Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Hot Chocolate Kisses
SERIES: A Snow Globe Christmas #9
AUTHOR: Jackie North
PUBLISHER: Blue Rain Press
LENGTH: 262 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2019
BLURB:
Alex had to leave the mean streets of Chicago in a hurry. Now he’s weathering his first Christmas in a small town in Colorado.
Cory had a boyfriend and now he doesn’t, which means the Christmas holiday is turning out to the the loneliest he’s had in years.
When they meet at a Holiday Fair, Alex finds himself being drawn into Cory’s world. A world where there is grace to be found in a simple, home-cooked meal, books read out loud by firelight, and the golden glow of welcome.
Alex has never wanted anything as tame as hearth and home. Now that he wants it, it’s not anything he can have. Nothing feels he deserves, at any rate.
Can Cory and the Spirit of Christmas Present prove to Alex that love is love?
An m/m romance with cakewalks, blizzards, hurt/comfort, a snow globe, hot chocolate kisses, and Christmas!
Although this book is part of A Snow Globe Christmas series, it is a complete stand alone and it isn’t a requirement that you read the previous books to follow along.
REVIEW:
You know, I don’t think sometimes people realize the trouble kids can get into when not surrounded by support and love and such. Heck, even sometimes with good backgrounds, kids get caught up in the wrong crowds. Peer pressure and other circumstances make it that much harder. But the worst is when they try to get out. A lot don’t get out alive, because the life won’t let them leave. It’s sad. So this book has some sad moments. Ones that really broke my heart. But it’s also a story of hope and second chances. Of learning you are worthy of love, no matter your past. And that sometimes love comes in the most unexpected places.
Having to run from Chicago in a hurry, Alex has never been more frightened. He’s not a little kid anymore, but the situations he was in and got himself in, caused him to be caught up in something he didn’t want to be. And on the advice of a cop, it might be best for him to leave and quickly. So he ran to his sister and the little town she lived in, hoping to find somewhere to start over and leave his past behind. It was tough going at first, especially when he seemed to clash with the beautiful man named Cory. It seemed everything Alex did was wrong. But when Alex found out Cory had accidentally broken his snow globe, he knew he had to get Cory a new one, from the sad look he always seemed to have by seeing it gone. But going after a new one caused him to be in an accident. And Cory finally seemed to thaw for him. Especially when he found out why Alex was in the accident. And so called enemies, became friends with the hopes of something more. But Alex’s past caught up to him when he was helping someone and Cory got to see it all. And Alex doesn’t want that for Cory for the rest of his life. So now it’s up to Cory…..will he let Alex run from him or will he tell Alex how he feels and see where it leads?
I think one thing I hate worse than anything, is when someone is genuinely trying to change and no one will let them. They may not be perfect at starting over, but at least they try. To have people look down their noses at them, like they are lower than dirt. At first, it seemed like that’s what Cory was doing. He judged Alex without finding out the true story of why Alex was having a hard time and such. It broke my heart for Alex, that it took an accident to thaw Cory out quite a bit. I can’t blame Cory completely, though. Cory hasn’t had an easy time of it himself. His ex was a douche. But once Cory finally got to see what Alex was truly about and who he really was, he couldn’t help but like the man. And Alex got to see what it felt like to have someone other than his sister, truly care for him. And it broke my heart again, because it was hard for Alex to accept. For life to be so rough that genuine help and care were hard to accept is so sad. But over time, it got better. That’s what it takes. Time and patience and understanding. Love and acceptance.
It’s a beautiful story. I absolutely loved it. I loved the second chances, the hope and the love. It made for a great holiday story and honestly one for all year round.
RATING: 
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