December’s Reading Challenge to read a holiday themed novel turned out to be a resounding success for me!
My first selection is a very steamy read by Marie Harte, All I Want for Halloween. The love interests, Sadie Liberato and Gear Blackstone, meet during an early Halloween party and wowza! These two are meant to be together! Sadie is unapologetically uncensored in everything she says and does. I found it impossible not love someone who speaks her mind and goes after what she wants (most of the time). Gear is a rough around the edges, motorcycle mechanic who has been cast the bad guy in a very public parting of ways with his ex-fiancee and former friend and business partner. Like Sadie, he says what he thinks and he is refreshingly honest with Sadie about the future he envisions for them. A very sweet, yet sizzling hot romance that also has a few guest appearances by characters from some of Ms. Harte’s Body Shop Bad Boys and The Donnigans series.
In a bit of a contrast, my other selection, The Sparky by Marek Moran, is a low-key love story that is incredibly heartwarming. Aaron is surprised when his new neighbor Paul turns out to be a mature and responsible man with a young daughter. Although a friendship between computer geek Aaron and country boy electrician Paul seems unlikely, they wind up spending a lot of their evenings together. Aaron is comfortable with his sexuality but uncomfortable with his attraction to his straight new friend. Needless to say, he is shocked once their friendship turns into a very unlikely romance. But Christmas on Paul’s cattle station ends up being a defining moment in their fledgling romance. I really loved everything about this novel and I will definitely be reading more of Marek Moran’s books.
Now it’s your turn! Did you complete your challenge? Did you like the book you chose?
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Read about this month’s challenge HERE.
I also got two books in this month.
All Hallows’ Eve by Annabelle Jacobs
A tale of two love affairs: One from the past with a bad outcome and horrid repercussions; One current, between Dominic and Caleb that starts on dodgy ground, sorts out, wobbles a bit more and then gets resolved.
I personally didn’t find it spooky though we do get a gradual build up to halloween.
Dominic and Caleb move fast but they and Zach do accept something more is going on in the house – though it was never going to be resolved as easily as they thought and I do think there were a couple of unexplored areas left hanging. But did like it.
A Family for Christmas by Jay Northcote – I liked this but just not as much as others seemed by by reviews posted.
Fun, enjoyable, heart warming as Zac’s family starved heart is gradually filled by Rudy’s family christmas – which does sound good.
Rudy is shy and hesitant of his own actions. So a development for both characters. It just wasnt as oomphy as i was hoping from other reviews – it was lovely but not wow
I am sorry your picks weren’t as great as they could have been! Both of them do look interesting, though!
I’ve been reading Christmas books for the past few weeks. My favorite of rereads wass Blame it on the Mistletoe by Eli Easton. None of the books were new this year, though the Minnesota Christmas series by Heidi Cullinan was re-released this fall.
I really do need to read the Minnesota series; it’s in my TBR. And I will check out Blame It on the Mistletoe since I LOVEEli Easton!