Advent Calendar Review: Too Hot for Santa (2018 Advent Calendar – Warmest Wishes) by Helena Stone

Like the last few years we at Love Bytes are reviewing the whole DSP advent calender

There will be a review posted each day (except Sundays and Holidays so some days will have two reviews instead) throughout the month of December.

Let us know what you think of the reviews and the stories and have a chance to win a fabulous giveaway.

First Prize: 10 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)

Second Prize: 5 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)

Third Prize: 3 Dreamspinner Press ebooks (winner’s choice)

Reviewed by Danielle

TITLE: Too Hot for Santa

SERIES: 2018 Advent Calendar – Warmest Wishes

AUTHOR: Helena Stone

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 59 Pages

BLURB:

Jonah Walsh’s fledgling acting career in Dublin comes to an abrupt end when a video of him in a compromising position goes viral on social media. The offer of a part in a Christmas play in Sydney, Australia arrives at exactly the right time, although he isn’t sure about celebrating Christmas in the scorching heat. Nick Claseman isn’t happy that the actor he and his sister have hired will be occupying his granny flat. As for Jonah’s enthusiasm for Christmas, Nick doesn’t get it. He hasn’t decorated or celebrated in years.

When Jonah turns out to be anything but a stuck-up starlet with delusions of grandeur, and Nick proves he’s not usually grumpy and borderline hostile, the two men gravitate toward each other. Their attraction morphs into something more when Jonah reacquaints Nick with the pleasures of Christmas and Nick shows Jonah the beauty of Australia. But Jonah is only Down Under for a few months. It would take a Christmas miracle for them to have a future together.

 

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar “Warmest Wishes.

REVIEW:

Let me start with saying that this is a not really traditional Christmas story. As it is set in Australia, it is Christmas in the summer…at least it feels that way.

This story is very sweet and gentle with no big surprises and no angst or real drama. If you are looking for fluff, you are at the right place picking up this short holiday tale.

I have to say the characters are enthralling and you get a small sense of who they are but the main issue I have with it, is that it felt so rushed. It was like jumping from one thing to another just to have it all cramped up in a short story.

For me that was a real shame. I felt like I connected or should I say could have connected to both main characters but was prohibited from doing so because it went so fast.

The story starts out with a not so happy first meeting but when Nick gets to know Jonah, there is mutual attraction for sure.

It is nice how Jonah manages to bring back the Christmas spirit for Nick and his place (this being a holiday story 😉 )

The author did a good job in bringing them together at a (too) fast pace and I loved how they got to know each other, sharing similar tastes.

The expected happy ending is nice and the epilogue thankfully adds a bit extra to the story.

Overall if you are looking for a sweet gentle story, you are at the right address with this one.

 

RATING: 

 

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon