Christmas – Love is Love Reviews

Review: North Pole City Tales by Charlie Cochet

This series was enjoyable and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Series rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Books in order:

Mending Noel – 3 stars
The Heart of Frost – 4.5 stars
Vixen’s Valor – 3.5 stars
Loving Blitz – 4 stars
Disarming Donner – 4 stars
The King’s Courage – 5 stars

Likes:

Good characters.
Novella length.
Unique story idea.
Cute, sweet, and fluffy.
Totally binge worthy.
Classic romance set-ups.
Solid plots.
Well written.

Dislikes:

Wanted more world building.
Built-in homophobia and sexism.
Story structure meant that very little was surprising.

I’ll admit that I was hesitant to give this series a try even though I’ve read and liked a number of things by Charlie Cochet before. I was worried that the Christmas themes and the Rein Dears would be too cheesy for me. And it is cheesy, but in a good way, without becoming too much.

The first book in the series didn’t capture my attention, so I’m glad I already had the entire series waiting to be read. The first book is only 64 pages and it tries to cram a lot into that space. Too much, really. There’s not enough time for world building, creating a believable relationship, and setting up the next book in the series.

Luckily, The Heart of Frost redeemed the series and made me want to continue . Jack and Rudy are at the heart of the series. They’re in every single book, and it’s their romance that finally opens the door to the other men being able to claim their happiness. The cultural homophobia finally gets destroyed because Jack is the prince, and the lead up to his and Rudy’s wedding brings more than one couple together.

The stories range in quality a bit, for various reasons, but none were terrible. Similarly, not all of the couples were memorable, but they were all sweet and had a happy ending. The one downside of binge reading the books was that the story structure used in each meant that there were few surprises when it came to bad things popping up. There weren’t many surprises with the plots either, but everything was well written and a breeze to read.

This series was enjoyable and I’m glad I gave it a chance. While not my favorite things from Charlie Cochet, it was well worth the read, and the perfect choice for 2020’s Christmas in July.

Review: The King’s Courage (North Pole City Tales #6) by Charlie Cochet

Probably my favorite couple of them all, this was a great ending to the series.,

5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 77 pages. Published December 20th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

With the wedding of Jack Frost and Rudy Rein Dear only three weeks away, everyone travels to Jack’s palace in Svalbard, Norway, where the happy couple will exchange vows beneath the northern lights. Festivities have been planned leading up to the wedding, and Dasher eagerly anticipates not just the fun, but staying under the same roof as the blustering winter spirit who’s caught his eye—the King of Frost, Jack’s father.

A long-ago tragedy has left Eirik fearing to ever love again. As the King of Frost, Eirik maintains his distance from everyone, especially the young Christmas elf who insists on intruding on Eirik’s solitude. But Dasher is determined to find a way to show the lonely king that his heart still beats and he shouldn’t fear allowing it to beat for another.

Likes:

Dasher and Eirik were so cute together.
Steamy scenes.
Great ending to the series.
Watching Eirik open up to the idea of another love.
Dasher’s past and how it was resolved.
Not as cheesy as the others.

Dislikes:

Wanted a more solid ending for the two men.
Wanted to see how people reacted to the relationship.

This was the last book in the series and I was definitely looking forward to it. Having seen Dasher’s interest in the Frost King, and Eirik’s lack of interest in Dasher, I was curious how everything would turn out. In a word; sweet. This couple might just be my favorite of them all.

Watching as Eirik gave in to Dasher’s persistent but gentle courting was adorable. Dasher was always a gentleman, and was more than willing to give up if Eirik ever wanted that. But despite Eirik’s doubts – both about loving again and about loving a man – Eirik never pushed Dasher away. I do wish that more time was given to how people reacted to the king courting a Christmas elf. There was very little of that shown. Maybe because by this point people were used to the Rein Dears dating men.

I wasn’t expecting Dasher to have the complex past he did. It really added a lot to the story in terms of making him a better fit for the king, showing that he was a more complex person, and adding to the story’s tension. It was resolved well and made the men cement their relationship. I had hoped that, given that Eirik was the king, their relationship had become something more official, but I wasn’t disappointed with the ending.

This story was a great end to the series. It was as fun, quick, and cute as the others. It was great to see Jack and Rudy finally getting married, as well as having the last of the gay Rein Dears coupled off.

Review: Disarming Donner (North Pole City Tales #5) by Charlie Cochet

A cute opposites attract story with a surprising twist.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 68 pages. Published December 21st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

As a beloved Rein Dear and Christmas elf for Mayor Kringle, Donner prides himself on his flawless reputation, good sense, and wise decisions. Donner never does anything until he’s thought it through properly. He’s certainly not one to get flustered, infuriated, or fall prey to romantic nonsense. At least not until the most unlikely of elves begins chipping away at Donner’s defenses.

Calder is a Dockalfar—a dark elf. He’s wicked, untrustworthy, and armed with lethal magic. At least that’s what everyone thinks. It’s easy for them to believe the worst and mistrust him before they’ve even spoken to him, but Calder is out to prove that he’s more than his Dockalfar blood, especially to a certain Rein Dear who has caught his eye. But it will take more than sweet words for Donner to admit what’s in his heart.

Likes:

A good Dockalfar.
Watching Donner loosen up a bit.
Calder and Donner were sweet together.
Surprising twist.

Dislikes:

Calder was almost too nice.
The heavy discrimination against the Dockalfar.

Even though Calder and Donner only had one quick exchange in the previous book, I wasn’t surprised that they were the main characters this time around. Another couple where opposites attract, Calder and Donner had very different personalities. That made it easy for Calder to tease Donner, but also gave them room to try new things with each other.

Their relationship was very sweet, once Donner got over his initial distrust. Of all the people in the book, aside from Cupid, Donner was the first to begin treating Calder like a person, instead of assuming he was bad news just because he was a Dockalfar. That treatment made Donner really likable.

The discrimination against Calder came from almost everyone. It was obvious to the reader that Calder wasn’t bad or evil, but I was surprised how quick to assume the rest of the characters were. Even those who’d faced discrimination themselves, like Jack, didn’t hesitate to threaten Calder. It was so prevalent that Calder’s persistent optimism and good cheer was almost unbelievable. He was a little too nice. Having him get annoyed would have made his character feel a little more realistic.

These novellas follow a predictable story ark, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ‘twist.’ It wasn’t something that I’d seen coming. While not my favorite couple, Calder and Donner were fun to read about and I’m glad that Calder was accepted in the end.

Review: Loving Blitz (North Pole City Tales #4) by Charlie Cochet

A cute couple, but nothing too surprising happens.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 94 pages. Published December 16th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

From North Pole City to Winter Wonderland, preparations are underway after a royal announcement sweeps everyone into a frenzy of festivity. At the heart of the celebration are the city’s most beloved elf pilots, the Rein Dears. Once the Big Flight is behind them, the pilots prepare for the royal event. Assigned a special task of finding an Elska rose, Cupid and Blitzen are unaware of how their friendship is about to change forever.

Yet not all that glitters is gold. The sweet, angelic Cupid hides a dark secret, one that threatens to destroy his Rein Dear status, his friends, and the elf who’s captured his heart. It’s up to Blitzen to help Cupid see the light in the darkness and show him that together they can mend broken hearts.

Likes:

A non-traditional Rein Dear.
Cupid and Blitz were cute in an ‘opposites attract’ kind of way.
Dockalfar.
More about Jack and Rudy.
Hint about Dasher and the King.

Dislikes:

Nothing too surprising.

Blitz and Cupid were a cute couple. They’re a study in opposites in terms of their looks, with Cupid being small and Blitz being big. If anything, their size difference made it easier for them to snuggle together, even when they were just friends. Watching the men go from friends to lovers was fun. It’s a trope I enjoy, and the only one of its kind in the series so far.

Cupid is the only member of the Rein Dears who isn’t traditional to the Christmas songs, which is nice. But that’s not the only thing that sets him apart from the others. He has secrets, secrets that shake things up when they finally come out.

Of course, it was a given that Cupid’s secret would come out. Sadly, it was so predictable that the novella had very little tension for me. I did enjoy the addition of a new kind of elf – the Dockalfar. Like many things in this series, I wish more information about them had been provided, but I have hope that some of my questions will be answered in the next book.

I am enjoying seeing more about Jack and Rudy with each book. And I liked that this book set up the romance between both Dasher and the King and Donner and Calder. I’m very interested to see where that goes.

Review: Vixen’s Valor (North Pole City Tales #3) by Charlie Cochet

Another fun novella set in the North Pole.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 81 pages. Published December 3rd 2014 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Rein Dear is a prestigious title, accompanied by admiration, devotion, and celebrity status, all of which one saucy Vixen thrives on. Alas, Vixen’s only concerned with having fun, unlike his stuffy and sensible best friend, Rudy Rein Dear, who Vixen has always been jealous of. Aside from being chosen by Mayor Kringle to be Captain the Rein Dear Squadron, Rudy’s managed to snag himself a prince, even if that prince is the dangerous and imposing Jack Frost.

All’s not lost for Vixen though. He discovers Jack’s cousin Vale has a soft spot for him. Vale Frost might not be a dashing prince, but he’s the next best thing: a decorated Lieutenant for the Toy Soldier Army, and a member of the Frost monarchy.

Determined to get what Vixen feels he deserves, he sets off on a mission to ensnare the kind-hearted lieutenant. But Vixen’s selfish ways are sure to lead to disaster, and it’ll take more than a little courage to set things right.

Likes:

Vale’s Dad.
Vale and his romantic side.
The story behind the staff.

Dislikes:

The cliché way Vixen was tricked into revealing the secret.
Vixen’s attitude towards Vale at the stars.
Vale’s point of view wasn’t too prevalent.
Two romantic main characters with names starting with V.

I didn’t hesitate after reading the previous book and rushed on to this one, excited about what was about to happen between Vale and Vixen. And because I’m reading these books in a row, without having to wait a year between them, I didn’t expect that a year would have passed between the previous story and this one. It was a little disappointing to realize that, despite the good vibes Vale and Vixen had going in the last book, they cooled down in the year between stories.

Still, that meant that the relationship got to basically start all over again, which was nice. It was sweet to see how much Vale liked Vixen, despite Vixen’s reputation for bed hopping. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how the two men would suit each other. Vixen is flirty where Vale is shy and serious. But they ended up being surprisingly cute together.

Vale was definitely my favorite character. He’s sweet, charming, and not scary like his cousin Jack. I wish there had been more from Vale’s point of view, but Vixen was the one with the issues. Vixen became more likeable and understandable once his past was explained. Vixen definitely grew on me, although the cliché way he ended up accidentally revealing the secret vale had entrusted him with made me roll my eyes.

One picky thing I didn’t like was that both men’s names started with V. It made it a little harder for me to remember who was who since I tend to skim a bit when I really get into the story and want to read faster.

Luckily, in a world filled with sexist and homophobic people, Vale’s dad was a breath of fresh air. I wish there were more characters like him.

I am excited to get to the next book. The stories are still a little cheesy, but they’re fun and Cochet has created an interesting story universe.

Review: The Heart of Frost (North Pole City Tales #2) by Charlie Cochet

Better than the last novella, this one tells the full story of Jack and Rudy.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 120 pages. Published December 18th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

At the North Pole, no one is more powerful and feared than the Prince of Frost. As general of the toy soldier army, Jack Frost has been working extra hard to put away the villainous Mouse King once and for all. If that isn’t taxing enough, Jack has to deal with the scandal and gossip brought on by news of his relationship with Rudy Rein Dear, captain of the Rein Dear Squadron, which hit headlines last holiday season. Lucky for Jack, his reputation has managed to deter any foolish attempts to stir up trouble. At least until now.

When someone sabotages Rudy’s plane during a test run a few weeks before Christmas, Jack is determined to find the culprit by any means necessary. The closer he gets to finding answers, the more difficulty he has not falling back to his icy ways. Has the Mouse King stepped up his game in order to throw Jack off his, or is someone a little closer to home behind the attempt on Rudy’s life? Either way, Jack has every intention of delivering a Christmas they won’t soon forget, even if it means losing the newfound warmth in his heart.

Likes:

Better world building.
Told the full story of Jack and Rudy.
Drama and intrigue.
Got to see Tim and Noel.

Dislikes:

The built-in homophobia and sexism.
The lame excuse for a villain.
More unexplained things about the world.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I liked the quick view we saw of Jack and Rudy in the last book and was excited to see both them and Tim and Noel again. Jack and Rudy really deserved a book of their own.

This book really did fill in a lot of missing gaps left by the last book. There was a lot more world building, though I do think it could use some more. I’m glad, because the last book left me with a lot of questions and I enjoy good world building. The Christmas theme was surprisingly fleshed out and I can tell a lot of thought was put into everything.

One of the things I’m not such a fan of is the build-in sexism and homophobia. Why create a fantasy world and add those in? I guess it makes things more relatable, as well as giving the characters another hurdle to get over. But honestly, Jack and Rudy had enough going on as it was.

The drama and plot of this story was better than the last book. The books definitely build on each other, and we got more of both with Jack and Rudy’s relationship going public and the Rat King’s criminality. The drama, danger, and intrigue of this story kept me interested the whole way through, with a happy ending that made me smile. Looking forward to the next book.

Review: Mending Noel (North Pole City Tales #1) by Charlie Cochet

This novella had a unique premise but I wanted more world building.

3 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 64 pages. Published December 1st 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2012 Advent Calendar collection Evergreen.

All is not sparkly snowflakes and sweet candy canes in North Pole City. Office workers Tim and Noel do nothing all day but antagonize each other—petty fighting that might be based on hatred… or a heated mutual attraction. It’s up to Jack Frost and his elf-friend Rudy to broach the hostilities and introduce some Christmas kisses, but is the Frost Prince up to the challenge of launching a new romance when someone’s trying to break his holiday spirit?

Likes:

The Christmas references are just the right amount of cheesy.
I want to know more about the world.
The characters were interesting.
Low angst.

Dislikes:

The conflict between Tim and Noel was over too fast.
It the world could have been explained better.
There was too much going on for the page space.
Some things could have been explained better for more impact.

I was avoiding this series despite liking Charlie Cochet’s books and novellas. I was worried that the Christmas/North Pole theme would be too cheesy. And, yeah, it was cheesy, with all the clichéd parts you’d expect. But they were different than I expected. Not childish, but almost cool.

I felt bad for Tim, what with the way Noel picked on him. I was expecting Noel to go through lot of change in order for him to admit that he liked Tim. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Tim forgave Noel for all the times he was an asshole, and it happened super fast. Almost unbelievably fast. Sure, this is a novella, but it took almost no time for Tim and Noel to go from clashing coworkers to lovers.

It’s not because there wasn’t enough page time, but rather there was a lot going on. Between Jack and Rudy’s coming out and the plot with the Rat King, there simply wasn’t enough space for Tim and Noel to grow and change.

There also wasn’t enough page space dedicated to the world of the North Pole. So many interesting things seemed to be going on, and were hinted at. But I felt like I didn’t fully understand their importance. It just wasn’t well explained. I’m hoping to learn more from the other novellas.

But I have to say this, the idea of setting a gay romance series in the North Pole sure is unique. I’ve never read anything like it before and I’m looking forward to the next books.

Review: Too Hot for Santa by Helena Stone

Solid story but nothing memorable.

4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 1st edition. 53 pages. Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Jonah Walsh’s fledgling acting career in Dublin comes to an abrupt end when a video of him in a compromising position goes viral on social media. The offer of a part in a Christmas play in Sydney, Australia arrives at exactly the right time, although he isn’t sure about celebrating Christmas in the scorching heat. Nick Claseman isn’t happy that the actor he and his sister have hired will be occupying his granny flat. As for Jonah’s enthusiasm for Christmas, Nick doesn’t get it. He hasn’t decorated or celebrated in years.

When Jonah turns out to be anything but a stuck-up starlet with delusions of grandeur, and Nick proves he’s not usually grumpy and borderline hostile, the two men gravitate toward each other. Their attraction morphs into something more when Jonah reacquaints Nick with the pleasures of Christmas and Nick shows Jonah the beauty of Australia. But Jonah is only Down Under for a few months. It would take a Christmas miracle for them to have a future together.

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Likes:

Long enough to develop a more complex story and characters.
The awkward start.
The symbolism of the gifts.
The story was solid and the pacing was good.
Modern touch of bad viral video.

Dislikes:

Not memorable.
Nothing new or unique.
The men’s personal lives were never shown.

This was a perfectly nice story from an author who is new to me. And honestly, I have very few negative things to say about it. The plot was solid, the characters likeable, and the romance sweet.

That being said, there’s nothing memorable about this story. Despite being an actor, Jonah didn’t stand out on the page. And a lot of Nick’s personality was taken up by being a grump about Christmas. Even the tension in this story – will Jonah leave Australia when his time in the play is over? – was less than impactful.

Still, this was definitely a fun read and a nice way to pass the time. I enjoyed the awkward start between the men, as well as the modern touch of Jonah’s career stalling when the compromising video of him goes viral. It was also fun watching Jonah’s Christmas spirit work on thawing Nick’s grouchy exterior.

The symbolism of the gifts they exchanged at the end was a sweet touch. This story definitely had a warm, fuzzy feel to it, as well as showcasing what Christmas in Australia was like. I would have liked to see more of the men’s personal lives, beyond the romance and the play. I think that would have made them a little easier to connect to.

I’ll have to give Helena Stone another shot some time, preferably in a longer format. Especially since she has several series.

Find the Warmest Wishes anthology review here and the full list of stories here.

Review: That Turtle Story by C. S. Poe

Overall a good story.

5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 1st edition. 41 pages. Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Nor O’Brien spends his days in sunny Key West caring for and rehabilitating sea turtles. He doesn’t need anything else in life, expect maybe a significant other to cuddle with after a long day. But recent heartbreak has left Nor salty, and he’s not in the mood for anything, Christmas included.

Then Eugene Montgomery walks into Turtle R&R, claiming to have found a clutch of eggs in distress. Nor is smitten with the tourist at first sight, and at the suggestion of his screwball colleagues, indulges in some no-strings-attached fun. Nor and Eugene are quick to get along, happily enjoy each other’s company, and take in the island’s unique holiday pleasures together.

But Nor would never leave his turtles, not for any man. So when his rebound fling turns into strong romantic feelings for Eugene, it’ll take a Christmas miracle to keep the two together forever in Key West.

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Likes:

The characters.
Turtles.
Key West.
Christmas miracle.
Cute and fun and just the right amount of sexy.
The ‘relationship hurdle’ was reasonable but easily overcome.

Dislikes:

Nor’s attachment to his ex.
Lack of communication between Nor and Eugene.
Lots of screwball characters.

This story had a little bit of all the things a good romance should have. Instant chemistry between the men. Something holding Nor back from going all in on the romance. Fun, witty banter with a slight hint of awkwardness. Smut scene. Happy ending.

I like just about any character who has found their calling caring for animals. I’m not the world’s biggest turtle fan, but this story had me invested in the clutch of eggs Nor and Eugene saved. What a unique way to start a relationship.

The instant attraction between the men was a given, since it is a short story. But it felt realistic. Nor wanted to finally put his ex in the past and what better way to do that than have fun with a hunky vacationer. The fact that Nor fell hard for Eugene was also a given. Eugene is great. The guys have good chemistry together, both in bed and out.

I’m usually not a fan of miscommunication in stories, and this time it was more like lack of communication that led to the drama. But that too felt natural, especially when both men actually talked with each other and explained what they had been thinking.

There were a lot of screwball characters in the story, which was odd. It seemed like everyone Nor worked with was a little off. Nor himself was a little strange in his attachment to his ex, a guy who wasn’t that great.

Overall, this was a great story. My complaints are relatively minor and didn’t distract from the story as a whole. The Christmas miracle ending was just the right amount of cute and sappy.

Find the Warmest Wishes anthology review here and the full list of stories here.

Review: The Night Sky Festival by S.A. Stovall

Left me feeling hopeful.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 1st Edition. 24 pages. Published December 1st 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Photographer Zach is happy to pack up his gear and head to the Mojave Desert over the holidays. Ever since his ex-husband filed for divorce a day before Christmas, it’s safe to say this isn’t Zach’s favorite time of year.

Fortunately, he stumbles upon a town where the residents seem to agree. The good people of Baker would much rather celebrate the possibility of extraterrestrials as they dance under the stars in their unique “Night Sky Festival.” The locals are interesting, to say the least, and they want Zach to join them.

But is Zach ready to let go of his holiday bitterness? And if so, whose invitation should he accept: the cute cashier, the burly single dad, or the sexy fun-loving cop?

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Likes:

Good theme.
Left me feeling hopeful.
The beauty of nature.

Dislikes:

Super short.
Characters not fleshed out.

I can remember a college creative writing class where we were taught that short stories should have a theme. This story definitely has a theme, but unlike most in this anthology, I wouldn’t say the theme is romance. There’s definitely some romance, but the transformation that Zach goes through has less to do with romance than with moving forward.

Zach’s divorce clearly weighs on him, but he spends so much time not thinking about it that he doesn’t realize how much it’s holding him back. It’s the happenstance meetings in the small desert town that, each in their own way, help him open himself up to romance again. And in the process, finally let go of his bitterness.

The story overall left me feeling hopeful. Getting hung up on something in the past happens to everyone, and it takes some people more time to get over it and move on. And because it was Zach’s failed romance that was the problem, it only made sense for the possibility of a new romance to get him going again.

Of course, given how short the story is, there’s not much to the romance or the characters. The author gets props for capturing Zach’s journey in such few pages. But the shortness left everything very open ended.

Find the Warmest Wishes anthology review here and the full list of stories here.

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