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 4th
REVIEW BY: Christie
TITLE: Krampus Hates Christmas
SERIES: 2016 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug
AUTHOR: Andi Van
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 116 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 30, 2016
BLURB:
Karl Kringle hates the modern-day Christmas. He was born to be Krampus, but the Holiday Council refuses to let him help his brother Nick—aka Santa Claus—with the Naughty List until he finds his holiday spirit. To meet that challenge, he’s turned human and dumped in a strange apartment.
Lewis Weatherby loves the holidays and always has. Not only do his parents own a pumpkin patch and tree farm, he’s also inherited a Christmas-themed shop. All he wants from Santa is the man of his dreams, and the Big Guy might’ve just delivered. Lewis’s new neighbor Karl is gorgeous, sweet, and has a fantastic sense of humor—if his jokes about being Krampus are any indication.
Soon getting home is less important to Karl than what will happen when Lewis inevitably realizes the truth behind his jokes. He’s finally starting to understand the real joy of the season—now he just has to figure out how to hold on to it.
REVIEW:
When first seeing what Krampus Hates Christmas was about I thought it would be interesting to see how Krampus can deal with not only being human, but finding his holiday spirit especially when living next door to a man whose family seems like they practically ooze it out of their pores. So glad I got to read this story! It was more than I could have asked for. So much more, in fact. I loved it! Andi Van, you tell a great story!
Karl Kringle is angry. At many things, but mainly due to the fact that the Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Something that puts a lot more pressure on his twin, Kris (yes, that Kris aka Santa). And, Karl greatly wants to help his brother out by taking on more responsibilities. Y’know, by stealing presents from the undeserving kids. Unfortunately, when he goes in front of the holiday council with Kris to decide his responsibilities for the year, Karl is shot down. Yet again. The thing is, he has lost his holiday spirit and his brother-in-law, Noel (Santa’s husband by the way), has a plan on how he can get it back. Noel drugs Karl, then drags him to an apartment that he owns and casts an illusion on Karl that makes him look human.
Queue Karl’s next door neighbor, Lewis Weatherby: short, kitschy Christmas store owner, and holiday enthusiast. Adding to this list, Lewis’ parents own a christmas tree and pumpkin farm. It is instant attraction between Karl and Lewis, even tho Lewis’ best friend tried to call dibs on the big man. Soon Karl and Lewis are dating, and things are going really well. In fact, Karl is asked to step in and help Lewis’ parents with their haunted hayride at the last minute, and he ends up meeting the whole family. Which is a bit odd for Karl, but as with Lewis himself, he finds an instant connection with the rest of his boyfriend’s family and ends up being invited to Thanksgiving dinner. Things are going so well, and our two lovebirds are extremely happy with each other; they’re even in love altho neither has confessed that to the other. Until Krampusnacht comes around, which was the day Karl’s illusion was to wear off.
What will happen when Lewis finds out that Karl really is Krampus and the costume he donned to play the legendary creature in an appearance at the Christmas store really isn’t a costume at all? Can their love conquer everything and keep the two together? Did Karl get his holiday spirit back after all? Do read the story and find out!
Honestly, I didn’t think I would be as moved as I was when reading Krampus Loves Christmas. The dynamics and relationship between Karl and Lewis were wonderful. I felt so much for both of them. There may not have been a tear or two shed when Lewis found out that Karl really is Krampus, but I maintain that it was raining on my face just a bit and I felt a bit choked up.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Adding this on my TBR – this is a truly intriguing blurb and I love that cover!
Thank you for review.
Oh yay!! So glad you’re adding it to your list. And yeah, that cover is everything, isn’t it? Hope you like the story as much as I did!
You sold me on this story. Thank you for the great review! Adding this on to my TBR.
Thank you very much! Glad you liked the review.
Great review. It definitely sounds like something I’d enjoy.
Thank you, thank you! Hope you can get and enjoy the book.
I love stories which move me, and this sounds just like my sort of thing. Thank you for the review, Christie. I’ll add it to my TBR list as well
Oh yes, same here, Susana! Happy to hear you’re adding the story to your TBR list. And, am tickled pink that you liked the review! Thank you!!!!
Thanks for the great review! This one sounds great and it is always wonderful when a story is more than you expected.
Plus, that cover is unusual for a holiday story and grabbed my attention.
Thank you very much! I do agree, it is definitely wonderful when the story is more than you expected. And, I absolutely adore the cover! 🙂
Krampus intrigues me!
Krampus intrigues me as well. 🙂
This sounds like a great story, can’t wait to read it 🙂
I’d love to hear your opinion on the story after you’ve read it.
I really like the cover, it’s different. Thank you for the review. It sounds like it’ll be a sweet and funny read what with Kris hating the holidays and Lewis being the opposite.
I had the chance to read the ARC and I thought it was really fun!! I’ve only read few so far and this is one of my favorites 🙂
This definitely sounds interesting and it looks like a different christmas read (love that) thank you for your review.
Just finished reading this and did really enjoy it.
Liked Karl, in both guises – nice spritit of Christmas story
Definitively I give it a chance , thank you for the review.