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a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4.5 Holiday Stars!!
Now that’s what I call a holiday story!
I've got to say that this is my favorite read of the season thus far!
For Hollis, tragedy has unfortunately held him back from fully living these last three long years, where guilt has increasingly tethered him to a more isolated existence. He’s been using his grief as an excuse to avoid the holidays, as it brings just too many painful memories to bear. However, this year he can’t escape, as his childhood friend Sawyer, who’s also his brother in law, is determined to change his mind to be a more present part of the family again, just in time for Christmas.
Sawyer is everything Hollis is not. He’s outgoing and gregarious, and Hollis has carefully kept his feelings in check, not daring to ever hope for more than a platonic friendship. As Sawyer charmingly, slowly, and sexily wears him down, Hollis does heal, despite stubbornly remaining oblivious to the obvious feelings that Sawyer has always had for him.
Thankfully, this was the the least angsty of the series. Never fear, it doesn’t skimp on the heat at all, which had just a touch of nicely done kink. A truly fantastic read to get you in the mood, as Albert perfectly infuses the entire story with the spirit of Christmas and what it should mean and represent - love, family and friendship.
Now that’s what I call a holiday story!
I've got to say that this is my favorite read of the season thus far!
For Hollis, tragedy has unfortunately held him back from fully living these last three long years, where guilt has increasingly tethered him to a more isolated existence. He’s been using his grief as an excuse to avoid the holidays, as it brings just too many painful memories to bear. However, this year he can’t escape, as his childhood friend Sawyer, who’s also his brother in law, is determined to change his mind to be a more present part of the family again, just in time for Christmas.
Sawyer is everything Hollis is not. He’s outgoing and gregarious, and Hollis has carefully kept his feelings in check, not daring to ever hope for more than a platonic friendship. As Sawyer charmingly, slowly, and sexily wears him down, Hollis does heal, despite stubbornly remaining oblivious to the obvious feelings that Sawyer has always had for him.
Thankfully, this was the the least angsty of the series. Never fear, it doesn’t skimp on the heat at all, which had just a touch of nicely done kink. A truly fantastic read to get you in the mood, as Albert perfectly infuses the entire story with the spirit of Christmas and what it should mean and represent - love, family and friendship.
pewterwolf's review
3.0
Review Taken From The Pewter Wolf & was given for review via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
The fifth (or 4.5) in the Portland Heat series, Christmas is meant to be great business for retail. And it is, expect store owner Hollis. Christmas reminds him of a tragedy that happened three years ago. But fellow store owner (and twin brother to Hollis's brother-in-law), Sawyer, has decided to make it his mission to make Hollis enjoy the holiday. And the more time they spend together, the more it looks like it could be working. Hollis is slowly coming out of his shell and enjoying the season - and Sawyer's company.
But Hollis's heart is fragile and with him being scared of it getting broken, could he take a leap of faith when it comes to his and Sawyer blossoming relationship?
I must state something here: whenever I pick LGBT books on NetGalley, it usually a very bad decision. It's one reason or another: it's badly written, it goes into S&M/BDSM literature (something I don't like reading. You have your no-goes in reading, I have mine.), it feels fake or out of place. So, requesting then reading this was a bit of a risk.
This is a sweet, fluffy, holiday romance. I accept this, and I enjoyed it. I didn't love it the way I hoped (more on that later), but I did blitz through this quite quickly - about three days (at the beginning of the month. Because of how I schedule last week's reviews, I only just posting this now). It is very fluffy and Christmasy. And it does scream Christmas TV movie, with it being a bit painted-by-numbers - you know where the plot is going and you know that, when you get the end, you will get your Happily Ever After.
I didn't mind this. It's kinda why I signed up for. I don't read many romanic stories.
This wasn't perfect, though. I didn't really see the point of the epilogue. It could have been removed and it wouldn't have made any real difference to the story.
I have one big flaw with this story.
Barring this, I found this a fast, fun read. I might read more from this series in the future. Maybe... Not sure... But this was a nice fluffy Xmas read. Just the kinky moments might not be for everyone...
The fifth (or 4.5) in the Portland Heat series, Christmas is meant to be great business for retail. And it is, expect store owner Hollis. Christmas reminds him of a tragedy that happened three years ago. But fellow store owner (and twin brother to Hollis's brother-in-law), Sawyer, has decided to make it his mission to make Hollis enjoy the holiday. And the more time they spend together, the more it looks like it could be working. Hollis is slowly coming out of his shell and enjoying the season - and Sawyer's company.
But Hollis's heart is fragile and with him being scared of it getting broken, could he take a leap of faith when it comes to his and Sawyer blossoming relationship?
I must state something here: whenever I pick LGBT books on NetGalley, it usually a very bad decision. It's one reason or another: it's badly written, it goes into S&M/BDSM literature (something I don't like reading. You have your no-goes in reading, I have mine.), it feels fake or out of place. So, requesting then reading this was a bit of a risk.
This is a sweet, fluffy, holiday romance. I accept this, and I enjoyed it. I didn't love it the way I hoped (more on that later), but I did blitz through this quite quickly - about three days (at the beginning of the month. Because of how I schedule last week's reviews, I only just posting this now). It is very fluffy and Christmasy. And it does scream Christmas TV movie, with it being a bit painted-by-numbers - you know where the plot is going and you know that, when you get the end, you will get your Happily Ever After.
I didn't mind this. It's kinda why I signed up for. I don't read many romanic stories.
This wasn't perfect, though. I didn't really see the point of the epilogue. It could have been removed and it wouldn't have made any real difference to the story.
I have one big flaw with this story.
Spoiler
Like you have probably guessed, this is very much aimed towards an adult audience - I suspected that - but why, OH WHY, is it when I read an adult LGBT romanic is there BDSM? I get that this isn't a big taboo anymore (Fifty Shades of Grey), but it feels like every times I try and read a grown-up LGBT story, there is bondage and one of the people entering this relationship is a newbie and has their eyes open to this world. Really? Does this happen in every adult LGBT book or am I picking up the wrong ones to read? I don't mind stories with a bit of kink in it, but having this within this story, for some reason, I found a little jarring.Barring this, I found this a fast, fun read. I might read more from this series in the future. Maybe... Not sure... But this was a nice fluffy Xmas read. Just the kinky moments might not be for everyone...
lifeand100books's review
5.0
Absolutely fell in love with Hollis and Sawyer. What a great story about overcoming grief and accepting love and family. Such a beautiful, heartwarming story.
jac12's review
4.0
*squeals* This was so cute!! It was so fun reading from Hollis’s POV. I adore both of these men. Never mind the fact that Christmas stories are my strawberry jam!!
meromenesko's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
janeneal's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
This was a cute, short and sweet romance that was perfect for decompressing after two dense historical lit fic novels.
It started a little weak for me, and I honestly almost just put it down. Not because it was so bad or anything, it was just fine. But, I kept on and then it felt like it really hit it's groove and I could vibe with it. For me, I just don't care for a first person POV. It also felt at times a little inconsistent, though not enough to make me stop reading. Just little things here and there threw me off and felt like it didn't gel with a first person POV.
My biggest hang-up was that Hollis' character wasn't quite grounded for me. Grounded probably isn't quite the right word to use, but some of my favorite romances/erotica have a really strong sense of character from the get-go that makes it easy to sort of be pulled along. Get a Life, Chloe Brown and An Unseen Attraction are the first titles I think of for really good character establishment. But, those are much longer novels and this was more of a novella, or quite a bit shorter in any case. And it did get there eventually!
Hollis is actually one of my favorite kind of characters. A stuffy guy who has emotions but is afraid to totally feel them. This is a throwback, but it reminded me a lot of Junjou Egoist, a problematic fave of mine haha. It had that same kind of push and pull between Hollis and Sawyer in terms of emotional walls and vulnerability.
I'm very curious to read more of her full-length novels, but I will probably honestly reread this one again (and again).
ETA: more important representation for those of us who don't like pizza!!!
It started a little weak for me, and I honestly almost just put it down. Not because it was so bad or anything, it was just fine. But, I kept on and then it felt like it really hit it's groove and I could vibe with it. For me, I just don't care for a first person POV. It also felt at times a little inconsistent, though not enough to make me stop reading. Just little things here and there threw me off and felt like it didn't gel with a first person POV.
My biggest hang-up was that Hollis' character wasn't quite grounded for me. Grounded probably isn't quite the right word to use, but some of my favorite romances/erotica have a really strong sense of character from the get-go that makes it easy to sort of be pulled along. Get a Life, Chloe Brown and An Unseen Attraction are the first titles I think of for really good character establishment. But, those are much longer novels and this was more of a novella, or quite a bit shorter in any case. And it did get there eventually!
Hollis is actually one of my favorite kind of characters. A stuffy guy who has emotions but is afraid to totally feel them. This is a throwback, but it reminded me a lot of Junjou Egoist, a problematic fave of mine haha. It had that same kind of push and pull between Hollis and Sawyer in terms of emotional walls and vulnerability.
I'm very curious to read more of her full-length novels, but I will probably honestly reread this one again (and again).
ETA: more important representation for those of us who don't like pizza!!!
faustin2nd's review
5.0
How did this author manage to pack so much heart, plot and heat into such a short, sweet story? I have no idea. This book felt warm. It felt cozy. I loved the story, and I love how it was told from one person's perspective who grows more open, and loving as the story progressed.
Annabeth Albert is now my favorite MM author. Yeah, I said it. She's prolific (something I love), and her stories always hit the right spot for me. Get this book, you won't regret it.
Annabeth Albert is now my favorite MM author. Yeah, I said it. She's prolific (something I love), and her stories always hit the right spot for me. Get this book, you won't regret it.