the person you’re with.

Candy Canes and Cappuccinos by Elizabeth Coldwell
Kyle is struggling to run his coffee shop on his own after his partner walked out on him. He has his eye on Steven, who comes into the shop each day, but hasn’t worked up the nerve to express his interest. When Steven asks Kyle to help out with Christmas lunch at the homeless shelter where he works, Kyle is too exhausted to agree. He donates his tips but still feels he’s blown his chances with Steven and made himself look like a selfish jerk.
On Christmas Day, Kyle sees a way to make amends—to both Steven and the needy people depending on his kindness. It’s the right thing to do, and Kyle hopes he can clear up the misunderstanding and show Steven the type of man he really is. Maybe then they can consider some dessert when the lunch at the shelter is over….

Christmas Grace by C.L. Miles
Christmas has been a lonely time of year for Aaron since losing his family fifteen years ago. But now he’s seeing Craig, and though Aaron is sure they belong together, both have been hurt in the past, so they’re taking things slowly. So far, Craig has been supportive of Aaron’s struggles with anxiety—struggles that cost Aaron relationships in the past.
On Christmas Eve, Aaron is closing his bookshop when Craig surprises him with a specially planned evening. Will this be the night they take that final step and deepen their physical relationship? Aaron hopes so, but things aren’t that simple. Craig has been keeping a secret…. Can Aaron take his place as part of a family again and accept the love he’s missed for so long—or will he find that some deceptions are too big to be forgiven, even with the help of some Christmas grace?

Dear Ruth by Kim Fielding
Dear Ruth,
I’m not in the mood for Christmas. After a romantic relationship went up in flames, I returned to my hometown in rural Kansas. Then my mother passed away. I’m really busy with my job as fire marshal—and now with my mother’s advice column, which I reluctantly took over. There’s a sexy newcomer down the street, a guy with a young daughter and an unfortunate disregard for fire safety. He seems to want to be friends, but that creates problems that may be too hot for me to handle. The last things I need right now are flammable holiday decorations and too much holiday food. How am I supposed to give good advice to others when I can’t seem to get my own life straight?
—Bah Humbug in Bailey Springs

Eugene and the Box of Nails by Jaime Samms
Every time it seems like things are looking up for Eugene Kraft, disaster hits. Bankruptcy, a bigoted sibling, and a back-breaking accident have all left him with little money and less faith in the universe.
His last-ditch effort at peace is the small lakeside property where he is building a tiny house from recycled materials. If he can get it livable before the cold sets in, maybe he’ll be okay. Hopefully Cullen, the foreman on the construction site next door, won’t notice Eugene pilfering discarded materials from his dumpster.
When Cullen stops by to talk to Eugene, he’s sure the gig is up—but all Cullen wants is a date. Can two things go right in Eugene’s life? At first it seems possible. Projects on Eugene’s house are getting completed by what he dubs “construction elves” while he’s off site. But like Eugene predicted, his good fortune can’t last, and soon he has a tough choice to make: give up his home… or the man of his dreams.

Ghostwriter of Christmas Past by TA Moore
Ever since ghostwriter Jason Burke ended up in loco parentis for his orphaned niece, Mallory, he’s been trying. He goes to parent/teacher events, and he makes packed lunches, so he definitely didn’t mean to forget about Christmas. He just hasn’t celebrated it since he left home under a cloud years ago.
Put on the spot, Jason makes the snap decision to take Mallory to see where he and her father spent their Christmases as kids. The last thing he expects is to run into Tommy, his ex—ex-best friend, ex-boyfriend—who is still living in town in town… and working as a sheriff’s deputy.
It’s hard to avoid someone in a small town—and maybe Jason doesn’t want to. He got Mallory a Christmas, and maybe now it’s time to get himself a Christmas boyfriend. But first, he owes Tommy some explanations.

Homemade from the Heart by Bru Baker
Craft store owner Grant has always been a sucker for a pretty face, and that goes double for a pretty face with an adorable sidekick. When seven-year-old Aubrey has her heart set on taking Grant’s already-full holiday craft series, he caves and gives up his one day off a week so she (and her hot guardian, Josh) can take private lessons. Their flirting ramps up week after week, and even though Josh isn’t with Aubrey’s mother, Grant can’t be sure the man isn’t straight. Maybe he’s just being friendly. And Josh, who most definitely is not straight, is afraid of being the creepy guy hitting on the teacher.
Frustrated by their stubbornness and cluelessness, Aubrey takes matters into her own hands. She decides the best gift to give Josh is something homemade and from the heart—a boyfriend they’ll both love.

Hope Is the Thing with Feathers by Brandon Witt
Fifty-six-year-old Samuel Phipps is all alone on his small farm in the Ozarks, with nothing but a menagerie of chickens, pheasants, turkeys, and other birds as company—which is just the way he likes it. In fact, if Samuel had his way, he’d tear down his neighbor’s house so his solitude could be absolute. One day Faloola, his favorite turkey, escapes, forcing Samuel to make the trek next door. When Raymond Webber—sixty-seven—answers the door as naked as the day he was born, Samuel doesn’t know whether he’s more annoyed… or attracted. The two men are opposites in every way—Samuel is serious, while Raymond believes in free love and herbal relaxation. The weeks leading up to Christmas are rocky to say the least, but some holiday spirit might help them get past their differences….

New Game, Start by C.S. Poe
Reclusive medieval scholar, Edgar Royal, has a crush. On a guy. Not a big deal, except that said guy, Walter Chase, is a famous online gamer who has no idea Edgar even exists. Edgar has harbored these feelings for nearly a year, and when Walter announces on Twitter that he’ll be visiting New York City as a guest at the GamerOn convention, Edgar decides he’ll be one of the thousands of fans who responds to the message.
He definitely doesn’t expect to be singled out by the humble, gorgeous, out-and-proud heartthrob. And when it comes to dealing with people, Edgar’s skills are pretty nonexistent. Even with Walter giving all the right signals, Edgar lacks the courage do anything about the mutual attraction growing through their online courtship. He’s always been better with the written word, so maybe the perfect Christmas gift will say what he cannot. But if Edgar can’t get the present to Walter before the convention ends, he may miss out on the boyfriend of a lifetime.

O Hell, All Ye Shoppers by Louisa Masters
Ethan Hall plans to fill Saturday, December 23, with junk food and bad TV, a day just for him amid the holiday chaos… until his baby sister calls and begs him to go collect a present for her. At the biggest shopping center in Australia. On the busiest shopping day of the year. Hell no. Right? 
Ethan’s soft heart gets the best of him. He battles through the parking lot, and in the main shopping concourse, he’s trampled, elbowed, and bombarded with terrible holiday music. Then he enters hell itself, a specialty store aimed at women… where he meets Ty. They bond in a sea of estrogen and manic shoppers, fighting together to attain freedom, only to find they’re not quite ready go their separate ways.

Pining for Perfect by Ki Brightly
Stokely leads a solitary life, trying to do all the right things. He has a solid, respectable job, a properly decorated, respectable apartment, and goes to work every single day, no matter what. But it’s Christmas, and he hates Christmas, especially since his one guilty pleasure, listening to Asher Banks on the radio, is ruined with upbeat, holiday garbage.
Asher is the polar opposite—he loves Christmas to a fault and schedules himself into the ground with fundraisers to help the local community. When Asher and Stokely meet during one of the holiday spectacles Asher has thrown together, sparks fly, but neither one of them has ever had a real Christmas—or a real home. Will they be able to make one with each other?

Poison Marked by TJ Nichols
Kill his lover or disobey his king and instigate civil war?
As the feared court poison master, Nikko is sworn to do as his king bids. As the lover of the king’s nephew, Lord Rodas, Nikko must hide his affection or risk being labeled a traitor and punished. A former thief who clawed his way into the palace from the filthy streets, Nikko longs to be deserving of Rodas’s love.
A respected war hero, Rodas is in a delicate political situation. He is not the kingdom’s natural heir, though many support his claim over the wastrel, Prince Fortin. The last thing Rodas wants is war. His highest ambition is for Nikko to openly wear the jewels he’s bestowed on him as a public declaration of their love.
Neither man is prepared for the king to order Nikko to poison Rodas during the solstice feast or for the deadly intrigue they’re plunged into, which exposes their affair and rocks the foundations of the kingdom.

Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings by Nell Iris
Christmas is coming, and young couple Casey and Ellis are very much in love. Unfortunately, they’re also the definition of dirt poor, and they don’t have the money for nonessentials like decorations. Or a turkey. Or gifts. Between the recent death of Casey’s beloved momma and Ellis’s estrangement from his family, all they have is each other.
When Ellis finds the saddest-looking Christmas tree south of the Mason-Dixon Line thrown away outside his workplace and brings it home to Casey, things look up. Life is still a struggle, but wealth isn’t always measured in money, and what seems worthless to others is often invaluable to the people who love it.

Salvaging Claus Day by J. Alan Veerkamp
For three years, Filo has reveled in silence and solitude as the sole occupant of a space station, where he maintains the communication satellite.
Everything changes with the appearance of Luz Espina’s lifepod. Filo shares many interests with the flirtatious Luz, though Filo’s isolation has strained his communication skills. Still, Luz pushes all his buttons… and reminds him of the last man he was attracted to—an attraction that ended in disaster because the man was straight. When Luz learns Filo has never celebrated a holiday, he vows to cobble together a Claus Day celebration for them to share. But is it merely a friendly gesture… or something more?

The Billionaire’s Boxing Day Bargain by Ava Hayden
Milo is too nice to say no when the desperate call goes out for more staff to work Boxing Day at Eden Consumer Electronics. It’s just until they sell the door-crasher specials, but it means he can’t see his billionaire boyfriend Lance until later that day.
Lance spends December 25 jetting back from a business trip, eager to see Milo. He calls as soon as his flight lands Boxing Day morning, only to find out that seven hundred and thirty televisions are cock-blocking him.
What’s the point of being a billionaire if you can’t spend your way around obstacles? Milo doesn’t want Lance solving his problems with cash, but he’ll never find out because Lance’s efficient personal assistant, William, is on the case. Unfortunately, even billionaires are subject to the law of unintended consequences—and these aren’t the kind Lance can buy his way out of.
Will Lance and Milo have their Boxing Day date? Or have Lance’s pushy billionaire ways finally gone too far?

The Holly Groweth Green by Amy Rae Durreson
When wounded doctor Laurence Payne is stranded in the snowy English countryside on Christmas Eve, 1946, he is surprised to stumble upon Mistle Cottage and its mysterious inhabitant. Avery claims to be an Elizabethan wizard, and Laurence struggles to explain away the atmosphere of the cottage as mere coincidence and trickery. He spends a magical twelve days of Christmas celebrating with Avery, but then wakes to find his lover has vanished and the cottage has fallen to ruin overnight.
Laurence’s investigations lead him to the story of an ancient fairy curse—Avery is doomed to spend only Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night in human form until he finds true love. Laurence sets out to give Avery the greatest gift of all—his heart and with it the chance to live for more than the fleeting winter weeks he’s been sentenced to.

The Last Gift by Chrissy Munder
College student Nick Reed works late shift at a convenience store and dreams of graduation, a job he can be proud of, and finding the man of his dreams.
But the man of his dreams is about to find him.
When his Bio 101 instructor goes on early maternity leave, her replacement’s change in lab hours forces Nick to swap shifts with a coworker. But no one prepared Nick for Mr. 5:25—Aaron Hampton—a beefy blond who’s Nick’s perfect guy, but professionally and socially out of Nick’s reach. Soon Aaron becomes the highlight of Nick’s workday, and when the overly focused lawyer needs Nick’s help with holiday gifts, Nick is eager to spend time with Aaron.
They become friends, share book recommendations, and are surprised to find themselves at the same charity run. But is that all? When Aaron learns Nick is heading back to his old shift, will he find the courage to ask for one last, very special gift?

The Mature Man's Guide to Surviving Change by Chris Scully
In the sunny playground of Palm Springs, growing up was something confirmed bachelor and bad-boy chef Joel avoided at all costs—until a close friend’s death made him reevaluate his priorities. Ever since, he’s been dedicated to helping his widowed friend Perry get back on his feet by teaching him to cook and providing a shoulder to cry on. But when Perry announces that he’s ready to start dating again and then begins receiving gifts from an anonymous secret Santa, Joel is forced to confront the feelings he’s suppressed for so long.
As Joel struggles with jealousy and guilt amid the holiday season, he must decide if he’s ready to grow up and reach for what he’s always wanted but never thought he could have.

The Peppermint Schnapps Predicament by Clare London
Frankie Faraday is a promising young salesperson at Mason’s Emporium. Bill Mason is his boss, the son of the store’s founder, and the object of Frankie’s long-suffering, deeply devoted crush. Bill is steady and sober; Frankie is frivolous and flaky. Or so they seem to each other, until the night of the annual inventory, when they’re trapped together in the Seasonal Gifts storeroom, with nothing but candy and peppermint schnapps to sustain them until they’re rescued. And then the real truths—and something definitely more intimate—emerge!

The Probability of Mistletoe by E.J. Russell
When software engineer Keith Trainor decides to start his own company, he knows exactly who he wants as his partner: Parker Mulvaney, his best friend from high school. But in the ten years since graduation, their contact has dwindled to nothing, and it’s all Keith’s fault. If he hadn’t tried to kiss Parker under the mistletoe at the winter formal their senior year, Parker wouldn’t have bolted. At their ten-year reunion, Keith intends to do everything in his geeky power to make amends.
Parker should have known that scheduling the reunion the day before Christmas Eve was a recipe for a headache of monster proportions. But when Keith sends a text that he’ll be attending, the evening doesn’t look so bleak. Can an unnecessary makeover, a nostalgic breakfast, an abortive shopping trip, and a whole lot of mistletoe culminate in a long-overdue first kiss?

The Puzzle Box by CC Bridges
Elementary school art teacher Cole Peters is expecting a lonely Christmas this year while his longtime boyfriend, James Carducci, is on deployment with the Army. However, a box from James contains puzzles that lead Cole on a scavenger hunt through the greatest moments of their relationship. Together with his best friend Liz, Cole works his way through each clue.
The final puzzle could lead Cole to a gift beyond his wildest expectations.

The Storm’s Gift by A.D. Ellis
Snowed in together in their college dorm, two men share a quick connection that creates enough heat to spar with the blizzard outside.
Rory Blackwell plans to rejuvenate his mind and repair his battered heart after his world is shaken by an unexpected breakup. James Austin’s freshman-year plans of improving his social life crashed and burned, leaving him feeling as alone and outcast as he did back home.
One man is hurting while the other is eager to provide comfort. One is a virgin, the other experienced with other men. Both are looking forward to Winter Break, but can they take full advantage of their situation—or will the passion ignited between them fizzle out with the storm?

The Werewolf before Christmas by Charles Payseur
Ray seems like the perfect boyfriend—he’s gorgeous, incredibly romantic, and has a mechanical suit he invented to become the dastardly MantaRay. For Alec, who also spends his nights making life difficult for do-gooders everywhere, it’s a match made in supervillain heaven. Except that Ray is a bit too into the hit soap opera All My Werewolves. When tempers flare during what’s supposed to be a quiet night out, Alec nearly ruins everything over a stupid bet with an alien gorilla.
Desperate to prove his feelings to Ray, and with Christmas fast approaching, Alec decides the fastest way to Ray’s heart is to embrace the thing that threatens to divide them—a certain werewolf show with a certain actor who Ray admires. A simple kidnapping promises to do the trick, only fur (and fandom) fly when Alec’s romantic gesture leads to a very hairy situation. Can Alec prove to Ray how much their relationship means to him, or will his plans be ruined by the werewolf before Christmas?

Trading Tridents by C.M. Taylor
DecemberCon 2017. John Perlan, aka YouTuber “SmileyNibor,” has come to the con for one reason and one reason only: to see his idol, actor Derek Kitow. And since Derek has announced he’ll be dressed as the original Aquaman, Perlan decides to come as the Aquaman reboot. It helps that he already has the beard and the bod to make a convincing Momoaman.
But when Derek Kitow makes his entrance, he recognizes Perlan from his tiny YouTube channel and wants him onstage! Has Kitow been following him online? Could SmileyNibor’s hero also be a fan? And what exactly does Kitow have in mind by inviting Perlan to meet him after the panel?

Welcome Home, Soldier by Deanna Wadsworth
Clay and Daniel fell in love as enlisted men during Desert Shield, but Don’t Ask Don’t Tell meant they had to keep it secret. After Clay’s convoy was ambushed, PTSD changed him, and their relationship ended in a horrible fight on Christmas Eve.
Twenty-five years later, they’ve reconnected on Facebook, and Clay finds out Daniel will be alone on Christmas Eve. Impulsively, he sets out for Daniel’s hometown of Gilead, Ohio—where Daniel is now the mayor—to surprise him with a visit. But a blizzard strikes and Clay wrecks his car. All hope of seeing Daniel is lost—until a mysterious old man named Nick offers Clay a ride.
The weight of past wounds and the scars of war might make their reunion awkward, but Clay is willing to take the risk to win back his lost love. Despite a lifetime of disappointing holidays, Clay hopes that this soldier is finally coming home for Christmas.

Wreck the Halls by Jessica Payseur
Business has been good at Paul’s Café in Madison, Wisconsin—until a few months before Christmas. When Nick opens Nick’s Restaurant next door, Paul watches his customers leave for cheaper food and an owner who smiles more. With his livelihood at stake, Paul lashes out, trying to drive away Nick’s customers, but Nick won’t go easy, and escalating sabotage threatens to ruin the holidays for both of them.
Paul thinks all he wants for Christmas is to see Nick’s Restaurant go under, but the more he tries to drive Nick away, the less he’s sure he wants him to go. Nick is everything Paul secretly craves, but by the time he realizes Nick is all he really wants for the holidays, he might have ruined any chance for them to get together. And there might not be a present in the world that can fix that.


REVIEW:
I love this Advent calendar. I always find a new to me author that I fall in love with. It's a great deal at only $64.99 for all the stories listed, or you can pick and choose your favorites!


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