I'm splitting the difference with my rating. I really quite liked half the tales, but the other two seemed wrong for the theme I expected. I was expecting some fun gay holiday romance stories, but like I said, a couple - half of the four - weren't the right tone. I would add that I see a lot of people felt like the second story was too dark for the collection. While I agree - I'm not sure anyone wild have put underage girls being kidnapped and sold into the sex trade, alcoholism, beatings, and gunshot wounds on the top of a holiday story theme list - the story itself was very well put together and really enjoyable on its own merit. In a collection of darker tales (unholiday related) it could have been king. It was just misplaced here. In the last story, the character names were a tad much, and I just couldn't quite get how having someone ruin your career, make a fool of you, and get away with felonies could be so forgivable. The third story was likely my favourite - and I liked the inclusion of an older fellow and a strong supportive family. The first tale was sweet and fun. I really enjoyed all the stories in this book, which is a very rare occasion for me when I read anthologies. Normally, at least one of the stories is not as good as the others. I would HIGHLY recommend listening to this as I did. I think the audiobook brought the stories more to life than just reading them. The narrators all have excellent voices and gave awesome characterizations. There were two stories out of the four that I REALLY liked and those were Nine Lights Over Edinburgh by Harper Fox and I Heard Him Exclaim by Z.A. Maxfield. I Heard Him Exclaim I may have liked most of all, because I'm currently re-listening to it. A very enjoyable Christmas read.
Do You like book His For The Holidays (2010)?
It's pretty rare I like every story in an anthology but I liked them all in this one!
—anna4564429
2/4 read- Mistletoe at Midnight By LB Gregg- I Heard Him Exclaim By Z.A. Maxfield
—Muffy
Great holiday read over all. Wish there was more.
—Bobby660699
