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Showing posts with label #lgbtq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #lgbtq. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2026

 

*4

Adler has written another winning romance (actually two romances) using a dual timeline featuring a relationship in 1908 between a female ornithologist who fights hard to be taken seriously in a field where women aren’t welcome and a newspaper publisher and wildlife illustrator who helps her discover a rare goose. Cal’s and Annie’s romance picks up over 100 years later when his ex finds the goose in the attic of her new home and asks for his help in discovering its provenance. The lighthearted mystery is the wild goose chase they find themselves in, and the solution is a hoot (or should I say honk).

One of the highlights of the story are the funny and rather poetic analogies Cal uses to compare love to furniture. Annie is quirky and believes in repurposing antiques in disrepair for use by her modern clientele whereas Cal believes that antiques should be restored to their former glory. Their relationship is a combination of the two viewpoints and reflects their personalities.

Readers can always depend on Adler’s romances to have a unique premise (the opposite of formulaic). In Wild Goose Chase, she’s written yet another witty, engaging story that stands out in a field of contemporaries. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

 The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

4*

Although there’s quite a bit of humor (especially with Dude, the Great Dane), this frenemies to lovers romance delves into some deeper themes: facing the fear of abandonment after experiencing it with both parents and ex-lovers, being honest with a near stranger who quickly becomes so much more, dealing with grief over the death of grandparents and the inability to conceive a child, and being surprised by a timeless love story that they never saw coming.

McKinlay does a wonderful job depicting the Outer Banks and painting the scenes in and around the dilapidated cottage that Hannah and Simon inherit together. I love how the romance between them organically unfolds as they open up to each other while sifting through the mementoes from their grandfathers’ lives. In the process of clearing out the house, Simon comes to realize that he no longer has to sacrifice the passion he has for his art after spending years in a boring insurance job he took to support his siblings, and Hannah, who has been living and sharing her van life on social media, finds that she no longer wants the solitude and loneliness that come with it, especially when she can spend her days with Simon and the unique set of neighbors who quickly become friends.

If you’re looking for a delightful summer read, check out The Summer Share. Recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles

 How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles

5*

This is the first book by KJ Charles that I’ve read, but I now look forward to reading more.

I loved both the leads for different reasons. Titus is honest, people-pleasing, and in definite need of a break after his landlord/ex-lover raises his rent beyond what he can pay. In desperation, he agrees to a wild scheme put forth by one of his best customers. In juxtaposition, Nico is charming, also desperate but for different reasons, and a surprisingly sincere French aristocrat who befriends Titus in the hopes that he’ll help him stave off a vicious loan shark. What starts as a friendship becomes so much more as each of them learns from the other: Titus, to not put everyone else’s needs before his own to his detriment and Nico, that there are good people in the world willing to overlook some morally questionable motivations that don’t truly reflect the good person he is. It’s no wonder that romantic feelings start to grow.

I read this in one sitting and found quite a bit of humor juxtaposed against some true villains and the absurdity of primogeniture. The chemistry between Titus and Nico was slow-burning but heartwarming. In a time when homosexuality was illegal, it’s so refreshing to read a romance in which. despite having to keep it hidden from society, the leads welcome the opportunity to turn their backs on the haute ton with their judgment and compulsive need to find rich husbands for their daughters. A delightful read!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Bramble/Tor through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.



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Monday, March 9, 2026

The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa

4*

This is such a cute premise that Sosa has served to us with a liberal dash of the Puerto Rican diaspora Vanessa and Jason are part of. With the culturally diverse NYC as the backdrop, these gorgeous kids navigate the beginnings of a friendship based on a lie. Vanessa is carrying a heavy secret, one that has kept her away from her loving family for years. As a way to make amends, she agrees to revive her college side gig, the starter ex, for her sister who has crushed on Jason, her best friend’s older brother, for years. When he and Vanessa start catching feelings, however, things are bound to get messy.

Sosa does a wonderful job creating a cast of characters who help drive the narrative, from Jason’s acerbic lesbian sister Denise to both of their bilingual, food-loving parents. Although both main characters carry some baggage, they also handle conflict with compassion and eventual maturity. If you’re looking for a steamy but sweet urban romance, you’ll love this book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

No Matter What by Cara Bastone

5*

I read Bastone’s last 2 books and gave them both 5*. As I read this one and kept putting it down, I struggled to figure out what was so off-putting about this story that I couldn;t become fully-immersed. Then I realized it's because my least favorite romance trope is miscommunication, and No Matter What drowns in it. It’s a huge plot point, and I’m just not comfortable with men who can’t seem to get their thoughts out of their mouths.

If I take the failure to communicate out of the equation, I can appreciate that Bastone beautifully describes the work a solid marriage takes to survive and that a life-changing accident and its aftermath can truly test the strength of love. The pressure of surviving, taking care of a brother whose injuries are complex and slow to heal, and navigating a new normal all put a strain on Roz and Vin’s relationship. It took me awhile, but I finally figured out how her pursuit of art was her way of healing and he had his own way.

This would be an easy 5* read for someone who has no problem with poor communication, but I just couldn’t get past it enough to enjoy the story without that limitation.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Dial Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

 

4*

I’ve now met the Newmans, and I’m richer for it. Set in 1964 (with flashbacks to earlier years), it tells the story of a “real” family who have played themselves on television for over 10 years (the earliest scripted reality TV). In addition to learning more about father Del, mother Dinah, and sons Guy and Shep, it also focuses on a changing society, especially as it concerns women’s rights. When Del is in an accident and put in an induced coma, Dinah is forced to deal with the fallout. Their “out-of-touch” show is nearing the end of its long run, but Del (writer, producer, director, and star) isn’t awake to write the finale. So, despite pressure from the studio execs and their agent, Dinah, along with young LA Times journalist Juliet (who is facing chauvinism and misogyny in her workplace), decides to take on the task herself. In the weeks leading up to the live finale, Dinah struggles with keeping Del’s condition a secret, realizes that she has subjugated who she is in deference to Del and the other men in her life, and begins to open her eyes to the fledgling fight for women’s rights at a very volatile time in U.S. history.

Although the Newman family is loosely based on the real Nelson TV family, Niven gives us a solid look into the impact being in the public eye has on not just Dinah  and Del but also their sons who had to grow up in front of the cameras. Guy is the “good” son who follows the rules and remains clean-cut and scandal-free (although he has a huge secret he’s keeping) and Shep is the “bad boy” musician who constantly pushes the boundaries and rebels against the constraints put on him by his parents’ choices.

This is very much a slow burn narrative, but Niven gives her readers plenty of juicy tidbits to keep the book flowing. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will love this story which has some similar themes as Daisy Jones and the Six. Recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Flatiron Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Honey Bee Mine by Sarah T. Dubb

 


5*

In a very worthy follow-up to her debut novel, Birding with Benefits, Dubb takes her readers from birdwatching to beekeeping with the same heart, humor, and steam that gained her fans in the first place. In Honey Bee Mine, she introduces us to Penny and Zander, two thirty-somethings who knew each other peripherally as teens but are now actually connecting as adults who are carrying loads of baggage from absent parents. This small town romance includes the requisite festival (the Honey Festival) and a quirky cast of secondary characters including Zander’s ex- wife Mallory, best friend Quinn (a trans woman), Penny’s best friend RJ (an asexual man), her mother and grandmother, Zander’s son Winter, and the painful memories he has of his late grandfather whose bequest of a house brought Zander back to Sullivan’s Glen after nearly two decades.


Dubb avoids the third act break-up thanks to the maturity, vulnerability and honesty between Penny and Zander. Told in third person, the story is laden with eloquent prose and thoughtful, careful dialogue. Fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, Kate Clayborn, and Christina Lauren will love this compelling, endearing romance. Highly recommended.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky

 



4*

Since Mannequin is one of my favorite movies, I was eager to read Janovsky’s gay version of the awkward window dresser whose wish for the perfect man comes true. Janovsky’s story does not disappoint. Henry is lonely, disillusioned from past relationships gone bad, suffering from social anxiety, and desperately trying to save his Great Aunt Isla’s vintage store. Aidan, with his charm, naïveté, and sense of wonder, is the perfect foil for Henry. Set in a small New Jersey beach town at Christmas, it has all the earmarks of a Hallmark movie (a theme that runs throughout the book) with a little bit of spice. It’s low angst, full of humor, and a perfect gift for readers to give themselves during the holidays. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Saturday, May 31, 2025

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

  


5*

What an amazing, fantastical, beautiful story! When the Tides Held the Moon is a multi-genre masterpiece. It’s a gay romance, a historical fiction novel set in 1911 NYC, focusing on Coney Island, a fantasy featuring a merman dubbed Rio, and a window into our country’s abysmal history of xenophobia, racism, classism, eugenics, and organized crime. I chose this book to fulfill a reading challenge prompt of an illustrated book, and the ink drawings scattered throughout are gorgeous renderings of the cast of characters (members of a freak show) who populate the book. This oddball assortment of carnival sideshow attractions (or the dehumanizing term “exhibits” coined by their unscrupulous boss Sam Morgan) welcomes fellow misfit Benny Caldera into their chosen family after he helps capture the merman who will live in the elaborate tank he created. Benny has spent his entire life being rejected for who he is: an asthmatic, brown-skinned, Puerto Rican gay man whose self-esteem has plummeted as a result of loss and unwarranted hatred. It isn’t until he befriends and is championed by Rio that he finds the strength to stand up for himself and defend the people who he has grown close to. When tragedy strikes, will he be able to save those he’s come to love and save himself as well?

If you like gay romance, romantasy, and a glimpse into the spectacular, yet also sordid and corrupt underbelly of early 20th-century NYC, you’ll love this phenomenal, magical novel. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Erewhon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Tags: #romance, #romantasy, #HistoricalFiction, #fantasy, #dualpov, NYC, #NY, #ConeyIsland, #Freakshows, #immigration, #mermen/maids, #xenophobia, #racism, #eugenics, #LGBTQ, #GayRomance, #MMRomance, #cleanRomance, #Slowburn, #ChosenFamily

Thursday, May 8, 2025

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

 

3*

I usually read a book a day, but this one took me 3-4 because I just couldn’t engage. It’s well-written and a love story to Amsterdam, but I was just bored. My biggest problem was the female main character, Dani. She was very premature at birth, so her parents were overprotective and never stopped. At 30 and just cheated on and fired, she impulsively decides to take a new job and move to Europe. In her first week there, she literally runs into her first love, Wouter, who was a foreign exchange student her family hosted 13 years before and who cruelly dumped her after returning home. It’s a second chance romance and a marriage of convenience, with forced proximity and a large heaping of baggage that just never really grabbed my attention because Dani was just such a spineless, infantilized sad sack. I’m sure that most readers will really enjoy this book; it just wasn’t for me.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler

 


4*

Sarah Adler’s debut is such a delight. It’s not just a road trip romance between grumpy, handsome writer Hollis and sunshiny former child star Millicent, but also the queer romance (flashing back to 1944) between Millie’s late neighbor Rose Nash and the Army nurse, Elsie, she fell in love with only to lose her, first to Elsie’s urging her to marry the boy back home, and then to Elsie’s supposed death in the Korean War. Millie is on a mission to bring Mrs. Nash’s ashes to Elsie before it’s too late. It’s her way to reunite them in the best way she knows how and prove that love can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, cancelled flights are only the first of many mishaps that she and her nasty ex’s frenemy encounter when they run into each other at the airport and then choose to drive from DC to Florida together.

Along the way, downright rude Hollis shows glimpses of the softie underneath as he responds to Millie’s unique brand of weirdness, charm, and optimism. They both have their share of baggage, but it doesn’t bog the story down thanks to a heaping serving of witty banter and ridiculously silly encounters with everything from suicidal deer to dozens of paint-by-number Jesus’s. If you’re looking for a feel good, steamy romance, I highly recommend checking this one out.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Once Upon You and Me by Timothy Janovsky


4*

Very sweet, steamy age gap romance set in a fairytale resort in the NY Catskills. I love a story where the main characters open up to each other and build a relationship based on mutual respect and care. Taylor and Ethan are absolutely adorable together. Generally, I’m not a fan of love at first sight, but Janovsky managed to make me forget that their time of forced proximity together was so short. Between story hours gone wrong, archery lessons with sizzling chemistry, and working together to put on a fabulous sweet 16 party for Ethan’s daughter Samara, their connection is obvious to almost everyone around them. Unfortunately, Ethan’s rather shrewish, emotionally distant ex-wife Amy Lu is Taylor’s boss, so they don’t see a future together.

Ethan has ADHD which his ex misunderstood and criticized, whereas Taylor, with his closest sibling also being neurodivergent, is fully accepting and supportive. He also has a wonderful relationship with Samara which is a comfort to Ethan since he doesn’t see her often being 3000 miles away. Although, on the surface, it seems like a case of opposites attract, it’s really the emotional connection between them that makes them so perfect for each other. If you like MM romance that’s relatively low on angst, pretty steamy, and heartwarming, I highly recommend this delightful book.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Afterglow Books/Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.



Sunday, April 6, 2025

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord

 

4*

I’ve enjoyed Emma Lord’s young adult romances, so I was excited to read her first adult novel. I’m happy to report that it’s just as swoonworthy, sweet and emotionally complex but with an added element of spice. In The Break-Up Pact, she strikes the perfect balance between a second chance at love between soulmates and the profound effect grief has on the family and friends of the lost loved one. Although it’s written from the FMC June’s viewpoint, readers get a very good sense of MMC Levi’s thoughts and feelings, not just through the dialogue but also Lord’s thorough descriptions of facial expressions and physical movements, whether it’s dancing together, competitive foot races, the emotional reaction to hand-holding, or the variety of kisses they share.

As a tea and beach enthusiast, I really love that one of the primary settings is June’s small-town tea and scone cafe. It’s almost a character in itself, especially as it relates to June’s grief over losing her sister and her struggle to keep it open while trying to honor her sister’s legacy. I also enjoyed reading about Levi’s fledging writing career. One main thread that runs throughout is toxic exes and how the awful combination of gaslighting, social media, and internet trolls can take its toll on its victims. It’s not heavy but is a timely way to set up their love story. Share this with fans of Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, and Christina Lauren. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

 


5*
(Publication date: 4/1/25)

Jimenez has done it again, written a romance that renews our belief in the goodness of humanity in spite of toxic parents, misogynistic exes, and more. The love story between soulmates Samantha and Xavier is one of the most beautiful she’s ever written. When you know, you know, and both of them fell fast and hard, even with Sam moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles the morning after the first best date of their lives. Long distance relationships are hard enough for couples who have a history, but what do you do when you’re just getting started and it’s too good to give up?

There is so much I enjoyed and appreciated about this book. The depiction of Sam’s mother’s early-onset dementia is sensitive and compassionate, portraying how a caring family is willing to make huge sacrifices to fulfill their loved one’s wishes and treat her with dignity. Xavier’s hard-earned success as a veterinarian, in spite of his abusive, narcissistic parents, is a testament to his strength of character and inherent goodness as is his need to take care of the people he loves and the animals he’s sworn to protect and heal to the best of his ability. Samantha’s wit, as evidenced by her sassy and snarky social media posts for the mustard company she works for, and her dedication to her family draw grumpy Xavier out of his shell, making him happier than he’s ever been, especially when her family falls for him, too. There are some LOL moments, especially the dead mouse and swallowing the earbud, that bring levity to some pretty heavy subject matter. Finally, the relationship Sam has with her siblings and parents is a clear example of how, despite their different personalities and irritation towards each other, they can work as a team to take care of their mother.

Fans of ACOTAR will appreciate how Xavier resembles Rhysand (had to look it up since I’m not a romantasy fan, but wowza!) and anyone who craves delicious, slightly steamy romances without the miscommunication and third act breakups that are far too prevalent in the genre will want to read this gorgeous love story. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Friday, January 31, 2025

The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid

 

4* (release date: 3/4/25)

Rachel Reid writes beautiful, heartwarming hockey romances that get me every time. That this one is a second chance romance between former best friends and teammates makes it even more special. Professional male athletes, especially hockey players, are “liars” as Adam says. They lie about their pain, their mental illness and addictions, and, sometimes, their sexuality as well. Reid gently explores the pressure to “man up” in this story, with Adam denying his love for and attraction to Riley for over two decades. In the process, he hurt Riley deeply and himself as well. It isn’t until two years into retirement that he reconnects with Riley at his father’s funeral, and it’s anything but smooth sailing.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way these two navigate their second chance, with honesty, humility, forgiveness, and a good deal of steaminess. The choice of a dual point of view really helps to round out the relationship. I highly recommend this beautiful soulmates’ love story.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Carina Adores through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Thursday, January 16, 2025

Unromance by Erin Connor

 

4*

Author Erin Connor has given us a delightful romance where life imitates art…or vice versa. Each chapter begins with the name and description of a romantic trope or element, such as “Meet-Cute,” “Just Once, To Get It Out of Our Systems,” “Miscommunication,” and “The Grand Gesture,” which then plays out on the page. Sawyer is a romance writer with a severe creative block and Mason is an actor who is also a hopeful romantic who falls in love too fast, only to see it fall apart after the wrap party. In a bit of serendipity (which is actually one movie that ISN'T mentioned in this story that borrows from several classic romances), they meet up and agree to help each other. He’ll provide inspiration to help her get over her writer’s block and she’ll “unromance” his notions about love by having a series of stereotypical dates gone wrong. However, in the best romantic traditions, those pesky feelings get in the way.

Although I’m not a fan of third person narration or third act break-ups, I still thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. Mason is the perfect cinnamon roll boyfriend (in a gorgeous package), Sawyer writes my favorite genre, and there’s loads of laughter, friendship, and steamy scenes. The secondary characters aren’t very fleshed out, but there’s so much to enjoy in the central romance that there’s really no need for a supporting cast. I look forward to reading Connor’s future books. Recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Monday, January 13, 2025

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

 

4.5*


This is a really solid, character-driven story, reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, except that the many people who influenced Annie/Cass/Cate’s life tell their own story for a multi-narrated “memoir” rather than being interviewed. In this case, Cate is an author who uses her writing to make amends, process her feelings about the women she’s loved, and finally realize what will ultimately fill the black hole that is her life. In the process, the story serves as an exposé of Hollywood and how both writers’ and actors’ managers hold immense control over the celebrities they handle, sometimes using it for good, but often for self-serving reasons. Cate is a sympathetic character who made a desperately bad decision, but created something memorable from her catharsis. The secondary characters are fully-realized, perhaps because we get to see them from more than one perspective.

My only slight criticism is that the ending seemed abrupt, but that’s more because I like stories tied up in pretty little bows and that’s not how life works. Although there is a sapphic romance element, it’s not the book’s primary focus which is ultimately about ambition, guilt, loneliness, love in various iterations, the power and pitfalls of celebrity, hiding in plain sight, forgiveness, and redemption. A solid work of women’s fiction I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Saturday, December 28, 2024

This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed

5*

This is a timely and extremely uncomfortable book to read, and that’s what makes it so powerful. In a time when Fascism seems to be winning in our country and book banning is sharply on the rise, it’s so important for our teens to have a story like this that lays bare the extremism, racism, anti-LGBTQ language and violence perpetuated by the white supremacists who have been empowered by our country’s leaders. It speaks to how protest can begin with just one voice, one brave person committed to freedom and fairness by speaking out against the ugliness that has been exposed.

As a librarian, it hurts my heart to read a fictionalized account of what challenges our young citizens are being exposed to under the guise of “protecting our children.” Noor Khan is a role model for standing up for what is right, even if it puts her and her loved ones in harm’s way. If I were still working at the high school level, I’d not only buy multiples of this book, but would also work with students and colleagues to host an event to discuss the topic and actions students can take to fight against these bans. Highly recommended.


 

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay

 

3*

This dual romance has vibes similar to the movie, The Holiday, but is about two best friends, not strangers, who swap holiday destinations. Holly, whose fiancé dumps her the night before their wedding, goes to an eco-cabin in upstate NY where Ivy was going to take her annual two-week art retreat while Ivy goes to Holly’s honeymoon resort in Hawaii only to find that the a’hole ex-fiancé is there with his new girlfriend. The hot bartender, Oliver, who resembles Ryan Gosling, finds her a place to stay and there’s an instant attraction. Meanwhile, Holly, who still hasn’t cried after the breakup of her 10-year relationship, meets the cabin’s owner, Aiden, who is, serendipitously, her former high school friendly rival who’s had a major glow-up, now resembling Henry Cavill.

The chapters alternate between Holly and Ivy (this nod to the holiday is mentioned more than once), and describe not only the different ways Christmas is celebrated in a small Hudson Valley town and on a breathtakingly beautiful Hawaiian island, but also how each female lead finds instalove when neither is looking for it. Although there are some mildly steamy scenes, there’s not really much obvious chemistry. It definitely has a Hallmark movie feel to it. In fact, the focus is just as much on the loving friendship between Holly and Ivy than the two romances. If you’re looking for a feel-good, low angst Christmas story, this is a good one to check out.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Monday, October 14, 2024

We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey

 

5*

Last year, I read a beautiful Christmas romance called Five Gold Rings and wondered if Bailey’s newest book, We Three Kings, could ever begin to rival it. I’m happy to say it does. It’s also set in London, which I still maintain is the most beautiful city in which to celebrate the holiday. It’s also a workplace romance but features Maggie and her three male employees in the IT department of a London firm who have become friends in their four years together. So, it’s no surprise how torn she is when she’s told, at the start of Christmas break, that she’ll have to lay off (make redundant) one of these lovely men who are like family. The painful decision is complicated by the plans these three proposed when they learned she’d be spending Christmas alone, and she doesn’t have the heart to ruin them by revealing the sad news. Her new and budding feelings for Leo also compound her decision with the worry about crossing ethical lines as boss and employee. From attending awkward (probably autistic) Frank’s sister’s wedding as a fake girlfriend and then joining eccentric Jasper’s posh but dysfunctional family for a Christmas party and foiling a fox hunt (cue the adorable baby foxes) to visiting Leo’s warm and welcoming family for a raucous Christmas Eve and Day and participating in an annual donkey abduction, Maggie comes to love this trio of wonderful, quirky men as she learns more about their lives and the influences that have formed them into the true “kings” of men they are.

If you’re looking for a truly heartwarming and humorous Christmas story that is full of kindness, love, laughter, loyalty, fade-to-black romance, and a high degree of silliness, I highly encourage you to check this one out. I guarantee you will be absolutely charmed.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.