Recommended Christmas Reads

Christmas and romance go hand in hand and what's more romantic than snow on the ground, fire in the hearth and spending time with the ones you love?   Here are some of my festive favourites.

Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton

Blurb

Jason Walker is a child star turned teen heartthrob turned reluctant B-movie regular who’s sick of his failing career. So he gives up Hollywood for northern Idaho, far away from the press, the drama of LA, and the best friend he’s secretly been in love with for years.

There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse. Except Benjamin Ward isn’t a ghost. He’s a man caught out of time, trapped since the Civil War in a magical prison where he can only watch the lives of those around him. He’s also sweet, funny, and cute as hell, with an affinity for cheesy ’80s TV shows. And he’s thrilled to finally have someone to talk to.

But Jason quickly discovers that spending all his time with a man nobody else can see or hear isn’t without its problems—especially when the tabloids find him again and make him front-page news. The local sheriff thinks he’s on drugs, and his best friend thinks he’s crazy. But Jason knows he hasn’t lost his mind. Too bad he can’t say the same thing about his heart.

Review
This is a gorgeous book, so vivid in description and I was sucked in from page one. I'm a huge fan of Marie Sexton and this book is another perfect MM, a must read for Autumn and Christmas.

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton

Blurb

When physics grad student Fielding Monroe and skirt-chaser and football player Mick Colman become college housemates, they’re both in for a whole new education. Mick looks out for the absent-minded genius, and he helps Fielding clean up his appearance and discover all the silly pleasures his strict upbringing as a child prodigy denied him. They become best friends.

It’s all well and good until they run into a cheerleader who calls Mick the ‘best kisser on campus.’ Fielding has never been kissed, and he decides Mick and only Mick can teach him how it’s done. After all, the physics department’s Christmas party is coming up with its dreaded mistletoe. Fielding wants to impress his peers and look cool for once in his life. The thing about Fielding is, once he locks onto an idea, it’s almost impossible to get him to change his mind. And he just doesn't understand why his straight best friend would have a problem providing a little demonstration.

Mick knows kissing is a dangerous game. If he gives in, it would take a miracle for the thing not to turn into a disaster. Then again, if the kissing lessons get out of hand they can always blame it on the mistletoe.

Review
Perfect Christmas Read. I loved both characters so much. Told from Mick's POV we see Fielding, an isolated brilliant geek genius, transforming in front of our eyes. He hasn't done much in his life--his mother is controlling and wanted Fielding to achieve academically and up until now he hasn't had freedom. Then Mick happens in his life. Kind of a gay for you story, until you read more and realise that Eli is cleverly filling in back story.

Highly recommended, and a good solid length story. 5/5, the writing is excellent and the story of the geek and the jock is perfect!

Unwrapping Hank by Eli Easton

Blurb

Sloane loves a good mystery. He grew up as the son of two psychiatrists, so he finds most people tediously easy to figure out. He finds his way to Pennsylvania State University, longing for a rural experience, and ends up being lured into joining a frat by Micah Springfield, the hippest guy on campus.

Nothing in Sloane’s classes is as intriguing as Hank Springfield, Micah’s brother and fellow frat house member. Hank looks like a tough guy—big muscles, tatts, and a beard—but his eyes are soft and sweet. He acts dumb, but he’s a philosophy major. He’s presumably straight, but then why does Sloane feel such crazy chemistry whenever Hank is around? And why does Hank hate Sloane so much?

When Sloane ends up stuck on campus over Christmas, Micah invites him to spend the holidays at their family farm in Amish country. It’s a chance to experience a true Americana Christmas--and further investigate the mystery that is Hank Springfield. Can Sloane unlock the secrets of this family and unwrap the heart hidden inside the beefcake?

Review
This to me is a perfect Christmas book... love... holidays... family... animals... more love... a *bad* guy... the *good guys* and most of all humour. I love Eli Easton's books and this one is just the right book to sit with the Christmas tree and lose yourself in a funny, endearing, happy, loving and it left me smiling like an idiot. 6/5

Midwinter Night's Dream by Eli Easton

Blurb

Micah is the hippest, most chill guy on campus. But when he gets the hottest kiss of his life from a cute guy during a game of ‘spin the bottle’, Micah’s cool turns into a puddle of anxious goo. Sure, Micah’s always been a little bi-curious, but he never thought he’d pursue a guy, much less a guy who doesn’t seem to be interested in getting caught.

Leo is passionate about two things: gay rights activism and acting. He stays focused and in control, and he never, ever, dates straight guys. When a chance spin of a bottle at a party has him locking lips with Micah Springfield, president of the Delts, dread-headed, serial-dating, straight Micah, Leo is determined to forget about it, no matter how incendiary the sparks or how gorgeous Micah may be.

Leo has bigger problems. His senior project is directing Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream just before the Christmas break. When his venue cancels at the last minute, Micah offers the use of his parent’s barn in rural Pennsylvania. Leo’s play may be saved, but what about his heart? Between Micah’s sweet lips, his family’s welcoming arms, and a devious bulldog who is determined to play Puck, Leo may find himself falling under the spell of Christmas magic.

Review
I loved this book so much... in fact I have loved every single one of Eli's Christmas books... I think I fell in love with Micah, oh and we get an awesome visit back home to the farm and the barn... oh, it's just all sparkly yummy Christmasy goodness.... Highly Recommended


2 comments

  1. Marie Sexton's Winter Oranges was something I really enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the recs. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete