The Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar is a collection of 31 stories. The stories can either be purchased as a bundle, where a new story is released each day during the month of December, or can be purchased individually. This year’s holiday theme is Heartwarming. J9 will be reading and reviewing each of the 31 stories from the Advent Calendar and will post her reviews each week in the month of December. The following are reviews for the stories that were released this week.
Reviewed By: J9
The Healing Power of Eggnog by Jamie Fessenden: This story is about family and forgiveness as well as simple romance. Will left home four years ago and hasn’t returned until now. Will finds Ryan, a young man, now renting from Will’s parents and the unspoken tension between them all makes Christmas complicated. I liked the setting of rural Vermont as it’s where my mother lives so I know the author got it right. The stoic New England family of Will and his parents are perfectly written. Ryan and Will’s romance is simple and includes the sexual exuberance of two young men. I liked the theme of forgiveness almost more than the romance since it happened so quickly.
J9’s Rating:
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The Promise of Snow by Elizah J. Davis: Very short story of two neighborhood kids meeting again as adults. I did enjoy one lead’s matchmaking mother though the romance is superficial at best.
J9’s Rating:
Snow Globe by LE Franks: This is a lovey and unique story. Kris is a snow globe artist who meets Tyr, a man with lots of family obligations. Kris is a very unique character I really liked. I don’t want to spoil it but readers get to hear his inner thoughts spill out and I loved that. Tyr and his family are quirky and fit with Kris perfectly. I really liked this different story.
J9’s Rating:
Change of Fortune by A. Morell: Excellent conclusion to this year’s Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar. Tomoki is the lead singer of the world’s largest band but he is missing a special someone. Alex is a crabby mechanic and their worlds are so far apart. This is a fun ending to the Advent Calendar because it focuses on New Year and new beginnings. I loved the way the story is told, over a year’s time, as it allows growth and realistic progression of Alex and Tomoki’s relationship. I would have liked a bit more sexy times on page but the emotional intimacy made up for it.
J9’s Rating:
I’ve had such fun reading Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar! I had some very enjoyable reads and some I didn’t like so well. But I really loved the surprise of getting to start each story and that satisfied feeling of reading all 31. I had a very filling December snacking on my chocolate box of books!
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