Heavenly Melody: A Snow Globe Christmas Book 7, Sammi Cee

I was caught by both men right from the start.  There was a bit of hesitation on Zach's part for me, but only because he held himself back whereas Avi was all out there 100% of the time.  He wore his heart on his sleeve and couldn't keep a secret from his face if his life depended on it.  I actually like that quality because it's incredibly honest.

The connection between both men was instantaneous and they slowly explored what that meant for them.  It began with concern, attraction, and friendship.  A crazy idea gave them a bit more of a romantic push and it was just what they needed to find the partner of their hearts.

There were moments of grief that were simply and well written that captured exactly what Zach needed to experience and with Avi's history, he was the perfect person to give comfort and empathy when it was needed.

Even with the cute and very obvious meddling of friends, they were drawn together all on their own and I really enjoyed their pacing despite the short story length.  The familial reunion/reconciliation felt a little rushed, but in no way forced.  I liked that Zach's support group and idea of family was opened and broadened with Avi's subtle influence.  It was clear that they really were perfect for one another and all of it worked together to bring a whole lot of warmth to the story and to me while I read.

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When you’re holding hope in the palm of your hands…

The holiday season is Avi Layton’s favorite time of the year. In his opinion, there’s nothing better than offering hope to those he meets at the local soup kitchen. When Zachary Smith, the new volunteer with sorrow-filled brown eyes, is uncomfortable attending a Christmas Party, Avi offers to be his fake date.

When one date turns into two, will the spirit of the season reveal a whole new path for both men—together?

Damaged Hearts: The Boys of Venice Beach Book 1, Jan St. Marcus

Life doesn't always end up how we plan.  For Michelangelo and Brandon it seems that life is the complete opposite of how we'd hoped to live, but in their moments of grief and fatalism they find someone to lift them up and give them something new to hope for.

They didn't have a meet-cute, that's for sure, but what brought them together was something that both men needed.  For Mike it was doing something for someone else that opened a door to more.  For Brandon, it was a chance for someone to care that he was alive and worth that care.  The romantic portion of their story was a bit of a slow-burn with a lot of confusing feelings that kept them on edge until they admitted what they were feeling and grasped it tightly with both hands.

I can't say I'm a fan of their voices.  Their young age was incredibly apparent both in expectations and expressions.  And it was their inner voice that kind of irritated because I felt like I was reading the rambling, slightly vapid thoughts of a teenager.  Well, in Brandon's case that's an accurate age, but it felt younger, like early high school and I felt that was inappropriate to the life Brandon led.  It was immaturity that came across rather than simply youth.  Sometimes, especially in Brandon's case, they would seem to break the fourth wall so it was confusing in its narrative because it would jump from describing thoughts, feelings, sights, impressions, etc. to inviting the reader in as if they were talking to us specifically.  The flow wasn't exactly smooth.

If we took out the drama, the government involvement, the Grant bits of the story, I don't believe there was enough development of the characters or their relationship to support the story's intent.  We get distracted by all the stuff going on around and behind the scenes and lose sight of the actual relationship building stuff that will make me believe they're solid, healing, and good for the long-haul.

Overall though, the story was nice with surprisingly little angst and a lot of honesty.  The language and voice were less-than awesome, but I didn't not like the story and while I thought there could have been more balance and depth, it was a pleasant read.

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When 19-year-old military veteran Brandon Hawkins is attacked on Venice Beach by a gang of frat boys, he is saved by Michelangelo Curtis, a passerby.

Michelangelo was roaming the boardwalk grieving the death of his twin brother six months earlier. The two men’s unexpected encounter forges a strong bond between the damaged and lonely men.

Inviting the homeless Bran to his place for some food and a shower, 25-year-old Michelangelo finds himself drawn to the younger man. Neither of the men is gay. But before long, their friendship morphs into something like love and takes them both by surprise.

And they have something else in common: The frat boys are out for revenge.

Hot Chocolate Kisses: A Snow Globe Christmas Book 9, Jackie North

First impressions are not always correct, especially if you're coming from a place of past hurt and current frustration.  Alex and Cory both have their own demons to fight before they can feel the magic of Christmas and a love neither man was expecting.

Cory was interesting right from the start.  He had a whole life that wasn't always synonymous with trouble, but grief and being alone spelled out a whole lot of it.  I love the idea of a second chance at life when you're really trying to become the best version of yourself.  While he sees himself as worth so much less than everyone else he's still trying.  Attempting to do it independently is admirable, though a bit unwise as he learns that support and love are more important than pride.  His evolution is one of subtle changes as he tries to give another lonely man what might cheer him up and possibly open a path for more between them.

Alex is far less open to the idea of more as his own pride and hurt color his every interaction with Cory until he truly sees the man beneath the "bruiser" appearance.  I had a far harder time connecting to Alex because he had an annoying inability to sincerely apologize.  He never tried to make amends for his crappy attitude and hurtful words to Cory.  Sure, we could see a little flicker of remorse every once in a while, but no action was made to correct his uncharitable behavior.  Only when he opened his home to a very hurt Cory did we see that things could get better for him, and them by extension.  His icy edges were slowly thawed under the constant warmth of Cory's gigantic heart.

They were a good pair and my frustrations with Alex were overshadowed by how much I enjoyed Cory in all of his vulnerability and seeming flaws.  The whole community gave the idea of living in a small town merit, where perhaps everyone knows everyone else's business but they use that information to find ways to love and serve instead of gossip and judge.  I loved the warmth of the setting and the essence of what the holiday spirit really is as it was apparent in so much of we saw and experienced in this story.

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Alex had to leave the mean streets of Chicago in a hurry. Now he's weathering his first Christmas in a small town in Colorado.

Cory had a boyfriend and now he doesn't, which means the Christmas holiday is turning out to be the loneliest he's had in years.

When they meet at a Holiday Fair, Alex finds himself being drawn into Cory's world. A world where there is grace to be found in a simple, home-cooked meal, books read out loud by firelight, and the golden glow of welcome.

Alex has never wanted anything as tame as hearth and home. Now that he wants it, it's not anything he can have. Nothing feels he deserves, at any rate.

Can Cory and the Spirit of Christmas Present prove to Alex that love is love?

Terror by Moonlight: Critter Catchers Book 1, Hank Edwards

This particular story sets the tone for the series and while I don't think every aspect was pulled off, it was kind of exciting to read when the action was happening, the MC's were becoming interesting, and the will-they-won't-they is at its most basic.

Cody is incredibly childish.  From the way he treats women, Demetrius, and his responsibilities to his childish antics and reactions it's clear that no one, including Demetrius has given him the kick in the pants he needs to grow up.  Not even a werewolf can get him to do it either.  While I don't necessarily like him, I do find myself curious to see when and how he gets his head out of a certain orifice and where it belongs.  I don't think it'll come at a point where it's actually too late, but I'm really hoping to see some serious character evolution with him.

Demetrius is another matter.  I think he's so mired in his own perception of things that he's going to nearly miss all the opportunities to have more with Cody sooner rather than later.  His enabling of his best friend's behavior is going to snap, I can feel it, and I'm hoping the snap comes from his desire to be less of an insecure doormat and not from the paranormal creatures that have a knack for finding and tormenting him and Cody.

The creature aspect was a bit predictable in terms of what we were looking for, but not in the who-is-it bit.  There were intimations a little later in the story, but only after the way-too-obvious-to-be-the-culprit person was brought in to throw us all off.  I was actually hoping the super-obviously-not-the-bad-guy was going to be the bad guy.  Part of me thinks that would have been a good twist because I'd be expecting it to be someone else since the "revelations" were coming on pretty thick.  Having a large group of people know what was actually happening and for the MC's to only discover that fact when things were going down bloody is a thread that may or may not continue throughout the series and I'm curious to see if that'll be brushed under the rug or not.

Overall this was an entertaining story that didn't have a lot of depth but does have potential.  It's an interesting start to say the least.  I'm pretty sure I'll be back for more.

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Cody Bower and Demetrius Singleton have been friends for over twenty years even though they are polar opposites. Cody is tall, handsome, athletic, and straight, and Demetrius is average height, more of a thinker, and gay. They have started an animal control business together and have to figure out how to be business partners without letting it affect their friendship, but that’s the least of their problems. When one of their first clients ends up brutally murdered in what appears to be an animal attack, the two realize something big and dangerous is stalking their tiny town of Parson’s Hollow, and it’s up to them to catch it before it kills again.

The Snow Dragon's Mate: Lonely Dragons Club Book 2, Silvia Violet

The amount of steam in this short story is incredible.  Sometimes it pulled focus from the romantic build, but these kinds of stories generally follow the same romantic formula by starting with the lust and ending with the love.  It's not a bad or ineffective approach, it's just a bit predictable.

Holden is a sassy omega who has a heap of hurt to heal if he's really going to chase after his HEA.  Kymar is a dissatisfied playboy (play-dragon?) who wants a mate but isn't sure how to go about finding one of his own.  Together they are an incredibly sweet pairing with crazy amounts of chemistry.

I liked the simple evolution of the story and especially Kymar's guileless love of the snow and commitment to his mate.  Both of those traits sold me on him as an individual.  While Holden's emotional reaction to getting stuck in the snow is a little much for me, I do extremely appreciate his forthright honesty instead of a typical response of defensiveness.  I can't say I was captivated by the characters, but I did quite like them on a surface level.  I think they had massive potential on their own and together but were hampered by the length of the story.

The other dragons are quite interesting and I'd be interested to see more from the Lonely Dragons Club because the ones I met here are sweet, toppy, and so very eager to find the partner of their souls.  On its own, this story does stand, though I will probably say that for enjoyment of the club on the whole, reading the other books in the series sure wouldn't go amiss.

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Best Christmas gift ever: Finding out dragons exist and one of them is your fated mate.
Kymar
Weary from centuries spent searching for my mate, I hid away in a mountain cabin until an offer from a friend leads me to the most exquisite omega I have ever seen. From the moment our eyes meet, all I want is to make him mine. A well-timed storm leaves him stranded in my lair, but when the snow melts, he insists on returning to his human life. I’m convinced we’re fated for one another. Can I make this stubborn young man believe it too?

Holden
I rode on a dragon’s back. A real, live dragon. In his human form, Kymar is so gorgeous I can hardly breathe around him. I’m drawn to him by a force too strong to ignore, but, magical creature or not, I can’t get involved with him. Happiness never lasts. I’ve learned that lesson again and again. After I walk away, my longing to return grows worse every day until I start to wonder if I can find to courage to believe what my heart and my dragon say is true—Kymar and I are meant to be together.