Reviewed by: Sue Eaton
TITLE: A Very Tentacular Christmas
SERIES: Tentacular Tales
AUTHOR: Chloe Archer
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 120 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 5, 2022
BLURB:
RIVER
Ho, ho, ho…and tentacles? I’ve written a super-secret Christmas novella in my over-the-top space saga/tentacle romance series. Who could have imagined I’d have so many actual alien fans across the universe? I can’t wait to share this new story with them, but first I need some feedback I can trust. Who better to ask than my alien boo, and mega fan, Kai? So naturally, I plan an ultra-festive Christmas-themed date night to get Kai in a festive mood to listen to my story. There will be cookies, cocoa, and hopefully plenty of sexy times. But as they often say about the best-laid plans of aliens and men…
KAI
I’m learning that when it’s River’s turn to plan our date nights, I have to be prepared for almost anything. Coming home to find my house looking like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie exploded in my living room was not what I was expecting—especially in October! But once River brings out the sugar cookies and cocoa, I’m on board. He knows the way to my two hearts. However, when I’m getting in more than just the Christmas mood, trouble arrives in the form of River’s Uncle Benji, my brother, my mother, and my father. My inner grump may go full grinch if they don’t leave us—and my precious sugar cookies—alone!
REVIEW:
A short story set between book 1 and book 2. River introduces Kai to Christmas and shares his Christmas theme story for his Alien Space Opera series. It was brilliant to get full chapters of River’s space opera series featuring Captain Starblade and Lord Vardox. In the full length books you only get small snippets alluding to the space opera, it always sounded a lot of fun, so I really enjoyed reading the chapters about them. I also enjoyed that River was reading his book to Kai as part of their date and getting feedback from him on aspects of the storyline.
The funniest part was Benji turning up, then Mal, Ellie and Maddox. They totally gatecrashed their date and much to Kai’s horror ate his cookies. I loved the fact that the big, grumpy alien, Kai has such a sweet tooth and has such a joyous reaction to something as simple as frosted cookies. I also liked that Kai’s family has totally taken River into their hearts and Ellie in particular is Team River and gets on Kai’s case about when he is going to propose as she wants another son, now, like now, get on with it.
Mal is so gone for Benji, however, he is oblivious, you find out that he is demi-sexual and realise why he hasn’t fallen at Mal’s feet. When the penny drops for Mal and he recognises that his pretty looks won’t be enough to woo Benji, is epic, and I wonder what he will do to forge a connection between them.
This was a joyous book, embodying the Christmas spirit, even though its only October, but that is a typical River move, Christmas theme to help beta read his Christmas Book. I hope we get more of Captain Starblade and Lord Vardox in future books.
RATING: 
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