ju_51's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
myzanm's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite reads so far this season...
I loved that the angst was kept to a minimum even if it was present. It was a real feel good story.
I loved the characters. Not just Rudy and Zac, but all of Rudy’s family and even the few coworkers we got a glimpse of. It got me wondering if they are featured in any other books... I might have to investigate because I want more!
I loved that the angst was kept to a minimum even if it was present. It was a real feel good story.
I loved the characters. Not just Rudy and Zac, but all of Rudy’s family and even the few coworkers we got a glimpse of. It got me wondering if they are featured in any other books... I might have to investigate because I want more!
scrow1022's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet holiday story, pulled at my heart more than expected.
papercranestitches's review
4.0
*** 4.25 Stars ***
Yup, this is the sweet, fluffy Christmas crack that I was hoping for when I pick up a Northcote book. He delivers adorable MCs, a little raw emotion and awkwardness, and a dash of smex like no one else.
Yup, this is the sweet, fluffy Christmas crack that I was hoping for when I pick up a Northcote book. He delivers adorable MCs, a little raw emotion and awkwardness, and a dash of smex like no one else.
ruthie's review
4.0
first of all, look at the cover for this book. now look at the cover for [b:Leo Loves Aries|32053864|Leo Loves Aries (Signs of Love, #1)|Anyta Sunday|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1473941215l/32053864._SY75_.jpg|52694520]. tell me that's not the exact same guy in an almost perfectly mirrored pose. is that even allowed???
moving on. what a charming and heartwarming little book this was. Rudy and Zac are coworkers who have too much to drink one night, share a drunken kiss and make plans to spend Christmas together with Rudy's family. of course, for flimsy-at-best reasons, the two end up posing as boyfriends for the holidays. it's fake for all of about three hours before some Big Gay Feelings set in, and the boys get more than they bargained for.
depth wise, this was surface level at best. most of the book consists of describing holiday fun - dinner and games, breakfast and presents, lunch and games - and some smut here and there. no one really has any significant personality traits other than Rudy and Zac, and I suppose Jamie, whose entire personality is Moody Tween. and being only 170 pages, there's not much time to develop any substantial conflicts, side plots, or anything other than: boys go home for christmas, boys celebrate christmas, boys fall in love in five minutes, the end.
that's not to say I'm complaining! a sweet, wholesome, innocent Christmas love story is exactly what I was looking for. it was extremely cookie cutter - I don't think anyone had a single flaw unless you count the one (1) time Zac snapped at Rudy - but these types of stories generally are, and it made me smile the whole way through, so I'm not going to begrudge that. It's been a nice contrast to the heaviness of "know my name," which has been taking me weeks to get through, to read all these Christmas romances that are pure fluff. so if you're also looking for some soft Christmas romance, I definitely recommend starting here.
moving on. what a charming and heartwarming little book this was. Rudy and Zac are coworkers who have too much to drink one night, share a drunken kiss and make plans to spend Christmas together with Rudy's family. of course, for flimsy-at-best reasons, the two end up posing as boyfriends for the holidays. it's fake for all of about three hours before some Big Gay Feelings set in, and the boys get more than they bargained for.
depth wise, this was surface level at best. most of the book consists of describing holiday fun - dinner and games, breakfast and presents, lunch and games - and some smut here and there. no one really has any significant personality traits other than Rudy and Zac, and I suppose Jamie, whose entire personality is Moody Tween. and being only 170 pages, there's not much time to develop any substantial conflicts, side plots, or anything other than: boys go home for christmas, boys celebrate christmas, boys fall in love in five minutes, the end.
that's not to say I'm complaining! a sweet, wholesome, innocent Christmas love story is exactly what I was looking for. it was extremely cookie cutter - I don't think anyone had a single flaw unless you count the one (1) time Zac snapped at Rudy - but these types of stories generally are, and it made me smile the whole way through, so I'm not going to begrudge that. It's been a nice contrast to the heaviness of "know my name," which has been taking me weeks to get through, to read all these Christmas romances that are pure fluff. so if you're also looking for some soft Christmas romance, I definitely recommend starting here.
rainbow_grace's review
4.0
So cute
Adorable story. Cats and dogs and Christmas. What more could you ask for? It's short and sweet but just right.
Adorable story. Cats and dogs and Christmas. What more could you ask for? It's short and sweet but just right.
reesiereads's review
5.0
I love a good holiday romance and I found this to be sweet and loving. Loved Rudy and his hopeless romantic ways. Loved Zac and the care he took in assessing his feelings for Rudy, as to whether they were real or based on his being welcomed into Rudy's family at Christmas. I liked that even though these two claimed to be FWB (or less than that, at first), they fell for each other and communicated their feelings! No unnecessary drama, nobody ran away and hid from their feelings. Adored Rudy's hilarious and warm family!
rosewelsh's review against another edition
4.0
As a librarian, I do my best to try and buy books for my fiction and romance sections that run the gamut so there's something for everyone. This was a book for me! Finding gay romance isn't hard, but finding well written, printed/published romance can be, since there's restrictions on where I can order things from (ah the joys of business deals). I came across this book on a list of Christmas themed romance, which I was buying loads of this past winter, and I couldn't have been more happy with this purchase.
Rudy is sweet, inexperienced and dedicated to his job. A new hire comes on board and he is insanely handsome; entirely Rudy's type. Zac is quiet and guarded, polite but rarely choosing to interact with this colleagues outside of the office. After a few tequila shots and a semi-hook up, Zac ends up confessing to Rudy that he is alone in the world. Not that he is simply without a partner; he has no family or friends to speak of. Rudy being part of a large family and also a genuinely good person, invites Zac to his home for the holidays so he can enjoy a Christmas for once. Of course, Rudy tells his mom he's bringing someone home for Christmas, and everyone assumes Zac is his boyfriend. Rather than disappoint the family, who is so happy for inexperienced and introverted Rudy, Zac agrees to go along with it and the two fake-date through the holidays, hooking up as friends with benefits at the same time.
In true romance novel fashion, Rudy helps to break down the walls Zac has surrounding his heart and Zac teaches Rudy a thing or two sexually, both approaching their friendship/relationship on common ground. This is a sweet story that absolutely gets steamier in the latter half of the book, and a solid read. The characters are both very likeable, as is Rudy's family and their co-workers. This is a novella and I managed to read the whole thing on the treadmill at the gym, so for a fake dating, slow burn romance it reads quite quickly. I really adored Jay Northcote's writing style and will be seeking out more books by this author for the library. If someone is fine with several sex scenes in their holiday romance, you can't go wrong here.
Blog / Twitter
Rudy is sweet, inexperienced and dedicated to his job. A new hire comes on board and he is insanely handsome; entirely Rudy's type. Zac is quiet and guarded, polite but rarely choosing to interact with this colleagues outside of the office. After a few tequila shots and a semi-hook up, Zac ends up confessing to Rudy that he is alone in the world. Not that he is simply without a partner; he has no family or friends to speak of. Rudy being part of a large family and also a genuinely good person, invites Zac to his home for the holidays so he can enjoy a Christmas for once. Of course, Rudy tells his mom he's bringing someone home for Christmas, and everyone assumes Zac is his boyfriend. Rather than disappoint the family, who is so happy for inexperienced and introverted Rudy, Zac agrees to go along with it and the two fake-date through the holidays, hooking up as friends with benefits at the same time.
In true romance novel fashion, Rudy helps to break down the walls Zac has surrounding his heart and Zac teaches Rudy a thing or two sexually, both approaching their friendship/relationship on common ground. This is a sweet story that absolutely gets steamier in the latter half of the book, and a solid read. The characters are both very likeable, as is Rudy's family and their co-workers. This is a novella and I managed to read the whole thing on the treadmill at the gym, so for a fake dating, slow burn romance it reads quite quickly. I really adored Jay Northcote's writing style and will be seeking out more books by this author for the library. If someone is fine with several sex scenes in their holiday romance, you can't go wrong here.
Blog / Twitter
ccgwalt's review
4.0
this is a sweet Christmas themed novella about a shy young man from a loving family and a closed of work colleague who's never really had one. Nothing earth-shaking, but nicely done.