Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Meeting Mr. Christmas

SERIES:  Collier’s Creek

AUTHOR: Ali Ryecart

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   182 pages

RELEASE DATE:  November 15, 2024

BLURB:

Two best friends. One secret crush. A kiss that changes everything.

There’s never been a time when Noel’s not been in love with his best friend Jed. The problem is, Jed’s straight. Always has been, always will be. Yet, as the festive season descends on Collier’s Creek there’s only one gift Noel craves: for Jed to wake up and realise they are meant to be together. But that’s never going to happen — or not until too many beers and a Christmas movie marathon ends in a steamy make out session.

Jed’s world is turned up side down. He’s straight. He dates girls, not guys. So why did the taste of Noel’s lips on his send delicious tingles zipping along his spine?

As carols play and stockings are hung, can Jed embrace his newfound feelings? Or will Noel’s dreams of love melt away like snow?

Discover the magic of the season in this heartfelt story of friendship, secret desire, and small-town romance.

Celebrate the holidays with the men of Collier’s Creek, where magic fills the air and irresistible romances are the highlight of the festive season. Six low-angst romances, each filled with heartwarming moments and swoon-worthy romance.

#BestFriendsToLovers #BoyhoodFriends #BisexualAwakening #SecretCrush #AcceptingFamily #SmallTownRomance #FestiveLGBTQ #CuteDog #ChristmasInColliersCreek

REVIEW:

This is a very sweet best friends to lovers story.  I ready Ali Ryecart’s book in this series last year nd really enjoyed Lucian and Arlo’s story, so i wanted to read this year’s entry.

Jed is Lucian’s apprentice at his floral shop and things are going well.  Jed’s best friend Noel Christmas – yep that’s his name – is a computer programmer who works from home for a company based in California.  He enjoys his work although he tends to get very focused and only taking care of his mini dachsund Peter makes him leave his apartment some days.

Every year Jed and Noel attend the town Christmas tree lighting together.  This is basically a lifetime tradition and includes the wearing of the ugliest holiday sweaters they can find.  This year though Jed has invited his girlfriend du jour and so he wants to double date with Noel – who now needs to find a date 🙁  Problem though.  Noel doesn’t want a date.  He wants Jed – his best friend he’s been pining over forever.

Noel ends up trying a new LBGTQ+ dating app and bringing Kent with a T to the tree lighting.  Cora, Jed’s girlfriend, is all over Jed and Noel doesn’t love it.  But Jed is being sort of a jerk to everyone and ends up leaving early.  Kent thinks that Jed was jealous of him and Noel.  Noel insists that his BFF is just protective – which isn’t a lie.  Noel was bullied as a kid and Jed always was there for him.

Jed can’t figure out why he’s so tense and why he is not unhappy that Noel is no longer seeing Kent.  He doesn’t want his BFF to be alone, but he’s not been happy with anyone Noel has dated.  He can’t figure out why this is the case.  He really does want his best friend to be happy – he’s just not sure how that will affect their friendship.  He considers Noel to be his – whatever that means.  But he realizes that sounds selfish.

As the season moves along, Jed begins to think that maybe he’s not just protective of Noel.  But he’s only ever dated women.  Who can help him figure this out?  Then a dare and a a kiss and all bets are off.  Enter Lucian 😉

This was an adorable story of best friends to lovers.  Noel is such a cutie and his pining was pretty epic. Jed was a little clueless but once he got with the program, he did a bit of making amends and wooing 😉  I loved Jed’s family and all the other couples in the series who make appearances here supporting Jed and Noel as they get their act together.  If you’re in a mood for friends to lovers with holiday themes, small towns, pining and a well-earned HEA, then you might liked this one.  Recommended.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

Amazon