Reviewed by Chris

TITLE:  What Happens at Christmas

AUTHOR:  Jay Northcote

PUBLISHER:  Jaybird Press

LENGTH:  113 pages

BLURB:  

When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more?

Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretence and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas… right?

REVIEW:  

Justin has been in love with Sean since they were children. But he never said anything. Not when they were growing up, not when Sean came out to him, not when they were adults. His love has been something he has tried to forget. Except he can never quite forget–not without forgetting Sean, and that is not even an option.

Then Sean comes flying back into his life one snowy Christmas, after nearly a year away touring the world. Justin is thrilled that Sean is back…and not just because he desperately needs someone to pretend to be his date to the annual company Christmas party–to prove to his ex that he is well and truly over his cheating ass.

But one night pretending to be boyfriends leads to one night most definitely not pretending between the sheets. Things only get more complicated from there, because Sean has a secret. He has been in love with Justin since they were kids. Now, if only they can get up the courage to tell each other before they lose this chance once and for all.

A Jay Northcote Christmas story…yeah I was all over that like pumpkin pie. Luckily without the lingering regret/guilt for consuming so much sugar in so little time.

This was pretty much everything you expect out of Jay Northcote. Lovely characters, an enchanting story, and pants-sparking fun. I for one adore the whole ‘pretend-boyfriend’ trope and read pretty much every one I come across. There is just something about the whole thing that really rings my bell. But it was even better because the two people have been in love for so long, they just seem to keep missing their chances to do anything until now. Their HEA seemed like a perfect cap on an already great friendship.

As I go further into the holiday season I know I will be reading a lot of holiday stories of all shapes and sizes, but I’m so glad I got a chance to read this one. It was a perfect way to decompress from Thanksgiving–along with a perfect way to warm me up for the long and enjoyable journey thru Christmas story land over the next month.

If you are looking for a good Christmas story for the holidays, or just want another of Northcote’s wonderful books to read, I highly recommend this one.

RATING:  

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