My rating: 5 of 5 stars
James and Caleb are both grumps who want nothing to do with forced holiday cheer. When their fraternity insists on festive bonding, they come up with a solution: fake date so everyone will leave them alone. But the plan backfires when they’re dragged through every holiday activity imaginable — ice skating, tree hunting, hay rides, hot chocolate tastings — and they start enjoying each other’s company far more than expected. What begins as a fake relationship between two loners slowly turns into something real in this grumpy‑grumpy, holiday‑themed romance.
James and Caleb have an undeniable pull between them from the start, and what makes their connection so compelling is how clearly both men are carrying their own damage. They’re grumpy, guarded, and used to keeping people at arm’s length — which makes it all the more affecting when they start letting each other in. Caleb’s family’s treatment of James is genuinely heartbreaking. Their cruelty and intrusiveness add a sharp emotional edge to the story, especially as they try to drive a wedge between the two without caring who they hurt. Those moments deepen the stakes and highlight just how much James and Caleb need someone who chooses them, not despite their flaws but because of who they are. There’s a surprising amount of emotion packed into this holiday romance, and it gives the story real depth beneath the humour and fake‑dating fun. A warm, heartfelt read with two beautifully imperfect men finding something real in the middle of all the chaos. This was an MM story with mature content.
Buy from Amazon
No comments:
Post a Comment