Books Tagged With what - holiday - christmas

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: For years, Mal has given Aidan a little piece of the world for special occasions in the form of unique rocks and fossils—until the year he gives Aidan a piece of the moon instead. Aidan has treasured every gift: in a world of impersonal relationships, they’re the one reminder he has that somebody out there cares about him for who he really is. Then through a twist of fate, their relationship goes beyond personal and into intimate, leaving Aidan shocked and set to run the other way. Despite his feelings for Mal, past experiences have convinced Aidan that he's a failure at relationships, and he's afraid to trust his heart. It just might take a Christmas miracle for Aidan to find the courage to love.

Word Count: Click here to reveal38352 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: A chance meeting they never forgot. Six years after meeting British soldier Aiden Foster during the Christmas Truce of 1914, Jochen Weber still finds himself thinking about Aiden, their shared conversation about literature, and Aiden’s beautiful singing voice. A visit to London gives Jochen the opportunity to search for Aiden, but he’s shocked at what he finds. The uniform button Jochen gave him is the only thing Aiden has left of the past he’s lost. The war and its aftermath ripped everything away from him, including his family and his music. When Jochen reappears in his life, Aiden enjoys their growing friendship but knows he has nothing to offer. Not anymore. Author’s note: This story was originally published in 2014 by another publisher. This edition has some added content, and uses UK spelling to reflect its setting.  

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Ivyrson is the quintessential Scrooge when it comes to anything having to do with the holidays. However, the chance to win a hefty chunk of money and free repairs on his old home is enough to entice the man to take part in a holiday-themed reality game. Emory has had a crush on his older brother’s best friend for years. When the chance to help Ivy possibly win a reality game comes along, Emory doesn’t hesitate. After all, that’s what friends are for. The two men have known each other forever, but living together and pretending to be a couple means getting to know each other on a whole new level. Can they convince the viewing audience their fake relationship deserves to win the grand prize? Or will Ivy and Emory get swept up in the holiday magic and find themselves falling in love for real? Once Upon a Christmas House is a steamy, forced-proximity, fake relationship, M/M Christmas romance between a grumpy Scrooge and his best friend’s cheery little brother.

Word Count: Click here to reveal29057 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: When Jules Evergreen lands in trouble at the North Pole and gets shipped off to Snow Hope Island for ninety days, he never expects to take up the cause of the forgotten toys waiting for new homes. Falling for his new boss is not on the agenda either, but his heart has other ideas. Felix Winterson has grown up on Snow Hope Island and now runs the place. He isn’t thrilled when party boy Jules arrives, and Felix tries hard to ignore the man’s charms. He has other problems, anyway. For years he’s tried to get Santa to look at the growing inventory of damaged toys in the warehouse, to no avail. When Jules comes up with a plan to save the toys, the men find themselves working closely together. As Christmas Eve looms, there’s a lot at stake. Can they save Snow Hope, convince Santa to rescue the toys, and fall in love all at the same time?

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: A divorce lawyer with a romantic spirit.  A cynical television executive who thinks commitment is for fools.  They can’t fight their attraction, or their affection. Can they find a way to reconcile their vastly different needs, or will each of them walk away from the best thing they’ve ever had? Jordan might be a divorce lawyer, but he’s a hopeless romantic.  He doesn’t see the two as incompatible, either.  He’s never had a relationship last long enough to be with someone on Valentine’s Day, but he’s still hopeful he’ll find the one out there somewhere. Sam is an executive vice president at a major television network.  He spends his days managing programming, much of it centered around romance, and he knows exactly how fake television romances are.  His own background of rejection only cements his views on the fleeting nature of affection. They meet by chance, when Sam’s sister and best friend file for divorce.  The divorce is messy, and Sam and Jordan are thrown together often enough to try to make a relationship work.  When the winter holidays roll around, the difference in their expectations comes to the fore.  Can Sam overcome his fear of commitment – and rejection?  Can Jordan get over his need to define their relationship?  Or will they both lose the one thing in their lives that made them happiest?

Word Count: Click here to reveal17500 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Genderfluid (Click here to hide)

Summary: Can an angel gown for a little boy let a single dad and a drag queen stitch together a new pattern for love? Hospice nurse Gabe Martin is bisexual but doesn’t have time for love—his main priority is raising Ian, his adopted five-year-old son. Ian loves wearing dresses at home and wants an angel gown for his kindergarten holiday pageant. When Gabe visits a sewing store to get help with Ian’s costume, he’s assisted by a bewitching employee named Loren who opens up Gabe’s focused world. Drag queen Loren Schuster likes playing with gender norms and wearing skirts and dresses in everyday life. A bad breakup killed his interest in serious relationships, but he reconsiders that stance when gorgeous single dad Gabe walks into the shop. Loren helps young Ian see it’s okay to be himself, and together, Loren and Gabe create a new pattern for a family full of love.

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Straight (Click here to hide)

Summary: All his working life, Kurt lived in a world of secrets. Those secrets killed his best friend, Nick. One secret, though, will tear his world apart – the one he’s keeping from himself. December, 1988: For Kurt Nash, CIA operative, a trip to Pemberton in Australia’s south-west to scatter Nick’s ashes should have been routine, except for the guilt plaguing him, and the trauma of the events that nearly killed him as well. When he encounters Lucy, Nick’s fiancée, returned to celebrate Christmas with her brother, Don, Kurt realises the time has come to tell Nick’s story. But Kurt will discover that opening up can be like lighting a fire in a forest. After all, when a forest fire burns, it is hard to predict what will catch and which direction it will turn. But as Kurt begins to find himself hidden under all the layers of secrets, will his growing friendship with Don and Lucy be enough to enable him to deal with those secrets? Will he be strong enough to come to terms with what he has been hiding from himself?

Word Count: Click here to reveal32000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: This is the story of two college professors who share an office and not much else – until the holiday season works its magic. Eric’s semester hasn’t been going all that well. Not only have renovations to the English Department’s physical space forced him to share an office with the department’s newest faculty member, Mike Kistler, his mother showed up at the beginning of the semester with all her worldly possessions and a U-Haul. It’s not that he doesn’t care for his mother, but she’s disruptive. She keeps wanting to honor traditions they never cared about when he was growing up, starting with the giant antique advent calendar she dragged over from her parents’ house in Hamburg. Eric has a solution, though. He might not have much interest in his mom’s traditions, but his irritating office mate does. He’ll bring Kistler over, and his mom will have someone who cares, and someone to speak German with, and Eric will be left alone to grade papers in peace. Mike is the rising star of the English Department. He’s worked damn hard to get from homeless teen to young PhD, he’s proud of his accomplishment, and he loves to give back. He likes his work. He could live without his office mate, who’s attractive but stuffier than an overfull burrito. He’s shocked when Eric invites him to help his mother celebrate Advent, but intrigued by the old traditions. And it’s been more than ten years since he’s had anything like a family to celebrate anything with, so he agrees. Moving from a cramped office to a family setting shifts things for Eric and Mike, and they start to see each other through different eyes. Can they find love, or will old family issues keep them apart forever?

Word Count: Click here to reveal45645 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Animal Control Officer Derek Williams is a wolf shifter and not one inclined to long-lasting relationships. Not only does he take animal abuse personally, he has a temper and isn’t afraid to show it. However, he changes his tune when the newest veterinarian starts working for the Animal Services Center. Recovering from an abusive relationship and hiding supernatural abilities of his own, Brian O’Donogue wants a fresh start and a new place to call home. Quickly dubbed the “animal shrink” by co-workers, Brian doesn’t know what to make of Derek at first. Then he manages to confront Derek during one of his rages, and they both see each other in a new light. Eventually they take a chance on their feelings and the ensuing relationship is better than either of them could have hoped—until a rogue wolf shifter attacks Brian. The abrupt attack forces Derek and Brian to confront their secrets and whether their relationship can weather the storm heading their way. The rogue shifter is out there, and he’s hunting them. BONUS STORY: Celtic Warrior and Wolf Spirit Derek and Brian are celebrating their first Christmas together, and Brian is determined to show Derek a Christmas like those he shared with his family back east. A wolf shifter, Derek has never celebrated a traditional Christmas before—his pack would usually shift on Yule and hunt down prey. But the unexpected appearance of Brian’s abusive ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve threatens not only Brian’s holiday plans but his future with Derek. Second Edition with updated and revised text.

Word Count: Click here to reveal30000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: When two small-town country dudes win the lottery, they finally find the courage to speak their truth. An unexpected adventure follows. Linwood "Woody" Robinson has a routine. He works for his baby brother in construction, buys three lottery tickets every week, and lusts after his best friend from high school. He's done the same thing for twenty years. Eddison "Eddie" Howard owns the only gas station in their small South Carolina town, sells lottery tickets, and lusts after his best friend from afar. They joke around but never speak their truth. He knows they're cowards but can't seem to find the courage to bridge the gulf between them. And then they win eighty million dollars. Life changes. They go from never talking about their feelings to facing the world together. Can anything pull them apart?

Word Count: Click here to reveal13203 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Young couple Ellis and Casey’s Christmas is set to be a lean one. Struggling financially, they’re only able to manage the most basic needs for their holiday celebration. They can’t afford luxuries like a turkey. Or decorations. Or presents. Between the recent death of Casey’s beloved momma, and Ellis’ estrangement from his family, all they have is each other. When Ellis finds the saddest looking Christmas tree south of the Mason-Dixon line thrown outside his workplace and brings it home to Casey, things look up. Because what more do you need to have a Merry Christmas than enthusiasm, ingenuity, and someone to love?  

Word Count: Click here to reveal34000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: "Rejoice, dammit!" — I could hear my husband Thom's voice as clearly as when he was alive, telling me that four years were enough. That this year, I needed to stop avoiding the joys of the season, and get my solitary, colorless life out of its rut. But it took seeing Colin standing in an ice storm, waiting for a bus that wasn't coming, to convince me to take a chance on opening my life, and maybe my heart, a second time around. 34.000 words

Word Count: Click here to reveal3600 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay, Pansexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: Daniel and Aron are both 17 and go to the same school in Canberra. There the similarities end. But when their families meet at the Yadboro campsite, the two young men are expected to hang out together. They still don’t have much in common, but their differences might be more interesting than either had anticipated…

Word Count: Click here to reveal52000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Denial helped Diego survive childhood trauma, but if he wants a future with Beck, he must embrace the heritage he left behind. Eager to escape the shadows of a tragic loss, Diego walks away from the heritage his abuela offers. Right or wrong, he gambles and fights for a new and uncomplicated life. With his best friend at his side, Diego doesn’t want to push the boundaries of their friendship. He’s lost enough and doesn’t want to lose Beck, too. When he finally admits he’s been in love with Beck for years, their relationship takes a happy turn. But peace is easily shattered, as he’s learned all too well, and this time it’s ruined by the arrival of a mysterious package and dangerous men hell bent on violence. Memories of a dead brother and an untouchable drug lord inevitably rise to the surface. Diego dreads the idea that the man he loves is mired in the world Diego tried to escape. But Beck’s secrets aren’t so simple, and neither is the world in which Diego has been living… Tags: deny-deny-deny-deny, Diego does a lot of that, sometimes posturing works and other times it doesn’t, the bat actually gets used, secret love of lacy things, Diego will do anything to protect his family, fire alarm in the bedroom, everybody has secrets, friends to lovers, hidden supernatural world, pining, a villain you want to personally topple, single POV, urban fantasy, no cliffhanger, HFN ending.

Word Count: Click here to reveal49,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Despised by his family for being a living reminder of his father’s infidelity, Rudy never expected that a blind date mix up would change his life. Meeting Clay, an engineer fresh out of the military, is the answer to Rudy’s dreams, becoming Rudy’s co-worker, protector and lover all rolled into one gorgeous package. But filled with hate, Donny, Rudy’s older half-brother, tries to destroy him and stop Rudy from saving his grandfather’s toy factory. Only Clay can save Rudy’s life and the toy factory, if he’s not too late.  

Word Count: Click here to reveal10828 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Petty Officer Third Class Timothy Burke knew that it was a matter of time before his family found out he was gay. Lord knew he’d been avoiding the discussion since he graduated from high school and joined the Navy to get away. He just didn’t expect to be disowned days before Christmas. Happy Holidays to him – Bah Humbug. Chief Petty Officer Patrick “Fuzzy” Nelson enjoyed being uncle to his sister’s kid – soon to be kids – he really wanted someone to love him like his brother in law adored his sister. Too bad Burke didn’t give him a second glance. He would grab him up in a heartbeat. Walking into the locker room and finding Burke a mess didn’t seem to be a Christmas present to Fuzzy at the time but it looked like he really was on Santa’s Nice List this year after all. Who else could Salvage Christmas except a Navy Salvage diver?

Word Count: Click here to reveal36,600 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: It isn’t easy to leave a family that hurts. But what if it’s the start of finding a love that heals? High-school senior Sandy's Catholic parents are furious to discover he's had sex before marriage. But when he blurts out he's bisexual, they go ballistic. To avoid conversion therapy, Sandy runs away from Rockford, Illinois to move in with his gay uncle in Portland and start a new life. He leaves behind Jade, the fabulous out gay kid in their Catholic high school. They hooked up—once—to confirm Sandy’s bisexuality. Jade had never expected to get that far with star athlete and altar boy Sandy. But he was crushed when Sandy disappeared without even telling him. A year later Jade and Sandy run into each other on the train going home to Rockford for Thanksgiving and form an alliance to help Sandy confront his parents. Will they keep building where they left off or will their spark turn to dust? If you like coming of age stories, queer kids finding the courage to be themselves, and the comfort of found families, you’ll love Sand-Man’s Family. 2^nd edition, revised.

Word Count: Click here to reveal76800 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Simon the Elf wants to tell you the true story behind Jolly Ole St. Nick. Yeah, he’s a vampire. But that alleged gift giver and lover of children hides more than that fact from you. And what about Mrs. Claus and Rudolph? Venture into a world of enslaved elves, enchanted animals, and death wrought by Santa himself. With his sharp wit, Simon will lead you into the darkest realms of Christmas in Santa is a Vampire by Simon the Elf, with Damian Serbu. Warning: Simon cusses a lot. But you would, too, if Santa held you captive.

Word Count: Click here to reveal11400 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Santa has big plans to release a story about himself right before Christmas, revealing his true nature as a vampire. He decides the best advanced publicity comes from reality stories and enlists Simon the Elf, a captive former human, to hit Chicago for the holidays and strike up a romance. Santa wants Simon to document the whole thing, so they can give people a taste for life under Santa’s enslavement before the main story hits. Forced to the Second City against his will, Simon at first resists Santa’s orders, knowing a romance would be short lived at best, and at worst bring some innocent victim into Santa’s evil orbit. But Simon failed to reckon with the charm and wit of Jonah, a hot guy he meets his first night on the town. Falling hard, Simon takes up with his new love despite knowing the awful choice ahead of him. Santa’s Kinky Elf, Simon tells you this tragic love story in the elf’s own words.

Word Count: Click here to reveal20,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay, Questioning (Click here to hide)

Summary: Playing Santa in the local department store should be an easy way to make a few extra bucks, shouldn’t it? That’s what Brock Daniels thought when he took the job at a local department store. Once he finds out a handsome ginger—his one weakness—will be playing Santa’s elf, easy becomes complicated, even if it’s an enjoyable snag. When Paul Martens discovers who’ll be playing Santa to his elf, déjà vu of an unforgettable night with a certain Dom that took place almost two years ago comes crashing down on him. The attraction between Brock and Paul grows to fevered levels while a runaway teen pulls at both men’s heartstrings. Will they find a way to put aside their ardent feelings and channel some holiday magic in order to grant everyone’s Christmas wish?