REVIEWED BY CINDY
TITLE: Dear Santa, Dear Dad 
AUTHOR: T.J. Masters
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 54 Pages
Blurb:
Widower Steven drives to the North of England two days before Christmas to meet his estranged son Andrew hoping for a reconciliation. Steven had rejected his son when, as a 19 year old student, he came out to his parents as being gay. Andrew now lives with his partner Peter who initiates contact with Steven by forwarding on to him the almost childlike ‘Letter to Santa’ that the lad has written asking for a father who loves him.
At first Andrew is hostile to his father’s overtures but the bad weather conspires to strand them all together over the Christmas period. Father and son both experience a steep learning curve, not helped by the father realising that his son’s lover is actually older than he is. Proximity breaks down barriers and the three men work together in the spirit of cooperation and of the season to create a Christmas experience which will change their lives for ever.
Review:
This is not the normal sort of story that I usually read but I’m not sorry I picked this book up. It’s not a romance, but more a contemporary story about love between a father and his son and how family should be about understanding and forgiveness. It illustrates how some mistakes can be rectified if someone just takes the first step…even if it’s not who you’d expect.
Steven knows he made a big mistake when he refused to accept that his son was gay and kicked him out of his house. He’s been regretting it for a long time but the recent death of his wife has left him feeling adrift and needing to be a part of his son’s life, but the more time that passes, the harder it is to start looking for a way back.
Andrew, Steven’s son, and his partner Peter are a sweet couple and I adored them immediately. Peter’s acceptance of Steven’s attempt at reconciliation goes a long way to helping father and son find their way to each other.
The small town that Andrew and Peter have settled in is idyllic and I loved the locals who are so accepting of the couple.
This story made me cry and made me smile. It shows the anguish that Steven and Andrew are both feeling perfectly and let the reader feel for both men.
The author paints a beautiful picture as father and son come together slowly, gently encouraged by Peter and Andrew’s sister. The story is short but it isn’t missing a thing as far as emotions go and I enjoyed the author’s style of writing.
I have read other stories by this author and have never been disappointed that I gave them a chance.
Rating: 
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