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A review by gillianw
A Family for Christmas by Jay Northcote
4.0
4 stars
https://justloveromance.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/family-for-christmas-jay-northcote/#more-15535
I think even the biggest grinch would find their hearts growing “two sizes too big” after reading this delightful, Christmas novella. Jay Northcote really does a wonderful job here, giving us a feel good story that provides just the right amount of sweet and sexy to make this an easy, low-angst but compelling read.
The fact that this is, in part, an office romance just ups the ante for me because it’s one of my very favourite kind of stories. There’s something about two people, subtly peering over their computer monitors to eye-fuck each other, that really appeals to me. In this case, it’s sweet Rudy who is harbouring a quiet crush on his aloof new co-worker, Zac. While Rudy would love to get to know him better, Zac has been politely rebuffing any invitations to join in group lunches or after-work drinks. But when Rudy and Zac’s boss makes a point of inviting Zac to join the company Christmas drinks party, Zac feels compelled to attend and Rudy sees this as his chance to flirt and make his interest in Zac known. Unfortunately, numerous tequila shots makes his plans go slightly awry.
Without giving away too much of the plot (this is a novella, after all), Zac ends up tagging along with Rudy to celebrate Christmas with Rudy’s family. Assumptions are made, miscommunications occur, lost kittens are saved and fake boyfriends become…well, you’ll have to wait to open that gift yourself J Needless to say, the boys get their HEA but their journey there is pretty, damn adorable. Plus, the epilogue brings beautiful closure to the whole story.
I really loved Rudy’s family and how loving and open they were to Zac. Seeing him go from being closed-off and emotionally scarred to accepting Rudy’s pure hearted, undemanding affections and the affections of Rudy’s family, was wonderful. Zac’s emotional journey is relatively low-angst, but it does provide a nice balance to story and stops it from veering into overly sweet territory.
There’s nothing better than an uncomplicated love story when the stresses of the world seem to be closing in around you, and Christmas often brings that stress out in spades. This would be the perfect book to sit and relax with, and maybe help you remember that the ONLY thing that matters is being able to spend the holidays with people that love you unconditionally.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
https://justloveromance.wordpress.com/2016/11/21/family-for-christmas-jay-northcote/#more-15535
I think even the biggest grinch would find their hearts growing “two sizes too big” after reading this delightful, Christmas novella. Jay Northcote really does a wonderful job here, giving us a feel good story that provides just the right amount of sweet and sexy to make this an easy, low-angst but compelling read.
The fact that this is, in part, an office romance just ups the ante for me because it’s one of my very favourite kind of stories. There’s something about two people, subtly peering over their computer monitors to eye-fuck each other, that really appeals to me. In this case, it’s sweet Rudy who is harbouring a quiet crush on his aloof new co-worker, Zac. While Rudy would love to get to know him better, Zac has been politely rebuffing any invitations to join in group lunches or after-work drinks. But when Rudy and Zac’s boss makes a point of inviting Zac to join the company Christmas drinks party, Zac feels compelled to attend and Rudy sees this as his chance to flirt and make his interest in Zac known. Unfortunately, numerous tequila shots makes his plans go slightly awry.
Without giving away too much of the plot (this is a novella, after all), Zac ends up tagging along with Rudy to celebrate Christmas with Rudy’s family. Assumptions are made, miscommunications occur, lost kittens are saved and fake boyfriends become…well, you’ll have to wait to open that gift yourself J Needless to say, the boys get their HEA but their journey there is pretty, damn adorable. Plus, the epilogue brings beautiful closure to the whole story.
I really loved Rudy’s family and how loving and open they were to Zac. Seeing him go from being closed-off and emotionally scarred to accepting Rudy’s pure hearted, undemanding affections and the affections of Rudy’s family, was wonderful. Zac’s emotional journey is relatively low-angst, but it does provide a nice balance to story and stops it from veering into overly sweet territory.
There’s nothing better than an uncomplicated love story when the stresses of the world seem to be closing in around you, and Christmas often brings that stress out in spades. This would be the perfect book to sit and relax with, and maybe help you remember that the ONLY thing that matters is being able to spend the holidays with people that love you unconditionally.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review