Advent Calendar Book Review: Mele Kalikimaka by B.G. Thomas & Noah Willoughby

We will review the Dreamspinner Press advent calendar one review a day. At the end of the month THREE winners will be picked to receive some great prizes!

First prize is 10 books from your Dreamspinner wishlist .

Second prize is 5 books from your Dreamspinner wishlist.

Third prize is 3 books from your Dreamspinner wishlist.

 

December 2nd

Reviewed by Kat

Mele Kalikimaka (2016 Advent Calendar - Bah Humbug) 

TITLE: Mele Kalikimaka 

SERIES: 2016 Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug 

AUTHOR: B.G. Thomas & Noah Willoughby 

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press 

LENGTH: 113 Pages

RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2016 

BLURB: 

Being rich has its advantages, but it is also rife with suffocating pressures and family telling Chandler Buckingham how to live his life. When his assistant offers to help him escape the mounting obligations of the holiday season by running away to Hawaii, Chandler jumps at the chance. Only to find nothing is quite as he’d expected.

Micah Keolu has lived in Hawaii all his life. He has to work two jobs and has little time for a social life, but his loving family and the island beauty around him have given him a heart as big as the ocean. And then one day he rescues a man trapped in an elevator in the building where Micah lives and works maintenance.

The unexpected happens as they find themselves drawn together, only to learn there is more to each other than meets the eye. Can two men from very different worlds find a way to enrich each other’s lives? Maybe the magic of the holidays just might bring them lasting joy! 

REVIEW:

I almost missed this wonderful little gem and would have been so disappointed to have not discovered it.

Chandler Buckingham seems to have a fabulous life. He is a rich son from a very privileged and highly successful family in Kansas City, Missouri. His only problem is an overbearing and demanding mother. One who wants to control his every move, including telling her openly gay son that he not only has to attend the annual Christmas Gala/fundraiser but ordering him to deliver the keynote speech and have a female companion as his date! Chandler has had it so he has his personal assistant/best friend/ex-lover arrange his secret escape to a tropical paradise. The only problem with this is that his PA, Tim, has a few “surprises” in store for his wandering boss, including coach airplane tickets and a questionable accommodation with iffy elevators, Chandler’s nemesis since his youth. The positive side to all these surprises is the gorgeous hunk that rescues him from being stuck in that elevator, Micah Keolu. When both men discover they “bat for the same team”, the fun times begin. What neither man imagined was the powerful chemistry they experience might erupt into something more.

The fear I have when I take a book about my island home is that it that the author might get it all wrong. Either one of these authors has lived here, visited extensively or really, really did their homework. Not only did they get tiny details down, like Savers, but they nailed the local customs and our ALOHA spirit. We all here know an “Uncle” and his trusted pet here on our island home and bringing the “treats” is customary. I loved that the chefs at the restaurant were sitting down and “talk story” after a long day. But the authors didn’t just throw in some key local expressions. They gave a great description of their meanings. Well done!

This was a fun little treat to bring you to the islands for the holidays. Well written and accurate description of island life. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this island delicacy!

RATING: LoveBytes_5Hearts 

BUY LINKS: 

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon 

 

love-bytes-advent-2016-new-banner

 

Written by 

15 thoughts on “Advent Calendar Book Review: Mele Kalikimaka by B.G. Thomas & Noah Willoughby”

  1. I AM READING THIS BOOK NOW, AND BEING IN THE ISLANDS MAKES THIS A DELIGHTFUL DEPARTURE FROM THE SNOWY, SKI, COLD USUAL STORIES ABOUT CHRISTMAS. IT’S DELIGHTFUL!BEN’S BOOKS ARE AN AUTO BUY FOR ME ALWAYS AND THIS ONE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

  2. Sounds like a great holiday story. I love visitong Hawaii, so I’m glad to hear the authors did right by the location. 🙂

  3. I have always wanted to visit Hawaii, but living in the UK it’s so far away it may as well be the moon! I think reading this sounds like a good substitute for now. Looks really good. 😊

  4. I’ve never been to Hawaii, but this sounds like it really gives a sense of place. Thanks for the review.

Please take a minute to leave a comment it is so appreciated !