Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Gifts for the Season: Winter and Christmas MM Charity Anthology
AUTHOR: RJ Scott with Annabeth Albert, Joanna Chambers, Eli Easton, Suki Fleet, Lane Hayes, Annabelle Jacobs, Alex Jane, Amber Kell, Garrett Leigh, V.L. Locey, Clare London, Posy Roberts, Felice Stevens, A.E. Via
PUBLISHER: Love Lane Books
LENGTH: approximately 15 – 42 pages each
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2020
REVIEW:
Gifts for the Season is an anthology of fifteen short holiday stories by popular MM authors. Some stories are of established couples from previously published books, others involve new characters. You’ll find both character-driven and plot-driven stories. Among the tropes are friends to lovers, second chances, a virgin, parenting, lots of age gaps, a manny, snowstorms, Only One Bed, and two Die Hard references. There are even two stories featuring a Mr. Partridge. Can you guess that theme?
This is an anthology for charity. All proceeeds will be donated to The Trevor Project. I hope you enjoy!
An Unworthy Gift by A.E. Via 
Spencer is lonely at Christmastime; he’s at the mall when he sees a unique bracelet in a jewelry store display. Cole, the flirty salesman, tries to entice Spencer to buy the bracelet but it’s not something he can afford. Later that night, Cole shows up at the gentlemen’s club where Spencer works. Over the course of the evening, they grow closer and realize that maybe they can help assuage each other’s loneliness.
This is the longest story in the collection and it reads like a complete story, not a truncated version of a longer book. Two strangers meet and develop the basis for a longer relationship. It’s one of the steamier offerings and the author successfully built up the passion in a short amount of space. There’s a nice level of chemistry between Spencer and Cole. The ending is a satisfying HFN.
Out for the Holidays by Lane Hayes
Derek and Gabe are the couple from Ms. Hayes’ Out in the Deep, the only book in the Out of College series I haven’t read. Not having a prior knowledge of Derek and Gabe didn’t detract at all, though. Derek finally finds a location for the bistro he wants to open but it requires a lot of work. Their close group of friends is on board to lend help, but Derek’s mother is appalled by his decision to open a restaurant. It was a delight to see so many of the series’ characters. This one has a nice plot. And … super hot sexy times! If you’re looking for steam, this is the one for you.
Single Dad Christmas by R.J. Scott
Paul agreed to work as Austin’s nanny for his infant triplets (!) but only for a period of two years. Now that time is up but Austin doesn’t want to let him go. He’s fallen in love with the younger man, but asking Paul to stay would be asking him to give up his dream of traveling around the world.
I really liked this employer/employee, age gap, manny short story. It’s part of the Single Dads universe but doesn’t contain any previous characters. It’s romantic and the men have a nice chemistry. My only complaint is an editing issue – at one point Anna’s name changes to Amy and then back, and AJ is referred to as both a girl and a boy.
Twelve Days of UPS by Eli Easton 
This is my very favorite short story in the collection. It’s sweet and very romantic, and feels like a complete holiday story. Dan, the UPS guy, begins to deliver anonymous packages to Paul who realizes they have a Twelve Days of Christmas theme. They are very thoughtful gifts from someone who’s been paying attention to Paul, but he has no idea who. Paul worries that he’ll disappoint the sender because he’s starting to fall for Dan in the meantime. Despite the need to social distance and wear masks, they get to know each other and grow closer. Paul and Dan are charming and have strong chemistry. This is the first story I’ve read that incorporates COVID-19 safety protocols, and it’s interesting to see how they affect a new couple.
Must Be Santa by Annabeth Albert 
This is a heartwarming and touching book. Teddy and Nick are existing characters from Better Not Pout – a book I haven’t read, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any backstory. The men are settled into life as a couple but decide they would like to open their home and hearts to children, so they foster-to-adopt. The men are plagued with uncertainty, but as they begin to parent, they find renewed admiration for each other and work to find a balance between being husbands, parents, and lovers. Nick, in particular, is sweet with how ill–equipped he feels about raising a girl, but their bond was lovely. While this book has an interesting plot and characters, it wasn’t as romantic as I would’ve liked.
The First Snow of Winter by Joanna Chambers
This friends to lovers, second chance story is another of my favorites. Joanna Chambers is a master of the historical romance genre and this one is no exception.
It’s Christmas 1814 and Sam has returned from war with a missing arm. He’s struggling and is not looking forward to celebrating with family friends, especially Jasper who he has a history with. Now because of a snowstorm, thy are Sam and Jasper are alone together for the first time in five years. The men are exactly what the other needs. The sweet ending is perfect!
Five Gold Blings by Clare London 
This is another story about a delivery man delivering packages. Gray isn’t happy this holiday season but can’t help being affected by the joie de vivre oozing from Alec, the vlogger who is the recipient of the packages.
This is a fun, silly story and Alec’s enthusiasm is contagious. It’s lacking cohesion, though, and it moves too fast. The main characters become business partners and move in together in no time flat. It just didn’t work well for me.
Sojourn for Christmas by Posy Roberts
Sawyer is a college student who is no longer welcomed home by his homophobic father. With no place to go, Gregg, the man he dog walks for, invites him to stay in his extra room. Sawyer develops feelings for the much older man but Gregg is straight.
This short is a little strange in that it seems to be written as the first in a series of stories yet to come. As such, the ending is very unsatisfying and feels incomplete – the relationship never moves beyond friendship. It’s too bad because it contains some good tropes: large age gap, hurt/comfort, and presumably a bi-awakening in the future.
Sometimes, Always by Suki Fleet 
This warm story stars Peri and Echo from Suki Fleet’s Sometimes There’s Stars, which I have read. Last year, their first Christmas together, Peri was in the hospital for a bullet shot intended to kill Echo. This year, Echo endeavors to give Peri an extra special holiday. This one reminds me of that early stage of love when grand gestures are made and filled with such special meaning. Peri and Echo’s deep affection for each other comes across strongly, and their communication – a combination of sign language, spoken language, and an apparent ability to read each other’s minds – binds them closely. This story will definitely be enjoyed more by readers of Sometimes There’s Stars.
No Place Like Home by Garrett Leigh – no rating
This is a really hard one for me to accurately rate. Ash and Pete are one of my all-time favorite couples and Garrett Leigh’s Roads series (Slide, Rare, and Circle) is one of the most enjoyable I’ve read. Therefore, this short could be about nothing more than Ash and Pete sleeping on a park bench and I would be happy. There’s no plot, just a warm story celebrating their special connection that has strengthened over the many years they’ve been together. Fans of the Roads series will love revisiting these men.
The problem, however, is this doesn’t work as a standalone, as readers won’t have the context for Ash’s troubled past and the history of all the characters, which is necessary to draw anything from the story. I had a reviewer I work with read this short to get their opinion (they are not familiar with the Roads series) so I could provide a more objective review. They were easily frustrated because they didn’t know the characters and it didn’t make any sense with having anything explained. They didn’t finish reading.
I’m not going to rate this one, other than to say that readers who like Pete and Ash will enjoy it, but it’s not suitable for anyone else.
The Gift of Forever by Felice Stevens
This is a holiday short for Stevens’ Never Say Never. Torre and Frisco are an existing couple about to spend their first Christmas together. Torre comes from a family who celebrates with all the bells and whistles, while Frisco hasn’t celebrated Christmas and doesn’t understand the traditions. That is, until Torre’s niece visits for a day and it’s Frisco’s job to prepare for the holiday with her. Both men have to decide on the perfect gift for the other, too.
Unfortunately, for those of us who haven’t read the novel, there are a lot of references not explained. Worse, though, is the very abrupt ending without providing closure to an important happening. It’s a shame because I liked this story otherwise.
Dressed in Holiday Style by V.L. Locey
This is a cute, opposites attract, age gap tale, among the shortest of the stories. Jakob is a stressed out window dresser in a NYC department store, way behind schedule in having his holiday display prepared before deadline in the morning. He and his colleague are working all night. But then he notices the dresser in the window across the street and accuses him of stealing Jakob’s ideas. That would be Chet, the very attractive Chet. Wild antics ensue, including a snowball fight and nearly being arrested.
Jakob, the self-named Prima Donna Queen, is very humorous with his over-the-top language and zest for life. His counterpart, Chet, is the perfect understanding man for him. I really enjoyed this one.
Driving Home for Christmas by Annabelle Jacobs
Who doesn’t love a good road trip, friends to lovers, second chances story with, wait for it, only one bed? The guy Jared is seeing dumps him and leaves him stranded at a motorway service center with no way to get home for Christmas. As luck would have it, Jared’s former best friend, whom he hasn’t spoken to for four months, shows up and offers him a ride home. As their trek home begins, Jared and Tom are very uncomfortable and awkward with each other, but when their trip of a few hours turns into multiple days, they’re forced to work through their differences. This is one of my favorites in the anthology.
A Santa for Trin by Amber Kell (review by Dani)
This story features characters from Amber Kell’s popular Moon pack series. As I haven’t read that series, I was a bit worried to read this short story, but I have to say I ended up enjoying this little sweet story featuring a little child and a happy pack family. It’s wonderful how the author tried to show Christmas from different sides: from the non-believers and the ones who really wouldn’t want to celebrate Christmas at all, to the ones who are true believers and want to wallow in the Christmas spirit. Together they create a wonderful Santa experience for Trin and the pack children.
Homestead for the Holidays by Alex Jane
Jace and CJ star as best friends to lovers in this sweet, romantic short story. The men are college seniors who travel to CJ’s family’s homestead for a Christmas gathering. The others are all delayed so Jace and CJ have the night to themselves, decorating the tree, drinking holiday spirits, and hanging out as friends do. Except Jace has been in love with CJ for years and is finding this time together excruciating.
The author does a fine job with imagery to create a romantic holiday setting, and show a strong friendship bond between the two. I like that she gave no indication that CJ reciprocated Jace’s feelings. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.
OVERALL RATING: more like a 4.25
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