Friday Reads | A Christmas Outing

December 23, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

My life is utter chaos – the food is on the stove, my sister has gone into labour, my little one fell down the stairs and does now have a black eye, my mum is on her way here, the vacuum cleaner is still in the kitchen, the rest of the kids are vibrating with expectations, my husband is shielding himself with his guitar, and one of the cats is walking all over the keyboard. But, I have read a story!

I picked a short story for this day since it’s the day before the day (here, I know most of you celebrate on the 25th but we don’t). A Christmas Outing by Jonathan Hill is a Christmas coming out story, not necessarily what I usually read, but this is brilliant.

I had a laugh reading about poor David and his insane family – there was a lot of recognition there LOL. David is planning on telling his parents he’s gay and that Jamie, his boyfriend, actually is his boyfriend and not just a friend from school, but his parents’ focus is everything else and making himself heard in the chaos isn’t easy. It’s sweet, and it’s funny, and David’s sister is insane. I also might have to steal the name Godfrey for some future story, it has a certain ring to it.

I know no one has any time to spare this weekend, but if you happen to find yourself with half an hour or so do check this one out, it’s well worth it.

books2read.com/AChristmasOuting *

It’s that time of year again, when Mum insists on dragging us to the Christmas markets. This year is a bit different, though, as my friend Jamie is coming too.

Mum is so stressed about enjoying the evening that she probably won’t enjoy it, Dad has conveniently developed a sudden fear of crowds to try to get out of it, and I’m waiting for the right moment to tell them both that Jamie is more than just a friend…

A feel-good comedy short story of around 10,000 words.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | Joys R Us

December 16, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

I’ve just finished reading Joys R Us by Kim Fielding. If you’re looking for a sweet Christmas read with a focus on the joy of the holiday instead of steamy scenes then this is a story for you!

I really enjoyed it. I loved the beginning of the story when Reece’s sister orders him to help her get a special, queuing-all-night kind of toy and he is arguing for a deposit to the nephew’s college fund instead. It could’ve been me. Not that my kids don’t get toys but I do like practical things.

Reece is standing in line all night, but then things get out of hand. He trampled to the ground and misses out on the toy. Angel, the toy store manager, is there to patch him up and then sparks fly. When I say sparks fly I don’t mean that they rip each other’s clothes off and get it on in the toy store. No, this really is a sweet story with smiles, the occasional touch, and a promise of something more in the future.

I’ve read quite a few of Kim Fielding’s stories and I always like them. If you haven’t read anything by her you should check her out.

books2read.com/JoysRUs *

Reece is a practical, orderly man, a financial analyst who considers most holiday events wasteful. But his sister coerces him into standing in line overnight for this year’s must-have toy. Supplies prove smaller than expected, and Reece gets trampled in the resulting stampede. Toy store manager Angel tends to Reece’s wounds. When Angel discovers Reece’s cynical attitude, he invites Reece to spend Christmas Eve with him. Over the course of the day, Angel shows Reece what Christmas means to him. With Angel’s guidance, maybe Reece can finally understand the joy of the holiday—and maybe even find love as well.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | The Elf and Cranberry Creampuff

December 9, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

For this Friday I’ve picked The Elf and Cranberry Creampuff by C.L. Etta. This really isn’t my kind of story, but it’s that time of year.

As both the title and the cover suggest, this is a lighthearted holiday romance. Edmund is an elf who has been banished from the North Pole for making inappropriate toys. Every December for the last fifty years he’s been helping out at different malls. The rest of the year he’s been trapped in a glass globe. Then, when the banishment is over, and it’s time for him to go back to the Nort Pole he meets Dexter. Sparks fly and wood is created.

This novelette is filled with holiday cheer and love. Me being me, I’d rather gone without the love declarations, but I think you romantics out the would object to that. Sometimes there was a little POV-confusion on my part, but I had a few laughs, and it did live up to my expectations so I won’t complain.

I haven’t read anything by C.L. Etta before, but after having snooped around a little I saw that she has two other books out and one to come at the very beginning of 2017. If you like pink glitter and spunk tasting of Christmas cookies, be sure to check this one out!

books2read.com/CanberryCreampuff *

Edmund is an esthetic over industrious elf banished from the North Pole. His punishment — 50 years spent serving the suburban mall Santas. During his final earthbound Christmas season he meets one of his living and breathing creations–Cranberry Creampuff, the doll that got him banished five decades earlier.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.