Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Christmas Magic

SERIES: Believe #2

AUTHOR: Shea Balik

PUBLISHER: Self published

LENGTH: Short Novel

RELEASE DATE:  December 14, 2018

BLURB:

Do you believe in the magic of Christmas? Tim Richards didn’t, so why had he thought he could make a Christmas wish and have it come true?

Much to his surprise, he met the man of his dreams when Nick Snow walked into his world and turned it upside down. The life he had always hated was becoming something from a dream and more than anything he could have ever possibly imagined. For Tim, to believe childhood fantasies could come true, was impossible.

Nick Snow tended to only think about work. That was, until he met Tim. He’d never imagined anyone would ever come between him and his career. Now he knew that there was so much more to life than a job.

Can Nick show Tim that Christmas Magic is real?

REVIEW:

Tim didn’t believe in Christmas Magic. His mom hadn’t raised him to believe in fantasies and lies. He wasn’t a fan of holidays full stop – especially working on the specials at the mall – screaming kids and all. Despite already having two other jobs, Tim was living from paycheck to paycheck. After being fired he had to find a job to replace the one he lost. He finds one in a toy store doing the window displays. Enter also, Nick, a customer at the diner. With these two additions to his life and a wish made at a Christmas tree, Tim’s life begins to change.

Nick had no choice but to be a workaholic. After losing his parents at a young age, he raised his sister and put her through college. His boss was a leach, always palming off his work onto Nick and stealing his ideas for pitches as if they were his own. His rest-bite was his monthly meal with said sister, who provides some sass to the story. It was at the diner that Nick noticed Tim. After that, Nick regularly returned to the diner that wasn’t hot on its food, but the waiter was sizzling.

Tim’s mother is a cup half empty kind of person. Life was out to fuck you, and that’s what she drummed into her children to the point of not allowing them to participate in the lies of childhood fantasies. As Tim didn’t have anything as a child, gaining praise as an adult isn’t something he is used to receiving.

Told in the third person, the story was a delight to read. It flowed well and was technically sound. Scenario’s work at Christmas that would, at any other time of year, have me heaving into the too much sugar bucket. Apart from working too much, which causes issues, Nick is the altogether – good guy – who wants to show Tim everything he missed as a child. Mr Sullivan, who owns the toy shop takes the role of wannabe Santa. So, there are parts of the story that are full of sweetness, praise and mutual admiration.

When Nick treats Tim to a day of playing (the innocent kind), I would have liked to read more about what Tim felt when he experienced these things for the first time. I think the author could have gotten deeper into Tim’s emotions. Nevertheless, what is there is lovely. I really felt for Tim because whenever something good happens to him, he always has his mother’s voice in the back of his head putting a dampener on his joy.

It says in the advertising that there’s lots of sex, so we know from the off that the guys get together. I’m glad to say though that while the sex is hot, it is a natural progression of the arc rather than all sex and no story.

The boys share I love you’s, but due to his childhood, Tim has serious self-confidence issues. There are constant doubts and times Tim isn’t sure if Nick wants to see him again? I couldn’t help thinking that occasionally this part of Tim’s personality was milked a little too much.

Buuut, there is no getting away from the fact that Nick and Tim are adorable. Both deserve a happy ever after.

Christmas Magic isn’t just a Christmas season tale; it spans a period of twelve months. As such, from one Christmas to the next, it was nice to see the relationship progression. It is a tale full of granted wishes, the wicked witch (the mother) losing out on bringing her son down to her level, and sugary sweet happenings that works at this time of year. It left me with the cockles of my heart nice and warm.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon