Reading… I haven’t read much at all. My mum passed away on the 16th, the days leading up to her passing, we spent in the hospital, and the days after… I haven’t been in the mood to either read or write.
But I have read a couple of stories this month. Both of them are stories I feel everyone but me has read, and I’ve owned them a long time, I’ve just never got around to reading them.
The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish
I’ve had this book for a few years now, the cover is pretty, but I never read it. Why didn’t you tell me they were bakers?! You know I have a thing for bakers, and you know I don’t read blurbs, a little nudge would’ve been nice. Just kidding, I take responsibility for my reading and lack of knowledge about what books I own 😆
This is beautiful, magical without being paranormal.
Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.
Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.
When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for.
https://books2read.com/TheRemakingOfCorbinWale
Mr. Frosty Pants by Leta Blake
Another one I’ve had for a few years but haven’t read. I was in the mood for some Christmas cosiness. This is not my normal kind of story. I’m not a fan of young adult and new adult. I have this… did you know that your brain doesn’t mature until you’re 25 years old? So below 25, they’re children, and I’m over forty. The icky-ness level is quite high for me. I also have this aversion to reading about virgins, but since I don’t read blurbs, I didn’t know it was a virgin story until it was too late 😆
This is a lovely story, and I really liked Joel. He won me over right from the start. I wanted to strangle Casey’s family and wished he’d just cut them off. Also, love the demi representation. If you haven’t read it and want some holiday feeling, give it a go.
Frosty former friends get a steamy second chance in this Christmas gay romance!
Can true love warm his frozen heart?
When Casey Stevens went away to college four years ago, he ghosted on his straight best friend, Joel Vreeland. He hoped time and distance would lessen the unrequited affection he felt, but all it did was make him miss Joel more. Home for the holidays, Casey hopes they might find a way to be friends again. But Joel’s frosty reception reminds Casey of just how hard he had to fight to be Joel’s friend in the first place. It’s going to take a Christmas miracle to get past that cool façade again.
Joel isn’t as straight as Casey believes, and his years of pining for Casey have left him hurting and alone, caring for his abusive father and struggling to get by. Unable to trust anyone except his rescue dog—and with no reason to believe Casey is interested in him for more than a holiday fling—Joel’s icy heart might shatter before it can thaw.
Can Casey and Joel’s love overcome mistrust, parental rejection, class differences, and four long years apart?
Mr. Frosty Pants is a stand-alone, Christmas gay romance by Leta Blake featuring a virgin hero, childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, and romantically steamy scenes.
https://books2read.com/MrFrostyPants
Just Like Santa by J.L. Merrow
I forgot I read this one too. It was a night in the hospital when it was ‘my shift’ and my siblings were sleeping. I wasn’t quite awake enough to read something longer and thought a hot flash might work. It did. I even chuckled a little. It’s short, and there isn’t a lot of time to get to know the characters – we’re talking a 4k story, people, don’t go in expecting a novel – but it’s cute.
Jason loves working at the Bright Eyes nursery, but he’s not so keen on what happens at the kids’ Christmas party. As if having to don an ancient, tacky Santa costume isn’t bad enough, he’s mortified when he suffers a costume malfunction. Especially as it happens right in front of the hot — and impeccably dressed — Alec, a single dad he’s fancied for ages.
But when Alec’s daughter Poppy invites Jason round for tea, he finds Alec was only too pleased to get a glimpse of Jason’s naff underwear. In fact, he’d like to see a whole lot more of it. A Christmas miracle? Maybe … but there’s one more embarrassment in store for Jason next morning.
Ofelia Grand 