Mingle All The Way (Christmas Falls: Season Two #10)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Hayden Hall's "Mingle All The Way."

["When I go home for the holidays, Santa has a secret waiting for me...

I wandered far and wide in search of happiness, never finding what I sought. When I return to Christmas Falls to lick my wounds, the last thing I expect is for Santa to send me a golden-haired, blue-eyed man I once called my best friend—the friend who was taken away from me when we were kids.

Milo Montgomery is back in town, and he doesn’t wait for miracles to come to him. There’s a special sort of magic in the way he spreads joy throughout our town.

His chocolate shop might be struggling, but that can’t break his festive spirit. His optimism is contagious, and his cheerful mood makes me feel like I’m thirteen again, catching snowflakes on my tongue. As we walk down memory lane, recreating every Christmas Eve we spent together, our friendship becomes everything I've been missing.

Milo confesses I was his first and only love. But as a straight man, I can never love him the same way. Or can I? I'm beginning to question everything I thought I knew about myself. About the world.

Maybe happiness has nothing to do with a place. Maybe all it takes is the right person."]

These two were heartbreaking and poetic and beautiful (so a Hayden classic). There was so much longing, for love, for friendship, for a place to call home. There was so much self-sacrificing and self-made-magic. 

And just magic. Christmas magic, community magic, paying it forward magic. But that's Christmas Falls for you (and our infamous Secret Santa ;) ).

I'm so glad these two finally figured it out. Life (I'm told) is so much happier and simplier when you have your person, even if everything else is going to shit. And love born from a friendship like theirs? Perfection.

#minglealltheway #haydenhall #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Aisle Be The Groom (Bristlecone Springs #1)

I might regret continuing putting off my ARCs until closer to their due date...but at least I'm getting things crossed off my (many) TBR list(s). Here's Sage Abbott's "Aisle Be The Groom." It's the first novel in her latest series, Bristlecone Springs.

["I always dreamed of a perfect wedding. But when my fiancé jets off to the Caribbean, leaving me stranded on a Colorado ranch to plan everything alone, that dream crumbles.

Then his father, Gray, steps in to help. But with every moment we spend together, something shifts. Gray makes me feel wanted, desired, and sexy—the way every big boy dreams of feeling.

The pull between us is undeniable. But can I cancel my wedding to my fiancé when the one I've fallen for is his father?

My affair with Gray might be forbidden, but my heart is ready to risk it all."]

Warning: there is some cheating in this, BUT (and here's be justifying cheating (in the sake of a fictional novel where our MCs get a HEA)) Ozzie's fiancé is a piece of shit, and Gray's marriage is open and practically nonexistent. And these two belong together.

Gray shows Ozzie everything wrong with his relationship/almost-marriage without even trying, just simply existing and being himself. Being a kind-hearted, caring gentleman shows Ozzie how horrible his sham of a boyfriend is. And helps Ozzie fall in love with Gray (and Bristlecone Springs).

And Ozzie reminds Gray what happiness is, what passion is, what dreaming and hoping and loving is. Gray is content, for once in his life, all the while he's internally battling his son (who he was hoping to finally connect with) and Ozzie (who just might be the love of his life).

I'm OBSESSED with this town. I want more of it. I want background on some of it. I want more drama and spice and HEAs.

Trigger Warnings: cheating, fat shaming, bullying, and more.

#aislebethegroom #marrymemaybe #bristleconesprings #bristleconespringsseries #sageabbott #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Moody's Grumpy Holiday

And the Christmas ARCs have started!!! Here's Lane Hayes's "Moody's Grumpy Holiday."

["The geek, the cowboy, and a not-so-grumpy holiday…

Moody
Living in Christmas Town hasn’t made me a fan of the holidays. Quite the opposite. In fact, eleven months of the year, I’m perfectly happy running my bookstore in peace and quiet. Of course, that changes in December when it’s mistletoe madness and mayhem. Ugh.
But this year, there’s a new cowboy in town and it’s not as easy to grumble about…anything. I admit, Hudson is handsome and hunky, but everyone knows I’m not myself till January, so he’ll have to buzz off and charm someone else.
Bah humbug. 

Hudson
Moving to California wasn’t in my plans. I could use the change of scenery, though, and the Oak Ridge Ranch is a good investment. That’s not a sneaky way of saying I’m hiding from my past—no siree. I’m following a new path to a new town, that’s all.
So far, so good. Except…my attraction to the nerdy bookstore owner is throwing me off my game.
Look, I’m not interested in anything other than a casual hookup. But Moody is a mystery, and I want to know more about the adorable geek with a sunny disposition who turns into a holiday grump every year.
For some reason, he feels like home away from home. December may be the last month of the year, but something tells me this is our beginning."]

These two were adorable as hell. I loved how they just kinda clicked. How they were instantly in lust with each other and instantly taken by something they couldn't place. And months later, in amongst the chaos of Christmas, it was still there. Hudson was enamored by Moody's grumpiness, and Moody was intrigued that his glum didn't push Hudson away. 

Neither "were looking for more than friendship", which is how it always goes, because sooner than they anticipated, they were head-over-heels. 

There were parts of this that just...read awkwardly. At first, I didn't super like Moody; he was more robotic than geeky. And the switch from his "sunshine" self to his "grumpy" self wasn't all that drastic, except for some sassy crabbiness and understandable trauma-induced hate surrounding Christmas. 

But that fluff? That steam? Here. For. It. 

#grr #gayromancereview #arcs #arcteammember
#moodysgrumpyholiday #lanehayes #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Promise Yule Be Mine (Christmas Falls: Season Two #9)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Rhys Everly's "Promise Yule Be Mine."

["I made a promise to my best friend and I intend to keep it.

So what if our wedding planner—and my fiancée's childhood friend—happens to be the best man I’ve ever met?

With the bride-to-be away and everything going wrong a month before the big day, t's up to me and my wedding planner to save the day.

But with each passing day, I'm starting to second guess this marriage of convenience and fall deeper for Nova.

How can I go ahead with this wedding, when the promise of a happily ever after with the man of my dreams is finally within reach?

And how can I show Nova that despite everything, I want forever with him."]

These two were hopeless. They each knew how they felt, Jenna knew how they felt, half of the town knew how they felt. But they were too stuck to their morals, as weak and/or fake as they were, to do anything about the growing and growing feelings.

And did those feelings grow. Nova said something like "but this isn't a Hallmark movie," and that silly man couldn't have been more wrong. It's Christmas Falls after all. ;) Christmas magic and true love are in the air (and the water (and the food (it's everywhere))).

I already want a third season of this. There's still SO many townsfolk that need their HEA. 

#promiseyulbemine #rhyseverly #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Frost Impressions (Christmas Falls: Season Two #8)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Kelly Fox's "Frost Impressions."

["Living in a town named Christmas Falls with a name like Gray Frost, you'd think I loved Christmas.

On the contrary, I'd rather get a root canal than participate in anything remotely festive. Yet here I am—running the regional airport for commuter airlines and rich guys who have nothing better to do than fly in for the season.

Just today, I picked a fight with a pilot—the wealthy and wickedly attractive Sunny Day. He's as irritatingly cheerful as his name would suggest, even when his plane breaks down. He's a little less bright when he realizes I have the only spare bed in town.

The only point in his favor is that he hates Christmas as much as I do. When I find out what stole his joy, though, I have to wonder if the town's charms can give him back the love he once had for the holiday."]

I was OBSESSED with the description of Gray a few books ago when they talked about how his corner of the diner was all painted with rain clouds and hues of gray. Obsessed. I don’t know what it is about secretly soft grumps, but I’m always here for to.

And Sunny was the perfect opposites-attract for our Gray. And he saw Gray, just like Gary saw the real Sunny. They protected each other in so many ways. They brought joy back into each others lives. 

I think this is quite possibly my favorite couple this season. Their love was so bright (and their banter so fucking sharp). 

#frostimpressions #kellyfox #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

No Business Like Snow Business (Christmas Falls: Season Two #7)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Lisa Henry and JA Rock's "No Business Like Snow Business."

["Harvey Novak loves living in Christmas Falls. He loves his job running the Festival Museum too, except when it means he has to deal with his ex, who’s putting together the town’s newest tourist brochures. There are a lot of things Harvey is willing to do for Christmas Falls, but playing nice with the guy who cheated on him isn’t one of them. When a real-life Christmas mystery falls into Harvey’s lap, it offers the perfect distraction. And the guy with the mystery is pretty distracting too.

Sterling van Ruyven has come to Christmas Falls to look for his long-lost uncle, and enlists Harvey’s help to track him down. It’s all business—if there’s an extra van Ruyven heir out there somewhere, Sterling needs to know about it. He isn’t expecting to actually enjoy spending time in this ridiculous Christmas-themed town with the cute guy from the museum.

Their fun flirtation turns into a holiday fling, but that’s all it can ever be. Harvey’s heart belongs in Christmas Falls, and Sterling hasn’t found his yet. But maybe Christmas is the time for miracles after all."]

Okay, this mystery was not "who's the Secret Santa," but these two went in all OnlyMurdersInTheBuilding style and I loooooove that for them. Cute little dorks (both instantly and utterly smitten with the other).

Christmas Falls never ceases it's magic. The magic of friends, family, found family, community, togetherness, second chances, hot cocoa, warm cookies, love (allll the love--all the queer love). Being able to be yourself, to see yourself for the first time. Being with and around other people being/seeing themselves (and happy). Knowing that love and light can be the answer to soooo many questions, that being happy is a choice in of itself. 

Sweet and swoony and perfectly Christmas Falls. 

#nobusinesslikesnowbusiness #lisahenry #jarock #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Christmas Beau (Christmas Falls: Season Two #6)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Amy Aislin's "Christmas Beau."

["Hank Beaufort's life is a mess.

Oh, he looks like he has it all together, but the reality is that he's freshly retired from an unimpressive minor hockey career, and the ink is barely dry on his equally unimpressive second divorce. Now he's the hockey director at the community center in a small town that treats Christmas like Santa Claus is real, and he's not sure his new career is any more impressive than the last. As the new guy in town, he'd be lonely as hell if it weren't for his dogs.

The one spot of brightness?

Scott Jersey, the adorably awkward single dad who brings his son to practice every week.

Hank's not interested in a new relationship so soon after the disaster of the last one, but when doggy play dates lead to real dates, will he be able to set aside his reservations to be someone's Christmas beau after all?"]

Hockey Hunk Hank and Sweet Single-Dad Scott. Gaaaah, these two were all of the adorable. So much awkwardness and stuttering and blushing and general cuteness (mostly, okay all, from Scott--but Hank was a goner for it, so it worked).

I loooooved how they had neighboring tables at the craft show. Hank selling homemade dog treats, Scott selling hand-sewn baby blankets. God, they're crafty dorks who belong together. I love it. 

It took Hank a bit to get over his past and accept his feelings for Scott (and some miscommunication thrown in there--and some meddling from family/the town--and literally no brain-to-mouth filter on Scott's part (but again, Hank thought it was endearing)), but they figured it out and made it work. 

#christmasbeau #amyaislin #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Under The Mistle-Foe (Christmas Falls: Season Two #5)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Rye Cox's "Under The Mistle-Foe."

["Under the mistletoe with my enemy? What else can we do but kiss?

A family emergency brings me back to Christmas Falls after running away from the loss of my mother six years ago. Not much has changed, and I don't know if that's a good thing or bad, especially when it seems my high school enemy hasn't gotten over his habit of circling around me.

Jett is everything I'm not, so full of confidence like he's never done a single thing wrong in his life. He vibrates life, and I have to admit his presence distracts me from being back in Christmas Falls. What I didn't expect is for him to take all my attention.

He'd gotten under my skin back then and he's only dug in deeper since, and I can't let anyone find out how much I love that fact. Now if only he'd stop stealing my heart with his crookedly perfect smiles..."]

We saw how these two ended up together (or at least finally let themselves accept their feelings--*cough* Remy *cough*) in a previous book, but that's what I love about multi-author series. We get all of the romance, all of the small-town magic, and all of the interconnected time-lines. Not to mention a double checked HEA. ;)

These two were adorable as hell, though. Jett was smitten and half-in-love from the very beginning (he just didn't quite know how to handle his feelings in high school..at all), just waiting for Remy to notice him. When Remy did notice him? Oh boy.

Remy took a while to figure out what he wanted in life, in love, in Christmas Falls, but when he finally figured it out? Heart-eyes and steam all around. And knowing looks from all of the town (and Jett's new kitties). 

#underthemistlefoe #ryecox #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

12 Dates of Christmas (Christmas Falls: Season Two #3)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Brigham Vaughn "12 Dates of Christmas."

["Leo Fenner needs a Christmas miracle …

Charmed by the small town, and weary the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love like his college friend, Hayden.

Nick Morgan had the love of his life and lost her, but is determined to help others find their happily ever after with his matchmaking service.

His website needs work though, and Leo is just the man for the job.

The web developer signs up for Nick’s matchmaking service to get a feel for what the process is like, all while secretly hoping it’ll bring him the love of his dreams.

But as Nick and Leo work together, the sparks between them are impossible to ignore.

Too bad there’s a few little problems.

For one, Nick’s never fallen for a man before. And, oh yeah—those dates he’s planning for Leo? They’re supposed to be with other guys …"]

Another Christmas Falls novel, another couple the town sees/understands before the couple does (or should I say before Nick does). I love the cliche of it all. 

And the cliche of a matchmaker falling for his client. It's perfect. Add in all of the Christmas charm, horrible dates with other people, past grief/trauma, and sooooo many gooey baked goods? Call Hallmark, this one is ready.

I loved this two. They were perfectly smitten with each other right from the start. Of course, their romance didn't go quite as smoothly or easily as their initial friendship. But that's what we have meddling friends and kitschy Christmas events for. ;)

#12datesofchristmas #brighamvaughn #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Flake It Til You Make It (Christmas Falls: Seasons Two #2)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's Beth Bolden's "Flake It Til You Make It."

["It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas . . .

When Rocco Moretti gets the chance to buy a coffee shop in a small Illinois town, it feels like a miracle. And in true Christmas Falls tradition, Jolly Java is a holiday-flavored one.

He sets up shop and starts experimenting with recipes. The only problem? His changes go over like a piece of coal on Christmas morning. Instead of serving up cups of holiday cheer, he's getting a solid "bah humbug" vibe from the town.

He needs another miracle, stat.

Enter Deputy Mayor Taylor Hall.

Taylor wants the mayor's job when she retires, but his holiday dream is melting because he doesn't have a family to win over the voters. The mayor told him even a boyfriend would help.

The only problem? Taylor doesn't have one.

But Rocco needs the town's acceptance, and what better way than dating the deputy mayor? Faking it till they make it will be a means to an end. That's all.

But sharing the holiday season wins over more than the town's hearts. With each date, each mistletoe kiss, and every steamy night in front of the fire, it wins over theirs as well.

Come Christmas morning, there's really only one miracle Rocco wants under his tree.

For the love they've been faking to become real."]

This one was a little angst-y, but the pure adorableness of it all made it better. These two were a little stupid to think that their already-their feelings wouldn't grow and grow while they "fake dated." But the fluff and the steam and the town's support were perfect.

And the constant use of their in-case-feelings-happen safe-word. Goodness flipping gracious. So many feelings, sooooo many uses of their safe word. ;) But it brought them together, and without it, who knows where they'd be.

Plus all of the cookies and meddling friends and all of the references to a series I haven't read yet (but reeeeeaaaaally want to right now).

#flakeittilyoumakeit #bethbolden #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Incubus's Assistant (Charmed Away Temp Agency #1)

My GOD. Amy Padilla utterly blew me away with her newest book. "The Incubus's Assistant" is the first novel in her latest series, Charmed Away Temp Agency. 

["When Avery showed up for his temp job on Monday morning, he’d had certain expectations in mind. He was not expecting to end up bent over his new boss’s desk. It was an innocent mistake, and he’s determined to move on, but the experience left him breathless and more than a little curious. So when his new boss is left without a feeder, he volunteers to help. After all, that’s what any good assistant would do. Right?

Ozen made foolish decisions when he was hungry. He is grateful that his new assistant is so forgiving. But when he finds himself starving after his new feeder throws a temper tantrum and refuses to show up, he has no choice but to ask his assistant for help. After all, he had yet to meet an assistant who was so professional. Surely they could get through a feeder contract without any issues. Right?"]

And the bonus tags (because they're arguable better than the blurb itself): ["happy accidents, virgin MMC, hungry incubus, Ozen is grumpy when he’s hungry, Avery is happy to be a snack, contracts should be taken seriously, petulant feeders will get their comeuppance, who knew you could order your perfect mate?, Avery is inexperienced, Ozen is a good teacher, mixing business with pleasure isn’t such a bad idea, CEOs make busy bosses, it’s just a crush, not, maybe contracts are meant to be broken, guaranteed HEA."]

This book was quick to the spice but slow burn to the romance (normally, not something I'm suuuuuper into, because it also guarantees high angst (which this had in spades), but I don't know, I was hooked here). 

These two were dynamic. They had sooooo much chemistry, and it was anything but professional pretty damn quickly. Everyone thought so...except Ozen (though, he was deeeeeeeep in denial for SO freaking long). They broke all of their rules.

Speaking of rules. I LOVE how Amy added numbered rules to the beginning of each Avery led chapter. It really added into the whole Employee Handbook shtick. It also helped foreshadow the upcoming chapter, because more often than not, that rule was about to be broken. 

"Rule 1: Never fall in love with your incubus." 

Trigger Warnings: species-ism, inter-office bullying, degradation (and not the fun, sexy, consensual kind), threats, and more. 

#theincubssassistant #charmedaway #charmedawayseries #charmedawaytempagency #charmedawaytempagencyseries #amypadilla #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season Two #1)

AHHHH! We're back to Christmas Falls for Seasons Two!! Here's DJ Jamison's "The Snuggle Is Real."

["I never saw this Christmas gift coming...

When my ex-wife lands in rehab, I get a surprise for the holidays. A 7-year-old girl who's got no place to go. I love my former stepdaughter like she's my own, but I have no idea how to give her everything she needs.

In a holiday-crazed town like Christmas Falls, it seems inevitable I'll let her down.

Unless I finally let go of my pride an accept help from the new director of the Holiday Hope Foundation. Mason West is eager to lend support however he can. And when I let him, he goes above and beyond.

For Charlie's sake. Not mine. Even if I maybe, kind of, wish that it was for me.

I've never been into men before, but Mason is so sweet, so giving, so...perfectly sized to snuggle in against my holiday sweater. Maybe if I can figure out what all this means, I can gain more than a daughter for the holidays.

Maybe I can keep the gift I’ve always wanted most—a family of my own."]

These two were adorable as fuck. And in total denial. Well, Ford was, Mason knew he had helplessly fallen in love. Ford was caught up in his past grief and current finances (and pride) to worry about himself or the constant thoughts of Mason and his freckles. 

The town saw their feelings and their potential as a couple, as a town such as Christmas Falls always does. And they did their best to push these two, gently, into each others arms. Because when you fall in love at Christmas Falls, its HEA. 

#thesnuggleisreal #djjamison #christmasfalls #christmasfallsseaontwo #christmasfallsseries #christmasfallsseasontwoseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Map Home (Collier's Creek Christmas)

Here's Elle Keaton's "The Map Home." It's a part of the multi-author series, Collier's Creek Christmas.

["Stolen toys and a naughty St. Nick. Will a holiday crime spree bring two hearts together?

Ask Dakota and he’ll say the wall around his heart is high and the moat deep for a reason. Love is a lie.

If Tad knows one single truth, it’s that Dakota is his personal North Star. Dakota, the boy Tad bonded with at fourteen, has grown into Dakota, the man he loves. The second, more frustrating truth, is that Dakota is one of the most stubborn people on the planet.

Dakota craves a simple existence. Work. Sleep. Eat. Hang out with his best friend. Keep things platonic. No one knows him better than Tad.

The holidays have arrived, and it’s supposed to be a time of celebration, but some blackhearted person steals the donations to the town toy box. Dakota finds himself working the case of the purloined toys, while Tad fills in at the town newspaper. It’s inevitable their paths will cross.

Tad is fine with crossing paths--and more. Is it going too far adding Dakota Green to the top of his Christmas wish list?

And what will it take for Dakota to realize that he deserves happiness? That Tad, the person who knows him best, is the one for him?"]

These two. My freaking goodness, these two. Both so hopelessly in love and so afraid to do anything about it. So afraid of what the other will think, of their friendship being ruined, of change itself. 

Luckily, something, someone, Christmas itself maybe, gave them both the push they needed to find home.

I loved them. And I loooooved how everyone in their lives knew automatically when they changed from friends to something more. The entire town celebrated. It was adorable as hell.

And now I have the OG series...

#themaphome #ellekeaton #collierscreekchristmasseries #collierscreek #collierscreekseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks