Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Holiday Crush
SERIES: The Elmwood Stories
AUTHOR: Lane Hayes
NARRATOR: Nick J. Russo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 5 hrs and 8 mins
RELEASE DATE: January 9, 2024
BLURB:
The hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magic…
Court Cut from the team, fired my agent…now what? This can’t be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isn’t ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup.
Problem: I don’t know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then there’s Ivan. No, no, it’s not what you think. We went to school together. We’re acquaintance-friends…nothing more. But you know, I like him. A lot. He’s funny and relentlessly upbeat. I’m a better person when I’m with him—the kind who volunteers to deck the halls and wrap garland on lampposts and—Whoa.
What’s happening here? Ivan I love the holidays! But running the coffee shop on my own during the busiest season of the year is going to be a challenge. And the sudden appearance of my former crush is all kinds of distracting. See, I spent my formative years mooning over Court Henderson, our high school’s hockey phenom, even though he was out of my league. Thankfully, I grew up and left the silly remnants of my youth behind. Or did I? Grown-up Court is full of surprises, and under his gruff yet extremely fine exterior, he’s a good soul with a huge heart. He’s charming, sweet, handsome, and— Uh-oh. My crush is back. Just in time for the holidays…
Holiday Crush is an MM bisexual, small town romance featuring a renewed ancient crush, some mistletoe latte art, and a little seasonal magic.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the third book in this series. There are major spoilers for the previous books. If you don’t care about spoilers, it can work as a standalone just fine. I recommend the whole series though – particularly the audios 😉
Ivan runs an upscale coffee bar Rise & Grind with his bestie Stacey. Stacey is pregnant with her first baby and they are busy as heck as the holidays are looming. They are both pretty happy with how things are going having returned after a decade or more in NYC and put their heads together to make this business.
Court is a minor league hockey player and Ivan’s first crush. They had been friends(ish) in High school and then Court went on the play hockey and Ivan went off to college and grad school. After Court is cut from his team, he’s at loose ends in Elmwood at his parents place. They own the bakery next to Ivan’s business.
Court gets talked into helping coach the kids hockey teams by the other returned hockey players in town. He’s not so sure it’s for him, but it turns out he’s kinda good at it 😉 He and Ivan rekindle their “friendship” and when he comes out as bi to Ivan, well it turns into more.
I really enjoyed this new charming holiday story from Elmwood 🙂 Court and Ivan are a very cute couple. I am a sucker for unrequited crush blossoming into true love – even if it’s many years later 😉 And their first scene after Court has returned to Elmwood? Epic! Hilarious! Ivan has his hands full with his business and his plans for the future. Court hasn’t really planned for the future beyond the next hockey season ever. But now that he’s coming to the end of his playing days, he suddenly realizes he’s not really sure that what he thought he wanted is right for him. Not when he would have something maybe permanent. He’s never been happier than he is now with Ivan back here in Elmwood. Getting another contract and moving again isn’t all that appealing. Ivan never gets the guy. He’s really been focused on making his business a success after returning home from NYC, but his business partner’s life has taken a turn and he’s got to figure out what he really wants to do going forward. Expand? Sell? But now that Court is in the mix, he’s got even more to consider.
I loved the way they each had their own little freak outs but were there for each other when it mattered. I loved seeing the couples from the pervious books and how they tried to help Court find his way in hockey and Ivan in his business. This whole town is adorable and I really can’t wait to see if we get to return here for more 😀
As usual Nick J. Russo did a fantastic job with these characters. The former MCs appear here too and they are spot on consistent with the past books. I really like these books in audio because I get to experience the emotional up and downs with the stellar performance of Mr. Russo. Ivan is a sweetheart and his unrequited crush on Court that turns to more is sweet and believable. Court is a good guy who just needs to find his focus – and he does. There are loads of characters here and in Mr. Russo’s capable hands they were are consistent, believable and fun! Highly recommended – this entire series in fact!
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