storytold's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed this for what it was: a balanced, cozy contemporary Christmas romance. I've been DNFing a lot of romance this year for all kinds of reasons, so it was delightful to find one I was eager to read. This is the first gay romance Harlequin has ever published, so I was interested to see how it turned out.
Nothing groundbreaking; a simple romance with very familiar structure and story beats. But I loved Wes's weirdness, especially at the beginning of the book, and Adam's "He's so weird... and so hot" musing endeared me as well. Some folks won't enjoy 8-year-old Gus, Adam's daughter, as the driving force for their relationship, but I thought she was a wonderful way to advance both protagonists' plot and really developed the ideas of family that the book explored. I'm going through some stuff!!!! so the fact that I cried three times is probably more of a me thing, but it's what bumped this book up to 4 stars in the end: It's just a simple, warm, well written and well paced contemporary about Christmas and cultivating the family you've been looking for, featuring a balanced relationship between nuanced characters that were easy to love.
I absolutely cannot throw stones about editing, and I was reading an ARC copy (thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley), but common typos aside, at one point the narration refers to Adam as Wes and at another point to Wes as Adam. This is not against the author but rather against Harlequin editors—I was surprised this wasn't caught! Hopefully this is fixed in the final version!
Overall an enjoyable read and a solid gay contemporary romance. I'd pick up this author and/or more in this Harlequin line in the future.
Nothing groundbreaking; a simple romance with very familiar structure and story beats. But I loved Wes's weirdness, especially at the beginning of the book, and Adam's "He's so weird... and so hot" musing endeared me as well. Some folks won't enjoy 8-year-old Gus, Adam's daughter, as the driving force for their relationship, but I thought she was a wonderful way to advance both protagonists' plot and really developed the ideas of family that the book explored. I'm going through some stuff!!!! so the fact that I cried three times is probably more of a me thing, but it's what bumped this book up to 4 stars in the end: It's just a simple, warm, well written and well paced contemporary about Christmas and cultivating the family you've been looking for, featuring a balanced relationship between nuanced characters that were easy to love.
I absolutely cannot throw stones about editing, and I was reading an ARC copy (thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley), but common typos aside, at one point the narration refers to Adam as Wes and at another point to Wes as Adam. This is not against the author but rather against Harlequin editors—I was surprised this wasn't caught! Hopefully this is fixed in the final version!
Overall an enjoyable read and a solid gay contemporary romance. I'd pick up this author and/or more in this Harlequin line in the future.
nelliebruhn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
melvad's review
5.0
The perfect cozy Christmas romance! The child is cute and hilarious, which is hard to get right in romance sometimes. this was a quick, sweet read. I really enjoyed this one.
steph15's review
5.0
My favorite of the series so far! The way Wes was with Gus was so fucking sweet.
The only thing that could have made it a smidge better would have been Mason showing up and seeing Adam and Gus moved on. I dislike drama like that typically but I wanted it bad here.
The only thing that could have made it a smidge better would have been Mason showing up and seeing Adam and Gus moved on. I dislike drama like that typically but I wanted it bad here.
lgbtrepinbooks's review
5.0
I am just posting this review because I support the HC Union and will not cross the picket line. I learned recently that Harlequin has been set up as a division, rather than a typical imprint so supporting them is not crossing the line!
Trigger Warnings: Divorce, breaking and entering, tarantula, snake, lizards, sex, break-up, ptsd, trauma
Representation: They/them pronouns, Gay
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a Christmas contemporary romance about new neighbors Adam and Wes. Adam returns to his hometown as a single father after breaking up with his long term partner. Wes is the neighborhood witch/monster who no one knows due to his nocturnal and private ways. When the two begin to spend more time together, secrets are revealed and both men most change their ways to meet the other where they are at.
This was such a warm, cozy Christmas romance! The magic of Christmas and Christmas lights is very present and this mushy romance shines just as bright as the lights. I really enjoyed the premise of this story and am always a Roan Parrish fan! The characters in this story are different but very well detailed. I loved Adam and Gus was such an awesome kid! Wes is a bit odd for me but he stays true to who he is throughout the book and has such a good heart.
This is another installment in the Garnet Run series but like the others, can be read as a stand alone. It was nice to see one of the guys from Casper Road reappear in this book as Wes’ best friend. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
Trigger Warnings: Divorce, breaking and entering, tarantula, snake, lizards, sex, break-up, ptsd, trauma
Representation: They/them pronouns, Gay
The Lights on Knockbridge Lane is a Christmas contemporary romance about new neighbors Adam and Wes. Adam returns to his hometown as a single father after breaking up with his long term partner. Wes is the neighborhood witch/monster who no one knows due to his nocturnal and private ways. When the two begin to spend more time together, secrets are revealed and both men most change their ways to meet the other where they are at.
This was such a warm, cozy Christmas romance! The magic of Christmas and Christmas lights is very present and this mushy romance shines just as bright as the lights. I really enjoyed the premise of this story and am always a Roan Parrish fan! The characters in this story are different but very well detailed. I loved Adam and Gus was such an awesome kid! Wes is a bit odd for me but he stays true to who he is throughout the book and has such a good heart.
This is another installment in the Garnet Run series but like the others, can be read as a stand alone. It was nice to see one of the guys from Casper Road reappear in this book as Wes’ best friend. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
jamie29's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mdoerr's review against another edition
5.0
If you're looking for a great holiday Christmas book this season, read this book. We follow Adam, a newly single father to his 8 year old daughter, Gus. They move back to his home town after his divorce and to try and make Gus happy for Christmas they decide to put as many lights on the house as possible. Gus is very science oriented and loves critters. She breaks into the neighbor house across the streets to see his lizards. This is how Adam meets Wes, the reclusive odd science neighbor that everyone in town says is either a wizard, vampire, or werewolf (and no this is not a supernatural book). Wes and Adam spark up a friend ship that becomes more.
While it is not said on page I believe it is implied that Wes is on the autistic spectrum. He doesn't like unwanted touch or being looked at. His interested are science and has totally immersed himself in that world. We get both Wes and Adam's perspectives as the relationship develops and its very sweet (with a few spicier scenes).
I would highly recommend this book, I couldn't put it down and read it in under 24 hours.
While it is not said on page I believe it is implied that Wes is on the autistic spectrum. He doesn't like unwanted touch or being looked at. His interested are science and has totally immersed himself in that world. We get both Wes and Adam's perspectives as the relationship develops and its very sweet (with a few spicier scenes).
I would highly recommend this book, I couldn't put it down and read it in under 24 hours.
mdoerr's review
5.0
If you're looking for a great holiday Christmas book this season, read this book. We follow Adam, a newly single father to his 8 year old daughter, Gus. They move back to his home town after his divorce and to try and make Gus happy for Christmas they decide to put as many lights on the house as possible. Gus is very science oriented and loves critters. She breaks into the neighbor house across the streets to see his lizards. This is how Adam meets Wes, the reclusive odd science neighbor that everyone in town says is either a wizard, vampire, or werewolf (and no this is not a supernatural book). Wes and Adam spark up a friend ship that becomes more.
While it is not said on page I believe it is implied that Wes is on the autistic spectrum. He doesn't like unwanted touch or being looked at. His interested are science and has totally immersed himself in that world. We get both Wes and Adam's perspectives as the relationship develops and its very sweet (with a few spicier scenes).
I would highly recommend this book, I couldn't put it down and read it in under 24 hours.
While it is not said on page I believe it is implied that Wes is on the autistic spectrum. He doesn't like unwanted touch or being looked at. His interested are science and has totally immersed himself in that world. We get both Wes and Adam's perspectives as the relationship develops and its very sweet (with a few spicier scenes).
I would highly recommend this book, I couldn't put it down and read it in under 24 hours.