It’s been ages since I did a #WhatToReadWednesday post, but I figured some of you might have some time off over the holidays and might be looking for something to read.
Every year, JMS Books releases an anthology with the 10 best-selling gay romance short stories of the year. The anthology will be out on the 27th, and you can preorder it at a discount over at JMS Books right this minute, but if you’re more of a pick-and-choose kind of person, these are the titles:
A Vampire Named Otto by Holly Day
Zephan Amon is a psychic on the run. He comes from a powerful family famous for their wealth, but he cut ties with them over a decade ago. He’s not nearly as powerful as they are, and they want him to either hide his existence or change his name, so he doesn’t sully their reputation.
Zephan refuses, and he’s been perfectly happy living as a human far away from his family, but a series of events have left him jobless and homeless. He’s about to work up the courage to ask his sister for help when he’s kidnapped by werewolves.
A stroke of luck allows him to escape, but he runs straight into a vampire’s garden. The vampire is far more concerned about Zephan trampling on his lawn than he is about kidnappings and werewolves. He demands Zephan pay a toll of blood for the state of his poor, abused grass. A few swallows of blood can’t be worse than being recaptured by werewolves, can it?
Cakes and Ale by Jordan Demaine
Andrew Fletcher has a quiet life, living in the sleepy English seaside town where he was born and managing a theatre open only during the busy summer tourist season. He makes an unexpected friend in one of the actors, Oliver James, who comes down from London to play Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac. Over time, their friendship turns into something more, but a burgeoning relationship is complicated by the fact Oliver has a partner in London.
When the COVID pandemic hits and the theatre is forced to close, seemingly for good, Andrew moves on from his job and from his crush. Will an unexpected encounter with Oliver several years later let them pick up where they left off? Or has too much time passed for there ever to be anything between them?
Krampus Night by P.E. Graham
Krampus has been striking fear in the hearts of children for centuries, rewarding the good ones and punishing the naughty ones, all the while suppressing his submissive nature. Now times have changed, and his existence is nothing but an empty spectacle. He wants more. He wants to be a good boy. He wants everything a dominant like Tom can give him.
Tom is a lonely dominant searching for his perfect sub, and while he met many lovely submissives at the local clubs, he hasn’t found The One. But he hasn’t given up hope, and he dons his Krampus costume for the December 5th Perchten-themed night determined to have a good time. He’s taken by surprise by a tall, muscled man whose costume looks a little too authentic, sitting alone at the bar, declining requests from beautiful subs who just want to be spanked. If he isn’t interested in doing the spanking, what is he there for? Tom is determined to find out.
Love, Step by Step by Pat Henshaw
Peter Lamont and Mark Trainor met as freshman in college. They separated to go to different law schools, but promised if, when they turned thirty, they weren’t attached or married, they would get back together again. Over the years, they met up time and again, keeping their friendship alive and well.
Recently, Peter turned thirty. Now for Mark’s thirtieth, Peter has planned a progressive dinner at the restaurants on the refurbished pier. Will the lovely sunset, twinkling lights, and excellent food set the scene for their reunion? Or will one of them decide to renege on the promise?
Sleigh Bells Ring by Shawn Lane
Five years ago, Ignatius “Nate” Harrington left his unfulfilling life in California for the position of police chief in the small New England town of Storybrooke. Now at Christmas, his brother and friend are coming for a visit. Nate is pretty sure his brother just wants to convince him to come home. But Nate has a new life there and even a new guy he’s seeing. One he’s reluctant to label as his boyfriend just yet, Storybrooke native, Jackson Wedge.
Nate’s blindsided when his brother’s best friend, Danny, one of Nate’s ex-lovers who broke his heart before, has come along for the visit because he thinks Nate’s the one who got away. Nate’s mortified when Jackson witnesses him kissing Danny just before a tragic accident. Now Jackson’s in the hospital, Danny’s leaving, and the holidays are ruined. Except Nate finally knows just where he belongs and with which guy. Can he set things right in time for sleigh bells to ring in the season?
Hexes of Bronze by K.L. Noone
Swordsman Aric and his half-fairy partner Emrys need to lie low for a while. They’ve been attracting attention, and not just from very human kings and merchants — Em’s powerful fairy-lord father is looking for his lost heir. So Aric and Em have taken some time off from heroic adventures to visit Aric’s brother Berd, an architect who’s helping build the brand-new king’s city of Ambrosium.
But the construction seems cursed. Collapsing walls, accidents, spoiled provisions — there’s dark magic at work. And Aric and Emrys find themselves drawn into a tangle of family, politics, and hidden ancient hexes.
Believe in Christmas Magic by Pelaam
As a child, Richard believed in the magic of Christmas. Now, as a jaded adult desperate for work, he’s acting as a store elf. The weight of life is proving too much for him to bear, and in an act of desperation, he sends a letter to Santa, briefly reviving the belief he once held.
However, Santa is real, and twin elves Ellis and Emery manage to capture the letter, showing it to their mate Bear, a polar shifter. Reading between the lines of the letter, Bear sets out with the twins and reindeer shifter Rudolph to save Richard.
Can they reach him in time and teach him to believe in the magic of Christmas once more?
Secrets of Love and Time by Mere Rain
The detective’s faithful assistant has been keeping a secret from him. No, not what you’re thinking. All right, make that two secrets.
Love between men is a serious crime in Victorian England, but that’s not why Micah Sheer is concealing his feelings for private detective Leander Maine. Sheer has a supernatural secret, that would endanger not only the two of them but thousands of other lives. Maine has devoted his life to uncovering truths — and Sheer has spent years leading him away from them.
Leander Maine is a keen observer, and he can’t help deducing that his assistant is hiding something from him. Compelled to discover his friend’s secret, he begins following Sheer, and soon the certainties of the reality he has always known begin to crumble beneath his feet. But Sheer’s motivation is still hidden from him, and Maine cannot imagine what could justify his deception. What truth could be important enough to risk their friendship? And what price will they both pay if the truth is uncovered?
Dressing for the Occasion by Ellie Thomas
After two years of a loving relationship with Barney Marshall in Regency London, Ross Webster has gradually transformed into Rose on a permanent basis.
Rose has planned her transformation carefully, with the help of her redoubtable landlady Grace, and is now able to live an independent life free from male trappings.
But there are still challenges to face before Rose and Barney can reach their happy ever after. Their dream is to live as man and wife, but Rose dreads reconciling Barney’s wealthy parents to the idea of their betrothal.
Can the young lovers overcome this final barrier to their lifelong happiness?
How to Feed a Vampire in Space by Alexander Verlangen
Theo needs to keep everyone alive. Earth has been destroyed, and only a handful of survivors are left. Theo and his crew of the most brilliant survivors must find a habitable planet.
The only problem is one of them, Ryder, is a gorgeous vampire who has to find a way to eat in space. Ryder is determined to find a volunteer to allow him to drink from, and he has his eyes set on Theo.
Can Theo keep everyone alive and keep the human race going?
Ofelia Grand 