December 2nd
Reviewed by Danielle
Title: Blame It on the Fruitcake
Series: Dreamspinner Advent Calendar 2015 — Sleigh Ride
Author: Pat Henshaw
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
Fruitcake is the laughing stock of the holiday season. But can it be an aphrodisiac instead? Motorcycle mechanic Sam McGuire is surprised to find on his doorstep a gaily wrapped box with a piece of fruitcake accompanying an invitation to a holiday party.
Wondering if he’ll fit in, Sam attends the party—mostly to get more of the fruitcake he falls in love with—and meets Jay Merriweather, his new neighbor. The lure of Jay’s big family and its holiday tradition of enjoying Grandma’s fruitcake hook Sam, as does the sexy man himself.
But Sam can’t imagine why handsome, college-educated Jay would want someone like him, who was raised in a Children’s Home and barely graduated high school. Maybe the magic of the holiday season can help two men who seem so different come together like the ingredients in a well-made fruitcake.
REVIEW:
What a lovely story! I am familiait with this author, having read her stories before and I have to say I really like her style. With this Christmas telling she offers a lovely, sweet yet very intense and emotional story.
We see on one hand Sam, who owns a motorcycle shop and who is making a living for himself despite his past and his upbringing. You can sense his loneliness and his past still rules his life. I have to say the author did an amazing job on bringing that over to the reader in my opinion.
When he gets an unexpected gift from what turns out to be his new neighbour, he finds himself to trying to be social and attending the party that he got invited too. Even if it was just for the fruitcake which was included in the package.
Which brings in Jay, his neighbor who’s an art deco stylist, and an educated family man. He’s everything Sam isn’t but there is no denying the chemistry between the two men right from the moment they meet. Despite Sam struggling with being totally opposite of charming and social Jay the attraction is instant and there.
That also brings me to the only little form of criticism , if you can call it that. We see and read some sweet interaction between the men, some loving kissing and we are told of more intimate contact. But that last part is all of a page.
I don’t say I am expecting or asking for full on sex or anything hardcore but I really would love to see this author venture a little bit more on the physical side of the relationship.
Back to the story, we see Sam struggling with his upbringing, his insecurties and the feeling of not being good enough for Jay. Jay is trying to be patient but he is having a hard time getting through. With a little bit of help from a little fruitcake bringing, slightly interfering nana, things seem to be turning for the better. Thankfully Jay isn’t the giving up kind of person.
With a wonderful sweet epilogue the author wraps up a wonderful Christmas short, that is well worth reading!
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
I love opposites attract stories and certainly having some holiday cheer thrown in is a bonus. Thanks for the review!
Even though I’m not always crazy about stories where one partner feels that he’s unworthy of the other, this one does sound charming!
I love reading stories where one character has self esteem issues but that all changes with the right partner. I’m looking forward to giving this a read. Thank you for the review =)
Thanks for the review 🙂 The cover is very funny
Sounds good , thank you.